Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley
Finding the Throughline: Conversations about the Creative Process invites you into the minds of writers and other creatives as they open up about their process, their doubts, and what kinds of changes they’re thinking about making. The questions are mildly invasive, honestly, and the answers are unvarnished…and so refreshing!
Whether your creative work is writing, painting, making music, parenting, or simply living, Finding the Throughline can help you get—and stay—inspired. Invigorated, even.
For detailed show notes on each interview, visit katehanley.substack.com. And if you’d like to hear these interviews in one ad-free episode (as opposed to broken up into three shorter episodes with a few ads sprinkled in to keep the lights on), become a paid subscriber once you’re there.
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Better Person Principle #2: Awareness is the fi...
Even though it’s a simple concept, awareness is a pretty rare and wonderful thing, like an orchid in a sea of carnations. Because it’s a lot more convenient to not pay attention to stuff--particularly your own stuff. Being able to see yourself...
7 min
702
Better Person Principle #1: It’s not about bein...
You don’t have to transform yourself into Mother Theresa or Gandhi or whomever your ideal ‘good person’ is. Truly, you just have to care enough to opt for a better choice at your next opportunity.
7 min
703
Admit that you’re probably going to stink at fi...
One huge obstacle to creativity is your inner critic, which is obsessed with keeping you safe, and will try to convince you that anything new you’re either thinking, doing, or trying to create, is either dangerous--as in, it could open you up to...
7 min
704
How to get inspiration to pursue you like Miss ...
Fun fact: the root of “spire” means breath, so inspired means filled with breath, or since if you aren’t breathing you’re dead, filled with life. So even if you don’t care one whit about doing anything creative, inspiration is still...
8 min
705
Finding your creative practice (even if you 'do...
OK, let's talk nuts and bolts. HOW do you incorporate creativity into what I'm assuming is already a pretty gosh darn busy life? I'm interviewing Jackie Dishner, an Arizona-based artist, author, and writer who teaches creativity classes. I'm gonna get...
15 min
706
If you don't (yet) feel creative, try feeling t...
Some of us--many of us--do NOT feel like we are creative beings. Like, it’s something that only gets handed out to some folks, and others are stuck in logical land. When really, creativity is an innate human trait, we all have it, in some form, to...
8 min
707
The amazing, Important Benefits of Creativity E...
Covid cases are trending back upward, this summer has been intense on the weather front, and you know, I think the collective we could really go for a topic that’s comforting and taps into the dreamier, more imaginative side of life. Plus,...
8 min
708
Taking stock and easing the stress of being in ...
This pandemic summer, when we still can’t really predict what the fall, winter and spring ahead will be like, and yet we theoretically are out of the worst of it, is a very transitional time to be. And the human brain typically does NOT like...
9 min
709
Things I’ve Learned from Producing 500 Podcast ...
Today is the 500th episode of this podcast! Can you believe it? I hardly can. For today’s big idea, I’m sharing five things I’ve learned over these past 500 episodes. But before I do, I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart...
7 min
710
Is the universe sending you a message through n...
Since tomorrow is the 500th episode of this podcast, and I am so blown away by this number, that I wanted to talk to someone who knows the symbolism of numbers to help me understand what this particular milestone means on a symbolic level. I...
21 min
711
What to do when you’re jealous of others’ vacat...
C'mon, you can admit it. When you see the photos of your friends on their vacations to the Cape, or Hawaii, or the lake, part of you is jealous. Maybe even a little judgy. Today, let's talk about how to work that feeling and turn it into an...
6 min
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GIve to Yourself, Too EP: 497
Something we don’t generally think about when we think about being more generous is giving to ourselves, too. Which is a really important piece of being a more giving person, because you can’t give from an empty cup.
6 min
713
We’re All Stingy in Some Ways--What Are Yours? ...
You can be generous in some ways, and stingy in others. And it’s really fascinating to start to unpack where you are a natural giver, and where you might be more likely to freeze up and think, oh heck no.
7 min
714
Giving More Without Giving Too Much EP: 495
While giving is often energizing, there are definitely times when it’s draining. In addition, sometimes *your* giving can make the person you’re trying to give to feel bad--micromanaged, or like you think they aren’t capable. So today,...
6 min
715
Emotional Labor: How to Keep it From Taking Too...
Today I’m talking to four-time TED speaker Damon Brown about emotional labor--why it's the best thing you have to offer, and also how it can quickly deplete you if you're not intentional about it. PLUS, we break down the costs of letting someone...
22 min
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All the Ways to Give EP: 493
There are so many ways you can give, and they don’t necessarily require a lot of time or money, which is what we typically think of when we think of giving. Check out this list of ways to be generous that will get you in that giving mood.(You can...
10 min
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Let’s Talk About Giving, and Why It Matters EP:...
Yes, generosity is a virtue, and a key piece of being a better person. BUT the funny paradox about giving is that it feels really good to help others, and those good feelings help energize you in all parts of your life. Find out why
6 min
718
The Antidote to Re-Entry Awkwardness: Extending...
People’s best--including our own--may look nothing like what we would have expected in the 'before times.' We have to give each other a wide enough berth to be harried, or to overreact, or to be slow, or irritable, and to not make that behavior mean...
6 min
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Before You Judge Someone Else, Remember This EP...
During times of transition, it’s easier than ever to judge our fellow humans, which is ironic, because this is when we need to offer each other the most tolerance we can muster. Here's a way to short-circuit this very human inclination.
6 min
720
Navigating the New Normal at Work EP: 489
Today I’m interviewing Gwen Moran who writes and speaks about the intersection of workplace issues and life. Gwen is a regular contributor to Fast Company, Inc., and many other outlets, where she’s been writing extensively about re-emergence from...
16 min
721
A Helpful Strategy for Reducing Re-Entry Awkwar...
You've probably noticed that people are acting a little ...odd lately --- agrressive, irritable, forgetful, solw. That's because collectively we're in a time of upheaval and our social skills have atrophied. You can either get knocked off your center,...
7 min
722
Little Things that Help Resist the Urge to Pour...
When the urge to pour yourself a drink strikes, it’s helpful to have a couple other strategies in place that you can do instead. Here are three of my favorites.
6 min
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Re-Thinking Drinking: How to Take the Edge off ...
It's common to pop open something alcoholic when you're stressed, just so you can switch into chill mode. So what can do you to take the edge off if you're not drinking? Hoo doggie...so many things!!
9 min
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How to Let Your Hair Down Without Having a Drin...
We often turn to alcohol as a way to let loose and have fun. So if you stop or cut way back on drinking, does that mean you're going to be boring? Nope. Today I'm talking about other ways to get into that ‘let’s have some fun’ state of mind...
7 min
725
Why Drinking Less Is a Rebellious Choice for Wo...
Today I'm talking with Sarah Kate, founder of the website Some Good Clean Fun and advocate for breaking free from mommy wine culture, about how simply deciding to drink less can be difficult, why it's something worth serious consideration, and what's...
24 min