Episodes

Are you tired of feeling like the copycats always win? From music to fashion and everywhere in between, it seems that imitation is more than flattery - it's good business. But it's bad for the artist, right? In this episode we explore the tension between imitating our mentors, teachers and iconic master artists, and becoming innovative and original artists in our own right. By carefully exploring each step between imitation and innovation, we can find the right balance where we can always rema...

Are you considering joining the "Great Resignation" of 2021? In this post-pandemic world, workers from all types of professions are deciding not to go back to business as usual. Instead, they are quitting their jobs and looking for better positions, more flexibility and more control over their time. Perhaps many of these workers could be pursuing creative dreams and goals, but are letting fears and the threat of another worldwide crisis stop them. In this episode I point out the question that ...

When you're building your creative or musical career, every connection matters - because the people you surround yourself with can either help you grow, or hold you back. As the God and Gigs community heads into its 6th year, we're taking the time to highlight the stories and experiences of our talented and inspiring members, who have embraced the vision and God-centered principles we've practiced and preached. One such individual is Tobias Tankard, Jr., a drummer, producer and songwriter based...

For the creative, church membership can be either an incredible blessing, or a tremendous frustration. While many creatives struggle to find a place that promotes both spiritual and creative growth, we can make the process easier if we identify the key characteristics that make a church a good fit for the creative lifestyle. In this episode we break down the 3 key elements that should be present in your church home if you want to grow both spiritually and creatively.

Can God bless your creative business through taxes? Yes, and this passionate and gifted business strategist has the knowledge and inspiration you need to transform your creative career and your financial life.

Is it possible for a music artist to overcome multiple childhood tragedies, build a massively successful music career AND reach a goal of financial freedom - all while never compromising their faith and calling? If you follow the example of Manafest, the answer is yes. Chris Greenwood, known in the music world by his stage name Manafest, is an award-winning Canadian Christian rock artist who has reached the pinnacle of success as a performer, songwriter, music industry coach, online entreprene...

There's nothing new under the sun...and that goes especially for musicians' often rocky relationships with their pastors and spiritual leaders. Thanks to a recently released video that went viral, debate is raging among musicians and leaders in many gospel churches about the professionalism and spiritual maturity of church musicians. We have a different response than those who point fingers at either late musicians or overly critical pastors. We draw insights from our previous episode guest Gr...

Many of us set up big goals at the beginning of a year or a season. But usually, sometime in the middle, we lose our focus and our motivation dries up. The thing is, before you can make choices on how to move forward, you have to remind yourself why you want what you want. But if you found yourself getting off-track from your goals, it’s not because your goals weren’t admirable or worthy. It’s because you lost touch with the emotional decision those goals represent. In this episode we reveal...

It’s one thing to be a creative who has a connection to God. It’s another to know why. If there’s any musician who is serious about knowing what you believe as a Christian, it’s Greg Johnson. With years of experience in music ministry, he has a passion for helping musicians and creatives to embrace an authentic relationship with God. Greg’s understanding of theology and ministry was a key element in landing his current role as the director of Music Ministry at Northview Christian Church un...

If you're a creative, you need an audience. However, in a noisy world where everyone seems to have a product and a platform, it's getting harder and harder to rise above the masses to reach those that want to hear from you. The answer? Creatives have to own the connection with their audiences, and the only tried and true way to control that connection is through an email list. Unfortunately, many artists get stuck at the very first mention of email marketing...so this training will provide th...

From a life surrounded by the arts, to being in the center of the entertainment world, and then finding her calling as a highly-trained and successful mental health professional - this is the journey experienced by psychotherapist, counselor and mental health advocate Dr. April Andelle. Having experienced the highs and lows of working in the creative industry, she now helps people to achieve better mental health through her practice, podcast and community resources. Dr. Aprile Andelle is a li...

The word "crazy" is no longer considered acceptable by most...but it seems to fit the way many creatives view themselves. At what point, however, does our creativity actually conceal serious issues that we should be addressing? Let's talk seriously about mental health and how we creatives sometimes cover it up with our 'personalities'. Links Related to this Podcast Episode: Suicide Prevention Hotline - https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ MusiCares Mental Health Awareness Resources - The Gr...

It’s easy to get excited about sharing your latest project, performance or product. But what do you share with your followers when there’s nothing to promote? In other words, what do you say day-to-day? Whether it’s via social media, your email list, or any other connection medium, we creatives have to consistently share moments and messages with those we want to impact - and not just when there’s something to sell. In this episode, you’ll learn why it’s so important to create a dialogue wit...

This inspirational artist relates with vulnerability how unforgiving the music industry can be on an artist’s self-image, and how she was able to find the freedom to be her true self and to embrace God’s unique calling on her life and career.

Does your audience really know WHO you are? While social media seems to encourage people to share a lot of personal details, that seldom leads to the kind of authentic connection that results in long-term commitment to your platform or creative business. The fact is, a lot of us don’t really tell the whole story of our creative lives well. If we show up to our audiences: Only when we’re selling something Only sporadically Only in social media ...Then we’re making a big mistake and missing ...

In this episode, we unpack the three essential strategies / mindsets that can make a huge impact on your bottom line, save you thousands of dollars on taxes, and free you up to focus on the right things as a creative.

In this raw, powerful and revealing  talk, we unlock the source of Melissa’s confidence that helped her overcome the obstacles that nearly derailed her career. With clarity and passion, she shares how she maintained her faith, while enduring the worst and the best of the creative life - always seeing God’s favor through any circumstance.

There are glimmers of hope beyond the horizon for the music industry and live events. But what can you do now as a musician or creative while everything is sorted out? Peter Moore, a industry veteran with over 30 years in the music business, has several key insights for anyone trying to figure out their next step in the music and art industry. He's been instrumental in dozens of music, film and and licensing agreements, and essentially helps to bridge the gap between artists, their audiences t...

As hope appears on the horizon for a return to normalcy in a post-pandemic world, a serious question remains: Is 'going back to normal" a good thing? Like the majority of professions, musicians and creatives like you experienced extreme hardships during the heart of the pandemic. However, we also learned major lessons, grew tremendously in our ability to pivot and reinvent ourselves, and even became possibly more marketable and savvy in our businesses. With all of those positive effects, maybe...

Being a parent is already a tough enough job. Late nights. Unpredictable schedules. Having to always be available for emotional support and providing love and care to those who need you most. Now add on the role of being a creative professional with the responsibility of managing a family. What do you do when you have the privilege of being both a creative and a parent? How can creatives practically balance the passion to perform with the passion needed to be totally engaged with their childr...

They say family is everything... ....which means they can be one of our greatest assets as creatives, or possibly, one of our greatest struggles. When your family supports and celebrates your creative work, it can be one of the most rewarding feelings you can have. However, it can be equally devastating when those closest to you throw water on the fire of your dreams. In this episode, we point out three key strategies to help maintain your family relationships while simultaneously pursui...

You've got SO MUCH to do, creative. But have you neglected one thing that could make everything easier? In other words, have you started your podcast? If you haven’t, you’re missing a golden opportunity. Despite the surge of podcast popularity, most creatives still are not particularly excited about creating their own podcasts. They’ve heard it’s hard, or that the market is saturated, or that it won’t really add anything to their careers. All of those reasons are simply misconcept...

Every artist has to have a vision in order to create. But those creatives who make films and movies have a special ability to see beyond the screen, to envision what the audience will eventually feel. Director, producer and writer Christina Faith has a vision that is much broader than simply creating cinematic experiences. This bold creative has taken on dozens of projects in all areas of creative life without hesitation - all while maintaining a deep and powerful foundation of Christian belie...

Are you struggling to find a mentor who can help you reach the next level of your artistic career? Finding it hard to connect with creatives who have more experience, more knowledge, and bigger audiences? Do you automatically assume that you’ll be rejected, ignored, or just plain “one of the fans?” Maybe the biggest issue isn’t whether you have a big name or big influencer who is mentoring and coaching you. Maybe it’s the way you’re trying to get in the room. Many of the most influential peo...