LightMinded Arts Podcast

In this episode of Light‑Minded Arts, host Brent Lindstrom sits down with author Jasmin Lister — a self‑described “spice‑free” sci‑fi and fantasy romance writer — to explore how she balances imagination, family life, and fearless storytelling. Jasmin opens up about her journey from traditional publishing to indie freedom, her love of dictation while hiking the desert, and how she crafts meaningful stories wi...

A full year of interviews distilled into a few honest truth: most artists aren’t struggling because of their art—they’re struggling because of their habits. In this season recap, I break down the three patterns that keep creatives stuck and the three shifts that pull you out: executing relentlessly, advocating for your work, and finally stopping the endless cycle of over‑preparing.

You’ll hear insights from ...

Jay Corso works two jobs, builds a sci‑fi pulp universe called RoboPulp, and creates in the small windows most people overlook. In this conversation, we talk about identity, the quiet double life of the working artist, and how AI can amplify intention instead of replacing it.

Jay shares how he writes in ten‑minute bursts during breaks, why he protects his creative identity until he knows someone is “from his tribe,” and...

Does great art really require chaos, addiction, and financial ruin? In this episode, Brent sits down with author and life coach Daryl Dittmer to bust the myth of the clouded genius and explore what it actually takes to thrive as a creative entrepreneur.

Daryl shares his powerful journey from a blue-collar farmhand battling severe addiction to finding the ultimate c...

Are you spending hours slicing every single "um" and "ah" out of your audio tracks? Are you refusing to launch your creative project until you have the perfect gear, a custom studio setup, or an official LLC?

In this episode, host Brent Lindstrom sits down with professional podcaster and coach Rory Paquette (who actively runs 10 thriving shows) to dismantle the big...

Are you a talented creative trapped in survival mode, despite working yourself to the bone?

In this episode, host Brent Lindstrom sits down with clarity coach David Prosper to dismantle the single most dangerous myth in creative culture: the lie of "following your passion." David shares the deeply raw story of the four words his mother spoke on her deathbed—"I ...

When filmmaker and storyteller Jared Moses sits down with Brent Lindstrom, the conversation turns raw. Jared opens up about growing up boxed in by labels—race, mental health, expectation—and how he turned that confinement into a creative movement. Together they explore what it means to build community instead of chasing an audience, to turn rejection into purpose, and to make space for stories that were never meant to f...

Artist Julian Raven opens up about the moment every creative fears: the day you realize the art world isn’t coming to rescue you. From selling two massive paintings for $25,000 to months of silence, rejection, and financial pressure, Julian shares the raw truth of trying to survive as an artist without losing your soul. We talk identity, failure, stubbornness, and the terrifying decision to bet on yourself when the system shu...

Bestselling author and artist Ruth Douthitt shares the moment she realized talent alone wouldn’t sustain a creative career. From early rejections to burnout, rebuilding her audience, and learning the business side of art, Ruth opens up about what it really takes to survive as a working creative. A grounded, honest conversation for anyone trying to turn their passion into something lasting.

Visit Ruth at: http://www.artbyruth....

What happens when the path you thought was holy turns out to be too small for the person you’re becoming? In this conversation, musician and author Allen C. Paul opens up about the moment God pulled him out of full‑time ministry and into a creative life he never expected. We talk about calling, career, guilt, the fear of disappointing people, and the strange freedom that shows up when you stop trying to earn your worth throug...

When Bart Merrell’s lifelong dream of joining the FBI collapsed overnight, he faced the kind of identity death every creative fears. But instead of breaking, he rebuilt — turning loss into freedom and failure into fuel. In this episode, Brent Lindstrom dives into Bart’s wild journey from pig farms and bungee towers to amputations and side hustles, uncovering how the worst moment of his life became the blueprint fo...

Most creatives grow up hearing the same promise: “Follow your passion and the money will come.” Daniel Rodgers believed it too — until poverty, debt, and real‑world pressure forced him to abandon art and chase a degree that simply paid the bills.

In this conversation, Daniel opens up about the moment his creative dreams collided with financial reality, how growing up in deep poverty shaped every decision he made, ...

Author and retired space‑operations officer Joseph Bolton shares how loss, ancestry, and rediscovery turned his life into art. From grief to legacy, he reveals the moment creatives realize their story didn’t start with them — and how that truth can transform your work forever.

🎙 Hosted by Brent Lindstrom — LightMinded Arts: helping creators build a creative life that pays.

Learn more about Joseph at: https://oldg...

Actor and podcaster Justin Younts joins Brent for a grounded, vulnerable conversation about what really happens when the creative dream stops feeling magical and starts feeling heavy.

Justin opens up about the years he spent trying to “earn” his suffering, the auditions no one watched, the teachers who left him more confused than confident, and the slow unraveling that happens when you start believing you’re invis...

Jeff Kikel spent decades chasing stability, until a brutal performance review forced him to face the truth: a job would never make him free. In this conversation, we talk about the seven failed businesses, the near‑collapse that followed, and the strange $500 rule that changed everything. It’s a story about losing safety, finding purpose, and learning how to make money the way artists make art — by creating it.

Learn mo...

Author and engineering instructor Ryan Consell sits down with me to talk about the messy, nonlinear path of a creative life. We get into the year that nearly broke him, why “follow your dreams” can quietly ruin artists, and how stability can actually bring creativity back from the dead. This is a conversation about identity, burnout, rebuilding, and the strange ways our lives shape the stories we tell.

Check out Ryan, A...

Bestselling author James Rollins opens up about the part of the creative journey most artists never talk about—the fear, the financial uncertainty, and the quiet safety nets that keep us going. From his years as a veterinarian to the moment he finally stepped away from a stable career, Rollins shares the real story behind building a creative life that lasts.

If you’ve ever wondered how to chase your dream without wrecki...