The Science of Showing Up — When the Lone Wolf Finds Her People

The Science of Showing Up — When the Lone Wolf Finds Her People

What if the thing standing between you and your creative momentum is not a lack of discipline — but a lack of visibility? In this special midsummer episode, Karina shares the findings from her completed research study on the ECtA accountability method — 14 creative entrepreneurs, six countries, 12 weeks. What she found surprised even her. We also sit down with one of Sweden's most celebrated musicians, Merit Hemmingsson — inducted into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2017, and at 85 still recording and performing. Her story of going from a tiny village in Jämtland to sitting in with Miles Davis at Birdland in New York to a new album in September, What a third act! IN THIS EPISODE: The five themes Karina found before the study — fleeting momentum, the popcorn brain, the lone wolf, the glass lid, and higher purpose — and what shifted after 12 weeks of structured accountability meetings with the ECtA Study. Why momentum feels invisible when you work alone, and how speaking your progress out loud in front of people who truly understand changes everything. Merit Hemmingsson on six decades of creative life, following her inner voice, the all-female jazz band she took from New York to Sweden in the 1960s, the music that became her medicine, and what it really means to keep choosing your work, decade after decade. The science behind why it works — self-determination theory, the progress principle (Amabile and Kramer), and what it means when the group makes the invisible visible. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro · 02:07 Groundwork for ECtA · 02:57 What the study examined · 03:18 The participants · 04:08 Karina as participant · 05:03 Study design · 05:34 Theme 1: Fleeting momentum · 07:41 Theme 2: Popcorn brain · 08:46 Theme 3: Lone wolf · 09:50 Three functions of others · 11:48 Theme 4: Glass lid · 12:58 Theme 5: Higher purpose · 16:12 Introducing Merit · 18:01 Who Merit is · 21:33 New York and Girl Stars · 22:29 Playing with Miles Davis · 27:00 Forming the band · 33:18 The Hammond B3 · 36:02 Becoming a mother · 38:00 The second act · 39:04 Move to Gotland · 43:01 Music as medicine · 44:01 Celebrating wins · 47:51 What happened after 12 weeks · 49:09 Participants' voices · 01:01:00 Momentum becomes visible · 01:02:46 Choosing your own train · 01:03:14 The wolf finds her pack · 01:05:50 Mirroring courage and identity · 01:08:37 Higher purpose grows · 01:09:42 Self-Determination Theory · 01:14:30 Progress Principle · 01:17:30 Takeaways · 01:18:33 Ignite course in September · 01:19:30 Outro KEY TAKEAWAYS: * When momentum feels distant, the answer is often visibility. You are probably already moving — you just need a way to see it. * The loneliness of creative work has three distinct layers: structure, feedback, and community. Finding one is the start. All three is the goal. * Fifteen minutes of uninterrupted space to speak your truth out loud, with people who genuinely understand, can move something that has been still for years. * Merit Hemmingsson is 85 and still on stage. The third act is wide open. FEATURED GUEST: Merit Hemmingsson, Hammond organist, composer and singer, Swedish Music Hall of Fame 2017 Website: www.meritone.se [https://www.meritone.se] Instagram: @mmmmerit [https://www.instagram.cim/mmmmerit] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xoFJP7qzaMcSAghFZXI4a?si=AqCJM96VR0emKW1LTFE5kw [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xoFJP7qzaMcSAghFZXI4a?si=AqCJM96VR0emKW1LTFE5kw] Merit Sommarprat: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jgGIWQiuo4gDscYxBEVbw?si=52abfbb9eb5d4e30 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5jgGIWQiuo4gDscYxBEVbw?si=52abfbb9eb5d4e30] THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT: Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan): selfdeterminationtheory.org [https://www.selfdeterminationtheory.org] The Progress Principle (Amabile & Kramer), Harvard Business Review: hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins [hbr.org/2011/05/the-power-of-small-wins] Sense of Coherence (Antonovsky): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_coherence [ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sense_of_coherence] Links and resources: Sign up for Backstage, our weekly newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter [https://www.ectahub.net/weekletter] Find us on Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] Did this episode resonate? Share it with a musician, writer, or fellow freelancer who needs to hear it. AND LEAVE US A REVIEW — IT HELPS MORE CREATIVES FIND THE SHOW. SHOW UP. SPEAK UP. AND NEVER MISS THE VICTORY DANCE. CONNECT WITH US Website: www.ectahub.net [https://www.ectahub.net/] Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta] Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Side Hustles, Day Jobs & Creative Guilt

You're talented. You know you are. But talent doesn't pay the rent. In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, hosts Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter) and Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, songwriter, educator, and author of the upcoming The Mindful Songwriter) explore the hidden reality that so many creatives face: balancing artistic dreams with side hustles, day jobs, and the guilt that comes with not creating as much as you'd like. Why do so many artists feel ashamed of having a day job? Why do we glorify struggle? And who benefits from the belief that "real artists" should suffer for their craft? Through personal stories, neuroscience, creative coaching insights, and the fascinating journey of Debbie Harry before Blondie became famous, Karina and Maria unpack what success really means when you're trying to make art and survive at the same time. If you've ever wondered whether you're still a "real creative" while working 40+ hours a week, this episode is for you. Topics Covered Creative Identity vs Employment * Why creativity is more than a career choice * The emotional shock of leaving art school and entering the real world * Feeling embarrassed about having a day job The Myth of the Full-Time Artist * Why we only see the highlight reel * Social media and creative comparison * Redefining success on your own terms The Hidden Cost of Side Hustles * 60-80 hour work weeks * Creative exhaustion and chronic half-burnout * Why so many creatives feel guilty all the time Debbie Harry Before Blondie * Secretarial work, waitressing, and being a Playboy Bunny * Life in 1970s New York City * Building a creative career one small gig at a time The Science of Creativity & Energy * Why mornings often beat midnight for creative work * Decision fatigue and creative overwhelm * The "One Ball at a Time" productivity approach The Authenticity Tax * Why society romanticizes creative struggle * The pressure to suffer in order to be taken seriously * How capitalism benefits from underpaid creatives JOIN THE ECTA COMMUNITY Looking for creative support, accountability, and a place where people actually understand what it's like to balance art and life? Explore https://ectahub.net [https://ectahub.net] And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://ectahub.net/weekletter [https://ectahub.net/weekletter] Connect With Us Instagram, Facebook, Youtube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings CONNECT WITH US Website: www.ectahub.net [https://www.ectahub.net/] Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta] Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Pricing Your Worth: The Money Conversation Every Creative Needs to Have

SOMEONE ASKS WHAT YOU CHARGE. AND YOU TELL THEM. NO ANXIETY. NO WONDERING IF YOU ARE CORRECT. JUST YOU, KNOWING YOUR WORTH. This episode is the money conversation every creative needs to have. Why pricing feels impossible when what you are selling is so personal. What happens when you sign a deal before you understand what it means. And how to walk into any pricing conversation and feel good about what you are doing. We tell the full story of Taylor Swift — from a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania to buying back every note she ever recorded. We look at TLC, Prince, Billy Joel and Dolly Parton. We dig into the psychology of pricing and what it really means to sell results, not hours. And we share concrete tools for the cold call, the negotiation, and the contract. Plus Backstage Community with singer-songwriter and producer Elin Ruth Sigvardsson — on self-doubt, stage fright, the break from music that taught her everything, and how she learned to celebrate her wins. And a free Pricing Conversation Guide to download — something to have in front of you during your next sales call. DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRICING CONVERSATION GUIDE [https://ectahub.net/pricing-conversation-guide] REFERENCES & PEOPLE MENTIONED •         Taylor Swift and the re-recording of her masters •         TLC and the 360 deal — CrazySexyCool (1994) •         Prince — writing “Slave” on his face during the Warner Brothers dispute •         Billy Joel — the accountant story and Elton John taking him on tour •         Dolly Parton — saying no to Elvis on I Will Always Love You to keep her rights •         Robbie Williams — hearing a hit single made with his voice that he had nothing to do with •         Rachel Zoe — “get equity” (Instagram reel) •         Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational — behavioral economics and pricing psychology Elin Ruth Sigvardsson Instagram: @elinruthmusic [https://www.instagram.com/elinruthmusic/] Facebook: Elin Ruth Sigvardsson [https://www.facebook.com/elinruth/?locale=sv_SE] Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/4XLEZe0s7mV0tEBkHWr70y?si=oqVT0NeuSrKffQUeYcLKmw] FIND US Website: ectahub.net [https://ectahub.net] Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter [ectahub.net/weekletter ]Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] YouTube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [http://www.youtube.com/@bigdreamsandlittlethings] PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW AND FOLLOW! #creativepodcast #creativelife #accountability #podcastforcreatives #independentartists #knowyourworth #pricingforfreelancers #creativemotivation CONNECT WITH US Website: www.ectahub.net [https://www.ectahub.net/] Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta] Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Why Creatives Hold Themselves Back

EPISODE OVERVIEW Hosted by Karina Kampe and Maria Wronski-Ellis, Big Dreams & Little Things is the podcast for creatives, freelancers, and solo entrepreneurs who want to move forward one small step at a time. This week, Maria and Karina dive into a deeply human question: Why do we sometimes disappear right when things are finally starting to work? From procrastination and perfectionism to the fear of being fully seen, this episode explores how the nervous system responds to visibility — and why holding back doesn’t always mean failure or laziness. Sometimes, it means we’re protecting something deeply personal. Through the story of Emily Dickinson, reflections on creativity and identity, and insights from psychology and neuroscience, Maria and Karina unpack: * The hidden emotional cost of visibility * Why creatives often fear success more than failure * The tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to stay safe * How accountability and community help us keep creating TOPICS COVERED * Creative visibility and nervous system regulation * Self-sabotage vs self-protection * The psychology of being seen * Emily Dickinson and hidden creative brilliance * Perfectionism and procrastination * Imposter syndrome and identity shifts * Why accountability helps creatives grow * Building creative confidence through small steps * The importance of community for artists and freelancers MEMORABLE QUOTES “Your nervous system is wired for safety — not success.” “Maybe she chose to keep her work whole, even if it meant keeping it hidden.” “Fear doesn’t disappear when you grow. New level, new fear.” “It’s not fearlessness. It’s fear + presence instead of fear + avoidance.” “You don’t have to go from private to public overnight.” RESOURCES MENTIONED 📖 Emily Dickinson’s Poem “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —” If you’ve never read Emily Dickinson before, this poem is such a beautiful doorway into her inner world (and honestly… painfully relatable for creatives trying to share their work gently). 📚 Susan Jeffers Karina references the idea that fear doesn’t disappear as we grow — we simply expand our capacity to move with it. A good starting point: * Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers BACKSTAGE COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT Our creative in focus this week is the illustrator and painter Jenny Svenberg. Picture a dark jazz club in Stockholm. In the back, a woman is sketching fast. Bold colours and pen lines. Quick pencil strokes to capture the music and the faces on stage. This is Jenny at work. CONNECT WITH US Come say hello and share your win of the week — even the tiniest one. Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings FIND US Website: ectahub.net [https://ectahub.net/] Newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter [https://open.acast.com/networks/672b7ff55095c9add9cb73e4/shows/672b895f5095c9add9ce7692/episodes/ectahub.net/weekletter]Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] YouTube: @bigdreamsandlittlethings [http://www.youtube.com/@bigdreamsandlittlethings] #creativepodcast #creativelife #accountability #podcastforcreatives #independentartists #knowyourworth #pricingforfreelancers #creativemotivation CONNECT WITH US Website: www.ectahub.net [https://www.ectahub.net/] Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta] Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Three Acts of Creative Life: Flourishing Through Every Age as an independent creative

Life is a staircase going up. Each act of your creative life has its own challenges and its own gifts. Today we're exploring the acts of creative life — from the invincible energy of your twenties to the refined fire of your later years. How do you stay sane, keep being you, and keep creating through it all? We dive into Jane Fonda's story as a staircase of inspiration, talk about what each act asks of you and gives you, and share what we wish we'd known at the start of Act 2. Plus, in Backstage Community, singer-songwriter Caro Luna shares what keeps her creating and how she celebrates her wins — just as she's about to release her new album Echoes. Loved this episode? Please share it with a creative friend who needs to hear this. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps other creatives find us. For full shownotes, quotes, and takeaways, visit: https://ectahub.net/actsoflife [https://ectahub.net/Actsoflife] Sign up for our weekly newsletter Backstage: https://ectahub.net/weekletter [https://ectahub.net/weekletter] TIME STAMPS 00:00 - Hook: The acts of creative life 01:18 - Intro & Welcome 02:23 - Episode preview: Life acts framework 03:22 - Act 1 (Birth to 30): Feeling invincible 04:10 - Karina & Maria's Act 1 memories 07:38 - Advice we'd give our Act 1 selves 09:31 - Act 2 (30 to 60): The juggle 11:04 - How Act 2 changes your creative work 14:23 - Perimenopause and creativity 16:16 - What we wish we'd known entering Act 2 17:48 - Act 3 (60 to 90): The refined fire 23:24 - Jane Fonda's story: A staircase of inspiration 28:01 - Science: Aging creative brain, play, relationships 30:00 - Discussing Jane Fonda's legacy 32:45 - Backstage Community: Caro Luna 36:43 - Takeaways & wrap-up IN THIS EPISODE * The three acts of creative life and what each one asks of you * Why your twenties feel invincible, your forties feel like juggling fire, and your sixties offer a freedom you couldn't access before * How perimenopause lands right in the middle of your most productive years * Understanding your female cycles and building female friendships on purpose * Jane Fonda's journey from bulimia and people-pleasing to Grace and Frankie at 80 * The science: your brain gets better at pattern recognition and complexity with age, play is a biological requirement, and relationships predict how well you age creatively * Why ageism is stupid and creativity doesn't discriminate with age * Backstage Community with Caro Luna on what keeps her creating and how she celebrates wins BIG DREAMS & LITTLE THINGS Website: https://ectahub.net [https://ectahub.net] Newsletter (Backstage): https://ectahub.net/weekletter [https://ectahub.net/weekletter] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings/ [https://www.instagram.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.facebook.com/bigdreamsandlittlethings] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigdreamsandlittlethings [https://www.youtube.com/@bigdreamsandlittlethings] BACKSTAGE COMMUNITY: CARO LUNA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolunamusic/ [https://www.instagram.com/carolunamusic/] Website: https://carolunamusic.com [https://carolunamusic.com] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jnrZ9lbIrLNmIeljaGhlM?si=Hgo90D32SN6foHs4GUrGtA [https://open.spotify.com/artist/3jnrZ9lbIrLNmIeljaGhlM?si=Hgo90D32SN6foHs4GUrGtA] RESOURCES MENTIONED Jane Fonda on Wiser Than Me Podcast: https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus/ [https://www.lemonadamedia.com/show/wiser-than-me-with-julia-louis-dreyfus/] Alive Inside (Documentary): * Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHKcDWw0d4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbHKcDWw0d4] * Streaming platforms: Netflix, Amazon Prime, or rent on various platforms Grace and Frankie (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/80017537 [https://www.netflix.com/title/80017537] Stuart Brown's TED Talk on Play: https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_play_is_more_than_just_fun [https://www.ted.com/talks/stuart_brown_play_is_more_than_just_fun] Harvard Study of Adult Development: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org [https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org] Julia Cameron / The Artist's Way: https://juliacameronlive.com [https://juliacameronlive.com] CONNECT WITH US Website: www.ectahub.net [https://www.ectahub.net/] Podcast Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.instagram.com/Bigdreams.ecta] Podcast Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta [https://www.facebook.com/Bigdreams.ecta] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.