160. The Neuroscience of Pleasure, Desire, and Creativity

160. The Neuroscience of Pleasure, Desire, and Creativity

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] SHOW NOTES: THE NEUROSCIENCE OF PLEASURE, DESIRE, AND CREATIVITY In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores the fascinating connection between creativity, pleasure, and the brain's reward system. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, art therapy, and her own recent experience completing a new book manuscript, Amy discusses how creativity activates the same neural pathways associated with fundamental human pleasures such as food and sex. She explains how dopamine, anticipation, awe, and artistic engagement contribute to motivation, joy, and overall well-being. Amy also shares practical behavioral strategies she used to complete a major writing project, including reward systems, structured scheduling, environmental design, and values-based action. Along the way, she offers encouragement for anyone working toward a meaningful creative goal. The conversation highlights the work of researchers such as Daisy Fancourt and explores why making art is not a luxury but an essential part of a healthy, engaged human life. In This Episode * Why the arts activate the brain's reward circuitry * The role of the nucleus accumbens and dopamine in pleasure and motivation * How anticipation increases enjoyment and creative engagement * Why looking at art slowly can deepen pleasure and insight * The neuroscience of awe, wonder, and peak experiences * Stendhal Syndrome and being overwhelmed by beauty * How creativity promotes new perspectives and unexpected insights * The concept of "cross-training" your brain through artistic activities * Why making art is beneficial even when the result is imperfect * Practical psychology strategies for completing large creative projects * Using rewards, schedules, and environmental cues to support motivation * The importance of continuing to live fully while pursuing meaningful goals Key Takeaways * Pleasure is a powerful driver of behavior and creativity. * Anticipation often creates as much enjoyment as the experience itself. * Art engages neural pathways associated with reward, motivation, and learning. * Looking at art and making art can increase experiences of awe, wonder, and insight. * Creative activities serve as cognitive cross-training that may improve performance in other areas of life. * You do not need artistic skill to benefit from art making. * Small, consistent creative practices can support emotional well-being, brain health, and psychological flexibility. Resources Mentioned * Daisy Fancourt's research on arts and health * The World Health Organization report on arts and health * Episode 125 featuring sex therapist and art therapist Skylar Collie * The Premack Principle * Flow states and peak experiences * Art journaling as a daily creativity practice Reflection Questions * What creative activity consistently brings you pleasure? * How might you build more anticipation into your creative life? * When was the last time you spent several minutes truly looking at a piece of art? * What would happen if you gave yourself permission to make imperfect art? * What creative practice could become a daily ritual of joy and connection? Connect with Amy * Modern Creative Woman [https://moderncreativewoman.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Amy Backos Psychology Practice If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a creative friend and subscribe to The Modern Creative Woman wherever you listen to podcasts. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

159. Season 4 Premiere: Creativity, Meaning, & Art Therapy...Answers to Your Most Asked Questions

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] Season 4 Premiere: Creativity, Meaning, and Art Therapy—Answers to Your Most Asked Questions Welcome to Season 4 of The Modern Creative Woman podcast. As we begin another year together, I'm reflecting on what an incredible journey this podcast has been. What started as an attempt to put words to something I have always understood through experience—the transformative power of art and creativity—has become a global conversation. The podcast is now heard in 114 countries and territories and more than 1,200 cities around the world. Thank you for being part of this creative community. For this season premiere, I'm answering some of the questions I hear most often about art therapy, creativity, and living a meaningful life. We explore what art therapy actually is, why creativity matters for our wellbeing, how to overcome creative blocks, and how art can help us navigate perfectionism, overwhelm, and uncertainty. Whether you're new to art therapy or have been listening for years, this episode offers practical insights into using creativity as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. In This Episode We Discuss: * What art therapy is and how it differs from taking an art class * The evidence supporting art therapy and creative engagement * Why creativity is essential to wellbeing and human flourishing * Understanding creative blocks and what to do when you feel stuck * Why so many women lose touch with their creativity * The role of emotional labor, responsibilities, and midlife transitions * How art can help women who consistently put others first * Journaling as a creative and reflective practice * Whether colors and images have universal meanings * What happens in the brain and nervous system when we make art * How art can reduce stress and support emotional regulation * Why the language we use about feeling "overwhelmed" matters * Becoming an art therapist: training, education, and career pathways * How art therapy can help with perfectionism * Why you do not need to be an artist to benefit from art therapy * Creativity, purpose, values, and finding meaning in uncertain times * Insights from Carl Jung on creativity, development, and self-discovery Key Takeaway Creativity is not a luxury. It is a form of wellness, self-discovery, and meaning-making. You do not need to be talented, inspired, or even confident to begin. The creative process itself offers a pathway toward greater self-understanding, psychological flexibility, and a richer engagement with life. Resources Mentioned * Episode featuring sex therapist Skyler on desire and self-discovery * Upcoming book: The Art Therapy Toolkit * Information about year-long creative coaching and art therapy intensives Connect with Dr. Amy Backos Share your questions about creativity, art therapy, or living a more creative life. Future listener questions may be featured on the podcast. You can connect with Amy on Instagram at @DrAmyBackos and learn more through The Modern Creative Woman community. If your goal is maximum listener growth, I would actually pair a strong SEO title with a curiosity-driven subtitle: Why Women Lose Touch with Their Creativity (and How to Find It Again): Answers to Your Most Asked Questions About Art Therapy. That title captures the central tension running throughout the entire episode and is likely to resonate with exactly the women you're trying to reach. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

158. Thoughts Are Not Facts: New Relationship with Your Mind

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] In this episode of The Modern Creative Woman Podcast, Amy Backos explores one of the most powerful concepts in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): cognitive defusion. What happens when you stop treating your thoughts like facts? What changes when you learn to observe your mind instead of obeying it? Amy walks listeners through the neuroscience of memory, thought formation, and perception, using the metaphor of a beach visualization to demonstrate how vividly the brain can generate experiences that feel real — even when they are simply mental events. From there, she explains the difference between cognitive fusion and cognitive defusion, and why learning to “hold thoughts lightly” can dramatically improve psychological flexibility, creativity, and peace of mind. This episode dives into the common fused thought patterns many women experience, including: * Impostor syndrome and the “phony intellectual” narrative * Upper limit thoughts that emerge when growth and visibility increase * Time-based thoughts that delay meaningful action * The deeply familiar “I’m not good enough” story * How self-critical thinking impacts creativity and emotional wellbeing Amy also explores how these thought patterns develop through childhood experiences, social conditioning, survival strategies, and the brain’s natural tendency toward comparison and prediction. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult thoughts, she explains how ACT encourages a different relationship with thinking altogether. Throughout the episode, she shares practical examples from her work as a psychologist and art therapist, including how creativity and art-making can help people separate from painful thoughts and move into a more observer-based perspective. You’ll also hear: * Why thoughts are biological processes, not objective truths * How creativity increases adaptability and resilience * Why the brain prefers familiarity, even when it is painful * The role of relapse and setbacks in real change * How metaphors can help create distance from difficult thoughts * Why observing thoughts creates more freedom than fighting them Amy closes the episode with a powerful art therapy exercise from her upcoming book, The Art Therapy Toolkit. Using metaphor and collage, listeners are invited to visually explore the relationship between themselves and their thoughts. Whether your thoughts feel like weather, software, paint, or trees in a forest, this exercise helps cultivate perspective, insight, and psychological flexibility. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, perfectionism, procrastination, or the feeling that your thoughts control your life, this episode offers a compassionate and deeply practical framework for relating to your mind differently. In This Episode * Cognitive fusion vs. cognitive defusion * Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) * Psychological flexibility * Creativity and mental health * Impostor syndrome * Self-critical thinking * Art therapy interventions * Metaphor and visual thinking * The neuroscience of memory and thought * Creativity as a human need Mentioned in This Episode * The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks * The work of Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes on impostor phenomenon * Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) * The Transtheoretical Model of Change Connect with Amy * Instagram: @DoctorAmyBackos * Website: The Modern Creative Woman [https://moderncreativewoman.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another creative woman who may need this reminder: your thoughts are not facts, and creativity begins the moment you create space between yourself and the stories your mind tells you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

157. The Creative Power of an Analog Summer

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] What would happen if you stopped documenting your life long enough to actually experience it? In this episode, we explore the growing cultural movement toward an “analog summer” — intentionally stepping away from constant digital stimulation and reconnecting with slower, more tactile, deeply human ways of living. From knitting and painting to playing cards, baking, reading, walking, and spending time in meaningful third spaces, this conversation is about reclaiming attention, creativity, and presence in a world designed to fragment all three. Amy shares reflections on wanting to be fully present during her son’s last summer before college, the surprising relief of taking several days away from her phone, and the neuroscience behind why our devices are making it harder to focus, create, rest, and connect. This episode also explores: * the psychological cost of constant scrolling * dopamine loops and digital overstimulation * attention fragmentation and “brain rot” * the loss of third spaces in modern life * why multitasking is damaging to the brain * stress hormones, cortisol, and emotional overload * how excessive screen time impacts creativity and cognition * rebuilding cognitive reserve through novelty, art, movement, and mindfulness * practical ways to create your own analog summer You’ll also hear simple, realistic strategies for reducing screen time without perfectionism or shame: * switching back to a traditional alarm clock * leaving books and art supplies visible around the house * replacing scrolling with tactile activities * creating environments that make analog living easier and more appealing * intentionally seeking out novelty, beauty, and in-person experiences This episode is ultimately an invitation to reclaim your attention and return to the kinds of experiences that nourish creativity, emotional health, and meaningful connection. Because creativity is one of the most analog experiences we can have. In This Episode * Why your phone feels impossible to put down * The neuroscience behind compulsive scrolling * What happens to the brain during chronic overstimulation * How digital life has replaced many of our third spaces * Why boredom, slowness, and novelty matter for creativity * Small shifts that can dramatically improve focus and mood * How analog experiences help regulate the nervous system Mentioned in This Episode * David Sedaris * Architectural Digest * Enso drawing * Fine Points yarn shop in Cleveland * Kitty Cotton’s “55 Ways I’m Unplugging This Summer” Reflection Question What would an analog summer look like for you? What are 55 things you could do instead of looking at your phone? Support the Podcast If you enjoy The Modern Creative Woman Podcast, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. You can also support the show through monthly sponsorships, which help keep the podcast completely commercial free. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]

156. Art Is Political: Creativity, Democracy, and the Courage to Speak

Ask me a question or let me know what you think! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/fan_mail/new] In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Modern Creative Woman, Dr. Amy Backos explores the inseparable relationship between art and politics, and why creativity is not a luxury—but a necessity for a healthy society. From political cartoons and protest imagery to community art and everyday creative expression, art has always been a catalyst for social change, empathy, and revolution. Amy reflects on the alarming decline of arts education in schools, the growing body of research connecting art to physical and mental health, and the urgent need to reclaim creativity as an essential human tool for understanding ourselves and engaging with the world around us. This episode also explores: * Why arts education matters for democracy and critical thinking * The role of creativity in empathy, civic engagement, and problem solving * How images and symbols communicate powerful truths * The importance of having imperfect but meaningful conversations about civil rights and democracy * The Japanese Zen art practice of the Enso and its connection to mindfulness and imperfection * How perfectionism can silence creativity and become a barrier to change * The connection between inner peace, artistic practice, and collective healing * Updates and inspiration from The Art Therapy Toolkit Amy also shares a simple and meaningful creative invitation: creating your own Enso circle as a practice of presence, self-expression, and letting go of perfectionism. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, this episode is a reminder that creativity belongs to everyone—and that engaging with art can become a powerful act of healing, connection, and participation in the world around us. In This Episode * The devaluing of arts education and why it matters * Art as communication, protest, and transformation * Political cartoons, symbolism, and storytelling through images * Creativity as a tool for health and resilience * The Enso circle and the beauty of imperfection * Why peaceful inner environments matter for collective change * How small conversations create meaningful social impact Mentioned in This Episode * The Japanese tradition of Enso art * Do Better by Rachel Ricketts * The Art Therapy Toolkit by Amy Backos (in press) Creative Reflection Prompt Where do art and social change intersect in your own life? What conversations, emotions, or hopes are asking to be expressed creatively right now? Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2199359/support] Explore the Modern Creative Woman Community https://moderncreativewoman.com [https://arttherapycentersf.com/] Free Goodies and Subscribe to the Monthly Newsletter https://moderncreativewoman.com/subscribe-to-the-creative-woman/ [https://mcusercontent.com/53c5579a5feca0090377003c7/files/b4f5b916-6160-01d5-e760-40b1327eac06/Modern_Creative_Woman_Manifesta.pdf] Connect with Dr. Amy on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/ [https://www.instagram.com/dramybackos/]