Building the Creative Life

ep 216: Stop Negging Yourself and Watch for the Wins

Building the Creative Life is a podcast about choosing to prioritize creativity as we build a life that supports the lens of empathy, truth, joy, kindness, and anti-greed. In this week’s episode, Chrishaun shares her experience at BBG Con (Board Games and Geeks convention). Jenn talks about selling out of her books at River City Witch Market. They reflect on what they’ve learned and accomplished since the beginning of the season and discuss plans for the future. Stuff we referenced in this episode: BBG [https://tabletop.events/conventions/bgg.con-2025] Witch Market [https://www.facebook.com/events/diversity-richmond/eclectic-witch-market/1618612228735835/] Play Dead Pottery [https://www.instagram.com/playdeadpottery/?hl=en] Killem with Kitsch [https://www.instagram.com/killemwithkitsch/] Painted Wings Publishing [https://www.paintedwingspublishing.com/] Getting Witch With It in Salem [https://anytimeauthorpromotionsevents.com/getting-witchy-with-it-in-salem/] To learn more about Chrishaun’s games and the world of The Shaman States of America: linktr.ee/caramelsugarevil For info about Jenn’s writing: www.JennLessmann.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! @CaramelSugarEvil @JennLessmannAuthor

ep 215: Completing projects

Building the Creative Life is a podcast about choosing to prioritize creativity as we build a life that supports the lens of empathy, truth, joy, kindness, and anti greed. In this week’s episode, Chrishaun reflects on validation she’s received in her spiritual life and then talks about participating in the Breathless Jam with a new game. Jenn shares her struggle with a creative hangover in the wake of finishing her third book and how she worked through it to ultimately take advantage of a new opportunity. Chrishaun talks about the concept of “active rest” and maintaining 5-7 streams of income to help balance the creative life. Chrishaun’s favorite things were the TikTok trend about Gingers being Black, playing DOOM: the Dark Ages and making barbacoa. Jenn’s favorite things were the casting announcement for the Buffy reboot and watching Poker Face on Peacock. Stuff we referenced in this episode: Andor [https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-faba988a-a9f5-45f2-a074-0775a7d6f67a?distributionPartner=google] Breathless Jam [https://itch.io/jam/breathless-jam] Rocking with Mark [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02aDhetIi7s] Pottery by Danielle [https://www.tiktok.com/@potterybydanielle] Buffy Reboot Casting [https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-pilot-hulu-ryan-kiera-armstrong-1236399432/] Slayers: a Buffyverse Story on Audible [https://www.audible.com/pd/Slayers-A-Buffyverse-Story-Audiobook/B0CGJ1DNQ1] Poker Face [https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/poker-face] Twisted Metal [https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/twisted-metal] DOOM: The Dark Ages [https://doom.bethesda.net/en-US/the-dark-ages] To learn more about Chrishaun’s games and the world of The Shaman States of America: linktr.ee/caramelsugarevil For info about Jenn’s writing: www.JennLessmann.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! @CaramelSugarEvil @JennLessmannAuthor

ep 214: Reducing Anxiety

Building the Creative Life is a podcast about choosing to prioritize creativity as we build a life that supports the lens of empathy, truth, joy, kindness, and anti greed. In this week’s episode, Chrishaun discusses the steps she’s taken to reduce her anxiety, physically and mentally. She reflects on events of the last few months and how they have affected her. Having done emotional and spiritual work to process things, she describes the physical effects of anxiety and what she plans to do to manage it.  Her newest project is going to be an apocalyptic monster-hunting/journaling game within the Shaman State world she created. Jenn talks about attending a local author fair at a winery that was hosted by an indie bookstore. Her favorite thing this week was Warner Brothers’ announcement of the Practical Magic sequel. Chrishaun’s favorite thing was the anniversary of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef. She’s loving the way she’s changed since that time. Stuff we referenced in this episode: JuiceLand [https://www.juiceland.com/] Ohno Coho [https://www.youtube.com/@OhnoCoho] Harlan Ellison [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_No_Mouth,_and_I_Must_Scream] Everything Shower [https://www.realsimple.com/everything-shower-7559494] Andor [https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-faba988a-a9f5-45f2-a074-0775a7d6f67a?distributionPartner=google] The Last of Us [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3581920/episodes/?season=2&ref_=ttep] Practical Magic 2 [https://www.tiktok.com/@warnerbros/video/7501362763227254062] To learn more about Chrishaun’s games and the world of The Shaman States of America: linktr.ee/caramelsugarevil For info about Jenn’s writing: www.JennLessmann.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! @CaramelSugarEvil @JennLessmannAuthor

ep 213: Enjoying Yourself

Building the Creative Life is a podcast about choosing to prioritize creativity as we build a life that supports the lens of empathy, truth, joy, kindness, and anti greed. In this week’s episode, Jenn shares updates on her book sales and her first attempt at Facebook ads. Chrishaun discusses going to Leander Con and talking with other gamers about what they look for in a new game. She’s excited to try building a new duelist game based on one she played there. They discuss the class action suit Stonemaier Games has joined to sue the Trump administration over the tariffs on goods from China and the effects these tariffs are having on small businesses. Chrishaun shares a new plan for completing four projects before her next assignment. Jenn and Chrishaun discuss the challenges of doing their work outside of the house, and what that means for the way they interact with people and present themselves. Stuff we referenced in this episode: Peeps, Legos, and Block Tech at Five Below Duelists of Darkwana by Martin Wolt [https://darkwana.com/] Old Navy Pixie Pants [https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=551152032#pdp-page-content] Levi 510 bootcut jeans [https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/clothing/women/jeans/bootcut/c/levi_clothing_women_jeans_bootcut] Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder [https://danessamyricksbeauty.com/products/yummy-skin-blurring-balm-powder?variant=49427559710967] Yummy Skin Moisture Repair Balm Serum [https://danessamyricksbeauty.com/products/yummy-skin-moisture-repair-balm-serum] Unseen Sunscreen Stick SPF 40 [https://supergoop.com/products/unseen-clear-sunscreen-stick?variant=40758203154530] Colour Case Cosmetic Paint Palette The Essentials [https://www.beautybay.com/p/made-by-mitchell/colour-case-cosmetic-paint-palette-the-essentials/] Bailey Sarian [https://www.youtube.com/baileysarian] To learn more about Chrishaun’s games and the world of The Shaman States of America: linktr.ee/caramelsugarevil For info about Jenn’s writing: www.JennLessmann.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! @CaramelSugarEvil @JennLessmannAuthor

ep 212: Taking a Breath

Building the Creative Life is a podcast about choosing to prioritize creativity as we build a life that supports the lens of empathy, truth, joy, kindness, and anti greed. In this week’s episode, Chrishaun and Jenn talk about protein coffee and other ways to take care of themselves while they work towards new creative goals and projects. Chrishaun talks about changing her plans–including doing her work on the grounds of her church instead of at home. She shares the challenges she faced in shifting the way she approaches her job and accepts the fact that sometimes existing in a public space is enough. Jenn and Chrishaun talk about current events (Juan Abrego Garcia), remembering to take a moment to celebrate good news and breathe. Both Jenn and Chrishaun share plans for attending conventions in the next few months. Chrishaun shares her adventures in car buying with Bill.  Jenn’s favorite thing was working with her tarot artist and beta readers, and watching The Studio. Chrishaun’s favorite thing was rewatching Silicon Valley. She also got excited about China promoting direct warehouse sales to help people get around the tariffs. Stuff we referenced in this episode: Select Protein Powder [https://www.amazon.com/PEScience-Protein-Premium-Chocolate-Serving/dp/B07DVS4WJQ/?th=1] Javvy Coffee [https://try.javvycoffee.com/] How to Draw Adorable [https://carliannecreates.com/products/how-to-draw-adorable-joyful-lessons-for-creating-cute-art] LeanderCon [https://tabletop.events/conventions/leander-bg-con-2025] FlingCon [https://flingcon.com/] RavenCon [https://www.ravencon.com/] Getting Witchy With It in Salem [https://anytimeauthorpromotionsevents.com/getting-witchy-with-it-in-salem/] Silicon Valley [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2575988/] The Studio [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23649128/] Glaze - anti-AI software [https://glaze.cs.uchicago.edu/aboutus.html] CoreyxKenshin [https://www.youtube.com/@CoryxKenshin] and The Monsters We Make [https://monsterswemake.com/] To learn more about Chrishaun’s games and the world of The Shaman States of America: linktr.ee/caramelsugarevil For info about Jenn’s writing: www.JennLessmann.com Follow us on Instagram and TikTok! @CaramelSugarEvil @JennLessmannAuthor