Not Us Podcast

From Burnout to Artist: Nikki Edwards on finally living her childhood dream

What happens when the safe career you spent years building suddenly feels completely wrong? Or worse… what if it never really fit you in the first place? This week on Not Us Podcast, we’re joined by London-based mixed-media artist Nikki Edwards to talk about burnout, bad fits, creative identity, and the long, messy road back to herself. Before becoming a full-time artist, Nikki worked in top advertising agencies across South Africa, London, and Sydney. On paper, she was successful, in demand, and living an exciting creative life. In reality? She found herself stuck in a pattern of burnout, breakdowns, time off, and starting over. Sometimes in new jobs. Sometimes in new cities. But never quite able to outrun the childhood dream she’d had since she was three years old. Today, somewhere between unfinished creative projects, experimentation, uncertainty, and finally trusting herself, she’s building a life that feels far more honest. The strange thing is, none of this was new. At three years old, Nikki already knew what she wanted to be: an artist. We talk about: * choosing the “safe” career path * why creative industries can quietly break people * AI panic and what it means for artists * being South African abroad and apparently “too direct” * unfinished projects and creative guilt * comparison, fear, and starting over * why physical art matters more than ever * and what happens when you stop ignoring yourself This isn’t one of those neat “quit your job and follow your passion” conversations. It’s about the awkward middle bit. The uncertainty. The grief. The identity wobble. The practical fear. The mess. And sometimes having to navigate all of it a little naively just to keep going. Because becoming yourself often takes much longer than expected. Guest: Nikki EdwardsLondon-based mixed-media artist working from Hackney Downs Studios. Nikki’s details IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/ [https://www.instagram.com/nikki_edwards_studio_london/] Website:www.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.uk [https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nikkiedwardsstudio.co.uk%2F%3Futm_source%3Dig%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_content%3Dlink_in_bio%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnZ1aPdyPfxshIuL4DL5FJ37UQtsEznAAl_-o9FIvVvmAq2trRcFNcIpOmo-Q_aem_zHbncsBCnCU0hwyvIbW1aQ&e=AUAaTLIGgHDQuULPDGSTou8eWYx5B7wP77GDCPYlLZ3-lxD5w1X6jIT1yagTKzXwT7B-4hjqIr59YroD0igPJ32YyIspfT3A5CjPK_ei6e9RxPlG7Sp-I5Gm30jWfz-ctIdHpaxPyp6U] Email: nikkiedwardsstudio@gmail.com #CreativeBurnout #ArtistLife #CareerChange #WomenInCreative #Creativity #LondonArtist #NotUsPodcast

Why Saying No Feels So Hard | Boundaries, People-Pleasing & The Power of a Clean No

Why does saying no feel so loaded? This week, we talk about the power of a clean no: the kind that does not come with a 20-minute explanation, three days of guilt, or a fake yes that turns into resentment. We unpack people-pleasing, overcommitting, boundaries, women being conditioned to make others comfortable, and the difference between saying yes from truth versus saying yes because you are scared to disappoint someone. It gets funny, personal, and very honest, because apparently even a simple “no” comes with childhood conditioning, cultural rules, body signals, guilt, and one highly questionable David Beckham dream. A real conversation about letting your yes be yes, and your no be no. Keywords: boundaries, saying no, people pleasing, clean no, self trust, relationships, women, communication Hashtags: #NotUsPodcast #Boundaries #PowerOfNo #PeoplePleasing #CleanNo

Motherhood, Choice & The Mother Dilemma | Not Us Podcast

This week, we’re talking about motherhood. Not just the obvious version. Not just birth, babies, and biology. We’re talking about the bigger question: what makes someone a mother? Neither of us has human children, but this conversation gets personal fast. We talk about wanting babies, not wanting babies, fertility treatment, adoption, fur babies, same-sex parenting, single mothers, and the women who mother us in different ways throughout life. It’s funny, honest, emotional, and occasionally ridiculous, because apparently even Mother’s Day can’t escape sister chaos. For anyone who mothers, wanted to mother, chose not to, couldn’t, adopted, nurtures, protects, guides, or loves something with their whole chest: this one’s for you. Keywords: motherhood, Mother’s Day, fertility, adoption, fur moms, same-sex parenting, choice, women, family Hashtags: #NotUsPodcast #Motherhood #MothersDay #ChoiceAndChange

Midlife Crisis Or Midlife Unraveling? | The Truth About Change, Identity & Self-Acceptance

Is it a midlife crisis… or is life finally asking you to stop pretending? This week, we’re talking about midlife unraveling: the moment old roles, old armor, and old ways of coping stop working. We get into Brené Brown’s take on midlife, the difference between crisis and unraveling, why self-acceptance matters more than external validation, and why change can feel like being dragged through a shopping mall with your heels in the floor. Very dignified. Very human. This episode is about: * resisting change * letting go of old armor * choosing curiosity over certainty * ambition, self-worth, and validation * becoming more honest about who you are now A real sister conversation about growing up again, but with better shoes and slightly more swearing. Keywords: midlife unraveling, midlife crisis, self-acceptance, change, identity, growth, women in midlife, Not Us Podcast Hashtags: #NotUsPodcast #MidlifeUnraveling #MidlifeCrisis #SelfGrowth #ChangeAndChoice

Outgrowing Your Life, Friendships & Relationships | Not Us Podcast

Sometimes the hardest choices are not about what is wrong. They are about what no longer fits. This week, we’re talking about outgrowing parts of your life: friendships, relationships, work, routines, old patterns, and even versions of yourself. We get into: * why some endings are soft and others are full drama * the guilt that comes with choosing yourself * staying too long because you don’t want to hurt people * how to tell the difference between truth and wound response * and why outgrowing something is not failure, it is movement It’s a big conversation about change, compassion, self-honesty, and learning how to let go without making yourself or anyone else the villain. Keywords: outgrowing your life, friendship breakups, relationships, change, self-honesty, choosing yourself, life choices, growth Hashtags: #NotUsPodcast #OutgrowingYourLife #ChoosingYourself #Friendships #Relationships #Growth