No One’s Coming to Tell You You’re Ready — Jonathan Schüßler on Building a Creative Career Without Overthinking

No One’s Coming to Tell You You’re Ready — Jonathan Schüßler on Building a Creative Career Without Overthinking

🖤 Try Ember for 7 days free ⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.studio-ember.co/pages/ember] 🖤 In this episode of Maverick Mind, I’m joined by Jonathan Schüßler — a wedding photographer and videographer who built his career not through a perfectly mapped-out plan, but by committing to something and figuring it out as he went. Because at some point on a creative path, you realise… no one’s actually going to tell you you’re ready. Jonathan’s journey started in an unexpected way — he originally set out to buy a guitar, but left with a camera instead. Within a few months, he was shooting his first wedding, learning in real time and building from experience. What followed wasn’t instant success, but a process of trial and error, investing in his growth, and continuing to show up — even in a highly competitive and saturated industry. In this conversation, we explore: * how to develop your style while you’re still learning * dealing with self-doubt and never quite feeling satisfied with your work * what it really takes to build a sustainable creative business * and how to find the balance between what people need and what you want to deliver We also talk about the shift from focusing purely on the craft, to focusing on the people you’re creating for — and how that can completely change the way you approach your work. This is a conversation about committing to your path, taking action before you feel ready, and learning as you go. Follow MAVERICK MIND⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindpod/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindco/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or my personal page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.elliefoden.com/] Follow Jonathan on Instagram ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_schuessler] Web - www.jonathanschuessler.com / www.chuzlaire.com

Maybe Your Blockages Go Back Further Than You Think? Chris Nielsen on Past Lives & Tchaikovsky

In this episode of Maverick Mind, I’m joined by Chris Nielsen — whose path spans classical ballet, cultural communication, and now the world of therapy and past life regression. This conversation starts with a question: What if some of the things we struggle with don’t just come from this lifetime? Chris’s journey began in the highly structured world of classical ballet, before reaching a point where something no longer fit — not because she didn’t love it, but because she realised she wasn’t meant to follow a path built on imitation. From there, her path took a series of turns — through theatre, into cultural communication, including work at the Cannes Film Festival, and eventually into the world of therapy and healing. Now, her work explores deeper layers of identity, emotional patterns, and the possibility that some of what we carry might go further back than we think. In this conversation, we explore: * what it feels like to be in the right world, but the wrong role * how to navigate identity shifts and leave a path that once felt like everything * following intuition when it doesn’t make logical sense * and how exploring deeper patterns can shift the way we understand ourselves Chris also shares her experience of past life regression, including what she believes to be a past life as composer Tchaikovsky, what she’s uncovered through that process and how she shared that through her book 'Being Pyotr Ilyich'. This isn’t a conversation about what you should believe. It’s an invitation to stay open, get curious, and explore a different perspective on identity, healing, and the stories we carry. Take what resonates, and leave the rest. Follow MAVERICK MIND⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindpod/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindco/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or my personal page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://www.elliefoden.com/] 🖤 Try Ember for 7 days free ⁠⁠here ⁠⁠ [https://www.studio-ember.co/pages/ember]🖤 Follow Chris on Instagram ⁠⁠here [https://www.instagram.com/chrisnielsen.official]⁠⁠ Find her website⁠ ⁠here [https://chrisnielsenbooks.com/]⁠⁠

Why You Struggle to Communicate Your Ideas and How to Find Your Voice with Sherry Fang

If you’ve ever struggled to articulate what you do, explain your work clearly, or feel truly confident in your voice — this episode is for you. In this conversation, I’m joined by communication coach Sherry Fang, who helps creatives, founders, and experts translate their ideas into something that actually lands — whether that’s in their content, their brand, or their work. Because the truth is, communication isn’t just about clarity. It’s about identity. Sherry has worked with everyone from doctors and PhDs to founders and creatives, helping them communicate their ideas, build their message, and feel more confident being seen. She’s also the creator of Soft Power Project — a podcast and coaching practice exploring a more grounded, intentional approach to confidence and self-expression. In this episode, we explore: * why so many creatives struggle to express themselves clearly * how to find your voice without losing your authenticity * the tension between being understood and staying true to yourself * what happens when you start putting a price on your work * and how to move from overthinking into clarity and confidence This is a conversation about self-expression, identity, and learning how to communicate your work in a way that actually connects. Follow MAVERICK MIND⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindpod/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindco/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or my personal page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://maverickmind.elliefoden.com/] 🖤 Try Ember for 7 days free ⁠⁠here ⁠⁠ [https://www.studio-ember.co/pages/ember] 🖤 Follow Sherry on Instagram ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/soft_power_project]

The Creative Pivot: From Ancient Craft to Modern Story with Regina Linke

In this episode of Maverick Mind, I’m joined by author and illustrator Regina Linke — whose work sits at the intersection of art, storytelling, and ancient philosophy. Regina creates in the traditional Chinese gongbi painting style — a highly detailed form of brush painting that’s been used for storytelling for thousands of years. But her path into this world wasn’t conventional. After a career in marketing and technology, she began studying this classical art form in her mid-thirties after moving to Taiwan with her family. What followed was a creative pivot that would completely reshape her life. After starting as an instagram account, her bestselling series The Oxherd Boy brings together influences from Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, turning complex philosophical ideas into simple, beautiful stories that both children and adults can connect with. In this conversation, we explore: * what it really looks like to start a creative career later in life * the discipline of learning a traditional craft — and when to make it your own * the balance between honouring tradition and creating something new * how to move through the fear of sharing your work * and why creativity often begins with following a path that doesn’t make logical sense This is a conversation about trusting your path, embracing the long game, and allowing your work to evolve in its own way. Follow MAVERICK MIND⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindpod/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindco/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or my personal page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://maverickmind.elliefoden.com/] Try Ember for 7 days free ⁠⁠here ⁠⁠ [https://www.studio-ember.co/pages/ember] Regina on Instagram ⁠⁠The Oxherd Boy [https://www.instagram.com/oxherdboy/] | Regina Linke Art [https://www.instagram.com/reginalinkeart/] Find her website⁠ ⁠here [https://reginalinke.com/]⁠⁠

Get Out of Your Head: Alexandra Beller on Feeling Your Creativity, Not Just Doing It.

🔥 Try EMBER for 7 days free ⁠⁠⁠here ⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.studio-ember.co/pages/ember] 🔥 What happens when creativity stops being something you feel… and becomes something you just do? In this conversation, choreographer, director and somatic practitioner Alexandra Beller joins me to explore the difference between executing the work and actually being inside the creative process. Alexandra has spent decades working with movement — first as a professional dancer touring internationally, and later as a choreographer, teacher and somatic practitioner helping people reconnect with their bodies as a source of creativity, insight and meaning. We talk about how many creatives are trained to prioritise external metrics — how something looks, how it’s judged, whether it’s successful — while losing touch with the internal signals that make creative work feel alive in the first place. In this episode we explore: • The difference between doing the movement and actually feeling it • Why many creatives end up creating from the head instead of the body • How productivity culture disconnects us from our natural creative rhythm • The balance between intuition and analytical thinking in the creative process • Why slowing down is often the key to deeper creativity and clarity Follow MAVERICK MIND⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindpod/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/maverickmindco/]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or my personal page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/elliefoden]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [http://maverickmind.elliefoden.com/] Connect with Alexandra: Web: https://alexandrabeller.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandrabellerdances TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelabanista YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8suG0TLGKqufov8IpqLrKw