Using Pain to Create Art (What No One Tells You)

Part 1- The Fear of Being Seen: The Artist’s Achilles Heel

Why does visibility feels so uncomfortable for creatives? Ep 6: This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation on what it means to show up as yourself, and why that discomfort is necessary for transformation. In this Christmas special episode, I talk about something I’ve run from most of my life: being seen. I share why I disappeared from TikTok for two years after my West African fantasy series, The Ones Before, went viral, and how starting this podcast has forced me to confront the parts of myself I’ve been hiding. How shame vs. vulnerability shapes our lives, and how the “observer effect” reveals a character’s (and our own) true arc. If you’ve ever held back because you didn’t want to be perceived incorrectly… enjoy dear friend.

Part 2- The Silence Between Words: How Writers Create Rhythm in Their Writing

Ep 5: Writing isn’t just about what you say... it’s about how it sounds. In Part 2 of the “music of writing” series, I explore how rhythm, silence, pacing, and emotional intention shape the way stories feel. I break down examples from The Road, Misery, The Social Network, The Handmaid’s Tale pilot, All Quiet on the Western Front, and an excerpt from my own fantasy series The Ones Before to show how writers create musicality on the page; through breath, tempo, punctuation, and tone. If you’re a writer, storyteller, or someone trying to understand your voice, this episode is for you. Watch the full episode on YouTube Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts TikTok: @imthechelsea Instagram: @mamifpodcast

How to Make Music with Words: The Sound of Being Alive

Life is musical, therefore writing isn’t just about words, but the music hidden in the silence between them. Ep. 4: In this episode, I explore how listening, pacing, and emotion shape the musicality of our stories, and what it means to hear the sound of being alive. Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts Watch the full episodes on YouTube: @meandmyimaginaryfriends TikTok: @imthechelsea Instagram: @mamifpodcast

How to find your WHY, and what’s been stopping you

What’s your WHY? What's the thing that makes everything you do… worth doing. No tricks, only treats here! Ep. 3: Halloween Special! In this episode of Me and My Imaginary Friends, I talk about how to find your “why,” or your North Star, through four lenses: • My lived experiences and what I’ve learned along the way • The symbolism of Polaris, the North Star • The Igbo belief system • And Toph Beifong’s ATLA story arc And of course, it wouldn’t be a Halloween special without an even bigger treat. I read one of my original short stories, Firefly. It’s a story about a character experiencing haunting cycles of sleep paralysis until… well, you’ll have to listen to get the full story. Enjoy, dear friend :) Watch the full episode on YouTube : @meandmyimaginaryfriends⁩ TikTok: @imthechelsea Instagram: @mamifpodcast Epidemic RF: ES_Ancestors Without Peace — Ludvig Moulin ES_Slide, Wobble Notes, Short, Double — Epidemic Sound ES_Pings, Tings, Generic, Notification, Tings — Epidemic Sound ES_They Walk Among Us — Lennon Hutton ES_Wholesome — Daniella Ljungsberg

Using Pain to Create Art (What No One Tells You)

What would you do differently if you got a second chance at life? Ep 2: We all go through difficult times, but what if your art could rescue you? As a creative, I’ve learned that pain shapes us into who we are, and that creating (writing, art, storytelling) can help us find ourselves again. To survive pain we need to give it form. How has your art helped you navigate your life? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear your take. You can also follow me on: Spotify or Apple: / meandmyimaginaryfriends Tiktok: / iamthechelsea Instagram: / imthechelsea RF Epidemic sound- ES_Spring Magic - Damon Greene