Unleash Your Inner Creative With Lauren Lograsso

Jen is a friend, co-founder and chief creative officer of the lifestyle brand ban.do, podcaster, social media queen and the author of the newly released book, The Upside of Being Down.  Jen was my first-ever guest on Unleash just over a year ago. We first met When I produced her Podcast, Jen Gotch is Ok...Sometimes, and she has been a major creative and emotional influence in my life, ever since.I wanted to have Jen on this time to talk all about the process of writing a book: what it really takes, the ups and downs, breaking points where she almost gave up and breakthroughs that made the rollercoaster of creating all worth it. From our conversation you’ll learn tips to write and publish a book, overcome rejection, why creative timing is always perfect, the power of solitude + WTF REALLY Happened In The Dessert! While this conversation happened prior to quarantine, it has lots of tips, tricks and laughs that will help you get through the time we’re in right now. So without further adieu, here she is, Jen Go

On today’s episode Lauren talks with one of her best friends, Steffi Hill. Steffi is an actress, writer and Psychic Medium, known as Spirit Sis. This episode contains a lot of great tips, in addition to some deep spiritual insight and some really hilarious moments. Some topics covered include: How life has changed and emotions you might feel when you go out  How this is bringing you closer to others and yourself The power of gratitude- and how to form a gratitude practice The Top meme sources to bring you joy Some of the silver linings of this difficult moment How to set boundaries with social media Tactics to protect your energy How to decompress and take care of yourself if you are working a lot during quarantine What human design is and how you can best use yours Why it’s a great time to learn something new Why this is a great time to date Our thoughts on love is blind What shadow work is How to play creative games with Netflix Insider info from the CDC The proper way to get ta

On this solo episode Lauren talks about what's on everyone's mind: The Coronavirus. She shares her fears and how she found a way to turn them into a wakeup call and call to action for how she'll live post-quarantine, tools she's using and recommends you use to ease your anxiety, how to support yourself and other creatives who are out of work, the reason why this is a perfect time for you to start and release your creative project and how to get creative with your quarantine and maintain sanity!  On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram, Facebook & Tik Tok and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @LaurenLoGrasso You can download Lauren's debut single, "Road To Glory" here: https://ffm.to/roadtoglory Watch the “Road To Glory” music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTpWmp_3Dh4 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify

Kathy Wakile is a Best-Selling Cookbook Author, restaurateur, chef, Jewelry designer, reality star, Mother and Wife! Of course, we all know Kathy from her time on The New Jersey Housewives, but her creative story sparked long before she ever came into our hearts via Bravo TV. Kathy’s creative journey started in art as a child and shifted into hair styling as her first big creative gig. After she had her kids, she decided to pour her creativity into homemaking and raising her children, but the yearning in her heart, called her back to creative life. She slowly found a way to turn all of her hobbies into businesses by the way of a dessert line, cookbooks, her restaurant, Pizza Love, a culinary school and now, her podcast, Eat, Live, Love, Indulge.  She does all of this while keeping her family her top priority and often, even including or partnering with them on her creative endeavors. From the Conversation you’ll learn: Tips to overcome initial creative rejection How to recover after family trauma How d

Brooklyn Queen is a musical artist, social media maven and fellow Detroiter, best known for her viral hits, “Emoji” And “Kiki Taught Me” in addition to having millions of followers across various social platforms, collaborating with legends such as Trina and being featured on SiriusXM and Fox! From our conversation, you’ll learn how to: Gain confidence Block Negativity Understand & Master Tik Tok Know when you’ve found your passion Make creativity a family affair Carve out a brand on social media Utilize social media for your creative passion Make a dedication about a business partnership Be a creative force Beat out the algorithm and grow Plus, Why you need to get on dubs mash Why Queens don’t compete What you can expect from upcoming singles A view inside her writing process How to get unblocked creatively Advice for other people who want to do music And More! On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe

Holly Whitaker is a sobriety coach, teacher, Author speaker, co-host/co-producer of the Home Podcast, Yoga Instructor and the founder and CEO of Tempest, an online sobriety school a modern, accessible, and recovery program that’s build around you! Lauren wanted to have Holly on the show, because she can’t think of many things that are more creative than paving your own path to recovery in a world that tells you a 12 step program is the only way to do it. From the conversation you’ll learn: How to overcome having your creativity stifled as a child Re-mother yourself Start turning toward your truth Why it’s important to choose guilt over resentment What being triggered by another person means about you How to learn from your failures How to creatively forge your own path to healing. And Much More! On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram &a

On today’s episode Lauren chat’s with our show composer and the fantastically talented singer/songwriter, Liz Fohl! Liz is a full-time touring musician and has a unique perspective on creativity and life that includes practicality, optimism, versatility and a whole lotta love. On this episode you’ll learn the backstory of Lauren and Liz’s friendship, how to find & develop creative allies, how to enjoy a long creative process, what making your own stuff has to do with the Cheese Cake Factory, how to stop yourself from ripping apart your own work, what to do if you’re in a creative work environment that has turned toxic and reflections on the first year of this beautiful, wonderful show known as Unleash Your Inner Creative with Lauren LoGrasso! On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @Lau

On this week’s episode Lauren chats with actor, host writer and producer, Jeffrey Masters. Jeffrey’s best known for his hit podcast, LGBTQ&A, being the director of podcasts at Pride Media, and for being featured in outlets such as The Advocate, BuzzFeed, The New York Times, USA Today, People Magazine and many more. Jeffrey has great advice on the importance of seeking discomfort in order to grow and he’s a brilliant example of the magic that can happen when you combine creativity with activism. From this conversation you’ll learn the benefits of walking through open doors, taking the long way around, what makes compelling content, how to create flexibility for your creative pursuits within your full time job, why you MUST study your craft & do the work and the power of asking tough questions. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unleashyourinnercreative/message

On today’s show Lauren talks with two creatives from the fitness world. One is named Mimi Benz, she’s best known for founding Sweat Cycle: which is the original heated cycling studio. The other is an interior designer, business owner and one of Sweat Cycle’s most coveted teachers, Latosha Lovell. Lauren wanted to have these women on the show to talk about what it takes to start and build a business, the difference between a boss and a leader, what makes a positive creative partnership and the connection between body/mind/spirit when it comes to creativity! We hit all of the above in addition to how to find and remember your why, keep your word to yourself and deal with recurring creative crossroads and oh ‘shit’ moments. Now here they are: Mimi Benz and Latosha Lovell! On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Tw

On this solo episode of Unleash, Lauren takes you through topics such as how to tame the inner critic, stay present, the creative gems you find through organization, why sometimes you need to just start over and how to start bringing your full self to the table, no matter where you go and who you're with.  On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @LaurenLoGrasso You can download Lauren's debut single, "Road To Glory" HERE!  Watch the “Road To Glory” music video HERE! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unleashyourinnercreative/message

Gus Krieger is an actor, writer, director and producer, best known for working with names such as Nick Cannon, Chloe Sevigny and Glee’s Max Adler and getting his films featured at prestigious festivals such as Sundance. From this conversation, you’ll learn how to make your day job meaningful,  get creatively unblocked,  get back to your childhood passion, build thicker skin, make a movie, stay hopeful through failure, the importance of managing expectations, and the truth about Hollywood double lives.  If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @LaurenLoGrasso!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unleashyourinnercreative/message

Jim Kwik is an International Speaker, Founder of Superhero You, Social Entrepreneur Memory & Speed-Reading Expert & hit podcaster with his show Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik—Some of his brain training clients innovators such as Elon Musk, Richard Branson, Oprah, Bono, Michelle Obama and many more! Jim has the ultimate story of turning adversity into purpose. A childhood head injury at age five left him struggling in school, to the point where a teacher called him, “The Boy with a Broken Brain”.  When he was 18, he finally had a breakthrough...That breakthrough was learning how to learn. With that knowledge, and a desire in his heart to help others, he found both his passion and his purpose, and has never looked back since. From this conversation you’ll learn: the importance of asking the right questions, the key to longterm memory, how to build self-awareness, why you should NEVER look at your phone first thing in the morning, the connection between your dreams and creativity, how to think more like Elon M

About Jesse: Jesse Palter is a singer/songwriter, Jazz Vocalist, full time working musician and mental health advocate best known for playing venues such as cliff bells, Hotel Cafe, writing for publications such as Thrive Global and for speaking at The Recording Academy (aka the people who put on the Grammys) and BMI! From this conversation, you’ll learn: The benefit of not knowing how hard something is How to attack a creative path as a family The difference between contemplating with your heart and your mind How to manage expectations The Ideal partner for a true creative How to stay excited when your expectations are broken Why you need to think of your passion as a job job Her amazing connection to Eminem How to get over imposter syndrome The benefits and drawbacks to going to music school How to deal with unsolicited criticism The perils of the creative soulmate How to find your own voice How to get back to your why How to trust your gut The mental health crisis in the music

In the last podcast of the year Lauren walks you through how to effectively review your year and set intentions for 2020. She shares her top moments, lessons, pain, joy and what she is hoping to manifest in the New Year. She also opens up about a painful event that happened this fall, that changed her life significantly and offers her advice for others who might be going through a similar situation.  Thank you for all the support of the podcast this year- you have made dreams come true! Happy New Year - may you Unleash Your Inner Creative and live a life that reflects your true self!  On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend about the show! Join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @LaurenLoGrasso You can download Lauren's debut single, "Road To Glory" HERE!  Watch the “Road To Glory” music video HERE! --- Send in a voice message: htt

Lauren has another one of her best friend on the show. Her name is Annie (or Anne) Sorge - she is a lawyer, painter, musician and all-around amazing person. They have been BFFs since high school and frequently create things together -especially music! On the episode, Anne and Lauren discuss the merits of keeping your creativity as your hobby, how to know when it's time to move on from your day job to your creative pursuits,  some ways to make your holiday extra creative (and how to best use any time off you might have) and tips for dealing with family drama this Holiday season. Enjoy the Unleash Holiday special - it's just for you! MWAH!  On The Unleash Your Inner Creative: If you like what you hear, remember to rate, review, subscribe and tell a friend! And, join our creative community by following @UnleashYourInnerCreative on Instagram & Facebook and @UrInnerCreative on Twitter! Follow host @LaurenLoGrasso You can download Lauren's debut single, "Road To Glory" HERE!  --- Send in a voice message: htt

On Sophia: Sophia Joan Short is a marketing expert, PR professional, writer and influencer, best known for her inspirational, viral Instagram page, @SophiaJoanShort. From this conversation, you’ll learn: The importance of having fun and playing! A toolbox for recent grads / those in their early 20 How to overcome social media related depression How to become better at building an aesthetic The vital importance of moving your body Why sometimes it’s best to keep creativity as your hobby How to authentically engage with brand partnerships How Instagram can bring you a job Advice on how to make a big move Tips to overcome anxiety The importance of enjoying the process and having fun! How people unfollowing you can actually be the gift that you need to help shift your content How to increase your engagement What her brand is/ how to figure out yours The toughest moment on her path so far and how she got through it How to heal from rejection Whether influencers can/should be utiliz

On Jordan: Jordan Leer is an actor, stand up comedian, musician, writer and director, best known for appearing on Young Sheldon, Amazon Prime’s Secret Agent Challenge, his frequent work as a comic at the Hollywood Improv, and for being one half of the musical Duo, LoJo and The Truth. FYI, Lauren was the other half! Jordan is her musical brother, and though they perform together a lot less frequently these days, he has been a big part of her songwriting journey.  From this conversation, you’ll learn: The importance of having fun and playing! How to get your start as a stand up comedian What to do when you bomb at comedy (or in life) Why you need to practice your craft more than once or twice a week How to amicably have a creative separation Why inspiration can come from unlikely places The sacrifice you must make to achieve your dreams & how to make it through Why it’s necessary things up every now and then with your creative outlet The power of telling people what you want Why having an

On James: James D. Stern is a prolific and award-winning writer, director, producer and storyteller. Some of his best-known projects include, The Producers, Hairspray, Stomp, Academy Award-nominated films such as An Education and Hotel Rwanda and more recently, Netflix’s Murder Mystery and coming up, Amazon Studios’ Bliss. From this conversation, you’ll learn: How James got his start as a producer and director Why sometimes your biggest break can come from your hometown The power of Genuine Curiosity & Leaning in How to talk with people who disagree with you, politically How to NEVER EVER Give Up How seeing objectively bad work can help you on your journey How to believe in Yourself when no one else does Why he never gave up on Netflix’s Murder Mystery (and how you can keep your faith in your long-stalled projects) No one knows anything, so it’s fine that you don’t either! How to recover from failure and how he has! How to finance independent films (and where the money actually comes from

Today’s show is all about…you guessed it…rejection. In this raw, open and brutally honest episode, Lauren discusses a recent barrage of creative disappointment, betrayal and rejection. It has certainly been a “creative crossroads moment”. She is joined by her BFF & friend of the show, Jonny Manganello to talk through what happened, how she is managing the emotions that come along with the no’s and tactics to pick yourself back up when it feels like all the doors are closing around you. The show is a mix of laughter, tears and heartfelt advice that will help you feel less alone. You’ll even hear a little guest appearance by Lauren’s Mom, Jo Ann, who gives a hilarious (and highly biased) take on what Lauren should say to those who have rejected her! From this conversation, you’ll learn: How to pick yourself back up after creative heartbreak Why it’s important to take time to acknowledge your accomplishments The importance of setting deadlines Tips to get unblocked, creatively Why having an accounta

On Mary: Mary McCarthy is an actor, writer and the face behind the left hand of the viral instagram account, @NotEngaged. Since her account’s inception, her comedy has appeared in and on media outlets such as Good Morning America, The Skimm, Rachael Ray, Huffington Post, Sunrise Australia, Elite Daily, and many more. Mary is also the creator behind the series The Goodpie Girl, which was a Network Notes selection at the HBO sponsored ITV Fest. From this conversation, you’ll learn: What pursuing a career in acting REALLY looks like and how to get through Her advice for how to get specific with your career Why rejection is important for your creative journey Why being an actor is the biggest ripoff in the world but why it’s so worth it How to keep your passion alive when the business part of it is beating you down Why you need to take your creativity into your own hands Why the word aspiring is a farce How she got the idea for @NotEngaged How to find your creative community How to barter creativ