Ever wondered what it feels like to create without any rules or gallery expectations? You’ll hear a friendly conversation that traces the history of outsider art and explains how the internet is expanding what counts as work outside the traditional gallery system. The dialogue points out how the label can feel both empowering and a little confrontational, and it invites you to adopt an “outside the velvet rope” mindset for your own creative practice. Pull up a chair, stay awhile, and let the conversation warm you up as you step into your next artistic adventure.

In this Episode

“The credential doesn’t qualify you; the making qualifies you.” – Monette Satterfield

• How approaching art as a mindset can make creativity feel more accessible.
• Why creating outside the traditional art world can feel freeing and empowering.
• How letting go of artistic gatekeeping can give you permission to make art.
• Finding your own way of creating beyond traditional expectations and artistic gatekeeping.

Links & Resources

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that the music in the background either fuels or stalls your creative flow, you’re about to hear a conversation that feels like a friendly chat about finding the right sound. You’ll explore why bland placeholder tracks can feel like wallpaper and how swapping in electronica, coffee‑shop ambience, or nature sounds can reshape the way you write, paint, or design. You’ll also hear how a personal soundtrack—whether it’s shamanic drumming, singing bowls, or even the chirping of crickets in winter—can become a quiet ally that supports focus without pulling your attention away. Come in, settle into a cozy soundscape, and let the conversation invite you to experiment with the music that moves you forward.

In this Episode

“The right soundscape can quiet the mental load and let you focus on what matters.” – Monnette Satterfield

• How to choose background music that helps you stay focused while creating.
• Why some sounds boost creativity while others become distracting.
• Different types of ambient soundscapes you can experiment with to improve your creative flow.
• Simple ways to create a personalized listening environment that supports deep work.

Links & Resources

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Imagine stepping into a place where your creative spark finally has a name and a home, even if it lives only in your mind. You’ll explore how labeling a studio, forge, laboratory, curio cabinet, or any phrase that feels right creates clear boundaries, focuses energy, and turns a simple corner or desk into a powerful container for your ideas. Come in from the cold and let your newly named nook become the cozy launchpad for everything you’re ready to create.

In this Episode

“A name is a container; it creates boundaries that let your ideas flow without constantly asking, ‘Is this right?” — Monette Satterfield

• Understand why giving your creative space a name helps establish boundaries that support your creative process.
• Learn how a physical or imagined workspace can become a powerful container for your ideas.
• Find inspiration in creative metaphors—from forges and laboratories to curio cabinets—to shape a space that feels uniquely yours.
• Discover how even the smallest creative corner can become a sanctuary that invites focus, play, and imagination.

Links & Resources

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that each new creative milestone brings the same stubborn problem dressed in fresh colors, you’re not alone. When you picture your journey as a spiral instead of a straight ladder, you’ll notice how your growing skills also sharpen your eye for the subtle details that once slipped by. By stepping outside your own medium, wandering through a museum, listening to music, or admiring a neighbor’s metal sculpture, you invite fresh perspectives that deepen your work without falling into the trap of comparison. Come on in, get comfortable, and let this warm conversation nurture the creative spark inside.

In this Episode

“No matter where you’re at creatively, you still have problems—new level, new devil.” — Nicole Fende

“The creative path isn’t a ladder; it’s a spiral—you’re always moving up while seeing where you started.” — Monette Satterfield

• Explore how every new creative level brings fresh challenges and why it is often the same “devil” in new clothes
• Discover how the spiral of creative growth sharpens skills and increases discernment
• Learn how stepping outside one’s own medium, through museums, music, or neighbors’ art, enriches creative work
• Hear ways to appreciate progress, enjoy the challenge, and keep moving forward without falling into comparison traps

Links & Resources

• Take What Belongs to You - Wild Creativity: Claim Your Creative Authority by Monette Satterfield
• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

If you’ve ever felt that knot of anxiety when a creative spark fades, you’ll recognize the feeling right away. You’ll hear a thoughtful voice unpack why the pressure to finish can turn excitement into shame and how sharing your work can unintentionally build a false accountability wall. Together you’ll explore how to honor the learning you’ve already gained, decide when it’s okay to step back, and find comfort in letting projects rest or dissolve. Come join the conversation and let yourself warm up to the idea that it’s perfectly fine to let a piece go, and you’ll feel right at home in this creative space.

In this Episode

"Sometimes you need to step away, let a project rest, and come back with fresh eyes. That’s part of the creative process.” — Nicole Fende

• We talk about the pressure to finish every project and why sometimes letting go is the healthiest choice.
• Discover how to tell when a project has given you what you need and when stepping away can open space for new creativity.
• Nicole and Monette share stories from game design, painting, and other creative pursuits to show how releasing unfinished work can bring clarity, relief, and inspiration.

Links & Resources

• Take What Belongs to You - Wild Creativity: Claim Your Creative Authority by Monette Satterfield
• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever stepped into a moment that should feel like yours. Yet, a quiet voice asks, “Who am I to be here?” You explore how imposter syndrome is less a truth and more a chain feeling, thought, reaction that can be gently unraveled. By noticing that first flicker in the body and choosing a new story, you begin to shift nerves into something lighter… even exciting. You’re reminded that while you can’t control how others perceive you, you can shape the energy you carry and that energy has a way of opening doors. Come settle in, soften the doubt, and step forward with a little more ease.

In this Episode

You have zero control over how others see you, but you can control the positive vibe you send out. – Monnette Satterfield

• Dive into the subtle ways imposter syndrome shows up and how it quietly shapes our thoughts and feelings.
• Uncover how to shift internal doubts into curiosity, excitement, and intentional reactions.
• Learn how tuning your energy and mindset can magnetically influence the way you connect with others.

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Links & Resources

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever wonder if your art needs an audience to be real? You explore the pull between creating for pure joy and the natural urge to share, learning how to decide when a piece feels ready and who truly deserves to see it. You hear honest reflections on the sting of unsolicited feedback, the quiet power of private practice, and ways to quiet that little voice that tells you you’re not good enough. Come in from the cold, settle into this friendly conversation, and let your creative spirit feel welcome.

In this Episode

You don’t have to show your art to anyone else for it to be valid. -Nicole Fende

• Dive into why it’s totally okay to create just for yourself. No audience required!
• Tips on sharing your work wisely, dodging creative heartbreak, and keeping your joy intact.
• Celebrate the behind-the-scenes “practice work” that makes your art, music, or writing shine.

Links & Resources

• Receive a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox. Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever wonder why the brilliance of other artists can make you doubt your own creative voice? You’ll uncover how comparison can stir hidden grief and self‑judgment, showing you that feelings matter more than flawless technique. By noticing the ruler, you use to measure yourself and gently shifting its scale, you open a space for your unique expression to emerge. Come in, settle down, and let this warm conversation welcome you back to the creative side of yourself.

Would you like a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox? Claim your 30 days of creative prompts!

In this Episode

“Stop using somebody else’s creative ruler on yourself and start measuring by your own possibilities.” – Nicole Fende

• Learn how comparing your art to others can block your creativity and why it’s not a measure of your value.
• Explore practical ways to check your own creative ruler and take gentle, low-stakes steps toward self-expression.
• Understand why embracing your emotions, feelings, and imperfections is essential for a healthy creative process.

Links & Resources

• Take What Belongs to You - Wild Creativity: Claim Your Creative Authority by Monette Satterfield

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.

Ever wonder where the creativity you loved as a child went, and how you can bring it back? You’ll uncover the idea of a creative birthright and learn to quiet the inner critic that insists you must be all logic and no art. You’ll see how creating a safe, playful space can turn uncertainty into joy, even when your first sketches feel like “bad art.” Pull up a chair, step into the warm light, and let your imagination settle in like an old friend waiting just for you.

Would you like a joyful nudge to create delivered right to your inbox? Claim your 30 days of creative prompts.

In this Episode

“You don’t lose it when you grow up; you just misplace it.” – Monette Satterfield

• Discover what it means to reclaim your creative birthright and reconnect with your inner creativity.
• Explore the balance between being analytical and creative, and why both can coexist.
• Learn why embracing imperfection is essential for creative growth.

About the Hosts

Nicole Fende is a published author and board game designer. Monette Satterfield is an artist working outside the velvet rope. Together they host Holding Creative Space, a podcast from Creatopia, an imprint of Tesseray Publishing.

Keep creating. We are holding the space.