Masterpiece

Become Someone You Believe In with Dr Zac Seidler

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +1000

So many of us are sitting in the stands of our own lives — wanting to act, but held back by what people might think. In this conversation with Zac, we explore what it looks like to step into the arena.

Zac is a clinical psychologist and one of Australia’s leading voices in men’s mental health. He’s also someone who has learned to back himself — to speak, act, and move with conviction.

We explore why finding your gap matters, how self-belief is built through action, what it means to reconnect with parts of yourself that were shut down, and why vulnerability looks different for men and women.

Learn more about Zac here.

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm.

DM me on IG here.

Order your One Word Journal here.

Thank you for listening :)

JYK 🤍

Stepping into the Arena

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +1100

What’s something you want to do this year that feels scary to say out loud? What arena do you want to get into?

For me, it’s painting. And yet, I find myself sitting in the stands, afraid to take that first step.

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You can DM me on IG here

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm

Order a One Word Journal here

I love hearing from you 🤍

JYK

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The Masterpiece soundtrack is composed by Josie Mann, with strings by James Tarbotton.

The Integration Era with Madeleine Gottlieb

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +1100

Last year Madeleine Gottlieb spent 53 days in the South Australian desert directing a television series, working 18-hour days in intense conditions — an experience she describes as physically, emotionally and mentally taxing, and completely life-changing.

In this conversation we talk about the role friction plays in creative expression, what happens when the plan falls apart (like the day a brown snake appeared on set), and why understanding the feeling underneath what you’re trying to create might be the most important part of the process.

We also explore what balance means to us, why curiosity might be the sexiest quality in a human, and when being yourself stops feeling like rebellion and starts to feel like being.

Learn more about Mads here.

Order your One Word Journal here.

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm.

DM me on IG here.

Thank you for listening :)

JYK 🤍

What Do You Want?

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

It’s the year of the horse and it feels like there’s a shift. More momentum, movement, creative energy. More people wanting to make a change. To get in the arena. But where do you begin? James Clear says when you want to make a change but feel stuck, you don’t lack motivation — you lack clarity. I started this year burnt out, foggy, exhausted. So I made space. I went away for a week by myself, switched off my phone, disconnected from the outside world, and sat with one simple, confronting question: What do you want?

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You can DM me on IG here

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm

Order a One Word Journal here

I love hearing from you!

JYK 🤍

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Retreat: Sundara

Pod reference: James Clear x Aspire

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The Masterpiece soundtrack is composed by Josie Mann, with strings by James Tarbotton.

There’s a Lot of Effort in Effortless

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +1100

When you have an idea in your mind, it can feel perfect. The moment you begin, you realise how hard it is to make anything real (let alone good).

For the past few months, I’ve been living inside that gap while creating the sound of this podcast.

This episode is a reflection on why creating anything with love and integrity is so uncomfortable, the space between taste and ability, and why the pursuit is the point.

We finish with the Masterpiece soundtrack, composed by Josie Mann, with strings by James Tarbotton.

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You can email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm

DM me on IG here

And order a One Word Journal here

I always love hearing from you :)

JYK 🤍

Permission to Do Less

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +1100

When I feel overwhelmed, like there aren’t enough hours in the day, every part of me wants to do more. Wake up earlier. Cram it all in. Get on top of things.

Lately, I’m learning the opposite might be true.

This episode is about doing less. Letting go of pressure. And giving yourself permission to meet yourself where you are.

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You can order a One Word Journal here

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm

DM me on IG here

And sign up to my newsletter here

Thank you for listening :)

JYK 🤍

The Pain of Perfectionism with Cass Seidler

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +1100

I always thought perfectionism was a bit of a humble brag — a flaw that was actually a strength. Something that helped you get ahead.

Then I read an article in The New Yorker, and everything changed. I realised perfectionism isn’t something to gloat about at all. It’s a debilitating way of being, with deep roots, that can quietly stop you from living, creating, and connecting.

In this conversation, I sit down with Cass Seidler, psychologist and recovering perfectionist. Together, we unpack what perfectionism really is, how it shows up, the toll it takes on your life, relationships, and energy — and what the road to recovery can look like.

You can order your One Word Journal here

Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm

DM me on IG here

And sign up to my newsletter here! (for things I learnt from these pods and more)

Thank you for listening :)

JYK 🤍

One Word Can Change Your Life

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:00:00 +1100

This week, Matteo and I sat down to reflect on 2025 through the lens of our words — mastery and foundations. We spoke about the friction of moving home, starting therapy, the biggest lessons we took from it, and why my podcast cover shoot became a philosophical lesson for life. We also share our words for 2026 and how we arrived at them.

You can order your One Word Journal here

Share your One Word here

Email us at hello@myword.is

Get in touch via IG on @myword.is and @jessicayolandakaye

DM me on IG here

And sign up to my newsletter here!

Thank you for listening :)

The Mother, the Artist, and the Craftsman with Grace O'Neill

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Grace O’Neill is a writer, editor, podcaster, and this year, she became a mother.

After years of searching, pivoting, and finally finding the confidence to say I am an artist, Grace had her son, Eli, and time became very real.

In this conversation, we talk about the fear of motherhood, how it surprised and stretched her, and what it’s been like writing her first novel amidst it all. We talk about perfectionism and craft, devotion and discipline, and what happens to the artist when life gets fuller.

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ONE WORD JOURNAL

Pre-order here.

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GRACE O'NEILL

Instagram + Substack

Read Grace's piece: Dispatches from Motherhood

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NEWSLETTER

For 'Things I learnt from Grace' and more sign up to my free newsletter here.

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JESSICA YOLANDA KAYE

Instagram + website.

Email jyk@masterpiece.com for anything else :)

Eliza Gosse Is Not a Tortured Artist

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Eliza Gosse is not your typical artist. Mathematical, precise and quietly disciplined, she has built an incredible career as a painter — ten solo exhibitions in seven years — and she’s only 30 (and just getting started).

In this conversation, we talk about what it really means to commit to a creative life: the steadiness, the structure, the slow evolution. Eliza shares how she plans three shows ahead, why she still uses a tiny brush despite being told not to, and how becoming a mother is shifting her relationship to art and home.

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ONE WORD JOURNAL

Pre-order here.

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ELIZA GOSSE

Art + Instagram + Buon Gusto Studios.

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NEWSLETTER

For 'Things I learnt from Eliza' and more sign up to my free newsletter here.

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JESSICA YOLANDA KAYE

Instagram + website.

Email jyk@masterpiece.com for anything else :)

The Mess Is the Magic with Haley Vickers

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +1100

I met the Canadian-born TV and film producer, Haley Vickers, at a birthday dinner in 2023. We were both pivoting in our careers, both breaking up with London, and by the time dinner came out, I’m pretty sure we’d both cried. Haley has that rare ability to make you laugh, cry, think, and see things differently. All within a matter of minutes.

Haley has spent the last decade developing and producing films across London, Toronto, and beyond. In 2025, she launched her own production company, Flick Films. Most recently, she executive produced the rom-com Mile End Kicks, starring Barbie Ferreira, which premiered at TIFF this year.

Like me, Haley has spent the past year in what she calls “living limbo.” So, sitting together on a sofa in central London, we explored the role of place in shaping who you are and who you’re becoming. We laughed, we cried, and inevitably, found ourselves in Italy.

I loved this chat. I hope you do too.

JYK 🤍

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HALEY VICKERS

Instagram + IMDB + Flick Films.

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MUSIC

'Deleta Ya' by Djo.

Used with permission from AWAL.

Listen here.

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NEWSLETTER

For things I learnt from Haley and more sign up to my free newsletter here.

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ONE WORD

Find your word here.

Share your word here.

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Email jyk@masterpiece.com for anything else :)

The Freedom to Fail with Diana Reid

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Diana Reid wrote her debut novel at 24 during lockdown, having deferred a corporate law job by a year. That book became a bestseller. In the five years since, she’s published two more, with another and a screenplay adaptation on the way. But what's so remarkable about Diana isn't her productivity, but her perspective.

Sitting together on a sofa in London, I was struck by her stoicism, her maturity, her detachment. In this conversation, we talk about the conditions that give you the freedom to create, the best advice she’s ever received, training for writing like an athlete, why she leaves her phone at home, and the little pocketbook where she collects inspiration.

It’s a conversation that reshaped how I think about focus, creative discipline, and what really matters.

JYK ♥️

Follow Diana on instagram

Order Diana's latest book: Signs of Damage

Pre-order your One Word Journal and pick your word for 2026

Subscribe to my newsletter for new podcast episodes

Email: jyk@masterpiece.fm

Instagram: @jessicayolandakaye

I’m Afraid to Be Myself

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 06:00:00 +1100

Today, my podcast, Masterpiece, is out. I’ve been talking about this podcast for years — dreaming about it, playing with it, circling around it, and avoiding it. It’s wild how you can want something so much and still be so scared of it. How something can feel so true and so dangerous at the same time. I’ve avoided this podcast because I’ve been afraid. Afraid to trust myself. Afraid to be fully seen.

Masterpiece is a podcast about letting go of who you think you should be and becoming who you really are. But the truth is, it’s really hard.

For the last decade, I’ve been on this beautiful, messy, meaningful journey of discovering who I am — quitting my job, moving to London, becoming an artist. And even though I’ve shared pieces publicly, I’ve kept a lot to myself. I’ve been living between the lines, and I don’t want to hide anymore.

Miranda July said, “The more honest you are, the more dangerous it feels.”

This podcast feels dangerous. But it also feels important.

So for the first episode of Masterpiece, I said what I was afraid to say.

JYK 🤍

https://www.instagram.com/jessicayolandakaye/

https://www.jessicayolandakaye.com/

https://www.myword.is/journal

Live Life Like You Paint with Talia Blank

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +1000

Talia Blank is a painter, poet, filmmaker, and incredibly deep thinker. For Talia, making art is like breathing. It isn’t something she thinks about. It pours out of her. And yet, when she had her first solo exhibition in New York, something she had dreamed of, it broke her heart.

In our conversation, we speak about what it really means to be an artist. The vulnerability that creativity demands, and how exposing that can feel when shared publicly. The maxims she lives by, the rituals that save her, and what happens when we stop trying to control everything and let the magic in.

I loved this chat. I hope you do too.

JYK 🤍

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TALIA BLANK

Instagram + creative studio + website.

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MUSIC

'It Starts Now' by BLOND:ISH.

Used with permission from KOMPAKT Records.

Listen here.

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NEWSLETTER

To receive Talia's Big Little Things (the book, film, rituals that inspire her) sign up to my free newsletter here.

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ONE WORD

Find your word here.

Share your word here.

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Email studio@jessicayolandakaye.com for anything else :)

Big French Energy

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +1000

It’s halfway through the year. A lot has happened, but it feels like just the beginning. This week, Matteo and I sat down to record a chat, reflecting on Juneuary from our new, empty home in Sydney. After 15 months in living limbo, it feels wildly significant. Like a big exhale.

We began the month in the South of France, our favourite pocket of the world. I was clinging to that trip like a lifeline. Matteo was carrying it like a weight. And yet, we both found it unexpectedly freeing.

On the pod, we talk about how stepping away can bring you back to yourself. The confidence I found walking through Paris alone. The unexpected peace Matteo felt turning on his out of office. The perspective that distance can offer.

Now that we’re back home in Sydney. The question is, how do you hold onto the feeling you found far away? How do you weave that freedom, that clarity, that spark, into your everyday life?

I loved this chat. I hope you do, too.

JYK 🤍

Show notes:

Listen to Cmon by Fred Again.. & Brian Eno.
Eat a croissant from Boulangerie-Pâtisserie Terroirs d'Avenir.
Listen to David Senra talk about Focus.
Find your One Word.
Sign up to my newsletter.

For anything else email jessica@jessicayolandakaye.com :)

A Dark Room and My Imagination with Jonno Seidler

Fri, 16 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

I’ve wanted to chat to Jonno Seidler since 2022. I was standing in a queue at Palermo Airport, waiting for a flight back to London, when a friend sent me an excerpt from his memoir, It’s a Shame About Ray. I was immediately captivated by his writing, his honesty, and his bravery.

I grew up around Jonno but reading his memoir, I realised there was so much I didn't know. His experience of bipolar disorder, his dad’s struggles with depression, the shame that surrounded both, and the role that music and creativity have played in helping him make sense of it all.

In this episode, we talk about the pressure to succeed, the myth of the tortured artist, and how Jonno finds time to write—between a full-time job, two girls under four, and a looming book deadline.

We finish with the song Jonno is listening to on repeat, which I am now obsessed with.

I loved this chat. I hope you do too.

JYK 🤍

Episode Links:

Learn more about Jonno Seidler here.
Read It's A Shame About Ray and All The Beautiful Things You Love.
Listen to Jonno on ABC's Conversations.
Listen to Piero Piccioni's Addio, amore mio.
Order a One Word Journal.
For new pods, sign up to my newsletter.

For anything else email jessica@jessicayolandakaye.com :)

Hair is Everything with Madeleine Gottlieb

Fri, 02 May 2025 06:00:00 +1000

This week I spoke with Madeleine Gottlieb — an award-winning director, producer, screenwriter, and one of my oldest friends.

I met Mads when I was five. She was the smartest person I’d ever met, with the bluest eyes and the most commanding presence.

We were a couple of drama kids. And listening back to this conversation on a walk this week, I realised, we still are.

We talk about morning rituals, meditation, ADHD, therapy, why Mads’ word for 2025 scares her, and how cutting off all her hair at a roadside barber in Hobart turned out to be the best thing she ever did.

I loved this chat. It’s messy and raw and it made me smile. It also made me want to be braver. To be more myself.

Because over the last decade, Mads has stopped hiding. She’s learning to live, fully and honestly, as who she truly is.

I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did.

JYK 🤍

Episode Links:

Learn more about Madeleine Gottlieb: https://www.madeleinegottlieb.com
Sign up to Between The Lines: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com
Read the letter by Sol LeWitt and Eva Hesse: Letters of note
Pick your one word for 2025: www.myword.is

Going Analogue

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +1000

When Matteo and I spent two months in Puglia at the end of last year, living in a sleepy seaside town, we had a weekend ritual: a long walk by the sea, swimming and reading at Lo Scalo, spaghetti vongole and a spritz, a gelato along the promenade, and a movie on the couch.

Off our phones, away from the rest of the world, we could switch off. It was incredible.

I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately—less about Puglia, more about the presence we were able to cultivate there. Il dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing—and how hard that is to access in the real world. A world that keeps getting faster and noisier, constantly telling us we should do more.

Should we?

More and more, I think definitely not.

This week on the pod, we talk about that. About going analogue, content fatigue, the tyranny of should, and why I forgot—then remembered—that I’m an artist.

🕊🕊🕊

You can find the One Word Journal here: https://www.myword.is/journal

Between The Lines Newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe

I want to be brave like Bob Dylan

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +1100

There’s a scene in A Complete Unknown I can’t stop thinking about.

Bob Dylan steps on stage at the Newport Folk Festival in ’65. Thousands and thousands of people chant his name. They came to hear the songs they know. To see the Dylan they know.

But Dylan has moved on.

He picks up his electric guitar and plays his new music. The crowd boos. They throw things. Festival organisers try to cut the sound.

It’s uncomfortable to watch. I caught myself thinking, Just give them what they want.

But he doesn’t.

He stands there and keeps playing. Looking forward, not back.

And sitting in that dark cinema on a quiet Sunday afternoon, I realised —

I want to be brave like Dylan.

Lately, I’ve felt torn—between what I think I should do and what feels true.

We talk about that on the pod this week.

Designing a Life That Feels Like You with Nimisha Gupta

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +1100

After seven years at luxury fashion house Zegna, Nimisha Gupta walked away from the safety of a big role to rediscover herself—and her joy.

In this week’s episode of Between the Lines, we talk about making bold career leaps, finding your way back to creativity, and building a life that feels like yours.

We also dive into the rituals that help Nimisha stay inspired—including why she takes a bath at 2pm every day (iconic).

And, of course, her word for 2025.

I loved this conversation with Nimisha. I hope you do too.

🕊 Find Nimisha on Substack, instagram, and Nimisha Inc.

🕊 Follow Between The Lines on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & Substack.

🕊 Find the One Word Journal here.

🕊 Find my art and instagram.

JYK 🤍

Anxiety and the Artist's Date

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:00:00 +1100

My earliest memories are anxious ones.

Clinging to my mum’s legs as a child. Hiding under a laundry basket when people popped in. Waking up at 5 AM, putting on my school uniform, and sitting there for three hours—because I was terrified of being late.

For most of my life, anxiety was my default state.

And then last year, driving from Milan to Umbria, Matteo and I were listening to a podcast about anxiety when he paused it and asked—How is your anxiety?

To my surprise, I said, Good. I hadn’t felt anxious in ages.

We both sat in silence, a little stunned.

Where did my anxiety go?

I’ve been sitting with that question for months. And recently, as I felt anxiety creeping back in, I realised—there’s one thing that helps me most.

This week, Matteo and I talk about:

The unexpected weight of moving home
My life with anxiety
The turning point that forced me to make a change
And the ritual that’s helping me feel more at ease (and could help you, too)

The One Word Journal: https://www.myword.is/book

Between The Lines Newsletter: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

The Rickoning with Grace O’Neill

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +1100

Not long ago, I sat down with Grace O’Neill in her Kitchen in London, and we recorded a chat. Grace is a writer. The former editor of Elle Australia. The co-host of After Work Drinks. And one of the most important people in my life.

We met during lockdown—Grace and Zach in Apartment B, Matteo and I in Apartment D. The pandemic turned us, and our neighbour Lena (Apartment C), from strangers into family.

Grace and I have spent hours walking through Holland Park, talking about the messy reality of being an artist—fantasising about a life where we simply make art, go to bed early, and occasionally go somewhere fabulous.

Now, Grace is stepping into a new chapter, launching her Substack, embracing motherhood, and writing her first novel.

In our chat, we talk about the vulnerability of making things and sharing them. The temptation to jump ahead, to seek validation, to chase the third thing. And why, really, we should all just move to Paris.

We also talk about Rick Rubin—a lot. The Creative Act is, to us, the bible. We discuss how there was life before that book and life after, and why we’re so obsessed with it.

Every time I speak to G, I feel seen, inspired, and so grateful.

I loved this chat. I hope you do too.

Links:

Grace's Substack 'So Darling': https://graceoneill.substack.com

The One Word Journal: https://www.myword.is/book

Between The Lines Newsletter: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

Does it charm you?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:00:00 +1100

Matteo and I sat down to talk about redesigning our life in Sydney—finding new rituals, navigating productivity shame, starting therapy, and having the courage to be ourselves. We share the Big Little Things we’re learning and why, in the end, it all comes down to one question: Does it charm you?

You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/
Our One Word Journals here: https://www.myword.is/book
And my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jessicayolandakaye

Episode Links:
Dr Aditi x The Mel Robbins Show (Horizonless)
Alex Hormozi x Diary of a CEO (Courage To Be You)

Catching ideas with David Lynch

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

For as long as I can remember, I’ve woken up early. I used to resist it. But lately, I’ve realised it’s a secret part of the day—a time to catch ideas.

In this week’s pod, I talk about protecting your creative flow, the art of deep work, and the biggest thing I learnt from David Lynch’s 2.5-hour masterclass.

Would love to hear what resonates.

JYK 🤍

You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/
Our One Word Journals here: https://www.myword.is/book
And my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jessicayolandakaye

Episode Links:

David Lynch's Masterclass: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/david-lynch-teaches-creativity-and-film
Matters Of The Art: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SVBZY2u6rmR7Sj4nzWMXc?si=ca0ff7ed7f644c9a

Stop planning, start the podcast

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +1100

A few weeks ago, I took my brother for breakfast and traded coffee and eggs for advice. I told him everything—my podcast vision, the name, the look and feel. I talked for 40 minutes. And then I asked him for a strategy.

Then he looked at me and said:

"You love the planning. The mood boarding, the strategy, the world-building. But while you’re doing all that, you’re not making the podcast. Stop planning. Start the podcast."

Annoying, because he was right.

I thought I was moving forward, but really, I was hiding behind the planning.

So what does it take to actually do the work? To stop circling the idea and step into it fully?

That’s what I explore in this week’s podcast—through the wisdom of Liz Gilbert, Nick Cave, Lucian Freud, Steven Pressfield, Rick Rubin, and my brother.

Would love to hear what resonates.

JYK 🤍

Some places you live in, other places live in you

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 12:00:00 +1100

I love January, but I found this one hard. Not because of No Plans Jan—that gets easier every year. But because it’s been a period of transition. Matteo and I are back in Sydney. We’re staying in Sydney. And that still feels difficult to say out loud, even though it feels true.

This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about place. The place you live, and how you live within it. How to make space for what matters. How to find flow. How to cultivate resonance (my new favourite word). And how to practice patience along the way. I share about my experience in this episode.

You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/
Our One Word Journals here: https://www.myword.is/book
And my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jessicayolandakaye

Episode Links:
Ezra Klein: Sabbath & The Art of Rest
Mel Robbins: If you Struggle With Stress & Anxiety, This Will Change Your Life
The Atlantic: Find The Place You Love. Then Move There.

My word for 2025 is

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 10:00:00 +1100

On January 1st, Matteo and I each took out our One Word Journals and started writing. Guided by the book, we reflected on 2024, reconnected with what’s important, and set an intention for the year ahead.

In this chat, we talk about our words for 2025, why Matteo changed his word, and why I stuck to mine. Along the way, Matteo also drops a bomb I wasn’t quite ready to share.

I hope you enjoy listening!

And I’d love to know: what is your word for 2025?

JYK 🤍

One Word Journal: https://www.myword.is/book
Between The Lines: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

A crazy, chaotic, beautiful year

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +1100

This week, Matteo and I sat down to reflect on 2024.

It was a year that began with an eviction from our Notting Hill flat and ended by the seaside in Puglia, Italy. In between, there was a whirlwind of change — a “move” to Milan, a retreat to the forests of Sweden, and an unexpected chapter living in the green heart of Umbria. Along the way, we wrote a book that we’re so proud of.

It was a year of unknowns and constant pivots. And yet, it’s been one of the most transformative and beautiful years of our lives. A real lesson in letting go and discovering new ways of being and living.

In this episode of Between The Lines, we talk about the highs, the lows, the messy middle, and the quiet moments of clarity that came through it all.

December feels like the perfect time to take stock of it all and ask:

What will you leave behind in 2024? And what will you embrace in 2025?

With love,
JYK & Matteo (Dory)

Trusting the artist within

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +1100

At the beginning of last year, I was in a creative rut. I knew I wanted to evolve my art but had no idea where to begin. I was terrified I’d never create anything worthwhile again and felt paralysed by indecision.

In this episode, I share how ‘play’ (my One Word for 2023) taught me to trust myself, and reconnect with the joy of expression, creativity, and life.

JYK 🤍

Why do you do it?

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +1100

For years, I was living on autopilot, completely unaware of how disconnected I had become.

One simple question changed everything and fundamentally changed the course of my career and life. It led me to quit my job, rediscover painting, and set me on a path toward meaning rather than validation.

This episode is just six minutes long, but the truth is, it took me days!

JYK 🤍

Affirmations for every day

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 09:00:00 +1100

The concept of journalling was always confusing to me; it felt elusive, awkward, and just another thing to do. So I resisted it for years. But the noise in my head kept getting louder. Matteo kept nudging me to try ‘positive affirmations’, and then my sister sent me a podcast that gave me the final push I needed.

Now, it’s something I do every single day. Not because I “should,” but because it’s a simple, quick practice that enriches my life in so many ways. It’s helped my confidence, self-esteem, and sense of peace.

Like all rituals, it took time and started small. Today, I’m sharing the simple prompt that got me started and the one word I remind myself of every day, in the hopes it helps you too.

JYK 🤍

The art of focus

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:00:00 +1100

How do we stay focused when our attention is pulled in a thousand directions?

This week, I’m sharing my frustrations with my phone, exploring the hidden cost of distraction on our energy and creativity, and discussing the simple practices that are helping me make space for the things that matter most to me right now.

If, like me, you often feel scattered or overwhelmed, this might be for you.

There’s so much to unpack when it comes to attention, and I worry that we’re so addicted to tech, we’re not talking about it enough. I’d love to know—does it affect you too? And is it something you’d like to explore further?

JYK 🤍

Breaking through self-sabotage

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 14:42:00 +1000

If you’re on the go, listen on Spotify 🕊

This week, I stepped out of my comfort zone and sat down to record this video.

I’m currently in Umbria, working on a podcast, which is pushing me to face my fears and navigate the unknown. It’s been both exciting and scary.

In this video, I share what it feels like to confront resistance, the discomfort of starting something new, and the book that’s helping me break through self-sabotage.

If you’ve ever felt held back by perfectionism or fear, this might resonate with you. Sometimes, just showing up, no matter how messy, makes all the difference.

JYK 🤍

ps. filming this was terrifying

From the 18th of October, I’ll be introducing membership.

Moving forward weekly posts like this will be shared with members only.

I’m making this change because creating this kind of content is both vulnerable and time-intensive, and I want to ensure that what I share remains meaningful, without cluttering your inbox.

I’ll continue to share ‘Things I Learn’ on the last Friday of every month for free. Thank you for being here. It means a lot 🤍

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe

Everything is different

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 17:00:00 +1000

Over the last few months I wiped my Instagram, launched my new collection, and transformed my art studio into an exhibition space with almost 200 metres of drapery. In this 20-minute conversation, we touch on stepping into the unknown, finding the courage to lean into what excites you, and why everything is different this year. I hope you enjoy listening!

This conversation was recorded a few days before hosting my first open day, which was surreal. I absolutely loved meeting everyone and seeing their faces as they stepped into the space.

So much so, that I’ve decided to host another open day on Saturday, May 11th, and would love to see you there.

You can register here.

JYK x

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe

This year I'm going to be bad at podcasting

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 19:00:00 +1100

This week, I sat down with Matteo (aka Dory) to discuss why starting something new is so incredibly hard (and how to get started anyway). You can listen to our first recording above!

Recently, I had lunch with a friend who started a brand-new job in a completely new industry.

"How’s it going?" I asked.

"Good," she said. "Though, there’s a LOT to learn. I’m excited for six months from now when I’m actually good at my job."

Interesting, I thought. I felt the same way when I was pushing my art in a new direction; I felt like a beginner again, and that was very unsettling.

Our conversation made me reflect on how uncomfortable it feels to not be good at something. All we want is to reach that beautiful end state where things feel effortless.

And yet, true growth is found in the challenges along the way.

My sister shared an insightful perspective with me. After years of wanting to play the guitar but never taking the first step, she reached a point of frustration. So, she said to herself, "This year, I am going to be bad at guitar." And every time she picked up her guitar and played poorly (almost giving up), she reminded herself, that’s the point!

So often, we don’t start something new because we fear we will be bad at it. We don’t journal, draw or skip because we don’t know how. But when we confine ourselves to what we know and excel at, there is little room for discovery.

What if the goal IS to be bad? To forget the outcome and find joy in the process?

For years, I have wanted to try podcasting. And for years, I have avoided it.

Well, this year, I’m going to be bad at podcasting.*

And Matteo is going to be bad at Italian.

What are you going to be bad at?

As always, I’d love to hear from you.

JYK x

*evidence above!

Things we mentioned in our chat above 🎙:

* Ira Glass on bridging the gap

* Casey Neistat on patience

* The War Of Art by Steven Pressfied

* Brené Brown on FFTs

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe

My word for 2024 is 'ease'

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 20:30:00 +1100

A few days ago, Camille Liu Nock visited me at home in Sydney, and we spoke about our words for the new year. My word for 2024 is ‘ease,’ and in this two-minute video, I share why!

What’s your word for 2024?

JYK x

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe