Jenny did an art degree but hasn’t made work for years. When someone close to her questioned whether she should still call herself creative, it struck a nerve. Can you claim a creative identity if you’re not actively producing work? What actually defines a creative life?

Becky is starting again after years of not prioritising her practice. She’s full of ideas and ambition, but paralysed by wanting to do everything at once. How do you begin when the possibilities feel endless and overwhelming?

Liza is navigating open calls and submissions. How do you put yourself forward without tying your self-worth to the outcome? And what’s really happening behind the scenes on judging panels?

In this episode, I explore:

• Creativity beyond visible output
 • How to choose one idea and build momentum
 • The emotional reality of rejection
 • Practical ways to move forward with clarity and confidence

Each dilemma is unpacked gently, with both emotional insight and clear, practical homework you can try in your own practice.

If you have a creative dilemma you’d like me to explore, please email me at 

thecreativecouchpod@gmail.com

Mary Ann is struggling to stay creative when the wider world feels chaotic and overwhelming. How do you protect your practice when the news cycle, instability and external noise start to seep into your studio?

Liza is considering holding a sale of past work that no longer feels like her. Does selling past work diminish the value or direction of the new work she's making? 

Melissa is preparing for an exhibition and feeling out of her depth. Should her work be tightly themed? Does everything need to match? How do you curate your work without losing your voice?

In this episode, I explore:

• How to create stability when the world feels unsteady
 • The emotional layer behind selling or clearing past work
 • The difference between curation and self-doubt
 • Practical steps to move forward without spiralling

Each dilemma is unpacked gently, with both emotional insight and clear, practical homework you can try in your own practice.

If you have a creative dilemma you’d like me to explore, email me 

thecreativecouchpod@gmail.com

You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the full episode on YouTube via Sam Marshall Art.

New episodes are released weekly.
(In this trailer I accidentally say daily — this is a weekly podcast.)

I’m Sam Marshall — artist, printmaker, creative coach and author based in rural Northamptonshire. In this podcast, I answer real creative dilemmas and explore how to build a braver, more sustainable artistic practice.

Each episode explores confidence, creative block, finding your visual language, burnout, comparison, and building a sustainable creative life.

If you have a creative dilemma you’d like me to explore, you can send it in to:

thecreativecouchpod@gmail.com

Start with Episode 1 and let’s begin.

We explore:

• The gap between expectation and reality, and the overwhelm that can follow
 • Returning to art after a break and managing a busy, “popcorn brain”
 • Finding your artistic voice and making work that genuinely feels like yours

This podcast is a space for honest conversations about creativity, confidence and building a sustainable creative practice.

If you’d like to send in your own creative dilemma, you can email me at thecreativepod@gmail.com