Synopsis
Creative Pep Talk helps you build a thriving creative career!!!Each week, host Andy J. Pizza serves up monologs and interviews chocked to the brim with creative performance hacks and fresh marketing tactics.Time to fill up your tank with a generous helping of PEP! Open up your ears and get that new perspective you need, the second you need it!
Episodes
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567 - Find What to Focus On Next with These Frameworks
05/08/2026 Duration: 41minIf you don’t know what side quest to focus on next… Or You feel conflicted about where to channel your energy… Or You can’t seem to start or finish your next project… This episode is for you! I explore 4 - 6 frameworks for organizing your ideas and selecting which one to take action on. This is a “CPT UNPLUGGED” episode, which means there’s no music or edits, it’s a yap session exploring where I am at right now and what’s helping me navigate this moment. Hope it helps you as much as it helped me to record it! UK MEETUP WHATSAPP CHANNEL: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8ns6v1NCrdqHbZmk36 UK BOOK EVENT DETAILS: Holmfirth, West YorkshireAugust 13th11am AT READ BookshopRegister: https://to-be-read.co.uk/books/andy-j-pizza-event/ Horbury, WakefieldAugust 14th10am AT Darling ReadsRegister: https://darlingreadsbooks.com/products/andy-j-pizza-author-event-ticket-only London (Richmond)August 16th11am AT The Alligator’s MouthRegister: https://www.thealligatorsmouth.co.uk/event-details/mysterious-things
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566 - Creative Strategy: Less Social Media, Income Streams & 3 Essentials
29/07/2026 Duration: 01h02minIs Social Media Driving you crazy? Do you feel like your creative practice is off balance? Do you need to rethink your creative strategy or embrace strategic thinking for the first time? If any of those ring true, this episode is for you! This episode is me being interviewed by Amelia Hruby on her podcast Off the Grid Off the Grid is for creatives trying to succeed without social media - and I had such a blast and we talked about so many interesting things I decided to share it here! We talk about my income streams, what having creative strategy looks like, why bad projects are necessary, and what you need if you’re trying to shift some of your creative strategy off social media. SHOW NOTES: Amelia Hrubyhttps://www.ameliahruby.comOff the Gridhttps://offthegrid.fun/podcast Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist o
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565 - What Type of Creator Are You? Unlock Your Style with Katie & Ilana of Goodtype
22/07/2026 Duration: 43minThis episode is for you if: 1 - You feel lost trying to find yourself as a creator 2 - You need some different types of artists to see yourself in 3 - You need a lighthearted chat to help get you out of your funk and seeing new possibilities in your creative path today This is a chat with Katie Johnson and Ilana Griffo of Goodtype about insights from their new book “Follow Your Art: Uncover & Unleash Your Creative Voice”. SHOW NOTES: Goodtypehttps://goodtype.us/about-us Follow Your Art Bookhttps://goodtype.us/follow-your-art-book Young Jerkshttps://youngjerks.com Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your
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564 - Unlock Creative Drive, Peace and Clarity with This Framework
15/07/2026 Duration: 29minThis episode is for you if: 1 - You kind of hate your current life season 2 - You are a neurodivergent creative 3 - You struggle with being present 4 - You always want to skip to the end of a process or goal This idea was one of the biggest shifts in my life and creative journey, I hope it gives you some peace and motivation for your current stage! SHOW NOTES: Joseph Campbell - Hero of A Thousand Faceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code PEPTALK RULARula patients ty
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563 - Find Your Inner Writer, What You Want to Say and See Your Ideas with Halsey Berryman
08/07/2026 Duration: 32minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You are sick and tired of waiting for someone else to tell you what to do. 2 - You want to take control of your creative path but struggle with self doubt. 3- You need to learn how to recognize what your ideas look like. SHOW NOTES: Halsey Berrymanhttps://www.halseyberryman.com Pests & Other Friends by Halsey Berrymanhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/787999/pests-and-other-friends-by-halsey-berryman/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain
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562 - Show the Real You, Why the Death of Insta isn't All Bad, Do Your Thing by Being Part of Something Bigger & ADHD
01/07/2026 Duration: 01h16minDo you feel like your work is very you-ish? How do you make creative work that really feels authentic? What does that even mean!? Today’s episode is a deep dive conversation and we cover a lot of topics around making authentic work. We talk about: How to strip away the ego and throw off trying to be cool. Why instagram being kind of over for artists might be a good thing. Why doing your thing often starts with being part of something bigger than yourself. Why art and collaboration is a fight and why that’s a good thing And we touch a bit on ai and why it doesn't matter what it can and cannot do! Some other ai thoughts I haven’t heard anywhere else! This is a different type of episode, this time I am being interviewed, on the captain offscript podcast, and I had so much fun that I had to share it with all of you here! Hope you love it. SHOW NOTES: CAPTN OFFSCRIPT PODCAST:https://captnoffscript.com/s02-e30-andy-j-pizza-adhd-self-worth/ ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF:www.eventbrite.com/e
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561 - The Best Case for Not Fearing AI, Help with Email and Creative Diet with Cal Newport
24/06/2026 Duration: 01h13minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- BUCKLE UP! This episode is CHOCK FULL of powerful insights from bestselling author Cal Newport! This episode is for you if: 1 - You are overwhelmed by the supposed “AI Art-pocalypse” and why this computer scientist doesn’t believe the hype (most hopeful take I have ever heard btw!). 2 - You are overwhelmed by admin like e-mail and need a different approach. 3 - You are brainsick from screen time and short form video. 4 - You need a mental emotional motivational boost! This will do it! SHOW NOTES: Cal Newporthttps://calnewport.com Deep Questions with Cal Newporthttps://www.thedeeplife.com/listen/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzD
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560 - Get Back to Passion, Ignore the Internet, Reorient to "Bad" Creative Feelings and Find Your Next Season
17/06/2026 Duration: 40minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You struggle to find the joy in your creative practice. 2 - You’re constantly distracted by schemes to fix all your problems. 3 - You get taken out and waste time with feelings of jealous or envy and they make you want to give up. 4 - You need shift gears and reorient yourself for the new creative season you find yourself in today. SHOW NOTES: ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF:www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON13FriendofBoard Ira Glass - Tastehttps://vimeo.com/85040589 Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://ww
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559 - Make Before Thinking, Sales Mode, Get Weird with It, The Opposite of Depression and MORE with Austin Kleon
10/06/2026 Duration: 01h10minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if you need: 1 - Tactics for escaping overthinking. 2 - More fun in your creative practice. 3 - Insights on how to find your child like passion for creating again. 4 - Something unexpected to spark you! This is a phenomenal chat with the great Austin Kleon. The guy is full of creative wisdom and is BACK with another banger of book for creatives. It’s called “Don’t Call it Art” and it is chock full of stuff to get you making stuff and having fun again doing it! SHOW NOTES: ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF:www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON13FriendofBoard Austin Kleonhttps://austinkleon.com Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleonhttps://geni.us/iHeRR Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist o
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558 - Start, Do, Finish: Get Around What's Blocking You from Doing Stuff
03/06/2026 Duration: 24minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Most creative people don’t need help being creative. You have the ideas. Where you trip up is the executive dysfunction. It’s getting yourself to start, middle, and finish the thing strong. In this episode I want to share with you the number 1 things that’s helped me, a creative with MEGA ADHD, transform ideas into 10+ books, projects that lead to work with X-Box, Apple and Nickelodeon and more. Stick around until the end for our “Creative Call to Adventure” it’s called “Out Block” and it will help you turn your current creative block into a starting block today! SHOW NOTES: ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF:www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON13FriendofBoard Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Us
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557 - Finding Your Scene, IRL Creativity, the Hopeful Return of Indie / DIY with Hanif Abdurraqib
27/05/2026 Duration: 01h03minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Your genius might be hiding in your backyard. This episode is for you if: 1 - You need to find real people to collaborate with. 2 - You need to cultivate real creative connection in real life. 3 - You need hope of a more human future for creativity. 4 - You want to be inspired by a brilliant creative mind like Hanif! I had a blast chatting face to face with the local AND worldwide creative legend, MacArthur “genius” grant winner and bestselling author, Hanif Abdurraqib. SHOW NOTES: Hanif Abdurraqibhttps://www.abdurraqib.com Living for the City Podcasthttps://www.youtube.com/@LivingfortheCityPod ”We Always Have This Year” by Hanif Abdurraqibhttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/695817/theres-always-this-year-by-hanif-abdurraqib/ Headshot of Hanif Abdurraqib by Megan Leigh Barnardhttps://meganleighbarnard.com ICON 13 ILLUSTRATION CONFERENCE $100 OFF:www.eventbrite.com/e/1808652431109/?discount=ICON1
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*FIXED SEE SHOW NOTES* 556 - Make This Shift to Reclaim Your Creative Spirit from Your Phone
21/05/2026 Duration: 28minThis episode was initially published without the end of the story and the main point of the episode spelled out! We had one essential portion of this episode missing in the previous edit!! Thank you for those who sent me messages so that I could clear this up. I really love this episode and I am glad we fixed it! Pre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen to this episode if: 1 - You are sick of trying to prove yourself on the internet. 2 - You need to find a way to shift away from pouring all your creativity into your phone. 3 - You need a grounding exercise to help you get more in the present, connect your now to your past self and open up new possibilities for your future! SHOW NOTES: Mysterious Thingsinvisiblethings.co Angus Fletcher - Primal Intelligencehttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/740110/primal-intelligence-by-angus-fletcher/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones h
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555 - Overcome Dead Ends & Open Up to New Directions with Hrishikesh Hirway
13/05/2026 Duration: 01h00sPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have hit a dead end and need to open up to totally new directions. 2 - You are stuck doing nothing and need a small place to start. 3 - You need to find new guidance from an outside perspective. This is a chat with musician Hrishikesh Hirway. You may know Hirway from his phenomenal podcast “Song Exploder” or his work as a composer for the film “Companion” or Netflix television series “Everything Sucks!”. Today we discuss the winding journey to his new album “In the Last Hour of Light” which features guests like Iron and Wine and Fenne Lily.SHOW NOTES: Hrishikesh Hirwayhttps://hrishikesh.coHrishikesh Hirway - In the Last Hour of Lighthttps://hrishikesh.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-last-hour-of-light Song Exploderhttps://songexploder.net Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme
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554 - Get Back to Creativity that Actually Helps Your Mental Health with Gemma Correll
06/05/2026 Duration: 50minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Most of us start making things because on some level it feels good! It feels like a meditation. It brings flow. It helps us process. But if you ever get serious about your work, you may also accidentally lose all these positives and replace them with negative side effects like pressure, anxiety, and even despair. If you want to get back to the kind of creative practice that lifts you up instead of triggers you, this episode is for you! Gemma Correll is a world-renowned illustrator and cartoonist with one of the most personal and practical creative practices that I know of. She has been art journaling way before it was cool, and it’s turned into a cathartic experience that she now shares with the world through her online comics and now her phenomenal graphic memoir “Anxietyland”. We discuss: 1 - How to access that energy of making just for yourself before you think about anyone else. 2 - The power and pitfalls
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553 - Recover Sense of Self & Creative Voice with These 6 Juicy Prompts
29/04/2026 Duration: 45minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have been pretending to be someone else for so long that you have forgotten who you are. 2 - You want to put more of your real self into your work and need help understanding how to do that. 3 - You need some fun and unexpected exercises to get back in touch with what you really care about and who you really are. Check out the “Right Side Out” Series here: http://andyjpizza.com/rso SHOW NOTES: Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code
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552 - Listen to This if You Need Help Remembering Who You Are (Right Side Out 1 of 6) *RE-AIR*
22/04/2026 Duration: 48minCheck out the rest of the “Right Side Out” series on it's own podcast feed here: andyjpizza.com/rso --- It’s been 2 years since we originally aired this episode. This is part 1 of our 6 part audio memoir series “Right Side Out”. On the surface it’s about my journey with ADHD and making peace with being “just like my mom”. But underneath, what it’s really about, is YOU. It’s about how to love yourself enough to get curious about who you are. If you have had trouble finding your style, voice or sensibility as an artist, it might be because you’ve jumped to making for others too quickly. First and foremost, creative work helps us get our inner world onto the page so that we can get an outside perspective on ourselves. Kind of trippy, right? HAHA. But it’s true. Listen to this episode: 1 - If you want to remember who you are. 2 - You need tools for putting more of yourself into your work, whether it’s creative work or not! 3 - You are longing for a more gentle, loving and ultimately more productive relat
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551 - Consume and Create Art to Get Your Brain Back with Scientist Daisy Fancourt
15/04/2026 Duration: 30minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You’re feeling like you’ve lost the thread and your point of view as a creative. 2 - You’re fed up with consuming so much junk online and need tactics to start consuming better creative stuff that inspires you again. 3 - Need to dive deeper into the science of why your relationship with art can make all the difference to your creative practice and general wellbeing. This episode features a chat with scientist and science communicator Daisy Fancourt about her new Sunday Times Bestselling book “Art Cure - The Science of How the Arts Save Lives”. Learn more about Daisy Fancourt here:https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/44526-daisy-fancourt Check out “Art Cure” here:https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250364531/artcure/ SHOW NOTES: Art Cure by Daisy Fancourthttps://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250364531/artcure/ Art Cure Events Calendarhttps://sbbresearch.org/projects/artcure/ Producer /
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550 - Get Back to Your Creative Path with These 3 Counterintuitive Things
08/04/2026 Duration: 44minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen to this if: 1 - You feel creatively off or can’t find your creative thread at the moment 2 - You’re in a season where you’re not making as much as you want to be 3 - You feel in a low place creatively and need to remember why you care about creating 4 - You feel ill from so much doomscrolling and consuming short form video! SHOW NOTES: Cal Newport’s Podcasthttps://calnewport.com/podcasts/ Simon Critchley - On Mysticismhttps://www.nyrb.com/products/mysticism Angus Fletcher - Wonderworkshttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Wonderworks/Angus-Fletcher/9781982135980 Lizzy McAlpine - Drunk, Runninghttps://youtu.be/Xa8iMI0yRVY?si=De3Uia0x0VkHL-mM Wolf Childrenhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140203/ Wolf Children Soundtrackhttps://open.spotify.com/album/3vZyva1XWxRbf0wq4MsU8q Piranesi by Susanna Clarkehttps://www.bloomsbury.com/us/piranesi-9781635575637/ Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemil
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549 - This is How Sensitive Creative People Make Big Changes with Eric Zimmer
01/04/2026 Duration: 01h13minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- Listen if: 1 - All the habit advice doesn’t work you as an emotional creative type 2 - You are tired of fighting yourself to make the changes you want to make 3 - You need an exercise for discovering your deepest held values If these hit home, this deep dive with author and podcaster Eric Zimmer was made for you! SHOW NOTES: Eric Zimmerhttps://www.oneyoufeed.net/about-eric-zimmer/ How a Little Becomes a Lot by Eric Zimmerhttps://www.harpercollins.com/products/how-a-little-becomes-a-lot-eric-zimmer?variant=43996638838818 The One You Feed Podcasthttps://www.oneyoufeed.net Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIK
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548 - 5 Creative / Neurodivergent Friendly Productivity Hacks to Become a Doer
25/03/2026 Duration: 35minPre-Order My New Book “Mysterious Things” and Help Us Spread the Word: invisiblethings.co --- This episode is for you if: 1 - You have so many ideas but struggle to realize many of them! 2 - Most productivity advice doesn’t work for you. 3 - You need to feel excited and hopeful again about your creative practice. SHOW NOTES: Creative Pep Talk Ep 548 with Jarod K. Andersonhttps://www.creativepeptalk.com/draft-episode-for-mar-04-2026545-make-your-life-creative-work-more-rich-with-meaning-with-jarod/ Jim Collins - Jim the Bughttps://www.jimcollins.com/media_topics/TheCurseOfCompetence.html Producer / Editor: Sophie Miller http://sophiemiller.coAudio Editing / Sound Design: Conner Jones http://pendingbeautiful.coSoundtrack / Theme Song: Yoni Wolf / WHY? http://whywithaquestionmark.comSpotify Playlist of WHY? Songs Used on This Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4ZIE7PHG5I1Ddg1BuVGRzj?si=4x_BzDZjQgqSpoaLXdVACg&pi=h4HsIKG0SP6Kg SPONSORS:SQUARESPACEHead to https://www.squarespace.com/PEPTALK to