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Though it’s safe to say that, if you’re listening to this podcast, you’re day isn’t going perfectly, are you the type that’s bothered by that sort of thing? How often do you find yourself chained by the exhausting anxiety of perfectionism? Do you find your joy spoiled and your peace sapped when your endeavors inevitably don’t go precisely as your mind says they should? Join the club—we’re still working the kinks out and, you know, it’s probably not the most well organized club you’ve ever been in, but like, in our heads it looked a lot cooler…

On this episode of Nah-cademics, Brett and John try to flawlessly depict that subtle, relentless urge to do everything “right”—be it creating universally beloved art, being liked by literally everyone, or trying to make your voice sound even one iota less embarrassing on a microphone while discussing the potential benefits of perfectionism.

-What preconceived notions do we have about perfectionism, and how does considering its five types help us to avoid the heinous cycle of using our own tendency towards perfectionism as more evidence of our imperfection?

-Does the process of healing from our perfectionism mean trying to pretend it isn’t there, settling, or growing out of it--is that even possible? Or are there ways we can view it as an innate quality that can be used to our advantage as opposed to our destruction?

-Given that these descriptions are usually not proofread, does the author (whose name rhymes with Don Jennis) ever worry that he’ll be deemed a moron if anyone actually reads them?

As always, this podcast offers no definitive answers to these questions (except that last one: Yes, but he’s super confident that the actual audio of each episode will make you think otherwise… lmao) it is but the flawed flailing of two overly self-conscious friends. However, if you find yourself constantly grading all of your interactions, successes, and situations against an impossible rubric of idealized reality, this podcast is for you.

Come, overthink with us!

JohnDennisMusic.com
BrettRyanStewart.com
Wirebird Productions

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It’s an age old artistic question: does the aim of being professionally creative destroy or empower the impetus for actual creation? Whereas one’s mind may go to the adage of “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” anyone who has assigned an occupational dimension to artistry has almost certainly wound up, now and again, wondering if they even love what they’re doing anymore—what with the sheer amount of thankless labor and eroding expectations that inevitably freckle that path. Even more embarrassingly, they could end up starting an amateur podcast about that very dynamic…

In this episode of Nah-cademics, Brett and John attempt to get to the bottom of whether the professional aspiration actually helps to inspire the very creative expression it seeks to market, or whether adding a business component is a crippling obstacle that leads to artistic stagnancy.

-Does the goal of making art your job—and the implication that doing so means sharing and pleasing an audience—actually propel the artist forward, or does it sap the blissful freedom that inspired you to create in the first place?

-Are the creative mindset and the business mindset mutually exclusive, or is there a healthy balance that can be struck which utilizes the best facets of both frameworks to be the most authentic and productive artist one can be?

-Do Brett and John honestly think that making this podcast is an outgrowth of… lmao… professionalism?

As always, this podcast offers no definitive answers to these questions (well, except that last one: hahaha no, we’re laughing right along with you—and by “you” we mean Brett’s mom). It is but the aimless ambling of amateurs. However, if you find yourself worn out and wandering through the minefield of dreaming of an artistic vocation and gradually wondering whether you even love it enough to keep on, this podcast is for you.

Come, overthink with us!

JohnDennisMusic.com
BrettRyanStewart.com
Wirebird Productions

Send us a text

We know what we want. We know when we want it. We think, at least. Every time we actually get serious about our dreams we find ourselves resisting every step towards actually fulfilling them. What gives? What is it about actually starting to see the success we have long craved coming to fruition that inspires us to self-sabotage?

In this episode of Nah-cademics, Brett and John try to get to the bottom of the brutal tendency to get in our own way and guard the doors of our own dreams. We look at the many subtle habits so many of us have developed to prevent ourselves from actually following the path we know we want to walk both when the going gets tough and (infuriatingly) when the going gets easier.

-What does self-sabotage look like? Do we always know when we're doing it, and is it something that can eventually be managed through enough awareness and perseverance?

-Is it accurate that humans are wired for comfort over happiness--even when that comfort/safety comes in the form of confining ourselves to relationships, routines, and lives that not only don't fulfill us but often make us miserable?

-Could it be said that spending time on an amateur podcast was, itself, a form of self-sabotage on the part of Brett and John who each have musical aspirations (allegedly)?

As always, this podcast offers no definitive answers to these questions (well, except maybe that last one. Answer: probably, but it's at least a more entertaining form of sabotage than all of the other distraction we'd inevitably be using to not make music), it is but quibbling in the quicksand. However, if you find yourself constantly telling yourself that you know what steps to take towards a better life, but instead find yourself just pacing the unfulfilling circular pattern you know, this podcast is for you!

Come, overthink with us!

JohnDennisMusic.com
BrettRyanStewart.com
Wirebird Productions