Lyndon and Breallyn are once again joined by Dulgubarra-Yidinji writer Skye Cusack to talk writing, culture, and creative momentum. Skye reflects on the journey of her second book, Checked Out, including an emotionally intense return to Country and time spent reconnecting with her heritage and family.

They also touch on her debut novel, The Dangers of Just One Person, and Skye shares a glimpse into her current work-in-progress—a new horror manuscript. It’s a conversation about writing, cultural connection and finding humour in the unpredictable rhythms of creative life.

Skye Cusack on ABC

The Dangers Of Just One Person - by Skye Cusack

https://www.instagram.com/magabalabooks

Pain In The Arts is a Creative Life Chronicles production.

Enjoyed this episode? Please share with a friend!

Support the show, access exclusive content, or explore our free tier on Patreon:

http://www.patreon.com/painintheartslife

For more from Creative Life Chronicles (website coming soon!) and the Pain In The Arts podcast, visit our website:

http://www.paininthearts.life

Recorded and produced at Morning Phase Recording Room.

Original theme music by Lyndon Wesley:

http://www.lyndonwesley.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're officially back from camping - and yes, we have plenty of mozzie bites and stories to tell once we're back in the studio - but while we’re technically still on our summer break, we wanted to revisit this conversation from April 8th, 2025.

In this episode, Brea and I dive into the 'Deep Work' debate. We’ve all heard that rigidly scheduled, uninterrupted blocks of time are the only way to get real work done, but we wanted to see if there’s room for a more flexible flow. Do we actually need those massive windows of time to be creative?

We explore the stress that kicks in when a dedicated creative window gets unexpectedly cut short, and we contrast the 'Deep Work' concept with the more fluid, inspiration-driven side of making art. We also talk about mental preparation, the frustration of losing momentum, and whether years of experience can eventually help you create meaningful work in shorter, sharper bursts.

Full Transcript: https://paininthearts.life/index.php/transcript/ep-15-the-deep-work-dilemma-finding-focus-in-creative-chaos/

Pain In The Arts is a Creative Life Chronicles production.

Enjoyed this episode? Please share with a friend!

Support the show, access exclusive content, or explore our free tier on Patreon:

http://www.patreon.com/painintheartslife

For more from Creative Life Chronicles (website coming soon!) and the Pain In The Arts podcast, visit our website:

http://www.paininthearts.life

Recorded and produced at Morning Phase Recording Room.

Original theme music by Lyndon Wesley:

http://www.lyndonwesley.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this re-release, we wanted to revisit a conversation that feels more relevant every day. We sat down with Ricki Wood—a seasoned musician who has spent years touring Australia—to tackle the one thing most of us artists dread: self-promotion.

We got into the weeds of how to actually get your work seen without sacrificing your sanity (or your soul) to social media. Ricki shared his experience booking gigs across the country, and we talked a lot about the power of authenticity and integrity. His approach is less about chasing "viral moments" or algorithm approval and more about building a sustainable career through real-world connections and genuine relationships.

Whether you’re a musician or a creator in another field, we hope this chat offers some clarity on how to connect with your audience without losing yourself in the process.

Get the transcript https://paininthearts.life/index.php/transcript/ep-19-beyond-likes-sustainable-self-promotion-for-independent-musicians/

More from Ricki Wood

http://www.rickiwood.com

https://rickiwood.bandcamp.com/

Pain In The Arts is a Creative Life Chronicles production.

Enjoyed this episode? Please share with a friend!

Support the show, access exclusive content, or explore our free tier on Patreon:

http://www.patreon.com/painintheartslife

For more from Creative Life Chronicles (website coming soon!) and the Pain In The Arts podcast, visit our website:

http://www.paininthearts.life

Recorded and produced at Morning Phase Recording Room.

Original theme music by Lyndon Wesley:

http://www.lyndonwesley.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.