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.

We’re currently away camping, so we’re opening the vault to give you a sneak peek of our bonus feed. Backstage Banter is where we keep the raw conversations usually reserved for our members.

This first episode covers Brea's 5-cubic-meter 'mulch mountain' driveway fiasco, a coffee-ordering saga that makes me sound like a total Boomer, and the day a ranger showed up to reclaim a cat trap while I was out of town. We also touch on some Grand Final heartbreak and a poorly timed birthday migraine.

If you enjoy this unfiltered side of the show, come join us on Patreon!

This episode was originally aired as a Patreon Exclusive on 15/11/2025

Thanks for hanging out with us backstage.

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 wrestle with whether we can curate our lives as we go, or only recognize the shape of it when we look back."

We are currently away from the studio for a few weeks - trading the microphones for the sounds of the bush on a summer camping trip - so we wanted to take this opportunity to re-share a conversation that remains one of our most meaningful.

In this heavy yet heartfelt episode, we step into deeper waters to reflect on the life and legacy of our dear friend, Salima. We explore the idea that every life—intentionally or not—becomes a living work of art. From grief to philosophy, from memory to meaning, we wrestle with whether we can truly curate our lives as we go, or if we can only recognize the shape of them when we look back.

This episode was originally released on 14/04/2025.

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.

Celebrate a full year of Pain In The Arts as Lyndon and Brea look back on 52 weeks of creative pursuit. Revisit the moments that resonated most, including their most popular episode, "Is Life Art?" (remembering Salima), and the high-energy session with writer Dom Shorthouse. From the professional highs of touring with Gretta Ziller and playing festival stages to the precarious repairs of a vintage Jayswan camper, the duo discusses the beauty of fitting art into the chaotic reality of real life. Plus, a look at their growing Patreon community and what’s in store for 2026.

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.

What gives you permission to take the riskier creative choice? In this episode, Lyndon and Brea explore that question with Dom—a chef, author, and social entrepreneur who's lived by the principle that the bolder option is almost always the better one, whether in music, art, or life itself. They discuss why taking risks matters even when there's no audience, no stakes, nothing to lose but time—and why sometimes the most worthwhile creative act is one you do purely for yourself. From co-writing a novel with a friend to moving to Cambodia, Dom shares how embracing the uncomfortable—and trusting that it might matter, even if you never see the impact—has become the through-line of his life. A conversation about permission, creativity, and the riskier path forward.

Dom Shorthouse on Instagram @domshorthouse

Ryan Wasoba on Instagram @ryanwasoba

Listen to Ryan Wasoba's 19 Second Songs Vol 1 here: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/19-second-songs-vol-1-ep/1454192831

If you've enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend!

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.

Lyndon and Breallyn mark their 50th episode with a low-key celebration and turn their attention to the crush of Christmas - end-of-year events, family gatherings, school break-ups, gifts, obligations, all piling into the calendar. They talk about how these commitments can derail creative routines, unsettle the rhythm of the work, and crowd out the hours artists fight to protect. But they also trace the other side of it: why these occasions exist, why humans need them, and how communal moments—messy as they can be - remain vital to our wellbeing.

If you know someone who'd love this episode, feel free to share it!

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.