In this episode, we sit down with art critic and author Hettie Judah to discuss her brilliant new book, How to Enter the Art World. If you have ever felt completely frozen by the sheer volume of things you think you "should" be doing to build a creative career, this conversation is a massive breath of fresh air.

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Buy How To Enter The Art World from Hoxton Mini Press- They plant a tree every time someone buys the book from their site!

In this episode, we sit down with artist Khadija Ceclile Niang to explore how her practice bridges the gap between structured planning and pure intuition. Born in Norway to Senegalese parents, Khadija shares how discovering the rich connection between her family’s fishing heritage and the history of African surfing completely transformed her relationship with paint.

We also dive deep into a topic we are unpacking on Substack this week: Creative Variety. Khadijah discusses breaking free from the "monastic studio myth," learning to embrace multiple creative outlets like knitting, cooking, and DJing, and why having zero-pressure hobbies is actually the secret weapon to sustaining a deep artistic practice.

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In this week's episode we dive deep into what it means to be successful and discuss how we can shift from a lack mentality when it comes to our creative paths. We discuss how to redefine ambition as a daily roadmap, rather than hyper-focusing on an imaginary 'sparkly castle' that we want to arrive at. "Man plans, and god laughs" is a quote we reflect on and how leaning into the everyday is the most healthy way of living.

Read our Substack recflection here: The View From the Mountain: Breaking Free from Creative Scarcity

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What happens to your creative practice when your body suddenly forces you to stop?

In this episode, Martha sits down with artist Sophie Smorzweski to discuss her "Kitchen Table" series and the profound impact of periods of illness on her work. Sophie opens up about navigating this at the age of 18, experiencing periods of isolation as "mini lockdowns," and how the kitchen table transformed from a symbol of confinement into a powerful site of healing and artistic recovery.

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In this month's Wellness Journal, Martha Lamont and guest co-host Damaris Athene break the silence around two of the most isolating feelings in the studio: jealousy and comparison. Unpacking Julia Cameron’s famous quote on the topic, they discuss handling the reality of rejections, projection and the 'compare-and-despair' trap, alongside the huge disconnect between a successful Instagram grid and a difficult lived reality.

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In this episode, we continue the conversation on motherhood through a deeply personal lens.

Eri, a Japanese artist living in Paris, shares her experience of navigating pregnancy while being confronted with unresolved parts of her own upbringing. As she describes it, it can feel like opening a dark box, one that asks you to face old patterns and question the kind of parent you want to become.

There are echoes of Eleanor’s story from Part 1, but Eri brings her own perspective, shaped by her life, her practice, and her cultural context.

Together, we explore what it means to challenge inherited ideas of parenting, and how those inner shifts can reshape not only motherhood, but how we show up as artists and individuals.

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In this episode, we unpack the role of criticism in an artist’s practice: how to receive it, how to give it, and how to keep creating through it.

When is feedback helpful, and when does it start to pull you away from your own voice? We talk about trusting your instincts, recognising useful critique, and those rare moments when feedback sparks a real shift in the work.

We have opened up 5 mentorship slots, starting in May. For more details visit: thehealthyartist.com

Grab a pen, or a notepad… or open a notes app and give yourself a bit of space. As we go, I’ll be asking you some questions and I’d really encourage you to pause the podcast after each one… give yourself the time to actually sit with it… and respond. Even though this is a short episode, I would give yourself 30-60 mins with the pauses. If you would like to share your reflections please do email thehealthyartistpod.com. We will send the questions out on our newsletter and share them on substack. Please do share this episode if you feel another creative could do with a moment of pause and reflection.

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