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Happy Summer Y’All!

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Hope everyone is having a good summer so far! Catching up after the holiday! Enjoy!

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🔗 Connect with Ryan:
https://www.ryangalway.com

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What does it take to chase a lifelong dream in the music industry while staying authentic to yourself? In this episode of the Wildly Unplug podcast, Lauren sits down with musician, songwriter, producer, and founder of Sleepless Lyfe Records, Ryan Galloway, for a deeply honest conversation about creativity, resilience, burnout, songwriting, and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Ryan shares his journey from DJing and tour management to finally releasing his own music and concept album Heart Matter. The conversation explores the emotional side of songwriting, overcoming self-doubt, finding your artistic identity, and why some of the best creative breakthroughs happen when you stop waiting for permission and simply begin.

From touring with Bon Jovi to launching Sleepless Lyfe Records, Ryan opens up about grief, ambition, perseverance, music industry realities, and the lessons he’s learned from years behind the scenes. This episode also dives into the healing power of music, reconnecting with yourself through creativity, and how nature can help ground us during overwhelming seasons of life.

If you love conversations about music, storytelling, personal growth, creative courage, and following unconventional dreams, this episode is for you.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Songwriting and storytelling
• The creative process behind Heart Matter
• Music industry lessons and touring experiences
• Overcoming fear and self-doubt
• Creativity, burnout, and authenticity
• Nature, mindfulness, and personal reflection
• The importance of taking risks and chasing dreams
• Independent music, record labels, and modern artists

🌿 Follow Wildly Unplug for more conversations about nature, creativity, conservation, storytelling, and the human experience.

🎧 Like the vibe of the Wildly Unplug intro/outro music? It was custom-made by the incredibly talented Danny on Fiverr! 🌿✨
Seriously brought the vision to life perfectly. Go check him out: https://www.fiverr.com/danny85805?source=inbox

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Week 12 of the 1,000 Rejection Challenge brought an unexpected realization: I had four rejections this week... and they weren't the most important thing that happened.

In this episode, I share why that feels like a major milestone, the surprising power of encouragement after last week's troll encounter, and how a few kind messages reminded me that words can build people up just as easily as they can tear them down.

I also talk about stepping outside my comfort zone by entering the Trekell Pet Portrait Competition using two materials I'd never completed a project with before—gouache and wood panels. Plus, a classroom full of students using my aquatic animal watercolor kits gave me one of the most rewarding moments I've experienced since starting Wild Developments Studio.

Along the way, we'll discuss creativity, resilience, trying new things, spending time on the water in Key West, and why sometimes the biggest wins aren't found in acceptance emails or contest results at all.

If you've ever felt discouraged by rejection, questioned whether your work matters, or needed a reminder to keep creating anyway, this episode is for you.

Topics include: rejection, resilience, creativity, watercolor, gouache painting, pet portraits, conservation education, nature connection, personal growth, art challenges, overcoming criticism, and the 1,000 Rejection Challenge.

Unplug, get outside, and see what develops.

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🔗 Connect with Peter:
Website: https://www.peterdraws.com/
Follow on Instagram: @Peterdraws
Youtube: @peter_draws

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What happens when an artist stops overthinking, trusts their gut, and simply starts creating?

In this episode of the Wildly Unplug podcast, Lauren sits down with artist and YouTuber Peter Draws for a deep conversation about creativity, intuition, artistic identity, nature, burnout, social media, and the messy reality of building a creative life online.

Peter shares how he accidentally became a full-time artist, why he never planned on an art career, and how YouTube helped him carve out his own unconventional path. The conversation explores pen and ink illustration, creative block, sketchbooks, perfectionism, editing YouTube videos, trusting your intuition, and the connection between art and nature.

If you’ve ever struggled with calling yourself an artist, felt stuck creatively, or wondered how to balance creativity with social media, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
How Peter Draws became a full-time artist
Why he works directly in ink without sketching first
How nature helps calm the mind and spark creativity
The childhood books that influenced his artistic style
The hidden reality of filming and editing art videos
Creative intuition, overthinking, and following your gut
Sketchbooks, doodling, and artistic evolution
Why mistakes can actually improve your art
Exploring different art mediums and overcoming fear
Advice for reconnecting with nature and creativity

Whether you’re an illustrator, watercolor artist, creative entrepreneur, nature lover, or someone recovering from hustle culture and burnout, this episode will leave you inspired to unplug, create, and trust yourself a little more.

🎧 Like the vibe of the Wildly Unplug intro/outro music? It was custom-made by the incredibly talented Danny on Fiverr! 🌿✨
Seriously brought the vision to life perfectly. Go check him out: https://www.fiverr.com/danny85805?source=inbox

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What happens when a week feels like nothing is moving forward?

In this week's 1,000 Rejection Challenge update, Lauren shares a surprisingly eventful "stagnant" week that included a film festival rejection, an unforgettable encounter with an internet troll, and an unexpected opportunity connected to NASA. Along the way, she explores the difference between criticism from strangers and the negative voice we often carry inside ourselves—one she has officially named "Salomon."

Lauren also reflects on the realities of podcasting, the temptation to measure success by money or numbers, and why meaningful connections may be the greatest return on investment. From rejection and self-doubt to resilience, creativity, and rocket launch applications, this episode is a reminder that progress often feels slow while we're living it.

After 136 asks, the scoreboard stands perfectly balanced: 30 acceptances, 30 rejections, and countless lessons learned in between.

Whether you're pursuing a creative dream, facing criticism, building something from scratch, or simply wondering if your efforts matter, this episode is for you.

#RejectionChallenge #CreativeJourney #Podcasting #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #NatureInspired #WildlyUnplug #Creativity #OvercomingSelfDoubt #NASA #ArtistLife #Storytelling

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🕊️ In Memory of Melanie
Since recording this episode, Melanie unexpectedly passed away. Her joy for art, storytelling, animals, and life itself shines throughout this conversation. I’m deeply grateful our paths crossed, even briefly, and I hope this episode inspires others to slow down, create, and appreciate the people who leave lasting impressions on our hearts.

Follow Melanie / All My Pieces Art:
Website: https://allmypiecesart.com
Instagram: @allmypiecesart
Facebook: All My Pieces Art

What happens when burnout leads you somewhere unexpected?

In this heartfelt episode of Wildly Unplug, Lauren sits down with animal portrait artist Melanie of All My Pieces Art to discuss how art, storytelling, and creativity helped transform her life after a long and stressful healthcare career.

Melanie shares her inspiring journey from healthcare executive to self-taught artist in just eight months, revealing how a therapist’s suggestion to try coloring eventually evolved into a thriving art business focused on emotional storytelling through pet portraits and wildlife art. Together, they explore the healing power of creativity, burnout recovery, slowing down, nature connection, and why animals hold such deep emotional meaning in our lives.
From drawing soulful pet portraits to caring for aging parents, navigating stress, rediscovering childhood memories, and finding purpose later in life, this conversation is a reminder that it is never too late to start something new.

✨ In this episode:
How art became a tool for healing burnout
The emotional connection behind pet portraits
Why storytelling matters in art
Creativity after retirement
How slowing down can change your life
Nature, animals, and unconditional love
Overcoming imposter syndrome as an artist
Rediscovering yourself through creativity

🌿 Whether you're an artist, animal lover, creative soul, or someone searching for a slower and more meaningful life, this episode will leave you inspired to reconnect with what matters most.

🎙️ Wildly Unplugged shares stories of nature, conservation, creativity, and the people discovering what develops when they unplug and step outdoors.

#WildlyUnplugged #PetPortraitArtist #BurnoutRecovery #CreativityHealing #NaturePodcast #WildlifeArt #ArtistJourney #MentalHealth #Storytelling #AnimalLovers #ArtPodcast #CreativeLiving #Watercolor #NatureConnection #SelfTaughtArtist

🎧 Like the vibe of the Wildly Unplug intro/outro music? It was custom-made by the incredibly talented Danny on Fiverr! 🌿✨
Seriously brought the vision to life perfectly. Go check him out: https://www.fiverr.com/danny85805?source=inbox

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Week 10 of the 1,000 Rejection Challenge brought an unexpected lesson: not every acceptance is actually a win.

In this episode of Wildly Unplugged, Lauren shares how the excitement of receiving a children's book publishing offer quickly turned into a crash course on vanity publishing, author scams, and the importance of doing your research before signing a contract. After receiving an acceptance for Vinnie the Vulture Finds His Place, Lauren dug deeper into the publisher's claims, reviewed the contract, and ultimately walked away from a deal that didn't feel right.

She also shares another hard-earned lesson involving lawyers, a vehicle recall, and why slowing down to investigate opportunities can save you money, stress, and regret.

Along the way, Lauren provides an update on her 1,000 Rejection Challenge, discusses submitting to literary agents, writing a second children's book (Nancy the Nurse Shark Finds Her Place), spotting contest scams, and the surprising benefits of taking a break before burnout takes over.

If you've ever wondered:

• How to spot a vanity publisher
• What red flags to watch for in publishing contracts
• Whether literary agents are worth pursuing
• How to avoid scams targeting artists and authors
• What the 1,000 Rejection Challenge can teach about resilience
• How to recognize and prevent creative burnout

...this episode is for you.

Key Topics:
✔ Vanity publishing vs. traditional publishing
✔ Children's book publishing journey
✔ Literary agent submissions
✔ Author and artist scams
✔ Rejection Challenge Week 10 update
✔ Creative entrepreneurship
✔ Burnout prevention for creatives
✔ Self-publishing lessons learned
✔ Building resilience through rejection
✔ Writing and illustrating children's books

Challenge Stats Update:
📊 Total Asks: 123
✅ Accepted: 31
❌ Rejected: 31
⏳ In Review: 61

Sometimes the biggest victory isn't getting accepted—it's knowing when to walk away.

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Discover what develops when you unplug and step outdoors through stories of nature, conservation, creativity, and personal growth.

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