#75 - Creativity, Death & Rebirth: Designing a Life That Matters with Pia Leichter
“We get one ride on this spinning rock—why not turn it into our biggest art project?” – Pia
Episode Snapshot
A book deal born from a cold call, a five-week train ride across Siberia, and a mother’s passing that rewired what matters—this conversation is a masterclass in how pivotal moments crack us open to deeper creativity. Ryan sits down with Pia, author of Welcome to the Creativity Club, to explore why death, birth, and brave pauses often spark our most original work.
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CONNECT WITH PIA:
- Get a copy of her book:
On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Creative-Club-Biggest-Project/dp/B0DPJ8L4NM/ref=sr_1_1
On Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/welcome-to-the-creative-club-make-life-your-biggest-art-project-pia-mailhot-leichter/22087658 - Book a chemistry call: https://calendly.com/kollektivstudio/coaching-exploration-call
- More about her work: https://kollektiv.studio/
- Connect through weekly field notes: https://kollektiv.studio/newsletter
- Connect on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pialeichter/
TIME STAMPS
0:00 – Why every human has a book inside them (and how Pia said “yes”)
4:30 – The myth of the lone genius—creativity as collaboration
10:15 – Slowing down: meditation, journaling & movement as idea igniters
16:40 – The Trans-Siberian train ride that rebooted Pia’s sense of agency
22:05 – New York City chaos vs. Copenhagen calm—two creativity labs
30:12 – How losing a parent (or gaining twins) clarifies what matters
38:55 – Default-Mode Network: science behind shower thoughts & daydreams
46:20 – Designing work that fuels, not drains: paper planners, mini-sprints
54:00 – Practical tip: “Carry a pocket notebook for one week—count the ideas”
1:02:37 – Coaching as co-creation + why we all need accountability partners
1:10:11 – Lightning round: Pia’s current practices, books, playlists
1:18:00 – CTA & closing reflections: making today your “If not now, when?”
