Shows / Gifted Underachievers
Gifted Underachievers
A podcast for midlevel creatives with delusional ambitions
giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Episodes
Gifted UnderachieversJames Hangs a Picture
For a few weeks, Pat has been needling James about an unhung picture in his office, never suspecting he’d take her advice. Then the unthinkable occurs—he hangs…
Gifted UnderachieversLittle Brainstorms
From the Gifted Underachievers Lab: High-Value, Smaller Experiments with Examples. As creatives we can find ways to test out our little brainstorms, finding…
Gifted UnderachieversTax Time (Ugh!)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversZoom Weirdsies
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversT-Shirt Silliness
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversWhat if Your Art is Considered Old-Fashioned?
All art forms cycle through phases and styles—fashion, dance, literature, visual arts, even acting. To wit: the ‘statuesque’ style of 18th-century actor John…
Gifted UnderachieversAllostatic Load: Understanding Stress to Defang It
This segment was born of a chat between Pat and James that began with Pat describing a documentary she watched on an Australian trauma cleaner, which then took…
Gifted UnderachieversSit Reps: What's Going Right in a Troubled Time
In the wake of an event that occurred in the US on January 20th, James and Pat take stock of what’s gone right lately in their creative lives—call it a sitrep…
Gifted Underachievers2025 Goal-Setting Attempt
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversGatekeepers & Qualifications
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversYouTube Weirdos
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversInterview with Gifted Achiever: Carrie McConkey
A bright spark entered the Gifted Underachiever clubhouse and her name is Carrie McConkey. For many years, Carrie thought that her crazy career background made…
Gifted UnderachieversTake the Pause
In this segment, the Gifted Underachievers talk about taking the pause—not responding immediately with a yes or no to a project, an offer, or a trigger. If…
Gifted UnderachieversUsing Music in Your Creative Toolkit
Pat and James dive into music and how it can help or hinder creative work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers…
Gifted UnderachieversHeadbands & Movie Set Delusions
Pat dazzles with yet another 1920s style cloche headband while James goes full delusional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversAre Comparisons Odious in a Creative Career?
In any creative field, it can be tempting to compare our situation with that of our peers. We discuss whether comparisons can help you move forward. This is a…
Gifted UnderachieversSituation Reports on Recent Pitches
James gets news on a recent pitch and Pat reports on an email from Canada Council for the Arts This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversBranding Silliness: The Gifted Part
When your brand contains the word "underachievers," it's important to remember the "gifted" part. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this…
Gifted UnderachieversInterview with Gifted Achiever: Kristin Hugo
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversThe Grants Experiment is Kicking our Asses
Discover 3 weird obstacles to successfully applying for a creative grant. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Holiday Season Slalom
The Gifted Underachievers take a break from the creative life to discuss those five weeks between the US Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. This is a public…
Gifted UnderachieversPost-Nasal Drip Silliness
There’s no logical reason to listen to this segment—except to hear James’s Oscar-worthy impression of a barfly on her way to getting COPD. This is a public…
Gifted UnderachieversCliché, Stereotype & Always Be Interesting
People say that cliché, stereotype, and platitudes have no place in any creative work in any creative domain. But is this always true even if it often is? Are…
Gifted UnderachieversSmall Creative Acts
Sometimes, putting out a small book or creating something outside your usual field can reinvigorate you and maybe...just maybe!...make a little money on the…
Gifted UnderachieversBorat & Nabokov
If you’ve ever seen the 2006 film Borat, by Sasha Baron Cohen, it’s likely that the infamous nude chase and wrestling scene will be forever seared into your…
Gifted UnderachieversReinventing Your Looks: Does it Matter?
We explore personal reinvention, capsule wardrobes for book tours, and whether image matters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Post-Gig Blahs: What to do
After delivering a big client project (or several), the post-gig blahs can strike. We discuss what to do. This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversCommunicating Like a Creative
The deficit theory of communication is dead. Now what? Well, there’re the three truths of how people change their minds. This is a public episode. If you would…
Gifted UnderachieversBody Doubling: An Invitation to Listeners
Call it body doubling, silent co-working session—it works! Here’s how you can join other gifted underachievers as we do what we gotta do. This is a public…
Gifted UnderachieversWhy Being a Midlevel Creative is Something to Celebrate
There’s a lot to celebrate about being a midlevel creative, like knowing how to make stuff and having a body of work. So let’s celebrate together! This is a…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Sandwich Generation & Creative Work
We explore what it means to be in the "sandwich" generation—with kids below and parents above—and pursue creative work. WARNING TO ELDERLY PARENTS: DO NOT…
Gifted UnderachieversPodcast Delusional Silliness
Pat and James explore a new podcast delusion, bee costumes, a London opera house, and Pat’s Pleasure Journal outselling the Bible. This is a public episode. If…
Gifted UnderachieversDON'T PANIC!!!
When your creative (or creative-adjacent) work dries up, it’s easy to panic and either lowball yourself or break out whistling as you avoid reality. But there…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Gifted Underachievers Disclaimer
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversExploring Subjectivity
We all have to accept, navigate, and figure out how to thrive with a ton of subjectivity. How do we do that? This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversIncome Streams Update
Like many creative types, James and Pat have side projects outside of their paying work. Here’s a report on what to look out for (hint: dogs). This is a public…
Gifted UnderachieversExplain Your Fees: Yes or No?
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit giftedunderachievers.substack.com
Gifted UnderachieversCreatives' Daily Rituals
Pat and James discuss why they are fascinated by the routines creatives keep (or don’t keep) then wonder what lessons they can learn. This is a public episode…
Gifted UnderachieversThe GU Hard Launch! Lessons Learned
It’s our official hard launch! Learn what we’d do again and what we’d maybe NOT. Spoiler alert: Have fun! This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversWhat's Wrong with Working for Exposure?
James and Pat examine the weirdly common practice of lowballing creative professionals or offering ‘exposure’ in lieu of a fee. This is a public episode. If…
Gifted UnderachieversDo Smaller Creative Acts Have Value?
Pat and James question how to get value out of smaller creative projects. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Creative Subconscious & Getting Unstuck
Pat and James share their top-drawer tips for getting unstuck on a project when time counts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversBe The Character Actor or The Star?
Pat and James consider the merits of being a character actor rather than the star. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other…
Gifted UnderachieversHow to Avoid Creative Money Pits
James and Pat discuss what solid professional development looks like for midlevel creatives, even those with delusional ambitions. This is a public episode. If…
Gifted UnderachieversBeing Strategic with Limited Burners
When an important aspect of your business changes, how do you adapt and change focus, and what’s the cost? This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversCreate a Logline in Real Time
Here’s a real-time exploration of how to describe a project you haven’t started yet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other…
Gifted UnderachieversInterview: Kath Montstream
Gifted Underachievers interviews Kath Montstream on her art, her business model, and her side project, the Red Hot Chilly Dippers. This is a public episode. If…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Grant Experiment: Pat’s Update
It’s been a month since we started the experiment on grants as an income stream. Here’s Pat’s report. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss…
Gifted UnderachieversThe Grant Experiment: James’ Update
It’s been a month since we started the experiment on grants as an income stream. Here’s James’ report. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss…
Gifted UnderachieversDelusional Marketing & Merch Drop Update
Pat reports on a recent merch drop at her high school reunion, and James gets a brainstorm. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversKath Montstream: Cold Water Dipping Advice
Burlington-based artist and founder of the Red Hot Chilly Dippers gives Pat and James some solid advice on cold water dipping. This is a public episode. If you…
Gifted UnderachieversEntitlement: What it Means for the Rest of Us
Join us for two case studies on privilege that began as a lighthearted contest, then got serious. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this…
Gifted UnderachieversWhatever's Gone Wrong, it's Going to Change
We can all get triggered by fluctuations in our careers—but we can learn to weather the anxieties by calling on childhood skills. This is a public episode. If…
Gifted UnderachieversPrivilege vs. Grinding it Out
The stench of privilege permeates our world, even (especially?) in creative industries. Here’s one definition. This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversDoug Harrison of FEN
Gifted Underachievers interviews Doug Harrison of FEN on the release of their sixth album, Dear Mouse. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss…
Gifted UnderachieversGifted Underachievers: Focus on What Matters
Pat and James discuss who Gifted Underachievers is for, what our goals for the podcast are, and the universal question that all midlevel creatives ask: Now…
Gifted UnderachieversOuttake: Tech Silliness
Pat and James prove that technical competence should not be a barrier to podcasting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other…
Gifted UnderachieversHow to Get Grants: An Experiment
We’ve had a great year creatively in 2024, but a shit year financially. Here’s how we plan to save ourselves. This is a public episode. If you would like to…
Gifted UnderachieversIs Creativity a Business?
James and Pat air their differing views of whether doing creative work is running a business. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with…
Gifted UnderachieversFinancial Stress & Creative Underperforming
A listener describes their #1 obstacle to committing to full-time creative work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other…