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This highlights episode features two moments from the full Creatives Processing conversation with Candace Cui and Carissa Potter, co-creators of the fantasy journaling book The Imaginary Atlas. First, Carissa on why art isn't a privilege—it's medicine—and how fantasy works as a tool to get around your own inner critic. Then Candace on what the writing process actually looks like when you stop forcing it, and why trust is what makes creative work possible, alone or with someone else. Between segments, creative director and podcast host Sarah Mulligan Williams shares what these moments bring up for her.
Highlight 1: Carissa Potter on why art isn't a privilege, it's medicine; fantasy as the mind's way of going somewhere the body hasn't figured out how to get to yet, and letting it be information rather than destination.
Reflection: On the inner critic, finding the side door, and journaling through an alien's eyes (with a little help from Marty McPug).
Highlight 2: Candace Cui on what the writing process looks like when you stop forcing it: write it, walk away, come back — and why trust is the root of creative work, alone or with a collaborator.
Reflection: On rumination as material (not distraction), and the trust that lets work change, break, or shift mid-project without it feeling like a threat.
🤩 Listen to the full conversation!
If you liked this episode, the full conversation with Candace and Carissa is available now. We get into how The Imaginary Atlas came together, what it looks like to build something across different creative skill sets, all the different ways trust comes into play, and why they both believe imagination isn't an escape from real life, but a tool for building one.
The Imaginary Atlas — peopleiveloved.com/products/the-imaginary-atlas-journal
About Candace Cui
Freelance growth marketing consultant and writer. Her advice column, Dear Candace, and her book, Why Do We Avoid the Hard Thing?, tackle the questions most people can't bring themselves to ask out loud—about life, love, and the impossible choices in between.
Candace Cui — candacecui.com
Dear Candace — dearcandace.substack.com
About Carissa Potter
Artist, illustrator, and founder of People I've Loved, a Bay Area studio and imprint making books and paper objects that help people get through their days.
Carissa Potter — www.carissapotter.com
People I've Loved — peopleiveloved.com, peopleiveloved.substack.com
🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS
Comedy 101 presents...
O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
Sunday, July 6 — Hollywood Theatre, Portland, OR
https://hollywoodtheatre.org/show/o-brother-where-art-thou
WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER
Monday, August 17 — The Roxie, San Francisco, CA
(Tickets available in July)
👋 SAY HEY!
Creatives Processing is hosted by Sarah Mulligan Williams. Find them at their creative studio, Word of Mouth — wordofmouthcreative.co
If you're looking for a creative partner who leads with strategy, storytelling, and a real human point of view — come say hey!
https://www.wordofmouthcreative.co/contact
sayhey [AT] wordofmouthcreative [DOT] co
👍 FOLLOW
For updates on Creatives Processing, Comedy 101, and everything else happening across the Word of Mouth studio, sign up for the monthly dispatch — wordofmouthcreative.co/newsletter
Or follow on Instagram — @creativesprocessing @wordofmouthcreative @comedy101presents
👄 REAL WORD OF MOUTH 😁
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Produced by Word of Mouth, edited by Cai Indermaur, music by John Michael Rouchell
