Join Ollie and his girlfriend, designer and Studio Hot founder Nicole Cukier, for an honest conversation about the messy & exhilarating process of creating. Together, they share personal stories of hitting walls, pushing past resistance, and finding momentum while building businesses and producing podcasts. This episode dives deep into the psychology of creativity - why openness, sensitivity, and even discomfort can fuel your best work, and how resistance, self-doubt, and critics try to hold you back. Along the way, they explore ideas like Nietzsche’s Will to Power, the importance of childlike wonder and beginner’s mind, and the ongoing tension between art and commerce. Packed with practical strategies and encouraging insights, this conversation will help you overcome creative blocks, embrace vulnerability, and balance artistic passion with real-world demands - so you can bring your ideas to life.

Recorded on June 11, 2025

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up
(1:03) - Introduction
(2:14) - From Designer to Entrepreneur: Nicole’s Story
(8:55) - The Link Between Environment and Creative Ideas
(11:31) - Overcoming Internal and External Creative Blocks
(18:39) - The Truth About Creativity: Who Really Has It?
(23:32) - How to Tap Into Your Inner Drive To Create
(27:35) - How to Avoid Procrastination
(33:54) - Nicole’s Design Business: Studio Hot
(37:10) - The Creative Instinct and Nietzsche's Will To Power
(44:24) - Reclaiming Your Childlike Curiosity and Beginner Mentality
(50:21) - Why What You Consume Shapes What You Create
(54:28) - How Sensitivity Can Be a Creative Superpower
(1:00:58) - The Will to Power & Creative Journeys: Socrates + David Goggins
(1:09:49) - How to Push Through Resistance and Keep Going
(1:18:19) - How to Create Boldly Without Seeking Approval
(1:27:17) - When Creativity Meets Business: Finding Balance
(1:31:35) - How to Keep a Child’s Creativity Alive
(1:37:40) - Momentum Starts When You Begin - Start Now
(1:44:42) - Stop Overthinking, Start Making
(1:55:19) - Embrace Discomfort and Follow Your Heart

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- The Creative Act: A Way of Being: https://amzn.to/4725hzK
- The Artist's Way: https://amzn.to/4nZMeMo
- The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles: https://amzn.to/4gLwjPn

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Ollie sits down with Pierre Boulliane for a thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche. Together, they unpack some of life’s deepest questions: What is consciousness, and what truly has it? How does the ego form and why does it so often control us? What role does the hidden “shadow” play in shaping our behavior? This conversation goes far beyond theory - it touches on the practical ways we can expand consciousness to improve wellbeing, confront and integrate our shadow, and learn to detach from the destructive side of the ego. Whether you’re curious about mindfulness, the roots of self-identity, or how to find peace, this episode is a deep dive into the inner forces that shape our lives.

Recorded on May 19, 2025

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up
(0:54) - Introduction
(4:37) - The Mystery of Consciousness: What Really Has It?
(11:26) - Why Consciousness May Hold the Key to Ethics
(13:41) - How Expanding Awareness Improves Your Life
(18:54) - Ego Explained: The Self You Think You Are
(23:44) - The Birth of Ego: How It Develops in Childhood
(26:39) - The Role Ego Plays in Daily Survival
(29:34) - Detach From the Destructive Forces of the Ego
(44:38) - Why Ego Always Wants More - How to Stop It
(57:55) - The Shadow Explained: The Dark Side of the Mind
(1:05:38) - Reintegrating the Parts of Yourself You Hide Away
(1:10:01) - Stop Overthinking and Start Accepting Yourself
(1:18:20) - How Solitude Helps You Discover the Real You
(1:28:51) - Exploring the Hidden Shadows Within Religion
(1:33:04) - Shadow Work 101: Exploring Your Hidden Self
(1:43:13) - Exploring Good, Evil, and the Voice Within
(1:49:48) - The Dance Between Ego and Shadow
(1:54:58) - Mindfulness as the Path to Inner Calm

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose: https://amzn.to/3IGmntM
- Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness: https://amzn.to/472D1wY
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment: https://amzn.to/46LahaE
- Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature: https://amzn.to/4pKpYHS
- Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche: https://amzn.to/3KpZ1ZW
- The Laws of Human Nature: https://amzn.to/3ImZewt
- Projections: A Story of Human Emotions: https://amzn.to/42iD9Wr
- The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in An Age of Diminishing Expectations : https://amzn.to/4gN2nCl
- Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion: https://amzn.to/4nvY

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Join Ollie and Zach Louis-Seize, founder of Crowned Heart Visuals, as they dive into the essentials of building a successful business. From setting a strong foundation to standing out in a crowded market, they discuss actionable tips on efficiency, growth, and differentiation. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you thrive!

Recorded on August 4, 2024

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Introduction
(1:38) - Crowned Heart Visuals - Summary
(6:35) - A Solid Foundation for Your Business
(21:24) - Make Your Business Effective & Efficient
(29:37) - Defining the Roles Within Your business
(41:47) - Skills Every Business Owner Needs
(50:07) - Envisioning a Business Plan & Structure
(59:10) - Staying Focused and Managing Time
(1:07:36) - Use Social Media to Boost Your Business
(1:19:31) - Differentiate Your Business. Zero to One
(1:23:30) - Connect Your Story with Your Audience
(1:29:23) - Making Your Business a Monopoly
(1:34:35) - Provide Unique Value for Your Customers
(1:42:37) - Business Competition VS Collaboration

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future: https://amzn.to/3W78lVH
- The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It: https://amzn.to/420vFYE
- The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less: https://amzn.to/3WupbOv
- Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen: https://amzn.to/3W5OLZS

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod