Too Much with Denise Love Hewett I Redefining Success in Business, Life, and Beyond

Curiosity, Creative Confidence & Becoming the Main Character with Anna Howard

What happens when you stop waiting to be “ready” and start trusting your curiosity?
Denise sits down with podcast host, editor, and creative strategist Anna Howard, the creator of Wild Geese, a podcast inspired by Mary Oliver’s iconic poem and the liberating idea that you do not have to be good to begin.
Anna’s work centers on curiosity as a creative force. After years working behind the scenes producing and editing podcasts, she stepped out of the shadows and launched Wild Geese, growing it from zero to over 170,000 listeners in under a year by rejecting rigid marketing rules and building from self-trust instead.
Together, Denise and Anna explore what it means to become the main character of your creative life, why being a beginner is essential to growth, and how learning, creativity, and success actually unfold outside traditional systems. This conversation dives into:
Why you don’t hate learning, you hate schoolThe courage it takes to step out of “shadow artist” roles and claim your voiceLetting go of perfectionism and allowing yourself to be bad at firstHow curiosity fuels creativity more than strategy or productivityThe difference between artist timelines and marketing timelinesCreative process as digital gardening, research, and synthesisTrusting when an idea is ready and when it needs more timeWhy nurturing ideas is as powerful as inventing new onesHow podcasting and long-form thinking reshape how we learn and live
Anna also shares her behind-the-scenes creative process, from researching as leisure to connecting disparate ideas over time, and why giving your work space to mature often leads to deeper, more sustainable success.
This episode is for creatives, thinkers, podcasters, writers, and anyone who feels pressure to rush, monetize, or perfect their ideas before they’ve had time to breathe.
New episodes of Too Much every Monday.
📍 Follow the podcast: @toomuchwithdlh 💫 Follow Denise: @deniselovehewett 🎙 Follow Anna: @wildgeesepod and @iamannacorinne on youtube
📨 Questions, reflections, or submissions: hello@deniselovehewett.com

The Truth About Being a Working Creative in a Capitalist World

What does it really mean to be a working creative in today’s world?
In this solo career episode of Too Much, Denise Love Hewett breaks down the realities of building a creative life without burning out, going broke, or forcing yourself into someone else’s timeline. Drawing from her own experience starting over at 33 after her company shut down, Denise shares what it actually takes to sustain creativity in a capitalist system that rarely supports artists.
This episode is an honest, practical roadmap for creatives who feel behind, conflicted, or pressured to “go all in” before they’re financially ready. Denise challenges the myth that you must quit your job to be taken seriously and offers a grounded framework for building a creative life that honors both ambition and well-being. In this episode, Denise explores:
What it means to start over in your 30s and relinquish societal timelines
Why failure can free you creatively instead of breaking you
The myth of “going all in” and why it’s often rooted in privilege
How to balance financial security with creative fulfillment
The difference between energetically positive, neutral, and draining work
How to build a creative life with side hustles, freelance work, or a salary job
Why discipline, not inspiration, sustains creativity long-term
How to time block your days as a creative and treat your work like a real job
How to stop waiting for more money, followers, or permission to begin
Why being a creative today also means being the CEO of your own life
Denise also shares the behind-the-scenes structure of her own creative process, from podcasting and DJing to writing, speaking, and building long-term infrastructure for creative freedom. This episode is especially valuable for artists, writers, performers, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating career pivots or questioning their creative path.
If you’ve ever felt behind, afraid to start, or unsure how to make creativity sustainable, this episode will help you trust your timing and commit to your work without self-betrayal.
New episodes every Monday.
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
Subscribe to the Substack for deeper frameworks and essays supporting an independent creative life.
 

Sacred Rage Isn’t Destructive, It’s Informational with Joy Donnell

What if rage isn’t something to suppress but something sacred trying to guide you home? In this powerful episode, Denise sits down with writer, poet, and cultural thinker Joy Donnell to explore sacred rage, devotion over discipline, and how discomfort can become the blueprint for a more honest, liberated life.
This conversation explores how anger can be informational rather than destructive, how grief and rage signal what we are devoted to, and why many of us feel an unshakable knowing that “we deserve better than this.” Together, Denise and Joy unpack how transformation happens when we stop numbing discomfort and start listening to it. In this episode, we explore:
Why sacred rage is a signal for change, not something to repress
How devotion is more sustainable than discipline
The difference between healing and bypassing discomfort
How creative work becomes a vessel for transmuting rage into vision
Why remembering who you are is a political, personal, and spiritual act
How to stop shaping your life around survival and start shaping it around meaning
This episode is for anyone who feels unsettled by the status quo, exhausted by self-abandonment, or quietly aware that a truer life is calling.
Joy Donnell is a wordsmith of well-being. Her short fiction has appeared in Grist and Short Edition, and her poetry has been honored by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. Her first book, Beyond Brand, explores personal branding through the lens of personal development. Joy’s short documentary, Inseparable from the Sunlight, illuminates how our health is connected to plants, the Earth, and the cosmos. Her poetry collection, Show Us Your Fire, celebrates disruption as a path to ease and our birthright to inner peace.
You can follow her @doitinpublic
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

Why You Shouldn’t Fear Being a Beginner: Career Growth Through Learning New Skills

In this solo episode, I’m diving deep into two things:
How to confidently advocate for yourself in interviews, pitches, and career transitions
Why being a beginner is actually your greatest superpower
After changing industries four times, taking big swings, failing publicly, and starting again, I’ve learned a lot about identity, reinvention, intuition, and believing you’re allowed to take up space. We talk about: 
Why you’re the expert of your own story
Getting over the fear of “bragging” in interviews
Letting yourself be bad at something new
How to build confidence through consistent practice over time
Turning perceived weaknesses into unexpected strengths
The power of intuition in shaping your career
If you’ve ever felt behind, unqualified, or scared to start — this episode is your reminder that small steps create massive impact. If this resonated, leave a comment with your own six-word memoir — where you are now, and where you want to be.
Keywords: career confidence, how to pitch yourself, self advocacy tips, being a beginner, fear of starting, career advice for women, early career tips, interview confidence, intuition and creativity, reinventing yourself, personal growth podcast, self development motivation

From Survivor to Advocate: Jimanekia Eborn on Trauma-Informed Healing and Reclaiming Your Life

In this powerful episode, Denise sits down with trauma specialist and educator Jimanekia Eborn to discuss healing from sexual assault, navigating complex trauma, and finding safety in uncertain times. Jimanekia, founder of Tending the Garden nonprofit and host of the Trauma Queen Podcast, shares her personal journey as a survivor and expert with over 17 years of experience in mental health and sexuality education. This conversation covers essential topics including:
Understanding trauma: Complex trauma vs. acute trauma and how it shapes our lives
The difference between somatic therapy and talk therapy for trauma recovery
Practical grounding techniques using your five senses
The trauma response of "fawning" and why it's a valid survival mechanism
How to ask for support from your community during triggering moments
Finding the right trauma-informed therapist (and why not all therapists are equipped for trauma work)
Building resilience and safety during politically turbulent times
The importance of joy and community connection in healing
Why anger is informational and how to use it for positive change
Listeners will learn actionable tools for regulation, how to create a personal grounding kit, the importance of interviewing therapists, and ways to show up for social justice work based on individual skills and comfort levels.
This episode includes discussions of sexual assault and may be triggering for some listeners. Please practice self-care while listening.
Jimanekia Eborn is a trauma specialist, educator, and strategist with over 17 years of experience in mental health, sexuality education, and survivor advocacy. She is the founder of Tending the Garden, a nonprofit organization that supports survivors of sexual assault from marginalized communities, and the host of the Trauma Queen podcast. Jimanekia’s work bridges care, culture, and systems change consulting with media, education, and wellness organizations on trauma-informed practices and equity-driven leadership. She is also the co-founder of CINTIMA, expanding representation in intimacy coordination across film and TV.
You can follow her  @jimanekia
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
 

From Wounded to Healthy Ambition

 In this solo episode, Denise explores the critical difference between wounded ambition and healthy ambition and how understanding this distinction can transform your entire approach to work and success. In this episode, you'll discover:
What wounded ambition is and how to recognize it in your own life
The psychological concept of the hedonic treadmill and why external achievements never satisfy
How to identify your core values using proven methodologies (including free tools)
The difference between hedonistic and eudemonic pleasure—and why it matters for lasting fulfillment
Practical steps to transition from burnout-driven achievement to purpose-driven success
Why successful people are often unhappy and how to avoid the same trap
How to maintain big dreams while prioritizing relationships and well-being
Perfect for ambitious professionals, recovering workaholics, entrepreneurs experiencing burnout, anyone feeling like success is coming at too high a personal cost, and career-driven individuals seeking more alignment and fulfillment.
Key concepts discussed: Values alignment, sustainable leadership, work-life integration, nervous system regulation, purpose-driven career development, and building success without self-betrayal.
Whether you're in the middle of a career crisis or simply sensing that your ambition is costing you too much, this episode offers a roadmap for transformation, proof that you can still achieve your biggest dreams while becoming more present, loving, and fulfilled.
Works referenced:
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
Gallup CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder) Assessment
The Values Bridge by Suzy Welch
 

Music, Innovation, and Building Worlds Beyond the Studio with CJ Baran

On this week’s episode of Too Much, we sit down with Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and creative director CJ Baran to explore his unconventional path in music, theater, and immersive experiences. From producing hits for Panic! At The Disco, Melanie Martinez, and Marina, to co-creating the visionary musical Cages, CJ shares the lessons, failures, and triumphs of a truly diversified creative career. We dive into:
The evolution of music production and concept albums
How CJ built Cages, blending theater, CGI, and music
His creative process and philosophy on inspiration
The future of the music industry in the age of streaming & AI
Whether you’re an aspiring musician, producer, or creative thinker, this episode is packed with insights on how to redefine success and build worlds that captivate audiences.
CJ Baran is a Los Angeles-based producer, songwriter, and creative director whose work lives at the intersection of alternative rock and pop. Known for his genre-bending approach and cinematic sonic palette, CJ has written and produced hits for a wide range of artists, including Panic! At The Disco, COIN, Melanie Martinez (multiple albums), Nessa Barrett (AFTERCARE and upcoming project), Carly Rae Jepsen (Emotion), and MARINA (Princess Of Power), among many others. After a having publishing deals with Max Martin’s MXM and Pulse he founded his own creative collective, VAMP, which focuses on forward-thinking alternative pop with focus on concept albums.  In addition to his work in mainstream music, CJ co-wrote and produced the immersive gothic musical CAGES, acclaimed by Forbes and the Los Angeles Times for its visionary staging and music. He also recently composed the score for the two Michelin-starred VESPERTINE, in collaboration with Sigur Rós. 
Subscribe for more conversations about creativity, entrepreneurship, and redefining pathways to success
You can follow him @cjbaran
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life: Scott Shigeoka on Building Connection, Purpose & Growth

What if the secret to a more connected, meaningful, and joyful life is simple? What if it’s curiosity?
In this episode of Too Much with Denise Love Hewett, internationally recognized curiosity expert and TED speaker Scott Shigeoka joins to explore how curiosity can transform not just our relationships, but the way we see the world. Scott is the award-winning author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World, and his research at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center dives into how asking better questions and staying open can heal divides, build empathy, and increase our well-being. In this conversation, Denise and Scott discuss:
How curiosity strengthens emotional intelligence and connection
The difference between shallow and deep curiosity
How to stay open in a divided world
Practical tools to cultivate curiosity in your daily life
Whether you’re looking to deepen your relationships, find your purpose, or simply live with more wonder, this episode will remind you that curiosity isn’t just a trait, it’s a practice.
Scott Shigeoka is an internationally recognized curiosity expert, TED speaker, and the award-winning author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World. His work focuses on how we can strengthen our well-being and relationships, including at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. He is also a playwright and artist, and was born and raised in Hawaii but now lives in California.
You can follow him at @scottshigeoka
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or submit questions for  advice.

Career Advice for Job Seekers: How to Stop Self-Rejection and Apply for Jobs You Want

Struggling with your job search? In this episode, I share career advice that changed my life: don't say no before they say no. Learn how to stop self-rejecting and limiting your opportunities during tough job markets.
I share personal stories about landing jobs I was "underqualified" for, moving across the country for unexpected opportunities, and how believing in yourself can open doors you never imagined. From getting turned down as overqualified in New York to becoming an executive producer in LA, to showing up uninvited at Nylon Magazine's office to land my dream internship, these stories prove that audacity and openness to possibilities matter more than checking every box. In this episode, you'll learn:
Why you should apply for jobs even if you don't meet all requirements
How to overcome imposter syndrome and self-rejection in your career
Real examples of taking career risks that paid off
How to navigate career transitions and job hunting during recessions
The power of letting opportunities guide your path instead of rigid planning
Perfect for recent graduates, career changers, entertainment industry professionals, and anyone facing a challenging job market. Stop limiting yourself—your next opportunity might be the one you almost didn't apply for.
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.

Breaking Barriers, Following Her Creative Calling & Redefining Success with Hailie Sahar

In this episode of Too Much, host Denise Love Hewett talks with award-winning actor, producer, director, singer, and writer Hailie Sahar. From making history on Ryan Murphy’s Pose as Lulu, Mother of the House of Ferocity, to starring on Freeform’s Good Trouble, Hailie shares her journey as a trailblazing trans woman in entertainment. They discuss:
Discovering her calling in grade school and pursuing it despite societal barriersNavigating rejection and setbacks in the entertainment industryTurning failures into lessons and tools for growthLaunching her lifestyle brand House of Sahar and her debut music video Star TravelerAdvocacy work and using her platform to create impact
Whether you’re a fan of Pose, Good Trouble, or exploring a creative path without a clear blueprint, Hailie’s story offers inspiration, actionable insights, and a masterclass in courage, determination, and authenticity.
Hailie Sahar is an award-winning actor, producer, director, singer, and writer. She made history as one of the five transgender lead actors in Ryan Murphy's groundbreaking FX series Pose, where she starred as Lulu, Mother of the House of Ferocity. The ensemble went on to achieve global recognition and multiple Emmy Awards across three celebrated seasons. Sahar also made history as the first transgender actor to appear on two television shows simultaneously, starring as Lulu in Pose and as Jazmin in Freeform's Good Trouble, all while holding a national commercial contract with Descovy. Expanding her creative reach, Sahar released her debut music video Star Traveler and launched her lifestyle brand, House of Sahar, which debuted with her signature fragrance Sultana. Her film and stage credits include portraying community pioneer Sylvia Rivera in HBO Max's Equal, recurring as Jazmin in Good Trouble, appearances in Amazon Studios' Transparent and USA's Mr. Robot, and starring in the Off-Broadway production of Charm at New York City's MCC Theater. She also executive produced and co-directed the documentary Beyond Ed Buck, supported by Gilead, which ran in film festivals nationally and internationally and secured distribution with AMC's ALLBLK Network. In 2020, Deadline announced Sahar's collaboration with Emmy Award-winning director Anthony Hemingway on the Sir Lady Java biopic, in which she will executive produce and star as the trailblazing Los Angeles icon. Her visibility and impact extend beyond performance. She has been featured in Vogue, Essence, Variety, Allure, and OUT Magazine, and was named one of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful People" in 2020. She is also one of the few trans women to be profiled by Playboy Magazine, furthering representation and solidarity. Crowned both "Miss L.A. Pride" and "Queen U.S.A.," Sahar continues to use her platform for advocacy. She was invited to speak on the HIV/AIDS epidemic at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center for the 57th Presidential Advisory Council in Washington, D.C., and remains actively involved with the East L.A. Women's Center against domestic violence.
Subscribe to Too Much for new episodes about redefining success, building wholeness, and creating your own blueprints for life.
You can follow her  @hailiesahar and at houseofsahar.com
You can follow this podcast @toomuchwithdlh and Denise @deniselovehewett
Email hello@deniselovehewett.com for any suggestions or advice.
#HailieSahar #TooMuchPodcast #PoseFX #GoodTrouble #TransRepresentation #CreativeJourney #HouseOfSahar #Trailblazer