The iROSE Podcast: Empowerment Through Creativity

Small Doors, Big Worlds: How Tiny Acts of Creative Courage Lead to Change

 What if the next chapter of your life isn’t waiting behind a grand, dramatic doorway… but a small, glowing threshold—one you almost missed?
In this soul-soothing episode, host Jodi Rose Gonzales invites you to reconsider how change really begins. 
Through neuroscience, real-life stories, and a deeply personal studio reflection, Jodi shares how gentle thresholds—those micro-moments of creative bravery—can unlock profound transformation without overwhelm. You'll meet Susan, a retired teacher navigating identity loss and caregiving demands, and discover the quiet power of a simple art prompt: the Bridge Drawing.
This episode is an offering for anyone who feels stuck between letting go and leaping forward. It’s a reminder that your next step doesn’t have to be big to be bold.
Key Takeaways
Transformation Doesn’t Require Overhaul: Sustainable change begins with actions that are emotionally safe and neurologically aligned.
Tiny Steps Rewire the Brain: Neuroscience shows that small, achievable actions build momentum, safety, and long-term growth.
Creative Devotion Lives in the Ordinary: Gentle thresholds teach us that five minutes of art, reflection, or noticing beauty is sacred—and enough.
Journal Prompts
After completing the Threshold Door art practice offered in the episode, explore these reflections:
"The smallest step I'm ready to take is..."
"When I imagine walking through this gentle threshold, I feel..."
"I give myself permission to start with..."
"My gentle beginning honors both my courage and my need for..."
Resources
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Explore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
Referenced Research
Fogg, B.J. (2019). Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits
Brown, B. (2015). Daring Greatly

The Umbral Hatchet - Cutting Through to Your Truth

What if the most loving thing you can do is let something end so that something truer can begin? If you've ever felt stuck carrying what's no longer yours, paralyzed by "should" voices, or afraid to release what's familiar but limiting... this episode is for you.
In today's powerful and transformative conversation, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the sacred tool that made Timberella Seven's radiant arrival possible: the Umbral Hatchet. Through the wisdom of this archetypal implement and profound client stories, she unpacks the neuroscience of conscious change, the difference between destruction and discernment, and why intention and precision are keys to authentic transformation.
Whether you're standing at your own threshold or ready to clear the path for your truest self, this episode invites you to wield the courage of conscious release in service of your own becoming.
Key Takeaways
Umbral Work Is Sacred Severance: True transformation requires the wisdom to know not just what you want to create, but what you're willing to release to create it.
Your Brain Resists Positive Change: Neuroplasticity research shows we must consciously interrupt old neural pathways to "fire and wire" new patterns of thought and behavior.
Internal Threshold Guardians Are Real: Often the most formidable obstacle isn't external—it's the part of us terrified of our own power.
Journal Prompts
After completing the Umbral Hatchet creation practice offered in the episode, explore these reflections:
"What I'm ready to cut away is..." 
"What wants to grow in that cleared space is..." 
"My Umbral Hatchet gives me permission to..." 
"I cross this threshold in service of..."
Then, make one concrete commitment to yourself—one way you'll use this energy of conscious release in the next week.
Resources
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Explore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
Referenced Research
Dispenza, J. (2012). Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One
Jung, C.G. (1968). Man and His Symbols
Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero with a Thousand Faces
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

Stay Golden - The Art of Holding Joy

What if learning to hold joy is just as brave as overcoming struggle? If you've ever felt guilty celebrating your wins, rushed past your victories, or wondered if happiness this bright is safe to keep... this episode is for you.
In today's tender and transformative conversation, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the quiet territory beyond breakthrough—the sacred work of learning to stay in your radiance without apology. Through the wisdom of her latest sculpture Timberella Seven and powerful client stories, she unpacks the neuroscience of sustained pleasure, the discipline of delight, and why your joy doesn't need to be temporary.
Whether you're celebrating a recent victory or learning to expand your capacity for goodness, this episode invites you to stop sabotaging your celebrations and start building a nervous system that can handle sustained joy.
Key Takeaways
Joy Requires Practice: Your capacity for sustained pleasure grows stronger with intentional cultivation—it's a discipline as rigorous as any spiritual work.
Your Nervous System Resists Goodness: Research reveals that prolonged joy can feel unsafe to a brain wired for survival, but you can literally rewire these patterns.
Celebration Isn't Selfish: Rushing past victories is a form of self-abandonment—your joy deserves the same attention your struggles once received.
Sustained Radiance Serves Others: When you learn to hold joy without flinching, you model what's possible and light the path for collective healing.
Journal Prompts
After completing the joy portrait art practice offered in the episode, explore these reflections:
"When I allow myself to feel genuinely happy, I notice..." 
"The part of me that resists joy is trying to protect me from..." 
"I give myself permission to celebrate..." 
"My joy serves others by..."
Then, identify one daily practice for holding joy this week: morning gratitude, evening celebration review, or simply pausing to savor good moments as they happen.
Resources
Get Your Copy of Field Notes: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/art-drop-t7
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society 
Explore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
 
Referenced Research 
Hanson, R. (2013). Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence 
Bryant, F. & Veroff, J. (2007). Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience 
Seligman, M. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being

All That Glitters - The Art of Arrival

What if the truest humility isn’t hiding your light—but letting it shine? If you’ve ever wrestled with dimming your light, doubting your readiness, or fearing your own visibility… this episode is for you.
In today’s luminous and empowering conversation, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the paradox of arrival—not as a destination, but as life lived in the full-bodied expression of who you’ve always been.
From personal stories to client breakthroughs, she unpacks the neuroscience of celebration, the risks of visibility, and the radical act of allowing your authentic radiance to be seen. Whether you’re mid-transformation or finally claiming your space, this episode invites you to stop shrinking, start shining—and recognize your light as a gift to others.
💡 Key Takeaways
Arrival ≠ Achievement: Your truest arrival isn’t about proving yourself—it’s about allowing yourself to be seen.
Celebration Expands Capacity: Research shows that when we fully honor our growth, it builds mental and emotional resilience.
Visibility Can Be Vulnerable: Fears of judgment or “too muchness” often stem from old wounds—but the antidote isn’t hiding. It’s generosity.
Your Courage Is Contagious: When you stop apologizing for your radiance, you light the path for others to follow.
✍️ Journal Prompts
After completing the art-based mindfulness practice offered in the episode, explore these reflections using your non-dominant hand:
“When I let myself fully arrive, I offer the world…”• “My authentic radiance looks like…”• “I’m ready to be seen as…”• “Others benefit from my visibility when…”
Then, identify one act of generous radiance to practice this week: share a hidden piece of work, accept praise without deflection, or simply savor the moment you’re in.
🧠 Resources & References
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society• Explore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
Referenced Research:• Fredrickson, B. (2013). Love 2.0• Brown, B. (2015). Daring Greatly• Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Creative Molting – How to Shed the Debris of the Build

What if your urge to clean, declutter, and organize wasn’t procrastination—but preparation?
In this rich and affirming episode, host Jodi Rose Gonzales introduces the concept of creative molting—a natural, necessary season where we shed the clutter, debris, and outdated systems of a previous phase in order to make space for what’s next. From studio messes to digital chaos, from lingering guilt to obsolete ideas, Jodi gently reframes this threshold moment as necessary creative work.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, creatively stagnant, or just ready for a reset, this episode will help you recognize the wisdom of your own inner timing—and give you full permission to let go.
💡 Key Takeaways
Molting ≠ Mess: Like nature, our creativity follows seasons. Clearing out doesn’t mean something went wrong—it means you’ve grown.
Clarity Comes Through Shedding: Research shows that releasing physical and digital clutter creates mental bandwidth and sharper creative discernment.
Your Systems Should Reflect Who You’re Becoming: Don’t organize for your past self—shape your space for the version of you that’s emerging.
✍️ Journal Prompts
After completing the art-based mindfulness prompt offered in the episode, explore these reflections using your non-dominant hand:
“What I’m ready to shed from my creative practice is…”• “The new growth I’m sensing underneath feels like…”• “My creative space would feel most alive if…”• “I can honor the debris of my build by…”
Then, identify one concrete molting action to take this week—such as clearing a drawer, completing a lingering project, or setting up a new system that supports your current direction.
🧠 Resources & References
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society• Explore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
Referenced Research• Cameron, K. & Quinn, R. (2011). Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture• McMains, S. & Kastner, S. (2011). Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex• Roster, C. & Ferrari, J. (2020). Does Work Stress Lead to Office Clutter, and How?

The Lush Pause – Tending Your Creative Whitespace

What if your creative stillness wasn’t a problem to fix—but a form of deep intelligence?
In this reflective and reassuring episode, host Jodi Rose Gonzales invites listeners into The Lush Pause—the sacred, often misunderstood space between creative surges. Whether you’re feeling depleted, in transition, or simply not producing at your usual pace, this conversation reframes the “pause” as a vital part of the creative cycle.
Key Takeaways
Not All Emptiness Is the Same: There’s a difference between being blocked, being burned out, and being in a lush pause.
Creative Rest Is Not Idleness: Neuroscience shows that insight and originality often emerge during incubation phases—when you’re not actively “doing.”
Whitespace is a Creative Tool: Just as in visual art, the empty space gives meaning and impact to what’s present.
The Lush Pause Is Alive: Quiet seasons are not passive—they’re rich with unseen integration, gestation, and intuitive listening.
Journal Prompts
After completing the art-based mindfulness prompt in the episode, explore these reflections in your journal using your non-dominant hand:
"When I honor emptiness instead of trying to fill it, I discover..."
"My creative pauses feel most lush when I..."
"The whitespace in my life nourishes me by..."
"I can trust my creative timing by..."
Then, identify one way to honor a pause in your life or studio this week—whether that means resting, observing, or letting one small moment be enough.
We’d love to hear from you!
Share your reflection or your whitespace-inspired artwork with us @JodiRose.Studio on Instagram or Facebook, or tag #TheiROSEPodcast so we can celebrate your process.
Resources
Join the iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/societyExplore Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom
References
Schooler, J. & Melcher, J. (1995). The Ineffability of Insight
Buckner, R. et al. (2008). The Brain's Default Network
Amabile, T. & Kramer, S. (2011). The Progress Principle

From Self-Doubt to Impact – Gain Confidence In Your Creative Voice

Have you ever held back your work because you weren’t sure it was good enough—or feared no one wanted to hear what you had to say? In this third installment of the creative self-worth series, you’ll discover why you don’t need to be polished or “ready” to make a difference. Through personal stories and reflection, host Jodi Rose Gonzales invites you to see your own creative process as a form of service and subtle leadership. If you’ve ever questioned the value of your work or feared being seen, this conversation offers a grounded path forward—and a journal prompt to help you take one small step toward being heard.
Key Takeaways:
Your voice doesn’t need polish—just honesty. The willingness to share authentically is more impactful than perfection.
Creative courage creates ripples. Your process can quietly encourage others, often without you even knowing.
You don’t have to be healed to help. Your ongoing journey is part of the medicine you carry.
Journal Prompts:
After completing the art prompt in this episode, complete these journal prompts:
My creative song wants to...
The wisdom I have to share is...
One person who needs to hear my voice is...
I am afraid to be a songbird because...
I am excited to be a songbird because...
Then, commit to taking one small action this week to let your song be heard.
We’d love to hear your reflections or stories of transformation. Share your thoughts with us @JodiRose.Studio on IG or Facebook or tag us on social media using #TheiROSEPodcast.
Resources:
iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom

Lighting in Silk Boots - The Soft Power of Creative Boldness

What if your gentleness wasn’t a limitation—but a superpower?
In this second installment in the creative self-worth series, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the paradox of being both soft and strong. She challenges the cultural myth that impact requires volume, meanwhile offering a new model of creative power that is rooted in grace, intention, and presence. If you’ve ever felt like your work is “too quiet” to matter, this one’s for you.
Key Takeaways
Soft ≠ Weak: Gentleness isn’t the opposite of strength—it’s a form of it.
Creative Influence Doesn’t Need a Megaphone: You can light the way for others by inviting presence, not demanding attention.
Quiet Work Creates Connection: When you create from authenticity, even the softest gestures can ripple outward in powerful ways.
Journal Prompts
After completing the art prompt offered inthis episode, complete these journal sentences with your non-dominant hand:
"My gentle way of lighting spaces looks like..."
"When I stop trying to be louder, I illuminate..."
"The world needs my soft light because..."
"I can light the path for others by..."
Then, identify one way you can practice lighting in silk boots this week—one gentle but confident way to illuminate a space, a conversation, or a creative opportunity.
We’d love to hear your reflections or stories of transformation. Share your thoughts with us @JodiRose.Studio on IG or Facebook or tag us on social media using #TheiROSEPodcast.
Resources
iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom 
 
References:
Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence
Edmondson, A. (1999). "Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams"
Fredrickson, B. (2001). "The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology"

Balance Versus Bog - Creative Resilience for Life's Tough Terrain

When life's trail ends before an impenetrable bog, do you turn back, wade through the muck, or find a way to dance across the surface? In this episode, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the art of navigating life's challenges with grace and intention. Using creative practices, neuroscience research, a powerful case study, and an art journal prompt, you'll discover how art-making can transform overwhelming obstacles into opportunities for resilience while moving you forward with creativity and intention.
Three Key Takeaways:
Your Brain Can Choose Between Tunnel Vision and Expanded Awareness When overwhelmed, your brain defaults to "negativity bias," fixating on obstacles. 
Every Experience Becomes a Tool for Navigation Like collecting materials from different ecosystems, your life experiences—even challenging ones—provide essential resources for future obstacles. 
Look for Stepping Stones, Not Leaps Instead of trying to cross life's entire bog at once, focus on moving from one stable point to the next. 
Living Art Journal Prompt:
Create your own "Swamping Navigation Kit" by collecting 5-7 natural objects outdoors, arranging them mindfully, and engaging in dialogue with your assemblage about current life challenges and potential pathways forward.
Reflection Questions:
What surprised you about the wisdom that emerged?
Which suggested actions feel most immediately doable?
How might you remember these insights when feeling bogged down?
What would approaching challenges with "swamping consciousness" look like?
Resources:
iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Marsh Muse: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/prints
Living Art Journal Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ4mYsKJGSA
References:
Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life.
Hanson, R. (2018). Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength and Happiness.
Masten, A. S. (2014). Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development.
Neff, K. (2021). Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life.

The Pedant's Garden - When Precision Becomes Creative Prison

When does careful attention to detail become creative paralysis? In this episode, host Jodi Rose Gonzales explores the difference between precision as meditation and perfectionism as prison, offering neuroscience-backed insights and practical tools for finding the sweet spot between intention and wildness in your creative work—including an art journal prompt and bonus writing prompt. 
Key Takeaways:
Your Brain Responds Differently to Internal vs. External Perfectionism Internal precision (driven by love of process) activates reward pathways and enhances creativity. External perfectionism (driven by fear of judgment) triggers stress responses that actually impair creativity.
2. Precision Should Feel Like Presence, Not Performance Healthy refinement feels spacious and energizing. Perfectionism feels tight and depleting. Learn to recognize the difference in your body.
Know When to Stop Weeding Over-cultivation kills vitality in both gardens and art. Sometimes the most courageous creative act is putting down your tools and letting wildflowers grow.
Art Journal Prompt:
The complete art prompt includes The Garden Survey, Intention Archaeology, The Wildflower Test, Creative Soil Sample exercise, and an integration practice to help distinguish between productive refinement and creative resistance. Sample journal questions include:
What am I hoping to achieve through continued refinement of this work?
What am I overworking because I'm afraid it won't be enough?
If this were a garden, would this element benefit from more cultivation, or does it want to grow wild?
This episode includes one additional activity, plus a bonus writing prompt.
Based on your observations, you’ll identify one specific change you can make to your creative practice, such as setting time limits for revision sessions, including intentional "imperfections," or beginning new pieces with less planning.
Resources:
iROSE Society: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/society
Creative Freedom: https://www.jodirosestudio.com/creativefreedom 
 
References:
Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2008). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.
Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
Kasser, T. (2002). The High Price of Materialism.
Langer, E. (2014). Mindfulness: 25th Anniversary Edition.
Neff, K. (2021). Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself.
Pryce-Jones, J. (2010). Happiness at Work: Maximizing Your Psychological Capital for Success.