In this episode of The Ugly Podcast, I speak with Dani Abernathy (she/they), an Enneagram teacher and Author Accelerator book coach, and we reflect on how our creativity got lost in the shuffle of adulthood, stifled by self-judgment and the pressures of fitting into religious norms. We discuss how stepping away from religion and being honest about who we really are—especially when it comes to gender and sexuality—opened up space to create without fear or the need to prove anything. We talk about how isolating it can be to hide parts of yourself and how freeing it feels to just be real, even if that means embracing the darker or more complicated parts. Exploring and expressing our true identities has made life—and creativity—feel a lot more authentic and fun.

This episode also showcases the first ever live ugly art exercise! Don't know how we got this far without one, but so glad we're here!

Learn more about Dani at daniabernathy.com and take their Untapped Superpower Quiz to discover your writing superpower and receive tools to help you on your writing journey. Follow them on Instagram: @daniabernathyauthor