What happens when you try new things and withhold judgement? Something amazing, probably.

Building off of last week's year in review, Annie predicts 2026 will be a year of expansion. Better warm up those hamstrings!

Links:

Instagram

What happens when you start taking creativity seriously? (feat. The Artist's Way)

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

What color is your castle? 🏰

The tower is a symbol of upheaval... and transformation.

In this episode of Creative Mode, Annie reflects on the year 2025, shares an almost prophetic journal entry, and invites you to think about what you want to build for yourself next year.

Instagram

Website

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

Remember how magical Christmas was when you were a kid? What else gave you that feeling of wonder and whimsy?

In this special Christmas episode of Creative Mode, Annie plays a special message from Santa Claus himself, and revisits some of her earliest childhood memories of art and creativity.

Later, a throwback to the Hey, Arnold! Christmas episode, the Justin Bieber Christmas album, and little Cindy Lou Who is all grown up. 🎅🎄🎁

💡 Key insights:

• How things from childhood find us again later in life
• Reflecting on the things that made life fun when you were a kid and how they can show up in 2025/2026
• Growing up is magical, too 💖

Links:

Instagram

CQ Santa

Nickelodeon's Greatest Christmas Special

The Pretty Reckless - Where Are You Christmas?

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

Friction: a force that resists movement or causes conflict.

Friction shows up in our lives in different ways. Now, there are AI tools designed to remove friction for the sake of producing a faster output.

But if you reduce the creative process in this way, what actually comes out the other side?

In this episode of Creative Mode, Annie shares the new buzzword taking over AI conversations and how creatives can actually use friction as a tool for momentum.

Key insights:

• Any creative process will be met with resistance.
• Ways to reduce friction without removing it entirely.
• How to build an on-ramp for yourself and use friction to create better art.

Links:

Create.Repeat - The Value of Friction in Creativity

Frictionless Creativity by Lawrence Yeo

Designing Friction in an Age of Frictionless Creativity

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

When Superman premiered in theaters this summer, it shifted the entire timeline in the best possible way. Okay, maybe not, but what if. . . ?

In this episode of Creative Mode, Annie explores themes of hope, self belief, and optimism in 2025 pop media and culture.

Key insights:

• Hope is punk.
• Kindness is rebellion.
• Self belief is your superpower.
• The internet belongs to humans, not tech companies.

Reflect on some of the most uplifting moments in movies, tv and music from this year and get inspired!

Insta: @anniezomaya

links:

The Year Superhero Movies Turned to Hope

Alive Internet Theory - Struthless

Alive Internet Theory - Ali Gallop

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

This week, Annie shares her thoughts on the premier of Stranger Things 5 and reflecting on the hit Netflix series as a cultural phenomenon.

Instagram: @anniezomaya

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

Bad is the new good. At least when it comes to creativity.

In this episode of Creative Mode, Annie shares three ways to move past artist's block and put pen to paper (or whatever your medium may be).

💡 Key insights:

• Perfectionism is an excuse (!!!)
• Why you should embrace the drafting process
• Failure is a skill and bad art is still good art

Later, Annie shares news about the return of Vine and the upcoming Hunger Games prequel Sunrise on the Reaping.

🔗 Links:

Pearlieee - all you need is audacity...

A Writing Practice to Help You Meet Yourself

Vine

Jon M. Chu for TIME

Thoughts? Find @anniezomaya on Instagram 💖

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️

How is an album release like having a baby? I've done neither, but apparently they have more in common than I thought.

This week on Creative Mode:

• Annie does a deep dive on the latest release from Florence + The Machine, including the real-life events that inspired the album
• Charli xcx is (creatively) pregnant!
• "Is AI an instrument?" - The rise of AI singers and music with no soul

Links: Charli xcx on Substack

Have thoughts? Find me on Instagram @anniezomaya.

Creative Mode is an independent production. If you'd like to support the show, please visit https://buymeacoffee.com/azomaya. Your support will help me continue making weekly episodes and improve production quality as the show grows. Thank you! ❤️