January is often framed as a month of restriction—Dry January, less sugar, less indulgence, less everything. But what if January wasn’t about giving things up? What if it was about trying?

In this Try January episode, Judy Oskam weaves together powerful insights from past conversations to explore how meaningful change begins. Experts comment on building identity capital and setting goals, mentorship, creativity, adventure, and kindness. This episode reminds us that change often starts with a choice… and the courage to try.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why trying is powerful
• How everyday choices shape identity and personal growth
• An effective way to think about goals: learning vs. performance
• The lasting impact of mentorship and paying it forward
• How stepping into unfamiliar places can transform who we become
• Why creativity begins with our surroundings
• A gentle reminder to be kind—to others and to yourself

Featured Voices

• Dr. Meg Jay, psychologist and author, on identity capital and why we are shaped by what we do, not just who we think we are. You can hear our podcast interview here.
• Caroline Adams Miller, goal-setting expert, on dreaming boldly and balancing learning goals with performance goals. We discussed Caroline's goal strategy in our 2025 interview.
• Dr. Kelly Damphousse, President of Texas State University, on mentorship and paying it forward. I'm honored Dr. Damphousse was my 100th podcast episode.
• Wendy Conklin, artist and founder of Chair Whimsy, on how our environments spark joy and creativity. Wendy wrote the book on creativity - you can find it here.
• Dr. Cliff Redford, veterinarian and global adventurer, on kindness. You can listen to our interview at this link.
• Students Ja

Did you enjoy this episode? send me a text!

Stories that Spark Change and Creativity

Join me for conversations with students, artists, professors, entrepreneurs, writers and everyday change makers.

You can listen to Stories of Change and Creativity on all major platforms.

Do you have an idea for a guest interview? Please let me know.

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

#change #creativity #personalgrowth #creativemindset