- 17
- Episodes
- 9
- Ratings
- Daily
- Cadence
- 2022
- First episode
About Persistent Bloom
Is a podcast hosted by Mel Mitchell-Jackson, an adventure artist, writer, musician, and slow hiker about how artists and creative humans can re-wild their practice to persist in making as a wellness practice and as an act of resistance. In this show we’ll question how status-quo systems, strategies, and ways of being an artist need to be re-molded to fit our real lives. We'll also discuss adaptation, chronic illness, and normalizing the rest or fallow period our bloom phases need
- Publisher
- Mel Mitchell-Jackson
- Category
- arts
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 16 Apr 2022
- Latest episode
- 9 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
17 episodes in the feed.
9 Oct 2026
why so many artists quit art challenges
It's October, so let's chat about art challenges and why SO MANY of us rarely finish them. Want to read the original post that inspired this episode? Do that -- and maybe subscribe to the newsletter -- here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/why-so-many-artists-quit-art-challenges) Join the Persistent Bloom Discord here (https://melmitchelljackson.com/join-my-community) Explore the Patreon for bonus episodes and Emergent Classroom here! (https://www.patreon.com/posts/discord-access-155194375) The only challenge I ever finished... plein air April and what I learned from it (https://youtu.be/SsJALmyJ3JY) Here is my essay on getting to know your creative ancestors and strike up a conversation. (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-to-identify-your-creative-ancestors) How creative practice is shaped like a switchback (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-creative-practice-is-shaped-like?utm_source=publication-search) Demo on Emergent Classroom on how to study another artists' work, step by step. (https://www.patreon.com/posts/171814484?collection=2338784) Ready to sign up for a tutoring session? Your first session is just $19 (https://tidycal.com/persistentbloom/tutoring-disco) Other Writers Work I mentioned: Death of the Follower (https://youtu.be/hwn6-8XpIuE?si=BVdUBgoYvhMwzLsI) by Jack Conte (the CEO of Patreon, who is also an artist sand musician) Enshittification (https://madstreetbooks.com/item/f10yIDkbWsvyks5nLQjTnA) by Cory Doctorow
4 Oct 2026
art as embodiment and essential service to ourselves and others
this episode is all about making art while taking care of my mom after she had a major surgery. If you are an artist who feels like so much gets in the way of your practice, this episode and the gentle prompts in it will support you in persistence this fall. Join the Persistent Bloom Discord via Patreon here. One time and monthly options : ) (https://www.patreon.com/persistentbloom/posts/discord-access-155194375?source=storefront) See the original article and sign up for the newsletter here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/art-as-embodiment-and-essential-service) Get direct support with your art through Craft Tutoring. Want a low-risk way to try it out? Your first session is only $19! (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring) See the original painting I made in the hospital waiting room here. (https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!NadH!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5eee7b4e-f073-495a-a413-37cba1ae43d5_3024x4032.jpeg) My friend Emily H. Cox's incredible article on studio spaces vanishing in Kansas City back in 2019. Cheap rent and studio spaces are rapidly vanishing from Kansas City’s arts landscape. What now? (https://www.thepitchkc.com/what-happens-to-kansas-citys-art-scene-now-that-its-most-attractive-qualities-cheap-rent-and-studio-spaces-are-vanishing/) Want to support the show? Share it with a friend. Leave a rating on Apple Podcasts, or a comment if you listen on Spotify.
23 Sept 2026
how to review your summer and set the right intentions for fall
In this episode, I’m sharing some exercises and human creative prompts to build a centered and compassionate season ahead in your studio. Want to read the original post? Do that here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-to-review-your-summer-and-set) Join the Persistent Bloom Discord & become a sustaining member to this podcast! (https://melmitchelljackson.com/join-my-community) Sign up for my Intro to Painting with Watercolor and Gouache from Intuition & Photo Reference and find out more about the class here (https://melmitchelljackson.com/watercolor-and-gouache-2026) Let me know what you think of the show, email me at hello@melmitchelljackson.com (mailto:hello@melmitchelljackson.com) Curious about the Week of the Archivist? Snag the self-guided version of the class here (https://melmitchelljackson.com/self-guided-classes) Sign up for the Persistent Bloom Newsletter (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com) Resources from Labor Notes on unionizing your workplace (https://labornotes.org/resources)
4 Sept 2026
how to adjust your creative practice to fit your capacity
This week I’m feeling a little off from being sick, which means it’s time to check in around capacity. I’ll share a bit about how I use gentle energy level accommodations in my art practice, how the advice of our culture makes us push harder than we need to, and my advice for artists with day jobs. Sign up for the Persistent Bloom newsletter (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/) Support the Pod on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom) Why I write intentions in my sketchbook to make it a teacher for my art (https://melmitchelljackson.com/blog/2026/8/26/the-method-for-making-your-sketchbook-into-your-best-teacher) Read my essays on creative cycles here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/t/cycles) Want to learn the practice of writing a Did List? (https://melmitchelljackson.com/blog/2026/8/26/stop-making-a-to-do-list-make-a-did-list-instead) Creative practice is a group sport, join us in the Persistent Bloom Discord (https://www.patreon.com/persistentbloom/posts/discord-access-155194375?source=storefront) Read my post about accommodations and my music practice (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-creative-practice-is-shaped-like?utm_source=publication-search) My Doing the Hikers Way blog where I tracked my energy levels last fall (https://melmitchelljackson.com/doing-the-hikers-way) Experience The Hikers Way pod-class (https://melmitchelljackson.com/the-hikers-way) Ready to unionize your workplace? Check out the incredible resources from Labor Notes (https://labornotes.org/resources)
20 Aug 2026
the importance of finding our creative home as an artist
Wes and I went on a hike to discuss an idea that comes up all the time for our artist friends -- being stuck. We eventually landed on the importance of returning to a sense of creative home, and that's the portion you'll get to listen to here today. I've been feeling into this frustration and analysis paralysis myself when it comes to music so we get into it, and the emotions behind it. The deep fear that can come up and the expectations we put between ourselves and the act of making. When we know our creative homes, we can find a place to make that reflects back our ideal version of our artistic selves. Listening to this will help you sense into how it feels to be there in your creative home. Want to get to know Wes' music? Listen to Wes' solo project Lentil Famine here (https://lentilfamine.bandcamp.com/) or his band Farlowella here (https://farlowella.bandcamp.com/album/the-irksome-damp)! This is an episode preview. Want to hear the full episode? Become a paid member and support our podcast on Patreon. You can do that here! (https://www.patreon.com/persistentbloom/posts/being-stuck-vs-167119365) If you choose to join as a member on Patreon, you'll get access to the Persistent Bloom discord server and more awesome exclusives like: - demos & mini class recordings from Mel - group tutoring sessions and feedback on your creative work from Mel & Wes - a book club exploring the works that have supported our persistence - & more see what people are saying about the community and see some of their awesome work, here (https://melmitchelljackson.com/join-my-community)
12 Aug 2026
the cycle of creative practice that art school got right
Let’s get into the final episode of the Creative Cycles series, this one is all about the Learning and Research cycle. This was honestly the best thing I got out of art school and a really rich process to keep you moving towards long term, creative persistence. Read the original essay here & sign up for my weekly-ish newsletter (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/the-cycle-of-creative-practice-that) Explore The Hikers Way pod-class and use promo code BLOOM-POD for $10 off before midnight PST on September 5th (https://melmitchelljackson.com/the-hikers-way) Persistent Bloom Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom) - support the show and get access to bonus episodes, patron exclusive videos, the Discord channel and more! Kristen Drozdowski article I quoted Finding Fulfillment in Research (https://substack.com/home/post/p-207178612) The book I mentioned, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (https://bookshop.org/a/101972/9780063342330) (affiliate link) Explore tutoring with Mel, and get your first 20 min session for just $19 (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring) Liked what you heard? Share the show with a friend. Audio recorded and edited by Mel Mitchell-Jackson with audio doctoring by Wesley Jackson
26 Jul 2026
goodbye for now, YouTube
Farewell fickle algo, and what's next for my work! Today I'll be digging into my choice to take a massive and potentially indefinite break from YouTube. Why did I do it? What has changed? Let's discuss. Read the original post, goodbye for now YouTube (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/goodbye-for-now-youtube) Sign up for my newsletter! (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com) Listen to the episode of Soil & Stars with Emily Hall — Earth Intelligence and AI Sobriety (https://ofsoilandstars.substack.com/p/earth-intelligence-and-ai-sobriety) Book a Tutoring Session with me! (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring) Use the discount code “AUG-POD” for 15% off before August 15th The book I mentioned in the episode, The Score by C. Thi Nguyen (https://bookshop.org/a/101972/9780593655658) (affiliate link for my bookshop.org store) Read my essay on defeating the inner critic (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-to-know-your-inner-critic-so?utm_source=publication-search) The videos Wes and I are most proud of and the inspiration for the films we will make next. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCcZaSsW0aQ&list=PLtYyz3YND5y1nwAVVRpM808XhoyIaQbEo)
20 Jul 2026
creative prompts to trust your steps and let your practice be more wild
This episode is an audio version of the July 2026 Creative Prompts I wrote in this article here. (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/creative-prompts-to-trust-your-steps) This is also where you can read the transcript of this podcast episode, or upgrade and access the exercise of an anti-artist statement for paid supporters :) Wanna try out Oblique Strategies? That’s the purpose of this cool website (https://obliquestrategies.ca), and you can also buy a physical deck from Brian Eno (https://enoshop.co.uk/products/oblique-strategies?variant=51221629501780)(not sponsored) If you’re really resonating with this, consider joining the Persistent Bloom Discord or signing up for Emergent Classroom (https://www.patreon.com/1574370/join)
9 Jul 2026
ready to stop the urge to scroll? here's how to root into the integrative cycle.
Today we will be discussing the integrative cycle. The magical cycle that keeps me from craving a scroll session and connects me to the abundance in my practice. THIS is the cycle that keeps me from touching generative AI. As a reminder, I’m AI sober and it feels delicious. (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/why-i-am-ai-sober) Sign up for the Week of the Archivist (https://melmitchelljackson.com/the-week-of-the-archivist)! All Live sessions are recorded, and all students get access to a secret Discord channel for ongoing accountability with your classmates : ) Read the original post after or while you listen (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/ready-to-stop-the-urge-to-scroll) Join the Persistent Bloom Discord Server (https://www.patreon.com/1574370/join) See my map for the Integrative Cycle (https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!-_1e!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F2fef17d7-8d1f-4de1-b990-64258536fe3a_1000x601.jpeg) See my Obsidian web I mentioned (https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!PMbQ!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5113448c-c1da-468d-8536-2df2f48136a6_1000x655.png) See my computer organization after years of maintenance work (https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!r9yU!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa5156d57-0833-4cfb-8c42-64adc3a27589_1000x564.png) Need help with a social media fast? Here’s an essay I wrote about it. (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/what-a-ten-day-social-media-scroll?utm_source=publication-search) Hank Green’s Chewy Decimal System (https://youtu.be/RxMR1TMec04?si=kJzcsUb0Qdun7bij) Final audio editing by my partner, Wes Jackson.
2 Jul 2026
how savoring permission to rest led to making more art
This week, I’m taking a gentle pause from the essay series on our creative cycles due to a health scare upon returning home from the Eastern Sierra. I’ll be okay, but my energy and capacity is much lower than usual. I’ll be back with another essay on the integrative cycle next week! This short essay is a gentle show-and-tell of sorts about the things I made while out in the wilderness. . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Join the Persistent Bloom Discord (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom/membership) Read the original post, and see the art from it here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-savoring-permission-to-rest-led) Why hiking was out of reach for me last year, an essay on how I injured my back. (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-my-smart-watch-made-me-lose-trust?utm_source=publication-search) Join the Persistent Bloom Discord (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom/membership) Buy my Art! The book I mentioned, The Overstory by Richard Powers (https://bookshop.org/a/101972/9780393356687) (bookshop.org affiliate link) . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
26 Jun 2026
how the reflective cycle serves the sustainability of our craft
Last week, we talked about the productive cycle of our craft (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/why-we-cant-always-be-in-a-productive). Today, we’re going to deepen into the phase that tends to follow intense periods of making, the reflective cycle. This is one of the more overlooked cycles of our craft but totally necessary to really honor the effort of making something. It’s the cycle where we look at our work and review what we’ve done, apply to shows, invite studio visits, journal, and on occasion, make a social media post. The longer I have allowed myself to linger in this cycle, the more I can identify what is Quality and what isn’t, what’s working and what’s not — completely independent from algorithms. The deepest reward of the reflective cycle is how it connects us to reciprocity and appreciating our gifts instead of chasing prestige. I just redesigned my entire website, you should go check it out! (https://melmitchelljackson.com) Subscribe to my Newsletter (http://melmitchelljackson.substack.com) Join the Patreon & Sign up for my Discord Community (patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom) Listen to Shannon Algeo on Off The Grid ( https://offthegrid.fun/shownotes/shannon-algeo) Read Against Analytics by CJ the X (https://cjthex.com/against-analytics/) my interview with Misty Granades (https://misty.granades.com/2026/01/13/interview-with-mel/) about long term sustainability! If you want to read the original essay you can do that here (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-the-reflective-cycle-serves-the) Sign up for Craft Tutoring here: https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring)
16 Jun 2026
why we can’t always be in a productive cycle
the real shapes of our creative cycles don't look how you'd expect. Today we will explore the productive cycle, the expectations we tend to put on it, and I'll help you feel into whether or not this is actually where your art sits right now. If you want to read the original essay you can do that here: https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/why-we-cant-always-be-in-a-productive (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/why-we-cant-always-be-in-a-productive) if you’re ready to gently improve your skills in drawing, painting, procreate, knitting, photography, or tech tools, i’d love to work with you 1-on-1. The way that it works is: you sign up for a time, I send you an email, you share what you’ve been working on and I think on it Then we meet! I’ll give you feedback on your current work, show you a demo of the technique you should focus on right now, and send you a human-written follow up email to connect all the dots. Sessions are normally $40 for 30 mins or $70 for an hour, but both are 10% off if you book before June 30th with code SOLSTICE (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring) 🙂 if you learn best in a group, hop over here and sign up for the waitlist for one of my upcoming classes (https://melmitchelljackson.com/learn-with-mel), or join the cohort in my alternative art-school, Emergent Classroom (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom/membership) over on Patreon I am running an almost-summer sale on all of my self-guided classes! (https://melmitchelljackson.com/store) I’ve got The Hikers Way (https://melmitchelljackson.com/the-hikers-way) on how to rewild your art with time in nature ($99), another on working with collage to make flyers and images for the internet that are distinctly Anti-AI (https://melmitchelljackson.com/store/p/collaging-your-unique-human-voice-self-guided-class) ($39), and my most popular gouache and watercolor class for beginners all available to do at your own pace (https://melmitchelljackson.com/store/p/gouache-and-watercolor-for-beginners-self-directed-class) ($89) if you want to spend a guided weekend in nature learning how to transform your creative practice back into one of wellness and divorced from social media stats, book a creative retreat with me! (https://melmitchelljackson.com/book-a-retreat)
11 Jun 2026
how to infuse more art into the beauty that summer offers
hello and welcome (back) to Persistent Bloom, 4 years later we've reset and are sharing essay dispatches in an audio format to see how sharing as a pod once again feels if you would rather read this essay, or read along while you listen, find that at the link here! (https://melmitchelljackson.substack.com/p/how-to-infuse-more-art-into-the-beauty) . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ Here are the links I mentioned in the vid: Get early access to reading essays like this one by signing up for my Substack newsletter here explore Group Tutoring in the Emergent Classroom on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/cw/persistentbloom) Did list video (https://youtu.be/-MsXrWvXwE8?si=O6yHdPWmcBQrpVkE) Work with me in a tutoring session (https://melmitchelljackson.com/craft-tutoring) Explore my art & internet world on my website (https://melmitchelljackson.com/) See my old videos (https://melmitchelljackson.com/blog/tag/videos) This podcast was not created or written using AI, you can learn more about my AI Policy, here (https://melmitchelljackson.com/ai-policy)
5 Aug 2022
Episode 4: Inner Knowing vs. External Academies with Quinn Kavanaugh
This episode is our first interview! I had an amazing conversation about creativity, intuition, and unlearning with Quinn Kavanaugh is an artist, channel, and tarot enthusiast from Kansas City, Missouri. Quinn works in astrology, intuitive readings, lithomancy, and helps folks connect back to nature, to their intuition, and personal power. Quinn's practice is rooted with plant medicine, tarot, oracle decks, numerology and astrology. In the chat we talk a bout our experiences within the arts, visual interpretation of the tarot, Institutional unraveling, and academic vs. intuitive tarot. We also talked more in depth about the July cards for Persistent Bloom and Quinn's shares are wonderful. Excited for you to listen to the whole conversation. So here it is. You can reach Quinn using on Instagram at @quinn.medicine peonybridge.com (http://peonybridge.com/) Sacred earth arts Regina Compernolle https://www.sacredeartharts.com (https://www.sacredeartharts.com/)
19 Jul 2022
Episode 3: The Magician and The High-Priestess + Bloom Prompts
This episode explores the two cards for July 2022, The Magician and the High-Priestess, plus a few bonus minor arcana cards. The Eight of Swords, the Four of Cups, and the Ace of Pentacles. This month is about figuring out how to create the situations to make what we want to happen, happen. Getting our supplies together for connecting to our intuition, figure out the instructions it has in store for us. Mel shares the garden of their supplies for 2022 as a source of inspiration. Plus, as usual monthly Bloom Prompts for musicians, artists, and movement practitioners. Listen in to learn more, join our Discord community, and tune in for the next episode in June! Join the Persistent Bloom Discord https://discord.gg/cZjKWJrMG4 (https://discord.gg/cZjKWJrMG4) About Persistent Bloom: This podcast is hosted by Mel Mitchell-Jackson (they/she), a queer and non-binary visual artist, writer, musician, and joy-based movement practitioner. Persistent Bloom centers the driving questions that foster deep and intuitive connections to creative practice. It covers intersection of the tarot and queer spirituality with inspiration and personal states of flow. The goal is to connect with artists of all kinds and build community centered on helping everyone access ways to find space to bloom. Thanks for listening! Podcast Music by Wes Jackson.
16 May 2022
Episode 2: The Moon and the Four of Swords + Bloom Prompts
This episode explores the two cards for May 2022, The Moon and the Four of Swords. Our deep emotions are rooted by the shadows of institutions we investigate this and more surrounding the Moon card and the present moment. The need for rest is continually present as we process these feelings, and the Four of Swords illuminates the varied paths to do so. This episode includes two spells from the Words as Wands Deck from Women of Rivers and two monthly Bloom Prompts for musicians, artists, and movement practitioners. Listen in to learn more, join our Discord community, and tune in for the next episode in June! Join the Persistent Bloom Discord https://discord.gg/cZjKWJrMG4 (https://discord.gg/cZjKWJrMG4) Words as Wands Deck by Women of Rivers (currently sold out!) https://www.womanofrivers.com/product-page/wordsaswandsdeck (https://www.womanofrivers.com/product-page/wordsaswandsdeck) Women of Rivers on Instagram http://instagram.com/womanofrivers (http://instagram.com/womanofrivers) About Persistent Bloom: This podcast is hosted by Mel Mitchell (they/she), a queer and non-binary visual artist, writer, musician, and joy-based movement practitioner. Persistent Bloom centers the driving questions that foster deep and intuitive connections to creative practice. It covers intersection of the tarot and queer spirituality with inspiration and personal states of flow. The goal is to connect with artists of all kinds and build community centered on helping everyone access ways to find space to bloom. Thanks for listening! Podcast Music by Wes Jackson.
16 Apr 2022
Episode 1: Two of Wands and the Three of Wands + Bloom Prompts
This episode explores the concept behind Persistent Bloom as a project, dives deep into the two cards for April 2022 - the Two of Wands and the Three of Wands - and includes monthly Bloom Prompts for musicians, artists, and movement practictioners. These two cards often overlap. Wands symbolizing our inner fire, our passions. They both also symbolize the imagery of passing through a portal. Listen in to learn more and tune in next episode the following month! About Persistent Bloom: This podcast is hosted by Mel Mitchell (they/she), a queer and non-binary visual artist, writer, musician, and joy-based movement practitioner. Persistent Bloom centers the driving questions that foster deep and intuitive connections to creative practice. It covers intersection of the tarot and queer spirituality with inspiration and personal states of flow. The goal is to connect with artists of all kinds and build community centered on helping everyone access ways to find space to bloom. Thanks for listening! Podcast Music by Wes Jackson.
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- 7 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 2 ratings
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