What’s On My Creative Playlist: Sounds, Songs & Stories That Fuel My Weird Little Brain
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Let’s be real: the inside of my brain is chaos with glitter.
Between the ADHD soundtrack of “oh look, a bird!” and the autistic need for sensory comfort, sound plays a huge role in how I work. Music, podcasts, ambient noise—they’re not just background noise, they’re copilots in the studio.
Whether I’m sanding clay, stringing crystals, or packing earrings with love and bubble wrap, here’s what’s playing in my headphones (or blasting in the background while my cat judges me).
🎙️ Favorite Podcasts (for vibes, validation, and vibes again)
💬 Beautiful Anonymous with Chris Gethard
One anonymous caller, one hour, no names, no rules.
It’s raw, weirdly comforting, and reminds me how beautifully strange humans are. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve questioned everything. Perfect for days when I’m sanding clay and feeling a little existential.
😂 Smoosh Reads Reddit Stories
Yes, this is just dramatic readings of the wildest Reddit threads.
Yes, it absolutely fuels my executive function.
Yes, I would die for this chaotic energy.
🧠 Autistic After Hours
If you’re neurodivergent, this podcast feels like a warm hug and a reality check in one. It explores autism through a lens of lived experience—perfect for winding down after overstimulating days or when I need to feel seen.
🪩 Heavyweight
Jonathan Goldstein’s storytelling = chef’s kiss. He helps people revisit turning points in their lives and unpacks them with humor and tenderness. Perfect for “long crafting day with feelings.”
🎲 Girls Who Don’t DND
A newer fave! It’s cozy, queer, chaotic, and unexpectedly healing. I don’t even play DND (yet??), but I love the way these women show up for each other through storytelling.
🎶 Music That Gets Me in the Flow
Music is my best friend and my emotional support playlist. I switch up the vibe based on what my brain needs: focus, play, or slow calm.
Here are some of my go-to playlists:
🎨 Studio Playlist: Color & Clay Vibes
Upbeat, playful, perfect for creative bursts
🌙 Soft Energy, Please
Chill sounds and dreamy tones for sensory-sensitive days
💃 Dance Around Like No One’s Watching
Retro bops, indie bangers, and neurospicy joy
🧘For Calm, Sleep, and Self-Soothing
When the overwhelm hits (hi, social anxiety), I turn to the Insight Timer app. It’s full of:
- ✨ Sleep stories
- ✨ Guided meditations
- ✨ Affirmations that don’t make me cringe
- ✨ Background sounds like rain, birds, or soft singing bowls
Even if I’m not meditating, sometimes just having a calm voice or soft sound in the background helps me regulate and slow down. Especially after market days or back-to-back meetings.
📚 What I’m Listening to on Libro.fm
I love audiobooks for two main reasons:
- My eyes are often tired from screen + clay time
- It tricks my ADHD into thinking I’m being productive while resting
I use Libro.fm because it supports indie bookstores (and because I like feeling like a responsible little goblin). I tend to bounce between:
- Sci-fi & fantasy (give me queers and dragons, pls)
- Young adult fiction (comfort genre of choice)
- Memoirs about neurodivergence or mental health (I like hearing other people’s mess)
Currently queued: a queer fantasy novel, a book about burnout, and something narrated by someone with a cool accent.
🎧 TL;DR – My Studio Sounds Are Part of My Self-Care
Whether I’m deep in a hyperfocus trance or gently coaxing myself through executive dysfunction, sound is how I stay connected—to my body, my creativity, and my joy.
And if you ever peeked in the window, yes, I am dancing around the studio to synth pop while a Reddit story plays in the background and a suncatcher sparkles on the wall.
No shame. Full sparkle.
Let me know what YOU listen to when you make stuff—because I’m always down to add to the playlist.