Some people rebel by getting louder. Carrie Birde rebelled by getting gentler.

After years of writing in secret—carrying shame, creative fear, and a persistent who am I to do this?—Carrie finished A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace, a novel that intentionally pushes back against a culture saturated with noise and dystopia. Instead of resistance, the book is driven by acceptance. Instead of spectacle, it offers wonder. Nature is a living presence, hope is deliberate, and beauty is treated as essential rather than indulgent.

In this conversation, Carrie shares what it took to move from emotionally distant drafts to vulnerable, living pages—and how breaking long-held patterns finally allowed her to hear her own creative voice. We talk about writing methodically (her preferred term over “slow”), trusting quiet stories, and the courage required to let tender work be seen. She also reflects on small creative acts—turning newsprint into paper hearts, hanging origami cranes on a neighborhood wishing tree—as ways of choosing meaning when the world feels heavy.

If you’ve been keeping your creativity tucked away, this episode is an invitation to bring it into the light.

• [00:00] A quiet rebellion: why gentleness can be a radical act

• [01:00] Writing in secret and the fear of being seen

• [03:40] Holding the finished book; early creative life across mediums

• [06:00] From distance to vulnerability: rewriting with emotional presence

• [08:45] Breaking family patterns and shedding creative shame

• [12:50] “The world isn’t watching your every move” — freedom from imagined judgment

• [18:45] Writing against dystopia; nature as a character; choosing a hopeful ending

• [22:40] Meet Grace (19): conversation with the living world

• [26:30] Methodical writing, parking-lot epiphanies, and knowing the ending first

• [29:45] Teen beta reader finishes the book in a day: “Please write more”

• [36:00] Letting the book rest for years; fear of being “too quiet”

• [37:30] Finding the right boutique publisher and editorial partnership

• [48:30] Paper hearts, wishing trees, and choosing beauty anyway

• Novel: A Small Tale of Uncommon Grace — by Carrie Birde

• Publisher: Blind and Square Books (editor Tara Tomczyk)

• Creative practices: Paper-heart project (newsprint → handmade hearts), neighborhood wishing tree with origami cranes

Creatives are often told business has to be rigid, serious, and exhausting — spreadsheets, rules, and hustle until you lose the joy that got you started. But what if the real rebellion is treating your business like a game instead of a grind? In this energizing conversation, James sits down with Paul Pape, creator of Gamify Business and the beloved “Santa for Nerds,” to explore how game mechanics can transform the way entrepreneurs think, work, and stay inspired.

Paul breaks down the psychology of leveling up, why constraints are actually gameplay (not cages), and how to protect your passion when real-world realities start wearing you down. They dig into burnout cycles, decision fatigue, creative identity, and how reframing your workflow through a “character sheet” can unlock clarity and momentum.

Whether you're a full-time artist, a side-hustler, or just a human trying to build a life you love, this episode gives you permission to make the process playful again — and become the hero of your own adventure.

00:00 – Gaming, constraints, and the balloon metaphor Why rules aren’t cages — they’re flexible boundaries you can push and shape.

00:55 – Introduction to Paul & the Gamify Business concept James frames the problem creatives face: burnout, disillusionment, and the myth that business must be joyless.

02:02 – Meet Paul Pape Paul’s background as “Santa for Nerds” and how he fell into creative business coaching.

03:30 – The burnout cycle creatives face Why passionate beginners lose momentum — and how pricing, clients, and pressure play into it.

04:33 – The Twitch years & the birth of his coaching method Paul explains how livestreaming his work connected him with stuck creatives.

06:23 – Gamifying business for his first clients The origin story: turning business roles into characters and obstacles into monsters.

07:49 – Why gaming principles translate so well to creative work Leveling systems, rewards, small wins, and understanding constraints.

09:07 – Games Paul plays & the value of short-form escapism A fun detour into attention, downtime, and why the “episodic” matters.

11:12 – Creativity outside the craft James shares how he made the business side of photography creative when the work wasn’t.

12:38 – Who Paul works with now Not just artists — anyone who problem-solves is a creative.

13:50 – Grinding: the gaming term that explains real life Why tedious tasks matter and how to make peace with them.

16:55 – The two questions Paul asks every new client The Passion Question & The Differentiation Question — the seeds of your “character sheet.”

18:05 – Riding the dragon of passion Why passion is the only sustainable fuel — and why chasing fame/fortune leads to burnout.

19:56 – The confidence spell How authentic passion creates magnetism; your 100 true fans.

22:20 – Rejection as data, not failure No = not your customer.

25:24 – Breaking “the way it’s always been done” Rewriting broken systems, expectations, and training culture.

29:57 – Ownership & mowing your own path Why entrepreneurship is choosing your own adventure (literally).

31:22 – Not everyone is built for entrepreneurship — and that’s okay How personality plays into role, structure, and fulfillment.

33:33 – The lawn-mowing guy metaphor Pushing boundaries, dealing with critics, and doing the work anyway.

34:56 – Decision fatigue & gamifying workflow How to simplify choices and avoid overwhelmed brain.

37:48 – A cautionary tale: over-ordering inventory The Chocolate Mii story + the danger of assumptions.

40:08 – The quickest way to gamify your life Download the free “character sheet” and start with introspection.

45:24 – Constraints as gameplay Seeing rules as flexible, not fixed.

49:03 – Failure as a step, not a stop Why creatives must fail forward — a central theme of Paul’s work.

50:23 – James’ Pomodoro twist & personal game mechanics Using timed constraints to stay focused and present.

53:37 – Understanding your “stats” Breaking down strengths, weaknesses, and capacity like a character build.

59:20 – Final words from Paul “Life is an adventure — don’t be an NPC.”

• Gamify Business (Paul’s website): http://gamifybusiness.com

• Free Character Sheet + Starter Chapters: http://gamifybusiness.com/podcast

In this deeply resonant episode of A Joyful Rebellion, James sits down with choreographer, director, educator, and somatic movement analyst Alexandra Beller to explore the profound intersection of art, healing, embodiment, and authenticity. Alexandra has spent over 25 years helping artists unlock body-based creativity, cultivate rigor without harm, and create work rooted in truth rather than performance pressure.

Together they unpack why so many creatives fear being wrong, how scarcity and digital culture have reshaped artistic risk-taking, and why younger artists often struggle to “live in the unknown.” Alexandra also breaks down the philosophy and structure of her upcoming book — a toolkit offering essays, embodiment exercises, creative prompts, scores, and 50+ questions per chapter to help artists deepen their process and understand their own constellation of influences.

If you’re a dancer, photographer, writer, or anyone chasing meaning through creative work, this conversation will encourage you to rethink motivation, embrace experimentation, and rekindle a healthier relationship with your craft.

00:00 – The Sweet Spot Between Humility and Certainty Alexandra opens with a reflection on living in the unknown as an artist. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

00:51 – Can Art Actually Heal Us? James introduces Alexandra’s body of work and the role healing plays in creativity. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

02:05 – Alexandra’s Artistic Journey From dancing with Bill T. Jones to teaching, somatics, and movement analysis. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

03:38 – The Myth: “Real Art Isn’t Healing” Alexandra breaks down the false divide between art and healing. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

07:17 – Are Great Artists Actually Broken? A reframing of the stereotype of the tortured artist. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

09:07 – Finding Her Own Path & Mapping the Body Interoception, embodiment, and teaching others to access inner awareness. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

13:11 – Why She Wrote the Book How questions, rigor, and embodiment turned into a 12-chapter toolkit. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

18:48 – What Early Readers Told Her Mentorship gaps, agency, and a “choose-your-own-adventure” creative structure. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

22:01 – Advice for Young Artists Humility, certainty, and finding the constellation of your artistic identity. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

26:32 – The Fear of Being Wrong How scarcity and digital life changed creative confidence. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

30:02 – Creativity, Craft, and the Boring Work Why mastering fundamentals is essential for developing voice. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

36:59 – Technique, Skill-Building & Finding Your Style Craft as choices, virtuosity redefined, and genre-specific development. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

39:21 – What Non-Creatives Don’t See The hundreds of hours behind any performance — and respecting your own “amateur” creativity. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

45:15 – Burnout, Capitalism, and Organic Growth Why forcing artistry into business timelines breaks people. 20251029_AJR_alexandra-beller_t…

50:20 – Closing Reflections Creative connections, appreciation, and where to find Alexandra.

• Alexandra’s website: alexandrabellerdances.org

• Alexandra’s upcoming book (title pending)

• Bill T. Jones / Bill T. Jones–Arnie Zane Company

• Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Process framework