On Vulnerability and the Courageous Act of Creating From a Place of Truth | with Allison Sweet Grant

What if creativity isn’t just self-expression, but a way to heal and connect?In this episode, I talk with Allison Sweet Grant, an author, former psychiatric nurse practitioner, and mother of three who brings deep honesty and courage to her storytelling. Her debut novel I Am the Cage wasn’t written to launch a career but to process overwhelming trauma and offer hope to others. We talk about how creativity can be both healing and hard, especially for those of us who are sensitive or introverted. But when we choose to go deeper, our stories can become acts of bravery—and unexpected gifts to the world.Key TakeawaysUse your unique life experiences to enrich your creative work. Drawing from multiple roles can deepen your storytelling and bring authenticity to your creations.Create space for your kids (and yourself) to fail safely. Protection isn’t about control—it’s about allowing risk in a space where learning and growth are possible.Use writing as a space to find your voice. It gives you the time and clarity to say what you mean without anxiety getting in the way.Create a simple mantra to steady yourself in tough times. Simple, repeated words can anchor you when life feels overwhelming.Embrace vulnerability as an act of bravery. Sharing your deepest fears and shame can feel exposing, but doing so can free you from the power those secrets hold—and prove your strength in facing them.Episode HighlightsWhy Zack and Allison are both nervous in the interviewThe origin story of the book “I Am the Cage”Defining trauma in Elizabeth’s story and how it relates to AllisonProcessing the experience through writing and self-reflectionFeelings behind self-blaming and the umbrella of shameThe impact of trauma on self-confidence, trust, and relationshipsPersonal career and impact of becoming a psychiatric nurse practitionerThe logical vs. emotional argument in personal and creative lifeParenting, advocacy, and how past experience informs present choicesCrossing senses in storytelling with SynesthesiaOpenness and vulnerability in the creative processExploring the book’s motif: “I am okay, I am safe”, to “I am not okay and I am not safe”Creativity as an act of courage and the emotional impact of releasing the bookDreaming of a movie adaptation and the poetry of everyday lifeHow to connect with AllisonZack’s American Ninja Warrior experienceRecommended Next EpisodeJennifer Kahnweiler – To dig deeper into better understanding how to thrive as an introverted creative.Bridget Sampson – If fear of speaking up and sharing your story is holding you back.Useful ResourcesAllison’s Book I Am The CageHow We are “Wired to Create”, What It Means to Be a “Creative”, and How We Can Leverage Our Unique Gifts | with Scott Barry KaufmanTurning Adversity Into Opportunity and Suffering Into Purpose (a Superhero’s Perspective) | with Aaron WeltyGo Far: The Christopher Rush StoryCall Me By Your NameLost In TranslationBefore SunriseWant to Hear More Episodes Like This One?» Click here to subscribe and never miss another episodeGuest BioAllison Sweet Grant is an author who has been published in The New York Times and The Atlantic. Previously, she was a psychiatric nurse practitioner; she holds dual master's degrees from the University of Michigan. An introvert, synesthete, and avid poet, Allison can usually be found at home with a cup of hot tea in hand, reading or rewatching a film she has seen sixteen times. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and their three children (and two cats, Pom-Pom and Jasper). I Am the Cage is her debut novel.Allison’s Website, Facebook, Instagram, EmailShow CreditsEdited by: Curtis FritschProduced by: Debby GerminoShownotes and published by: Vim PangantihonMusic by: Thomas CepedaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/zackarnold/exclusive-content