How a former biology student and recovering advertising agency art director, who has always loved dogs, changed the trajectory of her life by picking up a camera. Grace is such a role model for chasing your creative cravings — not only is she a dog (and sometimes cat!) photographer for brands and celebrities, but she is also an author, teacher, mom to Jasper, dog mom to Maeby & Zoey, and Creativity School podcaster.
What happens when you listen to your gut instincts, follow your creative cravings, and use a camera lens to look at life from different angles? You live a pretty inspired and inspiring life.
Our podcast guest this week is Grace Chon, a multi-talented creative, who showcases her work at @thegracechon. She expresses herself creatively through her dog photography, shares with you how certain habits can spark your creativity, and dishes out which food, travel destinations, and big life cravings are on her bucket lists. Like Meg, in last week’s episode, Grace is a wonderful example of someone who knows that chasing your creative cravings can truly change the trajectory of your life. Make your way over to Instagram @creative.cravings for more food and travel recommendations related to this episode!
Food for Thought mentioned in this podcast episode:
- How Grace’s whole life has felt like finding & chasing her creative cravings and how you can do it, too
- She reveals an interesting hidden talent she’s never shared publicly
- How she transitioned from a veterinary medicine career path to advertising art direction to creative entrepreneurship
- Surprising stories during celebrity photoshoots
- How to develop the right mentality to do the inner work that will lead us to where we need & want to be in our lives
- A taste of the Los Angeles food scene, including avocado beer
- How exploring our own curiosity is a form of self care, and why
- Why photography, why dogs, and how both feed her soul
- How her parents immigrating to America from South Korea influenced her academic-to-creative path
- How experiences help you learn to listen to your gut instincts when you feel unfulfilled
- How taking a small step can lead to a side-hustle and so much more
- When you feel lost and in a dark place, helping someone else (human or dog or cat) will help you see the light
- How a deep desire to “just be happy” means nothing until you take that first action step towards change
- Grace’s advice on not letting your fears hold you back, especially the fear of regret
- How the way you think about yourself and the world affects what you do in your life and how you show up
- We all have a choice on if we choose to view the universe as friendly or unfriendly
- How you can look back on something you always loved to do, and years later, you can connect the dots backwards, like Grace did
- The “million dollar” question Lauren asks Grace about photographing dogs’ emotional inner world, while on-set
- The power of transformation, whether in dog-grooming or in self-improvement
- How to tap into your own creativity, which Grace dives deep into on her podcast, Creativity School
- Grace’s books: Puppy Styled: Before & After, and Waggish (more on gracechon.com)
- How exploration makes you better at your craft, even an expert
- The parallels between parenting her creative 5 year old and mentoring un-empowered, creative adults through her podcast
- Is perfectionism genetic? Can you recover from perfectionism?
- How to switch your mentality from what you could have done better to being proud of what you’ve done
- Grace’s food cravings: Dwaeji Gukbap, a flavorful, creamy Korean pork-broth soup, and how LA’s Korean food is better than in S. Korea
- What’s next on her travel bucket list?!
- Grace explains how she starts her mornings with a creative habit that you can try too — meditation through photography
- Don’t be afraid to start something new! Sari and Lauren tell a behind-the-scenes story to inspire you to just start, or keep going
- In honor of #loveyourpetday this past week on 2/20/19, we challenge you to either 1. share a photo of your pet or 2. take a picture of a plant and tag us on Instagram @creative.cravings and/or #creativecravingspodcast so we can re-share your awesome work
- Thank you to our podcast mascot, Gracie @gracietheprettycitykitty — if her day-in-the-life photos make you smile, follow along!
Grace’s Ingredients for Living Life to the Fullest:
Be Curious
Allow Yourself to Have a Beginner’s Mind
Have an Open Mind
Trust Yourself
Connect with Grace on Instagram at @thegracechon
Thanks so much for listening!
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