Detours Are Destiny: Secret Art, Curiosity, and Creative Business with Nishant Jain
Welcome to the Create! Podcast, where we believe your whole life is a canvas and you have the power to create anything you desire. I’m your host, Ekaterina (Kat) Popova—artist, master coach, and founder of Create! Magazine.
Sometimes the most meaningful parts of our creative journey are the detours—the moments when we think we’ve lost our way or failed at a goal, only to realize we’ve discovered something new. Like a labyrinth, life often guides us to the next best thing, usually better than we could have ever imagined.
In this week’s episode, I sit down with Nishant Jain, also known as The Sneaky Artist. Nishant turned a period of writer’s block into a thriving sketching practice and built a global community centered around curiosity, presence, and the beauty of everyday life. His new book, Make Sneaky Art, is both a creative invitation and a manifesto for living a meaningful artistic life.
Together, we explore what it means to follow your curiosity, build a sustainable creative business, and protect your private creative space in a world that constantly demands sharing. Nishant’s journey from engineering and neuroscience to art and storytelling reminds us that detours are not failures—they are destiny.
Episode Highlights
How creative detours can lead to deeper purpose
Finding courage to chase unconventional dreams
The value of keeping a “secret sketchbook”
Building authentic connections through storytelling
Balancing creativity and business without losing joy
Listen to the Full Episode
🎧 Detours are Destiny: Chasing Dreams, Secret Art, and Approaching Business with Creativity with Nishant Jain (The Sneaky Artist)
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Connect with Nishant Jain
Sponsor
Welcome to the Jungle — Josh Brown’s immersive exhibition — opens in New York City this November.
For two days only, canvases pulse with color, hidden gazes peek from the leaves, and the city transforms into something wild, alive, and untamed.
📍 147 Broome St, NYC
🗓️ November 14–16
Join joshbrownart.com for RSVP access, collector previews, and behind-the-scenes as the jungle comes to life.
If you’re interested in sponsoring the show or advertising with Create! Magazine, contact alicia@createmagazine.com for details.
About the Host
Ekaterina Popova is an artist, certified master coach, and founder of Create! Magazine and Create U. She helps artists and creative entrepreneurs build joyful, sustainable careers on their own terms.
createu.co