Masterpiece

For years, I actively avoided journalling. These days, it’s one of the most important rituals I keep. In this episode, I reflect on my morning practice, how my relationship with writing has evolved, and how making space to hear ourselves can help us reconnect with what we think, feel and want. Thoughts? Questions? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm You can order a One Word Journal here. And sign up to my newsletter here. Always love hearing from you ♥️ --- The Masterpiece soundtrack is compo...

We’re taught from an early age to be good, agreeable, and easy to be around. But what happens when being "good" means disconnecting from yourself? Becca and I explore why women are taught to suppress anger, what we lose when we do, and how reconnecting with our anger can help us reclaim our voice, our desires, and our sense of self. Thoughts? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm You can order a One Word Journal here. And sign up to my newsletter here. Always love hearing from you ♥️ --- The Masterp...

I went to Japan looking for inspiration. What I came home with was a reminder of how much place shapes creativity, and a renewed desire to make. In this episode, I reflect on travel, art, mastery, and learning to do less with more love. --- Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order a One Word Journal --- Instagram @jessicayolandakaye --- Newsletter https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

After 2.5 years of not painting, I’m back to making art. It’s early days, but I feel a shift. I want to make something different. But as I move towards making the art I actually want to make, I find myself facing resistance. What if it’s bad? What if people don’t understand it? What if I can’t make a living from it? In this episode, I talk to my art teacher and mentor, Daryl, about what’s underneath that resistance, what it means to make art that feels true to you, and how to learn to play. T...

When life gets hectic, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise and lose touch with yourself. For most of my life, I lived on autopilot. Matteo did too. But everything changed when we started picking a word each year. In this episode, we talk about what ten years of this practice has taught us — how one word can help you reconnect with your voice, your values, and how you want to live. Order a One Word Journal here (free international shipping this week) Share your One Word here Email me at jyk...

I haven’t painted in 2.5 years. I told myself all sorts of stories about why — not the right time, place, space. But underneath it all, I think I was blocked by something deeper. This week, I reflect on creative block, the fear of not knowing, and how I’m finding my way back to painting. --- Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order a One Word Journal --- Instagram @jessicayolandakaye --- Newsletter https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

Psychologist Cass Seidler joins me to unpack two listener questions. Together, we explore why it can feel so hard to give yourself permission to go after what you want, how perfectionism, people-pleasing and uncertainty can keep us stuck, and why the things that make us feel most alive are still worth making space for. Do you have a question you'd like us to explore? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order a One Word Journal --- Instagram @jessicayolandakaye --- Newsletter https://jess...

This week, my friend Romy Galombik turns the microphone around as we reflect on 20 episodes of Masterpiece. We explore what creating the podcast has taught me about getting into the arena, overcoming the need to be liked, and why creating something meaningful is the right kind of hard. --- Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order a One Word Journal --- Instagram @jessicayolandakaye --- Newsletter https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

This week I reflect on why so many of us want to create but feel like we can't, the cost of constant busyness, and the little flames inside we can't keep ignoring. What is something you want to do that feels scary to say out loud? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order a One Word Journal --- Instagram @jessicayolandakaye --- Newsletter https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/

Creating a life and art that feels true to you is like climbing a mountain. It can feel long, lonely and uncertain. But after six months of releasing Masterpiece, I'm realising that none of us are meant to do this alone. This is an episode about the cheerleaders who help us find the courage to keep going. And a thank you to everyone who has reached out, shared their story, and reminded me that there are people on the other side of this microphone! --- Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Order ...

A conversation with writer Grace O'Neill on Tracey Emin, Lena Dunham, and the tension between self-expression and approval. Thoughts? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Grace's word for the year is ASSERT. Mine is PERMISSION. Find your word for the year here. --- Grace O'Neill: instagram substackJessica Yolanda Kaye: jyk@masterpiece.fm instagramnewsletterBig Little Things: My Heart is This: Tracey Emin on Painting by Martin GayfordFamesick by Lena DunhamThe Interview Podcast w...

A conversation with my art teacher and friend, Daryl, on quietening the inner critic, reconnecting with the artist inside, and expressing yourself freely. Thoughts? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- Contact Daryl: @blankcanvasartscool Email me: jyk@masterpiece.fm DM me: @jessicayolandakaye Sign up to my newsletter Order a One Word Journal Thank you for listening :) JYK --- The Masterpiece soundtrack is composed by Josie Mann, with strings by James Tarbotton.

When I moved back to Sydney, I started confronting the things I’d spent years running from. My mind. My body. My feelings. And it was much harder than I expected. Much more time consuming, exhausting, isolating. I thought it was getting in the way of my life and my painting. But lately, I’ve realised it was never separate from the art. It was leading me back to it. Thoughts? Email jyk@masterpiece.fm --- You can DM me on IG here Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm Sign up to my newsletter here Orde...

A conversation on leaving the safety of a job, starting something of your own, and why you need your cheerleaders. Thoughts? Email me at jyk@masterpiece.fm --- BIG LITTLE THINGS 'The Best Money Advice You Will Ever Receive: 4 Rules From the Top Financial Minds in the World' on the Mel Robbins Podcast (Spotify | Apple) '10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)' on Acquired (Spotify | Apple) --- Follow Romo's florals @grumpypetal. Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm + DM me on @jessicayolanda...

So many of us are sitting in the stands of our own lives — wanting to act, but held back by what people might think. In this conversation with Zac, we explore what it looks like to step into the arena. Zac is a clinical psychologist and one of Australia’s leading voices in men’s mental health. He’s also someone who has learned to back himself — to speak, act, and move with conviction. We explore why finding your gap matters, how self-belief is built through action, what it means to reconnect ...

What’s something you want to do this year that feels scary to say out loud? What arena do you want to get into? For me, it’s painting. And yet, I find myself sitting in the stands, afraid to take that first step. --- You can DM me on IG here Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm Sign up to my newsletter here Order a One Word Journal here I love hearing from you 🤍 JYK --- The Masterpiece soundtrack is composed by Josie Mann, with strings by James Tarbotton.

Last year Madeleine Gottlieb spent 53 days in the South Australian desert directing a television series, working 18-hour days in intense conditions — an experience she describes as physically, emotionally and mentally taxing, and completely life-changing. In this conversation we talk about the role friction plays in creative expression, what happens when the plan falls apart (like the day a brown snake appeared on set), and why understanding the feeling underneath what you’re trying to create...

It’s the year of the horse and it feels like there’s a shift. More momentum, movement, creative energy. More people wanting to make a change. To get in the arena. But where do you begin? James Clear says when you want to make a change but feel stuck, you don’t lack motivation — you lack clarity. I started this year burnt out, foggy, exhausted. So I made space. I went away for a week by myself, switched off my phone, disconnected from the outside world, and sat with one simple, confronting que...

When you have an idea in your mind, it can feel perfect. The moment you begin, you realise how hard it is to make anything real (let alone good). For the past few months, I’ve been living inside that gap while creating the sound of this podcast. This episode is a reflection on why creating anything with love and integrity is so uncomfortable, the space between taste and ability, and why the pursuit is the point. We finish with the Masterpiece soundtrack, composed by Josie Mann, with strings b...

When I feel overwhelmed, like there aren’t enough hours in the day, every part of me wants to do more. Wake up earlier. Cram it all in. Get on top of things. Lately, I’m learning the opposite might be true. This episode is about doing less. Letting go of pressure. And giving yourself permission to meet yourself where you are. --- You can order a One Word Journal here Email me on jyk@masterpiece.fm DM me on IG here And sign up to my newsletter here Thank you for listening :) JYK 🤍

I always thought perfectionism was a bit of a humble brag — a flaw that was actually a strength. Something that helped you get ahead. Then I read an article in The New Yorker, and everything changed. I realised perfectionism isn’t something to gloat about at all. It’s a debilitating way of being, with deep roots, that can quietly stop you from living, creating, and connecting. In this conversation, I sit down with Cass Seidler, psychologist and recovering perfectionist. Together, we unpack wh...

This week, Matteo and I sat down to reflect on 2025 through the lens of our words — mastery and foundations. We spoke about the friction of moving home, starting therapy, the biggest lessons we took from it, and why my podcast cover shoot became a philosophical lesson for life. We also share our words for 2026 and how we arrived at them. You can order your One Word Journal here Share your One Word here Email us at hello@myword.is Get in touch via IG on @myword.is and @jessicayolandakaye...

Grace O’Neill is a writer, editor, podcaster, and this year, she became a mother. After years of searching, pivoting, and finally finding the confidence to say I am an artist, Grace had her son, Eli, and time became very real. In this conversation, we talk about the fear of motherhood, how it surprised and stretched her, and what it’s been like writing her first novel amidst it all. We talk about perfectionism and craft, devotion and discipline, and what happens to the artist when life gets f...

Eliza Gosse is not your typical artist. Mathematical, precise and quietly disciplined, she has built an incredible career as a painter — ten solo exhibitions in seven years — and she’s only 30 (and just getting started). In this conversation, we talk about what it really means to commit to a creative life: the steadiness, the structure, the slow evolution. Eliza shares how she plans three shows ahead, why she still uses a tiny brush despite being told not to, and how becoming a mother is shif...

I met the Canadian-born TV and film producer, Haley Vickers, at a birthday dinner in 2023. We were both pivoting in our careers, both breaking up with London, and by the time dinner came out, I’m pretty sure we’d both cried. Haley has that rare ability to make you laugh, cry, think, and see things differently. All within a matter of minutes. Haley has spent the last decade developing and producing films across London, Toronto, and beyond. In 2025, she launched her own production company, Flic...

Diana Reid wrote her debut novel at 24 during lockdown, having deferred a corporate law job by a year. That book became a bestseller. In the five years since, she’s published two more, with another and a screenplay adaptation on the way. But what's so remarkable about Diana isn't her productivity, but her perspective. Sitting together on a sofa in London, I was struck by her stoicism, her maturity, her detachment. In this conversation, we talk about the conditions that give you the freedom to...

Today, my podcast, Masterpiece, is out. I’ve been talking about this podcast for years — dreaming about it, playing with it, circling around it, and avoiding it. It’s wild how you can want something so much and still be so scared of it. How something can feel so true and so dangerous at the same time. I’ve avoided this podcast because I’ve been afraid. Afraid to trust myself. Afraid to be fully seen. Masterpiece is a podcast about letting go of who you think you should be and becoming who you...

Talia Blank is a painter, poet, filmmaker, and incredibly deep thinker. For Talia, making art is like breathing. It isn’t something she thinks about. It pours out of her. And yet, when she had her first solo exhibition in New York, something she had dreamed of, it broke her heart. In our conversation, we speak about what it really means to be an artist. The vulnerability that creativity demands, and how exposing that can feel when shared publicly. The maxims she lives by, the rituals that sav...

It’s halfway through the year. A lot has happened, but it feels like just the beginning. This week, Matteo and I sat down to record a chat, reflecting on Juneuary from our new, empty home in Sydney. After 15 months in living limbo, it feels wildly significant. Like a big exhale. We began the month in the South of France, our favourite pocket of the world. I was clinging to that trip like a lifeline. Matteo was carrying it like a weight. And yet, we both found it unexpectedly freeing. On...

I’ve wanted to chat to Jonno Seidler since 2022. I was standing in a queue at Palermo Airport, waiting for a flight back to London, when a friend sent me an excerpt from his memoir, It’s a Shame About Ray. I was immediately captivated by his writing, his honesty, and his bravery. I grew up around Jonno but reading his memoir, I realised there was so much I didn't know. His experience of bipolar disorder, his dad’s struggles with depression, the shame that surrounded both, and the role that mu...

This week I spoke with Madeleine Gottlieb — an award-winning director, producer, screenwriter, and one of my oldest friends. I met Mads when I was five. She was the smartest person I’d ever met, with the bluest eyes and the most commanding presence. We were a couple of drama kids. And listening back to this conversation on a walk this week, I realised, we still are. We talk about morning rituals, meditation, ADHD, therapy, why Mads’ word for 2025 scares her, and how cutting off all her hair a...

When Matteo and I spent two months in Puglia at the end of last year, living in a sleepy seaside town, we had a weekend ritual: a long walk by the sea, swimming and reading at Lo Scalo, spaghetti vongole and a spritz, a gelato along the promenade, and a movie on the couch. Off our phones, away from the rest of the world, we could switch off. It was incredible. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately—less about Puglia, more about the presence we were able to cultivate there. Il dolce far nien...

There’s a scene in A Complete Unknown I can’t stop thinking about. Bob Dylan steps on stage at the Newport Folk Festival in ’65. Thousands and thousands of people chant his name. They came to hear the songs they know. To see the Dylan they know. But Dylan has moved on. He picks up his electric guitar and plays his new music. The crowd boos. They throw things. Festival organisers try to cut the sound. It’s uncomfortable to watch. I caught myself thinking, Just give them what they want. But he ...

After seven years at luxury fashion house Zegna, Nimisha Gupta walked away from the safety of a big role to rediscover herself—and her joy. In this week’s episode of Between the Lines, we talk about making bold career leaps, finding your way back to creativity, and building a life that feels like yours. We also dive into the rituals that help Nimisha stay inspired—including why she takes a bath at 2pm every day (iconic). And, of course, her word for 2025. I loved this conversation with Nimish...

My earliest memories are anxious ones. Clinging to my mum’s legs as a child. Hiding under a laundry basket when people popped in. Waking up at 5 AM, putting on my school uniform, and sitting there for three hours—because I was terrified of being late. For most of my life, anxiety was my default state. And then last year, driving from Milan to Umbria, Matteo and I were listening to a podcast about anxiety when he paused it and asked—How is your anxiety? To my surprise, I said...

Not long ago, I sat down with Grace O’Neill in her Kitchen in London, and we recorded a chat. Grace is a writer. The former editor of Elle Australia. The co-host of After Work Drinks. And one of the most important people in my life. We met during lockdown—Grace and Zach in Apartment B, Matteo and I in Apartment D. The pandemic turned us, and our neighbour Lena (Apartment C), from strangers into family. Grace and I have spent hours walking through Holland Park, talking about the messy reality ...

Matteo and I sat down to talk about redesigning our life in Sydney—finding new rituals, navigating productivity shame, starting therapy, and having the courage to be ourselves. We share the Big Little Things we’re learning and why, in the end, it all comes down to one question: Does it charm you? You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/ Our One Word Journals here: https://www.myword.is/book And my IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jessicayolandakaye Episode ...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve woken up early. I used to resist it. But lately, I’ve realised it’s a secret part of the day—a time to catch ideas. In this week’s pod, I talk about protecting your creative flow, the art of deep work, and the biggest thing I learnt from David Lynch’s 2.5-hour masterclass. Would love to hear what resonates. JYK 🤍 You can find my newsletter here: https://jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/ Our One Word Journals here: https://www.myword.is/book And my IG here: h...

A few weeks ago, I took my brother for breakfast and traded coffee and eggs for advice. I told him everything—my podcast vision, the name, the look and feel. I talked for 40 minutes. And then I asked him for a strategy. Then he looked at me and said: "You love the planning. The mood boarding, the strategy, the world-building. But while you’re doing all that, you’re not making the podcast. Stop planning. Start the podcast." Annoying, because he was right. I thought I was moving forward, but re...

I love January, but I found this one hard. Not because of No Plans Jan—that gets easier every year. But because it’s been a period of transition. Matteo and I are back in Sydney. We’re staying in Sydney. And that still feels difficult to say out loud, even though it feels true. This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about place. The place you live, and how you live within it. How to make space for what matters. How to find flow. How to cultivate resonance (my new favourite word). And how to pra...

On January 1st, Matteo and I each took out our One Word Journals and started writing. Guided by the book, we reflected on 2024, reconnected with what’s important, and set an intention for the year ahead. In this chat, we talk about our words for 2025, why Matteo changed his word, and why I stuck to mine. Along the way, Matteo also drops a bomb I wasn’t quite ready to share. I hope you enjoy listening! And I’d love to know: what is your word for 2025? JYK 🤍 One Word Journal: https...

This week, Matteo and I sat down to reflect on 2024. It was a year that began with an eviction from our Notting Hill flat and ended by the seaside in Puglia, Italy. In between, there was a whirlwind of change — a “move” to Milan, a retreat to the forests of Sweden, and an unexpected chapter living in the green heart of Umbria. Along the way, we wrote a book that we’re so proud of. It was a year of unknowns and constant pivots. And yet, it’s been one of the most transformative and beauti...

At the beginning of last year, I was in a creative rut. I knew I wanted to evolve my art but had no idea where to begin. I was terrified I’d never create anything worthwhile again and felt paralysed by indecision. In this episode, I share how ‘play’ (my One Word for 2023) taught me to trust myself, and reconnect with the joy of expression, creativity, and life. JYK 🤍

For years, I was living on autopilot, completely unaware of how disconnected I had become. One simple question changed everything and fundamentally changed the course of my career and life. It led me to quit my job, rediscover painting, and set me on a path toward meaning rather than validation. This episode is just six minutes long, but the truth is, it took me days! JYK 🤍

The concept of journalling was always confusing to me; it felt elusive, awkward, and just another thing to do. So I resisted it for years. But the noise in my head kept getting louder. Matteo kept nudging me to try ‘positive affirmations’, and then my sister sent me a podcast that gave me the final push I needed. Now, it’s something I do every single day. Not because I “should,” but because it’s a simple, quick practice that enriches my life in so many ways. It’s helped my confidence, self-es...

How do we stay focused when our attention is pulled in a thousand directions? This week, I’m sharing my frustrations with my phone, exploring the hidden cost of distraction on our energy and creativity, and discussing the simple practices that are helping me make space for the things that matter most to me right now. If, like me, you often feel scattered or overwhelmed, this might be for you. There’s so much to unpack when it comes to attention, and I worry that we’re so addicted to tech, we’...

If you’re on the go, listen on Spotify 🕊 This week, I stepped out of my comfort zone and sat down to record this video. I’m currently in Umbria, working on a podcast, which is pushing me to face my fears and navigate the unknown. It’s been both exciting and scary. In this video, I share what it feels like to confront resistance, the discomfort of starting something new, and the book that’s helping me break through self-sabotage. If you’ve ever felt held back by perfectionism or fear, this mig...

Over the last few months I wiped my Instagram, launched my new collection, and transformed my art studio into an exhibition space with almost 200 metres of drapery. In this 20-minute conversation, we touch on stepping into the unknown, finding the courage to lean into what excites you, and why everything is different this year. I hope you enjoy listening! This conversation was recorded a few days before hosting my first open day, which was surreal. I absolutely loved meeting everyone and seei...

This week, I sat down with Matteo (aka Dory) to discuss why starting something new is so incredibly hard (and how to get started anyway). You can listen to our first recording above! Recently, I had lunch with a friend who started a brand-new job in a completely new industry. "How’s it going?" I asked. "Good," she said. "Though, there’s a LOT to learn. I’m excited for six months from now when I’m actually good at my job." Interesting, I thought. I felt the same way when I was pushing my art i...

A few days ago, Camille Liu Nock visited me at home in Sydney, and we spoke about our words for the new year. My word for 2024 is ‘ease,’ and in this two-minute video, I share why! What’s your word for 2024? JYK x This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jessicayolandakaye.substack.com/subscribe