PODCAST

The Inner Dive

Esther Sharp

audio logs of an independent writer / contemplative artist followthepaint.substack.com

society & culture personal journals

All Episodes

9:44

Another turn of the novella

The Inner Dive ·

2025/10/29

introduction to this storygallery of selected art video channel Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe

10:10

Culmination isn't always celebration

The Inner Dive ·

2025/06/11

An audio log to mark the completion of my novella Three Turns of the River (fall 2025)Visual version of this episode available at Ink Smudge StudioIntro music: “Bright Waking Moon” by Ethan Sharp, full song and album available hereYou can subscribe to my written field notes on Substack and find more of my work at esthersharp.com Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe

7:10

The second chorus of brood XIV

The Inner Dive ·

2025/05/21

In this piece I share readings by and about Mary Oliver.Mary is one of the portraits in my personal pantheon, available now as part of the Art-chetype Series in my shop.The music at the beginning of this episode is Bright Waking Moon, written and composed by my brother, Ethan Sharp, and used with his permission. You can find the full song and buy the whole album (The Kith: A Lunar Calendar) inspired by my fantasy novel-in-progress here.The music at the end of this episode is by cicada brood XIV,

84:58

Episode 12: Re-Sourcing Our Selves

The Inner Dive ·

2024/09/27

In this double dive, Emma and I swim through our usual wide range of waters, including the limiting effects of metrics, where our true resources are (accessible to all), and the medicine of basking in blessings (not just counting them). We also dissect my ongoing break from Instagram and how social media can affect our creative output and sense of self approval—AND how it doesn’t have to.This call was recorded while I was sitting in my backyard and Emma was camped by a river thousands of miles

76:08

Episode 11: Holding the Tone

The Inner Dive ·

2024/02/09

The first double dive of this year was actually recorded last year—we trust it’s on wizard’s time, and is arriving precisely when it means to. Join us for what Emma calls, “An open-ended conversation on what it means to be a creator.”Hey Tony! We’re toning here!In this episode…+ the one wrong thing+ an economy of feeling tones+ no gatekeepers, no gates+ blessings of dissatisfaction+ how we bring hierarchies with us+ welcoming Gene Keys and the flies in our own eyes+ vibrational families+ allowing

21:56

Episode 10: The Spark is the Thing

The Inner Dive ·

2023/12/08

A solo dive into a preoccupation from my childhood turned disillusionment turned career calibration. (There’s also a cryptic writing update.)As a special treat—or maybe new practice—there’s a video version of this episode available on my Youtube channel HERE so you can see just how unhinged I was with this vest on, y’all.There’s also brand new intro music from a song written and performed by Emma Liles—used with her very kind permission. (All rights reserved to her.)@ theinnerdive@

80:31

Episode 9: Centering the Clay

The Inner Dive ·

2023/10/26

(the birch to my doug fir) returns for our monthly double dive, and true to the impromptu pottery theme, we begin with blobby lumps and develop them into various useful or pretty pieces. HIGHLIGHTS:* the yinward turn* we discover a new mutual interest that sparked the same insight* I rave about a pottery show (and the crying featured on it)* the orange hand towel aka the wisdom of the napkin * feeding (or subconsciously dosing) ourselves the colors we crave* Chiron in the realm of communication*

29:59

Episode 8: Three Turns of the Novel

The Inner Dive ·

2023/10/12

In this solo dive, I discuss the new format (2x/month), announce my recurring guest/cohost, and then tell you the epic back story of my longtime novel, including…* finding my voice in a river* quilting the pieces together in England* “hard-won holiday attention”* how I took a 3/4 win and made it into a loss* how Now Me sees Past Me* writing a life raft* no one had crowned me* how The French Dispatch (and Wes Anderson in general) sparked me to be myself* “We let her do what she wants”* a little extra

83:19

Episode 7: Revolution Anthem with Travis Shipley

The Inner Dive ·

2023/09/28

In this episode I chat with my one-time schoolmate and longtime pal, the talented singer-songwriter Travis Shipley.Amongst many other things, we talk about…* what it’s like to pull songs from the void (and sometimes lose them back to it)* moving on from younger eras of our work when our perspectives change* the narratives we create about ourselves and then operate from* the glee of improv comedy with people you know and love* how he’s waking up to the stoke of being alive* the river of joy and how

112:04

Episode 6: Tapping into the Essence with Emma Liles

The Inner Dive ·

2023/09/21

Imagine Hermione Granger had a devout Buddhist phase before diving whole-heartedly into herbology, and you might have a pretty good idea of my guest this week.EMMA LILES is a writer, musician, herbalist, essence cocreator, devotee of wild nature, tent dweller, and forager who has learned to trust nature, the body, and her own ability to focus implicitly—this is what she loves to share with others, and I am honored to call her one of my dearest friends and most significant catalysts in my life.In

85:41

Episode 5: Delusional Deadlines by Emm Bucks

The Inner Dive ·

2023/09/14

In which I am joined by Marisa Hurst and Meredith Harvey, AKA my writing group, AKA Emm Bucks. We talk about the short story we wrote together (that’s getting PUBLISHED!), get very confused about numbers and time (#notamathgroup), and figure out what would really help all of our novels (a trip to Italy, obviously). Meredith also explains the salient salty details of a zombie flick and we agree to an end-of-year challenge with all of you as our witnesses.This one has dogs, neighbors, and children—the

118:47

Episode 4: Gathering Pollen with Kristin Foster

The Inner Dive ·

2023/09/07

In which I reunite with my longtime friend/frequent collaborator for our usual brand of cackling conversation. We manage to get real about several topics--including what we like about getting older, letting go of “blending in,” and how we’ve helped each other through our creative blocks--all while reliving the most unhinged moments from our previous podcast, bantering about the bots of John Q Instagram, and coining the term “spokeslug,” amongst other things. There’s also a fair bit of candy ASMR,

97:52

Episode 3: Lauren Wyrick is the Epitome of This

The Inner Dive ·

2023/08/24

In which I talk with my first-ever guest about how her novel-in-progress has developed with her + a hilariously wide range of other topics. As Lauren says, "this story has everything."Find the podcast on Instagram and Facebook @theinnerdiveFind me on Instagram and Facebook @followthepaintSubscribe to my newsletterShop my art and other work via my website Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe

11:11

Episode 2: Some Kind of a Baby on Board

The Inner Dive ·

2023/08/17

In which I reveal my plans for the podcast and share some insights I received on the road (thank you, dog vomit??). Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe

15:09

Episode 1: Sentient Tapestry

The Inner Dive ·

2023/02/27

In which I magically relieve my migraine by recapping my writing routine and giving a book update. (This is not medical advice, but Joseph Campbell and I both encourage you to follow your bliss.)Underscored in places by dog ASMR, sorry/you're welcome? Get full access to Follow the Paint at followthepaint.substack.com/subscribe

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