Myths: Deal with the Devil
In this episode, Rainier goes looking for the myth insisting that talent isn't earned, that it's beyond our control. He traces the story of blues legend Robert Johnson, who allegedly made a deal with the devil for his skill. The search widens to Niccolò Paganini, whose own audiences swore they saw the devil guiding his bow. And then looks at an ancient Greek legend about what happens when we claim to have talent that isn't a gift from the gifts.This is a story spanning three thousand years and asking the question: why do we need someone besides the person to take credit for the work?
For More:
Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues — Elijah Wald
Metamorphoses, Book VI: Arachne — Ovid, trans. A.S. Kline
The Devil's Violinist — dir. Bernard Rose
The Creators Collective:
Join us for our next masterclass on Anthony Bourdain and Julia Child, two of the most joyful, most enthusiastic apprentices to mastery this country's ever produced. We're talking about enthusiasm as a discipline, and delight as a skill you can build the same as any other. This is a gathering for creators who are finished performing and ready to make something worthy of their attention. Sign up today.
THE RECLAMATION
This September 13, I'm leading a six-week live immersion called The Reclamation. It's for anyone who senses that some essential part of themselves has been buried beneath expectation, fear, responsibility, or simply years of surviving. Together we'll explore what it means to recover your own creative voice. Through live gatherings, weekly practices, thoughtful prompts, and a community of fellow creators, we'll make room for the life and the creativity that has been waiting for your full attention. If you're ready to reclaim your creative self, I'd love to welcome you.
To apply for one-on-one creative mentorship:
