I interviewed Eric Maisel, author, speaker, podcaster and creativity coach for an upcoming episode of DishyMix today. The show will air the week of March 10th, following Patricia Martin, the author of RenGen.

Here’s why. Patricia talks about a psychographic segment of Americans who crave brand experiences, authenticity, creativity and meaning. Eric is an expert in “creative types” having written many books on creativity including “Fearless Creating,” “Creativity for Life,” and “Sleep Thinking.” In addition, he’s delved into the creative psyche with “Coaching the Artist Within” and his newest book “Van Gogh Blues: The Creative Person’s Path Through Depression.”

Eric and Patricia overlap in their focus on creativity and meaning and how they are inextricably entwined. If you work at the intersection of digital media and Web 2.0 applications (aka “webware”) you work with “creatives.” Be they agency creative directors or programmers designing the latest web aps, you are involved with creative personality types. You may be one too. Eric says there are 75 traits that point to being a “creative.”

Eric sheds light on “creating and relating,” offering ideas about how to be an effective and productive creative person. He calls this “loving, knowing and doing.” Moreover he discusses the oft-combined creative streak with depression issues we find in creative people. He proffers in his book, Van Gogh Blues, the idea that depression in creative people most often comes not from biological, psychological or social issues, but rather, existential issues.

Dr. Maisel encourages all of us, creative or not, to “nominate ourselves as the hero on our own journey.” He emplores us to “get out of our cultural trance” and live our lives in a way that is personally meaningful and gratifying. That’s great advice for all of us. Especially when we’re on a fast-tracking treadmill in the Web 2.0 world. In his book and on the upcoming podcast, Eric shares some meaning statement examples. Ones he reads from his fans will make you shiver with their authenticity.

This post is a part of Eric’s book blog tour. On the show he describes the efficacy of a blog tour. Interesting info.

Joy of Living Creatively: Tapping Your Innovation and Imagination

Purpose-Centered Life: A Plan for Authentic Living

Eric is also the host of two shows on the Personal Life Media network. If this post has intrigued you, I encourage you to listen to one or both of these shows and send them to your creative friends. I’m sending Van Gogh Blues to my mother, the artist.