How to Keep Creating When Life Gets Busy with Joshua Blum

How to Keep Creating When Life Gets Busy with Joshua Blum

Author: Brian Funk December 8, 2025 Duration: 1:46:52

Joshua Blum is the host of The Thirteenth Hour Podcast, a show about the creative process as it relates to writing, music, and imagination. He's also the author of The Thirteenth Hour, a fantasy adventure novel, and the creator of Once Upon a Dream—an 80's-inspired synth soundtrack to accompany the book. Josh builds a rich creative world around his stories, blending music, writing, and visual art to tell bigger, immersive narratives.

In this conversation, we talk about the routines, strategies, and mindset shifts that help Josh stay creative while managing the demands of everyday life. He shares how working within time constraints forces him to be more focused and playful, how constraints fuel creativity, and why creative output doesn't need to be perfect to be meaningful. We also talk about nostalgia, world-building, and how developing recurring characters and themes across mediums can unlock a deeper connection to your work.

This episode is a simulcast with The Thirteenth Hour Podcast, and it was a real pleasure to swap perspectives with someone who thinks deeply about creativity across disciplines.

Listen on Apple, SpotifyYouTube

Takeaways:

  • Time Constraints Can Be Creative Superpowers - Josh works in short, focused bursts—15 minutes at a time—which keeps him consistent and prevents overwhelm.
  • Build a World, Not Just a Project - By creating music, stories, and visuals around a central fictional world, Josh finds new ways to stay inspired and expand his creative universe.
  • Let Go of Perfect - A finished piece that's "good enough" beats the idea that never leaves your head. Josh treats creativity like a muscle—small, steady reps matter.
  • Routines Protect Creativity - Morning journaling, evening music sessions, and other small rituals help Josh build momentum and reduce decision fatigue.
  • Nostalgia as a Lens, Not a Limitation - Josh embraces his love of '80s aesthetics not as a gimmick, but as a creative compass that helps him stay aligned with his artistic voice.

Links:

Thank you for listening. 

Please review the Music Production Podcast on your favorite podcast provider!

And don't forget to visit my site https://BrianFunk.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk


Brian Funk hosts the Music Production Podcast, a space where the technical meets the personal in the world of making music. This isn't a lecture series; it's a collection of conversations that feel like dropping into a studio with a knowledgeable friend. As a working musician, songwriter, teacher, and Ableton Certified Trainer, Brian approaches each topic with a practitioner's curiosity. Discussions flow naturally from the specifics of a piece of gear or a production technique into broader reflections on creative philosophy and the artistic process. You'll hear about the tools of the trade, but always through the lens of how they serve an idea or unlock a new way of working. The podcast thrives on informal dialogue, whether Brian is sharing his own experiences or talking with guests, making complex topics accessible and immediately relevant. It’s for anyone who builds songs from the ground up and thinks about the why just as much as the how. Tune in for honest, nuanced talks that go beyond simple tips and tricks, offering a deeper, more human perspective on the craft of music production.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Music Production Podcast
Podcast Episodes
#361: Touring and Performing with Music's Largest Acts - Carlos Sosa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:56:30
Carlos Sosa is a musician, producer, composer, and music director. Sosa formed Grooveline Horns, a 1970s funk and R&B influenced brass group. Carlos tours and records with Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Zac Brown…
#360: Pick Yourself with Philip Roder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:40:23
Philip Röder is a music producer who runs the Copilco professional mixing and mastering studio in Berlin. Philip's YouTube Channel, Pick Yourself, helps music producers hone their craft and tap into their own personal st…
#359: Music Theory, Harmonic Series, Beach Boys with Tim Smolens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:31
Tim Smolens is a musician, composer, and recording engineer. He teaches music theory on his YouTube channel and at High Castle Music Conservatory. Tim has toured and plays in the bands ISS and High Castle Teleorkestra. T…
#358: Sequencers, Humanization, Groove and Feel with Alexkid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:27
Alexkid is a music producer and plug-in designer. He's been releasing house music for decades and designing Max for Live devices for Ableton and Isotonik Studios. Alex now runs 510k Arts, where he releases his powerful s…
#357: Promoting Your Music in 2024 with Alex Akimov [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:23
Alex Akimov is the founder of Simple Social, a music digital marketing agency, and Sound.Me, an AI-powered artist and creator platform. He has worked as an artist manager, promoter, and touring guitarist. Alex explores w…
#356: Troubadeck Songwriting Cards with Charlie McCarron [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:14
Charlie McCarron is a film composer, songwriter, and game designer. He is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for his Troubadeck songwriting cards. Charlie ran the Composer Quest Podcast, where he interviewed songwr…
#355: Selling an Album for $100 with Thad Cockrell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:51
Thad Cockrell is a musician, songwriter, and producer in Nashville, TN. His new album, THE KID, comes out January 26th and is available on vinyl for $100. Thad appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon after Fallon…
#353: 4 Ways to be More Creative! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:02
Here are 4 tips I've learned that improve creativity! Listen on Apple, Spotify, Google, YouTube Show Notes: Brian Funk Website - https://brianfunk.com Music Production Club - https://brianfunk.com/mpc 5-Minute Music Prod…