Episode 33 - The Science of Showing Up
On creative accountability, momentum and Merit Hemmingsson
Episode Overview
What if the thing standing between you and your creative momentum is not a lack of discipline, but a lack of visibility?
In this midsummer episode, Karina shares findings from her completed research study on the ECtA accountability method — 14 creative entrepreneurs, six countries, 12 weeks. The results surprised even her.
We also sit down with one of Sweden’s most celebrated musicians, Merit Hemmingsson — Swedish Music Hall of Fame inductee, still recording and performing at 85. Her story spans a tiny village in Jämtland, playing alongside Miles Davis at Birdland in New York, and a new album coming this September. What a third act.
Topics Covered
The five themes Karina found — fleeting momentum, the popcorn brain, the lone wolf, the glass lid, and higher purpose — and what shifted after 12 weeks of accountability meetings.
Why momentum feels invisible when you work alone, and how speaking your progress out loud changes everything.
Merit Hemmingsson on six decades of creative life, the all-female jazz band she brought from New York to Sweden in the 1960s, and what it means to keep choosing your work, decade after decade.
The science behind why it works — self-determination theory and the progress principle.
Time Stamps
- 00:00 Intro · 02:07 Groundwork for ECtA · 02:57 What the study examined · 03:18 The participants · 04:08 Karina as participant · 05:03 Study design · 05:34 Theme 1: Fleeting momentum · 07:41 Theme 2: Popcorn brain · 08:46 Theme 3: Lone wolf · 09:50 Three functions of others · 11:48 Theme 4: Glass lid · 12:58 Theme 5: Higher purpose · 16:12 Introducing Merit · 18:01 Who Merit is · 21:33 New York and Girl Stars · 22:29 Playing with Miles Davis · 27:00 Forming the band · 33:18 The Hammond B3 · 36:02 Becoming a mother · 38:00 The second act · 39:04 Move to Gotland · 43:01 Music as medicine · 44:01 Celebrating wins · 47:51 What happened after 12 weeks · 49:09 Participants’ voices · 01:01:00 Momentum becomes visible · 01:02:46 Choosing your own train · 01:03:14 The wolf finds her pack · 01:05:50 Mirroring courage and identity · 01:08:37 Higher purpose grows · 01:09:42 Self-Determination Theory · 01:14:30 Progress Principle · 01:17:30 Takeaways · 01:18:33 Ignite course in September · 01:19:30 Outro
References & further reading
Featured guest:
Merit Hemmingsson, Hammond organist, composer, singer, Swedish Music Hall of Fame 2017
Website: www.meritone.se · Instagram: @mmmmerit
Spotify
Links:
Backstage newsletter: ectahub.net/weekletter
Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings
Facebook:
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