On a recent episode of the Profitable Musician Show, host Bree Noble sat down with the multi-talented Molly Noerenberg for a deeply honest conversation about returning to performance after a break—whether due to motherhood, career shifts, or life simply “getting in the way.” Through the lens of her own creative journey, and the experiences of the artists she coaches, Molly Noerenberg shared compassionate, practical advice for musicians who feel called back to their creativity, but carry a mix of anxiety, guilt, and excitement.
Listen to the episode here

Returning to Performing: Overcoming Shame and Embracing Your Artist Journey with Molly Noerenberg

The Creative U-Turn: Honoring Life’s Detours

Early in the conversation, Molly Noerenberg reflected on the “creative U-turns” so many artists experience. “There’s like a loss that happens at that point and subsequently a lot of grief around it,” she explained at 14:05. Too often, artists return to their craft feeling weighed down by shame or self-doubt, wondering if their time has passed or if they’re still allowed to call themselves an artist.

“You are still being an artist even if you’re not making art. Every lived experience that we’re having is contributing to the way that we could show up and write a song or sing a song… No time is wasted. Every experience you’re having is a contributor to the kind of art or presence or person you show up to be.” (14:56)

This generous perspective reframes the “gap years” not as voids, but as soil where creative seeds are planted, waiting for the right season to bloom.

Balancing Motherhood, Obligations, and Artistic Joy

Both Bree Noble and Molly Noerenberg discussed the pressures women face to be caretakers first and artists second, intertwined with guilt for pursuing personal fulfillment:
“Is my enjoyment worth the time? Whether I’m making money from it or not, is it actually just allowed that I do the things that make me feel good?” (06:15)
For both women, motherhood didn’t end their creativity—it transformed it. They found pockets for songwriting during nap times or school walks, rediscovered discernment about which gigs actually mattered, and became better artists for setting boundaries. “If your light is turned on, imagine how the other people in your home could experience you… it’s kind of like a revolutionary act to be like, no, I also matter in this whole landscape,” Molly Noerenberg affirmed at 07:19.

Dismantling the Age Myth: Talent is Timeless

It’s easy to absorb a harsh industry truth: “If you don’t make it by 22, it’s over.” Molly Noerenberg counters this with real-life success stories, like a client who landed a national tour at 40 because she bravely put herself back out there (23:11). “If the dream won’t let you go, it’s not supposed to be… What would it look like to actually take it seriously instead of saying, like, the time has passed?” (25:00) Age, Molly Noerenberg emphasized, is no barrier to artistry.

Practical Tips: Reawakening Your Musical Self

So how can artists keep their creative fires burning during a break, or before a comeback?

  • Sing for pleasure: “The most underrated thing is just to sing for pleasure, like, your actual enjoyment… If there’s an artist you would normally love to sing, but you’re just at home and you’re like, I don’t know… why not sing it?” (25:45)
  • Small steps count: Even a few minutes of singing or writing daily can prepare you for larger opportunities and help retrain your nervous system (27:53).
  • Morning pages: Regular journaling, even in small bursts, “lets all the stuff shake free,” providing inspiration and unblocking creative flow (32:10).

Artist Bio — Molly Noerenberg

Molly Noerenberg is a certified life coach, licensed embodiment teacher (Ishtara Body), and soul-expressed voice mentor with over 20 years of experience helping artists, performers, and creatives reconnect with themselves and their work.

A former NYU Steinhardt Voice Faculty member and co-owner of NYC Vocal Studio, she blends coaching, embodiment work, and creative mentorship to help people create from a place of truth instead of fear or self-abandonment.

Through her coaching and podcast, The Voice of You, she helps people reconnect with the voice inside them so they can create, live, and express themselves more fully.
Instagram: @ExpressedLife

Free Gift: Overthinking Reset

Want to break free from self-doubt and get back to creating with ease? Grab Molly Noerenberg’s free gift, Overthinking Reset – How to Get Out of Your Head and Start Creating in 10 Minutes: https://expressed-life-coaching.kit.com/f2ebd6103f

Links Mentioned In This Episode

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