Wildly Unplug

Escape the Hustle. Wildly Unplug helps you break free from the chaos and reconnect with nature and yourself. Host Lauren Connolly—artist and naturalist—shares inspiring stories and actionable tips for embracing mindfulness, outdoor adventures, and intentional living. Each episode features guests like biologists, adventurers, and creatives, offering unique ways to find balance through art and nature. Tune in discover what develops when you get outside & unplug! Stay Wild!

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Wildly Unplug

Week 7 update

May 18, 2026 • Lauren Connolly • Episode 86

0:00 | 14:43

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Wildly Rejected Week 7: Becoming the Bison, Avoiding Art Scams & Celebrating a Sea Turtle Win

In this Week 7 update of the Wildly Unplug podcast, Lauren Connolly shares the latest chapter of the Wildly Rejected Challenge, also known as Becoming the Bison: a creative challenge to face rejection head-on instead of running from it.

This week brings a mix of discernment, disappointment, and a big creative win. Lauren shares updates on questionable pay-to-play art opportunities, alleged misleading art competition tactics, her decision to step back from suspicious platforms, and why artists deserve more transparency when paying submission fees.

But it’s not all rejection. Lauren also celebrates Loggerhead Lagoon placing second in Blue Koi Gallery’s Earth and Elements Art Competition, reflects on submitting Finding Frogman to film festivals, and shares her current challenge stats: 98 submissions, 22 accepted, 18 rejected, 37 in review, and 21 still waiting.

This episode is about more than collecting “no’s.” It’s about learning discernment, protecting your creative energy, finding legitimate opportunities, and remembering that every rejection can still lead to growth, stories, and unexpected yeses.

Come along for creative honesty, nature distractions, Cincinnati weather chaos, indigo bunting excitement, art competition lessons, and a reminder to keep putting your work into the world.

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