Creativity Found: finding creativity later in life
How does creativity benefit our lives as grown-ups?
I'm Claire, and I re-found my creativity after a time of almost crippling anxiety. Now I want to share the stories of other people who have found or re-found their creativity as adults, and hopefully inspire many more grown-ups to get creative.
I chat with my guests about their childhood experiences of creativity and the arts, how they came to the creative practices they now love, the barriers they had to overcome to start their creative re-awakening, and how what they do now benefits their whole lives.
Episodes
114 episodes
Shawna Curee – cakes, crochet & connecting in the metaverse
How can engaging in creative activities influence an individual's sense of self and overall fulfillment in life?Shawna Curee was a very creative child, who loved drawing, writing, and creating games with her siblings. A nurturing home and s...
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Episode 114
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40:14
Ashton Rodenhiser: the listening eye!
From self-doubting doodler to skilled graphic facilitator, embracing the messiness of creativity can lead to transformative experiences. Societal pressures initially deterred my guest Ashton Rodenhiser from pursuing the arts in higher educa...
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Episode 113
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46:00
Oksana Kukurudza – storytelling in times of conflict
Oksana Kukurudza is currently immersed in a deeply personal writing project titled Sunflowers Bend But Rarely Break, which explores her parents' harrowing experiences as forced labourers in Nazi Germany during World War II. Oksana's mo...
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Episode 112
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34:47
Mark Clay – refilling the creative cup
Creativity and communityMark Clay's transition into the arts began later in life, sparked by his experiences as a father. He initially engaged in creative activities to facilitate his daughters' artistic explorations, which led him to redis...
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Episode 111
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34:13
Mary Adkins – from law to literature
Processing the personal struggles through words.A negative experience in a college creative writing class derailed Mary Adkin's writing ambitions for nearly a decade, and sent her on a whole different path than the one she had planned. ...
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Episode 110
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29:00
Tina Wells – T'ai Chi Chih in times of need
There is energy in everything. In this episode my guest Tina Wells chats about her journey to finding emotional relief and mental wellbeing, along the way showcasing various practices and creative outlets that foster joy and reduce stress.<...
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Episode 109
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36:38
Douglas Robbins – from nomad to novelist
Dealing with personal loss, embarking on a nomadic lifestyle, and ultimately finding solace and purpose through writing.For author Douglas Robbins the journey to creativity was anything but conventional. In this episode I chat with Doug...
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Episode 108
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34:15
Gina Farrar – adventures in all dimensions
How creativity can fit into the seasons of your lifeGina Farrar has embraced many facets of her own creativity in midlife, and loves to share how doing so can be a great tool for self-discovery and expression. In this episode I talk wit...
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Episode 107
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40:09
Meet the Collective: Overcoming doubts with Ela Wassell
At one time or another we all have our inner critics, undermining our confidence, but how do we deal with them?My guest, Ela Wassell of Truly Boldly You, advocates for acknowledging them, since it is though understanding these voices that w...
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Episode 106
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25:16
Meet the Collective: SEO and websites with Kelly Drewett
Making websites empathetic can improve your search engine rankings and discoverability.In this episode I chat with Creativity Found Collective member and expert in search engine optimisation (SEO) Kelly Drewett, about the ways that business...
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Episode 105
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27:02
When sewing takes over your life!
Sewing up a storm.In this episode of the Mother of All Solutions podcast, Laura Broderick chats with Great British Sewing Bee contestants Lauren Tedstone and Vicki Reid who discuss their careers before entering the Sewing ...
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Episode 104
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53:29
Amy L. Bernstein – communicating creatively
From corporate communications to embracing personal creativity through writing, coaching, and more, Amy L. Bernstein illustrates in this episode that owning your identity and being true to yourself can lead to a sense of empowerment and ful...
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Episode 103
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27:41
Meet the Collective: Sussex Garden School
Crafting inspired by nature and gardensThe creative workshops offered at Sussex Garden School range from garden design to pressing flowers, fused glass art, natural dyeing and rag weaving, all in a supportive and encouraging environment whe...
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Episode 102
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15:38
Meet the Collective: Mary Broddle Embroidery
Buying an embroidery kit is a great way to get started with this craft, and Mary Broddle creates modern kits using traditional methods, as well as teaching online and in person. In this chat, Creativity Found Collective member Mary discusses ho...
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Episode 101
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21:21
Happy 100th Birthday
Creativity Found is 100 episodes old, something I never could have imagined when I started the show with a secondhand microphone and a good idea.In this celebratory episode find out the whys, hows and whos of the show so far, including high...
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Episode 100
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56:18
Joanne Robinson – from armed forces to art classes
Growing up, Joanne Robinson was creatively encouraged in primary school and loved to draw for hours at home. However, her passion for art was dampened when she entered secondary school and was told by an art teacher that she wasn't very good. T...
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Episode 99
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46:27
Jane Crowfoot – contemporary crochet knows no bounds
Adventures with yarn, needles and hookDelve into the colourful world of crochet with my guest Jane Crowfoot, also known as Janie Crow, as she shares her journey from average student to renowned crochet designer, author and the founder of he...
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Episode 98
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51:45
Rachel Larsen Weaver – imperfection and authenticity
Portraying and valuing everyday family life As a film photographer Rachel Larsen Weaver captures authentic and imperfect moments, particularly highlighting the nuances of motherhood and family life. Her work showcases the real and raw aspec...
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Episode 97
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31:51
Jessie Elliott – society, stereotypes and sparkle
Helping everyone to find their sparkleFrom a young age, Jessie Elliott struggled with the idea of being her authentic self, feeling the pressure to conform to certain preconceived roles and expectations. She felt the need to shrink herself ...
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Episode 96
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47:01
Corrie Legge – the quiet reconnection
Corrie Legge was following Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, and during reading deprivation week – which she expanded to include other external distractions such as TV and social media – was at a bit of a loose end, having put the chil...
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Episode 95
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43:30
Gaelle Jolly – letters and loss, messages and miniatures
Navigating life's ups and downs by embracing creativity. In this episode Gaelle Jolly shares her journey from feeling unfulfilled in her job and struggling to find her place in a competitive sector, to discovering a passion for creativ...
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Episode 94
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34:02
Bianca Giarola – learning to blossom
Perseverance through practice and imperfectionAs a child Bianca Giarola loved drawing, partly influenced by her aunt – who encouraged her and her siblings to explore their creativity – and encouraged by her father – who would buy her those ...
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Episode 93
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47:41
Shirley Novack – blending fact and fiction
From selling sweets to Cyndi Lauper to being questioned by the US Secret Service, Shirley Novack has lots of stories to tell, but when her father died she came across the story that she wanted to write down.As a child, Shirley's Eastern Eur...
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Episode 92
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37:39
Rebecca Norris – turning ill health into inspiration
2023 Great Pottery Throw Down contestant Rebecca Norris tells me how she reignited her creative flame through pottery while navigating the demands of a teaching career.Rebecca was brought up in Northern England, where working-class values o...
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Episode 91
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38:10
