Blending filmmaking and fiction: Neil Laird is a veteran documentary filmmaker and television executive who rediscovered a new creative spark in midlife through writing fiction.

In this episode Neil shares his journey from a small steel town in Pennsylvania to directing documentaries for the Discovery Channel and National Geographic, and eventually finding the courage to self-publish his own novels at the age of 50.

Inspired by the fearless reinvention of David Bowie, Neil discusses the transition from the 'tedious' corporate side of television back to the joy of making things up.

He delves into his Prime Time Travelers series of novels, which blends his deep knowledge of ancient history with satirical takes on the chaos of TV production, and offers inspiring advice for adults looking to reignite their own passions: stop waiting for the stars to align, don't be afraid of the first 'rubbish' draft, and surround yourself with cheerleaders rather than naysayers.

• Finding Inspiration in the Unexpected: Neil recounts how a period of unemployment led him to the New York Public Library, where a chance encounter with a book on ancient history completely shifted his creative trajectory and led to his first documentary on the Great Sphinx.
• The Midlife Creative Shift: Turning 50 served as a catalyst for Neil to explore fiction. Inspired by the fearless innovation of David Bowie, he decided to move beyond the constraints of documentary filmmaking to imagine historical worlds with a fresh coat of paint.
• Blending Expertise with Satire: After struggling to find an agent for a traditional historical novel, Neil found his unique voice by blending his professional background with fiction in his Prime Time Travelers series – a satirical look at a film crew messing up history.
• The Power of Creative Independence: Neil discusses his decision to self-publish, allowing him to maintain creative control over his characters and storylines, including diverse and LGBTQ+ representation that might have been lost in traditional publishing.
• Advice for Aspiring Creatives: Neil emphasises the importance of starting now, surrounding yourself with cheerleaders rather than naysayers, and not being afraid of the inevitable first draft being a load of rubbish.

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

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Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Monica Marlatt is a Toronto-based puzzle influencer who rediscovered her love for jigsaw puzzles while navigating the challenges of the empty-nest stage.

In this episode Monica shares how she transformed a solo, traditional hobby into a vibrant creative practice by mastering stop-motion animation, hosting location shoots across her city, and even launching puzzle-themed cruises with Royal Caribbean.

The conversation explores the importance of lifelong learning, the global speed puzzling phenomenon, and practical advice for adults looking to fill the void after their children leave home.

• Preparing for Life Transitions: Monica discusses the unexpected emotional toll of the empty-nest stage and the importance of proactively finding new interests to fill the space left by growing children.
• Innovating a Traditional Hobby: By embracing technology, Monica uses stop-motion reels and location shoots across Toronto to present jigsaw puzzles in creative, artistic ways, building a following of over 17,000 people.
• Lifelong Learning and Social Connection: The episode highlights how engaging in creative pursuits in adulthood provides essential mental stimulation and social interaction, whether through global speed-puzzling competitions or online communities.
• The 'Boutique' Puzzle Movement: Discover the shift from mass-produced puzzles to high-quality, artist-led boutique brands that offer diverse textures and materials like wood, cork, and acrylic.
• Advice for Finding Your Passion: Monica encourages listeners to experiment with different hobbies without the pressure of perfection or perseverance. Trying something new provides valuable life experiences and conversational starting points, even if it doesn't become a long-term commitment.

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

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Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

How coloured pencils changed Bonny's life.

World-renowned artist and teacher Bonny Snowdon shares how a stressful period in her life and a gift of coloured pencils from her daughter led to a profound creative awakening that helped her manage anxiety and navigate personal challenges.

We explore Bonny’s horse-mad childhood in North Yorkshire, her early experiences in the advertising and graphic design industries, a challenging '360' management review and her transition into executive coaching. Bonny discusses the 'leap of faith' required to turn her artistic passion into a thriving business, including the launch of the Bonny Snowdon Academy.

We discuss the importance of self-belief, Bonny offers insight into her restorative daily rituals involving journalling and sketching, and provides encouraging advice for anyone looking to start their own creative journey.

In this episode:

• The role of creativity in Bonny’s childhood and her early love of horses.
• Navigating the shift from traditional graphic design to managerial roles.
• How coloured pencils provided a meditative escape during difficult times.
• The transition from executive coach to full-time professional artist.
• Building a successful creative membership and online academy.
• The importance of daily journalling and sketching for mental wellbeing.
• Practical advice for beginners: starting small and embracing the learning curve – don't be afraid to produce 'rubbish' work while you learn.

You might also like:

Blossoming in Art with Bianca Giarola

Medicine to Masterpieces with Dr Vasu Tolia

The Listening Eye with Ashton Rodenhiser

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Finding a balance between career and creativity.

Have you ever built a "successful" career only to realize it was draining the very creativity you intended to nurture?

Artist Emily-Jane Sarroff spent a decade navigating the worlds of architecture and high-level business consulting before realizing that her most important work was the art she made for herself.

Emily-Jane shares her journey of deconstructing the "societal programming" that linked her worth to her career and explains why she recently pivoted to real estate to provide her nervous system the safety it needed to create again.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The "Disappointment" Narrative: How the internal pressure to succeed led Emily-Jane away from her creative roots after high school.
• The Architecture Trap: Why a "creative" degree can sometimes feel more technical than expressive, and the brave decision to "leap" away from a career that wasn't fuelling her soul.
• Choosing Self over Scale: Why Emily-Jane closed a successful, six-figure business to stop "proving herself" and start living from a heart space.
• “Weird and Woo Woo” Art: A look into Emily-Jane’s spiritual, abstract style and why she prioritizes creating for her own healing and expression rather than for commissions.
• Practical Creativity: How to set up a permanent art space (even in a garage corner!) and the importance of scheduling “buffer zones” to transition your brain from logical work to creative flow.

You might also like:

Rediscovering the Inner Artist with Kerry Lyons

Peonies, Paint and Personal Growth with Sally Jean Fox

Society, Stereotypes and Sparkle with Jessie Elliott

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Physiological peace and rewiring a creative soul.

Creative pursuits helped my guest, Jaime Townzen, to overcome years of grief and caregiving stress to complete and publish her first novel, but it's not all about writing!

In this episode Jaime shares her journey from high-achieving, people-pleasing pre-med student to embracing her passion for storytelling, a transition sparked by a pivotal moment of encouragement from a college professor.

A period of caregiving and loss stalled Jaime's writing career, but a spontaneous decision to try watercolour painting during the pandemic provided her with a sense of physiological peace that years of traditional self-care could not reach, while also serving as a bridge to transport her back to writing.

Her Masters' thesis became the springboard for her novel, Absorbed, a coming-of-age story that explores themes of 1990s nostalgia, teen identity and the complexities of consent.

The conversation also touches on the importance of granting oneself grace during seasons of emotional exhaustion and the value of following the 'spark''of excitement to reignite inspiration.

Jaime’s story serves as a powerful reminder that creative outlets are not just hobbies, but vital tools for navigating life's most difficult transitions.

You might also like:

Blossoming in Art with Bianca Giarola

Tech, Translations and Storytelling with John Guiver

Adventures in all Dimensions with Gina Farrar

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

From statistics to sustainability via collaboration, community and creativity.

Kathy Kyle is an illustrator and entrepreneur who successfully pivoted from a 25-year career in marketing and statistics to launching her own sustainable art business.

In this episode Kathy shares her journey of finding her creative voice later in life and the courage it took to prioritize joy and beauty over utilitarianism.

Throughout our conversation, we explore:

• The intersection of data and art in effective communication.
• How a background in statistics and sociology informed Kathy’s approach to community building.
• The personal and professional catalysts for her move from the US to the UK.
• Overcoming stress-related health challenges by returning to a childhood passion for painting.
• The creation of her brand, featuring hand-painted silk scarves and sustainably sourced products.
• The importance of collaboration and supporting women-owned independent businesses.

Kathy offers a professional perspective on why it is never too late to "bet on yourself" and how embracing creativity can lead to a more fulfilling and relaxed lifestyle.

Find Kathy's art here.

You might also like:

Tricia Duffy: Planning for Creativity

Rachel Peru: From Retail to Runway

Joanne Robinson: From Armed Forces to Art Classes

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Creativity as a necessity in the age of AI.

Steve Goldberg is a passionate advocate for the role of creativity in a rapidly changing world, and in this episode he shares his conviction that finding meaning and purpose beyond professional life will become increasingly vital as artificial intelligence reshapes the future of work.

Steve, a former tenured professor and global consultant, shares his philosophy of "following my nose" and staying "awake to possibilities," which has led him down some truly "magical and unexpected paths".

In this episode, we explore:

• The Power of Synchronicity: How a spontaneous bicycle ride led Steve to a Harvard scholarship, and how an overbooked flight resulted in him meeting Nelson Mandela the day after his release from prison.
• The Late Bloom: Steve’s journey to becoming a composer of "healing piano for a noisy world", despite being convinced for decades that he "did not have a creative bone in my body". He didn't start playing the piano until he was 50 years old.
• The Goosebump Compass: Steve reveals his unique method of improvisation and composition – working without reading music and instead relying on his "goosebump compass" to guide the emotional impact and structure of his work.
• Leaving Stability for Opportunity: Why Steve resigned from a tenured college position at age 28 to pursue a consulting job that took him "literally around the world" for four decades.
• Creativity as a Necessity, Not a Luxury: Steve argues that with artificial intelligence accelerating job changes and disappearances, creative expression and finding purpose outside of professional life will become vital for society.
• Languishing or Blossoming: Discussing the concept behind Steve’s book, which encourages people to choose a continuous "blossoming" process over a fixed mindset, particularly in the face of life's challenges.

Find Steve's music and book here.

You Might Also Like

• Rich Chambers Keeps Rocking
• Piano à Deux: Music, Marriage and Modern technology
• Suzanne Noble – dirty blues and Dorothy Fields

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Cultural heritage, a challenging mentor and the bridge between free expression and disciplined practice.

Regina Linke is an illustrator and writer dedicated to celebrating traditional Chinese art and philosophy in a modern way.

Regina's childhood interest in drawing was initially stifled by rigid instruction, and she went on to study business in college followed by a career in international development. It wasn't until a move to Taiwan, her parents' homeland, that she reconnected with her artistic passion.

In Taiwan, Regina immersed herself in traditional Chinese brush painting. Despite an initial struggle with the structured learning environment, she credits her critical teacher with pushing her to develop a unique artistic voice, one that blends her Western upbringing with Eastern aesthetics.

This fusion led to the creation of The Oxherd Boy, an online comic that grew from her desire to explain complex philosophical concepts to her young son. Regina discusses the evolution of The Oxherd Boy into published books, and the challenges of adapting her deeply personal work for diverse audiences while staying true to the core message.

In this episode Regina offers invaluable advice for aspiring creatives: find joy in the process, but also embrace the discipline of practice and the humility to learn, while illustrating how unexpected paths can lead to profound artistic expression.

Key Takeaways

• Embrace structured learning to build foundational skills, even in creative fields, as it deepens your understanding and respect for the art form.
• A challenging or critical mentor can be instrumental in pushing you beyond your comfort zone to discover your unique artistic voice.
• Blending diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives can lead to a richer, more distinctive creative style.
• Consistent creative practice is essential for growth, even when inspiration wanes; it keeps your skills sharp and fuels further development.
• Be open to the evolution of your work when collaborating with others, understanding that adaptation can broaden your reach and create new stepping stones for your message.

Buy Regina's book here

I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfound

Support the show

Follow @CreativityFoundPodcast on Instagram

Want to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here

Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout