𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

In this episode of The Creative Advantage, host Nicole Shannon speaks with San Francisco Bay Area-based visual artist, metalsmith, and educator Amy Tavern about the creative strategies that have guided her through a dynamic, non-linear career—from music student to arts administrator to acclaimed artist and teacher.

Through careful, intentional work, Amy turns personal experience into something others can connect with, offering care, reflection, and shared humanity.

This conversation is an exploration of Amy’s creative practice as well as her transformative life journey. Her story reveals how creative problem-solving, intentional daily habits, and openness to possibility can help anyone navigate uncertainty, overcome challenges, and move toward a more meaningful, resilient path.
🎧 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:

✧ How small, brave actions can create life-changing opportunities
✧ The hidden value of rejection as practice and feedback
✧ How Amy’s intentional, reflective art-making is also a strategy for living
✧ Ways to transform even hardship into meaning, connection, and care

This episode is for anyone seeking real tools to move from stuck to empowered—to use creativity not just for artistic expression, but for building a life of purpose, meaning, and empowerment.
🔗 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲:

• Learn about Amy at www.amytavern.com

• Sign up for the Create Potential newsletter at createpotential.com/signup

• Follow Nicole on Instagram:⁠ @creative.wayfinder⁠
  

💬 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲? Subscribe and share it with a friend.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆?

In this episode of The Creative Advantage, host Nicole Shannon explores the Seasons of Inspiration to help you navigate the natural rhythms of your creativity. Whether you’re stuck in a dry spell or overwhelmed by a flood of ideas, you’ll discover how to harness every phase to fuel your creative momentum.

🎧 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:

✧ Why creative ebbs and flows are not only normal but vital
✧ How to recognize and honor the season you’re in
✧ Strategies for capturing ideas without burning out
✧ The neuroscience of attention, rest, and idea incubation
✧ How artists like Elizabeth Gilbert and Lin-Manuel Miranda work with these rhythms

If you’re ready to stop fighting your creative seasons and start using them to fuel sustainable, meaningful work, this episode is for you.

🔗 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲:

• • Sign up for the Create Potential newsletter at www.createpotential.com/signup
  • Follow Nicole on Instagram:⁠ @creative.wayfinder⁠
  • Check out the research references for this episode: https://www.createpotential.com/the-creative-advantage-podcast/episode-7⁠

  
  

  
  

💬 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲? Subscribe and share it with a friend.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?

In this compelling episode of The Creative Advantage, host Nicole Shannon explores an often-overlooked truth: creativity isn’t always light and inspiration. Sometimes, it fuels fear, anxiety, and spiraling self-doubt. But what if you could harness that energy to instead design solutions, build resilience, and reclaim your inner power?

Nicole invites you to examine the dark side of your creativity—and more importantly, learn how to transform it. Through neuroscience, storytelling, and practical exercises, you’ll learn how to redirect your imagination away from disaster-movie thinking and toward life-giving momentum. Creativity is neutral. It's how you use it that matters. Learn how to channel it wisely.

🎧 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿:

✧ Why highly creative minds are often also high-functioning worriers

✧ How your brain’s evolutionary wiring can hijack your creative power

✧ The dangers of rehearsing failure and how to flip the script

✧ Ways to channel anxiety into meaningful problem-solving and action

✧ The science behind gratitude and how it rewires your brain for success

✧ A science-backed activity to help you to shift from fear to flow

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever stayed up spiraling in “what ifs,” wrestled with self-sabotage, or gotten stuck in fear based thinking.

🔗 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲:

• Sign up for the Create Potential newsletter at http://createpotential.com/signup
• Follow Nicole on Instagram:⁠ @creative.wayfinder⁠
• Check out the research references for this episode: https://www.createpotential.com/the-creative-advantage-podcast/episode-6⁠

💬 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲? Subscribe and share it with a friend.