What happens when creativity isn't just something you do — but something that shaped who you became?

In this episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, co-host Emily turns the mic towards co-host Allie Joy to hear the creative story behind the person. Allie is a licensed art therapist, content creator, and community builder — and while you've already heard her voice on the show, this episode is the first time you're hearing her story.

Allie traces her relationship with creativity from an art-filled childhood shaped by her grandmother and her circle of artist friends, through a shift in college where making things became tied to skill and evaluation, and into the intentional creative practice she's built as an adult — one rooted in accessibility, play, and community over performance.

In this episode, they discuss:

• ​Growing up in an environment where creativity was ambient and always within reach — and how that shaped Allie's belief that anything can be made
• ​The moment in college when making things stopped feeling like play — and the longer journey back to creating without pressure
• ​How Allie's approach to her physical creative space reflects her philosophy: keep supplies visible, keep the barrier low, keep it accessible
• ​What building creative community actually looks like in practice — and why showing up to create alongside others changes the experience
• ​Building her creative community at Mermaid Books in Milford, CT
• ​The creative project that's been 99% finished in her garage for years (no spoilers)

This conversation is an invitation to approach creativity with less pressure and more openness—and to remember that you don’t have to be an artist to begin.

Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠

You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected

You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs

If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life.

And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

What if creativity didn’t have to be productive, polished, or even shared to matter?

In this opening episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, hosts and licensed art therapists Emily and Allie invite you into a softer, more expansive way of thinking about creativity. This podcast is rooted in the belief that creativity belongs to everyone — and that it becomes even more meaningful when experienced in community.

Together, they share why they started the show and the gap they hope to fill: moving beyond performance and perfection, and instead centering the power of creating alongside others. Through personal stories and reflections, they explore the common belief of “I’m not creative,” how that idea forms, and how we can begin to shift it.

They also talk about:

• Why process matters more than product
• How creativity can exist in everyday moments
• The quiet magic of community art spaces, where connection and creativity naturally unfold

You’ll hear stories from Connecticut to Copenhagen as this episode captures what it feels like when people come together to make something — and in doing so, find connection, presence, and a sense of belonging.

Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠

You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected

You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs

If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life.

And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

Welcome to a little preview of The Creative Collective Podcast!

In this short introduction, we’re sharing a glimpse of what’s ahead and inviting you into the creative community we’re building together. We talk about creativity as something that belongs in everyday life, and the belief that you don’t need to be an artist or “good at art” to benefit from creating, just curiosity and a willingness to begin.

We share what you can expect from the show, from honest conversations with creative humans to shorter, practical episodes rooted in our experiences as art therapists and our shared love of creativity. Across the series, we’ll explore themes like perfectionism, the inner critic, creative blocks, courage, and what it means to build a more connected and sustainable creative life.

If you’ve been craving inspiration, wanting to reconnect with a creative practice, or feeling curious about what creativity could look like in your life, this is for you. And if you’ve ever felt like you aren’t “creative enough,” we hope this helps shift that story.

We’re so happy you’re here, and welcome to your new creative community!

Until then, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on Instagram or visit our website to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply here.

You can find Allie on Instagram or her website, and you can find Emily on Instagram or her website to learn more about all they do and stay connected

You can find Austin on Instagram for all of your podcasting and musical needs

And this is your reminder that you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You’re welcome, as you are, in this creative community.