Stories of Change & Creativity

Is there something you want to try, but you keep waiting for the right time? It’s week two of my 30 Days of What’s Next experiment, and we’re talking about the courage to change when you’re still figuring things out.  Here's what's coming up in the next few days.   On Monday, I talk with Western fashion storyteller Jane Stewart about grief and finding her way back to herself and somethin...

Saturday Perspective | 30 Days of What's Next What's something you've been wanting to try but keep putting off? Maybe you're worried you won't be good at it. Maybe you're waiting for the right time.  Every Saturday in November, I'm taking a few minutes to reflect on the week's conversations and share an idea you can use in your own life. This week, our theme...

Ideas Worth Sharing  What would you do if you gave yourself permission to say yes? Maybe there's something creative you've wanted to try. A class you've thought about taking. Or an idea you've put off because life got busy. In this Ideas Worth Sharing episode, I'm sharing a book I really enjoyed: Life Whimsy: How to Think, Play, and Work More Creatively   by Wendy Conklin,...

Could something you enjoy doing become a business? And if it does, how do you make room for the rest of your life?  This is a challenge for many entrepreneurs and business leaders.  In Part 2 of my conversation with Jennifer Navarrete, we talk about how her early interest in podcasting grew into Brewing Media, a family business that now includes both of her sons. Jennifer started by building commu...

Have you ever come home from a new experience feeling more confident, then wondered whether that feeling would last? What happens when you return to the same campus, routines, and decisions? In the summer of 2025, I interviewed Texas State student Jamin Ochoa while we were studying abroad in Scotland. He talked about becoming more independent and trying things outside his comfort zone. More than a...

Is there something creative you keep putting off because you don’t think you’re good enough—or life keeps getting in the way? For me, one of those things has been playing guitar. I’ve played off and on for years. That got me thinking about why we sometimes need permission to do something we enjoy. Singer-songwriter and entrepreneur Mandy Rowden knows that hesitation well. After burning out and ret...

Have you ever had an idea you wanted to try, but kept putting it off? Maybe you weren't sure how it would turn out. Or maybe you thought you needed a better plan before getting started. I can relate.  Jennifer Navarrete has another approach: give yourself permission to experiment. Jennifer is the founder of National Podcast Post Month, or NaPodPoMo, a November challenge to create and publish...

Have you ever thought about trying something new, but kept putting it off? Well, I'm trying something different this November. I'm releasing 30 podcast episodes in 30 days as part of National Podcast Post Month, or NaPodPoMo. I've been podcasting for years, but I've never attempted anything quite like this. And I'm treating it as an experiment. For the next 30 days, I&apos...

Sometimes the thing we struggle with can lead us somewhere we never expected. In this encore episode of Stories of Change , I’m revisiting my conversation with Kelly Engram, founder of Prairie Fire Hair. Kelly had done a lot of different things in her life, but she never felt like she had found her passion. Then she began losing her hair. Hair loss affected Kelly’s confidence and the way she saw h...

What happens when the life you planned doesn’t happen? Sara McDaniel knows what it means to start over. After infertility and a devastating divorce changed the future she had imagined, she eventually moved home to Louisiana and began rebuilding her life. Along the way, she pursued a neglected 1926 cottage that wasn’t even for sale. Restoring that house became part of her own healing — and helped l...

What does it mean to come home—to a place, a culture, or even to yourself? In this encore episode of Stories of Change , I revisit my conversation with Navajo designer and entrepreneur Amy Denet Deal. Amy was adopted as a child and grew up in Indiana, far from her Navajo culture. After a successful career in the fashion industry and with her daughter heading off to college, Amy found herself askin...

What does it take to leave a secure career, start a creative business and bet on yourself? Wendy Conklin was a successful teacher, writer and educational consultant. Then an upholstery class sparked a new creative interest.  That small experiment eventually became Chair Whimsy . In this encore episode , Wendy shares how she became a creative entrepreneur and what gave her the courage to leave her...

Life doesn’t come with a roadmap. And sometimes change comes whether we’re ready for it or not. Linda Fogg-Phillips, M.S., is a behavior-change expert, author, and co-founder of the Tiny Habits Academy, where she works alongside her brother, Dr. BJ Fogg, creator of the Tiny Habits method. But Linda’s understanding of change isn’t just professional. It’s deeply personal. In this encore episode of S...

What if you don’t know exactly what comes next? Maybe that’s okay. Jane Scott didn’t follow a carefully planned career path. She stayed curious. She kept learning. And she paid attention when new opportunities came her way. Jane is Director of Marketing Communications at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her career has taken her from publishing to teaching English in Japan, marketi...

What if one trip could help you discover what you’re capable of? Three Texas State University students traveled to Scotland for a three-week education abroad program at Queen Margaret University. They arrived without knowing one another or exactly what to expect. In this episode, I pass the microphone to three Texas State University students studying in Scotland. Libby Sanchez, Sarah Hervey, and K...

At 20 years old, Queen Margaret University student Laura Stevenson traveled from Scotland to Martha's Vineyard for a six-month study abroad internship. At the time, it felt like nothing more than a graduation requirement.  She had no idea she was living through a defining moment. In this episode of Stories of Change & Creativity, Laura reflects on the experience that changed her life.  An...

What happens when a restaurant encourages people to put away their phones and simply talk to each other? At Bella Italia in North Berwick, Scotland, a simple sign on the door reads: "We do not have Wi-Fi. Talk to each other. Pretend it's 1995."   That sign caught my attention while I was teaching at Queen Margaret University in Scotland.  But it was what happened inside the restaura...

Scottish interior designer and entrepreneur Emma Cross shares how childhood experiences, creativity, travel, and a willingness to say yes shaped her life and career. Emma Cross knew she wanted to be a designer when she was five years old. In this episode of Stories of Change & Creativity , I sit down with Emma Cross, a Scottish interior designer and entrepreneur, to explore the experiences tha...

What experiences shape who we become? In this episode of Stories of Change & Creativity, Judy Oskam talks with Kelly Engram, educator, Texas State University graduate, and founder of Prairie Fire Hair. Kelly's journey has been full of challenges and turning points.  As a young single mother, she was busy working and raising her son.   Kelly started college but life got in the way.   She r...

Graduation season always makes me reflective. In this first short solo episode from my new Making Life Work series, I share some thoughts from commencement weekend at Texas State University.  The stories unfolding behind every graduate walking across the stage — stories about growth, creativity, and figuring out what comes next. Our students have experience in journalism and storytelling projects,...

In this Mother’s Day episode of Stories of Change and Creativity , Judy Oskam talks with her daughters, Danielle and Jessica, about adoption, family, and experiences that shape identity and creativity. Judy reflects on the decision to adopt from China.  She shares how motherhood changed her understanding of creativity and personal growth. Dani and Jess share their perspective on parenting, identit...

How innovation is transforming Texas—and where the biggest opportunities are emerging. In this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity , I had the chance to talk with entrepreneur Justin McKenzie, host of The Building Texas Show . We explore innovation across Texas—from small towns to major cities—and discuss workforce development and emerging industries. Justin shares insights from his career...

What does it really mean to solve a problem in the age of AI? In this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity , I sat down with Dr. Aniruddha Bora, assistant professor of computer science at Texas State University, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we think about problem solving.  I met Dr. Bora when I moderated a panel at South by Southwest (SXSW) at Texas House a...

How does experiential learning prepare college students for real-world careers?  At Texas State, journalism students don’t just study reporting — they do it. They cover major news events and interview real people.  Students report on impactful stories like the aftermath of the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde and the 2025 deadly Central Texas flooding.    In this episode of Stor...

If you’re a high-achieving professional who feels successful everywhere except your health, this episode of Stories of Change and Creativity might be for you.  I can certainly relate! Many driven professionals excel in their careers but struggle with health in midlife because they apply the same optimization mindset that works at work to their bodies. In this episode, Judy Oskam talks with Tony Sh...