Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

‘ Failure is not the end of the world. Failure is just feedback – it’s just information to help you tweak your journey and what you do.’ From accidentally becoming the kid drummer in a family rock band, to navigating corporate burnout, home staging and seven years on a construction site, Caroline Buist proves that the road to creative fulfilment is rarely linear.  In this episode, Caroline joins C...

My players are my plot twists. You never know what you're going to get until you play it – it's chaos, but it's the good kind of chaos. From childhood radio plays recorded on a tape recorder to navigating a whirlwind of survival day jobs, Hem Brewster has worn almost every hat imaginable. In this episode, Hem joins Claire to discuss how she brought her life full circle by stepping i...

‘I realized I was playing what I thought was expected of me, rather than playing music because I loved it.’ Irish traditional folk musician Tara Connaghan shares how inheriting her late sister’s fiddle sparked her musical path, how a blunt wake-up call from her teacher cured her ‘lazy practicing’ habits, and how a semester abroad in Finland reminded her never to let her repertoire slip. We explore...

' Actors are emotional athletes. Taking on all this emotion and processing it in a safe container is like an emotional shower for the soul.' Actress and American Sign Language interpreter Sharon Pierre-Louis ( Django Unchained , Switched at Birth ) joins Claire to discuss her journey through the performing arts, from church plays in her Haitian-American upbringing to Hollywood sets and D...

A conservative New York mortgage banker turns his hand to performing cabaret solos and tap-dancing in Manhattan's Times Square.  In this episode, Norman Calvo shares how a devastating childhood choir audition silenced his voice for decades, and how an unexpected encounter with an opera singer client in his 60s allowed him to find his voice once more. We explore the power of starting from scra...

Engineering a life of colour. Justine Guillermou transitioned from a rigid career in space engineering to the vibrant world of professional interior design.  In this episode Justine shares how her childhood experiences of home renovation in France planted the seeds for her future, despite being pushed towards more traditional academic paths.  We explore the therapeutic benefits of colour, Justine’...

At the intersection of medicine and masterpieces. Lora Arbrador is a nurse and artist who uses the ancient technique of egg tempera to explore profound human experiences.  In this episode Lora shares her childhood memories of art lessons in New York, her experience of the counterculture movement in Berkeley during the 1960s, and how her career in nursing – specifically during the height of the AID...

Turning a lifelong dream into a published reality. Marketing-consultant-turned-thriller-writer Michael Wendroff shares his fascinating journey of being raised within a literary family – surrounded by manuscripts and legendary authors like Robert Ludlum – before carving out his own successful career in marketing.  He discusses how the pandemic finally provided the opportunity to overcome a lifetime...

"I know what it feels like to be the bird in the cage that doesn't sing. I know that feeling and I don't want to go back to that again." Sheila Kazan, creator of the podcast Small Talk with Sheila chats with me about navigating the expectations of her Iranian immigrant parents – who envisioned her becoming a lawyer – and her own desire for creative expression.  From discovering...

'I was unaware that it wasn't normal to fall asleep when you're sat still.' This episode was first released in April 2023. Ruth Chipperfield, a goldsmith and jewellery designer, had always experienced excessive tiredness, but didn’t think anything more of it until a chat with a friend at uni revealed to her that not everyone struggled to stay awake at their desk in the same way...

The transformative power of words and music. Singer-songwriter Dennis Welch shares his journey from a Texas childhood filled with libraries and country music to a creative renaissance that has earned him multiple Grammy ballot considerations in his 60s and 70s.  We discuss the pivotal teachers who changed his life path, the moment he almost walked away from music forever, and how dinner with frien...

Merging professional expertise with a lifelong passion for ocean conservation. Jessica Adanich shares her journey from a childhood immersed in creativity to founding Fuzzy Sharks and Sharkapalooza, a non-profit art and conservation festival in Florida. Jessica chats with Claire about the challenges of art school, the resilience required to pivot careers during economic downturns, and the importanc...

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 nove...

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 Caribbe...

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...

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 jou...

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 m...

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 utilitar...

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...

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...

Mime, movement and the Relax Kids revolution.  Marneta Viegas, founder of Relax Kids, was the "fame school" student haunted by self-doubt who went on to become a pioneer of accessible children's relaxation. In this episode she details the emotional toll business growth had on her, and how she now fiercely guards her creativity. From Self-Doubt to Mime: Marneta shares her supportive,...

From combat engineer to creative conjurer, discover how Joseph Bolton merges magic, ancestry and the northern lights in his new-found love for writing folklore and fantasy. Joseph joined the US Army straight out of high school, and in his 25 years of service graduated from West Point and Ranger School and worked as a combat engineer (a role that involved building bridges and blowing things up), an...

Jennifer Roig-Francolí shares her journey from a young violinist finding solace in her art, to a place of spiritual exploration and self-discovery. We discuss the challenges she faced in her artistic life, including a pivotal moment when she realized she was not using her creativity in a healthy way, and the profound neck pain that changed her path. Through the Alexander Technique, Jennifer found...

Discovering and sharing the healing power of art. What happens when a distinguished physician with over 150 published papers walks away from a 40-year medical career? For Dr Vasu Tolia, an unexpected artistic awakening filled the void. Dr Tolia's story begins in Calcutta, where she grew up in an academically-driven household with little exposure to the arts. Her path to medicine was serendipi...

Outward success can mask profound inner turmoil. Alexandra Walker talks to me about her path from mathematical prodigy to trauma-informed coach, revealing along the way how creative expression can be hindered by psychological struggles, but also become a pathway to healing.  From an early age, Alexandra displayed dual talents in mathematics and creative arts. A perceptive art teacher recognized ab...