Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

Buying an embroidery kit is a great way to get started with this craft, and Mary Broddle creates modern kits using traditional methods, as well as teaching online and in person. In this chat, Creativity Found Collective member Mary discusses how embroidery engages the brain's reward centre, reduces stress and offers a productive way to relax. She also discusses her personal experience with ch...

Creativity Found is 100 episodes old, something I never could have imagined when I started the show with a secondhand microphone and a good idea. In this celebratory episode find out the whys, hows and whos of the show so far, including highlights from some of my guests. And if you haven't listened to all 100 episodes, you'd better get started!! Guests featured, in order of appearance: K...

Growing up, Joanne Robinson was creatively encouraged in primary school and loved to draw for hours at home. However, her passion for art was dampened when she entered secondary school and was told by an art teacher that she wasn't very good. This negative feedback led Joanne to believe that she didn't have a talent for art, and she abandoned her artistic pursuits. Joanne joined the Roya...

Adventures with yarn, needles and hook Delve into the colourful world of crochet with my guest Jane Crowfoot, also known as Janie Crow, as she shares her journey from average student to renowned crochet designer, author and the founder of her own brand. Jane opens up about her early creative experiences, her education in textiles, and the pivotal moments that led her to discover her passion for cr...

Portraying and valuing everyday family life  As a film photographer Rachel Larsen Weaver captures authentic and imperfect moments, particularly highlighting the nuances of motherhood and family life. Her work showcases the real and raw aspects of these experiences, steering away from the facade of perfection often portrayed in mainstream media and on social platforms. In this episode Rachel talks...

Helping everyone to find their sparkle From a young age, Jessie Elliott struggled with the idea of being her authentic self, feeling the pressure to conform to certain preconceived roles and expectations. She felt the need to shrink herself in order to fit in, stifling her creativity and inner voice. After the tragic loss of her father, Jessie took a bold step to move from Australia to Scotland, s...

Corrie Legge was following Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way , and during reading deprivation week – which she expanded to include other external distractions such as TV and social media – was at a bit of a loose end, having put the children to bed at her babysitting job. This period of quiet reflection resulted in a flurry of writing, something that Corrie hadn’t done for many years, having been p...

Navigating life's ups and downs by embracing creativity.  In this episode Gaelle Jolly shares her journey from feeling unfulfilled in her job and struggling to find her place in a competitive sector, to discovering a passion for creativity that provided solace during difficult times. Despite previously not seeing herself as creative, Gaelle has found an outlet in hobbies including photography...

Perseverance through practice and imperfection As a child Bianca Giarola loved drawing, partly influenced by her aunt – who encouraged her and her siblings to explore their creativity – and encouraged by her father – who would buy her those wonderful big colouring sets. However, as she entered elementary school she found that art was not particularly valued by her teachers and society in general,...

From selling sweets to Cyndi Lauper to being questioned by the US Secret Service, Shirley Novack has lots of stories to tell, but when her father died she came across the story that she wanted to write down. As a child, Shirley's Eastern European parents’ conventional beliefs were not to her satisfaction, so she worked tirelessly, pursuing education and working alongside pioneers of fetal sur...

2023 Great Pottery Throw Down contestant Rebecca Norris tells me how she reignited her creative flame through pottery while navigating the demands of a teaching career. Rebecca was brought up in Northern England, where working-class values often overshadowed her artistic ambitions. She recounts finding solace in art during her school years and the subsequent pressure to prioritize a pragmatic care...

How a group of senior ex-servicemen and women experience the calming and therapeutic facets of pottery, and through that explore human connection, creativity, and the sheer joy of crafting. I was invited by Emily Chilvers to Royal Hospital Chelsea to find out more about the pottery sessions she runs there, to meet and chat with some of the pensioners that enjoy spending time in the pottery studio...

Remember the joy of finger painting as a child or the thrill of your first dance recital? As adults, we often lose touch with these creative pursuits, trading them in for routine and productivity. In this episode of the Feminine Roadmap podcast, Claire Waite Brown (that's me!), the creative mind behind Creativity Found, is here to challenge this notion. She shares her personal journey of reco...

When the day job is a launch pad for creative exploration. Tammy Euliano is an obstetric anesthesiologist who has transitioned from authoring a medical textbook with her mentor to penning a mystery novel, and in this episode we dive into her backstory, explore the challenges she has navigated, and discover how her writing journey has enriched her everyday life.  From a young child engrossed in boo...

Heather Moore, a former teacher turned printmaker, shares her journey of rediscovering her passion for art and creativity, and making the decision to leave a stressful career in education.   As a youngster, Heather believed her art would only ever be a hobby, as many young people do, but after having her daughter she started to realize its importance and value in her life.  In this episode Heather...

Navigating change and inspiring creativity. Kerry Lyons shares her inspiring path, starting from her childhood love for art – influenced by her architect father – to overcoming societal expectations and enriching her everyday life through her artistic pursuits. Kerry opens up about a transformative quarter-life crisis that saw her end a long-term relationship, sell her house, take a solo trip to t...

Swapping the 9-to-5 office job for a home recording booth While managing databases during the day, Martin Whiskin spent all of his spare time gigging with his band as well as handling a lot of the promotion that came with that. He enjoyed learning about photography, videography and design that came with that role, but never considered himself to be creative. As a shy youngster, music was an expres...

Imagine turning a challenging life event into an empowering and cathartic creative outlet. That's exactly what Liz Alterman achieved when she channelled her emotions during a period of unemployment into a blog, and later, a published memoir. As she bravely tackled the stigma and emotional turbulence of job loss, Liz discovered a profound connection with a wider audience. Liz attributes her lo...

What is it like to truly reinvent yourself? To take the twists and turns of life and turn them into an opportunity for growth and reinvention? Imogen Tinkler did just that. From her unique upbringing in Pakistan, her work in the charities sector, to her leap of faith into food and foraging, Imogen's story is a testament to the power of resilience, hard work and staying true to your values. In...

Rewriting your identity Ever felt like you've lost yourself along life's journey, and wondered how you could possibly find your way back? In this episode, Claire chats with Caro Giles, a theatre arts graduate turned actor, teacher, mother, home educator, carer, and now published author. Caro shares her journey of finding and retaining her sense of self amidst the responsibilities of marr...

Art, life and advocacy In this guest episode of the Narratives of Purpose podcast, Claire Murigande  discusses with editorial illustrator Jean-Philippe Kalonji the role artists and culture play in social change. JP is an illustrator, comic artist, and painter stationed in the beautiful city of Geneva, Switzerland. We're taking a stroll down memory lane, reminiscing about JP's earliest da...

Creativity, the learning process, and the mesmerizing world of pottery. In this bonus episode I’m joined by Creativity Found Collective member Kelly Drewett and friend of Creativity Found Carola Moon, as we visit the pottery studio of fellow Collective member Debbie Page. You’ll hear about how Debbie makes her moon jars – and what they are – as well as a little pottery history. We discuss everythi...

Ever found yourself scrambling to manage your time, juggling motherhood while nurturing a creative career? In this episode of the Mother of All Solutions podcast, Laura Broderick chats with  Leona Fensome, remarkable mum of three, owner of an independent production company, and a Heritage Projects and Partnerships Officer at the University of Bedfordshire. This episode is a deep dive into her jour...

Navigating the UK criminal justice system and healing through creativity What happens when creativity and a desire for social reform collide with the harsh realities of the UK criminal justice system? Ella and Harriet of Glasshouse Theatre share their candid experiences of becoming prison officers, revealing the challenges they faced, and the impact the role had on their mental health. They discus...

The Creative Brain is a catalyst for change For many years Anna Stoecklein believed that creativity was limited to traditional forms of art, such as painting or drawing. However, after watching the Netflix documentary The Creative Brain, she realized that creativity is everywhere, and that everyone is creative in their own way. This realization was a game-changer for Anna, as it allowed her to see...