The Creative Switch

What if your creativity isn’t blocked—but waiting for better support? In this Season 3 finale, I reflect on the conditions that have emerged across the season as essential for creative living, and why support so often makes the difference when creativity feels sidelined. Creativity coach Helena Holrick helps me explore practical ways of supporting your creativity, from making a small, intentional...

The Hidden Cost of Not Starting Over: 3 Hard Truths from a Surgeon-Turned-Creative What happens when a paediatric trauma surgeon dares to leave it all behind in search of a more authentic, creative life? In this episode boldness takes centre stage as Louise Morris shares the harsh realities of embracing radical change. The conversation explores the emotional toll of staying in a hard earned but un...

How Xenia Davis Created Space for Creativity And Why You Can Too What if the real secret to creative transformation lies not in doing more, but in allowing yourself the space to say yes? In this episode, Xenia Davis shares how stepping back from rigid plans and inviting spaciousness into her life led her from self-doubt to a thriving career as a community song leader. Through her story, you’ll dis...

How Rebecca Lacey Turns Collaboration Into Creative Courage Collaboration can provide the support you need to transform fear into bravery. In this episode actor, coach, artist, and poet Rebecca Lacey shares how trusted networks and friendships, creative partnerships, and her work as a life coach have sustained her across her acting, fine art, and poetry. From secretly beginning her professional ac...

The Myth of Creative Balance with Nina Lenton What if chasing creative balance is actually what’s throwing you off course? In this episode of The Creative Switch , creativity coach and former marketing project manager Nina Lenton unpacks the myth of balance, and shares how embracing life's different phases, custom systems, and imperfect rhythms can unlock deeper creative flow. From her Friday morn...

Comedy Agent to Novelist: Hannah Begbie with 3 Hard Truths About Switching Sides What happens when the person behind the scenes decides to step into the spotlight? In this episode, Hannah Begbie—former comedy agent turned award-winning novelist—shares the emotional and professional recalibrations required to move from representing creatives to becoming one. Through three hard-won truths, she revea...

From Writer's Block to Breakthrough: Insights from Emma Stonex Episode Summary: If you’ve ever felt creatively adrift after a big win, this episode will speak straight to your soul. Emma Stonex—Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamplighters —joins me for a candid, deeply resonant conversation about the emotional terrain of writing, the grief of letting go of a beloved project, and the quiet m...

A Creative Encounter with Juliette Crosbie: From Orange Boots to Bold Truths Episode Summary: I met Juliette Crosbie because I wore my orange boots—and thank goodness I did. Our conversation dives deep into what it means to live creatively, how discomfort can be a sign you're on the right path, and why letting your humanity show in your art is never a weakness. Juliette’s honesty, warmth and fierc...

Lisa Maltby on Balancing Passion and Profit in Creative Freelancing Episode Summary: Today, we dive deep into the world of creativity and freelancing with the talented digital illustrator and designer, Lisa Maltby. After a decade in creative agencies, Lisa made the leap to freelance, and she shares the realities of balancing a stable income with the need for creative expression. We explore practic...

Scores Sketches, & Stories: Self-Redesign with Hannah Ashe Episode Summary: After a highly successful career as a music teacher Hannah Ashe teacher made a pivot to interior design before discovering an additional and entirely different form of creative expression through her Substack publication, Chez Hanny. Her creativity knows no limits and I am excited for you to hear how it fuels everythin...

 Episode Summary: I talk with Ruth Mary Chipperfield, a bespoke jewellery designer who turned to creativity after illness changed her plans at university. In the Edge news, I cover recent UK jewellery news, including Harriet Kelsall’s studio being nominated for Bespoke Jewellery Retailer of the Year. In Creative Adventures, I also share tips from my own creative journey and highlight advice from...

From Consulting to Songwriting: Tricia Duffy's Creative Evolution Episode Summary: In this climate of creative recalibration and music industry reform Tricia Duffy, a strategy consultant, podcaster, and self-described ‘creativity fairy godmother’, who took up songwriting later in life, talks about her own creative evolution, her philosophy and tips for living a creative life. Her story is a powerf...

 The Creative Switch Returns: Embrace Your Creative Self Welcome to The Creative Switch —the podcast inspiring the sensibly successful to switch on their unexpressed creativity for a more fulfilled life. I’m your host, Nikki Vallance. I know what it’s like to have a career that looks great on paper but still feel like something’s missing. That’s why I made my own creative switch and now help othe...

Ruth Hogan on Writing, Creativity, and Her Latest Novel, The Phoenix Ballroom In this final episode of the Summer Authors Special, host Nikki Vallance sits down with Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hogan. Known for her evocative and heartwarming novels with eccentric characters, Ruth shares her journey from a career in local government to becoming a Bestselling author. They discuss the import...

Richard Tyler on Embracing Creativity and Overcoming Adversity This is the second of three bonus episodes in the Summer Authors Special where Nikki Vallance talks to 3 talented and insightful writers as they dig into their inspirational stories and discuss the new books they have written.  In this episode of "The Creative Switch," host Nikki Vallance delves into the transformative power of cr...

Melanie Cantor's Creative Switch: Celebrity Agent to Novelist In this first of three special summer bonus episode of The Creative Switch, Nikki Vallance chats with Melanie Cantor, a former celebrity agent who has successfully transitioned into a celebrated author. Melanie shares her journey from the world of TV publicity to becoming a novelist, offering invaluable insights into the creative proces...

Behind the Flash: Tigz Rice and the Art of Empowerment Photography **TRIGGER WARNING - Contains discussion around burlesque, boudoir and body dysmorphia. Empowerment photographer, Tigz Rice, is one of the UK's most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs. She has an impressive biography full of accomplishments and accolades, but it is her generosity of spirit and her unapologetic determinat...

A Kitchen Makeover, a Blank Canvas, and No Regrets: Mike Hall’s Transition from Marketing to Bespoke Artistry Dive into the creative world of Mike Hall, founder of MJH ArtStudio Limited, who has mastered the art of merging aesthetics with function. From his journey transitioning from a technical illustrator to a marketing director, and finally to an artist, Mike shares invaluable insights into bui...

The Art of Rebellion: Martyn Spendlove’s Transition to Acting Corporate trainer turned actor Martyn Spendlove believes in being “Rebellious” and pushing back against anything preventing us from achieving our potential. Find out what happened when he asked himself “Are you really doing what you want to be doing? And how his Martial arts training set him up for success. Martyn Bio Martyn is an up-an...

Dancing Through Life: The Unfolding of Claire Waite Brown’s Creativity Nikki chats to fellow podcaster and host of Creativity found, Claire Waite Brown. Her on entrepreneurial spirit has brought her from a degree in dance to a career as a nonfiction editor to podcasting. But what are the origins of her love for performance? And how did she end up becoming an accidental champion of creativity after...

Crafting Brilliance: Harriet Kelsall's Bespoke Jewellery Journey In today’s episode, explore the remarkable path of a multi-award-winning designer who ignited a revolution in bespoke jewellery from her kitchen table. Uncover how Harriet’s vision transformed the jewellery industry, making bespoke design accessible to all while championing ethical practices. Harriet Bio Harriet Kelsall is one of the...

Switching Stories: From PR to Audiobiography with Caroline Pearce In today’s episode we delve into the story of how Biographer Caroline Pearce transitioned from working in PR, through a career in ghost writing to running the Audiobiographers. Caroline Bio After living a fairly conventional suburban north London childhood, Caroline left for New York City at the age of nineteen without a work permit...

S2Ep5 Andrew Szczech. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating journey of Andrew Szczech, a creative switcher who has transitioned from the world of IT to the realm of fine art. Andrew Bio From 1987 to 2017, Andrew worked in IT, both in-house and for solution providers. At the outset he was the link between the user community and the developers, ensuring that their requirements were met by n...

Creativity is a valuable skill that can help you in many aspects of life, but it can also be challenging to cultivate and maintain.  You may feel stuck or uninspired, and you can't seem to generate any new or original ideas. Today’s guest, Helena Holrick has some great tips to help you get unstuck, reframe your fear of making mistakes and keep your creative passion burning. Helena Bio Helena...

If you have school age children or are passionate about the importance of education, you'll probably be aware of the general push towards the STEM subjects. That's science, technology, engineering and maths. Of course, the world needs these and studying towards careers in these disciplines is sensible, right? Today's guest Nick Corston has an alternative view. In the last ten years, Nick has been...