The Creative Train Podcast

I'm going to share an important realization about this thing we all joke about in our circles of peers. It can be a distraction, a pleasure, and it can be expensive; but other than that- what does having Gear Acquisition Syndrome reveal about us as artists and creators?  I honestly can't laugh this one off anymore!

As tech and AI become seemingly woven into our daily lives, many people are losing their once-respected jobs to these "things" which are supposed to make our lives easier.  In this episode I explore this issue from an educator's perspective; at what cost are to embrace this technological revolution? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

So many new creators equate the cost of their tools with their ability to create, and this is so wrong! Sure, you don't use a hammer to drive a screw, proper tools are necessary; but you should never feel discouraged by not being able to afford high-end tools or that you simply should not even try to create if you don't have the latest/greatest thing talked about online! The history of art is fill...

In this episode I dig into the topic of A.I. generated art and the impact it already has had on the "real" creative industry.  No, this isn't some guy just complaining about how the good 'ol days were so much better, it's an honest and genuine look into the fact that many creatives are being pushed aside for the apparent ease of using A.I. for their images, sounds and much more.  I would love to k...

Timber Masterson is a truly diverse creative. Actor, author, writer, singer/songwriter and dreamer of dreams.  I have had the pleasure of working with Timber for a few years now, as audio engineer, co-producer and consumer of fine coffee.  In this episode, Timber and I discuss the pleasures and pressures that come with living a creative life- grappling with distraction, doubt, dilution, empowermen...

In this episode, I go into the topic of ego versus experience, and how that can and likely will impact the experience of a creative group setting.  We can fool ourselves, but how far can what we "think" we are take us in a creative venture with others? It will go one of these two ways- we will pull up our creative socks and grow and excel or we will trip over that ego and have to face some harsh r...

Roger Guetta is a multidisciplinary artist currently living in Montreal, Canada.    His early years in the arts were somewhat by accident as he recounts his story of attending business management school. From there, Roger pivoted into theatre, photography, poetry, and eventually into being a professor in a liberal arts program in Quebec, Canada.    Here, Roger and I discuss motivation, inspiration...

Singer/songwriter, tattoo artist and nature lover, Cassie Noble stopped by the studio this week to talk about all things artsie, creative and lets us in on a bit of what makes her as an artists running TWO businesses simultaneously does to keep focused and keep those creative fires burning! Sha also performs for us her latest, yet unreleased song; it's a wonderful note-to-self moment about how and...

This episode is just a little check-in and update about some changes I'm going to bring to the Creative Train podcast in 2025. This will be my only upload this month, but stay tuned for lots of great stuff coming up in the new year!    Have a listen, I'm putting out an appeal for your input about guests you'd like to hear on the podcast; artists, educators, anyone creative who has made an impact u...

In this episode, I'm going to take a swing at an icon. Not because of his work, but at the quality of his character. A recent docu-drama cast a new light upon this icon of Canadian literature and I honestly found him repellant after this. Although I almost hate to say such things- this has been on mind mind so much that I have to speak it to the world; not for confirmation but more as a cleansing....

What kind of workplace vibe do you have? Do you encourage your peers, your clients and students? Or is the vibe one more about division, separation and an us/them kind of thing? This episode was inspired by a rapid dissolution into chaos I watched happen in a music teacher's forum on social media where one person's negativity infected the page for a whole day and sent a lot of members off into ran...

This episode was inspired by a conversation about professional hockey!  Within any group of similarly-focused or job oriented people, there will always be those who stand out as being perhaps more naturally gifted. It can be frustrating for the folks in the middle/lower ranks to feel satisfied or accomplished in the shadows of those "top line" players.  So how do they raise themselves up and becom...

So, you're a teacher, coach, mentor, instructor; whatever you call your gig you are responsible for delivering digestible information to paying students, customers and clients.  Is it your responsibility to hold them accountable? I say, YES ! Trust me, they want it! There is a risk/reward in all such relationships- this is my take on how to foster mutually beneficial business  relationships and ev...

In this episode I'm digging into a few things from my own experience as a working artist that you have to be prepared for if you wish to make your hobby a functioning business. It's not an easy road to travel but you can do it with the right mindset, attitude and preparedness.  

This is something I am very passionate about, which explains why this episode is 3X longer than most others so far! Here, I am exploring how different teaching styles impact students retention, ability and engagement.  It's all true to my own experience except for a few anecdotal comments, hop on board and join the discussion!

Inspired by a very unexpected topic of conversation, my mind kicked into "scripting gear" and conjured up this episode about self-care for the artist. The artist's lifestyle has it's highs and lows as does every other one, but when we are trying to make our way in this world as creatives, the likelihood of self doubt and imposter syndrome are that much higher. Listen in for a bit of my recent expe...

In this episode I'm digging in to three important aspects about how we conduct ourselves as creatives in social and virtual situations; these are how we present ourselves to the world as artists in person, on social media and our own self perception.  Everyone has had to endure some of these things to a degree and everyone has probably done these things as well. We're going to take a look at those...

In this episode I'm taking a look at the importance of creativity in our lives, or in some cases, the non-importance of creativity.  Many creatives grow to actually need their creative time the longer they stay committed to it. And this goes beyond wanting to feature at a gallery or open a restaurant as head chef; it goes to the role creativity plays in your day-to-day life and how those subtle cr...

Hi there! The main "version" of this episode is residing on my You Tube channel, which you can search for as resound7. This is the original audio from that video.  I was requested to put a face to the voice; I do have plenty of other stuff on my You Tube channel, not just these podcasts, so if you're into studio audio stuff, original music, some "commentary" episodes and poetry, have a look over t...

In this, my 10th episode, I get into something very personal about what started out as a beautiful and productive relationship, but gradually turned toxic. It could have been interpersonal jealousies, possessiveness, or that dreaded master/servant, or alpha/beta aspect of virtually all relationships, but whatever made that seed of derision start to grow, it grew, and there seemed to be nothing for...

Welcome to episode nine of the Creative Train podcast. In this episode, we introduce the concept of "vibe value"—the intrinsic worth of art beyond its financial aspect. We explore how art enriches environments and connects with audiences on an emotional level. We delve into the emotional journey of creators, the highs and lows of producing art, and the impact of criticism. Through personal anecdot...

Welcome to episode 8 of the Creative Train podcast! In this episode, we venture off the usual path of creativity inspiration to tackle a topic many of us have encountered: the elusive "Secret" to success. Have you ever been bombarded by social media ads promising quick fixes and hidden wisdom to unlock your potential? I will let you in on some of my personal experiences and the deceptive allure of...

Welcome to episode 7 of the Creative Train podcast! In today's special rainy Saturday episode, we delve into the unique challenges and rewards of teaching truly exceptional students. Unlike the usual discussions on problem students, this episode focuses on those who excel beyond their peers and how they can present a different kind of challenge for educators. I share my personal anecdotes and expe...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Creative Train Podcast! In this episode, we celebrate our expanding global audience and take a reflective journey through the key topics we've explored so far, including creativity, uniqueness, originality, motivation, and inspiration. We'll revisit important discussions from previous episodes, such as the role of a creativity coach and the intricate challenge of defini...

Welcome to episode 5 of the Creative Train podcast! Today we're going to talk about something that everybody who's done anything new in their life has faced- it's your expectations of yourself. This can apply to teaching as well because not all great doers are great teachers, simply relaying information is often not enough.  Why does it seem almost impossible to achieve that elusive "flow" when we...