The Wilderness of Creativity

What if the key to innovation, resilience and personal growth isn't working harder, but learning to play again? In this episode, we explore how the principles of improvisation can help individuals and organisations overcome fear, unlock creativity, and create environments where people feel energised, alive and empowered to adapt in an ever-changing world. The full episode with Michelle James is ou...

What role does music play in building confidence, creating community and supporting mental health? Becky Oakland is a musician, choir leader and music educator. With more than 17 years of experience teaching and leading singers of all ages, Becky shares how music education can shape children's learning, why community choirs are thriving and how singing creates meaningful connections between people...

Feeling overwhelmed by social media? Wondering what content to post, which platform to focus on or whether the algorithm is working against you? In this episode, I'm joined by Katie Shaw, founder of Shaw Socials and a trusted social media sidekick for small business owners. Katie helps businesses build an authentic online presence through social media training, content creation, masterclasses, and...

What does it really mean to live your brand? This week, Lucy introduces her new podcast 'In the Wrong Room,' designed to support Secondary teachers transitioning into Primary or EYFS settings. She shares her reasons for launching this new platform, how she continues to build a life and career that embraces multiple passions as proof that you don't have to be defined by one title, industry or expec...

Did you know NASA research found that 98% of children demonstrate 'creative genius' levels of divergent thinking, compared to just 2% of adults? What happens to our creativity as we grow up and can we get it back? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the science of creativity, why it appears to decline from childhood to adulthood and how we can reignite our creative potential at any stage...

This episode is a little different from the usual format! Earlier this year, I attended the Arts Education Conference hosted by Captivate Notts where I had the opportunity to speak with a range of artists, educators, cultural leaders and advocates about the future of arts education and the wider cultural sector. Rather than a single interview, this episode brings together highlights from those con...

What if the creative spark you’ve been overlooking is the very thing that could change your life? In this episode, writer, illustrator and performance poet Chris White shares how saying yes to creativity took him from Derby to stages, schools and festivals around the world proving that imagination can open doors you never expected. From publishing his first book Bitey the Veggie Vampire to perform...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by comparison or the pressure to 'keep up'? In Part 1, special guest Amy Lord shares her journey as a self-employed mum, emphasising the importance of realistic expectations, authenticity and creativity in balancing work and life. This episode explores the pressures of social media, the value of listening over speaking, and how creativity can be a vital tool for resi...

*Trigger warning - some listeners might find parts of this conversation upsetting as we discuss baby loss. In part 2, we discuss the pressure to appear successful online, especially for introverts and the toll that can take on creativity and wellbeing. Amy also shares how creativity can become a grounding force during difficult seasons of life. If you or someone you love has been affected by baby...

Mental health is rarely simple or linear, and creativity can often reflect that complexity. In a world obsessed with productivity, it’s easy to lose sight of who we actually are beneath the pressure to constantly evolve. Sometimes growth comes from discipline and change, but sometimes it comes from slowing down long enough to notice what you genuinely enjoy and what you’ve outgrown. Maybe the thin...

I felt so inspired by this conversation with Deborah Haddon. The aim is not to criticise schools, but instead challenge something much deeper: how we learn to see ourselves in the first place. This is about asking what happens when creativity, curiosity and self-expression are nurtured… or rather slowly edited out of us. With the recent SEND review, proposed Schools and Wellbeing reforms, and the...

What happens when we stop dreaming? Do we lose more than imagination? Do we lose our voice, our future? In this powerful conversation, award-winning actress and producer Ariana Lebron reveals how creativity didn’t just shape her career, it saved her. Once a selectively mute child navigating trauma, she found her voice through theatre and transformed it into a life of storytelling across stage and...

*Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussion of restrictive dieting, specifically the keto diet, and its impact on mental and physical health. The guest shares personal experiences of health challenges that led to a significant period of reflection and life reassessment. These topics may be sensitive for listeners with experiences related to disordered eating or mental health struggles. List...

What if the key to healing isn’t fixing yourself but finally accepting yourself 'just as you are'? Art therapy provides a unique platform for self-expression, which Lesley Andrew believes is essential for both children and adults. She discusses how the pressure of academic standards can stifle creativity, as students often focus more on grades than on genuine expression, which she knows about firs...

What does it take to tell a story - confidence, connection, or just the willingness to begin? In this engaging conversation, Miriam Cunliffe discusses the evolving journey of storytelling through photography and podcasting. We talk candidly about the power of affirmations, the pressures that come with creative work and how networking and community play a vital role in career growth. Miriam shares...

Have you ever felt like you should be more creative than you are? In this honest and reflective solo episode of The Wilderness of Creativity, Lucy shares what really happened when she sat down to record… without a clear plan. After noticing what people are searching for online - questions like “Can creativity be taught?”, “How do I build creative confidence?” and "is it passion or persistance that...

Trigger warning: This episode contains explicit discussions about sex, including references to sexual experiences, intimacy, consent, and adult themes. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those who may be sensitive to sexual content. This episode is intended for mature audiences only. What if the thing you’re most embarrassed about… isn’t actually yours to carry? In this bonus episode,...

*Trigger warning: This episode contains explicit discussions about sex, including references to sexual experiences, intimacy, consent, and adult themes. Listener discretion is advised, especially for those who may be sensitive to sexual content. This episode is intended for mature audiences only. What if the key to better sex isn’t performance, but presence? In this rich and thoughtful conversatio...

Could your garden be the safest space to cultivate your story? In this conversation, Kendall Marie Platt discusses how she has rediscovered herself through the creative and restorative art of horticultural therapy. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares her the impact of a late ADHD diagnosis, bullying and why cultivating safe and nurturing spaces for women matters so deeply to her. Kendall re...

Are we measuring ourselves against a clock that doesn’t reflect our true experiences? In a world that often glorifies productivity and success, this conversation about time can feel overwhelming and even shaming. In this episode, first time podcast host Lucy Colgan invites you to consider the complexities of the 24 hour myth. Lucy shares her own experience of juggling a full-time job and motherhoo...

What happens when a corporate finance career meets creativity, culture and courage? Urmi’s journey reveals how creativity can redefine leadership and why women’s voices matter now more than ever. In this episode, we explore the themes of inner strength, work-life balance and the importance of storytelling in leadership. Urmi shares how she embraces her multifaceted identities as a corporate financ...

What inspires you? Inspiration may not always arrive with a fanfare; often, it is the quiet persistence of an idea that demands our attention. By creating an environment that nurtures imagination, embracing discomfort, and engaging with our communities, we can unlock our creative potential. I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram , Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here s...

What happens when real-life challenges spark creative change? Karean Carr shares how lived experience, community, and courage led her to create a safeguarding tool childminders truly need: Little Link ID In this conversation, Karean shares her journey as a childminder and the inspiration behind her innovative product, Little Link ID. The discussion explores the importance of child safety, the evol...

What if the reset you’re craving doesn’t require starting over, just remembering why you started in the first place? This episode is an invitation to gently reset your creative vision without burning everything down. I share five grounding reflections to help you reconnect with the why behind your work, not what you’ve built, not what it’s become, but what first felt alive when you began. We talk...

Not all paths are clear. Sometimes, we are simply invited to wander. This year, the podcast unfolds as a mix of solo episodes, guest conversations, short mini-series, reflective pauses and listener voices gathered from the Lost & Found workshops which will be running throughout 2026. Together, we are going to trace the beautiful mess of making, becoming, and continuing even when the path isn’t...