The Creative Life Podcast

Grab a cuppa and join Holly and Thea on The Creative Life Podcast as we chat to indie author JJ Larkey about all things bookish! From drafting chapters on her phone whilst juggling family life, to applying to a Call for Submissions on a whim, to landing her first book deal, JJ gives us a behind-the-scenes peek at her debut novel, Royally Half Elf. We learn a few secrets of the trade such as how she ensured each of her many characters had a unique voice (plus which of her ‘children’ is her favourite) as well as why she goes by the mysterious title of ‘The Royal Archivist’... Join us in the magical community of the Crossroads (Nashville, but not as you know it) to find out more!  Also featuring: the importance of kindness as a creative, and the enchanting Grymory Piccolo’s insistence that he was NOT the character JJ initially imagined him to be. Let’s dive into it!JJ’s novel, Royally Half Elf, is available to order directly from Asteria Press, as well as Amazon and Kobo.  You can follow JJ on Instagram and Threads @jjthewitchywordsmith and TikTok @thefaerielutearchivesBuy JJ a coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/jjlarkeywritesYou can read more from The Royal Archivist on Substack at The Benevolently Nosey Society.

​​Holly and Thea are back with less of a bang and more of a gentle fizz… it’s the end of a busy creative year and we’re talking burnout! On this episode of The Creative Life Podcast we discuss what creative burnout looks like for us and offer a variety of helpful tips — whether you want to get straight back to creating or make the most of a full rest, we’ve got you covered! It’s been an absolute blast sharing our creative lives with you this year, thank you for tuning in and supporting us as we’ve grown! Here’s to more adventures in the Holly-and-Thea-verse next year!

Oh God, I do not belong on this podcast, I don’t have anything insightful to say, oh God, what am I doing here, oh help, oh… wait, is this thing on? On this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, we’re talking all things imposter syndrome. Have you ever had an underlying feeling that you’re not good enough? What about a moment of crisis, where everyone else in the room seems to know what they’re doing, and you feel about as welcome as a carrot in a fruit bowl? Fear not! It turns out Holly and Thea have felt that way too! They’re here to share one or two hair-curling anecdotes from times when they have faced creative imposter syndrome, as well as offering some top tips on how to move past the Big, Scary Crisis Moment. When you look at it this way, could imposter syndrome actually be your friend? Also featuring: girls being fed to wolves, novels being two-thirds finished, and the most important advice of all: give up! (Don’t really...or at least listen to the pod first) Let’s dive into it! Holly’s creative shoutout: The Woods, new album by Ldia the BardThea’s creative shoutout: Notes on the Sonnets, poetry collection by Luke Kennard

This week, Thea and Holly swap their paintbrushes and word docs for something a little more… movement-based. We’re joined by guest Dance Artist Catherine Sleeman (@inkstainedballerina on Instagram), whose creative journey takes us from a childhood fondness for pink tutus (thanks, Little Pink Ballerina) to the rich, tangled world of contemporary dance, folk traditions, and finding meaning through movement.We chat about what it means to make art with your body, and how dance circles can be uniquely obsessed with physical technique over storytelling and meaning-making. Catherine shares her refreshingly honest thoughts on being a “professional” dancer (spoiler: it’s complicated), balancing creativity with the realities of earning a living, and rediscovering why dancing for love - not perfection - might just be the point.Also featuring: jaw-droppingly stunning metaphors, the mysterious loss of dances that disappear the moment they end, and a deep dive into how movement can unlock language itself. Plus, a few classic best-friend tangents, as always.Keeeeeep dancing! 

Your favourite podcast is back with a special Part 2 on that juicy old chestnut, social media for creatives. Here you can expect to find the quick and simple 5 step formula to millions of social followers… not. This is the podcast where we delve into interesting questions like - is social media replacing physical forms of art such as going to an art gallery? And why does the scroll exacerbate our need to compare ourselves to others? Also featuring: a Master Builder, Holly’s new ebook venture and of course plenty of best friend laughs and deep philosophical meanderings. So, let’s dive into it! Holly's creative shoutout: Makeup artist, Jake MoranThea's creative shoutout: Lego Master Builder Alec

It’s been a minute, but Holly and Thea are back! In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast we begin our treacherous journey through the toxic wasteland that is social media – hold onto your hats and watch out for the gatekeepers! Holly and Thea share anecdotes on how they use today’s overabundance of social media sites as creatives, whilst navigating such perils as short attention spans and disobliging algorithms. Is there a silver lining amongst the fifty shades of morally grey? Join us for the first episode of our social media two-parter to find out! Also featuring: the most intelligent sentence Holly has ever spoken, Thea’s eye opening first experience of burlesque, and exciting news regarding a hotly anticipated fantasy sequel… Let’s dive into it!Holly’s creative shoutout: Everdell board gameThea’s creative shoutouts: Swamplesque (Shrek themed burlesque) and Mishra (Indian-Celtic folk fusion band)

Do you have a million creative pursuits and feel the pressure to ‘niche down’? In this episode, Thea and Holly dive headfirst into the gloriously chaotic world of being multi-creative. From novel-writing woes (cue dramatic violins) to mood board mania, we chat about the joys and perils of juggling All The Things. Why settle for one creative identity when you can dabble in ten, burn out in five, and start a clarinet career by Tuesday? (Looking at you, Jonathan Bailey.)We discuss how our many creative outlets keep our artistic souls buzzing, the difference between ‘main quest’ hobbies and ‘side quest’ hobbies, and why the advice to “niche down” is sometimes just code for “creative straightjacket”. Plus, top tips for staying (semi) sane when your brain wants to do everything at once, and featuring a paper mache horse, which somehow became Very Important to the conversation and we’re not quite sure how. Let’s dive into it! Thea's creative shoutout: Ffern perfume Holly's creative shoutout: As the Season Turns podcast

This week on The Creative Life Podcast Thea interviews Holly and Holly interviews Thea as they get their teeth around the question of entrepreneurship as a creative. In this episode we discuss why the word ‘entrepreneurial’ feels so scary for creatives, how to go about adding business skills to your creative toolkit, and some of the benefits and downsides of using your business head when thinking about your art—and for once, Thea and Holly find themselves on opposite sides of the fence. Is this the end of a beautiful friendship? Well, it is an unlucky episode... Let's dive into it!Holly's creative shoutout: Nobody Wants This, romcom TV series on NetflixThea's creative shoutout: The Phoenician Scheme, new Wes Anderson film, now in cinemas

Jealousy, comparison, and bitterness walk into a bar… and ruin your creative confidence. In this episode, we’re talking about why you want your friend’s book deal, hate your own draft, and feel weirdly competitive with that one random acquaintance from university who is now on Richard Osman’s House of Games.In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast we unpack the messy emotions creatives face (yes, even the successful ones), share tips on how to deal with those big old pangs in the heat of the moment, and explore why jealousy might actually be useful in leading our creative direction. Plus find out Thea’s terrible new tagline, discover which creatives we’re both “jealous” of at the moment, and uncover Holly’s weird opinion on comparison…Holly’s creative shoutout: Ellie Hooi Illustration (ellie_hooi_illustration on Instagram)Thea’s creative shoutout: The Luminaries, historical fiction book by Eleanor Catton

SHINY OBJECT SYNDROME! I bet that got your attention, just like a shiny new creative project just begging to be embarked upon. But how do you know when to say yes or no to a creative opportunity? Thea and Holly are back with another episode of The Creative Life Podcast, sharing the best times they’ve said yes, the times they’ve felt creative remorse, and how they decide between saying no or leaping out of their comfort zones.  Also featuring: our eXpEriMeNtaL pHasE, regrets at the Harrogate Flower Show, and a totally unnecessary race to the finish. May the fourth be with you!Thea’s creative shoutout: Dracula Daily, Substack that emails you Dracula by Bram Stoker in real timeHolly’s creative shoutout: The Flatshare, book by Beth O’Leary

In the immortal words of Kool & The Gang: celebrate good times (COME ON!) You’re listening to the tenth episode of The Creative Life Podcast and this week we’re all about celebrating our creative milestones! Holly and Thea discuss why it is important to celebrate your wins (no matter how small) and share ideas for some ways you can let your hair down. Takeaway? Yes please! Thank you for sticking with us into double digits – bring on the next ten episodes! Also featuring: mermaid tails, medieval feast days, Thea’s Oscar acceptance speech, more cake, and a wade through The Creative Bog… (phew) Let’s dive into it!Holly’s creative shoutout: Joanna Green’s abstract interpretation of The Creation of Adam (thegreenhouseart_ on Instagram)Thea’s creative shoutout: Kyra’s crochet (not available on Instagram, you’ll just have to befriend her)

Perfectionism—our old frenemy. In this episode, Holly and Thea get real about the creative struggle of wanting everything to be just right… and how that usually means making life a whole lot harder for ourselves. Expect a totally not perfect pause, some mildly embarrassing personal stories, and Holly going on a full-blown rant about what sketchbooks are ACTUALLY for.We’re also sharing the (sometimes weird) strategies that have helped us fight back—like making your own rules for success, embracing the mess, and, in Thea’s case, finding the good side of perfectionism).If your inner critic is a little too loud, grab a cuppa and tune in. Let’s be imperfect together. Holly's creative shoutout: Cool Runnings, comedy film available on Disney +Thea's creative shoutout: Caity (@ca8ty on Instagram), textile artist

Well, look who’s back! After a slightly-longer-than-usual break, Holly and Thea return to present an episode of The Creative Life Podcast all about work/creativity balance. They discuss the validity of being an artist with a day job, share tips on juggling art with a traditional 9-5, and discover that they have very different ideas on the perfect job for a creative…. Also featuring: Holly’s double viral moment, Thea’s double writing success, and an ending that will definitely be edited out (rusty? Not us!) Let’s dive into it!Holly’s creative shoutout: Linda Fox Design (@lindafox_design on Instagram) collaboration with Geometry HouseThea’s creative shoutout: Our Flag Means Death Charity Craft Auction for Campaign for Southern Equality's Trans Youth Emergency Project

What happens when you put Holly and Thea in the same room to talk about mood swings as a creative? No, it’s not the setup for a dramatic plot twist… It's this episode of The Creative Life Podcast! We dive into the emotional rollercoaster that comes with making art—how creative highs can feel euphoric, and how the inevitable lows can make you want to quit altogether. Holly and Thea share their go-to strategies for riding out the waves (spoiler: naps and notebooks are involved), while also asking why mood swings are an inevitable part of the creative life and if there is such a thing as a ‘right mood’ for making art. Also featuring: Thea channeling her BBC mode, the Hollyverse striking again, and poorly timed giggles ruining a poetic moment. Let’s dive into it!Thea recommends: Jojo Rabbit, comedy film available on Channel 4 (UK) and Disney +Holly recommends: Miss Austen, period drama available on BBC iPlayer (book by Gill Hornby)

If you really enjoyed our last episode on “Accepting your calling as an artist” and were hoping we’d chat about it more  – good news! (If you really hated our last episode on “Accepting your calling as an artist” and were hoping we’d chat about it less  – bad news!) Holly and Thea are back for round two, this time discussing the question: does accepting your calling as a creative mean making a career out of your art? Holly talks about her journey to becoming a full-time artist and Thea looks at the validity of creative hobbies as we reach our own conclusions on what it looks like to accept art as your calling. Also featuring: two new sections, two fabulous creatives, and two minutes worth of pauses (thankfully edited out!) Let’s dive into it! Holly’s creative shoutout: OSMA restaurant by Dani Heron Thea’s creative shoutout: Mei Pang makeup artist, @meicrosoft on Instagram

What does it mean to truly accept your calling as an artist? In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, we look at the shame and self-doubt that often accompanies identifying as a creative person. Holly shares her struggles to embrace her artistic identity and Thea asks the question: is everyone inherently creative or are some of us uniquely called to the artistic life? Tune in for an honest, vulnerable and empowering discussion about creativity, calling and the journey to self-acceptance. Also featuring: side notes about creative goals, side side notes about podcast editing, plus some ducks and quacking… yep. Let’s dive into it!

Rev up your engines and get those creative brains in gear, because Holly and Thea are back and here to chat about “Starting power”! In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast we discuss why it’s so difficult to get going on a project, how we motivate ourselves to find our flow, and whether “a ploddy, mundane start” could be something to aspire to rather than avoid. You won’t want to miss this one! (No matter how hard Thea tries to persuade you to the contrary). Also featuring: the birth of the Hollyverse, the death of Thea’s dignity, and the secret to life?! Let’s dive into it!

What happens when you put Holly and Thea in the same room to discuss “Putting yourself out there as a creative”? No, it’s not the start of a corny joke… it’s what happens in this episode of The Creative Life Podcast! Together we discuss our biggest fears (looking silly for Holly, getting negative feedback for Thea), why it is important to push yourself to face them, and some of the steps we have made towards taking up space in the art world. Do you have the audacity to listen? Also featuring: short story competitions, art agent consultations, and potential cancellations (for politically incorrect use of the word “actress”). Let’s dive into it!

Have you got the cringe factor? Holly and Thea certainly have when they look back over their past creative work! In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast we delve into why it’s so hard to judge your previous output objectively, remind ourselves why reflection is important, and consider how we can look back in a kind and healthy way (Hint: Oasis had the right idea… not Wonderwall, the other one). Also featuring: Holly’s tales from the night market, a reminder to check your spam inbox, and an invitation for Steven Speilberg to be our first podcast guest. Let’s dive into it!

It's happening! Welcome to The Creative Life Podcast! In this episode we take our first wobbly steps into the world of podcasting as we umm and ahh our way through the topic of “Making time for creativity”. We discuss what holds us back – from fear of the blank page, to absent muses, to prioritising taxing the car – and the ways in which we overcome these obstacles. Have you tried setting gentle deadlines? How about scheduling in art time alongside the weekly shop? Also featuring: Thea finishing her first short story (Holly is bleeping proud!), painting as a lifeline during lockdown, and a small amount of sports slander. Let’s dive into it!