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 love for the written word to her mother's vibrant storytelling, which sparked a creative flame within her, leading to her pursuing an English degree and writing for her college newspaper.Liz went on to have a career in financial services and energy reporting, but when she and her husband were both laid off at the same time, Liz used writing to help her cope with the fears and worries of that difficult situation.Since then Liz has been employed and unemployed, and employed again, all while writing fiction for teenagers and a thriller for adults.You can buy Liz's thriller, The Perfect Neighborhood, from the Creativity Found bookshop at Bookshop.org.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

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 this guest episode of Naomi Mellor's Smashing the Ceiling podcast, Naomi explores Imogen's story of turning personal loss into fuel for career growth. Imogen shares candidly about the loss of her daughter and how the therapeutic benefits of swimming helped her through the darkest of times.We dive into the significance of finding support and connection in times of tragedy and the role of community in healing. So, if you're in for an inspiring conversation full of courage, transformation and resilience, this episode with Imogen is just the one for you.CreativityFound.co.ukSmashing the CeilingInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

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 marriage, mothering, and home educating. Caro explains how writing a book became a way for her to explore her worth beyond being the main breadwinner in the family, and discusses the challenges she has faced as a single full-time carer.Delving deeper, Caro opens up about the challenges of creating while juggling work and raising children. Her experiences, though trying at times, did not quell her creative spirit. They instead inspired her to write Twelve Moons, a  beacon of hope for anyone who has ever felt isolated or alone.Caro also shares her plans for the future, including continuing to write and advocating for changes in the education system. Join us in this inspiring conversation with Caro Giles, and let her journey ignite your own path to self-discovery.You can buy Caro's memoir, Twelve Moons, from the Creativity Found bookshop at Bookshop.org.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Art, life and advocacyIn 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 days of falling in love with art, navigating his way through the practices that he's grown to adore, and recounting the hurdles he's had to leap over. This is a tale of passion merged with practicality as JP shares how his artistry beautifully intertwines with his routine life, and how it has the potential to spark social change.CreativityFound.co.ukNarratives of PurposeInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

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 everything from the unique ways people manipulate clay to the often overlooked importance of the table as a creative tool. The power of human hands in shaping clay and eliciting emotion through pottery forms is also explored, leading us to the understanding of how compression can help achieve the perfect texture.We also start plotting our next Creativity Catchup featuring a few more members and their creative classes. CreativityFound.co.ukDebbie Page at creativityfound.co.ukKelly Drewett at creativityfound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

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 journey, her lessons, and how she gracefully manoeuvres the tightrope between nurturing her family and nurturing her dreams. CreativityFound.co.ukMother of all SolutionsInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Navigating the UK criminal justice system and healing through creativityWhat 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 discuss how their initial motivations were fuelled by a white saviour complex and a desire to bring creativity to the prison environment, but the training they received left them woefully unprepared for the job.Throughout the conversation, we explore the complexities of working in a gendered environment, the naivety and ego that motivated Ella and Harriet to stay in their roles, and the ways they dealt with the trauma of the job. Harriet and Ella describe the difficult process of leaving the service and transitioning to life 'off the landings' after experiencing extreme trauma and being in a constant state of high adrenaline, and how that can lead to feelings of detachment, isolation and shame.But, as with all Creativity Found stories, there is a silver lining, and we find out how therapy, lifestyle adjustments and writing the show Cell Outs – originally not intending it to be produced – helped Harriet and Ella begin to live ‘normal’ lives again, and learn to manage their own expectations in the future, be aware of trauma in themselves and others, and provide a safe space for those in similar situations now through their outreach theatre programs. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

The Creative Brain is a catalyst for changeFor 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 her own creativity and potential.Anna had a creative childhood, but that took a back seat during her teenage years and early adulthood. Anna studied nursing, and after three years of working in a clinical setting, she realized it wasn't for her. She couldn't see herself climbing the management ladder or going back to school to become a nurse practitioner. Other career roles followed, along with a move from the US to the UK. The lessons Anna had learnt from that documentary percolated, until a few years later she was able to put them to good use as she turned the idea for The Story of Woman podcast into a fully-fledged show. In this episode Anna and I discuss how she was able to challenge and reframe her self-perception as a "non-creative" person, as well as the amazing experiences she's had with her podcast guests, including conversations with Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Making time for art.Jackie Sanders primarily works with abstract, geometric shapes, and bold colors using acrylic paint on panels. She creates visually interesting pieces that can be taken at surface value or can communicate deeper concepts and symbolism, allowing viewers to choose what they want to see in the art. As a child, Jackie was supported and encouraged creatively by her family, who even helped her turn her bedroom closet into a mini studio.She studied art at Virginia Tech, where she also took advantage of internship programs to learn outside of her subject. Post-graduation, Jackie experienced a dip in energy and confidence while attempting to navigate a competitive job market – fitting creativity in at the time was difficult, so her art took a back seat. Having moved to North Carolina with no job offers and working multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet, Jackie eventually landed a full-time job at an awards company, which was enjoyable but demanding on her time and energy. After a while something had to give. Jackie realized she needed to make space to allow creativity back into her life. Find out how she did that in this episode. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.uk Photo: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

A printmaking class helps me to get over my fear of 2D.When Gerry Coles invited me to one of her printmaking workshops my initial reaction was that there was no way I would go because I would be rubbish.Regular listeners will have heard me saying that that should not be a reason for not trying a new creative activity, so of course I told myself off, and told Gerry I'd love to go.Find out how I got on, and hear from a few of the other students about their attitudes to getting creative in adulthood.Find out more about Gerry's workshops here.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

I've caught Maria Ramsey at a reinvention stage, having made the decision to stop teaching music and to explore other avenues that feel more creatively fulfilling. Maria is a multi-talented artist who has explored various creative outlets including visual art, poetry, and floral design. Growing up in a family that valued creativity and the arts, Maria was encouraged to pursue music, taking lessons in violin, piano, and singing. Despite having aspirations to study art, Maria eventually majored in music, and fell into teaching after college.  However, she has since realized that teaching classical music does not fulfill her creative desires. In this episode we delve into Maria's interest in herbalism and Feng Shui, and how these have influenced her art and poetry. Maria talks about her organic approach to various creative pursuits, and how her work carries themes of playfulness, self-trust, and nature. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

‘Getting back to being more me’. That’s how Rich Chambers describes just one of the wider benefits he has experienced from taking the decision to ramp up his musical pursuits in midlife.As a teenager, Rich played guitar and wrote music, and was going to be a rock star. He let his school studies slip, barely passing his graduation year, and set out to become the next ‘big thing’. Unfortunately, he quickly realized that being a professional musician was not as easy as he had anticipated. After a year of playing in ‘cheesy dives’ and getting ‘you ain’t got it kid’ comments, Rich decided to go back to school. Fifteen years later the boy who nearly didn’t pass high school had a Bachelors and Masters degree, worked full-time in post-secondary education, and was contemplating studying for a PhD.Rich is now a great advocate of the opportunities that education brings, but he has also returned to his music, writing, recording, producing and releasing his own songs and building an impressively sized following. And he loves it!CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Promotion and networking for creative-activity businessesThe Creativity Found Collective offers multiple ways for members to connect and to promote what they do, and in this bonus podcast episode I delve into the origins of creativityfound.co.uk and the Collective, both born out of the Creativity Found podcast. I explain how I wanted to create a platform to help people explore their creativity and support small businesses offering creative activities or business support. Creativity Found connects creativity seekers with facilitators and businesses, allowing them to learn from each other and grow together. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

'I was unaware that it wasn't normal to fall asleep when you're sat still.'Ruth Chipperfield, a goldsmith and jewellery designer, had always experienced excessive tiredness, but didn’t think anything more of it until a chat with a friend at uni revealed to her that not everyone struggled to stay awake at their desk in the same way she did. With the advice of her great uncle in Australia – where the condition was more recognised – Ruth was diagnosed with narcolepsy, an autoimmune disease that affects the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle: when wanting to sleep a sufferer can wake up every second, and when awake they will want to sleep.At its worst for Ruth this meant collapsing up to 30 times a day, and needing constant care from her husband and mum. Ruth took time out from studying chemistry at university to apply for funding for the medication she needed to improve her life – with the help of her mother – and then to get used to it and the fundamental physiological and emotional effects that had on her. During those three years Ruth was able to visit antique fairs – always accompanied, for obvious reasons – where she was inspired to take her childhood love of junk modelling to new heights, and taught herself to work with precious metals and gems, as well as how to solder, make moulds, cast metal, and more, to create her own jewellery designs. Ruth was determined to return to uni, and completed her chemistry degree and Masters, which she is rightly very proud of, even though she had already decided that jewellery designing was the field she wanted to pursue. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

How to ease the symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome and start drawing again, without spilling ink all over the carpet!Guest  Fish Lee tells me about how his local TV weatherman played a key part in his getting to the bottom of a mystery illness that had plagued him physically, emotionally and behaviourally since he was a child, and how that diagnosis helped him to start drawing again, without spilling the ink.Fish's Tourette’s Syndrome was not diagnosed until he was in his thirties, after many years of being told he had been faking symptoms for attention. His diagnosis did not, of course, mean he was cured, and his next challenge involved working out which medications and in which doses worked best for him, as well as learning to ‘ride the waves’ of Tourette’s, rather than trying to fight against the symptoms, which would always make things worse. Fish also learned how to manage his stress, get enough exercise and sleep, and eat regularly and well.  With his life achieving more balance, he was able to start drawing again, and found digital tools helped him access his creativity and start earning money from his art after a long hiatus. Drawing and storytelling in return helped him to manage his symptoms and feel useful again – for many years Fish had been frustrated with his inability to physically help his family when his illness left him unable to move for long periods of time. Find out why it took so long for Fish to get a diagnosis and how he rebuilt his life and artistic practice once things started falling into place. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Facing fears and taking risksRobert and Linda are classical pianists who have found a unique way to combine their music with comedy, stories, and improvisations. But the shows they devised had never been done before, and were very different to what was expected of concert pianists. So, as classical musicians, Linda and Robert were unsure of how their ideas would be received. The first time they tried out a new idea in front of an audience – including their mentor – they were nervous and afraid. It was not easy for either of them to bite the bullet and risk being ridiculed.They found, thankfully, that their creative approach was welcomed and appreciated. They both went out of their comfort zones, and discovered new musical identities.Did I mention, that Robert and Linda are a married couple?After a lengthy divorce process – 11 years – Robert found that the women he was meeting in his everyday life were much younger than he was, and was introduced to Internet dating. He was not confident on using a computer, but – in 2007 – he managed to get his profile up and it was there that he met his now wife and piano duet partner Linda.We talk a lot on the Creativity Found podcast about the fears that surround starting or re-starting a creative endeavour, but what about looking for love later in life?This episode explores not only how Linda and Robert lost and re-found their love of music and performing, but also how previous relationships affected their whole lives and how they worked through those troubles and concerns to find and move on with each other.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Playing piano together (one piano, four hands) was an experimental idea for married couple Linda and Robert, one that taught them a lot about themselves and each other, which you can find out all about in the next, more usual episode of the podcast.In the meantime, enjoy their beautiful playing in this extract from their show called From Mistresses to Manhattan, whether you are listening while throwing pots in your studio in Canada, as Deborah Hughes Gahr likes to do, enjoying some alone time in the kitchen or forest, as Oxfordshire interior decorator Claire of Appleby Interiors does, or in the car, having creative thoughts while stuck in traffic, just like Chloe of Peaches and Tea.CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Maybe it's not the right time, but never say never.Natalie Smart loved working with textiles as a youngster, from hand knitting to making her own clothes. Unfortunately, Textiles as an A-Level subject was discontinued at her school just as she was about to join the sixth form. Natalie was quite academic, so she had other choices.Faced with the decision of whether or not to take out a loan to go to university, Natalie decided against it, and instead found a job in pensions. Knitting and making clothes were now hobbies enjoyed whenever she could find time to fit them in.When she was 23, Natalie’s brother tragically passed away in a car crash. It was, understandably, a difficult time for Natalie, and she threw herself into her job. However, she also started to think that perhaps she should be doing more of what she loved – hand knitting. She studied on a City and Guilds course in hand knitting and knitwear design, which she was able to fit in around her office job. The course gave her the confidence to consider working in the industry and creating her own patterns.Knitwear designing for magazines became profitable for Natalie, but she was scared of being in the public eye. This fear held her back from utilizing the opportunities she had created for herself, and she returned to office work.Now Natalie has re-found the confidence to start making patterns again, but not for knitwear.What is Natalie’s new creative love? CreativityFound.co.ukBargello a GoGo at creativityfound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite Brown Music: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

The science teacher who chose to break free from practicality, utility and patterns in textiles and paint.This week’s podcast guest, Claude Larson, has been sewing for years, while also teaching science classes to middle-school age teenagers in the US.A few years ago, Claude decided to throw out the patterns and instructions in favour of a new era of experimentation.  She stopped making practical, utilitarian items for the home and family, and began making art quilts. She studied value, taking fabrics from light to dark and playing with them to see what they could do together. She also experimented with collaging fabrics and covering them with used tea bags. This experimentation led to unexpected success, and Claude’s experimentation continues to this day, as acrylic paints come into the picture.Claude’s story is a reminder that experimentation and letting go can lead to great things. Don’t be afraid to explore your creativity and try something new. You never know where it may lead!CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here

Overcoming concerns about your singing voice post-menopause.Suzanne Noble had concerns about the tone of her voice after not having used it for many years. However, as you’ll hear in the show, she needn’t have worried, and with the help of coaching, encouragement and an inquisitive personality, Suzanne now has an ever-evolving musical repertoire.Suzanne Noble began her university studies – in the US – majoring in Musical Theatre. However, as she considered what her future performing life might involve she realized she would always be cast as: ‘. . . the quirky girlfriend’  and that she was  ‘not talented enough’  so she switched her major to Communications.On her return to the UK she thought that film making sounded exotic, so she pursued that path and successfully climbed the production-company ladder, as well as becoming a PR manager and starting a few other ventures over the years.In her fifties Suzanne wanted to sing again, but was concerned about the changes her voice had been through, partly due to the menopause and by not keeping it up in the intervening years.With the help of her vocal teacher – herself in her 50s – she learned to use and love her new voice, and has been performing dirty blues sets in London clubs ever since.She has also branched out into a different style of performing, which you can find out more about in the latest episode of the Creativity Found podcast. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundTwitter: @creativityfounClubhouse: @clairewaitebrown and Creativity Found Connect clubMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella Pallet Find out more about Kajabi and start your free trial here. Support the showSupport the show hereSubscribe to the Creativity Found mailing list hereJoin the Creativity Found Collective here