Follow Your Curiosity: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Creativity.

Why Your Creative Block Might Be a Closed Heart with Kelly Flanagan

Dr. Kelly Flanagan is a clinical psychologist whose writing and speaking have resulted in an appearance on the TODAY Show, as well as features in publications including Reader’s Digest  and Success Magazine. He’s no stranger to Follow Your Curiosity, having been on the show twice before to discuss his first book, Loveable, and his first novel, The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell.

He chose to write his forthcoming non-fiction book with input from his online community, and the result is The Road Less Triggered: Turning Conflict into Connection with a Single Choice, which will be released on March 3.

Kelly talks with me about how he chose to include others in his process and how it influenced the book, why we keep hearing so much about regulating the nervous system, what it means to be open hearted (and how to tell if your heart is closing), and more.

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction.

04:41 Community input shaped the book’s content and direction.

09:35 Feedback engagement valued more than just positive or negative notes.

14:13 Embracing vulnerability and doubt as growth opportunities in writing.

19:22 Walking and voice recording spark creativity and problem-solving.

24:13 Conversation and real-life application deepened the book’s insights.

29:19 Open-heartedness means accepting reality fully, not being a doormat.

34:46 Noticing and reopening a closed heart is a daily practice.

39:46 Nervous system dysregulation is widespread and fueled by social media.

44:30 Catching body’s early warning signs helps stop defensive behavior.

49:59 We intuitively know open versus closed heart through bodily sensations.

54:38 Creativity requires reconnecting with body wisdom and staying open-hearted.

 

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT 122: You don't have to earn your own kindness

You don't have to earn your own kindness. This episode is a look at why radical self-compassion is the creative lifestyle shift your exhaustion has been asking for.

If you’ve been treating self care like a "treat" for good behavior rather than a necessity for your wellbeing, you aren't alone and you aren't broken. In this episode, I explore why radical kindness is a vital act of resistance for exhausted perfectionists struggling with the pressure to perform.

Most mental health and self-help advice tells you to "just crush it" or optimize your way out of burnout. But on this podcast, I provide a sanctuary for messy, joyful creativity that focuses on your aliveness, not your productivity.

My Promise to You:
• 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you that you need to be "productive" to deserve a break.
• 🤷🏻‍♂️ I won't ignore the systemic pressures that make self-compassion feel like a luxury.
• 😁 I will never treat your need for rest as a failure of discipline.

What we’re exploring today:
• The Reward Trap: Why we think we have to "earn" our own kindness.
• Creative Resilience: How practicing kindness as a life force changes your creative process.
• Finding Five Minutes: Small, gentle ways to improve your well-being without the pressure to be perfect.

Sound good? If this resonates, subscribe to join our rebellion against the "shoulds."

And if you want a safe space to explore this way of being with others, the door to our next free Creativity Circle is open. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

 

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Listen Again: The Transformative Power of Play with Tim J. Myers

Hi, everyone! I've been traveling, so I'm re-upping what's probably my favorite interview of all time (which is saying a LOT). It's a conversation I think a lot of us probably need right now. If you haven't heard it before, you're in for a treat. If you've heard it before, I promise it's worth a second listen. Either way, enjoy!

Original release date: January 31, 2024

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Tim Myers does a bit of everything: he’s a writer, songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and senior lecturer at Santa Clara University, where he teaches writing. We got together to talk about the nature of creativity, which Tim calls a “sacred mystery,” including everything from the way our childhood creativity is changed by the culture as we become adults, the necessary role of play in the creative process, the transcendent experiences of awe and wonder and how they fuel us, the wisdom of following your gut, and a whole lot more.

Episode breakdown:

01:39 Kids are instantly creative, often play traditionally.

06:50 Creativity influenced by nature, nurture, educators.

15:50 Importance of creativity in education and society.

21:22 Differences between play in childhood versus "professional" adults.

24:56 Nancy switched to teaching, advisor, and writing lit mag.

30:49 Encouraging exploration of language and creative thinking.

37:04 Parents see child, lifetime of giving love.

40:35 Zen story about finding wonder in life.

45:27 Believing in progress through challenging circumstances.

50:34 Art, festivals, play as a primal need.

56:21 Semantic split between "religion" and "spirituality."

01:01:14 Falling in love based on unique personal idiosyncrasies.

01:07:23 Experimenting with writing schedule structure.

01:13:45 Craft is in choosing words for impact.

01:19:22 Writers and feedback.

01:25:00 Tim struggles with generalist vs specialist identity.

01:26:31 Passion for storytelling and visual art emerges.

01:35:38 Weekly writing schedule reduces overthinking and focus on perfection.  

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how play influences your creative process.

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.

CPT #121: Find Your Sanctuary

If you’ve been feeling demoralized by the 24-hour news cycle and the weight of the world, you aren't alone and you aren't broken. In this video, we explore why creating a safe haven for yourself isn’t about denial or being "unproductive"—it’s about reclaiming the aliveness you need to keep going.

Most advice tells you to "stay informed" until you're exhausted or "just crush it" despite the chaos. On this podcast, I provide a sanctuary for messy, joyful creativity for people who are tired of the pressure to perform when the world feels like it’s burning.

My Promise to You:

• 🤦🏻‍♂️ I’ll never tell you to force productivity through resistance.
• 🤷🏻‍♂️ I won’t ask you to ignore your intuition or reality to fit an ideal.
• 😁 I will never imply you are "broken" because you need a break.

What we’re exploring today:

• The News Cycle Cost: Why it’s okay to say "no" to the constant beating at your attention.
• Creativity as Survival: Why awe, wonder, and beauty are the things that make being here worthwhile.
• Finding Five Minutes: How to give yourself permission to pull back and reconnect with yourself.

Sound good? If so, subscribe so you don't miss our upcoming guidance on escaping the 'shoulds'!

And if you need a safe place to come and be with others right now, I invite you to join us for our next free Creativity Circle. (Don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

 

Music, Determination, and Asking for Help with Segun Akinola

Segun Akinola is a British-Nigerian composer for film and television. He is most known for his music in the three series of Doctor Who starring the first female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker. A BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2017, Segun’s other work includes scoring Sundance 2019 favorite and World Soundtrack Award nominee The Last Tree, Apple TV+ feature 9/11: Inside The President's War Room, and the BBC's landmark series Black and British: A Forgotten History. His recent projects include Origin: The Story of the Basketball Africa League, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, and the  BBC series Kingdom, narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Segun talks with me about music as storytelling, the importance of determination and how we undervalue asking for help, the power of curiosity to drive learning, creative growth through collaboration, and a lot more.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:04 Discovering music as a child.

08:37 Transformers film sparked deep interest in movie music.

12:11 Access to YouTube helped him learn about modern composers.

16:39 More composers today due to online resources and courses.

20:19 Networking and persistence led to first professional composing gig.

24:07 Collaboration and peer learning valued as much as formal education.

28:04 Focuses on music as essential part of storytelling.

32:07 Creative growth comes from tackling difficult, unexpected musical challenges.

36:37 Film scores' emotional impact, balancing craft and artistry.

41:08 Fans and social media now deeply engage with film music.

45:27 Composing for Doctor Who brought excitement and creative freedom.

50:52 Always trying new styles, learning, and refining unique sound.

 

 

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in music and Doctor Who.

 

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and join us for the Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT #120: Play Is Resistance

"No thanks. I’m going to play today."

This episode is a little different.

If you feel exhausted, demoralized, or like a "ghost of your old self," you aren't broken—you are a human being responding to a global situation that feels less stable every day. In this episode, I explore why creative rebellion is a vital act of resistance. This isn't about being productive or making a statement; it’s about reminding yourself that you are still alive.

I’m Nancy Norbeck, Messy Muse Mentor, and I help exhausted perfectionists find gentle, playful ways to spark expression again. This episode is a call to reclaim your aliveness through small, five-minute acts of "useless" play that keep your head above water.

What you can expect from this episode (and this show):

• 🤦🏻‍♂️ No Pressure: I’ll never tell you to force productivity through resistance.
• 🤷🏻‍♂️ No Bypassing: We won't ignore reality or live in denial; we reconnect with the parts of reality the headlines miss.
• 😁 No "Shoulds": This is a sanctuary, not a school. There are no requirements to be an "artist" or produce "good" art.

I discuss the logic of demoralization and why staying connected to your joy makes you harder to control. If you’ve been yearning for a space to just be without the pressure to perform, this conversation is for you.

Ready to join the rebellion?

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe so you never miss a dose of creative permission.

Take Action: If you need a physical space of sanctuary right now, I invite you to join our free Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle this Saturday at 3:00 PM Eastern. It’s an online, low-to-no pressure space where you can draw, daydream, or simply exist in a creative community.

Join the Free Creativity Circle here (don't forget to confirm your subscription!)

From Dyslexic 'Daydreamer' to Shakespearean Legend with Louise Jameson

Louise Jameson is a classically trained actress whose first love is the stage—she spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the beginning of her career—but she also became known to millions of British television viewers through her roles in such hugely popular television series as Doctor Who, Tenko, Bergerac  and  EastEnders. Her recent theatre credits include Vincent River and directing the UK tour of Revenge. Her audio credits include Doctor Who (Big Finish), writing ATA Girl, about the women of the Air Transport Authority during World War II, and  multiple titles for BBC Audio and Audible.

Louise talks with me about her unusually young start at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and how her training continued at the Royal Shakespeare Company, how her Doctor Who character, Leela of the Sevateem, reflected the feminism of the 1970s (and how she didn’t), how she started writing, and what she thinks of the opportunities for—and representation of—women in film and TV over the years.

If you want to watch this conversation, you can see it here on YouTube!

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:00 Louise describes childhood creativity, daydreaming, and reading early.

08:00 Drama school, age gap with classmates, and strict discipline.

12:00 Acting requires teamwork; Louise reflects on early career.

16:00 Louise's Shakespeare passion, favorite roles and performance experiences.

20:00 Louise talks about landing Leela role in Doctor Who.

24:00 Doctor Who impacts life daily; gratitude for lasting connections.

28:00 Leela's feminist traits and costume choices, fighting stereotypes.

32:00 Leela's intelligence and evolution, relationship with other companions.

36:00 Influence of audio plays; Gallifrey series has strong female fandom.

40:00 Louise discusses writing, self-doubt, and encouragement from collaborators.

44:00 Directing stage, teaching drama; regrets and living in the now.

48:00 Shakespeare’s rhythmic influence on Louise’s writing and teaching.

52:00 Conversation shifts to social media, attention economy, and technology.

56:00 Louise analyzes Shakespeare’s poetic technique and its storytelling power.

01:00 Louise explains collective magic of live theater and storytelling.

01:04 Progress and ongoing challenges for women in TV and film.

 

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who.

 

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

CPT #119: Why Big Goals Fail

Ready to break free from unrealistic New Year's resolutions and finally make lasting progress on your goals? Let's take a look at a brain-based approach to achieving your resolutions without burning out or resenting yourself.

If the light inside you has gone out and you can’t seem to get it to spark again, the One Lock, One Key Illumination Session may be for you. It's a pilot offer with special pricing for the first 20 people who sign up here.

 

Want more tips? Check out all my previous Creative Pep Talks in this playlist!

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks! 

If you'd like to stay up to date on things like my courses and also get podcast and event updates, and my latest musings, subscribe to The Spark! 

Listen Again: Harnessing Nature's Wisdom with Jocelyn Hastie

We're seeing out 2025 with Jocelyn Hastie, another favorite episode from this year, and well worth revisiting.  I'll be back with some fabulous all-new interviews in 2026!

Original release date: May 21, 2025

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Jocelyn Hastie spent 30 years as an accountant before the combination of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and a sudden job loss forced a radical turn, leading her to work full-time with horses as a way to foster leadership skills and personal growth. She joins me to talk about why it’s not fair to judge accountancy as boring, how bad management and leadership happens (including her own realization that she was a bad manager), what we lose when we forget the lessons of the natural world and our roots in it, what we can learn from the animals around us—including horses—and more.

Read about a lesson I learned from Jocelyn here.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

04:25 Family influence suppressed creativity; art rediscovered after cancer diagnosis.

08:32 Jocelyn reflects on common misconceptions about accounting creativity.

12:39 Accountants add value, not just boring number crunchers.

16:32 Jocelyn’s career choice influenced by her father and education.

20:06 Radical life change after cancer and job loss in 2016.

24:35 Horses revealed Jocelyn's management flaws; learned new leadership styles.

28:09 Importance of authenticity and boundaries, not pleasing everyone.

32:25 Animals and nature as teachers for leadership and mindfulness.

36:05 Jocelyn describes her non-riding retreats and somatic awareness.

40:34 Emphasizes intentional learning versus just-in-case learning.

44:05 Life shifts can come from crisis or noticing “little knocks.”

48:54 Childhood expectations shaped independence; cancer forced acceptance of help.

52:23 Lessons from herd dynamics and horses’ instinct to regain calm.

56:07 Gestalt coaching emphasizes honoring emotions and shaking off fear.

 

If you’ve been tearing up when you encounter other people’s art because you’ve lost touch with your own, we should talk.

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Listen Again: Creative Pep Talk #58: Do Nothing

Here's a holiday reminder: it's okay to do nothing while you're off work until the new year. And I hope you have a great time, whatever your holiday looks like!

Original release date: May 31, 2023

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It may sound counterintuitive, but doing nothing can be really good for you. (If you just felt your whole body relax at the mere thought, that's a sign!) I'll tell you why in this short episode.

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Get the 6 Creative Beliefs that Are Screwing You Up, plus biweekly updates on what's going on in my world (including upcoming events) for free!

I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com, or contact me on Post.news, Spoutible, and Mastodon!