23.3K
Downloads
265
Episodes
Some of the most interesting and inspiring stories I’ve heard are about people’s creative journeys and what they’ve learned along the way. The world needs to hear more of those stories, and now you can hear them on the Follow Your Curiosity podcast. Twice a month, you’ll hear a new interview where we delve into one person’s creative journey. Some of these folks will be better known than others, but they’ll all hold up a mirror to the importance of creative endeavor in every life. In the alternating weeks, you’ll hear short Creative Pep Talk episodes where I feature a creativity tool or tip to help you keep your creative energy flowing. You’ll find something you can use in every episode of Follow Your Curiosity!
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
CPT #77: Embrace Normal
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
It's easy to think of "normal" as an insult, or at least not something to aspire to. You might want to rethink your perceptions of normal, though. I explain why in this short episode.
Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!
Please leave a review, and in it, tell us how you embrace normal.
Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
The Crossroads of Conflict and Creativity with Alex Poppe
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Alex Poppe decided when she was in her 20s to leave her corporate job and become an actor, with no acting experience at all. After acting for 12 years, she followed her travel instincts, becoming certified to teach English overseas and moving to multiple countries, including Iraq, to pursue teaching and humanitarian work, and writing. Alex is the author of four works of fiction: Duende, Jinwar and Other Stories, Moxie, and Girl, World. Her writing has won numerous awards, including the International Book Award, Reader’s Choice Book Award, and a 35 over 35 Debut Book Award. Alex tells me about her decision to become an actor, how she made the move into teaching abroad—and what she’s learned from both experiences—how her time abroad has influenced her writing, and more.
Episode breakdown:
05:28 16 years teaching, actor training influences writing.
09:55 Networking in theater leads to humanitarian aid.
15:13 Teaching experiences in Middle East were heartfelt.
17:59 Studied and worked in Erbil and Germany.
21:55 Children witnessing war, finding innocence amid turmoil.
25:40 Homesickness, friendships, and social pressures at boarding school.
32:42 Shocked friend describes disturbing bar experience.
33:30 A shocking experience inspired her book writing.
37:14 Returned to the States, started writing in 2010.
41:49 Lyrical book with dense language.
47:30 Exploring character, tone, and emotion in writing.
51:56 Navigating uncertainty in creative process with flexibility.
55:33 Book inspired by old photo, friendship celebration.
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 about a time when you took a risk.
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.
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Replay: CPT #36: Start Where You Are
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
I've been under the weather, so here's a pep talk worth revisiting: If you're not doing what you want to do because you think you're not ready or don't have what you need, might I very gently and lovingly suggest that you're wrong?
I'll be back next time with something new! :)
Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!
Please leave a review and in it, let us know what YOU are starting, from right where you are!
Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Writing, Memory, and Healing with Kerry Malawista
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
My guest this week is Kerry Malawista, a psychoanalyst and writer who uses writing to heal. She’s the co-director of the New Directions in Writing project, which offers programs in writing from a psychological perspective. Her publication credits include the Washington Post, New York Times, and Delmarva Review, which nominated her for a Pushcart Prize. Her first novel, Meet the Moon, focuses on a young teen after the loss of her mother. Kerry talks with me about how she came to writing later in life, creating a writing program—The Things They Carry Project—to help healthcare workers cope with the pandemic, how she turned her own story of loss into a novel, how we perceive memory and truth, and more.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Parents' encouragement led to unexpected creativity.
04:40 First published piece inspired by Costa Rica trip.
09:33 Overcame challenges, found success, inspired others.
12:09 Email testimonials show positive impact on frontline workers.
15:57 Led groups for teachers, immigrants, college-bound youth.
20:32 Reading shapes perception and understanding of truth.
22:59 Realization of an impossible event from memory.
24:34 Using writing to process powerful personal experiences.
30:25 Struggling writer finds inspiration to use imagination.
32:17 Fiction captures therapist's view on loss and resilience.
34:58 Conveying ideas in a novel can be challenging.
38:48 Memoir vs novel: finding the right structure.
43:39 Humorous movie turns into husband's choking ordeal.
47:07 Effective writing balances trauma with humor.
50:29 Use all 5 senses to describe experiences.
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 you deal with feedback.
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.
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
CPT #76: Recognize Your Creativity
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Do you give yourself credit for your creativity? A lot of us don't, including people you wouldn't expect. You really should recognize your own creativity regularly—I'll explain why in this short episode.
Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!
Please leave a review, and in it, tell us how you recognize your creativity—or how you'd like to.
Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Revision, Rejection, and Perseverance with Kevin Carey
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Kevin Carey came to writing and filmmaking later in his career, but has wasted no time producing a wide range of poetry, fiction, and documentaries, including a crime novel, Murder in the Marsh, and a middle grade novel, Junior Miles and the Junkman. He’s also the coordinator of creative writing at Salem State University in Massachusetts, where he teaches intro and upper level creative writing courses. Kevin tells me how he got his start with writing, how his MFA experience changed both his writing and the opportunities available to him, the importance of reading your work to others, and much more.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Stranger's grief sparked passion for poetry teaching.
08:53 Transitioning from poetry to fiction writing journey.
14:54 Drawing inspiration from hometown for crime novel.
21:40 Deciding not to work with an agent.
26:12 Friend's art gallery led to film business.
28:03 Close friendships and passion in documentary filmmaking.
35:28 Writers struggle to let go of perfection.
40:09 Encouraging honest feedback, experimenting, and releasing pressure.
45:38 Successful writers helping and inspiring young writers.
50:19 Diverse students in writing classes seek guidance.
58:42 MFA program: discovering joy in completing novels.
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 you deal with feedback.
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.
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
CPT #75: Let Yourself Be Happy
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
Wednesday Feb 07, 2024
It sounds so simple, but we hardly ever let ourselves be happy, especially with our work. Why is that a problem? I explain in this super short episode.
Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!
Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when you let yourself be happy.
Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
The Transformative Power of Play with Tim J. Myers
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
Wednesday Jan 31, 2024
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.
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
CPT #74: Structure
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Wednesday Jan 24, 2024
Folks who consider themselves creative often have a REALLY hard time with structure, but it can be one of your best allies. I explain why in this short episode.
Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!
Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when structure helped you.
Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Comedy and Teamwork with Marc Kaye
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Wednesday Jan 17, 2024
Marc Kaye calls himself a “restless creative”—a musician, writer, and comedian who loves to tell stories and make people laugh. He also, through his company, VitalConex, uses those skills to help develop the vital connections needed for focused, united teams and creative problem solving. Marc tells me how—and why—he took the leap into stand-up, how his comedy and his writing skills have influenced each other, and how he takes both of those, and his business partner’s therapy background, and creates programs to help teams create a sense of psychological safety that lets them do difficult work from a place of greater unity.
Episode breakdown:
00:00 Childhood creativity shapes lifelong passion for creation.
05:37 Piano, writing, science, marketing, stand-up comedy.
07:49 Email to Gary Goldman about Last Comic Standing.
11:48 Got hooked on comedy, performed sporadically. Kids grew.
15:32 Song critique circle provides valuable but diverse feedback.
18:26 Improving character portrayal in writing and comedy.
21:41 An exercise in making unexpected connections.
23:45 Comedy, improv, and creativity in storytelling.
27:23 Adults miss suspending belief in harmless ways.
31:03 Comedy clubs are a past entertainment trend.
34:24 Challenges with DEI initiatives and team building.
36:42 Avoiding the “consultant” label
40:33 Using humor to build real interpersonal connections.
43:12 Identifying strengths and weaknesses through team activity.
46:24 Human experience involves shared emotions and perspectives.
52:26 Humor is crucial in navigating change.
54:38 Finding humor in life is a superpower.
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 about a time when humor made something easier for you. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing and theatre.