The Creativity for All Podcast

That's all, folks!

Season 3 of The Creativity for All Podcast has concluded with a fabulous conversation with inventor Solveiga Pakštaite [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-48-exploring-product-design-with-solveiga-pak%C5%A1taite], and this feels like the right time for me to put an end to this fabulous - but time-consuming [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/behind-the-scenes-of-the-creativity-for-all-podcast] - adventure, in order to focus on my writing [https://www.blueasanorange.com/mywriting]. I've loved meeting such a wide range of guests and exploring creativity in Maths [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/14-exploring-maths-creatively-with-rob-leslie], education [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-2-learning-and-creativity], neuroscience [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-37-the-creative-joy-of-exploring-the-human-brain-with-alex-cayco-gajic], mental health [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-45-challenging-our-beliefs-creatively-with-voula-tsoflias], kindness [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-43-exploring-the-exponential-power-of-kindness-with-becca-reed], marketing [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-35-activating-our-creativity-with-sue-keogh], pottery [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/10-embracing-uncertainty-in-creativity-with-kate-spence], glass engraving [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-25-reflecting-light-creatively-with-kate-jones], weaving [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-47-exploring-the-magic-of-weaving-with-rosie-may-greenbank], willow sculpture [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-46-exploring-nature-through-creativity-with-emma-stothard], speed painting [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-21-sharing-the-joy-of-creativity-with-sarah-rowan], photography [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-39-exploring-our-creativity-through-photography-with-jahan-saber], acting [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/16-reflecting-the-world-creatively-with-jesse-fox], directing [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/6-being-creative-together-with-dominique-henz], and yoga [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/8-rethinking-yoga-creatively-with-julie-martin], to name but a few of the topics discussed in the course of three seasons. And I've loved wrestling with topics, such as, perfectionism [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/perfectionism-creativity] (a very popular episode, interestingly), inspiration [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-32-creativity-and-inspiration], failure [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-20-failure-and-creativity], instinct [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-19-instinct-and-creativity], ease [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/13-creativity-ease], and the pressure to be creative [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/11-the-pressure-to-be-creative], as well as discovering your take on creativity [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-30-your-take-on-creativity] in my solo episodes. Never say never! I might be back later on with a whole new range of guests and topics, but for the time being, I'm going to focus on my writing. Thank you for listening!

Episode 48. Exploring product design with Solveiga Pakštaite

The moment I came across an article about Solveiga Pakštaite, the inventor of a temperature-sensitive food label that shows when products really spoil to fight food waste and improve food safety, I knew I had to get in touch.   Solveiga is also an entrepreneur with an industrial design background. She is the founder & director of Mimica and was named MIT Technology Review's Inventor of the Year. She also holds an honorary lectureship at UCL and consults on innovation projects for leading consumer and technology companies.   In this episode, she shares her take on creativity, what makes design – of a toothbrush, vegetable peeler, or push door – truly functional and the difference between specialised and inclusive design. She also describes the various stages of a rigorous design process, focusing on problem-solving, as opposed to embracing solutions too early and too quickly.   We discuss the value of testing one's own creativity, the logic of expiry dates, and why the focus on reducing the use of plastic has pushed aside food waste and food loss, which are huge sustainability issues. After listening to this conversation, you won't be looking at the most mundane objects around you in quite the same way, so I hope you enjoy it. More about Solveiga Solveiga's website [http://www.designbysol.co.uk/] Solveiga on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/designbysol/] Solveiga on Twitter [https://twitter.com/DesignBySol_] More about Mimica Mimica [https://www.mimicalab.com/] Mimica on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mimicalab/] Mimica on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mimicalab] Videos A day in the life - Startup Founder [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsOwcDcIELE&t=12s] Mimica on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4YrWTVf0Et0ysr_Ni0C6Cw] Combat food waste video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grx6VndbQhg] Articles Positive News article [https://www.positive.news/society/mimica-label-know-food-gone-bad/] Business Insider article [https://www.businessinsider.com/sc/startup-founder-invented-product-could-reduce-food-waste-2021-1?r=US&IR=T] ABOUT THE CREATIVITY FOR ALL PODCAST A maths teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/14-exploring-maths-creatively-with-rob-leslie] can be creative. So can a financial adviser [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/18-creating-our-lives-with-julia-magnay], a community builder [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/12-coming-alive-through-creativity-with-shilpa-shah], and a yoga teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/8-rethinking-yoga-creatively-with-julie-martin]. Not to mention a speed painter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-21-sharing-the-joy-of-creativity-with-sarah-rowan], a potter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/10-embracing-uncertainty-in-creativity-with-kate-spence], or an actor [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/16-reflecting-the-world-creatively-with-jesse-fox]! Creativity is everywhere and I love nothing more than to explore it in The Creativity for All Podcast [https://www.blueasanorange.com/podcast], either by focusing on a theme – such as perfectionism, feeding your creative brain, or the pressure to be creative – in my solo episodes, or through my conversations with all manner of creative people. I want to challenge the perception of creativity and, in the process, debunk many myths attached to it: it's painful, for artists and the chosen few, etc. My guests and I are keen to zoom in and dissect the origin of an idea, the impulse that makes us engage with our own creativity, with the hope that it will inspire listeners to get creative too. My podcast is designed for anyone who's already being creative, or is tempted to use their creativity, in particular those of you who think they are not creative or can never be. I would love to change your mind!

Episode 47. Exploring the magic of weaving with Rosie-may Greenbank

In September 2022, a stall at the Ely market caught my attention, not just because every woven piece was beautiful, but because I saw at the far end of the table a small weaving loom, which made me think, quite rightly, that the creator of these lovely pieces was worth having a chat with. Rosie-may Greenbank is a traditional hand-weaver, cloth designer, maker, photographer, and web designer. Working with heritage skills to create artisan cloth, she uses traditional wooden looms, very much in the same way weavers have for hundreds of years. During the first lockdown she set up her business Mays Wonderfully Woven with the help of the Prince's Trust. She designs and weaves artisanal cloth, which is then hand-crafted into a variety of bespoke apparel, furnishings, and gifts. In this episode, Rosie-may shares her take on creativity and her creative process, from having a specific inspiration point – a colour or yarn, a visit to Bletchley Park, or the sharp contours of a piece of metal or even paper – to drawing and creating a design based on a series of numbers in a grid system, which she translates into a piece of woven cloth. To her, weave is a language. Her designs are meticulously planned, allowing her to have a flexible approach when creating her pieces, to experiment and immerse herself in the flow of weaving. Rosie-may describes the magic of building fabric, effectively creating a piece out of nothing, how the tradition of weaving has been passed on through generations, the emotional connection she has with each piece she weaves and the pride she takes in not only carrying out such a tradition, but in making it accessible to others through her online tutorials. Fabric, as she reminds us beautifully, is an integral part of our lives and each of her pieces has a unique story. This conversation made me want to grab a pencil and draw, so I hope you enjoy it and will feel equally inspired by it! Useful Links Rosie-may's website [https://www.mayswonderfullywoven.co.uk/] Rosie's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/mays_wonderfully_woven/] Rosie's Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/MaysWonderfullyWoven/] Rosie's Ely market dates [https://www.mayswonderfullywoven.co.uk/mays-market-dates] Meet the women working wonders with thread [https://www.velvetmag.co.uk/homes-and-gardens/craft-meet-the-women-working-wonders-with-thread-9223097/] ABOUT THE CREATIVITY FOR ALL PODCAST A maths teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/14-exploring-maths-creatively-with-rob-leslie] can be creative. So can a financial adviser [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/18-creating-our-lives-with-julia-magnay], a community builder [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/12-coming-alive-through-creativity-with-shilpa-shah], and a yoga teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/8-rethinking-yoga-creatively-with-julie-martin]. Not to mention a speed painter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-21-sharing-the-joy-of-creativity-with-sarah-rowan], a potter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/10-embracing-uncertainty-in-creativity-with-kate-spence], or an actor [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/16-reflecting-the-world-creatively-with-jesse-fox]! Creativity is everywhere and I love nothing more than to explore it in The Creativity for All Podcast [https://www.blueasanorange.com/podcast], either by focusing on a theme – such as perfectionism, feeding your creative brain, or the pressure to be creative – in my solo episodes, or through my conversations with all manner of creative people. I want to challenge the perception of creativity and, in the process, debunk many myths attached to it: it's painful, for artists and the chosen few, etc. My guests and I are keen to zoom in and dissect the origin of an idea, the impulse that makes us engage with our own creativity, with the hope that it will inspire listeners to get creative too. My podcast is designed for anyone who's already being creative, or is tempted to use their creativity, in particular those of you who think they are not creative or can never be. I would love to change your mind!

Episode 46. Exploring nature through creativity with Emma Stothard

Sculpture, and especially willow sculpture, has always fascinated me, so when I came across Emma Stothard's website, I knew I had to get in touch. Emma is a Yorkshire-based willow and wire sculptor. Inspired by the creatures of the North York Moors, where she lives, she creates sculptures of wild/domestic animals and birds. After receiving a BA Honours in Fine Art from Southampton Solent University, she briefly moved to the Somerset Levels to learn the process of growing, coppicing, bundling, and weaving willow. In 2001, thanks to a loan from The Prince's Trust, Emma started her sculpting business. Her sculptures are exhibited nationally and internationally, with some gracing the gardens of stately homes, galleries, and private homes around the country, including a large-scale portrait of King Charles III's beloved Jack Russell dog 'Tigga', made from willow grown on the Highgrove Estate and sited there. Emma shares her take on creativity as a continual flow of movement of the materials and of ideas, the relationship between her work and the outdoor space, from which she draws her inspiration, and how she's always pushing herself to explore her own creativity and learn something new, using different scales (from mice to dragons, elephants, and small castles), different mediums (willow, silver, bronze and copper wire, clay, ceramics), and exploring new fields (such as, jewellery, homeware, and garden furniture), with the view to creating functional pieces with a sculptural aspect. She describes the process of going from a 2-D drawing to a 3-D sculpture and of welding a metal armature as a basis to weave the willow around, giving her the freedom to create the shapes she wants. She also explains why she chose willow primarily and what makes it such an evocative and enjoyable medium. From celebrating Whitby's fishing heritage to sculpting hares and six-foot tall scarecrows, there's a palpable sense of excitement in every project Emma takes on, sometimes even adding personal touches to her sculptures and, in the process, attaching a story to them. I had a wonderful time talking to Emma and learning about her creative process, so I hope you enjoy our conversation. Emma's website [https://www.emmastothard.com/] On Instagram: @emmastothard [https://www.instagram.com/emmastothard/?hl=en] On FB: Emma Stothard Sculpture [https://en-gb.facebook.com/EmmaStothardSculptures/] On Twitter: @emmastothardart [https://twitter.com/emmastothardart] ABOUT THE CREATIVITY FOR ALL PODCAST A maths teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/14-exploring-maths-creatively-with-rob-leslie] can be creative. So can a financial adviser [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/18-creating-our-lives-with-julia-magnay], a community builder [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/12-coming-alive-through-creativity-with-shilpa-shah], and a yoga teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/8-rethinking-yoga-creatively-with-julie-martin]. Not to mention a speed painter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-21-sharing-the-joy-of-creativity-with-sarah-rowan], a potter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/10-embracing-uncertainty-in-creativity-with-kate-spence], or an actor [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/16-reflecting-the-world-creatively-with-jesse-fox]! Creativity is everywhere and I love nothing more than to explore it in The Creativity for All Podcast [https://www.blueasanorange.com/podcast], either by focusing on a theme – such as perfectionism, feeding your creative brain, or the pressure to be creative – in my solo episodes, or through my conversations with all manner of creative people. I want to challenge the perception of creativity and, in the process, debunk many myths attached to it: it's painful, for artists and the chosen few, etc. My guests and I are keen to zoom in and dissect the origin of an idea, the impulse that makes us engage with our own creativity, with the hope that it will inspire listeners to get creative too. My podcast is designed for anyone who's already being creative, or is tempted to use their creativity, in particular those of you who think they are not creative or can never be. I would love to change your mind!

Episode 45. Challenging our beliefs creatively with Voula Tsoflias

Today's guest, Voula Tsoflias, is a writer of psychological fiction and non-fiction psychology, combining her two passions in life: fiction writing and psychology. Following a long and happy career as a corporate psychologist, she now devotes her time to writing and related activities. She's finishing her third novel, Halo. Her first novel, Honor's Shadow, was published by Karnac in 2012. She's a contributing author to the DK Psychology book and the co-founder of Resilience for Writers, with author Isabel Costello, supporting writers through the specific challenges of trying to get published, with workshops and writings. Voula is also the Ambassador for Corporate Sponsorship for the charity Bounce Forward [https://bounceforward.com/], dedicated to developing the psychological fitness of next generations of children and young people, through high-quality teaching in schools. In her professional work as a psychologist, she applied the science of positive psychology, working closely with leaders facing complex business challenges. A powerful element of that, is the identification of obstacles to goals, and how to overcome them, which is also a fundamental element of most fiction. For Voula, psychology and storytelling are profoundly entwined, which is one of the many reasons I've invited her on the podcast. I've known her as a writer and mentor for close to nine years and I was curious to hear her take, not only on creativity and the ways to explore it, but also on emotional resilience, a topic which has been on my mind for many years. To her being creative, means thinking and seeing things differently, experimenting through a process which is both bold and challenging. She explains the core principles of Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), from which most therapies spring, how we can use our thoughts to down-regulate our feelings, as well as the various ways in which we can address our own self-criticism and "wardrobe of beliefs" we cling to. We discuss the notion of flexibility as a key component of positive psychology and creativity, the definition of realistic optimism, why self-kindness isn't as natural as being kind to others, and the creative ways we have at our disposal to reframe our internal narratives, in order to live a more fulfilling and resilient life. I finished our discussion feeling inspired and invigorated, so I hope you enjoy it. Voula's website [https://voulatsoflias.com/] Books/websites mentioned by Voula during our conversation: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life, Martin E.P. Seligman (1990), ISBN: 978-1473684317 The Stories We Live By: Personal Myths and the Making of the Self, Dan P. McAdams (1993), ISBN: 9781572301887 The DK Psychology Book [https://voulatsoflias.com/work/the-psychology-book/] Honor's Shadow [https://voulatsoflias.com/work/honors-shadow/] Rick Hanson's website [https://www.rickhanson.net/] ABOUT THE CREATIVITY FOR ALL PODCAST A maths teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/14-exploring-maths-creatively-with-rob-leslie] can be creative. So can a financial adviser [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/18-creating-our-lives-with-julia-magnay], a community builder [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/12-coming-alive-through-creativity-with-shilpa-shah], and a yoga teacher [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/8-rethinking-yoga-creatively-with-julie-martin]. Not to mention a speed painter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/episode-21-sharing-the-joy-of-creativity-with-sarah-rowan], a potter [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/10-embracing-uncertainty-in-creativity-with-kate-spence], or an actor [https://www.blueasanorange.com/post/16-reflecting-the-world-creatively-with-jesse-fox]! Creativity is everywhere and I love nothing more than to explore it in The Creativity for All Podcast [https://www.blueasanorange.com/podcast], either by focusing on a theme – such as perfectionism, feeding your creative brain, or the pressure to be creative – in my solo episodes, or through my conversations with all manner of creative people. I want to challenge the perception of creativity and, in the process, debunk many myths attached to it: it's painful, for artists and the chosen few, etc. My guests and I are keen to zoom in and dissect the origin of an idea, the impulse that makes us engage with our own creativity, with the hope that it will inspire listeners to get creative too. My podcast is designed for anyone who's already being creative, or is tempted to use their creativity, in particular those of you who think they are not creative or can never be. I would love to change your mind!