Perfectly Imperfect with Berenice Howard-Smith: How Grief Reshapes Creative Work

Perfectly Imperfect with Berenice Howard-Smith: How Grief Reshapes Creative Work

Berenice Howard Smith shares her multifaceted journey as a designer, podcaster, and advocate for those who are childless not by choice. She discusses the importance of embracing creativity as a means of survival and healing, the value of community and support networks, and the challenges of navigating social media as a creative. Berenice emphasises the significance of authenticity in storytelling and encourages listeners to reach out for help when feeling lost or broken. Her insights on the intersection of fear and creativity, as well as the power of messiness in the creative process, provide valuable lessons for anyone in the creative field. ---------------------------------------- Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com [info@creativelyeccentric.com] Podlink [https://pod.link/1842120062?view=apps&sort=popularity] Subscribe & Listen [https://www.creativelyeccentric.com/] Apply to be a guest - Waitlist [https://creatively-eccentric.kit.com/season2waitlist] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativelyeccentric/] YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/@creativelyeccentric?si=TQDEDYCYgkcPteRz] Buy a Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/creativelyeccentric] ---------------------------------------- Guest Instagram Hello Lovely Design [https://www.instagram.com/berenice_hellolovelydesign/] Contact - Website [https://www.hellolovely.design/] ---------------------------------------- Takeaway * Failure is a natural part of the creative process and not a personal flaw. * Creativity can serve as a refuge and a way to heal from life's challenges. * Embracing messiness and accidents can lead to unexpected and innovative ideas. * Authenticity and honesty foster stronger connections and community. * Sharing stories of vulnerability helps others feel less alone in their struggles. ---------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Berenice Howard Smith 02:11 Navigating Life's Messy Journey 05:07 Creativity as a Healing Process 08:01 The Role of Failure and Fear 11:01 Exploring Creative Freedom 14:07 Curiosity and Diverse Interests 17:02 Finding Community and Support 23:02 Building Connections Beyond Labels 25:21 The Power of Community and Support 27:52 Navigating Childlessness and Shared Experiences 30:06 The Importance of Listening in Storytelling 33:08 Authenticity vs. Perfection in Social Media 38:00 Red Flags and Personal Boundaries in Work 40:08 Creative Inspirations and Personal Growth 45:27 Encouragement for the Struggling Creative 46:38 Outro ---------------------------------------- Creatively Eccentric™

Overlooked to Unforgettable: Turning Your Identity Into Your Competitive Edge with Johanna Parvedy

Johanna, the founder of KCLAB,, shares her journey from a corporate marketing background to empowering culturally diverse creators. She discusses the importance of representation, visibility, and authenticity in marketing, emphasising the need for a supportive community. She also addresses the challenges faced by black, mixed, and POC entrepreneurs and the significance of unlearning societal norms to embrace one's true identity. The discussion highlights the power of storytelling and the necessity of creating spaces for diverse voices in the marketing landscape. ---------------------------------------- Takeaways * Challenges faced by culturally diverse entrepreneurs * Strategies for authentic visibility without burnout * The role of identity and cultural fluency in branding ---------------------------------------- Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com [info@creativelyeccentric.com] Podlink [https://pod.link/1842120062?view=apps&sort=popularity] Subscribe & Listen [https://www.creativelyeccentric.com/] Apply to be a guest - Waitlist [https://creatively-eccentric.kit.com/season2waitlist] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativelyeccentric/] YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/@creativelyeccentric?si=TQDEDYCYgkcPteRz] Buy a Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/creativelyeccentric] ---------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Empowering Diverse Voices in Marketing 03:05 Navigating a Messy Journey: From Science to Marketing 05:40 Unlearning Limitations: Embracing Authority and Visibility 08:11 The Importance of Representation in Branding 10:52 Authority vs. Visibility: Building Your Brand Identity 13:57 Being Unapologetically You: Embracing Authenticity 16:27 Breaking the Cycle: Redefining Visibility Strategies 19:30 Navigating Burnout and Community Support 21:06 The Importance of Representation in Entrepreneurship 22:58 Overcoming Barriers for Culturally Diverse Entrepreneurs 24:55 Monetizing Expertise Without Commodifying Identity 29:24 Lighthearted Insights and Creative Rituals 34:06 Authenticity and Its Impact on Future Generations ---------------------------------------- Guest Instagram - Kclab - Media [https://www.instagram.com/kclab.media/] Made Visable By Jo [https://www.instagram.com/madevisiblebyjo/] Contact - Website [https://kclab.media/home/] ---------------------------------------- Creatively Eccentric™

Why Being Misunderstood Might Be Your Creative Superpower with Steve Chapman

In this engaging conversation, Steve Chapman shares his multifaceted journey as an artist, writer, and podcaster. He reflects on the messiness of life, the importance of reconnecting with childhood creativity, and the human side of creativity as a means of self-expression. ---------------------------------------- Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com [info@creativelyeccentric.com] Subscribe & Listen [https://www.creativelyeccentric.com/] Apply to be a guest - Waitlist [https://creatively-eccentric.kit.com/season2waitlist] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativelyeccentric/] YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/@creativelyeccentric?si=TQDEDYCYgkcPteRz] Buy a Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/creativelyeccentric] ---------------------------------------- Guest Steve Chapman's Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/SteveXOH/] Creative Adventures Podcast [https://pod.link/1835122086/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC0xODk5ODU1OA] Website [https://www.canscorpionssmoke.com/] ---------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Steve Chapman and his creative identity 00:57 Resonance with bold voices and messy journeys 01:14 The beauty of messiness in creative life 01:36 Valuing strangeness and neurodivergence  02:29 Reconnecting with the playful, free spirit of childhood 03:10 The contrast between free childhood and cautious adulthood 05:48 How to reconnect with your creative innocence 06:35 Quantum flirting and openness to inspiration 08:44 Creativity as a way of being human 10:37 The essence of spontaneous self-expression 12:11 The internal and external freedom in creativity 13:27 Why we hide our process and how to celebrate wonkiness 14:44 The ongoing presence of fear and anxiety in creative work 16:59 The curious project of the silent podcast 18:13 The adventure of recording silence with celebrities 21:21 The power of silence and presence in conversations 22:18 The magic of stage presence and masks 23:59 Designing meaningful endings in creative projects 24:44 Drop in and out of the industry for freedom 26:00 Staying on the edges of creativity to protect authenticity 27:01 Challenging norms and questioning industry standards 29:23 The importance of inner work and self-belief 32:03 Masks as a mirror to hidden parts of ourselves 34:52 The transformative power of mask workshops 36:18 Unexpected insights from mask exploration 38:39 Deep empathy and intense moments in mask work 40:42 Handling intense emotional moments with masks 43:43 The unexpected items in the studio drawer 44:16 Breaking out of creative ruts with curiosity 46:35 Misunderstandings and assumptions about creative work 47:55 The most ridiculous item in the studio 49:38 The story of the crow friend and nature connection 51:29 Supporting your creative curiosity and fascination 52:10 Connecting with Steve via social media and website ---------------------------------------- Mentions Jim Moir [https://www.jimmoir.com]  Terry Waite [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Waite] ---------------------------------------- Creatively Eccentric™

The Power of Showing Up: Wins, Lessons & Community

In this solo episode, I reflect on how Q1 2026 shifted from fear to momentum in my creative journey. What started as doubts about finding guests quickly changed when I began putting myself out there—experimenting with outreach, newsletters, and genuine connection. I’ve learned that people are more open than we think, and that building relationships matters more than having a perfect plan. This is a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when you stay flexible, take action, and keep showing up. ---------------------------------------- Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com [info@creativelyeccentric.com] Podlink [https://pod.link/1842120062?view=apps&sort=popularity] Subscribe & Listen [https://www.creativelyeccentric.com/] Apply to be a guest - Waitlist [https://creatively-eccentric.kit.com/season2waitlist] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativelyeccentric/] YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/@creativelyeccentric?si=TQDEDYCYgkcPteRz] Buy a Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/creativelyeccentric] ---------------------------------------- Takeaways * Community building * Be more flexible and agile * Community building ---------------------------------------- Chapters * 00:00 Starting the New Year * 05:16 Experimenting and Adapting * 13:12 Building Connections ---------------------------------------- Mentions Freelancer Magazine [https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/] Fuse [https://linktr.ee/fusemanchester] ---------------------------------------- Creatively Eccentric™

The Renegade Designer: Kayleigh Hall on Design, Social Mobility & Confidence

Kayleigh Hall’s creative journey doesn’t follow the usual rules — and that’s exactly the point. In this episode, Kayleigh shares how her upbringing, early work experiences, and fascination with human behaviour shaped her approach to branding as something far deeper than aesthetics.  From leaving formal education to falling in love with typography and design psychology, her path is a reminder that creativity often grows in unexpected places. We talk about social mobility, class, and the quiet inner conflict that can come with visibility when you didn’t start from the same place. She also reflects on confidence, clarity, and why understanding yourself — and your audience — can change how you show up in your work and your career. This conversation is for creatives embracing non-linear paths, trusting their intuition, and building work that actually feels like them. ---------------------------------------- Takeaways * Embrace your unique journey and the lessons learned along the way. * Understand the psychology behind design to create meaningful connections. * Align your creative endeavours with business goals for impactful outcomes. * Never underestimate the value of practical experience in shaping your career. ---------------------------------------- Connect Pitch Heather: info@creativelyeccentric.com [info@creativelyeccentric.com] Podlink [https://pod.link/1842120062?view=apps&sort=popularity] Subscribe & Listen [https://www.creativelyeccentric.com/] Apply to be a guest - Waitlist [https://creatively-eccentric.kit.com/season2waitlist] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/creativelyeccentric/] YouTube Playlist [https://youtube.com/@creativelyeccentric?si=TQDEDYCYgkcPteRz] Buy a Ko-Fi [https://ko-fi.com/creativelyeccentric] ---------------------------------------- Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Kayleigh Hall 02:28 The Journey of a Renegade Designer 04:39 Education: A Blend of Tradition and Rebellion 09:20 The Psychology Behind Design Decisions 12:19 Art and Science: Building a Sustainable Creative Career 15:54 Supporting Creatives: The Drop-In Clinic 20:41 Social Mobility and Creativity 27:57 Finding Comfort in Self-Employment 32:31 Advice for Aspiring Creatives 36:01 Studio Draw: Behind the Scenes of Creativity 45:43 Outro ---------------------------------------- Guest Hall Creative [https://www.hallcreative.co.uk/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hallcreative/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayleigh-hall/] Mentions: Mother London [https://www.motherlondon.com/] ---------------------------------------- Creatively Eccentric ™