Exploring Creativity: Threads & Bones

S2 E11: How to Empower & Build Community With Passionate Creative, Amy MacDonald

In this episode I’m talking to my friend and crazily creative producer, Amy Sanyer. Amy and I go waaaaaaaay back, we met in our 20s and now we’re in our 60s - you do the maths. We have had many an adventure. She runs Brolly Arts, an umbrella arts organisation that curates community based projects as a way to champion important social and environmental issues. The conversation explores Amy’s evolution from dancer to arts producer, her methodology of championing independent artists through collaboration, and her ongoing work addressing the Great Salt Lake’s environmental crisis through creative mediums. Brolly Arts is a nimble (read small) organisation but has built many, many, connections and relationships over its 30 year history. We talk about Brolly Arts’ birthday party, which will include some of that collaborative network in the celebration, and we find out about Amy’s undeniable creativity and enthusiastically hopeful world view. I can’t wait for you to listen! xBec 📝Key Takeaways 🎨 Being Born Inherently CreativeSome people are born as creative souls. Amy was encouraged by incredible teachers and discovered that movement not only ties the physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual, but is her language for understanding the world. She describes creativity as the ability to absorb what we see, feel, and experience. It then needs time to transform into something meaningful and uniquely our own. 🎭 Becoming a Producer & Creating Containers for Independent ArtistsWhile Amy began as an artist herself, she eventually realised her greatest contribution was helping other artists thrive. She saw that many talented creatives struggled with the practical side of presenting and sustaining their work, so she shifted toward producing. Through Brolly Arts, she created spaces where independent artists could experiment, collaborate, and develop their voices without pressure to immediately deliver polished outcomes. 🌏 Community Problems as a Scaffold for Creative SolutionsAmy’s creative process often begins with paying attention to the challenges facing a community and then thinking outside of the box for solutions. She uses creativity as a way to bring people into important conversations through emotion, storytelling, and shared experience. Whether exploring water, land, or cultural connection, her projects demonstrate how creative work can help communities better understand themselves and imagine new possibilities together. 🤝 Dream Big, Collaborate & Play the Long GameA major theme throughout Amy’s journey is the power of collaboration. Her projects are built through long-term relationships and networks of people who believe in a shared purpose. She speaks openly about how trust takes time and how meaningful collaboration only happens when ego is removed from the process. The episode highlights that big creative visions are rarely achieved quickly and must always contain an element of hope. ☘️ Arts Projects Help Communities Buy Into ChangeAmy believes art has the unique ability to engage people without telling them what to think. Instead of creating barriers, creative projects invite curiosity, emotional connection, and participation. Through performances, films, and collaborative initiatives, communities become active participants in conversations around growth, sustainability, and belonging. Her work shows that when people feel emotionally connected to an issue, they are far more likely to engage with meaningful change. 🎉 Brolly Arts at 30 - Why it MattersCelebrating 30 years of Brolly Arts is about more than longevity, it’s about recognising the ripple effect of investing in independent artists and creative communities over time. The anniversary honours the countless collaborations, careers, and community conversations that grew from Amy’s vision. It also reflects the evolution of an organisation that continually adapted while staying committed to creativity, connection, and giving artists a platform to be seen and heard. 🔗Links & Resources Mentioned Brolly Arts Website: https://brollyarts.org/ [https://brollyarts.org/] Mary Wigman, modern dance pioneer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wigman [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Wigman] The best thing I found on Inge Weiss!: https://jamescharleslyons.com/inga-weiss-chocolate-heads/ [https://jamescharleslyons.com/inga-weiss-chocolate-heads/] Rudolf von Laban, responsible for so much about how we organise movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_von_Laban [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_von_Laban] Repertory Dance Theatre’s history (Amy and Bec’s previous employer): https://rdtutah.org/about-us/our-history/ [https://rdtutah.org/about-us/our-history/] Twig Media Lab: https://www.twigmedialab.com/ [https://www.twigmedialab.com/] Grow The Flow: https://growtheflowutah.org/ [https://growtheflowutah.org/] Ahn Trio: https://www.ahntrio.com/trio [https://www.ahntrio.com/trio] Michael Nyman composer: https://www.michaelnyman.com/ [https://www.michaelnyman.com/] SB Dance: https://sbdance.com/about/ [https://sbdance.com/about/] The Vibrancy Society (that’s me): https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/ [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/] 🙏 If you enjoyed this episode please rate, review, and share so more people can discover the joy of creativity. Thanks heaps, Bec Get full access to The Vibrancy Society at www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

S2 E10: Creative Fundamentals; Ways to Find Your Spark - Book Review

My quest to read and review books on creativity led me to purchase, The Spark, Igniting The Creative Fire That Lives Within Us All from one of my favourite used bookstores in Brisbane. This book is from Cirque du Soleil and it’s a quickie. Both the book (135 pages) and the review (just over 20 minutes, which for me and my flapping gums might be a record) are brief. It’s a story about how easy it is to become complacent in our lives and how lessons from the circus can help to re-ignite our passions. There were a tonne of what I called “nuggets of wisdom” and I hope you enjoy the listen. xBec🤎 📝Takeaways ✨ Take A Chance Success without passion feels empty and admitting things need to change is hard. Just because you have no idea what you’re looking for doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep searching. 🚪 Don’t Overthink Things Unexpected opportunities may actually be the right path forward. Open a new door (or several) to see where it might lead. 🎯 Get Comfy With Being Uncomfortable Change demands courage. Stepping beyond your comfort zone and embracing mistakes is where you will grow. 🤝 Finding Your Spark Is Easier Through Teamwork Creativity is rarely solo work. Trust, collaboration, and many different points of view allow individuals to perform beyond what they could alone. 💥 We Grow Through Failure Success comes from letting go of old identities and being willing to evolve over and over, and over again. 💎 Reinvention Is Possible There is no single formula for creative success. We all have a creative spark and if we can keep it lit then life will feel more fulfilling. 🙏Do all the good things: Rate, Review, and Share with a friend. 🔗Links & Resources The Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/79354/cirque-du-soleil-r-the-spark-by-created-by-lyn-heward-and-written-by-john-u-bacon/ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/79354/cirque-du-soleil-r-the-spark-by-created-by-lyn-heward-and-written-by-john-u-bacon/] John U. Bacon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_U._Bacon [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_U._Bacon] Lyn Heward - she’s retired but here’s a bio: https://grupobcc.com/en/speakers/lyn-heward/ [https://grupobcc.com/en/speakers/lyn-heward/] Cirque du Soleil’s Ka: https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ka [https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/ka] The Vibrancy Society: https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/ [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/] Get full access to The Vibrancy Society at www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

S2 E9: Creativity is Scary. Focus On Becoming More Creatively Brave with Natalie Collie

Howdy Listeners As always I’m very excited about my podcast guest. Today’s episode features my friend, Natalie Collie, who is a lecturer at the University of Queensland in The School of Communication & Arts. Yes, she’s a Dr.🤓 Nat’s remit is to teach writing to students from varying disciplines whose future jobs will require them knowing how to write. (maybe she could help me edit that very awkward sentence?) Her approach is informed by a personal and academic interest in creativity and storytelling and she’s helped hundreds of students develop a regular writing practice. Let’s just say she knows her s**t and I think you’ll really enjoy our conversation. 📝Key Takeaways 🧩 Creativity is Recombination, Not InventionNat sees creativity as collaging, quilting, and cobbling ideas together. It’s less about being completely original and more about transforming what already exists into something new. 🎈 Playful, Low Stakes Creativity Unlocks ConfidenceAfter her own experience with writer’s block, Nat teaches with empathy. Divergent thinking comes first and keeps us in flow. The critical voice is still important but she has to wait for her turn to show up. 🌏 Storytelling Builds Connection and CommunityEmbodied creative practices help us orient ourselves to place. Nat’s research shows storytelling can strengthen regional communities and keep them vibrant. 🎓 Teaching Creativity in a Changing World is ComplexPost-Covid learning shifts, AI, student stressors, and neurodiversity have all reshaped education. Nat finds creative ways to teach and assess writing while keeping it fair and authentic. 🧒 Creativity Reconnects Us to Our Inner ChildSharing projects with her kids and embracing her neuro-spicy brain has helped Nat rediscover playful curiosity and move beyond creative blocks. 🌱 Baby Steps are a Radical Creative ActLow pressure experimentation, forgiving beginner mistakes, making things just for fun, and giving yourself heaps of time are powerful ways to nurture a creative practice. ✨ We’re Wired for CreativityLife fulfilment comes from following what excites us and one clue is remembering what made us lose track of time as kids. 🔗Episode Links Nat’s official bio: https://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/profile/344/natalie-collie [https://communication-arts.uq.edu.au/profile/344/natalie-collie] Research on flow state in dancers: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/psy-research/358/ [https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/psy-research/358/] Research on embodiment & time: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15326934CRJ1402_9 [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/S15326934CRJ1402_9] The Artist’s Way: https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity/ [https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity/] Father of Flow, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s Ted Talk: "What makes a life worth living?” https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness [https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_flow_the_secret_to_happiness] The Vibrancy Society: https://thevibrancysociety.com [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/] I hope you find the time for some low stakes creativity this week and don’t forget to share, rate, follow, or leave a comment. xBec🤎 Get full access to The Vibrancy Society at www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

S2 E8: Creative Compulsion, The Need to Express What’s Inside, with Kirk Marshall

Well it’s been a hot minute since I’ve posted a podcast episode but this is one I’m really thrilled to share. My brother-in-law Kirk sat down with me the end of last year for a discussion on his passion for photography and how revisiting his journal helped him process my sister Pippa’s death, and that even if he doesn’t understand it, why he feels compelled to turn it into a book. 📝Show Notes & Key Takeaways 📷 Creativity Can Begin Quietly:While Kirk didn’t see himself as creative growing up, in retrospect he realises he was subtly exposed to it through his dad’s photography. 🌏 Passion Sometimes Grows Over Time:Even though Kirk picked up a camera in high school it wasn’t until an overseas trip as an adult that documenting life evolved into capturing emotion and a deeper desire to tell stories through images. 🎯 Photography Blends Art, Technical Skill, and Sometimes a Whole Heap of Patience: According to Kirk this involves: * multiple scouting trips & vantage points for optimal composition and lighting (sometimes months in advance) * the technical nuts and bolts of camera settings * the push and pull available in post-processing to shape emotion and meaning 🔁 Creativity is a Lifelong Compulsion:One of the things Kirk enjoys about photography is that it’s a never ending learning process, it has no finish line. The urge to capture a scene - he sees something and has to shoot it - is ongoing and deeply personal. 🛠️ Creativity Can Help You Temporarily Keep a Lid on Grief:During Pippa’s illness, cabinetmaking provided structure, distraction, and calm. Journaling became a safe place to process overwhelming emotions. That journal is now evolving into a book. 🌄 Nature as Solace and Inspiration:Time outdoors clears Kirk’s mind, grounds him emotionally, and connects him deeply to himself. It also shapes his photographic vision with respect for the natural world. 🔥 Creativity Projects Won’t be Quieted Until Expressed:For Kirk, his creative projects come from an undeniable compulsion to get them out into the world. It doesn’t matter how ephemeral or if anybody but you likes it, the value lies in giving your inner voice form. 🔗Links: Find Kirk: https://www.instagram.com/kirkmphoto?igsh=MTcxc3h6MG5rYTdh [https://www.instagram.com/kirkmphoto?igsh=MTcxc3h6MG5rYTdh] / https://www.kirkmarshallphotography.com/color-landscapes#img-2606-hdr-ps-700-3712 [https://www.kirkmarshallphotography.com/color-landscapes#img-2606-hdr-ps-700-3712] Andy Goldsworthy’s ephemeral art: https://andygoldsworthystudio.com/archive/ [https://andygoldsworthystudio.com/archive/] Podcast Ep Book Review Elizabeth Gilbert’s big Magic: https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/p/s1-e2-big-magic-the-first-book-review?r=udx6p [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/p/s1-e2-big-magic-the-first-book-review?r=udx6p] Find it in Apple Podcasts: ttps://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exploring-creativity-threads-bones/id1776771078?i=1000686874111 [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/exploring-creativity-threads-bones/id1776771078?i=1000686874111] Find it on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nMDxkHiHywywTd4UM5MW7?si=55LQvvUqTkucA6oU2uFQbw [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nMDxkHiHywywTd4UM5MW7?si=55LQvvUqTkucA6oU2uFQbw] Find Me: https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/ [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/] to see some of Kirk’s photos go to the blog post here: https://open.substack.com/pub/rebeccakeeneforde/p/creative-compulsion-the-need-to-express?r=udx6p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true [https://open.substack.com/pub/rebeccakeeneforde/p/creative-compulsion-the-need-to-express?r=udx6p&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true] Here’s the plea😉 If you like this episode then please like, share, rate, or review. *cover photo by Kirk Marshall* Thanks heaps, xBec🤎 Get full access to The Vibrancy Society at www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

S2 E7: How To Live A Fantastical & Wildly Creative Life with Tracey Fischer

What drives you to be creative? In the case of my guest and friend, Tracey Fischer, some of its FOMO. Basically it kills her to feel like she’s missing out on any creative adventure; she just wants to be EVERYWHERE experiencing ALL THE THINGS. In this episode of Threads and Bone: exploring creativity, I sit down with this creative force, and intuitive explorer for a deep, meandering, and soul enriching conversation about creativity not only as a way of life but the only way to exist. From modern dance and Butoh, to sculpting, hairdressing, architectural design, world travel, and aquatic bodywork, Tracey’s path defies linear definition. Together, we reminisce and explore what it means to create without editing, to trust intuition before technique, and to let creativity serve as a direct path back to spirit. This episode is an invitation to rethink creativity, not as a product, but as a practice of listening, surrendering, and allowing something greater to move through you. Expect stories of sculpting faces that seem to arrive from elsewhere, dancing as meditation, water as healer, and the courage to keep reinventing yourself at any age. 📝Show Notes & Key Takeaways 💨 Creativity Begins With Surrender: When engaged in any creative pursuit Tracey learned that the first attempt must be completely freeform. Begin with no judgment, no perfection, no brain because trying to refine too early will block the creative flow. 🧭 Movement As A Path To Spirit: Dance and movement have been Tracey’s lifelong portal to spirit, healing, and self-understanding. Even as her mediums shift, movement remains central to how she processes and creates. Creativity then becomes a cyclical relationship between movement, stillness, and inspiration. 🌍 Curiosity Is A Compass, aka FOMO: Travel, sculpting, artist residencies, diving, sailing, tango, and design, the girl is curious about (and good at) it all! Tracey follows fascination wherever it leads because for her, creativity thrives on trusting her intuition, saying “yes” before certainty arrives. 👁️ Art Can Arrive Through You, Not From You: Some sculptures felt less “made” and more received. Tracey describes continuing until “someone is staring back,” blurring the line between artist, channel, and witness. She speaks of embodied knowledge and trusts that the body knows shape, form, and truth without conscious thought. 🌊 Water As Collaborator And Healer: Tracey’s current love and work centres on aquatic bodywork, blending dance, stillness, and somatic healing. She emphasises that the water is the primary healer and she is a guide. She feels honoured creating a safe container where the body can unwind, remember, and resolve on its own terms. 🌀 Reinvention Doesn’t Expire: Tracey’s continuing story challenges the idea that bold change belongs only to the young. 🎙️Episode Links ✨For a glimpse into Tracey’s evolving work with water, body-based healing, and intuitive practice connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterbodyandstone?igsh=MW9laGk5ZWxrNGV3aw== [https://www.instagram.com/waterbodyandstone?igsh=MW9laGk5ZWxrNGV3aw==] ✨More information on WATSU [https://www.watsu.com/] and Tracey’s Practitioner Profile [https://www.watsu.com/waba/Action.Lasso?-Database=wregistry&-Response=1detail.htm&-Table=1detail&-Token=&-token.1=&-token.2=&-token.3=&-KeyValue=254286&-Search] ✨The b*****d child: Aguahara [https://aguahara.org/formacion/?lang=en] ✨An interesting study on Sufi Dancing [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455621000769] ✨Info on Butoh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butoh] ✨Where you can find me chatting about how to live a more vibrant life! https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/ [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/] ✨I tried to find the podcast that Tracey referenced but do you know how many shows are called The Breakdown? A tonne and none of them lined up with what the heck she was talking about. Enjoy the listen, 🤎xBec cover photo by Yoann Boyer [https://unsplash.com/@yoannboyer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/person-about-to-touch-the-calm-water-i14h2xyPr18?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] Get full access to The Vibrancy Society at www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe [https://www.thevibrancysociety.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]