Creativity on Tap

Episode 20: Dr. Kathryn Cullen

In this episode of Creativity on Tap, host Frank Sentwali [https://www.compas.org/staff/frank-sentwali-gardner/] sits down with Dr. Kathryn Cullen [https://med.umn.edu/dm_profile/56], professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota and Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Mental Health.  Dr. Cullen researches creativity in relation to mental health, particularly how creative arts interventions can help improve depression symptoms in adolescents. She is also studying the creative brain through neuroimaging and cognitive tests. Put simply: She studies the effects of creativity on the brain and has conducted pioneering research on how making art can support healing, connection, and resilience in young people. Drawing from years of clinical research and collaborations with artists and educators, Dr. Cullen discusses how creative practices, from visual art to music, dance, and writing. can help adolescents reconnect with themselves, express difficult emotions, and find renewed hope. She shares the origins of Creativity Camp, an intensive arts-based intervention shown to reduce depression symptoms and strengthen brain networks tied to well-being and creative thinking. Insightful, heartfelt, and filled with practical wisdom, this episode offers a powerful reminder: creativity isn’t just an artistic skill—it’s a vital pathway to healing, connection, and thriving for young people navigating a rapidly changing world. About COMPAS COMPAS [https://www.compas.org/] (compas.org) is a nonprofit with more than 50 years of experience delivering creative experiences to millions of Minnesotans of all ages and abilities, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, older adults, and other community members to inspire creativity and empower voices. About Creativity on Tap Creativity on Tap is produced by COMPAS. In each episode, Creativity on Tap brings together educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, parents, and other community leaders to discuss creativity and answer the question: What is creativity, and how can it solve the unique challenges facing today's world? Creativity On Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, an initiative led by COMPAS to explore, celebrate, and emphasize the pivotal role creativity can and must play in shaping a world that prioritizes equity, justice, and inclusivity. Theme music (played at the end of the episode), "Krank It [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BLii2lj7ko]," was produced by COMPAS Teaching Artist Bionik [https://www.compas.org/artist/stefon-bionik-taylor/].

Episode 19: Z Puppets Rosenschnoz

In this lively and inspiring episode of Creativity on Tap, host Frank Sentwali [https://www.compas.org/staff/frank-sentwali-gardner/] sits down with Shari Aronson [https://zpuppets.org/shari-aronson] and Chris Griffith [https://zpuppets.org/chris-griffith], co-founders of Z Puppets Rosenschnoz [https://zpuppets.org/], a Minneapolis-based puppetry company that’s been sparking wonder and laughter for over 25 years Chris and Shari share their origin story, from their roots in playwriting, clowning, and street performance to their creative fusion in puppetry. They reflect on the joy of collaboration and their long-standing partnership with COMPAS as teaching artists [https://www.compas.org/artist/z-puppets-rosenschoz/], helping learners of all ages make meaning through art The conversation centers on their glowing, science-inspired stage show “Cellula,” [https://zpuppets.org/calendar] which turns the process of cell division into a blacklight-filled visual and musical adventure. Inspired by Shari’s childhood fascination with her mother’s microscope, Cellula blends art and science to celebrate curiosity, awe, and interconnectedness.  Frank and the Z Puppets founders also discuss how STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) benefits from artistic imagination, how puppetry engages children and adults alike, and why gathering for live storytelling remains vital in an era of screens The episode also delves into Chris’s Cherokee heritage, his commitment to preserving endangered Indigenous languages, and his creation of “musical adventures in Cherokee futurism” that blend tradition and innovation Cellula Info [https://zpuppets.org/calendar] (tix etc.) (Oct. 23-25) About COMPAS COMPAS [https://www.compas.org/] (compas.org) is a nonprofit with 50 years of experience delivering creative experiences to millions of Minnesotans of all ages and abilities, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, older adults, and other community members to inspire creativity and empower voices. About Creativity on Tap Creativity on Tap is produced by COMPAS. In each episode, Creativity on Tap brings together educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, parents, and other community leaders to discuss creativity and answer the question: What is creativity, and how can it solve the unique challenges facing today's world? Creativity On Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, an initiative led by COMPAS to explore, celebrate, and emphasize the pivotal role creativity can and must play in shaping a world that prioritizes equity, justice, and inclusivity. Theme music (played at the end of the episode), "Krank It [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BLii2lj7ko]," was produced by COMPAS Teaching Artist Bionik [https://www.compas.org/artist/stefon-bionik-taylor/].

Episode 18: Scott Redd

In this episode of Creativity on Tap, host Frank Sentwali [https://www.compas.org/staff/frank-sentwali-gardner/] sits down with Scott Redd [https://sabathani.org/team/scott-redd/], President and CEO of Sabathani Community Center, one of Minnesota’s oldest African American–founded nonprofits. Scott shares his journey from Waterloo, Iowa, to leading a cornerstone organization in South Minneapolis, reflecting on the role of creativity, community voice, and resilience in driving transformation. Listeners will hear how Sabathani’s roots in a neighborhood church grew into a vital 188,000-square-foot hub, how community-driven solutions have guided nearly 60 years of impact, and how Scott’s own story, from football scholarship to social engineer, shaped his commitment to service. This conversation highlights the creative spirit that sustains communities, the importance of listening deeply, and the power of building spaces where people thrive together About COMPAS COMPAS [https://www.compas.org/] (compas.org) is a nonprofit with 50 years of experience delivering creative experiences to millions of Minnesotans of all ages and abilities, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, older adults, and other community members to inspire creativity and empower voices. About Creativity on Tap Creativity on Tap is produced by COMPAS. In each episode, Creativity on Tap brings together educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, parents, and other community leaders to discuss creativity and answer the question: What is creativity, and how can it solve the unique challenges facing today's world? Creativity On Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, an initiative led by COMPAS to explore, celebrate, and emphasize the pivotal role creativity can and must play in shaping a world that prioritizes equity, justice, and inclusivity. Theme music (played at the end of the episode), "Krank It [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BLii2lj7ko]," was produced by COMPAS Teaching Artist Bionik [https://www.compas.org/artist/stefon-bionik-taylor/].

Episode 17: Amy Wilderson and David McNally

What if creativity is not a pastime but a lifeline?  In this energizing episode, host Frank Sentwali [https://www.compas.org/staff/frank-sentwali-gardner/] talks with bestselling author and speaker David McNally [https://davidmcnally.com/] and Minneapolis jewelry artist and COMPAS teaching artist Amy Wilderson [https://www.compas.org/artist/amy-wilderson/] about how making things keeps us curious, connected, and fully alive at every age. David shares how purpose shapes his mornings, why he journals daily, and how a simple message about encouraging dreams reached hundreds of thousands. Amy shows how transforming discarded objects into wearable stories helps older adults reclaim confidence and identity, leading to first exhibitions and new artist entrepreneurs. Together they explore intergenerational exchange, the shift from being called seniors to being seen as elders, using creativity to move through grief, and the idea that there are no mistakes in the studio, only material. You will leave with sparks you can use right away: write a page a day, begin a short reflection practice, make something from a found object, and tell someone that their dream matters. This conversation is a joyful reminder that the creative spirit does not retire, it regenerates. About COMPAS COMPAS [https://www.compas.org/] (compas.org) is a nonprofit with 50 years of experience delivering creative experiences to millions of Minnesotans of all ages and abilities, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, older adults, and other community members to inspire creativity and empower voices. About Creativity on Tap Creativity on Tap is produced by COMPAS. In each episode, Creativity on Tap brings together educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, parents, and other community leaders to discuss creativity and answer the question: What is creativity, and how can it solve the unique challenges facing today's world? Creativity On Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, an initiative led by COMPAS to explore, celebrate, and emphasize the pivotal role creativity can and must play in shaping a world that prioritizes equity, justice, and inclusivity. Theme music (played at the end of the episode), "Krank It [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BLii2lj7ko]," was produced by COMPAS Teaching Artist Bionik [https://www.compas.org/artist/stefon-bionik-taylor/].

Episode 16: Mickey Jurewicz & Tim Brunelle

In this episode of Creativity on Tap, we explore how creativity can help us navigate the dizzying pace of technological change. Host Frank Sentwali [https://www.compas.org/staff/frank-sentwali-gardner/]is joined by two inspiring guests: Tim Brunelle [https://timbrunelle.com/], a strategist, creative leader, and educator at the intersection of AI and human imagination, and Mickey Jurewicz [https://www.avalonschool.org/about-us/meet-our-team], a high school advisor and licensed visual arts teacher at Avalon School in Saint Paul. Together, they unpack how students are adapting, imagining, and expressing themselves in an AI-driven world. From fostering curiosity and courage in the classroom to building the skills needed for creative problem-solving in uncertain times, this conversation is full of insight, humor, and hope for the future. Whether you’re an educator, artist, technologist, or simply curious about where creativity is headed, this episode offers practical ideas and inspiring perspectives on how we can all stay resilient, and even thrive, in the age of AI. About COMPAS COMPAS [https://www.compas.org/] (compas.org) is a nonprofit with 50 years of experience delivering creative experiences to millions of Minnesotans of all ages and abilities, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. COMPAS connects professional teaching artists with students, older adults, and other community members to inspire creativity and empower voices. About Creativity on Tap Creativity on Tap is produced by COMPAS. In each episode, Creativity on Tap brings together educators, entrepreneurs, elected officials, parents, and other community leaders to discuss creativity and answer the question: What is creativity, and how can it solve the unique challenges facing today's world? Creativity On Tap is part of Creativity Saves the World, an initiative led by COMPAS to explore, celebrate, and emphasize the pivotal role creativity can and must play in shaping a world that prioritizes equity, justice, and inclusivity. Theme music (played at the end of the episode), "Krank It [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BLii2lj7ko]," was produced by COMPAS Teaching Artist Bionik [https://www.compas.org/artist/stefon-bionik-taylor/].