Creative Fuel

Solitude can help the creative process flourish, but how can time alone be generative and not just lonely? When writer Florence Williams’ 25-year marriage falls apart, it sets her on a journey to explore the science behind loneliness. Photographer Alexandra de Steiguer on the other hand has spent the last quarter century actively seeking out time on her own, spending her winters as the caretaker of Star Island in the Isle of Shoals off the coast of New Hampshire. With the help of these two creatives we explore what spending time alone means for ourselves, our creativity, and our connections to the communities around us. Head over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.Hosted by Anna BronesCo-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale StraubTheme Music is by cleod9 musicSeason 1 is Made with Support by Big CartelFeaturing: Alexandra de Steiguer: Alexandra de Steiguer is a photographer, writer and musician who spends every winter as the caretaker of Star Island in the Isles of Shoals. Nine miles off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, this rocky, windswept place provides great inspiration for her creative endeavors. She is drawn to the solitude and beauty of the deserted islands, and captures the environment in stunning black and white photographs, personally printed in her traditional darkroom. She is a two-time artist fellow of the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the author of Small Island, Big Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See.Links:Alexandra de SteiguerFlorence Williams: Florence Williams is a journalist, author, and podcaster. She is a contributing editor at Outside Magazine and a freelance writer for the New York Times, New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, The New York Review of Books, Slate, Mother Jones and numerous other publications. She is also the writer and host of two Gracie-Award-winning Audible Original series, Breasts Unbound and The Three-Day Effect, as well as Outside Magazine’s Double-X Factor podcast. Her public speaking includes keynotes at Google, the Smithsonian, the Seattle Zoo, the Aspen Ideas Festival and many other corporate, academic and nonprofit venues. She is also a fellow at the Center for Humans and Nature and a visiting scholar at George Washington University, her work focuses on the environment, health and science. Her books include The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative and Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey.Links: Florence WilliamsResources Mentioned & Places to Learn MoreHeartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey by Florence WilliamsThe Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence WilliamsBig Picture: Winters of Solitude Teach an Artist to See by Alexandra de SteiguerLearn more about Alexandra’s time on Star Island in the short film Winter’s Watch and the documentary Wild\Life: the Quiet Island of Alexandra de SteiguerStar IslandHow Social Isolation, Loneliness Can Affect Heart Health, Cognitive AbilitiesProlonged Social Isolation and Loneliness are Equivalent to Smoking 15 Cigarettes a DayRestore Your Brain with Nature // David StrayerThe 3-Day Effect: How Nature Calms Your Brain audio seriesCan Solitude Make Your More Creative?The Science of Silence: How Solitude Enriches Creative WorkSponsor LinksBig Cartel believes you don't have to sell out to sell online. With their simple stores for artists, makers, and creators, you won't be surprised by hidden fees and they don't take a cut of your sales like some other platforms. The sky's the limit on your sales and your success. Open your own shop at bigcartel.com.

Kaywin Feldman, the Director for the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., points out why visiting art museums can provide us boosts of creativity. On last episode of Creative Fuel, "How Do We Connect With Each Other," we discussed how art museums and other public displays of art can be such powerful bridges between people. And in this short, Kaywin discusses how that relates to experiencing awe and wonder together.Each episode of Creative Fuel starts with one question. In the course of researching, writing, and talking with our guests, we obviously come up with many more questions along the way. They leave us with a lot to ponder, and there are many things we don't have the space to include in our full episodes. Which is where these little doses of creativity come in.Featuring:  Kaywin FeldmanHead over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.Hosted by Anna BronesCo-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale StraubTheme Music is by cleod9 musicSeason 1 is Made with Support by Big CartelKaywin Feldman is the director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She is the National Gallery's fifth director, and the first female to hold the position. Before coming to the National Gallery, she served for a decade as the director and president of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Terra Foundation for American Art and a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House Historical Association, and the Chipstone Foundation. Feldman holds master's degrees in art history and archeology from the University of London.Links:National Gallery of Art

We share traits with every single human on this planet. But often our differences define us more than our commonalities. In this episode we explore our empathetic potential, and how art just might be a bridge for creating better connection.Social psychologist Dr. Sara Konrath and Director of the National Gallery of Art guide us through an exploration of art and empathy, and we explore a new public art installation at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial in Washington State. Head over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.Hosted by Anna BronesCo-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale StraubTheme Music is by cleod9 musicSeason 1 is Made with Support by Big CartelFeaturing: Kaywin Feldman: Kaywin Feldman is the director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. She is the National Gallery's fifth director, and the first female to hold the position. Before coming to the National Gallery, she served for a decade as the director and president of the Minneapolis Institute of Art. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Terra Foundation for American Art and a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the White House Historical Association, and the Chipstone Foundation. Feldman holds master's degrees in art history and archeology from the University of London.Links:National Gallery of ArtSara Konrath: Sara Konrath is a social psychologist who directs the Interdisciplinary Program on Empathy and Altruism Research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Her scientific research focuses on topics related to social and emotional intelligence. For example, her studies explore changes over time in these traits among American young people. Other research examines implications of these traits for individuals themselves and for other people. For example, she has published extensively on the health and happiness benefits of giving. She also creates and evaluates empathy-building training programs in a variety of groups, including young people, nonprofit professionals, art museum staff and visitors, and doctors. Konrath holds a PhD. in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan.Links: ipearlab.orgCarol Reitz: Originally from Minnesota, Carol Reitz serves as the president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community on Bainbridge Island in Washington State. She is also a Bainbridge Island Rotarian and played piano for high school choirs. Loves to play pickleball, knit, and serve as a docent and volunteer host at the Exclusion Memorial educating visitors from around the world.Resources Mentioned & Places to Learn MoreBainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion MemorialScrovegni ChapelMinneapolis Institute of Art Center for Empathy and the Visual ArtsDoes Arts Engagement Increase Empathy and Prosocial Behavior?Eric Klinenberg, “Why Libraries Will Save the World”“Art as a Trojan Horse,” part of Dr. Konrath’s column for Psychology Today, The Empathy GapImages of public art installation at the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial deckVideo of the production and fabrication of some of the components in Anna Brones and Luc Revel’s artwork for the Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion MemorialSponsor LinksBig Cartel believes you don't have to sell out to sell online. With their simple stores for artists, makers, and creators, you won't be surprised by hidden fees and they don't take a cut of your sales like some other platforms. The sky's the limit on your sales and your success. Open your own shop at bigcartel.com.

On art and science. In our first episode, "Do We Need Newness for Creativity?" we connected with Christine Liu, a neuroscientist and artist. She had some fantastic things to say about the intersection of science and creativity, something that is at the root of all of our Creative Fuel episodes.Each episode of Creative Fuel start swith one question. In the course of researching, writing, and talking with our guests, we obviously come up with many more questions along the way. They leave us with a lot to ponder, and there are many things we don't have the space to include in our full episodes. Which is where these little doses of creativity come in.Featuring:  Christine Liu. Head here to discover Christine's Venn diagram on the overlaps between art and science. Head over to CreativeFuelCollective.com for more creative inspiration, prompts, online workshops and a robust creative community.Hosted by Anna BronesCo-Produced by Anna Brones & Gale StraubTheme Music is by cleod9 musicSeason 1 is Made with Support by Big CartelChristine Liu: A neuroscientist currently conducting postdoctoral research at UCSF, where she explores how psychedelic drugs alter neural circuits. She earned her PhD research from UC Berkeley, focusing on the relationship between nicotine and the brain's dopamine system. She's an artist at heart, and uses art as a means of scientific communication and is the co-founder of the art collective Two Photon Art.Links:Website: ChristineLiuArt.comTwo Photon ArtCheck out Christine’s zine about nicotineResources Mentioned Art & Science Venn Diagram IllustrationStudy: Beauty and wonder of Science Boosts Researchers' Well-Being 

In this engaging discussion, writer Amanda Machado, known for her insights on the intersection of social issues and outdoor experiences, teams up with neuroscientist Christine Liu, who studies psychedelics and dopamine's impact on creativity. They explore how new experiences can ignite creativity and the brain's complex response to novelty. The conversation also highlights how the pandemic shifted our creativity from seeking newness to finding joy in routine. Tune in for fascinating insights on balancing familiarity with inspiration!

To be creative is to be human, and understanding that drive might help us understand ourselves better. Season one launches September 13, 2022.Each episode begins with a central question, and features the expertise of researchers, scientists and creatives. In this first season, we'll explore topics like “how do we connect with each other?,” “how do we get through hard times?,” and "how do we find flow?" By exploring these questions through the lens of creativity, we'll come to understand how integral it is to all aspects of our lives. And listeners will gain insights on how to leverage its power in their everyday.Creative Fuel is hosted by Anna Brones.Trailer features: Cheryl Strayed, Bonnie Tsui, Kaywin Feldman, and Dr. Sara Konrath.Producers and show creators: Anna Brones + Gale Straub