Creative Genius

 WHAT WE TALK ABOUT-The importance of storytelling in all its various forms (including journaling) and how it is so much more than just words. -The thing she would do to change about society (if she had a magic wand)-The quiet yet profound transformation she sees take place over and over again when people start to journal with the technique she developedHeart journals course https://plantingmarigolds.teachable.com/p/heart-journal-course/

This episode is a special one. I sat down with the inspiring Roxanne Glaser—artist, educator, and creator of whimsical nature-inspired doodles—to talk about what it really means to live a creative life.We dive into some deeply personal and powerful topics, like how Roxanne used art to process profound grief after experiencing unimaginable loss and how her creative practice became a tool for healing and self-discovery. We talk about the challenges of having too many choices in creativity (I know I’ve felt that paralysis!) and how gentle self-discipline and limitations can actually set us free to create more authentically.This conversation is packed with takeaways about building a sustainable creative practice, embracing the seasons of your life, and creating art for yourself—not for external validation.I’ve also created something special for you to deepen the impact of this episode: the Creative Warrior Activation Sheet, a guided exercise to help you connect with your inner creative warrior and discover how to embrace your unique creative journey. It’s available exclusively for my Patreon supporters, and I can’t wait for you to try it out.What You’ll Walk Away With:How creativity can be a tool for healing, meditation, and self-expression.Why creativity is often born from struggle and necessity.The surprising freedom that comes with setting limitations in your creative practice.The importance of daily practices—no matter how small—and how they can transform your creative life.Why loss can be a powerful clarifier for what matters most in art and life.How to let go of perfectionism and start creating for yourself.Why creativity evolves with the seasons of your life and how to embrace that process.This episode is a beautiful reminder that we are all unique instruments in the creative process, and the magic happens when we honour that.If you’ve been feeling stuck creatively or wondering how to start building a practice that supports you through life’s challenges, I’ve created something special for you. It’s called the Creative Warrior Activation Worksheet—a simple, powerful guide to help you tap into your creative courage, quiet your inner critic, and embrace the joy of creating for yourself. This exclusive resource is available to all my Patreon members. Sign up today to access it and start building your Creative Warrior muscle—you’ve got this, and I’m here to cheer you on

In this first-ever Listener Lab episode, Kate sits down with listener Lindsey Thomas to reflect on Scott Erickson's episode and explore creativity, vulnerability, and the ways art impacts personal growth. They dive into strategies for navigating transitions, managing negative beliefs, and using creativity as a tool for self-discovery. Lindsey and Kate discuss the importance of self-compassion, the haunting nature of unexpressed ideas, and how embracing stillness and surrender can lead to new insights. This conversation is a heartfelt journey through the highs and lows of the creative process, inspiring listeners to trust in their unique paths.Key Takeaways:Vulnerability and community engagement can create deep connections.Offering help can be a courageous response to self-doubt.Creativity can feel like a restless energy wanting to be expressed.Mantras and self-compassion are powerful tools in overcoming negative beliefs.Authenticity and trust in one’s own divine power are essential for personal growth.Become a guest!If you’d like to be a guest on a Listener Lab episode or share your thoughts on previous episodes, send me a voice memo via email! KateShepherdCreative@gmail.comThank you for joining us on this very first Listener Lab episode of The Creative Genius Podcast! I hope this conversation with Lindsey Thomas helped illuminate new perspectives on creativity, vulnerability, and the ways we can move through life with a bit more self-compassion and authenticity. Remember, the creative process is a journey, and you’re not alone in it. Whether you’re wrestling with self-doubt, feeling the restless energy of an idea, or just needing a reminder of your own worthiness, this community is here to support you.And don’t forget—The Creative Genius PodClub is launching in January! This is your chance to join a supportive, inspiring community to chat about episodes, share your ah-ha moments, and connect in real time. Head to the show notes on KateShepherdCreative.com for more details, and be sure to send in your voice memos with thoughts, questions, and insights from past episodes. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be my next guest on Listener Lab!Listener Lab ChallengeThis Week’s Challenge: Embrace Vulnerability in CreativityInspired by Scott Erickson’s insights on vulnerability, here’s your Listener Lab Challenge for the week:1. Identify a small creative project—it could be a quick sketch, a poem, a journal entry, or a little DIY.2. Before you start, take a moment to reflect on any negative beliefs or self-doubt that come up around creating. Write these down, then set them aside.3. Now, create with vulnerability. Aim to express an authentic feeling, thought, or experience, without worrying about the outcome or what anyone else might think.Share Your Experience: Send me a voice memo (or a message) sharing what this challenge brought up for you, any ah-ha moments you had, or realizations about vulnerability and creativity. I’d love to feature some of your insights on a future episode! Submit your voice memo via email kateshepherdcreative @ gmail.com

Episode Summary:In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, Kate Shepherd speaks with Kwame Scruggs, the founder of Alchemy Inc., a nonprofit using the transformative power of mythology to inspire and uplift communities. Kwame shares his incredible journey, from working at Goodyear for 15 years while earning his degrees at night to founding Alchemy Inc. He highlights the wisdom we can gain from myths, including how they can help us identify the subconscious beliefs that may be holding us back.Kwame is life work revolves around the transformative power of mythology and creative expression.  Born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He started his career at Goodyear. Where he worked for 15 years at night while earning his M S in technical education with an emphasis on guidance and counseling. Because as you'll hear this man is somebody who really cares about others and has a passion for helping. His passion for helping others was always there, but it wasn't until he discovered the works of Carl Young. Joseph Campbell and Michael Meade. That he found his true purpose.In this episode, Kwame references the powerful myth of the Firebird, which inspired Kate to create a guided meditation that allows listeners to personally interact with mythology for self-reflection. This episode dives deep into how we can use ancient stories to uncover hidden aspects of ourselves, shift our perspectives, and step into the role of hero in our own lives.You’ll also learn about Kwame’s experiences working with high school dropouts and youth, as well as his work that was recognized by the Presidents Award  and his Ph.D. in Mythological Studies. His life’s work revolves around reminding people that myths hold transformative power to help us all grow and heal.If you feel like there’s a gap between your visions and your real-world results, this episode is for you. Kwame Scruggs shows us how myths can bridge that gap and help us uncover what’s holding us back.Key Topics Discussed:Kwame’s journey from tire factory worker to Ph.D. and nonprofit founderThe myth of the Firebird and its transformative powerHow to work with mythology to uncover subconscious beliefsKwame's impactful work with youth through Alchemy Inc.Kate’s guided meditation inspired by the myth of the FirebirdThe importance of showing up for your purpose, even when the road is long and windingResources Mentioned:Alchemy Inc. (Kwame’s nonprofit organization)The Myth of the FirebirdKate’s Guided Meditation & Reflection Packet on the FirebirdKwame’s Recommended Readings: Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Michael MeadeTake Action!If you’re intrigued by the idea of using myths for self-reflection, check out my guided Firebird meditation and reflection packet on my Patreon. You’ll also find a growing library of resources, including bonus episodes, guided meditations, and more, designed to support your creative journey.

Discovering Creativity: An Intimate Conversation with Scott EricksonWhat does it mean to live a creative life? Is creativity a talent, or is it an innate intelligence that we all possess? In this week’s episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the remarkable artist and storyteller, Scott Erickson, to explore these questions and so much more. Scott’s journey as an artist has been deeply influenced by his unique experience with aphantasia—a condition where one cannot visualize images in their mind’s eye—and he opens up about how this has shaped his creative expression.Together, we delve into the haunting nature of creativity, the role of pain in transforming life into art, and the importance of emotional intelligence in understanding the human experience. Scott’s reflections on gratitude, surrender, and navigating the inner voice will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with self-doubt or felt overwhelmed by the weight of their creative aspirations.But more than that, this conversation serves as a gentle reminder that creativity is not a linear journey. It's messy, it's beautiful, and it’s deeply human. Scott’s raw honesty will inspire you to listen more closely to your inner voice and trust that, even in the chaos, there’s a path to something beautiful.

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, host Kate Shepherd sits down with Cory Allen—author of Brave New You, mindfulness expert, and prolific musician—to explore the journey of breaking free from self-limiting beliefs and reconnecting with the authentic self. Cory shares his own story of overcoming a traumatic childhood, turning inward through Eastern and Western philosophies, and discovering the power of mindfulness as a tool for deep self-awareness.Together, they discuss:How to identify and reframe the negative stories we tell ourselves.The difference between the voice of creativity and the voice of fear or conditioning.Practical techniques to navigate the inner world and access deeper creativity.Why mindfulness is key to unlocking your true potential and breaking free from self-doubt.This conversation offers profound insights into how we can learn to trust our intuition, listen to our inner voice, and stop allowing old stories to block our creative power. Cory’s wisdom will inspire listeners to start seeing the world as full of possibilities rather than obstacles, and his actionable strategies will help anyone on the path to self-discovery and creative expression

What if you could use your dreams to accelerate personal growth, heal past traumas, and unlock your full creative potential? In this episode, lucid dreaming expert Andrew Holecek reveals how meditating in the dream state is seven to nine times more powerful than in the waking state. Tune in to discover how you can start practicing lucid dreaming tonight, and prepare to have your mind blown by the cutting-edge neuroscience behind subconscious programming that may be holding you back!Episode Summary:In this mind-expanding episode of the Creative Genius Podcast, Kate Shepherd sits down with Andrew Holecek, renowned author and expert in lucid dreaming, meditation, and the intersection of neuroscience and spirituality. Together, they dive deep into how lucid dreaming can be a transformative practice, how ancient tantric teachings claim dream-state meditation is seven to nine times more effective than waking-state meditation, and the surprising ways our subconscious mind is programmed during childhood.Andrew shares fascinating insights on the hidden power of our dreams, the science of personality development, and how we can break free from societal conditioning to cultivate more creativity and presence. Plus, Andrew offers listeners a simple yet powerful practice to start lucid dreaming tonight. Whether you're new to lucid dreaming or looking to deepen your spiritual practice, this episode is packed with actionable tools and wisdom to transform your waking life. Resources Mentioned in This Episode:Andrew Holecek’s Books: I'm Mindful, Now What? & The Lucid Dreaming Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering Your Dream Life – A comprehensive guide with exercises and tools to start your lucid dreaming journey.Lucid Dreaming Mantra: "Tonight, I'm going to have many dreams. Tonight, I'm going to remember my dreams. Tonight, I'm going to wake up in my dreams."Key Concepts from Tibetan Buddhism: Dream yoga, non-duality, and the transformative power of meditating in altered states of consciousness.Neuroscience Insights: The brainwaves we experience in early childhood and how they hypnotize us into adopting cultural norms and behaviors.

James offers practical prompts for generating flow states and presents a genius solution for utilizing cherished but out-of-place creative gems. The conversation delves into the importance of discipline and flow in a healthy creative practice, the value of human creativity, and the concept of ownership over creative works. This conversation prompted Kate to create the 21 days of Rituals for Creativity which you can access by signing up for a Creative Genius Patreon MembershipJames also shares a poetic vision for society's relationship with creativity, leaving listeners inspired and motivated to tap into their own creative potential.What we talk aboutJames Miller's journey as a writer and the genesis of A Small FictionThe commitment to daily writing for nearly eight years and its transformative effectsHarnessing creativity as a tool for processing emotions and overcoming anxiety and depressionPractical prompts for accessing flow states in creative endeavoursIngenious solution for utilizing beloved but misfit creative piecesThe relationship between discipline and flow in a healthy creative practiceExploring the value of human creativity and ownership of creative worksJames's poetic vision for society's embrace of creativityOne of the most powerful moments in this episode was when Kate and James talked about James's commitment to daily writing for nearly eight years. The transformative power of a consistent creative practice is hard to ignore. Through his journey, James experienced significant shifts, gained a substantial readership, and secured a publishing deal. The conversation emphasizes the therapeutic nature of creativity, particularly in dealing with anxiety and depression. Listeners are encouraged to tap into their own creative potential and explore the ways in which creative expression can facilitate personal development and emotional well-being.Thank you for joining us on this marvellous conversation with James Miller.

 Episode NotesHave you ever wondered any of these: What the science is behind creativity? What causes creativity in the brain? What part of the brain is used in creativity? Or maybe even how to activate creativity in the brain? In this episode Kate speaks with Dr. Cheryl Arutt a clinical and forensic psychologist based in Los Angeles, California working with actors, writers, directors and showrunners supporting their psychological well-being. A specialist in trauma recovery, creativity and post-traumatic growth, Dr. Cheryl is currently Access Hollywood’s go-to psychologist for trauma issues, a frequent psychological expert on many networks including CNN, HLN and DiscoveryID, and has been interviewed by the BBC and 20/20 Australia.  For more information about Dr. Cheryl please visit askdrcheryl.com, and for info about her online courses for creative artists please visit www.thecreativeresilience.comDr. Cheryl explains how creativity works and what it even is from a Brain Science Perspective. We talk about the link between education and creativity. I ask her if we are doing enough to foster creativity & creating thinking in the school system? And she gives us some actionable things we can do at home for ourselves and our children to rev our own creative engines. One of my favourite moments though, comes towards the end  when I ask her about the possibility of the opposite of inheriting generational trauma existing. We know we can inherit trauma but can we inherit magical wonderful things too? We shared a really tender moment - one where I felt like she was talking to ALL of us. It’s beautiful, uplifting and inspiring.  I think you’ll be really moved by it. What Dr. Cheryl Arutt & I talk about-What creativity IS from a brain science perspective. -What is really going on inside our psychology when people say “I’m not creative”-Why processing trauma including intergenerational trauma, and converting it to post traumatic growth is so important (and is absolutely possible)-The link between education and creativity. Are we fostering creativity and creating thinking enough in the school system? And if we are seeing that our children are not getting as much focus on creativity in school what can we do at home? -What is the one question you can ask yourself (or your kids) to kick start your creativity (what is another way to do that/look at that/solve that)-How the “we only use 10% of our brains” thing is a myth-How to use creativity to safely access our traumas -What is EMDR (eye movement and desensitization and reprocessing therapy how it was discovered and how creative people can use it to heal trauma and access even more of their innate creativity-Post traumatic growth - learning to integrate and recognize all the ways you grew as a person as a result of living through your trauma-What she thinks creativity is trying to do - from a brain science perspectiveAbout Dr. Cheryl AruttDr. Cheryl Arutt is an accomplished clinical and forensic psychologist based in Beverly Hills, CA whose amalgamation of rigorous training and experience allows her to engage with people from a place of deep insight and empathy. Through compassion, skill and sometimes even humor, she helps her patients uncover what is in the way of living a full-access life, empowering them to move forward.Following over 20 years as a working actor, Dr. Cheryl’s interest in human behavior shifted to psychology after volunteering on a crisis line. With scholarships from both SAG and AFTRA to study at University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Cheryl graduated summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She earned her Doctor of Psychology degree from California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles, where she received the Outstanding Doctoral Project Award for her Clinical Dissertation: Healing Together: A program for couples coping with the aftermath of rape.Her postdoctoral fellowship at WILA culminated in a certificate of psychoanalytic psychotherapy, and she received further advanced training in Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dr. Daniel Siegel, with whom she gave a TEDx talk. A lifelong student of power dynamics and an ally for social justice, Dr. Cheryl taught courses to PhD and PsyD students at Allliant International University/CSPP, including: Intercultural Processes and Human Diversity, Sex Roles and Gender, Ethics and Clinical Interviewing.Dr. Cheryl Arutt - Clinical PsychologistAs a trauma specialist, Dr. Cheryl helps her patients understand how adaptations to the source of distress often outlive their usefulness and provides guidance and inspiration to navigate life from a place of wholeness. In continual pursuit of deepening her knowledge of trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth, Dr. Cheryl is devoted to continuing education in effective and evidence-based therapies, including EMDR therapy. A certified Rape and Domestic Violence counselor for decades, Dr. Cheryl also serves on the Board of the national victim’s organization, PAVE, dedicated to shattering the silence of sexual violence.  Dr. Cheryl understands and supports the unique needs and challenges of creative artists and performers. In collaboration with Dr. Cheryl, actors, writers, showrunners, musicians and other creative professionals learn to thrive and clear obstacles to their success and happiness, both personally and professionally. She is a firm believer that the best way to protect the art is to protect the artist.In addition to working with people in private practice, Dr. Cheryl enjoys speaking to professional organizations, institutions of higher learning, at events and on television about creative resilience, post-traumatic growth, recovery from trauma and why people do what they do.  Dr. Cheryl Arutt: website | facebook | instagram | twitterKate Shepherd: art | website | instagram | twitterMorning Moon Nature Jewelry | website |  instagramCreative Genius Podcast | website | instagram Resources discussed in this episode:-Dan Siegel, MD-Dan Siegel’s “Window of Tolerance”-EMDR Institute-Access Hollywood video about EMDR-Bessel van der Kolk, MD book: The Body Keeps the Score 

In this conversation, Lisa Marchiano, a renowned Jungian analyst and author, shares her expertise in understanding the unconscious. She emphasizes the transformative power of dreams and symbols in achieving self-awareness. Marchiano discusses how women can reclaim their vital spark by embracing outlaw energies and setting healthy boundaries. The dialogue also touches on balancing kindness with authenticity and the role of playfulness in personal growth, encouraging listeners to engage deeply with their inner selves.