Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

• Alexandra Walker: Healing Through Song

  Outward success can mask profound inner turmoil.Alexandra Walker talks to me about her path from mathematical prodigy to trauma-informed coach, revealing along the way how creative expression can be hindered by psychological struggles, but also become a pathway to healing. From an early age, Alexandra displayed dual talents in mathematics and creative arts. A perceptive art teacher recognized abilities she couldn't see in herself, encouraging her artistic development alongside her academic pursuits. This duality continued at university, where she performed Grieg's Piano Concerto with the University Symphony Orchestra and wrote a musical while completing her mathematics degree.Despite her accomplishments, Alexandra struggled with insomnia and two types of OCD that stifled her creativity for years. 'When you're dealing with problems, they can just become so all-encompassing,' she explains. Through counselling, Alexandra gradually recognized these mental health challenges stemmed from childhood emotional abuse – a reality her mind had carefully shielded her from acknowledging.The healing journey took an unexpected turn when Alexandra and her husband relocated to Scotland during the pandemic. What began as a temporary move became permanent as she found space to process her experiences and envision a new path forward. This transformation led to the creation of Damsel Not In Distress, her trauma-informed coaching business helping others 'sing after the storm' of difficult life experiences.Perhaps most powerfully, Alexandra discovered that songs she'd written sporadically over the years formed a chronicle of her healing journey – from fear to hope, caterpillar to butterfly. These creative expressions now inform her coaching work and upcoming book, embodying her realization that 'we can't just solve everything with logic... I also needed more of the creative side, expressing emotions.'creativityfound.co.ukResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsDownload Fire From the Earth from Liminal Coaching here. Reconnect with your creative energy. Affordably advertise on this podcast by emailing [email protected], or book a call here. I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

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• Florrie de Havilland: Satellites to Stationery

  What happens when a satellite engineer's hands stop working, and how can creativity emerge from constraint?For Florrie de Havilland, a period of debilitating ill health  meant reimagining her entire career and discovering unexpected joy in the delicate art of calligraphy and the mechanical precision of letterpress printing.Having had a successful career in mechanical engineering, including testing satellites for space missions, Florrie's neurological condition – affecting her hands and arms – forced her to eventually reconsider her career path and find a new way to balance her energy. During a two-year recovery period, Florrie had turned to watercolour painting and calligraphy, finding that these artistic pursuits offered something her illness had taken away: control. The conversation reveals fascinating parallels between Florrie's engineering background and her current creative practice. The same precision and problem-solving mindset that helped her test rocket thrusters and solar panels now informs her approach to calligraphy and her operation of "Penelope," a 1.25-ton vintage printing press from 1960 that dominates her studio.Today, Florrie creates bespoke wedding stationery that tells each couple's unique story, and beyond the commercial aspects of her business she finds profound fulfilment in volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, creating materials for children's wish events.Perhaps most touching is Florrie's description of finding her tribe among fellow letterpress enthusiasts: "When you meet some letterpress friends it's fantastic because they're just as crazy as you are." Florrie's story reminds us that creativity isn't just about making beautiful things – it's about finding new paths forward when traditional ones become inaccessible, and discovering community in unexpected places.creativityfound.co.ukResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsDownload Fire From the Earth from Liminal Coaching here. Reconnect with your creative energy. Affordably advertise on this podcast by emailing [email protected], or book a call here. I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

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• Andrea Carter Brown: Poetry and Positivity in Troubled Times

  Escaping the horrors of 9/11 on foot, and coming to terms with the experiences through poetry.First released in September 2021What happens when tragedy collides with creativity? Andrea Carter Brown's journey from accountant to acclaimed poet was forever altered by the events of September 11, 2001, when she fled her apartment just one block from the World Trade Center.Growing up in a home without books or art, Andrea never imagined becoming a writer. "I am the first artist in my family ever," she reveals, crediting her mother for nurturing her love of reading despite not being a reader herself. Though poetry spoke to her unhappy teenage self through Emily Dickinson's words, Andrea followed her natural talent with numbers into bookkeeping, building a successful business career that left little room for creative expression.The turning point came unexpectedly at a New York poetry reading where "the dam broke" and Andrea began writing poems about her experiences in East Germany. But the most profound chapter in her creative journey began on 9/11 when she witnessed the unthinkable. "I knew I had to flee," she recalls, embarking on a 12-hour odyssey through New York and New Jersey while her husband feared she was dead. The trauma of that day – including respiratory disease from toxic dust exposure – created a profound writer's block that took years to overcome.Fast forward and Andrea has published a number of poetry collections, including one about her experiences of escaping on 9/11, and the effects of that experience on her and her community in the 20 years in between the event and her publishing the collection, entitled September 12. In this episode Andrea also reads one of the poems from September 12, that she chose specially for us at Creativity Found. CreativityFound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupYouTube @creativityfoundpodcastPinterest: @creativityfoundResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella PalletDownload Fire From the Earth from Liminal Coaching here. Reconnect with your creative energy. Affordably advertise on this podcast by emailing [email protected], or book a call here. I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

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• Tricia Duffy: Planning for Creativity

  Cruise ships, corporate climbing and a creative philosophyFrom a young age, Tricia Duffy was immersed in the arts, singing and writing poetry. Leaving school at 16 with no qualifications, Tricia found a way to fulfill her dream of going to America by working on cruise ships, where her passion for entertainment blossomed. On returning to the UK Tricia transitioned into the television industry, where she faced the challenge of working in a male-dominated environment that often sidelined women's creative contributions. She recounts how her successful career in television left her feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from her creative self.After experiencing burnout and personal loss, Tricia started her own consulting business, which provided her the flexibility to reconnect with her love for music, as she joined a choir, a covers band, and began writing her own songs.Tricia applied the philosophy of the 10-year plan, something she had used in corporate environments, to plan for her own creativity, and turned her love for research, and helping others make time for creativity into a podcast called In 10 Years Time: How To Live a Creative Life. Tricia’s story encourages listeners to challenge their own self-doubt and pursue their passions. As she prepares to embark on a PhD journey, she emphasizes the significance of continuous learning and the joy of living a life dedicated to creativity.This episode is not just a personal narrative; it’s an inspiring call to action for anyone feeling stuck in their creative pursuits, reminding us that it’s never too late to reclaim our artistic identities and live a fulfilling life.creativityfound.co.ukResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsDownload Fire From the Earth from Liminal Coaching here. Reconnect with your creative energy. Affordably advertise on this podcast by emailing [email protected], or book a call here. I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

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• Sally Jean Fox: Peonies, Paint and Personal Growth

  How age and life experiences can reignite artistic passions long buried beneath the weight of societal expectations. For this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with Sally Fox, a once-aspiring artist turned leadership consultant. After years of letting grades and external validation dictate her creative identity, Sally bravely broke free from the chains of self-doubt. Now in her 70s, she revels in her creativity, embracing art, writing, and performance with newfound vigour. We discuss the pivotal moment during a flight from Japan that sparked her artistic renaissance, as she realized that her creative essence could no longer be suppressed. Our discussion also touches on the barriers many face in reconnecting with their creative selves, particularly the pressures of childhood and societal norms that often stifle artistic expression. Sally reflects on her own childhood, where the judgement of others led her to abandon her natural artistic inclinations. Through her narrative, she emphasizes the importance of nurturing creativity in later life, encouraging listeners to reclaim their artistic identities regardless of age. Sally’s insights not only inspire but also challenge us to consider how we can cultivate a more creative existence in our daily lives, reminding us that creativity flourishes when we allow ourselves the freedom to explore, play, and express without fear of judgement.Whether you’re an artist at heart or someone who has yet to find your creative outlet, this conversation is a gentle nudge to embrace your inner artist and explore the vibrant world of creativity waiting to be unlocked at any age.creativityfound.co.ukInstagram: @creativityfoundpodcastThreads: @creativityfoundpodcastFacebook: @creativityfoundpodcast and Creativity Found groupYouTube @creativityfoundpodcastResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsArtworks: Emily Portnoi emilyportnoi.co.ukPhoto: Ella PalletDownload Fire From the Earth from Liminal Coaching here. Reconnect with your creative energy. Affordably advertise on this podcast by emailing [email protected], or book a call here. I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

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