Big Dreams & Little Things

The world loves to tell us that creativity is a divine accident — a lightning bolt you can’t control. But in this episode, Karina Kampe and Maria Wronski-Ellis pull back the curtain to show you how creativity is not an accident at all. With stories of Sting, Picasso, Beyoncé, and Donald Glover, they reveal how reframing, play, and alter egos can unlock new perspectives. You’ll also get two hands-on exercises — Object Writing and The Alter Ego Effect — plus the latest science on how the brain sparks creativity. And of course, we share our own tiny experiments, laughs, and some poetic surprises along the way.

This is a practical, inspiring guide for anyone who wants to stop waiting for inspiration and start building the conditions where creativity thrives.

Topics covered 

• Sting’s two-year writer’s block and his breakthrough with The Last Ship
• Picasso’s “child mode” and the art of staying a beginner
• Beyoncé’s Sasha Fierce and Donald Glover’s Childish Gambino as alter egos
• Neuroscience of creativity (default mode network, constraints, and risk-taking)
• Object Writing: a 10-minute creative exercise
• Building and using your own Alter Ego for fearless creation
• Tiny Experiments check-in and new challenges
• How mindfulness and presence fuel creativity
• Celebrating the small wins and preparing for Season 2

Time Slots 

• 00:00:07 – Hook: the “divine accident” myth
• 00:00:20 – “Creativity is not an accident” + we’re handing you the keys
• 00:00:39 – Accountability turns flashes into finished work; welcome + host intros
• 00:01:26 – “Witnessing” makes ideas real; why together > alone
• 00:01:52 – What today’s episode covers (blocks, stories, exercises)
• 00:02:31 – One small step: “It doesn’t have to be life-changing…”
• 00:02:50 – Story 1: Sting — blank page → The Last Ship
• 00:04:43 – Story 2: Beyoncé — Sasha Fierce and performing through fear
• 00:05:49 – Story 3: Picasso — “child mode” and staying a beginner
• 00:06:30 – The ultimate reframe: permission & wholeness
• 00:08:47 – ECtA: monthly free workshop + 3-month course info
• 00:09:36 – Science: brain “theater,” DMN + executive control; constraints ignite
• 00:11:59 – Exercise 1: Object Writing (how to, senses, by hand)
• 00:14:48 – Exercise 2: Alter Ego Effect (props, triggers, downloadable guide)
• 00:17:28 – Tiny Experiments check-in: “one-in, one-out” + phone-free evenings
• 00:21:35 – How to pick a tiny experiment (small enough to not fail)
• 00:22:35 – Mindfulness note (future episode)
• 00:25:00 – Closing reminder: celebrate tiny wins; sign-off & outro lines

More Shownotes https://ectahub.net/episode-15-creative-secrets-behind-the-magic/ (Ligger uppe nu) 

Free Alter Ego Challenge 

http://subscribepage.io/AlterEgo

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Episode 14: The Passion-Driven Entrepreneur (feat. Tonia Thorne)

Episode Overview

Hosted by Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter) and Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, songwriter, educator, and author of The Mindful Songwriter), this episode is a love letter to every creative spirit who’s ever felt stuck in a job that didn’t light them up.

We’re diving deep into what it really means to be a passion-driven entrepreneur, someone who follows that internal spark even when it leads off the beaten path. Our guest this week? The wildly multi-talented Tonia Thorne, whose career has taken her from animation and live performance to launching her own voiceover business in the UK.

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Being creative isn’t just about what you do — it’s how you think." — Maria

"When the spark is missing, I can't fake it. I’ll try... but eventually, I just can’t keep going." — Karina

"I think of passion like a compass. But some days? It’s a wild horse dragging me toward the unknown — and I kind of love that." — Tonia

"You don’t have to build something huge. Just something honest." — Maria

Topics Covered

           •         Tonia Thorne’s journey from animation to voiceover artist

           •         How to navigate a multi-passionate creative identity

           •         The emotional compass: making choices that feel right

           •         Business lessons from the creative trenches

           •         The science behind passion, curiosity, and motivation

           •         Why passion-led paths rarely look linear — and why that’s a good thing

           •         Tips for staying motivated when you’re your own boss

           •         Our favorite neuroscience nuggets: dopamine, curiosity, and neuroplasticity

Resources Mentioned

Tonia Thorne

Instagram: @Tonia_Thorne_Voice

Spotify: Tonia Thorne

youtube: @toniathornemusic

web: www.toniathorne.co.uk

Spotify: MARONIA MUSIC

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Curiosity is the engine that powers everything in this fast-moving episode. Hosts Karina Kampe and Maria Wronski-Ellis trade enlightening sharp turns—from Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer’s “curiosity conversations” to a 1916 feminist poem remix—showing how better questions unlock creativity, accountability and everyday joy. Along the way you’ll learn the three scientific styles of curiosity, get a dopamine-driven tour of the brain, and pick up a 7-day micro-challenge that fits in your pocket. Whether you’re a startup founder, a side-hustler or a lifelong learner, this episode proves curiosity isn’t a cat-killer; it’s your nine-life superpower.

Topics covered

• Curiosity as “cognitive courage” and how it rewires creativity
• The three evidence-based curiosity styles—and how to spot yours
• Brian Grazer’s 35-year ritual of interviewing extraordinary people
• Dopamine loops, information gaps and why cliff-hangers hook the brain
• Tiny experiments: using 20-minute daily practices to spark insight
• Edith Södergran’s “Vierge moderne” and Karina's modern remix

External resources

• Brian Grazer – “A Curious Mind” 
• Grazer’s 3-min Curiosity Conversations video – 
• Loewenstein G. (1994) “The Psychology of Curiosity” 
• Gottlieb & Oudeyer (2018) “The Psychology and Neuroscience of Curiosity” 
• Edith Södergran biography
• Original Swedish text of “Vierge moderne” 

Click for Full Shownotes, videos and extra material

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• 🌐 Website: ectahub.net
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Episode 12: Proving it’s never too late?Reinvention, Second Acts, and Following the Whisper

Hosted by Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter)And Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, educator, songwriter, and author of the upcoming The Mindful Songwriter)

Listen to the Episode:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Acast
• Podchaser
• Google Podcasts

Episode Overview

What if the best chapter of your life… hasn’t even started yet?

In this warm, inspiring, and truth-telling episode, Karina and Maria crack open the myth that success has an age limit. Whether you’ve been dreaming of starting something new or quietly wondering “Is this all there is?”—this conversation is your invitation to tune in, turn toward the whisper, and start (or restart) with purpose.

You’ll hear stories of late bloomers who made magic well past their “prime,” personal reflections from your hosts (with all the real-life messiness), and a mini science deep dive into how your brain actually supports reinvention. Plus, we’re launching a brand-new segment: Tiny Experiments! Small actions, big shifts. Let’s go.

Memorable Quotes

“Big changes don’t have to start big. They can begin with a whisper, a sketch, a 20-minute experiment.” – Karina

“You are not behind. You are not expired. You are arriving—right on time.” – Maria

“I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering what might’ve happened if I hadn’t.” – Vera Wang (featured story)

“Your brain might say ‘this is scary,’ but your spirit is saying, ‘this is true.’” – Maria

“Show up, speak up, and never skip the victory dance!” – Karina & Maria

Topics Covered

• Why it's never too late to begin again
• The story of Vera Wang’s incredible career pivot at 40
• Neuroscience behind fear, courage, and change (hello, Amygdala!)
• Maria and Karina’s personal reinvention stories
• Tiny Experiments: how 20 minutes a day can shift your whole vibe
• Why your purpose doesn’t expire with your birthday
• Famous “late bloomers” who prove the best may come after midlife
• How small actions build momentum (and confidence!)

Resources & Recommendations (with heart!)

• Vera Wang’s origin story – If you didn’t already love her designs, you will love her grit.
• Harvard Adult Development Study – Decades of proof that meaning leads to longevity and joy.
• Mentioned: ECtA Speed Accountability Tool – Free download to help you get started on your “What if?”

Book rec: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay – the classic that changed Karina's path.

Coming Up Next Week...

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat – It Gave Her Nine Lives

We explore the power of curiosity as a tool for reinvention and joy. From asking better questions to following new breadcrumbs in life, get ready to fall in love with your inner explorer.

Stay Connected

• 🌐 Website: ectahub.net
• 📸 Instagram: @bigdreams.ecta
• 📬 Subscribe to Backstage Wednesday – our weekly newsletter full of bite-sized inspiration and behind-the-scenes fun.

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Website: www.ectahub.net

Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Karina & Maria explore the fascinating world of behavioral nudging - the subtle art of designing our environment to make better choices easier. We dive deep into the science behind how our brains make decisions and discover practical ways to work with our psychology instead of against it.

Karina and Maria unpack what nudging is, share how they use it in their own routines, and introduce you to one of their favorite role models: Anne-Laure Le Cunff — founder of Ness Labs, Oxford-trained neuroscientist, and queen of the tiny experiment.

Whether you need to drink more water, finish that creative project, or stop checking email 37 times a day — this episode is your invitation to start small and think smart.

DOWNLOAD Your 8 FREE Practical Nudging Techniques​: https://subscribepage.io/nudging-freebie

Key Highlights:

• What is a nudge? (Thaler & Sunstein’s core principles)
• The incredible story of Anne-Laure Le Cunff, who left Google to build Ness Labs
• Understanding System 1 vs System 2 thinking (Daniel Kahneman's dual-process theory)
• 8 practical nudging techniques you can implement immediately
• The famous Amsterdam Airport fly experiment and why it worked
• How to design your life for alignment, not just productivity
• Everyday nudges you’re already using — and how to improve them

DOWNLOAD THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUCK GUIDE: https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/quick-guide

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Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta

Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta

DOWNLOAD You FREE 8 Practical Nudging Techniques​

Sign up for the FREE ECtA Workshop August 24th, 7-9 pm CEThttps://ectahub.net/tickets/
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter - Backstage Wednesday: Inspiration, insights, and community. https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/newsletterConnect With Us

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 Episode Overview

Hosted by Karina Kampe (certified transformational coach, artist, creative entrepreneur, and songwriter) and Maria Wronski-Ellis (artist, songwriter, educator, and author of the upcoming The Mindful Songwriter), this milestone 10th episode of Big Dreams & Little Things dives deep into what it really means to stage a comeback when life throws a plot twist your way.

From Maria’s literal fall (and sacral spine fracture—ouch!) to Karina holding it down behind the scenes while juggling business, motherhood, and funding pitches, this conversation is real, raw, and ridiculously relatable. We explore what it means to rise from burnout, injuries, and unexpected pauses — and how transformation often starts with stillness, surrender, and the tiniest of steps forward.

Comebacks aren't just about bouncing back. They're about becoming.

Topics Covered

• Personal injury & post-traumatic clarity (hello sacral spine wake-up call)
• The emotional and logistical messiness of comebacks
• Famous comeback stories that inspire: Cheryl Strayed, J.K. Rowling, Bethany Hamilton, and Sheryl Sandberg
• How stillness supports psychological healing
• Partnership dynamics during life upheaval
• Post-Traumatic Growth: the science of rising stronger
• Why accountability is more than just checking boxes — it’s about connection

Barbra Streisand and beautifully bittersweet lyrics (cue the tissues)

DOWNLOAD THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUCK GUIDE: https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/quick-guide

Website: www.ectahub.net

Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta

Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta

Sign up for the FREE ECtA Workshop July 1, 7-9 pm CEThttps://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/workshop1july

Exciting News! Online Course Coming September 2025

We're launching the ECtA Accountability Hub—Empowerment Change Through Accountability! The journey begins with our 3 month Accountability Course (launching in May) where you'll:

• Connect with like-minded individuals in a structured setting
• Participate in guided conversation sessions
• Learn proven accountability protocols and progress tools
• Receive personalized support for your unique journey

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter - Backstage Wednesday: Inspiration, insights, and community. https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/newsletter

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Website: www.ectahub.net

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Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

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How to Stay Creative, Clear & Connected When You Work Alone – A Live Conversation with Charlotte Wihk

Short bio:

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to run a creative business solo – this episode is for you. In a grounded, honest, and energizing conversation between three entrepreneurs, we explore what the solopreneur life actually looks like: the routines, the mindset, the messy middle, and the tools that keep it all moving.

Karina and Maria sit down with Charlotte Wihk – a musician, educator, and seasoned solopreneur – to talk about staying clear, focused, and joyful in a life without a traditional boss. From creative chaos and planning rituals to launching courses and riding bikes for inspiration, Charlotte shares how she’s built a business rooted in freedom, connection, and structure.

The conversation weaves personal stories with solid research, practical tips, and a few laughs (yes, hula hoops and spider songs included). Whether you're freelancing, homeschooling, or launching your next big thing – this one’s for you.

This episode spotlights the solopreneur lifestyle through lived experience – with hands-on tools, real-life systems, and a whole lot of heart.

In this episode, we talk about:

✔️ The power of "Gold time" – distraction-free space for creative work

✔️ Focus blocks and rituals that boost your productivity

✔️ How to structure your days without killing your creativity

✔️ Why rest is not optional – it’s part of the process

✔️ Practical tools for launching an online course as a solopreneur

✔️ Real-life accountability (hotel breakfast co-working, anyone?)

✔️ Music, motherhood, hula hoops & hatching sourdough starters

✔️ The research behind why structure frees creativity

DOWNLOAD THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUCK GUIDE: https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/quick-guide

Website: www.ectahub.net

Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta

Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta

💡 Want more resources, links & downloads?

→ Full show notes: https://ectahub.net/episode-9-how-to-stay-creative-clear-connected-when-you-work-alone

→ Sign up for our July 1st live ECtA workshop and get €10 off with code BIGDREAMS

→ Join Backstage Wednesday, our weekly check-in filled with inspiration and hands-on tools:

https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/6bed1cba46

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Website: www.ectahub.net

Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

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Episode Overview

Hosted by transformational coach and creative soul Karina Kampe, and songwriter, educator, and author Maria Wronski-Ellis, this episode dives into the very real and often messy intersection of motherhood and creativity.

What happens to your creative identity when your life revolves around someone else’s nap schedule? How do you hold on to your spark when you can barely hold your eyelids open?

We’re unpacking it all: the struggle, the shape-shifting, and the unexpected beauty that comes when your muse shows up in a new outfit—baby food stains and all.

We’re joined in spirit by creative icons like Tori Amos, Reese Witherspoon, and Björk, whose stories remind us that the artist and the mother aren’t separate beings—they just take turns leading the dance.

Oh, and we’ve got a free accountability guide you’re going to love (because let’s be real—you’re probably multitasking right now).

DOWNLOAD THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUCK GUIDE: https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/quick-guide

Website: www.ectahub.net

Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta

Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta

Exciting News! Online Course Coming September 2025

We're launching the ECtA Accountability Hub—Empowerment Change Through Accountability! The journey begins with our 3 month Accountability Course (launching in May) where you'll:

• Connect with like-minded individuals in a structured setting
• Participate in guided conversation sessions
• Learn proven accountability protocols and progress tools
• Receive personalized support for your unique journey

Connect With Us

Website: www.ectahub.net

Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

Podcast Facebook: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🌟 Episode overview

Do you need a blazing passion to succeed—or could curiosity and play be just as powerful? In this episode of Big Dreams & Little Things, Karina and Maria explore what truly fuels creativity, motivation, and sustainable success. Through science, storytelling, and a powerful spotlight on forgotten women in history, they unravel the myths of passion and the magic of flow. You’ll meet Victorine Meurent, a 19th-century artist and model, in Karina’s upcoming musical—plus get a sneak peek of a new original song based on Victorine’s own letter. Packed with inspiration, research, and honest conversation, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to do it all alone—and that sometimes, the answer isn’t more pressure, but more play. 🎭🎶

DOWNLOAD THE ACCOUNTABILITY QUCK GUIDE: https://big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/quick-guide

Website: www.ectahub.net

Instagram: @Bigdreams.ecta

Facebook: @Bigdreams.ecta

MORE SHOWNOTES ON: https://ectahub.net/episode-7-what-fuels-you-a-conversation-about-passion-curiosity-and-play/

Exciting News! Online Course Coming September 2025

We're launching the ECtA Accountability Hub—Empowerment Change Through Accountability! The journey begins with our 3 month Accountability Course (launching in May) where you'll:

• Connect with like-minded individuals in a structured setting
• Participate in guided conversation sessions
• Learn proven accountability protocols and progress tools
• Receive personalized support for your unique journey

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER: big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/newsletterConnect With Us

Website: www.ectahub.net

Podcast Instagram: @bigdreamsandlittlethings

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Episode Overview

Welcome to another episode of Big Dreams & Little Things! In this episode, Karina and Maria dive into the art of letting go. We explore how embracing change, though often difficult, can lead to growth, transformation, and freedom. From personal stories to science-backed insights, this episode will inspire you to release what no longer serves you and make room for something better.

Whether it’s letting go of perfectionism, expectations, or even old dreams, we discuss how you can embrace change without fear. Plus, stay tuned for a free downloadable practice, The Letting Go Guide, to help you take action today.

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE GUIDE TO LETTING GO: big-dreams-little-things.kit.com/change

MORE SHOWNOTES: https://ectahub.net/episode-6-embracing-change-the-art-of-letting-go/

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