In this catch-up episode, Dawn's been knee-deep in the Missouri theater scene, choreographing and directing a comedy production that's apparently been running longer than some marriages. She gets real about the magic of working with a cast with a deep past and why tight-knit creative communities are worth their weight in hotdish.

Meanwhile, Ruth's got her hiking boots laced up for New Zealand because someone's living their best life over here. Plus, we're celebrating Jeff Hiller's Emmy win (because good things happen to good people), diving into Julia Cameron's wisdom about trusting the universe (even when it feels sketchy), and getting honest about why you absolutely NEED your people when you're putting your creative work out there.

Fair warning: this episode might make you want to book a flight, audition for a show, or at least call that friend who always believes in your wild ideas.

Check out Dawn's coaching: www.bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Clergy appreciation month is coming - get a ConseCrate for your minsiter: consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

00:34 Theater Life in Missouri

01:02 Comedy and Community

01:47 Rehearsals and Local Life

02:31 Jeff Hiller's Emmy Win

04:21 Small Town Adventures

09:05 Travel Plans and Reflections

11:38 Future Vlog Ideas

12:29 Travel Plans and Flights

12:50 Business Group Insights

13:30 Economic Freedom and Side Hustles

14:01 Challenges Facing Churches

16:18 World Schooling Adventures

18:19 Creative Pursuits and Overcoming Doubts

22:59 Nurturing Creativity and Support Systems

25:49 Conclusion and Encouragement

Today’s guest, Dawn Marie Duncan, is doing ALL the things. We're talking music industry veteran turned children's book author, visual artist, AND creativity coach. Because apparently one creative pursuit just wasn't enough. Dawn Marie gets real about her transformation journey (spoiler alert: Julia Cameron's 'The Artist's Way' was involved), and how she went from industry burnout to leading creativity workshops that actually change people's lives. She's not here for your perfectionist nonsense - this is about getting messy, being vulnerable, and discovering what happens when you stop overthinking and start creating. Fair warning: this conversation might just inspire you to finally pick up that paintbrush you've been staring at for months. You've been warned.

00:00 Introduction and Creative Exploration

00:23 Meet Dawn Marie Duncan

01:24 Journey into Entrepreneurship

03:47 Music Industry Adventures

07:29 The Artist's Way and Personal Transformation

14:21 Embracing Vulnerability in Creativity

15:39 The Journey of Writing and Publishing a Book

17:29 Marketing and DIY Spirit

20:31 Creative Process and Daily Routine

22:51 Inspiration from Fellow Creators

24:34 Future Plans and Creative Spaces

26:07 Connecting Creativity and Spirituality

26:52 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dawn and Ruth are diving into the age-old struggle every creative person knows by heart: how do you keep your artistic soul alive when real life keeps happening every day. Chapter 11 of "The Artist's Way" gets the full treatment here, including some thoughts on how the Creator influences our creating and why your body might be trying to tell your brain something important about art.

Fair warning: This episode might make you realize that creativity isn't something you squeeze into your spare time - it's something that wants to show up in every corner of your life, whether you planned for it or not. And honestly? That's exactly how it should be.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Name Inspiration

00:23 Unexpected Door Fix and Today Show Excitement

01:41 Royal Wedding and Seasonal Preparations

02:35 Travel Logistics and Winter Predictions

04:45 Chapter 11: Recovering a Sense of Autonomy

08:31 Creativity and Physical Movement

09:55 New York City Dance Scene

10:12 Lucy's Ballet Journey

10:33 Social Dancing and College Memories

11:17 Physical Expression and Creativity

12:09 Nurturing Yourself: Tasks and Tips

13:22 Exercise and Wellness Routines

15:36 Homeschooling Adventures

18:26 Conclusion and Farewell

Note: This episode is also available on our YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/SC2Pr2i2JhI) - you might enjoy seeing some of the scenes we filmed.

Dawn and Ruth dive headfirst into the beautiful chaos of Minnesota's greatest gathering, where you can get hot dish on a stick (because of course you can) and witness the genuine artistry of butter sculptures that'll make you question everything you thought you knew about dairy products.

They're not just wandering around eating corn dogs - though there's definitely corn dog eating happening. They're exploring what happens when creativity meets tradition, from seed art that's way more impressive than it sounds to a pie contest that got a little too spicy for its own good. Plus, they're celebrating the magic of actually walking places (revolutionary, we know) and catching up with friends like normal humans do.

Fair warning: This episode includes a 4-H performance that might just restore your faith in young people, personal stories that'll hit you right in the feels, and enough Fair food talk to make you plan your next trip before the episode's over. You betcha it's worth your time.

00:00 Welcome to Creative: A Day at the Fair Begins

00:13 The Charm of Walkable Cities

00:40 A Fun-Filled Day at the Fair

01:49 Creative Foods and Unique Experiences

02:17 The Hot Dish on a Stick Adventure

03:11 Exploring the Creative Arts Building

03:24 The Great Pie Scandal

04:38 Lost and Found at the Fair

05:21 Butter Heads and Fair Traditions

07:22 Seed Art and Political Statements

09:16 Reflecting on Fair Memories

11:30 Closing Thoughts and Farewell

Spirituality and creativity aren't just connected—they're practically best friends who finish each other's sentences.

On this episode, Dawn and Ruth sit down with the absolutely delightful Brey Noelle (actress, model, musician, and honestly, is there anything this woman can't do?) who decided to go full-time creative and somehow made it work. We're talking Cannes Film Festival, people. CANNES. While the rest of us are over here trying to figure out how to juggle a side hustle with Sunday service.

Brey spills the tea on everything—the messy middle of chasing dreams, how faith keeps her grounded when Hollywood gets weird, and what it's really like having a film on Amazon Prime (spoiler alert: it's pretty darn cool). Plus, she breaks down her quirky writing process that actually works, her upcoming HBO 'Peacemaker' gig, and why building the right team is harder than finding good hotdish at a church potluck.

We also peek at what's next for this creative powerhouse, including her return to music. Trust us, you'll want to take notes—and maybe grab some coffee. You're gonna need it.

00:00 Introduction and Realizations

00:12 Casual Conversations and Daily Life

00:48 State Fair Plans and Adventures

01:12 Museum Visit and Central Park

03:02 Creative Blocks and Social Media

05:22 Comfort Items and Routines

09:01 State Fair Foods and Traditions

11:13 Guest Introduction: Brey Noelle

13:29 Brey Noelle's Journey to Cannes

17:33 Unexpected Opportunities and Cannes Film Festival

18:01 Amazon Prime Release: 'See You Again'

18:21 Creating Faith-Inspired Films

20:43 Upcoming Projects and Industry Insights

22:42 Balancing Multiple Creative Pursuits

23:27 The Creative Process and Collaboration

24:46 Challenges in the Creative Journey

28:24 Taking Leaps of Faith

30:30 Inspiration from Other Creators

33:49 Connecting Creativity and Spirituality

35:42 Building a Trustworthy Team

38:47 Exciting Future Projects

39:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Follow Brey @breynoelle on instagram

You're Not Lazy, You're Just Scared (And That Changes Everything)

This week we’re calling out that sneaky little lie we tell ourselves: that we're just being "lazy" when we can't seem to start that project. Spoiler alert: you're not lazy, you're scared. And that's totally normal, so quit beating yourself up about it.

Hosts Dawn and Ruth get wonderfully honest about their own creative fumbles – like when Ruth completely blanked on work commitments (been there!) and Dawn's white-knuckle journey launching her business course. They're diving into why enthusiasm beats discipline every single time when it comes to sustaining your art, plus sharing gems from “The Artist’s Way,” their current book obsession, about treating work like play and finding your people.

You'll get the real talk on creative U-turns, why visualizing success actually works (even if it feels a little woo-woo), and – here's the kicker – why asking for help isn't admitting defeat, it's being smart. Because sometimes you need your people to lovingly tell you to get your act together, and that's what community is for.

Ready to stop hiding and start creating? This one's for you.

Find out about Dawn's coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Looking for a gift for your favorite minister? consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:00 Introduction and Greetings

00:53 Summer Reflections and Theater Experiences

03:01 Discussing Chapter Nine: Recovering a Sense of Compassion

03:23 Overcoming Fear in Business

05:41 The Importance of Belonging and Success

07:42 Treating Work as Play

11:21 Discussing Creative U-Turns

12:06 The Importance of Collaboration

12:44 Overcoming Creative Blocks

13:18 The Power of Community and Support

14:43 Morning Pages and Creative Activities

17:11 Visualizing Success and Staying Motivated

20:42 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Yes friends, We're Going There: Jesus, Mushrooms, and Mental Health with the Ligare Folks

We’re diving headfirst into the deep end today, friends! After Dawn and Ruth catch up on their weekend shenanigans (including some quality time at WeFest), we're serving up a conversation that'll make your church ladies raise their eyebrows.

The Ligare folks, a Christian psychedelic society, are out here doing some pretty remarkable work that might surprise you. These lovely humans are bridging the gap between faith and psychedelic therapy, and before you do a double-take into your hot dish, just stick with us for a minute here.

Turns out there's real honest-to-goodness science behind using these plant medicines for folks dealing with depression that just won't budge, PTSD that's been hanging around way too long, and other mental health struggles that regular treatments can't seem to touch. And here's the thing - they're not tossing their faith aside. Nope, they're weaving spiritual practices right into the healing process because apparently God shows up in the most unexpected places (which shouldn't surprise any of us Midwesterners who've seen Him work through a good hotdish and genuine community).

So grab your coffee (or Diet Coke, we don't judge), set your preconceptions aside for just a bit, and let's chat about hope, healing, and why sometimes the road to wholeness looks different than what we grew up thinking. Plus, we'll fill you in on how to connect with Ligare because this conversation is just the beginning, and honestly, the world could use more of this thoughtful, compassionate work.

Fair warning: This one's gonna stretch you, and that's exactly the point.

00:00 Introduction to Psychedelic Healing and Christianity

00:21 Weekend Recap: We Fest and Local Events

02:28 Daily Life and Personal Updates

03:21 Business Ventures and Creative Pursuits

06:37 Creative Blocks and Overcoming Challenges

08:46 Guest Introduction and Discussion on Psychedelics

12:27 Introduction to Alyssa Jo May

12:50 Hunt's Journey with Psychedelics

14:22 Megan's Involvement and Background

15:19 Alyssa's Dual Life and Role

17:06 The Need for Psychedelic Healing

23:07 Legal and Practical Aspects

25:24 Personal Experiences with Psychedelics

32:23 Conclusion and Resources

Find out more at ligare.org

Connect with Dawn's new Discern by Doing for Business - bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Looking for a gift for your favorite minister? Check out ConseCrate subscription box: consecrate.cratejoy.com

Ruth and Dawn are discussing something that nobody talks about in seminary: pastors are natural salespeople who cast vision, build programs, and run stewardship campaigns. But when it comes to using those same skills to start a side hustle? Suddenly we're "too commercial" or "not focused on ministry." After 20 years watching talented women pastors struggle financially while apologizing for wanting financial stability, we have some thoughts, and a program called Discern by Doing for Business that's changing everything.

LINKS:

Talk with Dawn about being part of Discern by Doing for Business: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/explore/

What We're Covering:

Why "being too forward" is code for "being effective" (00:00)

Two decades of trial, error, and refusing to take no for an answer (06:49)

We're diving headfirst into why vulnerability makes us squirm, why effort actually matters, and how abundance shows up when you're not trying so dang hard. Dawn and Ruth are back with another episode of 'Created Creative,' and we're not messing around.

Broadcasting live from the parking lot of Hector International Airport in Fargo, ND, we're talking Chapter Six of 'The Artist's Way' focusing on all the messy stuff nobody wants to admit: chasing dreams that might be pipe dreams, making real connections in a world full of fake ones, and figuring out how to want nice things without losing your soul in the process. Oh, and we'll throw in some honest talk about parenting fails, travel mishaps, and whether your job is actually your calling or just paying the bills.

Plus, we're spilling details about our upcoming Puerto Rico retreat for women in ministry—because sometimes you need to leave North Dakota winter to remember who you are. Come for the community, stay for the personal growth, and maybe learn something despite yourself.

Consult Dawn for Coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Find a gift for your minister: consecrate.cratejoy.com

LINKS:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections

00:18 Welcome to Create Creative

00:24 Life in Fargo, North Dakota

01:58 Parenting and Screen Time

03:50 Chapter Six Discussion

05:16 Artist Dates and Personal Experiences

09:13 Abundance and Capitalism

14:36 Navigating Life and Career Choices

16:28 The Joy and Challenges of Pursuing Parenthood

17:37 The Evolution of Calling and Career

19:14 The Reality of Generational Wealth and Success

22:24 Crafting a Lifestyle of Abundance

26:04 The Importance of Connections and Networking

31:09 Embracing Possibility and Effort

32:59 Conclusion and Call to Action

Dawn and Ruth tried media deprivation week from 'The Artist's Way' - no social media, no binge-watching, and no podcasts. Turns out cutting the digital noise actually works for unleashing creativity. Skip our podcast this week and do some morning pages instead - your brain will thank you!

It's a great week to get coaching! Contact Dawn to set up an exploratory session: bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Or maybe you could send a thoughtful gift to your favorite minister! Consecrate.cratejoy.com