Created Creative Podcast

Ruth's raw, unfiltered voice memos from her solo journey through New Zealand make up most of this episode, and honestly? It's one of the most truthful, vulnerable things we've ever put out there. Ruth's walking you through the whole thing: The initial excitement of departure (that "holy buckets, I'm really doing this" energy), the physical challenges that make you question everything, the moments of reflection when you're alone with your thoughts in the wilderness, and all the interactions with locals and travelers that remind you why humans need each other.

But here's what makes this special: You're hearing Ruth navigate the emotional highs and lows in real time. Not polished. Not edited into neat takeaways. Just the messy, beautiful truth of what it's like to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do.

By the end, Ruth's gained profound insights and a sense of accomplishment that only comes from finishing something audacious. And when she gets home? She reflects on how the whole experience transformed her. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what it actually feels like to do the thing that scares you. Not the Instagram version. The real version. So grab your coffee (or your hiking boots) and settle in. Ruth's taking you to New Zealand—and it's going to change how you think about what you're capable of.

LINKS:

Check out Dawn Trautman's coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com

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

00:00 Introduction to Ruth's Journey

00:57 Ruth's Pre-Departure Thoughts

00:57 Travel Hiccups and Delays

02:53 Arrival in New Zealand

04:21 First Days on the Trail

05:48 Challenges and Small Victories

06:56 Reflections on Home and the World

08:45 Unexpected Encounters and Decisions

10:38 Reaching Queenstown and Final Thoughts

18:09 Returning Home and Processing the Journey

21:04 Reflecting on the Journey

21:18 Challenges and Adaptations

22:20 Survival Strategies

23:22 Facing Loneliness

23:38 The Value of Community

26:45 Unsupervised Adventures

30:03 Packing Essentials

31:14 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

When we welcomed back Meta Herrick Carlson in December to discuss her children's book called We Remember Your Baptism, we never knew how much more timely her words would become by January.

Meta is a Minnesota pastor helping children understand and cherish their baptismal stories, which sounds simple until you realize how many of us have NO idea what our baptism even meant or why it matters. She worked with her illustrator Clara to create something that helps families hold onto these sacred moments in ways that actually stick.

But here's where the conversation gets deeper: We talked about what baptism means for community. What it means for her Minneapolis neighborhood right now. With ICE presence and everything else happening, the question isn't just "do you remember your baptism?" It's “Do you remember whose you are? And who's got you?"

Meta shares her unique pastoral experiences with baptism (and trust us, pastors have STORIES), and we dive into the importance of mutual aid, showing up for each other, and what it actually looks like to live into your baptismal promises when the world feels heavy.

This episode is about memory, yes. But it's also about belonging, community support, and the power of knowing you're claimed by God and by your people.

PREORDER META’S BOOK: https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9798889836490/We-Remember-Your-Baptism

00:02 Meet the Guest: Meta Herrick Carlson

01:57 Meta’s New Book: We Remember Your Baptism

03:07 The Creative Process Behind the Book

05:48 Choosing the Right Illustrator

08:42 Personal Reflections on Baptism

13:13 The Power of Storytelling in Faith

15:17 Hope for the Book's Impact

15:38 Personal Reflections on Children's Books

16:55 Baptism Rituals and Traditions

18:32 Book Release and Promotions

20:53 Community and Social Justice

22:48 ICE Presence and Community Response

25:36 Faith and Social Responsibility

27:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo is basically the Created Creative podcast in book form. There's so much overlap it's wild.

Dawn and Ruth get real about how family beliefs shaped their creative journeys (spoiler: Dawn got cast in a professional show as a kid and wasn't allowed to do it—ouch), what limiting beliefs are still holding them back (like "I don't wanna bother people" when marketing), and the whole messy tension between building a personal brand and maintaining humility in ministry. Because yeah, that's a thing.

They're also talking about the difference between holy persistence and unhealthy striving (when do you keep going and when do you let go?), and how to integrate all the different pieces of your life—ministry, business, creativity—without losing your mind. Dawn calls it "being a jazz musician" with her schedule, and honestly, that tracks.

Naomi Arnold is a journalist, author, and the kind of person who decided to walk the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail. Because why not, right?

Naomi's sharing with Dawn and Ruth the whole messy, beautiful story: the trail conditions (spoiler: not always great), the personal fears she had to face, the environmental challenges that nearly broke her, and what it actually takes to put one foot in front of the other for months on end. All of this became her book Northbound, which is basically a masterclass in resilience and determination.

But here's what makes this conversation so good: They're not just talking about hiking. They're talking about the writing process, the life lessons that only show up when you're alone in the wilderness with your thoughts, and what happens when you commit to something audacious and then actually do it.

This episode is packed with practical advice for future hikers (Ruth's actually in New Zealand hiking right now) and aspiring writers who need to hear that finishing the thing—whether it's a trail or a book—requires the same kind of stubborn persistence.

So if you've ever wondered what it takes to walk across an entire country or write about it afterward, Naomi's got answers. And honestly? Her story might just inspire you to do that audacious thing you've been putting off.

LINKS: Are you dreaming about starting something new? Check out Dawn's coaching groups: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Have you heard about ConseCrate? It is happy mail for ministers! consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:19 Planning the New Zealand Trail Adventure

02:07 Interview with Naomi Arnold

02:47 Naomi's Trail Experience and Challenges

06:24 Navigating the Trail and Unexpected Obstacles

14:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Future Hikers

19:10 Struggles on 90 Mile Beach

19:58 A Painful Journey to the End

21:22 Unexpected Kindness and Recovery

22:29 Post-Trail Reflections and Social Anxiety

22:59 The Impact of COVID-19

24:46 Book Success and Reader Reactions

25:39 The Journey of Writing and Publishing

28:03 Future Projects and Ideas

29:18 Creative Challenges and Accountability

Dawn and Ruth are diving into something women in ministry desperately need but rarely talk about: systems. Not the sexy stuff—just the practical, life-saving routines that keep you from drowning in overwhelm.

They're bringing on three incredible coaches who've all been through Discern by Doing and are now helping women actually survive (and thrive) in ministry life:

Michelle Pavasars is helping women in ministry create calm, organized spaces and build the systems that make family dinners and ministry responsibilities actually coexist. Because yes, you can have both—but not without structure.

Jodi Golden Lund is coaching women through the messy reality of balancing family and ministry, helping them stop over-functioning (which, let's be honest, is what society has trained us to do) and start living with intention instead of exhaustion.

Jillene Gallatin took her own grief journey and created Grief Yoga, a practice that holds space for loss, transitions, and all the heavy stuff women in ministry carry but rarely have permission to process.

This episode is about community, accountability, and using your unique skills to support each other instead of trying to do it all alone. Because the truth is, most women in ministry are drowning in responsibility, absorbing criticism, and getting way less support than they deserve.

These coaches? They're changing that. One calm space, one routine, one yoga session at a time. So if you're overwhelmed, over-functioning, or just tired of white-knuckling your way through ministry life, this one's for you.

LINKS:

Become part of Dawn's next Discern by Doing for Business Group: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Have you heard of ConseCrate? It's Happy Mail for Ministers! consecrate.cratejoy.com

Michelle Pavasars coaching: https://www.michellepavasars.com/

Jillene Gallatin grief coaching: https://www.groundedloveforgrief.com/

Jodi Golden-Lund coaching: https://www.jodigoldenlund.com/

00:45 Epiphany Insights and Personal Goals

01:53 The Concept of Over-Functioning

03:03 Introducing Michelle Pavasars

04:12 Creating Calm Spaces and Organized Lives

07:29 The Value of Family Dinners

08:59 Building a Coaching Business

16:28 The Unique Role of a Coach

16:45 Introducing Jodi Golden-Lund

17:42 Jodi's Journey and Coaching Philosophy

19:37 The Impact of Coaching Programs

22:02 Introducing Jillene Gallatin

22:59 Jillene's Grief Yoga and Coaching

26:18 The Power of Community in Business

35:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Dawn and Ruth are introducing Discern by Doing for Business, a program designed specifically for women who want to build sustainable businesses rooted in who they actually are. And then? They bring on three incredible guests who are living proof that this works.

First up: Diane Harpster is teaching Zentangle art—intricate, meditative drawing that reduces stress and unlocks creativity. It's art therapy meets spiritual practice, and it's beautiful.

Then there's Erin Martinson with the Strong Her Ministry Collective, creating space and support for women in church leadership. Because honestly? Women leading in the church need community, resources, and people who get it.

And finally, Julie Hoplamazian introduces Faith on Pointe. Yes, that's ballet and theology together. She's literally integrating movement, worship, and Scripture in a way that's both ancient and brand new.

This episode is all about community support, intentional practice, and proving that spirituality and creativity aren't separate from your business—they're the foundation of it. When you build from that place? Everything changes. So if you're ready to create something that's authentically yours, this one's for you.

DISCERN BY DOING FOR BUSINESS: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business

CONSECRATE: it's Happy Mail for Ministers! consecrate.cratejoy.com

ZENTANGLE: https://www.dianeharpsterart.com/

STRONG_HER: https://www.embodywisdomca.com/

FAITH ON POINT: https://www.faithonpointe.com/

00:34 New Year Reflections and Vision Boards

01:07 Achieving Goals and Overcoming Challenges

02:21 Discern by Doing: Empowering Stories

03:09 Interview with Diane Harpster: Zentangle Journey

05:32 The Benefits of Zentangle and Self-Care

14:49 Interview with Erin Martinson: Stronger Ministry Collective

19:18 Living Out God's Purpose

19:48 The Importance of Discernment

20:54 Shifting Directions in Life

21:33 Strong Her Ministry Collective

23:16 Introduction to Faith on Pointe

24:04 The Origin of Faith on Pointe

25:47 Connecting Dance and Spirituality

26:50 Challenges and Community Support

31:35 Promoting and Growing the Ministry

33:13 Upcoming Collaborations and Final Thoughts

Terry Niemann is Santa. Not just plays him. Is him. And his conversation with Dawn and Ruth is gonna punch you right in the feels. Terry is a transportation dispatcher from Minnesota who started playing Santa in 2018, and what began as a fun gig became something so much deeper when cancer entered the picture. Because here's the thing: When you face your own mortality, every interaction with a wide-eyed kid, every act of generosity, every moment of spreading joy becomes sacred.

He's sharing heartwarming moments with children, spontaneous acts of kindness during the holidays, and what it's like to embody hope and magic when life has thrown you some serious curveballs. Terry's battle with cancer didn't stop him from being Santa. If anything, it made him better at it.

This episode is about resilience, yes. But it's also about gratitude, the power of simple kindness, and what happens when you decide to keep showing up for people even when, especially when, life gets hard.

So if you need a reminder that generosity and joy are choices we make every single day, and that the true spirit of Christmas isn't about presents but about presence, this one's for you.

Grab your tissues and your coffee. Terry's story is the kind that stays with you long after the episode ends.

LINKS: Do you dream about having a little more financial freedom? Join ministers who are building small businesses of all kinds! New group beginning in January: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Have you heard about ConseCrate? It's happy mail for ministers: consecratebox.com

00:22 Meet Santa: Terry Niemann

01:19 Becoming Santa: The Journey Begins

02:45 Memorable Moments as Santa

03:43 Spreading Joy: Santa's Impact

06:32 The Life of a Busy Santa

09:05 Santa School: Preparing for the Role

09:56 Magic Key and Coins for Kids

10:23 Reading Humphrey's First Christmas

11:17 Santa School Experience

13:32 Battling Cancer and Finding Strength

15:29 Best Christmas Ever Organization

17:47 Spreading Thankfulness and Joy

Sometimes you have to follow where your calling actually leads, not where people expect it to go. Dawn and Ruth sit down with Dale Harris. He’s a former pastor, current psychotherapy student, and the kind of creative who refuses to pick just one lane.

Dale's been making Three Minute Theology videos, writing novels and poetry, releasing music albums, and now? He's transitioning from ministry into mental health work because sometimes you have to follow where your calling actually leads, not where people expect it to go.

Here's what makes this conversation so good: Dale gets real about the challenges of being a creative person in a church setting (spoiler: it's complicated), why he's shifting his focus to therapy and writing, and what it's like to integrate all these different pieces of who you are when the world keeps asking you to just be one thing.

They're diving into Van Gogh (because art and faith have always been tangled up together), the intersection of music and mental health, the practical side of promoting your creative work without feeling like a fraud, and how to actually overcome imposter syndrome when you're doing something new.

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt too creative for the church, too spiritual for the art world, or like they're supposed to stay in the box everyone else built for them. Dale's proof that you don't have to.

LINKS: Learn more about Dawn's Group Coaching Opportunity for those starting a side business - https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Find a gift for your favorite minister: consecratebox.com

00:26 Christmas Activities and Traditions

01:04 Sing-Along and Community Events

02:52 Winter Challenges and Festivities

05:50 Interview with Dale Harris

07:33 Dale Harris: From Ministry to Psychotherapy

09:26 Three Minute Theology and Creative Projects

13:33 Van Gogh and the Intersection of Art and Faith

19:23 Music, Mental Health, and Community

20:14 Introduction to Therapy and Songwriting

20:54 Transitioning from Ministry to Therapy

22:25 Setting Up a Therapy Practice

22:57 Writing Practices and Inspirations

26:33 Creative Projects and Holy Saturday

30:03 Promoting Creative Work

36:30 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

39:11 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

What does it take to tell the truth about where you come from, even when that truth is wrapped in silence? Dawn and Ruth sat down with North Dakota native Melanie Hoffert to discuss her memoir, Prairie Silence, a profound exploration of life, identity, and the kind of quiet that shapes you whether you want it to or not. And she's getting real about her decade-long writing journey, because good work takes time. She's sharing the whole messy process: finding an agent, navigating rejections, balancing major life changes (like having a baby), and somehow keeping her creative practice alive through all of it.

Here's what matters: They're diving into the unique pressures authors face, why you have to keep writing even when it feels impossible, and what advice actually helps when you're trying to birth something meaningful into the world. Melanie's creative process has evolved through marriage, motherhood, and all the significant life changes that could've derailed her—but didn't. This episode is for anyone who's in the long haul of a creative project and wondering if it'll ever be done. Spoiler: It will. You just gotta keep showing up.

LINKS: Learn more about Dawn's Discern by Doing for Business Groups: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Check out Ruth's ConseCrateBox shop: consecratebox.com

00:00 Introduction to Prairie Silence

00:19 Meet the Hosts: Dawn and Ruth

00:21 A Chilly Welcome

00:26 Tree Lighting and Sing-Along

02:04 Preparing for New Zealand

02:48 Introducing Melanie Hoffert

04:13 Melanie's Background and Prairie Silence

05:37 Writing and Promoting Prairie Silence

10:14 Impact of Prairie Silence

11:47 Current Creative Projects

15:22 Writing Practices and Routines

16:45 Navigating Parenthood and Creativity

17:05 Daily Writing Practice and Efficiency

17:33 Balancing Work and Writing

18:24 Inspiration from Other Creators

19:44 Creativity and Spirituality

20:56 Coaching on Overcoming Insecurities

25:49 Finding a Publisher

29:13 Advice for Aspiring Authors

Dawn and Ruth sit down with Rev. Elizabeth Riley, and this conversation is about to get real. We're talking about her book Rage Prayers—which is exactly what it sounds like and exactly what we all need permission to do.

Here's the deal: You don't have to sanitize your feelings for God. Anger? Bring it. Grief? Absolutely. The messy, ugly, raw stuff you think you're supposed to keep hidden? God can handle it, and Elizabeth's here to tell you why that matters.

She's sharing personal stories that'll punch you right in the feels - navigating divorce, losing her father, and all the ways life has taught her that authentic spirituality means showing up as your whole self, not just the parts that look good on Sunday morning.

They're also diving into how social media has changed modern evangelism (for better and worse), and why creative ministries require the kind of flexibility that traditional church structures sometimes can't handle. Because the work of reaching people where they are? That's messy, evolving, and beautiful all at once.

This episode is for anyone who's ever been told their feelings were "too much" for God. Spoiler alert: They're not. So grab your coffee and get ready to feel seen.

LINKS:

Check out Dawn's coaching - https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/

Gifts for ministers from ConseCrate - https://consecratebox.com/

00:00 Introduction and Thanksgiving Memories

00:27 Balloon Handling Adventures

03:08 Thanksgiving Traditions and Stranger Things

04:51 Introducing Elizabeth Riley

05:21 Elizabeth's Journey and Rage Prayers

08:18 Social Media and Digital Evangelism

09:37 Challenges and Flexibility in Church Practices

12:48 Engaging with the Episcopal Church Online

18:04 Rage Prayers: Origin and Impact

20:22 Embracing Authenticity in Faith

20:51 Publishing Journey and Social Media Influence

21:43 Challenges in the Publishing Industry

24:18 The Power of Rage Prayers

26:12 Personal Reflections on Grief and Prayer

28:00 Creative Processes and Inspirations

29:39 Navigating Interim Periods and Future Projects

33:41 The Value of Bi-Vocational Ministry

38:38 Conclusion and Final Thoughts