Created Creative Podcast

Okay, so Matt Marohl is a scholar, pastor, and the kind of guy who can talk about the book of Hebrews and make it actually interesting. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered how we form our identities, why we put people (and ourselves) in boxes, and what theology has to do with any of it.

Matt's breaking down social identity theory in a way that'll actually make sense, diving into his recent commentary on Hebrews (which, let's be honest, is not the easiest book in the Bible), and sharing about his devotional book for college students who are right in the thick of figuring out who they are.

But here's what makes this conversation so good: Matt gets real about his writing process, how his background in speech and debate shaped the way he thinks, and why categorization—while sometimes limiting—is also how we make sense of the world. Plus, he's talking about his passion for music and how it helps him connect with students from all walks of life. Because creativity isn't just about writing.

This one's about balancing academic discipline with creative teamwork, and finding ways to help people understand themselves and God a little better.

So if you're into theology that actually connects to real life, grab your coffee and settle in. Matt's got the goods.

LINKS: Explore coaching with Dawn: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.com/discern-by-doing-2/

Happy mail for your minister! ConseCrateBox on Etsy: https://consecratebox.etsy.com/listing/1321462675

01:01 Meet Matt 

02:28 Matt's Academic Journey

04:12 The Fascination with Hebrews

08:20 Social Identity Theory and Its Impact

11:07 Writing and Creative Process

16:46 Building Momentum with New Ideas

17:38 The Joy of Collaborative Writing

18:31 Balancing Writing with Other Passions

19:55 Favorite Creators and Inspirations

22:30 The Impact of Speech and Debate

28:50 Authenticity and Connection with Students

30:30 Concluding Thoughts and Memories

Dawn and Ruth are back with another book group, and this time they're diving into Jen Hatmaker's new book Awake, which is basically a masterclass in personal growth, resilience, and figuring out who the heck you are when everything falls apart.

Look, we're getting real real here: ministry challenges, full-blown identity crises, and the messy, beautiful work of adapting when life throws you a curveball the size of Minnesota. Because here's the thing—change is coming whether you're ready or not, and you've got two choices: resist it or lean in and see what's on the other side.

They're talking about the guts it takes to be authentic in leadership (spoiler: it's harder than it looks), how major life transitions can actually set you free instead of breaking you, and why community matters when you're in the thick of it. Because you can't do this alone.

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt stuck, lost, or like they need permission to reinvent themselves. Consider this your permission slip: You don't have to stay who you were. You get to become who you're meant to be. So grab your coffee, settle in, and let's talk about staying true to yourself when life gets messy. Because it will. And that's okay.

LINKS:

Check out Dawn's coaching (and new Discern by Doing for Business group starting January 5!) at https://bigpicturebigpurpose.com/discern-by-doing-2/

ConseCrate Subscription Box: consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:23 Book Club Dynamics and Reading Habits

01:30 Discussion on Jen Hatmaker's Book

01:49 Themes of Awakening and Personal Growth

03:26 Identity and Role in Ministry

05:19 Navigating Personal and Professional Transitions

07:25 Freedom After Loss

11:31 Midlife Transitions and Wisdom

12:54 Authenticity and Public Image

13:55 Balancing Personal and Public Life as a Pastor

14:14 Navigating Personal Challenges in the Public Eye

14:38 The Importance of Privacy and Boundaries

15:01 Impact of Family and Personal History

16:26 Gender Roles and Personal Growth

17:55 Challenges in Ministry and Coaching

20:08 Systemic Issues in Church Support

25:12 Building a Business Alongside Ministry

27:01 Reflections on Jen Hatmaker's Book

You don't need a massive budget to change lives. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of money in the right hands and a whole lot of heart.

Dawn and Ruth host Blessing, who is doing something absolutely beautiful. She's running a grassroots micro grant program that's spreading joy in both Zimbabwe and New York City—proof that small projects and faith-based initiatives can create massive ripples in communities. We're talking real people, real needs, real transformation.

This episode is your reminder that you don't have to wait for some big organization or perfect moment to make a difference. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is see a need, gather your people, and just start.

LINKS:

Check out Dawn's coaching at bigpicturebigpurpose.com

ConseCrate subscription box: consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:00 Introduction

00:19 Parenting and Letting Go

01:23 Memories and Early Childhood

04:54 New York Politics and Community

08:21 Introducing Blessing

09:58 Blessing's Background and Cultural Identity

13:59 Christmas Joy Project

18:15 Grassroots Initiatives and Organizational Dynamics

19:22 Role and Responsibilities at the Synod Office

19:33 Faith Formation and Deia Program

20:51 Experiences with the Cross and Clergy Perception

22:33 Sparkle Joy Project in New York City

24:19 Funding and Expanding Micro Grants

29:44 Future Projects and Personal Reflections

31:14 Creativity and Spirituality

33:36 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This week’s wisdom: Focus on what you can control, and let the rest go. Seriously. Let it go.

Dawn and Ruth are breaking down the whole "circle of concern versus circle of influence" thing, which sounds fancy but really just means stop spinning your wheels on stuff that's out of your hands. Instead, find tangible ways to help, create, and show up for your people. It’s exactly what Ruth has been doing for FIVE YEARS with her ConseCrate subscription box (which is a whole milestone worth celebrating), these two are getting real about the challenges, the joys, and what it takes to build something that lasts. Five years of curating meaningful resources for church leaders? That's not nothing, friends.

Oh, and they're spilling the tea on Dawn’s small group 'Discern by Doing for Business‘—a space where people start and sustain real, successful businesses by actually doing the thing instead of just talking about it. Revolutionary concept, right? So if you're feeling overwhelmed by everything you can't control, this episode's your permission slip to focus on what you can do.

LINKS:

Check out Dawn's coaching and groups at bigpicturebigpurpose.com

ConseCrate Subscription Box - consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:17 Halloween Festivities

00:51 New York Trick-or-Treatingrate.cratejoy.com

02:11 Circle of Influence vs. Circle of Concern

02:27 Voting and Local Government

04:02 Community Involvement and Despair

06:39 Finding Joy Amidst Challenges

09:46 Historical Context and Perspective

10:56 Reflecting on the First Consecrate Box

11:47 Lessons Learned Over Five Years

12:16 The Evolution of Packaging and Shipping

13:13 Gifts Beyond the Box

14:10 How to Get the Anniversary Box

14:31 The Consecrate Community

16:07 Expanding the Business: Etsy Shop

16:32 Future Plans and Business Insights

17:55 The Joy of Entrepreneurship

20:28 Celebrating Five Years and Looking Ahead

Theater and Church Aren't That Different, Actually with Todd Davison

Todd Davison is the artistic director of Maples Repertory Theater in Macon, Missouri, and this guy gets it. He knows that whether you're putting on a show or leading a church service, you're really just gathering people together knowing something magical happens. Dawn and Ruth sit down with Todd to talk about the beautiful chaos of producing live theater in a small Midwestern town (which, let's be honest, takes vision), and how his church work and theater work are basically two sides of the same coin. Every performance is different, every audience is unique, and you can't control it—you just show up and let it unfold. Sound like Sunday morning? Exactly.

Todd also gets real about his puppetry days (yes, puppetry), how he picks shows that'll actually resonate with his community, his casting philosophy, and how he juggles approximately seventeen responsibilities without losing his mind. Here's the thing: Creativity and spirituality are deeply connected, and Todd's living proof that you don't have to choose between them. You just build community wherever you are and trust the process.

So grab your coffee and settle in—this one's good.

LINKS:

01:37 The Role of Community in Theater

03:26 Church and Theater: A Symbiotic Relationship

09:19 Todd's Journey into Theater

11:37 Selecting and Producing Shows

12:59 Challenges and Successes in Theater Production

15:14 The Church Basement Ladies Series

16:50 Personalizing Productions: Pirates of Penance and More

18:09 Recruiting Actors: Pre and Post COVID

19:41 The Challenges of Remote Auditions

20:21 Building a Theater Community

23:37 Favorite Creators and Inspirations

25:24 Choosing Plays with Purpose

29:12 Balancing Multiple Responsibilities

33:41 Creativity and Spirituality

Celebrating 100 Episodes (Yes, We Made It!)

Holy buckets, friends—we hit 100 episodes, and Dawn and Ruth are celebrating the only way that makes sense: on a gorgeous farm, reflecting on this wild ride. We've had incredible guests, technical disasters that would make you weep, and more small-town charm than you can shake a stick at. We're talking regional theater stories, parade appearances (because of course), and all the behind-the-scenes chaos that comes with building something from scratch.

Here's what matters: You showed up. Episode after episode, you listened, you shared, you became part of this thing we're building together. And we're not gonna lie—we're getting a little misty about it. So join us for the farm tour (it's as picturesque as it sounds), some good old-fashioned reminiscing about our early episodes when we barely knew what we were doing, and a whole lot of gratitude for this community. Because honestly? We couldn't have done this without you.

Here's to 100 more, and whatever beautiful chaos comes next. We're just getting started.

00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes!

00:11 Life on the Farm

00:55 The Big Parade

02:20 Reflecting on 100 Episodes

04:22 Memorable Guests and Moments

11:02 The Life of a Professional Actor

12:08 Travel and Flowers

12:51 Exploring the Farm

14:19 Small Town Charm

14:42 Theater and Community

18:35 Returning to New York

23:22 Reflections and Future Plans

Find out more about Dawn's coaching: www.bigpicturebigpurpose.com

Order a ConseCrate for your favorite minister! consecrate.cratejoy.com

Opportunities are literally everywhere, and Dawn and Ruth are here to prove it.

Dawn's deep in the thick of performing in 'Church Basement Ladies' in Missouri (which, if you know, you know), and Ruth just MacGyvered her microwave back to life with a 3D-printed handle from eBay. You read that right—eBay. Someone out there printed handles, listed them online, and is making money off broken microwaves. This is the kind of scrappy genius we're celebrating today.

Here's the deal: You don't need some massive, world-changing idea to build something meaningful. Sometimes the best business opportunities are hiding in the small, annoying problems you solve every single day. Like Duolingo's founder, who looked at expensive language learning and said, "Well, that's ridiculous," and then built an app that millions of people use for free.

Oh, and PSA: It's Clergy Appreciation Month, so maybe go ahead and gift your pastor something nice from Consecrate. They've earned it.

Now go find your microwave handle moment, okay?

LINKS:

Explore Discern by Doing with Dawn: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.com/discern-by-doing-2/

ConseCrate Subscription Box - consecrate.cratejoy.com

00:00 Starting a Business: Identifying Needs

00:17 Introduction to Created Creative

00:21 Life in Missouri: Theater and Community

01:08 The Iconic 'Daily Bread' Photograph

02:11 Church Basement Ladies: A Musical Journey

04:21 The Importance of Community and Support

08:09 Maintaining Relationships Across Distances

09:20 A Story of Innovation: Fixing the Microwave Handle

12:12 Appliance Overload in a Tiny Apartment

13:08 The Convenience of Extra Fridges

13:58 Settling into a New Apartment

15:12 Understanding Community Needs

17:16 Unexpected Connections in Public

20:00 The Story Behind Duolingo

21:46 Taking the First Step to Solve Problems

22:22 Clergy Appreciation Month

This episode is about showing up to build the life you want. Dawn and Ruth sit down with Michelle Wahila, an ordained Presbyterian pastor who said "nope" to traditional ministry and is now marrying English-speaking couples in Paris, leading retreats, and writing liturgies that'll punch you right in the feels. She's raising her kids French-style, navigating the gorgeous chaos of expat life, and just wrote a book called Ruffled by Grace.

But here's the thing: Michelle's wrestling with the scary possibility of moving back to the States for family reasons, and wondering if her ministry can exist beyond Paris. Spoiler alert—it can, and we're gonna talk about why. This one's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's a creative, unconventional path forward when life throws you a curveball. Because there is, friend. There absolutely is.

LINKS: https://www.discernbydoing.com/

consecrate.cratejoy.com - It's Clergy Appreciation Month! Surprise your friend in ministry with a ConseCrate!

00:00 A Dreamy Start at the Eiffel Tower

00:16 Welcome to Creative: Meet Dawn and Ruth

00:36 The Joys and Challenges of Community Theater

02:09 A Day on the Farm

03:48 Exploring Fergus Falls' History

06:23 Introducing Michelle Wala: A Unique Ministry in Paris

11:36 Raising Third Culture Kids in France

14:23 Michelle's Book: Healing Through Quirky Liturgies

16:50 Travel Show Ideas and Creative Practices

18:19 Writing Process and Book Journey

19:06 Publisher Collaboration and Book Launch

21:07 Homecoming and Emotional Events

23:18 Creative Collaborations in Paris

24:16 Building a Business and Future Plans

26:08 Balancing Family and Career

28:29 Entrepreneurial Pastor and Future Steps

31:37 Conclusion and Book Information

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