In this intimate episode of Creative Dirt, we sit down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Carli Brill to explore the deep connection between songwriting and mental wellness. Carli shares her personal journey as a musician, her process of writing songs, and how her creativity flows from her deep faith in Christ, serving as both a reflection and an expression of her daily walk in faith.

Whether you’re a songwriter, aspiring musician, or simply someone interested in the therapeutic benefits of creativity, Carli’s insights will resonate with anyone seeking to find balance through artistic expression.

About Carli:

Carli Brill is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose introspective lyrics and soulful melodies explore the complexities of life, love, and personal growth. With a sound that blends elements of folk, Americana, and pop, Carli’s music invites listeners into a space of vulnerability and connection, capturing the universal human experience through her raw, heartfelt storytelling. Check out her latest single, Antiquing On A Rainy Day.

Instagram: @carlibrill

Website: https://carlibrill.com/

Listen to Carli on Spotify.

Sit down with Honor and Nina Coyle, writer, poet, and creative, for a conversation on creative writing as a form of self-care. Art journaling ideas, writing prompts, and inspiration fill today's episode.

Join Honor and Kristin, founder of Kristin Keyes Interiors, for a conversation on home design, organization, and the influence of environment on mental health. Kristin specializes in low waste luxury design and has some amazing insight on making home design accessible, sustainable, and luxurious.

Learn more about Kristin Keyes Interiors here.

Sit down with Honor and Nina, owner of Thunder Moon Collective, as they discuss the therapeutic effects of shopping and the joy of local retail experiences! Nina also shares her journey in starting her boutique and how she intentionally crafted a community though it.

Thunder Moon Collective is a shop and community in East Nashville, TN that showcases products from small businesses from around the world. Every item is meticulously handpicked and purchased not only for its beauty, quality, function or value, but also for the story behind it all.

Honor and Sarah Larson, founder of Nashville Girls Who Walk, discuss walking as a creative exercise! Nashville Girls Who Walk is an organization based in Music City that aims to bring women together through community and accessible exercise. Focused on community, safety, and fitness, the group organizes theme walks and collaborates with local businesses to create unique experiences and opportunities to make new friends. Who knew walking could be so fun?!

Check out the Nashville Girls Who Walk website to learn more about their next walk.

Join Creative Dirt Podcast for a chat about making exercise fun! Honor is joined by physical therapist and owner of Panda Performance, Dr. Ben Howe and personal trainer, Sequoyah Teague, to explore exercise from the lens of creative self-care. We get into the importance of finding an exercise routine that aligns with personal interests and goals, the important role that community plays in maintaining a positive and consistent exercise regimen, and even some personal exercise philosophies. Feel free to pop in your head phones and listen to this episode on a walk because motion is lotion! 

Join Honor and Georgia Bromhead, certified forest therapy guide, for a conversation about how getting outside can influence creativity. Georgia explains the concepts of forest therapy and forest bathing and how each can help you tap into your intuition and natural creative tendencies. Georgia emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfection and finding joy in connecting with nature. To conclude, Honor shares some tips about how to lean in to your outside time ~ creatively.

In this conversation, Honor and Renee Perron of the Fragrance Lab Nashville discuss authentic fragrance discovery and how the Fragrance Lab Nashville curates guided fragrance experiences. They talk about discovering your scent profile and emphasize the beauty of personalized fragrance consultations. At the end of the conversation, Honor shares some tips for authentically engaging in bath and body care, pulling together what we learned in part 1 and part 2. Overall, this conversation highlights the significance of fragrance in self-care and the power of scent to evoke emotions and enhance personal expression.

Learn more about The Fragrance Lab Nashville here!

In this conversation, Cat Ross of Clover Bloom joins Creative Dirt for a discussion about her new body care business and how she got started. We discuss value-driven body care purchasing and compare it to trend-influenced buying. We also take some time to explore the benefits of creating DIY body care products, the beauty in simple self-care routines, and the joy of gifting home made products.

In this conversation, Honor speaks with local art therapist Gillian Pulley about the concept and benefits of art therapy. Gillian emphasizes that art therapy is not limited to artists and can be used by anyone as a form of self-expression and self-care. She also shares her journey into the field of art therapy and highlights the importance of creating time for therapeutic art. Overall, this conversation provides insights into the world of art therapy and its potential for personal growth and healing. To conclude, Honor shares some tips to encourage you to get more crafty! Be inconsistent, use art therapy prompts, stop judging yourself, and edit what you expose yourself to.

Some articles that were referred to in this episode:

Exposure to art stimulates both hemispheres of your brain

How art changes your brain

Learn more about Gillian’s art therapy practice on Psychology today.