Creativity as a Lifeline: A Conversation with Jaime Townzen

What happens when grief, loss, and uncertainty open a doorway back to creativity? In this soulful episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, host Kate Shepherd speaks with artist and author Jaime Townzen about how watercolour became her lifeline during a dark time, and how following her spark led her to write and publish her debut novel Absorbed. Together they explore creativity as healing, intuition as guidance, the courage to embrace being an artist, and how art helps us through times of crisis.

Listeners will hear about Jaime’s journey from stay-at-home mom to professional artist and novelist, the power of daily creative rituals, the role of curiosity as an antidote to anxiety, and how to trust your own calling. This conversation is a balm for anyone longing to reconnect with their creative spark and live more fully as themselves.

This week on the Creative Genius Podcast, I sat down with artist and author Jaime Townzen. Her story is one of grief, healing, and rediscovering herself through creativity — a path that eventually led her to publish her first novel Absorbed.

We talked about why art matters in times of crisis, how daily creative rituals can reorient your whole life, and what it means to follow your calling even when it doesn’t make sense on paper.

Jaime’s journey is a beautiful reminder that creativity isn’t indulgent — it’s essential.

What if your nervous system—the very force that protects you—was also the key to unlocking your creativity, joy, and deeper self-connection? In this profound and heartfelt conversation, Kate sits down with emotional healing specialist and nervous system guide Natalie (NatNat) Bédard of LiftOneSelf. Together, they explore how our nervous systems shape our experiences, how integrating soul and humanity allows us to embrace the full spectrum of being alive, and why vulnerability is at the heart of creative expression.

Natalie (NatNat) Bédard is the founder of LiftOneSelf and a devoted emotional healing specialist and nervous system guide. After surviving a life-threatening health crisis that left her in the hospital for 40 days, Natalie embarked on a profound journey of somatic healing, meditation, and self-discovery. She now teaches others how to navigate the “force field” of the nervous system, turning survival instincts into pathways for creativity, resilience, and joy.

Her upcoming book, The Gift Wrapped in Sandpaper: Untamed Power, blends science, story, and practice to help readers integrate both soul and humanity. Through one-on-one sessions, group programs, and her own podcast, Natalie creates safe spaces where people can process trauma, embrace vulnerability, and access the deep creative intelligence within. Based in Ottawa, Canada, she is also a solo parent and brings lived experience, wisdom, and compassion to her work. Learn more at LiftOneSelf.com

Key Takeaways

Why Natalie calls nervous system healing “warrior work” and how it transforms our relationship with emotions.

How to move beyond fear vs. love into true integration of the human and the soul.

The nervous system as a wild stallion: learning to ride with it instead of fighting against it.

Parenting, trauma, and authenticity: how to navigate messy real life with compassion.

Playful, simple ways to reconnect with intuition, creativity, and joy.

Resources Mentioned

Natalie Bédard’s website: LiftOneSelf.com

Natalie’s upcoming book The Gift Wrapped in Sandpaper

Kate’s jewelry & podcast community: KateShepherdCreative.com

Call to Action
If this conversation stirred something in you, subscribe to The Creative Genius Podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. For deeper practices, meditations, and community, join us on Patreon at patreon.com/creativegeniuspodcast.

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast (the finale for Season 4!) Kate sits down with Albert Bramante — talent agent, psychologist, and author — to explore why so many creatives hold themselves back, how to reframe rejection, why fear isn’t the enemy, and how to trust yourself enough to rewrite your own script.

From Kate: Today I’m bringing you a conversation that feels especially alive and needed right now. I sat down with Albert Bramante — a rare soul who bridges the world of psychology and the performing arts. For over two decades he’s walked alongside actors, dancers, and other artists as both a talent agent and a guide through the invisible terrain of mindset, fear, self-doubt, and that sneaky self-sabotage we all bump up against when we dare to put our true selves out in the world.

In this conversation, Albert opens up about how rejection isn’t really rejection, how fear can be a strange protector, and how staying open to the unknown — in our art, our work, our relationships — can free us to live bigger, truer lives.

I hope as you listen you feel a soft invitation to loosen your own grip a little, to see where you might be clinging too tightly to other people’s scripts for you — and maybe, just maybe, to let yourself play again.

Highlights:

Why rejection is rarely personal

How our childhood shapes creative courage

What fear of success really means

The power of playing instead of performing

Real stories about people pleasing, burnout, and letting go

About This Episode

What if the collapse of old systems — the patriarchy, relentless productivity, and hollow doing — is really the birth pangs of something necessary and beautiful? In this conversation, I sit down with Leo Marrs, a writer, creative strategist, experience designer, and the author of the upcoming The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy.

Leo’s story begins in the wilds of Alaska and weaves through entrepreneurship, breathwork, altered states of consciousness, and a deep remembering that we are it — the universe expressing itself creatively through us.

In this episode, we explore:

How the collapse of old systems can feel like existential fight-or-flight — and yet a creative rebirth.

Leo’s spontaneous awakening that revealed the creative intelligence suffusing everything.

The essential role of art, vision, and imagination in shaping futures worth living.

How to engage with technology — including AI — without losing our humanity.

Why presence might be our greatest creative “technology” yet.

How to drop the striving and become the mindful artist you already are.

If you feel called to make things that truly matter, this conversation is for you.

Listen Now

Apple Podcasts: [listen here]
Spotify: [Lissten here]
 

Links & Resources

Connect with Leo Marrs: https://www.leomarrs.com

Leo’s upcoming book: The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy (sign up on Leo’s site for updates)

Referenced in this episode:

Integral Theory by Ken Wilber — https://integrallife.com/

The Image of the Future by Fred Polak — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Polak

Moga Dot (AI & ethics) 

The Telepathy Tapes podcast — https://thetelepathytapes.com/ 

Aphantasia resources — https://aphantasia.com

Timestamps

00:00 — Welcoming Leo and the collective moment we’re in
04:00 — Leo’s spontaneous awakening in the shower
12:00 — The power of image, vision, and art to shape the future
20:00 — Engaging with AI and collective intelligence mindfully
30:00 — Aphantasia, inner knowing, and hidden gifts of not seeing
42:00 — Why we must learn to trust uncertainty
50:00 — The billboard message: You’re it — becoming the mindful artist you already are

Go Deeper

Read my blog reflections on this episode inside Patreon

Get bonus episodes, reflections, and community connection: [Patreon]

Subscribe to the Creative Genius Newsletter here

If You Loved This Episode

Share it with a friend — it helps so much.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts — your words help Creative Genius reach more people who need it.

Join our warm, growing community on Patreon for more bonus episodes, guided reflections, and ways to connect with others on this path.

Stay Connected

Follow me on Instagram: @kateshepherdcreative & @thecreativegeniuspodcast
Follow Leo: @theleomarrs
Reach out to me directly here

Thank you for listening — keep making things that matter.

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, I talk with designer, writer, and thinker Ben Rennie, author of a new book that explores the transformative power of curiosity and creativity. Together, we unpack the dynamic relationship between curiosity, creativity, and confidence, and how this path can guide us to overcome fear and step more fully into our potential. Ben shares his personal story—sparked by a promise to his late mother—that led him to examine how people find themselves in powerful, unexpected places.

We explore the idea that creativity isn’t limited to the arts but is instead the ability to see things differently, solve problems, and bring ideas to life. Through vivid stories and practical wisdom, Ben and I explore how curiosity is the antidote to fear, how creativity naturally flows from curiosity, and how confidence is built by simply beginning—and continuing—to create.

From imposter syndrome at a Dolce & Gabbana event to finding inspiration in nature, this conversation is a powerful invitation to get curious, stay creative, and be kind to yourself in the process.

Topics Covered:

How curiosity dissolves fear

Why creativity is about seeing possibilities, not just making art

Reframing repetition: why doing what’s been done before is still meaningful

How creative confidence is earned through action

The role of environment and nature in creative flow Navigating imposter syndrome

and Honouring your path

Resources & Mentions: Ben Rennie's new book Ben’s “Wednesdays” blog on Medium Brene Brown Steve Jobs: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward…” Meredith Hite-Estevez: “Join a song already singing” Rick Rubin: on creativity and remixing existing ideas

Takeaways / Call to Action:

Follow your curiosity—it’s the best antidote to fear Just start, even if it’s been done before—your voice matters

Practice regularly and create space for your creativity

Capture your ideas on the go

Be gentle with yourself

Spend time in nature to reset and reconnect

A FEW THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT

Why joy is not frivolous—it’s essential.

How to observe chaos without absorbing it

Alchemizing anger into action

Grounding techniques to pull you back to yourself (barefoot walks, simple rituals)

Why online friendships and community can be just as real—and healing—as in-person ones

How feminine energy can help rebalance a world spinning off its axis

What it actually looks like to embrace your authentic self in a world that often shames it

Why creativity is your most reliable compass during uncertain times

Letting go of the pressure to save the world while still lending a hand

The truth about money and how it amplifies who you already are

SOUND BITES

"The matriarchy is the highest good for all."

"We have to focus on joy every day."

"Community is not a one-way street."

"Walking outside barefoot is grounding."

"Ten minutes a day is all it takes."

"Life is to savour it and enjoy it."

"Your soul will never lead you astray."

"That was medicine for my soul."

CALLS TO ACTION If this episode stirred something in you, I’d love for you to support this work. Join my Patreon to help keep these conversations going and get access to bonus content, meditations, and other goodies I create just for our community.

And if you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a friend. That’s how we grow this beautiful circle—and how we get these conversations into the hearts of those who need them most.

RESOURCES + LINKS

The Shabby Creek Cottage

The Soft Life Society

Join Kate's Patreon

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Patriarchy and the extinction burst

The importance of grounding practices

Creativity as guidance and resilience

Building and rebuilding community with intention

This one’s tender, fierce, and exactly what we need right now. I hope it lands in your heart the way it did in mine.

In the ever-evolving landscape of art and technology, the fusion of creativity and artificial intelligence is opening new horizons for artists worldwide. In a recent episode of Creative Genius, host Kate Shepherd engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Troy Plota, the visionary behind Plotaverse, exploring how AI can serve as a powerful ally in the creative process.

The Intersection of Art and Technology:
Troy Plota's journey from a seasoned photographer to the founder of a groundbreaking digital platform exemplifies the transformative potential of embracing technological advancements. Plotaverse, his innovative app, brought motion to still images, captivating audiences and achieving remarkable success with over 10 million downloads. 

Democratizing Creativity:
A central theme in the discussion is the democratization of art through AI. Troy emphasizes that AI tools can empower individuals with creative visions but limited resources, enabling them to bring their ideas to life without the need for substantial budgets or technical expertise.

Spiritual Insights and Creative Inspiration:
Beyond technology, the conversation delves into the spiritual dimensions of creativity. Troy shares a profound personal experience where he was inspired by a dream, awakening with a complete screenplay in mind. This narrative underscores the mysterious and often transcendent nature of artistic inspiration.

Building Creative Communities:
The episode also highlights the importance of community and service in the artistic journey. Troy discusses how platforms like Plotaverse can foster connections among artists, creating supportive environments that nurture creativity and innovation.

The dialogue between Kate Shepherd and Troy Plota offers valuable insights into how embracing AI can enhance, rather than hinder, human creativity. By viewing technology as a collaborative partner, artists can unlock new realms of expression and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive creative landscape.

To explore more about Troy Plota's work, visit Plotaverse

Key Topics:

The inception and impact of Plotaverse

AI as a tool for creative empowerment

Balancing technology with human artistry

Spiritual insights and their influence on creativity

Building communities through shared artistic endeavors

Notable Quotes:

"Creativity is a universal calling."

"AI can enhance creativity rather than replace it."

"Community and service to others can help combat fear and anxiety."

Resources:

Plotaverse Official Website

Troy Plota's Personal Site

Dor Brothers Video Mentioned

Guest Bio:
Troy Plota is a seasoned photographer and digital artist with over 30 years of experience. He is the founder of Plotaverse, a platform that revolutionized digital art by animating still images, garnering over 10 million downloads and reaching #1 in the App Store. Troy's work has been featured in prominent publications like Vanity Fair, GQ, and Rolling Stone. 

Episode Highlights:

Discussion on the role of AI in democratizing creativity

Insights into the development and success of Plotaverse

Exploration of spiritual experiences influencing artistic endeavors

Emphasis on building supportive creative communities

Subscribe to Creative Genius, leave a review, and support us on Patreon at patreon.com/creativegeniuspodcast.

What do we do when we feel frozen in the face of manufactured crisis and overwhelm? I sit down with wise and wonderful Sharazad Jamal to talk about finding your way back to your inner truth, using creativity, intuition, and ancient wisdom tools to navigate fear and chaos.

In this deeply resonant conversation, artist and soul-guide Sharazad Jamal joins me to explore how we navigate ongoing chaos, collective trauma, and personal overwhelm. We dive into tools and practices that help move through fear, reconnect to intuition, and activate creativity during crisis. With wisdom rooted in somatic therapy, spiritual insight, and creative resilience, this episode is a balm for anyone feeling frozen, scattered, or exhausted. Sharazad shares frameworks for understanding our different bodies (mental, physical, emotional, and soul) and how to support each when fear takes over. If you’ve been struggling to stay grounded in the noise, this episode is a must-listen.

Topics We Cover

Why artists are uniquely prepared for uncertainty and change

Irene Lyon’s somatic trauma work and the freeze response

Understanding the four "bodies": mental, physical, emotional, soul

How to get unstuck when you feel frozen or overwhelmed

The power of imagination and emotion in shaping our future

Why beauty and creativity are revolutionary, not indulgent

Using Byron Katie’s "The Work" to unhook from unhelpful beliefs

Building journaling and creative rituals as grounding practices

Trusting intuition even when it feels disorienting

Discerning your feelings from the collective or others’ energy

Resources & Mentions

Irene Lyon (Somatic Therapist, Vancouver)

Byron Katie’s "The Work"

Morning Moon Jewelry (lovemorningmoon.com)

As the world feels increasingly unstable, many of us are seeking ways to stay grounded, to keep our hearts open, and to resist despair. In this timely encore episode, Buddhist teacher and author Lama Rod Owens reminds us that joy is not only possible in times of crisis—it is essential.

Lama Rod shares deeply from his lived experience as a Black, queer spiritual teacher in America. We talk about how rage can be holy, how rest is sacred, and how joy can serve as a radical, defiant act in the face of oppression.

This conversation is an anchor for anyone navigating stress, overwhelm, or heartbreak right now. May it nourish you deeply.

In this episode:

How joy functions as a tool for resistance

What it means to stay emotionally present without being consumed

Why creative expression is essential for survival

How to begin cultivating inner spaciousness, even in chaos

Practices to help you return to your centre

💡 BONUS RESOURCES
Join my Patreon for additional tools to support your creative and spiritual journey. Get access to exclusive guided meditations, creativity worksheets, and more.
Sign up for the newsletter to receive weekly inspiration, behind-the-scenes podcast updates, and timely tools to help you stay connected to your inner wisdom.

Resources Mentioned:

Lama Rod Owens' book: The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors

lamarod.com

In this episode of the Creative Genius podcast, I interview Rebe Huntman about her debut memoir, "My Mother in Havana, a memoir of magic and miracle." Rebe shares her personal story of losing her mother at a young age and the subsequent decades of feeling disconnected from her memory. Driven by a deep longing and intuition, Rebe embarked on a 30-day DIY pilgrimage to Cuba to seek a different perspective on grief and connection. 

The conversation delves into how Rebe's background as a Latin dancer led her to discover the spiritual roots of Cuban dances and the traditions of honoring the deceased.  Rebe recounts her experiences immersing herself in rituals dedicated to the goddess Oshun, visiting the sanctuary of Cuba's patron saint, and meeting with a spiritist who she hoped would connect her with her mother.

Rebe and I discuss the importance of intuition and following one's unique path, even when it doesn't seem logical. We also explore the disconnect in Western culture from ancestral connections, magic, and meaningful rituals, contrasting it with the Cuban traditions of keeping the dead close.

The conversation touches on the challenges of staying creative and connected to one's inner voice in the face of overwhelming global issues and personal fears. Rebe shares her belief in creativity as a portal and emphasizes the importance of honouring inner longings and choosing to champion humanity. She also shares her personal rituals for grounding and connecting with her intuition and ancestors, offering practical advice for listeners seeking to do the same. Ultimately, Rebe's story is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, the wisdom of intuition, and the potential for magic and miracle in our lives, even in the darkest of times.