Creative Impact Podcast

My guest for episode 42 is Bria Greenwood! Originally from Madison, Mississippi, Bria is a professional dancer with Ad Deum Dance Company and a dance teacher. Bria describes herself as a lover of Jesus and someone who loves her family. She is the oldest of 5 siblings.

Bria received her dance training from the world’s first professional Christian ballet company, Ballet Magnificat!, in Jackson, MS. She was in their School of the Arts, and then their professional Trainee Program.

We talk about how her time at Ballet Magnificat! developed her love of worship through movement and prepared her for the work she is doing now with Ad Deum Dance Company. Bria’s story reminds me that sometimes a closed door is really God’s provision and His way of guiding us exactly where He wants us to be.

After her time with Ballet Magnificat, Bria moved to Houston, Texas, to join Ad Deum II Dance Company, and has since been promoted to principal dancer in Ad Deum Dance Company. Bria has such a beautiful heart for God, and you will hear that all throughout our conversation. I also love Bria’s heart for bringing joy to others through teaching and community outreach.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Bria's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

It was a joy to catch up with Krista Bower! Krista is the Chair of the Belhaven University Dance Department in Jackson, Mississippi. Krista has such a beautiful spirit and heart for others. Our conversation is equal parts Krista’s personal journey as a dancer and sharing more about the dance program at Belhaven.

Krista earned an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University and a BFA in Dance from Belhaven University. She has served on staff for the USA International Ballet Competition and owns and directs the Yazoo City School of Dance. As a professional dancer, Krista performed with Living Water Dance Company and later co-founded Front Porch Dance, a Mississippi-based contemporary dance company.  Krista is also a founding instructor of the Dance for Parkinson’s program in Jackson, MS.

I enjoyed hearing Krista’s perspective on leading through the pandemic and insights from her role as a teacher and mentor. We talk about the transition when Krista came in as the Chair of the Belhaven University Dance Department.

Belhaven University is close to my heart as a former student. I love that we had this opportunity to chat about the key elements of the dance program at Belhaven and what makes it so unique. If you’ve been curious about the program’s bachelors or masters degree opportunities, this is a great way to learn more! For my fellow alumni, I hope you enjoy hearing about the continued development of the department.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Krista's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

I felt so refreshed after my time talking to Jeanna Vance, guest on episode 40. Jeanna exudes the love of God and invests in each person she encounters. She is a wife, mother of two, and a dance artist. Jeanna founded Open Sky Arts Collective in 2014. Open Sky’s mission is to use the arts to bring the Kingdom of God to the lost and hurting among us. Beginning as a project-based organization, Open Sky has now grown into two full-time companies operating in Houston and Dallas.

Prior to starting Open Sky, Jeanna danced with various modern and ballet companies including Ad Deum Dance Company, Sandra Organ’s Dance Company, Suchu Dance, Hopestone Inc., and Psophonia Dance Company. She served on faculty with Dance Revolution dance convention for 12 years teaching dance, performing, and sharing her journey of faith and art with thousands of students and teachers.

Jeanna shares her story of overcoming self-hatred and an eating disorder through experiencing the love of God and the power of forgiveness. Seeing others experience freedom and recognize their value is a huge part of Jeanna’s heart and mission.

At a crossroad in her journey, she felt God prompt her to start Open Sky. Are you in a place where you feel like you don’t have anything to give? May Jeanna’s story fill you with hope and encouragement. As Jeanna says, “we are not enough, but He is enough.”

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Jeanna's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

The beautiful Hannah Anderson joins me for episode 39! Hannah is a wife, a mom of two creative and expressive kids, and a dance artist. Her love for God is evident and is an integral part of her life as an artist. In our conversation, we talk about a variety of topics such as grief, holistic health, and the power of dance in worship.

Hannah began her dance journey at Dramatic Truth School of the Arts in Kansas City. After graduating from their ballet and modern program at 16, she discovered the beautiful Jose Limón technique. That season was pivotal for her as a dancer. Hannah danced as a company member for Dramatic Truth, Storling Dance Theatre, Dance Ad Deum and then helped found Open Sky Arts Collective, which now has two locations and is directed by Jeanna Vance. 

Hannah is passionate about wellness, from both the perspective of a dancer and a mom. One of the most impactful parts of our conversation for me personally was diving into the topic of grief and what it looks like to work through grief in a way that leads to emotional wellness. Currently, Hannah oversees dance for her church in North Carolina, where she serves with the musicians and vocalists to lead worship on Sunday mornings.
 
Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Hannah's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

My guest for episode 38 is the lovely Kalette Alspaugh! Kalette is the owner of Beautiful Feet Studio of Dance & The Arts which offers a variety of performing and visual arts classes all in a faith based environment. She is also the founder of the non-profit Hand Picked, Inc. which serves in “bringing good” through the arts to the financially disadvantaged, orphaned, and physically restricted including hospitalized seniors and child survivors rescued from human trafficking both locally and around the world.

Kalette’s passion for leadership, teaching, and the arts began at a young age. During high school, God planted the dream in her heart for what is now Beautiful Feet Studio of Dance & The Arts. With that vision in mind, she went on to study Business Administration at Baylor University. Kalette shares how she gained valuable leadership experience through her work in management with Walmart and Chick-fil-A, where she discovered key principles for leadership development.

We chat about God’s faithfulness in the journey bringing the vision of Beautiful Feet to pass. Kalette shares how the studio has continued to grow and how God is working in this current season — even in the midst of the pandemic. I love Kalette’s heart for stewarding the gifts we’ve been given by God as we keep our eyes fixed on Him. Through both the studio and non-profit, God’s power is at work bringing life change through the arts.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Kalette's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

For episode 37, I’m joined by my friend Logan Keller. Logan and I have gotten to know each other through Sugar Land Family Church, where he is currently working overseeing the video team, social media team, and graphics team. He also directs the livestream, mixes audio for the livestream, and works on overall production.

Throughout our conversation, Logan and I talk about the value of enjoying creative pursuits as hobbies and that life really is a journey of discovery. Logan shares about the pressure he put on himself feeling like he needed to have everything figured out and that he needed to know the “one thing” that he wanted to do for the rest of his life. I love his perspective on trying new things and not letting that pressure hold us back.
 
Logan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with his bachelors in English Literature and a minor in Communications. We talk about Logan’s passion for photography, film and music, and his experiences in ministry. Logan opens up about growing up as a “pastor’s kid,” and how his faith has also impacted his view of creative work. I appreciate his encouragement that sometimes the obstacles we face help us grow the most.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Logan's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

Have you wondered what our Patreon community is all about? Check out today's bonus episode where you will get a preview of the exclusive content available to our Patrons! You can learn more at http://creativeimpactpodcast.com/patreon/

Amanda Winslett is a wife and the mother of two boys. She is passionate about music and dance and has been a Zumba instructor for almost 7 years. Her love of music grew out of her positive experiences in choir growing up. She now serves as a vocalist for her church’s worship team.
 
Amanda shares her incredible testimony. She grew up in an abusive family situation and then found herself in a similar situation as an adult. She shares the story of finding the courage to leave that relationship and how God has brought healing into her life. We talk about the power of words - that words can bring life or destruction.
 
Recently, Amanda went back to school for ministry. She has a heart for reaching other women to help empower them in their journey. I love how she uses whatever realm she finds herself in, whether teaching Zumba, her work with Mary Kay, or her worship ministry, to be able to reach and touch the lives of others. I love what Amanda says in our conversation, “God’s not calling me to be perfect, He’s calling me to be on purpose.”

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Amanda's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

My guest for episode 35 is Professional Visual Artist and Professor, Laura Sprague! Laura is a Wife, Mother, Nana and Jesus Follower based in Houston, TX. She is a multidisciplinary Visual Artist (primarily a sculptor) who works in clay, glass and metal.
 
I loved learning about Laura’s process as an artist and her experiences both as a teacher and a professional artist. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin with a minor in Jewelry-Metalsmithing.

Laura shares from her over 20 years of teaching experience ranging from elementary art to her current work teaching Ceramic classes at the college level. In May 2016, Laura completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at Houston Baptist University in Sculpture. We chat about that season in her life and the internal shift that took place from viewing herself an art teacher to then viewing herself as a professional artist.

Laura’s heart for serving people is evident throughout our conversation. I enjoyed talking with her about the power of art to bring healing, whether in our own lives or in the lives of others.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Laura's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

For episode 34, I am joined by my friend Tiffany Schrepferman. Tiffany is a freelance Production Stage Manager and Lighting Designer with a background as a professional dancer. She and I have been friends since college, and it was super fun catching up with her! I loved getting to hear more about how Tiffany got started in dance and how her passion for production and lighting design developed into a full-time career in the production side of dance.

Tiffany shares about her experiences working with various companies nationally and internationally, as well as working as Production Stage Manager at the American Dance Festival for the past twelve summers.

I appreciate Tiffany’s vulnerability as she opens up about the challenges she has faced and the lessons she has learned along the way. One of my favorite parts of our conversation is when Tiffany shares about the importance of purpose and calling in our lives.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Tiffany's biography and links mentioned in this episode. You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app.  We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!