Creative Impact Podcast

Jackie Stouffer is the founder and Executive Director of Creative Dreams Outreach Center. Creative Dreams is a non-profit youth development program for middle and high school students. They offer free art, dance and music lessons as well as academic tutoring. Creative Dreams is truly a special place. I had the amazing opportunity to work there for multiple years during the summer and also after college, year-round.

In our conversation today, Jackie and I talk about the story of Creative Dreams. She shares how God planted the dream in her heart during her time raising her children and also working with an organization called Maria’s Children in Moscow, Russia. You will hear about how God gave her the vision for Creative Dreams and helped intervene and remove obstacles that felt like they were popping up as she was getting started.

We talk about how much Creative Dreams has evolved over the years and stories of God’s hand at work. She also talks about the process of building their own building for Creative Dreams to be housed. That was a huge journey of faith! Jackie has had a profound impact on so many lives; both the students and the volunteers or employees that have worked at Creative Dreams. I hope that you are inspired by her story to take that next step in pursuing the dream that God has placed in your heart.

This week actually marks the 16th anniversary of Creative Dreams! I’m so excited that you are joining us today as we celebrate what God’s done through this ministry.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Jackie'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 32, I am joined by Debbie Wiens. Debbie is a new friend of mine, who I actually met through this podcast! I’m so excited that we’ve gotten connected up, and I had so much fun learning about Debbie and her journey through this conversation. Debbie is a dancer, studio owner of 24 years, a Christian minister, wife, mom of 2 grown children and a one year old dog, a published author and blogger, and most recently the Podcast host for "Coffee Break With Miss Debbie".

I love hearing Debbie’s insight and wisdom about leadership and her experiences founding and running a studio. Debbie shares her journey of following God to move and start a dance studio without anything lined up ahead of time. We chat about boundaries and what it looks like grieving in this season, especially for studio owners and small business owners who have been experiencing loss and change. She explains how it’s important to grieve, but also to continue moving forward and setting the vision in leadership.

Debbie’s passion for God and for loving other people is so evident in our conversation. Join us for some laughter and encouragement today!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Debbie'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!

We are kicking off 2021 with my incredible friend Carleigh Dunbar! Carleigh is an artist-educator based in Jackson, Mississippi. She and I have an engaging conversation surrounding our shared passion for the value of the arts in public education.

Carleigh is part of the dance faculty of Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex (Power APAC) and has been there since 2017. Power APAC is a public arts magnet school providing advanced academics and rigorous arts training to 4th-12th grade students. She also has a variety of experience dancing professionally and teaching in various capacities, including as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Belhaven University. She is always looking to inspire, engage, and educate through the power of movement, and that is so evident in our conversation today.

We talk about what it’s like coming in as a first-year teacher and the diligence and perseverance that it takes. I love how she explains, even though she had the passion coming in, she had to grow into the position she was given. We chat about what it looks like to create a safe environment and atmosphere for our students, whether virtually or in-person. 

Carleigh shares practical wisdom for how we can support arts in public education and encouragement for artists to be patient and present in this season during the pandemic. If you’re a teacher, I hope this conversation is inspiring and encouraging to you! For those who aren’t teachers, I hope it gives you a glimpse into the heart of arts educators and why we believe the arts are so important for our communities and our world.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Carleigh'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!

We’ve made it to the final episode of 2020! There’s no doubt 2020 has been a year of change, loss and challenge in so many ways. Looking back, I am encouraged to see threads of hope, beauty, and resilience that are interwoven within those places. I am so grateful to be able to walk alongside you through this podcast.  

For today’s episode, I catch up with my friend Brianna Cash who was on episode 15 with her husband, Michael, earlier this year! If you haven’t heard their story yet, I’d encourage you to go back and listen! Brianna and I meet up virtually for coffee and take some time to reflect on this past year and look forward to the year ahead. Stick around after our conversation to hear a few of the podcast highlights from 2020 and get a preview of some of the guests coming to kick off 2021!

We’re so excited to have you join in on our virtual coffee today!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes including 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!

Today is our final episode in the Family Christmas series! We wrap up with a super fun group conversation with my mom’s side of the family for “A Lingerfelt Family Christmas”! My grandma, mom, two aunts, and uncle join me for a fun-filled time of sharing Christmas memories and traditions. Get ready to laugh! We chat about everything from finding the perfect Christmas tree to fruitcake – and there may even be some singing involved! No matter where you find yourself this Christmas season, may this conversation warm your heart and highlight the heart of this season – faith, family, and the beauty that is found in the small things.

Grab some hot cocoa and join us for “A Lingerfelt Family Christmas”!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes including 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!

Our "Family Christmas" series continues for part three with my amazing sisters-in-law, Alisa Piñones and Alana Borst! Alisa and Alana are twin sisters, and they are both such fun and beautiful people! We chat about what it was like growing up as a twin, their experiences with dance and worship, the journey of motherhood, and their favorite Christmas memories and traditions.

I enjoyed hearing Alisa and Alana’s perspective on the value of dance as a form of worship. They share both the beautiful and the difficult aspects of leading in the church in worship through movement. From their earliest experiences with dance, worship has been at the heart of their expression. Alana shares how their mom inspired them to pursue dance and to grow as worshipers. They share their experiences with dance growing up, through college, and more recently in missions and project-based ministry. Alisa reminisces about some of the funny moments during her time in missions with YWAM.

As we near Christmas 2020, I appreciate Alisa and Alana’s reminders about the important things in life – our families and our faith. We have fun talking about memories of Christmases past and some of the traditions that make this season so special. May this heartwarming conversation encourage you today!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes including 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!

Our “Family Christmas” series continues with my aunt, Seanne Smith! Seanne’s story is such an inspiration to me as I’m sure it will be for you. We talk about everything from fun family stories to her career journey, and we celebrate her being 20 years cancer free!

Seanne grew up dancing and worked in the professional dance world early in her career. She danced with Amarillo Ballet Theater, the musical drama Texas, and Gus Giordano, among others. She also worked as a teacher and choreographer. After getting a job in the retail world, she continued to climb the corporate ladder with companies like Lancome, Calvin Klein, and John Hardy, and eventually came to a point where she described she felt like she had “lost her soul.”

Seanne and I talk about the moment she decided it was okay to let go and leave the retail world behind. Soon after, she discovered Zumba and found a renewed sense of passion and rekindled love for dance. Seanne is a testament to the belief that it is never too late to follow your passion, and she became a licensed Zumba instructor at the age of 60! Join us for this fun episode full of laughter, inspiration, and hope in this Christmas season.

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Seanne'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 conversation with Meggie Belisle today for episode 26 begins our “Family Christmas” series of episodes! Meggie and I are (basically) related, although I’ll let you listen to the episode to find out the details. We first met while studying dance at Belhaven University, and I am so thankful for her friendship over the years. Meggie is a professional dancer, choreographer, and founder of Mei/Co. Dance.

Meggie shares her journey dancing with a variety of companies in Texas, New York, and New Jersey, including Ingredients Dance Company, Roxey Ballet, Ad Deum Dance Company, and Open Sky Arts Collective. We chat about the value of community, the challenge and beauty of taking a fresh look at our beliefs, and how to have better conversations. 

In 2015, Meggie founded Mei/Co. Dance to promote the art of listening through the creative art of dance. Inspired by her mom’s cancer journey, Meggie’s hope is to help bring healing to the hurting through the beauty of movement. Mei/Co. Dance shares stories that inspire, honor, and bring healing to all involved. I love how Meggie expresses, “Your story is unique and needs to be heard.”

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Meggie'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!

Join us for this special edition of the Creative Impact Podcast as we celebrate Thanksgiving with our arts community! Hear from multiple artists about why they are thankful for the arts, especially in 2020.

A special thank you to Jackie Stouffer, Krista Bower, Tiffany Howard, Kayla Sokoloff, Shannon Benton, Katelyn Harbaugh, Dawn Dippel, Debbie Wiens, Michael Cash, Meggie Belisle, Seanne Smith, Joanna Koleth, Randall Flinn, and Stella Almblade for contributing your thoughts and being part of our Thanksgiving “table”!

May this season of gratitude be marked by joy and peace!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes. 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 am so grateful for this opportunity to introduce you to my lovely friend Joanna Koleth, or Joanna Tan as many know her. Joanna is a dance-artist educator, choreographer, Pilates instructor, and writer. Joanna and her husband Glenn are currently based in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with their dog Koko. Joanna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Belhaven University and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Hollins University.

We chat about Joanna’s experiences living and dancing in various countries and how that continues to shape her work as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. We also explore the concept of identity and developing your “voice” as an artist. She talks about how easy it is to compare our lives to those around us and the importance of recognizing and valuing our own personal journey.

In our conversation, Joanna shares about her passion for storytelling through the art of dance and how she sees the impact of dance that goes far beyond the movement itself. I love Joanna’s encouragement to listen to God and seek Him for what to do each day, rather than holding too tightly to our “to-do” list. May this conversation encourage you in the midst of your journey!

Check out our website http://creativeimpactpodcast.com for the full show notes that include Joanna'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!