We all know that laughter is the best medicine. And when it comes to creativity laughter might just be one of the pillars. Jane's guest on this episode of Creative Living knows how to bring the funny and add the creativity to laughter! Jane chats and chuckles with the owner of The Laughing Academy, Kim Hiller.

Here is a round down of the conversation and quick access to hot topics!

1:59

Jane Curtain was an inspiration to Kim and her brand of comedy motivated this budding actress to get into the business of funny.

2:47

Learn what it means to be funny and how being "in the moment" can be the best way to get a laugh. Kim explains why what you consider "normal" can be more amusing than a one liner.

4:41

What comes first? Being creative to be funny, or if you must being funny to be creative? Why being trained in improvisation can be the answer when you mix creativity and action; it's seeing something outside the box.

7:14

Why optimism is more important than IQ to success. And if you have optimism, you can see the good in any situation and it all starts with learning how to improv. Kim shares a lesson from her time at Chicago's famous, Second City.

11:36

There are no mistakes when you are being creative and no shame, no blame are two phrases used to encourage creativity and improv skills.

13:38

Improv can help you in all aspects of life from being a good friend, a good teammate, a good worker to personal goals and creativity. Kim encourages everyone to foster their Improv skills and help teach other along the way.

17:52

Never say you can't because mental gymnastics, mind agility and attitude simply learning how to implement a way of thinking and it just takes practice, practice, practice.

20:19

How can someone be more creative? Allow yourself to brainstorm, take a walk, allow your brain to explore, see different things. listen to podcasts you love. read articles that interests you. Because it's the creative part of it is your brain making these connections from separate thoughts. Remember, we are human beings, not human doings so we all need to take some time to just be.

21:54

Why humor at its core is us looking at something in an alternative way. Try creating a pun to get started; draw new parallels to the way you look at things.

25:15

Top 3 takeaways that we can all do today to be lighter and lovely or in funnier and spread creativity everywhere we go.

You want more Kim Hiller just go to the Laughing Academy.com Or check out their YouTube page for improv games and exercises you can do on your own, just put the laughing Academy in the search bar and check

Katie Lee Biegel is the co-host of The Kitchen on the Food Network, and the host of Beach Bites on the Cooking Channel, she's an author, a frequent question on morning show tv, and today, celebrity chef Katie Lee Biegel joins Jane on Creative Living to talk all things food, wine, family and love!

Katie Lee talks about the success of hosting season 34th of The Kitchen alongside Sonny Anderson, Geoffrey Zakarian, Marcela Valladolid, and Jeff Mauro. She shares heartwarming sentiments about the team who, she says, feels like extended family members.

3:55 -- Before The Kitchen Katie Lee dabbled in television but when she was ready to throw in the towel, it was an unexpected call that got her the job at the Food Network. A friend urged her to audition for this "new show" called The Kitchen... and she listened.

5:25 -- Learn why Katie Lee is open to taking chances and finding opportunities to see where they lead which, we learn, is how she met her husband.

7:32 -- Katie Lee gives us an unexpected ingredient she loves to use in her cooking and why you should use it too.

7:46 -- As a busy mom Katie Lee shares her favorite cooking technique that's quicker, easier and less mess!

9:54 -- Katie Lee discusses wine and food pairing and why we shouldn't stress about what pairing makes sense. She says, at the end of the day, it's all about what you enjoy, and what you want to drink.

13:59 -- Learn about Katie Lee's signature wine with Coopers Hawk and why blending a bright crisp Rose is what you should be drinking this summer.

19:08 -- We know Katie Lee loves her comfort food so she shares a secret family recipe from her grandmother which she is still trying to perfect.

20:31 -- Katie Lee gives us two things you must have at a summer barbecue and what to bring if you're the guest!

21:10 -- Katie Lee is on the Board of the food bank for New York City and talks about the importance encourage of volunteering and giving back to the community.

24:13 -- As the author of 4 cookbooks, Katie Lee is also a novelist and recently had her book made into a Hallmark movie! Check out "Groundswell" for more information.

25:57 -- Katie Lee gives her advice to those who want to explore the idea of cooking as a creative outlet and simply says, get comfortable, always read your recipe from start to finish, and build your confidence.

Creativity and Katie Lee are both essential ingredients in the kitchen and in your cooking. So listen now to the Creative Living Podcast for more, watch her shows, follow her ion Instagram, buy one of her cookbooks, and get creative in the kitchen with Katie Lee Biegel.

In this Creative Living podcast, Jane gets the dirt on gardening with experts Katie Rotella and Claire Josephson from Wave and Burpee brands. They cover all things gardening, from the basics to the more advanced. They talk about everything from choosing the right plants to caring for them, and they also share tips and tricks to get your garden going.

Jane's mission is to remind us all that gardening can help unlock the creative side of your personality. Here is the episode dissected just for you:

1:00 Meet the experts from Ball Horticulture

3:10 Gardens of all types are can be a success by everyone and anyone with a desire not just the people born with a green thumb.

4:50 The experts answer why starting a garden should begin with flowers or vegetables and the answers give you the ultimate decisions. No rotten tomatoes were thrown with their difference of opinions.

7:20 We find out why Wave Petunias are the rock stars of the garden and how they can add the pop of color you're looking for to express your creativity in the garden.

8:40 Discover which flowers are "sun lovers" and how to pair them perfectly with fellow sun worshipping blooms.

10:30 The experts give some insight into the flowers and plants that do well in the shade that are easy to take care of and create a beautiful oasis. We see you Begonias!

11:50 Why Jane's theory of "More is More and Less is a Bore" works for hte garden too.

13:00 Trend spotting with Trend #1: being mindful of your pocketbook while still creating a gardening that is full and lush. Mega Watts can help.

15:10 The experts dive into the number one rule when it comes to the season of planting and tell us when to start. Best advice is to check your weather app. Find out why!

16:50 Learn more about "Lemmy" Jane's lemon tree and if it will survive an unusual spring cold snap.

18:20 Home sales have changed the way people approach their gardens giving new meaning to the old nursery rhyme Mary, Mary quite contrary How does your garden grow? All the flowers, all the colors, All in a perfect row! Yes, gardens are getting bigger and homeowners are getting more hands-on.

19:20 Trend #2: Create an all-in-one vegetable and flower garden in a pot! One example is to mix compact slicing tomato plant with red Wave Petunias useable basil. You will always have color, scent and a harvest.

21:00 Trend #3: Tropical Colors are bringing gardeners on a mental mini vacation with these bright, bold looks. Try incorporating the color of the year, Viva Magenta, into your garden with Wave Petunias.

22:30 Need to find out what colors and types of flowers and plants are available to you? The experts offer up all the resources you need.

23:30 Trend #4: Indoor Gardening. Who says you need to get dirty to have a garden. The experts explain the hottest trend of "Kitchen Minis" and why they are low care and perfect for anyone who wants a harvest.

24:30 The experts give us their quick fire answers for inspiration on alternatives to use instead of a traditional pot, planting in unexpected places, adding personality to your garden with jewelry, best gardening tool and more.

26:40 The experts give us some final advice and how you can not make a mistake when it comes to creativity in the garden.

27:41 Get all the info you need on how to connect with the experts at Wave, Burpee and the parent company, Ball Horticulture, with socials and sites for more inspiration.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, learning the Creative Roots of Gardening is the perfect Creative Living podcast episode for you!

Learn more about Jane Clauss and how you can be a creative genius too!

Jane chats with author, speaker and international color guru, Lee Eiseman. Lee has an innate ability to see colors in ways that are more brilliant than the hues they give off.

In this Creative Living episode, you will learn why color is important in your life and how color affects your every move.... even your social media likes.

Lee has been color trend forcasting for decades and spills the secrets behind how the masters choose the colors you will love. Since Viva Magenta is Pantone's color of the year, Jane disects the color and Lee explains why it's important for 2023.

Lee explains how our personal tastes may have changed as we emerge from the pandemic and the pyschology behind it. She gives us simple color rules to consider and invites us to class.

With Lee's ten books in publication, Jane asks her about her two favs:

• "More Alive with Color"
• "Pantone on Fashion a Century of Color in Design"

If color sparks joy in your soul or you just need inspiration to find your next "it" color, you need to listen to Lee Eiseman on Creative Living with Jane Clauss.

Popular brands all over the world are thankful to the amazing Lee Eiseman for givign us a reason to live in color.

"There is no beauty without color" Essie

Jane sits down with award-winning producer, editor, film and television distributor Marcy Hamilton who is the creator of Made it Myself TV. Together they take a deep dive into what you will find on the free craft channel and why you should watch.

From muglarking to butter scultping, Suminagashi and more, Marcy gives us a peak into some of the creative innovators and skilled artisans featured on the channel.

As a self-proclained maker, Marcy saw the need to inspire the masses to get creative. You can learn more about Made it Myself TV with Jane Clauss and start listening right now!

Enjoy the show.

Cultural anthropologist and author, Grant McCracken, joins Jane Clauss for an in-depth discussion about the artisanal revolution and how makers are playing a major role in today's economy.

In Grant's latest book, The Return of the Artisan: How America went from Industrial to Handmade, he explains how the maker's movement is sweeping the nation, why big business is welcoming it, and how you can successfully be a part of it.

Grant tells us why the artisan economy can live happily with industrial capitalism and what it means to be a creative disruptor.

Anyone and everyone can be an artisan in today's world so Grant shares his knowledge about this current cultural shift responsible for transforming the big business model.

This is a conversation you don't want to miss. Grant gives artisinalpreneurs hope for the future and assurance for today.

Thank you for listening. Get more inspiration and other creative lifestyle topics to tantalize your earbuds from Jane Clauss.

Listen now to hear one of America's most popular television chefs, Carla Hall, talk about Soul Food, saying YES!, her most recent restaurant collab, making quilts out of paper, and season 2 of the Gossip Girl reboot.... yes, she's got a role in the show!

During the show you might start feeling a strong craving for mac n cheese, and by the end, you will have a deep desire to learn how to make biscuits and maybe even start paper crafting.

Carla is engaging, full of insight, emotional, and enthusiastic as she shares her thoughts on creativity in the kitchen and in life. All that and more in this episode of Creative Living. Enjoy the show.

If you have a creative living topic or guest suggestion, please let us know!

Jane chats with DIY designer, Sara Vetser, about sustainability in fashion. Sara is passionate about upcycling and uses 100% of repurposed garments in her "slow fashion" brand, SAV_NYC. Sara's mission is to educate and engage her audience to create green clothing choices.

In this conversation, Sara explains why the fashion industry is such a powerful polluter and how "fast fashion" is ruining the environment. With 85% of our old clothes ending up in landfills, Sara gives us simple solutions on how to refashion garments and give them a new life.

Jane and Sara talk about the emergence of "slow fashion" and why it's better to buy handmade.

Sara talks about some everyday sustainable swaps, and shares the one thing that we can all do as makers to be more sustainable with our craft.

As a lover of plants, animals, people, and our planet, Sara practices sustainable fashion design.

Sara has her degree in Fashion Design from FIT in Manhattan, a designer living in Brooklyn NY and the owner of SAV_NYC.

Adding his own unique spin to quilt design, Chris Marchini is a social media star and says being a disrupter in the quilting world is not intentional, it's just who he is; skulls, Ouija Boards, poison apples and all.... he's just getting started.

And he shares his TOP TIPS when it comes to quilting. The biggest secret, it all comes out in the wash!

Plus, why you shouldn't be afraid of the "Quilt Police" and what to do when you find that unicorn fabric!

Finally, learn how Chris hopes to create a legacy by leaving a modern take on this classic art.

All that and more in this thoughtful conversation about quilting.

Jane talks with AP News Writer Melissa Rayworth about her research on home decor trends and how you might just find those trends in a box or under a sheet in your attic.

Melissa shares the inspiration behind the topic of "hand me down" décor and how the world is more open to "hand me down" items than ever before.

Jane and Melissa talk about how to avoid those nasty supply chains issues by simply using old items you already have, and making them new to you again.

In the conversation, Melissa gives us tips on how you can display precious family heirlooms and celebrate the life of the item. Plus, she shares what designers are saying about not following the rules but rather doing what makes you happy when it comes to home décor.

They cover the list of what hand me down items might be waiting for you in the attic, basement, storage unit or garage, and what to look for at a thrift store or estate sale.

Find out where to take big design risks in your home decorating? How to take the next steps to getting creative with your hand me down finds? And learn a top designer tip on how to remember the memory of a hand me down item before you repurpose it.

Melissa has been reporting on home décor trends since 2008 and is sharing all the insider tips and tricks she's learned over the years.

As a rule of thumb, Melissa says, when it comes to getting creative with your home décor, remember to make it feel more like you than anything else.

Thank you for listening to Creative Living and enjoy the show!