Creative Recovery

Creative Recovery

By Brenna FitzgeraldArts
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Creative Recovery episodes

  • Delia Ahouandjinou on Exploring Creativity Through the Body Part 1

    Creativity is not just for artists; it’s a way of living, a way of being. Listen to the story of Delia Ahouandjinou, dancer and body-centered therapist, as she recounts growing up with a misdiagnosed autoimmune condition and how her life journey led her into a deeper understanding of the relationship between creativity, embodiment, and healing. In part 1 of our conversation, we explore what it means to be embodied and how developing a healthy relationship to the body facilitates access to and expression of personal truth.

    Delia Ahouandjinou is a body-centered therapist in Manhattan, New York where she practices manual therapies, including non-invasive hands-on techniques such as CranioSacral Therapy, Visceral Manipulation and Somato-Emotional Release. Delia was born and raised in Normandy, France, from a French mother and a father from Benin, West-Africa. Her dedication to the healing arts was naturally born during her former career as a dancer for the Opera of Paris and the Martha Graham Ensemble when she experienced the tremendous wear and tear placed upon an athlete’s body. To add to this demanding lifestyle, after years of unexplained pain, she was diagnosed with an autoimmune illness that caused chronic inflammation. After years of extensive healing through Manual Therapy and energy work, she was finally free from pain and medications. This challenging experience allowed her to find her inner voice. Upon retiring from dance, Delia was ready to share with the world her explorations in the profound, nurturing, life changing potential of the art of Manual Therapy and healing work.

    Notes and Resources:

    www.manualtherapynyc.com

    This episode was edited and mixed by Chad Clarke, @the.podcast.producer on Instagram.

    25 min
  • Norah Beemer on Living a Creative Life Every Day

    The process of creative recovery involves unlearning habits and limiting beliefs that don’t serve us. Much of this looks like shedding the heavy layers and inaccurate perceptions about ourselves and our purpose in life that we accumulated from childhood to adulthood. Creative recovery is returning to that innate sense of wonder and curiosity we were born with and that we called upon as a kid exploring the world. It’s a process of cultivating more play and pleasure in our lives. In this episode I step into conversation with my 11-year-old niece, Norah Beemer, to discuss creativity from a child’s wise view and how it enhances life every day.

    Links and Resources: 

    Follow me at Brenna.ef on Instagram 

    Check out my Website

    24 min
  • Brenna Fitzgerald on What is Creative Recovery?

    The intention behind Creative Recovery is to help people heal and become as fully expressed as possible in their lives. Creative Recovery is about embracing the process of becoming, of recovering your authentic self and growing into the person you aspire to be. It’s a process that involves understanding what shaped you and your beliefs about yourself and exceeding the limits of who you think you are as well as challenging yourself to express who you are, what you want to say, and how you want to connect with the world. Creative Recovery is about seeing beyond the familiar, playing with the unknown, turning fear into curiosity, letting go of the inner critic, cultivating self-compassion, and nourishing a creative relationship to life. Join me as I explore these topics and more in conversation with people of diverse backgrounds and identities committed to creative living.

    Links and Resources:

    David Schnarch

    Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad

    Follow me at Brenna.ef on Instagram 

    Check out my website

    14 min
  • Episode 12: Entrepreneurship, Creativity, and Social Justice: A Conversation with Gladys Brangman, Founder of Business Leaders of Colors

    In this episode Creative Recovery host, Brenna Fitzgerald, steps into a rich and inspiring conversation with Gladys Brangman, Founder of Business Leaders of Colors (BLOC). Together they explore the topics of entrepreneurship, creativity, social justice, and much more. Listen to the story of how Gladys discovered her lifelong intention to serve others and how this intention infuses her entrepreneurial creativity and commitment to social justice. Other highlights of this episode include the importance of creativity in the life of an entrepreneur, tips on navigating change with grace, strategies for staying positive in the face of challenge, and how simply asking questions can help entrepreneurs better meet people’s needs and also grow their businesses.

    Gladys Brangman is at her best when serving others and has set out to make the local Ithaca, NY small business world more profitable. She does this by offering support services and networking opportunities for all types of businesses. Her most recent venture is Business Leaders of Colors (BLOC) a local network designed to support small businesses. She believes that if business owners of color(s) are going to thrive they need to be aware of and support one another. A gathering to celebrate Black History Month three years ago, transformed into a network that transformed into a business. BLOC offers reduced cost business and financial training, marketing, a web presence, and networking opportunities. Originally from Albany, New York, Gladys came to the upstate NY area to study at Cortland State and has lived in the Ithaca area for the better part of 30 years. She makes her home in Lansing, teaches dance when she can and believes that there is no higher calling than that of a servant.

    Topics

    .Serving others and the origins of Business Leaders of Colors

    .Creativity and business

    .Challenges as opportunities to be creative

    .The value of pause, rest, and reassessment

    .Staying connected to intention

    .How negativity and resistance block creativity

    .The importance of asking questions

    .Social justice in the business world

    Episode 12 Notes and Resources:

    Hip hop artist Talib Kweli

    Business Leaders of Colors (BLOC)

    BLOC Insta - @businessleadersofcolors

    BLOC Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BusinessLeadersOfColors

    BLOC on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/business-leaders-of-colors/

    Presenter:

    Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim creativity. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.

    website: brennacoaching.com

    Facebook: Brenna Fitzgerald

    Instagram: @brenna.ef

    Twitter: @brenbrain

    Areas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage—Social Justice

    42 min
  • Creative Recovery Episode 11 - Exploring Gender Queerness Through Fiction, A Conversation with Jen Savran Kelly, Author of the forthcoming novel Endpapers
    In this episode Brenna Fitzgerald, creativity coach, steps into conversation with writer Jen Savran Kelly to discuss the very personal process of writing and selling her forthcoming novel Endpapers, which explores gender queerness among other topics. Jen reveals how writing fiction has served as a vehicle for her own self-discovery and healing. She also discusses how to stay true to yourself while selling a novel and how to build trust in your creative self by navigating fear and doubt with intention, awareness, self-compassion.Topics..The messy experiment of living a creative life.Giving yourself permission to create and to fail.Expressing vulnerability in fiction.Exploring gender queerness through writing.Staying true to yourself while selling a book.Navigating fear, doubt, and rejection.How creative expression serves healing and growth Episode 11 Resources:Jen’s Website: jennifersavrankelly.com | Twitter: @savranlyAlgonquin Books Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.website: brennacoaching.comFacebook: Brenna FitzgeraldInstagram: @brenna.efTwitter: @brenbrainAreas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage
    37 min
  • Episode 10 - Cultivating Authentic Expression, A Conversation with Rowan Drake, Teenage Artist and Creator
    Rowan Drake is an ambitious teenage artist and creator working to change the perspective of millions into a more open minded and risk-taking mindset. He’s excited to share his experiences with the world and influence as many people as possible through his songs. Rowan is seventeen years old. Listen to this inspiring conversation as we explore what it means to cultivate authentic expression, especially in a digital age. Learn about the benefits of opening to fear, vulnerability as a way to connect to others, and how prioritizing fun and celebrating your successes feeds the creative spirit.Topics.Fear as an opportunity for self-compassion.What is authentic expression?.Creating an authentic image in the digital world.Connecting to people through vulnerability.Letting go of perfectionism and comparison mentality.Grounding in your truth through strong relationships.The importance of celebrating your creative successes.Balancing creative production and experiencing the world.Prioritizing play and fun.Aspirations as inspirations Notes and Resources:Rowan Drake on SpotifyRowan Drake on YouTubeInstagram: @Rowan.drake Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth GilbertKii Kinsella on Instagram: @thesaintkidKii Kinsella on Spotify: Saint KidIntro music from Bensound.comOutro music Rowan Drake “Dream”This episode was edited and mixed by Chad Clarke, [email protected] Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.website: brennacoaching.comFacebook: Brenna FitzgeraldInstagram: @brenna.efTwitter: @brenbrainAreas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage
    29 min
  • Episode 9 - Exploring Creative Flow: A Conversation with Julie Dean, Potter and Owner of The Clay School
    Julia Dean is a production potter and community studio owner in Ithaca, New York. Her love affair with clay started as a child, but her practice of working with clay started with her first wheel class in 1997. Listen to this conversation and learn about creative flow, how it helps release the inner critic, and how understanding flow cycles can help you balance creative production and rest. We also touch on practices for entering creative flow, including cultivating stillness; embracing process and play; and the healing power of a creative community.Topics.How creative flow helps release the inner critic.Focus on process vs. product.Freedom and ease in states of creative flow.Embodiment as a gateway to flow states.Understanding cycles of creative flow.Importance of rest.Cultivating stillness.Letting go of perfection to embrace process and play.The healing power of a creative community Episode 8 Notes and Resources:Read more about Julie at juliaedean.comHer work can be seen at etsy.com/shop/juliaedean, Instagram: @juliaedeanThe Clay School is accessible at clayschoolithaca.comOprah Super Soul Sunday podcastUnlocking Us podcast with Brené BrownMihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Creative FlowThe Creative ‘Flow’: How to Enter That Mysterious State of Oneness8 Ways to Create Flow-Podcast intro music from Bensound.com-This episode was edited and mixed by Chad Clarke, [email protected] Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.website: brennacoaching.comFacebook: Brenna FitzgeraldInstagram and Twitter: @brenbrainAreas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage
    41 min
  • Episode 8 - Making Time and Space for Creativity, A Conversation with Musicians Gloria Lemus-Chávez and Brandon Kane
    Gloria Lemus-Chávez and Brandon Kane are musicians living in upstate New York. They are also domestic partners with full-time jobs, kids, and all the responsibilities (and distractions) of a modern adult life. Listen to this conversation exploring how they make time and space for creative pursuits, why it’s important, and the meaning it brings to their lives and to their relationships. Brandon’s musical debut was around 1994, with legendary crust-influenced, melodic hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, Dissucks. He was the bass player for the band and wrote music and lyrics for many of the band’s songs. After a couple of EPs and compilation releases, Dissucks disintegrated around 1998. He then was in discussion to form a band with a few of the members from the European crust-punk scene, but that project never took off. His artistic career was put on hold for a while, resuming around 2009 when he joined black/doom metal band, Lux Carentes, based in upstate NY. They released a demo and an EP in 2010. Additional artistic projects he worked on included his duo band, What Two Left, also based in Upstate NY. They released their first album – Share Psychosis in May of 2016. They released two more digital albums before folding in 2017.Although Gloria’s artistic endeavors began at a fairly young age, the release of Seasons In Sorrow, in April of 2020, marks her musical debut. Gloria, a native from México, was engaged in creating and performing various forms of art in her youth including dancing, theater acting/performing, painting/drawing, singing, and music playing. Later on, Gloria was part of several local theater productions on which she either acted, produced, or did a combination of both. It wasn’t until later years when she began writing her own music and lyrics, yet these were put away until 2018, when her collaboration with The Mourning Party started.Topics.Balancing responsibilities and the call to create.Carving time and space for creativity.Setting healthy boundaries with family members.Healing trauma through making music.Relationship to fear, the inner critic, and resistance.Cultivating presence through the body.Self-compassion as necessary for creative spirit.Creative collaborations as intimate partners Episode 8 Notes and Resources:-Listen to Gloria and Brandon’s music here: https://themourningparty.com/@gloria­_lemus_chavez, FB: https://www.facebook.com/gloria.lemus.chavez15Brandon Kane on FB: https://www.facebook.com/brandon.kane.56211-The Mourning Party - Seasons in Sorrow album REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4SwTZfZDq0-The Mourning Party Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IOuV8DF92Y-Podcast: Someone Who Isn’t Me: episode 33 Grant Morrison-Sounds True course: Living from a Place of Surrender: The Untethered Soul in Action by Michael A Singer-The song at the end of this episode performed by Gloria and Brandon is a simple personal arrangement from the song “Esclavo y amo” written by José Vaca Flores first released and made famous by a Mexican musician, Javier Solis, in 1962 -Podcast intro music from Bensound.com-This episode was edited and mixed by Chad Clarke, [email protected] Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching,
    53 min
  • Episode 7 - Honoring Process and Intention, A Conversation with Rich Ferguson, Poet and Spoken Word Performer
    In this episode Brenna Fitzgerald, creativity coach, invites poet and spoken word performer, Rich Ferguson, to discuss his creative process, including writing his new poetry collection titled Everything is Radiant Between the Hates in such a challenging time as the pandemic. In this conversation, Rich explores how to have patience with creative process while also responding to the urgency of the now. We touch on creating during turbulent times, finding inspiration in the everyday, honoring intention, creative collaborations in a virtual world, and the importance of balancing creative output with periods of receptive pause. Pushcart Prize-nominated poet Rich Ferguson has shared the stage with Patti Smith, Wanda Coleman, Moby, and other esteemed poets and musicians. Ferguson has been selected by the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. (NBPF), to serve as the State of California Beat Poet Laureate (Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2022). He is a featured performer in the film, What About Me? featuring Michael Stipe, Michael Franti, k.d. lang, and others.  His poetry and award-winning spoken-word music videos have been widely anthologized, and he was a winner in Opium Magazine’s Literary Death Match, L.A. He is the author of the poetry collection, 8th& Agony (Punk Hostage Press), and the novel, New Jersey Me (Rare Bird Books). Ferguson’s newest poetry collection, Everything Is Radiant Between the Hates, has recently been released by Moon Tide Press.Topics:.Inspired by the everyday.Representing life through language with complexity and nuance.The process of putting together a poetry collection during the pandemic.Speaking to turbulent times.Pandemic challenges and the urgency of the now.Creating with intention.When to create and when to let life marinate.Balancing creativity and receptivity.Creative collaborations in a virtual world Notes and Resources:rich-ferguson.comhttp://richrantferguson.tumblr.com/https://richrantblog.wordpress.comyoutube.com/fuzzydoodahfacebook.com/rich.ferguson1Instagram: @fergiebeatTwitter: @Versifergusonwevoicesing.comBo Blount: https://www.facebook.com/boblount.musicFrédéric Iriarte: http://www.iriarte.info"EXPERIMENTAL FUNKY" Words by Rich Ferguson, Music composed by Frédéric Iriarte & Jair-Rôhm Parker Wells, by Rich Ferguson, Frédéric Iriarte & Jair-Rôhm Parker WellsKathleen Reichelt: http://www.kathleenreicheltstudio.comThis episode was edited and mixed by Chad Clarke, [email protected] Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.website: brennacoaching.comFacebook: Brenna FitzgeraldInstagram and Twitter: @brenbrainAreas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage
    51 min
  • Episode 6 — "Let go of Limiting Beliefs and Free Yourself to Create,” a conversation with Lu Camy, Hypnotist
    In this episode Brenna Fitzgerald, creativity coach, steps into conversation with her former podcast co-host, Lu Camy, to explore Lu’s work as a hypnotist and how hypnotherapy can serve creativity. Lu discusses how to release old conditioning and limiting beliefs held in the subconscious mind that act as barriers to creative flow. Learn about trance states, dream analysis, past-life regression, and the power of hypnotherapy for personal and creative growth. Lu Camy is a certified hypnosis practitioner and spiritual teacher. Her holistic approach brings a tailored experience that leads people to activate their creative intelligence and live a life of purpose. Born in Brazil, she was drawn to a healing path from a young age, inspired by her grandfather, an energy healer and herbalist. Her grandmother was an acclaimed artist whose paintings portrayed natural and spiritual figures. She believes that the alchemy of healing is in the balance between creative energy and intellect, and that by allowing this energy to move freely we can access our most authentic selves. She offers hypnotherapy online sessions and hosts a group support for women based on the spiritual principles of the book A Course in Miracles.Topics..hypnotherapy as a tool to build inner resources and facilitate healing.release old conditioning and limiting beliefs.free yourself to create.the subconscious mind and the reative mind.body memory and connection to the senses.embodying and honoring your knowing.dreams, past-life regression, and creative intelligence Episode 6 Resources:Lu Camy, hypnotist and spiritual teacher: www.lucamy.com, @lu.camyA Course in Miracles, a unique spiritual self-study program in mind-trainingGeorgia O’Keeffe on creative processKrishnamurti musings on creativity Presenter:Brenna Fitzgerald is a writer, editor, and coach empowering people to discover their voice and reclaim self-expression. She has a background in the arts including dance, photography, film, and collage as well as a BA in art history from Cornell University, an MA in film and media studies from University of Southern California, and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from University of Arizona. Brenna is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Creativity Coach, and Yoga and Meditation Teacher. She has lived and worked in many different countries with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. As a coach, Brenna works with writers, musicians, painters, dancers, filmmakers, artists, entrepreneurs, as well as anyone seeking a deeper engagement with their life and creative potential. In her creativity coaching, she draws on her background in cross-cultural communication, social justice advocacy, creative writing, mindfulness, and embodied compassion to help clients tap into their innate creative source and cultivate mind-body-spirit connection.website: habitsofwellbeing.comFacebook: Brenna FitzgeraldInstagram and Twitter: @brenbrainAreas of expertise: Mind-body connection—Restorative and Trauma-sensitive Yoga—Meditation—Holistic Health—Creative Writing—International Education—Dance, Film, Photography, and Collage
    34 min

About Creative Recovery

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Creative Recovery is a community of artists, healers, activists, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking to nourish a creative relationship to life. In this podcast, we explore creativity as an agent of…