Creative Spirits Unleashed

My guest for the episode is Jessie Dowling. She is an endurance rider who just completed the Tevis Cup last month and the Mongol Derby last year. Both of these events are some of the toughest horse races in the world. Given that, you might expect that Jessie has been at this for a very long time. However, this is a relatively new endeavor for her, as you will hear in this podcast. She basically says “I’m just a girl who loves horses.”  

What I found really interesting in speaking with Jessie was how she made the shift from running her cheesemaking business to attempting these grueling races. This conversation is full of nuggets of wisdom. At the core, she values being present as one of the most important ways she shows up in the world. You will notice how she breaks things down into smaller steps. It never seems as if she is tackling a huge thing, but instead, she focuses on each step. She also has deeply cultivated her resilience and physical strength, which I find inspiring, because it shows that endurance isn’t an inborn trait - it’s a skill that can be built. 

Here’s Jessie’s biography: 

Jessie Dowling founded and ran an award winning sheep and goat dairy and farmstead creamery named Fuzzy Udder Creamery and made cheese from sheep, goat and cow's milk for 13 years in Midcoast Maine.  After 17 years in the dairy industry she decided to make a huge change and pursue her true passion, endurance riding, training horses, and helping others connect with horses. She sold her cheese business at the end of May and decided to celebrate by riding in the 2024 Tevis Cup.  Jessie also trained with Stevie Delahunt  leading up to riding and completing the 2023 Mongol Derby 

In the end, Jessie is making life choices that support her in living the life she loves. We could all use a little more of that. 

I hope you enjoy this podcast with Jessie Dowling. 

For this episode, I have a returning guest in Stevie Delahunt. You may remember that she was on my podcast last November. We had just met at the Journey On Podcast Summit and realized that we were two kindred spirits. I simply had to have her back after she just completed the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile endurance ride on the Western States Trail in California. This ride is legendary, with only 50% of the entrants completing the full race. This year, only 40% of the riders made it “under the banner”. Stevie was one of those riders, along with 3 other riders competing on her horses. 

In this conversation, we explored what it takes to ride for almost 24 hours through some of the most difficult trails to be found anywhere. If you are a regular listener to this podcast, you know that we deeply explored the mental side of the game, as well as the physical preparation it takes to take on such a feat. She shared what it was like in the dark moments (literally, dark moments because about 1/3 of the ride is done in the dark) to be present with herself and her horse. She also gave her perspective on fear, intuition, and how she makes decisions when the stakes are high. 

In the end, I’ve concluded that Stevie is a teacher of grit. I know she has helped me find more resilience and courage than I knew I had. 

Here’s what Stevie says about herself: 

Stevie Delahunt graduated Michigan State University with two degrees and an intent to pursue law school at Georgetown University where she had been accepted. She switched gears and went to the French Pastry School of Chicago to learn how to do wedding cakes and set up shop in the Windy City. While in Chicago she learned of the world’s toughest horse race, the Mongol Derby, and she again let life guide her into constant change. On the other side of successfully completing the Mongol Derby she took a job with a startup company in Rhode Island and learned coding and marketing for the online business. 

The endeavor in the world of start-ups gave her strong leadership skills and an education in business models she applied to starting her second and current business of horse related retreats. 

Stevie’s current business encompasses several facets of the horse world including beginner riding instruction, advanced Bootcamp style retreats for riders wishing to participate in difficult horse riding survival races around the world, horse shoeing, and endurance racing with horses which includes doing the worlds toughest one day one hundred mile horse race; the Tevis Cup. 

Stevie believes that adversity is a necessary part of life and being prepared for adversity as well as creating it for oneself is essential and is a tool she uses in teaching both horses and humans, both young and old. 

Enjoy this podcast with Stevie Delahunt!

My guest for this episode is Chris Dolman. He is the Producing Artistic Director for the Lake Lure Music Festival, an eclectic music festival producing world class music in multiple genres with renowned musicians and bands. Based in Western North Carolina, the Festival's supports the Lake Lure Classical Academy and Hickory Nut Gorge Outreach and their respective missions. Chris started his career working in radio before becoming a professional actor and director based in New York City. Chris and his wife, Cathi now live full time in Lake Lure, North Carolina.

This conversation took many interesting turns, as has Chris’s career. One big turn in his career was shifting his focus from “what can I get from this?” to “how can I serve?” His perspective shift led him to new opportunities and challenges, many of which we explore in this wide-ranging conversation. We also dove in on authenticity, listening, improvisation and so much more. 

I hope you enjoy this conversation and please be sure to share it with your friends and colleagues!

·      Balancing work and life with a focus on gratitude and intention. (0:02)

·      Pivoting from personal ambition to community service through music festival. (5:42)

·      Manifesting change through energy and focus. (12:22)

·      The transformative power of live music. (19:41)

·      The importance of arts in society, including music and theater. (24:14)

·      Embracing stage fright and being present in performances. (28:58)

·      Embracing imperfection in music and art. (37:08)

·      Embracing creative process and avoiding self-criticism. (41:21)

·      The importance of generosity in work and life. (46:14)

·      Valuing workers and breaking cycle of cogs in organizations. (50:24)

·      Finding purpose and making a positive impact in a small community. (55:30)

·      Overcoming obstacles for a music festival during the pandemic and its aftermath. (1:01:33)

·      COVID-19 challenges in the entertainment industry. (1:07:02)

·      How the pandemic has changed people's habits and routines, including their preferences for dining out and attending arts events. (1:10:43)

·      Upcoming concerts and sponsorships for a music festival in a small town. (1:14:05)

·      Event planning, marketing, and social media. (1:20:22)

·      Talk radio, podcasting, and the importance of being a good listener. (1:23:59)

·      Improvisation, curiosity, and personal growth. (1:29:09)

My guest for this episode is Kerri Lake, founder of Generation of Harmony. When I share these introductions, it’s usually so that you, my listeners, can relate to the guest and find some common ground. In Kerri’s case, her title makes common ground quite simple: Human. That title really does describe the way Kerri shows up in the world. She seeks to contribute something of value to every interaction, as I discovered in this conversation. So while it may seem difficult to pin down “who is Kerri and what does she do?”, it becomes clear in a conversation like this.

We spoke about so many topics, like curiosity, harmony, feel, and love, which was the theme that ran throughout. Often our thoughts get in the way of what matters, and Kerri spoke of the inner critic as the “Mayor of Thinkytown”. It’s both a funny and effective way to keep perspective. 

One thing we didn’t talk about is her project called Compass Conversations. It’s a podcast and what I love about it is that it is peers, learning together and inviting everyone who listens to learn along with them. Here’s how they describe it: 

We are a community of collaborating professionals and peers teaching through conversation, relationship and intuition. We’re not telling you what to learn, we’re helping you nourish your passion for learning by sharing our own.

Our work and thirst for continuing education has expanded beyond our conventional fields. Self-awareness and presence have become foundational in our relationships with work, families, nature and each other.

As you listen to this conversation, I believe you will get a clear sense of just what a learner Kerri Is. 

Here’s what Kerri says in her bio: 

Kerri is masterful in many ways. Her awareness began in infancy, and included a natural ability to communicate with animals and all of life in subtle realms of consciousness, through energy and presence. She has experienced several near-death and expanded-consciousness events, each of which reminded her of the dynamic power of living wide awake as a Creator. With innate wisdom, guidance and communication from many teachers (human and non-human), she has developed her gifts to offer clarity and guidance that is relevant to everyday life. Her work helps you recognize your capacity to experience your uniqueness, connection and communication through presence, through the heart. Without dependence on a modality or system, Kerri has blazed a new trail on the road to freedom from limitations and conditioning. On this trail, all species are welcome and integrate through frequencies of communication. The greatest gift she can give to you is her own purity of expression, sharing her own journey, to help you see that if she can do it...so can you.

If you have ever doubted whether harmony had any value, this conversation is for you.

My guest for this episode of the podcast is Corey Vaughn. He’s a professional water skier who I’ve known for more than 15 years, through many of the ups and downs of our respective water ski journeys. It’s the beginning of water ski season here in the States and the end of the water ski season on the other side of the world. Corey just came back from Australia, where he finished 4th at the Moomba Masters, which was his best performance there yet. Given the timing, we debated about when to have this conversation. Should we have it later in the season, after a notable performance? Or early in the season, to talk preparation? Balancing process and performance are part of any professional athlete’s repertoire, and in the end, we both realized that that process is worth talking about, regardless of the results. 

This conversation went deep from the very beginning, when Corey mentioned the need to be honest with ourselves if we are to truly get better at anything. Yet anyone who has taken an honest look at themselves also has to find a way to do that without being too self-critical or giving up. Corey shared some of his performance secrets, such as visualization, which is trickier for water skiers than you might expect. We dove in a bit on how to make it work in such a high speed, non-forgiving sport. 

We also got into his goals for the season, and how he balances family life, his ski school business and his athletic performance. 

The listeners of this podcast are well aware of how much I love to talk about balancing acts, and I think you are going to love this one.

Here’s what Corey has to say about himself:

I began waterskiing at age 3. It was my family's favorite summer pastime. Despite childhood dreams of becoming a professional waterskier, I never could have imagined how this sport and lifestyle would shape my life's path. At age 38, waterskiing remains a primary narrative in the story of my life. In fact, the waterski story may, indeed be reaching its climax. So I find myself, working to balance parenthood, partnership, business and my athletic endeavor at all times. There's never a dull moment.

·      Balancing work and life as a professional water skier.

·      Learning and growth through self-reflection and honesty.

·      Self-criticism and growth in water skiing.

·      How to overcome comfort zone limitations in skiing through trust and small steps.

·      The importance of regular check-ins for progress and accountability in learning new skills.

·      Skiing performance and mental preparation for Moomba.

·      Visualization techniques for skiing, incorporating tactile sensations for better timing.

·      Balancing professional waterskiing and family life while maintaining business growth.

·      Mental preparation for water skiing competitions.

·      Finding balance between perfectionism and flexibility in ski training.

·      Mental preparation for golf, focusing on mindset and confidence.

·      Cultivating internal confidence and harmony in sports performance.

·      Improvisation and staying in sync while waterskiing.

·      Improving productivity and reducing stress through mindfulness and prioritization.

·      Skiing goals and qualifying for the Masters tournament.

·      Quitting alcohol for personal growth and self-awareness.

·      The negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption and the importance of breaking the cycle.

·      Parenting, goals, and staying motivated.

·      Skiing, personal growth, and community support.

My guest for this episode of the Creative Spirits Unleashed podcast is Laurie Kaplan. I reached out to Laurie to be on the podcast after hearing her talk about her experience of the Gaucho Derby on the Greg and Dan Show in Peoria Illinois. The Gaucho Derby is a 500 km adventure race through Patagonia, and it’s billed as the world’s toughest horse race. That’s an understatement. Three of my former podcast guests were involved in the Derby, Kansas Carradine, Stevie Delahunt and Warwick Schiller, so I was paying attention to their adventures as well. In this podcast, Laurie shares her epic moments. Some were high notes and there were plenty of low notes as well. As we spoke, it’s almost as if she were reliving many of the moments, which you will hear. Listen to the whole thing, because at the end, you will hear how she puts it all together, when I ask her: What would the Laurie of today tell the Laurie that decided in August 2022 to do the race. Her answer moved me to tears.  

Here's what Laurie has to say about herself:  

Laurie is a free spirit who seeks living at a deeper level in the many things that she pursues. Whether it is raising her 2 boys who are both successfully off at university, riding horses, caring for her farm, rocking out on her drums and guiding others to their epigenetically best life. She recently experienced the Gaucho Derby in Patagonia, Argentina and is still processing the profound expansion this is opening for her.

I hope you enjoy this podcast with Laurie Kaplan and as always, please share this episode with your colleagues and friends. 

Additional Topics

·      The Gaucho Derby adventure race in Patagonia with Laurie Kaplan. (0:02)

·      Endurance horse race in Patagonia with challenging terrain and limited gear. (3:30)

·      Carrying personal items during a horseback ride. (9:59)

·      Mental preparation and overcoming obstacles in a horse race. (17:21)

·      Adventure vs. competitor in horse race. (23:48)

·      Horseback riding adventure with injuries and lessons learned. (29:35)

·      Trust, balance, and galloping in horse riding. (35:21)

·      Horseback riding adventure with highs and lows. (40:19)

·      Overcoming self-criticism and focusing on progress. (46:24)

·      Overcoming burnout and building mental strength. (51:43)

·      Hormones, burnout, and epigenetics in a horseback riding adventure. (1:00:22)

·      Outdoor adventures, hiking, and bathroom experiences. (1:08:09)

·      Visualization and manifestation in a horse riding competition. (1:14:04)

·      Dealing with disappointment after not completing a big goal. (1:20:09)

·      Self-discovery and horse riding. (1:25:52)

·      Epigenetics, genetic testing, and personalized health plans. (1:31:30)

·      Epigenetics, mindset, and adventure with Laurie Kaplan. (1:38:11)

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My guest for this episode is Jane Pike. I first heard Jane’s name in context of the World Equestrian Games in 2018. She was the mindset coach for Warwick and Robyn Schiller, who competed in reining, and scored their best scores during an extremely high-pressure event. Prior to those games, I had never heard of reining; however, it was the discipline that captivated me then and has ever since. Back to Jane. I was very intrigued by Jane’s approach to mindset training. Not only does she align with my experience of what really works, she aligns very much with the natural world. I met her in 2022 at the Journey On Podcast summit, and also got to spend time with her on at the 2023 event as well. I was thrilled when she agreed to come on this podcast.  

This conversation flew by for both of us. We started and were immediately in the flow, speaking about topics like what to do with discomfort, the distinction between the action of fear and the emotion of fear, the way our mind can get in loops like Groundhog Day, and so much more. There were many quotable moments in this conversation. One of my favorite’s was this: Our role is not to police other people’s passions.  

Here's what Jane has to say about herself:  

Jane Pike is a writer, poet, and horsewoman from the South Island of New Zealand. In the horse world, her work focuses on practices and understandings that increase vitality for both humans and horses, incorporating nervous system awareness to both mindset and movement. The methods she teaches explore physical and emotional patterns at their most foundational level- the brain and the nervous system- with the aim of creating adaptability and responsiveness, both in and out of the saddle. Jane has featured and written for various magazines around the world and is a sought after international clinician and trainer through her business Confident Rider. 

Jane’s passions and expertise also extend to how we can best live full and creative lives, and develop the tenacity and courage to do so. Her deep appreciation for writing and the arts has also seen her skip down the garden path of how it is we can all find and allow for our own unique creative expression, sharing her own writing and teaching retreats and workshops that focus on giving ourselves permission to and making the time for following the things that we love. 

My guest for this episode is Mary Connaughty-Sullivan. This was an incredibly special episode unlike any I've done before. Mary is the author of "Nudges from the Other Side." It is the story that she shares from her journal entries, along with a lot of poetry and her thoughts of losing her son, Aaron, at the age of 20. It's not only a heartbreaking story but also an uplifting one. You'll understand that as you listen to this podcast. 

Here is what she has to say about herself:

When asked to provide biographical info, Mary’s first sentence typically is, “I’m a mom.” To say that Aaron was and is important to her is an understatement. She considers him her foremost gift and trusts that in providing his and her story to readers, they too will receive a gift.

Mary grew up in a small midwestern town and enjoyed an active outdoor life during an era when life was slower and simpler. A self-described lifelong learner, Mary was encouraged and unrestricted by her parents to read anything and everything that interested her. Her love for words, language, and stories persists to this day.

After college, Mary spent 41 years in financial services where she held roles in sales, leadership, and as an executive leading Learning & Development teams for Fortune 500 firms. She has a BA in Psychology and has recently graduated with highest honors from the Funeral Director’s program at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Mary successfully completed all of her state board exams and became a licensed North Carolina Funeral Director in September of 2023. 

Mary lives on a small farm in North Carolina with her husband and their three horses, three dogs, and three cats. In her spare time, Mary enjoys reading, gardening, water skiing, sketching, writing, and horseback riding.

I hope you enjoy this episode with Mary Connaughty-Sullivan.

·      Grief, synchronicity, and personal growth. (0:02)

·      Finding one's voice and overcoming insecurities in a corporate environment. (4:25)

·      Coping with loss and resilience. (12:52)

·      Coping with loss and finding hope. (18:54)

·      Grief, vulnerability, and authenticity. (25:27)

·      Social media, gratitude practices, and filtering negative content. (33:45)

·      Personal and professional growth through retirement transition. (40:06)

·      Grief, spirituality, and communication with the dead. (46:17)

·      Grief, journaling, and finding hope. (52:12)

·      Grief, healing, and the impact of a memoir. (58:51)

·      Personality types and book launch planning. (1:07:27)

·      Vision Boards, Intention Setting, and Spiritual Guidance. (1:10:57)

·      Intuition, dreams, and personal growth. (1:17:47)

·      Business alignment and customer service. (1:23:42)

·      Grief, loss, and how to support those in mourning. (1:28:40)

·      Grief, healing, and personal growth. (1:37:5)

Email: [email protected]

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My guest for this episode is Julie Ripley, who specializes in helping people regain their connection with self. She was also the Chief Financial Officer of a company in her mid-30’s when she realized that she was burned out. Given my own experience of near-burnout in my mid 30’s, you can imagine, we had a lot to talk about. If I had to characterize this conversation, I would say it’s about distinctions. For example, the distinction between power and force. Also the distinction between sleep and rest. The distinction between the embodiment of wisdom versus just knowing information. 

This is a conversation for anyone who is looking for meaning, or looking for ways to get past being stuck. 

Here’s what Julie says about herself:

Julie is a personal development coach specializing in self-connection, boundaries, and communication. She is a speaker and has authored her own coaching programs; pulling together her experience of burning out in a CFO position, all the lessons she has learned from riding horses, and her lifelong study of personal growth and spiritual development. She specializes in helping high-achieving successful people, who are feeling stuck, make their next move.

I hope you enjoy this conversation with Julie Ripley.

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Kansas Carradine is a globally acclaimed professional horsewoman with a lifelong dedication to her craft. Since she was 11 years old, she has entertained audiences around the world, demonstrating her exceptional talents as a trick rider, roman rider, and lasso artist.

Some of her performance credits include Hidalgo, Heartland, the World Equestrian Games, Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee, National Finals Rodeo, appearances on MTV, ESPN, CBS, Equitana, Cheval Passion and Equifest. She has been featured in publications such as Sports Illustrated, Western Horseman, Cowboy & Indians, and the LA Times. With Cavalia, she toured over five continents as a featured soloist, roper, rider, and trainer.

Kansas is a HeartMath Certified Trainer and SkyHorse Equine Guided Educator and incorporates her unique skills into her training and coaching; bridging science, spirituality, horsemanship and heart. Through her workshops and teachings, she helps individuals activate their own heart intelligence for improved emotional self-regulation, self-confidence, health, connection, and performance.

Following the wisdom and power of her heart, Kansas has made a positive impact through her service work with G20/C20 Presidency in India as Project Manager for the Fyera Foundation, as well as outreach in indigenous communities and fundraising for the Humane Society, Equestrian Aid Foundation, Wild Beauty Foundation, Compton Cowboys, and Embracing the World Charities.