Creativity: Uncovered

For Birgit Livesey, music is more than just a pastime—it's a guiding force in her life. Though she doesn't play music, she immerses herself in it, dissecting its nuances and using it to inform her decisions. Birgit is dedicated to sharing how music can positively impact people's lives.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, join us as we explore:

• Birgit's creatively rich childhood
• Her realisation of being an introvert
• The link between introversion and music
• The transformative power of music
• How she uses music to process emotions
• Her unique approach to decision making through "downloads" inspired by music
• Insights into her podcast, The Living on the B Side

Tune in for an inspiring discussion on the profound influence of music on creativity and personal growth.

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: https://crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/living-on-the-b-side-exploring-the-positive-impact-of-music/

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

You never know where your creative journey will take you, but it pays to lean in.

My guest, Ally Murphy, believed her creative career had ended at age 20 after facing numerous acting rejections. Low on confidence and craving change, Ally pivoted to become a flight attendant. Fourteen years later, a chance encounter reignited her passion for the creative arts, leading her to reinvent herself as a voice actor, screen actor, and podcaster.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Ally's decision at age 11 to pursue acting
• The 90's look and the accompanying body criticism
• The difference between being rejected and not being selected
• Her career transition to a flight attendant
• Her initial steps into voice acting
• How she rebuilt her creative career
• The nuances of voice acting versus screen acting
• Her podcast, The Red Eye
• Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience and rediscovery.

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/lean-into-the-journey-my-career-transformation

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

Carol MacConnell's artistic journey is reminiscent of the old Goldilocks' tale. As a professional artist, Carol experimented with various styles before discovering the one that resonated perfectly with her. Now thriving as a large-scale abstract artist, Carol reveals how following her heart led her to the ideal medium.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, we delve into:

• Carol's evolution from realism to abstraction, exploring many styles along the way
• The process of finding your unique artistic style
• Her passion for abstract art
• The reasons behind her focus on large-scale painting
• The importance of using themes to guide your art
• Strategies for overcoming artistic blocks

The resources Carol refers to in this episode are:

• The Creative Lifebook: Reflections On The Art Of Living A Fully Expressed Life
• ProCreate

Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the pursuit of artistic fulfilment and creative expression.

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: https://crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/if-goldilocks-were-an-abstract-artist/

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

Creativity: Uncovered is celebrating its first birthday!

One year in, I reflect on and share the unexpected benefits of hosting the Creativity: Uncovered podcast. Discover how podcasting has re-energised my creativity, connected me with a global network, and inspired listeners to rediscover their creative passions.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• How podcasting can be a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.
• How the podcast revitalised my creativity and provided clarity on my business goals and personal interests.
• The importance of carving out time for creative pursuits.
• How creativity extends beyond artistic activities.
• How creativity is present in everyday tasks and problem-solving.
• How building connections through shared interests can lead to unexpected and enriching relationships.
• How creative activities can enhance overall well-being and inspire new ideas.

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/unexpected-benefits-of-podcasting-my-journey-with-creativity-uncovered

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

From hostile work environments to burnout to boundary-ignoring clients, Rowena Preddy has experienced it all.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, branding specialist Rowena discusses how her relationship with creativity has been tested throughout her career, why achieving balance is b*llsh*t and how self-work and self-awareness was her saviour.

Tune in to hear about:

• How Rowena's mother was her biggest creative inspiration
• Her best memories of growing up as a creative kid
• How ADHD and being a "numbers person" almost blocked her pursuit of creativity
• Letting go of perfectionism
• Life as an agency designer
• Setting boundaries
• Burnout (and how to avoid it)
• Redefining your creativity
• Running a creative business
• Finding your creative flow, consistently

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/creativity-killer-not-having-boundaries Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

Creativity, by nature, is continually evolving. Your relationship with creativity, your goals and your desire for creativity changes throughout your life. In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, singer/songwriter Naomi Crain shares how her relationship with music has changed throughout her life, and what her plans are for the future.

Tune in to hear about:

• How Naomi's mother provided her first exposure to music
• The influence of the church on her musicality
• How she chose music over the sciences
• How her friends were the catalyst for producing her first album
• The intersectionality of songwriting and performance
• Songwriting for yourself vs your audience
• The Australian Songwriter's Conference
• Naomi's next steps for her music

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: https://crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/how-to-navigate-the-ebbs-and-flows-of-creativity/

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

When things aren't going so well in your life, it can be easy to fall into a funk and get down. It is less easy, however, to reframe your situation and take the positive out of it.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, Lauren Hackney shares her story of how at the lowest point in her life, her creativity saved her.

In one year, Lauren lost her job and almost lost her husband, and her imaginative bedtime stories with her kids turned all of that around for her. Lauren is now the author of a series of kids books, The Lolly Shop series, and has no plans to stop writing.

Tune into this episode to hear how:

• Losing her job and her husband's near-fatal heart attack rocked Lauren's life
• Lockdown brought up the big questions in life
• Her bedtime story routine with her kids started a new career
• Lauren wrote a series of books with her two sons
• How she battled rejection and self-published her books
• Lauren discovered her creativity (but still doesn't consider herself an author)
• Writing helped her heal from and reframe the lowest point in her life
• Lauren has created a legacy for her kids

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/creativity-saved-my-life

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

When you run a business, especially as a creative, there is pressure to niche down. That is, you need to have a specific area, style or client base that you exclusively deal with. But how do you niche when you're an all-rounder, or have many different interests?

I asked Brand Strategist and Creative Coach, Hollie Arnett this question when she joined me on Creativity: Uncovered.

Hollie has had a long, winding journey with creativity, covering many different creative pursuits. She shares her creative experience, her evolution and how she has managed to niche throughout her journey.

Tune into this episode to hear:

• How Hollie started her career in lettering
• Her creative journey (including many iterations of her business)
• How an injury almost destroyed her creativity
• How Hollie evolved her career to become a brand strategist
• How creative coaching was the next logical step for Hollie
• How to Brand Your Passion

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: https://crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/how-do-you-niche-when-you-love-everything-creative/

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, I speak with my husband Michael Back about play, imagination and giving yourself permission to be creative.

Michael was a really creative kid, but somewhere along the line he felt pressured to become more serious and focus on a "real job". Next minute he found himself studying business, becoming a Financial Adviser and being dissatisfied with his career. That is, until a book changed his life completely.

In this episode we talk about:

• How and when he decided to reconnect with his creativity
• The book that changed his career
• Growing up as an only child and it's influenced his creativity
• Humour and creativity
• Being playful as an adult
• Following your curiosity
• How he stopped silencing and started embracing his creativity
• Spirituality influencing creativity

Here are the resources Michael mentioned in our chat:

• Screw Work, Let's Play - John Williams
• The Hamish & Andy Show
• Creative Act - Rick Rubin

Happy listening!

xo Abi

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/allowing-yourself-to-play

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.

In this episode of Creativity: Uncovered, I delve into the often-overlooked aspect of creativity: handling feedback.

I unpack the importance of being prepared for feedback throughout the creative process, so that you can be sustainable in your creativity.

Tune in to hear about my personal experience with feedback and hear some practical advice on how to develop resilience, how to discern valuable feedback from unhelpful noise and learn to embrace feedback as a tool for enhancing your creative journey.

Happy listening!

xo Abi

Some other helpful Creativity: Uncovered episodes on feedback:

• Expand Your Comfort Zone (Don't Step Outside It)
• Perception is Reality
• Perfectionism Ain't So Perfect

P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: http://www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/navigating-the-feedback-minefield

Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.

Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.