Episode 6: Braving Creativity with Naomi Vladeck

In this conversation, I speak with Naomi Vladeck, creativity coach and author of Braving Creativity, about what it means to follow creative desire even when the path forward feels uncertain.

Naomi’s work explores how courage is cultivated through creative practice — not in giant leaps, but through small, meaningful steps that gradually build trust, resilience, and self-permission.

We talk about the idea that creativity often emerges from spaces we would not voluntarily choose — grief, uncertainty, transition, longing — and how those spaces can become powerful catalysts for transformation.

Naomi shares stories from her own life, including how becoming a widow and single mother led her back to performance art, and how that experience shaped her understanding of courage as something that can be practiced and strengthened over time.

One of the themes that deeply resonated in this conversation is the idea that creativity is not separate from courage — creativity often asks us to move toward what feels uncertain, unfamiliar, or vulnerable.

And yet, it is often through those exact moments that we discover new parts of ourselves.

In this episode, we explore:The relationship between creativity and courage

Why creative growth often begins in uncertain or “fallow” spaces

How grief and major life transitions can open creative pathways

Why desire and longing are important signals for growthThe role of play in creative developmentThe importance of small, “safe enough” creative steps

Trusting intuition even when there is no clear roadmap

How The Artist’s Way helps people reconnect with creativity

Why adults often struggle to prioritize play

Creativity as an iterative process rather than a linear one

The courage it takes to choose yourself without waiting for permission

Why audacity can be an important creative skill

The importance of community for creative growthThe Brave Creator Project (Free Audio Summit)

Naomi is hosting the Brave Creator Project, a free audio summit designed to support artists, coaches, and creatives in making brave decisions in both their work and their lives.

The summit features 10 interviews with creative leaders exploring topics such as courage, voice, embodiment, leadership, fear, nervous system support, and creative permission.

The interviews will be delivered directly to your inbox, making it easy to listen while walking, commuting, or taking an artist date.

Summit DatesApril 20 – April 23Live RoundtableApril 23 at 12 pm ETJoin host Naomi Vladeck and participating speakers for a live conversation and the opportunity to ask questions.

Featured speakers include:Simone Pero — Art, commerce, social impact

Tahnia Belle — Mindful leadership, meditation, creative practice

Kate Kayaian — Reducing friction, redefining success

Anna Holtzman — Fear, nervous system tools

Dayna Del Val — Communication and transformation

Michelle Boulé — Embodiment and alignment

Minami Yusui — Desire, worth, leadership

Naomi Vladeck — Creative courage

Alisha Wielfaert — Core values and creative permission

You can register for free here: https://www.creativitymatterscoaching.com/brave-creator-alisha

Mentioned in this episode

Braving Creativity by Naomi VladeckThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronWriting Down the Bones by Natalie Goldbergperformance art as a path to healingthe role of somatic practices in transformationcreative courage as a learnable skill

A reflection from this episode

Creativity often asks us to move before we feel fully ready.

To try something before we know exactly how it will turn out.

To trust that the desire we feel is not random — it is information.

And sometimes, the call itself is the permission slip.

Get full access to Alisha’s Substack at yokeandabundance.substack.com/subscribe