Living The Process with host Shannon TL Kearns

Kim Wildszewski, an ordained minister and grief poet, discusses her creative process and the power of poetry in expressing grief. She shares how she started writing poetry as a response to the acute grief she experienced after the sudden death of her son. Kim explores the unique qualities of poetry that allow for a more honest and concise expression of grief. She also talks about the challenges and rewards of sharing her poetry with others and the connections it has fostered.

For more about Kim and her writing go to her Substack.

For the books mentioned in the podcast, check out this site.

To get creative support (and support the pod) check out Patreon. 

Follow the pod on instagram.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kim Wildszewski

01:09 Kim's Creative Process and the Concept of Grief Poetry

06:56 The Power of Poetry in Expressing Emotions

08:56 The Tension Between Structure and Vulnerability in Poetry

11:11 Naming and Sharing Grief Poetry

14:35 Navigating the Process of Sharing Poetry

21:12 The Influence of Time on Writing and Creativity

23:40 Kim's Writing Process and the Role of Revision

30:48 The Desire for Recognition and the Fear of Sillyness

37:21 Connecting with Others through Grief Poetry

45:29 Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

48:27 Conclusion and Call to Action

Summary

Jackie Vitale, the chef at the Ucross Artist Residency, discusses her creative process in cooking and how she creates feelings of care and nourishment through food. She shares her background in the arts and how her love for food developed from her Italian-American family and their emphasis on family dinners. Jackie talks about her journey to becoming a chef and how she landed her current job at Ucross. She also discusses her process for creating meals at the residency, including her monthly cuisine schedule and her crowd-sourced feast nights. Jackie emphasizes the importance of visual presentation in cooking and the balance between technical skills and creativity. She also shares her love for immersive theater and the influence of food experiences on her cooking.

For more information about Ucross and to apply, check out their website.

For the books mentioned in the podcast, check out this site.

To get creative support (and support the pod) check out Patreon. 

Follow the pod on instagram.

Takeaways

Food can create feelings of care and nourishment, and cooking is a way to express love and connection.

Experimentation and trial and error are key to developing a cooking practice.

Balance technical skills with creativity in the kitchen.

Visual presentation is important in cooking, and diversity in flavors and textures enhances the dining experience.

Supporting local food producers and focusing on seasonality can lead to better-tasting and more sustainable meals.

Failure is a part of cooking, but it's an opportunity to learn and improve.

The creative process in cooking is similar to other crafts, with planning and execution.

Food experiences, both extravagant and simple, can have a lasting impact on our memories and appreciation for food.

Cooking can be a way to express care and nourishment in other areas of life.

Engaging in immersive theater and other art forms can inspire creativity in cooking.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:00 Creating Feelings of Care and Nourishment Through Food

05:42 Balancing Technical Skills and Creativity in the Kitchen

08:33 Meal Planning and Cuisine Schedule

11:47 The Importance of Visual Presentation in Cooking

14:12 Cooking from Recipes and Allowing for Creativity

21:44 Finding Inspiration and Creating Interactive Experiences

25:58 The Process and Daily Routine of a Chef

27:26 The Craft of Cooking and Dealing with Failure

30:44 The Impact of Food Experiences on Our Appreciation for Food

35:26 Expressing Care and Nourishment in Other Areas of Life

38:19 Finding Inspiration in Immersive Theater for Cooking

Chandler Baker started writing as a child and transitioned into writing novels and screenplays as an adult.

Themes in Chandler's work include the challenges faced by working women and the expectations placed on mothers.

Chandler's writing process involves brainstorming ideas, writing without strict outlines, and embracing the commercial aspects of writing.

She finds inspiration and fills her creative well through reading, podcasts, and other forms of art.

Creativity has had a positive impact on Chandler's life, but it can also be all-consuming and require balance.

For more about Chandler check out her website and instagram.

For Chandler's books and others mentioned in the podcast, check out this site.

To get creative support (and support the pod) check out Patreon. 

Follow the pod on instagram.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:00 Early Creative Endeavors

07:02 Chasing Validation and Pursuing Writing

13:58 Themes of Working Women and Motherhood

23:20 Daily Routine and Writing in Small Pockets of Time

28:25 Juggling Administrative Tasks and Creativity

32:09 The Impact of Creativity on Life

35:19 Influential Books and Art

39:31 The Connection Between Creativity and Attention

Creativity can take many forms, including writing, visual art, cooking, and gardening.

Having a creative practice is essential for harnessing and channeling creativity.

Artistic expression can challenge societal expectations and norms.

Sharing one's art requires vulnerability and risk-taking.

Creativity can be a source of joy, self-expression, and personal growth.

For more about Cooper check out his website. You can also find him on instagram.

For the books mentioned in the podcast, check out this site.

To get creative support (and support the pod) check out Patreon. 

Follow the pod on instagram.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Patreon Support

02:08 Cooper's Creative Journey

05:02 The Influence of Childhood and Cultural Expectations

09:05 Exploring Different Forms of Creativity

12:09 Deepening Craft and Pursuing Writing

23:17 The Creative Process and Idea Generation

27:46 Outlining and Structure in Writing

31:38 Struggles with Consistent Creative Practice

35:30 Influential Books and Artists

40:12 Creative Thinking and Navigating the World

43:57 Conclusion and Ways to Connect with Cooper

Takeaways

Edwin Alexis Gomez is a queer Nicaraguan American artist known for their work in film, television, plays, and installation artwork.

Their work explores social justice issues, emotional inheritance, microaggressions, domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS.

Edwin's creative process is influenced by various sources, including titles, lines of dialogue, music, images, and tarot readings.

They believe that creativity is a spiritual practice and that creating art is a way to honor the creator and the creation of ourselves.

For more about Edwin check out their website.

To get creative support (and to support this podcast) go to Patreon.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Edwin Alexis Gomez

02:07 Creating Dramedies and Exploring Surrealist Dream Spaces

03:32 Installation Art and Its Meaning

05:25 Exploring Social Justice Issues and Microaggressions

13:04 Emotional Inheritance and Honoring Loved Ones

31:41 Understanding the Creative Process and Writing Poetry

38:47 Creativity as a Spiritual Practice

43:30 The Power of Art and Collective Experience

Takeaways

Paul William Kruse tells queer love stories that are influenced by his Catholic roots and evolving experience of family.

His creative journey began with acting in theater and later transitioned to writing plays and films.

Paul explores themes of queer love, strange and odd experiences, and the things that are often dismissed as petty or spectacle.

Queerness informs Paul's creative life and practice, and he explores queerness in narrative and story outside of traditional forms.

His creative process involves starting with a moment of spectacle and using structure to shape the story, with a focus on revision and feedback. Knowing when a play is done is a challenge, and it often comes down to personal instincts and a feeling of certainty.

Trusted readers are important for getting feedback on a play, but it's crucial to find the right people who understand your vision and can provide valuable insights.

The revision process can be difficult, and it's important to find a balance between relying on others for feedback and trusting your own instincts.

Social media can impact creative work by fracturing attention spans and reducing capacity for deep work, but it's important to actively work on maintaining focus and deep writing processes.

Creative myths, such as the idea that artists have to be miserable or that writing every day is essential, should be challenged and reevaluated based on individual experiences and needs.

Creative practices can have a spiritual element, and they can shape how one listens, observes, and moves through the world.

Paul Cruz is working on a podcast about queer experiences of family, and he has upcoming projects that explore the lives of women he grew up with.

For more about Paul, check out his website.

For the books mentioned in this podcast, check out this link.

To get creative support (and to support this podcast) check out Patreon. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Paul William Kruse

02:07 Telling Queer Love Stories

09:05 From Acting to Writing

13:36 Exploring Queerness and Ephemera

16:08 Queerness as a Driving Force

27:42 Creative Process and Revision

28:07 Knowing When a Play is Done

30:41 The Revision Process and External Feedback

34:00 Trusted Readers and Feedback

37:15 The Impact of Social Media on Creative Work

39:08 Debunking Creative Myths

44:37 The Spiritual Element of Creative Practice

54:43 Upcoming Projects

Takeaways

Dana Balicki helps people release the cultural program of fast-paced hustling and cultivate their inner intuitive connection.

She draws on her background in political activism and organizing to create spaces for people to explore their past, present, and future.

Dana's coaching work is action-oriented, helping clients design their lives around what is most important to them.

Coaching is different from therapy in that it focuses on action and designing one's life, while therapy is more process-oriented.

When starting a new creative project, it's important to check in with oneself and ensure it aligns with one's needs and desires.

Dana's podcast, 'Crying in My Jacuzzi,' is a space for world-building and creating magical experiences for listeners.

Skepticism is natural, but it's important to find coaches who resonate with one's heart and speak one's language.

Dana emphasizes the importance of experience and time in a coaching role, as well as finding the right fit for support.

Creating a podcast or any creative project requires clarity, self-exploration, and a willingness to let go of what no longer serves.

Dana's practice of creating the podcast involves following the breadcrumbs, being engaged, and embracing artistic intimacy. Give yourself space to explore and understand your own creative process.

Trust your own timing and don't judge yourself for resistance or procrastination.

Sitting in discomfort is a practice that allows for growth and learning.

Personal risk and vulnerability are essential in creativity.

Creativity and spirituality are intertwined and can be seen as the same thing.

Creativity permeates all aspects of life and can be found in the mundane.

For more about Dana check out her website.

For her podcast go here. 

For the books Dana mentioned in this episode, check out this list. 

To get creative support and support this podcast, check out Patreon.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:02 Creating Intimate Containers for Inner Exploration

08:01 World-Building and Activism

12:08 Transition to Coaching and Burnout

14:51 Coaching vs Therapy and Skepticism

23:01 Creating a Podcast and Letting Go

25:48 Following the Breadcrumbs and Embracing Artistic Intimacy

28:30 Exploring and Understanding Your Creative Process

32:46 Trusting Your Timing and Embracing Resistance

38:40 The Practice of Sitting in Discomfort

42:31 Personal Risk and Vulnerability in Creativity

45:37 The Intersection of Creativity and Spirituality

46:06 Finding Magic in the Mundane

Takeaways

Creating organizations that make a positive impact on people's lives requires insight, inspiration, and innovation.

Understanding what people want and need is crucial in creating meaningful solutions.

There is a need for creativity and innovation in both the artist and entrepreneur worlds.

Businesses should focus on meeting deep human needs and creating positive experiences for customers.

Nonprofit and for-profit organizations both have their challenges and opportunities, and it's important to find a business model that aligns with your goals.

Talking to people and understanding their problems and desires is a key part of the idea generation process. Triple 20 focuses on creating trade show exhibits that prioritize empathy and solve problems.

They believe in testing ideas, even big ones, with small components that can be tested right away.

They emphasize the importance of talking to people and getting feedback to create work that connects with others.

They believe in being a creative leader by constantly generating new ideas and solving problems.

They believe in business as a force for good, creating positive social and environmental impact while generating profit.

They value patience and long-term thinking, focusing on what they want to create over a 10-year period.

They find inspiration in classical music and talk about being conflicted over the work of Pablo Picasso.

They recommend books like 'A Whole New Mind' by Daniel Pink and 'The Power of Moments' by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.

They practice morning pages, quarterly reflection and planning, and the habit of listening to music to stay connected to their creativity.

For more about Adam go here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrao

For more about Triple20 go here: https://triple20.co/

To get creative support and support the podcast go to www.patreon.com/shannontlkearns

For more about the books recommended in this episode, go here: https://bookshop.org/shop/shannontlkearns

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Patreon Support

08:36 Understanding What People Want and Need

28:16 Creating Trade Show Exhibits with Empathy and Problem-Solving

34:54 Patience and Long-Term Thinking

46:38 Recommended Books for Creativity and Business

53:09 Practicing Morning Pages and Reflection

Takeaways

Namoli Brennet's creative process involves creating music and setting poetry to music.

Her identity as a trans woman has influenced her music and the themes she explores.

She discusses the challenges of being an independent musician and the impact of commerce on her creative process.

Namoli emphasizes the importance of showing up and honoring the creative calling, even in the face of self-doubt and mental health struggles.

To support Namoli, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/namolibrennet

Namoli's website is: https://namolibrennet.com/home

To pre-order her new album The Speed of Nature go to: https://namolibrennet.com/the-speed-of-nature

Takeaways

Waubgeshig Rice creates books and aims to create good vibes and a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.

His creative life growing up was influenced by his parents and community, who exposed him to various forms of storytelling.

Waubgeshig's creative process involves extensive planning and research before diving into writing.

He balances his responsibility to his community and the wider audience by focusing on the humanity of Indigenous people and being mindful of cultural traditions.

For Waubgeshig Rice's books go to: https://bookshop.org/shop/shannontlkearns

To get creative support and also support this podcast go to: www.patreon.com/shannontlkearns

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Creating Books and Good Vibes

03:50 Starting Writing

05:40 Journalism and Fiction

08:04 Writing While Working Full-Time

09:03 Challenges of Having More Time to Write

10:23 Themes in Writing

11:44 Creative Process and Idea Generation

15:01 Front-End Heavy Process

20:12 Daily Writing Schedule

21:57 Sharing Work with Others

24:20 Balancing Responsibility to Community and Storytelling

31:00 Pushback from Publishers

33:50 Writing for Community and Non-Indigenous Readers

37:42 Influences from Music and Media

40:28 Creative Practice in Daily Life

44:13 Conclusion