In this episode, host Nicola Newman interviews Amber Byers, a former attorney who transformed her life by following her creative calling. As an award-winning author and founder of Tadpole Press, Amber shares her journey from the legal world to building a thriving creative business centered around writing and community.

Discover Amber's three powerful tenets for authentic creative living:

1. Listen to your authentic voice and trust your body's wisdom
2. Have fun with your creativity without taking yourself too seriously
3. Build a supportive community that champions your unique vision

Amber opens up about winning gold at the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for her book "Sophie and Spot," and how she created the popular Tadpole Press 100-word writing contest that now attracts entries from nearly 60 countries worldwide.

This heartfelt conversation explores how embracing creativity as a safe playground can lead to personal fulfillment beyond traditional measures of success. Whether you're considering a creative career change or simply looking to reconnect with your authentic self, Amber's story will inspire you to listen to your inner wisdom and follow your heart.

Visit www.tadpolepress.com to learn more about Amber's work and the Tadpole Press writing contest.

In this episode, writer Beth Cregan and I dive deep into the various tools and technology we use to support our creative lives. From good old-fashioned analog tools like planners, notebooks, and index cards to cutting-edge digital apps, software, and AI assistants, we cover a wide array of resources that help us organise, plan, create, and track our creative projects.

Find all the details and links to these tools on the podcast show notes page at: www.nicolanewman.com/podcast/technology-tools-ai

Nicola Newman: www.nicolanewman.com

Beth Cregan: www.writeawaywithme.com

Let's Connect!

Let's delve into the 'messy middle' of creative projects! Join Beth and me (Nicola) as we discuss our personal experiences and strategies to push forward. We delve into self-awareness including understanding one's own personality traits and energies which helps in personalising the creative process. Beth explains how having a clear vision of the final outcome can keep you motivated. We emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and prioritising the creative process. We also discuss the significance of remaining flexible and adaptive, and how sideways movement can be an integral part of the process, with challenges overcome often leading to substantial periods of rapid progress. Other aspects covered are the importance of self-compassion, embracing a sense of safety, understanding life circumstances, celebrating small wins, and wisely investing in skills and supplies that make the process easier.

We are also thrilled and excited to announce "The Art of Creative Living" podcast has been selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 20 Australia Creativity Podcasts on the web.
https://blog.feedspot.com/australia_creativity_podcasts/

Join Nicola Newman & Beth Cregan for a meaningful conversation about the nature and importance of solitude, loneliness, and the creative process. Through the lens of Nic's sailing life, we explore the intricate balance between solitude and the potential for loneliness that creatives often encounter with their work.

We delve into some of the struggles that are integral to our creative lives - from confronting the omnipresent fear of failure to navigating uncertainty without a roadmap!

Yet, amidst these challenges, we discover that staying connected to ourselves and our work fosters self-trust, stamina and authenticity. This discussion is a compassionate guide for creatives facing the challenges that arise in the creative process.

⁠www.nicolanewman.com⁠

⁠www.writeawaywithme.com

Welcome to another episode of "Nic and Beth’s Creative Chats" with your hosts, Nicola Newman and Beth Cregan!

Today, we're on a journey to uncover ways to nurture a deep and meaningful relationship with your creative self. Nicola and Beth open up about their personal reflective practices, anchors, and the daily rituals that keep their creativity flowing. They share how journaling becomes a supportive companion in their creative processes from morning pages to evening reflections.

This episode goes deep into the significance of values and core desires, serving as the guiding compass that shapes and evolves your creative journey over time.

We'll also dive into mindfulness practices in action – from gardening to sketching, along with Nic's 'Intuitive Pause', designed to ground you in the present moment. Anticipate a delightful blend of laughter, inspiration, and practical tips to elevate your creative living adventures.

www.nicolanewman.com

www.writeawaywithme.com

Join your hosts Nicola Newman and Beth Cregan as they unravel the transformative experiences of creative retreats. Beth, fresh from her solo writing retreat, and Nicola, having just hosted her second group creative retreat, delve into the rich tapestry of insights gained from both personal and group immersive escapes.

In this episode, discover the power of solitude as Beth shares the revelations from her latest solo writing sojourn. (Spoiler alert – it didn’t go exactly to plan!) Beth shares her honest experience of dealing with fear, her inner critic and creative resistance as well as tips for how to plan your own solo retreat. Nicola, with her pulse on the communal spirit of creative gatherings, provides a fascinating glimpse into the dynamics of hosting retreats—fostering joy, connection, collaboration, and the magic that happens when creative minds converge.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of a new series on The Art of Creative Living Podcast, "Nic & Beth's Chats about Creative Living."

Join us, your hosts Nicola Newman, an artist and creative mentor, and Beth Cregan, a writer and educator, as we dive headfirst into the world of creative living.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on our unique friendship forged through a shared passion for creative expression.

From the genesis of our individual creative journeys to the moments of inspiration that fuel our work, we invite you to join us in celebrating the joy and complexity of the creative process.

Whether you're an artist, writer, or simply someone interested in the joys of creative living, this episode sets the stage for a series of insightful conversations that will inspire, enlighten, and perhaps even spark your own creative flame.

Find the Show Notes at

http://www.nicolanewman.com/podcast

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Know someone who you think would love to hear this episode? Please be sure to pass it on!

This meditation is designed to help you offer yourself self-compassion and cultivate a kind, nurturing relationship with yourself. By imagining yourself surrounded by a supportive community of fellow Creative Hearts, and wrapping your arms around yourself in a warm embrace, you can practice self-compassion and offer yourself words of validation, reassurance, and support.

I invite you to take a few moments to listen to this meditation and explore how it can support you in caring for yourself as a creative.

CONNECT WITH NICOLA NEWMAN 

I am a business and life coach for creatives. My approach combines self-care, playfulness, and mindfulness to support sensitive, values-driven creatives to navigate self-doubt and cultivate deep self-trust so they can truly enjoy the creative process, bring together their body of work, make money doing what they love and leave a creative legacy they’re proud of.⁠As an award-winning artist and creative mentor, my free resources, online courses, coaching programs, and retreats support Creative Hearts to embrace their passions, prioritise their creative expression, and build loving relationships with themselves.

Visit my website: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com⁠ ⁠

Join my Creative Hearts Community: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com/community⁠

Throughout my own creative journey, I've faced numerous setbacks and failures that have tested my resilience and determination. There have been moments when the pain of these experiences seemed insurmountable, making it difficult to see a way forward. However, in the midst of these challenges, I found an opportunity for growth and transformation.

As I navigated the difficult terrain of my own personal development, I was introduced to the fascinating world of somatic therapy, neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, the vagus nerve, and acceptance and commitment therapy. These fields of study provided me with valuable insights into how the human brain and body respond to adversity and how we can reshape our thinking and behaviour to overcome obstacles.

Learning about these concepts has not only transformed my own approach to facing setbacks in my creative work but has also deeply enriched my coaching practice. By integrating the principles of neuroplasticity, nervous system regulation, and acceptance and commitment therapy into my coaching, I've been able to develop new ways of supporting my clients and community as they confront their own challenges.

CONNECT WITH NICOLA NEWMAN 

I am a business and life coach for creatives. My approach combines self-care, playfulness, and mindfulness to support sensitive, values-driven creatives to navigate self-doubt and cultivate deep self-trust so they can truly enjoy the creative process, bring together their body of work, make money doing what they love and leave a creative legacy they’re proud of.⁠As an award-winning artist and creative mentor, my free resources, online courses, coaching programs, and retreats support Creative Hearts to embrace their passions, prioritise their creative expression, and build loving relationships with themselves.

Visit my website: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com⁠ ⁠

Join my Creative Hearts Community: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com/community⁠

This meditation is designed to help you overcome self-doubt and embrace the journey of sharing your work with the world. By connecting with your inner wisdom, and imagining yourself surrounded by a supportive community of fellow Creative Hearts, you can cultivate the courage and confidence to take the next step towards sharing your work with the world.

I invite you to take a few moments to listen to this meditation and explore how it can support you in sharing your unique gifts with the world.

CONNECT WITH NICOLA NEWMAN 

I am a business and life coach for creatives. My approach combines self-care, playfulness, and mindfulness to support sensitive, values-driven creatives to navigate self-doubt and cultivate deep self-trust so they can truly enjoy the creative process, bring together their body of work, make money doing what they love and leave a creative legacy they’re proud of.⁠As an award-winning artist and creative mentor, my free resources, online courses, coaching programs, and retreats support Creative Hearts to embrace their passions, prioritise their creative expression, and build loving relationships with themselves.

Visit my website: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com⁠ ⁠

Join my Creative Hearts Community: ⁠www.nicolanewman.com/community⁠