If you tried to pin a label on Maggie Semple, OBE, she’d be leaping away to the next big thing before you could get anywhere near. Dancer, choreographer, high-level public servant, blue-chip leadership and diversity consultant, justice advisor, fashion label founder. Alternatively, epic badass who takes on big, bold issues, because, as she says, ‘why wouldn’t you?’

From running public consultations on nuclear power stations to championing the impact of clothes, Maggie is driven by a huge desire to connect with big ideas and their impact on people. Blue-chip and public sector consultancy isn’t often seen as a creative role, but Maggie disagrees. We talk about how she calls on her background in choreography for a language and imagery that helps to disrupt boardroom thinking, and the creative buzz she gets from being in the moment.

We also talk about how she set up a fashion label, and how she answers her critics who see it as ‘frivolous’.

But that doesn’t stop her from experiencing creative frustration or blocks. We talk through how she uses her inner drive and values to overcome it.

If your creative life is about values and purpose rather than job titles, and variety rather than a single focus, this is an essential listen.

You'll also learn:

- How Maggie deals with fear in a situation that’s new to her

- How principles of respect, confidentiality and progress drive her work

- The importance of relationships in building her business and her team

- The need for self-awareness as a confident, straight-talking woman, and how that can sometimes be a barrier that has to be overcome

- How Maggie defied her critics to set up a fashion label after a background in blue-chip consultancy | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/006-power-engaging-big-ideas-maggie-semple

'Wherever there is great inspiration and there is our soul’s purpose, not far away there will be tremendous resistance.' That's the core of today's conversation with Nick Williams, author of 13 books and 'coach, spiritual advisor and encourager' to individuals and companies including McKinsey and the NHS

There's a myth that when you're following your passion, everything becomes easy. Not so, says Nick. We talk about the ever-present doubt and resistance that accompanies all creative work. Rather than trying to get rid of it, Nick talks about how he focuses on knowing his purpose and habits that allow him to get his work done.

At the heart of Nick's work is a very clear, consistent message about finding purpose in what you do. We talk about how focusing on that one message has opened up endless scope for creativity and inspiration - completely the opposite from the common fear of having a niche becoming limiting.

I also ask Nick about the challenge that leaders face in trying to develop self-expression and creativity, particularly in cultures that only value success, and where vulnerability is unlikely to be considered a virtue.

I love Nick’s honesty in this interview. Even before we started the recording he was keen to point out that he doesn't see creative block something he’s overcome, but instead as resistance that he has to overcome all the time. You’ll hear his take on resistance as a natural part of creativity, and some of the ways he uses to overcome it. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/007-handle-creative-resistance-nick-williams

Let's talk about getting stuck, lighting your creative fire and what this is all about. Head over to www.creativelifeshow.com/intro for your Unstuckness Audit worksheet - an awesome tool for working out exactly what's blocking your creativity, and your next steps to becoming more creative, connected and successful | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/intro

Laura Kriefman's Mass Crane Dance was an extraordinary creative spectacle, attracting 10 thousand people and 4 million online to watch three cranes perform a synchronised dance over Bristol docks. And yet not long before, Laura had given up her work as a choreographer and dancer, frustrated by no one being willing to fund her or believe in her vision.

We talk about the transformation that brought her back to creating work, and that has taken her to a new, internationally acclaimed level as as creator and speaker. We also discuss how to take a team with you into innovative, risk-taking chaos, and finding the comfort there, and how to get other people to understand your vision. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/008-what-to-do-no-one-believes-laura-kriefman ok

Novelist, playwright, journalist, librettist and blogger, Jessica Duchen has been writing professionally for nearly 30 years, during which time the world for writers has changed beyond recognition.

While many writers have given up, defeated by decreasing rates, increased competition and the impact of new technology, Jessica has found ways to take her writing into new directions.

Core to her success has been finding new ways of presenting her work. She’s turned her novels into plays and concert versions, and often creates expanded versions of her journalism for her own community.

Jessica’s fifth novel, Ghost Variations, is set in 1930s Germany, based on a true story and full of spirit messages and real-life characters. After publishing four with a traditional company, she's now working with the innovative publisher Unbound, which uses a crowd-funding model while keeping conventional editorial standards. She shares what an extraordinarily uplifting experience it has been, and how she got her novel fully funded in just 12 days.

Despite this, Jessica describes herself as being very uncomfortable with the unknown. We talk about how relationships have been core to expanding her work, and allowing her to go in new directions. She also shares her frustration about the publishing world, and how she has refused to compromise on her core values to be more commercially successful. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/009-succeed-as-a-writer-tough-times-unbound-jessica-duchen

How would your life be different if you could get your creative work finished? Mike Monday, international DJ and producer, had a lousy job, no money and a computer full of unfinished tracks when he decided he'd had enough, and set out to make music his life. He now works with musicians and producers to get their music finished and out of the door, with a practical, powerful system to release their creativity and get things done. We talk about how to break through the distractions and inner critic that stop us completing work, and how to put in place the rock-solid habits that make sure you'll make progress, no matter where you are now. Find all the show notes and extra resources on focus and more at www.creativelifeshow.com. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/010-get-creative-work-finished-mike-monday

Top handbag designer Shona Easton shares the frustration and opportunities that came from going from freelance to setting up her own label of bags. As head designer for one of the biggest UK fashion chains, her bags sold thousands, but in 2002 she launched her first range under he own name.

Shona shares her experience of frustrating freelance work and being asked to create designs that didn’t resonate with her at all, but feeling obliged to take the work. We talk about her breakthrough that led to her to setting up her successful own label, and how that has fundamentally changed how she works.

At the heart of her success is how Shona combines her free-spirited approach with strong relationships. She shares how relationships have led to suppliers, customers, and how she works with her team members to make her business successful while allowing her to travel almost full-time.

We talk about how many of the issues that creatives have in combining their creativity with running a business, including why basing your business model on a large corporate is a struggle and how she balances creative work with day-to-day commercial demands.

If you’re employed or freelance, Shona has essential advice for you on how to work with buyers and managers, and how to stop frustration getting in the way of your own creative voice by speaking up. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/011-handbag-design-label-shona-easton

Nicola Peel is an environmentalist, film-maker and self-described solutionologist, based in the Amazon. She’s spent her career finding solutions to questions like: how do we get clean water when all the local water is untreatable? How do we deal with plastic rubbish, and how do we turn it onto a resource? Her projects have had an impact around the world.

What I love about Nicola’s work is how she starts at the grass-roots level, but always with a bigger vision. We talk about how it regularly brings her into conflict with collaborators who want to make quick local progress, and how she insists on prioritising long-term sustainability.

Nicola chooses to work by herself, but far from alone. She’s become a very active and powerful hub to bring together experts and local people, ideas and solutions from around the world. She shares how a chance trip to an unusually tidy village in Guatemala became the start of an eco-brick movement that’s now having an impact around the world - and how she’s moved on to an even more powerful project which turns plastic rubbish into a source of income for the poorest communities.

Nicola is deeply practical and resilient problem-solver, even when the problems seem never-ending. She shares her journey creating rainwater filtration systems, and how each stage just seemed to open up another layer of challenge.

We also talk about how to deal mentally with problems that could seem overwhelming, and where Nicola gets the inspiration and motivation that keeps her going.

This is an essential listen if you’ve got far bigger ideas than you’re currently able to make happen.

Get more information at http://creativelifeshow.com/012-how-have-huge-impact-working-alone-nicola-peel | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/012-how-have-huge-impact-working-alone-nicola-peel

If you'd like to solve your problems with more creativity, curiosity and fun, my conversation with writer, speaker and educationalist Richard Gerver is for you. Download your highlights guide at www.creativelifeshow.com.

When you were five, you were full of creativity, fun and ideas. You were curious about everything, you took risks and didn't worry about making mistakes or being 'wrong'.

And yet, as adults, we see curiosity too often as a luxury that we don't have time or energy for. So what goes wrong?

Author and speaker Richard Gerver found fame as the head teacher responsible for turning a long-term failing primary school into an internationally innovative, successful model of education. Richard's vision for how we can reconnect with our inner child is at the heart of his third book, Simple Thinking.

Richard and I talk about the power of creating the right environment around you, and how having the right people to challenge your thinking and complement your skills can make all the difference. He shares his experience of taking over a school and a team with years of failure behind them, and how he overcame the inner battles and practical challenges of turning things round.

Grab your crayons and your sense of fun, and let's go! | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/013-rediscover-inner-5-year-old-richard-gerver

How's your brain doing? Today I'm talking with Neil Pavitt about how we can make the most of our grey matter to make us more creative and less stressed.

Neil's new book Brainhack is a fast, fun user's guide to the brain, and I quiz him on how we can put his tips into practice in our creative lives. Get all the details at www.creativelifeshow.com.

Neil spent many years as a writer and creative director in creative agencies and companies including Saatchi & Saatchi and BSkyB. We talk about how he overcame the frustrations and self-doubt that could so easily creep in. Agencies often revolve around high-powered creative relationships, but what happens when those burn out?

We also talk about the conflict between stress and creativity - and yet how we need deadlines to get things done. You'll hear how you're not nearly as objective as you think you are, and why cognitive bias is ruining your decision making.

And if you're sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for someone else to arrive, you'll hear why you should stop checking emails and start gazing out of the window instead.

If you want to use your brain even more effectively to make you the most creative and productive you can be, start here. | Show notes: http://creativelifeshow.com/015-creative-brain-brainhack-neil-pavitt