The Wilderness of Creativity

This is an episode for anyone feeling lost in their creativity, especially around this time of year - and is a reminder that you’re not alone!

In this last-minute-but-perfectly-timed episode, Lucy invites listeners into the wilderness to reflect on creativity, change and the unexpected guidance that seems to arrive just when we need it most.

Lucy explores how tiny energetic shifts in our living spaces can open the door to new opportunities, manifestation and the deep wisdom gathered from a year of guest conversations. Lucy also turns to the wider landscape of creativity, touching on the worrying decline in arts education and why creative expression matters more than ever. With the Year of the Fire Horse approaching, she looks ahead to 2026 with workshops, collaborations, merchandise, upcoming guests and the milestone of the 100th episode in sight!

Thank you for listening,

Stay wild

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Mentioned in this episode:

How to Manifest by Lacy Phillips: A groundbreaking, science-backed approach to manifesting the life of your dreams.

Why not listen to Episode 58 with Feng Shui Lorraine (Lorraine Lewis) and the bonus episode 'How your home could shape your life' to discover some of the feng shui secrets that could supercharge your creativity. Check out her consultancy work and website here!

We hope you'll be joining us for the [Lost] and Found workshop with Menstrual Cycle Coach, Amy Blakeman on the 15th January 2026. Listen to Episode 29 today and check out her socials here to find out how and why working with your own cycle can honour your unique creative cycle too.

Check out the fabulous Laura Byrne - founder of mum_rain_or_shine - who designs beautiful bespoke pregnancy pins, parent and family gifts and greetings. For bump and beyond - Sustainable products, from print to post+ MRS Design and Print Services. You can find her website here.

What happens when your creativity starts to feel heavy, exhausting or even impossible?

In this bonus episode with this week's guest, Jenny Leigh Hodgins, we talk about reconnecting with creativity in a ways that feels less pressured, and how creative expression can become a powerful anchor during major life transitions. We also talk about learning how to accept praise, celebrate your work, and the messy and imperfect nature of the creative process.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Jenny Leigh Hodgins is a creative empowerment coach, author, poet, composer, pianist, and lifelong educator with over 30 years of experience performing, teaching, and composing music. As a live-in caregiver for her senior mother, she navigates the challenges of caregiving while sustaining her own creative energy. Jenny helps people overcome burnout, set healthy boundaries, rebuild trust in their creative process, and regain energy for sustainable creative flow. Through her books, courses, and podcast Your Creative Chord, she empowers individuals to express themselves authentically, explore creativity intentionally, and live inspired lives.

Jenny Leigh's Facebook page

Your Creative Chord Website

Your Creative Chord You Tube

Books: https://www.YourCreativeChord.com/books

Podcast:https://www.YourCreativeChord.com/podcast

What if your greatest creative breakthrough isn’t about mastering technique, but learning to quiet the voice that says you’re not enough?

In this conversation, Jenny Leigh Hodgins discusses the essence of creativity, emphasising that true creativity transcends skill and technique. She advocates for silencing the inner critic to connect with one's authentic voice and intent, fostering a more genuine creative expression.

Thank you for listening,

Stay wild x

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Website

You Tube

Books: https://www.YourCreativeChord.com/books

Podcast:https://www.YourCreativeChord.com/podcast

What does it mean to belong when life keeps uprooting you?

In part 2 of this week's episode, Bex opens up about how her business has been shaped by displacement and re-rooted through creativity. Through poetry, storytelling and values-driven action, we explore how identity is not just inherited but 'designed' over time. This is an invitation to reclaim your voice and discover what belonging really means for you.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Can send you this separately

@homeshapedstyle on Instagram

Bex 's Website

Home is a human right. Last year over five million people turned to Shelter for advice. New research shows at least 354,000 people in England, including 161,500 children, will spend Christmas without a home (stats from Dec 2024).

In this conversation, Bex shares her personal journey, reflecting on how her experiences of moving homes and becoming a mother have shaped her identity and career in advertising. She discusses the emotional connection to home and the challenges she faced as a single mother working in a demanding industry.

Part 2 of our conversation drops on Thursday however you can WATCH the full episode on You Tube - subscribe and be sure to leave us a review!

If you, or someone you know, has been affected by homelessness then call the Shelter free helpline 0808 800444.

Thank you for listening,

Stay wild x

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

What if the real power of creativity simply lies in showing up?

In this episode, host Lucy Colgan continues her conversation with Sarah McDowell about where it all began, inviting listeners behind the scenes of her own creative journey, and reflects on what it really means to take the road less travelled. Drawing from the experience of launching the podcast just over 18 months ago, Lucy shares the laughter, vulnerability and unexpected insights that come from just starting, long before feeling like an 'expert'.

Lucy also looks ahead offering a glimpse into her evolving vision for the podcast and growing platform designed to hold space for creative exploration, bold beginnings and honest conversations about the surviving the wild.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Sarah McDowell is a podcast producer, digital marketing consultant & SEO Specialist. She is also an international speaker, moderator, coach and co-author.

What if the true strength of owning a small business lies not in scaling fast, but in leading with heart, sensitivity and genuine human connection?

In this inspiring episode, we explore the essence of conscious entrepreneurship and the power of embracing sensitivity as a vital component of creative leadership. Discover how building authentic communities and fostering human connections can revolutionise the way you approach your business, transforming collaborations and workshops into deeply meaningful experiences. We also delve into the importance of cultivating a 'Human to Human' mindset grounded in compassion and creativity, and how doing so can help you create a lasting, purpose-driven business legacy.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Clare is driven by curiosity and a deep desire to support good business. She is passionate about consciously building lives that align with our authentic selves, our world, and our values. Her work focuses on bringing people together and exploring what lies beneath the surface—within ourselves, our decisions, and our dreams.

Conscious Entrepreneurs - CMR Focus + Growth

When life uproots you, what if it’s not the end, but the beginning of a slower kind of 'becoming'?

Rosie’s story is one of creation in the midst of chaos. In this episode, she shares the birth story of The Triplet Tree, where Rosie combines three strands of her work - dance, massage and volunteering as forms of connection and healing. We explore how global disruption sparked not just adaptation, but transformation: a move to Bavaria, the building of a survival cabin, and the deep questioning of identity and labels, especially around motherhood. We discuss how stories, both the ones we tell ourselves and those we inherit, shape who we become and how learning to honour growth means letting those narratives evolve.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Raised in Northamptonshire beside the wild edges of Delapré Abbey Forest, Rosie’s early years were shaped by nature, adventure, and the unique energy of growing up as a triplet with an older sister.

@Thetriplettree on Instagram

Rosie 's Website

Can you see the invisible line that shapes your creative journey so far?

Through the gentle guidance of nature, Elizabeth has discovered the invisible line that connects us all between the joy and sorrow, self-expression and self-care. She encourages us to understand how artistic practice becomes a form of inner resilience, revealing moments of beauty and meaning even in the depths of grief. This soulful conversation offers a reminder: creativity isn’t just an outlet, it’s a lifeline.

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

Sign up for the Lost and Found creative workshop HERE

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

After earning her BA (Hons) in Visual Communication from the prestigious Edinburgh College of Art and moving from the UK to Switzerland, Elizabeth has followed a unique creative flow that blends over 25 years of graphic design expertise with two decades of self-development and spiritual growth. This journey has led her to create Seeing The Invisible Line — a visually immersive, self-transformational experience designed to help others see beyond the surface and connect more deeply with themselves.

@elizabeth_hitchman on Instagram

Elizabeth's Website

What if the most powerful learning comes from embracing the 'side quest'?

In this episode, we explore the heart of play-based learning and the power of continuous provision, not just as a classroom strategy, but as a long-term investment in children’s development, wellbeing, and future readiness.

• How does continuous provision create space for autonomy, creativity, and deep-level thinking?
• How can we measure the impact of play meaningfully, without losing its magic?
• What are the benefits of child-led play when building the core skills children need to thrive in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world: problem-solving, resilience, emotional literacy, and confidence?
• How can educators reimagine learning frameworks not just for reform, but to truly future-proof our children’s wellbeing, creativity and growth?

I’d love to hear from you! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube - be sure to subscribe here so you never miss an episode - and check out our FREE Substack newsletter!

Enjoying the show? You can rate and review the podcast here - your feedback helps more listeners discover the show, builds our community, and keeps the episodes coming!

Sign up for the Lost and Found creative workshop HERE

About the Host:

Lucy Colgan is a seasoned creative leader, educator and podcast host with nearly two decades of experience in the arts and education. She holds a PGCE in Drama & Performing Arts and a Professional Diploma in Dance from Trinity Laban, and has worked as a freelance artist, project manager, and director across the creative sector.

She launched The Wilderness of Creativity in 2024 and invites listeners to explore what it really means to 'take the road less travelled', combining vulnerability, practical insight and inspirational storytelling.

Want to learn more about today’s guest? Check out their full bio and links below!

Emma is an EYFS specialist consultant, former headteacher and the founder of the COOL curriculum, a continuous provision framework changing the pedagogy in KS1 classrooms. She is passionate about creating classrooms where autonomy, creativity and joy are centred and works with schools and trusts on bespoke curriculum projects and EYFS leadership support.

Emma's Website

@Emma_lewry_early_education on Instagram