What happens when you lose your identity in a new country, face 65 consecutive rejections, and your creative voice gets buried under the weight of just surviving? Lara Pilcher, actress, author, and ICF-certified coach, shares her raw journey from Melbourne to America—and how creativity became her lifeline when everything else fell apart.

In this deeply vulnerable conversation, Lara reveals:

• Why creativity isn't just for artists—it's a life force everyone needs to survive
• How she rewrote her entire book after getting dropped by her literary agent
• The difference between grief and depression (and why most creatives are actually grieving)
• Why we shut down creativity during pain—and how to awaken it again
• The "mansion with many rooms" approach to finding your creative voice
• How rejection taught her resilience and audacity in a saturated world

This episode is for you if:

• You've lost touch with your creative self and don't know how to find it again
• You're processing grief, loss, or major life transitions
• You feel stuck in the "acquisitions track" and disconnected from who you really are
• You need permission to be a beginner again—to skip, dance, paint, or create badly
• You're afraid of judgment and need to "embrace the cringe"

Glenn and Phyllis explore how creativity connects directly to identity, emotional health, and relationship wellness. This isn't about becoming an artist—it's about reconnecting with the part of you that says "there I am."

About Lara Pilcher: Lara Pilcher is an actress, author, and ICF PCC-certified coach who has performed on London's West End and now helps creative souls reclaim their voice. Her debut book Audacious Artistry: Reclaim Your Creative Identity and Thrive in a Saturated World releases through a London publisher after a journey of resilience that included 65+ rejections and completely rewriting her manuscript.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Brené Brown's research on creativity as life force
• Dr. Echo Hill on grief vs. depression
• Will Palomo on creativity as "connecting the seemingly unconnected"
• Diane Collards' I Choose to Forgive

Resources:

• Get the Core Emotion Wheel: www.connectioncodes.co/podcast
• Book a Connection Codes Coach: https://connectioncodes.co/coaches
• Find Lara's book Audacious Artistry at Barnes & Noble, Waterstones (UK), Blackstone's (Australia), and all major booksellers
• Learn more: www.larabiancapilcher.com

Keywords: mental health, emotional wellness, creativity and identity, overcoming rejection, marriage communication, grief vs depression, emotional regulation, relationship coaching, creative identity crisis, finding yourself again, emotional health tools, leadership development, creative resilience