Your Creative Midlife

While you're learning to be creative, I'm learning how to do a podcast. In this episode, I reflect on the fantastic first year of the show, podcasting as an older woman, what AI means for our creativity, the connection between creativity and brain health, and what I’ll be exploring on the show in 2026. 

What is a creative project you are either working on or afraid to start? Write on the contact form on my website -- https://www.yourcreativemidlife.com/

Remember – it’s never too late to follow your muse!

Your Creative Midlife was recently featured in Esquire! Click the link below:
https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/health/a70233480/creativity-longevity-hack/

Follow the show:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4tL6rcp 
Website: https://www.yourcreativemidlife.com/

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Few of us would dare attempt to become a filmmaker at 65, but that is exactly what Melissa Davey did when she retired from corporate life.  Her second documentary, "Climbing Into Life" profiles Dierdre Wolownick, the oldest woman to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan.  Wolownick was guided through the climbing process by her son, Alex Honnold, famous for his free solo climb up El Capitan.  Melissa recounts how she discovered Wolownick’s story, the process of producing and directing the film herself, and the challenges and successes of navigating the film festival circuit, where the movie has won multiple awards. She speaks about her growth as a filmmaker, her current projects, and offers advice and encouragement to other potential midlife creatives.

Topics Covered in the Podcast:  

• Her growing confidence as a filmmaker, as she produced and directed this film independently
• How she applied and was accepted into 19 film festivals.  She has won 10 awards, a surprising success in the competitive festival circuit.
• How her new creative life keeps her energized, motivated and happy
• Her advice to listeners interested in a midlife creative endeavor: just start and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Interviewee Background: 

Melissa Davey is a filmmaker who transitioned from the corporate world to a creative career later in life.  At age 65, after a day on the set with a famous Director, she decided to take a risk and left her career to jump into the unknown. Pursuing her dream of becoming a filmmaker became a reality in late 2018 when Melissa completed her first film, Beyond Sixty, a feature length documentary about women over the age of sixty. During 2019 Melissa’s film was accepted by and screened at 8 film festivals throughout the United States and Canada, winning awards and confirming that it is never too late to learn something new. 

Reousrces:

• Listen to Melissa Davey's first interview with Betsy on The Latest Version podcast: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-a-bend-in-the-road-97066344/episode/episode-33-melissa-davey-filmmaker-on-253692875/
• Watch the trailer for Climbing into Life on Melissa Davey's website: https://melissadavey.com/climbing-into-life/ 
• Follow Melissa Davey's work on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/climbing_into_life/  

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

We've been following the journey that my guest, Graham Broyd, has taken as a first time author from developing a personal story into a manuscript that was published by Forbes imprint Advantage Press. In August, I was honored to be asked by Graham to help him launch Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard on its publication. Here we are at the Scarsdale Golf Club talking to a packed house about his journey as an author and as the book subject, a 20-year-old student from England, hitchhiking across America.

Covered in the podcast:

• The Formative Power of Youth: Broyd repeatedly returned to the idea that his seven-week journey at age 20 was the crucible in which his adult character was forged
• The Value of "Unplugged" Experience: The interview highlighted a journey undertaken without the safety nets of modern technology, revealing a trend of looking back at such experiences as authentic builders of self-reliance and resourcefulness
• The Evolution of Business Publishing: The story of how Forbes, a business publisher, embraced his personal memoir suggested a trend in publishing where "life learning" narratives from business leaders are seen as valuable, moving beyond traditional how-to business guides

Interviewee Background:

Graham Broyd is a recently retired former CEO and banker. As a 20-year-old student from England, he won a scholarship to study at the Library of Congress. Instead of focusing solely on his studies, he embarked on a seven-week, largely unplanned hitchhiking trip across the United States. This journey formed the basis of his debut book, which has been published by Forbes imprint, Advantage Press.

This conversation was recorded by George Gerbacia at The Scarsdale Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, on August 14th. 

Resources:

• Read Graham's book here: https://advantagebooks.com/books/backpack-jacket-surfboard/ 

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

What does it take to be a stand-up comedian in midlife?  Jane Condon has been at it for several decades and gives us the inside scoop of what it really takes to get in front of audiences, develop material, and even recover when a routine bombs.  

Jane Condon shares insights into her comedic style, drawing from her life as a wife, mother, and resident of Greenwich, Connecticut, and her persona as an Upper Crust Rosanne (as described by Associated Press).  Key topics include the importance of persistence, (illustrated by her story of sleeping in her car for an audition), developing material, the necessity of "bombing" to improve, and how she has used humor to navigate difficult life events, including her sister's illness and even MC-ing funerals.  She offers encouragement and practical advice to others, especially women in midlife, who might want to try stand-up comedy.

Topics include:

• Why persistence is the critical element of success in comedy
• The lengths she has had to go to get an audition, such as sleeping overnight in her car on the streets of Manhattan, which she felt was a necessary step to be seen and heard.  
• She has embraced her age and says showing her flaws and vulnerabilities on stage is a way to connect with audiences. 
• The moving reason behind her comedy “mission.”
• Why “bombing” is an essential part of the comedic process: "if you don't bomb, you're not doing it right." 
• Practical advice for aspiring midlife comedians, including classes, support groups, and creating unusual local venues.  

 Interviewee Background
Jane Condon is a successful stand-up comedian who started her career at age 37.  A graduate of Wellesley College, Condon's comedy focuses on topics like marriage, kids, politics, and aging. Living in Greenwich, Connecticut, she has been dubbed an "upper crust Roseanne" by the Associated Press. She won the "Ladies of Laughter" contest and has appeared on "Last Comic Standing." She performs in a variety of venues, from comedy clubs to corporate events and assisted living centers.

Links:

•  Learn more about Jane Condon at www.janecondon.com
• Follow Jane Condon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcondon4/?hl=en 

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Graham Broyd was a popular guest when I interviewed him back in February, as his book, Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard was in the final editing stages.  Now his book has launched and is selling very well. 

Graham, a former banker, shares the surprising amount of work involved in selling a book after publication.  His personal promotion efforts include leveraging his network, hosting book launch events in the US and London, and appearing on podcasts. He also shares surprising industry statistics on book sales and how his publisher has utilized online platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and Net Galley to reach a wider audience.  

Graham’s efforts are paying off:  his book is on track to be in the top 10% of books sold this year, even before the holiday buying season.  Graham is already at work on his next book, "Faster Than You at 60", and he previews the incredible backstory of one of the sprinters he profiles.

Topics covered:

• Selling the book. How Graham leveraged his extensive personal and professional network to generate sales.
• The strategy to expand sales beyond “friends and family.”
• The shocking real statistics about the book industry. Through his marketing efforts, Graham’s book is on track to place in the top 10% of all books published in the US for 2025.
• The digital marketing strategy reaching readers outside his network.
• The psychic rewards of reviews from strangers who connected with the book's themes.

Interviewee Background:

Graham Broyd is a British-American former banker who has transitioned to being an author in his midlife. He is also a competitive track athlete, running short-distance races and competing for the US team in his age group, a passion that has inspired his next book, currently in the works

Resources:

• Read Graham's book here: https://advantagebooks.com/books/backpack-jacket-surfboard/ 

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

For the last Nantucket edition of the year, I’m sharing a personal story that kind of fits with the spooky season of Halloween.  It’s the story of my first visit to Nantucket, only five years ago during COVID, when the island was shut down.   During those months when the town was almost deserted, it was very easy to imagine Nantucket as the setting for ghost stories told at night on the beach around a campfire.

Nantucket exerts a pull for many of us that we can’t really explain.  Of course, it’s beautiful and charming in the summer, but some of us wonder if there isn’t something else going on.   Please enjoy my tale of Nantucket discovery.

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Enjoy this Replay with Astrologer and Tarot Reader Suzanne Keating!

Summer can offer us time to contemplate the future and imagine life changes. If you are on Nantucket, you might consider consulting Suzanne Keating. She's an astrologer with a longstanding practice on the island.  With interest in astrology and tarot growing, it's a great time to learn more about this ancient practice.  Our talk also covered the historical roots of astrology and its connection to modern psychology through figures like Carl Jung.  For Suzanne, astrology and tarot is not about fortune-telling, but a tool for validation, helping people find purpose and to understand if they are on the right path. Nothing is inevitable, she stresses.  It is up to her clients to use their free will to make decisions.

This episode covers:

• The importance of creating natal charts for a truly personal astrology reading
• How to make the most of an astrology reading, using the information given and your own free will to decide your next steps
• What really happens in a tarot card reading
• What the feared tarot cards "Death" and “Devil” REALLY symbolize
• Suzanne’s hypothesis as to why so many houses on Nantucket are believed to be haunted

Suzanne Keating is a professional astrologer with a longstanding practice on Nantucket. She began studying astrology in her early thirties, initially as a self-taught practitioner, before pursuing formal development through workshops with the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR) and conferences. She earned her certification from the International Society for Astrological Research after passing a rigorous six-hour exam.

Suzanne’s contact info:  https://www.pathwaysofthesoulack.com

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Is there a connection between the relaxed vibe of Nantucket Island School of Design and Art (NISDA) and its way of inspiring creativity in midlife?  This farm-turned-art workshop, with its silos and outbuildings on Wauwinet Road, feels like a true throwback to Nantucket in the ‘70’s, which is when it was founded.  Laura Herhold, NISDA’s program director, talks with host Betsy Bush about NISDA's mission to provide a low-tech, judgment-free environment for creative exploration, with a particular focus on welcoming adult learners who are returning to art.

Laura talks about the psychological barriers that older students often face when learning to create art and emphasized the health benefits of learning new creative skills.  She also details specific programs such as ceramics, painting, and the revival of an analog photography darkroom with a focus on environmentally friendly techniques. The conversation highlights the importance of artistic process over product and the social benefits of creating art in a community setting.

Covered in the Podcast:

• NISDA consciously creates a "judgment free zone" to encourage creativity, particularly for adult learners who are new or returning to art. 
• The school maintains a "low-tech" approach, focusing on creative process and basic materials rather than the latest expensive equipment. 
• A significant portion of students are women over 55 who, after raising families or concluding careers, wanted to reconnect with their creative side.  
• A key challenge for older learners is moving from being an "expert" in their field to being a vulnerable beginner in a studio.
• Getting involved in the creative process is healthy, especially for aging individuals, as it pushes them out of their comfort zones and forges new neural pathways.
• NISDA’s ceramics studio serves as a social hub and a "clubhouse," combating social isolation by providing a collaborative and supportive community space.  

Interviewee Background:
Laura Herhold is the program director at the Nantucket Island School of Design and Art (NISDA). She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design.  She has a long history with NISDA, having been involved in the 1980s and 1990s before pursuing other endeavors and then returning to the school full-time in 2021. She describes herself as both an artist and an administrator with a deep personal connection to the school and a passion for clay.  

Resources:

Nantucket Island School of Art and Design: https://www.nisda.org/ 

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Why is Nantucket such a powerful setting for novels about renewal and reinvention? The island seems to be a place where life can change in the course of a summer, especially for those in midlife facing an empty nest or a change in a relationship.  

As author Nancy Thayer explains, Nantucket is for many people a magical place that changed her own life and now provides a setting where her characters can reset and start over.  Thayer has turned that magic into an amazing 35 novels, most of them set on island, focusing on the lives of ordinary women who can find respite from life issues of raising kids, family relationships and marriages. She also shares her writing process and her embrace of social media to stay in touch with her many fans.

Over the more than 40 years of her writing career, she has broken ground on topics not addressed in the novels of the time, such as step-parenting. With the Hot Flash Club series, she addressed menopause long before it became a mainstream topic.

Covered in the podcast:

• Why she focuses on the lives of ordinary women across all generations, who have often been left out of literature
• How and why she incorporates changing social norms into her stories
• Her highly disciplined writing process that enables her to produce a new novel every year
• Her encouragement for aspiring writers in midlife,
• Her use of social media to connect with readers
• The enduring importance of physical books, how the act of reading is an intimate, personal experience essential for mental health.

About Nancy Thayer:

She is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including Summer Light on Nantucket, All the Days of Summer and Summer Love and many more.  Born in Kansas, Thayer has for forty years been a resident of Nantucket, where she currently lives with her husband Charley.

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!

Charley Walters proves that you don’t have to create art to be immersed in it.  Over the 50 years he has lived on Nantucket, Charley has become a guiding presence in the island’s evolving arts scene.

In this episode, he recounts his early career writing album reviews for Rolling Stone magazine and the Boston Phoenix while owning Nantucket’s only record store.  As the music industry shifted, he leveraged his expertise to start a new career in midlife, becoming a radio host for a jazz and blues show on WACK 97.7 FM and teaching occasional courses on music history. Charley is also deeply involved with the Dreamland theater, where he co-programs a popular year-round film series called "Film for Thought" that caters to an older demographic interested in documentaries, foreign films, and independent cinema.

Charley also reflects on the significant changes on Nantucket over the past 50 years and the evolution of its creative community, offering insights and advice for aspiring creatives drawn to the island.

In this episode:

• Career reinvention in midlife is achievable by staying connected to your core passions, even as the industries around them change.
• Targeted, curated cultural programming can be successful, especially when it serves a specific and often overlooked demographic, such as an older audience
• The demise of the gatekeepers that kept new artists at bay presents a dilemma: new technology makes it easy for creators to make and distribute content, but audiences feel overwhelmed by the avalanche
• While Nantucket offers unique resources and opportunities for creatives, there are significant economic barriers, primarily the cost of living

Links:

https://www.nantucketdreamland.org 

Please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.  And see more about Betsy Bush and her guests at www.yourcreativemidlife.com.  Are you on your own artistic or creative journey?  We want to know about you!  Please contact us through the website.  Dare to follow your muse!