Creative Bones

Dr Hala El Khoury is a distinguished neuroscientist and counsellor dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their fullest potential through enhanced brain health and resilience.  With a Bachelor of medical science, neuroscience and immunobiology from the University of Sydney, Dr. Hala specializes in brain rewiring, neuroprotection, neuroplasticity, and holistic wellbeing.  She recently added to her degree by gaining a doctorate of philosophy - a PhD in Neuroscience looking at the relationship between red light therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. Hala and her chiropractor husband Justin are a powerhouse duo, complementing each other in every project or business they take on. I met them both when I walked into their clinic in Canberra in 2022, and they've become great friends who remind me to keep tabs on my wellness, mindset, and alignment in all areas of my life.  As with most of the people who were ever meant to have come into my life, Hala is now a bouncy haired ray of sunshine staple in my life, and selfishly, because of her knowledge of the brain, a major target on my podcast hit list.  She's the 13th person that I've spoken with, and I've deliberately left her until last so I can ask her all the questions that have come up throughout this season. Everyone I've spoken with so far has had such interesting individual takes on creativity.  Their lived experiences and their different professions have given us such a well rounded view of what it means to be creative to different people. But today we're going to dive right into the grey matter. Into the neurones. Into the settings that were programmed by your ancestors before you were even born. And learn more about our brain's capacity to rewire to be more or less creative. About how creativity helps us meet our hierarchy of needs, and survive. Join me as we get into the cells of creativity with Hala. ------ Connect: www.oathandstone.com.au www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns

Emma Bickley, better know online as @photobeforeweeat, is a Canberra based food creative who loves telling the stories behind each bite. Whether it's taking photos, curating social media content or chatting on the airwaves, she's got a voracious appetite (lol) for new food experiences. You'll find her swooning over beautiful produce at the markets, developing recipes in the kitchen, sipping gin or slurping noodles while trying to chat at the same time. And if you've ever been at her table, you'll know she always remember to take a Photo Before We Eat. Emma interviewed me 7 years ago, when the business was a twinkle in my eye. One of my measures for if I know I'm going to be fast friends with someone, is if they smile while they talk. It sounds strange because you think it's something that's easy to do, but if you take notice, you'll realise that it's not that common. Within minutes of being with Emma, I was hooked by her huge smile from ear to ear and her genuine warmth. Her energy and positivity is infectious, and I can't even explain how much I've learnt from her. She's the friend that always makes sure your belly and soul are full on her watch.  Before Emma was leading her current creative life, she went to law school, and I was curious to see how someone could go in one door to consumer law, in  an industry that isn't considered typically creative - check out episode 2 of the podcast with Louise Morris if you haven't already - and then come out through the door that leads to edible flowers, and yuzu, and Bahn mi, and plant based chestnut burgers, or how to achieve the perfect chicken soup.  I started off by asking Emma what she'd do with her time on day two of winning $100m dollars. I'm excited for you to hear how her life experiences have shaped her creativity, and how the food experience has the ability to connect all of us no matter our language, background, budget, and dietary preferences. Connect www.instagram.com.au/oathandstone www.instagram.com/photobeforeweeat www.emmabickley.com

Have you ever heard, “If you want a problem solved, you just need to give it to two woman on an afternoon fitness walk”? That's definitely been the story for Katie Puttock and I on more than one occasion over the 12 years that I've known her. I first met her when I was introduced to my now-husband's friendship group at the pub. I'd been given the heads up that as the girl best friend, she was the one I needed the nod from. Needless to say I bought a new dress and treated it the same as meeting Lach's parents. Since then, Katie and I have grown old together. But who am I kidding. We were swapping recipes and spot remover hacks in our early 30s, and as we inch towards the big 4-0, there's nothing I love more than comparing notes on the latest slug or bug to make its way into our neighbouring gardens, or hearing about the latest travel deal she's found and how easy it was to put into the family budget spreadsheet. She's made me a better Mum, a better communicator, and a better person.  Green thumb aside, Katie is an experienced communicator who's worked on social policy issues at the Federal level. Prior to joining First Nations founded and led media and events agency 33 Creative, Katie held senior management and media adviser roles with Federal Government Ministers in Indigenous Affairs. She's an experienced campaign manager and delivers copywriting, strategy, editing, behaviour change and digital engagement expertise. More recently she's completed a graduate certificate at UNSW's Centre for Social Impact. I was particularly interested to talk to Katie about the role of strategy in creativity, and if it helped enhance the solution or stifle it. I also wanted to ask about her experience in First Nations media and comms, and the behind the scenes work that she and colleagues put in to make sure the message was getting to the right people in the right way.  There's no doubt that day one of winning $100M in the lotto would involve a toast of Echuca white chocolate liquor at either of our houses, but I started off by asking her what she'd do with her time on day two. Please enjoy my chat with Katie Puttock. --- Connect with us: www.oathandstone.com.au www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone

If you met Jemima on the street, or sat next to her on a plane, your first thought wouldn't be “small town girl”. You'd be surprised to learn that she was the daughter of the local cop, and she grew up in a community of 100 people in regional Victoria. I first met Jemimah in one of those friend of a friend of a business colleague type of situations, and we got to know each other as I was moonlighting in my lunch breaks before going full time in my business. Our emails started out with “kind regards” but now we just send memes of animals, or average people competing in the olympics.  After a thirteen year career in law enforcement, Jemimah left the Australian Federal Police and has since gone on to start multiple businesses, release a best-selling book, win multiple awards, and be named one of Australia's top 10 entrepreneurs. She heads up The Visibility Lab, which helps small business owners grow and scale with practical, helpful advice and helps them get noticed for their talents.  As the one who always sits facing the coffee shop door, and is my valiant protector from cappuccino poisonings, I wanted to ask Jemimah how creativity can even exist in law enforcement. She told me how she used her problem solving methods of over / under / through, and how it helped her see angles in her work that others couldn't. She also had a different take on creativity that we haven't had on the podcast yet - that we're born curious rather than creative - and you'll definitely see that as a pattern in her own life as she stays open to opportunities that could be magic, especially since she didn't come from a particularly creative household, and challenged her path from one that could have been a little more agricultural than her current indoor plant collection.  As with all my guests, I started by asking Jemimah what she'd do with her time on day two of winning $100 million dollars. This episode is full of siding door and aha moments, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it will make you think about your own path too. Please enjoy my chat with Jemimah.  Connect with us: ------------------------ www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram/com/oathandstonedesigns www.jemimahashleigh.com www.instagram.com/jemimahashleigh

Meet Deanna Ezzy, the brains behind Canberra broking firm, More Than Mortgages. She's been named the top female broker in the ACT for an impressive six consecutive years but also on the national scene with a Top 100 ranking for eight straight years. De's been helping her clients get the keys to their dream homes without selling a kidney for over 14 years. I've seen her eyes light up when she finds a way to make home ownership more accessible, or save someone thousands of dollars on their mortgage so they can take a trip and make memories.  I first met De at the gym when I was a personal trainer. She was driven and loved a good challenge, which is still true to this day as she hikes the Himalayas and helps educate young girls in Nepal. She loves salsa dancing, golf, and belting out a ballad at karaoke, and from the moment I heard that she once gave her nail lady extra money to send to her family, I've seen De's generous spirit shine in everything she does. She's also a great friend of our studio, and we love working with someone who will let us put Beyonce lyrics on her front windows.  In this episode we chat about how her recent long service leave helped her reset on life and work prioroties. She told me about the way she's continually evolving processes in the business, and how she embraces failure. Better yet, how it allows her to be authentically herself.  ----- Connect with us: www.instagram.com/trishjohnnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns www.morethanmortgages.com.au www.facebook.com/morethanmortgagesaustralia

Dr John Bartholomew is a Senior Lecturer in Quantum Science and Director of the Quantum Integration Laboratory at the University of Sydney. His team is engineering next generation technology for computing, communication and metrology using single atoms that absorb and emit light. Prior to joining the School of Physics at USYD he held research positions at Caltech, Chimie Paristech and the Australian National University where he did his PhD. John helped establish the Sydney Quantum Academy, and is currently the Deputy Director of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems. The first time I met John, well actually… saw John, I was peaking around the church hall door, where myself and the other girls had heard that the two new ministers had moved into town with their three sons. I'd go on to call John a great friend through high school, uni and beyond, where I saw him succeed at literally everything he put his mind to. Whether he was the captain of the school or the hockey team, singing, playing music, working towards his PhD, or being a reliable and kind friend who was always the calmest person in the room. John and I spoke about how a flexible concept like creativity helps him in his work with precise measurements and absolutes, as well as the role of flexibility in designing scientific experiments. I feel particularly spoilt to say I spent the morning shooting the breeze about atoms and lasers and quantum mechanics with my good friend Johnny B. As with all my guests, I started by asking him what he'd do with his days after winning $100M. Please enjoy my chat with John.  ----- Connect with us: oathandstone.com.au instagram.com/trishjohnstone instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns

Dr Maria Zuschmann (affectionately known as Dr M), is an Integrative Chiropractor, Speaker, Podcaster, Author, and Stress Adaptation and Alignment Coach, and is based in Alexandria in Sydney. She's been a part of the Health and Wellness industry for over 27 years. Outside of her hands on work in her Chiropractic practice, she is a sought after speaker and has facilitated 100s workshops over the last 19 years focusing on Stress Adaptation, Personal talents and Strengths and Peak Performance at work, home and play.  I first heard Dr M speak at a corporate lunch event, where after some dismal news about the state of the market and the effect of the war in Ukraine on stock prices, she spoke on her experience with stress and how we can manage it through our mindset and breath.  I connected with her message because of my own experience with Chiropractic, but I wanted to sit down with her for an insight into the brain/body connection and hear how stress and misalignment can effect our ability to think creatively. We spoke about the benefits of having an awareness of which brain wave state you're in, the effect of rest and how going with the flow allows ideas to drop in. I was really excited to extend our broader conversation about creativity into something a little more neurological, and I really hope you enjoy my chat with Dr M.  ---- Connect with us: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns www.oathandstone.com.au www.instagram.com/drmariaz www.mitchellrdchiropractic.com.au www.alignedu.com.au

When Erika Simons went to Germany in 2012 to sing with the Cologne Opera, she had no idea that one year would turn into ten. She's a lyric-coloratura soprano, which means she has a very agile light voice with a high upper extension, typically distinguished by agile runs, leaps and trills. She's played roles like Gilda from Verdi's Rigoletto, Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, and Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro. And like the words she sang for Qantas back in the 90s, she's still calling Australia home, recently returning with her two best German souvenirs, her husband Ziggy and little boy Lawrence.  Erika and I were art and music buddies throughout high school. Learning the recorder, analysing musical genres, learning oil painting, and getting up early to for choir practise. She was turning heads back then, and she's still doing it now, attracting reviews like this one by Jenny Camilleri from Bachtrack: On stage, Erika Simons is the emotional fulcrum of the experience. She moves with feline grace and sings with unbroken intensity. In this chat she shares stories of how creativity has helped her in times of adrenaline and changed plans, the vulnerability of being on stage and managing feedback, and how she's seen creativity and innovation in the arts applied in different countries.  Your ears are going to love this one, and you might learn a few new things about Opera like I did. Please enjoy my chat with Erika Simons.  ---- Connect with us: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns www.oathandstone.com.au www.instagram.com/theerikathatsings www.erikasimons.com

McComas Taylor is a professor of Sanskrit at the Australian National University. As a life-long learner of languages, he's had previous careers in publishing, Chinese and Tibetan studies, and Ornithology (the studying of birds). He's the author of many books ranging from a dictionary of ridiculous words, to a guide to birds of the Australian Capital Territory, to serious Indological academic texts. I first met McComas when he answered the front door. His son and my high school friend Patrick, had invited our group of friends over for a spaghetti dinner. I was 16 at the time, and little did I know that McComas wasn't a regular Dad… he was a cool Dad.  McComas was one of the first names that came to mind when I was putting a guest list together. After years of hearing him speak passionately on everything from veggie gardens to Sanskrit literature, I knew he'd have something to say about creativity. He shared how he makes learning an ancient and complex language engaging and memorable, and he also challenged my belief that I wasn't good at languages. I couldn't stop smiling the whole way through this interview, and I really hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  ------ Connect with us: -- www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns -- www.oathandstone.com.au

Bree Element's brain is always switched to ‘IDEAS ON'. She sees stories and creative opportunity everywhere: from the trolleys in the carpark at Woolworths to a random piece of McDonalds rubbish on the shores of Queanbeyan River.  Plus you can't miss her. She's usually wearing a tutu, hight top sneakers, and a hair do that's higher and closer to God than anyone in the Queanbeyan Palarang regional area. I've known Bree for about 6 years now, and I knew from the first time we met that we were on track to becoming fast friends. She's hit me in the gut a couple of times, questioning why I'm not confident to make a leap, and reminding me of my greatness. But she's made me a better person because of it, leaving me to channel her unicorn glitter backpack, playboy mansion photoshoot, suburban Mum, Toyota Kluger driving energy.  Bree's creativity has underpinned her 30-year career as an acclaimed writer and marketer, and in 2024 she's ditching work for new project: a year that will see her live her life from a place of deep creativity. We talk about the role that her family played in celebrating her creativity as a child, the pressure to be creative, and where she gets her inspiration from.  Heads up, about half way through, Bree mentions a friend who was the victim of child abuse. It's a beautiful explanation of how she was inspired to tell that story with authenticity and sensitivity, but if it's a tricky topic for you, skip through minutes 44:15-48:00. ----- Connect with us www.instagram.com.au/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com.au/oathandstone.com.au www.instagram.com.au/bree_element -- www.oathandstone.com.au

Meet Manny Galaktidis, he's the creative director of Even Dots, a graphic design studio in Canberra helping SME's, Government and Not for Profits.  He's a fellow University of Canberra Graduate, with a career that spans 23 years… way back when paper plates and bromides were still a thing. While I want to have conversations with experts outside of our creative industry, I wanted to chat to a graphic designer early on this series to get their take on what it's like to have to be creative every day. Manny and I spoke about how his creative brain works, and how he and his team collaborate with their self-proclaimed non creative clients. ------ Connect with us: -- www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns www.instagram.com/evendotscreative -- www.oathandstone.com.au www.evendots.com.au

Meet Louise Morris. She's a rare third-Generation bird, born of both law and property, and you'll soon understand why she's been awarded in both these areas of practise. She's an experienced, trusted lawyer and business owner as principal and director of Morris Legal Group, but she's also an advisor, a community advocate, and the only Canberra-based property and construction lawyer who also has hands-on experience developing large scale mixed-use, commercial and residential developments.  More casually, I've known Louise since we were buying carob buds at the Girls' Grammar tuck shop. She's an original client of our studio, one of my fiercest champions in business, and we've found such a mutually enjoyable friendship as our professional lives have blossomed and intertwined over the last 20 years.  You'll hear us talk about Louise's push for change in the legal industry, embracing digital transformation and challenging traditional practices such as billable hours, time recording, and unlimited leave. She shares her thoughts on the importance of creativity within the practise and interpretation of the law, and her experience in sharing and building knowledge with her peers.  When she's not doing deals, Louise is active in promoting Canberra on the national stage, as well as supporting community, the arts and sport through Lifeline Canberra, Salon Canberra and by sponsoring ACT-based professional athletes to compete internationally.  If we didn't love her enough already, Louise is an avid handknitter and sewist, and wait for it, a registered amateur kickboxing referee. She's also restoring a mid-century modern home in the world's longest and most dramatic renovation of all time.  Please enjoy my chat with Louise Morris. --------- Connect with us: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone www.instagram.com/oathandstonedesigns www.instagram.com/louisemorris.cbr --- www.oathandstone.com.au www.morrislegalgroup.com.au

Welcome to Creative Bones, a podcast exploring what it means to be creative. I'm your host Trish Johnstone; a seasoned graphic designer of over 20 years, and the Creative Director of my studio, Oath + Stone.  Since we'll be spending a bit more time with each other, I wanted to tell you a bit more about why I decided to start this podcast, and what you can expect as I hope you become an obsessed listener of Creative Bones.  Look out for our first episode, launching in February. Follow us on Instagram Read more about our studio, Oath + Stone

Welcome to Creative Bones, a podcast exploring what it means to be creative. I'm your host Trish Johnstone; a seasoned graphic designer of over 20 years, and the creative director of my studio, Oath + Stone.  I'm on a mission to understand creativity more. Are we born with it? Is it our environment? Or is it something that we can learn to be? I want to understand this crucial component of my craft better, and how it impacts our ability to problem solve and make decisions. At the end of my life I want to know I've left my best creative ideas behind.  So whether you've got a creative bone in your body, or none at all, join me as I have conversations with experts, mentors, colleagues and friends across a number of fields, asking them about their version of creativity.  *Launching February 2024*