Firefly Ignite

Illustrator and Typographer Andy Slater finally said goodbye to a number of unfulfilling marketing roles in order to say hello to his company, Reyt Good Illustration. His detailed drawings, typography, and cityscapes are becoming a trademark within his hometown of Sheffield, and hearing his artistic journey will inspire you to say yes to your creative dreams too.

Founder and director of Cupola Gallery, Karen Sherwood takes us behind-the-scenes of how this incredible art gallery came to be, along with the remarkable events that helped to establish it for what it is today.An artist herself and an avid lover of nature, Karen also describes her passion for art and says: “Art is not an extra. It is not a luxury. It is a core need.” And in this post-lockdown world, there are many who are recognising the truth in this.

MSNBC Anchor & Journalist Richard Lui talks about his new book Enough About Me - The Unexpected Power of Selflessness. He makes the point that we must learn to move past our mental need for perfection in helping others, and be confident that a small, selfless choice is far better than doing nothing at all.Richard draws on his vast wealth of experience with over three decades of living, working, and volunteering on every continent.

Kari Roslund is a fiber artist whose needle felting takes you into a breathtaking experience of nature. She describes the process of finding wool, dyeing it with natural substances, and working with the fibers to produce paintings that are incredibly emotive.She also walks us through her own journey of re-discovering the potential of wool and encourages others to never dismiss the small beginnings of craft.

Award-winning actor/writer/director Simon Trinder shares about the joys and trials of acting during a pandemic. He's raw about what really motivated him to go into acting and how his passions have changed over time. We discuss creativity, the impact of acting towards mental well-being, what it's like being part of The Lion King production, and much more!

Children’s author Clare Luther talks about how children need enabling and encouraging to become confident in emotional intelligence. She describes her book series The Little Paws Hotel, in which each book addresses a different emotional theme.She talks about her journey in becoming an author, what it’s like to run a dachshund hotel, her faith, and the importance of keeping the conversation going.

Artists and married couple Ashly & Samuel Burr discovered that working together on art has opened up new possibilities for them. They talk about how self-doubt and comparison nearly sabotaged their inner artists, and how they began to recognize that “when art became a side-hobby, they became more lifeless”. A deep look into some of the real struggles that artists face surrounding the worth and value of what they produce, and how working through those questions can result in a powerful exchange with the world around them.

Author Alena Pettitt shares about how her book Ladies Like Us was birthed out of a period of turmoil and finding faith. She discusses some hot topics like gender role, traditional values, and how media influences modern society. She also speaks about the last year of her life after her interview with the BBC went viral. This is one you don’t want to miss!

What happens when a dyslexic dry stone waller decides to carve a face into a stone? Sculptor Andrew Vickers walks us through his inward and outward journey of becoming an artist and recounts the bravery it took to invite the world to share in his creations.

New York Times bestselling author Stasi Eldredge discusses the question: How do you not let pain define you? Stasi speaks about her recent book Defiant Joy and shares from her own life and faith experiences on how to let go of control and embrace joy.

Award-winning children’s author & storyteller Kathleen Pelley talks about how Literature & Life are inextricably linked. She shares insight about the elements that make a truly good story and says that when we’re loving and creating, we’re at our happiest.

Poet and author Kurt Mahler talks about his recent book - The Jaguar Oracle. He shares with us the joys and disappointments of his writing career, and how stories play a living role in our lives.

Author and humanitarian Rachel Pieh Jones talks about what it really means to “Do Good” in the world, as well as her recent book - Stronger than Death: How Annalena Tonelli Defied Terror and Tuberculosis in the Horn of Africa. Her humour and insights on life are definitely worth a listen!

Lauren introduces Firefly Ignite and describes what this podcast is all about.