Following the Creative Spirit Podcast

Today's guest episode is with artist and printmaker, Molly Rooke. Molly talks about some of the themes in her work, particularly around the coastline and preservation and how she uses darning and small acts of repair to comment on the climate crsis. We chat about her influences, inspiration and her creative practice, and Molly shares some advice from her experience working as an artist for others who want to persue fine art as a career.    Molly's website: https://www.molly-rooke.com Molly instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyrooke/ and https://www.instagram.com/darngoodstudio/?hl=en    Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/molly   Follow www.instagram.co.uk/me.and.spirit

Today's guest, Portia Yip is a multi-passionate creative. She's a business coach, copywriter, creative mentor and artist. Portia works with other creatives to empower them in building their, version of what a sustainable business ecosystem looks like. Her work draws a lot of inspiration from nature which feels really lovely and nurturing and in our conversation, we chat about how to embrace the different seasons in our business and how to find focus as a multi-passionate creative with lots of different interests and passions.  Seasonal Guidance Collection: https://www.portiayip.com/seasonal-guidance-collection/ Creative Compass Community: https://community.portiayip.com/ Website: https://www.portiayip.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portia_yip/

As a creative, at some point you've probably had a project you need to work on, maybe you've got a deadline coming up, or you haven't created anything in a while and want to make something but you sit down at your desk to a blank piece of paper, or a blank canvas, or an empty word document and you literally have no ideas and no inspiration. It can be really frustrating and annoying and stressful because you've no idea how to get started. In this episode, I'm sharing 4 simple ways to help get you unstuck when you come up against creative block. @me.and.spirit

This week's interview is with Flora Davidson, who is a marketing coach for introverts. She helps introverted entrepreneurs get visible using Instagram with strategies that don't sacrifice their personality. Today's conversation was so interesting because I'm an introvert myself. We chatted about how there are actually different types of introverts and depending on what your personality type is, you might struggle with some slightly different things. And so bringing self awareness and self acceptance to that is super important to getting the best strategy and showing up in the way that's best for you. We discuss some of the mindset issues that introverts come up with, and then Flora shares some really useful tips and advice to help you with your marketing strategy as well.  Flora's website: https://introvertvisibility.com/ Introvert type quiz: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/60ce7fff7c08840017eb4853  Flora's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/introvert_visibility/  Follow me on Instagram: www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit Tag your posts #followingthecreativespirit 

In this episode we're going to be chatting about some of the reasons why having brand strategy for your business is so beneficial. Strategy is one of my favourite things because it's what sets your brand and your business up for success. But it has become a bit of a buzzword these days - it seems like everyone is offering brand strategy but a lot of people talk about it as this big, scary complicated thing. But it's not as complicated as it sounds and there are so many amazing benefits to building your brand with strategy.

This is the second conversation with Jackee Holder. Jackee is a London-based executive coach and writer who is really passionate about creativity and journaling and nature and the benefits of practices that include these. In our episode last week we talked a lot about the connection between creativity and nature but we didn't have enough time to chat about how creativity can have a pretty huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing. And I'm so glad we got the chance to do this follow-up episode because we cover so much stuff. You don't particularly need to listen to the episodes in order as we recorded them as 2 separate conversations but if you find the topics in this episode interesting, then you'll definitely want to go back and catch up with last week's episode.  Today, we're talking about the reasons why being creative is so good for us, last week we chatted a lot about how amazing journaling is and here we dive a little deeper into the reasons why it's such a powerful tool for self-care. And other ways a daily creative practice can help support and nourish us in the rest of our lives. Jackee's Website Green Prescription Writing Maps and Journaling Cards Follow Jackee on Instagram Me & Spirit: www.meandspirit.co.uk @me.and.spirit

I am so excited to start the new season with this interview with Jackee Holder. Jackee is a London-based executive coach and writer. In this episode we're talking about how important nature is to creativity - we're discussing how journaling can form part of your creative practice. Jackee shares some properly incredible nature-inspired journaling prompts. We touch on why it's important to embrace the process and the messy aspect of creativity and how, at its core, creativity is just self-expression, so everyone can be creative.   Jackee's website: www.jackeeholder.com Jackee's instagram: www.instagram.com/jackeeholderinspires Me and Spirit Design Studio: www.meandspirit.co.uk Me and Spirit Instagram: www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit

There's a new season coming in February! I've got a selection of creative conversations with coaches, artists and multi-passionate creatives lined up. We cover topics such as the link between creativity and wellbeing and how having a nourishing creative practice can have a positive impact on your mental health. We talk about some of the struggles around being a multi-passionate creative and how to embrace the different seasons in your business or creative practice. We got tips on how to market your creative business if you're an introvert and really interesting conversations with artists about their work and their practice. So there's lots of really good stuff to look forward to. I'll also be sharing some solo episodes with tips and actionable advice on how to build a creative brand or brand your creative business. So there's lots of practical advice that you can implement pretty quickly and see some quick wins. So if you are a creative business owner, or you're wanting to start a creative business, or you want to learn more about creativity and start to cultivate a meaningful creative practice you're in the right place. This podcast is really a place to celebrate creativity and follow your curiosity and your passions, to share inspiring stories with plenty of encouragement and practical advice on running a successful creative business. Say hi on Instagram: @me.and.spirit  Website: www.meandspirit.co.uk

There aren't many creatives I know who don't struggle with creative anxiety - unfortunately it's just part of the creative process. But developing a consistent creative process can help you learn to trust the process and manage that anxiety. In this episode, I'm sharing a few techniques and exercises that I've found useful in helping to manage and overcome creative anxiety. Follow along on Instagram: www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit Website: www.meandspirit.co.uk

In this episode, I'm going to be chatting about how to know if your business is ready for a rebrand. There are five signs that your business might want to consider a rebrand, and there's also a couple of reasons why people often want to rebrand your business that are definitely not good enough reasons to do a whole rebrand, so we'll chat about this as well. Instagram: www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit Website: www.meandspirit.co.uk  Links mentioned: How to by Michael Bierut

This week on the podcast I am chatting with writer, photographer and storyteller, Laura Pashby. Laura is a lifelong lover of stories and she captures moments and shares stories that reveal the beauty of everyday moments. She has a new book called Little Stories of Your Life that will be published in October, and it's currently available for pre-order. In this episode we talk about why humans find stories so interesting and how we can embrace the power of storytelling to share our own truth and to help our own creativity. Laura shares some wonderful tips about finding your own voice, and we chat about some of the themes that appear in her new book, particularly around storytelling and mindfulness, and how combining those with photography can really benefit our well being. She also shares some of her behind-the-scenes experience of writing the book as well so there's lots of really interesting stuff in this episode.    www.laurapashby.com www.instagram.com/circleofpines www.twitter.com/circleofpines   Book Preorder: http://smarturl.it/littlestories Small Stories (monthly email letter) Signup: https://www.laurapashby.com/letters

On this episode I'm talking with Kayte Ferris of Simple and Season. I absolutely adore Kayte's attitude to business and marketing. She takes a really slow and purposeful approach to business that really focuses on being authentic and soulful and having integrity. She encourages us to lean into doing more of what we feel is right for us as business owners, rather than being completely overwhelmed with all the things that we feel like we should be doing. We talk about how important it is to learn to trust yourself and your intuition as a business owner in order to have a business that feels really authentic. We chat about how to avoid overthinking, and overcoming perfectionism and Kayte share some of her tips about staying flexible and leaving room to grow and shift priorities in your business. Kayte shares a lot of really wonderful advice so I really hope you enjoy listening to our chat. Kayte's website: http://www.simpleandseason.com/ Kayte's instagram @simpleandseason Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/podcast 

I love chatting with creatives about the path that led them to their creative practice but I don't often talk about my own background on the podcast so I thought I'd share a little of my own story today - along with a few tips and some advice on finding your own path. I'd love to hear about your creative journey - DM me on Instagram www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit and let's chat!

Anna Dunleavy is a Self Belief Business Coach, working with creative women to bring their ideas and dreams to life. Anna's evidence-based coaching helps women understand their self-doubt stories and why they might keep them stuck. In this episode, we're talking about some of the self-limiting beliefs that creative business owners and women come up against and Anna shares some helpful advice on dealing with them.  Anna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anna_dunleavy/ Anna's Website: https://www.annadunleavy.com

Today I'm talking about common myths that creative business owners tend to believe about branding. These are common misconceptions that can really hold people back in their business, especially if you're just getting started so I wanted to clear up some of the things that tend to get people stuck. Follow me www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit Get your free guide to choose your brand values: https://meandspirit.co.uk/brand-values-workbook/

On this episode, I'm chatting about all things self-care with Madeleine Onstwedder. Madeline is a life coach who helps purpose-driven people make time and space for themselves. She believes in showing up for yourself just as much as you do for all the other people on the causes that you're passionate about. Madeleine shares so much actionable advice on how to prioritise self-care in your creative practice. How to replenish your creativity when you're running an empty, how to reframe harmful work-life balance narratives and lots more good stuff.  Madeleine's website: https://madeleineonstwedder.com/  Madeleine's Instagram: https://instagram.com/madeleineonstwedder   www.meandspirit.co.uk/podcast www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit 

Branding is a really abstract concept and there are as many different definitions as there are designers so I thought it might be useful to go back to basics and have a chat about what even is a brand anyway? Share your thoughts on Instagram #followthecreativespirit Or follow me at www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit

Following the Creative Spirit is a podcast for dreamers, makers, artists and creative business owners who want to cultivate a meaningful creative practice, follow their passions and build a thriving business. It’s a place to celebrate creativity, share inspirational stories and plenty of encouragement and advice on running a creative business.  And there's a new season is coming later this month.  I’ve lined up a really interesting collection of guest episodes on self-care and creating a healthy work-life balance, on overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt, and about authentically marketing your business and finding your purpose. There are also solo episodes from me with tips about branding your creative business, we go back to basics and talk about what a brand actually is, there’s an episode on brand archetypes and about overcoming creative anxiety and lots more. The first episode of Season Two will be available on Wed 26th may so make sure you subscribe to be the first to hear about it. And follow me on Instagram @me.and.spirit for more updates.

In this episode, I'm chatting with Jo Chunyan. Jo is a brand designer, intuitive coach and author of The Intuition Journal. Jo specialises in the conceptualisation and creation of conscious brands for intentional entrepreneurs who want to blaze a trail in the world. As an intuition coach, she helps multi-passionate creatives move through the overwhelm of juggling 1001 ideas so they can bring their biggest dream projects to completion in a way that feels aligned and honours their energy.   Links : www.jochunyan.com  and www.theintuitionjournal.com Instagram / Facebook / Pinterest @jochunyan Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/theconsciouscreative Description for Facebook Group // An online sanctuary for conscious business owners, makers and creatives. Holding sacred space for intuitive design, running a conscious business and balancing it all out with a daily self-care practice.   Description for Intuition Journal // Upcoming book - The Intuition Journal is a guided journal full of Nourishing daily rituals to cultivate clarity, inner wisdom & inspired action. A calming daily companion designed to connect you to your innate power, coax you out of your comfort zone to live more in alignment with your innermost desires.

I know that not everyone is able to invest in a bespoke brand identity so I’m sharing some tips and advice on how to create a logo or brand identity themselves or on a tight budget.  Links mentioned https://meandspirit.co.uk/why-diy-ing-your-own-brand-is-so-hard/    Coolors COLOURlovers Adobe Colour Unsplash Moyo Studio Creative Market Google fonts 

It’s another guest episode and I’m sharing an interview with Nancy Straughan. Nancy is a stylist and photographer who styles product shoots, weddings, brand events, and interior projects and creates the most gorgeous imagery.   We chat about Nancy’s creative journey, how she pivoted from running a product-based business to becoming a stylist, and she shares some of her tips how to create a beautiful space in your home in your own style that supports your wellbeing We chat about how to keep motivated and get stuff done when you have children or other life commitments that mean you have a limited amount of time. We touch on the importance of looking after your mental health and asking for help, and all sorts of other lovely things.    Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/nancy    Resources and Links   Nancy’s website: http://www.nancy-straughan.com/   Nancy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancy_straughan/    Let’s chat on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit    The apps I mentioned:   https://www.forestapp.cc/   https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/plant-nanny/id590216134   

In this episode I talk through the 6 questions you must be able to answer before hiring a designer for your branding project. Find out why it’s important to have clear answers to all the questions and how they all work together to create a solid foundation for a strong and compelling brand.    Links and Resources Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/questions Free workbook: www.meandspirit.co.uk/brand-values-workbook  Instagram: www.instagram.com/me.and.spirit  Simon Sinek’s TED talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en 

It’s the very first guest episode and I’m chatting with artist, paint-maker and educator, Trupti Karjinni. Trupti is the founder of Blue Pine Arts, which is a gorgeous studio where she creates the most beautiful handcrafted paints and art materials. And in her online membership, Thrive with Trupti, she teaches watercolour skills and mindset mantras in a really supportive and encouraging community. Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/trupti Resources and links Thrive with Trupti Blue Pine Arts The Thriving Artist Roadmap Follow Trupti on Instagram

On this episode, I’m sharing my simple three-step process for defining your brand values. You’ve probably heard about how important it is to choose values to inform your brand identity, but did you know that your brand values can be super useful guidelines to apply to the rest of your business as well? Think about it this way: your brand values, along with your purpose and the mission of your business, form the foundations of your brand. Your mission is what your business does, your purpose is why your business exists and your values are the link between them that define how you run your business. When these three elements are working in alignment, they have the power to create a brand that feels deeply authentic - and it has the added bonus of helping to make your brand feel unique!  Once you’ve defined your values, or how you want to run your business, making decisions on what your brand should look like, what kind of products you sell, what experience you create for you customers, all becomes super simple, because you’ve already decided what’s important to you. Full show notes at www.meandspirit.co.uk/values  Free workbook: www.meandspirit.co.uk/brand-values-workbook 

Following the Creative Spirit is a podcast for dreamers, makers, artists and creative business owners who want to cultivate a meaningful creative practice, follow their passions and build a thriving business.  Your host, brand designer and illustrator, Tanya Rodgers, works with passionate artists, makers and creatives to craft meaningful brand identities that attract their dream clients, elevate their business and tell the story of their work in an authentic way. You’ll find a mix of inspiring conversations celebrating creativity, exploring the creative process, and following your passion with plenty of encouragement and practical advice along the way. Tanya also shares her tips on branding, self-expression and how to courageously share your work with the world. So grab a cuppa and follow along! Say hi on Instagram: @me.and.spirit Website: www.meandspirit.co.uk