It was such a pleasure to talk with James Navé on Twice 5 Miles Radio.
James is a poet and teacher and co-leader of Imaginative Storm. Along with Allegra Huston, James leads workshops and twice-weekly online Imaginative Storm sessions.
Check out the episode and others here.
What fun to be on Kimberly Wilson’s podcast Tranquility du Jour. The current season of the podcast focuses on midlife, reinvention at midlife and how creativity plays a role in our well-being.
Among other things, we discussed balancing writing, art, and business by embracing seasonal shifts in focus.
I have the great good fortune to know Kimberly and to spend time with her in Paris, and this conversation was a delight. Enjoy!
Have you ever felt like creativity is a gift only meant for others? Like you just weren’t born part of that illustrious and somewhat mysterious “creative class?”
Total bunk. Creativity lives inside all of us—and uncovering it could unlock meaning and joy in every aspect of your life?
In this conversation, Jonathan and I explore the myths holding us back from full creative living. I reveal three brutally hard truths of innovation and why the creative life isn’t about chasing comfort. We discuss how to awaken your senses, see with new eyes, and understand your unique blend of creativity.
In today’s episode we’re digging into:
New episode alert on Sparked podcast!
Facing doubts in your pursuits? You’re not alone. Join Jonathan Fields & I as we unravel “How to Tell Good Hard from Bad Hard”. Discover the key to identifying when it’s time to push on or change course.
And here’s a fun screenshot of us doing the interview. Jonathan and I geek out talking about the creative process. I love this photo, because we look so happy, and because I prefer candid to posed photos. True smiles really shine.
So, how do you handle the dance between wanting lead with your creative or artistic side, and earning a grown-up worthy living?
In the past few years, we’ve all been through a lot of upheaval. At the same time, this moment has reawakened a burning desire to pursue creative passions. It’s a recipe for big life transition and potentially transformation.
And that is certainly the case for our advice seeker today, Helen, who asks how can she make a meaningful living from her art and writing, pursue further studies and honor her value around financial security?
After recently ending a long marriage and spending the past few years working to make ends meet, Helen has rediscovered her passion for writing. After spending two decades studying human behavior and helping others through her work, Helen is now ready for a change—if she can figure out a way forward that satisfies both her soul and her practical needs.
In today’s episode we’re in conversation with:
LISTENER: Helen – Sparketype: Maker/Maven
SPARKED BRAINTRUST ADVISOR: Cynthia Morris
Cynthia is the founder of the Original Impulse creative studio and atelier and coaching program for writers; she’s also an author, workshop facilitator, trusted advisor and coach.
YOUR HOST: Jonathan Fields
Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, multi-time founder, executive producer and host of the Good Life Project podcast, and co-host of SPARKED, too! He’s also the creator of an unusual tool that’s helped more than 650,000 people discover what kind of work makes them come alive – the Sparketype® Assessment, and author of the bestselling book, SPARKED.
So what is your Sparketype? Turns out, we all have a unique imprint for work that makes us come alive, this is your Sparketype. When you discover yours, everything, your entire work-life- and even parts of your personal life and relationships – begins to make sense. Until you know yours, you’re kind of fumbling in the dark.
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields, we are diving into creative disappointment. We look at what it is, why it can impact us so deeply, and the lasting impression disappointment can leave if we don’t have a way to process it. I reflect on the issue of being ‘bright-sided’ too early and why it’s important to sit with something instead of rushing through it.
We offer some new perspectives, frames, and tools for the creative person/entrepreneur and a way to look at failures and setbacks as an inevitable part of the learning process, as opposed to affixing greater meaning to them and, in turn, to our identities.
To round out the conversation, I offer some powerful questions we can ask ourselves and work through with a trusted friend or professional to uncover what’s occurring when we experience creative disappointment.
In today’s Hot Take episode, Jonathan & Cynthia discuss:
As always, we hope you enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on what it means to be creative, to grieve how we thought things would go, and how to move through it rather than bury it. We hope it supports you the next time you’re experiencing something similar.
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website
Read more on the Sparked Newsletter on LinkedIn.
Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn.
Presented by LinkedIn.
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Lauren – Sparketype: Maven/Nurturer
Listener Lauren shares a moment of genuine inflection where she knows what she wants to do next, but also feels beholden to the job she has now, and who it’s serving, and also isn’t so quick to walk away from the years she’s already earned toward retirement and benefits, even though it’ll be another decades before any of that can be cashed out.
And, burnout and depletion are a big part of this conversation, too, which I know is such a common feeling these days.
We discuss the following:
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Lisa – Sparketype: Essentialist/Sage
Listener Lisa shares an experience and a question so many of us grapple with. You’re in a career, doing well, and have even said yes to a few things on the side and the blend is actually working. But, you’re starting to see a time where it might not, and you’re wondering if and when you should do something about it.
We discuss the following:
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Claudia – Sparketype: Maker/Maven, Anti-Performer
Today’s listener Claudia presents this question. She has been running a successful Paint Your Pottery Studio with her sister, which impressively survived the pandemic, and is now seeing revenues go back up as people yearn to make and gather.
We discuss the following:
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Bree – Sparketype: Advisor/Sage, Anti: Essentialist
Listener Bree shares her story of experience of a role reversal with her partner, moving from full-time parenting back into the workforce. And with that asks how do you combine multiple skills and passions? When you have a passion project, like writing books, calling to you, how do you balance that with a leadership role and overseeing big projects at work? Bree poses the query that many of us face, how do you approach tasks that you may be skilled at but no longer find them interesting?
We discuss the following:
How to submit your question for the SPARKED Braintrust: Wisdom-seeker submissions
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Mell – Sparketype: Maven/Advocate
Listener Mell shares an interesting query about how to balance her desire to learn new things and advocate for what she cares about most with a recent diagnosis that may make those desires harder to act on. Mell puts forward the question, how do you embrace your innate impulse and find joy in work and life whilst navigating newly discovered neurodiversity?
We discuss the following:
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
More on Sparketypes at: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Workshop | The Website
I hope you enjoy this episode. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields I am responding to a question from listener Michael (Sparketype: Advisor/Maven | Nurturer.)
Michael poses the question, do you follow your latest area of interest and continue to collect portfolio career roles or should you find a traditional employer and potentially more job security and collaboration?
We discuss the following:
Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on how to reframe your own portfolio dilemma.
More on Sparketypes: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website
In this Sparked podcast with Jonathan Fields we shine the spotlight on creative inspiration and how to turn it into action taking and output. We explore the purpose of inspiration, understanding who our creative ancestors are, and more. And in this time of reimagining, global burnout and upheaval we look at the difference between passively consuming, being simply inspired and the desire to deconstruct and learn from the art we’re enjoying.
We discuss the following:
I also share a great strategy for journaling to connect with your ‘artist self’ and we both reflect on the many drafts it takes to create great work and the humbling nature of writing.
Enjoy this Sparked Hot Take on creativity, inspiration and expression. I hope it ignites some creative action taking of your own.
More on Sparketypes: Discover You Sparketype | The Book | The Website
I’m part of a rotating lineup of mentors on the SPARKED podcast, a podcast that explores how to find and do work that makes you come alive.
And we’re looking for special guest “wisdom-seekers” to share the moment you’re in, then pose questions to Jonathan and the Sparked Braintrust to be answered, “on air.”
To submit your “moment & question” for consideration to be on the show go to sparketype.com/submit .
Who are your creative ancestors, and how can their stories influence your creative journey?
Your creative ancestors are those people who make you, you. They build you up and inform your creativity through the things they teach you, even from a distant past. Their legacies inspire you to share their stories with future generations through your art. They are part of what I call your Artist’s DNA.
Adri Norris’ successful “Women Behaving Badly” series was born out of a desire to share the stories of important women whose stories have largely gone untold. These works are a window into their truth, created to inspire today’s generation with role models they might not otherwise be exposed to.
Adri says of the project, “It was basically combining my love of learning with my love of drawing and painting faces and learning how to tell a story with my work.”
Listen in to hear Adri talk about how she infuses her work with the power of storytelling, as well as:
Plus, she’ll share what her biggest challenges have taught her and the big shift that changed the way she views her work.
If you’ve ever wanted to dive deep into storytelling through your art but don’t know where to start, this episode is for you.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
