Episode 37: Creativity, Seeking & Leaps of Faith with Sarah Smith
In this episode of Couragemakers, Sarah Smith really dives into what it means to pursue a creative life; the uncertainty that comes with being a full-time creative, how life is an ongoing practice and how Sarah learned to let go of the fear of the unknown and believe everything will work out.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
After years on the road fronting Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah went solo in 2012 Her songs have won over audiences everywhere during Sarah’s relentless tours of North America and Europe and she continues to tour almost year-round. Sarah’s latest album, 11, has just been released – on 11th November 2016. Aside from her music, Sarah’s has the most fun eating food, being around friends and her dogs, and people watching.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube |
TOPICS
- Sarah’s journey of becoming a full time musician, from being raised on a farm and and having her first solo in a church choir aged 5 to leaving the army to follow her dream of becoming a musician.
- The difficulties as women being taught not to own their skills and talents, and the long journey involved in rediscovering and owning them again
- Sarah’s advice for creatives who need to trust themselves and need self validation
- The uniqueness of living on the road, and the struggles with staying inspired and spending so much time with your thoughts.
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 38: Making the World a Brighter Place with Mary England
In this episode, Mary England shares her journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art was a massive part of this journey.
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ABOUT
Mary England is a self described merriment maker. Mary’s passion is to make other people happy and teach them how to love and accept themselves. After struggling with mental illness for twenty years and working in and studying the field of psychology for five, she decided to start the business Uncustomary to share her personal and professional experience with mental health in a way that translates into self-love and positivity. You can find her twirling in front of murals and leaving a literal trail of glitter in Baltimore, Maryland.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Premium Package
TOPICS
- Mary’s journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art and performances played a huge part in her journey
- How important it is to get out of our routines
- Mary’s advice for anyone wanting to make their life more colourful, glittery and sparkly
- The importance of recognising your own humanity and showing you struggle too
- Mixing business with politics: if you have a privilege that can help you be on a soapbox or activate change
RESOURCES
- Improv Everywhere
- Keri Smith
- Fred Rogers – “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 39: Creativity, Self Care & Mental Health with Sarah Steckler
In this episode of Couragemakers, Sarah Steckler shares her journey of how creativity helped her learn to love herself, how her life has changed now she has become more intentional about her creativity and self love and how struggling is part of the process.
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ABOUT
Sarah is a Creative Self-Love Coach who helps women take control of their lives by taking care of themselves. While this seems simple enough, Sarah understands the barriers to change we all can face, including self-doubt, guilt, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, and anxiety that comes with transitions and change. As a writer, journal lover, and creatively obsessed sticker collector, she loves to spend her free time wandering through nature and forest bathing, cuddling up with her English Bulldog, and planning her next Netflix binge! She’s also huge animal lover who dreams of one day opening up her own cow sanctuary and dreams of creating her own self-care journal for others.
You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
LinkedIn | Free Self Care Course
TOPICS
- The relationship between creativity and self love
- Why women struggle with self love
- Sarah’s advice for anyone looking to add more creativity and find self love in their life
- The biggest things Sarah has learned in starting a business
- What Sarah’s self – love journey looks like
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 40: Saving the World One Doodle at a Time with Jenipher Lyn
In this episode, Jenipher shares the story behind her art, how being a writer or an artist isn’t how many people make it look online and how struggling with anxiety, depression and loneliness has influenced her life and her mission.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
J
Jenipher a self-taught artist who is on a mission to save the world one doodle at a time. She who believes the more genuine encouragement in the world, the better and her goal in life is to inspire as many girls and women that they are not alone! She does this with whimsical illustrations and vulnerably humorous articles. Jenipher can be found drawing and eating cupcakes in the middle of Florida with husband and giant cat, Baby.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | New Book | Twitter
TOPICS
- What Jenipher believes about herself now that she never thought possible
- Jenipher’s advice for anyone going through a hard time
- How Jenipher deals with rejection
- How Jenipher’s creative process has developed
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 41: Saying No & Choosing Yourself with Simi Botic
In today’s show, we really dive deep into choosing yourself and giving yourself permission to explore the things that make you happy.
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ABOUT
Simi Botic is obsessed with coffee, beach vacations, and the 90s. A corporate attorney-turned-health-coach, she helps women nourish and nurture their bodies and lives, so they can live FULLY! Simi is passionate about helping women get un-stuck, ditch diets, reconnect with their internal voice, and discover their powerful intuition — in both their body and life.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Free Breaking Up With Binges Video Series
TOPICS
- Simi’s journey from being an attorney working in corporate healthcare to becoming a coach helping women live life to the full
- Giving yourself permission to explore things for your own happiness
- The ripple effects of honouring yourself
- The importance of having hard conversations with yourself about the kind of life you want to live
- How there’s no such thing as failure, only feedback
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 42: Finding Yourself & Creating Boundaries with Julia Langley
In this episode, Julia shares her journey to becoming a forensic psychologist, by the way of studying drama, running workshops in a women’s prison and being a support worker for people who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
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ABOUT
Julia is currently training to be a forensic psychologist. In her spare time, she is often found on her sofa watching YouTube videos to distract her from the impending doom of handing in her PhD thesis, doing the occasional yoga class, and writing. Julia is very mindful of the balance between maintaining privacy due to her work, and voicing her opinions on subjects that she’s passionate about.
Julia is currently doing research about the impact of indecent exposure, as well as women’s views of it. If you are interested in taking part in an online questionnaire, and you’re female, over 16 and living in the UK, please go to https://nottingham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/indecent-exposure-perspectives
TOPICS
- Burnout in the giving professions- and the balance between your responsibility for someone else and their responsibility for themselves
- Julia shares her journey to becoming a forensic psychologist, by the way of studying drama, running workshops in a women’s prison and being a support worker for people who struggle with drug and alcohol addiction.
- The importance of listening to yourself and using the support around you
- The fear and vulnerability of creating boundaries
RESOURCES
- Six Pillars of Self Esteem – Nathaniel Brandon
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 43: Creativity, Bravery & the Fear Year Project with Elin Lööw
In this episode, we really dive into Elin Lööw creative journey – from being a freely creative child to losing track of her creativity when she felt she had to be the best and how she came to embrace her creativity again. We have a really honest conversation about many of the struggles creatives face, from self doubt and fear to joy and trust.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Elin Lööw is a writer and artist who set out to face her creative fears in 2016. Now she helps fellow creatives find the courage to go after their dreams too! She is a self confessed twenty-something creative weirdo living in Sweden with her boyfriend Petrus and our two cats Pysen and Alice.
Website | Fear Year Project | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
TOPICS
- How perfectionism and pressure stopped Elin creating and how she learned to re-discover her creativity
- Advice for if you want to get back to your own creativity and start your own Fear Year
- Elin’s Fear Year – a year long project to tackle her creative fear
- The good things that hide behind your fears
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 44: Feminism, Body Acceptance & Chronic Pain with Rose Gold
In this episode, Rose Gold shares her journey from being told by people she loved and teachers that she would never pass high school, to graduating with a bachelors, and how she came to embrace her experiences and founded Body Image Guru.
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ABOUT
Rose Marie Gold, aka “The Body Image Guru”, is the founder and creator of BodyImageGuru.com. She is an activist for Fat Acceptance, Health At Every Size & Intersectional Body Image Education. She graduated with her Bachelors in Marriage and Family Counseling, Psychology and Gender Studies from Central Washington and lives in Seattle, WA. Rose runs a ground breaking website dedicated to body image resources and articles she has been encouraging radical changes in body image for over half a decade.
She has most recently been interviewed by Choose Life Warrior on her youtube series, Amrie Defrates of Defrates Nutrition and as a plus size model on reality show The Fashion Hero.
Website | Twitter | Instagram |
TOPICS
- How Rose came to start Body Image Guru and what she has learned working with women on their bodies
- How communities can be instrumental in realising that we’re not alone and no matter what we’re experiencing, someone else has too.
- The reality of life as a fat woman
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 45: Depression, Feeling Worthy & Finding Hope with Meaghan Gallant
In this episode, Meaghan Gallant talks really openly, honestly and vulnerably about depression and struggling with your mental health.
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ABOUT
Meaghan is a holistic health coach, freelance writer, and virtual assistant. She created Invoking Joy to be an anti-thesis to the diet industry because feeling GREAT doesn’t have to be hard and it certainly doesn’t have anything to do with the number on the scale. When she’s not in front of a screen you can find her on a yoga mat, scribbling in her planner or with her nose stuck in a book.
Invoking Joy | Website | Instagram | Twitter
TOPICS
- Meaghan’s journey to becoming a health coach, and how she does things differently
- Meaghan’s advice for people listening who struggle with their mental health and finding the light
- How we blame ourselves when easy solutions don’t work instead of looking at the cause
- Meaghan’s experience of struggling with depression
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 46: Perfectionism, Gratitude & Daily Practices with Wendy de Jong
In this episode, we’re diving really deep into the topic of perfectionism. Wendy shares her experiences, growing up a straight A student, struggling with being a people pleaser and how it led to her becoming stressed out and reaching rock bottom. And how learning to practice gratitude helped a whole new world open up and let Wendy take control of her life.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Wendy de Jong is a recovering perfectionist on a mission to help fellow soul-connected yet stressed-out creatives embrace their perfectly imperfect selves. She’s a book-oholic, a homemade pizza aficionado, and driving around in her bright red convertible car is her latest guilty pleasure.
Website | Online Community | Twitter | Instagram | The #perfectionismproblems series |
TOPICS
- Debunking myths that surround perfectionism and how perfectionism isn’t real
- Wendy’s advice for anyone struggling with perfectionism
- The dangers of relying on outside validation
- What inspired Wendy to start The Gratefulist
- How practicing gratitude has changed Wendy’s life
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 47: Showing Up & Stepping Into The Fear with Heather Jabornik
In this episode of Couragemakers, Heather Jabornik shares her journey, from working as a missionary in the porn industry to founding a website and perfume that inspires women to go after their dreams.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Heather Jabornik is an East Coast writer, hope-raiser, and dream chaser based in SoCal. She is the founder of Hiya Tootsie!, a platform for badass dream chasing broads, and Candy Ass, a fragrance line that reminds those badass dream chasers to GO KICK SOME ASS!
Website | Candy Ass | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter |
TOPICS
- Heather’s journey from working as a missionary to founding Hiya Tootsie and creating Candy Ass
- How we tend to keep our dreams smaller as women
- The fear of putting yourself into the world
- Vulnerability and sharing your process in public view
- Heather’s burnout journey
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 48: Owning, Living & Sharing Your Story with Meg Kissack (1st Year Anniversary Special!)
During this episode we sit down with Meg and dive more into her story, the journey of Couragemakers and That Hummingbird Life so far and the reality of owning, sharing and living your story.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Meg (that’s me!) is the host of The Couragemakers Podcast and the founder of That Hummingbird Life.
I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate with an obsession for all things colour and a heart for foot stomping country music, Macklemore and hot chocolates.
Mr Meg is a baker, a fan of bizarre real life stories and weird paranormal shit (from afar). He is currently working his way through every single Jon Ronson book and being harassed by Meg to start his own podcast!
TOPICS
- A behind the scenes look at Couragemakers so far and the inspiration behind the podcast
- The importance of sharing your story and practical advice on starting to share your story
- Why everyday courage is so important and resonates so much
- Reclaiming the word selfish and standing up for yourself as a woman
- Who Meg would like to play her in the documentary of her life
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.