The Creative Brain with Rachel & Haley: Recent Episodes
Rachel Mansfield & Haley Hardin West
Join creative business owners and BFFs Rachel Mansfield & Haley Hardin West as they combine their knowledge and experience in the worlds of business, mental health, and the arts into compact, practical information to help listeners tap into their creative gifts, find the courage and confidence to turn those gifts into lucrative careers, and be the healthiest version of themselves possible. This weekly, listener-lead podcast will feature honest conversations about business, creativity, and mental health. Text (229) 785-4042 to have your questions answered on the show.
This week Haley is breaking down the signs and symptoms of executive dysfunction and how to manage it, while Rachel goes into the highs and lows of starting a business and some practical tips for surviving the lows.
This discussion comes straight from our own lived experience and we get 100% candid about how we've personally struggled in these areas and what has helped us through it.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
This week we're lightening the mood a little by diving into how to get out of a creative rut!
We've all been stuck creatively, but given the last year (or so) we've had, 'creative block' has taken on a whole new meaning. In this episode, Rachel and Haley discuss practical ways to get unstuck, and how shifting your mentality can open up your creative flow.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
This week Rachel and Haley continue the discussion about Narcissism! Haley gives a detailed list of how to manage interactions with narcissistic people, Rachel comes through with some mic drop moments, and they discuss how to combat narcissistic tendencies in ourselves.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
Rachel and Haley are back with a 2 part series exploring a hot topic this week: Narcissism! This part 1 episode explores narcissistic traits, narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and the subtypes of narcissists. Haley also discusses the works of Dr. Ramani Durvasula, an award winning psychologist and expert on narcissism. Check out more of her work on YouTube to dive even deeper into this fascinating subject, and make sure you check out part 2 as we continue this discussion!
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
https://youtube.com/c/DoctorRamani
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains detailed conversation about PTSD and CPTSD, including subjects like violence, sexual violence, and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.
We're back in the swing of things, and this week Haley is breaking down the difference between PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and CPTSD (complex post traumatic stress disorder). We discuss the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and CPTSD, the layman’s terms for symptoms, how the brain responds to trauma, and much more. There is a lotof information packed into this 49 minute episode, so we hope you’re able to grab a few takeaways from it. Make sure to take care of yourself and be kind to yourself after listening, as some of these topics can be pretty heavy.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
Have you missed us!?!
We're back (yes, again 😅 ) and our triumphant return is all about what the past year has taught us, dealing with anxiety from collective trauma, the highs and lows of transitions, and where we're going from here.
Hopefully you're not expecting a whole lot of structure because we're 100% all over the place with this one, but we're on day 12332384 of a Pan's Labyrinth so THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042! Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
Eight weeks ago, Rachel got the opportunity of a lifetime when she and 38 other young women from all over the world were picked out of 600 applicants to participate in a virtual music mentorship program and learn from some of the most successful and influential women in the music industry today. Each participant was assigned a mentor and tasked with completing a project with their mentor during weekly Zoom sessions. Rachel's mentor, singer-songwriter Whitney Phillips, has written songs for some of the biggest names in music like Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, and Kylie Minogue; but her biggest career success to date came during the pandemic when she cowrote the recent Billboard #1 single, Stuck With U, by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.
For this week's episode, Rachel and Whitney are sitting down for an exclusive interview where they discuss Whitney's background, her career and impressive catalog of songwriting credits, how she stays grounded and deals with the pressure of working with such high profile artists, and much more.
As always, don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
On this week’s episode, Rachel and Haley touch on a variety of topics - from ADHD and how it relates to the American school system, to overcoming that fear of failure when starting your own business, to dealing with a Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis.
We need your questions! Text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest
@thecreativebrainpodcast
CONTENT WARNING: suicide/suicide prevention
Season 2 Episode 2 coming atcha! We were honored to have Angie Williams - the System of Care Coordinator for Aspire BHDD here in Albany, GA - on the show. We get a little heavy here and talk about suicide prevention, but this episode is SO IMPORTANT, you guys.
Angie discusses QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and the importance of EVERYONE learning suicide prevention, including the red flags/warning signs of suicide, the risk factors that contribute to suicide, and what exactly to do when someone tells you they are suicidal. As Angie says, “It’s everybody’s business.”
It’s okay to not be okay, y’all. You are loved and worthy and valued. We are so glad you are here.
If you or someone you love is feeling hopeless or suicidal, you can find help here:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL): 1-800-715-4225 (or download the GCAL app in your app store!)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
Find more info about Aspire Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities Services here: www.aspirebhdd.org
Part 2 of our illuminating discussion is here! This episode features the second half of our interview with Dr. Jennifer Gunsaullus. “Dr. Jenn" Gunsaullus, Ph.D., is a sociologist, speaker, author, and relationship and intimacy coach.
In this episode, Dr. Jenn answers our listeners’ questions (and things get very interesting). We discuss everything from issues with desire to masturbation to virginity.
You do NOT want to miss this discussion!
Check out Dr. Jenn’s site here: https://www.drjennsden.com
Purchase Dr. Jenn’s book, From Madness to Mindfulness: Reinventing Sex for Women, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1627782966/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_klLaFb000255Y
Register for Dr. Jenn’s online course for women, Increase Your Desire here: https://sso.teachable.com/secure/13006/checkout/807498/10-ways-to-reignite-your-sex-drive-for-women-only
As always, don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
We’re back with Season 2, and we are SO JAZZED about this entire season, you guys. It will be packed full of interviews with various professionals and experts, and boy, this first one is something you do NOT want to miss!
This episode (and the next one) features Dr. Jennifer Gunsaullus! "Dr. Jenn" Gunsaullus, Ph.D., is a sociologist, speaker, author, and relationship and intimacy coach.
We had such a great convo with Dr. Jenn that this interview is going to be split into 2 parts. The first part includes discussions about Dr. Jenn’s work, the way our culture has always treated sex and women, and some tips and tricks for mindfulness and relationships. The second will feature Dr. Jenn answering our listeners’ questions (and things get very interesting).
Buckle up, because these episodes are game changers!
As always, don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
Check out Dr. Jenn’s site here: https://www.drjennsden.com
Purchase Dr. Jenn’s book, From Madness to Mindfulness: Reinventing Sex for Women, here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1627782966/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_klLaFb000255Y
Register for Dr. Jenn’s online course for women, Increase Your Desire here: https://sso.teachable.com/secure/13006/checkout/807498/10-ways-to-reignite-your-sex-drive-for-women-only
In light of the recent police killing of George Floyd, the latest in a long history of unarmed people of color being senselessly murdered in this country, we've decided to have a serious conversation about racism in America.
In our season one finale, Rachel discusses three things people who are white can be doing right now to advocate for people of color and end racism, and Haley shares her personal experience with coming to terms with her own inherent bias and thought patterns that could be harmful to people of color.
We end the episode by each sharing something specific we've done in the past that has been harmful to people of color in an effort to confront our own racist behaviors and promote growth.
This episode is meant to challenge our listeners who are white and motivate you to look within yourself to uproot your own inherent biases, while empowering you to do the hard and painful work of ripping them out.
It starts with a conversation. It starts with us.
Note: since this episode was recorded, nationwide protests and riots have significantly intensified, and at least one person of color has been killed in the process. His name was James Scurlock.
We took a little coronavirus break but we are BACK BAYBEEEE!!
We're so excited to be back for episode 9 that we threw out our normal structure (again, lol) and just had a raw and honest conversation about what we've been up to for the last couple of months, and how we've been handling everything that's been going on in our world.
Our community was hit extra hard by the pandemic and things haven't been easy so we wanted to dive into how each of us has responded to everything based on our enneagram types (Haley is a 7 and Rachel is a 3), what we've personally struggled with the most, as well as something positive we've gained from the experience so far.
As always, don't forget to follow us on Instagram (@thecreativebrainpodcast) to see who won our giveaway, and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
It's good to be back!
This week we're talking about how to overcome anxiety when you're trying to network and make important business connections, how to stay on task when you work from home, and how to price your goods to get the best return.
We're also getting into how to deal with conflict, especially when someone else is committed to misunderstanding you, that one time Rachel cyber-bullied someone who came for Haley online, and we end this week's episode with a super real conversation about fertility struggles.
Don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @thecreativebrainpodcast, and please text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
Episode 7 and things got weird 😂😂😂
This week we decided to keep it casual and once again deviate from our normal structure, it served this week's questions a little better so that's what we did! We start things off my answering a question about bullying and rejection, the dangers of conversion therapy, and how to open yourself up to friendships and relationships going forward. Then we move onto some practical tips for dealing with anxiety that hits especially hard in the morning or nighttime (or both), and how to get started when you've always wanted to paint but just never went for it.
MASSIVE DISCLAIMER PLEASE READ: This episode ends in a really weird way because the batteries died in a piece of our audio equipment, and you'll hear when this happens because Haley is talking about oil paintings and then it sounds like a DJ starts remixing her voice for a dance party and it's so funny we decided to leave it in 😂. We changed the batteries and still couldn't get it to work right so this episode ended up being a lot shorter than our normal episodes but look we did our best ok please let us live.
ANYWAY, don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @thecreativebrainpodcast, and please text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
YALL. This is episode SIX! Can you believe?? Thank you thank you THANK YOU to all of our amazing listeners!
This week we're throwing our usual structure right out the window and going off-script to answer some questions we think are super important and relevant to most of our listeners. We're talking about how to navigate social media without harming your mental health, kids and social media, what to do when you feel like you're doing ALL THE THINGS and aren't being true to yourself, and what it really means to have a "calling".
These topics were super fascinating for us to dive into so we really hope you get something useful out of it.
As always, don't forget to follow us on Instagram: @thecreativebrainpodcast, and please text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. Your texts are 100% anonymous and even if you tell us who you are we won't reveal your identity on the show.
We are going IN on this week's episode of The Creative Brain! We're talking about everything from how to get a business idea off the ground when you feel like you have zero knowledge, the best ways to market your skills and services when launching a new venture (including some must know information about Facebook Business pages), how to love someone with dementia, more about the enneagram and finding your type, some super interesting details about art therapy, and why the Frozen II soundtrack absolutely SLAPS.
Don't forget to text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest
@thecreativebrainpodcast
We're back after taking a break while Haley battled the flu (and then strep 😩), but she's back to 100% now and we're ready to talk about everything from imposter syndrome, to health anxiety, to finding "your sound" as a songwriter.
We wrap up this week's episode by listing off some practical things you can do for your mental health if you can't afford therapy, and the importance of being able to ask yourself hard questions to get to the bottom of where your dreams and desires are really coming from.
Text your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest
@thecreativebrainpodcast
We’re on Instagram! Follow @thecreativebrainpodcast to connect with us and get updates about episodes.
On this week’s Business Breakdown, Rachel’s tackling the “money conversation” and answering a question about what to do when a potential customer ghosts you, and Haley talks about the power of saying no and helps a listener understand the pros and cons of text therapy vs face-to-face talk therapy in the Mental Health Moment. We close this episode out with Tips for the Creative Brain on why a healthy community is essential to creativity and what we’re currently reading and listening to.
Text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest
@thecreativebrainpodcast
WARNING: This episode contains some explicit language and discussion about depression and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
Rachel & Haley are back with episode two and are covering even more ground. This week, we're getting into business classifications, the idea of being who we’re “supposed to be”, the things that set our souls on fire, when to see a therapist/psychiatrist, the topics of suicide, postpartum depression and anxiety, and how to obtain the permission to live the life you’ve always wanted.
Text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on facebook and instagram
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest
@thecreativebrainpodcast
Resources from this week's episode
- Learn more about suicidal ideation response training: qprinstitute.com
- Read Haley's blog post about suicide: haleyhardinwest.com/mental-health/lets-talk-about-suicide/
- Call the Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- Chat online now : suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Text someone now: text HOME to 741741
We're doing this! It's our very first episode of The Creative Brain with Rachel & Haley and we're taking some time to tell you a little bit about ourselves and why we're starting this podcast as well as answering listener questions. Rachel takes questions about growing your brand as a freelancer, how to market yourself to potential clients, and remembering that your worth as an artist isn't dependent upon your sales; while Haley fields questions on what to do when it feels like you've tried it all when it comes to mental health and you're still struggling, as well as going deep into hopelessness and dealing with trauma.
Text us your questions or topics you'd like us to discuss to (229) 785-4042. We won't know who you are unless you tell us and we will never reveal your identity if you do.
Connect with us on facebook and instagram:
facebook.com/rachelkimbrelmansfield
facebook.com/haleyhardinwestwriter
@rachelkmansfield
@hootiewest