Big Juicy Creative: Recent Episodes
Suzy Bashford
Big Juicy Creative is the show which nurtures your busy creative soul, so you thrive personally and professionally.
You could be in a ‘creative’ career, like marketing or the arts, or maybe you wish you did something more creative. This podcast will show you how, if you approach your life with creativity – a bit more openness, curiosity, self-expression, imagination - it will become bigger, juicier and more meaningful.
Creativity is about way more than painting or poetry, and this show brings you inspirational tales from beyond the creative department, from farming to fractions.
Your host, Suzy Bashford, is a freelance journalist, who writes about creativity among other things, a workshop facilitator and a speaker. As well as interviews, she’ll bring you shorter, solo podcasts where she sums up and test-drives the advice she’s given, reporting back to you with her trademark honesty.
Suzy is a mum on a mission to unleash our collective creativity so we can solve the world’s big problems… and we need buckets of creativity for that, so please get listening!
For more info: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk IG: @bigjuicycreativeliving FB: @bigjuicycreative LI: Suzy Bashford
Dogs are zen-masters and intrinsically know how to unconditionally love and live big, juicy and creative. So, having just got a puppy, I've invited a coach who uses dogs to help people grow personally, professionally and spiritually - especially men.
Dogs and Men founder Michael Overlie is author of 'Let your dog lead -musings on how to create an exceptional life' and also describes himself as an energy healer.
He thinks dogs are the perfect way to help men express themselves better, open up to their feelings and – wince -show some vulnerability. He talks very openly about how dogs have helped him personally through some really tough moments in life such as his brother dying.
I love Michael’s mission and the sooner we can get more emotionally intelligent men in touch with their empathy and caring side, the better. After all, if world leaders could be coached by dogs, I'm sure the world would be all the better for it.
For more on Michael and his work see:
https://linktr.ee/SpiritDog
This includes links to blogs, his own podcast Dogs and Men, his book and coaching information.
Email michael@dogsandmen.com
https://dogs-and-men-podcast.captivate.fm/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.overlie.52
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
I've wanted to have a big juicy chat with someone who has transitioned gender for a while now. My two sons talk very openly about gender, and about people they know that don't feel right in their skin.... whereas this was never talked about when I was young.
I wanted to talk to someone who would talk honestly about what this experience is like - and Jo Sutherland absolutely doesn't disappoint on this front.
Jo first had surgery to transition from male to female in her early 20s – the story she tells of growing up as a boy is so insightful, so touching, so honest and, at times, heartbreaking.
She takes pains to point out that self-acceptance doesn’t magically happen when you transition, even if it’s absolutely the right thing to do for you. And even if it isn’t totally botched up, as hers sadly was.
As she says, we are all works in progress. In fact I soon realised that – while I wanted to learn about gender – talking to Jo ended up being so relevant to my own situation because it’s about being human… about seeking and finding and evolving your identity. It’s just a bit more challenging if that identity doesn’t feel right in the skin you’re born in.
It helps that Jo is also an endlessly fascinating character who has constantly reinvented herself, from hairdresser to prison worker to engineer to lawyer to actor and back to hairdresser! She even wrote a script about her life in lockdown.
If anyone can talk authoritatively about finding your voice and the roles we play, it's her.
For more about Jo:
Twitter Jo Sutherland @JoSutherland13
https://www.instagram.com › jo_sut...Jo Sutherland - Instagram
Organisations she supports:
Mermaids,assisting gender divers children and families https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
Awkward branch Productions: http://Www.awkwardbproductions.com
City Lit (she thoroughly recommends their range of creative courses):
Ad·https://www.citylit.ac.uk/browse/coursesCity Lit Courses - Weekday & Weekend Courses
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
https://www.cssd.ac.uk/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Verity Price beat 30,000 other aspiring speakers to become Africa’s first Toastmasters world champion, and the 6th woman in 80 years to win the prestigious accolade.
In this funny, honest, sometimes toe-curling episode, Verity tells us her ‘scarytale’ of going from a ragged life, to a rich one.
She explains how NOT ticking all the boxes society expected of her by 40 (husband, kids, career, own house, etc) was actually – eventually – the making of her… once she’d figured out how to build her resilience and find her voice. Oh, and ditch the dream of being a Hollywood actress/ popstar. A tricky, but wholly worthwhile road. (A detour that, incidentally, also led to Prince Charming, too...).
If you’ve ever not done something expected of you and felt bad about it, or felt you're not living an instagrammable #winninglife, this episode will help.
It will also help you reframe painful experiences as opportunities to grow and be less outcome-based and more moment-based. And genuinely enjoy the moment, rather than kid yourself that you are.
Verity – whose name fittingly means ‘truth’ – will inspire you to tell yours.
You can see her brilliant award winning talk here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k24vGzEjePo
You can find her on Instagram here:
@iamverity
LinkedIn: Verity Price, WCPS
www.iamverity.com
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
GPs have such a unique insight into what makes us healthy, and the state of a nation. And what I find so unique and fascinating about today's guest - Dr Zain Kapasi - is he couples this insight with huge self-awareness and desire to learn from his own experiences. I was feeling a bit bleurgh when I sat down to edit this episode and, afterwards, Zain totally cheered me up and inspired me to get back to chipping away at the habits I know help me.
He also reminded me that happiness and contentment are, often, choices. And how we structure our lives, so it contains joy, is a choice, as well as a creative act in itself. Even if we're busy people with high pressure jobs, families and other responsibilities.
He talks about the habits and routines he has practiced which have made such a difference to his contentment levels – one of the game changing routines being a creative one, where he gets up early to draw.
Zain explains how he sees the difference between pleasure and contentment. And the fact he believes we’re all on a bit of a rollercoaster everyday, with our mood fluctuating.
But again we’ve got choices about how we ride this rollercoaster. He’s got so many great ideas of things to fit in your day, your week to feel better, be more creative and enhance relationships - I'm definitely going to nick them!
Zain has a zest and curiosity for life that you can't help find infectious.
For more on Zain:
You can read his blog here: https://thegeneralprocrastinator.com/
And watch the social space, as Zain is planning to run retreats aimed at medics, and also has a children's book in the making - both of which we'll shout about on Big Juicy Creative's social channels, which you can find here:
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
I was totally awestruck when I first heard Jackee Holder speak. You could hear a pin drop in the massive room, so compelling was the way she told her story.
This generous, kind, beautiful soul refuses to let childhood trauma define her or damage her, but she constantly turns to creativity instinctively to heal. She helps others do this, and find their voices in general as she believes - as I do - that everyone has a story, their story, to tell, and has a right to do this.
Jackee's words are like a warm, comforting cup of tea and - while the word 'authentic' is totally overused - it's completely fitting for her. Whether you consider yourself a writer or not, writing is such a fantastic way to process our emotions and make sense of our lives. As she says 'the rough stuff equals the write stuff'. We can, as she does, grow from our hard experiences.
If you would like a wee nudge to get writing, or get started, this is the episode for you. Or you are processing trauma/difficulty, this will inspire you.
You can find Jackee here:
Instagram: @jackeeholderinspires
www.jackeeholder.com
You can follow me on:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook: @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
or drop me a line on suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
You know that way when women are described as a 'hot mess' and it's meant to convey that, while chaotic, there is still something a bit sexy about them? Yeah? OK. Well, that is NOT me in this episode. I am just fully a mess, with sadly not the hot bit. I describe this mental state I was in recently - which led to my falling off a creative cliff - in its full brutality and ugliness, with no glamourising. Why??!
I'm hoping that you will feel better about your own particular flavour of messiness - because all humans have some.
All humans have ups and downs, too. It's just we choose not (usually) to reveal them to the world, even to our friends, and especially not on social media. I think that's toxic for all our mental health.
So that's why I'm coming clean: because the shame that so many people feel when they have down periods, makes them much worse. And, as Brene Brown says, the way to stop the shame is to shine a light on it. Which is what I am trying to do here; channel my inner lighthouse.
I also don't believe in the tortured, anxious artist archetype who is massively productive when their mind is having a mental health moment. I think our minds are most productive and creative when we look after them and they can access some stillness- and I describe the ways I do this in this episode.
Most importantly is a sense of connection and community; I describe here the role of wild swimming with Cairngorms Wild Swimmers, martial arts at HMAC and Crossfit Cairngorms, in my recovery.
So, remember folks, while this podcast is optimistically called Big Juicy Creative - there is actually no such thing as a big, juicy, creative life 24/7. And, in REAL life, the low times lead us to the high times - often higher BECAUSE of the low times.
As you'll hear from this episode, I've learnt alot from this latest blip - and there are exciting big juicy creative adventures on the horizon because of it.
Thanks for listening and for all the messages listeners sent me in my absence. Namaste 🙏
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
As well as a chartered psychologist, Sarah Rozenthuler is also a leadership coach and a motivational speaker and author –this episode is centred around her book 'How to Have Meaningful Conversations'. If you've ever struggled to express yourself in a tricky situation, especially where emotions run high, then this is a must-listen. As you’ll hear, she truly sees conversation as a creative process – or rather a co-creative process.
She talks touchingly about why this subject is so close to her heart, particularly in relation to the conversations she had with her ex-husband, which she says she wouldn’t have written the book had she not gone through that process. She also opens up about her spiritual side, and the role she thinks telling our story plays in our happiness as humans.
For more on Sarah:
See https://sarahrozenthuler.com/
To buy her book 'How to Have Meaningful Conversations' click here
To get in touch with Suzy, host of Big Juicy Creative, see www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk or email suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Culture loves a good cat fight. Think Megan vs Kate. Angelina vs Aniston. It loves to make it seem like women are constantly hating on each other.
Besides from being bulls**t, it's really damaging to peddle these narratives (but culture, as always, has a reason for doing it which is also toxic). I talk to comms expert Beth Collier about why and we plan our forthcoming Zoom brainstorm to creatively tackle this problem! (Join us - DM me/ suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk).
Namely, the nasty narrative distracts from getting female voices heard - and, with all the problems with world is currently facing, we need more feminine qualities coming to the fore to solve them. Like empathy, collaboration, nurturing, listening, creativity.....
Of course men can have these too but we're not exactly seeing them in spades from our male leaders right now, are we?
Please note, no bras were harmed or burned in the making of this episode. Why on earth would we do that? Bras are bloomin' expensive.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
For more on Beth:
Website: www.beth-collier.com
Curious Minds newsletter: https://bethcollier.substack.com/
Beth Collier believes that when you improve your communications skills, you’ll improve everything. Your performance. Your relationships. Your life.
And she helps people do that. She even has her own special acronym to help people get their messages out more effectively – PACE.
She's a curious creative soul whose curiosity has led her on many different paths and to many different countries from working in TV in Hollywood to, now, campaigning for more creativity in the financial services industry.
She’s also a massive advocate of supporting other women.
In fact, to that end, Beth and I are hosting a Zoom call 2nd December bringing women together to brainstorm creative ideas of how we can support each other more, and get more female stories being told and heard.
Given how much female voices are drowned out by males, especially where it matters (did you see the sea of suits at COP26?!) this is something we both feel very passionate about.
DM me, or email suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk, for details! The more the merrier!
For more on Beth:
Website: www.beth-collier.com
Her newsletter, Curious Minds: https://bethcollier.substack.com/
Beth has a program called Creativity for Business for corporate clients to show them that creativity is not a skill reserved for artists. She's about to launch a new workshop tailored for Internal Communicators (called Creativity for IC).
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Since I’ve come out of lockdown I’ve felt like life has ramped up so quickly. I’m exhausted. I know if I keep going as fast, burn out is around the corner.
I know I’m not alone. There’s so much talk at the moment about people burning out. It’s obvious that our go-go-go more-more-more do-do-do lifestyles of crash and burn is killing us. Not to mention killing the planet.
Today’s podcast guest Anna Murray of creative company Patternity, uses nature to influence the way she lives, and the way she creates, in a much more seasonal, rhythmical way.
Anna believes this is a much better, more joyful, sustainable, fulfilling healthy way to live. And she explains why on today’s episode. She also believes creativity is hugely undervalued in our culture but is actually the key to changing our lives for the better, and making them sustainable.
If you feel any craving in you to live a bit slower and more sustainably (I do!) then tune in. More than anyone I’ve talked to before, Anna inspired me to stop spouting about how I’m going to slow down and actually DO IT.
This was a really joyful, hopeful, uplifting conversation even though we cover some heavy topics – like the end of the planet!!
For more about Anna Murray & Patternity:
Her company website: https://www.patternity.org/about/
(Check out the Patternity gratitude journal and prints - they're lush :) )
Instagram: @anna_patternity and @patternity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PATTERNITY
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
I'm usually the one doing the interviewing, but in this episode I get interviewed on my own podcast - and I realise how easy it is to blurt out stuff you've never admitted before on air, when you're enjoying the banter....
I'm interviewed by the lovely Lizzie Benton who I met on LinkedIn (don't judge us, it's more fun than it sounds), who then came on my podcast and who then knitted me a fabulous rainbow crown to remind me of my worth.
We cover some hardcore topics, as well as lots of amusing ones… like the hardest things we’ve ever had to say…. Disappointing people, especially family members…. Why hairdressers are cringe... Depression…. Female bullies… Why it can be hard for women to voice uncomfortable truths…. Why companies talk crap about embracing creativity…. Having the balls to live the life you want to, rather than the one you’re told you should…
Basically, it's a brilliant convo between two women who have been through some emotional adversity and so, now, are determined to live big juicy and creative.
For more on Lizzie Benton see:
Her podcast: Make It Thrive; the company culture podcast
Her website: www.libertymind.co.uk
Instagram: @lizzie_benton_
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn:@suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Fashion designer and gender fluidity campaigner RobRoy SW admits that he is stubborn. He is chaos. He is weird. And he's learnt that, rather than fight all these different parts of himself, he's much better off embracing them and finding a way to express them all.
Life got better when he fully embraced his feminine side, which he now expresses through his drag queen alter ego Sigh Wren.
I loved his perspective on expressing our feminine and masculine sides to be ‘genderfabulous’ (this is a good episode if you want more clarity around terminology here, as I did, especially if your kids are talking about gender to you - as mine are).
It's taken him 53 years, and it's been a long and, at times, very painful journey but I feel very privileged that he shared it with me with such honesty.
For more about RobRoy SW:
Website
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
The biggest thing that stops us from creating for creativity's sake - like no one's watching, as I always advocate in this podcast's jingle - is often money. We measure 'value' and 'payback' so much in exclusively financial terms in our culture.
And I get it - I forget that creativity has a value way beyond financial sometimes. Doing this podcast reminded me of the huge payback this podcast has given me over the last year - some of these benefits are ones that money can't buy. And some of them really surprised me.
For my top learnings after a year of Big Juicy Creative podcasting, listen in! And please share with anyone who might benefit from this reminder, too.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Exhaustion and stress in personal relationships are two things that probably have the biggest detrimental effect on my creative mojo - and both of these things have been a feature in my life recently.
As no stranger to depressive illness, I know how important it is to manage emotions (rather than repress them) and creativity is the best way I've found to process difficult feelings.
I share a few ways creativity helps me move my feelings on, so they don't spiral. I hope you find it helpful and if you think it could help someone else, please share!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Artist Claire Macdonald (last week's episode - 82)'s work has really inspired me. She talks about how art is a gateway, for all of us, for understanding, empathy, connection, joy, play, meaning- so many benefits!
I want to experience these benefits so, inspired by Claire, I decide in this episode to create an art installation (even though I don't really have a scoobie how to do this) in the woods.
She advises me on how to go about doing this, believing that art installations, and art in general, are definitely not just for people that call themselves artists.
She also advises: drop the perfectionism and just do it, don't obsess about the outcome because the experience of creating IS the art, and where you reap all these benefits.
I thought after a year talking so much about creativity and pushing yourself out your creative comfort zone, I should put my money where my mouth is. This is the start of it. An art installation will be created soon to mark a year of the Big Juicy Creative podcast!
Over to you - what are you going to create, so you too can reap all these big juicy benefits of being creative?
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Claire has spent hours and hours researching the effect of art, and particularly creating art in collaboration with others, on wellbeing. But you just have to listen to this one hour to reap all the benefits of her wisdom!
Clue: creativity is really good for our health. Especially if we do it in our communities.
In this episode she pulls out her key takeaways so we can all benefit, and create spaces around us where we thrive. She explains how, and why, art can be a gateway to understanding, empathy, connection, joy, play and meaning.
For more on Claire Macdonald artist:
Her website: https://clairemacdonaldartist.com
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
We all judge people. It's human. And it's increasingly encouraged in our digital world. But being judgmental is not good for us, for others or for our creativity. We can learn how to be more open & less judgy. Here's what I'm doing to address my judgy-ness - especially when it comes to a certain group of women that I judge particularly harshly (and makes me a bit of a hypocrite). To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Within a few minutes interviewing dancer James Montgomery we are talking about sexual fluidity, bullying and vulnerability - and how creativity can help you build your confidence and be who you really are. That gives the measure of this no holds barre-d episode!
James is someone with the confidence to be who he really is, which he credits to dance. From a little boy who had a penchant for shaking his booty and wearing heels, to a teenager who identified as bisexual (before it was trendy) to a grown man running a B&B with his partner in the Scottish Highlands, he's someone who joys in following his instinct and living big and juicy.
He shares how, and why, he does this, in the hope it will inspire you, too, to do this. He's already inspired me, as he's the reason I'm constantly embarrassing my 2 sons with my hip hop moves around the house and sometimes (ouch!) even in public. #sorrynotsorry
A joyous, juicy episode.
For more on James:
His website: http://www.jamesmontgomery.org/
Find him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jamesmontgomerydi/
For Cairngorm School of Dance:
https://www.instagram.com/cairngormschoolofdance
https://www.facebook.com/cairngormschoolofdance
For more on his Highland B&B: https://www.instagram.com/firhall/
Or his B&B on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/firhall/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Procrastination is not only the thief of your time, it also robs your creative dreams and is associated with low self worth.
I am a massive procrastinator. That's why for this episode - another 'on location' broadcast - I quiz my mate Claire Merrick on how she overcame procrastination and achieved her lifelong dream to write a play.
Loads of great advice here if you are struggling to just do it, whatever 'it' is.
This is also a poignant episode because it traces Claire's journey and shows what can happen if you put your mind to it. Claire appeared in Episode 26 when she talked about her burning desire to write a play, but hadn't overcome her procrastination issues yet.
For more on the lovely Claire Merrick, see here
She's also on Big Juicy Creative episode 26 here.
And look out for her play - Table - coming to the stage soon!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This is different from any other I've done because 1) it's Prosecco-fuelled and I've never hosted a podcast while tipsy 2) it's with one of my best mates, Eva Long, so there are no holds barred.
In editing I was tempted to cut out the bits where I sound a bit ranty and, well, a bit of a dick. But I've kept it all in because my intentions are good: I'm trying to be as honest as I can about the complexity of (female) friendships and what sometimes gets in the way of supporting each other put ourselves out there.
Eva is rocking putting herself out there lately (with the inspiration of this podcast, I'm happy to add!). She wrote a song to save the hedgehogs, which she set to music and ended up performing it on the main stage of a music festival. She's also just about to launch an innovative property business with TV presenter Charles Hanson (Antiques Road Show, Bargain Hunt).
Eva is a naturally creative person in how she lives her life, which I learn from this conversation is something she has inherited from her parents, despite their best efforts to push her into more 'sensible' pursuits. But, as she says, creativity is innate and she's much happier when expressing hers, whether that's in Tango dancing or gardening or cooking or renovating houses.
In this podcast she talks about the power of creativity to help her both find, and lose, herself in a busy family life.
NB: Eva wants to clarify that her Greek family helped the Cretan resistance
For more about Eva and saving hedgehogs:
Instagram: @eva.r.long
Eva will soon be launching a historic buildings property business with TV presenter Charles Hanson (www.charleshanson.com) called Hanson Rose.
Why not help spread the word and raise awareness of the worrying plight of hedgehogs? Download the attached PDF so you, too, can learn Eva's Hedgehog song and perform it yourself!
She is currently adapting the story of Lemmy the Hedgehog into a play for primary schools to use free in return for a donation to hedgehogstreet.org.
To donate to save the hedgehogs:
https://donate.ptes.org/hedgehog/HHINdexCC.aspx
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
Contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Stefanie is a fascinating, formidable woman who has so much wisdom to share on feeding your creative soul, while also feeding many other mouths that depend on her - not only the many Croft animals, but also her 3 kids, one of which is a 4.5 month old lockdown baby!
If anyone has the excuse of 'no time for creativity' it's Stefanie. But she weaves creativity, and connection to the land, into her busy day to day life in ingenious ways. Why? Because she deeply understands the need, value and catharsis of doing so.
She lives an alternative life, immersed in nature and largely away from screens (though you can find her poetic posts on Instagram).
Many of us have realised the benefits of nature in the pandemic and Stefanie offers a no-wifi space where we can visit and explore this connection more deeply, with her encouragement. And that's what you get a taste of in this podcast.
This is a special on-location, outside broadcast recorded while I was on holiday, staying in a wood cabin on Stefanie's Airbnb on her Highland Croft. You will feel like you are on the Croft with us, among the sheep, cows, chicks, pigs and pug!
For more about Stefanie:
On Instagram: @highland_croft
On Facebook: @highlandcroft01
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Sheena Renea was sentenced to life imprisonment at 17 for murdering her ex-husband.
She talks openly and honestly about what led up to the crime, her darkest times and how she transformed her self-worth, sense of identity, confidence and purpose in prison; how creativity was a key part in this process and finding her voice.
This is a hugely uplifting conversation, particularly for anyone who feels they are currently in a hopeless situation. If you know someone who feels they are, why not share this episode with them?
Trigger warning: we talk about sexual abuse, suicidal ideation, addiction and rape
For more info on Sheena Renea:
Her non-profit Prison Did Not Break Me
Her Prison Did Not Break Me Facebook Group
Prison Did Not Break Me on Instagram
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
For the first time, Big Juicy Creative goes on location to bring you creative inspiration, broadcasting directly from the beach, so you can feel for yourself what it would be like to go on a creative retreat.
Following on from last week's episode with photographer and creative mentor Kim Grant, Suzy meets up with Kim on a beach in Moray Speyside, in the north of Scotland.
Kim will guide you on this creative 'Random Act of Living' (RAL), involving mindfulness, writing and taking pictures, which you can try anywhere (beach optional!).
Do get in touch to let me know what you think, or with any of your inspired creations via suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk or via social media @bigjuicycreativeliving (Instagram & Facebook handle).
For more about Kim Grant, whose company is called Visualising Scotland:
Youtube
The nature writing course we originally met at was run by Rebecca on the Wing
For more on the Moray Coast see here
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Have you ever felt like you don't fit in? You don't belong? Or like an outsider in your life? Landscape photographer Kim Grant knows these feelings well and, in this podcast, explains how creativity and nature - which she believes go hand in hand - helped give her a sense of true belonging, happiness and gratitude (not the forced type!).
She shares her story generously and honestly, with lots of tips to follow her lead.
She's also a creative mentor, helping others find their creative voice so has lots to say on this - especially what to do with others' judgement.
I defy you not to listen to this podcast and not want to run out and explore Scotland, especially its northern beaches.
For more about Kim Grant:
Youtube
The nature writing course we met was run by Rebecca on the Wing
For more on the Moray Coast see here
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
I’ve heard a lot of people complaining that social media is draining them, especially if they're using it for work as well as personal stuff, and particularly as the world gets busier again.
I’ve felt these feelings too recently.
Fact is though, social media ain’t going away.
So let’s focus on how we can work it to our advantage, work it for our wellbeing, use it as a force for good in ourselves, in others and in the world generally.
And it CAN BE.
I tell you my thoughts on this in this podcast in 7 ideas for you to try – and this isn’t a ‘switch off your device’ or ‘delete your apps’ tirade. This is a way for us to integrate social media in a healthy way, so it supports the building of healthy creative souls in ourselves and in others.
Please listen & share and why not forward to a friend who is struggling with social media right now, or tag them in the comments below…..
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Today’s a really special episode because it’s with a friend I went to school with – Ruth - who is training to be a Church of Scotland minister. Because of our familiarity, we go deep quickly into potentially taboo topics; like the fact I don't believe in God, and she's dedicated her life to him.
We also cover her expertise on dealing with loss, whether that's through death, divorce or the fizzling out of a friendship. We also cover her uber creative creative tools which she uses in everyday life to see new perspectives and squeeze the juice out of life.
Ruth was always my most Tigger-like friend at school and I’m glad to say she hasn’t lost any of her energy or calmed down. Her zest for life is infectious.
For more about Church of Scotland
https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchofscotland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchscotland
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchofscotland/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/churchscotland
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
In this episode, I ask a stranger the meaning of life and have an epiphany on the back of it, about the 4 main things I've learnt from doing a podcast series on getting our mojo back.
The '4 pillars' I identify will get you thriving through this pesky pandemic and far beyond. Tune in to find out what they are, and how they can help you lead a bigger, juicier, more creatively contented life.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Solo episodes are back! After 25 interviews over 2 months for the Spring Series on getting our mojo restored, I'm back talking to myself.
This episode is about the power of reflection. Did you know regular reflection of 15 minutes daily can actually change the structure of your brain?
There are SO many reasons why self-reflection is a good idea. For health. For happiness. For productivity. For being a better human generally.
But how to fit it in, especially as life gets busier again?
Never fear, Suzy is here with some ideas that you can build seamlessly, and with a laugh, into your life. (Err, that's me, don't know why I suddenly slipped into the 3rd person... I blame a love of rhyme).
Also on this episode is the world premiere of 'Coviderata'; my take on the famous brilliant 'Desiderata' incorporating a Covid update. Tune in to see if I have butchered this artwork, or not.
Enjoy!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Today is the grand finale of the Spring Series! I wanted to save Edwina Dunn OBE until the last slot because she has been there, done that, and has the t-shirt (and wisdom) to show for it.
She, along with her husband, is the brains behind the hugely successful, game changing Tesco Club Card - starting the revolution to use 'big data' to understand people better. This entrepreneurial genius move, plus the brains obviously, made her a very, very rich lady as a result.
But in this podcast, what fascinates me most is that she talks openly about money and power and questions how much fulfilment these things actually bring. In fact, she is SO passionate about women in particular finding their fulfilment that she has created a data-based survey (link at end) so you can determine which fulfilment 'type' you are; this self-awareness will help you find your fulfilment more effectively in future.
She believes if more women do, then the world will be a better place - and she's determined to make the world a better place. Hence setting up the awesome The Female Lead. Edwina is the personification of a woman that supports women, passionate about putting the spotlight on, and celebrating, them in all their varying glory.
One of the main things this series has taught me is the importance of connecting to yourself, of enjoying your one precious life and feeling fulfilled. And that conversations - and who you have them with, about what - are all fundamental to a happy, meaningful life. Edwina covers all these things, so there couldn't be a more apt end to my Spring Back series!
For more about Edwina:
https://www.thefemalelead.com/
You can take Edwina's survey to find out which 'fulfilment type' you are on this website, here: https://survey.thefemalelead.com/#/landing
You can also find The Female Lead, and its brilliant, funny, inspiring posts on:
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
This podcast I’m doing something I’ve never done: interviewing three guests at once.
So who is this special trio? Well, being Scottish and living in Scotland (not that you’d know it from my Somerset tones) I’m a big advocate of celebrating Scottish creativity – and I wanted to make sure we had some Scottish creative female voices on this Spring series.
Asking around the Scottish creative industry scene, these 3 lovely lasses were recommended to me:
Jane Strachan – who is the owner of creative agency PUNK
Jessica Mullen – who is the cofounder of design and innovation company CreateFuture
Fiona Proudler, board director at agency Tayburn
I've brought them on to brainstorm this topic of how we can get our collective mojo back, and feel a bit more inspired, after a tough year.
In typical Scots no-BS fashion, they had lots of practical, no-nonsense ideas, including why you should never buy someone a bottle of wine for their birthday and why threesomes are good (OK - yes, that last one is clickbait.... but if you REALLY want more on this latter saucy subject check out the podcast with Genevieve Le Jeune just before this one - episode 67!)
For more on our Scottish trio:
Jane Strachan
https://www.linkedin.com/in/strachanjane/
Fiona Proudler
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-proudler-009361/
Jessica Mullen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamarymullen/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Genevieve Le Jeune thinks we'd all live bigger, juicier lives if we (but especially women) talked about sex more, were honest about what we want and asked for it.
As the founder of female sexual empowerment network Skirt Club, she's learnt alot about sex. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about the link between sexual and creative energy (and how you can tap it); why we should masturbate more, especially at 4pm in the work day (again, especially women); and why empowering women sexually, & ditching the shame around sex, is a key part of the feminism jigsaw.
Basically, if you're not fully exploring your sexuality, you're not fully living - and if you want to find more about how to do this, listen to this podcast!
The idea for Skirt Club arose after Genevieve had attended 'play' parties with her then longterm boyfriend and soon realised she was doing things for his pleasure, not her own – and so she created this community for empowerment and self discovery.
She talks openly and without any shame about her high sex drive, her own sexual experiences, which are many and varied, and her penchant for a 4pm masturbation break, which she claims boosts her productivity, creativity and general happiness with life.
More about Genevieve:
Instagram: @skirtclub @genevievelejeune
https://skirtclub.co.uk/home
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Jane Evans has always been radical. If something gets on her goat, she turns her creativity to it and tackles it head-on, making people think differently.
And she makes me think differently about the pandemic and its stresses. Jane in this podcast feels like the big sister I never had, giving me that reassuring wisdom that I need to hear right now.
She made me really chill out and see my life in a longer perspective (fingers crossed). As she says, we're often driven by short termism and fear. She tells the touching story of how she went from a successful career to finding herself at the foodbank.
Many of us fear the foodbank and think that shows a 'failed' story. But it's just a chapter in a story. Hers has now moved on and she's about to make more money than she ever has.... and she's got more energy than ever to, as she says, 'smash the God damn patriarchy'.
Have a listen and share with anyone else that might be needing to hear an experienced perspective on the inevitable ups and downs of a life.
Her book - Invisible to valuable - is out on May 27th (which, all going well, should be the day this podcast releases!)
Where you can find Jane:
Instagram (@Uninvisibility)
www.uninvisibility.com
Her book is available here
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Rebecca Rowntree is a creative director & hosts a podcast telling the stories of women in the creative industries, and the challenges they've met on their way up the career ladder.
She talks about how everyone is, obviously, individual but the common thread between many stories is a lack of confidence in finding a voice - something she has personally experienced, too.
But, in her opinion, this difficult, but ultimately extremely worthwhile, journey to express yourself truly gives more meaning and connection to your life. However, as she says, there are no shortcuts to doing 'the work' to get there (sorry!).
Rebecca really believes that self-discovery and knowledge are key to living a fulfilling, meaningful life and that nurturing your creativity is central to that process.
She has many creative strings to her bow from writing stories and drawing in her spare time, to podcasting. Her podcast is called This Way Up and is all about sharing women’s stories of scaling the career ladder in the creative industries.
For more on Rebecca:
This Way Up podcast:
https://www.thiswayup.io/home
Rebecca mentions the episode with Sophie Williams in this podcast. You can catch it on Apple here
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter: @thiswayuppodcast
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Susie Davis is one of the co-founders of The Family Space, which is a parenting coaching company on a mission to help families connect and thrive. And boy! Did I need her at some points in lockdown....
Susie is a psychologist, with counselling and systemic family therapy expertise. Bereaved as a child, divorced, remarried, a stepmother and a mother to her own 4 children - one of which she had in lockdown – she knows the reality and challenge of modern parenting.
I did a 6 week coaching course with the Family Space which included much appreciated one to ones with Susie. Especially at those, err 'challenging' or 'spirited' moments that we had.... There were quite a few.....
The Family Space has really challenged me to think differently about parenting. To realise that I needed to question some of my beliefs about parenting and think more creatively about what actually works for my unique, individual one-of-a-kind boys.
Tune in to find out how.
For more about The Family Space:
https://www.thefamilyspace.co.uk/
Instagram: @thefamilyspace
Facebook: @TheFamilySpaceUK
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Ale Lariu was named in Fast Company’s “League of Extraordinary Women” along with the likes of Hillary Clinton and Oprah Winfrey, and was also included in the publication's "Most Creative People in Business" list.
So, she's the perfect person to ask how to get our creative mojo back and feel more inspired again. Having lived in the Amazon jungle when a toddler, she has a fearless streak, which she encourages in others - especially women - in order to create a better world.
Her expertise is making businesses stronger and more creative and to take positive action - and she's full of practical advice about what we, as individuals can do, to take creative action for better lives (and, indeed, as she says, a better world).
She's passionate about helping women find their voices; a mission she has dedicated much of her working life to in setting up the global creative network SheSays. Why? Because she reckons the world would be a better place if more women, in particular, found their voices. She's convinced, for example, there would be less wars and less stupid advertising!
For more on Ale:
https://weareshesays.com/
Twitter: @shesayslondon
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Andre Radmall is a psychotherapist and life coach, who has worked at the Priory, and on Harley Street.
He specialises in helping clients rewrite their life story, so they feel good about their lives, and so they can then create a new, better future. He draws on his experience as a therapist and actor to help people break out of stuck patterns.
A lot of us have got into a few ruts this pandemic.... He has lots of practical ideas to get me (and you) out.
He is also ‘THE’ go-to guy on pivoting – which must be in the running for word of the pandemic…. He not only has a podcast on this subject – Pivot Points – but he’s also about to publish a book on this topic too, called How to Pivot Your Life Story. So he is the perfect person to speak to about narrate our life stories, especially the last pandemic chapter, so we can create the best chapters of our lives in future.....
For more on Andre:
https://www.andreradmall.com/
instagram @andreradmall
twitter: @RadmallAndre
Pivot Points podcast
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Sarah Morris is an HR trailblazer with a 'no mission is impossible' mindset... That's why I thought I'd get her on the podcast and ask her what we can do, coming out of the global pandemic, to be in the best position to thrive at work in future.
What I love about this conversation is how she's determined to take the positives from the pandemic. And that requires, first of all, that you are self-aware and you reflect on your experiences. She takes full responsibility for her experiences - as an employee, colleague, leader, wife, mother -and implores us to do the same.
She's Group Chief People Officer at Compass Group, she’s a committee member of the 30% club, which aims to get more women on FTSE 100 boards, and she’s part of the Women’s Network Forum whose goal is advancing gender balance and equality. Fair to say, she's going to have her work cut out on the gender equality front, now, due to Covid.
For more on Sarah:
@30percentclub
LinkedIn
twitter @sarahmorris2015
Authors & researchers Jane Cunningham and Philippa Roberts are difficult women and proud of it.
They're especially proud of their new book 'Brandsplaining', written during the pandemic, which lifts the lid on how culture purposely makes us feel crap sometimes, so that we buy stuff. Especially women. And how it does this very sneakily.
This podcast made me realise how damaging this idea that females need to be 'good girls' has been in my life, and how to deal with it.
If you've ever not felt good enough (and I know from many messages and conversations that this feeling is all-pervasive) this episode is for you.
While we focus on girls in this interview, boys are also increasingly getting the same treatment that we've had for years, which they touch on in their book (we didn't have time for this today - but we will definitely be covering it in future!).
For more on Jane & Philippa:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-cunningham-35615315/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/philippa-roberts-39abb625/
Instagram: @plhresearch
Buy their book Brandsplaining here
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Jennifer Blaine is a writer, performer, comedian and life coach, known for her one-woman shows which have the knack of delving into serious and socially relevant issues with humour.
She's the only guest so far I've invited back to the podcast. Why? Because after speaking to her at launch she really sparked my creativity with her rallying cries.
She's back to do the same this Spring and, again, has reminded me of WHY I need to make more time and space for my creativity. Also, this time, we discuss the relationship between creativity and money and how to make that work for you, too.
For her, and I think many of us, having a creative outlet makes her a better parent and helps her live through a global pandemic with more resilience.
She’s also written a book on creativity – called The Power of Creativity – and she really walks her talk. I interviewed her in episode 4 of this podcast and she inspired me so much, I thought I’d invite her back to help me – and you – get your mojo back.
For more on Jennifer:
https://jenniferblaine.wordpress.com/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Amy Charlotte Kean, in this podcast, explains to me how she WAS the girl giving all the fucks but how writing her book - The Little Girl Who Gave Zero Fucks - helped her heal, be proud of herself again and find her voice.
Writing this book followed the most traumatic time in her life (think awful bullying bosses and anti-anxiety meds addiction) and she now channels her creativity to ensure she NEVER feels like this again.
Amy is the epitome of a creative polymath. As well as working in innovation in the advertising industry and being an author, she’s published a poetry book, too, she’s about to launch an audio sitcom’s & she’s also currently writing a musical.
Think she’s done with that? No! Well let’s chuck lecturer on art and culture in there, too, as well as one of LinkedIn’s top voices of 2020. Oh, and she also campaigns for diversity and inclusion at conference and events….. And, she says, she's STILL not proud enough of herself and there's more to come.
Amy definitely made me question myself (in the style of M People): What have you done lately, Suzy, to make you feel proud?
For more about Amy:
Twitter: @keano81
The Little Girl Who Gave Zero Fucks
House of Weeds
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Anna co-founded a company called Shine. And, like it says on the tin, it helps people - women in particular - shine, and she has plenty of tips here to help us do that. She makes a compelling case for why now, coming out of the pandemic, is the perfect time to step into the light.
The name 'Shine' reminds me of the brilliant Marianne Williamson quote that:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?"
Anna has made it her mission to support, embolden and ask other women 'who are you not to shine?'.
I was lucky enough to attend one of Shine's courses in her beautiful home in Lyme Regis and it was such a great experience; when you bring women together in a non-judgmental, encouraging, creative environment, it's magic, not to mention loads of fun.
Shine helped me plant many of the ideas for what I’m doing with this podcast now, which just goes to show how important it is we take the time to invest in ourselves and think about what really matters to us.
Anna has loads of great advice on how to start this process in this pod - take a listen and, more importantly, take some action!
Where you can find Anna:
Shine On (the free group she mentions in the podcast) can be found here: https://members.shineon.app/feed
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Jeremy Davies is head of communications at the Fatherhood Institute, which promotes the importance of hands-on dads.
So far in this series I've explored a lot about how mums are feeling about the pandemic and what we can do about the fact Covid has led to a weird 1950s timewarp for many. But - what about the dads? How are dads feeling?
I've seen very little coverage of this. Jeremy gives me a fascinating, research-backed insight into this topic. Some of what he said was surprising, and he really made me see the pandemic from another point of view - in fact, he's helped me see parenting and inequality from a completely new perspective!
He's also full of practical tips, which I'm definitely going to be trying. As a former journalist, too, he has some great advice about interrogating the narratives we're often fed by media and whether they're always accurate / helpful.
For more on Jeremy/the Fatherhood Institute:
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/
LinkedIn
Twitter: @fatherhoodinst
https://www.instagram.com/dontforgetdads
https://www.facebook.com/fatherhoodinstitute/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Nicola Kemp wants to live in a world where everyone's creative voice is equal and we all have the right to tell our stories and be listened to. That's what she spends a lot of her professional life, as a writer and speaker, campaigning for, and she has lots of ideas about how we call all contribute to making this better world.
She's particularly passionate about the voices of women and minority groups being heard. So much so, in fact, that her 7 year old son Joseph tells people her job is 'feminist', which she's quite happy with.
She's a great storyteller and manages to get hard-hitting truths across with such grace, humility and humour (even when trying to do this while also trying to remember the difference between an adverb and verb for her son.....)
For more on Nicola:
uk.linkedin.com/in/nickykc
https://www.instagram.com/maternityreprieve/
twitter: @nickykc
https://www.creativebrief.com/bite/authors/nicola-kemp
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Has the pandemic pushed you to love or loathe your body more?
With many of us hitting the biscuit tin to comfort ourselves (surely not just me?!), many of us have fallen out of love with our bodies. But don't worry! Former GMTV fitness presenter & body confidence coach Astrid is on hand with LOADS of practical advice.
Having struggled with body confidence and eating disorders from a young age, Astrid knows what it takes to overcome the all-too-common feeling of being unhappy with how we look.
She is living proof that you can go from this, to 'romancing your body' everyday (the title of her book). Even though we didn't meet in person (more's the pity), I could feel her happy vibes and love-life glow over the Zoom waves.
For more on Astrid:
https://www.astridlonghurst.com/
https://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
Facebook: @Bodyconfidencecoaching1
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Are you confident speaking up? In a meeting? Doing a presentation? In a difficult conversation with family?
Lynsay-Anne Gould helps people find the confidence to speak out and get their voice out into the world.
As a podcast coach, she's helped loads of people (including me) do it and so knows a load about what holds people back.
And what holds us back is - generally - different depending on gender. Surprise, surprise women are more held back - generally - by mindset and by playing small.
Lynsay's passionate about overcoming this, not least because she has 2 daughters, so she's got loads of nuggets of wisdom as well as a very rousing speech about it at the end!
For more about Lynsay-Anne:
https://www.lynsayanne.com/
Lynsay runs the 'Podcasting for Business' community on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1812987755694279/https://www.instagram.com/lynsayannegould/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynsay-gould-72610415/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Mildred Talabi is a coach who specialises in helping people be more visible, particularly on LinkedIn and particularly women.
If you've ever felt that LinkedIn isn't for you.... that it's a bit boring, or full of self-promoting ego-fuelled types after purely transactional relationships, then this episode will make you think differently.
Mildred is successfully building her tribe on LinkedIn, doing things differently, and she's urging you to join in, too, and embrace your wild and your rebel on there, too. She's got some tips about how you get started - so, see you there :)
More on Mildred:
http://mildredtalabi.com/
https://www.facebook.com/MildredTalabiOfficial
https://twitter.com/mildredtalabi
https://www.instagram.com/mildredtalabi/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Janey Lee Grace is best known for her job presenting BBC Radio 2 alongside Steve Wright in the afternoons. But she's also a best selling author, an eco campaigner, a visibility coach, and a podcaster, hosting the Alcohol Free Life.
She draws very honestly on her experiences revealing that, despite the successful facade, underneath it she was struggling hugely with self-worth. She says this lack of self-worth, which leads to a lack of self-care, is at the core of so many problems, including a reliance on alcohol to feel better - and she has lots of practical advice about how to overcome this all-too-common feeling.
I have to admit, after a hard day juggling homeschool and work I was fantasizing about a large G&T.... This episode totally made me rethink that strategy because, while I thought it would make me feel better, Janey explained why it doesn't, and why she's not a fan of the Mums Wine Club culture in particular.
Where you can find Janey:
https://janeyleegrace.com/
https://www.instagram.com/janeyleegrace
https://www.facebook.com/janeyleegraceloves/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeyleegrace/
Buy her book Happy Healthy Sober
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
The deliciously rebellious Lizzie Benton is the founder of Liberty Mind, a consultancy specialising in creating good, inclusive company cultures where everyone feels they can be themselves. Sound good huh?
To make work better for all of us, she reckons we all need to be causing more 'good trouble' at work and having more thought-provoking, culture-changing conversations at the watercooler... (ah, the watercooler, remember that?!)
This episode is full of tonnes of ideas to help us all thrive by empowering us to change company culture for the better.
It's the audio equivalent (for me anyway!) of watching Braveheart as Lizzie's words are such a rallying cry to fight for change and jump into action - like Mel Gibson brandishing the Saltire and screaming 'freeeeeeeddddddooooommmmmm'. You will feel - as she encourages - like starting a mutiny afterwards. I hope.
To find Lizzie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-benton/
https://libertymind.co.uk/
https://libertymind.co.uk/company-culture-podcast/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Big Juicy Creative podcast is available on all major platforms, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or directly from my website: https://www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk/podcast
Allison Arden quickly scaled the ranks in publishing, finding herself with the top job, alongside raising young kids.
She says she was living a "very full life and juggling many balls, but often feeling like I was running too fast and going through the motions without any meaningful end. And that didn’t feel like living – at all’.
To feel like she was living again, she went on a mission to reconnect with her creativity and playfulness, ending up writing a book about this. That book changed her life and outlook, and inspired her to set up a new company more in line with her belief in creativity and its relation to emotions.
This is a must-listen if you want to get back in your creative flow.
For more about Allison:
http://www.allisonarden.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonarden/
https://elementsofus.com/
Podcast: https://elementsofus.com/podcasts
Book: The Book of Doing
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Nicki Bass is an executive coach who helps people build their resilience, and their leadership skills, through outdoor adventure.
She’s also a fellow podcaster, hosting The Everyday Adventure podcast. Before coaching and workshops, she spent 17 years as an officer in the British Army, working in high stress situations, where she learnt, in her words’ ‘that it’s by facing situations outside of our comfort zone, that we grow our internal resources and improve our ability to face uncertainty and challenge'.
Nicki is full of great advice for how we can spring back amid so much uncertainty and in a world that feels far from normal or comfortable.
For more about Nicki:
Instagram: @resilienceatwork
Facebook: Resilience at Work
Linkedin: @nickibass
Podcast: https://www.resiliencework.co.uk/the-everyday-adventure-podcast
Founder of Resilience at Work ltd
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Lea Jovy-Ford is one of the cofounders and COO of online learning programme Beyond School. She’s an ex management consultant, qualified NLP Practitioner, former personal trainer and holistic health coach and pioneer of the digital nomad movement.
She has a blended, multi-racial family with 4 children – 2 sons and 2 daughters – and her wife Becky. All four are home educated. I invited her on because I'm worried I may have scarred my kids for life attempting to home school them and wanted some advice to recapture the love of family learning. But I got so much more than just this!
We cover a lot of ground: the importance of interests, why we need to be more flexible about learning, 'yes' days, how sex (everyday for her!) can help boost creativity, how you get your kids to help in the house, money..... This is definitely a woman leading a rich life in many regards who actively manages her mojo.
For more on Lea:
https://beyondschool.co/
https://www.facebook.com/beyondschool.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leajovy/
https://twitter.com/BeyondSchool_Co
https://www.instagram.com/beyondschool.co/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Juliet Bernard is the owner of Bluebear PR & former editor of a knitting magazine. She 'pivoted' (yes, that word!) her PR business from specialising in marketing agencies to service craft-related clients.
As well as her job and her passion, knitting has also helped her through some anxious times in her life... all of which she talks about in this big juicy chat. Her 40% tip is currently helping me....
For more on Juliet:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julietbernard/
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Claire is an award-winning consumer PR & brand reputation expert with oodles of experience working in top PR agencies. She also holds an MSc in Innovation, Creativity & Leadership from City University London, and she’s written a book to boost your creative mojo called In Your Element. She’s now founder of Now Go Create, which helps individuals, teams and leaders up the creative ante in their business.
But what I’m most drawn to about Claire, as well as her many brilliant creativity hacks, is her humour and honesty and the way she keeps it real. Last time we spoke we had a laugh about how we both felt like slugs creatively, brains to mush, not even able to read Heat magazine…
She keeps it real about trying to being creative amid a global pandemic and has loads of great advice to start getting into a state to create.
For more on Claire:
Insta @nowgocreate
LI @clairebridges
www.nowgocreate.co.uk - look out for her new online courses which will help you get into a state to create as we emerge from the pandemic
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
So, if you've listened to last week's episode about my recent burnout experience (Ep 43), you'll know I've been busting my gut to bring you this Spring Series.
Now is the time you get to taste the sweet fruits of my labour! And I, ironically, have over-worked on it and made myself the perfect listener for this series - which is all about how we can get our mojo back after a tough year, without burning out (again, in my case!).
Here I explained why I've done it, outlined the main themes and introduced the main characters appearing throughout the series and why you should listen to their episodes. And you definitely should!
The Big Juicy Spring series runs from 1st April - 1st June 2021, with an average of 3 episodes per week.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode does exactly what it says on the tin.
After Hollie Newton's brutally honest burnout story last week, this is another cautionary tale - this time, mine. It's about how I pushed myself too hard, didn't listen to my body (or anyone) and stubbornly refused to rest... and what it cost me. And what I learnt.
The happy accident of being such a numpty (Scottish word for plonker) is that I have now, fortuitously, made myself the ideal listener to benefit from my forthcoming Spring series on how to restore your mojo after a tough year and get back into the state to create and be inspired, sustainably, again. Starts next week - April 1st.
Look after yourself, folks, and listen to your body (and this podcast episode, for my 4 top learnings about the signs you're heading towards burn out...). Ah, isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? Hopefully this podcast will save you from getting near your edge and falling in that hole I am now getting out of.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available! Soon this won't be available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Hollie Newton was one of Europe's youngest executive creative directors, a feat she achieved in a very male dominated industry. But then she 'ran away' from advertising in London to live by the sea, where she writes books, scripts and wild swims.
This the tale of why she did that (clue in the title: her creative soul had withered) and all the many learnings about the importance of nurturing our creativity she's gleaned.
It's a cautionary tale - yes - but ultimately uplifting because it shows the human capacity for resilience and growth. It also shows that no matter how broken you feel, you can recapture your joy and thrive professionally and personally again.
If you feel like your soul is being sucked by your job/life, or you feel burnt out and disconnected from your creativity, this episode is for you. It's also for you if you manage creatives, or run a business reliant on creativity, and want inspiration on how to really get the best out of creative people.
Please note this episode talks about severe pre and post natal depression.
This episode inspired the idea of doing a dedicated Spring Series, which starts on April 1st and runs for 30 days, on getting our collective mojo back – and pushing for change in our places of work, so that our creative souls don’t 'fall out our ears', in Hollie's words.
Please listen and pass this on! To your partners, friends and - perhaps most importantly - your boss...
References:
For more about Hollie Newton: http://hollienewton.com
Buy her 'How To Grow' book here
Follow her on Instagram @hollienuisance
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
Twitter: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available! Soon this won't be available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
We live in a world where everyone is telling stories, whether it be brands trying to sell us stuff, entrepreneurs trying to get their new product off the ground or individuals documenting their lives to friends and family on Facebook. That’s how humans connect.
But it’s actually really scary (certainly at first) putting yourself out there. However, while it may feel more comfortable being silent in the shadows, it’s much bigger and juicier to take ownership of your story, rather than letting other people tell it or make assumptions, or never telling it at all. Even if people don’t like it.
Or, as Brene Brown puts it much better: “You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness”.
In this episode I (Suzy) share the good, the bad and the very ugly that I’ve learnt about telling my story, and putting myself out there, since I started this podcast 6 months ago, in 10 top tips. The list works up to the biggie that I’m most frequently asked about: what to when people don’t like what you put out there.
This episode will inspire you to get your voice out there and tell your story as a way to connect with the people that matter and live a bigger, juicier, more creative life.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available! Not for much longer though!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
If you have a tendency to faff around and wait for the muse or the mood (err, me!) before you start a project, then Alison Jones, and this episode are for you.
With a rich career in publishing behind her, latterly in innovation roles, she now runs her own consultancy. She's coached hundreds of people to write books, as well as having written her own bestseller and hosts her own podcast, too.
She's also just finished a 1,000 day running streak (she gets her best ideas running) for the Literary Trust, so she is a woman who knows how to get things done.
She's full of practical inspiration that will motivate you to get your bum down on the seat. And, as an added bonus, she has got a voice perfect for podcasting....
References:
You can find Alison Jones here:
Facebook: @theextraordinarybusinessbookclub
(Alison hosts regular co-writing sessions, for free, via her Facebook feed - follow for more info)
Instagram: @bookstothesky_ @pip_talking
Twitter: @bookstothesky @PIPtalking @extrabizbooks
LinkedIn: @AlisonJones
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available! Soon this won't be available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This week I (Suzy) go to extreme creative lengths to get some headspace in lockdown round 3 in the UK....
In a desperate bid to hear my own thoughts again, I pack my suitcase with goodies and I drive 2 minutes around the corner, to the edge of the forest. These goodies include, of course, lots of creative materials to get my mojo going again - including pink gin, tiffin, random make up, a boom box, a massive pad, glue and sexy underwear.
Missing my girls night outs, here I share my top 6 learnings from my Girl Night In (a Campervan), just in case you're inspired to do the same (obviously Lad Night In totally possible too, and Girl Night In A Car...).
Able to hear myself think I also had some revelatory insights - like the fact that the psychological phenomenon of 'hedonic adaptation' is happening to me right now... and I need to get back to hairy hostels as soon as possible to combat this... Tune in for this, and other epiphanies.
And, if anyone you know is struggling to find headspace right now, why not kindly share this episode with them?
References:
The article I wrote for Psychologies magazine on the hedonic mill is here
Hugless Douglas is this book
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Today’s guest is the indomitable chronic pain sufferer, writer, artist and activist, Amani.
This is a very real, very raw conversation where both of us are in pain as we podcast; Amani due to severe physical symptoms and me (your host, Suzy Bashford) due to the emotional pain of just losing my beloved dog Bramble (episode 37 is on that).
Nevertheless, true to form, Amani is able to find the fun and feistiness in the present moment, no matter what she is feeling. Creating through pain is the norm for her... as is smashing taboos.
And there are SO many taboos covered in this episode. Trigger warning: invisible illness; suicide; estrangement; having therapy; loneliness; childhood abuse/acute childhood experiences; not having children, mental health.
There's quite a bit of swearing, too.
If you want inspiration on, err, how NOT to wait for inspiration or perfection before you create, this episode is for you. If a you're curious type and would like to know what it's like to live with constant, severe pain, then this episode is also for you and it will change your perspective on your own pain.
Amani daily reframes her purpose in life, recreates her dreams, re-finds ways of finding beauty in the small things. She credits her creative practice with keeping her alive.
This is such an important conversation to lift the lid, and judgement, on what it's like to live with an invisible illness. Do you know someone who might benefit from hearing it? Please share with anyone who might also enjoy it.
References:
The best place to follow Amani is on Instagram, where she has two accounts:
@amani_writes - dedicated to talking about the stuff we don't talk about enough
@theemptyuterusclub
- a space for people who don't have kids, for any reason
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode is dedicated to the death of my beloved Bramble dog.
My wee furry friend has taught me a lot about living big, juicy and creative through her fearless life, and death.
I've learnt so much from her 15 years with me and her heart-wrenching recent death at home, while surrounded by the rest of her pack. That's what this episode is all about - good grief - and how to creatively reframe loss, so you recognise the gains too, even amidst the pain.
At 43, I'm privileged that this is in my first real experience of losing someone I loved deeply. And everyone who told me about brief before was right; it hurts.
But I'm so glad that I got to interview the awe-inspiring make-up artist KSAVI before my dog's death, on the podcast in episode 32 - she has given me an amazing role model through her story of growing through the grief of losing her baby son. She also gave me some tools, which I use in this episode, to help me through the pain.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Today’s guest is Keith Cummings – plumber by day, skateboard maker and artist by night. Far from suffering the angst of 'not good enough', he is very content in his creativity which he puts down to not putting pressure on it; he extols the virtues of having a job which you can do while your creative ideas are brewing in the background.
He explains why this combination is so powerful for our mental health and how having a creative outlet has also really helped his wife, who is a nurse on the frontline. His creative attitude to life - his adventurousness, openness, gratitude, risk taking, living in the moment - leads to an air of contentment that you can almost feel him exude (even over Zoom).
At 60, he embraces life with the same spirit of adventure and willingness to put himself out of his comfort zone that he always had. He'll inspire you to grow older adventurously and mindfully, complete with tips for first time skateboarders (for those of us whose children keep asking them to try!).
You can find him on Instagram at:
@capetownskates
And you can find his wife's artwork on Instagram at:
@artbyangie_cummings
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Today's episode is dedicated to those feeling the lockdown struggle and experiencing the inevitable, understandable brain fog. You are not alone! It's packed with tips (well, 10 main ones, actually) as well as some humour and keep-it-real honesty about what's going on behind closed Covid doors in Big Juicy Creative HQ... Spoiler alert: life isn't all shiny, happy or big and juicy all the time! This honesty will make you feel better and, ultimately, more inspired. You won't find any forced fun or declarations that you 'should' be more positive here, just useful, practical, tried-and-tested tips. The episode rounds off with a very apt poem commissioned by the Scottish Government by Cat Hepburn on managing emotions during coronavirus #ClearYourHead. References: In relation to awarding Big Juicy Creative 'Best Lockdown Podcast' @lynsayannegould #pfbawards2021 Cat Hepburn's poem Rupert Brooke's poetry (excuse the mistake in calling him Brookes! Blaming temporary amnesia caused by brain fog...)
Today's guest, award-winning journalist Eleanor Ross has spent a lot of time not feeling good enough. It's taken her (and many others, yours truly included) to some very dark places.
She writes about all this with brutal honesty in her new book 'Good Enough; the myth of success and how to celebrate the joy in average'.
Eleanor wonders how many of us are just tolerating the lows to reach the fleeting highs, and are actually missing all the big, juicy, creative stuff along the way.
This wide-ranging, sometimes humourous, sometimes serious conversation covers why so many of us feel like this and how to deal with it more constructively on an individual and societal level.
She also explains how she now nurtures her creativity in a much more joyful, juicy way than she did before when on the capitalist treadmill.
Eleanor's puppy Mabel also has a few barks to contribute on the matter (we are in lockdown, after all).
Tune in if you want to be inspired to stop beating yourself up, by listening to this ballsy lady who is on a mission to start a revolution.
Warning: you may also be inspired to stare at your neighbours alot more after listening, too
References:
Find out more about Eleanor's book, published by Hodder, here.
Find Eleanor on Twitter here (her usual haunt) and Instagram here.
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This solo episode of the Big Juicy Creative podcast is the second part of summing up the main AHA moments Suzy has had from her brilliant interviewees so far.
You’ll find the first part in episode 31 – covering learnings from farmer Lynn Cassells, artist Ann Vastano, composer Ella Jarman-Pinto, performer Jennifer Blaine and entrepreneur Kelly Pietrangeli.
In this episode, Suzy pulls out the main gems extracted when talking to chef Kirsten Gilmour, coach Lucy Sheridan, clown Holly Stoppit and actress Claire Merrick.
As usual, she shares what she's been doing to nurture her creativity at this difficult time, ending with a 5 minute creative exercise that makes her feel better about her horrible homeschool day.
References:
Episode with chef KJ is 22
Episode with coach Lucy Sheridan is 8
Episode with clown Holly Stoppit is 30
Episode with actress Claire Merrick is 26
Episode with doctor Tash Pirie Burley is 13
Go check them out! And please do share with anyone who would benefit from a creative boost right now. Thank you!
If you’re looking for someone who will inspire you to get through a difficult time and come out the other end thriving (particularly pertinent if you’re in the UK and just gone back into lockdown) then today’s guest – the make-up artist KSAVI - is that someone.
She has overcome huge loss and sadness in her life yet – without falling into fake forced jolliness – has managed to see her experiences as routes to growth, rather than defining her.
Creativity, first through make-up which started as a hobby, has been absolutely fundamental to this process. Not only that, once she opened the floodgates to her creativity, it started spilling out into many areas of her life: other creative outlets, her confidence, her determination to make a positive dent on the world and not care what others thought of her….
KSAVI genuinely believes her life is bigger, juicier, more creative and richer as a result of how she has come through the most difficult experiences of her life.
*Please note, this episode contains sensitive content about KSAVI losing her second son at 8 months old.
References:
More on KSAVI: www.ksavi.co.uk
KSAVI’s panel on ‘Inner Beauty’ on her Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CDavE0Bh7Me/?igshid=1r7pvqn2iuczr
Click here for the short film that KSAVI talks about -where she is sat next to a stranger she doesn’t know and finds common ground – made by company In Diverse Company
Hashtags she uses on Instagram she mentions: #over40andfabulous #over40fashion #over40style
So the Big Juicy Creative podcast can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
In this shorter episode, Suzy shares 5 of the most important things she's learnt since starting the Big Juicy Creative podcast since launch in September.
She draws on quotes and conversation highlights with her interviewees.
As well as this there's also a section on things to do to nurture your creativity quickly and easily now, especially if you are also recovering from over-indulging during the festive period...
The perfect pod to get you geared up for a New Year!
Right now (in the UK, anyway) it feels like we're living in a Grinch-like tale called 'The Year That Cancelled Christmas'... which is why I'm so excited to bring you today's guest, clown, drama therapist and theatre director Holly Stoppit.
She offers up such hope, and joy, about how we can find a lightness amid adversity, by tuning into our inner clown (we all have one, she says).
Listen to this and you'll be inspired to approach this Christmas (and life, in general) with your inner clown in tow, with curiosity and questions rather than answers.
You'll discover the transformative power in looking things differently when they go tits up (which they inevitably will, in my house anyway).
Clowns, she says, are experts in 'teetering on the verge of flop with joy'; they want, expect and embrace when things go wrong because that is the moment when they really connect with their audience. If we channel our inner clown that is also the moment we can really connect with our loved ones, in our bubbles, this Christmas.
Wishing you a big, juicy, creative, flop-filled Christmas!
If you enjoy this podcast – please pass it on – share it with anyone who could do with this boost this Christmas as it's just me that does everything to do with this podcast, so you are my marketing team! And I'm so grateful for all the listens, comments, reviews and love. Thank you so much for listening in my launch year.
References:
Holly Stoppit's Ted Talk: how clowning can lead to connection
Holly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollystoppitworkshops The clown workouts mentioned are all hosted in The Online Clown Academy group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/219905246053173 Most of the clown workouts are also on Holly's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XSIHqCexi_iwSs5XqwNXQ/playlists For more on Holly, see: https://www.hollystoppit.com So the Big Juicy Creative podcast can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Knowing yourself, say some, is the key to many things in life, including creativity. So in this solo episode, Suzy shares her top 5 tips for getting to know yourself better; the good, the bad and the very ugly (and, in the hope it might make you feel better about yours, she shares some of her particularly warty bits).
This episode is inspired by Suzy’s experiences this week hosting a Zoom Christmas party playing different characters representing different parts of her personality: Chardonnay the WAG, WorryMamma & 50 Pence.
So the Big Juicy Creative podcast can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media! Is there someone you know who would really benefit from today's episode?
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
References:
Kacy Musgraves – Cup of Tea
Alain de Botton - philosopher, author and founder of the brilliant School of Life
The Gift by Dr Edith Eger
Critically-acclaimed composer Ella Jarman-Pinto is a fiery, feisty, funny force of nature who, in this chat, doesn't pull any punches.
She talks candidly about growing up feeling very different as a mixed race, super creative little girl being raised by a fiercely feminist and supportive single mum... but how she then had to rein herself in to 'fit in', when she got out into the 'outside' world, experiencing ups and downs in her relationship with creativity.
But it was creativity that returned her to joy in life after the trauma of losing a child, and continues to fuel her today.
Ultimately, this is an uplifting life tale of the triumph of creativity and connection, and how both help us find our place of belonging, while revelling in our differences, in the world.
References:
Ella writes for TV and Films, including an award-winning short film, ‘AstraZeneca - The Attack’, (Havas Lynx, Maker Projects). You can find out more about her at www.ellajarman-pinto.co.uk or you can email her at ella@ellajarmin-pinto.co.uk
You can find her on Facebook and LinkedIn
Her podcast is called Beyond the Chameleon and is conversations on belonging in the creative industries
She mentions Kerri Smith's brilliant Wreck This Journal
So the Big Juicy Creative podcast can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Anxiety can be a right pesky, pain-in-the-backside block to living a creative, flowing life.
Suzy wants to be clear & honest in in this episode that - while she does live a big, juicy, creative life which you might see the highlights of on social media - managing her anxiety is an ongoing process.
She shares 7 of the best ways she's found to do that (and she's, unfortunately, a bit of an expert on this topic!).
Anxiety is really common amongst creative, imaginative, empathetic people and it's also hardwired into the caveman part of our brains. Listen in for practical, tried and tested tips for how to get creative with managing anxiety so it doesn't get in the way of leading your big, juicy, creative life.
So the Big Juicy Creative people can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media! Is there someone you know who would really benefit from today's episode?
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
References:
Dr Shefali broadcast daily 'Viral Wisdom' on Youtube at the beginning of lockdown and these are still freely available to watch
Kelly Pietrangeli of ProjectMe has free 'Design My Day' sheets available on www.myprojectme.com to help focus and reduce anxiety in your day
The discussion on creativity mentioned hosted by Creative Brief creative director Nicola Kemp and featuring Amazing If's Sarah Ellis is called 'Change, Creativity and Courage in a Crisis' - Part of BiteLive2020
The book and poem mentioned are by Ian Adams called Running Over Rocks; spiritual practices to transform tough times
Claire Merrick is an actress and voiceover artist and one of the most creatively brave people I know. Why? Because she ditched a very comfortable, successful career in innovation at 41, to pursue her dream of being an actress, despite people thinking she was bonkers. The thing I admire most is that she keeps putting herself out there, and being vulnerable, not letting her fear (or judgement from others) stop her.
She does this because, as she explains, knows the value of feeding her creativity, and the huge personal cost of not. She’s also done a Master’s in Business Creativity and Innovation. So she knows her stuff both practically and theoretically.
This episode was actually never intended to be aired. It was intended to be my practice episode where I got my head around podcasting.
We talk about permission, the definition of success, therapy… and how as adults we often become disconnected from that childlike creative joy, how we can get it back and how an essential part of enjoying creativity, and life, is to drop toxic perfectionism. Which is why I’m not going to worry too much about the fact this episode, the first I’ve ever made, isn’t flawless.
But, as Claire will inspire you to do, the most important thing is just to create. Not to waste your life thinking about it, or worrying too much what the world thinks. On that note, please look past the imperfections and enjoy this chat with the brilliant Clare Merrick as much as I did.
If you need an injection of brave to get your creative juices flowing, this episode is definitely for you
References:
Claire’s Merrick’s website: https://www.voiceoversbyclaire.com
So the Big Juicy Creative people can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
In this shorter solo episode, Suzy reflects on the biggest learnings from her just-finished How-to-Thrive-Winter series, in which she interviewed loads of awesome experts.
In fact, making the series led to an epiphany, which this episode is all about: connectedness is the key to the meaning of life and happiness. Big, huh?
Well, listen in and you'll get some ideas on how you can connect better to your self, others and nature in order to live a bigger, juicier, more creative life, full of sparks not zombies.
So the Big Juicy Creative people can reach and inspire as many people as possible, please share with your friends and follow on social media!
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
And remember, you can still get your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode with Lauren MacCallum, BBC TV presenter, author & general manager of charity Protect Our Winters UK, is the 14th and final episode in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
If this series has worked its magic on you, hopefully you'll be feeling warm and fuzzy about the winter season.... and, therefore, be keen to protect it, and all it brings, so future generations can enjoy it fully.
This is Lauren's passion and where she expends her energy campaigning for Protect our Winters because winter is - because of climate change - seriously under threat. Here, she talks about why she loves winter so much and why she is so keen for the world to take action now, before it's too late.
This episode with Shona Macperson, outdoor therapist and coach, is 13th in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help you creatively reframe winter! Shona will get you thinking differently about how this winter - actually becauseof the absence of our normal whirlwind of festive parties and group celebrations - is the perfect opportunity to really connect with our loved ones, in our covid bubbles. So many of us are often so busy at this time of year that we don't have time to stop and really pick up on how the people in our life are doing, what's happening in their interior world and really listen to them to find out. She gives us plenty of tips on how to do this, ideally walking in the outdoors which is such an supportive environment, which contributes to these sometimes life-changing, and certainly life-enhancing, conversations.
This is a special episode in the How to Thrive Winter series because it's a full length one (rather than bitesize) for those of you missing the in-depth interviews that Big Juicy Creative usually puts out fortnightly on a Thursday.
It's with the fabulous, formidable award-winning chef Kirsten Gilmour (known as KJ); a straight-talking Kiwi living in the Cairngorms, in the Scottish Highlands. She founded the Mountain Café in Aviemore, which quickly became an institution in Aviemore & Scotland, with tourists flocking from all round the globe to queue on her stairs to get a seat.
In this episode she tells the fascinating story of how she got here, how her creative soul was nurtured in her childhood against the odds and why she is so resilient - because, boy, she's had, and continues to have, her obstacles to climb.
If you've ever felt like falling in a heap in despair at a creative, or other, endeavour (err, ☝️), then this episode will definitely inspire you to come out fighting and determined to make a positive contribution.
References:
Kirsten's website
Buy the Mountain Cafe Cook Book here
Recipe for winter warming Apple, Carrot, Red Lentil and Rosemary Soup
Winter warming granola recipe
KJ's New Venture: the Bothy Bakery
For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode with Catriona Parmenter, photographer, is 11th in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help you creatively reframe winter! Cat really caught Suzy's attention on Instagram (check out her account! Details below) because of her gorgeous photographs of people, usually with their loved ones, which capture simple moments with such beauty.
She has lots of advice and tips on how we, too, can do this over the winter in order to savour it and appreciate the small things (which are really the big things). A lot of what she says builds on what other interviewees have said about 'living micro' this winter and really looking closely to reframe (excuse the photography pun) winter through the camera lens.
She also has a particular challenge for those who are scared of being in front of the camera, as she was, until she herself did this.
References:
Catriona Parmenter Photography
Instagram: @catriona_parmenter_photography
For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode with Chris Conroy, director of Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, is 10th in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help you creatively reframe winter! Chris, a fish biologist and a regular on BBC Winter Watch, will get you thinking differently about the rain, as well as looking at rivers in a totally way.
References:
For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode with astronomer Paul Haworth is the ninth in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers and Paul's love of, and curiosity about, star gazing will rub off on you. As he says, you don't need fancy equipment or to be in a particular location in the world, you just need a clear sky and a bit of enthusiasm. As he also explains, it's one of the most wondrous, grounding things you can do to get your life back in perspective and - bonus - it's available to us all, like creativity.
References:
Magazines in the UK that are very accessible to beginners include Astronomy Now and Sky at Night
Mobile phone apps, such as SkySafari or Night Sky, have free versions to get you started and automatically detect your location, date and time to make things as easy as possible
Aurora Watch app to spot the Northern Lights
A friendly internet forum packed with amateur astronomers keen to share their expertise and help beginners is Stargazers’ Lounge
For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
Today’s episode, the 8th in the How to Thrive Winter series is a special one – it’s not an interview, it’s a guided winter visualisation to reprogramme your brain to pick up on all the positive cues about winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, and it's really important we take time to relax and restore.
This gorgeous, winter warming meditation comes to us courtesy of Shareon Gordon, who is a clinical hypnotherapist at Cairngorm Hynotherapy.
Shareon is not only qualified in hypnotherapy, motivational coaching and NLP, but she’s also one of the loveliest, kindest, most generious women you will meet. Trust me, you are in good hands with her.
Which is why I’m going to leave her to take over now and I’m not going to put an annoying jingle at the end of this one… so feel free to get comfy and snuggle up, perhaps by a roaring fire cuddling your dog/child/partner/book (delete as appropriate!) and put Shareon's gentle Scottish tones in your ears. Let yourself drift off with her words that will be working their magic so you are firmly in the 'love winter' camp by the time you come round.
References:
Cairngorm Hypnotherapy
For your free wintspiration fridge poster (family friendly and grown-up versions available!) visit: www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
To follow Big Juicy Creative for loads of inspiration on living creatively, see:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
contact Suzy: suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk
This episode with Emma Sinclair, lecturer in early years, is 7th in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help you creatively reframe winter! Emma will get you thinking differently about how winter is a great parenting opportunity with all its offers to build your child’s resilience, as well as give them valuable skills while they don’t feel like they’re learning or, more importantly, being ‘taught at’. She'll also help you to get out on those wintry days as you are faced with tearing you child (perhaps) away from a screen.
Go to www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk for your free 'wintspiration' fridge poster, a family friendly one and grown-up version!
To follow the series on social media, & Big Juicy Creatives adventures in general, you can follow on:
Instagram: @bigjuicycreativeliving
Facebook: @bigjuicycreativeliving
LinkedIn: @suzybashford
This episode with Federica Stefani, newspaper reporter with a specialism in whisky, is 6th in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help you creatively reframe winter! Federica will surprise and delight you with her way of thinking about the traditional winter warming tipple that is whisky. This fun, passionate 27 year old Italian living in (and loving) the highlands will definitely help you think differently.
The way she describes whisky tasting is like a voyage of discovery which is full of sensations and experiences – and there’s absolutely no ‘rules’ when it comes to her way of enjoying it.
You can also find Federica blogging at maltingpotblog.com.
So, this winter, why not go on a winter voyage of discovery into the whisky waters?
For more wintspiration and get to hold of your free poster with handy winter mindset reminders, go to www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
You can follow host Suzy Bashford and her random acts of creative living on Instagram (@bigjuicycreativeliving) and Facebook (@bigjuicycreativeliving) and LinkedIn (@suzybashford)
This episode with Beachbody & Clubbercize coach, Louize Macklin, is the fifth in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers and Louize will definitely help you get into a big, juicy exercise routine. She is full of enthusiasm and positive vibes and is a huge inspiration and encouragement to those that are lucky enough to be part of her fitness tribe.
Louize – come rain, shine, snow or sleet – gets up at 5am to work out and walk in nature. Listen to this episode and you may find yourself inspired to set your alarm for that time too as she shares her tips and hacks for getting in the mindset to find, and keep, your morning movement mojo.
This episode with founder of swim adventure company Swim Wild, Alice Goodridge, is the fourth in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers to help us through. Alice is a formidable force in the wild swimming world; she's completed solo channel swims, set up international winter swimming competitions and other events and regularly appears on TV talking about her passion.
One of the main things Alice loves about wild swimming is how it resets her mindset and shows her she can do hard things - which sets her up for any challenges coming in her day or life ahead. So, a very good sport to take up this tricky winter - not to mention all the other associated health benefits to do with relieving aches and pains and burning calories!
Listen to this episode and you'll be so intrigued that you'll want to jump into your swimming costume and plunge into the coldest body of water you can find! Preferably wielding, as she does, a sledgehammer to break the ice covering it!
But don't worry, as well as lots of inspiration, she also has some safety tips for you, too.
This episode with anaesthetist and hardcore amateur athlete Tash Pirie-Burley is the third in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers and Tash will definitely help you get into a big, juicy mindset with her endless practical ideas of things to do, but also her inventive creative reframes about how to think differently about winter. Her energy and enthusiasm and grateful perspective on life and how to look at it is infectious; so let’s spread and pass this on, this winter!
Remember if you enjoy this podcast then why not go back and listen to the regular episodes or, even better, subscribe and leave a big, juicy rating and review!
This episode with guest Cairngorms National Park ranger & wildlife guide Duncan Macdonald is the second in our series on how to thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything.
Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers and Duncan will definitely help you get into a big, juicy mindset with his poetic descriptions of winter and all the opportunities it holds. He's also full of practical tips for wildlife spotting, and supporting, during these tough winter months, as well as suggestions for how to get the best out of a night walk and - at the same time - using winter to let go of the need to control; something we could all benefit from in these out-of-control Covid times.
This episode with guest Olympian Lesley McKenna kicks off our series on How to Thrive this coming Covid winter. We know winter can be tough at the best of times, let alone during a global pandemic, but mindset is everything. So to give you the best chance of having a big, juicy winter rather than a winter of discontent, Suzy has rounded up a gaggle of inspirational winter-lovers full of tips to ensure you fall into the former camp, not the latter.
The first is the awesome, inspiring Lesley McKenna. She has competed in 3 Winter Olympics for snowboarding and she now coaches the coaches to motivate their teams by getting into a good mindset.
In this episode she'll help you use nature to your advantage at this time of year - whether it's the wind, rain, snow or storms - all of them can be used to build your resilience so you, err, spring into spring! You'll also hear how you can tap into stories to help motivate you and get into a great mindset, too.
If you want to feel better about welcoming winter - even if you are someone who dreads the dark and cold - then definitely listen to Lesley's words of wisdom. You'll be itching to get out into the elements afterwards (just don't forget your neck warmer).
Please share this with anyone you know that may be dreading winter and look out for the daily episodes over the next 2 weeks bringing winter joy into your eardrums. And please subscribe, rate and review so more people can have the chance of a big, juicy winter!
Are you dreading this coming Covid winter? Don't. Big Juicy Creative podcast has your back.
Suzy has created a special mini-podcast series to get you through (at least) the first two weeks of 'misery month' November. All the research shows that your mindset is key to your winter wellbeing, so this episode will help you creatively reframe winter, so you are looking forward to it.
Suzy is surrounded by people in the Cairngorms, in the Scottish Highlands, who love winter and know how to thrive through it.
So she's interviewed them on their area of expertise for this series - there's experts on parenting, Olympic resilience, wildlife, astronomy, rivers, psychology, hypnotherapy, wild swimming, adventure, photography, exercise, whisky...
She created the series to give the nation a collective lift at this tricky time but - happily - through making it has transformed her whole attitude towards winter too. In this episode she sums up some key learnings she's got from making the series and (hopefully) inspires you to download the first episode of the series - an interview with triple Olympian Lesley McKenna - this Sunday 1st November.
Suzy, here, does her very best to persuade you to take time out of your busy schedule to go and have a playdate with yourself. Yes, just yourself. Ditch the dog / husband / kids / friends/day job (OK... you can take the dog!). And she explains why this is so valuable and so good for feeding our creative souls, so we can live bigger and juicier.
She gives you ways to allow yourself permission for these playdates and plenty of ideas for what you could do to enliven your life, and your creativity.
She also gives you the heads-up on the forthcoming 'thrive through winter series' which kicks off on November 1st.
Lucy Sheridan is the world’s only comparison coach; she helps people go from 'compare and despair' to comparison free in their life and business. She’s also just published a book called the Comparison Cure.
One of those lucky people was me: I worked with her on a freelance journalism piece, on improving self worth, for the brilliant Psychologies magazine. Lucy quickly identified that I’d become overly concerned with other people’s opinions – ie crippled by comparisonitis - and in the process lost touch with who I really was.
The key to getting me out of this crippling comparisonitis was expressing myself. This conversation goes in deep on why creativity, and finding your unique voice, is such a powerful way to avoid comparing and despairing when you look at others' lives; which we can't avoid today with social media
Lucy talks about how, instead of letting comparisonitis kill our creativity as it so often can, we can use creativity as a tool to kill comparisonitis and shows us how. If you ever suffer from comparing yourself unfavourably to others, please listen to this as her words are so helpful!
She also made me feel so much better about going into this winter – which is her favourite time.
If you need help looking forward to winter, this episode is for you.
We had such fun recording this and there was much hand waving and belly laughing - huge apologies for the fact that at a couple of (small) parts the sound goes quiet so you'll need to whack it up.
References:
Lucy Sheridan
http://www.proofcoaching.com
The Comparison Cure
Suzy shares 7 things she's been doing to nurture her creativity. These shorter, solo, fortnightly episodes, interspersed between interview episodes, will motivate you to get creative too. They're often inspired by recent interviewees on the podcast and are often quick and easy to fit into a busy life. She's calling them 'Random Acts of Living' because they make you feel alive.
Practical tips in this episode range from understanding the 'resting bitch face' phenomenon to talking to yourself to ditching Instagrammable forced fun.
References:
To get hold of the free resources mentioned from Project Me, go to Kelly Pietrangeli's website: https://myprojectme.com
To find out more about the 'Talk it out' technique, see Chris Barez-Brown's website here: https://www.uppingyourelvis.com/talk-it-out
To find out more about Shine4Women, see here: https://www.shine4women.com
For more on the co-working space mentioned, see here: https://www.workspacehighland.co.uk
Kelly Pietrangeli is founder of ProjectMe for busy mothers and helps women all over the world find their focus and fun. She’s worked as a graphic designer (designed record covers for Beyonce, no less!) written a book, does talks and recently launched the ProjectMe podcast too.
In this wide-ranging conversation, she talks about how she's used creativity to let go of perfectionism and conditioning and, instead, followed her curiosity and pushed herself out of her comfort zone to grow... and how this has all made her life much bigger and juicier, both at work and home.
Journalling, as she explains, is one of her favourite outlets and Kelly gives us tips on how to use it to build confidence and clarity, as well as many other tips, tricks & life hacks.
References:
Visit Kelly's website https://myprojectme.com which is full of free resources to up your energy and productivity. Like the 'Life Wheel' which helps you get out of autopilot (where creativity is stifled)
Check out her podcast on Apple (and other platforms): ProjectMe Podcast with Kelly Pietrangeli
Follow Kelly on social media
Facebook: Kelly Pietrangeli
Instagram: @kellyprojectme
In this shorter solo podcast episode, Suzy shares the 7 top things she’s been doing to nurture her creativity.
These fortnightly episodes, interspersed between interview episodes, are intended to motivate you to get creative too, inspired by her recent podcast interviewees. She’s calling them ‘Random Acts of Living’ because they make you feel alive.
They range from foraging for your dinner and relying on your natural resources to ditching pesky ‘FOMOOK’ to avoiding baby killers.
In addition to giving loads of practical tips, this episode explains why it’s so important that ideas are acted upon.
So, go on, get out that wonky crochet or clay castle for your daughter, and nurture that creative soul of yours (or even that tricky maths equation because, you know, creativity is about way more than poetry or painting).
References:
Launch episodes with artist Ann Vastano, farmer Lynn Cassells and performer Jennifer Blaine are available if you search previous episodes
Photos of Random Acts of Living (RALs) will be displayed on Instagram and Facebook, both with handle @bigjuicycreativeliving. Also some on LinkedIn @suzybashford
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Women who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Jennifer Blaine is an actor, comedian, playwright and coach who has worked with comedy greats like Chris Rock, as well as actors like Glenda Jackson, Laura Linney and Paul Newman.
She’s best known for her hilarious one-woman, multi-character shows which delve into serious issues, from bullying to brain surgery, with humour. Yes humour. However, at its core her creativity is not about others; it’s primarily about that all-important connection with herself first.
From nurturing this deep connection, and making time to reflect and know what’s in her mind, she generates the positive energy to go out into the world and communicate her message with confidence, commitment and self-belief; whether that’s performing a one-woman show or parenting her daughter. Her argument that people that nurture their creativity feel more alive and un-zombie-like is perfectly demonstrated by how funny, heartfelt, characterful and connected she is.
(She has some interesting ideas on how to reform the education system, too, which I might just tweet the UK education secretary about… Stayed tuned to my shorter solo podcast for more on this).
Creativity, for her, is enlivening and allows her to process her emotions so she has a richer experience of life. As she says, it’s energising and this energy is contagious. This leads to a conversation about how, if we all tapped our creative energy, we could change the world for the better, and quickly. At this time in human history, it’s important that as many of us as possible are ‘alive’, so we can engage creatively with the world’s many problems.
If you want to catch her contagious creative spirit, give this episode a listen.
You can find Jennifer:
Facebook: Jennifer Blaine
or www.jenniferblaine.com
References:
‘The Power of Creativity – 30 sparks to inspire & nurture your creative essence’, a book by Jennifer Blaine
‘The Artist’s Way’, a book outlining a 12 week course to unblock creativity, by Julia Cameron
‘The Little Girl Who Gave Zero Fucks’, a book by Amy Kean
‘The Vicissitudes of Travel’, Jennifer’s one woman multi-character show inspired by her brother’s brain surgery
Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted Talk – the most watched Ted talk of all time – called ‘Do schools kill creativity?’
Jennifer’s coaching business can be found at blainecoaching.com
Details of her performances can be found on social media
Lynn and her wife, an archaeologist and librarian by background, had never done any farming before but decided to buy 150 acres and give it a bash. This transition required oodles of creative thinking skills but, as you’ll hear, their lack of knowledge has actually been a big bonus.
Rather than following rigid traditions, they followed their instincts to farm in tune with nature, not against it. They, and the farm, are thriving as a result. They’ve also been awarded various accolades for innovation, too.
For Lynn, creativity comes from deep within – rather than a text book or looking to an external expert. And her creativity is nurtured and constantly inspired by the awesome natural environment in which she lives and works. Nature also brings her life and thoughts back to basics, into the present, reducing stress and serving as an antidote to the fast culture of the modern world.
But, amazingly, Lynn doesn’t see herself as creative, although she does by the end of our conversation! She, like so many people, thought (before this podcast!) of creativity as ‘arty’ pursuits from painting to poetry. She cemented my mission to bring you many more tales, like hers, of creativity from beyond the ‘creative’ department!
Lynn is truly an awesome, modest and fun character and if you want to be inspired to roll up your sleeves and embrace your creativity, then give this podcast a listen.
Where you can find Lynn Cassells from Lynbreck Croft:
www.lynbreckcroft.co.uk
Facebook: @lynbreckcroft
Instagram: @lynbreck_croft
Youtube: Tea at Lynbreck video series and vlogs
Ann is an artist, café gallery owner, fellow mum of boys and wife, and, lucky for me, my neighbour in the Scottish Highlands.
She describes an idyllic, simple, uplifting childhood, spent mostly outside, and how this developed her creative thinking from an early age.
From her, you’ll hear how to nurture creativity so it becomes a lifelong friend, there to celebrate the good times and help you through the tough times.
You’ll learn about the importance of nature in her creative practice, as well as the importance of not dismissing ideas as silly without experimenting with them. (I love her story about how a ‘silly’ thought while ironing led to Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon commissioning her!).
She is full of inspiring ideas for how you can easily infuse creativity into your life without needing to take any time out of it. As she demonstrates, a creative approach to living creates a rich, vibrant, grateful headspace which allows her to connect better with herself, others and her natural environment.
As an added bonus, her gentle Scottish accent is mesmerising and relaxing to listen to!
Where you can find Ann:
On Instagram: @annvastano.art or @kincraigartcafe
On Facebook: Ann Vastano Artist, @kincraigartcafe
The painting that initially got Ann noticed by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, which hung in the Scottish Parliament was ‘Storms Made Us Stronger’.
You may have listened to the ‘official spiel’ about this podcast but this is where you hear the real, warts-and-all version from behind the scenes, with all the gory details.
You see, just a few years ago, suffering from severe postnatal depression and being hospitalised, I felt my life wasn’t worth living. Embracing my creativity again showed me that it was.
This episode tells the story of what these experiences have taught me about creativity, its power and value, and how I’ve set up the podcast so I never forget again.
For more info:
www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
IG: @bigjuicycreativeliving
FB: @bigjuicycreative
LI: Suzy Bashford
Welcome to the Big Juicy Creative Podcast, the show which nurtures your busy creative soul, so you thrive personally and professionally.
In this episode you’ll meet your host, freelance journalist Suzy Bashford, and learn about her mission to encourage you to give yourself permission to nurture your innate creativity, so it’s as routine as brushing your teeth.
It will explain how, and why, I’m doing this through this podcast and in what format.
For more info:
www.bigjuicycreative.co.uk
IG: @bigjuicycreativeliving
FB: @bigjuicycreative
LI: Suzy Bashford