Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in Life

Steve Goldberg: Purpose, Piano and the Goosebump Compass

Creativity as a necessity in the age of AI. Steve Goldberg is a passionate advocate for the role of creativity in a rapidly changing world, and in this episode he shares his conviction that finding meaning and purpose beyond professional life will become increasingly vital as artificial intelligence reshapes the future of work. Steve, a former tenured professor and global consultant, shares his philosophy of "following my nose" and staying "awake to possibilities," which has led him down some truly "magical and unexpected paths".In this episode, we explore:The Power of Synchronicity: How a spontaneous bicycle ride led Steve to a Harvard scholarship, and how an overbooked flight resulted in him meeting Nelson Mandela the day after his release from prison.The Late Bloom: Steve’s journey to becoming a composer of "healing piano for a noisy world", despite being convinced for decades that he "did not have a creative bone in my body". He didn't start playing the piano until he was 50 years old.The Goosebump Compass: Steve reveals his unique method of improvisation and composition – working without reading music and instead relying on his "goosebump compass" to guide the emotional impact and structure of his work.Leaving Stability for Opportunity: Why Steve resigned from a tenured college position at age 28 to pursue a consulting job that took him "literally around the world" for four decades.Creativity as a Necessity, Not a Luxury: Steve argues that with artificial intelligence accelerating job changes and disappearances, creative expression and finding purpose outside of professional life will become vital for society.Languishing or Blossoming: Discussing the concept behind Steve’s book, which encourages people to choose a continuous "blossoming" process over a fixed mindset, particularly in the face of life's challenges.Find Steve's music and book here.You Might Also LikeRich Chambers Keeps RockingPiano à Deux: Music, Marriage and Modern technologySuzanne Noble – dirty blues and Dorothy FieldsI would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Regina Linke: Traditional Training Unlocks Modern Creativity

Cultural heritage, a challenging mentor and the bridge between free expression and disciplined practice. Regina Linke is an illustrator and writer dedicated to celebrating traditional Chinese art and philosophy in a modern way. Regina's childhood interest in drawing was initially stifled by rigid instruction, and she went on to study business in college followed by a career in international development. It wasn't until a move to Taiwan, her parents' homeland, that she reconnected with her artistic passion.In Taiwan, Regina immersed herself in traditional Chinese brush painting. Despite an initial struggle with the structured learning environment, she credits her critical teacher with pushing her to develop a unique artistic voice, one that blends her Western upbringing with Eastern aesthetics. This fusion led to the creation of The Oxherd Boy, an online comic that grew from her desire to explain complex philosophical concepts to her young son. Regina discusses the evolution of The Oxherd Boy into published books, and the challenges of adapting her deeply personal work for diverse audiences while staying true to the core message.In this episode Regina offers invaluable advice for aspiring creatives: find joy in the process, but also embrace the discipline of practice and the humility to learn, while illustrating how unexpected paths can lead to profound artistic expression.Key TakeawaysEmbrace structured learning to build foundational skills, even in creative fields, as it deepens your understanding and respect for the art form.A challenging or critical mentor can be instrumental in pushing you beyond your comfort zone to discover your unique artistic voice.Blending diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives can lead to a richer, more distinctive creative style.Consistent creative practice is essential for growth, even when inspiration wanes; it keeps your skills sharp and fuels further development.Be open to the evolution of your work when collaborating with others, understanding that adaptation can broaden your reach and create new stepping stones for your message.I would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Marneta Viegas: Silence and the Creative Spark

Mime, movement and the Relax Kids revolution. Marneta Viegas, founder of Relax Kids, was the "fame school" student haunted by self-doubt who went on to become a pioneer of accessible children's relaxation. In this episode she details the emotional toll business growth had on her, and how she now fiercely guards her creativity.From Self-Doubt to Mime: Marneta shares her supportive, yet complex, childhood, including attending ballet and tap classes where she struggled with self-esteem. Despite graduating with a degree in performing arts (and crying daily over the music requirements), constant rejection from the children’s TV industry led her to pivot to the "silent way," studying mime. She funded this non-verbal training by entertaining children as a clown.The Accidental Birth of Relax Kids: While working as a clown Marneta noticed a critical drop in children’s concentration, and using accumulated skills (breathing, drama, mime, silence), she created her unique seven-step system and made relaxation for children "acceptable" by turning fairy stories into meditations, drafting her first book in just three days.The Struggle: Losing the Creative Spark: As Relax Kids grew, the administrative burden took over, and Marneta experienced a loss of  creativity, as well as feeling physically sick and struggling with "dark days".Creativity Found and Fiercely Guarded: There is, of course, a happy ending, and Marneta explains how she was able to find her path back to creativity, and how she now prioritizes new creative channels, including performing unique standup comedy, mindful movement, and forest bathing. Marneta's story is about the power of silence, stillness, and childlikeness to feed the soul and fuel creative liberation.Find Relax Kids hereBuy Relax Kids books hereI would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Joseph Bolton: The Soldier, The Shawl and The Trickster Animals

From combat engineer to creative conjurer, discover how Joseph Bolton merges magic, ancestry and the northern lights in his new-found love for writing folklore and fantasy.Joseph joined the US Army straight out of high school, and in his 25 years of service graduated from West Point and Ranger School and worked as a combat engineer (a role that involved building bridges and blowing things up), an infantry officer, and even a space operations officer. After the passing of his younger brother from ALS in 2013, Joseph felt a profound need to reflect on the value of time and growing older. This led him first to an expressive blog and eventually to the highly unusual creative project that would define his next chapter.The Old Grandmother’s Tree collection of stories began life as a charming French Canadian folktale about farm animals (who surprisingly 'smoke cigars and drink wine'), and soon became a series of highly illustrated tales rooted in Joseph's ancestry and featuring magic, ghosts, and trickster animal characters – a magic shawl with the colour of the northern lights was a feature of the first short story and later became the genesis for the entire series. Joseph is a highly visual writer who sees stories unfold 'as a movie within my mind', and collaborates with artists Masami Kiyono and Natasha Pelley-Smith to create this unique hybrid format – a series so heavily illustrated it features close to 700 images across its first three volumes, blurring the line between a traditional novel and a graphic novel.This episode offers a compelling look at how creativity can emerge in unexpected moments and how personal loss can spark artistic expression. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in family history, creative late-blooming, and the surprising ways our life experiences shape our storytelling.Find the Old Grandmother's Tree books herecreativityfound.co.ukResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsI would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout

Jennifer Roig-Francolí: Strings, Spirituality and Stillness

Jennifer Roig-Francolí shares her journey from a young violinist finding solace in her art, to a place of spiritual exploration and self-discovery. We discuss the challenges she faced in her artistic life, including a pivotal moment when she realized she was not using her creativity in a healthy way, and the profound neck pain that changed her path. Through the Alexander Technique, Jennifer found not just relief from her physical discomfort, but also a new way to reconnect with her creativity. Jennifer discusses her creative childhood, Suzuki training and meteoric run of competitions and solo work, before the ambition dissolved, orchestra life set in, and her relationship with music dimmed. When no treatment could alleviate her stubborn neck pain, a friend urged Jennifer to revisit the Alexander Technique. Within a few lessons, the pain vanished and something deeper shifted – mood, movement, and a sense of ease that didn’t require effort.Together, we unpack what Alexander work actually is beyond posture, and Jennifer shares a simple on-air exercise that anyone can try in seconds, demonstrating how noticing without fixing often melts strain and steadies the voice. Jennifer is the creator of the Art of Freedom Method built around five pillars – purpose, mind, body, spirit, artistry – to help musicians and non-musicians create from presence rather than pressure, and author of Make Great Music with Ease: The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life.Find out more about The Art of Freedom and Jennifer herecreativityfound.co.ukResearched, edited and produced by Claire Waite BrownMusic: Day Trips by Ketsa Undercover / Ketsa Creative Commons License Free Music Archive - Ketsa - Day TripsI would love some financial support to help me to keep making this podcast. Visit buymeacoffee.com/creativityfoundSupport the showWant to be a guest on Creativity Found? Send me a message on PodMatch, here Podcast recorded with Riverside and hosted by Buzzsprout