be createfull by Jo Ellis and Madison Hale

We're taking a break from our break to have a conversation about the Surgeon General's recent advisory on the impact social media has on youth mental health. We run through the different studies and statistics mentioned in the advisory, affects of social media on youth and adults and ways Make.Do. is combating the epidemic of feeling alone.

The way we talk to ourselves (and about ourselves to others) is a big deal. It impacts the way we show up in community and influences the way other people may see themselves. This week, we're talking about the self-talk pitfalls we fall into, why it's so hard to speak kindly, and ways to reframe some of the negative things we keep telling ourselves.

This week we're talking about the responsibility that comes with creativity, how we use creativity to better our communities, and the pros and cons of service-based work.

No matter how much experience we have, there will always be times that we second guess our own judgement. This week we're talking about things that impact our ability to trust ourselves, connecting with our intuition, and how creativity gives us confidence to go with our gut in all areas of our lives.

Is creativity a luxury or an essential part of being human? Today we're talking about the dangers of treating creativity like a privilege, ways are society continues to minimize it's importance, and ways we can prioritize it in our communities.

Jo was on the struggle bus today. So we're having an easy-breezy, no-notes convo inspired by a random act of kindness.

We're diving into the process behind our Spring Break art camp this week. From initial idea, to collaborating with partnering organizations, to planning, to executing. We end with some practical tips to help you approach your next project at work, home, church, or wherever else you're involved.

Here are 10 things (actually 20) that are making our lives a little more zesty right now.

It's spring! Things are blooming, birds are singing, clocks are changing... we're leaning into the metaphor this week with a discussion about how we wake up dormant creativity. 

Two things can be true at once - we can have a fear of failure AND be enticed by the thrill of new opportunity. This week, we're talking about risk tolerance, being an adrenaline junkie, and what creativity teaches us about the balance between the fear and thrill of it all.

This week we're talking about ways our society and culture discourage creativity. Whether it's the education system or corporate America, creative thinking isn't always a priority. We discuss the pitfalls of emphasizing productivity, avoiding collaboration, and over-consumption.

Getting started can be the hardest part. It doesn't seem to matter if you're a beginner and don't know what you're doing or an old pro that just doesn't have any inspiration. Sometimes it takes bad art (or the f-ing first draft, as Brene Brown likes to call it) to get the ball rolling. This week, we talk about our personal experiences making bad art and staring at a blank page and wrap up with tips to help you power through.

Common sense. Does it even exist? This week we're talking about what common sense is, where it comes from, and if it actually exists at all.

Nostalgia is a tricky thing to pin down. This week, we're talking about why it's appealing, how it's dangerous, and the surprising impact it can have on creativity. We also discuss some tips on how to get the most out of nostalgia without living in the past. In the words of Billy Joel, "the good old days weren't always good and tomorrow's not as bad as it seems."

Andrew is joining us again for a deep dive into Artificial Intelligence and the ways it's already impacting art and creativity. We discuss the positives, negatives, and everything in between.

Failure is something we avoid at all costs, but should it be? This week, we discuss different types of failure, how failure is inevitable in the journey toward success, and the influence creativity has on our relationship to failure.

This conversation goes deeper into Madison's visceral reaction to the word "habit." We spend the first few minutes talking about how to have compassionate and curious conversation when we disagree on semantics. Then we dive into our habit hangups, why habits are hard, and some practical tips for introducing new routines/habits/intentions into our lives. 

Madison really threw me for a loop with that title. Don't be confused, this is our annual "new year, new intentions" episode. We reflect back on 2022 and lay out some of things we're hoping for 2023.

We're celebrating our 100th episode of Be Createfull by looking back at what we've learned, what we've loved, and what's been hard about recording a podcast. Thanks for coming along with us!

Christmas, a good book, a big vacation... it's hard when things end. A month (or more) of anticipation and excitement can make it extra hard to recover from the letdown of something being over. This week, we talking about our how we feel after Christmas, other things that bring "the big sad" and ways we feel our feelings and move forward.

We're talking about our favorite Make.Do. moments, highlights, and milestones from this year. And a couple of tough things too.

When it comes to fundraising for Make.Do., one of my favorite phrases is "gifts don't have to be big to be significant." Small things add up to something great! This week, we're using that as a lens view gratitude and creativity.

It's time for our favorite (and only) recurring episode... 10 things that are bring us some extra zest right now.

"If art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time." We stumbled across this quote on instagram and were blown away. Since neither of us are "musical", we invited Andrew Cook, music professor and conductor, to educate us on how music fits in the world of creativity.

Happy Thanksgiving week! Holidays mean family and family can mean old habits that get on your last nerve. This week we're talking about creative pet peeves that people will never stop doing and how we're learning to live with them. 

What started out as an easy breezy conversation about color preferences turned into a deep conversation about the science of color, what it teaches us about perception, and why it really is just the best.

One thing that makes being an adult feel so difficult is that there's no one standing over our shoulder making sure we actually do the things we don't wanna do. This week, we're talking about why we feel unmotivated, examples of recurring situations in our adult lives, and ways to "bite the bullet" and muster the moxie to just get the dang thing done.

Since it's Halloween (aka Madison's favorite holiday), we're talking about Dungeons and Dragons! Jo knows absolutely nothing about D&D, so we start off with a thorough overview and then dive into what the game teaches us about creativity.

This week, we're talking about celebrating our "wins": why it's important, why it's so hard, and ways we can be more intentional about acknowledging and recognizing all the reasons we have to celebrate.

Here's Part 2 of the conversation we started with Rachel last week. If you haven't already, listen to Part 1 first and then come back. Rachel and her family lived in East Africa for 15 years. She shares her experience with creativity in a different culture and Jo compares it to her short time living in Ireland. 

We've got a friend joining us today! Rachel and her family lived in East Africa for 15 years. She shares her experience with creativity in a different culture and Jo compares it to her short time living in Ireland. We chased a few rabbits (or maybe I should say 'rat'), so we'll be back to finish our convo in part 2 next week.

It's a fun and breezy episode this week! We use the alphabet as a way to rapid-fire characteristics of creativity. You can play along with this one!

We're talking about loneliness today and we had A LOT to say. In a world that's more connected than ever, finding true connection is still a challenge. We discuss the difference between being alone and being lonely, how we're learning to sit in our loneliness, and places we find connection.

Welp, this one is a doozy! We're talking about the difference between something being "important" and "urgent" but we had a fundamental disagreement on what those two things even mean. So you get to hear us work out our miscommunication in real time as we try to find the common ground.

Limitations are inescapable. Time, money, space, energy, only having one arm while you recover from shoulder surgery... there will always be something getting in the way of whatever it is we're trying to do. This week, we're talking about how to turn limitations into advantages and ways to cope when things just aren't going our way.

Whether it's about pricing our creative services or naming what we have to offer community, it's way too easy to sell ourselves short. This week's conversation is about recognizing the value we bring and why it's important to "know your worth."

Today's conversation explores how we can use our creativity as an avenue for generosity and how a creative mindset can shift how we think about what it means to be generous.

Summer's over. School is starting. Now seems like a good time to talk about change and the ways creativity helps us transition from one thing to the next.

Madison says, "Get comfortable being uncomfortable" a lot around here. What does that mean? Why is discomfort a good thing? Is it ever a bad thing? 

There are some bad creative habits and mindsets that we just can't quit, no matter how many times we talk about them on the podcast. We definitely "know better." It's the "doing better" that keeps tripping us up.

We're talking about the fine line between perfection and excellence this week. 

In honor of the 4th of July, we're looking taking a look at the Declaration of Independence through the lens of creativity. We talk about the collaborative creative act of starting a nation and specific ways creativity can enhance our view of history and politics. (Disclaimer: we aren't historians or political science experts. We acknowledge and recognize our biases.)

We're back with 10 more things adding zest to our lives. Check out Episode 62 for our first round. 

Become a Zest Friend! Make.Do. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, your gift may be tax-deductible.

We've got rest on our brains as we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Make.Do. This week, we're talking about 7 types of rest, how to figure out which type you need, and tips for finding rest in busy seasons.

There are a lot of things that make creativity amazing, but (in the words of The Lazy Genius) it's important to "name what matters" to make sure that you're getting what you need from your creative endeavors. This week, we're talking about what matters most in our own creativity, in our work at Make.Do., and some tips on different creative things to try depending on what matters most to you.

The Make.Do. Teens join Jo for a conversation about figuring out who we are, why it matters, and what gets in the way. 

Some "creatives" have a fearless confidence when it comes to tackling new creative projects. This week, we're talking about where that confidence comes from, why it may feel impossible, and how to find it in yourself.

In honor of Mother's Day, we're talking about how creativity connects us to previous generations. In this episode, we discuss how to honor the creativity of loved ones, our responsibility in carrying on creative legacy, and how to keep it all in perspective. 

Perfectionism is a major obstacle for a lot of people. We see it getting in the way of so many good things! So this week, we talking about (more than) 10 things that will serve you better than "perfect" ever could. We also share some tips on how to shift your focus from perfectionism to something more beneficial.  

We're talking about the relationship between originality and conventionality this week. If it's true that "there's nothing new under the sun," is it even possible to be original? How do we decided if it's worth the time and energy to be original and when do we just keep doing things in a conventional way?

A few questions we're discussing this week: How do you measure progress and growth in your life? Is "success" over-rated? Do goals really work? 

Today we're talking about small ways to be creative when you don't really feel like, or when you're sick (like Jo).

When is it time to quit being a beginner? How do you know that it's time to "level up" to intermediate-status? Today we're talking about why it can be so hard to admit we're not beginners anymore, indicators that we're transitioning to intermediate, and ways to embrace creative growth.

Comparison is a sneaky bugger that robs our joy and kills our creativity. This week, we're talking about why it's so nasty and ways to keep it under control.

It's officially spring! To celebrate, we're tackling one of Pinterest's favorite cliches: bloom where you're planted. We discuss our feelings about the phrase, what we think it's really trying to say, and what creativity has taught us about the "blooming" process.

We're each rattling off 10 things that are giving our lives some extra zest these days. 

Gatekeeping is quite the buzzword these days. This week, we're talking about what it its, how it happens, and sharing our own experiences as both gatekeepers and the ones trying to squeeze our way in.

I promise we're not rapping this week (ok, we rap for 5 seconds, but that's it.) We ARE talking about what creativity has taught us about collaboration. Whether it's a group project or planning Thanksgiving dinner, you're going to eventually have to work with other people. 

We talking about mindsets today, so buckle up. A scarcity mindset tells us there will never be enough, while an abundance mindset says there's plenty to go around. We breakdown both and talk about the impact each mindset has on community and creativity.

Happy Valentine's Day! Creativity has a lot to teach us about relationships. This week, we're talking about the roll creativity has in connecting us with others. We also mention our favorite Valentine's memories and traditions that need to go.

We know that "one person's trash is another person's treasure," but what happens when the things we see as "treasure" are treated like "trash." Cutting up old quilt to make a quilted coat, painting wood furniture, drilling holes in vintage pyrex... When is it ok to repurpose something and when should it be saved for "posterity?" How do we honor our collective creative history and our own aesthetic preferences? We have a LOT to say about it all. 

You know we love creativity, but this week we're talking about how it can sometimes bring out the worst in us. From jealousy to perfection to big messes everywhere, it's impossible to ignore creativity's dark side.

Madison has been feeling let down by the creative process lately. This week, we figure out why she's been struggling, ways to manage expectations, and what to do when the thing you love doesn't seem to be giving you what you need.

We're exploring the easy, breezy topic of "vulnerability" this week. Our conversation includes how creativity helps us embrace vulnerability and tips on making vulnerability a little less scary.

A silly studio disagreement about the color of a skein of embroidery thread led to a full blow conversation about false dichotomies. Are things really black and white? Is it helpful or harmful to categorize things with binary thinking? How do we embrace the concept of "yes, and?" 

It's the first episode of 2022 and that means fresh starts, new beginnings, and maybe a few resolutions. We also revisit our lists for 2021.

It's the obligatory end of year episode where we talk about all the things we learned in 2021. The biggest thing: this year wasn't the "normal" we expected! 

Here's Episode 50 of Be Createfull! We're celebrating by talking about our favorite episodes, the hardest parts, and things we've learned along the way. We finish with tips for starting and managing your own passion project. Here's to 50 more!

It's tempting to look back at the things we made or did a year ago and be critical of what we used to be proud of. But what good does that do? This week, we talking about why it's important to keep being proud of our past selves (creative and otherwise) and what we can learn from reflecting on our journey.

We made a coloring book! One of the reasons we made it is because we tend to make creativity way more complicated than it needs to be. We believe creativity should be accessible, and that means sometimes we need to stop making things so hard for ourselves. This week we're talking about how we overcomplicated creativity and tips to Keep It Simple Silly.

This week is Giving Tuesday, so it seemed like a good time to talk (at length!) about Make.Do. - how we started, what our days are like at the studio, why we're a nonprofit, our dreams for the future... SO MANY things. 

Oops! The audio file didn't upload all the way the first time around. Let's try this again... It's Thanksgiving week! Which means it's the perfect time to talk about how creativity helps us find gratitude and contentment.

Following up to last week's episode with Campbell and Ollie, we're talking about important lessons we've learned from kids. 

This week, Madison is talking with 2 boys from our kids' classes at Make.Do. There are a lot of tangents, microphone noise, and young wisdom! We loved hearing what these kiddos had to say about creativity.

This week we're talking all about priorities, creative and otherwise. Plus, we have a surprise guest on the microphone!!! 

Halloween is Madison's favorite time of year, so we're celebrating Spooky Season on the podcast this week with a conversation about all the things that make creativity feel scary.

Our summer break from recording the podcast went on 2 months longer than we intended, so it felt like the perfect time to discuss the obstacles of resuming where you left off. This week, we're talking about the difference between starting something new and starting something again, why it can be so tricky to get things going again after a break, and tips to help get the ball rolling when you're having a hard time. 

Whoa! It has been A MINUTE since we took our little break. We're back! We recorded this episode with our friend Meredith over the summer. Let's talk about rethinking what perfection looks like, and if it's even that important.

Taking breaks is an important part of our mental health... whether it's 15 minutes to make a Sonic run (you know we love our Happy Hour!), an impromptu weekend out-of-town, or three weeks off the grid. This week, we're talking about why it's so hard to take meaningful time away,  different types of breaks and their unique benefits, our tips for giving ourself permission to rest. This'll be our last episode until August. We're taking our own advice and planning a podcast break to get us through our busy summer schedule in the studio.

This week we're looking at a handful of cliches and how creativity helps us understand them better (or debunk them altogether). We also dive into the stereotype of a "typical artist" to understand why it can be hard for so many people to discount their own creativity.

Tomorrow is Madison's birthday, so this episode is all about her! We talk about her childhood, time in college, if Make.Do. is her "dream job", and more. Help us celebrate by leaving a review 😉

We're talking about where we find our personal value this week. From "being productive" to "being needed," we discuss the challenge of self-worth, what we've learned through creativity, and advice on how to shift our focus to something more sustainable. 

One of the greatest joys of the creative process is gifting things to friends. On the other hand, one of the greatest frustrations is navigating the actual process of selling your work. In this episode, we're talking about a few things we wish people understood about purchasing handmade goods and passing on tips to help consumers do business with creatives. Fair warning: We jump on a few soap boxes in this one :)

Communication is tricky. No matter how hard we try to be understood, what we say isn't always what other people hear. This week we're talking about the lessons we've learned from creativity that have helped us become better communicators.  

"Death of the Author" is a literary tool acknowledges the ability of creative works to speak for themselves, separate from the author's original intent. This week, we're trying to find the balance between intention and impact in art, discussing the different responsibilities of "creator" and "consumer," and exploring the benefits of finding healthy separation with our own creative works.

Decisions are hard! Whether it's something small (like what to watch on Netflix) or big (like where to move after college), indecision can keep us from moving forward with our lives. This week, we're talking about the main causes of our analysis paralysis and a few things that help us make decisions with confidence.

This week we're talking about having the freedom to change our minds. Creativity has helped us understand that nothing has to be "set in stone" and that being flexible and open-minded is a pathway to genuine growth.

We're keeping it light this week with a conversation about creative reality shows and the affect competition has on creativity. Topics discussed: our opinion of reality shows, pros and cons of competition, and tips for keeping that competitive spirit from derailing your creative efforts.

Here's the second part of our conversation with Meredith Jones about finding our identity in the midst of imposter syndrome, assumptions, and first impressions. 

Meredith Jones is our special guest for this week's conversation about finding our identity in the midst of imposter syndrome, assumptions, and first impressions. We're building off last week's episode about Imposter Syndrome. We had A LOT of thoughts, so we've split the conversation into two parts. Enjoy part one and will back with the rest next week. 

Feeling like a fraud is a common experience for many of us. This week, we're learning some history behind the "imposter phenomenon," sharing our own experiences with feeling like imposters, and discussing ways we overcome those fraudy feelings. Buckle in, ya'll... we have a lot of thoughts about this one!

This episode marks the six-month milestone for Be Createfull! To celebrate, we're reflecting on how it all began, our goals and concerns, things we didn't expect, and lessons we've learned. We've also got a few practical tips for starting a passion project of your own.

It actually feels likes winter in Arkansas! Freezing temperatures have us thinking about how our creativity changes with the seasons. We also attempt a discussion about the metaphorical "seasons" of creativity.

Nothing is fun all of the time, so how do we know when it's ok to quit and when we need to "suck it up" and power through the rough parts? This week, we're talking about the balance between persevering and letting go, why creativity is about more than happiness, and practical tips for how we trudge through the parts that aren't so fun.

"Fear of failure" is a major obstacle to creativity (and other things). But why? In this episode, we're chat about what we're really afraid of, lessons creativity has taught us about failure, and tips for getting over our fears so we can accept failure head on and keep on living our createfull lives.

Sometimes you just feel... stuck. In this episode we're chatting about everything from being unsure of the next step to dealing with weeks (or months) of losing your createfull mojo. New Valentine craft kits are available now.

This week's episode was 100% inspired by Madison and her new found obsession with knitting. We talk about the cycles of creative obsession and offer some practical tips for how to balance your obsession and all the other responsibilities that come with being a functioning human. This month's word-of-the-year embroidery kit are still available! 

It's the first episode of 2021! This week, we're talking about our personal resolutions and the goals we have for Make.Do. in the upcoming months. Also, more about this month's word-of-the-year embroidery kit so you can Make.Do. at home.

I think it's safe to say that 2020 is a year we won't forget anytime soon! In this episode, we're chatting about the highs, the lows, the unexpected, and all the other createfull moments 2020 brought us. It's a lot.