Creageivity

With memories going back to hiding under a table during World War Two air raids, actor, poet and food entrepreneur Maya Waterman recalls vivid moments in her life. Her path from a blitzed London was eventually to take her to the English town of Tunbridge Wells (at the casual suggestion of a friend) where she started a very successful baking business. Baking and feeding people remained a theme throughout her career, and when she moved to Los Angeles, she started several successful businesses, including food deliveries to the Hollywood creative industry. It was here that Maya began to have her childhood dreams of an acting career encouraged when she was invited to take classes, in exchange for managing the affairs of a theatre company. She was then spotted - at a relatively late age - by two Producers looking for a lead character actor for a TV series, with her film and TV career only taking off in her 60s. At the same time Maya was becoming an in-demand face in commercials and music videos, including for Thirty Seconds to Mars and Sam Fender songs. She also took the lead in Joyride, an Amazon commercial which she says is now recognised as ‘a classic’.As a poet Maya had an intense and highly creative period of writing, and in Creageivity 38 she reads three of her pieces for us.Acting opportunities continue, and Maya has also been very active in social justice and support projects - a truly rounded artist with fascinating stories to tell!Maya’s website: https://mayawaterman.wixsite.com/maya-waterman-1The Amazon Ad: https://share.google/AaWjaJSX3QqAkRDSqMusic used via Pixabay with thanks:La Nuit from Playhouse SoundPortrait photo of Maya by Travis Tanner If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Artist RAMON KUBICEK speaks to us from his home in Gibsons, Canada, where he is a prolific painter and writer. He describes how he has always worked at whatever comes his way in order to continue as an artist. Day jobs have included running wine tasting sessions and construction work. Throughout, he has created, and in recent years has also become interested in how art and healing can be merged, but with his own very specific viewpoint. Indeed his views on what makes art and artists are very carefully considered. As he remarks of earlier years, 'My life was hard but filled with wonder.' That sense of wonder continues with his current paintings combining myth, magic, and a vivid use of colour,  often with vivid and poetic titles. Examples of the artwork - and writings - can be viewed on Ramon's website at:  www.ramonkubicekart.comand on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ramonkubicek/For a conversation about masterful painting and a life lived in art, tune in to Creageivity 37!Music is 'Salmon Ladder / Resting Pool' from good friend of Creageivity, OLD MAN THOMPSON:  https://souterrainsounds.bandcamp.com/If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

In Creageivity 36 we meet AMANDA BOOTH, Voice Actor, Actor, Translator, and Children’s Author, who also performs a one-woman show Countless Lives about the fascinating Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa. Amanda has lived and worked in Portugal for over forty years, with her first children’s book being published in March 2026, in three languages. The Donkey Who Wanted to Know Things is beautifully illustrated by the Portuguese artist Artur Varela.In the podcast Amanda reads a sample of her work Imprints, based on the technique of Method Writing. It’s a very real and personal piece, a snapshot of her life at the rural ruin she has restored over many years. She finishes the podcast with a poem by one of Pessoa’s most notable ‘heteronyms’, Ricardo Reis.You can also hear how Amanda and Adrienne first met… in Bed.The Donkey Who Wanted to Know Things: https://daisyeditions.com/catalogue/the-donkey-who-wanted-to-know-things/Countless Lives - Introducing Fernando Pessoa: https://www.fernandopessoalisbon.com/Music: Fado da Moureiria by Free To UseIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Sculptor, painter and vocalist LUCIANNE LASSALLE comes from a long line of artists. Her grandfather, Henry Valensi was founder of the Musicalisme movement in Paris and - as we hear in this podcast - showed Walt Disney his work which the American then ‘borrowed’ for the movie Fantasia. Lucianne’s grandmother was a painter who raised her children on a remote French island, while her aunt was a muse to Picasso. Parents Mélinda and Léonard were a potter and painter respectively. Little wonder with this rich heritage that Lucianne is so dedicated to pursuing her own art!Her bronze and ceramic sculptures are classically figurative, echoing Bernini and Michelangelo, with a verve and contemporary dynamic, and can be found in public and private collections around the world. “Lucianne is one of the best figurative sculptors in the UK,” says the Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland. “Lucianne bridges the gap between hip-hop and Michelangelo,” says writer Howard Male. She was born in Paris, and now lives and works in Bristol, England. Her enthusiasm and creative joy are abundant in this episode of Creageivity.Lucianne’s website: www.luciannelassalle.com/facebook.com/lucianne.lassalle.sculpture/Music by Geoff Leigh and Lucianne Lassalle used with permission If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Pioneer of electro and electro-pop KAREL FIALKA has never stopped working in music, as a performer, writer and producer. He had significant chart success with his singles Armband, Hey Matthew and The Eyes Have It, and in our Creageivity session he also mentions - and features - his song Alphaville with Tilda Swinton on vocal duties. There’s also the tale of how his friend and tennis partner, Colin Blunstone of the Zombies created a successful demo for a Cliff Richard orchestral album.Karel’s self-recorded song Hey Matthew was heard by music mogul and manager of The Police, Miles Copeland, who signed Karel to IRS Records. The single became a top ten hit in the UK and also charted strongly in Europe. Karel recorded the LP Human Animal while at IRS.He has collaborated with and written for a wide range of artists and fellow travellers including Nick Magnus, Jona Lewie, Paul Roberts, Colin Blunstone, Martin Stephenson, along with Cliff Richard, as well as taking production duties on various projects.He makes light of his somewhat exotic upbringing, and vividly describes the impact of hearing life-changing rock’n’roll in the movie The Girl Can’t Help It, and how Bob Dylan has been a lifelong influence right up to the present day. Our (re)connection to Karel comes through Tim Fraser, our songwriting guest on Creagivity 3.KAREL FIALKA is a raconteur with many a story from the sharp end of music and creativity. We also hear snippets of Still Life from his debut album, as well as Alphaville, and a soon to be released track, French Reggae. website: https://www.karelfialka.com/Tracks Still Life, Alphaville and French Reggae used with permission.Karel photo by Mike Ross from the album PEACE V WAR If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

The poet WENDY KLEIN believes profoundly in the curative powers of dancing, dogs, and reading poetry out loud, and hopes someone will humanely destroy her if she ceases to enjoy these pleasures! Fortunately no destruction was necessaary as Wendy engaged us deeply with her life story, reading three of her poems - a real treat.Wendy describes herself as ‘The Crone Poet’ and writes highly personal poetry which develops into universal themes. She comes from a family background where if you didn’t write, you were the odd one out.Born in the USA, Wendy studied drama and English at the University of Utah and San Francisco State University before leaving the USA in 1964. She was later to renounce her American citizenship. In England she qualified as a social worker in 1983, then as a family and couples psychotherapist in 1992. Her only novel, Listening for Nightingales, was published in 2002, after which time she has concentrated on poetry, with many of her poems winning awards and prizes.A ‘very difficult project’ which Wendy talks about in the podcast is her video Let Battle Commence about her Confederate Great Grandfather’s role in the American Civil War. Wendy also mentions how being ‘a kind of hippy’ in her younger days saw her travelling around Europe and leading a highly independent life. He poem Three Dog Night which she reads in the podcast is a reflection on this time.To hear powerful poetry and thoughts about aging, self-criticism, assisted dying and why dogs are generally better than humans, this podcast is a must-listen.Wendy Klein's Poetry Website: https://www.cronepoet.com/Let Battle commence video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2JlbpAdUcUMusic: Acoustic Motivation by Yuri Semchyshyn via Pixabay with thanksIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

JENNIFER LYNCH is a prolific writer covering topics as wide as dancing, children’s stories and an array of spiritual development books. She is also a reiki and massage practitioner and is a frequent broadcaster on spiritual and self-development subjects. In CREAGEIVITY 32 Jennifer talks about her path and how a serious car crash opened her way towards experiencing and writing about spirituality. In our podcast we talk about growth and change and how this leads to a wider spiritual awareness, and Jennifer describes how she senses the presence of angels and uses this to help her own direction, and in the lives of others. She also does Angel Card readings for clients.Jennifer is based in Diss, a market town in Norfolk, England. In addition to her more esoteric activities, she is also an enthusiastic dancer, deriving background for her 2020 novel Salsa which she describes as ‘saucy’.As a writer, her range is impressive, taking in another novel, William’s Wishes, through many self-improvement, lifestyle and spiritual books, to Woo the Clumsy Owl, her recently published children’s story based on Covid lockdown.Join us for an engaging dive into creativity, and much more! Jennifer’s author page on Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jennifer-Lynch/e/B004EFEDL4Jennifer’s website:  www.angelwisdom.co.ukNatural Co-Creators FB page: https://www.facebook.com/naturalcocreatorsshow/Music: ‘Answers from Angels’ with thanks to Aberrant Realities, via PixabayIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

For half a century STEFAN FREEDMAN has developed his talents as a multi instrumentalist musician, songwriter, circle dance leader, champion of world music, author, and poet. He travels the globe giving joyful workshops in dance and music, some of which focus on trauma release and wellbeing. In-person and online movement and voice courses remain Stefan's greatest ‘mission’, and his most significant book Dance Wise is published in English, Portuguese and Spanish.In CREAGEIVITY 31 Stefan reads some lines from Dance Wise as well as sharing a wry poem written by a cat, and a love poem from his soon to be published new collection of poetry. In addition we get to hear excerpts from 'Sto Perigiali’, a traditional Greek song; 'Slow Down', an original by Stefan, and 'Carousel', a trad tune played on the accordion. This is used for a dance choreographed by Stefan that’s now popular in Belgium, Canada, Chile, Brazil, Bulgaria, Holland, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Slovenia, the UK and USA. His band Dark Flame also plays at gigs and celebrations around the UK.Stefan's interest in wellbeing and trauma release grew out of many years of work with the charity Inside Out which promotes arts for mental and emotional wellbeing.For an inspiring ride with a true Creative Magpie, tune in to CREAGEIVITY 31 with STEFAN FREEDMAN!Stefan's Dance Wise website: https://www.dancewise.net/Bursting with info, songs and video content!If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

HALIMAH COLINGWOOD, aka Halimah the Dreamah, has been making music all her life, even claiming that when she was born, instead of the usual scream on entrance into the world, she sang a high C, shattering all the windows in the delivery room. Her stories of a life in music are many and varied and feature the duo Blackburn and Snow from mid-sixties San Francisco, at a time when she went by the stagename of Sherry Snow. Many of her Bay Area acquaintances went on to become internationally famous artistes (although Halimah somehow only told us of her being in the room with Allen Ginsberg, Ken Kesey and Bob Dylan after the podcast was done!) With two singles and an album’s worth of songs completed – eventually released in 1999 as Something Good for Your Head by Blackburn and Snow – Halimah turned away from the music business after a profound inner prompting which began a spiritual journey that took her to Indonesia, and a Shepherd’s cottage in Scotland. This was not before she’d also become a vocalist with the highly regarded Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, a period she speaks of with affection.After some time in Europe, Halimah and family moved back to the USA where she is now settled in Arcata, California. Along the way she returned to college to study philosophy, which she wryly describes as ‘something very practical’, and co-founded the Redwood Interfaith Gospel Choir – whose track He Made a Difference is our intro and outro piece. She also DJ-ed on the local radio station for many years with her Ethnic Excursions show. Her motto, borrowed from the I Ching, is Perseverance Furthers. We couldn’t agree more!Blackburn and Snow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYAKa9ZSpPwhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2Cw0KxRLwY&list=RDH2Cw0KxRLwY&start_radio=1Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (with the song Halimah sings on our podcast):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTz7nABgIH4&list=OLAK5uy_lMEgr_MuA_OdLKR7oWkHJ2B0Z-KATGbkY&index=1If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

​Our special guest in this episode is the PRIME NUMBER 29 which gives us the chance to mention the 29 other guests we've had on our previous podcasts. And what guests! OK, on this occasion we probably overuse 'amazing' and 'incredible', but then these descriptions are actually justified.Plus 29 the number is also pretty amazing and incredible: tune in for some very interesting 29-related facts and figures which you can astonish friends and family with.Add to this the​ fact that the intro and outro songs are created with the help (well about 92% of help) from a very smart Artificial Intelligence, and we think you'll be intrigued and entertained by Creag​eivity 29.PS: Our AI singer couldn't quite get her tonsils around the name of every guest, but she did reaonably well, don't you think?If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

One of the secrets to MIKE PAILTHORPE’s survival and success in music, education and - at one time, publishing – is simple: ‘Just talk to people.’Mike grew up in Hounslow, and at school, started punk band The Milk (our first podcast track) which went on to play numerous Rock Against Racism gigs, with the encouragement of established bands Misty in Roots and The Ruts. Mike then, ‘Retired from punk’ to study English at Queen Mary College London, and from there found himself in Worthing, on the South Coast of England. With what seems like typical serendipity, he walked into a factory and got a very boring job, before being called by a book distributor to deliver books… and start a journey of fearlessly talking with people!While in the book trade, Mike was also playing music, built his own recording studio, and then began work at the famous Jacob’s Farm residential studio.The late 90s saw a tempting to offer to set up a Music Technology course from scratch, which after modest beginnings now has “over four million quid’s-worth of equipment” and runs degree-level courses. Mike’s family are all music makers, “A result of a home more full of musical instruments than toys,” and he has never stopped playing and exploring music. In the podcast we hear the Gospel choir, SPRING INTO SOUL that he helps run, along with a song by VICKY RAYNER AND THE REST, with Mike as bass player.Creageivity 28 is an inspiring and uplifting listen, with a guest who seems to have a special ability (which at one point he likens to Forrest Gump) to be in the right place at the right time.Music, all courtesy Mike Pailthorpe: Wake Me Up by The Milk I Open My Mouth by Spring Into SoulProtect You by Vicky Rayner and The RestIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

GABY WEINER has held various professorial and honorary research positions in universities in the UK and Sweden. Publications include Just a Bunch of Girls (1985); Feminisms in Education (1994); Closing the Gender Gap; Kids in Cyberspace, Reconstructing and Deconstructing Lives; Tales of Loving and Leaving (2016); Harriet Martineau and the Birth of the Disciplines; and Reintroducing Harriet Martineau: Pioneering Sociologist and Activist. In recent years she has also been an active contributor to the Lewes Holocaust Memorial Day Group and Martineau Society.In this episode of Creageivity, Gaby talks particularly about her own family history, brought to life in Tales of Loving and Leaving, centred on the amazing stories of her father’s experiences across Europe, and her Grandmother’s murder in the Treblinka death camp. Harriet Martineau is something of a specialist subject for Gaby, and she makes a great case for why this almost-forgotten beacon of feminism, journalism and activism is overdue recognition.Intro and outro music is a recording of Putta Nera by Giorgio Mainero (1585-1582) played by Gaby and the University of the Third Age recorder group.   If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Ashton Applewhite is the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism and a co-founder of the Old School Hub. She has written for Harper’s, the Guardian, and the New York Times; speaks widely at venues that have included the United Nations and the TED mainstage; and is at the forefront of the emerging movement to raise awareness of ageism and make age a criterion for diversity. In 2022 the United Nations named Ashton one of the Healthy Aging 50: fifty leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older.In a wide-ranging and lively discussion Ashton challenges preconceptions and makes points that everyone of any age should consider - and it's fun too!Music with thanks to Pixabay: 'Playing the Old Guitar' by NOVIFIIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Architect and Designer, Londoner PETER BOSSON attended Hornsea Art School before going on to the Royal College of Art and gaining a degree in architecture. Working as a consultant for Olivetti (then the largest computer manufacturer in the world), Peter studied the lack of ergonomic thinking in computer and office design and saw the need to “Connect the disconnect between furniture and IT.”  The research conducted with Olivetti engineers lead to significant changes in how we now all work with computers. By 1990, Peter and two colleagues had founded the Colebrook Bosson Saunders design agency, creating ever more elegant ways of supporting and interfacing with computers and screens. The company’s products can be seen all over Europe and the USA, part of Peter’s drive to “Get rid of imprecision.”Since his retirement Peter has had more time to pursue his passions of playing classical guitar, and drawing. He and his wife Liz - “40 years married and still going strong” – have designed and built their own Passive House on the South Coast of England. That’s ‘passive’ as in requiring no heating at all, and in our podcast Peter has a lot to say about how governments, local authorities and house builders could do so much to produce more efficient, effective and comfortable homes.Is Design with a capital ‘D’ now over? Peter says that “Nothing’s rubbish anymore.” But why Colebrook Bosson Saunders products were named after Northern Rugby League Clubs remains an unrevealed mystery.Enjoy hearing about the Architecture of the workplace and Peter’s journey through a highly creative life.Some of Peter’s design work is at: https://pergoworkstyle.com/brand/colebrook-bosson-saunders/?srsltid=AfmBOorFFJoAh5ELQGDDJBtq7VqZseallpWahzmQMlydy0uNzc178VKEMusic from Pixabay by DVIOR SILVA with many thanks If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Brian Reynolds: A Storyteller Who Plays to Win Brian Reynolds is an LA-based writer, director, and choreographer of movement—whether it’s the perfectly timed punch in a stage fight or the subtle, loaded pause between two characters on screen. With a background spanning theater, film, stage combat and storytelling, Brian has a knack for crafting narratives that balance sharp wit with emotional depth. His work moves fast, crackles with wit, and keeps audiences on their toes—whether they’re watching a film, a play, or a cleverly executed finesse at the bridge table. His most recent feature film, The Nanny, which he wrote and directed, made waves on the festival circuit, collecting multiple awards and securing a sales agent. A storyteller at heart, Brian thrives in the unpredictable world of independent cinema where resourcefulness and relentless creativity are as vital as the script itself.Brian Reynolds tells stories, whether through film, theater, or the elegantly played hand of a well-bid bridge contract. His career is a testament to the power of creativity, the joy of competition, and the art of making every move count.Tune in to Creageivity 24 to be uplifted, stimulated and entertained!https://thebridgeteachers.comhttps://www.tubemanent.comMusic: Las Vegas theme courtesy Mykola Sosin, pixabay   If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Musician ELI DOKSON converted from high school trumpeter to electric guitarist after seeing the Beatles perform live: “Everyone else was standing there screaming, and I was just standing there staring,” he recalls. And so began a lifelong passion for playing guitar, which Eli still continues at the age of 75, gigging regularly in the area around his home of Crestone in the high desert of Colorado, USA. In Creageivity 23 Eli gives Adrienne a lesson in the basics of chord structures, and why anyone can play the blues if they know their I, IV, and V. He also tries to convince Harlan of the genius that is guitarist Robben Ford, although all three are agreed on the lasting brilliance of Bob Dylan.We hear excerpts of two tracks from Eli’s solo album A Dream I Can’t Forget: Center of the Sky and Holding Out for Love. In between there’s also a song from one of Eli’s many bands, Earthmen, with a track titled Parallel to Yesterday from their album Touch. When not guitaring, Eli describes his life taking care of horses at the stables he has run with his wife Joanna for around 30 years, and where he says he is, ‘In charge of manure’. However it’s to the joy of musical creativity and performance that Eli returns at the end of the podcast, as he reflects on the advice given to him by another respected musician. Creageivity 23 offers a relaxed stroll through Americana music – including reflections on listening to the Grateful Dead, back in the day in San Francisco. Photographs of Eli courtesy of Mat Lit, photographer and editor of The Creston Eagle: MattLitPhoto.com Music written and performed by Eli Dokson and friends, used with permission.If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Our guest for Creageivity 22 is MONICA CLARKE – also known as Ouma Monica, meaning Grandmother – who was born and raised in South Africa during the brutal and repressive Apartheid regime which separated people according to their skin colour. By the 1980s Monica was an activist for the African National Congress, smuggling revolutionary literature and funds into the country – which led to her life being threatened, and escape to Britain, where she was given political asylum. Monica has worked as a nurse, midwife and lawyer, based in London. She is also an accomplished writer and storyteller and is particularly keen to recount stories of oppression, both in the past, and currently. Her book The Hottentot Venus tells the truly shocking story of Saartjie Baartman (a Khoi Khoi ancestor of Monica’s) who in the 1800s was trafficked from her home in South Africa, to be displayed like a zoo animal in London and Paris, where she died in tragic circumstances. Another of Monica’s books, Apartheid & Me is written specifically to educate and enlighten younger readers about the horrors of racial inequality in South Africa. To Have not, to Hold is also set in Apartheid South Africa, and charts the struggles of a young woman within a violent marriage. In our podcast, Monica talks about her own background in a country riven along racial lines, as well as another theme, based on her experience of the love and hope of caring for a partner with aphasia. Even in the midst of extreme difficulties, Less Words, More Respect shows that ‘there is a future worth living for’.Ouma Monica’s experience and creative output spans difficult times and subjects, but she tells her stories with a lightness and humanity that is heartwarming. Tune in to Creageivity 22 for some marvellous storytelling and a big warm smile!Monica’s website: https://www.monicaclarke.website/homeAustin Macauley Publishers: https://www.austinmacauley.com/author/monica-clarkeMonica on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicaclarkewriterstoryteller/?originalSubdomain=ukMusic: Unlock Me by Prazkhanal, with thanks If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Filmmaker MARY DICKINSON has an astonishingly long filmography working as a Producer and Director, mainly for the BBC’s flagship Arts programme, ARENA. During her seven years of art school, culminating in an MA from the Royal College of Art, Mary rapidly abandoned her teenage dreams of becoming a painter. Instead she experimented with decaying food as sculptural statements, performance art, and developed an interest in human mortality and the rituals of death. As Mary tells us in CREAGEIVITY 21, she realised that these preoccupations would not necessarily provide a steady income, and after the Royal College joined the film unit of the National Coal Board, working on educational and safety programmes. This led to a career defining 24-year spell with the BBC, working in Music and Arts, and Community Programmes. During this time she became attached to Arena, the highly influential and respected arts programme, steered from 1975 by Alan Yentob. Mary tells us of the first Arena programme she produced and directed, Old Kent Road, which defined her approach to having documentary subjects tell the story in their own words (now a common technique, but in the 80s a big break from presenter-led programmes). We also hear of films made with comedian Alexei Sayle, comic strip artists Robert Crumb and Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and the story of Masters of the Canvas, about painter Peter Blake’s obsession with the masked wrestler Kendo Nagasaki. These are just a few among very many entertaining and challenging films made by Mary while at ‘The Beeb.’ Following a period working in the Independent TV sector, Mary briefly retired, before having a ‘Eureka Moment’ on Catford railway station in London, and launching herself back into a new collaboration which will soon be submitted to film festivals and other public screenings. Fasten your seatbelts folks and tune in to Creageivity 21 with MARY DICKINSON! Music with thanks: Steampunk Victorian Orchestra by Humanoide MediaIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Born in Canada during the Second World War, Norma Geddes has for many years been resident in Virginia, on the Eastern seaboard of America. She forged a career in healthcare and garnered a fistful of degrees along the way, while always being interested in creative expression. In our lively and entertaining meeting with Norma, she tells how one of her early forays into spinning yarns had to cease due to a lanolin allergy, however in time she found her calling: stained glass. She discovered stained glass art when renovating her kitchen and needed to choose textured glass for some cabinets. In the glass shop she noticed a very small ad for stained glass classes, and said to herself, “I have never done that before...” and so began her 'journey of bliss'.Norma is now a highly regarded glass artist working in stained and fused glass, creating vibrant original work which has been exhibited in eight galleries, and is currently shown in three in Virginia, with a new show which started October '24.The passion for her art and for life is joyous and encouraging for everyone who feels the spark of creativity, and Norma is a living example of someone who keeps on keepin' on. Hear Norma's enthusiasm and infectious, impish wisdom in Creageivity 20, and discover why her quote from US writer Joseph Campbell is so apposite to her work: 'When you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that you did not know were there and would not be there for anyone else.'  See Norma's work at her website:http://www.normageddesglass.comand on instagram:https://www.instagram.com/geddes_glassMusic this episode with thanks to Dvir Silver:https://pixabay.com/users/sonican-38947841If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

South-east Londoner MARTIN CROCKER fronted school plays and was drawn to performing, while at the same time going on to become a sportsman and enthusiast for the outdoors, including mountaineering. In CREAGEIVITY 19, Martin describes how and why he was attracted to success in different areas, especially as an actor on stage, television, and as an in-demand voice-over artist. At the same time he admits to the ‘yin-yang’ of a fascination with corporate life – one which was to lead him, at a relatively late age, to starting a whole new life in France as a Director of Communication.Martin’s story takes in many stopping points, including studying English and European literature with Germaine Greer, being in a cabaret style theatre group, further study at the Bristol Old Vic theatre school, running a major arts centre, and writing the novel he always felt he had in him. His voice will be familiar to many radio listeners over the years, and his face will be recognised from a variety of TV parts, although he has yet to portray the pirate role he dreamed of (but he did play a serial killer on one occasion!)These days Martin lives in idyllic surroundings in Provence and has returned to an early love of water colour painting. We’ll be posting some of his pictures on our Creageivity Facebook page over the next month. Do listen in to our creative and thoroughly charming guest Martin Crocker!Music with thanks to Vitalli KorolIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

As Adrienne points out in Creageivity 18, listing the many and varied accomplishments of composer, musician, GRAMMY award winning conductor and writer LUCAS RICHMAN is quite the task. Coming from a family of performers, including his actor father and mother, Peter Mark Richman and Helen Richman, Lucas knew from early on that he would be a musician, and as we hear in this episode, at 17 he was commissioned to write the score for A Streetcar Named Desire. Lucas gives fascinating insights into what a composer does and reflects on the inspiration and mentorship he gained from studying with Leonard Bernstein. We hear short excerpts from a few of his over 350 compositions, including a piece from The Warming Sea - an example of Lucas’ increasing work with educational and social awareness projects. We also find out how conductors for film music require at least three eyes and are sometimes expected to work with an orchestra on zero rehearsal time. Eavesdrop an extraordinary career in music and prepare to be fascinated and charmed!https://lucasrichman.com/https://soundcloud.com/lucas-richmanhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0725046/If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

A graduate of the Second City improvising group in Chicago, Latifah Taormina went on to co-found, produce, direct and perform with The Committee, San Francisco’s famed improvisational theatre of the late 60s. Under her stage name of Jessica Myerson, her Hollywood career included parts in The Graduate, Mrs Doubtfire, and Steelyard Blues, and she was a familiar face on American TV with appearances on many popular evening shows.As well as her performing history, Latifah is highly experienced as an arts administrator, painter, educator and mentor. She also initiated the Poems for Peace movement which spread to 14 countries, and she continues to work on projects to promote peace. Her autobiography, Ha Ha Among the Trumpets: An Improvisational Journey, chronicles her incredible journey set against the historical backdrop of the Kennedy assassination, Bloody Sunday, the Selma civil rights march, the early feminist movement, and anti-war protests. It also takes in her time as a teacher and educationalist during 10 years in Indonesia. In Creageivity 17 we barely scratch the surface of an incredibly creative and inspiring life, so join us for a fabulous conversation with Latifah Taormina!  https://amongthetrumpets.com/https://www.amazon.com/Ha-Among-Trumpets-Improvisational-Journey/dp/B0BRLVS7B3If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Our planned guest for this episode was unable to join us, so we made the creative decision to fall back on our own resources, with Adrienne Thomas the special guest of Harlan Cockburn and vice versa. Back in the 1970s we met at Maidstone Art College in Kent, southern England, and the journeys there were similar... but different: Adrienne battled for her place, and Harlan arrived by accident. Hear about 'Honouring your mistakes as hidden intentions', the magic of Captain Beefheart, and the bloke that wrote Ulysses... Y'know whassisname...We hope you'll be entertained, stimulated, and smile as we celebrate creativity in many forms down the years. Photo credit: Fortepan_231567 Bor DeszőIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Graham McGregor-Smith took a long detour as a Chartered Accountant, and then stay-at-home Dad before eventually launching himself into music. Having started with a love of AC/DC, he became influenced by the Great American Songbook, with artists such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. However it was many years before he was able to progress things, when a chance meeting in a park led to him start realising that he can write highly melodic, lyrically-charged songs, and - as he says in the podcast - 'show off' by performing them live. Also performing live in the podcast is an elderly Westie dog called Polo, who has recently received a fresh lease of life!Graham's new album, Road To Anywhere is also his debut album (and there's an endurance cycling-related story behind the title) which he is now promoting and performing live. So does he see Madison Square Garden performances, and songwriting credits for Lady Gaga beckoning? Listen to Creageivity 15 to find out.You can also hear three songs from Graham's album, two of which feature an unusual solo...Website:https://mcgregor-smith.comMusic at:https://mcgregor-smith.bandcamp.comIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

CHRISTINE COHEN PARK is a novelist, freelance writer, facilitator of shared reading groups, and a former tutor on the University of Sussex M.A. in Writing & Personal Development,She’s written three published novels, Joining the Grown–ups, The Househusband, and A Key To Lock Out Cougars. She has also co-edited a prize-winning collection of short stories Close Company. As Christine joins us on Creageivity she has just completed her latest novel Bye Bye Apartheid Road set in Israel and Palestine, and this forms the start point of our discussion.There’s also some great storytelling about being a single mother in London, and slowly emerging from the role of a successful businesswoman, to that of a published author. Along the way Christine tells of the transformation she experienced when she went to a remote island in British Columbia, Canada, and learned that, ‘We also think with our bodies.’ For a thoughtful, entertaining listen, tune in to Christine Cohen Park.https://www.christinecohenpark.com/Music: Seaside Café by Peri Tune, and Goin’ Back by James Bragg: https://wabisabimusic.de/artists/james/https://souterrainsounds.bandcamp.com/album/red-cloudIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

To describe MARK RIMMELL as a movie set designer, or as a jeweller, is to barely scratch the surface of an extraordinarily rich and varied life.  Mark starts us off with his birth in the slums of London's East End in 1933, followed by incredibly difficult years. Gradually he overcame many obstacles and his creativity began to flower as a singer, and through an appreciation of fabrics.  As a young man, moving back to London from Northamptonshire, Mark ran an antiques shop and started rubbing shoulders with the likes of Paul McCartney, Derek Jarman and Francis Bacon.  (Talk to Mark for a while and it becomes easier to say who he hasn't met or worked with - check out the story of 'Charles and Marlon' at the end of the episode).Mark lives in Budapest, Hungary, where he makes wonderfully exotic jewellery and has produced over 70 gem-encrusted crowns. He is a testament to the spirit of Creageivity.Many thanks to musician and artist Maia Eden for her songs 'New Horizons' and 'Home': https://www.maiaeden.comIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Wow! Eleven episodes of Creageivity, so we thought we would open the treasure chest for a bumper bundle compilation of clips from throughout 2023. Featured guests are: Lisa Armytage, Claire Waller & Arthur Brown, Tim Fraser, Gregory Gudgeon, John May, Honora & Dahlan Foah, Jonathan Weightman, Mich Maroney, Steve McDade, Hermione Elliott, and Emil Thompson - All full of inspiration, fascination and creativity!Music clips include If You Don't Love Me by Louise Setara, Fables of Faubus from Mingus in Newcastle, Long Long Road by Arthur Brown, I Keep Waking Up In Your Dreams by John May, White by The Birth of Color Chorus, Offstage Stories Theme by David Personne, Front Line Man by Emmanuel Williams & Emil Thompson, and Introduction by Emil Thompson.The opening speech from King Lear is performed by Jonathan Weightman, and the photograph for episode 12 is by Skylar Kang, with thanks.Thanks also to Mark Flett and Richard Bolley for the kind permission to use their music in earlier episodes.Listen, enjoy, and please return for season 2!If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Our guest on Creageivity 11, Jonathan Weightman, performs as King Lear - a 2023 film role he starred in. Listen to this wonderful bonus minute of Jonathan in full flight!If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Jonathan Weightman has had a storied career as an actor, writer and director, beginning with almost exclusively female roles including Lady Macbeth and St Joan while at school, coming right up to 2023 when he starred as King Lear in a movie, shot underground! With an English father and Brazilian / Uruguayan mother, Jonathan describes how he always felt something of an outsider. However while he was at university in Manchester, Jonathan's mother moved to Portugal, and on his visits there he began to love and appreciate the country. Meanwhile he was involved in theatre and street theatre projects in the UK and across Europe, and in this time met his husband-to-be Keith Esher Davis. The deportation of Keith from the UK, as an 'undesirable alien' meant that they could no longer perform their jointly written play, Fever, and began their search for a haven where they could build a new life together. That place turned out to be Lisbon, Portugal, and in time Jonathan became a director at Lisbon Players theatre, and co-founded the Tagus Theatre. When covid came, he transferred his skills from live theatre to writing and directing two movies, We Came to Lisbon (2020), and  Offstage Stories (2021). He also had a short story, Mary Dances published by the Daily Telegraph in the same year, to his 'mixed horror and delight.'Jonathan's life admirably underscores the themes of Creageivity - of keeping on keeping on, and of finding outlets for personal expression, whatever we are presented with. Or as Jonathan says, "I have been extremely lucky."If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Visual artist, writer, magazine publisher, and classical music enthusiast, Mich Maroney is an inspiring creative who relocated from the metropolis of London to the rural peace of Ireland. It's here that she has realised a long-held ambition to start a magazine blending the written word with distinctive visual art. SWERVE Magazine is available in print and on the web, featuring stunning images and writing, from a wide variety of contributors. These include international artists, as well as members of the local community.Mich is the designer and maker of SWERVE - skills she has taught herself in recent times - and is very inclusive in her activities. These include encouraging others through workshops and writer's groups, and running a scheme for guest artists to stay in the County Cork town of Skibbereen to work on their own projects. In the podcast Mich describes herself as both a gambler in life, and someone who is scared of fairground rides, and yet her roller-coaster activities are testament to a 'never say die' creative spirit. SWERVE Magazine is an inspiring distillation of her ideas, and Creageivity 10 with Mich Maroney is a must-listen!    The podcast also features music by the contemporary composer Richard Bolley. For more on Mich, go to:    https://www.michmaroney.com/ For more on Swerve Magazine, go to:    https://www.swervemagazine.org/To hear Richard Bolley's music, go to:    https://soundcloud.com/user-374152765-982950488Photograph of Mich by Sarah Kate Murphy:    https://www.sarahkatephotography.ie/If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Based in the countryside near Dundee, Scotland,  'Old Man Thompson' - Emil Max Thompson  - is a talented musician, songwriter, stonecarver... and so much more. In this fascinating podcast he traces some of his family roots, including a cross-dressing great grandfather who was a risque star of Music Hall. We also learn what ekphrastic means, and how this is linked to the Glasgow city coat of arms and Saint Mungo. Then there's a diversion into piano tuning and how every instrument has its individual character, and why Dundee played a formative part in the writing of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.  This is nothing if not an eclectic podcast.Emil has collected many of his past musical works - and those of other musicians, including Creageivity guest John May - on his record label Souterrain Sounds, where his latest EP release Sailing To Port Manto is now available. Some of the EP is included in the podcast to whet the appetite of listeners.To hear more, and learn about lithophones and rubber bridges, listen to Old Man Thompson on Creageivity 09.https://souterrainsounds.bandcamp.com/https://souterrainpress.bigcartel.com/about-ushttps://yelluk.wixsite.com/my-site-22591/ABOUTIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

In her late 50s, as she was contemplating retirement from a career as a nurse, midwife and counsellor, Dr Hermione Elliott instead embarked on a huge journey of what she describes as ‘Unfoldment’. She saw the need for end of life care which was analogous to the Doulas who assist with birth, and has since worked tirelessly to found and lead the organisation Living Well Dying Well. Hermione is passionate about care of the whole person – physical, emotional and spiritual – and about upholding dignity and self-determination at every stage of life. In our podcast she talks about what led her to start LWDW, and how it was ‘a profoundly creative process’ in her own development. It’s an inspiring story with messages for everyone, and in particular those who are growing into their later years – an unflinching, but also uplifting look at death and dying. Unmissable!Find out more  about LWDW, End of Life Doulas, and Hermione at:https://www.livingwelldyingwell.com/https://eol-doula.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hermione-elliott-7a47a44/?originalSubdomain=uk   If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

A drummer who arts, or an artist who drums? Steve McDade's academic career culminated as Head of Fine Art at the University of Chichester, and he has been a constant painter and exhibitor over the years: his most recent work being shown in 2023, with a back catalogue spanning very many art shows. As a musician​ he was inspired by Tony Williams at an early age (banging out rhythms on Tupperware, as we learn in this podcast).  ​He has played in a wide variety of jazz-oriented combos, from the free-form Displacement trio, the guitar-based Big Tent, and On the Corner, an ambitious big band rendering of works by Charles Mingus.And here's another thing: Steve, Adrienne, and Harlan were students together at Maidstone College of Art about 50 years ago, but somehow neglected to catch up until now. Join us for a deep dive into the art of painting, and find out why we are living in the 1970s, all over again.Steve's website is at: www.stevemcdade.co.ukSteve's YouTube channel is at: https://www.youtube.com/@StevenMcDade-cn2flIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Honora and Dahlan Foah are multi-disciplinary artists and producers, living in Atlanta USA, and working across a dazzling variety of media. Together they are creating a sequence of seven Frequency Operas, with the first of these unique events being staged in a Budapest church, and the latest taking place in the Vatican. Honora originally trained as a dancer, while Dahlan was a photographer and early audio-visual pioneer. They joined forces, forming Visioneering, a production company making large scale events and experiences around the world. In this podcast Honora talks movingly about their visual work for children’s hospitals, how she views death, and the conscious process of becoming an elder. Dahlan also reflects on his side hustle as conductor of two prestigious orchestras. Plus you can  learn why Honora times the duration of the Frequency Opera sections according to the resilience of the average human bladder...But what is a Frequency Opera? Tune in to Creageivity 06 to find out! More info at:The Birth of Color: http://www.birthofcolor.org/Mythic Imagination Institute:  https://www.mythicjourneys.org/newsletter_nov06_foah.htmlAtlanta Musician’s Orchestra: https://www.amorch.com/aboutusHonora bio: https://mythhonora.wordpress.com/about/Dahlan bio: https://www.birthofcolor.org/bios/dahlan-robert-foah/If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

What hasn't John May been involved in?  He describes himself as a Generalist, and his first activities were in the early UK Arts Lab network. There followed eight years with the New Musical Express (at the time the most influential music weekly in Britain), writing as Dick Tracy.He has met and interviewed - among many others - Allen Ginsberg, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, William Burroughs, Al Gore, and our favourite muso, Captain Beefheart.He is authour of numerous books, including four for Greenpeace, and is active in green and climate change issues. His collection of magazines, posters and interview recordings is vast, and in this podcast he talks about his role as 'Archivist of the counterculture and connected thinking'.John is also a poet, songwriter and musician, and we're pleased to have two of his tracks on the show, from his album Boho Solo.A fascinating journey through the history of almost everything, from a self-described 'young elder'. The photograph of John was taken on his 73rd birthday, by his son Alex.http://www.generalistarchive.co.uk/https://hqinfo.blogspot.com/p/about-john-may.htmlhttps://twitter.com/generalistblog?lang=enIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

In Creageivity 04 Gregory Gudgeon talks about performing Shakespeare's King Richard II, with puppets. Richard is alone in his prison cell, and begins to use objects there to take the place of people in his life as he compares how far he has fallen: ' Sometimes am I king; Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar, And so I am.'  He hears distant music, and is irritated, and also soothed by it, 'In this all-hating world.'We're delighted that Gregory offered to perform Richard's soliloquy especially for Creageavity listeners, so here's three bonus minutes: bask in the voice of a wonderful actor!If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Acting seems to have been in the blood for Gregory Gudgeon from an early age, with family connections to the stage, and a childhood role in a local pantomime which captured his imagination. Later, movement training came at the Jaques Lecoq school in Paris, with productions in French, and the mentorship of the Czech actor and director, Hannah Kodicek. Gregory has appeared with the international touring theatre company Complicité, is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and has performed his one-man show of Richard II (along with a host of puppets) at festivals in The UK and Holland. His film career is long and varied, including 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as a major new movie which is currently strictly under wraps! In an entertaining and wide-ranging interview we hear about the importance of spoons, oatcakes, and why the Royal Navy’s loss was theatre’s gain.A must-listen!https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1087129/http://www.complicite.org/peopleperformers/GregoryGudgeonIntro and outro song excerpts by Mark Flett, from his album Somewhere Manhttps://markflettandhisband.bandcamp.com/album/somewhere-manIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Platinum and Gold record songwriter Tim Fraser got traction relatively late in his career, but hasn't looked back since, with multiple successes for major artists around the world. In this podcast he relates the story of how Tina Turner came to record one of his songs, and mentions a few other performers along the way. There's also the opportunity to hear four of Tim's recent compositions. With music spanning Rap, Pop, Rock and Show Tunes, Tim is a prolific and gifted songwriter, who nevertheless has a very practical approach to his work. His songs have also been heard on many TV series and video games.In addition, Tim lectures at the London College of Music, and is a Director of the British Academy of Composers and Authors. As a Freeman of the City of London, he has been granted the historic right to 'relieve himself' in Saint Paul's churchyard, and to drive his sheep across Southwark bridge... both of which he claims to have done. see more at: https://www.tim-fraser.co.uk/If you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Arthur Brown's debut album The Crazy World of Arthur Brown was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic... in 1968. Since then The God of Hellfire has never stopped making music and collaborating with a wide range of amazing musicians. (In this podcast he recalls gigs with Frank Zappa, and hanging out with Jimi Hendrix in his LA apartment). A true legend, Arthur met Claire Waller when she was running her much-loved Buttercup Café in Lewes, East Sussex, and the two slowly formed a partnership to bring Arthur's music and performance to new audiences, through multi-media shows, which may even (as we hear in the podcast) be staged in their own venue.It's a truly inspiring story which takes in the release of the single Long Long Road - released on Arthur's 80th birthday - and exciting work with young animators and designers. Along the way we hear about the pair's love of nature, and the idyllic life they are building together in the Yorkshire Dales.   see more at: https://www.thegodofhellfire.com/https://www.facebook.com/arthurbrownmusic/hear more at:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Wyn0ejiSIAgFhCL6zbTRmIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!

Podcast 01 features special guest, actor LISA ARMYTAGE, who fell into acting – literally – aged 6,  when she entered the school stage headfirst as The Angel Gabriel through the wrong entrance - where the curtains were tied together at the bottom. Recovering from this mortifying beginning has been a lifelong quest. You may remember Lisa as a 30-something actor in the main cast of ‘Neighbours’ as Dr Beverly Marshall, mark 1. Leaving the show to spend more time with a young family, Lisa has nevertheless continued to work on stage, television, and film in a variety of dramatic and comedy roles. More recently she has re-emerged as an audiobook narrator and voice actor. She is now as busy as she was in her ‘Neighbours’ heyday. In April 2023 Lisa is in the first episode of ‘The Robots’ – a Big Finish audio production for all Dr Who fans.  Otherwise, you can hear what she’s been up to by taking a look at her page as a narrator on Audible as Lisa Armytage. That’s Armytage with a ‘y’ not an ‘i’. Think of an ‘army’ mixed with a ‘stage’ and you’ve (almost) got it. see more at: https://www.spokenbylisa.co.uk/https://www.audible.co.uk/search?keywords=lisa+armytageIf you feel you're too old to be creative, or too creative to be old, then Creageivity is the podcast for you!