The Creative Wrestle

🎙️ EP09 is here and we saved the best for last.What if you haven’t tapped into all the creativity inside you… yet? 👀This week, Lauren & Renée are joined by Scottish lead vocalist and songwriter Nick Mercer for a powerful conversation on music, creativity, and evolution.✨ The origin story of Sergeant✨ The songwriting process✨ The mystery of collaboration✨ Holding creativity lightly✨ Touring with OasisTrust us, you’ll love every minute.Who knows… maybe there’s a singer-songwriter in you waiting to come out 🎶—Scottish indie pop band Sergeant, from Glenrothes, Fife, burst onto the scene during the noughties guitar boom, quickly earning a major label deal with Mercury Records. Renowned for their melodic hooks and energetic live shows, Sergeant toured with legends including Oasis, Supergrass, Happy Mondays, The Fratellis, and Jamie T, and graced iconic festivals like T in the Park, Reading & Leeds, and Glastonbury.Their debut album—produced by the acclaimed John Leckie (The Stone Roses, Radiohead)—was recorded at Rockfield in Wales, RAK Studios in London, and Abbey Road. With critical acclaim and a devoted following, the band ultimately stepped away in 2010, bowing out with a sold-out, 1,400-capacity hometown show.Having reformed at the end of 2024, Sergeant have reignited their spark, selling out every show and releasing long-lost B-sides to a warm welcome from fans. The future looks bright with a long-awaited vinyl release of their debut album and new music on the way.💬 Comment your biggest takeaway🔁 Share with someone creative

🎙️ EP08 is here and it’s one you’ll truly feelWhat if creativity isn’t something you chase… but something you learn to gently hold?In this episode, Lauren and Renée are joined by writer, herbalist, and mother Holly Grace for a raw, deeply personal conversation on art, healing, and thoughtful observations through the beauty and the bends of life. ✨ Creativity and learning to hold it lightly✨ Art as a pathway to healing✨ Navigating multiple priorities with wisdom and care✨ The powerful origin story behind The MeadowThis one goes deep. Honest, moving, and full of insight.Come with curiosity… and maybe tissues.🎧 Listen now via the link in bio💬 What stayed with you?

FEATURING ROBBIE PARKINWhat does it really take to empower other creatives?Lauren and Renée sit down with producer, writer, and director Robbie Parkin for a conversation packed with wisdom, leadership insight, and a little fatherly humour.We talk about:✨ Leaning into your creative calling✨ Leading in healthy and safe ways✨ The discipline of preparation✨ Knowing your craft deeply✨ Best idea winsIf you're someone building something meaningful — this one’s for you.Come ready to glean! Follow us here so you don't miss upcoming episodes!

In Episode 6, Renee and Lauren have a chat with siblings, Matt and Carly Bettinson. Matt and Carly are each talented creative professionals in their own right. Among the many other creative pursuits that we discuss in this episode, Matt is an accomplished composer and Carly is a dressmaker and musical theatre performer.Touching on both the highs and lows of working in the creative industries, Matt and Carly bring warmth and authenticity to the conversation. Enjoy and follow us here on Spotify!Audio Disclaimer: Not all creative projects go to plan and we've had to use our backup recording for this episode. The conversation is absolute gold, the recording is more like bronze, but we know you're still going to love it so we decided to play on.Matt BettinsonStarting with no degree, no connections, and no industry experience, Matt Bettinson carved his own path into the world of film music through relentless practice, cold emailing, and a dream of creating music that could move millions in the cinema. With the guidance of a mentor/close friend, he went on to work professionally as a composer for media and trailers, collaborating with acclaimed artists, directors, and major studios worldwide. His credits include blockbuster films such as Operation Fortune, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Kung Fu Panda 4, and Planet of the Apes, as well as television hits like Marvel’s What If?, Survivor, Hunted, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!After years in the film industry, Matt launched his own artist project under the alias Valiance, a space to tell stories on his own terms. Through it, he crafts dramatic, raw, and deeply personal music that explores mental health struggles—especially within the creative community—and works to make these conversations more grounded and less taboo.Beyond composing, Matt continues to expand his creativity through pen-and-ink art, bass guitar, and an ever-growing fascination with the inner workings of pianos, instruments, and everyday mechanisms, always searching for new ways to express and refine his craft.Carly BettinsonCarly is a multidisciplinary artist skilled in sewing, singing & storytelling. She's worked professionally in musical theatre productions as Dorothy in the Australian tour of The Wizard of Oz Arena Spectacular, as Iola Stover in Parade, and as a soloist in A Night At The Musicals 'Disney In Concert' production. Alongside her endeavours as a performer, Carly has gained international popularity as a textile artist & content creator under the handle @fromcarlyb. Her stitching work celebrates colour, patchworking & overly whimsical designs. Carly is passionate about sharing her love for sewing on Youtube & Instagram with other sewists & creatives alike.

FEATURING: ANNIE PHILLIPSLauren and Renée sit down with Annie Phillips, Founder and Director of LUMN—a strategy consultancy helping leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact.Together, they dive into:🌍 the risks and rewards of living abroad🎨 the power of creative communities🌐 globalising the Renaissance Movement🚀 and what it takes to pioneer bold new ideasAnnie’s genius shines as she effortlessly weaves theory, wisdom, and meaningful application into her take on the creative process.Come ready to glean.Listen now—and don’t forget to follow, share, and drop your thoughts below 👇

In this episode, Renée and Lauren talk with the very talented and entertaining duo, Lauren & Claire!Lauren Hollyock and Claire Dennis are high school drama teachers and theatre-makers, dedicated to bringing bold and imaginative productions that explore the preservation of traditional forms and the reimagining of classic texts for contemporary audiences. Their approach is anchored in a love of storytelling and a belief that theatre should not only entertain but also transform and inspire.Described as “two halves of a whole,” Lauren and Claire join the podcast to speak to the many dimensions of collaboration, visioning, planning, casting, directing, energising, and empowering students in their introduction to the world of theatre.They had us both giggling one minute and genuinely transfixed the next as they took us through the complex parallel processes of teaching + directing theatre in a high school environment.Very impressive and not for the faint-hearted! 

In this episode, Renée and Lauren talk with Rosalie Audoin. Rosalie is the Founder of FuturEdge Group, a boutique consultancy based in London, that helps leaders and organisations accelerate performance, strengthen leadership, and deliver successful turnaround strategies. Together, we cover many layers of the creative process. Rosalie helps us with widening our view of creativity to encompass business leadership, entrepreneurship, strategic thinking, internal mindsets and alignment with personal vision. She shares insights on her journey of pioneering her businesses and discovering her love of helping others with their business endeavours. She unpacks her thoughts on the relationship of congruence and creativity, pausing to celebrate each win and challenges us to be brave and to take more risks when creating and selling our art.To reach out to Rosalie, please head to her website or her instagram account.rosalieaudoin.comIG: @rosaudoin

In this episode, Renee and Lauren sit down with their very first guest, Josh McIntosh. Josh is a multi-award-winning production designer working across theatre, opera, musical theatre, dance and festivals. His extensive career includes collaborations with leading Queensland companies such as Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet and Queensland Theatre, as well as La Boite, Shake & Stir, Harvest Rain, Flipside Circus and Empire Theatres. Josh shares insights from his creative journey, from his first big design opportunity to current festival work. He reflects on collaboration, flexibility, balancing family and creative life, learning from mistakes, and overcoming challenges in the arts, while also exploring faith, problem-solving, and the joy of nurturing creativity in children.

In this episode, we launch The Creative Wrestle Podcast - Season 1. You'll meet your hosts, Renée Oduko and Lauren Oduko, sisters-in-law with a shared curiosity into how creative thinkers do what they do.Ahead of our standard episodes, where we interview a range of creative guests, in this episode, you’ll hear our perspectives on creativity, creative process, and what we call the creative wrestle.