The relationship we share with our parents is complex, especially the one between mothers and daughters. Today's guest, Shelly Sharon, is here to share her experience and work with you on the concept of 'the mother wound'.
In this episode, we cover:
- Shelly's creative background and traumatic childhood
- What the mother wound is
- The 5 thresholds for under-mothered daughters, and more.
Shelly Sharon helps women heal the wounds of a complex mother–daughter relationship so they can thrive in their lives and careers.
After a childhood marked by neglect, and abandonment, she turned her story on its head and built a life of purpose and healing.
Shelly’s been a professional ballet dancer, a coffeeshop owner, and a sought-after social change strategist and researcher. But it was through years of intense meditation practice and Buddhist psychology studies with leading international teachers that she came to own her mother wound — and discovered her calling to serve others on the same path.
Shelly is a certified Hakomi therapist and trauma-trained by Janina Fischer. She is the co-host of the Healing the Mother Wound Summit and is currently working on her first book on the subject.
When she’s not supporting clients, she can be found swimming in Alpine lakes, riding horses, picking wildflowers, or cooking enough food to feed a tribe. She lives with her soulmate and their beloved cat.
On What Doesn't Kill Us, we don't shy away from the difficult conversations about trauma and growth – and today's episode is no exception. If you're someone who has struggled with addiction or overcoming unhealthy behaviours, you'll want to listen to what Hayden Burgess has to say.
In this episode, we talk about:
Hayden Burgess is a creative mentor, business coach and consultant (as well as an amazing artist!). After over a decade working in corporate sales and training (while moonlighting as a designer/artist) he started his business, Pitchr, to help creatives build successful and profitable solopreneur businesses. He works with clients all over the world from his home in Hawkes Bay New Zealand, and when he's not working, he's painting, selling paints, reading about painting, or spending time with his two beautiful girls and amazing wife.
PS: I also talk about similar themes over at The Creative Urge.
If you're a creative human, chances are you're not interested in just ONE thing. You might write and sing, draw and act, run a business and cook. So in today's world, how do you make room for it all? My guest on this episode has a few ideas...
Meet Hayley Campbell, a Brisbane-based copywriter and dance fitness instructor. Originally from the UK, she moved to Australia chasing sunshine, beach walks and a fresh start.
On the outside, she was doing all the “right” things… climbing the corporate ladder, staying busy, holding it all together with perfectionism.
But behind the scenes, she was silently dealing with generalised anxiety and an eating disorder.
That experience became a turning point and pushed her to completely reshape her life.
These days, Hayley runs a heart-led copywriting business, teaches high-energy dance classes in person and online, and speaks openly about the stuff she used to hide because she knows how powerful it is when someone finally says, “me too.”
Follow Hayley on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Find a gem of creative wisdom? Unearth more on The Creative Urge.
Do you know where ideas come from? Or why you might be having trouble focusing these days? These are the kinds of questions today's guest LOVES to tackle.
Haley Forest is a behavioral scientist, innovation strategist, and self-proclaimed nerd for how the brain actually works. With a background that spans neuroscience, marketing, and a culinary degree, Haley brings a uniquely interdisciplinary lens to leadership, creativity, and decision-making. She’s currently completing her doctorate in Leadership Psychology, researching how attention and cognitive flexibility shape innovative thinking. Haley’s worked with startups, Fortune 500s, and global telecom brands to turn behavioral science into business strategy, and she’s on a mission to help people think better, lead smarter, and design with the brain in mind. When she’s not consulting or running workshops, you’ll find her fostering kittens or asking weirdly specific questions just for fun.
Welcome back to another season of What Doesn't Kill Us! I'm so pumped to bring you another round of incredible guests, but let's kick things off with a solo episode... all about what it's like to be a multi-passionate creative.
Are you someone who has a million and one creative pursuits? SAME. Do you ever find yourself saying, "oh I WISH I could focus on just ONE thing, it would make my life soooo much easier!"
Rather than asking yourself, "how do I choose", perhaps a better question is, "what do I need to focus on today".
Dr Maz sets you a challenge at the end of the episode that you won't want to miss out on!
If you loved this yap, you'll love The Creative Urge.
As you may know, What Doesn't Kill Us explores the nexus between creativity and post-traumatic growth. Today's guest is a living and breathing example of this in so many ways.
Meet, Caroline Brunne: a Trauma Survivor Coach, Breathwork Facilitator, and the founder of INSupport Community, a peer support network for survivors of child sexual abuse.
Caroline’s work is deeply informed by her journey of resilience and healing and her commitment to empowering others to reclaim their lives. Through coaching, breathwork, advocacy, and community building, Caroline provides survivors with the tools to move forward, break cycles of shame, and find strength in their stories.
In 2022, Caroline self-published her memoir, More Than One Thing Can Be True, an unflinching look at the complexities of family dynamics, generational trauma, and recovery.
In this episode, we dive into:
If this conversation felt expansive, then you're going to be wowed by The Creative Urge.
To say I'm excited about sharing today's guest with you would be an UNDERSTATEMENT. From the moment we connected, it was clear to me that I'd met a kindred soul. In fact, I knew it when I read her most recent book, which t his podcast episode is named after.
Of course I'm talking about the wonderful, generous and uber-creative Holly Ringland.
Holly Ringland is the author of two internationally best-selling and multi-award-winning novels, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart and The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding, one nationally bestselling work of non-fiction, The House that Joy Built, and she writes a beloved and bestselling Substack, The Joy Rise, on the intersection of creativity and connection.
Her books have sold over 500,000 copies and have been published in over 30 international territories.
In 2021, Holly made her TV debut co-hosting the ABC TV factual series Back to Nature which aired in prime time and to critical acclaim.
In 2023, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart was adapted for an award-winning seven-part series starring Sigourney Weaver.
This episode broke me open and I know it’s going to do the same to you. We traverse a LOT of territory here, from Holly’s books and writing process, to the magic and mystery of the creative process. Being in Holly’s presence is like being in the company of an old friend, so settle in, get ready to take notes and enjoy this conversation with the bighearted Holly Ringland.
If this episode was your cup of tea, you need to get on board with The Creative Urge.
When you've got a big dream, it can be a real slog. One of the most underrated parts of the creative journey would have to be the effort that goes into simply 'trying'.
In today's solo episode, I spotlight why the quality of our 'trying' is what we need to focus on instead of the destination (aka the creative product). It's in the 'trying' that we learn, grow, get challenged and ultimate are led to unexpected places!
If this one tickled your fancy, you'll be giddy over reading The Creative Urge.
I'm thrilled to introduce you to today's guest, Jeff McCann, a full-time Australian artist, illustrator and maker. He’s well-known for his colourful murals, engaging community projects and workshops for councils, cooperates and schools.
Jeff’s personal practise explores identity, nostalgia, world building, games and the natural world. Primarily working with cardboard to make wearable art, illustrations, art object, and small batch products, his love of the humble material is infectious!
He’s a queer person who grew up in regional NSW (Dubbo via Wagga) and has been living in Sydney on Gadigal land for the past 15 years.
In this episode, we talk about:
Follow Jeff on Instagram and check out his amazing Youtube channel!
If you found this chat encouraging, you'll get a kick out of The Creative Urge.
Chances are you're already familiar with the heat of imposter syndrome when it arrives. But are you REALLY an imposter, or is there something else bubbling away under the surface that needs your attention?
In today's solo episode, I pick apart this sticky concept and offer some immediate and ongoing tools to help you keep it at bay.
If you loved this little rant, you'll find The Creative Urge a hoot!
If you've been following me on Instagram for a while now, you'll know that there's one person who I usually go on all sorts of adventures with... and she's today's guest on What Doesn't Kill Us! I'm of course talking about the wonderful Suz Chadwick!
Suz Chadwick is a BOLD Business, Branding & Speaker Coach supporting business owners, thought leaders & entrepreneurs to go from unknown & overwhelmed to courageous & confident powerhouses, ready to stand out and be noticed in a BIG way!
She's here to help you become the go-to person in your industry so that you have the RIGHT clients clambering for your brand of awesome sauce!
With over 20 years as a brand consultant working with global brands and entrepreneurs, leader and teams, Suz knows what works when it comes to creating a business, mindset and brand that helps you stands out.
The author of Play Big, Brand Bold, host of the popular Brand Builder's Lab podcast and the creator of Brand Builders Academy (BBA) & the Amplify Mastermind, she now works with savvy women in businesses to create courageously bold brands, get out of their own way & build profitable businesses that take you from Messy to Magnetic!
In this episode, we dive into the difference between internal and external stories, how you can flip the script to go after what you want and why choosing a better story (like "success is inevitable") can unlock a whole new level of life and business.
If this conversation revved you up, you're gonna lose your marbles over The Creative Urge.
I read an incredible Substack article this week, "Private Lives: Why not everything should be explained, captured, or known – a case of living without an audience” by a writer named Tamara. It's a deep dive into how our online behaviour is affecting our offline lives. It got me thinking about my work and how I want to move forward in the current age of visibility.
In this solo episode, I share two excerpts from the article and offer some reflections on how I'm currently navigating my own feelings about posting online.
I also mention Simon Sinek on Diary of a CEO, too.
If you enjoy this one, you'll love The Creative Urge.
Welcome back friends! Today's episode is a two-for-one as I sit down with the powerhouse humans from Casa Davka, Emily Cohen and Hunter Vargas.
Emily Cohen and Hunter Vargas are business partners and consultants at Casa Davka who offer customized business solutions to creative firms so they can refine, evolve, and elevate their strategies and practices. Emily has been in the business for over 30+ years, partnered with 500+ leading creative firms, and is a frequently requested main stage speaker. Hunter is an experienced marketer, project manager, client partner, and business development manager. They also happen to be a mother/daughter pair, so they work together seamlessly, complementing (and challenging) each other in many ways.
In this episode we talk about how Emily and Hunter work together, why boundaries are important (for their work and for their clients' success), what it means to have a vision and much, much more!
Follow Casa Davka on Instagram and LinkedIn.
If you gobbled up this chat, you'll savour The Creative Urge.
A solo episode that you might not want to hear. I've noticed an alarming trend of people prioritising URL over IRL and I think that's why so many of us are feeling lost. But it doesn't have to be like this.
In this episode, I talk about how being out in the world is good for your mental health, why our favourite places will disappear if we don't show up, and offer you a quick mental checklist to combat the loneliness.
If you enjoyed this rant, you'll get a kick out of The Creative Urge and my Instagram.
Welcome to the MAZ & JAZ hour! Today's episode is a deep dive into the realms of life with ADHD and freelancing with creative business coach and graphic designer, Jasmine Parasram.
Known online as the Pricing Queen, Jaz is known for her passion for helping freelancers make money from their creative genius. Most freelancers are underquoting, undercharging and underconfident in what value they serve, and Jaz is there to change that starving artist mentality for one that feeds their back pocket.
In this conversation, Jaz shares her background and how she found her way into the freelance life. She's also an advocate for fellow creative ADHDers and candidly talks about her journey to diagnosis.
If you enjoyed this pontification, you'll gulp down The Creative Urge.
In today's solo episode, Dr Maz shares a powerful piece of writing from her journal. It's powerful because it's from the same brain that told her, the day before writing it, that she wasn't good enough and that her work didn't matter.
Sometimes our most unhelpful thoughts are the gateway to our best creative self-expression. It might not happen right away, but if you keep yourself in a state of 'readiness', you just never know what's next!
If you enjoy this episode, you'll giggle with glee over The Creative Urge.
Today's episode of What Doesn't Kill Us is one near and dear to my heart. It's a conversation with my very own 'Business Godfather', Damian Hinks from The Commercial Creative.
As a self-proclaimed struggling designer at heart, Damian brings experience and humility to his coaching approach. His mission is to empower creative business owners to build thriving, sustainable businesses, nurturing confidence in their ability to grow.
In this episode, we cover so much ground for those of you who run a creative business. From how to work out your values, to what it takes to maintain your authenticity, there's so much juice in this one!
Make sure you sign up to Damian's newsletter, The Manifest, and follow him on Instagram for creative business advice and ideas.
If you loved this ramble, you'll devour The Creative Urge.
When you're at the point of wanting to give up on your creative work, it absolutely SUCKS. But giving up might just be the first step towards making real progress. How about instead of giving up, you GIVE IN.
Today's episode is a solo episode where Dr Maz dives into why giving into strong emotions and letting them pass through you creates space for real progress.
This is a companion podcast to a recent Substack newsletter you can find over at The Creative Urge.
PS: If you genuinely are on the brink of giving up, there are so many support services available to help you. Family, friends and professional help are a phone call or email away. Don't go it alone. Lifeline (13 11 14), and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636).
Today's episode is medicine for any of you that might be feeling a little hopeless, given the state of things. I'm delighted to introduce you to Sarah Patterson - thoughtful, deeply caring and beyond humble. We dive into the outgoing US Surgeon General's parting prescription for America (spoiler alert: it's applicable anywhere) and how to remain hopeful regardless of what shit storms you might be experiencing.
Sarah Patterson is a strategic designer and facilitator dedicated to creating the conditions for more just, safe and abundant futures - the kind we can be excited about.
Sarah understands that people - not shiny things - make change happen. Her work - which combines her background in social policy, architecture, collaborative design and innovation - focuses on bringing people together in meaningful ways to tackle big problems – think: increasing the uptake of renewables, connecting the dots between climate science and action, and shifting the needle on the UN’s sustainable development goals.
In 2023, Sarah founded The Good Cartel Collective - a co-working community for purpose-driven humans. She's currently writing her first book which aims to support change makers to be the bridges needed between current crises and the better futures we can imagine.
Follow her writing on Substack and give The Good Cartel a follow on Instagram.
If this episode felt like soul food to you, check out my Substack, The Creative Urge.
Join me on an experiment. In between each interview this season on What Doesn't Kill Us I'll be dropping in for an intimate creative chat – just YOU and ME.
This week's musing is all about GETTING UNSTUCK.
On the coat tails of a workshop I ran at Florida Creativity Conference in mid-March, I talk about how to pinpoint your default stuck mode and why being stuck is a vital part of the creative process.
If you loved this episode, you'll love my Substack, The Creative Urge.
