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Follow Your Curiosity

Author: Nancy Norbeck

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Some of the most interesting and inspiring stories I’ve heard are about people’s creative journeys and what they’ve learned along the way. The world needs to hear more of those stories, and now you can hear them on the Follow Your Curiosity podcast.

Twice a month, you’ll hear a new interview where we delve into one person’s creative journey. Some of these folks will be better known than others, but they’ll all hold up a mirror to the importance of creative endeavor in every life.

In the alternating weeks, you’ll hear short Creative Pep Talk episodes where I feature a creativity tool or tip to help you keep your creative energy flowing.

You’ll find something you can use in every episode of Follow Your Curiosity!
209 Episodes
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Raquel Drosos started writing when she was five, and has rarely stopped. As a teenager, she wrote and published three young adult novels under her maiden name, Raquel George. Games of Chance is her first book for adults.  She also blogs about parenting and the creative process. Raquel talks with me about the intersection between acting and writing, plotting vs. writing by the seat of your pants, the moment when your characters come to life in your head (which is not a sign of madness!), her next novel, and more. She also shares some excellent advice she got from her dad. Episode breakdown: 0:00 Intro 01:09 Parents not artists, but innately creative and supportive. 06:02 Writer surprised by interpretation of their play. 09:55 Supportive parents, writing struggles, novel characters reused. 15:38 Mix of planning and spontaneity in writing. 17:20 Two types of writers: plotters and pantsers. 23:09 Feeding creativity through exposure to art and music. 25:14 Observing people, sparking curiosity, fostering creativity. 27:14 3-year-old nephew's wild story about alligators. 33:00 Characters connect through accents, interviews essential for authenticity. 34:10 The sound of words matters to writing. 40:08 Intense family saga vs. immediate relationship novel. 42:54 Encouraged writer spans genres and age groups. 45:13 Describing book as mix of others important. 48:18 Novel: Parenthood, love, creativity, friendship, humor, advice. 51:51 Jotting down scenes and dialogue, then dedicated. 54:56 Character decides to go left, not right. 58:10 Trust your gut and follow your instincts. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a moment when your creative work came to life for you. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
It's easy to think of "normal" as an insult, or at least not something to aspire to. You might want to rethink your perceptions of normal, though. I explain why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us how you embrace normal. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Alex Poppe decided when she was in her 20s to leave her corporate job and become an actor, with no acting experience at all. After acting for 12 years, she followed her travel instincts, becoming certified to teach English overseas and moving to multiple countries, including Iraq, to pursue teaching and humanitarian work, and writing. Alex is the author of four works of fiction: Duende, Jinwar and Other Stories, Moxie, and Girl, World. Her writing has won numerous awards, including the International Book Award, Reader’s Choice Book Award, and a 35 over 35 Debut Book Award. Alex tells me about her decision to become an actor, how she made the move into teaching abroad—and what she’s learned from both experiences—how her time abroad has influenced her writing, and more. Episode breakdown: 05:28 16 years teaching, actor training influences writing. 09:55 Networking in theater leads to humanitarian aid. 15:13 Teaching experiences in Middle East were heartfelt. 17:59 Studied and worked in Erbil and Germany. 21:55 Children witnessing war, finding innocence amid turmoil. 25:40 Homesickness, friendships, and social pressures at boarding school. 32:42 Shocked friend describes disturbing bar experience. 33:30 A shocking experience inspired her book writing. 37:14 Returned to the States, started writing in 2010. 41:49 Lyrical book with dense language. 47:30 Exploring character, tone, and emotion in writing. 51:56 Navigating uncertainty in creative process with flexibility. 55:33 Book inspired by old photo, friendship celebration. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when you took a risk. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
I've been under the weather, so here's a pep talk worth revisiting: If you're not doing what you want to do because you think you're not ready or don't have what you need, might I very gently and lovingly suggest that you're wrong?  I'll be back next time with something new! :) Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review and in it, let us know what YOU are starting, from right where you are! Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
My guest this week is Kerry Malawista, a psychoanalyst and writer who uses writing to heal. She’s the co-director of the New Directions in Writing project, which offers programs in writing from a psychological perspective. Her publication credits include the Washington Post, New York Times, and Delmarva Review, which nominated her for a Pushcart Prize. Her first novel, Meet the Moon, focuses on a young teen after the loss of her mother. Kerry talks with me about how she came to writing later in life, creating a writing program—The Things They Carry Project—to help healthcare workers cope with the pandemic, how she turned her own story of loss into a novel, how we perceive memory and truth, and more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Parents' encouragement led to unexpected creativity. 04:40 First published piece inspired by Costa Rica trip. 09:33 Overcame challenges, found success, inspired others. 12:09 Email testimonials show positive impact on frontline workers. 15:57 Led groups for teachers, immigrants, college-bound youth. 20:32 Reading shapes perception and understanding of truth. 22:59 Realization of an impossible event from memory. 24:34 Using writing to process powerful personal experiences. 30:25 Struggling writer finds inspiration to use imagination. 32:17 Fiction captures therapist's view on loss and resilience. 34:58 Conveying ideas in a novel can be challenging. 38:48 Memoir vs novel: finding the right structure. 43:39 Humorous movie turns into husband's choking ordeal. 47:07 Effective writing balances trauma with humor. 50:29 Use all 5 senses to describe experiences.   Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how you deal with feedback. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
Do you give yourself credit for your creativity? A lot of us don't, including people you wouldn't expect. You really should recognize your own creativity regularly—I'll explain why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us how you recognize your creativity—or how you'd like to. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Kevin Carey came to writing and filmmaking later in his career, but has wasted no time producing a wide range of poetry, fiction, and documentaries, including a crime novel, Murder in the Marsh, and a middle grade novel, Junior Miles and the Junkman. He’s also the coordinator of creative writing at Salem State University in Massachusetts, where he teaches intro and upper level creative writing courses. Kevin tells me how he got his start with writing, how his MFA experience changed both his writing and the opportunities available to him, the importance of reading your work to others, and much more. Episode breakdown: 00:00 Stranger's grief sparked passion for poetry teaching. 08:53 Transitioning from poetry to fiction writing journey. 14:54 Drawing inspiration from hometown for crime novel. 21:40 Deciding not to work with an agent. 26:12 Friend's art gallery led to film business. 28:03 Close friendships and passion in documentary filmmaking. 35:28 Writers struggle to let go of perfection. 40:09 Encouraging honest feedback, experimenting, and releasing pressure. 45:38 Successful writers helping and inspiring young writers. 50:19 Diverse students in writing classes seek guidance. 58:42 MFA program: discovering joy in completing novels. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how you deal with feedback. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
It sounds so simple, but we hardly ever let ourselves be happy, especially with our work. Why is that a problem? I explain in this super short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when you let yourself be happy. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Tim Myers does a bit of everything: he’s a writer, songwriter, storyteller, visual artist, and senior lecturer at Santa Clara University, where he teaches writing. We got together to talk about the nature of creativity, which Tim calls a “sacred mystery,” including everything from the way our childhood creativity is changed by the culture as we become adults, the necessary role of play in the creative process, the transcendent experiences of awe and wonder and how they fuel us, the wisdom of following your gut, and a whole lot more. Episode breakdown: 01:39 Kids are instantly creative, often play traditionally. 06:50 Creativity influenced by nature, nurture, educators. 15:50 Importance of creativity in education and society. 21:22 Differences between play in childhood versus "professional" adults. 24:56 Nancy switched to teaching, advisor, and writing lit mag. 30:49 Encouraging exploration of language and creative thinking. 37:04 Parents see child, lifetime of giving love. 40:35 Zen story about finding wonder in life. 45:27 Believing in progress through challenging circumstances. 50:34 Art, festivals, play as a primal need. 56:21 Semantic split between "religion" and "spirituality." 01:01:14 Falling in love based on unique personal idiosyncrasies. 01:07:23 Experimenting with writing schedule structure. 01:13:45 Craft is in choosing words for impact. 01:19:22 Writers and feedback. 01:25:00 Tim struggles with generalist vs specialist identity. 01:26:31 Passion for storytelling and visual art emerges. 01:35:38 Weekly writing schedule reduces overthinking and focus on perfection.   Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us how play influences your creative process. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in writing.
CPT #74: Structure

CPT #74: Structure

2024-01-2405:21

Folks who consider themselves creative often have a REALLY hard time with structure, but it can be one of your best allies. I explain why in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when structure helped you. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Marc Kaye calls himself a “restless creative”—a musician, writer, and comedian who loves to tell stories and make people laugh. He also, through his company, VitalConex, uses those skills to help develop the vital connections needed for focused, united teams and creative problem solving. Marc tells me how—and why—he took the leap into stand-up, how his comedy and his writing skills have influenced each other, and how he takes both of those, and his business partner’s therapy background, and creates programs to help teams create a sense of psychological safety that lets them do difficult work from a place of greater unity. Episode breakdown:   00:00 Childhood creativity shapes lifelong passion for creation. 05:37 Piano, writing, science, marketing, stand-up comedy. 07:49 Email to Gary Goldman about Last Comic Standing. 11:48 Got hooked on comedy, performed sporadically. Kids grew. 15:32 Song critique circle provides valuable but diverse feedback. 18:26 Improving character portrayal in writing and comedy. 21:41 An exercise in making unexpected connections. 23:45 Comedy, improv, and creativity in storytelling. 27:23 Adults miss suspending belief in harmless ways. 31:03 Comedy clubs are a past entertainment trend. 34:24 Challenges with DEI initiatives and team building. 36:42 Avoiding the “consultant” label 40:33 Using humor to build real interpersonal connections. 43:12 Identifying strengths and weaknesses through team activity. 46:24 Human experience involves shared emotions and perspectives. 52:26 Humor is crucial in navigating change. 54:38 Finding humor in life is a superpower. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when humor made something easier for you. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing and theatre.
Setting resolutions can be a recipe for disappointment—or, if you've set appropriate expectations, a recipe for success. I explain the difference in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when lowered expectations made a difference. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Gary Russell has done a bit of everything in media, from acting when he was young to writing fanzines to writing for Doctor Who Magazine to working for the BBC to co-founding Big Finish Productions, which produces a variety of audio dramas for various TV series including Doctor Who, The Prisoner, Dark Shadows, and more. Gary and I talk about his journey from one opportunity to the next as a “professional fan,” including how he’s made the decision both to take and to leave various positions, why he’s always run his life on instinct, and why he thinks it’s absolutely vital to be able to admit when you don’t know what you’re doing (even when it means baptism by fire), the value of freelancing—why he wouldn’t have it any other way—and a lot more. I really think you’ll get a lot out of my conversation with Gary Russell, even if you’ve never seen an episode of Doctor Who.  Episode breakdown: 00:00 Early desire to be a stuntman leads to acting classes/jobs. 08:56 Other kids at school unimpressed by acting jobsl. 11:35 Switching out of acting. 20:34 People are conditioned not to admit ignorance. 26:28 Recognizing natural endings and embracing them rather than holding on too long. 29:40 Facing uncertainty. 33:30 Embrace new experiences, live a fulfilling life. 36:12 Doctor Who fanzines/freelancing lead to running Doctor Who Magazine. 46:23 Input from others shaped Gary’s core philosophy. 50:14 Warriors of the Deep: Script is good, but the execution is fatally flawed. 58:15 Ignore negativity, focus on what's important. 01:04:28 The birth of Big Finish Productions. 01:14:32 Moving to the BBC to work on Doctor Who. 01:23:37 Pension provides security, but Gary will never stop working. 01:27:24 Advice for anyone interested in freelancing. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when you took a leap of faith. If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who.
Our last replay of the year focuses on my favorite random discovery about an amazing actor. It’s short, and worth listening to again. What can a simple choice from actor David Tennant tell us about creative freedom? I'll tell you in this short episode. Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about how you might stop taking things so seriously. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! I'd love to hear your feedback, questions, and experience with these ideas! Send me a note at fycuriosity.com, or say hello on BlueSky!
Happy holidays, everyone! I'm thrilled to present my second holiday replay of the year, which was easily one of my favorite interviews of 2023, if not my very favorite. It's a perfect story for the holidays, reminding us that there's room for redemption in all of us. Enjoy! My guest today is Kate Powers, a lifelong theatre kid who became an off-Broadway and regional theatre director. Her list of credits is long, but I wanted to talk to Kate about the unusual home she’s found for her work: maximum security prisons. Kate is the founding artistic director of the Redeeming Time Project, which uses Shakespeare to effect positive change for the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated. She has been a facilitator with Rehabilitation Through the Arts (www.rta-arts.org) at Sing Sing Correctional Facility since 2009.  Kate tells me how she discovered this work, how she runs her program, and the transformative effect of combining Shakespeare—famous for his depictions of all facets of human nature—with a prison population. I’m not gonna lie to you—I had goosebumps for most of this interview, and I think you might, too. If you do, I hope you’ll consider donating to help these programs transform lives—you’ll find a list of links in the show notes. Please leave a review of the show, and in it, tell us about a time when theater transformed a part of your life. Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre! Join the conversation on Post.news, Spoutible, and Mastodon! And if you're feeling stuck in your own creative process, get the 6 Creative Beliefs that Are Screwing You Up, plus biweekly updates on what's going on in my world (including upcoming events) for free!
CPT #72: Listen

CPT #72: Listen

2023-12-1306:44

It seems like the simplest, most obvious thing, but the fact is, we don't always listen. Changing that could change your life. I'll tell you more in this short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when listening made a difference. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
Serial podcaster Jesse Jackson hosts shows on topics from Doctor Who to Babylon 5 to John Hiatt to Bruce Springsteen. I met Jesse when I appeared on his show, Set Lusting Bruce, where instead of Springsteen, I talked about my deep affection for the Norwegian band a-Ha. I wanted to hear about Jesse’s creative adventures in both fandom and podcasting, and we talk about why you should stop thinking about trying something new and just do it, what we’ve learned from our podcast experiences, and why everyone has a story that deserves to be heard. And there might be a little dishing about Doctor Who in the mix, too. Episode breakdown: 06:54 Reading as a safe place, friendship, discovery, transition to e-books. 14:07 Nostalgia for old Doctor Who novel experiences. 16:07 All access streaming vs. the element of surprise. 24:39 Jesse’s podcast explores music and creativity, over 1000 episodes. 26:23 Embrace starting something new, let it unfold. 32:51 Prepping podcast guests. 38:21 2015 film "Springsteen and I" inspired Jesse’s podcast. 44:00 Jesse encourages listeners to hear Sarah Gregory’s story. 51:27 Ups and downs of responding to feedback. 57:14 Trying new things is okay, even if difficult. 01:01:28 Follow your own creative voice, seek feedback. 01:08:25 Podcasting Doctor Who. Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review and in it, tell us how about a time when starting a new creative endeavor made a difference in your life. Want more? Here are some handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in music and Doctor Who.
Nothing in life is actually straightforward, including your creative process. I explain in this super-short episode. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when you were grateful for a detour. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
As you may know, every year I offer two episode replays over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. These are always two of my favorite interviews from the year—conversations that stuck with me and are worth a second listen (though, in honesty, they're all worth a second listen!). This year, Thanksgiving in the US falls on November 23, 2023—60 years to the day since the premiere of Doctor Who. What could be more fitting, then, than to revisit my conversation with Peter Davison, who played the Fifth Doctor and brought us one of the most beloved Doctor Who anniversary specials of all time ten years ago?  I hope you enjoy the episode! *** I’m absolutely thrilled to be talking this week with actor Peter Davison, star of All Creatures Great and Small, Doctor Who, At Home with the Braithwaites, West End musicals like Spamalot and Gypsy, and much more. He’s also the author of a delightful memoir, Is There Life Outside the Box: An Actor Despairs, and Doctor Who fans also know him as the creator of the 50th anniversary special, The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. Peter talks with me about many of those things, plus how he came to write his book, the "rise of the nerds," and more.  Episode breakdown: 00:01:10 Childhood creativity, music, becoming an actor. 00:10:08 Taking on Doctor Who, and being unsure how to approach the character. 00:17:03 Doctor Who, and playing unpleasant characters well. 00:24:54 All Creatures Great and Small and the lessons learned from Robert Hardy. 00:35:18 Actors fear of being replaced, and the difference between US and UK actors. 00:42:13 Acting as the best job. 00:50:28 Writing his memoir. 00:55:34 The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot. 01:03:07 Doctor Who fandom and the "rise of the nerd." Please leave a review and in it, tell us your favorite Doctor Who experience or memory. Want more? Here are some handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre and Doctor Who. Check out the show notes at fycuriosity.com (I have some really cool extras over there for you!)and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.  
Comparison and self-improvement are great ways to reject yourself. I explain why—and what to do instead—in this short episode. Read the post from Dr. Kelly Flanagan that inspired this pep talk. My previous pep talk on comparison and self-rejection. Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks! Please leave a review, and in it, tell us about a time when self-acceptance made life easier. Join my free creative community, The Spark! We celebrate each other's creative courage, and I'll be sharing programs for subscribers and listeners there in the coming months.
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