Created Creative Podcast

Hosted by Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman

Religion Spirituality Arts

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134

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity on "Created Creative." Together, these creative entrepreneurs delve into the universal aspects of the creative life. From the restlessness within that compels us to build something new, whether it's a Lego castle or a life-altering venture, they celebrate the beauty and sanctity of these creative stirrings. Join them in exploring the transformative power of paying attention to that inner restlessness and making space for the growth of new, beautiful things. Welcome to a podcast that recognizes and celebrates how we are all "Created Creative."

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September 28, 202646 min

Ep 134 - Pastor Yolanda Denson-Byers on Art, Courage, and Truth-Telling (Because Artists Tell Truth, Even When It's Tender)

Dawn and Ruth welcome Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers, senior pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Edina and author of See Me, Believe Me, a book written to name the common experiences of racism and discrimination faced by clergy of color in predominantly white congregations. Now in its second edition and widely used, the book centers the crucial distinction between intent and impact. Because good intentions don't cancel real harm. Yolanda shares her Holy Spirit-led writing process, her promotion strategies (including how alma maters can be powerful amplifiers), and why spirituality and creativity are simply inseparable for her. She describes her creative worship practices, all proof that worship itself can be a radical creative act. The episode closes with Dawn coaching Yolanda on her next book: a more tender, story-based project that requires a different kind of courage. They talk about how courage grows in small steps, the "ish" mindset for artists, and the sacred question of what you choose to share and what you keep close. This episode is for anyone who needs permission to try the unlikely thing, name the hard truth, or take the next small brave step toward something that matters. LINKS: Have a business idea and want to get it moving? Join Dawn's Discern by Doing for Business Course. A new group is starting now: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/ 00:23 Grant Win Story 01:22 Broadway Near Miss 02:52 Seminary Sold News 03:32 Seminary Memories 06:40 Guest Intro Setup 07:42 Meet Pastor Yolanda 08:27 Why She Wrote Book 11:17 Spirit Led Writing 12:50 Intent Versus Impact 16:04 Publishing Proposal Path 18:06 Finding Your Voice 21:16 Promoting The Book 22:23 Promotion Without Competition 23:04 Alma Mater Amplifiers 23:49 Favorite Creative Spotlight 24:58 Spirituality Fuels Art 27:41 Pentecost Worship Experiments 31:52 Pray Without Ceasing 33:33 Courage Builds Creativity 35:16 Ish Mindset for Artists 38:35 Next Book Coaching Session 41:41 Rituals and Accountability 45:20 Tenderness and Consent 45:58 Final Thanks and Sendoff

September 14, 202635 min

Ep 133 - Because Sometimes the Most Sacred Thing You Can Do Is Let Go with Sarah Jones

Dawn and Ruth welcome Pastor Sarah Jones, program director of the ELCA's Church Property Resource Hub, launched March 2025. Sarah's doing some of the most important and emotionally complex work in the church right now: helping congregations navigate the grief of underused or ill-fitting buildings and find new life on the other side. Here's what makes Sarah's work so compelling: She's not just talking about real estate decisions. She's talking about the messy cocoon stage of transformation. The grief, the loss, the uncertainty that comes when a congregation has to reimagine what their building is actually for. That's not a spreadsheet problem. That's a pastoral one. Sarah shares beautiful success stories: a neurodivergent school sharing space with a congregation, a church house repurposed for family visitation. She emphasizes moving away from membership growth as the main metric and toward community impact, because a building that serves the neighborhood might matter more than one that serves only Sunday morning regulars. Her practical advice? Clarify your mission first. Then invite local stakeholders to tour your space. Build partnerships before you desperately need them. This episode is for anyone navigating institutional change, letting go of what was, and wondering what comes next. LINKS: The Church Property Resource Hub: https://www.elca.org/how-we-serve/churches-and-church-leaders/property-resources Check out Discern by Doing for Business with Dawn Trautman! https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/ Clergy Appreciation Month is October! Order a ConseCrate for your favorite minister here: consecrate.cratejoy.com 00:42 Finding Common Ground 02:34 Church Connections 03:17 Episode Setup 00:02 Meet Pastor Sarah 05:14 Hub Origin Story 07:01 What The Hub Does 08:33 Grief Before Change 09:47 Community Asset Mindset 11:49 Faith Language Tools 12:35 When Churches Reach Out 14:09 Beyond Growth Metrics 16:36 Bible Study Resource 17:08 Church With Too Much Space 17:54 Mission First Then Invite Community 20:59 Who To Bring In 22:01 Vincennes Family Visitation House 24:08 Daytona School Partnership 26:46 Future Church As Community Hub 28:20 Field Trips And Examples 29:05 Marketing The Good Futures Game 31:14 Lead With Grief And Hope 34:08 You Are Not Alone

September 7, 202614 min

Ep 132 - Celebrity Sightings and Butter Queens at the Minnesota State Fair (Or: Where Else Would a Rock Star Win Fifth Place in the Bread Competition?)

Dawn and Ruth are ACTUALLY AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR and this episode is pure joy. They kick things off debating corn on the cob textures (very important), sampling falafel and navigating the beef-heavy food options, and getting complimented on their outfits within minutes of arriving. Then someone from Dawn's Indiana school days recognizes her in the crowd because the Great Minnesota Get-Together really does bring everyone together. They dive into the sacred traditions: Princess Kay of the Milky Way butter sculptures (yes, they carve life-size butter heads of royalty), including a story about someone who actually ATE a carved butter head at a graduation party. They watch bovine judging with appropriate commentary, and critique the 4H musical choreography, which was apparently overly ambitious for a 10-day rehearsal process. Points for effort though. But here's where it gets really good: In the Creative Arts building, they run into John Munson of Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic fame. Who won fifth place in the bread competition. They take photos, they fan-girl appropriately, and they immediately invite him to be on the podcast. Because creativity really is EVERYWHERE at the Minnesota State Fair, from butter sculptures to bread competitions to rock stars in the Creative Arts building. Pro tip from Dawn and Ruth: Go midweek for smaller crowds. You're welcome. This episode is pure Minnesotan joy from start to finish, and proof that the best creative inspiration sometimes comes from the most unexpected places. 00:00 Welcome to the Fair 00:29 Corn on a Stick Debate 01:33 Great Get Together Run In 02:10 Why We Came Back 02:46 Butter Sculpting Legends 04:25 Bovine Judging Commentary 04:51 4H Musical Reactions 06:15 Semisonic Celebrity Sighting 07:36 Bread Prize Plot Twist 10:18 Fair Reflections and Food 13:02 Creativity Everywhere Finale

August 31, 202637 min

State Fair Baking, Creative Outlets, and Building a VBS Volunteer Culture with Victoria Hoppes (Because Ministry Leaders Need Creative Outlets Too)

Dawn and Ruth kick things off with State Fair anticipation (Minnesota, obviously), late summer updates from New York City, outdoor concerts, forest school prep, a son's backpacking trip to Yosemite, and taking another child to NDSU. Summer is winding down in the best possible way. Then they welcome Victoria Hoppes, a children's and youth ministry staff member in Indianapolis who writes, bakes, and tap dances, because creative outlets aren't a luxury for ministry leaders, they're a necessity. Victoria shares her delightful State Fair baking life: entering the Indiana State Fair's open arts and culinary competitions, selecting and tweaking recipes, using her church community as taste testers (best congregation perk ever), and submitting entries without needing county-level wins first. She's earned honorable mention ribbons and once won $15. She's basically living the dream. But then the conversation shifts to something really practical: How do you build a volunteer culture around a large, highly decorated VBS week? Victoria's strategies are gold—building genuine relationships before you need anything, offering take-home kits that make volunteering feel manageable, and sharing stories and photos that make people want to be part of something meaningful. The episode closes with Dawn coaching Victoria on restarting her Substack by September 30 and identifying potential publishers for her writing. This episode is for ministry leaders who need permission to pursue creative outlets AND practical strategies for building the volunteer culture that makes ministry actually sustainable. 00:16 State Fair Traditions 01:00 New York Summer Stories 03:03 Outdoor Gear and Adventures 03:47 Backpacking and Big Changes 05:58 State Fair Plans and Guest Intro 07:14 Meet Victoria Hoppes 08:46 Creativity Beyond Ministry 11:22 Entering the State Fair 14:39 Recipes and Test Kitchen 16:32 Judging and Ribbon Keepsakes 18:54 Baking as Self Care 19:35 Landing Writing Gigs 21:59 VBS Creative Build 24:08 Recruiting Volunteers 29:14 Inspired by Kids 30:51 Publishing Under Your Name 35:19 Substack Deadline 37:14 Wrap Up and Farewell

August 10, 202624 min

Ep 130 - Conversations on Creative Living and Transitions

We Took a Slow Summer and We're Not Sorry About It Dawn and Ruth are back, a little sun-kissed and finally figuring out their recording software (only took all summer, but who's counting?). They're calling it a "slow summer" and honestly? We should all be taking notes, because the creative recharge is REAL. Ruth’s been holding down the fort at church through a heavy season of funerals and pastoral care — because ministry is beautiful and also absolutely exhausting, and now she's got a full fall lineup brewing: revamped confirmation, chair yoga (yes, really, and we are here for it), new Bible studies, and the return of the beloved "Dinners for Eight" to get people actually talking to each other in person again. Revolutionary concept, apparently. Meanwhile, Dawn has been deep in the absolute labyrinth that is New York City school applications *for a THREE-YEAR-OLD* and came out the other side with a forest school pick that has flexible scheduling and scholarship support. She's also going full curious-mom mode on homeschooling, worldschooling, and what "woke homeschooling" actually means (spoiler: it's more interesting than the discourse would have you believe). They also survived a chaotic, delayed trip to Indianapolis, shout out to community support and sensory rooms, and have big plans for filming at the Minnesota State Fair because of COURSE they do. Join our Patreon and be part of our creative community: https://patreon.com/u11072417?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 00:18 Slow Summer Catch Up 00:31 New Recording Software 01:30 Creative Work and Funerals 01:58 Fall Plans at Church 03:33 Forest School Decision 07:13 Homeschooling and Off Peak Life 10:20 1990s Summer Vibes 10:49 Travel Chaos to Indianapolis 12:53 Airport Meltdown Moment 14:06 Finally Making Indy Work 15:06 Sensory Room Survival 16:57 State Fair Plans Ahead 17:30 Fall Work and Speaking 17:56 Woke Homeschooling Deep Dive 21:39 Unschooling Questions and Rules 23:06 Podcast Return and Farewell

May 24, 202625 min

Ep 128 - Brian Spahr - Writing 59 Songs in a Year: Brian’s Return to Songwriting

(The audio ended abruptly on this episode but we are posting what we have - please check out Brian's music - he is amazing!!)Dawn and Ruth open the Created Creative podcast by celebrating Ruth’s birthday, discussing Memorial Day and a graveside service involving ashes finally buried after 12 years, then Dawn shares attending a live meeting about a world-schooling organization offering furnished apartments, Finnish-system schooling, and community in multiple countries on three-month cycles. They introduce an interview with Brian, a singer-songwriter, author, and chaplain in Fort Wayne, Indiana, whom they know from Youth Encounter. Brian describes starting songwriting in college, releasing CDs, then taking a 20-year break due to life demands and discouragement, before returning during COVID after mentoring a young songwriter and joining an online workshop. He built a practice of writing and publicly posting a completed song every Monday, producing 59 songs in a year, refining his lyric-focused storytelling voice; one song, “Threadbare,” was published in American Songwriter. He now prioritizes relational engagement over chasing streams while preparing an EP. Join Created Creative Podcast's Patreon: patreon.com/u11072417 Learn more about Brian Spahr's music: https://brianspahrmusic.com/home Here is the link to the crowdfunding page https://threadbarecreative.com/welcome-to-struggleville-junction And here is the playlist of "Threadbare Songs" https://untitled.stream/library/project/zL0z4lXtFXsrf03Aguv3P 00:00 Songwriting Rhythm Breakthrough 00:21 Birthday Banter and Holidays 00:50 Memorial Day and Veterans 01:17 Twelve Year Ashes Story 03:01 Spain Update and Worldschooling Pitch 04:12 Choosing Countries and Timing 05:56 Closed System Schooling Explained 06:46 Introducing Brian Interview 07:13 Brian in Fort Wayne 07:42 Wildwood Studio in Brooklyn 08:29 Pastor to Chaplain Career Path 09:06 Youth Encounter Team Days 09:52 Catching Up With Tammy 10:21 Songwriting Origins 11:09 Music Industry Shifts 12:00 Why He Stopped Writing 13:02 COVID Spark Returns 14:55 Monday Song Challenge 16:54 Finding His Voice 19:51 Validation Versus Streams 21:28 Relational Music Making 22:53 Making Time To Create 23:50 Advice For The Hiatus 24:48 Closing Thanks And Links

May 11, 202613 min

Ep 127 - The Magic is in the Pivot

Dawn and Ruth are shifting Created Creative to every other week episodes. Why? Running a top 5% podcast (yes, our humble little podcast is in the top 5% in the world) comes with an admin and editing load that’s getting heavy, and they need help. They're asking listeners to join their Patreon to help hire support and keep the show ad-free. In return, patrons get to join monthly "Created Creative Conversations" for community and coaching. They explore why people pay to belong to communities like NPR, churches, and yoga studios, while acknowledging how weird it feels to ask for support for less tangible creative work. But here's the core message: Creative projects are allowed to change. Rigid rules choke creativity, and "the magic is in the pivot"—as long as you communicate openly instead of just quitting. Dawn and Ruth model this beautifully, sharing life updates that show them both pivoting: funerals and sermon writing, painting projects, planning for Spain, and decluttering goals. This episode is for anyone who's felt guilty about changing direction on a creative project, or who thinks pivoting means failure. It doesn't. Sometimes the magic happens precisely when you're brave enough to adjust course and keep going, don't cha know. Because the opposite of quitting isn't sticking rigidly to the original plan—it's staying curious enough to let your project evolve. LINKS: Join our Patreon: patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Magic In The Pivot 00:21 Why We Need Patreon 01:14 Community Membership Mindset 02:24 Patron Perks And Coaching 03:49 Changing The Rules 05:23 Life Updates And Sermons 07:31 NYC Plans And Kid Crafts 09:09 Decluttering Ten Percent 11:03 Asking For Support Feels Weird 12:02 Pivot Advice And Wrap Up

April 27, 202634 min

Ep 126 - Thomas Maltman on Making Stories Real

What do you do when you have no ashes the night before Ash Wednesday? You burn something, of course. And then twenty years later, you write a novel about it. That's exactly what happened to novelist Thomas Maltman, who teaches at Normandale Community College, is married to a Lutheran pastor, and has four novels under his belt, including Ashes to Ashes (currently in Minnesota Book Award contention). The real-life Ash Wednesday mishap became the premise for his latest book: What if the ashes wouldn't wash away? What if this happened in a small town? How would people react? That's how you turn an awkward church moment into compelling fiction. Dawn and Ruth also dive into Thomas's writing process. He shares his morning routine, drafting by hand with full permission to "write badly," then revising through typing, printing, and reading everything aloud. He talks about the value of writing community, headphones, and why you should always start new projects during those long publishing waits. This episode is for writers, obviously, but also for anyone who's ever wondered how real life becomes story. Because sometimes the best fiction starts with the moments that make you think "you can't make this stuff up." LINKS: Join our Creative Community and support this podcast by joining our Patreon: patreon.com/u11072417 00:21 Springtime City Vibes 01:15 Confirmation Walk Treats 02:12 Botanic Garden Learning 02:59 Meet Thomas Maltman 04:56 Ashes to Ashes Origin 09:22 Writing in the Morning 10:23 Publishing Without an Agent 12:09 Writing Anywhere Tools 14:14 Finding Readers Today 17:29 Long Form Comeback 17:52 Start Small Write Rough 18:46 From Journal To Draft 20:39 Living In Story Worlds 23:21 Embodiment And Truth 24:50 Writing For Love Not Money 26:48 Favorite Creators And Community 27:58 Fantasy Roadblocks Coaching 29:56 Find Your Genre Audience 32:02 Gargoyles To Novellas

April 15, 202638 min

Ep 125 - Creativity, Faith, and Early Brain Development with Dawn Rundman

Dawn and Ruth welcome Dawn Rundman, a publishing professional at Augsburg Fortress since 2002 who also happens to have a PhD in developmental psychology. Her book Little Steps, Big Faith dives into using what we know about early childhood development to nurture children's faith through rituals, language, music, symbols, and worship. Dawn's suggestions for churches are practical and brilliant: upgrade those sad nurseries, provide higher-quality worship activity bags (not just broken crayons and photocopied sheets), create intergenerational making opportunities, and actually showcase children's art instead of hiding it away. Dawn also talks about creativity and discipline: how she leaves home to write because inspiration isn't enough, you need structure. She connects creativity and spirituality through communal worship traditions, showing how the practices that shape little brains also shape our own capacity for wonder and connection. This episode is for parents, church leaders, anyone who works with children, or anyone who's ever wondered why some environments nurture creativity while others shut it down. Because luck might be the residue of design, but good design starts with understanding how humans actually develop and thrive. LINKS: learn more about Dawn Rundman's work: https://www.dawnrundman.com/ Join our Patreon community: patreon.com/u11072417 00:17 Welcome And Weekly Catchup 00:57 Yacht Rock Flashbacks 02:03 Discern By Doing Business 03:50 Patreon Community Momentum 04:51 Meet Dawn Rudman 08:23 Little Steps Big Faith 10:28 Screens Boredom And Faith 11:53 How Creativity Begins 16:24 Church Spaces For Kids 18:41 Kids Art On Display 19:18 Beyond Art Creativity 20:21 Adults Need Permission 21:20 Small Steps To Start 23:02 Creative Inspirations 27:48 Life At Augsburg Fortress 29:24 Coaching A Team Well 32:35 Discipline Beats Inspiration 34:15 Writing Space And Routine 35:34 Creativity And Spirituality

April 6, 202626 min

Ep 124 - Creativity Grows Best in Good Soil

Dawn and Ruth are celebrating Easter and swapping stories about Holy Week weather, canceled egg hunts, and Dawn's experience dyeing eggs at a New York community garden that sounds like the perfect "third space,” complete with potlucks, music, and the kind of welcoming energy that makes you want to stay all day. They're also reintroducing their new Patreon "Created Creative Conversations," themed around "seeds,” because that's how creative ideas actually work. They need nurturing, community, and the right conditions to grow. Join them for $10/month through the show notes. But the real magic happens when they share clips from past guests about how creativity actually emerges: Rob Bell describes novel-writing as this beautiful mix of loose direction and surprise—completely different from teaching, where you know where you're headed. Blessing talks about her "Sparkle Joy in New York City" microgrants, funded by leftover "Christmas Joy" money to spark neighborhood projects. Because sometimes the best ideas come from reimagining what you already have. Tyra explains how songs emerge while she's practicing—they require quiet focus and the willingness to let something unexpected unfold. Cathy Pino shares the story of writing "You are the Light of the World" at a stoplight and how community made it something that gets sung widely. Because creativity isn't just about the spark—it's about the people who help it grow. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered how ideas actually turn into something real, or who needs reminding that creativity thrives in community, not isolation. LINKS: Join our Patreon here: patreon.com/u11072417 00:09 Holy Week Weather 01:10 Community Garden Eggs 02:23 Egg Hunt Traditions 03:11 Joining the Garden 05:04 Seeds Theme Patreon 06:46 Rob Bell Writing Flow 10:37 Blessing Microgrants Joy 12:04 Bubbles And Community Pins 12:40 Scaling Micro Grants Citywide 13:13 Funding From Christmas Joy 13:53 Small Money Big Impact 14:48 Songwriting With Tyra 15:33 Tyra Creative Process Deep Dive 21:44 Kathy Pinot Light Of World 25:18 Themes Beginnings And Patreon

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