Created Creative Podcast

Hosted by Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman

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130

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Jun 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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June 8, 202621 min

Ep 129 - Because Sometimes You Need to Cross an Ocean to Remember What Matters

Dawn's calling in from Barcelona, where she's living the slow travel dream with her young daughter through a nearly free apartment swap. They're doing neighborhood life, playgrounds, homeschooling, and Dawn's managing remote work across a six-hour time difference.Dawn shares Barcelona gems: the 1992 Olympics legacy, imported Egyptian sand for the beaches, Gaudí's unfinished World Heritage basilica that's still under construction, intense regional pride and dialect, a youth soccer system that puts American sports parents to shame, and Mount Tibidabo's real-life connection to Friends (yes, really).But then Ruth shares something vulnerable: a six-to-eight-week relationship that ended abruptly after her birthday. During that season, she created almost nothing. Then afterward? She wrote prolifically, turning that experience into something beautiful.This becomes the heart of their conversation: seasonality in creativity. Sometimes you're in Barcelona discovering joy in slow mornings and new neighborhoods. Sometimes you're processing heartbreak and can barely write a grocery list. Both seasons matter. Both serve the creative process.They talk about making room for joy, trusting that creativity will return when it's ready, and how Ruth's essay-based book project with Paul keeps evolving.LINKS: We'd love to have you becoming a patron! Support this podcast and stories of creativity: patreon.com/u1107241700:00 Soap Opera Opener00:09 Apartment Swap Spain01:25 Slow Travel Life03:05 Homeschooling Abroad03:44 Remote Work Time Zones04:28 Barcelona Fun Facts06:54 Spain Reflections08:09 Birthday Date Twist11:49 Joy and Seasonality13:41 Book Project Update17:10 Summer Creativity Plans21:25 Wrap Up Make Room

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/u11072417Learn more about Brian Spahr's music: https://brianspahrmusic.com/homeHere is the link to the crowdfunding page https://threadbarecreative.com/welcome-to-struggleville-junctionAnd here is the playlist of "Threadbare Songs"https://untitled.stream/library/project/zL0z4lXtFXsrf03Aguv3P00:00 Songwriting Rhythm Breakthrough00:21 Birthday Banter and Holidays00:50 Memorial Day and Veterans01:17 Twelve Year Ashes Story03:01 Spain Update and Worldschooling Pitch04:12 Choosing Countries and Timing05:56 Closed System Schooling Explained06:46 Introducing Brian Interview07:13 Brian in Fort Wayne07:42 Wildwood Studio in Brooklyn08:29 Pastor to Chaplain Career Path09:06 Youth Encounter Team Days09:52 Catching Up With Tammy10:21 Songwriting Origins11:09 Music Industry Shifts12:00 Why He Stopped Writing13:02 COVID Spark Returns14:55 Monday Song Challenge16:54 Finding His Voice19:51 Validation Versus Streams21:28 Relational Music Making22:53 Making Time To Create23:50 Advice For The Hiatus24:48 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/u1107241700:00 Magic In The Pivot00:21 Why We Need Patreon01:14 Community Membership Mindset02:24 Patron Perks And Coaching03:49 Changing The Rules05:23 Life Updates And Sermons07:31 NYC Plans And Kid Crafts09:09 Decluttering Ten Percent11:03 Asking For Support Feels Weird12:02 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/u1107241700:21 Springtime City Vibes01:15 Confirmation Walk Treats02:12 Botanic Garden Learning02:59 Meet Thomas Maltman04:56 Ashes to Ashes Origin09:22 Writing in the Morning10:23 Publishing Without an Agent12:09 Writing Anywhere Tools14:14 Finding Readers Today17:29 Long Form Comeback17:52 Start Small Write Rough18:46 From Journal To Draft20:39 Living In Story Worlds23:21 Embodiment And Truth24:50 Writing For Love Not Money26:48 Favorite Creators And Community27:58 Fantasy Roadblocks Coaching29:56 Find Your Genre Audience32:02 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/u1107241700:17 Welcome And Weekly Catchup00:57 Yacht Rock Flashbacks02:03 Discern By Doing Business03:50 Patreon Community Momentum04:51 Meet Dawn Rudman08:23 Little Steps Big Faith10:28 Screens Boredom And Faith11:53 How Creativity Begins16:24 Church Spaces For Kids18:41 Kids Art On Display19:18 Beyond Art Creativity20:21 Adults Need Permission21:20 Small Steps To Start23:02 Creative Inspirations27:48 Life At Augsburg Fortress29:24 Coaching A Team Well32:35 Discipline Beats Inspiration34:15 Writing Space And Routine35:34 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/u1107241700:09 Holy Week Weather01:10 Community Garden Eggs02:23 Egg Hunt Traditions03:11 Joining the Garden05:04 Seeds Theme Patreon06:46 Rob Bell Writing Flow10:37 Blessing Microgrants Joy12:04 Bubbles And Community Pins12:40 Scaling Micro Grants Citywide13:13 Funding From Christmas Joy13:53 Small Money Big Impact14:48 Songwriting With Tyra15:33 Tyra Creative Process Deep Dive21:44 Kathy Pinot Light Of World25:18 Themes Beginnings And Patreon

March 30, 202616 min

Ep 123 - Cleaning for Holy Week and the Moravian Gravestone Tradition (Because Sometimes Sacred Preparation Involves a Really Good Scrub)

Dawn and Ruth dive into spring cleaning, hospitality, and the surprisingly spiritual act of preparing for Holy Week. But this isn't just about vacuuming. They're exploring a beautiful Moravian tradition of cleaning gravestones before Easter, bringing flowers, telling stories about loved ones, and sometimes even worshiping right there in the graveyard.They share the details of Ruth’s dining room refresh project, Dawn’s aversion to both cleaning and clutter, and coordinating the beautiful chaos of church logistics for Holy Week. This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like spiritual preparation should be more meaningful than just showing up, or who needs permission to find the sacred in the everyday work of making space—literally and figuratively—for what matters most.LINKS: Join our patreon and let us help you bring your project from idea to implementation: patreon.com/u1107241700:23 Cleaning and Clutter01:13 Dining Room Makeover01:53 Yellow Kitchen Memories03:01 Moravian Easter Prep04:55 Decluttering and Toys07:34 Holy Week Logistics08:57 Stained Glass Art Project11:20 Movies and Musicals12:57 Easter Plans14:43 Holy Week Encouragement15:54 Closing and Farewell

March 23, 202643 min

Ep 122 - Being Hearable: Regina Shands Stoltzfus on Teaching Peace, Trauma, and Sustaining Activism (Because You Can't Teach Peace Without Understanding Violence)

If you enjoy Created Creative Podcast, we warmly invite you to become a patron: patreon.com/u11072417 For just $10 a month you can become part of our monthly Created Creative Conversations. Find out more below!Dawn and Ruth welcome Regina Shands Stoltzfus, Goshen College professor in northern Indiana and Mennonite Church USA member, whose journey from peace education and anti-racism training led her through activism, pastoring, seminary, and into higher education.Regina's book Resistance, Resilience, and Radical Love: Reflections on Blackness and Teaching Peace tackles something crucial: You can't teach peace without studying violence. And to do that effectively, you have to be "hearable" creating space where students can actually listen and engage without shutting down from trauma.She's using historical cases like the Wilmington Massacre of 1898 to teach about systemic violence, addressing secondary trauma in the classroom, and navigating the current political pressures around DEI work. Regina defines what it means to "work together for justice" across different professions and commits to creating an accountability plan for her next book on the seasons of activism life.This conversation is for educators, activists, and anyone wondering how to sustain justice work without burning out, how to teach difficult truths without retraumatizing people, and what it actually takes to be "hearable" in a world that's often too loud or too defensive to listen.LINKS: We love making this podcast for you and we'd love your support for! patreon.com/u11072417 Join at the $10 level and become part of Created Creative Conversations where you can get support from Dawn and Ruth and other creatives for your own new project! Want to write a book? Dreaming of starting a business? In April our theme is "Seeds of Possibility" and we'll help you get moving!Find out more about our guest, Regina Shands Stoltzfus: https://www.goshen.edu/academics/faculty/regina-shands-stoltzfus/00:17 New Tech Week00:30 Tech Rage Stories02:28 Get Human Help02:44 Church Water Timer03:32 Small Town Singalong07:30 Meet Regina08:11 From Activism to Academia11:16 Teaching in a Red State13:05 New Book Launch14:06 Teaching Peace Studies Violence16:35 Holding Trauma in Class17:35 Writing Through Sabbatical20:08 Course Design for Care21:32 Hearable as Black Professor23:22 Student Pushback and Growth25:12 Systemic Violence Rhymes26:00 Citations Over Opinions26:15 Fake Historian Cred26:47 First Solo Book27:39 Writing Through 202429:30 Teaching Under Scrutiny31:09 Choosing the Right Rooms32:17 Work Together Justice34:30 Conflict Skills Everywhere36:53 Next Book Seasons38:14 Accountability Mapping Plan40:40 Memorial Day Deadline

March 16, 202634 min

Ep 121 - Small Steps, Big Hope: Kimberly Knowle Zeller on Blessings, Pilgrimage, and Writing

Dawn and Ruth check in mid-Lent about rotating Wednesday pastorates, quirky church history discoveries, and children's theater outings before sitting down with Kim Knowle Zeller, ELCA pastor and writer from rural central Missouri.Kim's got two books under her belt: The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years (co-authored) and her new release Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life. But here's what makes her story compelling—the new book was born from her Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and a "100 Day Project" where she wrote one blessing daily.That practice changed everything. Kim learned to notice God's presence in small, ordinary moments instead of waiting for the big spiritual revelations. She reads "A Blessing for When the World Is on Fire" during the conversation, and honestly? It's the kind of blessing we all need right now.Kim shares her traditional publishing journey, marketing strategies, writing rhythms, and the truth about what blessings actually do. Spoiler: They don't guarantee safety or fix everything. But they do something maybe more important—they accompany people into a hard world so they're not alone.This conversation is for anyone who's ever wondered if the small, everyday moments of faith actually matter, or who needs permission to find the sacred in the ordinary instead of waiting for lightning bolts from heaven. Because sometimes the biggest hope comes from the smallest steps.If you love the work we do at Created Creative Podcast we invite you to become a patron! For just $10 a month you can be part of our Created Creative Conversations and get the support you need as you start your own next creative project! patreon.com/u11072417Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years, and the upcoming book of blessings, Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. She loves to walk around her town of 1,000 and enjoy the many festivals and events, as well as attend her monthly book club and trivia night.IG: @kknowlezellerSubstack: https://kimberlyknowlezeller.substack.comWebsite: kimberlyknowlezeller.com00:00 Blessing Not Bubblewrap00:21 Lent Check In00:36 Country Church Tales04:28 Marionettes In Central Park06:18 Meet Kim Knowle Zeller08:24 Beauty Of Motherhood Book11:00 Small Steps New Blessings12:13 Hundred Day Blessing Habit15:05 Structuring The Pilgrimage Lens16:33 Finding An Agent Publisher18:54 Landing a Publisher19:21 Marketing Through Connection20:22 Local Media and Events21:02 Substack Over Instagram21:48 Writing Rhythm and Routine23:47 Favorite Devotionals and Reads25:38 Reading a Blessing Aloud27:27 Coaching for Motivation29:57 Simple Reels and Tech Help32:52 Blessings as Creative Faith34:04 Final Thanks and Sendoff

March 10, 202636 min

Ep 120 - Living Outside the Box with Matt Smith (Because Some People Actually Know How to Do Everything)

Matt Smith is a fellow yogi from rural Minnesota who makes the rest of us feel like we've been living in bubble wrap our whole lives. He grew up seasonal farm style: spring morel and Chicken of the Woods mushroom foraging, summer Boundary Waters canoeing, winter camping at 38-below (because apparently that's a thing people do for fun), and winter beaver trapping and fur handling. You know, typical Tuesday activities.But wait, there's more. Matt worked wildland firefighting, became a paramedic, and then decided to build his own log house over eight years without taking out any loans. Just learned as he went, recounting close calls with falling trees and a horse accident that probably should've ended differently.Oh, and in his spare time? He built a glamping retreat from scratch. Road, platforms, bathhouse, septic—the whole operation. It's earned over 100 five-star reviews because of course it has.Matt also talks about yoga, self-work, faith, community service, and how he's encouraging his kids to overcome fear and learn actual skills. You know, the kind of skills that matter when the power goes out or you need to, I don't know, survive in the actual world.This conversation is for anyone who's ever wondered what it looks like to live completely outside society's safety nets and create something entirely from your own hands and knowledge. Because some people really do know how to build a life from the ground up. Literally.LINKS:Join our patreon to support this podcast and to join Created Creative Conversations in April! patreon.com/u1107241700:00 Backcountry Beginnings00:17 Welcome and Boxes01:27 Meet Matt the Builder02:45 Farm Life Seasons03:18 Mushroom Foraging 10105:15 Chicken of the Woods07:43 Farming and Work Ethic08:45 Boundary Waters Adventures10:04 Wildland Fire to Paramedic10:40 Building a Log Home12:09 Close Calls and Mustangs13:37 Trapping and Fur Craft16:46 Glamping Retreat Origins18:22 Zillow Hobby Hunting18:37 Buying Land For Family19:08 Building The Glamping Retreat20:41 Community Know A Guy22:01 Reviews And Retreat Ideas22:48 Yoga And Self Work25:02 Kids Farm Freedom26:33 Fixing A Calf Leg29:00 You Are The Project31:45 Mindset And Failure33:28 Campfire Cooking Stories34:50 Documentary And Farewell

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