The Syncreate Podcast: Empowering Creativity

Hosted by Melinda Rothouse, PhD

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Episodes

126

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to Syncreate, where we explore the intersections between creativity, psychology, and spirituality. Our goal is to demystify the creative process and expand the boundaries of what it means to be creative. Creativity . It’s a word we throw around all the time, but what does it really mean? On the Syncreate Podcast, we share stories of the creative journey. We talk to changemakers, visionaries and everyday creatives working in a wide array of fields and disciplines. Our goal is to explore creativity in all its facets, and to gain a better understanding of the creative process – from imagination to innovation and everything in between. The Syncreate Podcast is hosted by Melinda Rothouse, PhD . She helps individuals and organizations bring their creative dreams and visions to life through coaching, consulting, workshops, retreats, and now, this podcast. She's written two books on creativity, including Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities (winner of a Silver Nautilus Award for Creativity and Innovation), with Charlotte Gullick. She's also a musician (singer-songwriter and bass player) and photographer based in Austin, Texas.

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60 recent

September 3, 2026Episode 12613 min

Episode 126: Creative Spark Series - Compost & Cosmos with Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick

In this installment of our Creative Spark series, Charlotte shares several anecdotes, including the story of a man she met while picking up a load of compost, who told her all about his pet pig, Cosmos. With her superpowers of listening and asking questions, Charlotte has a knack for drawing out people’s stories, which is always a source of creative inspiration. This episode, like the mini-episodes that preceded it, also includes insights from our book, Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities . For our Creativity Pro-Tip , we encourage you to engage with the people you meet in your daily activities–ask questions, get to know them a little bit–and see what possibilities this can open up. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 124: Finding Your Story , Episode 106: Creative Confessions , and Episode 98: Creativity and Humor . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Melinda Rothouse Website Charlotte Gullick’s Website The Syncreate book by Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Joy Music Website Austin Writing Coach

August 20, 2026Episode 12554 min

Episode 125: Figuring it Out with Film Producer & Creative Entrepreneur Marco De Molina

Marco De Molina is Grammy Nominated film producer who has received international acclaim throughout his career at prestigious film festivals worldwide including the Festival de Cannes. He has been recognized for his striking visuals, unique storytelling, a keen eye for developing new talent, and his ability to maximize production value. Marco has produced countless music videos for chart-topping musicians in all genres from metal to pop. He has received numerous nominations and wins at the MTV VMAs, and UKMVAs, including a Grammy Nomination for Best Music Video for LIL NAS X “Montero (Call Me By Your Name.)” He the Co-Founder of SPACEBRAIN Entertainment and One of Us, a prestige spirits platform, both of which he runs with his wife Roza Marchenko. Our conversation traces his journey from aspiring filmmaker to Grammy-nominated producer and creative entrepreneur. For our Creativity Pro-Tip, Marco suggests cultivating a daily discipline to hone your craft, and warns not to get caught up in other people’s successes, because as his mother once told him, “Excellence has no competition.” Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process in a variety of contexts, you might also like our conversations in Episode 21: The Walk of Faith and Courage with Shakespearean Actor Warren "Ren" Jackson , Episode 56: Asking the Questions with Broadway Stereophonic Cast Member Chris Stack , and Episode 119: Jazz Lessons with Musical Mathematician Lawrence Udeigwe, PhD . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: SPACEBRAIN Entertainment One of Us Mezcal Marco De Molina on Instagram One of Us Mezcal on Instagram Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Austin Writing Coach Melinda Joy Music Website

August 6, 2026Episode 12414 min

Episode 124: Creative Spark Series - Finding Your Story with Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick

Storytelling is a huge part of the creative process, and we all carry many stories within us. In this episode of our Creative Spark Series, we explore how to find the stories in our own life experiences, and how to begin working with them. We also explore the healing power of telling our stories, and how our personal (and sometimes painful) experiences can speak to larger, more universal themes. This episode, like the mini-episodes that preceded it, also includes insights from our book, Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities . For our Creativity Pro-Tip , we encourage you to recall life experiences that still feel a little uncomfortable, “spiky,” or have stuck with you over time, and begin to express them in a creative way to see if you can find a new perspective on them. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 122: Sharing Your Creative Self, Episode 118: The Power of Imagination , and Episode 108: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in our Minds . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Carolyn Myss Melinda Rothouse Website Charlotte Gullick’s Website The Syncreate book by Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Joy Music Website Austin Writing Coach

July 23, 2026Episode 12341 min

Episode 123: The Surface Area of Serendipity with Tech Entrepreneur Charles Cadbury

What if you began each day outside, in nature, without technology, viewed your daily activities and connections as ways to increase the surface area of your serendipity, and spent Thursday evenings appreciating the sunset with friends? Welcome to Charles Cadbury’s world. A multi-award-winning technologist focusing on human-computer interaction and AI assistance, Charles is a creative entrepreneur who values the alchemy of connection. In this episode, we discuss the power of community and collaboration in innovation, as well as the vital importance of the creative journey itself. We also explore the creative potential of (and concerns around) emerging technologies such as AI assistants and agents. For our Creativity Pro-Tip, Charlie suggests taking time each day to unplug from technology and clear the mind, and to distill your to-do list down to three main things you can reasonably accomplish. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process in a variety of contexts, you might also like our conversations in Episode 111: Stories from the Podcast Studio with Grant Davis , Episode 107: Mindfulness in Life, Work, and Creativity with Hannah Williams , and Episode 14: Anatomy of a Song with George McCormack . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Charles Cadbury on LinkedIn sayitnow.ai charlescadbury.com Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Austin Writing Coach Melinda Joy Music Website

July 9, 2026Episode 12210 min

Episode 122: Creative Spark Series - Sharing Your Creative Self with Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick

In this episode of our Creative Spark Series, Melinda & Charlotte explore both the fears and the benefits of sharing our creative selves with family, friends, and the wider world. Many creatives feel misunderstood by those closest to us, such as family members who may not “get” or value our work, so we feel hesitant or resistant to share our creative ideas and expressions with them. However, we believe there’s a positive risk in sharing and allowing ourselves to be known in this way, because it can actually allow our loved ones to become interested and invested in our creative lives.This episode, like the mini-episodes that preceded it, also includes insights from our book, Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities . For our Creativity Pro-Tip , we encourage you to identify one trusted person in your inner circle that you could share your creative ideas with, take that initial step, and see where it leads. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 106: Creative Confessions , Episode 108: Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Our Minds , and Episode 120: Putting Yourself Out There . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Melinda Rothouse Website Charlotte Gullick’s Website The Syncreate book by Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Joy Music Website Austin Writing Coach

June 25, 2026Episode 12149 min

Episode 121: Emotions and Choice in the Creative Process with Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, PhD

What either allows or prevents us from taking action on our creative ideas and bringing them into being? According to our guest Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, PhD, emotions and choice play a major role, including our fears about being judged, as well as both our sense of creative anxiety and identity. How we manage these emotions ultimately guides our creative freedom and efficacy. For our Creativity Pro-Tip, if you have more ideas than you can pursue at any given moment, we encourage you to practice what Zorana calls “idea stockpiling,” which involves finding a way to record our ideas, whether in a notebook or voice memos, or even in a physical drawer, so we can return to them later. We also encourage you to notice and utilize your feelings and emotions in service of your creativity, rather than fighting them. For example, energetic moods are great for creative ideation and brainstorming, whereas more subdued moods are better for critical thinking and revision. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process in a variety of contexts, you might also like our conversations in Episode 62: The Neuroscience of Creativity with Dr. Indre Viskontas , Episode 117: Creativity, Anxiety, and Authenticity with Amanda Beck, PhD , and Episode 119: Jazz Lessons with Musician Mathematician Lawrence Udeigwe, PhD . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Zorana’s Website & Book: The Creativity Choice Zorana’s Newsletter on Substack Zorana Ivcevic Pringle on LinkedIn Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Austin Writing Coach Melinda Joy Music Website

June 11, 2026Episode 12015 min

Episode 120: Creative Spark Series - Putting Yourself Out There with Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick

In this episode of our Creative Spark Series, Melinda & Charlotte discuss both the fears and rewards of putting your creative work out into the world, sharing examples from their own experiences with music, film, and writing. While sharing your creations can feel uncertain, vulnerable and risky, you’ll never know the potential benefits unless you try. This episode, like the mini-episodes that preceded it, also includes insights from our book, Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities . For our Creativity Pro-Tip , we encourage you to put yourself out there creatively, whether by submitting your work for publication, contests and prizes or simply attending a creative event like a reading or open mic. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 102: Creativity as a Path of Adventure , Episode 116: Creativity, Power & Agency , and Episode 118: The Power of Imagination . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Out of the Blue Music Video on YouTube Out of the Blue Song on Spotify Melinda Joy Music Website Charlotte Gullick’s Website The Syncreate book by Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Austin Writing Coach

May 28, 2026Episode 11936 min

Episode 119: Jazz Lessons from Musical Mathematician Lawrence Udeigwe

If music is a language of emotions, mathematics is a language of the nature of reality. In this episode, jazz musician and mathematician Lawrence Udeigwe reveals how these two languages inform each other, and the lessons they hold for everyday life. We discuss his new album, Four Lemmas , and how he bridges the worlds of music and math in his creative, academic, and teaching work. Dr. Udeigwe is a Professor of Mathematics at Manhattan University and a Research Affiliate in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His work integrates teaching and research, with a focus on incorporating research-driven ideas into the classroom to advance mathematics pedagogy and curriculum development. For our Creativity Pro-Tip, we encourage you to be bold in bringing together your diverse talents and interests int something new and unique, and to be flexible with your To Do list - If you don’t get it done today, there’s always tomorrow! Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process in a variety of contexts, you might also like our conversations in Episode 9: Music and Psychology: "The Pocket" Experience with Dr. Jeff Mims , Episode 113: Music Mindfulness and Healing with Dr. AZA Allsop , and Episode 117: Creativity, Anxiety, and Authenticity with Amanda Beck, PhD . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Lawrence’s Website Lawrence’s Instagram Four Lemmas Album on YouTube Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Austin Writing Coach Melinda Joy Music Website

May 14, 2026Episode 11815 min

Episode 118: Creative Spark Series - The Power of Imagination with Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick

In this episode of our Creative Spark Series, Melinda & Charlotte explore the power of imagination, both as a driver of innovation and a pathway to liberation. If we want to play a role in shaping the future, we must use our imagination to envision possibilities, rather than simply letting politicians and tech leaders, who likely do not have our interests at heart, do it for us. This episode, like the mini-episodes that preceded it, also includes insights from our book, Syncreate: A Guide to Navigating the Creative Process for Individuals, Teams, and Communities . For our Creativity Pro-Tip , we encourage you to reflect on ways you may be limiting your own imagination, and how you can bring more playfulness and imagination into your day-to-day life. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process, you might also like our conversations in Episode 10: Imagination and Creativity with Psychologist and Creativity Coach Dr. Diana Rivera , Episode 115: The Power of Play: Creativity, Play, and Embodiment with Dr. Tamara Russell , and Episode 116: Creativity, Power & Agency . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We also offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. You can find more information on our website, where you can also find all of our podcast episodes. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Imagination: a Manifesto by Ruha Benjamin Nichelle Nichols on IMDb The Syncreate book by Melinda Rothouse & Charlotte Gullick Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda

April 30, 2026Episode 11743 min

Episode 117: Creativity, Anxiety & Authenticity with Amanda Beck, PhD

This episode explores the connections between anxiety, authenticity, and creativity, including the hidden gifts and messages of anxiety and their implications for personal development. Amanda Beck is an actress, writer, and doctor of humanistic psychology whose work lives at the intersection of creativity, anxiety, and the authentic self. She holds a PhD from Saybrook University with a specialization in Creativity Studies, where her dissertation explored the deep connections between anxiety, authenticity, and creative expression. Amanda’s research reframes anxiety not as a disorder to be eliminated, but as an alchemical signal pointing toward transformation and authentic becoming. For our Creativity Pro-Tip, we encourage you to explore your relationship to self-trust, authenticity, and creative expression. Sometimes this requires going within and tuning out the noise from the outside world in order to hear and express our own authentic voice. Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced at Record ATX studios with in collaboration Michael Osborne and 14th Street Studios in Austin, Texas. Syncreate logo design by Dreux Carpenter . If you enjoy this episode and want to learn more about the creative process in a variety of contexts, you might also like our conversations in Episode 10: Imagination and Creativity with Psychologist and Creativity Coach Dr. Diana Rivera , Episode 103: Trauma, Creativity, and Mental Health with Tracy Sisk, LMHC , and Episode 115: The Power of Play: Creativity, Play, and Embodiment with Dr. Tamara Russell . At Syncreate, we're here to support your creative endeavors. If you have an idea for a project or a new venture, and you’re not sure how to get it off the ground, find us at syncreate.org . Our book, also called Syncreate , walks you through the stages of the creative process so you can take action on your creative goals. We offer resources, creative process tools, and coaching to help you bring your work to the world. Find and connect with us on social media and YouTube under Syncreate. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and leave us a review! We’d love to hear your feedback as well, so drop us a line at info@syncreate.org . Episode-specific hyperlinks: Amanda's Website Amanda Beck on Instagram Book: The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Essay: The Uses of the Erotic by Audre Lorde (within Sister Outsider ) Show / permanent hyperlinks: The Syncreate Podcast Syncreate Website Syncreate Instagram Syncreate Facebook Syncreate LinkedIn Syncreate YouTube Melinda Rothouse Website Melinda Joy Music Website