Origins of Creativity Podcast

Neil Parsons has spent his career finding the spaces between disciplines. A childhood in a theatrical family set the stage, and that early spark grew into a career blending music, dance, and theater into something entirely his own. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how he builds unique experiences for audiences, what it's like teaching interdisciplinary artists at the Boston Conservatory, and the lessons he's picked up about giving himself permission to create, embracing uncertainty, and finding his own voice on stage. It's a warm, honest conversation about breaking boundaries in the arts and what it takes to keep creating.
 
C. Neil Parsons can be found at:
https://www.cneilparsons.com/
https://www.thefourthwallensemble.com
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

In this episode, Lisa Rauch joins me to talk about her journey from fire performance and medieval markets, to building an entire world of costumed character! Lisa is a Berlin-based walk act performer and costume creator whose work spans sculpture, costume design, and stilt walking. We talk through the early days that shaped her path, the projects that came together in unexpected ways, and what it's like joining the artist company she once admired from afar.
 
Lisa Rauch can be found at:
Website: https://www.lisa-rauch.de/
Website: https://www.flugtraeumer.de/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liza.rauch/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flugtraeumer/
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

What does it take to work with Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Lucasfilm and then walk away to build something entirely your own? Mike Zagari has done both. In this episode, he traces his path from childhood comic book obsession to the frontlines of multimedia storytelling, sharing hard-won lessons about burnout, creative reinvention, and why the daily practice of making art matters more than the big breaks. Whether you're a creator, a fan, or just someone who's ever wondered what it costs to do meaningful work, this one's for you.
 
Mike Zagari can be found at:
Website: https://mikezagari.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_zagari/
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

Chris Sickels never stopped drawing. What started as a childhood obsession grew into a career spanning 3D illustration, stop-motion animation, and children's books. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on how his characters come to life, what it really feels like to work with your hands in a digital world, and the lessons he's picked up about staying curious, embracing vulnerability, and never stopping growing as an artist. This is a wonderfully candid conversation about the creative life and what it takes to keep showing up for it.
 
Chris Sickle can be found at:
Website: https://www.rednosestudio.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rednosestudio/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rednosestudio#
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-sickels-507582a/
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/rednosestudio
Twitter: https://x.com/rednosestudio
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

In this episode, Emma Speelman, a watercolor artist, shares her journey from the Australian outback to becoming a recognized artist! Emma tells us about her unique minimal water technique, what “self-taught” in watercolors means to her, and the importance of human connection in art.
She advised aspiring artists to pursue their passions, even when faced with fear.
 
Emma Speelman can be found at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyemmalianagram
Website: https://www.artbyemmalian.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@artbyemmalian Emma Lian | Emma Speelman - YouTube
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

In this inspiring conversation, Brielle Griffin, a stained glass and mosaic artist with a background in architecture, shares her journey from a structured academic life to embracing her creative passions! She discusses the influence of nature on her work, the challenges and rewards of commissioned pieces, and the importance of play and experimentation in her artistic process. Brielle highlighted the significance of community support and the evolving perception of stained glass as a respected art form!
Brielle can be found at:
Facebook @hamboneglass
Substack: @hanmboneglass
Instagram: @hamboneglass
Website: https://hamboneglass.com
Etsy: HamboneGlass - Etsy
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia

This time on the Origins of Creativity podcast, I interview Rossano Galante, a composer and film orchestrator, who shares his creative process behind composition and film orchestration. He also reflects on the role of emotion and experience in shaping his music. Music lovers will enjoy this episode as they get a glimpse behind the scenes of how music scores are created!
 
Rossano Galante can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rossano.galante.2025
Rossano Galante's music can be found via J.W. Pepper, Alfred Music, 
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia
 

This time on the Origins of Creativity podcast, I interview creativity expert Nicole Gnezda. She shares her insights into the nature of creativity, its importance in human life, and its cultural implications! She shares the science behind creativity, her personal journey of researching creativity, and the role of teaching in fostering creative thinking. Niki graciously offered practical techniques for harnessing creativity for all types of creatives. 
 
Check back in for Part 2 coming soon!
 
Nicole Gnezda can be found at https://compassioncreativityandteaching.com
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
Creating Minds: An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Ghandi by Howard Gardner: https://a.co/d/dd2t3g1
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia
 

In this engaging conversation, I chat with children's book author and illustrator Larry Daley! He shares his artistic journey from childhood inspiration to his professional career in comics and film. He also gives us a glimpse into the creative process behind his newly released picture book Float, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, character development, and emotional themes. Listen to hear his advice for aspiring creatives!
 
Larry Daley can be found at:
Facebook: Larry Daley 
Instagram: @larrydaleyart
Websites: www.larrydaley.com
Publisher Website: www.booklingmedia.com/books
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
Float by Larry Daley
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia
 

We start the new year with an interview with Tapestry Artist, Jennifer Edwards. She shares her artistic journey, focusing on her passion for fiber arts and tapestry weaving. Her early experiences with drawing and knitting evolved into a deep love for weaving, particularly tapestry. Jennifer shares the emotional and therapeutic aspects of her work, especially in relation to her mother's Alzheimer's journey. Our conversation explores the intersection of traditional crafts and modern creativity, emphasizing the importance of mindfulness and personal expression in the artistic process. She discusses the importance of allowing oneself to create without judgment, the value of daily creative practices, and the balance between artistic pursuits and life responsibilities. I hope you enjoy!
 
Jennifer Edwards can be found at:
Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.edwards.7355
Substack:  https://jenpedwards.substack.com/
Instagram: @jenpedwards
Websites: https://jenniferedwards.com/
 
Books mentioned in this episode:
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron https://a.co/d/iPmsLCV
 
Website: www.booklingmedia.com/podcast
Bluesky: @OriginsofCreativityPodcast.com 
Hosted by: Becky Gehrisch
Produced by BooklingMedia