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Created Creative Podcast

Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman

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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  • 26 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 30 min
  • English

Episodes 26

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  • S1 · E116
    February 9 · 30 min

    Ep 116 - Because Sometimes a Tiny Crocheted Heart Saves a Life

    The Little Heart Project is going to wreck you in the best way. Kathleen Jensen, the founder, crochets small hearts, attaches notes of encouragement, and leaves them in public places for strangers to find. Simple, right? Except these tiny hearts are reducing stigma around mental illness and preventing suicides. These little acts of kindness are literally saving lives. Kathleen shares the story behind the project, including her own personal journey with mental health (because you don't start something like this without knowing the darkness firsthand). She's talking about how the project has grown from a local effort to a global movement—people all over the world are crocheting hearts and leaving them for strangers who need hope. But we’re not just talking about the impact on the people who find the hearts. We’re talking about what it does for the people who make them. The community that's formed around this. The volunteers who've found purpose and healing through creating something for someone else. Kathleen also gets real about the challenges of managing a nonprofit, the logistics of spreading kindness at scale, and how creativity can become a tool for mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. This episode is a reminder that you don't need a massive platform or a huge budget to change lives. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny crocheted heart and a note that says "you matter.” LINKS: Check out Dawn's coaching at bigpicturebigpurpose.com Show your love for a favorite minister: consecrate.cratejoy.com and consecratebox.com Help support our work on Created Creative Podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Welcome to Created Creative 00:47 Personal Stories and Reflections 06:24 The Little Heart Project: An Introduction 07:13 Spreading Kindness and Mental Health Awareness 10:53 The Origins of The Little Heart Project 13:29 Impact and Growth of The Little Heart Project 15:26 Personal Struggles and Motivation 15:41 Community Support and Outreach 16:32 Surprising Connections and Growth 17:48 Impact on 9-1-1 Dispatchers 19:01 Youth Involvement and University Partnerships 20:15 Challenges and Coaching 21:32 Nonprofit Management and Funding 24:32 Advocacy and Recognition 27:55 Educational Efforts and Mental Health Awareness 29:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  • S1 · E115
    February 2 · 32 min

    Ep 115 - Ruth Hetland's Solo Adventure through New Zealand (Or: What Happens When You Actually Do the Audacious Thing)

    Ruth's raw, unfiltered voice memos from her solo journey through New Zealand make up most of this episode, and honestly? It's one of the most truthful, vulnerable things we've ever put out there. Ruth's walking you through the whole thing: The initial excitement of departure (that "holy buckets, I'm really doing this" energy), the physical challenges that make you question everything, the moments of reflection when you're alone with your thoughts in the wilderness, and all the interactions with locals and travelers that remind you why humans need each other. But here's what makes this special: You're hearing Ruth navigate the emotional highs and lows in real time. Not polished. Not edited into neat takeaways. Just the messy, beautiful truth of what it's like to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do. By the end, Ruth's gained profound insights and a sense of accomplishment that only comes from finishing something audacious. And when she gets home? She reflects on how the whole experience transformed her. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what it actually feels like to do the thing that scares you. Not the Instagram version. The real version. So grab your coffee (or your hiking boots) and settle in. Ruth's taking you to New Zealand—and it's going to change how you think about what you're capable of. LINKS: Check out Dawn Trautman's coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com Need a gift for your favorite minister? consecrate.cratejoy.com 00:00 Introduction to Ruth's Journey 00:57 Ruth's Pre-Departure Thoughts 00:57 Travel Hiccups and Delays 02:53 Arrival in New Zealand 04:21 First Days on the Trail 05:48 Challenges and Small Victories 06:56 Reflections on Home and the World 08:45 Unexpected Encounters and Decisions 10:38 Reaching Queenstown and Final Thoughts 18:09 Returning Home and Processing the Journey 21:04 Reflecting on the Journey 21:18 Challenges and Adaptations 22:20 Survival Strategies 23:22 Facing Loneliness 23:38 The Value of Community 26:45 Unsupervised Adventures 30:03 Packing Essentials 31:14 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

  • S1 · E114
    January 26 · 28 min

    Ep 114 - Maybe Baptism is about Showing Up for Your Neighbor with Meta Herrick Carlson

    When we welcomed back Meta Herrick Carlson in December to discuss her children's book called We Remember Your Baptism, we never knew how much more timely her words would become by January. Meta is a Minnesota pastor helping children understand and cherish their baptismal stories, which sounds simple until you realize how many of us have NO idea what our baptism even meant or why it matters. She worked with her illustrator Clara to create something that helps families hold onto these sacred moments in ways that actually stick. But here's where the conversation gets deeper: We talked about what baptism means for community. What it means for her Minneapolis neighborhood right now. With ICE presence and everything else happening, the question isn't just "do you remember your baptism?" It's “Do you remember whose you are? And who's got you?" Meta shares her unique pastoral experiences with baptism (and trust us, pastors have STORIES), and we dive into the importance of mutual aid, showing up for each other, and what it actually looks like to live into your baptismal promises when the world feels heavy. This episode is about memory, yes. But it's also about belonging, community support, and the power of knowing you're claimed by God and by your people. PREORDER META’S BOOK: https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9798889836490/We-Remember-Your-Baptism 00:02 Meet the Guest: Meta Herrick Carlson 01:57 Meta’s New Book: We Remember Your Baptism 03:07 The Creative Process Behind the Book 05:48 Choosing the Right Illustrator 08:42 Personal Reflections on Baptism 13:13 The Power of Storytelling in Faith 15:17 Hope for the Book's Impact 15:38 Personal Reflections on Children's Books 16:55 Baptism Rituals and Traditions 18:32 Book Release and Promotions 20:53 Community and Social Justice 22:48 ICE Presence and Community Response 25:36 Faith and Social Responsibility 27:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

  • S1 · E113
    January 19 · 20 min

    Ep 113 - Everything really IS Figureoutable!

    Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo is basically the Created Creative podcast in book form. There's so much overlap it's wild. Dawn and Ruth get real about how family beliefs shaped their creative journeys (spoiler: Dawn got cast in a professional show as a kid and wasn't allowed to do it—ouch), what limiting beliefs are still holding them back (like "I don't wanna bother people" when marketing), and the whole messy tension between building a personal brand and maintaining humility in ministry. Because yeah, that's a thing. They're also talking about the difference between holy persistence and unhealthy striving (when do you keep going and when do you let go?), and how to integrate all the different pieces of your life—ministry, business, creativity—without losing your mind. Dawn calls it "being a jazz musician" with her schedule, and honestly, that tracks.

  • S1 · E112
    January 12 · 36 min

    Ep 112 - When You Walk the Entire Length of a Country: A Journey on the Te Araroa Trail with Author Naomi Arnold

    Naomi Arnold is a journalist, author, and the kind of person who decided to walk the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa Trail. Because why not, right? Naomi's sharing with Dawn and Ruth the whole messy, beautiful story: the trail conditions (spoiler: not always great), the personal fears she had to face, the environmental challenges that nearly broke her, and what it actually takes to put one foot in front of the other for months on end. All of this became her book Northbound, which is basically a masterclass in resilience and determination. But here's what makes this conversation so good: They're not just talking about hiking. They're talking about the writing process, the life lessons that only show up when you're alone in the wilderness with your thoughts, and what happens when you commit to something audacious and then actually do it. This episode is packed with practical advice for future hikers (Ruth's actually in New Zealand hiking right now) and aspiring writers who need to hear that finishing the thing—whether it's a trail or a book—requires the same kind of stubborn persistence. So if you've ever wondered what it takes to walk across an entire country or write about it afterward, Naomi's got answers. And honestly? Her story might just inspire you to do that audacious thing you've been putting off. LINKS: Are you dreaming about starting something new? Check out Dawn's coaching groups: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/ Have you heard about ConseCrate? It is happy mail for ministers! consecrate.cratejoy.com 00:19 Planning the New Zealand Trail Adventure 02:07 Interview with Naomi Arnold 02:47 Naomi's Trail Experience and Challenges 06:24 Navigating the Trail and Unexpected Obstacles 14:03 Final Thoughts and Advice for Future Hikers 19:10 Struggles on 90 Mile Beach 19:58 A Painful Journey to the End 21:22 Unexpected Kindness and Recovery 22:29 Post-Trail Reflections and Social Anxiety 22:59 The Impact of COVID-19 24:46 Book Success and Reader Reactions 25:39 The Journey of Writing and Publishing 28:03 Future Projects and Ideas 29:18 Creative Challenges and Accountability

  • S1 · E111
    January 5 · 36 min

    Ep 111 - Because Overwhelm Isn't a Badge of Honor

    Dawn and Ruth are diving into something women in ministry desperately need but rarely talk about: systems. Not the sexy stuff—just the practical, life-saving routines that keep you from drowning in overwhelm. They're bringing on three incredible coaches who've all been through Discern by Doing and are now helping women actually survive (and thrive) in ministry life: Michelle Pavasars is helping women in ministry create calm, organized spaces and build the systems that make family dinners and ministry responsibilities actually coexist. Because yes, you can have both—but not without structure. Jodi Golden Lund is coaching women through the messy reality of balancing family and ministry, helping them stop over-functioning (which, let's be honest, is what society has trained us to do) and start living with intention instead of exhaustion. Jillene Gallatin took her own grief journey and created Grief Yoga, a practice that holds space for loss, transitions, and all the heavy stuff women in ministry carry but rarely have permission to process. This episode is about community, accountability, and using your unique skills to support each other instead of trying to do it all alone. Because the truth is, most women in ministry are drowning in responsibility, absorbing criticism, and getting way less support than they deserve. These coaches? They're changing that. One calm space, one routine, one yoga session at a time. So if you're overwhelmed, over-functioning, or just tired of white-knuckling your way through ministry life, this one's for you. LINKS: Become part of Dawn's next Discern by Doing for Business Group: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/ Have you heard of ConseCrate? It's Happy Mail for Ministers! consecrate.cratejoy.com Michelle Pavasars coaching: https://www.michellepavasars.com/ Jillene Gallatin grief coaching: https://www.groundedloveforgrief.com/ Jodi Golden-Lund coaching: https://www.jodigoldenlund.com/ 00:45 Epiphany Insights and Personal Goals 01:53 The Concept of Over-Functioning 03:03 Introducing Michelle Pavasars 04:12 Creating Calm Spaces and Organized Lives 07:29 The Value of Family Dinners 08:59 Building a Coaching Business 16:28 The Unique Role of a Coach 16:45 Introducing Jodi Golden-Lund 17:42 Jodi's Journey and Coaching Philosophy 19:37 The Impact of Coaching Programs 22:02 Introducing Jillene Gallatin 22:59 Jillene's Grief Yoga and Coaching 26:18 The Power of Community in Business 35:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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