Creative Doula Sessions

By Makeshift Muse

Creative Doula Sessions is a project where stories and ideas are given space to grow. Hosted by Rachel (Rae) — lifelong writer, creative strategist, and owner of Makeshift Muse. Rachel digs into creative ideas and words in each episode, and invites you to relish in their meaning with her. She’ll also share stories of transformation, passion, and struggle, from people in the creative and queer communities. This series aims to inspire you to write, sculpt, build, and cook up stories of your own.

Shout out to the Online Etymology Dictionary for their abundant resources.

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Part 1 [CURIOSITY] The practice of “gritty, determined, stubborn love”

Creative Doula SessionsSep 14, 2021

00:00

08:31

Part 2 [MOTIVATION]: Creating an experience (not just a product)

When there’s a “why” behind what you do, something more intentional and creative happens in the process. This week’s episode is the rest of our interview with The Sol Brothers, Nahom and Elliott. We talk more about how they stay motivated and how they’re inspiring others by spreading the light with their candles.

http://thesolbros.com

http://instagram.com/thesolbros

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/dopamine

https://www.insider.com/how-to-increase-dopamine

STAY IN TOUCH: http://makeshiftmuse.com/museletters

Dec 13, 202121:59

Part 1 [MOTIVATION]: What moves you? A conversation with The Sol Brothers

This episode features my favorite startup candle company, The Sol Brothers. Elliott and Nahom are long-time friends who started a business together in 2020, right before the COVID pandemic hit. They create soy candles that feature amazing scents, and we talked about how they’ve stayed afloat (and motivated) during such unstable and trying times.

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Find The Sol Brothers online:

https://thesolbros.com
https://instagram.com/thesolbros

Link to mental health resources:

https://afsp.org/mental-health-resources-for-underrepresented-communities

Dec 01, 202135:36

[QUEER] Expression, identity and reclaiming creative power

In this extra special episode of the podcast, Rae invites her mentor, Leo Blooms, to talk about the word “queer” and how it’s connected to creative expression. Leo is a mentor, writer, artist, and professional dominant who guides people of all ages through the process of gender and sexual exploration. You can learn more about them at leahblooms.com :)

Nov 16, 202125:48

[VULNERABILITY] The softer side of our creative selves

Creative expression requires some amount of vulnerability — opening yourself up to criticism, rejection … and to pain. This week I talked with sex educator and coach Katy DeJong, The Pleasure Anarchist, who works with individuals on accepting, and cherishing, their vulnerability.
Find Katy online:
www.thepleasureanarchist.com
instagram.com/thepleasureanarchist
Study on playgrounds and boundaries: www.asla.org/awards/2006/studentawards/282.html

Nov 12, 202122:33

[SENSE + SENSUALITY] “We’re all about the flesh over here.”

NEW SEASON, Y’ALL! And an extra special new episode. I had so much fun with this discussion, and enjoyed laughing and exploring the word SENSE with my dear friend, Raquel Vincent. We talk about the history of the words “sense” and “sensuality” and why there’s still taboo around it in Christianity. AND Raquel gives y’all a few helpful, easy-to-use ideas so that you can wield your own sensuality to enhance your overall (not just sex) life.

Find Raquel

Website: http://raquelvincent.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theraquelvincent/

Nov 05, 202136:42

SEASON 2 teaser: [SENSE & SENSUALITY]

The Creative Doula Sessions is coming back for a second season, and this one is extra special. I couldn’t wait to share, so here’s a teaser. I talk with Raquel Vincent, a small business owner, certified breathwork and yoga instructor, all about sensuality. She’s kind of a sensuality activist. (She’s also a really dear friend, and an absolute delight.) We talked about the word sensuality, and how it’s so much more than sex. It’s fuel for creativity and a more fulfilling life, and Raquel has a ton of ideas for incorporating more sensuality into your daily rhythms and routines. raquelvincent.com

Oct 31, 202108:17

[EXPRESSION] Non-dominant handwriting + making space for expression

Expression is so important to humans that we’ve written it into our laws. But what can expression look like? What does that mean? And how can we create room for more expression in our lives?

In this interview with author, speaker, and community creator, Katharine Chestnut, we explore just that. PLUS: Katharine’s book Inner Affirmations: Using Mindfulness to Connect to Your Inner Wisdom is now available for purchase on her website and on Amazon!

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katharinechestnut.com

TIME article with neuroscience-y bits: https://time.com/5163576/ignoring-your-emotions-bad-for-your-health/

Oct 09, 202131:08

[IMAGINATION] It’s not just playing pretend and tea parties

This super special episode features an interview with someone who’s had a ton of experience with children and play. Becky Winstead spent 11 years as a Montessori school teacher — she’s also my sister. And we had a super fun conversation about the word imagination, what children teach *us* about the world, and how adults can make room for more imagination in their own worlds. Link to Scientific American piece: www.scientificamerican.com/article/when-the-minds-eye-is-blind1/

Sep 30, 202124:58

Part 3 [CURIOSITY]: Transforming our discomfort through the practice of curiosity

Curiosity killed the cat … but satisfaction brought it back. In the final installment of this three-part series, business coach SB Rawz and I discuss the impact that curiosity has on our connections and conversations.

You can find SB Rawz online and I highly suggest subscribing to her newsletter! It’s a good one.

Sep 28, 202110:47

Part 2 [CURIOSITY] A creative approach to empathy + lint in the Velcro

SB Rawz shares more about her practice of curiosity and how it supports her coaching business. But curiosity can make an even bigger impact in our life, if we let it.

SB Rawz is a business and empowerment coach in Virginia. You can find her online at rawzcoaching.com — I highly recommend her weekly newsletter.

Sep 22, 202131:04

Part 1 [CURIOSITY] The practice of “gritty, determined, stubborn love”

A sneak peek at the next episode that I’m still working on. :) I interview business coach and all-around badass SB Rawz, who talks with me about the expansive, healing, creative power of curiosity.

SB Rawz is a business and empowerment coach in Virginia. You can find her online at rawzcoaching.com — I highly recommend her weekly newsletter.

Sep 14, 202108:31

[PLAY] The practice of play, dancing like Thom Yorke, and encouraging adults to play more.

Play is an important aspect of creativity, and I talked with someone who’s thought a lot about it. On this episode, I talked with my brother, David Winstead: father, therapist, explorer, and advocate of play. We chatted about how play supports creativity and mental health, and how to invite more play into our lives as adults.

Thom Yorke gif: https://gfycat.com/courteousdeserteddeer

Sep 03, 202127:21

Creative Doula Sessions

By Makeshift Muse

Available on

Part 1 [CURIOSITY] The practice of “gritty, determined, stubborn love”

Creative Doula SessionsSep 14, 2021

Part 2 [MOTIVATION]: Creating an experience (not just a product)

Part 1 [MOTIVATION]: What moves you? A conversation with The Sol Brothers

[QUEER] Expression, identity and reclaiming creative power

[VULNERABILITY] The softer side of our creative selves

[SENSE + SENSUALITY] “We’re all about the flesh over here.”

SEASON 2 teaser: [SENSE & SENSUALITY]

[EXPRESSION] Non-dominant handwriting + making space for expression

[IMAGINATION] It’s not just playing pretend and tea parties

Part 3 [CURIOSITY]: Transforming our discomfort through the practice of curiosity

Part 2 [CURIOSITY] A creative approach to empathy + lint in the Velcro

Part 1 [CURIOSITY] The practice of “gritty, determined, stubborn love”

[PLAY] The practice of play, dancing like Thom Yorke, and encouraging adults to play more.

[INSPIRATION] Create or Die: Finding Inspiration When We Need It Most

[CREATIVITY] Creativity, the Enlightenment, and dressing in drag for science

August 17, 2021