Your Creative Mind

Creativity That Sells: How to Make Your Ideas Irresistible with Gavin Lawler and Neal Hoffman

What Makes an Idea Stick? Secrets from Two Creative Powerhouses
What if your next big idea wasn’t just creative—but also wildly successful? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I talk with Gavin Lawler and Neal Hoffman, two brilliant minds who have turned their creative visions into real-world wins. From innovative storytelling to building brands that capture hearts and imaginations, they share practical strategies for making creativity work—in business, art, and life. You’ll hear how they’ve navigated challenges, leveraged the power of persuasion, and turned passion projects into thriving ventures. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an artist, or someone with a dream waiting to take shape, this conversation will give you actionable steps and fresh inspiration to move forward with confidence. Tune in and get the creative edge you’ve been looking for!
Gavin Lawler is the founder of Inno8 Creative Academy, the home of Creepy Cute Collectible and winner of the 2025 Collectible Toy of the Year from the Toy Association.
Innov8 Creative Academy is a trailblazer in crafting distinctive collectible toys and characters. Renowned for their innovative designs and captivating storytelling, Innov8 ignites the imagination and sparks creativity. With a passion for pushing boundaries, they create more than just toys—they craft worlds. Their mission? To inspire wonder, foster creativity, and bring joy to collectors across the globe.
 
Neal Hoffman is a Shark Tanker and the CEO of FanRoll Dice. He's also the creator of the Mensch on a Bench, the most publicized brand to ever come out of Shark Tank.
FanRoll offers premium dice sets for tabletop RPG fans, collectors, and dice lovers. The Catan Masterpiece Series, fully funded on Kickstarter in just one hour, showcases their commitment to quality. Whether you're playing Catan, D&D, Pathfinder, or other games, FanRoll’s dice combine stunning designs with perfect balance. With materials ranging from acrylic and metal to resin, gemstones, and glow-in-the-dark, each set enhances your gaming experience. Trust FanRoll to provide dice that are as beautiful as they are functional.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-lawler-817457b3/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-hoffman-8a2306/
https://www.kreepycollectibles.com/
https://www.wellbeingheroes.com/
https://fanrolldice.com/
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

From Chaos to Creativity: Turning Real Life into Art

Why Fresh Hell Works: Dialogue that Sizzles and Makes You Laugh
This week's Your Creative Table Read with Playwright Brian Cern and Actors Julie Brandon, Barry Wallace, and Izolda Trakhtenberg.
Brian Cern, Playwright
Brian Cern is a Twin Cities-based actor and playwright whose work has won numerous awards and contests throughout North America. A member of the Dramatists Guild, he received his training at Cardinal Stritch University, where his theatre and writing studies led him to a deep appreciation for the stories that unite us in the human condition. As parables, his work has been called “imaginative,” “beautifully soulful,” and “thought-provoking.” Of all the credits to his name, however, it is “Teaching Artist” for local children’s theaters that he treasures the most. He lives with his wife and son in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota.
 
 
 
Julie Brandon as Mom
Julie Brandon is s playwright, poet, short story writer and lyricist. Her work has appeared in Bewildering Stories, Altered Reality, Detangled Brain, Corner Bar Magazine, Poetica Magazine, Fresh Words, Mini Plays Review and many others. Julie's poetry collection, My Tears Like Rain, was published June 2024. Her short plays have been produced nationally. Julie's plays are available on  Broken Art Entertainment 2024 series Summer Vibes and The Future and on several Theatrical Shenanigans podcast shows. A short play will be produced by RubySky productions in 2025. Julie lives near Chicago, IL.
Julie's New Play Exchange 
https://newplayexchange.org/users/12443/julie-brandon
For Theatrical Shenanigans - "Pulled From a Hat" https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/two-year-anniversary-special/
https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/mini-shenanigans-episode-3-can-you-get-there-from-here-by-julie-brandon/
Broken Art Entertainment -   Summer Vibes Anthology - The Astronomy Lesson and The Future Anthology - Someone's Lucky Day
Barry Wallace as Dad
Barry Wallace has worked in Knoxville, TN community and professional theatre for over 30 years as a director, music director, actor and playwright. His original full-length play, THE SNALLYGASTER, is part of Tennessee Stage Company’s 2025 New Play Festival, and his short play, BLACK BALLOONS, won Best Screenplay at the 2022 "The Ten Show" Film Festival.
 
Social Media, etc:
Facebook: @Barry.Wallace1
Instagram: @barrywallace
NPX: https://newplayexchange.org/users/69726/barry-wallace
 
Izolda Trakhtenberg, Stage Directions
Izolda Trakhtenberg is a playwright, scriptwriter, author, and voice actor who brings stories to life across stage, screen, and sound. Her plays Expiration Date (Off Broad Street Play Festival semifinalist) and A Slice of Democracy (produced by Nomad Theatre) challenge and engage audiences. She narrates corporate projects, animations, and commercials, with audiobook credits including The Ghost Next Door and Ocean City Lowdown. As host of The Your Creative Mind Podcast, she explores creativity’s power to transform lives. A published author of fiction and non-fiction, her works include Die By The Sword, book one in the Cassie Belmont Tarot Card Thrillers. Izolda blends storytelling and communication expertise to create work that resonates long after the final word.
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
 
 
Ready to "wow" the people you speak with? Work with me.
This episode is brought to you by my favorite productivity and well-being app, Brain.fm*, my book on how to become a stellar communicator, Speak From Within, and this podcast's host, Podbean (Get a one-month free trial of Podbean with this affiliate link. https://www.podbean.com/CreativeSolutions). 
Leave me a voice message.
 
==
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
Listen on These Channels
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Radical Ideas, Bold Theater—How The Return of Benjamin Lay is Sparking Change

What happens when history, activism, and theater collide? The producers of The Return of Benjamin Lay break it down.
What happens when a story refuses to be forgotten? The Return of Benjamin Lay isn’t just a play—it’s a powerful lesson in courage, creativity, and using your voice for change. In this episode of Your Creative Mind, I sit down with the producers of the production coming to The Sheen Center this March to talk about bringing this revolutionary abolitionist’s story to the stage.
You’ll hear how bold storytelling can challenge the status quo, why creative work has the power to shift perspectives, and what you can do to make your own impact. If you’re a storyteller, entrepreneur, or changemaker, this episode is for you. And if you can, go see the show at The Sheen Center, March 14 – April 6, 2025—it’s one you won’t forget.
JOSEPH W. RODRIGUEZ is an actor, writer, and Producing Artistic Director of Playhouse Creatures (where he has produced over thirty plays). For PCTC: STILL LIFE (with Ancram Opera House), EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, The Two-Character Play ( 2017 New York/ The Duo Theatre), New Orleans (2018 Southern Rep); Mrs. Packard (with Bridge Rep), One Flea Spare, More Stars Then There Are In Heaven, Hunter/ Gatherers, Charlotte The Destroyer, Love Song, 6xTenn, Closer, The Libertine (The Kirk, Theatre Row), and The Libertine (with Bridge Rep – IRNE Nomination, Best Actor). Other NYC: Buffalo Hair with Jeffrey Wright (The Public Theater); The Normal Heart with Bobby Cannavale (The Duo Theatre); Richard III with Austin Pendleton, Macbeth – title role (New Perspectives); Linnehan’s Daughter (Naked Angels); Landscape of the Body, Hurlyburly (T. Schreiber Studios); Innocent Erendira – world premiere with Miriam Colon (Repertorio Espanol). Regional: Hamlet with Mark Rylance, King Lear with F. Murray Abraham (A.R.T.); Iphigenia (The Huntington); Children of the Sun (The Kennedy Center); A Streetcar Named Desire, American Buffalo, Safe Sex, A Christmas Carol (The New Ehrlich Boston); Vieux Carre, Breaking the Code – Best Supporting Actor, Boston Herald (The Triangle Theatre); The Boys Next Door with Lance Reddick (Worcester Forum Theatre). TV/ FILM: Glory, The Opposite of Sex, Desolation Angels, Against the Law, Guiding Light, As the World Turns, Another World, the titular character in Sci-Fi Channel’s Cameron Grant. He is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. 
 
ARSALAN SATTARI PRODUCTIONS: Since 2012 Arsalan Sattari Productions has commissioned, developed, licensed, and produced shows by world-class artists, to critical acclaim and commercial success, within the London fringe, West End, and festivals. They are interested in new writing, UK and European premieres, historical plays and characters rarely portrayed on stage. They are proud to have built a reputation of producing top acclaimed American playwrights in the UK. Arsalan is an Honorary Associate Producer at the multi-award winning Finborough Theatre, London, and Creative Director and CEO of StageBlock, working with some of the most renowned talents and global institutions to bring performing arts into the wider art market. 
Learn more and get tickets.
https://playhousecreatures.org/events/the-return-of-benjamin-lay/
https://www.sheencenter.org/events/detail/the-return-of-benjamin-lay
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |

How to Stop Feeling Scattered and Start Being Present

Mindfulness Isn’t What You Think—It’s How You Think
Do your thoughts ever feel like they’re running the show—pulling you in a hundred directions at once? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we’re exploring what it truly means to have a mindful mind. Mindfulness isn’t just about stress relief—it’s a game-changer for creativity, focus, and peace of mind. You’ll learn how mindfulness shapes your conscious and subconscious thought processes and three unique techniques to build mindfulness in ways you might not have tried before. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative, or business leader, this episode will give you practical tools to be more present, intentional, and in control of your thoughts. Want to take this further? Book a free 15-minute Discovery Call—link in the Show Notes! Tune in now for a more mindful, creative life.
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

Which Door Would You Choose? The Expiration Date Play Table Read

What if the choices you make today echo beyond this life?
In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we bring you a live table read of Expiration Date, a play that explores love, memory, and second chances in a way that will stick with you long after you listen.
You'll hear an engaging, thought-provoking performance and gain fresh insight into how storytelling can shift perspectives and spark powerful emotions. After the reading, we’ll break down the creative process behind the play and discuss the real-life choices that shape our paths.
This episode is a must-listen for writers, creatives, and anyone who’s ever wondered, What if I had another chance? Don’t miss it—stories like this have a way of staying with you.
Izolda Trakhtenberg, playwright, as Mrs. King
Izolda Trakhtenberg is a playwright, scriptwriter, author, and voice actor who brings stories to life across stage, screen, and sound. Her plays Expiration Date (Off Broad Street Play Festival semifinalist) and A Slice of Democracy (produced by Nomad Theatre) challenge and engage audiences. She narrates corporate and educational projects like NASA's Breathable: A Story About Air Quality, animations, and commercials, with audiobook credits including The Ghost Next Door and Ocean City Lowdown. As host of The Your Creative Mind Podcast, she explores creativity’s power to transform lives. A published author of fiction and non-fiction, her works include Die By The Sword, book one in the Cassie Belmont Tarot Card Thrillers. Izolda blends storytelling and communication expertise to create work that resonates long after the final word.
Luke Krueger as Robert James
Luke Krueger lives in Vermont with his two young daughters, who help him make maple syrup from their trees. Luke's plays have been performed around the US and Canada. In 2006, he was the first playwright to be named the Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Penn State-Altoona. His plays are published by Playscripts, Inc.; Next Stage Press; and Original Works Publishing. His short play, "The Sad Funeral" (which debuted at the Source theatre) will be published in the upcoming edition of the Long River Review (University of Connecticut). As an actor he performed in the Arizona Premiers of The Laramie Project and This Is Our Youth; he last played Rev. Hale in The Crucible. Luke holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Arizona State University and a BA in English from Miami University (Ohio). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild 
 
Luke has been on the English and/or Theatre faculty at Arizona State University, Lake Forest College, Loyola University, and Northern Illinois University. Currently he works for a local school supervisory union as an investigator for hazing, harassment, bullying, and title nine complaints; and he is a restorative programs coordinator. Outside of work, Luke is a member of his town's volunteer firefighting department.  
Luke's Plays:
https://www.playscripts.com/play/2450?srsltid=AfmBOorWd0XyG8ouhLtlH4WW3D0i3ghIvBDtaIjaQy-hcnAvarhCyYqz
 
Other plays and the U-Haul book:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Luke-Krueger/author/B001JRVAOS?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
 
Canterbury Tales adaptation:
https://next-stage-press.myshopify.com/products/canterbury-tales-the-digital-version
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

Empowering Women in Tech: Gayle Keller’s S.T.E.A.M. Revolution

From Tech to Toys: Gayle Keller Inspires Girls to Dream Big
How do you balance ambition with fulfillment in your career? In this episode of Your Creative Mind Podcast, Gayle Keller, CEO of Theodora S.T.E.A.M. Girls, shares her powerful insights on overcoming gender biases and empowering women in S.T.E.A.M. fields. With over 20 years in tech, Gayle offers actionable advice on taking strategic risks, reinvention, and creating a fulfilling career. Whether you're looking to break barriers in your professional life or inspire the next generation of girls in science and tech, Gayle’s five-pillar methodology will provide the inspiration and tools you need to thrive. Tune in and walk away with practical steps to move from surviving to thriving in your own career.
Connect with Gayle
LinkedIn handle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaylekeller/
https://theodoragirls.com/
https://gaylekeller.org/
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

Luke Krueger’s Bold Take on a Classic Hero

Your Creative Mind Table Read: What if Odysseus had to answer for his choices? A playwright dares to ask.
What if the women of The Odyssey had the final say? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we bring you Odysseus’s Women by Luke Krueger—a powerful reimagining of the Greek epic where the legendary hero faces judgment from the women he left behind. You’ll hear this gripping story come to life in our table read, followed by an insightful conversation with Luke and the actors about writing, performance, and the power of retelling myths through a modern lens. Whether you're a writer, performer, or someone who loves bold storytelling, this episode offers inspiration, fresh perspectives, and a front-row seat to a play that challenges everything we thought we knew about Odysseus.
Luke Krueger, Playwright, as Odysseus
Luke Krueger lives in Vermont with his two young daughters, who help him make maple syrup from their trees. Luke's plays have been performed around the US and Canada. In 2006, he was the first playwright to be named the Emerging Writer-in-Residence at Penn State-Altoona. His plays are published by Playscripts, Inc.; Next Stage Press; and Original Works Publishing. His short play, "The Sad Funeral" (which debuted at the Source theatre) will be published in the upcoming edition of the Long River Review (University of Connecticut). As an actor he performed in the Arizona Premiers of The Laramie Project and This Is Our Youth; he last played Rev. Hale in The Crucible. Luke holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Arizona State University and a BA in English from Miami University (Ohio). He is a member of the Dramatists Guild 
 
Luke has been on the English and/or Theatre faculty at Arizona State University, Lake Forest College, Loyola University, and Northern Illinois University. Currently he works for a local school supervisory union as an investigator for hazing, harassment, bullying, and title nine complaints; and he is a restorative programs coordinator. Outside of work, Luke is a member of his town's volunteer firefighting department.  
Luke's Plays:
https://www.playscripts.com/play/2450?srsltid=AfmBOorWd0XyG8ouhLtlH4WW3D0i3ghIvBDtaIjaQy-hcnAvarhCyYqz
 
Other plays and the U-Haul book:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Luke-Krueger/author/B001JRVAOS?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
 
Canterbury Tales adaptation:
https://next-stage-press.myshopify.com/products/canterbury-tales-the-digital-version
 
 
Izolda Trakhtenberg as Kalypso, Circe, Penelope, and the Women
Izolda Trakhtenberg is a playwright, scriptwriter, author, and voice actor who brings stories to life across stage, screen, and sound. Her plays Expiration Date (Off Broad Street Play Festival semifinalist) and A Slice of Democracy (produced by Nomad Theatre) challenge and engage audiences. She narrates corporate and educational projects like NASA's Breathable: A Story About Air Quality, animations, and commercials, with audiobook credits including The Ghost Next Door and Ocean City Lowdown. As host of The Your Creative Mind Podcast, she explores creativity’s power to transform lives. A published author of fiction and non-fiction, her works include Die By The Sword, book one in the Cassie Belmont Tarot Card Thrillers. Izolda blends storytelling and communication expertise to create work that resonates long after the final word.
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
 
Flip Your Inner Script to Stop Negative Thoughts From Ruining Your Day.
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

How Awareness Fuels Your Best Ideas and Decisions

Three Awareness-Building Techniques Turn Up the Volume on Your Instincts and Creativity
Have you ever felt like life is passing by too quickly, leaving you disconnected from your creativity and inner clarity? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we explore the power of awareness—what it is, why it matters, and how it can transform your life. Awareness isn’t just about noticing your surroundings; it’s about gaining insight, making intentional choices, and creating space for deeper connections. You’ll learn three powerful techniques to sharpen this skill, improve decision-making, and spark creativity. By the end, you’ll have practical tools to help you feel more present, more engaged, and more creatively free. Don’t miss this opportunity to shift from autopilot to truly experiencing life. Book your free 15-minute Discovery Call!
Flip Your Inner Script with These 50 Ways to Reframe Your Negative Thoughts
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
Book Your Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/izoldat/discovery-call
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
Submit a Play to the Your Creative Table Read Podcast Series
One Minute Movies
A Close Shave
Career Suicide
Diz Wit
 
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |
 

Your Creative Mind Table Read: What Changes When We Rethink the Story?

Playwright Julie Brandon's Hansel and Gretel like you’ve never heard before—tables turned, roles shifted, and a story reborn.
What if Hansel and Gretel didn’t go the way we all remember? In this episode of Your Creative Mind, we bring you the second installment of our play table read series with Hansel and Gretel: The Tables Turned by Julie Brandon. You’ll experience the thrill of a fresh script performed for the first time, where unexpected twists and bold storytelling take center stage. After the read, I sit down with Julie and the actors to talk about the creative process—what shifted in performance, what surprised them, and what this experience revealed about the play. Whether you're a writer, performer, or someone who loves great storytelling, this episode gives you a front-row seat to the magic of live storytelling. 
Julie Brandon, Playwright
Julie Brandon is s playwright, poet, short story writer and lyricist. Her work has appeared in Bewildering Stories, Altered Reality, Detangled Brain, Corner Bar Magazine, Poetica Magazine, Fresh Words, Mini Plays Review and many others. Julie's poetry collection, My Tears Like Rain, was published June 2024. Her short plays have been produced nationally. Julie's plays are available on  Broken Art Entertainment 2024 series Summer Vibes and The Future and on several Theatrical Shenanigans podcast shows. A short play will be produced by RubySky productions in 2025. Julie lives near Chicago, IL.
Julie's New Play Exchange 
https://newplayexchange.org/users/12443/julie-brandon
For Theatrical Shenanigans - "Pulled From a Hat" https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/two-year-anniversary-special/
https://theatricalshenanigans.podbean.com/e/mini-shenanigans-episode-3-can-you-get-there-from-here-by-julie-brandon/
Broken Art Entertainment -   Summer Vibes Anthology - The Astronomy Lesson and The Future Anthology - Someone's Lucky Day
 
Lela Olson as Emma
 
Lela Olson caught the acting bug in kindergarten when she played the peddler in a class dramatization of Caps for Sale. She's been acting ever since on various stages in the Minneapolis area as a pastime. Favorite roles have included Hero (Much Ado About Nothing), Betsy Linder/Lindsey (Clybourne Park), and Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables). Away from the stage, Dr. Olson has worked as a teacher, school principal, and nonprofit leader. She also enjoys traveling internationally and serving her community as a volunteer civil mediator.
https://www.facebook.com/lelaolson9
 
 
Alan Fessenden as Christopher
 
Alan Fessenden is a writer, performer, creator living in Brooklyn, New York. He has performed on stages all over the country as an improviser, actor and clown and now hosts the original award wanting podcast They Just Keep Talking an eclectic mixtape of conversation. Alan has written and performed three solo shows and most recently completed work on his first full length clown show The HelpFulls; Now and Forever. He’s also finished two novellas for a trilogy he’s working on and is developing his first full length play.  (alanfessenden.com)
https://www.instagram.com/alanfessenden/
https://www.tiktok.com/@alan_fessenden
https://bsky.app/profile/tjkt.bsky.social
https://www.tiktok.com/@theyjust.keeptalk
 
 
Izolda Trakhtenberg as The Witch
Izolda Trakhtenberg is a playwright, scriptwriter, author, and voice actor who brings stories to life across stage, screen, and sound. Her plays Expiration Date (Off Broad Street Play Festival semifinalist) and A Slice of Democracy (produced by Nomad Theatre) challenge and engage audiences. She narrates corporate projects, animations, and commercials, with audiobook credits including The Ghost Next Door and Ocean City Lowdown. As host of The Your Creative Mind Podcast, she explores creativity’s power to transform lives. A published author of fiction and non-fiction, her works include Die By The Sword, book one in the Cassie Belmont Tarot Card Thrillers. Izolda blends storytelling and communication expertise to create work that resonates long after the final word.
 
Connect with Izolda
Website: https://IzoldaT.com
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
New Play Exchange: https://newplayexchange.org/users/90481/izolda-trakhtenberg
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
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Balancing Creativity and Productivity with Author Aaron Ryan

The Power of Diverse Experiences in Creativity
Ever wonder how a prolific author maintains a relentless drive while balancing multiple creative pursuits? Join us on Creative Solutions Podcast as we chat with Aaron Ryan, the brilliant mind behind the “Dissonance” series and the sci-fi thriller “Forecast.” Aaron shares his secrets to staying productive, setting goals, and finding inspiration across different creative fields. Listen in to gain practical tips for your own creative journey, learn how to turn your diverse experiences into compelling stories, and find out what it takes to adapt a book into a screenplay. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or a seasoned professional, Aaron’s insights will fuel your creativity and motivate you to achieve your goals. Don’t miss this inspiring episode!
Connect with Aaron
www.authoraaronryan.com
www.dissonancetheseries.com
getthesebooks.com
dot.cards/authoraaronryan
 
Connect with Izolda
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/izoldat.bsky.social.
This episode is brought to you by Brain.fm. I love and use brain.fm! It combines music and neuroscience to help me focus, meditate, and even sleep! Because you listen to this show, you can get a free trial and 20% off with this exclusive coupon code: innovativemindset. (affiliate link)URL: https://brain.fm/innovativemindset
It’s also brought to you by my podcast host, Podbean! I love how simple Podbean is to use. If you’ve been thinking of starting your own podcast, Podbean is the way to go!**
 
Are you getting anything out of the show? I'd love it if you would buy me a coffee.
 
Listen on These Channels
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Podbean | MyTuner | iHeart Radio | TuneIn | Deezer | Overcast | PodChaser | Listen Notes | Player FM | Podcast Addict | Podcast Republic |