Emerging Form

<p>“I had to reassess how I approached creativity and life in general,” says author Todd Mitchell. In this episode of Emerging Form, we speak with the award-winning author about how to re-envision our creative practice, how to re-think our definition of success and what makes a creative practice sustainable. We also talk about why jelly beans might be an essential item in any creative’s toolbox, habits that help us return to the page another day, and practices that help us identify where our ego is getting in the way.</p><p><strong>Todd Mitchell</strong> is the American Fiction Award-winning author of several novels for young readers and adults including <em>The Namer of Spirits </em>(Owl Hollow Press), <em>The Last Panther </em>(Penguin Random House), <em>The Traitor King </em>(Scholastic), <em>Backwards </em>(Candlewick), and <em>The Secret to Lying</em> (Candlewick). In addition to writing books and comics, Todd works with artists, teachers, and writers on ways to enhance creativity. His newest non-fiction book,<a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/breakthrough-how-to-overcome-doubt-fear-and-resistance-to-be-your-ultimate-creative-self-todd-mitchell/ad9f2b4ebe4bbdcd"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/breakthrough-how-to-overcome-doubt-fear-and-resistance-to-be-your-ultimate-creative-self-todd-mitchell/ad9f2b4ebe4bbdcd"><em>Breakthrough: How to Overcome Doubt, Fear, and Resistance to Be Your Ultimate Creative Self</em></a>, is the culmination of decades of research into creative practices. Currently, Todd directs the Beginning Creative Writing Teaching Program at Colorado State University. You can visit him (and learn about his squirrel obsession) at<a target="_blank" href="http://www.toddmitchellbooks.com/"> www.ToddMitchellBooks.com</a>.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://emergingform.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">emergingform.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>“There are enough talented people out there,” says Julia Belluz, “but only collaborate with people you really like.” This was the advice the writer followed when deciding to work with scientist Kevin Hall on their new book, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.juliabelluz.com/book"><em>Food Intelligence</em></a>. The resulting book weaves his narrative and evolution as a scientist with her narrative as a patient and journalist. In this episode, we explore what makes a successful collaboration, how to define roles—and why to do this right up front, the importance of trust, and how to communicate throughout the process.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.juliabelluz.com/about">Julia Belluz</a> is a Paris-based journalist and co-author of the new book,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334/food-intelligence-by-julia-belluz-and-kevin-hall-phd/"> </a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334/food-intelligence-by-julia-belluz-and-kevin-hall-phd/"><em>Food Intelligence</em></a>. A contributing opinion writer to the <em>New York Times</em>, she has reported extensively on medicine, nutrition, and global public health from Canada, the US, and Europe.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://emergingform.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">emergingform.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>“I’m a striver,” poet Alison Luterman, “still striving to grow.” In this interview with the beloved poet, we follow up on our conversation from <a target="_blank" href="https://emergingform.substack.com/p/episode-64-alison-luterman-reprise">episode 64 “It’s Okay to Not Feel Talented, Keep Going Anyway</a>,</p><p>Alison tells us about her ongoing singing lessons and how they have changed the way she listens, not only to music but to conversations and the rest of the world. This practice is at the heart of her new collection, <a target="_blank" href="https://wildhousepublishing.com/hard-listening/"><em>Hard Listening</em></a>. Not only does she read from the book, but she shares about what she learned about creativity from studying the lives of her singing heroes, the interweaving of politics and creative practice, and how to explore and share pleasure in the midst of difficult times.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.alisonluterman.net/">Alison Luterman</a>’s four books of poems include <em>The Largest Possible Life; See How We Almost Fly; Desire Zoo; </em>and <em>In the Time of Great Fires</em>. She has published poems in <em>The New York Times Magazine, The Sun Magazine, Prairie Schooner, Nimrod,</em> and many other journals and anthologies. She lives in Oakland, California, where she walks her neighborhood daily, stopping at all the yards where there’s a sweet-smelling bush or tree.</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://emergingform.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">emergingform.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>Can poetry be a form of medicine? In this week’s bonus episode, we share a guest podcast, <a target="_blank" href="https://drdianahill.com/podcast/">the Wise Effort Show</a>, hosted by our recent guest Dr. Diana Hill. In the bonus episode she did with Emerging Form, Diana shared a poem that was inspired by this interview with Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. They discuss the role of poetry in emotional processing, grief, love, and connection. Diana shares how Rosemerry’s poetry has personally influenced her life and work. Rosemerry reads some of her poems, discusses her daily practice of writing a poem everyday, and offers insights into how poetry can help us be present with our pain and transform it. Drawing from her own experiences, especially the tragic loss of her son, Rosemerry explains how metaphors and a daily writing habit can serve as healing practices.</p><p>Join this insightful conversation to discover the therapeutic potential of poetry and how it can guide us through life’s most challenging moments.</p><p>In This Episode, We Explore:</p><p>* The Power of Poetry in Therapy</p><p>* Rosemerry’s Personal Journey with Poetry</p><p>* Daily Writing Practice and Its Benefits</p><p>* Embracing Imperfection and Truth</p><p>* Sharing Personal Grief Publicly</p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://emergingform.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">emergingform.substack.com/subscribe</a>

<p>How do we take care of our creative selves? How do we step off the wheel of production and find ourselves in the wide-open moment with room to wonder and wander? In this episode, hosts Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and Christie Aschwanden have a conversation about where they are at now in their well-filling cycle, the importance of creative self-care and the consequences of not doing so.</p><p></p> <br/><br/>This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit <a href="https://emergingform.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_2">emergingform.substack.com/subscribe</a>