The Creative Life Podcast

by Creative Life Multimedia & Publishing

Season 3

EP. 34 How Award-Winning Photographer Nia Karmann Turned Adversity Into Art | The Creative Life Podcast

How do you keep creating when the world tells you that you don't belong? Award-winning photographer Nia Karmann joins The Creative Life Podcast to share the story behind her creative journey from discovering photography through 4-H to building an award-winning photography business while living with spina bifida. In this inspiring conversation, Nia discusses perseverance, accessibility in the arts, entrepreneurship, and why representation matters for the next generation of artists. She shares how mentors changed the trajectory of her life, how she approaches photography with authenticity and realism, and why showing up, even when it's difficult, is one of the most important creative acts we can make. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, photographer, or someone navigating obstacles in your own creative journey, this episode is a reminder that your perspective is your greatest strength. In this episode we discuss: • Building confidence through creativity • Living and creating with spina bifida • Why accessibility matters in the arts • Growing from 4-H projects to award-winning photography • Starting and growing a creative business • Why showing up matters more than perfection • The power of mentors and creative community • Organizing the Platte River Art Show • Creating authentic photography in an AI world Follow Nia Karmann: 📷 Nye Street Studio Photography 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms. 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube. 💌 Continue the conversation with Creative Life Notes on Creative Life Co. on Substack, where every episode becomes a deeper discussion through reflections, creative practices, and community conversations. 🔔 New episodes of The Creative Life Podcast are released every Friday.

S3 · E12

Jul 25, 2026

30:11

EP. 33 Why Creative Collaboration Matters: Fission on Building Trust, Finding Your Voice & Making Better Art

What makes great creative work possible? Talent is only part of the equation. The rest is trust. In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with Omaha-based band Fission for a conversation that goes far beyond music. Together, they explore what it takes to collaborate creatively, embrace vulnerability, and build something meaningful alongside other artists. Fission shares how their music has evolved by allowing each member to bring unique perspectives to the creative process. Rather than chasing a single genre or protecting individual ideas, they've learned that the strongest work comes from curiosity, honest feedback, and a willingness to grow together. The conversation also challenges one of the biggest myths surrounding creative careers...that artists have to choose between financial stability and pursuing their passion. The members of Fission offer an honest look at balancing work, creativity, and the long journey of building a sustainable artistic life. Whether you're a musician, writer, designer, entrepreneur, filmmaker, or anyone pursuing creative work, this episode is a reminder that creativity isn't about having all the answers, it's about surrounding yourself with people who help you become better. What You'll Learn • Why your creative voice should evolve as you grow • How collaboration strengthens ideas instead of weakening them • The role trust and honest feedback play in making better art • Why there's no shame in balancing work while pursuing your creative passion • How to build a creative life that's sustainable, authentic, and rooted in community 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms. 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube. 💌 Continue the conversation with Creative Life Notes on Creative Life Co. on Substack, where every episode becomes a deeper discussion through reflections, creative practices, and community conversations. 🔔 New episodes of The Creative Life Podcast are released every Friday.

S3 · E11

Jul 17, 2026

30:43

EP. 32 From Adoption to Advocacy: How Wilson Munsterman Turned His Story into Purpose | The Creative Life Podcast

What happens when the questions you've carried your entire life become the story that helps someone else heal? In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with Omaha author and adoption advocate Wilson Munsterman to discuss identity, belonging, resilience, and the transformative power of storytelling. Found on a doorstep in China as an infant and adopted into a loving family in Nebraska, Wilson spent years wrestling with questions of worth, identity, and acceptance. Rather than allowing those experiences to define him, he transformed them into a mission to educate, advocate, and create community through his bestselling memoir, Marked By Adoption. Together, they explore what it means to carry invisible stories, how creativity can become a tool for healing, and why vulnerability often opens the door to connection. Whether you're an adoptee, a creative, a parent, or someone navigating your own journey of identity, this conversation offers hope, perspective, and a reminder that our stories can become someone else's lifeline. What You'll Learn • How storytelling can transform pain into purpose • Why belonging is something we build together • The role creativity plays in healing and advocacy • How writing became Wilson's path toward understanding his own story • Why vulnerability creates connection and lasting impact 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you enjoy podcasts. 📚 Purchase Wilson's book, Marked By Adoption, at MarkedByAdoption.com. 🔔 New episodes of The Creative Life Podcast release every Friday. 💌 Continue the conversation on Creative Life Co. on Substack and share your reflections with our creative community.

S3 · E10

Jul 10, 2026

30:10

Ep. 31 How Your Home Shapes Creativity, Wellness & the Life You Build with Katie Breidenbach

Your environment is more than the backdrop of your life...it has the power to influence your health, creativity, mindset, and sense of purpose. In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with interior designer and founder of Katie Noel Studio, Katie Breidenbach, to explore how intentional design can transform not only the spaces we live in, but the lives we build within them. Katie shares her personal journey into interior design, revealing how her own health challenges reshaped the way she thinks about our relationship with home. Rather than seeing design as simply choosing furniture or colors, she believes every environment should reflect the people who inhabit it while supporting their creativity, wellness, and daily rhythms. Together, they discuss why our homes influence our energy, how thoughtful spaces encourage creative thinking, and what it means to design with intention instead of trends. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, homeowner, or someone simply looking to create a more meaningful life, this episode will inspire you to rethink the spaces that surround you every day. What You'll Learn • How your environment impacts creativity, focus, and overall well-being • Why intentional design begins with understanding the people who live in a space • Katie's personal health journey and how it shaped her philosophy of design • Practical ways to create a home that supports your goals and daily life • Why good design is about creating spaces that help people flourish—not just impress visitors 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms. 📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube. Follow on Instagram @TheCreativeLifePodcastOmaha 🔔 New episodes of The Creative Life Podcast release every Friday. 💌 Continue the conversation and share your own insights on Substack at Creative Life Co.

S3 · E9

Jul 3, 2026

29:24

Ep. 30 Redefining Success, Building Community & Trusting Your Creative Path | Ariel Panowicz Recap

In this follow-up episode of The Creative Life Podcast, Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons revisit their conversation with photographer, creative director, and Luli Creative House founder Ariel Panowicz to unpack the deeper lessons behind her creative journey. Ariel's story is about much more than opening a creative studio. It's a reflection on identity, belonging, community, and the courage to walk away from the life you think you're supposed to have in order to build one that feels authentic. Together, Jessica and Jaclyn explore the artistic insights, leadership lessons, and creative risks that emerged throughout the conversation. They discuss how creative communities are formed, why so many artists struggle with external expectations, and what happens when we stop waiting for permission and begin creating the spaces, opportunities, and lives we need for ourselves. This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own creative journey and consider where you might be holding back from pursuing the work, relationships, and communities that matter most. Key Takeaways from This Recap • Why authenticity often requires redefining success on your own terms • How creative spaces can become catalysts for connection, collaboration, and belonging • The importance of trusting intuition during career and creative transitions • What artists can learn from Ariel's decision to stop waiting for someone else to solve a problem she cared about • Why community building is one of the most impactful forms of creative leadership • How embracing your unique perspective can open unexpected opportunities Join the Conversation What was your biggest takeaway from Ariel's story? We'd love to hear your thoughts. Join the discussion on Substack at CreativeLifeCo, where listeners can share reflections, creative insights, and lessons they're applying from the episode. 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. 📺 Watch the full interview with Ariel Panowicz on YouTube. 🔔 New episodes of The Creative Life Podcast are now released every Friday. 💌 Join the conversation on CreativeLifeCo Substack and connect with fellow creatives exploring what it means to build a meaningful creative life.

S3 · E8

Jun 27, 2026

27:48

Ep. 29 She Left LA, Came Home & Built the Creative Space Omaha Needed | Ariel Panowicz

In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with photographer, creative director, and founder of Luli Creative House, Ariel Panowicz. Ariel shares her journey from Omaha to Los Angeles and back again, opening up about the pressure creatives often feel to follow a prescribed path even when it no longer fits. After questioning what success was supposed to look like, she chose to trust herself, embrace a different definition of fulfillment, and create the kind of space she wished existed. That decision led to the creation of Luli Creative House, a vibrant, inclusive studio built to help artists connect, collaborate, and create. Together, we explore creative identity, returning home, overcoming the fear of failure, and why building community can be one of the most radical acts of creativity. As Ariel reflects, when you stop creating the life others expect and start listening to yourself, unexpected doors begin to open. What You'll Learn • Why changing direction isn't the same as failing • How to trust your intuition when your path looks different • The inspiration behind founding Luli Creative House • Why creative spaces and community matter • How saying "yes" to your ideas can create opportunities for others Stay Connected! Keep up with Ariel Panowicz: https://www.instagram.com/arielpanowicz/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativelifepodcastomaha/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtm5ErrhqtaaTScxsIPeDmQ Check our website: www.TheCreativeLifePodcast.com 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms. 🔔 New episodes drop weekly on Fridays.

S3 · E7

Jun 19, 2026

28:02

EP 28. Street Art, Creative Resistance & Finding Your Way Back to Creativity with Alyssa Jade Baldridge | Creative Life Podcast Recap

What can graffiti teach us about creativity? In this recap episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons revisit their conversation with Alyssa Jade Baldridge, founder of Omaha Street Art, to unpack the powerful lessons hidden in plain sight on the walls of our cities. More than documenting murals and tags, Alyssa explores street art as a form of storytelling, resistance, cultural preservation, and authentic expression. With a background in graphic design, journalism, advertising, and art history, she offers a fresh perspective on what happens when creativity exists outside traditional institutions and approval systems. The conversation also reflects on creative burnout, reclaiming artistic purpose after working in commercial spaces, and the courage it takes to return to creating on your own terms. If you've ever questioned whether your work matters, struggled with perfectionism, or felt disconnected from your creativity, this episode is a reminder that some of the most meaningful art is created simply because it needs to exist. What You'll Learn in This Recap • Why street art is one of the most honest forms of creative expression • What graffiti culture teaches us about authenticity and creative freedom • How documenting art preserves culture and community stories • The impact of identity and lived experience on artistic interpretation • How to reconnect with your creativity after burnout • What Omaha's street art scene reveals about the city itself Stay Connected! Keep up with Alyssa Jade Baldridge: https://www.instagram.com/omaha.street.art/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativelifepodcastomaha/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtm5ErrhqtaaTScxsIPeDmQ Check our website: www.TheCreativeLifePodcast.com 🎧 Listen now on all major streaming platforms 🔔 Follow and turn on notifications for new episodes weekly on Fridays

S3 · E6

Jun 12, 2026

27:47

EP. 27 Graffiti, Storytelling & Creative Resistance with Alyssa Jade Baldridge | The Creative Life Podcast

In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with Alyssa Jade Baldridge, creator of Omaha Street Art, to explore the stories, voices, and creative resistance living on the walls of Omaha. Through her work documenting graffiti and street art across the city, Alyssa has become an archivist of a creative culture that often exists outside traditional institutions, galleries, and systems of approval. With a background spanning graphic design, journalism, advertising, and art history, she offers a unique perspective on how public art functions as storytelling, social commentary, cultural preservation, and community expression. Together, they discuss common misconceptions about graffiti culture, the role of street art in challenging power structures, and what it means to document creative work that may disappear overnight. Alyssa also reflects on her experience navigating both the corporate and creative worlds, her journey back to authentic artistic expression, and how her Native and white heritage shapes the way she understands art, identity, land, and public space. This conversation invites listeners to look beyond the surface of murals, tags, and street installations to see the deeper stories they tell about a city and the people who inhabit it. What You'll Learn in This Episode • What most people misunderstand about graffiti and street art culture • How street art serves as a form of storytelling, resistance, and public expression • Why documenting creative work can be an act of cultural preservation • The relationship between identity, place, and artistic interpretation • How to reconnect with creativity after experiencing burnout in commercial creative industries • What Omaha's street art scene reveals about the city and its communities Whether you're an artist, designer, storyteller, urban explorer, or simply curious about the hidden creative voices shaping our cities, this episode offers a fascinating look at creativity beyond conventional boundaries. Stay Connected! Keep up with Alyssa Jade Baldridge: https://www.instagram.com/omaha.street.art/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativelifepodcastomaha/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtm5ErrhqtaaTScxsIPeDmQ Check our website: www.TheCreativeLifePodcast.com 🎧 Listen now on all major streaming platforms 🔔 Follow and turn on notifications for new episodes weekly on Fridays

S3 · E5

Jun 5, 2026

27:48

EP.26 Reading, Literacy & Community Building with Keyosha Atwater | Podcast Recap

In this recap episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons revisit their conversation with Keyosha Atwater, founder of Chapters & Connections, to reflect on the power of literacy, intentional reading, and community connection. This episode explores how reading can unlock creativity, expand perspective, and create meaningful opportunities for growth and belonging. Through her Omaha-based book club, Keyosha is building spaces where stories become catalysts for deeper conversation, self-reflection, and authentic human connection. From discussing the importance of literacy in today’s world to exploring why gathering around books still matters, this recap highlights how reading can help individuals reconnect with curiosity, purpose, and possibility. What You’ll Learn in This Recap • How reading supports personal growth and creative thinking • Why literacy and storytelling remain powerful tools for connection • The value of intentional book clubs and community spaces • How shared reading experiences encourage meaningful conversations • Why books can help unlock new perspectives and potential Stay Connected! Keep up with Keyosha Atwater: https://www.instagram.com/keyosha.atwater/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativelifepodcastomaha/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtm5ErrhqtaaTScxsIPeDmQ Check our website: www.TheCreativeLifePodcast.com 🎧 Listen now on all major streaming platforms 🔔 Follow and turn on notifications for new episodes weekly on Fridays

S3 · E4

May 22, 2026

27:51

EP. 25 Building Community Through Books & Connection with Keyosha Atwater | Creative Life Podcast

In this episode of The Creative Life Podcast, hosts Dr. Jessica Olsen and Dr. Jaclyn Gibbons sit down with Keyosha Atwater, founder of Chapters & Connections, to explore the transformative power of literacy, reading, and intentional community. Through her growing Omaha-based book club, Keyosha is creating spaces where books become more than entertainment—they become tools for reflection, growth, learning, and human connection. This conversation dives into why literacy matters at every stage of life, how reading can unlock creativity and personal potential, and why book clubs create opportunities for deeper conversations and meaningful relationships. Together, they discuss the importance of slowing down in a fast-paced world, engaging with stories that challenge and inspire us, and building communities rooted in curiosity, learning, and shared experience. Whether you’re an avid reader, someone looking to reconnect with books, or a creative seeking inspiration, this episode highlights how reading can expand not only our knowledge—but also our sense of possibility. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • How reading and literacy help unlock creativity and personal growth • Why book clubs create powerful opportunities for connection and learning • The inspiration behind building Chapters & Connections • How stories help us better understand ourselves and others • Why intentional reading communities matter in today’s world Stay Connected! Keep up with Keyosha Atwater: https://www.instagram.com/keyosha.atwater/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativelifepodcastomaha/ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtm5ErrhqtaaTScxsIPeDmQ Check our website: www.TheCreativeLifePodcast.com 🎧 Listen now on all major streaming platforms 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube 🔔 Follow and turn on notifications for new episodes bi-weekly on Fridays

S3 · E3

May 15, 2026

27:47

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