Ramblings From the Little Shed

Holly B.
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Where pets and creativity curl up together. Welcome to the coziest corner of the creative world, where art, literature, and our beloved animal companions come together in conversation. Join us in the little shed—a space where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives—as we explore the profound ways animals influence and inspire our creative lives. Whether you're a writer crafting your next novel, a painter finding inspiration in nature, or simply someone who believes their best work happens with a dog at their feet or a cat on their lap, this podcast is for you.

  1. 1d ago

    From Hockey Injury to Healing Work: Natalie Labrie on Animals, Intuition & Energy

    Episode Summary Holly B. is joined by Natalie Labrie, an energy worker and spiritual healer from the East Coast of Canada, for a relaxed evening chat about animals, intuition, and healing. Holly joins fresh off a three-day hike on the Bruce Trail with her son Rogan, and the conversation drifts naturally between dogs, horses, nature, and the stories that shape us. Natalie shares how a career-ending hockey injury sent her into a dark stretch of life, and how getting a puppy gave her a reason to get outside, care for another being, and slowly find joy again. That dog set her on the path toward the work she does today. She also talks about growing up as the only girl in a family of five kids, sensing the world as a child, and how those abilities went quiet during her hockey years before returning, and frightening her, when she was around 21. In this episode•      Meet Natalie's pets: Mack, her 14-year-old border collie, and Lenny (aka "Lenny Pancake"), a nine-week-old mini poodle •      How Mack's "bubble" and parallel walking help the two dogs get along •      How a hockey injury led to a life-changing puppy and a new purpose •      What Natalie's energy work looks like, including her "roadmap" approach and starting each session with a single-word intention •      Natalie's childhood sensitivity to nature, animals, and other people's feelings •      The blindfold exercise in an advanced spiritual development class that changed everything •      How Natalie's dogs and cats tell her when she's out of alignment Connect with NatalieNatalie works primarily by word of mouth and offers both in-person and online sessions. She's planning a website and online courses for 2026. Thanks for listening. If you take three deep breaths today, we've done our job.

    From Hockey Injury to Healing Work: Natalie Labrie on Animals, Intuition & Energy

  2. 6d ago

    Pets, Burnout & Small-Town Canadian Superheroes

    Episode Summary Hosts Holly B. and Rogan sit down with authors Melanie Martilla and Matthew Del Papa to talk about the pets who shaped their lives, the realities of creative burnout and energy management, and the new anthology Super Canucks: An Anthology of Small-Town Canadian Superheroes. Meet our Guests Matthew and Melanie are Northern Ontario authors and longtime friends who first met at Laurentian University, where Melanie was Matt’s TA. Matt is a humorist and genre writer who co-edited Super Canucks with Andy Taylor. Melanie is a poet, short story writer, and reviewer who contributed the story “Old Crow.” Both writers appear in the anthology alongside contributors from across Canada. Meet the Pets Melanie introduces Torvi, her 70-pound, nine-year-old collie mix and “little Viking queen,” named after a shield maiden from Vikings (meaning “Beloved of Thor”). Matt shares a lifetime of animal companions, including Milky, the fearsome cat who vanished in the ’90s, plus Copper, Zeppelin, Falstaff, Maddie, and Katie. He also dog-sits his brother’s dog, Evie. The group also chats about how pet culture has changed from working dogs to fur babies. Creativity & Burnout Melanie opens up about functional burnout following a late-in-life autism diagnosis in 2021, caregiving for aging parents, and the uncertainty of a workforce adjustment at her job. She explains why being kind to yourself matters when your creative bucket is low, and how Torvi acts as her unofficial support dog. Spoon Theory Matt explains Spoon Theory, the energy-management metaphor for disability and chronic illness coined by Christine Miserandino in 2003, and why “just buy more spoons” isn’t how it works. What They’re Writing Matt writes roughly 1,000 words a day and is juggling several projects: a humorous PI novel tentatively titled Fumbled Beginnings, a local history book about Cape Breton-area research (as discussed), and sprawling fantasy and sci-fi manuscripts. Melanie reviews for the Seaboard Review of Books and has short stories waiting for revisions. Super Canucks Anthology Matt and co-editor Andy curated 11 stories from nearly 80 submissions across Canada, inspired by the “brain drain” and the lack of small-town Canadian superheroes. Melanie’s story, “Old Crow,” follows a woman navigating a midlife transformation with help from her best friend and her dog. Thanks for watching and listening! Like, subscribe, and share the episode with a fellow pet lover or writer. Episode affiliates Podmatch - here you can find a suitable podcast to match with as a guest or a host. Farm Dog Coffee - the owners created Farm Dog Coffee over a road trip, now you get to enjoy a great cup of coffee on a road trip!

    Pets, Burnout & Small-Town Canadian Superheroes

  3. Oct 16

    Patent Agent by Day, Author by Night: Tricia Copeland

    Episode #81 Summary In this episode of Ramblings from the Little Shed, host Holly B. chats with award-winning author and podcaster Tricia Copeland, who also writes romance as Maria Jane. Tricia writes everything from contemporary romance to fantasy and dystopian fiction. She didn’t start creative writing until her mid-30s, after a career as a patent agent. Tricia shares how a master’s degree in microbiology led her to technical writing and then to fiction, why she switches between heavy fantasy and light romance to give her psyche a break, and how her pets keep her calm and creative. There’s also a surprise appearance from her dog, Woody! Meet Our Guest Tricia Copeland writes women’s fiction, fantasy and dystopian fiction. As Maria Jane, she writes contemporary romance. She is also the host of Finding the Magic Book Podcast. Connect with Tricia: https://triciacopeland.com/ Instagram Youtube ******** If you want to support the show, consider buying us a coffee instead Either way, I am grateful that you have chosen to be here today, to be part of my community of listeners.

    Patent Agent by Day, Author by Night: Tricia Copeland

  4. Oct 13

    Michael Hingson on Trust, Thunder Dog & Disability

    Episode summary Holly B and Rogan talk with Michael Hingson, New York Times bestselling author of Thunder Dog and an international keynote speaker. Michael, blind since birth, survived the September 11 attacks with the help of his guide dog, Roselle. In this conversation, he explains why guide dogs aren't pets, what pet owners can learn from the trust between a guide dog and handler, and how Thunder Dog came to be. He also challenges how we define disability, shares how he prepares for speaking engagements, and offers practical advice for anyone who wants to start public speaking. About the guest Michael Hingson is a New York Times bestselling author and international lecturer who gives over 100 presentations a year for groups including ExxonMobil, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross. He is an ambassador for the National Federation of the Blind's National Braille Literacy Campaign and for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. Key takeaways Dogs want to know the rules and want a clear team leader.If a guide dog does something unexpected, Michael assumes there's a reason and follows his lead.Disability isn't a lack of ability. Michael argues every person has one, and sighted people are "light dependent."Michael prefers "blind" or "low vision" over "visually impaired."Links and resources Book Michael to speak: speaker@michaelhingson.comBook: Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

    Michael Hingson on Trust, Thunder Dog & Disability

  5. Oct 9

    From Business Consultant to Time-Traveling Druids: Writing Fantasy at the Cabin with P K Stuart

    If you enjoy the show, consider subscribing or leaving us a comment. If you find value in the content and the services provided, please consider supporting the show. Every bit makes the show better and we get to improve our equipment. Next up – a better camera for Holly! For each donation, I will handwrite you a thank you letter. https://buymeacoffee.com/ramblingsfromlittleshed Episode Summary Holly B. and Rogan sit down with Colorado indie author P K Stuart, who traded a career in business management and startup consulting for a second act writing dystopian fantasy. P K talks about her off-the-grid-feeling "hillbilly chateau" in the aspens, the Merlin bird app, how a conference keynote by Diana Gabaldon pushed her to get serious about writing, and her top tips for hiking Colorado's San Juan Mountains. Connect with P.K. StuartWebsite: https://pkstuart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pkstuartwrites/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pkstuartauthor/

    From Business Consultant to Time-Traveling Druids: Writing Fantasy at the Cabin with P K Stuart

  6. Oct 7

    12 Mondays Left, Marianas Trench Fixed Me & Our Biggest Hike Yet1

    Episode Summary Holly and Rogan are back with a Monday-night catch-up. They settle the Coke vs. Pepsi debate (sort of), review Timmies new strawberry cold foam matcha latte, and share an update on Holly's puppy Joey finishing his training class. Holly shares news on a possible coffee sponsorship with Farm Dog Coffee, and the pair reveal their backup plan: their own coffee and tea brand. Rogan shows off a Marianas Trench Fix Me 20th anniversary vinyl he found while his brother visited, which leads into a conversation about concept albums like The Black Parade and Hozier's Unreal Unearth. Then it's on to their next big hike, about 80 kms in cold weather, and how little they've trained. If you find value in the content and the services provided, please consider supporting the show. Every bit makes the show better and we get to improve our equipment. Next up – a better camera for Holly! For each donation, I will handwrite you a thank you letter. https://buymeacoffee.com/ramblingsfromlittleshed

    12 Mondays Left, Marianas Trench Fixed Me & Our Biggest Hike Yet1

  7. Oct 5

    Her Grandmother's Club Minutes Became a Novel Kristine Jensen

    Episode SummaryHolly chats with Kristine Jensen who is a lifelong storyteller whose career has included writing scripts, screenplays, and narratives for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. With a talent for bringing characters and ideas to life, she has spent decades distilling complex ideas into language that resonates. Born and raised on a farm in South Dakota, Kristine found the spark for her debut novel in a box of handwritten club minutes kept by her grandmother—records of a real-life women’s group that met for more than sixty years. That discovery blossomed into Wednesday Club, a novel about inter-generational friendship, quiet resilience, and the search for belonging.  Key Takeaways•      A five-year diary is a low-pressure way to build a journaling habit, and it lets you see what you were doing a year or two ago. •      A dedicated space and device for writing helps keep distractions away. •      Family stories and archives can become fiction, even when the original records are incomplete or dry. •      Even experienced writers feel vulnerable when they publish a novel. •      Not every reader will connect with your book, and that's okay. Connect with Kristine Website: https://www.wednesday-club.com/author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristine_connelly/ ******  If you enjoy the show, consider subscribing or leaving us a comment. If you find value in the content and the services provided, please consider supporting the show. Every bit makes the show better and we get to improve our equipment. Next up for us is a better camera for Holly in the shed! For each donation, I will handwrite you a thank you letter. buymeacoffee.com/ramblingsfromlittleshed

    Her Grandmother's Club Minutes Became a Novel Kristine Jensen

  8. Oct 2

    Gamify Your Business: How a D&D Barkeep Teaches Creatives to Make Money with Paul Pape

    Episode Summary Paul Pape designs custom collectibles for clients like Disney and Universal. He also runs Gamify Business, which teaches creatives and small business owners to run their companies using tabletop RPG frameworks. The conversation covers shop cats, creative burnout, finding your passion, and why you only need 100 true fans. Key Takeaways 1.     Find your seed. Ask what you're passionate about, then what you do with it differently from everyone else. That answer is the seed of your business. 2.     Ride the dragon of passion. Chase passion and fame and fortune follow, instead of stripping yourself down to catch them. 3.     The Rule of 100. A small business needs about 100 real fans, not a million likes. Likes aren't dollars. 4.     You are your best customer. Pitch your idea to yourself first. If you don't know who your audience is, look in the mirror. 5.     Separate ego from assessment. Building a character sheet makes it easier to name your weaknesses honestly. 6.     Business monsters are real. Scope creep and other pitfalls become encounters you can plan for and defeat. 7.     Quiet people should lead. In team workshops, the person with the right skill leads the encounter, not the loudest person. 8.     Give your brain a hard reset. A brisk walk or working somewhere uncomfortable can jolt you into a flow state. 9.     Play taxes like golf. Reframe them as a game where the lowest score wins. 10.  Skin in the game works. Paid coaching gets better results than free advice, because clients follow through when it costs them something. Connect with Paul •      Podcast: Gamify Business Tavern Tales •      TEDx talk: "Santa for Nerds" (second TEDx talk on killing the "starving artist" myth coming in October) •      Paul's books: monster manuals, player guides, DM guides, a storytelling book, and a finance book in the works https://gamifybusiness.com/

    Gamify Your Business: How a D&D Barkeep Teaches Creatives to Make Money with Paul Pape
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About

Where pets and creativity curl up together. Welcome to the coziest corner of the creative world, where art, literature, and our beloved animal companions come together in conversation. Join us in the little shed—a space where ideas flow freely and creativity thrives—as we explore the profound ways animals influence and inspire our creative lives. Whether you're a writer crafting your next novel, a painter finding inspiration in nature, or simply someone who believes their best work happens with a dog at their feet or a cat on their lap, this podcast is for you.

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