The Creative Collective

Allie Joy and Emily Sharp
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Visual Arts
  • Updated Weekly

The Creative Collective Podcast is an inviting space where we explore how creativity can weave its way into everyday life and help us feel more connected to ourselves and others. Hosted by licensed art therapists Allie Joy and Emily Sharp, it’s rooted in one simple belief: you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You just need a little curiosity and a willingness to begin. Each week, we share honest conversations and practical tools to support a creative life that feels sustainable, accessible, and truly yours. Welcome to your creative community.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    5. Creative Check-In: Finding Your Creative Community (And Actually Showing Up For It)

    Are you craving creative community — but not quite sure where to find it, how to build it, or why it feels harder to hold onto as an adult? In this Creative Check-In episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, Emily and Allie get into one of the topics closest to both of their hearts: creative community. What it actually looks like, why so many people are craving it right now, and what gets in the way of (finding or building) the kind of community that actually fits. They draw on their own experiences hosting creative events, art groups, and community spaces to talk about what happens when people create together, and why it goes so much deeper than just making something in the same room. In this episode, they discuss: Why loneliness is part of what's underneath why people show up to creative events, and what one study says about feelings of lonlinessThe difference between creative communities built around learning a skill and ones built around connection — and why that distinction changes everythingWhat it means to not just receive from your community, but to give back to it — and why most people skip that partHow to figure out what you actually want from creative community (not what you think you should want)What to do when you've drifted from your creative community — and why reaching back out is almost always simpler than your brain tells you it will beWhy you don't need credentials, training, or a polished event to start something — and what it looks like to begin small Resources & Links: American Psychological Association (APA) — Stress in America 2025 surveyMetalsmith jewelry workshop in Connecticut Alma for Therapists Jane for TherapistsGluten Tag - gluten free treats in Copenhagen Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠ You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life. And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

    46 min

  2. Jun 8

    4. The Long Way Around: Emily Sharp on Creativity, Travel, and Trusting the Path

    What if the path to your creative life was never supposed to be a straight line? In this episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, Allie interviews co-host Emily Sharp — licensed art therapist, author, retreat host, and someone who has built an entire life and career around making things in unexpected places. You've already heard Emily on the show. This episode is where you find out how she got here. Her path to art therapy was anything but direct — and that's exactly what makes it worth hearing. From an unexpected creative pivot in high school to a gap year that changed everything, Emily traces the long, winding road that led her to the work she was always meant to do. In this episode, they discuss: The high school accident that turned Emily into an artist — and why she's never looked backWhat it looked like to design her own education around the materials she loved mostThe gap year conversation that changed her career trajectory entirelyHow burnout led to a reset, and what it actually took to start overWhat portable creative practice looks like in daily life — and why making art while traveling is less about documentation and more about attention Resources & Links: The Guided Art Therapy Card DeckCaran d'Ache Neocolor IIGelli Arts gel printing plate Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠ You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life. And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefi

    37 min

  3. Jun 1

    3. Creative Check-In: What's In Our Creative Bags

    What if the only thing standing between you and a more creative life was a bag you haven't packed yet? In this first Creative Check-In episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, Emily and Allie open up their creative bags and share what's inside. They talk through what they each carry, reasons behind those specific supplies, and what it actually means to keep creativity accessible. Not as a productivity strategy, but as a daily permission slip to make things without a plan, a point, or an audience. This one is for anyone who's ever said I don't have time or I don't have the right materials — because the bag is the answer to both of those excuses. In this episode, they discuss: Why having a packed bag removes the biggest barrier to starting — decision fatigueThe three-color rule for anyone who gets overwhelmed by too many choicesHow pulling out art supplies in public has a way of inviting unexpected connectionThe case for committing to pen over pencil — and why it's actually a confidence practiceWhat our favorite materials have in common (you can probably guess!) Resources & Links: Craft Club Half Stitch Kit (for versatile craft projects)Beacon Adhesives (glues for mixed media)DIY Ink Pads from Ranger (customizable ink pads)Sakura Micron Pens (bright, versatile markers)Caran d'Ache Classic Neocolor II (playful, layered water-soluble pastels)Crayola Crayons (inner child-friendly, accessible art supplies)Silk Gel Crayons (playful and the best kind of messy)Sakura brush pens (bold color markers) Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠ You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life. And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

    34 min

  4. May 25

    2. Allie Joy on Coming Home to Creativity

    What happens when creativity isn't just something you do — but something that shaped who you became? In this episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, co-host Emily turns the mic towards co-host Allie Joy to hear the creative story behind the person. Allie is a licensed art therapist, content creator, and community builder — and while you've already heard her voice on the show, this episode is the first time you're hearing her story. Allie traces her relationship with creativity from an art-filled childhood shaped by her grandmother and her circle of artist friends, through a shift in college where making things became tied to skill and evaluation, and into the intentional creative practice she's built as an adult — one rooted in accessibility, play, and community over performance. In this episode, they discuss: ​Growing up in an environment where creativity was ambient and always within reach — and how that shaped Allie's belief that anything can be made​The moment in college when making things stopped feeling like play — and the longer journey back to creating without pressure​How Allie's approach to her physical creative space reflects her philosophy: keep supplies visible, keep the barrier low, keep it accessible​What building creative community actually looks like in practice — and why showing up to create alongside others changes the experience​Building her creative community at Mermaid Books in Milford, CT​The creative project that's been 99% finished in her garage for years (no spoilers) This conversation is an invitation to approach creativity with less pressure and more openness—and to remember that you don’t have to be an artist to begin. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠ You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life. And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

    44 min

  5. May 18

    1. Welcome to The Creative Collective!

    What if creativity didn’t have to be productive, polished, or even shared to matter? In this opening episode of The Creative Collective Podcast, hosts and licensed art therapists Emily and Allie invite you into a softer, more expansive way of thinking about creativity. This podcast is rooted in the belief that creativity belongs to everyone — and that it becomes even more meaningful when experienced in community. Together, they share why they started the show and the gap they hope to fill: moving beyond performance and perfection, and instead centering the power of creating alongside others. Through personal stories and reflections, they explore the common belief of “I’m not creative,” how that idea forms, and how we can begin to shift it. They also talk about: Why process matters more than productHow creativity can exist in everyday momentsThe quiet magic of community art spaces, where connection and creativity naturally unfold You’ll hear stories from Connecticut to Copenhagen as this episode captures what it feels like when people come together to make something — and in doing so, find connection, presence, and a sense of belonging. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ or visit our ⁠website⁠ to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply ⁠here.⁠ You can find Allie on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠, and you can find Emily on ⁠Instagram⁠ or her ⁠website⁠ to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on ⁠Instagram⁠ for all of your podcasting and musical needs If you enjoyed this episode, follow along and share it with someone who could use a little more creativity in their life. And this is your reminder that you don't have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You're welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

    26 min

  6. May 12

    You're Invited to the Creative Collective

    Welcome to a little preview of The Creative Collective Podcast! In this short introduction, we’re sharing a glimpse of what’s ahead and inviting you into the creative community we’re building together. We talk about creativity as something that belongs in everyday life, and the belief that you don’t need to be an artist or “good at art” to benefit from creating, just curiosity and a willingness to begin. We share what you can expect from the show, from honest conversations with creative humans to shorter, practical episodes rooted in our experiences as art therapists and our shared love of creativity. Across the series, we’ll explore themes like perfectionism, the inner critic, creative blocks, courage, and what it means to build a more connected and sustainable creative life. If you’ve been craving inspiration, wanting to reconnect with a creative practice, or feeling curious about what creativity could look like in your life, this is for you. And if you’ve ever felt like you aren’t “creative enough,” we hope this helps shift that story. We’re so happy you’re here, and welcome to your new creative community! Until then, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, follow us on Instagram or visit our website to learn more. If you'd like to be a guest on the show, you can apply here. You can find Allie on Instagram or her website, and you can find Emily on Instagram or her website to learn more about all they do and stay connected You can find Austin on Instagram for all of your podcasting and musical needs And this is your reminder that you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You’re welcome, as you are, in this creative community.

    2 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

The Creative Collective Podcast is an inviting space where we explore how creativity can weave its way into everyday life and help us feel more connected to ourselves and others. Hosted by licensed art therapists Allie Joy and Emily Sharp, it’s rooted in one simple belief: you don’t have to be an artist to benefit from creativity. You just need a little curiosity and a willingness to begin. Each week, we share honest conversations and practical tools to support a creative life that feels sustainable, accessible, and truly yours. Welcome to your creative community.

Information

  • Creator
    Allie Joy and Emily Sharp
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Allie Joy and Emily Sharp
  • Show Website
    The Creative Collective

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