Created Creative Podcast

Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman
  • 4.9 (35)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity on "Created Creative." Together, these creative entrepreneurs delve into the universal aspects of the creative life. From the restlessness within that compels us to build something new, whether it's a Lego castle or a life-altering venture, they celebrate the beauty and sanctity of these creative stirrings. Join them in exploring the transformative power of paying attention to that inner restlessness and making space for the growth of new, beautiful things. Welcome to a podcast that recognizes and celebrates how we are all "Created Creative."

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 120 - Living Outside the Box with Matt Smith (Because Some People Actually Know How to Do Everything)

    Matt Smith is a fellow yogi from rural Minnesota who makes the rest of us feel like we've been living in bubble wrap our whole lives. He grew up seasonal farm style: spring morel and Chicken of the Woods mushroom foraging, summer Boundary Waters canoeing, winter camping at 38-below (because apparently that's a thing people do for fun), and winter beaver trapping and fur handling. You know, typical Tuesday activities. But wait, there's more. Matt worked wildland firefighting, became a paramedic, and then decided to build his own log house over eight years without taking out any loans. Just learned as he went, recounting close calls with falling trees and a horse accident that probably should've ended differently. Oh, and in his spare time? He built a glamping retreat from scratch. Road, platforms, bathhouse, septic—the whole operation. It's earned over 100 five-star reviews because of course it has. Matt also talks about yoga, self-work, faith, community service, and how he's encouraging his kids to overcome fear and learn actual skills. You know, the kind of skills that matter when the power goes out or you need to, I don't know, survive in the actual world. This conversation is for anyone who's ever wondered what it looks like to live completely outside society's safety nets and create something entirely from your own hands and knowledge. Because some people really do know how to build a life from the ground up. Literally. LINKS: Join our patreon to support this podcast and to join Created Creative Conversations in April! patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Backcountry Beginnings 00:17 Welcome and Boxes 01:27 Meet Matt the Builder 02:45 Farm Life Seasons 03:18 Mushroom Foraging 101 05:15 Chicken of the Woods 07:43 Farming and Work Ethic 08:45 Boundary Waters Adventures 10:04 Wildland Fire to Paramedic 10:40 Building a Log Home 12:09 Close Calls and Mustangs 13:37 Trapping and Fur Craft 16:46 Glamping Retreat Origins 18:22 Zillow Hobby Hunting 18:37 Buying Land For Family 19:08 Building The Glamping Retreat 20:41 Community Know A Guy 22:01 Reviews And Retreat Ideas 22:48 Yoga And Self Work 25:02 Kids Farm Freedom 26:33 Fixing A Calf Leg 29:00 You Are The Project 31:45 Mindset And Failure 33:28 Campfire Cooking Stories 34:50 Documentary And Farewell

    36 min

  2. MAR 2

    Ep 119 - Dangerous Songs with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan

    Some songs are too dangerous for the songbook—and that's exactly why we need them. Richard Bruxvoort Colligan joins Dawn and Ruth from Rochester, MN fresh from selling his Iowa home and diving into his first book: “Dangerous Songs: The Psalms in a Gloriously Disrupted Life,” dropping April 21 with a music-focused kickoff event. Here's what makes this conversation so compelling: Richard's not talking about the pretty, comforting Psalms you hear in worship. He's diving into the extreme songs—the ones about thriving, desolation, and unknowing. The violent ones. The frightening ones. The ones that make you go "wait, this is in the Bible?" He shares what he learned about ego through the editing process, his writing journey, and how the Psalms aren't just ancient poetry but raw, honest expressions of what it means to be human when life gets gloriously disrupted. Plus, he's got future book ideas brewing and runs "psalmimmersion" on Instagram. This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered why we sanitize the Bible's most honest moments, or who needs permission to bring their whole messy, complicated, disrupted life to their faith. LINKS: Support this podcast by becoming a patron patreon.com/u11072417 Richard's music: https://www.worldmaking.net/ Follow him @psalmimmersion on instagram Find Dawn's coaching at bigpicturebigpurpose.com Happy mail for ministers at consecrate.cratejoy.com 00:00 Finding Yourself in Psalms 00:26 NYC Snowstorm Survival 02:06 Taxes That Actually Help 05:20 School Closures and Meals 05:57 Microwaves and Power Problems 07:05 Space Heaters and Cold Venues 09:21 Psalm for Conference Lament 00:18 Meet Richard and New House 11:30 Cat Talk and Holy Week Jokes 12:24 Book Origin Story 13:29 Dangerous Songs Book Launch 13:53 Writing Process and Ego 14:49 Author Editor Tension 15:14 Daily Writing Routine 16:43 Book Structure Explained 18:21 Thriving Desolation Unknowing 20:19 Devotional Use Today 21:22 Launch Events Singing Psalms 22:59 Beatles Meets Psalms 23:50 Hard Psalms Canon Questions 25:39 Future Books Promotion 28:11 Personal Faith Takeaways 29:44 Ancient Text Modern Shock 31:22 Publisher Credits Wrap 32:42 Where To Find Richard 33:11 Final Thanks Call To Create

    34 min

  3. FEB 23

    Ep 118 - What If "Normal" Is Actually the Problem? with MaryAnne McKibben Dana

    Dawn and Ruth start this one with Ash Wednesday updates and a wild circus reinvention Dawn attended (no animals, robotic performers, no ringmaster, just pure light-show magic). The circus becomes the perfect metaphor for what happens when you throw out the old playbook and create something entirely new. Enter MaryAnne McKibben Dana: Presbyterian pastor in Northern Virginia, writer, leadership coach, and author whose fourth book Better Than Normal drops April 14, 2026. MaryAnne's been living the "yes, and" improv principle for years (she literally wrote a book called God, Improv, and the Art of Living), and now she's taking it to the next level. Here's her thesis: What if most of our struggles aren't internal deficits but external cultural mismatches? What if "norm culture" is the problem? MaryAnne knows this from raising three neurodivergent kids through mental health challenges and watching how the world tries to squeeze them into boxes that don't fit. Better Than Normal argues for discarding the idea of a default human standard altogether. We're talking neurodivergence, race, immigration status, LGBTQ identity: all the ways humans actually exist versus how we pretend they should. The book's six chapters walk through shifts like moving from certainty to curiosity, from rigid categories to expansive possibilities. MaryAnne imagines a world where we question everything: the 40-hour work week, traditional schooling, all of it. Dawn coaches MaryAnne through her discomfort with self-promotion, reframing publicity as stewardship of an idea that can reduce suffering. Because this book? It's arriving at exactly the right cultural moment. LINKS: Find out more about MaryAnne McKibben Dana's work: https://www.maryannmckibbendana.net/ Join our Patreon now and gain access to monthly group conversations and Q & A about creativity (starting in April) - patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Throwing Out “Normal”: Making Room for the Full Human Spectrum 00:23 February Check-In: Lent, Ash Wednesday, and New York Stories 01:07 Ashes on the Sidewalk: Church at a Busy Intersection 01:47 Ash Thursday at the Circus: The Reinvented Big Top (No Animals!) 03:45 From Acrobats to Expectations: Setting Up the “Living Outside the Norm” Theme 04:48 Meet Maryanne McKibben Dana: Pastor, Writer, Coach, Runner 06:58 Improv as Spiritual Practice: “Yes, And” for Real Life 09:22 Introducing the New Book: From Hope During COVID to Better Than Normal 11:15 What “Better Than Normal” Argues: Ditching Defaults, Choosing Curiosity 13:42 If the Book Changed the World: Rethinking School, Work, and Assumptions 15:07 Creativity on the Run: Capturing Ideas Mid-Workout 16:22 Running vs. Yoga: Different Paths to a Creative Mind 17:07 Finding a Writing Rhythm in the Margins of Life 18:16 Writing Retreats: Making Space for Deep Work 19:04 Virtual Co-Working & Pomodoro: The ‘Writing Table’ Method 20:43 Creative Mentors & Inspiration (Substack, Austin Kleon, Carrie Newcomer) 22:59 Where Creativity Meets Spirituality: Writing as a Journey 25:11 Pastor + Writer: Boundaries, Authenticity, and Being ‘More Than One Thing’ 27:54 Coaching on Book Promotion: From Self-Promo to Stewardship 30:43 Sincerity vs. Cynicism: Getting the Idea Into the World 33:12 Release Details, Pre-Orders, and Final Send-Off

    34 min

  4. FEB 17

    Ep 117 - "Other Significant Others" (Because Life Doesn't Always Fit the Nuclear Family Template)

    Dawn and Ruth are unpacking a lot this episode, and honestly? It's some of their most honest conversation yet. Things get real when they talk about Dawn's recent eye scare: floaters and peripheral flashes that sent her straight to urgent retina care. This leads to reflecting on Ruth's Guillain-Barré experience a year ago, her recovery, and how health scares change everything about how you show up for people. Because there are people who disappear when things get scary, and people who show up. Guess which ones matter? From there, they dive into The Other Significant Others, a book about lifelong, non-romantic partnerships and chosen family. Think: power of attorney, co-parenting arrangements, end-of-life decisions made by people who aren't legally married. Society gives all the benefits to romantic partnerships—tax breaks, bereavement leave, legal recognition—while other deep relationships get zero validation. They're exploring alternative family structures, cultural attitudes toward single adults, and how community-building works differently in Minnesota versus New York City. Plus, they're questioning inherited beliefs about friendship and why we act like romantic love is the only kind that really counts. This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like their most important relationships don't fit the template society expects. LINKS: We'd love your support! Join our patreon: patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Why One Person Can’t Meet All Your Needs (Friendship vs. Marriage) 00:18 Meet Dawn & Ruth + The Suzuki Conservatory Info Night 01:06 How Suzuki Works: Commitment, Interviews & Letting Kids Choose Instruments 03:29 City Life Updates: Late Nights, Ash Wednesday & The Circus Next Door 04:14 Eye Scare & Dr. Google: Floaters, Retina Fears, and Getting Checked 06:37 A Year After Guillain-Barr: Recovery, Gratitude, and New Perspective on Illness 08:11 “Just Show Up”: Visiting the Sick, Funerals, and Who Really Comes Through 08:54 Your Support Network in Action + Introducing ‘The Other Significant Other’ 10:13 Redefining Life Partners: Legal Rights, Co-Parenting, and Chosen Family 12:39 Society Built Around Romance: The Village Model and Making Space for Deep Friendships 13:20 Friendships as ‘Real’ Family: Being Seen Beyond Marriage 14:02 When the System Doesn’t Recognize Your People (Deathbeds & Bereavement) 15:53 Nontraditional Paths to Parenthood: Co-Parenting, Donors, Surrogacy & IVF 17:50 The Stigma of Being Unpartnered (and the ‘Not a Real Adult’ Moment) 19:12 Money, Taxes, and Why Culture Pushes Unhappy Partnerships 20:06 Place, Belonging, and Chosen Family: Minnesota vs. New York 23:23 Discussion Guide: Learning to Say ‘I Love You’ to Friends 25:17 History of Friendship Commitments: Sworn Brotherhoods & Romantic Pedestals 26:03 Closing: Emergency Contacts, Legal Recognition, and Final Takeaways

    27 min

  5. FEB 9

    Ep 116 - Because Sometimes a Tiny Crocheted Heart Saves a Life

    The Little Heart Project is going to wreck you in the best way. Kathleen Jensen, the founder, crochets small hearts, attaches notes of encouragement, and leaves them in public places for strangers to find. Simple, right? Except these tiny hearts are reducing stigma around mental illness and preventing suicides. These little acts of kindness are literally saving lives. Kathleen shares the story behind the project, including her own personal journey with mental health (because you don't start something like this without knowing the darkness firsthand). She's talking about how the project has grown from a local effort to a global movement—people all over the world are crocheting hearts and leaving them for strangers who need hope. But we’re not just talking about the impact on the people who find the hearts. We’re talking about what it does for the people who make them. The community that's formed around this. The volunteers who've found purpose and healing through creating something for someone else. Kathleen also gets real about the challenges of managing a nonprofit, the logistics of spreading kindness at scale, and how creativity can become a tool for mental health advocacy and suicide prevention. This episode is a reminder that you don't need a massive platform or a huge budget to change lives. Sometimes all it takes is a tiny crocheted heart and a note that says "you matter.” LINKS: Check out Dawn's coaching at bigpicturebigpurpose.com Show your love for a favorite minister: consecrate.cratejoy.com and consecratebox.com Help support our work on Created Creative Podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/u11072417 00:00 Welcome to Created Creative 00:47 Personal Stories and Reflections 06:24 The Little Heart Project: An Introduction 07:13 Spreading Kindness and Mental Health Awareness 10:53 The Origins of The Little Heart Project 13:29 Impact and Growth of The Little Heart Project 15:26 Personal Struggles and Motivation 15:41 Community Support and Outreach 16:32 Surprising Connections and Growth 17:48 Impact on 9-1-1 Dispatchers 19:01 Youth Involvement and University Partnerships 20:15 Challenges and Coaching 21:32 Nonprofit Management and Funding 24:32 Advocacy and Recognition 27:55 Educational Efforts and Mental Health Awareness 29:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    30 min

  6. FEB 2

    Ep 115 - Ruth Hetland's Solo Adventure through New Zealand (Or: What Happens When You Actually Do the Audacious Thing)

    Ruth's raw, unfiltered voice memos from her solo journey through New Zealand make up most of this episode, and honestly? It's one of the most truthful, vulnerable things we've ever put out there. Ruth's walking you through the whole thing: The initial excitement of departure (that "holy buckets, I'm really doing this" energy), the physical challenges that make you question everything, the moments of reflection when you're alone with your thoughts in the wilderness, and all the interactions with locals and travelers that remind you why humans need each other. But here's what makes this special: You're hearing Ruth navigate the emotional highs and lows in real time. Not polished. Not edited into neat takeaways. Just the messy, beautiful truth of what it's like to push yourself beyond what you thought you could do. By the end, Ruth's gained profound insights and a sense of accomplishment that only comes from finishing something audacious. And when she gets home? She reflects on how the whole experience transformed her. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what it actually feels like to do the thing that scares you. Not the Instagram version. The real version. So grab your coffee (or your hiking boots) and settle in. Ruth's taking you to New Zealand—and it's going to change how you think about what you're capable of. LINKS: Check out Dawn Trautman's coaching: bigpicturebigpurpose.com Need a gift for your favorite minister? consecrate.cratejoy.com 00:00 Introduction to Ruth's Journey 00:57 Ruth's Pre-Departure Thoughts 00:57 Travel Hiccups and Delays 02:53 Arrival in New Zealand 04:21 First Days on the Trail 05:48 Challenges and Small Victories 06:56 Reflections on Home and the World 08:45 Unexpected Encounters and Decisions 10:38 Reaching Queenstown and Final Thoughts 18:09 Returning Home and Processing the Journey 21:04 Reflecting on the Journey 21:18 Challenges and Adaptations 22:20 Survival Strategies 23:22 Facing Loneliness 23:38 The Value of Community 26:45 Unsupervised Adventures 30:03 Packing Essentials 31:14 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

    32 min

  7. JAN 26

    Ep 114 - Maybe Baptism is about Showing Up for Your Neighbor with Meta Herrick Carlson

    When we welcomed back Meta Herrick Carlson in December to discuss her children's book called We Remember Your Baptism, we never knew how much more timely her words would become by January. Meta is a Minnesota pastor helping children understand and cherish their baptismal stories, which sounds simple until you realize how many of us have NO idea what our baptism even meant or why it matters. She worked with her illustrator Clara to create something that helps families hold onto these sacred moments in ways that actually stick. But here's where the conversation gets deeper: We talked about what baptism means for community. What it means for her Minneapolis neighborhood right now. With ICE presence and everything else happening, the question isn't just "do you remember your baptism?" It's “Do you remember whose you are? And who's got you?" Meta shares her unique pastoral experiences with baptism (and trust us, pastors have STORIES), and we dive into the importance of mutual aid, showing up for each other, and what it actually looks like to live into your baptismal promises when the world feels heavy. This episode is about memory, yes. But it's also about belonging, community support, and the power of knowing you're claimed by God and by your people. PREORDER META’S BOOK: https://www.beamingbooks.com/store/product/9798889836490/We-Remember-Your-Baptism 00:02 Meet the Guest: Meta Herrick Carlson 01:57 Meta’s New Book: We Remember Your Baptism 03:07 The Creative Process Behind the Book 05:48 Choosing the Right Illustrator 08:42 Personal Reflections on Baptism 13:13 The Power of Storytelling in Faith 15:17 Hope for the Book's Impact 15:38 Personal Reflections on Children's Books 16:55 Baptism Rituals and Traditions 18:32 Book Release and Promotions 20:53 Community and Social Justice 22:48 ICE Presence and Community Response 25:36 Faith and Social Responsibility 27:44 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    28 min

  8. JAN 19

    Ep 113 - Everything really IS Figureoutable!

    Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo is basically the Created Creative podcast in book form. There's so much overlap it's wild. Dawn and Ruth get real about how family beliefs shaped their creative journeys (spoiler: Dawn got cast in a professional show as a kid and wasn't allowed to do it—ouch), what limiting beliefs are still holding them back (like "I don't wanna bother people" when marketing), and the whole messy tension between building a personal brand and maintaining humility in ministry. Because yeah, that's a thing. They're also talking about the difference between holy persistence and unhealthy striving (when do you keep going and when do you let go?), and how to integrate all the different pieces of your life—ministry, business, creativity—without losing your mind. Dawn calls it "being a jazz musician" with her schedule, and honestly, that tracks.

    21 min
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4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity on "Created Creative." Together, these creative entrepreneurs delve into the universal aspects of the creative life. From the restlessness within that compels us to build something new, whether it's a Lego castle or a life-altering venture, they celebrate the beauty and sanctity of these creative stirrings. Join them in exploring the transformative power of paying attention to that inner restlessness and making space for the growth of new, beautiful things. Welcome to a podcast that recognizes and celebrates how we are all "Created Creative."

Information

  • Creator
    Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    121
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman
  • Show Website
    Created Creative Podcast

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