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. APR 27

    Ep 126 - Thomas Maltman on Making Stories Real

    What do you do when you have no ashes the night before Ash Wednesday? You burn something, of course. And then twenty years later, you write a novel about it. That's exactly what happened to novelist Thomas Maltman, who teaches at Normandale Community College, is married to a Lutheran pastor, and has four novels under his belt, including Ashes to Ashes (currently in Minnesota Book Award contention). The real-life Ash Wednesday mishap became the premise for his latest book: What if the ashes wouldn't wash away? What if this happened in a small town? How would people react? That's how you turn an awkward church moment into compelling fiction. Dawn and Ruth also dive into Thomas's writing process. He shares his morning routine, drafting by hand with full permission to "write badly," then revising through typing, printing, and reading everything aloud. He talks about the value of writing community, headphones, and why you should always start new projects during those long publishing waits. This episode is for writers, obviously, but also for anyone who's ever wondered how real life becomes story. Because sometimes the best fiction starts with the moments that make you think "you can't make this stuff up." LINKS: Join our Creative Community and support this podcast by joining our Patreon: patreon.com/u11072417 00:21 Springtime City Vibes 01:15 Confirmation Walk Treats 02:12 Botanic Garden Learning 02:59 Meet Thomas Maltman 04:56 Ashes to Ashes Origin 09:22 Writing in the Morning 10:23 Publishing Without an Agent 12:09 Writing Anywhere Tools 14:14 Finding Readers Today 17:29 Long Form Comeback 17:52 Start Small Write Rough 18:46 From Journal To Draft 20:39 Living In Story Worlds 23:21 Embodiment And Truth 24:50 Writing For Love Not Money 26:48 Favorite Creators And Community 27:58 Fantasy Roadblocks Coaching 29:56 Find Your Genre Audience 32:02 Gargoyles To Novellas

    35 min

  2. APR 15

    Ep 125 - Creativity, Faith, and Early Brain Development with Dawn Rundman

    Dawn and Ruth welcome Dawn Rundman, a publishing professional at Augsburg Fortress since 2002 who also happens to have a PhD in developmental psychology. Her book Little Steps, Big Faith dives into using what we know about early childhood development to nurture children's faith through rituals, language, music, symbols, and worship. Dawn's suggestions for churches are practical and brilliant: upgrade those sad nurseries, provide higher-quality worship activity bags (not just broken crayons and photocopied sheets), create intergenerational making opportunities, and actually showcase children's art instead of hiding it away. Dawn also talks about creativity and discipline: how she leaves home to write because inspiration isn't enough, you need structure. She connects creativity and spirituality through communal worship traditions, showing how the practices that shape little brains also shape our own capacity for wonder and connection. This episode is for parents, church leaders, anyone who works with children, or anyone who's ever wondered why some environments nurture creativity while others shut it down. Because luck might be the residue of design, but good design starts with understanding how humans actually develop and thrive. LINKS: learn more about Dawn Rundman's work: https://www.dawnrundman.com/ Join our Patreon community: patreon.com/u11072417 00:17 Welcome And Weekly Catchup 00:57 Yacht Rock Flashbacks 02:03 Discern By Doing Business 03:50 Patreon Community Momentum 04:51 Meet Dawn Rudman 08:23 Little Steps Big Faith 10:28 Screens Boredom And Faith 11:53 How Creativity Begins 16:24 Church Spaces For Kids 18:41 Kids Art On Display 19:18 Beyond Art Creativity 20:21 Adults Need Permission 21:20 Small Steps To Start 23:02 Creative Inspirations 27:48 Life At Augsburg Fortress 29:24 Coaching A Team Well 32:35 Discipline Beats Inspiration 34:15 Writing Space And Routine 35:34 Creativity And Spirituality

    39 min

  3. APR 6

    Ep 124 - Creativity Grows Best in Good Soil

    Dawn and Ruth are celebrating Easter and swapping stories about Holy Week weather, canceled egg hunts, and Dawn's experience dyeing eggs at a New York community garden that sounds like the perfect "third space,” complete with potlucks, music, and the kind of welcoming energy that makes you want to stay all day. They're also reintroducing their new Patreon "Created Creative Conversations," themed around "seeds,” because that's how creative ideas actually work. They need nurturing, community, and the right conditions to grow. Join them for $10/month through the show notes. But the real magic happens when they share clips from past guests about how creativity actually emerges: Rob Bell describes novel-writing as this beautiful mix of loose direction and surprise—completely different from teaching, where you know where you're headed. Blessing talks about her "Sparkle Joy in New York City" microgrants, funded by leftover "Christmas Joy" money to spark neighborhood projects. Because sometimes the best ideas come from reimagining what you already have. Tyra explains how songs emerge while she's practicing—they require quiet focus and the willingness to let something unexpected unfold. Cathy Pino shares the story of writing "You are the Light of the World" at a stoplight and how community made it something that gets sung widely. Because creativity isn't just about the spark—it's about the people who help it grow. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered how ideas actually turn into something real, or who needs reminding that creativity thrives in community, not isolation. LINKS: Join our Patreon here: patreon.com/u11072417 00:09 Holy Week Weather 01:10 Community Garden Eggs 02:23 Egg Hunt Traditions 03:11 Joining the Garden 05:04 Seeds Theme Patreon 06:46 Rob Bell Writing Flow 10:37 Blessing Microgrants Joy 12:04 Bubbles And Community Pins 12:40 Scaling Micro Grants Citywide 13:13 Funding From Christmas Joy 13:53 Small Money Big Impact 14:48 Songwriting With Tyra 15:33 Tyra Creative Process Deep Dive 21:44 Kathy Pinot Light Of World 25:18 Themes Beginnings And Patreon

    26 min

  4. MAR 30

    Ep 123 - Cleaning for Holy Week and the Moravian Gravestone Tradition (Because Sometimes Sacred Preparation Involves a Really Good Scrub)

    Dawn and Ruth dive into spring cleaning, hospitality, and the surprisingly spiritual act of preparing for Holy Week. But this isn't just about vacuuming. They're exploring a beautiful Moravian tradition of cleaning gravestones before Easter, bringing flowers, telling stories about loved ones, and sometimes even worshiping right there in the graveyard. They share the details of Ruth’s dining room refresh project, Dawn’s aversion to both cleaning and clutter, and coordinating the beautiful chaos of church logistics for Holy Week. This episode is for anyone who's ever felt like spiritual preparation should be more meaningful than just showing up, or who needs permission to find the sacred in the everyday work of making space—literally and figuratively—for what matters most. LINKS: Join our patreon and let us help you bring your project from idea to implementation: patreon.com/u11072417 00:23 Cleaning and Clutter 01:13 Dining Room Makeover 01:53 Yellow Kitchen Memories 03:01 Moravian Easter Prep 04:55 Decluttering and Toys 07:34 Holy Week Logistics 08:57 Stained Glass Art Project 11:20 Movies and Musicals 12:57 Easter Plans 14:43 Holy Week Encouragement 15:54 Closing and Farewell

    16 min

  5. MAR 23

    Ep 122 - Being Hearable: Regina Shands Stoltzfus on Teaching Peace, Trauma, and Sustaining Activism (Because You Can't Teach Peace Without Understanding Violence)

    If you enjoy Created Creative Podcast, we warmly invite you to become a patron: patreon.com/u11072417 For just $10 a month you can become part of our monthly Created Creative Conversations. Find out more below! Dawn and Ruth welcome Regina Shands Stoltzfus, Goshen College professor in northern Indiana and Mennonite Church USA member, whose journey from peace education and anti-racism training led her through activism, pastoring, seminary, and into higher education. Regina's book Resistance, Resilience, and Radical Love: Reflections on Blackness and Teaching Peace tackles something crucial: You can't teach peace without studying violence. And to do that effectively, you have to be "hearable" creating space where students can actually listen and engage without shutting down from trauma. She's using historical cases like the Wilmington Massacre of 1898 to teach about systemic violence, addressing secondary trauma in the classroom, and navigating the current political pressures around DEI work. Regina defines what it means to "work together for justice" across different professions and commits to creating an accountability plan for her next book on the seasons of activism life. This conversation is for educators, activists, and anyone wondering how to sustain justice work without burning out, how to teach difficult truths without retraumatizing people, and what it actually takes to be "hearable" in a world that's often too loud or too defensive to listen. LINKS: We love making this podcast for you and we'd love your support for! patreon.com/u11072417 Join at the $10 level and become part of Created Creative Conversations where you can get support from Dawn and Ruth and other creatives for your own new project! Want to write a book? Dreaming of starting a business? In April our theme is "Seeds of Possibility" and we'll help you get moving! Find out more about our guest, Regina Shands Stoltzfus: https://www.goshen.edu/academics/faculty/regina-shands-stoltzfus/ 00:17 New Tech Week 00:30 Tech Rage Stories 02:28 Get Human Help 02:44 Church Water Timer 03:32 Small Town Singalong 07:30 Meet Regina 08:11 From Activism to Academia 11:16 Teaching in a Red State 13:05 New Book Launch 14:06 Teaching Peace Studies Violence 16:35 Holding Trauma in Class 17:35 Writing Through Sabbatical 20:08 Course Design for Care 21:32 Hearable as Black Professor 23:22 Student Pushback and Growth 25:12 Systemic Violence Rhymes 26:00 Citations Over Opinions 26:15 Fake Historian Cred 26:47 First Solo Book 27:39 Writing Through 2024 29:30 Teaching Under Scrutiny 31:09 Choosing the Right Rooms 32:17 Work Together Justice 34:30 Conflict Skills Everywhere 36:53 Next Book Seasons 38:14 Accountability Mapping Plan 40:40 Memorial Day Deadline

    44 min

  6. MAR 16

    Ep 121 - Small Steps, Big Hope: Kimberly Knowle Zeller on Blessings, Pilgrimage, and Writing

    Dawn and Ruth check in mid-Lent about rotating Wednesday pastorates, quirky church history discoveries, and children's theater outings before sitting down with Kim Knowle Zeller, ELCA pastor and writer from rural central Missouri. Kim's got two books under her belt: The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years (co-authored) and her new release Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life. But here's what makes her story compelling—the new book was born from her Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and a "100 Day Project" where she wrote one blessing daily. That practice changed everything. Kim learned to notice God's presence in small, ordinary moments instead of waiting for the big spiritual revelations. She reads "A Blessing for When the World Is on Fire" during the conversation, and honestly? It's the kind of blessing we all need right now. Kim shares her traditional publishing journey, marketing strategies, writing rhythms, and the truth about what blessings actually do. Spoiler: They don't guarantee safety or fix everything. But they do something maybe more important—they accompany people into a hard world so they're not alone. This conversation is for anyone who's ever wondered if the small, everyday moments of faith actually matter, or who needs permission to find the sacred in the ordinary instead of waiting for lightning bolts from heaven. Because sometimes the biggest hope comes from the smallest steps. If you love the work we do at Created Creative Podcast we invite you to become a patron! For just $10 a month you can be part of our Created Creative Conversations and get the support you need as you start your own next creative project! patreon.com/u11072417 Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is a writer, pastor, wife, mother of two, and the co-author of The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years, and the upcoming book of blessings, Small Steps: Blessings to Lift Your Soul on the Pilgrimage of Life. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, Missouri. She loves to walk around her town of 1,000 and enjoy the many festivals and events, as well as attend her monthly book club and trivia night. IG: @kknowlezeller Substack: https://kimberlyknowlezeller.substack.com Website: kimberlyknowlezeller.com 00:00 Blessing Not Bubblewrap 00:21 Lent Check In 00:36 Country Church Tales 04:28 Marionettes In Central Park 06:18 Meet Kim Knowle Zeller 08:24 Beauty Of Motherhood Book 11:00 Small Steps New Blessings 12:13 Hundred Day Blessing Habit 15:05 Structuring The Pilgrimage Lens 16:33 Finding An Agent Publisher 18:54 Landing a Publisher 19:21 Marketing Through Connection 20:22 Local Media and Events 21:02 Substack Over Instagram 21:48 Writing Rhythm and Routine 23:47 Favorite Devotionals and Reads 25:38 Reading a Blessing Aloud 27:27 Coaching for Motivation 29:57 Simple Reels and Tech Help 32:52 Blessings as Creative Faith 34:04 Final Thanks and Sendoff

    35 min

  7. MAR 10

    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

  8. 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
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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
    127
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman
  • Show Website
    Created Creative Podcast

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