Creative Momentum with Meg

Meg Dunley
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Creative conversations and mindset coaching. Creative Momentum with Meg is a podcast featuring thoughtful conversations with writers, artists, musicians and performers about creative practice, process, and what it takes to keep going. Hosted by Meg Dunley, a creativity coach, each episode explores the rhythms of creative life (routine, doubt, momentum, rest, and persistence) with people making work across different disciplines and stages of practice. These are conversations about how creative work actually happens: not just the finished outcomes, but the habits, tensions, and questions that shape the work over time. Some episodes are short and focused, others more expansive. All are grounded in curiosity, honesty, and a belief that creative momentum is something that can be nurtured, not forced. Episodes are released fortnightly and are available in both audio and video formats. Show notes: megdunley.substack.com megdunley.substack.com

  1. Oct 13

    S2E30: Maddy Tyers, actor, writer and producer, on collaboration and creation

    Maddy Tyers, actor, writer and producer How do you keep creating when work, parenting and everyday life leave little spare time? Melbourne-based actor, writer and producer Maddy Tyers talks with Meg Dunley about making sketches and developing projects in the small pockets of time available, collaborating with her husband Jimmy, and finding creative inspiration in ordinary life. Maddy also shares how a personal story became a children’s book and why she believes we do not have to wait for permission to begin making things. In this episode ·       Creative work around paid work and parenting ·       Collaboration and creative shorthand ·       The story behind Maddy’s children’s book ·       Finding comedy in everyday life ·       Taking the first step without waiting for permission ·       Rest, films and other ways to refill the creative cup ·       What home feels like on set with your people Who should listen: Writers and creatives trying to make room for their work alongside the rest of life, anyone who has been waiting to begin, and anyone interested in collaborative creative practice. Connect with Maddy Maddy is a Melbourne-based actor, writer, producer and voiceover artist, and co-creator and producer of Win Win Productions. Credits include Neighbours, Back in Very Small Business, City Homicide, The Elephant Princess and Lego Masters Australia. Website: maddytyers.com Instagram: maddytyers/ Facebook: maddy.tyers TikTok: maddytyers YouTube: Win Win Productions Podcast: Sonny Disposition Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/2026/10/14/maddy-tyers-interview/ Episode page https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music A special thank you to Yvonne Morton for the beautiful music that accompanies each episode. You can find Yvonne on Bandcamp and Instagram. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E30: Maddy Tyers, actor, writer and producer, on collaboration and creation

  2. Sep 30

    S2E29: Author Amy Coomer on cafés and the freedom to follow a story

    Amy Coomer: Writing, self-publishing and finding creative focus In this episode of Creative Momentum with Meg, author Amy Coomer talks about writing around part-time work, finding a routine that suits her natural energy and learning to trust her creative process. Amy shares her experience of self-publishing her debut novel, the unexpected success of a book trailer on TikTok and the importance of protecting your creative work from social media comparison. We discuss Writing as a night owl. Being a pantser and finding structure. Sharing work with a trusted editor. Self-publishing and the changing publishing landscape. Finding inspiration in everyday situations. Writing in cafés. Social media, comparison and AI. The importance of human-made art. Who should listen? Writers at any stage who are looking for encouragement around creative routines, self-publishing, finding focus and protecting their attention. Find Amy Instagram: amycoomer TikTok: amycoomerauthor Website: www.amycoomer.com Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/https://megdunley.com/2026/09/30/interviews-with-creatives-amy-coomer/ Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music Music for Creative Momentum with Meg by Yvonne Morton. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E29: Author Amy Coomer on cafés and the freedom to follow a story

  3. Sep 16

    S2E28: Ingrid J. Adams, author and the importance of finding your own way

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 28: Ingrid J. Adams Author Ingrid J. Adams joins Meg to talk about finding your own creative rhythm, writing around family life and discovering a creative process that actually works for you. Ingrid is the author of the four-book Descended series, a love story spanning lifetimes that explores reincarnation, fate, free will, soulmates and soul family. In this conversation, Ingrid talks about moving from being a complete 'pantser' to a mixture of plotting and pantsing, writing from the heart while becoming more commercially aware, and what happens when the definition of success keeps changing. We also talk about finding inspiration in the questions that have fascinated her since childhood, the importance of creative community and honest feedback, and the strange experience of finishing an eight-year series and having to say goodbye to characters who have become like family. We talk about - finding your natural writing rhythm- writing around family life- plotting and pantsing- writing from the heart- the commercial realities of publishing- defining and celebrating success- creative inspiration- books that stay with us- creative self-care- writing community and feedback- finishing a long-running series Find Ingrid Website: https://ingridjadams.com/ Instagram: @ingrid.j.adams Substack: Ingrid J. Adams Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/2026/09/16/interviews-with-creatives-ingrid-j-adams/ Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music Music for Creative Momentum with Meg by Yvonne Morton. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E28: Ingrid J. Adams, author and the importance of finding your own way

  4. Sep 1

    S2E27: Claire Zorn, author, artist and enthusiastic maker

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 27: Claire Zorn, author, artist and enthusiastic maker IClaire Zorn is an Australian author and artist whose creative work moves between novels, picture books, drawing, painting, weaving and tapestry. In this conversation, Claire talks about why she prefers to discover rather than over-plan her creative work, how music feeds her writing, her experience of synesthesia, and why small, achievable goals can make such a difference when creative time is limited. We also talk about observation, journalling, getting out of familiar routines, travelling for research, and the pleasure of making something without immediately judging it. We talk about Writing novels from images, characters and atmosphere Claire's approach to weaving and making Music as a source of creative inspiration Synesthesia and seeing colours and shapes in response to music Small, achievable creative goals Journalling and developing a writing voice Observation and getting out of everyday routines Finding creative material in unexpected places Making without worrying whether the work is good yet Who should listen? This episode is for writers, artists and other creatives who are feeling stuck, curious about working across different creative forms, or needing a reminder that creative work doesn't have to be planned perfectly before you begin. Guest links Website: https://clairezorn.com/ Instagram: @claire_zorn Substack: Don't Be Ridiculous By Claire Zorn Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/2026/09/02/claire-zorn-on-creativity-writing-and-making/ Listen to Creative Momentum with Meg: https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music Music for Creative Momentum with Meg by Yvonne Morton. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E27: Claire Zorn, author, artist and enthusiastic maker

  5. Aug 26

    S2E26: Elizabeth Barnett on painting, writing and finding home in creative work

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 26: Elizabeth Barnett: painter, printmaker and multidisciplinary artist In this episode of Creative Momentum with Meg, I talk with Victorian artist Elizabeth Barnett about building a creative life around family, the seasons and the everyday things that inspire her. Elizabeth works from a studio in her home in the Macedon Ranges, where still life paintings are shaped by collected objects, flowers, branches and the changing landscape around her. We talk about protecting creative time, the Bridge Letters she writes with artist Stacey McCall, Elizabeth's lifelong journalling practice, her recent decision to begin writing a novel, and why knitting has become part of her creative process. We discuss ·       Creative routines and parenting ·       Making time for art ·       The Bridge Letters ·       Journalling and drawing ·       Painting from the landscape and seasons ·       Beginning a novel ·       Knitting and creative flow ·       Finding home in creative work Guest links Elizabeth Barnett: www.elizabethbarnett.com Instagram: @elizabethbarnett The Bridge Letters Creative Practice blog by Elizabeth Barnett and Stacey McCall: www.thebridgeletters.com.au Flinders Lane Gallery: https://flg.com.au/pages/artists/elizabeth-barnett Youtube video about her practice Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/2026/08/26/interviews-with-creatives-elizabeth-barnett/ Listen to Creative Momentum with Meg: https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music Music for Creative Momentum with Meg by Yvonne Morton. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E26: Elizabeth Barnett on painting, writing and finding home in creative work

  6. Aug 19

    S2E25: Tim Pilgrim on gardens, creativity and learning to work with what you can't control

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 25: Tim Pilgrim, Gardener Tim Pilgrim is a gardener and garden designer based in Castlemaine, central Victoria. His work focuses on naturalistic, plant-led gardens designed for their particular site and climate. In this conversation, Tim talks about finding his way into horticulture, working at Wimbledon, developing his own garden maintenance business and eventually moving into garden design. But this is also a conversation about creativity. Tim describes gardens as works that are designed through time. Unlike a painting or a piece of writing, a garden continues to change after the designer has finished working on it. Plants grow, seasons change, weather intervenes and unexpected things happen. We talk about why observation matters, how Tim works with clients, why he prefers focused blocks of time, and what gardening has taught him about adapting rather than trying to control every outcome. We talk about - Finding a career in horticulture - Working at Wimbledon - Moving from gardening into garden design - Gardening as an artistic practice - Creating focused blocks of time - Designing a garden from a client's brief - Working with plants and climate - The role of observation - Designing gardens through time - Learning from happy accidents - Australian garden design and native plants - What fills Tim's creative cup - Finding your own voice - Why you should garden before you design Who should listen This conversation is for gardeners, designers and anyone interested in the creative process. You don't need to be a gardener to enjoy Tim's ideas about observation, experimentation, adaptation and allowing creative work to evolve. Guest links Tim Pilgrim: https://www.tpgardens.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/t.p_gardens/ Book 'Wild by Design': https://www.murdochbooks.com/browse/book/Tim-Pilgrim-Wild-by-Design-9781761500411 Read the full interview https://megdunley.com/2026/08/18/interviews-with-creatives-tim-pilgrim-gardener/ Listen to Creative Momentum with Meg: https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley Subscribe If you enjoy conversations about creativity, writing and the many ways people make things, subscribe to Creative Momentum with Meg so you don't miss future episodes. Music Music for Creative Momentum with Meg by Yvonne Morton. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E25: Tim Pilgrim on gardens, creativity and learning to work with what you can't control

  7. Aug 11

    S2E24: Megan Dalla-Camina on creativity, truth and making space for what wants to come through

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 24: Megan Dalla-Camina Megan Dalla-Camina is an author of four books, a PhD researcher in women's spirituality and feminine wisdom, and the founder of Women Rising. Her creative life began with dance, acting, poetry and writing, was interrupted by 18 years in corporate America, and later flourished through writing books and creating work that supports women. In this conversation, Megan talks about the relationship between creativity and stillness, why she doesn't follow a fixed creative routine, and how her spiritual practice has changed the way she works. In this interview we talk about - Creativity as something deeper than productivity - Why Megan allows ideas to gestate before turning them into projects - Her process for writing four books - How her creative process has changed over time - The connection between dance, acting and writing - Where she finds creative inspiration - The inner critic and the difficulty of beginning - Finding the next right action when you're stuck - Why Megan believes we need to trust and protect our creative ideas - Meditation, walking, reading and stillness as part of creative practice - Why she says truth feels like home Who should listen This episode is for writers and creatives who: - Feel pressure to be more productive - Struggle with the inner critic before beginning - Have an idea but aren't sure what to do with it - Feel stuck in the middle of a creative project - Want to develop greater trust in their creative process - Are curious about the relationship between creativity, stillness and inner listening Connect with Megan Dalla-Camina Megan Dalla-Camina's website https://megandallacamina.com/ Women Rising: https://megandallacamina.com/women-rising/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/megandallacamina/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megandallacamina/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megandallacamina/ Read the full interview: https://megdunley.com/2026/08/11/interviews-with-creatives-megan-dalla-camina/ Find Creative Momentum with Meg: https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley Subscribe to Musings with Meg: https://megdunley.substack.com/ A special thanks to Yvonne Morton for the music accompanying this episode. You can find Yvonne on Bandcamp and Instagram. Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E24: Megan Dalla-Camina on creativity, truth and making space for what wants to come through

  8. Aug 5

    S2E23: Samantha WL Lee on Building a 5am Writing Practice, Curiosity and Writing Bound

    Season 2: The Home Season Episode 23: Samantha WL Lee, Author Samantha Lee is the author of the historical novel Bound, as well as a poet, essayist and former English teacher. In this conversation she shares how a decade of waking before sunrise became the foundation of her writing life, why curiosity drives every story she tells, and what she's learned about trusting both the creative process and her own brain. Meg and Samantha talk about: Building a 5am writing practice around work and motherhood Why consistency matters more than waiting for inspiration Beginning with curiosity rather than plot The joys and frustrations of being a "pantser" What teaching English revealed about creativity and audience Trusting your subconscious to solve story problems Filling your creative cup through galleries, books and journalling The rituals that tell her brain it's time to write Whether you're trying to build a sustainable creative practice, write around a busy life, or simply keep showing up to the page, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and quiet encouragement. Connect with Samantha W.L. Lee Instagram https://www.instagram.com/samanthawllee TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@samanthawllee Website https://www.samanthawllee.com.au/ Book: Bound https://www.westwords.com.au/product/bound/ Essay ‘How it feels when someone scrunches up their face at Chinese food’ https://www.sbs.com.au/voices/article/how-it-feels-when-someone-scrunches-up-their-face-at-chinese-food/mq53dll4i Poems: ‘China Doll White’ https://femasiamagazine.com/china-doll-white/ ‘Neiman Marcus Cookies’ https://femasiamagazine.com/neiman-marcus-cookies/ Read the full interview: https://megdunley.com/2026/08/05/interviews-with-creatives-samantha-wl-lee-bound/ Find all Creative Momentum with Meg show notes and interviews: https://megdunley.substack.com/s/creative-momentum-with-meg-dunley A special thanks to Yvonne Morton for the music accompanying this episode. You can find Yvonne on Bandcamp and Instagram. Get full access to Musings with Meg: megdunley.substack.com/subscribe Get full access to Musings with Meg at megdunley.substack.com/subscribe

    S2E23: Samantha WL Lee on Building a 5am Writing Practice, Curiosity and Writing Bound
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About

Creative conversations and mindset coaching. Creative Momentum with Meg is a podcast featuring thoughtful conversations with writers, artists, musicians and performers about creative practice, process, and what it takes to keep going. Hosted by Meg Dunley, a creativity coach, each episode explores the rhythms of creative life (routine, doubt, momentum, rest, and persistence) with people making work across different disciplines and stages of practice. These are conversations about how creative work actually happens: not just the finished outcomes, but the habits, tensions, and questions that shape the work over time. Some episodes are short and focused, others more expansive. All are grounded in curiosity, honesty, and a belief that creative momentum is something that can be nurtured, not forced. Episodes are released fortnightly and are available in both audio and video formats. Show notes: megdunley.substack.com megdunley.substack.com

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