Maxine Russo, founder of Contemporary Kent Artists, on belonging, creativity, grief and finding community by the sea What if the places we return to again and again aren't just landscapes, but companions? In this episode of Where We Come Alive, I join Maxine Russo beneath the wide skies of Tankerton Slopes on the Kent coast. As sailing boats drift on the horizon and waves lap against the shore, we explore the places that shape us, hold us through life's biggest transitions and help us reconnect with who we are. For Maxine, this stretch of coastline is woven through some of the most significant moments of her life: a place of grief, love, reinvention and renewal. Following divorce, relocation and loss, it became somewhere she could rediscover herself and begin again. Together we talk about the role creativity plays in building community, why artists help us see the world differently, and what the sea can teach us about letting go of control. We also explore the story behind Contemporary Kent Artists, the thriving creative community Maxine founded to champion artists across the county. This is a conversation about belonging, not just to a place, but to yourself. In this episode: • Why Tankerton near Whitstable in Kent became a place of healing, reflection and renewal after divorce and loss • How the sea helps Maxine quiet self-doubt and gain perspective on life's challenges • The connection between creativity, community and feeling rooted in a place • How Contemporary Kent Artists grew from conversations overlooking the coast • What artists have taught Maxine about authenticity, trust and letting life unfold • Why nature can be such a powerful companion for mental wellbeing • The surprising parallels between looking at art and looking at the sea • How to find balance between life's worries and the things that bring us joy If you've ever had a place that feels like home, a landscape that helps you think more clearly, or a corner of the world that seems to hold your memories, this conversation will resonate deeply. It's a gentle reminder that creativity isn't always about making things, it can also be about connection, belonging and learning to trust where life is taking you. "Look at this landscape. It's been here hundreds of years, thousands of years, millions of years in one shape or other. It survived. So you will survive too." - Maxine Russo Enjoying Where We Come Alive? Follow the podcast and explore the rest of Season One, featuring conversations with artists, florists, gardeners, makers and storytellers in the outdoor places that help them feel most alive. 🌿🎙️✨ ------ Guest: Maxine Russo Instagram: @contemporary_kent_artists Website: Contemporary Kent Artists Produced and presented by: Louisa Peacock, fine art photographer from Whitstable, Kent. Instagram: @louisapeacockphoto Website: https://www.louisapeacock.com -- Royalty-free music by Andrii G Some royalty-free sound effects taken from Epidemic Sound -- Nature podcast, creativity podcast, belonging, community, creative living, mindful living, Whitstable, Tankerton, Kent coast, Maxine Russo, Contemporary Kent Artists, coastal walks, personal growth, reinvention, life transitions, nature and wellbeing, creative community, sense of place, finding yourself, connection to nature.
