The Couragemakers Podcast | Encouragement, Inspiration & Rebel Rousing for Mission Driven Doers, Makers & Shakers | - 037: Creativity, Seeking and Leaps of Faith with Sarah Smith

037: Creativity, Seeking and Leaps of Faith with Sarah Smith

Explicit content warning

11/14/16 • 53 min

The Couragemakers Podcast | Encouragement, Inspiration & Rebel Rousing for Mission Driven Doers, Makers & Shakers |

Happy Monday!

I'm so happy to be back this week with another episode of Couragemakers. For those of you wondering why there wasn't an episode last week, I have just returned to the UK from my 3 month US road trip and my Granddad is seriously ill in hospital. But the podcast is back this week and isn't going anywhere, I can assure you!

Now I'm back, I'm going to be recording 2017's episodes and working on special episodes, and new Couragemakers will be back to normal with new episodes every Monday :)

I am so excited to share with you this week's episode. This week, I had the opportunity to sit down and have a good natter with singer-songwriter Sarah Smith.

After years on the road fronting Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah went solo in 2012 and in this episode shares what her life on the road looks and feels like, the leap of faith she took leaving the army to pursue life as a musician and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Sarah shares the truth about what it looks like to get paid to do things you love, the difficulties we face as women not being taught to own our skills and learning to discover them and how the way of creativity is not for the faint of heart.

We really dive into what it means to pursue a creative life; the uncertainty that comes with being a full-time creative, how life is an ongoing practice and how Sarah learned to let go of the fear of the unknown and believe everything will work out.

I absolutely love this episode, and Sarah shares such great practical advice for creatives struggling to believe that things will work out and how our validation needs to come from the inside.

Sarah's passion and enthusiasm for life and her work is contagious and I loved getting a behind the scenes glimpse of what life on the road looks like.

I'm really excited to be sharing this episode just days after Sarah launched her most recent album - 11 and I'm really happy I had the opportunity to speak to Sarah at such an exciting stage of her career!

About Sarah

After years on the road fronting Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah went solo in 2012 Her songs have won over audiences everywhere during Sarah’s relentless tours of North America and Europe and she continues to tour almost year-round. Sarah’s latest album, 11, has just been released - on 11th November 2016. Aside from her music, Sarah’s has the most fun eating food, being around friends and her dogs, and people watching.

You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube |

Things we talked about during today's show

Sarah’s journey of becoming a full time musician, from being raised on a farm and and having her first solo in a church choir aged 5 to leaving the army to follow her dream of becoming a musician.
The difficulties as women being taught not to own their skills and talents, and the long journey involved in rediscovering and owning them again
Sarah’s advice for creatives who need to trust themselves and need self validation
The uniqueness of living on the road, and the struggles with staying inspired and spending so much time with your thoughts.

Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here

If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected]

About Meg & That Hummingbird Life

I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.

When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK.

That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Happy Monday!

Now I'm back, I'm going to be recording 2017's episodes and working on special episodes, and new Couragemakers will be back to normal with new episodes every Monday :)

I am so excited to share with you this week's episode. This week, I had the opportunity to sit down and have a good natter with singer-songwriter Sarah Smith.

I absolutely love this episode, and Sarah shares such great practical advice for creatives struggling to believe that things will work out and how our validation needs to come from the inside.

Sarah's passion and enthusiasm for life and her work is contagious and I loved getting a behind the scenes glimpse of what life on the road looks like.

About Sarah

You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube |

Things we talked about during today's show

Sarah’s journey of becoming a full time musician, from being raised on a farm and and having her first solo in a church choir aged 5 to leaving the army to follow her dream of becoming a musician.
The difficulties as women being taught not to own their skills and talents, and the long journey involved in rediscovering and owning them again
Sarah’s advice for creatives who need to trust themselves and need self validation
The uniqueness of living on the road, and the struggles with staying inspired and spending so much time with your thoughts.

Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here

If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected]

About Meg & That Hummingbird Life

That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Previous Episode

036 Self Care for Changemakers with Christy Tending

Hi there and welcome to episode 36 of Couragemakers!

This week I’m speaking to Christy Tennery-Spalding. Christy is a self-care mentor, healer, and climate justice activist. She supports people who want to change the world develop amazing self-care practices so they can do their work more effectively and with more joy. Christy lives in Oakland, California with her husband and their feral cats, Dorothy and Harriet.

During this episode, Christy shares her journey of activism, working in the nonprofit world and starting her online business and how identifying her zone of genius has helped her work in a way that not only serves the world, but herself as well.

We really dive into how burnout and exhaustion can become a badge of honour when working to change the world, how working to slow things down instead of an emergency mindset ultimately changes our lives and our wellbeing and self care isn’t a reward, nor is it tied to your productivity, but rather something we all need regardless.

We have a really honest conversation about what it means to want to change the world, the grief we often don’t acknowledge when working in a helping profession and how our ego, and our guilt often plays a role in how we show up in the world.

Christy shares great advice for anyone looking to find their own zone of genius, and some much needed reminders to all of us that self care is not selfish, but rather essential for a wholehearted life.

This is a fantastic episode if you’re an activist, work or have worked in a helping profession, if you’ve ever or are struggling with burnout and if you seek to make the world a brighter place without diminishing your own light at the same time. I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about.

I absolutely loved talking to Christy and I love the work she is putting in the world.

Our stories overlap in so many ways and it was so good to have such a truthful and bullshit free conversation about burnout and how we can all change the world in our own unique way.

I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about.

Enjoy the show!

Next Episode

038 Making the World a Brighter Place with Mary England

I am so excited to share with you this week’s episode of Couragemakers. I think it’s fair to say that sometimes the world feels like a bit of a shitshow, especially now and I think this episode is a great beacon of hope.

For this week’s episode, I had the absolute joy of speaking to Mary England, self-described merriment maker and founder of Uncustomary. Mary's passion is to make other people happy and teach them how to love and accept themselves. After struggling with mental illness for twenty years and working in and studying the field of psychology for five, she decided to start the business Uncustomary to share her personal and professional experience with mental health in a way that translates into self-love and positivity. You can find her twirling in front of murals and leaving a literal trail of glitter in Baltimore, Maryland.

In this episode, Mary shares her journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art was a massive part of this journey. We dive into the difference between self confidence and self love and how adding the weird to someone’s day can make all the difference.

Mary shares how she uses her art to challenge social norms and how it has taught her that people are innately good and innately curious. She also shares fantastic advice for anyone wanting to make their life more colourful, glittery and sparkly which I know you’re going to love.

We really dive into how we can often feel like frauds when we’re working with other people to help them overcome and deal with issues we have and often do struggle with, but how ultimately we couldn’t be the better person for the job.

I’ve heard a lot of noise online lately about how we can use the platforms we have to make the world a better place, and the challenges you face when you bring your own beliefs and politics into your business or projects. This is the perfect episode if you’ve been thinking about it too, and if you’re wondering how you can bring about change and bring hope to the world when things feel very dark.

This is also a great episode if you work to make the world a brighter place and sometimes struggles to keep your own light lit, if you’re looking to become more active in your community and find ridiculously fun ways to do that and if you just need a great dollop of hope in your life right now.

I love Mary’s work, her message and what she’s putting in the world. The world is honestly a brighter, more honest and creative place for her being in it. I loved our conversation and keeping up to date with all the wonderful things she’s putting in the world.

Enjoy the show!

About Mary

Mary England is a self described merriment maker. Mary's passion is to make other people happy and teach them how to love and accept themselves. After struggling with mental illness for twenty years and working in and studying the field of psychology for five, she decided to start the business Uncustomary to share her personal and professional experience with mental health in a way that translates into self-love and positivity. You can find her twirling in front of murals and leaving a literal trail of glitter in Baltimore, Maryland.

You can connect with Mary here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Premium Package

Things we talked about during today's show

Mary’s journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art and performances played a huge part in her journey
How important it is to get out of our routines
Mixing business with politics: if you have a privilege that can help you be on a soapbox or activate change
The importance of recognising your own humanity and showing you struggle too
Mary’s advice for anyone wanting to make their life more colourful, glittery and sparkly

Things/Resources Mentioned in Today’s Show

Improv Everywhere
Keri Smith
Fred Rogers - “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here

If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected]

About Meg & That Hummingbird Life

I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started ...