Welcome to Parenting Creative, a podcast that explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues.    

This spring we’ll be launching our first season, where host Nikko Snyder will delve into the creative lives of parents making art that ranges from theatre and music to poetry, journalism and craft. 

Our goal is to build community and connection for those living deep in the struggles of caring for others while at the same time prioritizing their own creative lives. 

Parenting Creative resists the pressure to buy more, hustle harder, and chase the impossible standard of ‘perfect’ parenting. We believe parents deserve to be fully realized humans—and that prioritizing our creative lives makes us better parents.

Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to sign up for our email newsletter, so you can find out when we launch and when new episodes come out.

And follow us on Instagram and Bluesky at parentingcreative.

Nikko Snyder talks to journalist, dancer, photographer and parent of four, Nichole Huck, about parenting in community; creating meaning by sharing each other's stories; the power of everyday micro-connections; jazz as a metaphor for parenting; listening to people even when you disagree with them; giving ourselves permission to enjoy the different seasons of life; raising boys in the age of impossible masculinity; high-fiving strangers; and the curative properties of Bison heart.

Nichole shares her insights on the role of current events in family life, navigating masculinity with children in today's society, and the power of curiosity in fostering connections with others. The conversation highlights the beauty found in everyday life and the significance of listening to diverse voices. In this conversation, Nichole Huck shares her insights on parenting, community, and the importance of micro connections in daily life. She discusses her experiences as an extroverted parent, the dynamics of raising children with varying personalities, and the significance of community support in parenting. Nichole emphasizes the need to let go of perfectionism and embrace the beauty of small interactions that can make a difference in people's lives. The conversation highlights the importance of finding joy in the chaos of parenting and the value of creating a supportive network for both parents and children.

• Bison (and the curative properties of bison heart!) - An episode of Nichole's show that discussed the return of bison to indigenous communities.
• Buffalo Treaty - An article about the 10-year anniversary of the Buffalo Treaty.
• Raising boys in the age of impossible masculity - An episode of Nichole's show featuring the author of Boy Mom: Reimaging boyhood in an age of impossible masculinity.
• Beautiful Mess - A series created by Nichole that tells the stories of diverse parents and their hard-earned wisdom.

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

Takeaways

• Creativity is not limited to traditional forms; it encompasses curiosity and connection.
• Current events shape family conversations and children's awareness of the world.
• Finding beauty in everyday moments can be a form of gratitude.
• Navigating masculinity with children requires understanding and empathy.
• Storytelling provides a platform for sharing wisdom and experiences.
• Listening to diverse perspectives enriches conversations...

Summary

In this episode, Parenting Creative host Nikko Snyder shares her journey of launching Parenting Creative and exploring the intersection of creativity and parenting. She reflects on her personal experiences, the challenges of maintaining a creative identity while raising children, and the importance of community support for artist parents. Throughout, she emphasizes the need for connection and the value of diverse artistic expressions.

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

Takeaways

• Parenting requires nothing short of Herculean fortitude.
• Tough times are precisely the time when artists go to work.
• It's easy to lose track of your creative self as a parent.
• Art is vast. It's music, craft, storytelling, film, dance, gardening... everything.
• You don't need formal training for your creative life to be legitimate.
• Life is short. Try the weird hobby.
• Diversity and communicating across our differences matter.
• Community changes everything.
• We cannot and must not be reduced to consumers.

Chapters

00:00 A Recurring Dream of Performance Anxiety

02:20 The Birth of the Parenting Creative Podcast

04:17 Identity and Heritage: A Personal Reflection

05:11 The Challenge of Balancing Parenting and Creativity

07:32 Art is Vast and Your Art Matters

08:01 The Importance of Diversity, Community, and Creating

Keywords

Parenting, Creativity, Podcast, Community, Identity, Art, Artist Parents, Parenting Challenges, Personal Growth, Connection, Diversity

In this episode of Parenting Creative, host Nikko Snyder talks to theatre artist Marya Folinsbee about the relationship between creativity and parenting. They talk about resiliency, absurdism in life and in theater, sneaking up on writing, finding magic in the mundane, perseverance and how art insists upon itself (sometimes over years!), the role of solitude and retreat, redefining creative work and productivity, and Marya's new play, The Mosquitos.

Marya shares her journey as a theater artist, the evolution of her work, and how her experiences as a parent have shaped her artistic expression. The conversation emphasizes the importance of process, the value of modeling resilience and failure to children, and the transformative power of play in both parenting and creativity. Marya emphasizes the value of community and the importance of modeling independence and self-care for children, and she shares practical strategies for navigating creative challenges and redefining what counts as artistic work.

• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Writes the Book, by Ursula LuGuin
• Material Theatre on Instagram
• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Writes the Books, by Ursula LeGuin
• Material Theatre

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

Takeaways

• We are better parents by embracing our own identities.
• Creative life and parenting can coexist harmoniously.
• Art can be found in the mundane aspects of life.
• Modeling resilience and process is crucial for children.
• Failure is an integral part of the creative process.
• Art does not have to be perfect to be valuable.
• The journey of creation is often unpredictable and transformative. Rediscovering joy in art can heal perfectionism.
• Community plays a vital role in the creative process.
• Balancing parenting and art requires intentionality.
• Self-care is essential for effective parenting.
• Children benefit from being included in creative spaces.
• Redefining productivity can enhance artistic growth.
• Artistic pursuits can coexist with parenting responsibilities.

Chapters

02:04 The Intersection of Creativity and Parenthood

06:09 Claiming the Artist Identity

11:55 Navigating Domestication and Wildness

18:12 The Role of Ceremony and Spectacle in Daily Life

23:52 Modeling Resilience and the Creative Process

36:11 The Role of Children in Creative Processes

49:35 The Nitty Gritty and Life Hacks

Keywords

parenting,...

On this episode, host Nikko Snyder talks to musician Sally Titasey, who is a member of Oh Pray Tell, a stomp, clap, and vocal harmony-driven trio. In their conversation they explore giving yourself permission to prioritize creative life, even when you know that will take you away from your kids. They also talk about centering connection over perfection, homeschooling, platonic life partners, using art to help children process and understand the world, making art with our children, creative process as a way to move through stuckness, songs as medicine, and reframing creativity as an offering to whoever needs to receive it.

• Oh Pray Tell on Facebook
• Oh Pray Tell on Instagram
• Shayna Jones : we are STORYFOLK
• Oh Pray Tell – HARMONY + STOMP + CLAP

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

takeaways

• Music can serve as a form of medicine and prayer.
• Prioritizing creative life is essential for personal fulfillment.
• Community support is crucial for creative parents.
• Creative processes help children understand their emotions.
• Art can be a tool for processing grief and fear.
• Modeling creativity for children encourages their own artistic expression.
• Collaboration enhances the creative experience.
• Emotional journeys are part of the creative process.
• Creativity should be valued as an essential part of life. Music can be a powerful tool for healing and connection.
• Songs can serve as vessels for emotional expression.
• Reframing art as an offering to others can be powerful.
• Creating with children fosters connection and joy.
• Balancing family life and creative pursuits is challenging but rewarding.
• Music can help frame difficult emotions for children.
• Sharing experiences can inspire and build connections.

chapters

00:00 Introducing Sally Titasey and Oh Pray Tell

04:38 The Evolution of Oh Pray Tell

12:19 Prioritizing Creative Life as a Parent

15:46 Platonic Life Partners

19:00 Emotional Journey of Balancing Art and Parenting

23:24 Using Art to Help Children Process Life Events

28:15 Music as Medicine

31:51 Music as an Offering to Whoever may Need it

39:16 Finding Balance in Parenting and Creativity

41:26 Things that Work Day to Day

45:01 Upcoming Projects

keywords

music, creativity, parenting, community, emotional journey, Oh Pray Tell, Sally Titasey, art, homeschooling, collaboration, music, healing, parenting, creativity, radical acceptance, connection, songwriting, family life, community, emotional well-being

Nikko Snyder talks to Regina SK-based interdisciplinary artist, musician, poet, and parent Amber Goodwyn. In our conversation, Amber and I talk about parenting when parenting isn't central to your identity, the universality of birth and death, clear divisions of labor, performing parenting on social media, prioritizing art and refusing to feel bad about it, the final deadline (otherwise known as death), releasing perfectionism and the need for perfect conditions, and becoming ready by simply doing the thing.

• Amber Goodwyn on Instagram
• Natural Sympathies on Instagram
• The Love Project
• Natural Sympathies – homemade music and more xo
• Four Violins by Tony Conrad
• Toboggan hill – Sask Dispatch
• Welcome to GRR!

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

takeaways

• Art is central to Amber's identity and well-being.
• Parenting can be isolating, but art helps navigate challenges.
• The urgency of creation is influenced by the awareness of mortality.
• Balancing family responsibilities with creative pursuits is essential.
• Modeling values for children through personal artistic practice is important.
• Rejecting the performative aspects of parenting is liberating.
• Playfulness enhances both art and parenting experiences.
• Maintaining joy and balance in adulthood is a continuous journey.
• Embracing mistakes is crucial for growth in creativity.
• Discipline and habit are key to sustaining artistic practice.

chapters

00:00 The Intersection of Art and Parenting

08:36 Navigating Parenthood and Artistic Identity

15:05 The Role of Death and Urgency in Creation

22:05 Balancing Creative Life and Family Responsibilities

25:33 Influences of Upbringing on Artistic and Parenting Styles

30:04 The Reality of Parenthood and Social Media

33:17 The Role of Play in Creativity and Parenting

42:08 Embracing Failure and Mistakes in Creative Practice

44:37 Overcoming Perfectionism and Finding Balance

46:25 The Importance of Discipline and Habit in Art

52:45 Current and Future Projects

keywords

art, parenting, creativity, identity, motherhood, performance, playfulness, play, balance, discipline, community, perfectionism; artist parent

summary

Host Nikko Snyder talks to ceramic artist Sarah Beatty, full-time working artist and parent of two school-aged children. Sarah's business, Objects and Feelings, focuses on functional pottery and explores interactions and dynamics between people. It's also worth noting that Sarah's pottery business is currently the primary source of income for her family due to her partner's disability.

In our conversation we talk about the pressures of making art for money, especially when your family relies on that income. We also talk about disability visibility, living with ADHD and neurodiversity, not having the brain space available to make the art you want to make, but making art anyway, kin keeping or invisible labor, the value of deadlines, the boringness of perfection, enjoying your own individual weirdness and taking yourself seriously enough to follow through and not listening to the voices that say you're not good enough.

• Objects & Feelings on Instagram
• objects and feelings
• Women's Mental Health Podcast - Kinkeeping (part 1)

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

takeaways

• Take yourself seriously enough to follow through.
• Parenthood can feel isolating and overwhelming.
• Postpartum experiences can be challenging and traumatic.
• Finding identity as an artist can shift after having children.
• Pottery can serve as a form of self-care and therapy.
• Navigating neurodiversity in the family requires understanding and support.
• Invisible labor in parenting often goes unnoticed.
• Disability visibility is crucial.
• Embracing imperfection can lead to more authentic art and parenting.
• Creativity thrives when we stop worrying about perfection.

chapters

00:00 Taking Yourself Seriously

01:08 Introduction to Parenting Creative

02:24 Sarah Beatty's Background and Growing Up

05:53 Transitioning to Parenthood and Artistic Identity

12:19 The Challenges of Postpartum Experience

17:10 Finding Identity in Art and Parenthood

23:25 Self-Care and Coping Mechanisms

27:13 Navigating Parenting with Neurodiversity

33:16 The Invisible Labor of Caregiving

36:30 Reflections on Upbringing and Domesticity

39:44 Balancing Creativity and Parenting

49:51 Embracing Imperfection in Art and Life

keywords

parenting, creativity, neurodiversity, pottery, self-care, disability, postpartum, identity, imperfection, art

In this mini episode, host Nikko Snyder wraps up season 1 and ties a bow around it with special thanks to season 1 guests, listeners, and supporters. She also outlines how best to support season 2 of Parenting Creative:

• Keep listening (and make sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast!)
• Tell a friend (or 10)... word of mouth is everything, especially when you're on a micro budget
• Leave us a review (Apple podcasts or podchaser.com are good places to do this) - it only take a couple minutes, but it helps others discover the podcast and trust that it's worth a listen
• Follow Parenting Creative on social media (IG, Threads, and Bluesky @parentingcreative), but BETTER YET sign up for our free email newsletter for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes bits, guest announcements, resources and recommendations, and deeper reflections into each episode.
• If you're in a position to do so, send us a tip to support our independent podcast. You can do this in USD at Support Parenting Creativeor by e-transfer directly to info@parentingcreative.com. 

Thanks for listening, and come back next week for the launch of season 2!

summary

In this episode of Parenting Creative, host Nikko Snyder speaks with poet, songwriter, teacher, and single parent of two Melissa Boulianne about the intersection of creativity and parenting. Melissa shares a lot of beautiful and vulnerable poetry on social media that explores her journey with single parenting and parenting a child on the autism spectrum. In their conversation they talk about the transition to single parenting, autism spectrum disorder, normalizing neurodiversity, living and writing with constant interruptions, using screen time to stay sane, learning to relent, confidence or lack thereof, when writing saves your life, and growing in ways you never imagined growing.

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Visit parentingcreative.com to join our email newsletter, or follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky. You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip or becoming a founding member.

Support Parenting Creative

takeaways

• Parenting and creativity often collide, leading to unique challenges.
• Single parenthood can be abrupt and isolating, impacting emotional well-being.
• Writing poetry has been a therapeutic outlet for processing emotions.
• Teaching can be both draining and creatively fulfilling.
• Screen time is a complex issue for modern parents, requiring balance.
• Raising a child on the autism spectrum brings both challenges and growth opportunities.
• Emotional complexity is a central theme in parenting experiences.
• Finding time for creativity often requires early mornings and intentional planning.
• Parenting can lead to feelings of isolation and judgment from others.
• Visibility and normalization of neurodiversity are important for societal understanding.

Chapters

02:12

Meet Melissa Boulianne: Poet and Single Parent

09:50

Transitioning to Single Parenthood

14:54

The Role of Teaching in Creative Life

20:06

Navigating Screen Time with Kids

22:06

Parenting a Child on the Autism Spectrum

28:11

Understanding Neurodiversity in Parenting

32:49

Visibility and Normalization of Neurodiversity

38:27

Finding Time for Creativity

41:01

Overcoming Creative Barriers

43:00

The Power of Poetry in Parenting

keywords

parenting, creativity, single parent, single parenting, autism spectrum, autism, autism spectrum disorder, poetry, teaching, screen time, neurodiversity, emotional complexity, motherhood

If you or a young person in your life is struggling with mental health, know that you are not alone and that help is out there. If you are in crisis, you can call 9-8-8, ANYTIME, 24/7.

Part one of a two-part conversation with theatre artist, community magic maker and parent of two young adults, Kris Alvarez. In part one, host Nikko Snyder talks to Kris about fighting for the space to play - and not the pretend or performed play that a lot of adults do with kids, but the real serious play that has zero agenda apart from simple shits and giggles. They also talk about the fundamental importance of kindness, the gift of mentorship, and paying that forward. And they talk about navigating the serious mental illness of a child, processing that journey by making art, and how the experience can blow your capacity for unconditional love wide open.

And that's just part one! Don't miss the next episode where Kris talks about creating theatre with non-performers (including her own parents), being the child of immigrants, the integration of art into all aspects of life, and the importance of great snacks.

Parenting Creative explores the places where creative life and parenting collide, and all the magic and mess that ensues. Through deep, honest conversations with diverse artist-parents who are walking the walk, we explore both the struggles and the real, practical ways to make creativity and parenthood work—on your own terms, in ways that sustain and inspire you for the long haul. And we do it in community—because neither parenting nor creative life can thrive in isolation.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter for sneak peeks and guest announcements, behind the scenes stories and deeper reflections on each episode. Follow Parenting Creative on Instagram and Bluesky, and visit our website at parentingcreative.com.

You can also support the podcast by leaving a tip at the following link or by sending an e-transfer to info@parentingcreative.com.

Support Parenting Creative

Takeaways

• Kris emphasizes the importance of being human in front of others to allow them to embrace their humanity too.
• Play is a vital part of Kris's artistic and parenting practice.
• Kris fights for the space to really play, which she believes is often overlooked by adults.
• Creating safe spaces for storytelling is central to Kris's art practice.
• Kris's parenting journey has evolved as her children have grown into young adults.
• Mental health challenges have deepened Kris's capacity to love unconditionally.
• Kris's art reflects her personal experiences and the complexities of her identity.
• The importance of kindness in teaching and creating art is paramount for Kris.
• Kris believes in the power of vulnerability and modeling it for her children.
• Kris's project 'I do my best crying in the car' explores the emotional landscape of parenting and mental health.

Keywords

parenting, creativity, mental health, art, community, kindness, play, immigrant experience, unconditional love, storytelling

On this episode, host Nikko Snyder talks to entrepreneur, sex educator, and author Melissa Pintor Carnagey. Based in Austin, Texas, Melissa is the parent of three young people ages 11, 15, and 26. They're also the founder of Sex Positive Families, which delivers inclusive, sex positive, shame-free sex education to families worldwide through their newsletter and online workshops.

Melissa has also written two books, including Sex Positive Talks to Help with Kids: A Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy, Informed, Empowered Young People; and the hot off the presses puberty book for kids 11 to 14 called Growing Into You: An inclusive, shame busting, get real guide to your changing body and mind.

In our conversation we talk about starting your parenting journey as a teenager, tapping into your childhood passions to guide your adult dreams, the journey to becoming a published author, honouring your truth enough to risk leaving a bad situation to start your own business, disrupting the system by living your best life, breaking cycles, and giving ourselves self-compassion and forgiveness for the mistakes we inevitably make in this wild experiment called parenting.

There's a bonus episode of Parenting Creative with even more of our conversation. You can get that by signing up for our free email newsletter.

In addition to bonus content, I use the newsletter to share guest announcements, sneak peeks, glimpses behind the scenes, and deeper reflections on every episode.

In this conversation (part 2 of 2), Kris Alvarez shares her journey as a theatre artist and parent, exploring the integration of creativity into family life. She discusses her upbringing as a child of immigrants, how she navigates the complexities of aging parents, and making theatre with non-performers (including her own parents). Kris emphasizes the significance of both suffering and joy in personal growth, the importance of intergenerational relationships, and the need to tolerate each other's learning and mistakes.

And don't miss the first part of our conversation, where we talk about about real, serious play and navigating the serious mental illness of a child.

• Mann Art Gallery - Prince Albert SK
• Home | Common Ground Arts Society
• Curtain Razors
• Kris Alvarez on Instagram

You can support Parenting Creative by leaving us a five-star review, signing up for our free email newsletter, or sending us a tip.

Support Parenting Creative

takeaways

• Kris emphasizes the importance of being authentic and present in life.
• She integrates her family into her art, creating a unique blend of personal and professional.
• The immigrant experience shapes her perspective on creativity and family dynamics.
• Aging parents bring both joy and challenges, requiring a balance of care and understanding.
• Kris believes in the power of art to foster community and connection.
• She rejects compartmentalization, advocating for a more integrated approach to life and creativity.
• Suffering can lead to growth and a deeper understanding of oneself and others.
• Kris's upbringing instilled a sense of playfulness and affection that she shares with her audience.
• She aims to create spaces where people can embrace their creativity and connect with others.
• Kris's journey reflects the complexities of parenting, art, and intergenerational relationships.

Chapters

00:00

The Essence of Being: Embracing Authenticity

01:51

Creative Parenting: Integrating Art and Family

03:18

The Immigrant Experience: Family, Culture, and Creativity

12:01

Compartmentalization vs. Integration

19:03

Suffering and Growth: The Silver Linings of Life

24:03

Creating Space for Learning: Tolerance and Understanding

30:03

The Journey of Integration: Embracing Wholeness

keywords

creativity, parenting, immigrant experience, intergenerational relationships, art integration, personal growth, community building, family dynamics, aging, aging parents, authenticity