The Creative Switch: 24 Episodes, Big Lessons & A New Chapter
If you have been listening to The Creative Switch podcast, you’ll know I set out to inspire the ‘sensibly successful’ to switch on their unexpressed creativity for a more fulfilled life.
As a Creative Adventurer myself, reconnecting with my creativity has transformed the way I approach everything. Everyone has untapped creative potential, often stifled by societal expectations or self-imposed limits. By unlocking this potential, I want to encourage you to enrich your lives with greater fulfilment and purpose.
It’s not just about art—it’s a way of thinking, living, and exploring with an open heart. It’s as essential to our well-being as time spent in nature or nurturing relationships. The podcast itself is one of my creative adventures, and as I prepare for season 4, I thought it would be valuable to reflect on the journey so far, the lessons I’ve learned, and what’s ahead.
The Story so far: First 24 Episodes
At the beginning, I had a clear vision: to explore the many facets of creativity. Having already interviewed 42 authors and 10 publishing professionals on a weekly Facebook live show, I knew I wanted my podcast to follow a seasonal format, giving me space for other creative projects in between. However, I quickly realized just how much extra work goes on behind the scenes. From guest selection and booking to recording, editing, research, and promotion—being a solo podcaster is a lot!
That said, the experience has been incredibly rewarding. I started out as a podcasting novice and have since gained technical skills alongside the many nuggets of wisdom shared by my guests. Their answers to the question, “What is creativity to you?” have been remarkably diverse. Yet, across various disciplines, common challenges emerge—tackling self-doubt, creative blocks, and fear of judgment, to name a few.
There have been standout moments, too: like Nadine Benjamin’s life-changing question from her city boss, “Is there anything else you would like to do?” or Lorna Gibson’s dream-turned-reality when Stephen Fry narrated her animated film. And behind the scenes, there have been plenty of hurdles, from building works and thunderstorms disrupting recording to Holly Matthews graciously re-recording our conversation due to technical issues.
One particularly meaningful reflection comes from Theo Michaels—TV chef, bestselling author, and business founder—who was my very first guest. As both a listener and a guest, he shared:
“Nikki has the rare ability to listen and extract incredibly interesting information from her guests. Both as a listener of her podcast series and as a previous guest, the time flies listening to a conversation choreographed by Nikki delving into the creative spirit and personal motivations of her guests and keeps me coming back for more.“
His words encapsulate the essence of The Creative Switch—thoughtful conversations that explore the heart of creativity, keeping listeners engaged and inspired.
Period of Reflection
When season three aired last summer, I had planned to dive straight into recording again in the autumn. But after some advice from Mark Asquith, a seasoned podcaster, I realized the importance of pausing to reflect. What did I want from the podcast moving forward? How could I achieve it in a way that felt sustainable?
At the start of a new project it’s easy to be excited, jump straight in but then run out of steam. I’m now pacing myself. I know if I overcommit, I’ll end up resentful. Mark encouraged me to focus on growing the reach of my existing episodes and shared ideas for making the podcast financially self-sustaining.
Regular listeners will also know I introduced a new segment for season two—Creative Adventures—where I apply my guests’ advice to my own creative challenges. It’s been an invigorating way to explore creativity firsthand and share those experiences with you.
Going forward, I’m embracing a mindset of experimentation, focusing on enjoying the process rather than worrying about numbers or external validation. I’m aiming to create the best version of the podcast I can and to reach the people who truly need to hear these stories.
So, some things have changed but there is one constant, I am letting myself be guided by my creative curiosity. This will always be at the heart of the podcast.
Behind the Scenes of The Creative Switch: How I Find My Guests
People often ask how I choose podcast guests. There’s no single method but it is driven by this same creative curiosity. Some I discover through research, exploring articles and studies on creativity. Others are existing contacts, new people I meet at events or creative groups, or recommendations from previous guests. A few come from Facebook groups, and one or two have even approached me directly.
Once I began looking, stories of creative switchers seemed to appear everywhere. For example, my dad sent me a newspaper article about Mel Cantor’s career switch to becoming an author, and I knew I had to invite her—she said yes that same day. These serendipitous moments remind me that creativity is all around us, waiting to be uncovered.
Looking Ahead: Season Four
I’m currently recording the next batch of episodes and am so excited to share these stories with you. Highlights include a music teacher turned interior designer, an actor drawn to speak to me because of my orange boots, and a media consultant who rediscovered her childhood love for poetry and music, now a professional songwriter.
The popular Edge news and Creative Adventures segments will remain, threading together the wisdom and inspiration through each episode. I love exploring people’s relationships with creativity. The best episodes happen when conversations take unexpected turns, uncovering genuine insights for my guests, listeners, and me!
Thank you for being part of this creative journey. If you’ve enjoyed the episodes so far, why not share the podcast with a friend who might need a creative nudge in their life? And don’t forget, you can revisit earlier episodes anytime. Stay tuned for updates on release dates—I can’t wait to bring you more!