Why does a song sometimes make us cry? Why can a simple sketch, journal entry, or creative project help us process feelings we didn't even realise we were carrying?

In this episode of The Creative & Curious Podcast, Leanne explores the connection between creativity, identity, and emotional wellbeing. Drawing on research into the psychology of creativity and her own experience of motherhood, burnout recovery, and rebuilding a creative practice, she reflects on why making something, even something small, can help us reconnect with ourselves.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why creativity is about more than making art
• How creative activities support emotional processing and self-reflection
• Why so many adults lose touch with their creativity
• The hidden connection between creativity, curiosity, and wellbeing
• How journaling, sketching, storytelling, and daydreaming can help you feel more like yourself again

If you've been feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or creatively stuck, this episode is a gentle reminder that creativity isn't a luxury, it's part of what makes us human.

✨ You don't need to be an artist to be creative. You simply need permission to begin.

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In this episode of the Creative & Curious Club podcast, Leanne Foley shares a gentle update on her mission to rebuild creativity in small, realistic ways, even during busy and overwhelming seasons of life. From working on her children’s book in tiny pockets of time to sketching a turtle after a trip to Bristol Aquarium, this episode explores what creativity can look like beyond productivity, perfectionism and pressure.

If you’ve been feeling creatively blocked, disconnected from yourself, or waiting for the “right time” to begin again, this honest conversation is a reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be big to matter. Sometimes the smallest moments of curiosity, storytelling and noticing the world around us are enough to help us reconnect with joy, wonder and ourselves again.

Welcome back to the Creative and Curious Club podcast! This week, I share a personal revelation about the pressures of constant content creation and the creative process. I discuss feeling the need to always deliver amazing content and know my direction, realising this might not be the focus for my current creative season. This episode offers some reflections on how to podcast and navigate these feelings.

Have you ever found yourself in the "Netflix trap" when trying to foster your creativity? This video explores the common experience of artist block and the struggle to find inspiration, even after hours of browsing. I share my insights on how to be creative and overcome procrastination, encouraging you to step away from the endless scroll and embrace your own creative process. Join me for more creative ideas and a journey towards a more intentional, artistic life!

The Creative and Curious Club Podcast | With Leanne Foley

Welcome to the Creative and Curious Club, a sanctuary for seekers, sketchers, and anyone reclaiming their creative spark.

Hosted by artist and illustrator Leanne Foley, this podcast is a deep dive into the joy of not knowing everything and the courage it takes to choose curiosity over the stress of being perfect.

As the seasons shift and autumn invites us to slow down, this gentle reflection explores what it really means to go gently as a creative.

In this episode, Leanne shares thoughts on releasing the pressure to always produce, embracing rest as part of the process, and noticing beauty in small, everyday moments. Whether you’re sketching, journaling, or simply pausing with a cup of tea, this is your reminder that creativity doesn’t disappear when you slow down, it deepens.

Watch the companion art vlog: Drawing Burford, Cosy Autumn Cotswolds Art Vlog this Friday on YouTube here.
💌 Join the Creative & Curious Club newsletter for gentle creative prompts and workshop updates here.

In this episode of The Creative & Curious Club, illustrator and storyteller Leanne Foley shares how her latest Venice canal art print was inspired by sketching on location, and why you don’t need a trip abroad to feel creative.

Discover how travel sparks creativity, how your everyday environment can fuel new ideas, and practical tips you can use today to bring more curiosity and creativity into your life. Whether you’re an artist, journaler, or simply someone looking for fresh inspiration, this episode will help you see the world differently.

✨ What you’ll learn:

• How sketching Venice inspired a finished print (now in the shop)

• Why your environment matters for creativity (and how to notice more)

• Simple daily practices to spark ideas without waiting for a holiday

• How to use travel photos, coffee shops, or even a rainy window as creative fuel

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• Watch the Venice sketch come to life on YouTube

• Shop the finished Venice canal print

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• 🎙️ The Creative & Curious Club brings you short, inspiring episodes to help you spark creativity, explore curiosity, and find joy in everyday stories.

Perfection is not the goal, progress is. In this episode of the Creative and Curious Club podcast, I talk about why good is good enough when it comes to your creative journey and how embracing imperfection can help you grow faster. I also share my experience with The Rejection Challenge, a simple but powerful way to build resilience, push past fear, and open up new opportunities as a creative.

Whether you are an illustrator, writer, or small business owner, this episode will encourage you to let go of perfectionism, create with more freedom, and start putting your work into the world today.

✨ What you will learn:

• Why striving for perfect can hold you back

• How good is good enough leads to consistency and momentum

• What the Rejection Challenge is and how to try it yourself

• Practical tips to build confidence and embrace creativity without fear

If you have been waiting for the right time or the perfect version of your project, this is your sign to begin.

👉 Sign up for weekly creative encouragement and free resources here: leannefoley.co.uk or come chat to me on Instagram @leannefoley.illustrates.