Redefining Creativity: how two changemakers are building community through courage and joy
What happens when two purpose-driven leaders decide to challenge everything they learned about creativity in school? In this episode of Stories of Creative Courage, I had the pleasure of hosting Joey Clifton and Solomon Mehta-Slade, co-founders of the newly launched Change:Maker Collective.
Both Joey and Sol began our conversation with a confession: they learned early in their schooling years that they weren't creative. Does it sound familiar? This limiting belief, passed down through educational systems that equate creativity solely with artistic ability, is something they've spent years unlearning. What emerged from our conversation was a beautiful exploration of creativity as an innate human capacity that shows up everywhere—from cooking and gardening to business building and internal inquiry work.
Their journey of co-creating the Change:Maker Collective offers a masterclass in collaborative creativity. It demonstrates how listening deeply to clients' needs, trusting your intuition and choosing the right collaborators can birth something truly transformative. As Joey beautifully put it, sometimes you need to nurture that tender seedling of an idea with more than just what you can give it alone.
Show Notes
[00:00] - Introduction to Stories of Creative Courage
Rachel introduces the initiative and her fascination with creativity in all its forms
Setting the stage for exploring both creative expression and the obstacles that get in the way
First-time three-way conversation format
[04:00] - Redefining Creativity Beyond Art
Joey and Sol share their journeys from ‘I'm not creative’ to discovering creativity everywhere
Creativity as cooking, gardening, business building and internal inquiry
The importance of generative openness and curiosity in creative expression
Moving beyond narrow definitions inherited from school systems
[09:00] - The Birth of Change:Maker Collective
The phone call from the woods when Joey issued the invitation to Sol to collaborate and the courage to share tender ideas
Years of listening to client patterns around loneliness and lack of support
The ‘we're better together’ realisation and choosing trusted collaborators
Co-creation as a creative act requiring vulnerability
[15:00] - Creative Courage in Action
The difference between the initial ‘yes’ and the ongoing courage to show up
Iteration, listening to community needs and willingness to pivot
Backing yourself when ‘the results aren't in’ and there's no destination
Creating scaffolding and optimal conditions for ideas to thrive
[21:00] - Inside the Changemaker Collective
Virtual community for purpose-led leaders working toward a fairer, greener, kinder world
Balance of inner work (space to think, reflect, connect with wisdom) and forward movement
Joy as a central organising principle for sustainable changemaking
Community as a place to share resources, cross-pollinate ideas and bolster each other
[24:00] - Creativity Meets Entrepreneurship
Challenging the belief that business has to be hard work
Ideas finding you vs. forcing creativity to happen
The necessity of creating space for big magic to occur
Moving from ‘head-down’ busyness to receptive listening
[29:00] - Essential Self and Authentic Expression
Creativity as our innate human form without limiting beliefs
Seeing people's potential and brilliance as part of their essence
The ongoing work of acceptance rather than fighting inner critics
Creating space for all parts while staying in the driver's seat
[35:00] - Working with Inner Critics as Protectors
Reframing critical voices as protectors trying to keep us safe
The importance of anticipating and befriending these parts
Creating separation between essential self and protective parts
Using humor and compassion in the ongoing inner work
Key Quotes
"Every single human being is innately creative like it's not a question. This is not something to be debated. It is who we are in our very most essential form." - Joey Clifton
"The results aren't in. Like there is no destination. They will never be in. You have to just back yourself." - Joey Clifton
"To sustain the work that we do, to sustain ourselves, I think we need to enjoy it as well." - Solomon Mehta-Slade
"We have to create the space to let the ideas find us because if we're just rushing around, busy, busy, busy, the ideas never come." - Solomon Mehta-Slade
"There's something about courage and creativity and choosing your people to nurture the idea and nurture the creativity." - Joey Clifton
Resources Mentioned
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - Joey's favourite book on creativity
Internal Family Systems - Framework for working with different parts of ourselves
Change:Maker Collective - Virtual community for purpose-led leaders, co-founded and hosted by Joey and Sol
Where to Find Our Guests
Joey Clifton
Website: sustainableyou.co.uk
Change:Maker Collective information on Joey’s site
LinkedIn: Joey Clifton
Substack: Just beginning her creative writing journey here!
Solomon Mehta-Slade
Website: thealtacademy.com
Change:Maker Collective information on Sol’s site
LinkedIn: Solomon Mehta-Slade
Changemaker Collective
Currently accepting new members (5 weeks in!)
Check out either website above for more information
Open to co-creation and community input in these early stages
Ready to Step Into Your Own Creative Courage?
Joey and Sol's journey beautifully illustrates what becomes possible when we move beyond the limiting belief that we're ‘not creative’ and step into authentic expression with trusted support. Their emphasis on community, deep listening and working with our protective parts resonates deeply with the work I do.
If this conversation stirred something in you—if you're ready to befriend those inner critics, discover your essential creative self and express authentically without feeling alone—I'd love to support you.
The Creative Courage Circle is an ongoing intimate group that uses reflective writing as a portal for deep creative healing and mutual witnessing. Like Joey and Sol's Change:Maker Collective, it's a space where we're genuinely better together, supporting each other to move through creative blocks and step into fuller expression. Membership is by invitation only—please contact me to explore this option.
For those ready for deeper transformation, my Bespoke 1:1 Creative Transformation journey offers 6 months of personalised integration work based on finding your Essence process. This work helps you embrace your hidden aspects (including those protective parts we discussed) and create from your complete authentic power.
Both offerings honour what Joey and Sol demonstrated so beautifully: that creativity is our birthright, courage grows through practice and we don't have to walk this path alone.
Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to Joey and Sol for being such generous, thoughtful guests and for experimenting with our first three-way conversation format. Thank you also to those who joined us live and to all our community members who continue to make these conversations richer.
P.S.
This is part of my ongoing Stories of Creative Courage series, where I explore creativity in all its forms with coaches, entrepreneurs, artists and changemakers. Each conversation reveals new insights about what it takes to step up and express ourselves fully.
What's Next?
If you enjoyed this recap, you can access all previous newsletters and episodes in the archive. If you’re new to the newsletter, subscribe to join our community of creative courage explorers.
Want to share your own story of creative courage? I'd love to hear from you!
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