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by Ruth Hetland and Dawn Trautman
Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity on "Created Creative." Together, these creative entrepreneurs delve into the universal aspects of the creative life. From the restlessness within that compels us to build something new, whether it's a Lego castle or a life-altering venture, they celebrate the beauty and sanctity of these creative stirrings. Join them in exploring the transformative power of paying attention to that inner restlessness and making space for the growth of new, beautiful things. Welcome to a podcast that recognizes and celebrates how we are all "Created Creative."
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- 5 days ago37 min
Ep 138 - John Munson on the Rise of Semisonic and the Rise of His Award Winning Bread
Remember that rock star Dawn and Ruth ran into in the Creative Arts building at the Minnesota State Fair? The one who won fifth place for his sourdough? He said yes to the podcast, and this conversation is a treat.John Munson is a singer-songwriter and bass player best known for Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic. In February 2025, he had a stroke that ended his comfort with the double bass, but it also deepened his appreciation for electric bass and for his own voice. He talks about how baking has become a bounded, deeply satisfying creative practice in this new season: you make something, it either rises or it doesn’t, and you get to eat the results.Then the stories come out. He recalls making Trip Shakespeare videos for “Bachelorette” at the Gay 90s and “Pearl,” singing “Snow Days,” and favorite live moments like “Slacks” and “Toolmaster.”And of course, the “Closing Time” story: how radio promoter Nancy Levin secured Conan O’Brien, which led to major TV appearances and a 1999 Grammy nomination. John describes attending the Grammys and meeting Paul Rudd, who turned out to be a Trip Shakespeare fan.This episode is for anyone who has had to reinvent their creative life after something changed what their body or career could do, and for anyone who loves a good behind-the-scenes music story.00:21 State Fair Celebrity Run-In01:03 Grammy Trivia Deep Dive02:25 Fan Story and Intro03:18 Stroke and New Boundaries05:25 Bread Baking Creativity07:45 Trip Shakespeare Video Tales11:48 Vulnerability and Acting13:27 Who Wrote Snow Days15:48 Favorite Songs and Road Life18:07 Pleasure to Semisonic Origins18:26 DIY Cassette Era Shoutout19:13 Minneapolis Music Web20:09 Closing Time Breakthrough25:08 Grammy Night Stories26:44 New Standards Holiday Tradition31:31 Collaboration Creative Growth32:46 Paul Rudd Trip Tales
- 1 weeks ago21 min
Ep 137 - Think Bigger: School Tours, Screens, and Building a Mastermind
Dawn and Ruth open with something that stops you in your tracks: a benefit fundraiser for a young woman with cancer. They reflect on how community support shouldn’t be required for life-saving treatment, and what it says about the systems we’ve built (or failed to build).From there they settle into fall: weather shifts, yoga, step counts, and how friends’ achievements have a way of inspiring you to reach further yourself.Dawn shares her preschool tour circuit, noticing parent fears about neighborhoods and wondering whether “social justice” schools are engaging issues intellectually rather than through actual local service. It’s a distinction worth thinking about.Then they tackle screens: specifically a TikTok take that blaming screens for kids’ mental health struggles conveniently shifts responsibility onto mothers instead of addressing the missing infrastructure: mental health supports, paid maternity leave, real community investment. Because maybe the problem isn’t the iPad. Maybe it’s everything around the iPad.Ruth also shares that her son is in an independent film releasing October 31 (!) and reflects on how to help a young adult find direction without pushing too hard.But the episode’s big energy is around Dawn restructuring her business: a lower-cost app-based community with monthly coaching, OR a higher-ticket mastermind with frequent access and in-person gatherings. Strong interest is already coming in. They discuss marketing, ROI, and what it actually means to think bigger.They close with a recap of a church retreat at Koinonia and an invitation to listeners: what do YOU want? Because thinking bigger starts with being asked.LINK to TALK WITH DAWN: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.com/explore-2027/00:18 Welcome And Catch Up00:25 Benefit For A Friend01:19 Fall Weather Shift02:14 Yoga And Steps04:11 School Tour Circuit05:19 Neighborhood Fears06:47 iPad Days Reality08:02 Systemic Support Needed09:02 Son In A Movie10:10 Finding Future Direction11:16 New Coaching Offers14:10 Big Trips And Mastermind15:41 Church Retreat Recap18:30 App Versus Mastermind20:58 Think Bigger Outro
- 3 weeks ago36 min
Ep 136 - Celeste Rose Koppe on Running for Detroit Lakes City Council, Housing, and Responding to the School Board Rainbow Ban
Dawn and Ruth open with fall vibes, parenting updates, school visits, and a reflection on resilience before diving into one of the most important conversations they’ve had: why local politics matters more than ever.Celeste Rose Koppe is running for city council in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and her path there is anything but ordinary. She’s lived in Tunisia, Morocco, and Budapest, returned home in 2021 to help family, and found herself drawn into local politics through issues she couldn’t ignore: clean energy, housing, and improving relationships with the state after significant Minnesota investments.Then the Detroit Lakes School Board did something that surprised everyone: they banned rainbows. What followed was community organizing, data requests that suggested open meeting law violations, and lawsuits tied to the motion and board rhetoric. Celeste found herself at the center of a community reckoning, facing online backlash, harassment, and the very real dynamics of gender and power in local politics. Her husband’s experiences with local racism added another layer to an already complex picture.But here’s what makes Celeste’s story so compelling: She’s not backing down. Instead she’s building trust through tangible local projects, using yoga for grounding when things get hard, and infusing politics with arts to make civics more accessible and human.Dawn and Celeste also dig into campaign time management (because running for office while living a full life is its own creative challenge), and Celeste offers advice for young people ready to engage: show up, read local news, and find training programs.This episode is for anyone who’s ever thought local politics doesn’t matter, or who needs a reminder that the most important decisions are often made closest to home.LINKS: Parables of Resilient Nomad by Dawn Trautman https://a.co/d/0coVxIgLFollow Celeste's campaign: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086415228712We invite you to help support our work getting these interviews out! Join our patreon - every little bit helps: patreon.com/u1107241700:18 Fall Catch Up Stories00:40 Grief Rituals and Parenting01:35 Resilient Nomad Book Plug02:12 School Tours and Fall Festival03:32 Kids Bravery to Politics05:26 Meet Celeste Koppie05:56 Life Abroad in Tunisia08:34 Roots in Detroit Lakes09:23 Why Run for Council11:59 Campaign Priorities Housing13:05 School Board Rainbow Ban16:28 Open Meeting Concerns17:27 Online Backlash18:45 Power and Masculinity20:28 Racism in Town22:17 Building Local Trust23:35 Path to Politics26:32 Democracy and Violence29:55 Campaign Sprint Coaching31:29 Yoga as Grounding33:48 Creativity in Civics
- Oct 5, 202633 min
Ep 135 - Getting Rid of Stuff Was Never Really the Point: Tiny-Home Living, Community, and Simplicity with Suzanne Searcy Johnson
Meet Suzanne Searcy Johnson: writer, poet, simplicity coach, new podcaster, and resident of an Austin-area tiny-home agrihood. We're talking about 120 homes built around an organic farm, where Suzanne leases her land, uses community amenities, and has access to farm stands, a community garden, and optional social activities. It's the kind of intentional community that makes you want to immediately research real estate options.Suzanne has written multiple books including A Vital Simplicity (based on Charles Wagner's 1895 classic The Simple Life), Beyond Decluttering, and Sixty Candles. And here's what makes her perspective so compelling: Decluttering alone didn't bring her peace.What actually worked? Recovery. And four essential connections: nature, other people, spirituality, and inner creativity and intuition. When those four things were in place, she stopped bringing excess into her life in the first place. Because the real problem was never the stuff. It was what the stuff was filling.Suzanne shares her writing process, her favorite creators, and then gets coached by Dawn on a delicious creative dilemma: finish her "My Grown-Up Gap Year" book or pursue a novella that's been calling to her?This episode is for anyone who's tried decluttering and still felt like something was missing—and anyone ready to explore what simplicity actually looks like when it starts from the inside out.LINKS:Learn more about Suzanne: https://suzannesearcyjohnson.com/Get Dawn's coaching! bigpicturebigpurpose.com00:21 Garage Door Wins00:56 Small Town Safety02:31 Meet Suzanne03:29 Why Austin Agrihood04:25 Life in the Community05:39 Heat and Tiny Home Comfort06:28 Farm Stand and Garden07:55 Events Without Pressure08:36 Buying and Leasing Setup10:08 Tiny Home Tour Details10:54 Books and Vital Simplicity14:12 Beyond Decluttering Journey17:15 Connection Over Consumption18:43 Spiritual Connection Benefits19:26 Integrity and Inner Voice19:58 Writing Beyond Decluttering22:00 Nature Walks for Inspiration22:43 Book Timelines and Style23:44 Favorite Creators and Books25:33 Building a Weekly Podcast26:39 Coaching Through Book Blocks28:52 Publicity Timing and Launch Load31:18 Connection First Networking Story
- Sep 28, 202646 min
Ep 134 - Pastor Yolanda Denson-Byers on Art, Courage, and Truth-Telling (Because Artists Tell Truth, Even When It's Tender)
Dawn and Ruth welcome Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers, senior pastor at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Edina and author of See Me, Believe Me, a book written to name the common experiences of racism and discrimination faced by clergy of color in predominantly white congregations. Now in its second edition and widely used, the book centers the crucial distinction between intent and impact. Because good intentions don't cancel real harm.Yolanda shares her Holy Spirit-led writing process, her promotion strategies (including how alma maters can be powerful amplifiers), and why spirituality and creativity are simply inseparable for her. She describes her creative worship practices, all proof that worship itself can be a radical creative act.The episode closes with Dawn coaching Yolanda on her next book: a more tender, story-based project that requires a different kind of courage. They talk about how courage grows in small steps, the "ish" mindset for artists, and the sacred question of what you choose to share and what you keep close.This episode is for anyone who needs permission to try the unlikely thing, name the hard truth, or take the next small brave step toward something that matters.LINKS:Have a business idea and want to get it moving? Join Dawn's Discern by Doing for Business Course. A new group is starting now: https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/00:23 Grant Win Story01:22 Broadway Near Miss02:52 Seminary Sold News03:32 Seminary Memories06:40 Guest Intro Setup07:42 Meet Pastor Yolanda08:27 Why She Wrote Book11:17 Spirit Led Writing12:50 Intent Versus Impact16:04 Publishing Proposal Path18:06 Finding Your Voice21:16 Promoting The Book22:23 Promotion Without Competition23:04 Alma Mater Amplifiers23:49 Favorite Creative Spotlight24:58 Spirituality Fuels Art27:41 Pentecost Worship Experiments31:52 Pray Without Ceasing33:33 Courage Builds Creativity35:16 Ish Mindset for Artists38:35 Next Book Coaching Session41:41 Rituals and Accountability45:20 Tenderness and Consent45:58 Final Thanks and Sendoff
- Sep 14, 202635 min
Ep 133 - Because Sometimes the Most Sacred Thing You Can Do Is Let Go with Sarah Jones
Dawn and Ruth welcome Pastor Sarah Jones, program director of the ELCA's Church Property Resource Hub, launched March 2025. Sarah's doing some of the most important and emotionally complex work in the church right now: helping congregations navigate the grief of underused or ill-fitting buildings and find new life on the other side.Here's what makes Sarah's work so compelling: She's not just talking about real estate decisions. She's talking about the messy cocoon stage of transformation. The grief, the loss, the uncertainty that comes when a congregation has to reimagine what their building is actually for. That's not a spreadsheet problem. That's a pastoral one.Sarah shares beautiful success stories: a neurodivergent school sharing space with a congregation, a church house repurposed for family visitation. She emphasizes moving away from membership growth as the main metric and toward community impact, because a building that serves the neighborhood might matter more than one that serves only Sunday morning regulars.Her practical advice? Clarify your mission first. Then invite local stakeholders to tour your space. Build partnerships before you desperately need them.This episode is for anyone navigating institutional change, letting go of what was, and wondering what comes next.LINKS:The Church Property Resource Hub: https://www.elca.org/how-we-serve/churches-and-church-leaders/property-resourcesCheck out Discern by Doing for Business with Dawn Trautman! https://bigpicturebigpurpose.lpages.co/discern-by-doing-for-business/Clergy Appreciation Month is October! Order a ConseCrate for your favorite minister here: consecrate.cratejoy.com00:42 Finding Common Ground02:34 Church Connections03:17 Episode Setup00:02 Meet Pastor Sarah05:14 Hub Origin Story07:01 What The Hub Does08:33 Grief Before Change09:47 Community Asset Mindset11:49 Faith Language Tools12:35 When Churches Reach Out14:09 Beyond Growth Metrics16:36 Bible Study Resource17:08 Church With Too Much Space17:54 Mission First Then Invite Community20:59 Who To Bring In22:01 Vincennes Family Visitation House24:08 Daytona School Partnership26:46 Future Church As Community Hub28:20 Field Trips And Examples29:05 Marketing The Good Futures Game31:14 Lead With Grief And Hope34:08 You Are Not Alone
- Sep 7, 202614 min
Ep 132 - Celebrity Sightings and Butter Queens at the Minnesota State Fair (Or: Where Else Would a Rock Star Win Fifth Place in the Bread Competition?)
Dawn and Ruth are ACTUALLY AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR and this episode is pure joy. They kick things off debating corn on the cob textures (very important), sampling falafel and navigating the beef-heavy food options, and getting complimented on their outfits within minutes of arriving. Then someone from Dawn's Indiana school days recognizes her in the crowd because the Great Minnesota Get-Together really does bring everyone together.They dive into the sacred traditions: Princess Kay of the Milky Way butter sculptures (yes, they carve life-size butter heads of royalty), including a story about someone who actually ATE a carved butter head at a graduation party. They watch bovine judging with appropriate commentary, and critique the 4H musical choreography, which was apparently overly ambitious for a 10-day rehearsal process. Points for effort though.But here's where it gets really good: In the Creative Arts building, they run into John Munson of Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic fame. Who won fifth place in the bread competition. They take photos, they fan-girl appropriately, and they immediately invite him to be on the podcast.Because creativity really is EVERYWHERE at the Minnesota State Fair, from butter sculptures to bread competitions to rock stars in the Creative Arts building.Pro tip from Dawn and Ruth: Go midweek for smaller crowds. You're welcome.This episode is pure Minnesotan joy from start to finish, and proof that the best creative inspiration sometimes comes from the most unexpected places.00:00 Welcome to the Fair00:29 Corn on a Stick Debate01:33 Great Get Together Run In02:10 Why We Came Back02:46 Butter Sculpting Legends04:25 Bovine Judging Commentary04:51 4H Musical Reactions06:15 Semisonic Celebrity Sighting07:36 Bread Prize Plot Twist10:18 Fair Reflections and Food13:02 Creativity Everywhere Finale
- Aug 31, 202637 min
State Fair Baking, Creative Outlets, and Building a VBS Volunteer Culture with Victoria Hoppes (Because Ministry Leaders Need Creative Outlets Too)
Dawn and Ruth kick things off with State Fair anticipation (Minnesota, obviously), late summer updates from New York City, outdoor concerts, forest school prep, a son's backpacking trip to Yosemite, and taking another child to NDSU. Summer is winding down in the best possible way.Then they welcome Victoria Hoppes, a children's and youth ministry staff member in Indianapolis who writes, bakes, and tap dances, because creative outlets aren't a luxury for ministry leaders, they're a necessity.Victoria shares her delightful State Fair baking life: entering the Indiana State Fair's open arts and culinary competitions, selecting and tweaking recipes, using her church community as taste testers (best congregation perk ever), and submitting entries without needing county-level wins first. She's earned honorable mention ribbons and once won $15. She's basically living the dream.But then the conversation shifts to something really practical: How do you build a volunteer culture around a large, highly decorated VBS week? Victoria's strategies are gold—building genuine relationships before you need anything, offering take-home kits that make volunteering feel manageable, and sharing stories and photos that make people want to be part of something meaningful.The episode closes with Dawn coaching Victoria on restarting her Substack by September 30 and identifying potential publishers for her writing. This episode is for ministry leaders who need permission to pursue creative outlets AND practical strategies for building the volunteer culture that makes ministry actually sustainable.00:16 State Fair Traditions01:00 New York Summer Stories03:03 Outdoor Gear and Adventures03:47 Backpacking and Big Changes05:58 State Fair Plans and Guest Intro07:14 Meet Victoria Hoppes08:46 Creativity Beyond Ministry11:22 Entering the State Fair14:39 Recipes and Test Kitchen16:32 Judging and Ribbon Keepsakes18:54 Baking as Self Care19:35 Landing Writing Gigs21:59 VBS Creative Build24:08 Recruiting Volunteers29:14 Inspired by Kids30:51 Publishing Under Your Name35:19 Substack Deadline37:14 Wrap Up and Farewell
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About Created Creative Podcast
Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity on "Created Creative." Together, these creative entrepreneurs delve into the universal aspects of the creative life. From the restlessness within that compels us to build something new, whether it's a Lego castle or a life-altering venture, they celebrate the beauty and sanctity of these creative stirrings. Join them in exploring the transformative power of paying attention to that inner restlessness and making space for the growth of new, beautiful things. Welcome to a podcast that recognizes and celebrates how we are all "Created Creative."
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