I am so grateful to have Shannon Dooling-Cain joining me for episode 123! Shannon is a dance educator, choreographer, writer, and founder of The Holistic Dance Teacher. She combines her love of writing with her love for the dance community in her work with The Holistic Dance Teacher. Through her blog, resource collection, and in-person events, Shannon helps dancers, choreographers, and dance teachers elevate their dance life and find more joy in the dance studio. I also love how her approach helps students grow not only in dance technique and artistry, but also in their overall well-being through social and emotional learning.

Shannon and I definitely have a similar heartbeat in wanting to foster a positive classroom environment and recognizing the power of a teacher to create that community. We talk about Shannon’s work as a teacher, choreographer, and also her time working with the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), where she was involved in research, advocacy, and writing.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation is when Shannon shares about the importance of prioritizing ourselves as educators. The tendency is to give and give and give, and then end up in a place of burnout. She gives practical wisdom on discernment and prioritizing both our own and our students’ well-being. I hope this conversation encourages you today! To learn more about Shannon and The Holistic Dance Teacher, please visit www.shannondoolingdances.com

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends.

Support the show by joining our Patreon community!

What a joy to connect with Misty Lown, founder of More Than Just Great Dancing!® More Than Just Great Dancing!® is a licensed dance studio affiliation program positively impacting over 120,000 dance students around the globe each week. Misty is a recognized teacher, speaker, business coach, and author. In this episode, she shares valuable wisdom and insight from her experience as an entrepreneur. In addition to More Than Just Great Dancing!®, Misty is the founder and president of Misty's Dance Unlimited, founder of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization A Chance to Dance Foundation, owner of Youth Protection Association for Dance, and more!

In our conversation, we chat about pivotal moments in her journey and how she came to discover her passion for developing leaders. We also dive into the topic of her book, One Small Yes: Small Decisions that Lead to Big Results. Misty’s journey is an inspiration and a reminder that the key is taking the next right step as we pursue our calling in life.

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends.

Support the show by joining our Patreon community!

I’m honored to be joined by mentor and friend, Anthony Gurley, for episode 120. Anthony spent thirty years at his alma mater, Guilford College, as the Director of Financial Aid, retiring in 2009. He recently published his first book, Deadly Dilemma: A Memoir. I originally met Anthony through a scholarship and mentorship program he founded called Mo-T-Vation Ministry.

Anthony would describe himself as just an ordinary guy with a story to tell, and I am so grateful that he has recorded his story in his new memoir. In Deadly Dilemma, Anthony unsparingly opens the doors to his journey in the hope that others might find a path to confronting their struggles and failures, and in the process, discover their life-saving answers to that bigger question. Are those moments of victory and success, happiness and joy, and peaks of cherishable memories sufficient in number, scope, magnitude, and frequency to outweigh the valleys of failure, disappointments, fear, and isolation, that often color the landscape of life?

In our conversation we talk about what led Anthony to write Deadly Dilemma, and the power of reflecting on our own stories. Anthony shares the importance of Friends, Choices, and Consequences in life, and why it is critical to find our Anchors. May Anthony’s story encourage you today!

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

We are kicking off December with this fun and rich conversation with my new friend, Gabe Baker! Gabe is a singer/songwriter and cellist who is currently on tour with Grammy-winning group For King + Country. Their “A Drummer Boy” Christmas tour is happening now, and if you happen to be near one of the cities included in the tour - I highly recommend you check it out!

Gabe is a former college football athlete, has worked as as civil engineer and government policy strategist, has appeared on multiple television platforms such as NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior,” Netflix’s “The Ultimate Beastmaster,” & “The Bachelor: Listen To Your Heart”, and is currently living in Nashville and working on a variety of collaborative projects as a musician, singer-songwriter, and storyteller.

I was so inspired hearing Gabe share about how faith has been the through-line in his journey. We cover a range of topics such as identity, community, goal setting, and stewarding a platform with authenticity and purpose.

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

What is the impact of the arts around the world? During this mini-series, we are diving into conversations focused on the global impact of the arts. I am honored to have Keith and Kathy Thibodeaux joining me for part eight of this series! Keith and Kathy are the Founders and Directors of Ballet Magnificat!, an arts organization dedicated to presenting the good news of Jesus Christ to the whole world.

Kathy was born in Memphis, TN, but trained and has lived in Jackson, MS, most of her life. She went on to become one of the first contracted dancers for the Jackson Ballet Company (Ballet Mississippi) under the direction of Thalia Mara, dancing as principal until 1986. In 1982, Kathy was awarded a silver medal for her performance at the II USA International Ballet Competition (IBC), where she premiered her solo piece, “We Shall Behold Him.” Her desire to use her God-given talent of dance to share her faith in Jesus Christ led Kathy to resign from Ballet Mississippi and found her own company, Ballet Magnificat!, in 1986.

Keith is the former child entertainer best known as “Little Ricky” on the I Love Lucy television series and Johnny Paul Jason on The Andy Griffith Show. He was a drummer for the rock band David and the Giants which later became a groundbreaking Christian rock band, with Keith becoming a Christian in 1974. Keith shares about the dramatic life transformation he experienced–from hitting rock bottom to discovering fullness of life in Jesus.

Together, Keith and Kathy have taken steps of faith, trusting God along their adventurous journey! Since founding Ballet Magnificat! in 1986, the organization has grown to include a Trainee Program, a School of the Arts, and most recently Ballet Magnificat! Brazil. I loved hearing about some of the pivotal moments for Keith and Kathy, lessons they’ve learned in leadership, and how God has sustained them over the years. We also chat about the impact of dance across cultures. Get ready to be inspired by their incredible journey of faith!

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

What is the impact of the arts around the world? During this mini-series, we are diving into conversations focused on the global impact of the arts. For part seven of this series, I am so excited to introduce you to Chelsea Dawn! Chelsea serves on the global and regional arts faculty with the University of the Nations for Youth WIth A Mission (YWAM) and hosts the new dance and faith podcast called Dance & The Sacred.

Originally from New Mexico, USA, Chelsea currently lives in San José, Costa Rica, where she has been working to develop the University of the Nations’ undergraduate dance degree program with YWAM. Chelsea has 24 years of experience in choreography and performance, as well as 20 years teaching classes and workshops throughout the USA, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

In our conversation, Chelsea shares about her own eclectic dance journey and how she has seen God open doors time after time. We chat about seasons of change, sensing God’s guidance, and maintaining a posture of gratitude and wonder as artists. I loved hearing Chelsea’s stories of witnessing dance create space for healing, connection, and life transformation!

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!

What is the impact of the arts around the world? During this mini-series, we are diving into conversations focused on the global impact of the arts. I am so grateful for the opportunity to connect with Jeff and Natalie Lewis of Arrows International for part six of this series! Jeff and Natalie Lewis are the Founders and Directors of Arrows International, which is a full time training program and dance company, based in Oklahoma, designed to nurture, disciple, and prepare trained artists to go out as ambassadors of Christ. They train dancers to use their gifts and talents to bring hope, joy, and healing in our cities, states and nations.

Both Jeff and Natalie have a variety of professional experience in dance including television, theatre, concert tours, conventions, international ministry, and more! As pastors, mentors, motivational speakers, choreographers, instructors, and ministers of the gospel, Jeff and Natalie have a heart for pouring into the next generation of artists.

In our conversation, Jeff and Natalie share their incredible journeys and the way that God redeems situations we can’t fully understand to bring healing, life, and beauty. We chat about what it looks like to build for generational impact, how the arts open hearts across cultures, and being faithful to follow through when God says to go. I am so encouraged by their stories of faith and their encouragement that we are in a season of momentum and open doors to bring the hope of the Kingdom of God to all those we encounter. May you be inspired to run with vision in the calling God has on your life!

The full show notes are available on our website https://creativeimpactpodcast.com! You can be sure not to miss a Creative Impact conversation by subscribing through your favorite podcast app. We are so grateful to have you as a part of the Creative Impact community and would love it if you would share the show with your friends!