The Creative Calling

How to Find Beauty within Failure, With Brandon Brown

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0600

How do you deal with failure?
How do you overcome the fear of failure?
What does God think of my failures?

Whether you realize it or not, dealing with failure is ever-present in our lives. From past failures to current reactions to failure all the way fear over future failures, as creatives, we spend our days working through this reality.

In this episode, Brandon Brown, Founder and Creative Director of Plottwist Creative, joins me for a deep dive into the biting and beautiful realities that accompany failure.

We look at what causes us to fear failure, how to handle it once it's upon us, and how Jesus' example provides us with hope.d

Faithfulness in a Top-Tier Ad Agency, with Tuan Huynh

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 01:00:00 -0600

Working at a top-tier ad agency sounds like a dream job for many – making creative for household name brands and rubbing shoulders with some of the best creative talent in the world. Livin' the dream, right?

But with such a large workplace comes with its own set of challenges and questions for the Christian creative.

How can I be a witness in such a large, secular workplace? What do I do if I'm assigned a client that produces a product I have a moral objection to? How can I use my opportunity and access to an elite company to love my neighbors?

In today's episode, we hear from Tuan Huynh, a Senior Art Director at Leo Burnett. He shares with us the ways he's using his faith as a lens for how he relates to his colleagues and his client work. Tune in to hear Tuan's story and fresh insight into how God may be wanting to use you in your workplace.

View Full Show Notes -->

Worshiping God Through Your Work, with Corry Wiens

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

If you’re a missionary going to the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus, it may be easy to view your life as a life full of worship.

But what if you are making an advertisement for a massive corporation? Would you say that is a worshipful, God-honoring experience?

Director and editor Corry Wiens shares how he views all of his creative life as worship to God. How he generates ideas, how he treats collaborators, how he dreams about his future goals – all places where Corry is seeking to honor God.

If you’re struggling to find significance in your day-to-day as a creative, this episode will help you reenvision your work and its divine significance.

You’ll hear about:

Honoring God in both non-profit and for-profit client work
Depending on God for your creativity
Caring for others in your creative process
Does making great work require you to be a bully?
Setting your dreams before God in prayer

Find Full Shownotes here -->

Storytelling with Honesty and Hope, with Kate Schmidgall

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 00:00:00 -0600

How does your storytelling further God’s mission to restore the world?

Kate Schmidgall articulates her conviction that storytelling should bring people to life. Through Bittersweet Monthly, she and her team creatives tell stories that aim to find light in dark places. Their goal is to create a counter-narrative.

Listen in and hear how your artistic imagination plays a critical role to bearing witness to God’s work to the world around you.

You’ll hear about:

The role creatives play in offering an alternative imagination
The failures of the mainstream media’s stories
The connection between listening and storytelling
Fighting the temptation to not tie a bow on everything
How to become a better writer by becoming a better “seeker”

Find full show notes here ->

Empowering Others With Your Craft and Resources, with David Johnson

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0600

As a creative, you are gifted with unique skills and talents. As a Christian, you are called to look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others (Phil 2:4).

Professional photographer and founder of True Chicago, David Johnson shares with us how he uses his creative talents and resources to impact the under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago.

As our country continues to reckon with its racial and economic injustices, it begs the question, "What role do I have to play as a creative?" This episode will help you imagine what it might look like for you to help provide dignity and promote justice in your community.

You'll also hear about:

Revealing the beauty of others through visual storytelling
The power of believing and investing in newer, younger creatives
Counting the cost in creating opportunity and seeking justice
The difference between pity and concern for the hurting and marginalized
Creatively speaking truth in commercial work that deals with racial injustice
The myth of "painless advocacy"

Show notes can be found at www.thecreativecalling.com/podcast/empowering-others-with-your-craft-and-resources-david-johnson

Creatively Communicating the Word of God, with Esteban Shedd

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 01:00:00 -0600

How can you use your creative gifts to communicate the word of God? Esteban Shedd shares the ways he has navigated this question as a musician and as the Executive and Creative Director of Streetlights Bible. He gives us a look into how he crafts his music with a message in mind for a specific audience.

Things we cover in our conversation:

Implicit vs Explicit biblical messages in your projects
The scriptures influencing the content, style, and depth of songwriting
Creating art for a specific, local community
Loving people through your process of creating

Shownotes can be found at www.thecreativecalling.com/podcast/how-to-creatively-communicate-the-gospel-esteban-shedd

Introduction | What, Who and Why

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 16:00:00 -0600

In this episode, I share the foundational ideas that we’ll explore together in this podcast. You’ll hear how my personal story fuels my passion to help other creatives integrate their walk with Jesus into their creative work and careers.

Shownotes can be found at www.thecreativecalling.com/podcast/introduction-what-who-and-why