Creative Genius

Ep. 99 - On Grief, Rest, and Creative Return

Creative Genius

Show Notes

After a long and necessary silence, Kate is back - and she comes bearing something real.

In this tender welcome-back episode, Kate shares honestly about the months she spent unable to show up: the depression, the grief, the days she couldn't get out of bed, and the slow, quiet process of finding her way back to herself and to this work. She reflects on what it means to be a guide for others when you've temporarily lost your own footing — and why trusting the wisdom of stopping was, in fact, the most important creative act of all.

But this episode isn't just about the dark. Kate also shares the luminous knowing that's been growing in her even through the silence, a bone-deep sense that what we're living through right now, as painful and terrifying as it is, is nothing less than the birth of a new humanity. The ancient, tarry weight of old ways is rising to the surface to be burned away. And we - all of us, together - are the ones bringing something more beautiful into being.

She talks about the unexpected conversations she's been having at her jewelry kiosk at Granville Island, the messages from listeners that finally tugged her back, and what this next chapter of the podcast might hold.

This is a short episode. An outstretched hand. A hello. And an invitation to walk forward together.

In this episode:

Why Kate went quiet - and why she had to

The physical weight of depression and what it asked of her

What she's been witnessing in her daily conversations with people from around the world

The knowing underneath the fear: why she believes we are living through the birth of something magnificent

What's coming next for the Creative Genius Podcast

Mentioned:

Meredith Hite Estevez — Artists for Joy podcast

Tracy Mazuer — Trees Have Feelings, and her book about Ravina the Raven

Kate's jewelry and artwork at Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver

If this episode moved you, please share it with someone who needs it right now. One quiet recommendation can be the spark someone else has been waiting for.

More from Creative Genius

Oct 24, 2025

What happens when grief, loss, and uncertainty open a doorway back to creativity? In this soulful episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, host Kate Shepherd speaks with artist and author Jaime Townzen about how watercolor became her lifeline during a dark time, and how following her spark led her to write and publish her debut novel Absorbed. Together they explore creativity as healing, intuition as guidance, the courage to embrace being an artist, and how art helps us through times of crisis.

Sep 12, 2025

What if your nervous system—the very force that protects you—was also the key to unlocking your creativity, joy, and deeper self-connection? In this profound and heartfelt conversation, Kate sits down with emotional healing specialist and nervous system guide Natalie (NatNat) Bédard of LiftOneSelf. Together, they explore how our nervous systems shape our experiences, how integrating soul and humanity allows us to embrace the full spectrum of being alive, and why vulnerability is at the heart of creative expression.

Jul 18, 2025

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast (the finale for Season 4!) Kate sits down with Albert Bramante — talent agent, psychologist, and author — to explore why so many creatives hold themselves back, how to reframe rejection, why fear isn’t the enemy, and how to trust yourself enough to rewrite your own script.

Jul 4, 2025

What if the collapse of old systems — the patriarchy, relentless productivity, and hollow doing — is really the birth pangs of something necessary and beautiful? In this conversation, I sit down with Leo Marrs, a writer, creative strategist, experience designer, and the author of the upcoming The New Creator: Rise of the Mindful Artist in the New Meaning Economy.

Jun 6, 2025

In this episode of The Creative Genius Podcast, I talk with designer, writer, and thinker Ben Rennie, author of a new book that explores the transformative power of curiosity and creativity. Together, we unpack the dynamic relationship between curiosity, creativity, and confidence, and how this path can guide us to overcome fear and step more fully into our potential. Ben shares his personal story—sparked by a promise to his late mother—that led him to examine how people find themselves in powerful, unexpected places.

See all episodes →