In this episode, I’ve invited three women on the show who also happen to be my dear friends — they don’t know each other, but I’ve known them for decades. And in this past year, I’ve watched each of them explode with creativity. Carolyn Blank Cary published a cookbook, which became a mini memoir; Beth Huddleston developed an app introducing infants and toddlers to the sounds of languages and music from around the world; and Amy Meyers pivoted from a lifetime of executive recruiting and political consulting and started her own business, Mrs. Meyer’s Etiquette.

All of these women are over 60, which on its own is inspirational. But more importantly, they’re using their creativity for connection — to create a world where people are kinder to one another, understand one another, and break bread with one another.

Takeaways:

• your childhood interests will likely turn out to be your adult passions
• no one will have as much excitement for your project as you do, so take ownership of it if you want it done well
• you may feel overwhelmed pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, but you’ll also feel alive
• and either go big or go home.

Resources:

• Follow Carolyn Blank Cary on Instagram @cbc233 or at @carolyncooksandsocanyou -- DM her if you'd like a copy of her cookbook!
  
• Learn more about Beth Huddeston and download her firstSounds app at firstSounds.com
  
• And discover Amy Meyers and her services at mrsmeyersetiquette.com.
  

Vince Gill is a music icon, winning armloads of awards over his 50-year musical career, including 22 Grammys, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 18 CMA awards. He’s collaborated with every possible country music great like Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, but also music legends in other genres like Sting and Barbra Streisand. Along with his unforgettable tenor voice, Vince is an extraordinary guitar player, and has shared the stage with guitar legends like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, B. B. King, and Carlos Santana. He’s been playing with his good pal Joe Walsh and the Eagles for the past nine years, stepping in for the late Glenn Frey. But I asked Vince to be on the show because he continues to make courageous choices not only for his career but also for all of us, using his music to make the world a better place.

At 68, Vince believes he’s making the best music of his career. No matter where you are in your artistic journey, you will leave this conversation inspired.

Takeaways:

• Growth comes from stepping out of your comfort zone — something Vince continues to do
• The sure thing is not necessarily the right thing
• Don’t ever be the best musician in the band
• Stand by your beliefs even if everyone else is going in a different direction
• Success is not defined by charts or sales, but by respect from peers; and
• Kindness could solve every problem we have

Resources

Learn more about Vince and check out his tour schedule here.

Follow him on instagram @vincegillofficial.

Watch Vince perform:

• March On
• Go Rest High on That Mountain with Patty Loveless
• Every Breath You Take with Sting

See his vintage guitar collection here.

Find out more about Vince's friend Keb' Mo', an award-winning blues musician.

Learn more about The Sphere and go see Vince play with the Eagles!

And listen to Amy and Vince’s daughter Corrina sing her song Too Much.

Devin Finigan, chef owner of Aragosta at Goose Cove in Maine, is an award-winning chef who never attended culinary school. In our conversation, she shares her unconventional journey into the culinary world, highlighting her passion for cooking, the artistic process behind plating a dish, and the importance of mentorship and travel in her growth as a chef. With unmatched enthusiasm, she discusses the challenges and lessons learned from opening her first restaurant, the importance of nature and seasonal ingredients in her cooking, and her determination to create a unique dining experience. Frankly, Devin could have written the No Time to be Timid Manifesto herself. Prepare to be inspired!

Take Aways

• Persistence is key in pursuing your dreams.
• Community support can make a significant difference.
• Courage is needed to embrace change and growth.
• The journey of entrepreneurship is filled with learning opportunities.
• Dreaming big can lead to unexpected adventures.

Resources

• Learn more about Chef Finigan and Aragosta at Goose Cove here.
  
• Follow them on instagram.
  

And other resources of note:

• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
  
• Eliot Coleman of Four Season Farm
  
• Dan Barber, Stone Barns
  
• Thomas Keller, Per Se

Shannon Cason is a master storyteller -- seen on Snap Judgment, TEDx, and The Moth stages to name a few -- and is the host of the podcast Homemade Stories. In his words, he's also a late bloomer, and with his trademark wit, wisdom, and incredible sense of timing, he shares how the right perspective can turn life's rough patches into life-changing art.

Check out Shannon's website.

Watch his story Late Bloomer.

Don't miss My Father's Camera.

Learn from his TEDx talk.

And subscribe to his podcast Homemade Stories.

Starting Over with a Creative Life featuring Nell Painter

In this episode, we talk to the renowned historian and bestselling author Nell Painter, who left her wildly successful academic career to enter art school at the age of 65 — an experience she documented in her book, Old in Art School, A Memoir of Starting Over, which was named a National Book Critics Circle finalist. We talk about working with constraints, overcoming unfair criticism, healthy creative addictions like yarn and ink, and we even talk about the role of women without children. At 82, Nell shows no signs of slowing down. It’s an episode you don’t want to miss.

Takeaways:

• Age should never be a barrier to creativity.
• Role models can play a big part in your creative journey, especially for women.
• You shouldn’t listen to other people's views of yourself; it’s what you think about yourself that matters.
• Constraints are opportunities, which is a big part of the No Time to be Timid manifesto.

Resources:

Check out Nell’s website.

Follow her on instagram @nellpainter.

Depending on where you were in 2018, you may or may not remember former Nashville mayor Megan Barry’s story. The Washington Post’s headline said, “Megan Barry Resigns as Nashville Mayor, Weeks After Admitting Affair with the Security Chief” and The New York Times declared, “Megan Barry, Nashville Mayor, Pleads Guilty to Theft and Agrees to Resign.” It was a monumental lapse in judgment that played out on the national stage. Before this public reckoning and while she was still in office, Megan lost her only child Max to a drug overdose. So in one year, she lost two of the things she loved the most — her beloved son and her job as the mayor of Nashville. Grief, shame, and resentment nearly destroyed her marriage. But she found her way back with humility, hope, and a fantastic sense of humor. We talk about how writing her memoir “It’s What You Do Next” helped her process her trauma and heal, and the transformative power of creativity.

Takeaways

• Creativity can help you deal with grief and trauma in a healthy way.
• Writing can be a transformative experience.
• Surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do is the best way to learn.
• Deadlines can be helpful tools to complete your work.
• Grief can be absurd, and humor can help you navigate it; and lastly,
• Creativity is an act of service.

Resources

Learn more about Megan here. Buy her book!

Follow her on instagram @mayormeganbarry.

We all first met Kim as the glowing young bride in the movie “Father of the Bride” with Steve Martin. She’s acted ever since, adding NYTimes bestselling author to her credits with her book “Where The Light Gets In," which chronicles her mother’s battle with dementia. In this episode, we dive into Kim’s own health struggle — losing her voice for nearly two years, an experience that Kim says saved her life. We talk about staying resilient, finding the good in the bad, and tripping on psychedelic mushrooms — a first for this podcast!

Takeaways

• Taking risks in one area of your life can open up opportunities in others.
• If you know your own self-worth, you'll get through the low periods.
• Find out the interesting takeaways from every experience, good or bad.
• Always be open to alternative paths for creativity and healing.

Resources

Learn more about Kim here.

Check out The Moth and tell your own story.

Explore The Store and donate if you can!

And some more worthwhile causes to check out:

• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
  
• Alzheimer’s Association
  
• Porter’s Call

We’re launching Season Four this Thursday! To kick it off, I share the unforeseen complications that happened on the way to NYC to celebrate our Signal Award win. Exploding transformers, train trauma bonding, shouting expletives in a public setting, free peanut M&Ms, the love of friends, and the kindness of strangers all make an appearance. As always, what we don’t expect often leads to the most memorable stories!