My guest this week is Clare McCallan. She founded and serves as the Creative Director at St. Joseph’s Home for Artisans, is a touring spoken word poet, and host of the podcast Letters From the Least. She is also the creator and host of The Renaissance Room and co-host of This Is The Day on CatholicTV, where she works as a writer.

I am so excited to have her on the show today to talk about her upcoming book Courage to Create: Unleasing your Artistic Gifts for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, which serves as both a roadmap and an inspiration for young creatives and those who may not yet see themselves as artists. This book dives into how we are all creatives who can unleash our gifts for truth, beauty and goodness for the glory of God.

4:04 – Clare 101

• Author of a new book
• Host and co-host of shows on CatholicTV
• Creative Director at St. Joseph’s Home for Artisans
• Film critic for the National Catholic Reporter and Christian channel

6:11 – Clare’s Creative Journey

• Being heavily involved in politics in college
• Backpacking through Europe and losing a family member
• Leaving politics and volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata
• Discovering and pursuing spoken word poetry

13:58 – The Power of Community

• The importance of community in nurturing creativity
• The challenges and joys of living in a tight-knit community
• Fostering environments where young singles can thrive and feel included

20:51 – Reflections on Courage To Create

• The two groups of people Clare hopes her book speaks to
• Clare’s friend Karina, who integrates creativity into mission work
• Writing a dystopian novel this summer

FEATURED QUOTES

“You look the most like your dad when you act like him. And we serve a creative God. The creator- it's kind of the thing He does.”

“If you were made in the image of the creator, then you're a craftsman.”

“We are all creative. And the moment that you accept that part of your identity, it adds so much richness to your life.”

Learn more about Clare:

http://www.claremccallan.com/#/

Get Your Copy of Courage To Create

https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Create-Unleashing-Artistic-Goodness/dp/164680287X

Clare’s Other Books

http://www.claremccallan.com/buy-my-books.html#/

Letters From the Least Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/letters-from-the-least/id1538807289

Summary
In this conversation, Molly Stillman interviews Claire McCallan, an author and creative director, about her creative journey and the intersection of faith and creativity. They discuss the importance of community in nurturing creativity and serving the Lord as an artist. Claire shares stories of artists and creatives she has worked with, including a friend who operates shelters for pregnant women on both sides of the border. Claire also talks about her book, Courage to Create, which encourages young creatives to step into their creativity and shows that everyone is creative in their own way.

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About Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder?

Can I Laugh On Your Shoulder? Podcast is a weekly podcast where we have honest conversations about faith, business, life, and everything in between. Hosted by speaker and author, Molly Stillman, her mission is to make you laugh, cry, and laugh till you cry. She wants to create a community of people who are unafraid to be themselves and have honest conversations about the things that matter most. Her vision is to create a safe space for people to explore their faith and share their stories and gifts with the world.

Keywords
faith, creativity, community, artists, shelters, book

Takeaways
Creativity is a part of everyone's identity as they are made in the image of the Creator.
Community plays a vital role in nurturing creativity and serving the Lord as an artist.
The intersection of faith and creativity can have a powerful impact on culture and the world.
Even small acts of creativity in everyday life, like cooking a meal, can bring richness and beauty.
There is a need for more community and support for adult singles, who often feel left out by the church.
Writing a book or pursuing a creative project takes a lot of work and effort, but it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.
Sharing stories and experiences of artists and creatives can inspire and encourage others to step into their own creativity.