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Navigating life’s storms with art therapy

Create with Franz

Release Date: 08/24/2025

Finding inner peace at Christmas show art Finding inner peace at Christmas

Create with Franz

The Christmas season is meant to be a time of peace and joy, but for many, it's a season of stress, conflict, and heartache. Are you worried about an impending divorce, family disputes, blended family friction, or the strain of unemployment, depression, or abuse? You are not alone. In this special holiday episode, I discuss this rather prickly issue with Clive Twain, an offshore helicopter captain in the UK. A lifetime friend, committed Christian, and author of the highly-praised book, Grace for Grace, Clive lives in the UK with his wife and daughters. Over an hour or so, he shares powerful,...

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Pause, Pray, Plan: Finding True Peace show art Pause, Pray, Plan: Finding True Peace

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Do you believe peace is possible when chaos is everywhere? Are you caught in the exhaustion of trying to control everything, leading to spiritual drift and burnout? In this episode, we reveal that peace is not a reward; it is a spiritual choice that results in stability.  I had a chat with Rev. Dr. A'Shellarien Addison, the first woman Chaplain in the 240-year history of the Delaware Army National Guard, a spiritual clinical trauma-informed practitioner, and author. Dr. Addison shares her personal journey of nearly losing her peace while juggling high-pressure leadership and family life....

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The Hustle Trap: 3 Skills to Reverse Overworking and Underliving show art The Hustle Trap: 3 Skills to Reverse Overworking and Underliving

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Are you overworking and underliving? This episode is for the high achiever, the executive, and the entrepreneur who is ready to reach their next level without the hustle and grind. I speak with Dawn Ledet, The Self-Trust Coach, about her personal journey from executive burnout to becoming a self-trust expert. Dawn shares the moment she hit a wall—even selling her car in a desperate attempt to force herself to stop overworking—and how that battle became a beautiful window into deeper faith. Dawn breaks down the myth that hustle is your greatest strategic advantage and shows you how...

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God inspired me to rewrite my cancer story show art God inspired me to rewrite my cancer story

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What happens when your deepest crisis becomes your greatest spiritual awakening? In this powerful conversation, Siobhan Shaw shares a profound, life-altering testimony about her journey through a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. She reveals how this crisis led her into a life of unmistakable divine whispers and supernatural direction that guided her medical and life choices. Siobhan discusses the simple, yet radical, truth that transformed her: when God asks you to rewrite your story, you must pick up the pen. This episode is a raw, beautiful look at what it means to live in a constant state of God's...

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The Invisible Grief: When Pain Has No Name show art The Invisible Grief: When Pain Has No Name

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Grief isn't always about loss of life—it can be about the loss of the life you imagined. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Katy Parker, a trauma-informed grief and loss coach and the compassionate force behind the Journeyofsmiley blog. Katy opens up about her personal journey as a trauma survivor and chronic pain warrior, explaining why many of us don't even realize we are carrying invisible grief. She defines this unacknowledged pain—the loss of health, innocence, safety, or time—and how it quietly controls our lives. You'll learn the vital first step to healing: admitting the...

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I found my true North - my call to serve show art I found my true North - my call to serve

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What does it take to turn a life of struggle into one of purpose? In this episode, we have a heart-to-heart with Caroline Gutierrez, a rising nursing student whose journey is a powerful testament to the healing power of faith. From overcoming ADHD and substance abuse to discovering her true calling, Caroline shares how her Catholic faith provided a foundation for sobriety and a path toward serving others. We'll explore her transformative experience volunteering with the Christian non-profit Mercy Ships in Madagascar, and how her time on a hospital ship brought her personal story of resilience...

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Love-centered healing from bullying show art Love-centered healing from bullying

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In this episode, we're joined by Tom Dahlborg, a seasoned healthcare leader, author, and mental health advocate. Drawing from his extensive experience and his family's personal journey with a suicide attempt, Tom shares his unique, faith-centered approach to addressing bullying and childhood trauma. The conversation will focus on understanding the root causes and consequences of bullying (including Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs), and then explore actionable, love-centered strategies for healing. Tom will introduce his core principles of "love in action," "heart-and-mind...

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Why Self-Care Is a Revolutionary Act show art Why Self-Care Is a Revolutionary Act

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Why Self-Care Is a Revolutionary Act In a world that seems to want us sick and tired, how can we heal from the pressure, trauma and tiredness affliction millions? In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Joi Lewis, a leading voice for healing justice, author, and CEO of Joi Unlimited. Dr. Joi shares her revolutionary approach to reclaiming joy and peace through radical self-care—not as an indulgence, but as a deeply spiritual act of self-preservation. You will learn that just as trauma is passed down through generations, so is our ancestral resilience. Dr. Joi reveals how to tap into this...

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Why Christian Exhaustion Is Not God's Design show art Why Christian Exhaustion Is Not God's Design

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In a world that celebrates hustle and overwork, many Christians are exhausted, feeling like they're constantly running on empty trying to be perfect. In this episode, we're joined by Valerie Adjorlolo, a nurse and a champion for Christian femininity, who is on a mission to redefine rest. Valerie shares with us her personal journey from a culture of burnout and overwork to a life of spiritual freedom. By exploring biblical foundations from Genesis to the story of Elijah, she reveals why rest is not a reward for a job well done, but a sacred invitation from God to release control. You will learn...

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The Fingerprint of God in the Creation show art The Fingerprint of God in the Creation

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I am excited to share with you my conversation with Melody Morton, a movement specialist specialized in Pilates, who found a path from loss to purpose. How? Like many of you, Melody discovered "The Fingerprint of God" in the world around her. In our chat, she shares her deeply personal story of navigating divorce and the near-collapse of her business during the pandemic. In that season of ruin, she reached for a faith she hadn't grown up with—and in return, she found her anchor. My hope is that you can find it too. Beyond her own powerful testimony, Melody explains how science, physics, and...

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More Episodes

My new episode features Adriana Marchione, a celebrated movement-based expressive arts therapist and educator. The discussion is for anyone grappling with deep feelings of sadness, despair, or grief, whether due to personal loss, health issues, or general life struggles. 

We will challenge the common reactions of sinking into depression or numbing pain with substances, suggesting a zero-cost alternative: nature and art therapy.

Adriana shares her powerful personal story of overcoming addiction and the profound grief of losing both her husband and father. She explains how she used accessible tools like dance, music, and a deeper connection to nature and others to navigate isolation and hopelessness. This conversation will give you practical, actionable ideas you can start using today to work through your own pain. To learn more on how creative outlets can be a path to healing, check her out by clicking on the links below.

Video link: https://youtu.be/MAB6lxc-Y_M

Adriana’s Website: www.art-cures.com

 

Adriana’s Film about Art and Grief, ‘When the Fall Comes’, Watch for Free: https://art-cures.com/grief-film/ and film website: www.whenthefallcomes.com 

 

Adriana's Film about Art and Addiction/Recovery, 'The Creative High’, www.thecreativehigh.com 

Adriana's Free 10 Day Creative Gratitude Practice: https://art-cures.com/creativegratitudepractice/

Adriana’s Website: www.art-cures.com

 

Topics covered: grief help, dealing with loss, how to cope with grief, healing from grief, despair and hopelessness, emotional healing, art therapy for grief, expressive arts, creative healing, healing with nature, overcoming sadness, mental health tools

 

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Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided.

 

 

Follow me and my art journey here: https://substack.com/@franzsidney

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