Send us a text

What does it mean to live creatively not just make art? And what happens when you lose touch with that part of yourself?

In this deeply honest episode, Sheran Ranasinghe sits down with Joel Negus -composer, producer, double bassist, and co-founder of Cleveland Scoring to explore the tension between creativity, faith, and identity.

Raised in a home where music was as natural as breathing, Joel’s creativity once flowed freely. But as he grew older, the joy turned to pressure. Expectations, career, and leadership began to blur the lines between who he was and what he did. After years of performing, pastoring, and building, he found himself asking a haunting question:
“Am I still a creative… or have I lost that part of me?”

What followed was a journey through doubt, burnout, and rediscovery — a story of remembering that creativity isn’t just a skill, it’s a way of being.

🌿 In This Conversation

• Growing up surrounded by musicians and early expectations
• The cost of creative pressure and identity collapse
• Why imagination and healing are deeply human instincts
• Rediscovering creative freedom through analog sound and play
• The power of community and relationships in creative growth
• How The Heights Theater became a home for faith and art
• What it means to live creatively, not just create things

Joel reminds us that creativity can’t be severed from relationships. It’s how we connect, process, and heal. Through his own journey from punk bands to church leadership to film scoring, he’s learned that integration is the real art form.

Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone quietly wondering where your creative spark went, this conversation will speak to the parts of you that still want to dream, build, and become whole again.

✨ Go Deeper - Free Creative Guide: “From Stuck to Spark”

Feeling lost, blocked, or unsure of your next step?
This free companion guide (inspired by Joel’s story) helps you reconnect with your creativity through simple, visual reflection prompts.

Inside, you’ll:
1️⃣ Start with the Middle — Express how you feel right now using colors, words, or sketches.
2️⃣ Remember the Sparks — Reconnect with what used to make you come alive.
3️⃣ Dream a Little — Imagine what “unstuck” could look like.
4️⃣ Write It Down — Make a small creative promise to yourself.

It’s gentle, soulful, and designed for anyone ready to begin again.
👉 Download your free copy here: https://stan.store/TheCreativeOdysseyPodcast

🪶 Guest: Joel Negus

🎵 Composer | Producer | CEO of Cleveland Scoring | Pastor at City Church Cleveland
🎓 Cleveland Institute of Music graduate
💡 Known for bridging faith, art, and human connection through music

Follow Joel → @joelnegus
Connect on LinkedIn → Joel Negus

🌊 Connect with Us

Instagram → @thecreativeodysseypodcast
Email → thecreativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com

When you feel stuck, The Creative Odyssey Podcast gives you space to reflect, create, and heal. Hosted by Sheran Ranasinghe, it’s where honest stories meet creative renewal - reminding you that your voice was never lost… just waiting to be found again.

Support the show

Send us a text

What if creativity wasn’t just about talent — but about embracing all of who you are?

In this episode of The Creative Odyssey Podcast, we’re joined by Shaun Sri Lanka (@shaunsrilanka), co-founder of Not Another Agency (@naa.srilanka) and the visionary behind Paraiso SBKZ (@paraiso.sbkz) - the first international dance festival in Sri Lanka.

Shaun shares his inspiring journey from being a quiet, introverted painter to becoming a creative strategist, agency builder, and dance mentor. Through his work in human rights, storytelling, and movement, Shaun shows us how creativity becomes the bridge between logic and soul, pain and purpose.

This conversation is a powerful invitation to embrace your true self, especially if you've ever struggled to choose between passions or felt disconnected from your identity.

🌱 In this episode, we explore:

• Blending discipline and spontaneity in creative work
• Using dance as a tool for healing, self-acceptance, and growth
• Building a purpose-driven creative agency in Sri Lanka
• What it means to carry your culture and community with you
• The difference between being seen — and choosing to show up fully

✨ Comment or DM us the word "Embrace" to get this week’s free companion guide: The Embrace Blueprint - including creative prompts and reflections inspired by Shaun’s story.

🎧 Subscribe and follow for more conversations with artists, changemakers, and everyday creatives redefining what it means to live with purpose.

—

📍 Learn more about Shaun’s work:
@shaunsrilanka
@naa.srilanka
@paraiso.sbkz

📬 Connect with the show:
Instagram: @thecreativeodysseypodcast
Email: thecreativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com

#Creativity #SelfGrowth #Dance #SriLanka #CreativeAgency #Identity #HealingThroughArt #TheCreativeOdyssey

Support the show

Send us a text

What if success has less to do with your qualifications -and everything to do with how much heart you bring when things get hard?

In this episode, Arshad Ameer, Co-Founder of FlashHealth, shares his story of resilience, curiosity, and building something meaningful in the middle of uncertainty. From global boardrooms to the startup trenches of Sri Lanka, Arshad opens up about what it takes to stay grounded, lead with creativity, and move forward even when the path isn’t clear.

This isn’t a story is a reminder that creativity and grit go hand in hand.

If you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, or like you’ve lost your spark, this conversation will remind you: your creativity isn’t gone. It’s waiting to be reignited.

In this episode, we explore:

Why grit often matters more than credentials

How to lead with creativity when things get messy

The link between purpose, faith, and resilience

Why staying curious might be your greatest advantage

Go deeper:
Get the free Creative Guide inspired by this episode -The Resilience Draft.
Includes:

2 gentle journal prompts on purpose and resilience

1 creative exercise to process your journey

A short takeaway to ground your next step

👉 Download it here: https://stan.store/TheCreativeOdysseyPodcast

Connect with us:
Instagram: @thecreativeodysseypodcast

Email: thecreativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com

Follow The Creative Odyssey Podcast for honest, soulful conversations about creativity, identity, and the courage to begin again.

Guest: Arshad Ameer
Entrepreneur | Visionary | Co-Founder of FlashHealth
Follow him on Instagram: @m.arshadameer

Support the show