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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.

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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

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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

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From Math Professor to Songwriter: The Untold Story of Sri Lanka’s Creative Genius

What happens when a Sri Lankan math professor reveals he’s also a songwriter and poet? In this inspiring episode, we dive deep into the life of a man who defied expectations, blending logic and creativity to break cultural stereotypes.

Discover how he went from struggling student to respected academic, and how his passion for music and writing became a powerful outlet for self-expression and healing. We explore the pressures of growing up in Sri Lanka, the pivotal moments that shaped his journey, and why he believes everyone—yes, even you—has creativity within.

Whether you’re a student, a creative, or someone searching for purpose, this episode will challenge your assumptions and ignite your curiosity. Tune in for a conversation about overcoming failure, embracing your unique path, and unlocking the creative genius inside us all.

Keywords: Sri Lankan math professor, songwriter, creativity, overcoming failure, inspiring stories, podcast, cultural stereotypes, personal growth, creative journey, academic success

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Are you feeling stuck, burned out, or just going through the motions? In this episode, I share my raw, personal story of hitting rock bottom as an executive chef—and how creativity, art, and play helped me find hope and purpose again.
You’ll hear about:
The warning signs of burnout and depression
The panic attack that changed everything
How small creative acts like Play-Doh, music, and art can help you heal
Why creativity is for everyone—not just artists
A challenge to help you rediscover your own creative spark
If you’re searching for inspiration, motivation, or a way out of feeling stuck, this story is for you.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction & rock bottom moment
02:00 – Burnout & expectations
05:00 – Signs of depression
07:00 – The panic attack
09:00 – Creative healing
13:00 – Advice for listeners
14:30 – Creative challenge
Connect with me:
Instagram: @creativeodysseypodcast
Email: creativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com
If this story resonates, please like, comment, and share with someone who needs hope today.
Subscribe for more stories about creativity, mental health, and personal growth!

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What happens when the thing you built with someone you admire… no longer feels aligned?

In this deeply honest episode, I share the story behind one of the hardest creative decisions I’ve ever made: telling my podcast co-host I needed to go solo. Not because of conflict. Not because of ego. But because of a whisper I could no longer ignore.

We’ll talk about:

• 🎧 Why I stepped away from a creative partnership that was working
• 🧠 The power (and pain) of being multipassionate
• 🔥 How community helped me transform chaos into courage
• 💡 The exact 4-step Creative Courage Framework I now use to make bold moves

Whether you’re a storyteller, content creator, or just someone trying to follow your curiosity — this one’s for you.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you were and who you’re becoming… this episode will meet you there.

🔔 Subscribe and leave a review — it helps this podcast reach more creatives just like you.
📩 Want to share your story or get in touch? DM me on Instagram @sheranstories or email thecreativeodysseypodcast@gmail.com

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What does it mean to choose the creative path—again and again—when it doesn’t promise stability, clarity, or even recognition?

In this episode of The Creative Odyssey, we’re joined by two storytellers from vastly different disciplines but deeply connected by purpose: Mason Bufkin, an author and educator who writes character-driven fiction for young adults, and Sunami Rodriguez, a Colombian-born actress whose art became her lifeline through immigration, motherhood, and self-discovery.

Together, we explore:

• How childhood, culture, and family influence creative identity
• The breaking points that almost made them quit—and what pulled them back
• Writing and acting as tools for empathy and healing
• What it really means to "help a character speak"
• The hidden emotional labor of storytelling
• Rejection, burnout, perfectionism—and how they’ve learned to move through them

Sunami shares how acting saved her at a time when she felt most lost. Mason opens up about rejection letters, abandoned manuscripts, and what kept him writing. Through honest, unscripted reflection, this conversation reminds us that creativity isn’t about the spotlight—it’s about staying connected to who you are, and daring to shape the world through your voice.

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube for full visual experience
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in
📥 Download our free listener resources below to support your own creative odyssey

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What if you stopped waiting for permission—and just started building?

In this episode of The Creative Odyssey Podcast, we sit down with Charles and Kyra, the creative powerhouse behind Breakthrough Sounds, one of Cleveland’s rising creative hubs. Their story is anything but typical—no funding, no fancy connections, just $3,000, prayer, and pure grit.

Charles shares how bombing a rap show pushed him to reinvent himself—and how he turned that moment into fuel for something bigger. Kyra opens up about walking away from a “safe” career in computer science to pursue graphic design, trusting the path before she could fully see it.

We get into:

•The messy truth about starting from scratch

•The myth of “natural talent” and why creativity is for everyone

•How to build a creative career withouta million-dollar budget

•Navigating the real-life dynamic of growing together as a couple and collaborators

•And what it means to be part of Cleveland’s creative renaissance

Whether you’re stuck in your own head or sitting on an idea you’re scared to start—this one will light a fire under you.

Start where you are. Build what you can. Stop waiting for perfect.

🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube for full visual experience

00:00 Intro

03:00 Charles’ first rap performance (3rd grade!)

10:50 Kyra’s leap from computer science to design

26:40 The creative shift happening in Cleveland

34:00 The $3,000 studio story

44:30 Creativity + relationships: how they make it work

51:20 A message to creatives who are scared to start

Let’s keep creating:

Follow us on IG →[@Thecreativeodysseypodcast]

Kyra wells [@Kyrajwells]

Charles Pratt[@toobefresco]

Listen + subscribe for more creative stories that don’t skip the real parts.

If this episode hits home, leave a review or share it with a fellow creative.

It helps more dreamers find their people.

#CreativePodcast #BreakthroughSounds #StartBeforeYoureReady #CreativeProcess #DIYCreatives #ClevelandCreatives #CreativeCouples #CreativeJourney #BuildWithoutPermission #EntrepreneurshipForCreatives

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