The Creative Pulse podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 142: Heidi Pitre - Library Card Art Project, Painter and Illustrator Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Heidi Pitre is an illustrator and painter who says she’s here to tell you a story, but only part of it. She likes to leave a viewer hanging at the precise moment something extraordinary is about to happen so they can complete the story with their own ideas. Heidi grew up in New Orleans and says her paintings examine the South and its people in all their peculiar wonder.
Heidi’s series, A Permanent Record, has her illustrating library book checkout cards that are no longer being used by libraries. They are tangible links to the past that instantly connect you to a story, to people and to a place.
She’s won multiple awards for her work, has been an artist-in-residence several times, and has shown her work in solo and group art exhibitions.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Heidi about her library checkout card art project, how she roots the subjects of her paintings so strongly in place and culture, and how art residencies have fueled her creative growth.
Say hi to Heidi:
Website - heidipitre.com
Instagram - @heidipitreart and @apermanentrecord
Facebook - /HeidiPitreArt
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 141: Adam McNamara - Nature-Inspired Wood Sculptor Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Adam McNamara is a self-taught wood sculptor who's known for his innovative approach to wood carving, drawing inspiration from the natural world and modern design elements. He is able to create realistic detail in his pieces, accurately reflecting local ecosystems and the hidden treasures found within them.
Adam was inspired to explore wood carving only a few years ago, when a neighbour gifted him a piece of wood. He pushes boundaries in his creative journey, with each art piece serving as an opportunity to discover new techniques and practices that contribute to the evolution of his wood art.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Adam about what sparked his creative passion for wood sculpting, how nature provides continual inspiration, the collaboration he’s working on with fellow artist and friend of the podcast Phillip Bailey (hear from him on episode #77), and his commitment to sustainability in his work.
Say hi to Adam:
Website: admack.ca
Instagram: @adammackwoodart
TikTok: @adammackwoodart
Facebook: /acadianmushrooms
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 140: Adelynn Torchia - Hand-Drawn Stop Motion Animations Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Adelynn Torchia creates hand-drawn stop motion animations that surprise and delight, not only because of how fantastic they are, but because of how she makes them. She has developed her own method for using a single page to draw, erase and re-draw the many, many stages of movement required to make an entertaining stop motion animation.
In addition to making her own artworks, she’s also an art teacher, teaching people new ways of finding and expressing their thoughts and ideas using their own creativity.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Adelynn about how she developed the skills needed for her signature style, her creative process when making a new stop motion animation, the global community she’s building online, and how teaching art to others impacts her own creativity.
Say hi to Adelynn:
Instagram - @adelynnroseart
TikTok - @adelynnrose19
YouTube - @adelynnroseart
Show mentions:
Adelynn’s popular behind the scenes video: Instagram TikTok
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 139: Beck Rivera - Book Folding Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

Beck Rivera makes folded book art, folding paper in such a precise way that an image emerges from within a book’s pages. Each book is hand made and completely unique.

He’s created books that showcase images such as the Mona Lisa, William Shakespeare, a night sky over mountains, a bee, a whale, a tennis racquet and ball, chess pieces, a sailboat, and more. He also makes custom designs, patterns, tutorials and does demonstrations related to the art.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Beck about what intrigued him about the world of book folding, the balance of technical and creative skills he uses, and how he develops the design for each folded book he makes.

Say hi to Beck:
Website: becksbooks.co
Instagram - @becks.books
TikTok - @becksbooks
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 138: Hannah Austin - Kinusaiga and Fabric Collage Embroidery Artist Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

Hannah Austin is a kinusaiga and fabric collage embroidery artist who specializes in landscapes. She finds inspiration in nature and she stitches to feel a connection with her ancestors and her community. Hannah developed her skills in hand sewing and embroidery through her grandmother, who was an avid maker herself.
Kinusaiga is a Japanese art form, founded and created by Setsu Maeno, that uses pieces of scrap fabric to create collage-style images. Hannah recently made a kinusaiga mini quilt to honour her grandmother’s memory, based on the design of a full-size quilt her grandmother made for her. That project was a major hit on her social media channels, inspiring others to make their own projects in honour of loved ones.
Hannah is an active member of the fibre arts community and shares her love of making fibre art through workshops as well as by teaching classes at the University of Oregon's Craft Center.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Hannah about why fibre arts are so close to her heart, how nature and sustainability are areas of focus in her work, the way she developed her kinusaiga skills, and how teaching fuels even more creativity in her life.
Say hi to Hannah:
Website: needleorthread.com
Instagram: @needle_or_thread
TikTok: @needle_or_thread
Facebook: /needleorthread
Threads: @needle_or_thread
YouTube: @needle_or_thread
Show mentions and the people who inspire Hannah:
- Kinusaiga mini quilt in honour of Grandma Marlys - Instagram reel
- Setsu Maeno - @kinusaiga (Instagram)
- Hayley Williams - @yelyahwilliams (Instagram)
- Vika Prokofjeva - @vikasspace (Instagram)
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

2025 Wrapped and Ready for 2026 Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Hello friends! I’m your host Angela de Burger, and today I want to take the opportunity to look back on a great year of creativity-filled conversations as well as look forward to a new year of creative exploration.
I also want to ask you the question I pose to guests on every episode:
What are your tips for starting up, or keeping up, the creative energy in your life?
To share a tip, you can:

record a short voicemail from your phone or computer at speakpipe.com/CreativePulse
or you can send me a message or tag me in a post on Instagram @creativepulsepodcast

I’ll share your tips on future episodes of the podcast and on social media so that your ideas can help other people who are looking for some creative inspiration.
Thank you for being here in 2025! I can’t wait to bring you even more conversations with incredible, creative people in 2026.
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 137: Lara Kluczynski - Whimsical, Wearable Hat Sculptures Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Lara Kluczynski is a self-taught multimedia artist who hand sculpts whimsical, wearable hats and headpieces that blend fashion and sculpture. She combines decorative frieze-style elements with fantastical animals, balancing tradition and kitsch in her creations.
Lara explores innovative materials and techniques in her pieces, probing the boundaries between different art forms. Her style is theatrical, surreal and playful, with hints of antiquity and comedy sprinkled throughout. Lara’s work is currently featured in an online group exhibition at the Poetic Tiger Gallery entitled “Fables of Time” and in March 2026 she will have a solo show at that same gallery.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Lara about how she brings her creative visions to life, how her style has developed over time, and where she finds inspiration for her designs.
Say hi to Lara:
Website - craftglamour.com
Instagram - @craft.glamour
TikTok - @craftglamour
Poetic Tiger Gallery - Fables of Time group exhibition
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 136: Amanda Witucki - Paper Artist Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Amanda Witucki is living her dream after finding artistic inspiration through the medium of paper, making origami-based paper sculptures. She uses origami folding techniques and specially chosen thick paper to create paper “paintings”, experiential works and site-specific art installations. In her artworks, Amanda combines precision and repetition with whimsy and colour.
She’s also the creative mind behind the Secret Prezzie Project, an initiative to inspire hope, spread joy and connect strangers by hiding treasure-filled presents in plain sight.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Amanda about how her creative community helped her realize she is an artist, why paper is her creative medium of choice, how she fuels her insatiable creative curiosity, and what the Secret Prezzie Project looks like in action.
Say hi to Amanda:
Websites:
- The Paper Committee - papercommittee.com
- Secret Prezzie Project - /secretprezzieproject
Instagram - @thepapercommittee
Show mentions - the people who inspire Amanda:
- El Anatsui - elanatsui.art (web) and @elanatsui.art (Instagram)
- Bekah Worley - bekahworleyco.com (web) and @bekahworleyco (Instagram)
- Conny Gölz Schmitt - connygoelzschmitt.com (web) and @connygoelzschmitt (Instagram)
- Aunty Beast - archenemyarts.comauntybeast (web) and @aunty_beast (Instagram)
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: @creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 135: Laura June Ness - West End Performer (Harry Potter), Dancer and Dream Chaser Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

Laura June Ness is a Canadian dancer, actor, aerialist and singer who decided to make a big leap and chase her dream of performing in a West End show in London. And she made her dream come true! Laura is now a cast member of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and recently made her debut performance in London’s West End.

She’s sharing this creative adventure with her growing social media community, showing the work that goes into pursuing a dream like this, including all of the highs and lows she’s experiencing along the way.

On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Laura about her journey to being cast in a Harry Potter stage show, what it’s like to perform on a West End stage, her creative process for creating a character, and why she decided to share her creative life on social media.
Say hi to Laura:
Instagram - @laura.june.ness
TikTok - @laura.june.ness
YouTube - @LauraJuneNess
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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ep 134: Nadja Nikko - Prop Maker for Film and Entertainment Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Nadja Nikko is a prop maker who dreamed of making props for the film industry and she’s made her dream come true! After being inspired by the prop makers from the Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter series, she’s now making props for lots of productions, including Hollywood films.
Nadja regularly shares behind-the-scenes insights into the world of prop making, techniques and materials, tutorials, creative tips, and personal stories from working in the film industry around the world. She says it’s not just the craft of prop making she loves, it’s the creative journey.
On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Nadja about what fuels her passion for making props, the types of projects that get her creative energy flowing, and why she believes that anything is possible.
Say hi to Nadja:
Instagram - @nadjanikko
TikTok - @nadjanikko
YouTube - @NadjaNikko

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Creative Pulse Podcast socials:
Instagram: creativepulsepodcast
Music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

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