Shows
The Hummingbird PodcastThe Spark between Intuition and Sensory InformationNoticing. Moving out of autopilot. Actively making decisions to notice. We chat about Anne Truitt’s book Daybook: The Journal of an Artist. Jessica reads a recent sensory inspired piece. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “Sleep Patterns for Seamus Heaney.” And we have fun with the word “colloquium.” Join us for the last episode of Season Five!2024-06-0929 min
HummingbirdThe Spark between Intuition and Sensory InformationNoticing. Moving out of autopilot. Actively making decisions to notice. We chat about Anne Truitt’s book Daybook: The Journal of an Artist. Jessica reads a recent sensory inspired piece. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “Sleep Patterns for Seamus Heaney.” And we have fun with the word “colloquium.” Join us for the last episode of Season Five!2024-06-0929 min
The Hummingbird PodcastArt & WritingWe “sink in” to the role perception plays with art and writing. Catherine reads two excerpts from her novels (Quarry and The Most Cunning Heart) as examples. Jessica shares her poem “The Works,” a commissioned piece written when she was Poet Laureate of Cobourg. Plus we talk about portals, paying attention and writing through to see.2024-05-2631 min
HummingbirdArt & WritingWe “sink in” to the role perception plays with art and writing. Catherine reads two excerpts from her novels (Quarry and The Most Cunning Heart) as examples. Jessica shares her poem “The Works,” a commissioned piece written when she was Poet Laureate of Cobourg. Plus we talk about portals, paying attention and writing through to see.2024-05-2631 min
The Hummingbird PodcastArt & InspirationWe talk about art as inspiration and connection. We share stories about visiting art galleries and our powerful one-on-one experiences with art. Catherine shares two poems that connect to two book covers “Troll Was No Monster” (Winterkill) and “Cancer in the Celery Forest” (The Celery Forest). Jessica shares her poem “Windblown Group of Seven,” inspired by a sketch by Tom Thompson of a landscape she knows and loves dearly.2024-04-2829 min
HummingbirdArt & InspirationWe talk about art as inspiration and connection. We share stories about visiting art galleries and our powerful one-on-one experiences with art. Catherine shares two poems that connect to two book covers “Troll Was No Monster” (Winterkill) and “Cancer in the Celery Forest” (The Celery Forest). Jessica shares her poem “Windblown Group of Seven,” inspired by a sketch by Tom Thompson of a landscape she knows and loves dearly.2024-04-2829 min
The Hummingbird PodcastCraftWe explore what this word means to us as creators, from the silly to the serious. Plus the role of intuition, practice and inner knowing. Jessica shares her poem “On Deciding on Learning to Write” and talks about her experience with writing workshops. Catherine shares two poems that bookend her writing journey: “Pupa” the title poem from her first book and “Part of the Song Where the Dead Come From” from her latest book, Put Flowers Around Us and Pretend We’re Dead: New and Selected Poems.2024-04-1436 min
HummingbirdCraftWe explore what this word means to us as creators, from the silly to the serious. Plus the role of intuition, practice and inner knowing. Jessica shares her poem “On Deciding on Learning to Write” and talks about her experience with writing workshops. Catherine shares two poems that bookend her writing journey: “Pupa” the title poem from her first book and “Part of the Song Where the Dead Come From” from her latest book, Put Flowers Around Us and Pretend We’re Dead: New and Selected Poems.2024-04-1436 min
The Hummingbird PodcastIdeasBeginning ideas, sustaining ideas, consuming ideas—how as creators do we relate to this word? Jessica shares her poem “The Crossing of Candle Eyes” and Catherine shares three short poems inspired by her mother: “The Red Element” “It’s Only Her Piano Face” and “ My Suburban Forest.”2024-03-3131 min
HummingbirdIdeasBeginning ideas, sustaining ideas, consuming ideas—how as creators do we relate to this word? Jessica shares her poem “The Crossing of Candle Eyes” and Catherine shares three short poems inspired by her mother: “The Red Element” “It’s Only Her Piano Face” and “ My Suburban Forest.”2024-03-3131 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHolding On & Letting GoWhile staying in to rest and heal what occupies our mind and imagination? What does it mean to “clean house”? How do we know what to hold on to and when to let go? We explore these things in dialogue and in poetry. Jessica shares two poems: “Leaving Home” and “Shine Firefly” and Catherine shares her poems “Freckle” and “Father’s Tattoo.”2024-03-1729 min
HummingbirdHolding On & Letting GoWhile staying in to rest and heal what occupies our mind and imagination? What does it mean to “clean house”? How do we know what to hold on to and when to let go? We explore these things in dialogue and in poetry. Jessica shares two poems: “Leaving Home” and “Shine Firefly” and Catherine shares her poems “Freckle” and “Father’s Tattoo.”2024-03-1729 min
HummingbirdWinter & Self CareWriting, resting, going inward, the importance of self-care. Letting go. Balance. Writing through dark times. Balancing our creative life with teaching. Valuing our own rhythm. Catherine reads an excerpt from her memoir Aether: An Out-of-Body Lyric and Jessica reads an excerpt from a book about Métis beadwork.2024-02-1330 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWinter & Self CareWriting, resting, going inward, the importance of self-care. Letting go. Balance. Writing through dark times. Balancing our creative life with teaching. Valuing our own rhythm. Catherine reads an excerpt from her memoir Aether: An Out-of-Body Lyric and Jessica reads an excerpt from a book about Métis beadwork.2024-02-1330 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWinter, Dreams and SleepWhat might our dreams teach us? Catherine shares her poem from the Niagara Falls Poetry Project “The Water Draws.” Jessica shares her poem “When.” Plus sleep habits, reading habits and Raymond Carver’s poem “Late Fragment.”2024-01-2831 min
HummingbirdWinter, Dreams and SleepWhat might our dreams teach us? Catherine shares her poem from the Niagara Falls Poetry Project “The Water Draws.” Jessica shares her poem “When.” Plus sleep habits, reading habits and Raymond Carver’s poem “Late Fragment.”2024-01-2831 min
The Hummingbird PodcastContent, Craft, & CommunicationHow do you know you are a writer? Is it possible to find poetry in the everyday? What’s it like to share raw work? What might we do with our dream lines? Catherine shares her poem “Last Shadow” and Jessica shares a new poem “Robin Takes a Break.”2024-01-1427 min
HummingbirdContent, Craft, & CommunicationHow do you know you are a writer? Is it possible to find poetry in the everyday? What’s it like to share raw work? What might we do with our dream lines? Catherine shares her poem “Last Shadow” and Jessica shares a new poem “Robin Takes a Break.”2024-01-1427 min
The Hummingbird PodcastLearning is ChangeWhat assists us when we’re learning? What happens when we’re open and curious? Learning isn’t always easy and the unknown is our biggest teacher. Yet, how as writers do we share what we’ve learned? And what does the Medicine Wheel teach us? Catherine shares her poem “The Girl without Birds at the Top of the Stairs” and Jessica shares her poem “To Begin Again.”2023-12-3132 min
HummingbirdLearning is ChangeWhat assists us when we’re learning? What happens when we’re open and curious? Learning isn’t always easy and the unknown is our biggest teacher. Yet, how as writers do we share what we’ve learned? And what does the Medicine Wheel teach us? Catherine shares her poem “The Girl without Birds at the Top of the Stairs” and Jessica shares her poem “To Begin Again.”2023-12-3132 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWhat is it to be inspired?This question leads us to talk about many things including P.K. Page, what it’s like to be a highly sensitive child, whether we’d like the gift of invisibility or mind control, the power of dreams, when dreams turn to visions and when visions turn to poems. Catherine shares her poem “The Bullied” and Jessica shares her poem “How Old Is Your Spirit.”2023-12-1730 min
HummingbirdWhat is it to be inspired?This question leads us to talk about many things including P.K. Page, what it’s like to be a highly sensitive child, whether we’d like the gift of invisibility or mind control, the power of dreams, when dreams turn to visions and when visions turn to poems. Catherine shares her poem “The Bullied” and Jessica shares her poem “How Old Is Your Spirit.”2023-12-1730 min
The Hummingbird PodcastTry EverythingWhat happens when we move from word to image? Catherine talks about her experience leading a creative problem-solving workshop and how the images that appear know more than we do. What happens when we let go of control? Jessica talks about what her books have to say to her (yes, they do know where they want to be in her new home!). She also shares her experience braiding sweetgrass and the poem it inspired. We end our chat with Catherine’s poem on metamorphosis: “Imago.”2023-12-0330 min
HummingbirdTry EverythingWhat happens when we move from word to image? Catherine talks about her experience leading a creative problem-solving workshop and how the images that appear know more than we do. What happens when we let go of control? Jessica talks about what her books have to say to her (yes, they do know where they want to be in her new home!). She also shares her experience braiding sweetgrass and the poem it inspired. We end our chat with Catherine’s poem on metamorphosis: “Imago.”2023-12-0330 min
HummingbirdThe Circle and The Creative ActWe talk about Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being and what it awakens in us as creators. What does it mean to lead a creative life? How do we get into a creative space? Catherine shares what recently happened on a walk to circle her back to her poem “Wind Tricks.” Jessica shares some insights about her intuitive painting journey as well as her poem “Lost Lesson.” And yes, the forest has eyes.2023-11-1930 min
The Hummingbird PodcastThe Circle and The Creative ActWe talk about Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being and what it awakens in us as creators. What does it mean to lead a creative life? How do we get into a creative space? Catherine shares what recently happened on a walk to circle her back to her poem “Wind Tricks.” Jessica shares some insights about her intuitive painting journey as well as her poem “Lost Lesson.” And yes, the forest has eyes.2023-11-1930 min
The Hummingbird PodcastFull-Circle MomentsAs we kick off season five, we explore full circle moments and how with aging we carry more questions than answers. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “The Rain Barrel” and Jessica talks about writing her first picture book Bernice and the Ancestors. Plus “The Red Poppy” by Louise Glück, the link between silent and listen, and how listening leads to seeing and being seen.2023-11-0527 min
HummingbirdFull-Circle MomentsAs we kick off season five, we explore full circle moments and how with aging we carry more questions than answers. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “The Rain Barrel” and Jessica talks about writing her first picture book Bernice and the Ancestors. Plus “The Red Poppy” by Louise Glück, the link between silent and listen, and how listening leads to seeing and being seen.2023-11-0527 min
The Hummingbird PodcastThe Writing SpiralOur conversation circles and spirals as we revisit Jessica’s book The Writing Spiral: Learning as a Writer. Rumi, T. S. Eliot, solitude and self-awareness all feed our talk about the labyrinth as a metaphor for our life path and how to arrive at the centre of the self. Plus Emily Carr and the “unity of movement.”2023-05-2130 min
HummingbirdThe Writing SpiralOur conversation circles and spirals as we revisit Jessica’s book The Writing Spiral: Learning as a Writer. Rumi, T. S. Eliot, solitude and self-awareness all feed our talk about the labyrinth as a metaphor for our life path and how to arrive at the centre of the self. Plus Emily Carr and the “unity of movement.”2023-05-2130 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHeartbeat of the GroundWe talk about the heartbeat of the ground (a line from Catherine's poem "A Leash of Deer"), the pulse of everything, plus the current that connects us. Jessica shares her poem "A River Flows" and its origin story. We discover how a poem can hold a poem beneath it. Catherine reads her poem "Chthonic" and takes us to the underground. We see how imagery can lure us to slip beneath.2023-04-2329 min
HummingbirdHeartbeat of the GroundWe talk about the heartbeat of the ground (a line from Catherine's poem "A Leash of Deer"), the pulse of everything, plus the current that connects us. Jessica shares her poem "A River Flows" and its origin story. We discover how a poem can hold a poem beneath it. Catherine reads her poem "Chthonic" and takes us to the underground. We see how imagery can lure us to slip beneath.2023-04-2329 min
The Hummingbird PodcastAnimal EncountersCatherine shares her poem “A Leash of Deer” and the story behind it. (Yes, it started with a coaster purchased in Edinburgh.) We talk about how poems and encounters with animals open us up and bring us closer at the same time, how they expand and contract. Jessica reads an excerpt from her latest book Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold that includes an encounter with a crow. When we lean into the energies around us, we feel the connections. When we pay attention, the gifts come.2023-04-0929 min
HummingbirdAnimal EncountersCatherine shares her poem “A Leash of Deer” and the story behind it. (Yes, it started with a coaster purchased in Edinburgh.) We talk about how poems and encounters with animals open us up and bring us closer at the same time, how they expand and contract. Jessica reads an excerpt from her latest book Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold that includes an encounter with a crow. When we lean into the energies around us, we feel the connections. When we pay attention, the gifts come.2023-04-0929 min
The Hummingbird PodcastAncestors and Family Part 2We continue to explore how ancestors and family impact our writing. Jessica talks about her Métis roots and shares her poem “Search Out the Water.” This poem explores the life of her Great-x5-Grandfather, Ezekiel Solomon. She also shares an excerpt from her forthcoming novel for middle grade children, Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold. We talk about reciprocity, silence and how to listen deeply.2023-03-1231 min
HummingbirdAncestors and Family Part 2We continue to explore how ancestors and family impact our writing. Jessica talks about her Métis roots and shares her poem “Search Out the Water.” This poem explores the life of her Great-x5-Grandfather, Ezekiel Solomon. She also shares an excerpt from her forthcoming novel for middle grade children, Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold. We talk about reciprocity, silence and how to listen deeply.2023-03-1231 min
The Hummingbird PodcastAncestors and FamilyWe explore how ancestors and family impact our writing. Catherine reads a passage from her novel Quarry that links silence with trust and creativity. She also shares some excerpts from Æther: An Out-of-Body Lyric. Jessica and Catherine talk about the darker side of silence and how the act of writing can lead us to truths.2023-02-2629 min
HummingbirdAncestors and FamilyWe explore how ancestors and family impact our writing. Catherine reads a passage from her novel Quarry that links silence with trust and creativity. She also shares some excerpts from Æther: An Out-of-Body Lyric. Jessica and Catherine talk about the darker side of silence and how the act of writing can lead us to truths.2023-02-2629 min
The Hummingbird PodcastSnow and Going InwardCatherine reads one of her all-time favourite poems “Snow” by Louis MacNeice. Catherine and Jessica explore the poem’s abundance, beauty, complexity and mystery. Jessica reads her poem “Was Grandmother Lonely Too?” and we see how snippets of family stories come together to make a poem.2023-02-1232 min
HummingbirdSnow and Going InwardCatherine reads one of her all-time favourite poems “Snow” by Louis MacNeice. Catherine and Jessica explore the poem’s abundance, beauty, complexity and mystery. Jessica reads her poem “Was Grandmother Lonely Too?” and we see how snippets of family stories come together to make a poem.2023-02-1232 min
The Hummingbird PodcastPoems That Find Us Part TwoWhat happens when we put loss and hunger on the page? Catherine reads the poem "One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop and talks about how this poem opened up new pathways in her writing journey. Jessica shares the story behind her recent discovery of the poem "The Hummingbirds" by Mary Oliver. All this and more. Plus hummingbird cake!2023-01-2230 min
HummingbirdPoems That Find Us Part TwoWhat happens when we put loss and hunger on the page? Catherine reads the poem "One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop and talks about how this poem opened up new pathways in her writing journey. Jessica shares the story behind her recent discovery of the poem "The Hummingbirds" by Mary Oliver. All this and more. Plus hummingbird cake!2023-01-2230 min
The Hummingbird PodcastPoems That Find UsWe talk about how poems find us. Jessica shares the prose poem “Desiderata” and the story of how it found her. We explore the poem’s content and talk about how each sentence serves as a guidepost for life. Plus wonder, seeing something anew, and the importance of listening.2023-01-1528 min
HummingbirdPoems That Find UsWe talk about how poems find us. Jessica shares the prose poem “Desiderata” and the story of how it found her. We explore the poem’s content and talk about how each sentence serves as a guidepost for life. Plus wonder, seeing something anew, and the importance of listening.2023-01-1528 min
HummingbirdLooking Out & Looking InWe talk about ways we move between the inner and outer world and share a quote by Pearl S. Buck. Catherine reads her poem “Doll’s Eyes” and discusses the role dolls played in her childhood to muscle her imagination. Jessica talks about the need to better understand the language of feelings and shares her poem “Begin Again.”2023-01-0130 min
The Hummingbird PodcastLooking Out & Looking InWe talk about ways we move between the inner and outer world and share a quote by Pearl S. Buck. Catherine reads her poem “Doll’s Eyes” and discusses the role dolls played in her childhood to muscle her imagination. Jessica talks about the need to better understand the language of feelings and shares her poem “Begin Again.”2023-01-0130 min
HummingbirdBeing an HSPAs two HSPs (Highly Sensitive Person) we talk about the impact this trait has on our creative lives. Jessica reads the Emily Dickinson poem, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” and shares a story about the unexpected gift that arrives when letting go. Catherine reads her poem “The Bullied” and we explore the power of the inner life. Plus Orchid and Dandelion Children, intuition and trust.2022-12-0429 min
The Hummingbird PodcastBeing an HSPAs two HSPs (Highly Sensitive Person) we talk about the impact this trait has on our creative lives. Jessica reads the Emily Dickinson poem, “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” and shares a story about the unexpected gift that arrives when letting go. Catherine reads her poem “The Bullied” and we explore the power of the inner life. Plus Orchid and Dandelion Children, intuition and trust.2022-12-0429 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWrite What You KnowWe talk about how this widely known writing rule both serves and doesn’t serve our creative journeys and explore variations such as: write to know. Catherine reads her poem “MRI” from The Celery Forest and discusses the relationship between the real and the imagined. Jessica shares her poem “This Morning a Mirror” and talks about presence and absence, the “welcome” and the “worrisome” in a landscape she loves.2022-11-2731 min
HummingbirdWrite What You KnowWe talk about how this widely known writing rule both serves and doesn’t serve our creative journeys and explore variations such as: write to know. Catherine reads her poem “MRI” from The Celery Forest and discusses the relationship between the real and the imagined. Jessica shares her poem “This Morning a Mirror” and talks about presence and absence, the “welcome” and the “worrisome” in a landscape she loves.2022-11-2731 min
HummingbirdPoems & SongsWe explore how songs make their way into our poetry. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act 3” and talk about the balance of passion. letting go, and how with every blackout there’s always hope. Catherine reads her poem “I Thank You Burt Bacharach” and we explore how songs transport us and what it means to “live in the poem.”2022-11-1330 min
The Hummingbird PodcastPoems & SongsWe explore how songs make their way into our poetry. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act 3” and talk about the balance of passion. letting go, and how with every blackout there’s always hope. Catherine reads her poem “I Thank You Burt Bacharach” and we explore how songs transport us and what it means to “live in the poem.”2022-11-1330 min
HummingbirdShivers & BlackoutsWe explore the blackout in the creative process—as pause, as gap, as moving deeper into surrender. Catherine shares her poem “For A Lost Stepdaughter” and how it came to be. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act Two” and we explore what it evokes. We talk about what leads to worries and fears plus the never ending flux of the creative process.2022-11-0630 min
The Hummingbird PodcastShivers & BlackoutsWe explore the blackout in the creative process—as pause, as gap, as moving deeper into surrender. Catherine shares her poem “For A Lost Stepdaughter” and how it came to be. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act Two” and we explore what it evokes. We talk about what leads to worries and fears plus the never ending flux of the creative process.2022-11-0630 min
HummingbirdCreative Space & VoiceWe step into another creative portal by exploring voice. Catherine shares her poem “The Queen Is Not Welcome Here” and the story behind it. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act One” and Jessica shares why the image of the jar continues to capture her imagination and work its way into her poems. We talk about the exchanges between the external and internal, beginnings and endings, and after each “blackout” the importance of hope.2022-10-3029 min
The Hummingbird PodcastCreative Space & VoiceWe step into another creative portal by exploring voice. Catherine shares her poem “The Queen Is Not Welcome Here” and the story behind it. Jessica and Catherine read Jessica’s poem “Act One” and Jessica shares why the image of the jar continues to capture her imagination and work its way into her poems. We talk about the exchanges between the external and internal, beginnings and endings, and after each “blackout” the importance of hope.2022-10-3029 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow to Get into a Creative Space: The TiltWhat do we do as creators to tilt our journey towards a creative space? We discuss various ways to enter in. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “The Red Element” and Jessica shares her work-in-progress poem “Being Poetica.” We ‘ache and soak’ our way into the creative journey.2022-10-2331 min
HummingbirdHow to Get into a Creative Space: The TiltWhat do we do as creators to tilt our journey towards a creative space? We discuss various ways to enter in. Catherine shares the story behind her poem “The Red Element” and Jessica shares her work-in-progress poem “Being Poetica.” We ‘ache and soak’ our way into the creative journey.2022-10-2331 min
Eh Poetry Podcast - Canadian poems read 3 times, each with a slight difference.Recess Eulogies by Jessica OutramJessica Outram is Cobourg’s 4th Poet Laureate. She is a Métis writer and educator with roots in the Georgian Bay Métis Community. Since 2019, her mandate has been to honour and nurture Cobourg’s culturally dynamic community. Jessica not only encourages the reading and writing of poetry, she also aims to enrich our shared human experience with heartfelt contributions.
Read more about Jessica, here.
"Recess Eulogies" is a poem from Jessica's book, The thing with feathers, Piquant Press.
As always, we would love to hear from you. Have you tried send me a me...2022-07-0403 min
HummingbirdOmit Needless WordsIn this last episode of our season we explore the writing rule omit needless words. Jessica talks about revision through the four seasons of story. We chat about the importance of listening to the work, allowing for discovery through play, trusting our gut reaction and following our instincts. Also, Julia Child, dreams, Seamus Heaney and what leads us to this: who I am as a writer. All this and more.2022-05-1533 min
The Hummingbird PodcastOmit Needless WordsIn this last episode of our season we explore the writing rule omit needless words. Jessica talks about revision through the four seasons of story. We chat about the importance of listening to the work, allowing for discovery through play, trusting our gut reaction and following our instincts. Also, Julia Child, dreams, Seamus Heaney and what leads us to this: who I am as a writer. All this and more.2022-05-1533 min
HummingbirdWhat Branches Above Us and Spreads BelowWhat branches above us and spreads below: How two poets connect with the oak tree.Catherine shares the story behind her poem “Oak” from The Celery Forest and Jessica shares the story behind her poem “On Being a Tree” from The Thing with Feathers. We talk about the thin line between the living and dead, dreams, ancestors, mothers, air-dancing and what it is to be inside a song.2022-05-0830 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWhat Branches Above Us and Spreads BelowWhat branches above us and spreads below: How two poets connect with the oak tree.
Catherine shares the story behind her poem “Oak” from The Celery Forest and Jessica shares the story behind her poem “On Being a Tree” from The Thing with Feathers. We talk about the thin line between the living and dead, dreams, ancestors, mothers, air-dancing and what it is to be inside a song.2022-05-0830 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHidden Passages & the Energizing Spin of SpringCircles, beginnings, awakenings and bursts. Catherine reads her poem “Chthonic” from Her Red Hair Rises with the Wings of Insects. We explore a poem’s soundscape and how poems communicate with each other. Catherine talks about how the colour red is key to her work and Jessica talks about how ideas move towards us or away from us to find a home. We explore cycles and season and what thoughts are with us when we’re writing. Also process as art and writing by hand.2022-05-0129 min
HummingbirdHidden Passages & the Energizing Spin of SpringCircles, beginnings, awakenings and bursts. Catherine reads her poem “Chthonic” from Her Red Hair Rises with the Wings of Insects. We explore a poem’s soundscape and how poems communicate with each other. Catherine talks about how the colour red is key to her work and Jessica talks about how ideas move towards us or away from us to find a home. We explore cycles and season and what thoughts are with us when we’re writing. Also process as art and writing by hand.2022-05-0129 min
The Hummingbird PodcastThe OtherworldlyThe Otherworldly: The ease and unease embedded in transformation. We explore fairy trees, the wee folk, thorns, blooms and portals. Also, secret gardens, hums and hummingbirds and the real estate of the poet. Catherine reads an excerpt from her second novel, The Most Cunning Heart, and Jessica reads her poem “If She Had a Secret Garden” from The Thing with Feathers. What is it to travel further into the self? Plus connections, relationships and how stories help us to see and be seen.2022-04-2432 min
HummingbirdThe OtherworldlyThe Otherworldly: The ease and unease embedded in transformation. We explore fairy trees, the wee folk, thorns, blooms and portals. Also, secret gardens, hums and hummingbirds and the real estate of the poet. Catherine reads an excerpt from her second novel, The Most Cunning Heart, and Jessica reads her poem “If She Had a Secret Garden” from The Thing with Feathers. What is it to travel further into the self? Plus connections, relationships and how stories help us to see and be seen.2022-04-2432 min
HummingbirdThe BetweenThe Between: from writing to publishing to letting the book go. We talk about good questions to ask an author, energetic tendrils and the intimacy of the first person. Catherine reads an excerpt from her second novel, The Most Cunning Heart and Jessica talks about her first poetry book, The Thing with Feathers.2022-04-1730 min
The Hummingbird PodcastThe BetweenThe Between: from writing to publishing to letting the book go. We talk about good questions to ask an author, energetic tendrils and the intimacy of the first person. Catherine reads an excerpt from her second novel, The Most Cunning Heart and Jessica talks about her first poetry book, The Thing with Feathers.2022-04-1730 min
HummingbirdLooping Back to BeginCelery trees, human-watchers—we start with Catherine’s poem “What Birds They Were” and explore other eerie things. Then we explore about how it is we find our way through poetry to link the real and the unreal. We chat about the impact art galleries have had on our creative process— where life and art intersect—and how what inspires us has its own time line to surface. This was the case for Jessica’s forthcoming book, Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.2022-04-0329 min
The Hummingbird PodcastLooping Back to BeginCelery trees, human-watchers—we start with Catherine’s poem “What Birds They Were” and explore other eerie things. Then we explore about how it is we find our way through poetry to link the real and the unreal. We chat about the impact art galleries have had on our creative process— where life and art intersect—and how what inspires us has its own time line to surface. This was the case for Jessica’s forthcoming book, Bernice and the Georgian Bay Gold.2022-04-0329 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Birds Inspire Us and Fly Into Our WorkWe talk about the connection between birds and poetic process. Catherine shares her poem “The Lifting” along with its backstory. Jessica shares the Christi Belcourt poem “In Neither Hope Nor Despair, Birds Fly.” We talk about how poetry invites us into a pause and takes us to profound places. We finish with Catherine’s bird poem “What Birds They Were” from The Celery Forest. Through air and motion, we take flight!2022-03-2728 min
HummingbirdHow Birds Inspire Us and Fly Into Our WorkWe talk about the connection between birds and poetic process. Catherine shares her poem “The Lifting” along with its backstory. Jessica shares the Christi Belcourt poem “In Neither Hope Nor Despair, Birds Fly.” We talk about how poetry invites us into a pause and takes us to profound places. We finish with Catherine’s bird poem “What Birds They Were” from The Celery Forest. Through air and motion, we take flight!2022-03-2728 min
The Hummingbird PodcastDwelling in PossibilityWhat holds the lessons we’ve learned over the years, what reaches out—a call to action or a pause—the path to possibility continues. We explore Emily Dickinson’s “I Dwell in Possibility” and Jessica shares her poem “When She Found Her Voice.” We chat about signs, connections, portals and encounters.2022-03-2029 min
HummingbirdDwelling in PossibilityWhat holds the lessons we’ve learned over the years, what reaches out—a call to action or a pause—the path to possibility continues. We explore Emily Dickinson’s “I Dwell in Possibility” and Jessica shares her poem “When She Found Her Voice.” We chat about signs, connections, portals and encounters.2022-03-2029 min
HummingbirdCalled Into a Crowd of Feathers: Omen/GiftIn this episode we talk about the challenges of balancing work and life and creative projects, the value of signs and what seeps into our skin. Catherine shares an excerpt from Æther: An Out-of-Body Lyric and Jessica shares a powerful dream. We explore synchronicity, mystery and the energy in the unexplainable.2022-03-1331 min
The Hummingbird PodcastCalled Into a Crowd of Feathers: Omen/GiftIn this episode we talk about the challenges of balancing work and life and creative projects, the value of signs and what seeps into our skin. Catherine shares an excerpt from Æther: An Out-of-Body Lyric and Jessica shares a powerful dream. We explore synchronicity, mystery and the energy in the unexplainable.2022-03-1331 min
The Hummingbird PodcastSeason Change and Worry Dollls“As if the top of my head were taken off,” writes Emily Dickinson when it comes to knowing poetry. In this episode we talk about how poetry is tied to the body. Jessica reads her poem “Season Change” and Catherine reads her poem “Worry Dolls.” We talk about perception, alignment of energies and how inanimate objects “speak” to us if we listen.2022-03-0632 min
HummingbirdSeason Change and Worry Dollls“As if the top of my head were taken off,” writes Emily Dickinson when it comes to knowing poetry. In this episode we talk about how poetry is tied to the body. Jessica reads her poem “Season Change” and Catherine reads her poem “Worry Dolls.” We talk about perception, alignment of energies and how inanimate objects “speak” to us if we listen.2022-03-0632 min
HummingbirdPoems: A Place to Find Ourselves InPoems are a place to find ourselves in. We talk about when to read poems and when not to read poems. Jessica shares her Emily Dickinson inspired poem “The Thing with Feathers” and Catherine reads her Tilda Swinton inspired poem “The Buried.” We chat about poetry and perception, pivot points, portals, P.K. Page and much more. Join us!2022-02-2032 min
The Hummingbird PodcastPoems: A Place to Find Ourselves InPoems are a place to find ourselves in. We talk about when to read poems and when not to read poems. Jessica shares her Emily Dickinson inspired poem “The Thing with Feathers” and Catherine reads her Tilda Swinton inspired poem “The Buried.” We chat about poetry and perception, pivot points, portals, P.K. Page and much more. Join us!2022-02-2032 min
HummingbirdNew Maps in Old Waters: Poetry & PlaceWe get to know more about co-host Jessica’s creative journey through her connection to place, how the town of Britt (on Georgian Bay) serves her imagination, her sense of belonging and signals: home. Join us as we explore how the past and present meet.2022-02-1328 min
The Hummingbird PodcastNew Maps in Old Waters: Poetry & PlaceWe get to know more about co-host Jessica’s creative journey through her connection to place, how the town of Britt (on Georgian Bay) serves her imagination, her sense of belonging and signals: home. Join us as we explore how the past and present meet.2022-02-1328 min
HummingbirdS3 E1 How Hummingbirds Inspire Two PoetsCatherine Graham joins as the new co-host on The Hummingbird Podcast team with Jessica Outram. We begin with hummingbirds. How do they inspire us? What can we learn from them? How are hummingbirds like our creative work? We chat about some of the themes we will explore this season. (And we are mostly just super excited to chat together!)2022-02-0620 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Hummingbirds Inspire Two PoetsCatherine Graham joins as the new co-host on The Hummingbird Podcast team with Jessica Outram. We begin with hummingbirds. How do they inspire us? What can we learn from them? How are hummingbirds like our creative work? We chat about some of the themes we will explore this season. (And we are mostly just super excited to chat together!)2022-02-0620 min
HummingbirdEpisode 18 - Your Creative Business: Marketing and StoryThis week we do something a little different as Aprille guides Jessica through the art of creating a story about her business that invites people to be part of the story. We explain why story is so powerful, how to build trust relationships with your customers and other ways to use story as a business tool. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/creativehummingbird/message2021-07-0240 min
The Hummingbird PodcastMarketing and Story: The Business of Art and WritingThis week we do something a little different as Aprille guides Jessica through the art of creating a story about her business that invites people to be part of the story. We explain why story is so powerful, how to build trust relationships with your customers and other ways to use story as a business tool. 2021-07-0239 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Can We Use Metaphor to Better Understand Our Creative Practice?In this episode we look at creativity and process through the lens of metaphor. Using quotations, we explore how metaphor can enrich our creative process and projects looking at some big questions. How can metaphors inspire how we create? How can artists and writers use metaphor to make something new? Metaphor can help us to go deeper and understand our own creative process in simple but powerful ways. You'll even hear a few "aha's" that Aprille and Jessica experience as they discuss this topic.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-06-1347 min
HummingbirdEpisode 016 - How can we use metaphor to better understand our creative practice?In this episode we look at creativity and process through the lens of metaphor. Using quotations, we explore how metaphor can enrich our creative process and projects looking at some big questions. How can metaphors inspire how we create? How can artists and writers use metaphor to make something new? Metaphor can help us to go deeper and understand our own creative process in simple but powerful ways. You'll even hear a few "aha's" that Aprille and Jessica experience as they discuss this topic. Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.--- Send in a...2021-06-1348 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Can We Use the Power of Story in our Arts?How can we use story and story structure in our arts? In this episode we explore this big question by looking at through the lens of Pixar's 'rules' for great storytelling. We realize that story connects to all aspects of our creativity during the process and in the product. Aprille shares how she uses story to inspire her artwork and Jessica shares how she uses story to prepare a song for performance.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-06-0643 min
HummingbirdEpisode 015 - How can we use the power of story?How can we use story and story structure in our arts? In this episode we explore this big question by looking at through the lens of Pixar's 'rules' for great storytelling. We realize that story connects to all aspects of our creativity during the process and in the product. Aprille shares how she uses story to inspire her artwork and Jessica shares how she uses story to prepare a song for performance.Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/creativehummingbird/message2021-06-0643 min
HummingbirdEpisode 011 - What inspires your creativity?What people, places, arts, and things inspire you? What is the magic that happens when we let it get personal? What are some examples of our work and what inspired it? Join us as we reflect on inspiration, the source of ideas, and creative process. Aprille reflects on a fabric piece she is working on that started as a test piece. Jessica reflects on writing and staging a play inspired by the women in her family. Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/creativehummingbird/message2021-05-0933 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWhat Inspires Your Creativity?What people, places, arts, and things inspire you? What is the magic that happens when we let it get personal? What are some examples of our work and what inspired it? Join us as we reflect on inspiration, the source of ideas, and creative process. Aprille reflects on a fabric piece she is working on that started as a test piece. Jessica reflects on writing and staging a play inspired by the women in her family.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-05-0932 min
The Hummingbird PodcastWhat Are Some Ways To Build Creative Confidence?In this episode we respond to David Kelly's TED Talk "How to Build Your Creative Confidence." We explore his big ideas including: fear of judgement, guided mastery, empathy, and then the importance of regaining lost creative confidence. Creativity and innovation touch every area of our lives. From reflecting on innovation in medicine and education to our own personal creative journeys, we explore ways that we can build on small success to reach our creative goals.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.
2021-04-2536 min
The Hummingbird PodcastLearning by Heart Book Reflection Part 2: Teachings to Free the Creative SpiritWe continue the conversation about the influence of Corita Kent on students and teachers of creativity. What can we learn about sources and ways to play in the arts? How does "Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit” by Corita Kent and Jan Steward inspire us? We explore a chapter at a time, unpacking some of the big ideas and how we can use them to free our creative spirits.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.
2021-04-1838 min
The Hummingbird PodcastLearning By Heart Book Reflection Part 1: Teachings to Free the Creative SpiritThis episode is our first Creativity Profile with a focus on Corita Kent. We discuss the 10 Rules for the Immaculate Heart College Art Department through the lenses of a student of creativity and a teacher of creativity. We explore the big ideas of trust, play, and learning, looking at each rule one at a time. This is the first of two episodes that focus on what we have learned from "Learning by Heart: Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit" by Corita Kent and Jan Steward.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-04-1144 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Can Fear Impact Creativity?Creativity and Fear
In this episode, we begin the conversation about creativity and fear. Why does creativity make us fearful sometimes? How can fear help our creative work? What are some strategies for overcoming our fears to be able to create? From looking at the use of the word 'creativity' through time to discussing ideas from Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" we help each other navigate the shadow side of our relationship with creativity.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-04-0436 min
The Hummingbird PodcastHow Does Nature Inspire Creativity?
Nature provides an abundance of sources for creative connections and expression. How does nature inspire you? In this episode we explore ways we learn from nature and create inspired by places we love. We talk about some creatives that have used nature in their work, from Antoni Gaudi in Spain to R. Murray Schafer in Canada, we share some people we admire that use nature in interesting ways. Finally, we talk about some ways you can begin to connect nature to your creative work today.
Visit https://thehummingbirdpodcast.com/ for show notes.2021-03-2840 min
HummingbirdEpisode 000 - What is Hummingbird about?Jessica Outram and Aprille Janes introduce Hummingbird, Conversations about Creativity. In this episode, we talk about who we are and why we started this podcast. The hummingbird is a symbol of creativity and joy. The last year hasn't been easy and we want to go on a journey through conversation to explore our questions about creative living.Our wish is that you join us each week and even take part in the conversation by leaving us comments on an episode's topic and questions you'd like us to explore in a future episode. The Play List for this we...2021-02-2817 min
The Hummingbird PodcastThe Hummingbird Journey BeginsJessica Outram and Aprille Janes introduce Hummingbird, Conversations about Creativity.
In this episode, we talk about who we are and why we started this podcast. The hummingbird is a symbol of creativity and joy. The last year hasn't been easy and we want to go on a journey through conversation to explore our questions about creative living.
Our wish is that you join us each week and even take part in the conversation by leaving us comments on an episode's topic and questions you'd like us to explore in a future episode.
Visit ht...2021-02-2812 min