Shows
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaWomen, water and healing : Emma Simpson's new book " Breaking waves"In this conversation, Emma Simpson shares her journey from being an air traffic controller to becoming a writer. She discusses the healing power of open water swimming and how it led her to explore women's relationships with water globally. Emma reflects on the impact of grief in her life, particularly the loss of her brother, and how it shaped her writing. The discussion also touches on cultural perspectives on grief, the challenges of writing authentically, and the importance of community in the creative process. Emma's upcoming book, 'Breaking Waves,' delves into these themes and aims to connect with...2025-03-0532 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaSink into simple joys - A visual meditationWords and imagery that encourage you to retreat to be kind to yourself, express yourself, find inner peace and become strong again. Taking your place in the world. Strong, calm and needed Margaret x Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe2025-02-1201 min
F-Stop Collaborate and Listen407: Wendy Bagnall - Finding Your Photographic VoiceIn this episode of "F-Stop Collaborate and Listen," Matt Payne hosts photographer Wendy Bagnall, who delves into the importance of authenticity and personal style in creative work. Wendy discusses her journey from replicating others’ work to discovering her unique voice through experimentation and vulnerability. She emphasizes the therapeutic power of photography, particularly in her transition from health struggles to creative expression. Wendy also touches on challenges like art pricing and location sharing, and she plans to transition to full-time photography with upcoming workshops. The episode highlights Wendy's dedication to integrity, creativity, and community engagement in her photographic practice.
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Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaDebbie Hartmann's Inspiring ProjectsDebbie Hartmann shares the incredible stories of her photography projects that helped her mum as she was experiencing Parkinson's disease and Dementia and her friend with brain cancer. Debbie turned her creativity into positive, fun projects that lift both her and others during difficult times in a natural and intuitive way. Her enthusiasm for life and helping others is contagious. This episode is possibly one of the most heartwarming stories of humanity and love tied up in photography projects. Debbie is an extraordinary person who always seeks out the positives in life and allows herself to connect naturally to...2025-01-3133 min
Ontario Cold Cases - The PodcastVanished in the Shadows: The Soraya O’Connell MysteryVanished in the Shadows: The Soraya O’Connell MysteryOn a warm summer evening in August 1970, fifteen-year-old Soraya O’Connell waved goodbye to her mother at a bustling youth drop-in center in London, Ontario. It was supposed to be a night of card games and laughter—a safe place to enjoy the carefree moments of teenage life. But Soraya never made it home.By 10:00 p.m., her mother returned to find her daughter gone, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. Why did Soraya leave early? Who—or what—waited for her along that shadowy stretch of Fanshawe P...2025-01-2623 min
Ontario Cold Cases - The PodcastVanished in the Shadows: The Soraya O’Connell MysteryVanished in the Shadows: The Soraya O’Connell Mystery
On a warm summer evening in August 1970, fifteen-year-old Soraya O’Connell waved goodbye to her mother at a bustling youth drop-in center in London, Ontario. It was supposed to be a night of card games and laughter—a safe place to enjoy the carefree moments of teenage life. But Soraya never made it home.
By 10:00 p.m., her mother returned to find her daughter gone, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. Why did Soraya leave early? Who—or what—waited for her along that shadowy stretch of Fanshawe P...2025-01-2623 min
Unconventional LeadersIntroverted Creatives: How to Win in Business | Margaret SorayaIntroverts, did you know you have a competitive advantage—not just as a creative, but even in your business? Today, I connected with Margaret Soraya, an award-winning Scottish photographer, fine artist, and creative thought leader (and just an amazing human).Proud to embrace her introversion, she spends a lot of time alone, sometimes weeks unplugged, yet still manages to sell out her creative retreats—sometimes within minutes of being listed—and leads an engaged, loyal online community.Running a business doesn’t have to look just one way. Sometimes, we forget that we co-create our lives. I...2025-01-2557 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaSubstack, slowing down and an invite to contribute to a visual meditation.In this episode, I take a reflective winter walk in January's snowfall to share my thoughts on slowing down and the challenge of balancing that with content creation. Substack has given me one cohesive platform where I can share my writing, images, video and audio and that has helped me feel less overwhelmed. This episode is about my journey towards a more fulfilling, less pressured approach to sharing my life and work. And how that has brought about my concept of visual meditations. If you’d like to write in to tell me about something that is ch...2025-01-1712 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaRest a while - Visual meditationDear readers, I hope you enjoy this meditation, which I wrote while thinking about a time of year when there can be many pressures. It is accompanied by a video from my home in Harris, and the music was a commissioned piece by Will Collant. Sending love, Margaret Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe2024-12-2101 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaUsing plants and the outdoors for creativity and healing with A.S ApothecarySend us a textA. S. Apothecary is a crofting enterprise based on the Isle of Harris. Their work is deeply rooted in the ethos of therapeutic plant work. Join Margaret as she talks to Amanda who is the founder, plantswoman and gatherer, distiller and creative force behind A.S Apothecary.This chat gently guides you through the process of how they cultivate a diverse range of therapeutic plants on their croft organically. They grown lush plants on the croft and in a huge greenhouse which 'meanders like a garden' inside. Hear how they wild...2024-08-2928 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaAre you a highly sensitive person?Send us a textDr Marie-Lise Schlappy joins me to chat about HSP's ( Highly Sensitive Persons.) HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron who has written several books on the subject. You can find more on her website https://hsperson.com/We chat about how the traits are different to introversion, but a large proportion of introverts are HSP's Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about n...2024-08-1737 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaEmbracing a slower creative life, how to soothe the nervous system and find inspiration for creativitySend us a textA solo episode from Margaret recorded out by the water with bird sounds in the background. Living more slowly and in tune with nature and how silence and nature sounds help soothe the nervous system. Cooking and baking and other creative activities that help slow down and live better. Documenting the wildlife and flowers that surrounds me in a small area around my house. Why creativity is important - it gives you the tools for coping and releasing emotions during difficult times in life. Making a date with being creative and al...2024-06-2815 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaAuthenticity and Self-Expression in Photography with Bill WardSend us a textIn this conversation, Margaret Soraya interviews Bill Ward about his approach to photography, specifically his use of intentional camera movement (ICM) and his connection to water. They discuss the importance of being open and generous in the photography community, as well as the role of movement in both acting and photography. Bill explains how movement is central to his photography and how intentional camera movement allows him to add his own unique touch to his images. They also explore the relationship between a photographer's personality and their photographic style, emphasizing the importance of...2024-06-1257 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaThoughts on overthinking and journalling - recorded out on the kayak in HarrisSend us a textOut on the kayak on the Isle of Harris, Margaret shares her thoughts along with the sounds of the birds and the water all around. Immerse into the peace and quiet of the early morning on the island with Margaret. Margaret shares thoughts about overwhelm and how to narrow down which channels to use for yourself. A comment on Neale James' recent podcast with Sean Tucker where they chat about overthinking and how to learn to listen to your own intuition and not be distracted by whether your art or...2024-05-0918 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaIdeas for rest, regeneration and meditative endeavours for burn outSend us a textListen in to Margaret as she shares her thoughts on this period of rest, regeneration, and self-compassion that she has been practicing recently.She covers numerous topics and, in her own unique way, explains how she has consciously slowed her life down, prioritizing rest recuperation and meditation, which she instinctively knows is needed for her well-being. Sometimes, that space to breathe and not to be doing, reading and mindful activities can really spark creativity and thought processes back into action. She is particularly enjoying listening to the sounds of n...2024-04-2616 min
The PhotowalkPhotography reset my life: two powerful storiesAs we walk today, two guests feature in the show. Photographer and creative retreat mentor Margaret Soraya from the Isle of Harris shares how the arts have helped her mental health immeasurably during a period of grief following the passing of her mother. Former school deputy head Emily Renier, now Fujifilm UK's latest ambassador, recounts how a mental breakdown reset her life both creatively and spiritually. Also on the show today, how the recent eclipse seems to have brought people together, why AI possibly isn’t the monster to hide behind the sofa from, and recharging batteries in...2024-04-191h 34
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaLand Art: A Journey of Mindfulness and Connection with Laurence WinramJoin Margaret whilst she chats with Laurence Winram, a professional photographer from Aberdeen and now based in Edinburgh. It's fascinating to hear how he balances his diverse commercial and unusual creative work. Laurence describes in detail how he creates his beautiful land art At these times, he is embracing the moment, whilst practising gratitude and mindfulness. He loves the connection to nature. He creates his design, takes the image and within hours the scene can degrade and be returned to nature.Enjoy this gentle insight into Laurence's life. it will make you think. Be sure to tap into his @shaped...2024-04-0535 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaUsing quiet times & creativity for healing - in Kerala, IndiaSend us a textJoin Margaret as she introduces us to some sounds, thoughts and feelings she experienced during her recent trip to Kerala, India.Since 2016, she has regularly headed to India for Ayurvedic treatments and the time felt right for her to return this March . She explains how her time there helped with ongoing feelings of grief, gave her space to write and to think and, as always, use creativity as an outlet. A calming, thoughtful reflection of her time at this retreat.Sign up to the next Creative...2024-03-2317 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaAnni Townend encourages us to walk and have 'mini adventures' each dayAnni Townend is a Leadership Partner, Coach and Mentor to Executive Teams and Senior Leaders, as well as being an Author, Facilitator, and Entrepreneur and Podcast Host of Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend.Join Margaret as they talk about the benefits of walking and talking. Anni explains that walking is one of the ways in which she renews herself and this has always been a criteria for her when deciding where she lives.They further explore the equation of creativity, collaboration and conversation. A really inspirational chat which shouldn't be missed as it emphasises the importance of finding an...2024-03-0439 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret Soraya5 things that I have done to navigate a difficult time in lifeSend us a Text Message.Listen in to Margaret explain how she is navigating the various stages of grief she is experiencing. As always she instinctively turns to creativity and nature, whilst at all times listening to what her body needs, tuning in to what makes her feel better.Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven c...2024-02-0308 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaLean into what you enjoy rather than what you should be doing at ChristmasSend us a textThoughts around self-care and well-being at Christmas - a solo episode with Margaret Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margaretsoraya/ Join my online Creative Haven community :https://creative-haven.newzenler.com Get full access to Quiet Moments at margaretsoraya.substack.com/subscribe2023-12-2309 min
Creative Soundscapes with Margaret SorayaRoundup of the Creative Light Festival and new dates announcedSend us a textA roundup of the Creative Light Festival, its speakers, masterclasses, and activities. Snippets from Christina Golian's 'Spark Your Creativity' masterclass, an extract from Lisa Paulson and an exciting announcement about future festival dates that you can look forward to - the 2024 event at Broughton Sanctuary and a community-focused 2025 event in Harris. You can see details of the new festivals here Sign up to the next Creative Light Festival here: https://creative-light.co.uk/ Sign up to my newsletter to hear first about new retreats: ...2023-12-0819 min
SheClicks Women in PhotographyMargaret Soraya: Finding Your Creative VoiceSend us a textIn this SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast episode, host Angela Nicholson chats with landscape and wedding photographer and workshop leader Margaret Soraya to discuss her creative journey. Margaret now lives on the remote Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, where she finds daily inspiration in the natural beauty around her.Margaret paints a picture of her daily walks along the shoreline, taking in the sweeping coastal views. She discusses how moving to Harris full-time in early 2023 has allowed her to immerse herself in the landscape truly....2023-12-0156 min