Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast

About Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast

Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a podcast from Creative Collective that amplifies the voices and stories of women entrepreneurs who are members of the Creative Collective. In each episode, host Mikki Wilson sits down with a woman business owner from the Creative Collective community to explore her unique journey, what drives her, and where she's headed next. Local economies thrive when women's authentic experiences are shared and celebrated. That's why this podcast goes beyond polished success stories to explore the real challenges, unexpected pivots, and genuine moments of inspiration that shape the entrepreneurial paths of Creative Collective members. Our guests share candidly about: Their unexpected paths to entrepreneurship and business ownership The "messy middles" are rarely seen on social media or marketing materials How the Creative Collective community supports women's business journeys Navigating the unique challenges women face in building creative enterprises Finding their authentic voice and leadership style in their industries Whether you're a woman entrepreneur yourself, a supporter of women-owned businesses, or simply curious about the women behind local creative enterprises, this podcast offers honest insights into what it really takes for women to build something with intention and heart in today's business landscape. Produced By: Randyll Collum produces this podcast for Peabody TV in partnership with Creative Collective. Creative Collective is a business support program that provides modern resources, strategy, and connections for small businesses and creators, because building something meaningful doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Learn more at creativecollectivema.com.

Publisher

Creative Collective in Collaboration with Peabody TV

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 May 2025

Latest episode

4 Nov 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Nov 2026

   There's Always a Way: The Woman Behind the Characters with Jennica McCleary

   Mikki is joined by her friend Jennica McCleary, the actress, singer and performer behind Bette Midler tribute performances, years as Winifred Sanderson, and Rock Cauldron Cabaret, the jukebox musical she created and has been running for eight years. Mikki wants to meet the woman behind those larger-than-life characters, and, as she puts it, Jennica "is larger than life herself. Jennica's one person, place and thing: her mother, who taught her to sing and became her stage manager; backstage at the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game, where she learned how a production really runs; and her experience as a breast cancer survivor, a diagnosis she accepted "as meant for me and meant to change me and help me grow." She talks about the show-must-go-on instinct ("There's always a way"), an ordinary Tuesday of stretching, vocal warmups and porch sparrows, her dog Freddy, turning a non-performance space at Shetland Park into a home for the show, and No Things November. Then the next chapter: working toward certification as a death doula, and why "the conversation about death needs to change." She shares what 15-year-old Jennica would love most about her now, previews a solo cruise ship act and the return of her character Jennica Catastrophe, and Mikki's Book of Shadows prop inspires a few bars of Florence + the Machine. Key Topics Discussed One person, one place, one thing: a musical mother, The Pajama Game backstage, and a diagnosis that changed her The show must go on, and "there's always a way" Why a self-produced show is not a vanity project An ordinary Tuesday: warmups, journaling, porch sparrows and Freddy Meeting Mikki at a Creative Collective coffee, and an eight-month whirlwind move to Salem Turning a non-performance space at Shetland Park into a home for Rock Cauldron Cabaret No Things November and what rest looks like after the run Working toward death doula certification, and changing the conversation about death What 15-year-old Jennica would love most: being comfortable in her own skin About the Guest Jennica McCleary is an actress, singer and performer now based in Salem. Known for her Bette Midler tribute performances and for playing Winifred Sanderson for more than a decade, she opened Disney's Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular in 2015. She created and produces Rock Cauldron Cabaret, a live-singing jukebox musical parody starring the Sanderson Sisters, which has been running for eight years and now calls Shetland Park in Salem home. She is working toward certification as a death doula. About the Podcast Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson is a Creative Collective podcast that preserves and shares the stories of remarkable women connected to the North Shore community. Hosted by Mikki Wilson, founder of Dot Connector Consulting. Produced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV. Sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry. Connect with Jennica McCleary and Rock Cauldron Cabaret Website: https://www.rockcauldroncabaret.com Tickets and Salem shows: https://www.rockcauldroncabaret.com/live-shows-salem-ma Venue: Shetland Park, 35 Congress Street, Building 2, Salem, MA Venue Details: https://www.rockcauldroncabaret.com/venue-info Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockcauldroncabaret/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rockcauldroncabaret Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockcauldroncabaret Rock Cauldron Cabaret is in Salem each fall; follow along for what's next, including 2027.

2. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Creativity Connects: Finding Company in the Weird — A Stephanie of All Trades with Stephanie DeLeeuw

   Season 2, Episode 4 of Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson. Mikki is joined by her friend Stephanie DeLeeuw, community manager at The Hive Workspace in downtown Salem, and quickly learns the title only tells one tiny piece of her story. Stephanie has worked across hospitality, education, and community engagement; she podcasts, dances, has done voiceover work, and loves languages, and the two discover they both spent time at Temple University. Stephanie shares her philosophy that each of us is "a culmination of every single thing that's ever happened to us," the godmother who taught her to fix cars and replace shingles, and the year at Temple Rome that showed her she was "pretty fierce." She talks about being an eternal student, going to PAX East with Take This, a mental health organization for gamers, growing up with Indonesian and Dutch at home, and her advice for language learners: immerse yourself and don't be afraid to make mistakes. In the lightning round she covers dance, her pets, The Giver, fantasy novels, and what people outside gaming miss: "finding company in the weird." Then Mikki's jar of motherly advice meets the handmade smile capsules Stephanie got from her aunt, and Stephanie explains why a gift is really about the giver. Chapters00:00 Welcome, Stephanie DeLeeuw03:18 One person: the godmother who climbed trees06:25 Temple days: the Owl shirt, Hofstra and Temple Rome12:26 A Stephanie of all trades16:00 Languages, culture and immersion21:16 The Giver, and coming into herself in Salem26:14 Podcasting, nerding out and Marvel29:10 Lightning round: dance, cats, games and books38:14 Prop moment: motherly advice and smile capsules46:55 Where to find Stephanie and The Hive Connect with Stephanie DeLeeuw and The Hive WorkspaceThe Hive Workspace: https://www.thehiveworkspace.com227 Washington Street, Salem, MA 01970Phone: 978-306-7870Stephanie is usually on site Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Podcast, The Nerd Godz: https://linktr.ee/thenerdgodzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.e.dl5716/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-deleeuw-215s547d3468ll Connect with Creative CollectiveWebsite: https://creativecollectivema.com/Membership: https://creativecollectivema.com/join/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creativecollectivema/ and https://www.instagram.com/creativecollectiveexplores/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativecollectivema/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creativecollectivemaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-collective-ma/ Mentioned in this episodeTake This: https://www.takethis.org/PAX East: https://east.paxsite.com/Temple Rome: https://rome.temple.edu/The Giver by Lois Lowry; Paladin of Souls and The Hallowed HuntSeason 1 guests: Lauren of Glamour Possum (https://www.glamourpossum.com/) and Robyn Burns of The Salem Pantry (https://thesalempantry.org/)"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." — Ralph Waldo Emerson (the smile-capsule scroll Mikki reads) Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1W4zfHnul7CAJzvBkYjKKBCover photo of Stephanie by Courtney Brooke (@light_witch) Hosted by Mikki Wilson, founder of Dot Connector ConsultingProduced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV, your community media center serving the residents and businesses of Peabody and the North Shore area. Learn more at https://peabodytv.org/ Sponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine JewelryA Creative Collective podcast. Creative Collective is a business support program that provides modern resources, strategy, and connections for small businesses and creators, because building something meaningful doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Learn more at creativecollectivema.com

3. 

   28 Sept 2026

   Katie Kimball Dyer: Little Drops of Happiness — Leading with Heart

   Season 2, Episode 3 of Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson. Mikki is joined by her friend Katie Kimball Dyer, a financial advisor and business owner who also hosts her own podcast, The Heart of Finance. Mikki sets the work aside to get to the stories, experiences, and quirks that shaped who Katie is. Katie talks about Auntie Norma, the childhood nanny her family "just kept"; a solo study abroad in London, where she promised herself she would not mask and found that people liked the unmasked Katie; and a Girl Scout sailing camp at 14 that turned into a job as a sailing instructor the week she got home.By 17 she was directing an adult sailing program and standing by her own weather calls, lessons in trusting her instincts that now make her quicker to trust younger people. Then Mikki's guest prop comes out, a rubber duck, and Katie explains Jeep ducking and the "little drops of happiness" she leaves for strangers, the blessing bags she keeps in her car, and why seeing the person matters more than anything in the bag. They also cover the Game of Thrones story behind "Katie Stormborn," whether she is more head or heart, and the person who keeps her feet on the ground.Chapters00:00 Welcome, Katie Kimball Dyer01:48 One person: Auntie Norma02:38 One place: London, unmasked05:09 One thing: learning to sail at 1409:03 Leading at 1712:45 The rubber duck prop: Jeep ducking18:04 Blessing bags and a car ready for anything24:26 Katie Stormborn27:18 Head or heart?32:10 The Heart of Finance and where to find Katie Connect with Katie Kimball DyerThe Heart of Finance: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.heartoffinance.com/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=EInstagram: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/katiestormborn/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=ELinkedIn: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekimballdyer&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=EConnect with Creative CollectiveWebsite: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://creativecollectivema.com/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E Membership: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://creativecollectivema.com/join/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E Instagram: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/creativecollectivema/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E and https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/creativecollectiveexplores/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E Facebook: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/creativecollectivema/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E TikTok: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tiktok.com/@creativecollectivema&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E LinkedIn: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-collective-ma/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=EMentioned in this episodeGirl Scouts: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.girlscouts.org/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E Mikki's previous guest, Ainsley Keating: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://creativecollectivema.com/a-woman-becoming-ainsley-keating/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=EHosted by Mikki Wilson, founder of Dot Connector ConsultingProduced by Randyll Collum for Peabody TV, your community media center serving the residents and businesses of Peabody and the North Shore area. Learn more at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://peabodytv.org/&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=ESponsored by Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry A Creative Collective podcast. Creative Collective is a business support program that provides modern resources, strategy, and connections for small businesses and creators, because building something meaningful doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Learn more at https://www.google.com/url?q=http://creativecollectivema.com&source=gmail&ust=1790440057246000&sa=E

Who has been a guest on Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Shanel Anderson
• Amber Newbury
• Laurie Moran
• Jenni Stuart

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 17 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

35

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact Creativity Connects with Mikki Wilson: A Creative Collective Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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