Has there been a time in your life when you wanted to make changes? If you're changing something about your vocation and passion we are the podcast to help motivate you. Our focus is on interviewing people who have made life changing transitions
Shift Stirrers – Michellè Benson-Find inspiration with the eyes of a child
Send us Fan Mail Shift Stirrers – Michellè Benson-Find inspiration with the eyes of a child Michellè Benson has just returned from Christmas Island, and her creative cup is overflowing. Rosemary turns the tables and puts her co-host in the chair to talk about what happens when an artist goes looking for inspiration — and what finds her instead. From red crab shells to volcanic rock to water frozen mid-air from a blowhole, Michelle shares how a photography course on one of Australia's most rem...
9 Jun 2026
Shift Stirrers – Rosemary & Michelle Out and about – Vivian Westwood
Send us Fan Mail Shift Stirrers – Rosemary & Michelle Out and about – Vivian Westwood In this "Out and About" episode, Michelle and Rosemary visit the Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. Armed with clipboards and a structured critique framework from the Daring Artists Group, they walk through decades of Westwood's revolutionary fashion - from punk rebellion and parachute harnesses to powerful power suits and exquisite ball gowns. We explore W...
26 May 2026
Shift Stirrers – Jenny Croom – Paint like a 5 year old
Send us Fan Mail Shift Stirrers – Jenny Croom – Paint like a 5 year old In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Croom, winner of Australia's first Portrait Artist of the Year competition in 2025. Recording in her beautiful home on the lakes, surrounded by her paintings, Jenny takes us through her journey from painting window ledges in her husband's dark electronics shop to winning a national competition and having her work hang in the National Portrait Gallery. We discover how returning to Au...
13 May 2026
Shift Stirrers – Julie Cliff - One Space at a Time
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we meet Julie Cliff, a professional organizer with an unexpected journey - from cooking for her family at age 7 on a country farm, to becoming Melbourne Storm's first female life member, to running her own decluttering business. The twist? Julie isn't "naturally organized" - she taught herself because she couldn't stand the mess! We challenge Julie with our Creative Chaos Challenge: helping a hypothetical ceramic artist drowning in clay dust, mystery glazes, ...
29 Apr 2026
Shift Stirrers - Lygon St Market - The day the battery on the camera died
Send us Fan Mail In this "Out and About" episode, we headed to Lygon Street Market on Easter Sunday with big plans to interview makers for their upcoming Mother's Day market - and things didn't quite go to plan! The market was so busy that stallholders were run off their feet selling, our camera battery died mid-interviews, and Michelle was juggling her own stall while trying to film. But here's the thing: a market too busy to interview people is actually the best kind of problem to ha...
15 Apr 2026
Shift Stirrers – Setting Up a gallery exhibition.
Send us Fan Mail Shift Stirrers – Setting Up a gallery exhibition. In this special episode recorded live in Michelle's studio, we sit down with sculptural artist Dana Falcini and ceramic artist Anna Battersby to talk about what emerging artists really need to know when setting up their first gallery exhibition. From dealing with fragile materials like bone and gut to understanding lighting and spatial flow, Dana and Anna share hard-won wisdom about installation. We explore the power of "less ...
31 Mar 2026
Shift Stirrers - Mindful Living - Leila Davis
Send us Fan Mail Leila Davis Mindful Living We're so excited to introduce you to Leila Davis today. Leila's a ceramic artist in Brisbane, but before that she was a GP, and before that a psychotherapist helping professional women make big life transitions. So she's lived this transformation thing from every angle - and her insights about the 'golden cage' we keep ourselves in, and why it's okay to choose joy, are going to hit home for a lot of you. https://www.leiladavis.com/ Instagram ...
17 Mar 2026
Shift Stirrers - Gray Tham never stay small and back your self
Send us Fan Mail Grey Tham is a photographer, a storyteller, a champion of women and the owner and principal photographer behind Simply Grey. Thank you for listening Speakover only Logo in place Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit that follow button so you'll get notified whenever we release new content. We'd love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at theshiftstirrers@gmail.com, or you can find our individual email...
Send us Fan Mail Unlocking Creativity In this engaging conversation, Catherine Deveny shares her insights on the transformative power of writing and creativity. She discusses her experiences running writing retreats, the importance of giving oneself permission to create, and the shift from being a writer to facilitating the creativity of others. Catherine emphasizes the significance of community, the ripple effect of creative expression, and practical steps for aspiring writers. She also refl...
18 Feb 2026
Shift Stirrers - Cath - Success is doing what you love.
Send us Fan Mail Shift Stirrers - Cath - Success is doing what you love. In this powerful episode of Shift Stirrers, Cath from Bent Wires shares her journey from research scientist to full-time jewelry maker - a transition that took dedication, strategy. Cath opens up about the realities of leaving a career she was good at but never loved, the importance of research and planning before launching a product-based business, and why she redefines success entirely. For Cath, success isn't ab...
3 Feb 2026
Shift Stirrers - Amelia Black - Noticing a moment in time
Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of the Shift Stirrers podcast, Amelia Black shares her journey from a corporate design background to becoming a ceramic artist in Australia. She discusses her experiences growing up in New Hampshire, her transition during the COVID pandemic, and the impact of a bike accident on her artistic journey. Amelia emphasizes the importance of community, trust, and embracing uncertainty in the creative process. She also reflects on the themes of time, relations...
18 Dec 2025
Artist Gifts, Philanthropy and Goal Planning
Send us Fan Mail Artist Gifts, Philanthropy and Goal Planning Show Notes keywords gift ideas, philanthropy, artists, goal setting, creative gifts, holiday season, community projects, ceramics, thoughtful gifts, wrapping ideas Summary In this episode, Michelle and Rosemary discuss the importance of thoughtful gift-giving, for artists. They explore various gift ideas, including gift vouchers, handmade items, and practical gifts that support artists' work. The conversation also delve...
9 Dec 2025
Shift Stirrers - Redefining Professional Practice with Amy Kennedy
Send us Fan Mail Redefining Professional Practice with Amy Kennedy Introduction: In the world of ceramics, every sculptor knows that the journey is as important as the destination. In this episode of our podcast, we sit down with Amy Kennedy, a seasoned ceramic artist and the founder of The Daring Artist. Amy shares her wisdom on the artistic process, the importance of mentorship, and the transformative power of clay. Thank you so much for listening to The Shift Stirrers podcast. ...
18 Nov 2025
Shift Stirrers - Showcasing Emerging Talent - Adam from RSAM
Send us Fan Mail Showcasing Emerging Talent - Adam from RSAM In this conversation, Adam Ferrante, founder of the Rose Street Market Group, shares his journey of establishing a platform for emerging artists and designers in Melbourne. He discusses the challenges and successes of transitioning from a hobbyist to a full-time artist, the importance of market engagement, and the financial realities of selling in markets. Adam emphasizes the need for self-belief, adaptability, and effective p...
6 Nov 2025
Episode one
Send us Fan Mail The Shift Stirrers Have you ever wanted to change something about your artistic vocation and passion for it to become your new career? Our podcast is about hearing the stories of people's journeys who have made this transition and our aim is to get you curious about what's out there for you. In this episode Michelle and Rosemary Interview each other so that you can get to know where they are coming form and how they have "Stirred the Shift" Thank you so much for listening to ...
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