When Creativity Is Waiting in the Wings (with Helena Holrick)
The Creative Switch · Nikki Vallance
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Show Notes
What if your creativity isn’t blocked—but waiting for better support?
In this Season 3 finale, I reflect on the conditions that have emerged across the season as essential for creative living, and why support so often makes the difference when creativity feels sidelined.
Creativity coach Helena Holrick helps me explore practical ways of supporting your creativity, from making a small, intentional space to recognising when pushing harder isn’t the answer.
And I share an exciting new way to find the right kind of creative support when you need it most.
Guest Bio:
Helena Holrick is a coach, mentor, and facilitator who supports creative individuals, entrepreneurs and business leaders to grow with clarity, confidence, and integrity.
She is the founder of Helping You Shine, a practice established in 2011 to help people stop hiding, honour their talents, and build success in ways that feel sustainable and true. Helena works with individuals who are often capable and experienced yet find themselves at a point of transition — questioning how they want to work, lead, and live next.
With over 30 years’ experience across organisational development, leadership, and entrepreneurship, Helena brings a rare blend of strategic thinking and deep human insight. She has trained and facilitated thousands of people across diverse organisations and coached hundreds of entrepreneurs, speakers, and thought leaders. Her work is known for being both spacious and practical: conversations don’t stay theoretical, they lead to grounded decisions, next steps, and real accountability.
Helena is trained in a wide range of tools and models including Clean Language, NLP, and Strategy on a Page, and she is an ILM Level 7 qualified Master Coach. She is particularly sought out by people who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or at the end of their tether, and who want support that goes beyond strategy alone.
She is the creator of The SHINE Effect — a practical framework centred on five core needs: Safe, Happy, Inspired, Needed, and Expressed. Through this work, Helena helps people redefine success so it is manageable, meaningful, and genuinely life-enhancing.
Alongside her coaching and facilitation work, Helena hosts the Fire Up & Feel Alive Hub, a community and resource space for those who want to grow with intention, creativity, and care, in a safe, expansive environment where they can flourish.
Episode Chapters with time stamps:
Chapters:
00:16 - Closing Reflections on Season Three
07:13 - Exploring the Theme of Support in Creativity
16:02 - Embracing Creativity: Overcoming Excuses and Finding Time
21:46 - Creating a Rhythm for Creativity
26:05 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Permission Issues
30:53 - The Nature of Creativity and Support
37:50 - Exploring Creativity and AI Collaboration
44:18 - Creative Pit Crew and Supporting Your Creative Journey
Four Creative Nuggets:
“The chances are that you’ve forgotten how to be excited.”
— Helena Holrick
“The trick is to make a 20‑minute date with yourself.”
— Helena Holrick
“If everyone else is allowed, why aren’t you?”
— Helena Holrick
“You put all the gremlin thoughts in the bag and you just go, I can revisit those in a minute.”
— Helena Holrick
Links:
Helena
https://www.helpingyoushine.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenaholrick/
https://www.instagram.com/helenaholrick/
Nikki Vallance
https://nikkivallance.com/the-creative-switch-podcast/
https://www.nikkivallance.com/
https://www.instagram.com/nikki_vallance/
https://podchaser.com/TheCreativeSwitch/
Afflliate Links
Alitu: https://alitu.com?fp_ref=nikki-53
Captivate: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=njg4ytq