Collaborative Canvas

Dec 7, 2025
3 min read

This episode felt extra special, not just because of the conversation, but because of who I got to have it with… Chris, my creative partner, behind-the-scenes visionary, and someone I love deeply joined me for an episode of Circle Conversations to talk about something close to both of our hearts, the power of collaboration. If you’ve been following the podcast, you’ve likely heard me mention him. He’s the one behind the camera, behind the soundboard, behind the scenes of nearly every episode. But this time, he stepped in front of the mic. And what came out was such a thoughtful, grounding, and honest conversation about what it really means to create with someone. I can also feel, see and hear myself getting more comfortable as we create more episodes.

Chris works in the film industry which has an environment where collaboration is everything. From the lighting tech to the director to the person holding the boom mic, it takes a team to tell a story. And he’s carried that spirit of comradery and creative alignment into everything he does, including our work together. In this episode, we talked about the beauty (and challenges) of building something together. About what it means to hold space for each other’s ideas, to trust each other’s instincts, and to share a vision while allowing space for individual expression. There’s a rhythm to collaboration especially when you're creating with someone you care about. It’s not always easy. Sometimes there are different approaches, creative tensions, or moments where one person is in a different flow than the other. But there’s also a kind of magic that happens when both people are committed to the same why. And Chris and I have always shared that we’re both in it for the story. For the emotion. For the healing. For the feeling that something we create might help someone feel seen.

What creating together has taught me

Working with Chris has taught me that collaboration doesn’t mean sacrificing your vision, it means expanding it.

It means trusting someone else to help carry it.

To add layers to it.

To elevate it in ways you couldn’t have done alone.

There’s a deep vulnerability in that. Letting someone into your creative process, your ideas, your unfinished drafts. But when it’s safe, when it’s mutual, when it’s rooted in respect, it becomes less about control and more about connection. Chris sees angles I miss. He brings clarity to chaos. He finds soundscapes that make emotions land. He’s helped shape this podcast not just technically, but emotionally. And I think we need to talk about that kind of behind-the-scenes work more often. The quiet builders. The people who make sure the mic is clear, the lighting is right, the atmosphere feels warm. They’re part of the story, too.

Teamwork in Art & Life

Beyond our collaboration on the podcast, Chris runs his own businesses each centered around teamwork, storytelling, and creating experiences that linger. Whether he’s filming a scene, running a production, or supporting this little corner of Create Space, his presence reminds me that creativity doesn’t have to be a solo act. In fact, some of the most powerful art is made when multiple hearts are involved. Sometimes, the deepest healing comes from being witnessed and not just by your audience, but by your creative partners. By the people who show up, over and over again, with camera in hand and heart fully in it.

A Thank You

So, this post is part recap, part gratitude letter.

To Chris.

To creative partners everywhere.

To the people who don’t always show up in front of the mic, but who shape the story all the same.

Creating can be lonely. But it doesn't have to be.

You don't have to build your dream in isolation.

And if you're lucky enough to create alongside someone who believes in what you're doing, honor that. Nurture it. Let it stretch you.

Because creativity, at its best, isn’t just self-expression.

It’s shared expression.

And this episode? This season? This whole vision?

It’s stronger because of him.