Dana Bowman Creative

Start a podcast they said. It’ll be easy they said.

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Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash
This is not actually me or my office. This is a stunt podcaster and her stunt office.

Back in the day I just used to write stuff.

But now I’ve basically turned into Steven Spielberg.

Here’s how that happened: I was at a writer’s conference back in the days of long ago when things like that happened, and I figured… Hey I should start a podcast.

Did I know exactly WHAT my pod would be about? No. Of course not. I just figured people would like the sound of my voice.

I realized, pretty soon, that the sound of my voice is really annoying in a sort of tired Minnie Mouse kind of way. Minnie Mouse who has sort of given up and wears sweats a lot and leans on things and says things like, “It is what it is.” That kinda vibe.

But I kept going. First of all, I decided on a topic because otherwise it’s sort of like getting your car keys, going out to your car and then saying “Tally ho!” and heading off a cliff. Figuratively. Not literally. No cliffs in my real life.

Topic: Creativity and Recovery. Done. Easy Peasy Podcast Squeezy.

So NOW all I have to do is… I decided to um… What I need to do next is… well this is where it gets kinda tricky.

“Kinda tricky” = MAJOR UNDERSTATEMENT. HOLY COW.

So, podcasts. *sits down and clasps hands and takes a deep breath then slowly slides off chair onto the floor into a puddle*

Um. Here’s this list:

publishing platforms, recording devices, audacity? garageband? big mics that cost 300$? we transfer, earbuds no, stealing headphones from my boys, ok I’ll buy real headphones, somehow i also ended up with a ring light which makes me glowy and ethereal so i’m here for it, there’s a weird ticking noise on my recording, my voice now has an echo like i’m in a well, i’m actually in a well or despair, graphics i need graphics, how DO i get the @##$$ loop thing to turn off i don’t want to repeat myself anymore than I already do, how DO i get the @##$$ loop thing to turn off i don’t want to repeat myself anymore than I already do, i do actually need to feed my children in here somehow, the dogs get really excited when i turn the mic thingie on, the mic thingie is on but I can’t hear myself, mailchimp is the devil, libsyn or podbean or buzzsprout oh my, music intros, music outtros, what is an outro and how do you spell it, wordpress, youtube tutorials, so many tutorials, itunes, spotify, skitcher, more tutorials, and I got vaccinated and was completely sick for two days so i forgot how to do any of this and had to go back and rewatch all the tutorials.

Deep breath.

The work continues my friends. Pie and Coffee is being recorded and yes miracles do happen. And now I’m off to watch another tutorial. This one is about how to help your cat Steve lose weight, but still.

I want to have Pie and Coffee with you. Here’s why.

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Photo by Lee Cartledge on Unsplash

It’s my mom’s fault.

My mom makes a peaches and cream pie that tastes like the peaches were blessed by Jesus. Like, he’s up in heaven, just fishing with his buddies, and then stops and says, “Hold on. Julie is making a pie. I’ll be right back.” Also, my sister makes the World’s Best Apple Pie because she learned from Julie the Queen of All the Pies. And on and on. *

Ya’ll. I am serious about pie.

But, really, this is a blog about sobriety. And pie. Because together? They go to eleven.

Yes, that is a Spinal Tap reference. If you know, you know.

When I got sober, I met a bunch of old-timers in my recovery group (You might know us; we are at the front of the phone book), and they kept talking about this unicorny thing called “the meeting after the meeting.”

I had two boys under the age of four. Very rarely did I attend a meeting without zipping straight home afterwards because I was secretly convinced the boys would tie up the husband and get a driver’s permit between the two of them, and head for Vegas.

Incidentally, I was learning in recovery about my tendency to over exaggerate just a teensy-tinsy bit. Progress not perfection, folks.

But deep down, I longed for this meeting after the meeting business. As soon as I walked in the door to my group I could take a breath. A deep one. My insides matched my outsides. I felt at home and at peace. It was a pie and coffee situation all up in here. I wanted this feeling to last.

So, here we are. Cue my coffeeshop dreams.

So, why should we meet for Pie and Coffee?

  1. We’re all in recovery from something. Join us at the table.
  2. It’s a safe place. There’s some music and lots of sugar and we can talk without weirdness. Sad and happy stuff. The beginnings and the ends. The middles. The all of it.
  3. You know when you would go out for a bite to eat with your friends and you felt comfortable enough to slide your slice of lemon meringue pie across the table because it was just that good and you just have to share? That’s here.
  4. Lingering is fully accepted and expected. It’s like that Cranberries song, but without the angst.
  5. We savor life and all of its flavors. Yes that sounds cheesy. But, honestly, when I got sober I felt like all of life had more color. More flavor. More… MORE-ness. When I got sober I went in search of the absolute best recipe for strawberry shortcake. Yes, it’s not pie. But the analogy stands. I wanted all the flavors and there was a lot of joy in all that whipped cream.
  6. I have never laughed more than with my sober peeps. Once, at a meeting, I laughed so hard I snorted coffee through my nose. Since it was meeting-coffee, it was tepid, so that saved me and my sinuses. There was a lot of pain still, but it was worth it.
  7. This is the kind of place where folks can lean back and rest. It’s comfy. You wear your elastic pants and a hoodie. Bra optional.
  8. Overtipping happens on the regular here. Generosity. Service. Helping others. That kind of thing. It’s a “pass it on” kinda place. Also, I used to be a waitress and it was the only job where I got fired. I was lousy. I believe overtipping, both in life and figuratively, helps restore the balance. Or something like that. If you are still following me here you are my people.
  9. I don’t think I have ever had better conversations than late at night ones over a hot cup of coffee in a heavy white mug. This is where we listen. We lean in to each other. We share the bill. We say things like, “We need to do this more often,” and we actually mean it.
  10. We share dreams.

Pie and Coffee is a place where I share how creativity saved my life. When I got sober, I faced the void of me (without wine.. who am I?) and then I started, slowly… to fill it. Dreams started slowly unfurling their little ferny leaves, and then they started actually coming true. That’s what accessing whimsy on a daily basis can do, folks.

And, I started diving into research about neuroplasticity, and how my brain really really wants me to get better, every day. Guys, our brains? They are on our side. If they could, they would wear little brain-sized jerseys with our names on it. My brain? It’s rooting for me.

Which leads me back to the most science-y statement I have ever made:

Creativity makes my brain just go better.

I know. I don’t know why I didn’t pursue a career in science-y stuff. Cleary I have the gift.

Ok, so who wants to get Pie and Coffee with me? Join me for lots of talk on recovery, creativity, community, and healing. Also, we will laugh. That is mandatory.

And occasionally, share some really good pie recipes. Like this one. You’re welcome. Or about the time I had to have a pie intervention. It’s true.

*If you haven’t caught on… hyperbole is my jam. Million dollar jam that is the most important jam in history of jam.