Creativity, Curiosity, and the Path Back to Agency w/ Nancy Norbeck

In this episode, Danielle sits down with creativity coach and podcast host Nancy Norbeck to explore the deep connection between curiosity, creativity, and agency in a time when many people feel burned out, disconnected, and uncertain about the future. Together, they unpack how creativity is not just an artistic practice but a fundamental human capacity tied to leadership, problem-solving, and personal energy. Nancy shares what she has learned from over 300 podcast conversations about how early encouragement shapes our relationship to creativity and how losing access to play impacts our sense of self and possibility. The conversation also moves into the broader cultural moment, examining how a loss of agency shows up in society and what it means for our collective ability to imagine and create change. This episode invites a rethinking of creativity as both a personal resource and a form of resistance that supports connection, trust, and meaningful action. If you’ve been feeling tired, stuck, or unsure of how to move forward, this conversation speaks directly to you. It names the quiet loss of play and imagination that many people carry and offers a way back that is both simple and powerful. You’ll walk away with a renewed sense that your curiosity and creativity are not extra; they are essential to how you lead, connect, and show up in the world. GUEST BIO Nancy Norbeck is a creativity coach, workshop facilitator, and host of the Follow Your Curiosity podcast. She helps people move through creative blocks like perfectionism, comparison, and procrastination so they can reconnect with their natural creativity. Through her work, Nancy explores how curiosity fuels both personal growth and meaningful connection, drawing from hundreds of conversations with creatives and professionals across industries. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How to reconnect with your creativity as a source of energy rather than something that drains you Why curiosity is essential to leadership, problem-solving, and staying engaged in your life What it really costs you when you disconnect from play and imagination How small acts of creativity can restore your sense of agency and possibility Practical ways to build connection and reduce disconnection through everyday curiosity RESOURCES MENTIONED Follow Your Curiosity podcast: https://fycuriosity.com    Nancy Norbeck’s monthly Creativity Circle One Lock One Key coaching session Imagination Lab (for youth and upcoming adult programs) Follow on Social: @fycuriosity