Finding Creativity in the Middle of Real Life: The 'Create Anyway' Mindset with Ashlee Gadd

Do you ever wonder if the small creative things you do actually matter? Do you believe creativity is a luxury reserved for people with more time, more talent, or more perfect circumstances?

In this episode, I sit down with Ashley Gadd—author of Create Anyway and founder of Coffee and Crumbs—to talk about what it really means to create in the midst of real life. We dive into why your messy, ordinary days are actually the perfect place to start creating, how rest is an act of faith (not something you have to earn), and why going where the energy and "light" is matters more than forcing consistency.

Ashley shares honest, encouraging wisdom about pivoting when things aren't working, the freedom of making art without monetizing it, and how cheering for other creatives is the best antidote to comparison. If you've ever felt like your creative efforts are too small to matter, this conversation will remind you that your work is rippling out further than you'll ever know.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

• Why creativity isn't reserved for people with extra time, talent or perfect circumstances - it's reserved for "real life"
• How your creative work reaches further than you'll ever know - an seemingly invisible ripple effect
• Rest as a radical act of faith and surrender (not something you earn through productivity)
• Giving yourself permission to pivot, change course, and let unfinished things be a gift!
• The difference between being consistent with your quality vs. your quantity
• Why you don't have to monetize your creativity
•  How we're loved regardless of what we do or accomplish in this world 
• How celebrating other creatives kills the comparison trap
• Ashley's almost 10 year journey with Coffee and Crumbs and slowing down to honor the craft of writing

Guest Bio: Ashley Gadd is a mom, writer, photographer, and the author of Create Anyway. She's also the founder of Coffee and Crumbs, an online community celebrating the intersection of motherhood and creativity. 

Resources Mentioned:

• Create Anyway by Ashley Gadd
• Coffee and Crumbs: coffeeandcrumbs.com
• You're in Good Company:The Gift of Friendship, Motherhood and Showing Up (New book coming March 17, 2026)

Connect with Ashley: @coffeeandcrumbs @ashleegadd

6 Encouraging Takeaways:

1. You ARE creative—and you don't have to monetize it to make it valid.
2. Your creative work reaches further than you'll ever know.
3. Rest isn't something you earn—it's a gift and an act of faith.
4. Unfinished things can be a gift, too. 
5. You are loved regardless of anything you accomplish. 
6. Throw "glitter" on the people around you—cheer loudly for other creatives by sharing, celebrating, and lifting up their work. The more generously you celebrate others, the less you'll struggle with comparison and more likely you'll leave a creative legacy—being the person or platform that lifted up others.

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Leave a review and help these encouraging conversations reach more people. Lastly, come follow along on Instagram @annicafischer