Through The Creative Door

Alexis sits down with multidisciplinary artist Tams Hesz, whose work spans visual art, writing, movement and community connection. Best known as the creator of Soul Stories, Tams shares her journey from a professional dance career in Paris to building a creative business centred around emotion, empathy and human connection. Together they explore reinvention, the healing power of creativity, the importance of slowing down, and how art can help us reconnect with ourselves and each other.
 
Soul Stories Reset: https://themiddleofeverywhere.com.au/en/events/soul-stories-reset
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @  soul.stories
This episode was recorded on 17 July 2026 on the lands of the Kurnai Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
 
Creative resources:
https://soul-stories.com
Karen Tate’s “The Slow School Of Business” - https://ofkin.com/the-leap-stories-21-carolyn-tate/ 
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Maxon
Featured Vinyl:  Talking With Strangers
 
Alexis’ Hot Pick 
No Good For Me
Sam’s Hot Pick
18
Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://itsmemaxon.bandcamp.com/music 
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Co-Host: Sam Timmerman
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Voiceover: Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis sits down with Mienna Brookman, an emerging Australian musical theatre performer and dance educator. Mienna shares her journey through the world of performance, choreography, and teaching, and reflects on what it takes to build a career while inspiring the next generation of performers. From the rehearsal room to the classroom, this conversation explores creativity, resilience, and finding your place in the performing arts.
 
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @  mienna_brookie
This episode was recorded on 28/06/2026 on the lands of the Gulidjan Peoples Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
…
Creative resources:
 
 
 
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Gavin Bowles & The Distractions
Featured Vinyl:  ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?
 
Alexis’ Hot Pick 
Love Is Dumb
Sam’s Hot Pick
Damned
Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://gavinbowles.bandcamp.com/album/are-we-having-fun-yet 
Love Is Dumb (Official Music Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-mh-IvCoo 
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Co-Host: Sam Timmerman
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Voiceover: Ruby Miguel

Melbourne-based, partners and co-founders of Sandhill Records, our guests Nayomi Pattuwage and Maxon are passionate about artist development, recording, and supporting independent music projects. Nayomi is a songwriter, producer, audio engineer, visual artist and videographer who performs as Like Bear and runs Heaps Stoked Productions. Maxon is a singer-songwriter whose folk, Americana and '70s-inspired sound is known for its heartfelt songwriting and powerful vocals, showcased on her debut album Talking With Strangers.
We talk about creativity, collaboration, building a life and business together, and their exciting new project, Wakers, exploring what it takes to create meaningful art as both partners and collaborators. 
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; 
itsmemaxon
Soundslikebear
wakersmusic
sandhillrecords
heapsstoked
This episode was recorded on 13 June 2026 on the lands of the Boonwurrung Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
 
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Karnivool
Featured Vinyl: In Verses
 
Alexis’ Hot Pick 
Ghost
Sam’s Hot Pick
Remote Self Control
 
Aus Music Alert! Support this artists!!!
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Co-Host: Sam Timmerman
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Voiceover: Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Alexis chats with performer, choreographer, and creative Will Johnston. From his early dance training in Geelong to graduating from Oxygen College's Musical Theatre program, Will shares his journey through the performing arts, the shows that reignited his passion for theatre, and his work behind the scenes as a choreographer and director. Plus, all the juicy details about his unique creativity, collaboration, and why performance continues to inspire him both on and off the stage.
 
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @will d_johnston
 
This episode was recorded on 27 May 2026 on the lands of the Kaurna Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
 
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Primrose Path
Featured Vinyl:  Ruminations
 
Alexis’ Hot Pick 
Shifted
Sam’s Hot Pick
Obstruct
 
Aus Music Alert! Support this artists by purchasing this record via Bandcamp: https://primrosepathofficial.bandcamp.com/ 
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Co-Host: Sam Timmerman
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Voiceover: Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

In this episode, Alexis chats with Melbourne/Naarm-based AACTA nominated cinematographer (Try Colour Studios), with his career spanning film, music videos, commercial production circles and he is also the producer of Tones of Naarm.
If you’d like to see more, you can follow on instagram; @trycolour_studio @ tonesofnaarm
This episode was recorded on 11 May 2026 on the lands of the Woiworung  Peoples. We hope that this episode inspires you as a creative person and as a human being.
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for creative people to share their story and inspire others. Have you got someone in mind who would love to have a chat? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
 
 
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikToc: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel

Featured Artist: Quadeca
Featured Vinyl:  I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You
 
Alexis’ Hot Pick 
born yesterday
Sam’s Hot Pick
fantastyworld
 
Thanks for listening, catch you on the next episode.
Psst! We are always on the lookout for an artist's vinyl to listen to, have you got one in mind that we should check out? Get in contact with us via Instagram @throughthecreativedoor
Let’s get social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughthecreativedoor/ 
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttcdpodcast
 
CREDITS
Created and Hosted by Alexis Naylor
Co-Host: Sam Timmerman
Music by Alexis Naylor & Ruby Miguel
Voiceover: Ruby Miguel
Edited and Produced by Ruby Miguel