Interview with Tricia Duffy
Hi Tricia, thanks so much for doing this interview! Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Oh! Where to start … I am a songwriter, a singer, a runner, a mum, a media consultant and a podcaster! That’s a pretty long list but I don’t like to be put in boxes and I don’t think anyone is just one thing. It’s really tempting to define ourselves by our career or our parental status but there’s so much more to us than that! I decided to actively reject the Linked-In profile word count a few years ago and turned the table of my life on its side. I wanted to explore whether I could change the creative balance of my life. and achieved this by reducing my day job time in favour of songwriting. Quite a big change!! But I have never been more content. This shift led me to create my podcast, In Ten Years Time: How to live a creative life. It offers tools and support for anyone wanting to live with more creative balance.
We are almost half way through 2025, how has this year been for you so far?
It has been quite amazing actually. This year is the first year that I have managed to get the balance of time as I dreamed it – working as a songwriter around 40% of the time, working on my podcast and workshops for creativity around 40% of the time and just a day or so a week on my day job. I still need the consulting work to keep the wolf from the door but the balance suits me much better. I’ve released two series of the podcast, an EP of songs and had a couple of ‘cuts’ with other artists (that’s songs that other singers release that I wrote or co-wrote). It takes a long time to make a success of these creative endeavours, but they are moving in the right direction.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Determined / Creative / Empowered
How did you get into your current career?
In Ten Years Time came about when I was looking to change the balance of my life. I wondered what would happen if I used tools from my day job as a consultant to support me. I had known for a long time that the organisations with the longer-term visions were, in the main, more successful, had happier staff and customers and were (ironically) better able to react when things changed or went wrong. So, I decided to start experimenting on myself to see what these tools could do for me personally. After about two years of using them on myself I realised they could be effective for others. So I created the brand and the podcast.
How would you describe your work?
I research and experiment to create my podcast. I run workshops, both public and for corporates, to support people through the process of creating their ten year plan. Everyone I teach the technique to tells me how much it helps them get clarity, feel inspired and motivated! I also speak at conferences and events – which is a great way to get the message and the value of living a creative life out to more people.
What do you want people to take away from it?
I guess there are three main messages, the first is that creativity is really good for you and in the face of one of the biggest health threats facing our generation in the form of dementia, that living a creative life can literally save our lives. The science is categoric, that any creative or artistic act can prevent or delay the onset of dementia and help those unlucky enough to be diagnosed with better communication, purpose and reduced stress. Even without the threat of long-term cognitive disease, the benefits of any craft are significant for every human being. Improving wellbeing and creating communion. It doesn’t matter how good or bad your art or practice is, it is the doing it that counts.
Second thing is that we are all creative and it is never too late to start. You can pick up a guitar, paintbrush, knitting needle or anything else besides for the first time. Even when you are 20, 60 or 80 and get huge value from it.
And third, in ten years you can literally change your life – and become a master at something brand new if you so choose.
What inspires you and who are your influences?
You know, this changes quite frequently for me as I am a bit of a magpie collecting inspiration everywhere I go. At the moment I am really inspired by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, who are the authors of a book called Your Brain on Art and part of a growing area of research known as neuroarts. I am also a huge fan of Julie Cameron and her book the Artists Way. Another constant source of inspiration and communion for me is the London Writers Salon who run 4 writers’ hours a day when between 150 and 250 people join a zoom to write in silence. It is profoundly brilliant!
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell her that she is creative and not to listen to all the social narratives that say women are better at admin and organising! GRRRR!
Tricia Duffy, What’s next for you? What are you most excited about?
Oh so many things! I am touring my last EP River Stories via my musical alter ego Little Lore, I am running In Ten Years Time workshops and I am recording another new album of songs this summer too. And I am enjoying researching the next series of my podcast which will be out in September. Living a creative life has me waking up each morning raring to go!
Tricia Duffy