damn, I could noooottttt have predicted this one. when I started putting together this series — profiling some hella inspiring creative leaders that I know you’re gonna want to meet — I had no idea that I’d be putting the first piece together while nestled in a pile of pillows in a lime-washed hotel room, a sliver of the north atlantic ocean visible through sheer curtains, blowing in the breeze.
I had no idea that I’d be typing it with fingers still dry from saltwater after spending the morning surfing (my first time!) off the moroccan coast.
I had no idea that a past life of the party guest would invite me on this retreat, that another past guest would be here in attendance, and that I’d be immersed in the very craft of the person that I’m in your inbox celebrating. and yet, it couldn’t have been more perfect if I’d planned it all. isn’t that always the way?
this post is the first instalment of PARTY FRIENDS, a limited series where I share the perspectives and processes that fuel the most inspiring accounts on the internet right now. the first few people I’m profiling are folks who have participated in the most recent LOTP live sesh to A) introduce you to a new badass creative with insight that will support you in your own leadership and B) help you decide whether life of the party is the right fit for you based on the experiences of past guests. YAY!
but enough pretence!
the first leader I’m profiling is madelin reyes, a marine biologist turned photographic artist and women’s surf mentor, creating a new philosophy where ocean conservation relies on connection, not credentials. as an artist and surfer, she works with ocean conservation organizations and is currently building a global surf community for women (helloooo, beautiful synchronicity!).
the conversation with maddy explores blending the IRL with the URL while working intimately with nature, letting inspiration flow through us, choosing creativity > productivity, and staying connected to our art while holding rituals loosely.
the interview ↓
Q: you blend the digital world with the online realm in such a unique, engaging way. can you share a bit about what your life looks like, day to day, as someone who is working so intimately with the natural world, making art, and building community online?
A: I make sure to prioritize time outside and creative writing. Even if it’s minimal, I try to get in some ocean time and use my mornings for my writing ritual and my evenings for an art ritual. Sometimes that’s a quick sentence or two, a sketch, and just catching the sunset at the beach. I hold my rituals loosely while making them non-negotiable. This makes my afternoon work blocks feel more fulfilling and creatively inspired.
Creativity over productivity is the mantra I came up with in LOTP. I let myself unplug during my writing and art rituals, but I use that time to come up with creative ideas for my content + marketing. When I feel inspired I make better content + serve my community with more presence. I also share a lot of those rituals on stories + explore my perspectives so even when I’m traveling or have a big work load, I still feel really engaged with my community just through my day-to-day routine. It’s something I can consistently keep up.
Q: how would you describe your unique approach to leadership and creativity, and what are the core perspectives that shaped it?
A: I host art workshops, take part in monthly art crawls, host surf meetups + retreats, and participate in summer-long art shows. I have a strong in-person community and my biggest goal is to bring that feeling online through my writing, my themes, and my perspectives. The core perspectives that lead me are the “conservation paradox,” the idea that the ocean doesn’t need saving, we do. I believe connection + presence to nature, especially water, is medicine. When we are more connected to nature we are more calm, creative, and regulated. And from that state, we naturally make better choices without guilt or overwhelm about our planet. I also believe surfing is an art form, a creative expression and not performance. I emphasize having a signature surf style + rooting our surfing in devotion to the ocean, not proving yourself or comparison. This is has helped me build a strong aligned audience + online community.
That all culminates in my artistic work too, where I lead through the embodiment of a “creative current.” The idea that we need to step out of our own way and let inspiration run through us. That our creative life IS our real life. Your inner muse, your artistic vision, needs to be shared with the world. That’s how we make real change and create new worlds, new options for an aligned life that’s good for us and the planet.
Q: how did your experience at life of the party compliment or enhance the way you lead your community, online and beyond? was there a moment where you felt a significant shift to your approach, while moving through the program?
A: I preach intentionality as a surf coach, but wasn’t applying that to my content strategy. In fact I had such a big block around “strategy” in the first place! Having content themes and more importantly Xanthe’s support with my content themes has been such a game changer. Not only do I know what I want to share, I also know what I want to document. I came in overwhelmed with too much photo + video content from my travels/as a photographer and once I learned about themes + content anchors, I realized not everything needs to be content and that’s SUCH a freeing thing.
LOTP helped me realize my vibe, my leadership, my perspective is the through line through everything and what I choose to share is now based off the relationships I build with my audience. Just like my in-person community I’ve started building a community on my social platforms. So I’m no longer overwhelmed by all the stuff I COULD post. I’m thinking about the value I can bring to my audience, the conversations that are alive to me, and how we can build a movement together. LOTP gave me structure in how I plan + ideate my content, while still letting me be my most creative self!
the content ↓
below, you can browse some of maddy’s recent posts where she’s putting her life of the party perspectives + practices into action:
“why does caring about the ocean have to feel like carrying planetary collapse?”
That’s all for now.
