Meet Tayla Christensen

Queenstown-based podcaster and entrepreneur Tayla Christensen is an absolute star. Her energy is infectious and her confidence is admirable. I first met Tayla back in my younger footballing days and have always known her to be a talented footballer and kind and friendly soul.

I'm inspired by her zest for life, her authentic content, and her ability to captivate an audience no matter what topic she is talking about. Her podcast is extremely relatable, I have found it's hard to find podcasts that truly dive into raw topics around life, relationships, and hardships when it comes to sport. I truly encourage you all to give her podcast Tea Time with Tay a listen and to follow along with her brand Piggyback's journey!

Meet Tayla Christensen...

HOW DID PIGGYBACK COME ABOUT?

It originally started as the name for a mock women's skateboard brand I was building an e-commerce website for in my Graphic Design class in America! Then I loved what the name symbolised, I always wanted to create something with a purpose that brought people together, had a cool brand, and promoted personal development so I've been trying to figure out the best way to do that (still very much in the learning, trial and error phase!). Currently, I'm doing my poddy and will be realising some "Design Your Life" Workshops and offering 1v1 online calls to teach life design! Which is basically just applying design thinking to your own life!

WHAT DO YOU CREATE?

This is a funny one because I'm not sure. I guess we're all creating in some way or another. I like to think I create my own life, I create logos and websites sometimes when I freelance, I create life design workshops, I create my podcast, I created some clothing once which I might get back to, I create when I write - I used to have a blog itsfrankiesworld.com but now I normally just write in my notes at 2 am, I guess I also create my (very complex) meals e.g. Weetbix crunch or chicken and rice with sweet chilli sauce.

YOUR PODCAST IS SO AUTHENTIC! WHAT IS THE MEANING BEHIND YOUR PODCAST?

Ahhhhh, thank you!!!! Honestly, I just like to talk, it took me a while to admit that and be open about it. I wanted a space where I could be more authentic and not feel like the only shit I was sharing with the world were my insta pictures (even though some of them ARE pretty dope). I also wanted an excuse to reach out to successful people and pick their brains, podcasts are GREAT for that. Oh, and most importantly, as my own little personal therapy. I get a lot from talking through things and I struggle when I can't share them. The podcast allows me to vent about whatever my heart desires and share that with anyone who chooses to listen.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN SIX WORDS?

Very fucking impulsive but always fun.

That was the first thing that came to mind and I kind of like it hahaha. But I think I'm an open book, extremely curious, definitely have commitment issues, always down for a good time, constantly questioning the way things are done, and also extremely empathetic and I feel the whole fucking WORLD sometimes.

Not six words but hey, I tried my best, and being concise was never a strength of mine.

"Don’t forget about that self love my friends!! Ya can’t pour from an empty cup"

WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?

Oooooh, I love this. Um... people? my environment? movies? Art? My life experiences? Pinterest? I would say I get most inspired when I connect with dope people and have cool chats about random stuff. Yeah, I guess people inspire me the most.

WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN YOUR WORKSPACE?

Hmm, my journal if I'm organised, or the notes app on my phone to jot down ideas. My brain is CONSTANTLY working so I always need somewhere to write. Except I'm terrible at organisations so I don't have them all in one place, my ideas are kind of scattered between my phone, laptop, sketchbook, journal, and sadly some are still just in my brain.

But also, I LOVE to be outside, so if I can create in the sunshine with my clothes off and barefoot, that's a plus. Oh and Music!! How could I forget music!!

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO BE CREATIVE?

I think knowing that I'm one of the lucky ones that can afford to be creative. I mean c'mon, we live in New Zealand???? I'm very fortunate and very aware of my privilege so I think that's one of the reason's I feel I need to create because I know so many can't.

Also, I think when I'm in a routine or one place too long I struggle to be creative. If I find myself in a rut I normally just try to do normal chill things like going out or hanging with friends or calling someone I look up to. That always helps.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR ASPIRING CREATIVES?

Stop fucking thinking about what other people think. NO ONE CARES. Your idea is cool!!! You are cool!!! Put your idea into the world even when it's unrefined and shitty!!!

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR CREATIVE SPACE?

I love that my creative space changes. I feel inspired when I'm moving around and in new environments (did I already mention I had commitment issues). But I love colour, or fun little weird objects that I pick up from my travels. I also love comfy seats, couches, or beds. I am NOT a sit-at-a-desk kinda gal.

DO YOU LISTEN TO ANYTHING WHEN YOU ARE WORKING?

Depends on what kind of work I guess, I do love to jam some music, but unfortunately having a podcast sometimes means it's my voice which is somewhat narcissistic. I love Tame Impala, Ziggy Alberts, good chill vibey beach songs, and also a huge fan of Beyonce's homecoming live album but that's normally when I workout haha.

DO YOU HAVE A DREAM THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO FULFIL?

YES. My dream is to have a physical location in a dope place, maybe somewhere like Bali. But I want it to kind of be like a hostel and co-working space and I can host workshops and people can come and stay and it can have lots of art and all of the creative equipment you could ever need! That would be my dream. Somewhere I can bring cool people together in a cool place! Still making my poddy, having lots of little kiddos, working on fun projects, and being around fun people!

WHATS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?

This is a weird question to answer for me, I'm not sure. I don't know if this is the hardest thing about what I do because I wouldn't say it's hard. I think I make it hard for myself when I think about my ideas too long before putting them out in the world. Or the fact that I have SO MANY ideas and I can't just pick one, that's 100000% my weakness.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE CREATIVITY? AND HOW DO YOU PUT THIS TO PRACTICE IN YOUR WORK?

I think creativity is when you are living on your terms. I think that shows up in everything we do including physical art in any form, but also just in our life in general. I think creativity is potentially the most natural thing that comes to us as humans but we've been conditioned to ignore our inner artist and to think about what other people think far too much.

Fuck that, you do you boo.