Workflow List/Thread Interactions

Just learning workflows and how they can interact with lists and threads, and I have a couple of questions.   

1. If I use a workflow to create a list item, create a message, and finally create a related thread from that message, is there any way for the new list item to have a reference back to that thread or message?
2. If I use the workflow to create the list item and message but do NOT create a related thread, is there any way to notify the user who ran the workflow that someone has STARTED a thread from that message?

Thanks in advance!!