Musings with Montse: Artists and Their (Honest) Stories

Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding, and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude. In addition to his poetry, Ross has released three collections of essays—The Book of Delights (a New York Times bestseller), Inciting Joy, and his newest collection, The Book of (More) Delights.This conversation, much like Ross's work, is about joy, curiosity, belonging and caring for one another. It was, truly, one of my favorite conversations I've had in this space, and I'm thrilled to be able to share it.This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Gregory Orr is a poet who is known to be a master of the short, personal lyric. About Gregory, Mary Oliver wrote “He speaks now, in these many short poems, which in their entirety are really one long poem, of mysteries, of those things –emotions, situations, mind and heart states–which are beyond the definitive.” Gregory is the author of more than 10 collections of poetry. He has also published a beautiful book about lyric poetry called Poetry as Survival along with a stunning memoir, The Blessing. His latest book of poetry is Selected Books of the Beloved.In this conversation we talked about lyric poetry, anxiety, surviving trauma and the power of art to save a life.In 2018 Gregory performed a poem-and-poems-set-to-music using his “beloved” poems, featuring the Parkington Sisters. We didn't get to discuss this during our conversation but you can check it out here: The Beloved Poetry & Music | Video You can read more about Gregory on his website http://gregoryorr.net/. His wife, painter Tricia Orr's art can be found on her website, http://www.trishaorr.com/. Finally, you can listen to Gregory's conversation with Krista Tippett for the On Being podcast here.This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Philip Metres is a poet, translator and director of the Peace, Justice and Human Rights program at John Carroll University. He is the author of ten books, including Shrapnel Maps, The Sound of Listening: Poetry as Refuge and Resistance, Pictures at an Exhibition, and Sand Opera.Tomás Q. Morin is a poet, translator, and editor. His books include the collection of poems Machete and the memoir Let Me Count the Ways, as well as the poetry collections Patient Zero and A Larger Country. Both Philip and Tomás have received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, among many other honors. I met Tomás and Philip through my MFA program and knowing they are friends I thought it would be fun to be in conversation with them together! We talked all about vulnerability and art, literature as a home and companion, form enacting subject in writing and the discovery that happens in the creative process.This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward. 

Laura Warrell is a writer based in Los Angeles. "Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm" is her first novel. The story follows a 40-year-old jazz musician and womanizer Circus Palmer–but this book centers the women in his life. It is a telling of their stories, not only his.Laura and I talk about her wonderful debut and her path to publication which is an inspiring tale of persistence. And, from a bit of a different angle, we muse on that perennial question: can we separate the art from the artist?You can find Laura's work here: https://www.laurawarrell.com/This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Theme music is by Madisen Ward. 

Ama Codjoe is a poet based in New York City. She is the author of Bluest Nude and Blood of the Air. Her poems and essays have been published in many outlets and her work has twice appeared in The Best American Poetry. Her poems often engage with visual art—especially art by Black women artists. This conversation is much about the body. On how we relate to nudity and nakedness, on being in the body as an artist and on living a fully sensual life. Ama shares about her writing process and ekphrastic poetry, and we also talk about the many ways we love outside of the mainstream definition of that word “love.”As we are moving into a new year I'm thinking about how Ama's book Bluest Nude and this conversation I had with her has been a great gift to my life this past year. I hope that if you don't already know her work that discovering it now might bring about this same opening in you. To find out more about the Hear Me Now exhibit at The Met that Ama mentioned, she kindly passed along this link: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2022/edgefieldYou can find Ama's work here: https://www.amacodjoe.com/This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.

Diana Khoi Nguyen is a poet and multimedia artist. She is the author of the poetry collection, Ghost Of (Omnidawn Publishing, 2018) which was a finalist for the National Book Award and L.A. Times Book Prize. In this episode we talk about grief, complex emotions, silence, and breaking that silence through art. Note: There is a bit of static in the beginning on my end that I wasn't aware of while recording - but it gets better!This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Ingrid Rojas Contreras is a writer who was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia and now lives in San Francisco, California. Her first book was the novel Fruit of the Drunken Tree and her most recent book is a family memoir called The Man Who Could Move Clouds.In this episode we chat all about language. On writing between two languages and cultures, and the evolution of language. We also talk about anxiety, dreams (what they can tell us about ourselves!) and much more.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Elinor Carucci is an Israeli-American Fine Art Photographer based in New York City. Her photographs are included in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art New York, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Houston Museum of Fine Art, among others. Her work has been published in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, W, Aperture, and many other publications. She has published four monographs: Closer, Diary of a Dancer, MOTHER and Midlife.In this episode we chat about her wonderful book Midlife and the gifts of getting older. We also discuss long term projects, and the nuances of moving between cultures and existing in two languages. This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Victoria Chang is a poet, writer and editor. Her new book of poetry is The Trees Witness Everything (2022). Her other books include Dear Memory: Letters on Writing, Silence and Grief (2021) and OBIT (2020).In this episode, we chat about collaboration in art, her wonderful and varied use of form in her writing, and her current role as poetry editor at The New York Times Magazine. We also talk about growing up between cultures, and the realization that the very things that make us different are often, as Victoria notes, our strengths.This episode was audio produced by Katie McMurran. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Melissa Febos is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir, Whip Smart, and the essay collections, Abandon Me and Girlhood. Her craft book, Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal Narrative, will be published on March 15th.In this episode, Melissa and I chat about her wonderful book Body Work. We talk about writing as a spiritual practice (and mode of discovery), learning to quiet that pesky voice saying “who cares?” while making art, and some of the other common fears and worries creatives face.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

David Hilliard is a fine art photographer based in Boston. He received his BFA from Massachusetts College of Art, and his MFA from Yale University. Through the use of diptychs and triptychs, his beautiful work documents his life and the lives of those around him. In this episode, David talks about his life in photography and how his love of theater, film, and storytelling influence the images he makes. We also chat about the perks of middle age, on being introverted as an artist, and what it's like when personal work becomes public. Photographers David mentioned in this episode: Cheryl St. Onge: https://cherylestonge.com/Corinne May Botz: https://www.corinnebotz.com/Billie Mandle: https://www.billiemandle.com/This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Fernando A. Flores is a writer based in Austin, TX. His books include the collection Death to the Bullshit Artists of South Texas, the novel Tears of the Trufflepig, and his upcoming book is Valleyesque.In this episode, Fernando and I talked all about the ups and downs of the creative life, on living between cultures, the difference between writing vs. publishing, and the question Fernando asks that I'd like to put on a t-shirt: “Is this good for my creative brain?”This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Michael Kleber-Diggs is a poet, essayist, and literary critic. His debut poetry collection Worldly Things was published last year and he is also a contributor to the book There's a Revolution Outside, My Love: Letters from a Crisis. Michael teaches creative writing through the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop and at colleges and high schools in Minnesota.In this conversation, Michael and I discuss his writing story, hope and sorrow, the power of mentorship to change a life and more.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Janelle Lynch is a New York-based artist whose images reveal an inquiry into themes of connection, presence, and transcendence.She uses an 8x10-inch view camera, and her recent work is deeply informed by her training in perceptual drawing and painting.Janelle's photographs are in many private and public collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the International Center of Photography, New York; and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.She has three monographs published by Radius Books: Los Jardines de México (2010); AIGA award-winning Barcelona (2013), which also features her writings; and Another Way of Looking at Love (2018).In this deeply honest conversation Janelle speaks about influence in art, her practice, her expanded view of the word “family”, and ambiguous grief. If you'd like more of this conversation there is a written interview with Janelle here.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Jill Andrews is a musician and songwriter living in Nashville. Her EP "Ellen" was released this fall. In this episode Jill and I chat about the perils and gifts of being highly sensitive, moving out of our 30s, art-making, and more. Plus, find out the book Jill would like to put in people's stockings!This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Daisy Hernández is a writer and cultural activist. She is the author of the award-winning memoir "A Cup of Water Under My Bed" and coeditor of "Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism". Her latest book is "The Kissing Bug: A True Story of an Insect, a Family and a Nation's Neglect of a Deadly Disease". In this episode, we have a wide-ranging conversation about spirituality, writing, the nuances of language and cultures and more!This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Aline Smithson is a visual artist, editor, and educator based in Los Angeles. She is also the Founder and Editor- in-Chief of Lenscratch, a daily journal on photography. In this conversation, Aline talks about her trajectory to fine art photography: from painter, to fashion editor to photographer. We discuss roadblocks and fear, long-term projects, the nuances of rejection, building community in the art world, and much more! If you are feeling a little stuck creatively then this is the episode for you. Get ready to be inspired!This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Emily Bernard is an author and professor. She holds a B.A. and Ph. D. in American Studies from Yale University. Her most recent book is the essay collection Black is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother's Time, My Mother's Time, and Mine.In this wide-ranging conversation, Emily speaks on motherhood, fear, forgiveness, rejecting shame and staying true to who you are as an artist. We also dive deep into having “the blues” - and I truly think it was the most joyful conversation on depression I've ever had!Emily radiates kindness, and is just a remarkable person. This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, and author. She has a gift of making outsiders feel like insiders, which is a beautiful thread throughout her new memoir “Saved by a Song.”We talk about making a life out of being creative, the vulnerability of performing, the beauty and wonder of being a late bloomer, and why the maybe's we get are worse than the “nos”.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward. 

Lidia Yuknavitch is the nationally bestselling author of the novels The Book of Joan, The Small Backs of Children, and Dora: A Headcase, and the memoir The Chronology of Water. Her newest book Verge is a collection of short stories. She also has a TED Talk “The Beauty of Being a Misfit” that has been viewed by millions. She lives in Portland, Oregon.Lidia and I had a wide-ranging conversation about being a misfit, the in-between spaces of life, the blurry lines between fiction and nonfiction and the ways in which art can save us.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.For episodes and more, visit MusingsoftheArtist.com

Andrew Duhon is a singer-songwriter from New Orleans.In this episode, we chat about the search for belonging, self-acceptance, and finding the profound in the minutia. Andrew also talks about songwriting and art making in a way that is mesmerizing and inspiring. As he says, “No one else is you, no one else can tell your story. It is your human tale to tell.”This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.

Nadia Owusu is an author and urbanist who grew up between Africa and Europe and now lives in Brooklyn. In the episode Nadia talks about her memoir Aftershocks and the ways growing up between cultures shaped her life. We also chat about claiming, naming, and accepting mental illness as a part of one’s identity, code-switching, and the gifts of memoir.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.

Pam Houston is the author of many books including the memoir, "Deep Creek: Finding Hope In The High Country", "Cowboys are my Weakness" and most recently "Air Mail: Letters of Politics, Pandemics, and Place" (with Amy Irvine). Pam is also a fantastic teacher and the co-founder and creative director of the literary nonprofit Writing By Writers.In this episode we talk all about place, writing, non-traditional parenting, and living an authentic life. She also tells us about her incredible experience running into the narwhal migration!This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.Episode webpage here.

Rachel Eliza Griffiths is a poet, visual artist, and novelist.We chat about her stunning collection of poetry and photography, "Seeing the Body". Some of the topics we speak on include monumental loss and the grief that follows, memory, languages of sadness, taking action against despair, and pushing away the useless pressure of likability. Rachel Eliza also tells us about her many selves as an artist. This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.

Josh Telles is a Celebrity and Food Photographer based in LA. He has photographed artists like Nicole Kidman, David Lynch, Mary J. Blidge, and so many others. In this episode, Josh tells us about his path to becoming the photographer he is today. We chat about vulnerability in photo making, chronic anxiety, telling other people’s stories through photography, “post-creative depression” and much more!  This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Madisen Ward.

Cig Harvey is a photographer and writer based in Maine. She is the author of three sold-out books, and Blue Violet, her new book of photographs, drawings, and writing will be out in May. In this episode, we talk all about books, intuition, her photography process (hooray for “date nights” with photos!), and the importance of noticing in art making.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Madisen Ward.

Mickey Guyton is a powerhouse vocalist and songwriter. In this conversation, we talked about being an introvert in the public eye, preparing for motherhood, mentorship, and The Bachelorette. We also talk about the urgency of leaning into who you are. As a Black woman in Country music —a traditionally white-and male-dominated industry— Mickey tells us about the revelatory moment when she embraced all that makes her unique and how her life has changed since then.Mickey has been spotlighted in Billboard magazine as one of Country Music’s “female game changers,” and in Entertainment Weekly as one of the “new queens of country music.” Her new EP, Bridges, featuring the songs “What Are You Gonna Tell Her” and "Black Like Me," is available now.Where to find Mickey:WebsiteInstagramTwitterThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Morning. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Valerie June is a singer, songwriter, poet, and multi-instrumentalist. She also (so wonderfully) describes herself as a “professional dreamer.”In this episode she speaks on finding home on the road and within oneself, her writing practice, manifestation, and how to be a “light worker.” We also chat about being hermit-like, moving through sadness, the joy of nature and letters, and much more! Valerie radiates warmth and you can feel it every moment of this conversation.Where to find Valerie:WebsiteInstagramTwitterThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Ilan Isakov.

Naomi Shihab Nye is a Palestinian-American poet, Young People's Poet Laureate through the Poetry Foundation, and editor of poems for the New York Times Sunday magazine. She has written or edited more than 30 books, most recently Cast Away, The Tiny Journalist, Voices in the Air, and Everything Comes Next.  Naomi is full of poignant stories and refreshing wisdom. In this episode, she reads my all-time favorite poem “Kindness.”  She touches on loss, how to get yourself back on the path to gratitude when you start to get into a worry cycle, collective suffering and unspoken pain, how attentive listening to oneself and others will give you what you need when you need it, and the ways in which the people we lose, stay. She speaks on all these things, and more with a genuine positivity that is contagious. This is a must-listen episode!Where to find Naomi:InstagramTwitterPoetry FoundationThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Dawn Landes is a singer-songwriter and delightful person. In this episode we chat all about art and life. We get into her album ROW about the incredible story of Tori Murden McClure (the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean!), her life as a new-ish mother, our love of memoirs, Patti Smith, and much more.Where to find Dawn:WebsiteInstagramTwitterTed TalkThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Music is by Ilan Isakov.

This is a special episode from another podcast I’m hosting (for CD Baby) called DIY Musician Stories! Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated folk singer-songwriter who has struck a balance between her own artistry and penning songs for singers such as Blake Shelton and Jimmy Buffett. In this episode, Mary discusses songcraft, vulnerability, loneliness, her forthcoming memoir "Saved by the Song," and much more.If you’re a songwriter, or want to be, this episode is a must listen. Scratch that - if you're a human this episode is a must listen! Listening to Mary's story and wisdom is a guaranteed day-maker.

This is a special episode from another podcast I’m hosting (for CD Baby) called DIY Musician Stories!Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah is a solo artist, and can be heard alongside Layla McCalla, Allison Russell and Rhiannon Giddens in the Grammy nominated project Our Native Daughters.Amythsyt talks openly about overcoming trauma and pain and how music was her emotional vehicle to process deep feelings. She speaks on the transition of music in her life from an escape into a career, on being a part of the Grammy nominated project Our Native Daughters, and how she’s been leaning into live streams during this time.   

Lissie is an American singer-songwriter.In this episode we talk all about vulnerability. On feeling “oversized” emotions and the creative side of that, trauma (collective and personal), comparative suffering, and the special bonds we can form with animals. She also speaks on her quarantine experience, what it’s like living on a farm in Iowa,  on the kindness in openness,  and her favorite musical memory. While speaking with Lissie I almost forgot it was being recorded - it just felt like I was speaking with an old friend! I think if you’re a deep-feeling kind of person like me you’re going to get so much out of this episode.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Christine Shevchenko is a Principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre. I spoke with her last month about life as a principal ballerina - and what that looks like during quarantine! I love hearing stories about the moment people recognize the thing that brings them to life - and she shares her moment, when she knew she wanted to be a dancer. Christine also tells us what makes global water charities and refugee organizations so important to her, and reflects on falling and getting back up, on stage and in life.Where to find Christine:Website (ABT)InstagramTwitterThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov. 

Tara Schuster is an author, playwright, and Comedy Central’s VP of Talent and Development.We chat all about her new book, "Buy Yourself the F*cking Lilies: and Other Rituals to Fix Your Life from Someone Who has Been There".  We talk rock bottoms, re-parenting, becoming your own champion and making new friends as an adult. Tara tells us why “should” is her least favorite word and she has some wise words to share about not comparing our pain to others. I so enjoyed this conversation with Tara and have a hunch you’ll be nodding your head “yes!” along with me as you listen to her. Where to find Tara:WebsiteInstagramThe Book This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Carolyn Forché is a poet, translator, and activist whose work has been translated into over twenty languages. Her books of poetry are Blue Hour, The Angel of History, The Country Between Us, Gathering the Tribes, and In the Lateness of the World. Her memoir, What You Have Heard Is True, describes her time in El Salvador shortly before and during the civil war there, and was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award for Nonfiction. Carolyn is also a Co-Chair with Gloria Steinem of Hedgebrook's Creative Advisory Council. In this conversation, we talk about her incredible story, on being a witness to such pain and suffering and the myth of closure. We talk about the art of writing and the emotional aspect of publication. She tells us the greatest cure for our own pain is to have a positive effect on the world, even in some small way, and I wholeheartedly agree. Getting to speak with Carolyn was such an honor, and I’m so grateful to be able to share this conversation with you.Where to find Carolyn:Twitter InstagramGoodreadsCarolyn's Latest BooksThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov. 

Tina Lifford is an actress, playwright and author. She currently plays Aunt Vi on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network’s show Queen Sugar, and you might also recognize her from her roles on Scandal and Parenthood. She is also known behind the camera as a playwright, and author of The Little Book of Big Lies.As you will find within moments of listening to Tina, she exudes positivity and light. In this episode we chat about her quarantine experience, her role as Aunt Vi on Queen Sugar, and ALL about inner health, well-being and the human experience. She talks about going from the surviving self to the thriving self, producing authentic art, cultivating inner resilience, and the unifying power of music. She unpacks the powerful phrase ”Up until now, from this point forward” and how daydreaming and reconnecting with gratitude can turn your day around. This conversation felt like a big warm hug for me and I hope listening in gives you this same comfort. This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Gina Chavez is a bilingual singer-songwriter based in Austin, TX. Singing in both English and Spanish, her record Up.Rooted topped both the Amazon and Latin iTunes charts following a feature on NPR's All Things Considered. Her Tiny Desk concert made NPR’s top 15 of 2015.In this wide-ranging conversation we talk about her Latin roots, releasing music during the pandemic, breaking through the noise as an independent artist, learning how to step back from the comparison game, and self-giving love. She also speaks on her most recent song Ella (about persisting in times of trouble), and her theme music on Brené Brown’s new podcast.Where to find Gina:WebsiteInstagramTwitter

Lily King is the author of five award-winning novels including Euphoria which was named one of the 10 best books of 2014 by The New York Times. Her most recent novel Writers & Lovers was published in March this year, and I LOVED it. In addition to her novels, she has published many stories and essays including a piece for Modern Love (An Empty Heart Is One That Can Be Filled). If you haven’t read it already, it’s one of my favorites in the column.In this episode we talk about her new book, how she’s coping during quarantine, and re-imaging her book tour, virtually. She packs so much wisdom into this conversation, including on what she really needed to hear as a young writer. I hope you are all staying as well as can be during this unsettling time and finding silver linings where you can. Getting to virtually meet Lily was one of my week’s highlights and I hope listening in makes you feel a little better, too.Where to find Lily:WebsiteTwitterInstagramGoodreadsThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Under the name Quiet Creature, illustrator and fine artist Jane Beaird’s work has been featured by Glamour Magazine, Teen Vogue and highlighted by national political organizations,  celebrated actors, and prominent advocacy groups including Planned Parenthood and The Women's March. She made the cover art for this podcast, too! She also works in the Film and TV world as an actress and stand-in.Jane is based in Brooklyn, NY but is currently quarantined in New Orleans. We talk about this unsettling time, and what it feels like to move through the world as  a highly sensitive soul. She also shares about being a visual artist, a stand-in for Anne Hathaway, and what it’s like working on a film set as an empath. One of the many things I loved about this episode is that we talked honestly about various shades of mental illness, and I so appreciate Jane being open about her own story with Persistent Depressive Disorder (also called Dysthymia).  You know when you meet a new friend and it just feels like this immediate kinship and soul connection? That is exactly what it was like when we met, and I know you are going to fall in love with Jane, too.Where to find Jane:WebsiteInstagramThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music by Ilan Isakov.

Letitia VanSant is a folk singer-songwriter based in Baltimore, MD. She has received many awards and accolades for her songwriting including being named among Paste Magazine’s “10 Country Artists to Watch” in 2020. Her new album Circadian was released last month, and is an honest and powerful reflection on significant themes.In our conversation we touch on re-imagining dreams, quieting your inner critic, the delicate balance of holding people accountable for their actions while also leaving room for compassion, and the many layers of loneliness.I know it’s a time of heightened anxiety for so many of us right now. Having a conversation with Letitia about topics outside of the pandemic was a welcome distraction for me, and I hope that listening in might be able to help you a little bit, too.Where to find Letitia:FacebookTwitterInstagramWebsiteThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme Music is by Ilan Isakov.

Jessica Ciencin Henriquez is a Colombian-American writer and editor. Her personal essays and narrative journalism have appeared in the New York Times among many other publications. Her essays have also been featured in multiple anthologies, including Oprah's Little Guide to The Big Questions, and she is the author of the forthcoming memoir: If You Loved Me You Would Know.Jess is also a wonderful writing teacher which is how we met! In this episode, we speak on growing up between two vastly different cultures, on the necessity of vulnerability in art, on the key element that helps transform pain into gratitude. She notes that all of her success has followed rejection and shares a wonderful story that serves as a reminder that when the door doesn’t open, it’s not your door, and something better is around the corner.  We also talk about our shared feeling towards the suggestion of growing a “thick skin” (spoiler, we don’t like it).Jess drops so much wisdom as I knew she would. I always feel lighter and so inspired after talking to her and this was no exception. I’m thrilled for you to get to know her, too!Where to find Jessica:WebsiteInstagramTwitterThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Allison (“Alli”) Russell is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters. She is also a mother and describes herself as a “connection seeker.”I recently sat down with Alli in New Orleans, and I was so grateful to spend this hour with her. Alli has an incredibly powerful story. To me, she is a shining example of someone who has walked through darkness and come out on the other side beaming with warmth and beauty.In this episode you’ll hear Alli speak about her time in foster care, finding the strength to escape an abusive home at such a young age, on creating community, motherhood, finding love in chosen family, how music changed her life, and more.Alli is an extraordinary artist and human. Throughout this conversation, as you’ll hear I laughed, I cried, I was so moved by Alli’s story. I know you will be too.Where to find Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters:Birds of Chicago WebsiteBirds of Chicago on InstagramBirds of Chicago on TwitterOur Native Daughters on NPRThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music by Ilan Isakov.Podcast webpage here.

Krista Tippett is the creator and host of On Being and a New York Times bestselling author. She radiates wisdom and generosity and is one of the wisest voices of our time. In 2014, President Obama awarded Krista the National Humanities Medal at the White House for “thoughtfully delving into the mysteries of human existence.”In this conversation, we dive into the deeper meaning of the words “beauty” and “love.” We discuss cultivating qualities of character, going from, as Krista says, “wound to gift,” illuminating the quiet voices, and much more.It’s hard for me to put into words how special this episode is to me. It’s one I will always cherish.I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to Krista and the entire team at On Being for welcoming me to their beautiful studio and my thanks to Chris Heagle for recording this episode.Where to find Krista / On Being:The On Being ProjectOn Being InstagramOn Being TwitterOn Being FacebookKrista on TwitterKrista’s most recent book: Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of LivingThis episode was recorded at On Being's studio by Chris Heagle, and edited by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.

Zac Clark is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville. After seven years traveling the world as a member of Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Zac is leaving the band and heading out on his own with new music on the way. While co-writing on each Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness record, Zac released two solo records, 2015's "I Am a Guest" and 2012's "Young Volcanoes."  His self-titled album was released last year.We recently sat down in LA and talked books, music, rock bottoms, and a whole lot more.This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.Podcast Website here.

Ben Moon is a filmmaker, photographer and author based on the Oregon coast. His beautifully vulnerable memoir "Denali: A Man, a Dog, and the Friendship of a Lifetime" will be released on Penguin Books in January 2020.Ben has inspired countless people with his photography for Patagonia, impactful portrait series, and the short film "Denali". His new memoir is a moving account of Ben’s journey with colorectal cancer and his special relationship with his dog. In this episode, we discuss living as an “off-the-charts” empath, the healing powers of dogs and nature, his creative process, and much more! When I read Ben’s memoir, which at its core is a story of growth, resilience, and genuine love and connection, my cheeks were stained with tears. Getting to sit down with him over tea and just talk about life for an hour was so lovely. I can’t wait for you to hear his story.Where to find Ben:WebsiteInstagramTwitterDenali, Short FilmPre-Order Ben’s Memoir: ‘Denali’This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov.Podcast webpage here. 

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet and theologian based in Ireland. He is the author of a number of books including a gorgeous memoir called In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World.Themes of loneliness, belonging, language, and the power of storytelling are laced throughout his work, and we unpack these topics, and much more in this conversation. If you enjoy this episode, I’d highly recommend reading his heart-opening memoir and listening to his On Being interviews with Krista Tippett - where you can find more of Pádraig’s replenishing wisdom.Where to find Pádraig:WebsiteTwitterMusings of the Artist is audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Ilan Isakov. Podcast website: https://www.montseandree.com/podcast

E. J. Koh is a poet, author and translator based in Seattle, WA. Her book of poetry is called A Lesser Love, and her memoir The Magical Language of Others is forthcoming this January.I had the pleasure of sitting down with E.J. in her home recently, where we discussed everything from memoir writing, to inter-generational trauma, to her “Love Letter” project which is all about her mission to write a thousand letters to strangers by hand. She tells us what drove her to start the project and the common thread she’s noticed about the stories we tell ourselves.E.J. also shared the old way she used to deal with rejection to her new approach of taking the rejection as a gentle nudge, a whisper saying “not right now.” If you are a storyteller or want to be, I think this episode will be especially relevant but truly you can glean so much wisdom from E.J.’s words no matter who you are or what you’re up to! Where to find E.J.:WebsiteInstagramTwitterThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Heather Maloney. 

Alex Hwang is a singer and songwriter for the Los Angeles based band Run River North.In this conversation, we touch on growing up bi-culturally and Alex speaks on learning how to find ways to talk about his Korean culture. He also talks about his faith, how finding a routine in yoga helps him battle anxiety, about his love of reading and getting lost in menial tasks. He also shares the most touching story about a Run River North fan, and what he’s most excited about right now.Where to find Run River North:Where to find Run River North:Website: http://home.runrivernorth.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runrivernorth/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runrivernorthTwitter: https://twitter.com/runrivernorthYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFn3IPGHVWH_C0j4nt6iICwThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme song is by Heather Maloney.Episode webpage here. 

Sam Lamott is the creator of the Hello Humans website and How To Human podcast. If you like this podcast you should definitely check his out as well! He’s had many wonderful guests including Brené Brown, Byron Katie and his mom Anne Lamott.In this conversation, we get deep real fast. I love that Sam speaks so openly and honestly about his story. He talks about being the sensitive kid who didn’t feel like he belonged. About being an addict and getting sober at 22. On being a young dad. Learning how to live well with depression. On getting past envy, and how to keep going, even when you feel like a failure.He also tells us how pain has been his biggest teacher, and we talk about how the smallest moments of kindness can make a major impact on ourselves and others.If you’ve struggled with any kind of addiction, I think it will be especially powerful for you to hear Sam’s story, but no matter who you are or what you’re going through, you will find plenty of wisdom, comfort and inspiration throughout the episode.Where to Find Sam/Hello Humans:Sam on InstagramHello Humans InstagramTwitterHello Humans WebsiteThis episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme music is by Heather Maloney.

Danya Kukafka is the bestselling author of the novel Girl in Snow and is currently at work on another book. In this episode we talk a lot about writing, and the whole process of publishing a book. We dive into the differences between writing long form fiction vs. non-fiction, what drew her towards fiction in particular, and she shares how her first published novel came to be. Some other themes we cover include resisting comparison, nostalgia, criticism, and how she deals with negative feedback as a writer. If you are an author or aspiring writer I think you’ll get a lot out of this episode. And if you’re an artist of any kind you’ll find a lot of gems here. I hope you enjoy! Where to find Danya: Website Instagram Twitter Goodreads This episode was audio produced by Aaron Moring. Theme song is by Heather Maloney.