Podcasts about artist interviews

Happy Italian American Heritage Month! In honor of that, I wanted to reair an incredible episode with my friend and Italian sister, December Rose aka Rosie! This episode is for anyone trying to heal generational trauma, find their voice and embrace the best parts of their roots. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me during my maternity leave. LOVE YOU! On The Guest:  Today's guest is December Rose aka Rosie. She's a singer/songwriter, Italian culture content creator, vocal coach, and founder of December Rose Studios. Some of Rosie's career highlights include studying at the Royal Conservatory of Music, winning a New Artist Spotlight award from Blastro.com and getting awarded New Music Weekly's Top 40 Artist of the Year on the same ballot as Billie Eilish and Shawn Mendes. I love how open Rosie is about everything: From how hard it is to stick with it as an artist when you don't feel successful, to calling out and putting a stop to unhealthy family dynamics…Rosie's just a really brave person and someone I am excited to share with you. From this conversation you'll learn:Why there are many ways to “make it” as a musicianHow to approach your artistry as a businessHow to reparent yourself and heal your inner childHow to write about your familyHow to TRULY have faithThe benefits in walking through open doorsAdvice for building self-love and self-trust

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, accomplished actress, artist, writer, director, and New York Times bestselling author Victoria Rowell is here!About Victoria Rowell: Victoria Rowell is a multi-disciplinary creator widely known for her television roles on Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless. Driven by an innate love of movement and a childhood immersed in the arts by her foster mother, she has built a dynamic creative life spanning classical ballet, acting, and independent filmmaking. She is the artistic force behind "A Woman Becomes," a solo photography exhibition at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) exploring the timeline between girlhood and womanhood, as well as the invisible strengths of the female anatomy.In my conversation, Victoria revisits how her early years on a working farm in Maine and a pivotal ballet scholarship shaped her resilience in the face of the entertainment industry's hustle. She walks through her transition from classical ballet into television — and why maintaining a diverse "bouquet of friends" is exactly what is needed to navigate the highs and lows of a creative life.Victoria gets into the experience she is crafting with "A Woman Becomes..." — expanding beyond standard photography in favor of incorporating mixed media, found street objects, and inherited items like rosary beads that honor her foster mother, Agatha. She speaks to how a chance drive past MICA led to a partnership with the institution, giving her exhibition a home that matches the artistic vision she has been building toward.Be sure to follow Victoria Rowell on Instagram at @victoriarowell to stay up with her work. For everything regarding Victoria Rowell: A Woman Becomes…, running from September 25th through October 11th, visit the Maryland Institute College of Art website and check out the show notes for more details. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Continuing with Mat Leave! This is an episode with my spiritual teacher and friend! This episode TOTALLY changed the way I view regret. I hope it does the same for you! One more week and then I'm back with live episodes :) On The Guest: Mitra Rahbar is an Iranian born multi-hyphenate who immigrated to the states when she was just a teenager. She's an author, singer, artist, and a spiritual guide, healer, and teacher to stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Megan Fox, Sheryl Crow and people like you and me.From this conversation you'll learn:Why falling down and staying down is progressWhy pain is such a vital part of lifeHow to love and accept the times you don't know what to doWhy not knowing means you're not ready to knowHow and why to live life without expectationsWhy vulnerability is the biggest sign of strengthThe process of building empathyHow to stop living with regretThe strength in acknowledging pain while your experiencing itLiving in your past vs. living in your presentThe problem with making goals your sole focusYour mission vs your goalHow social media can and should be usedAnd so much more!

This week, Wes and Todd talk with Author, Krista Hanley. Krista discusses what she's been doing since she left the Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, starting her self-defense business “We Are Safer Together”, tips for deescalating a confrontational situation, her new book “How To Survive A Mass Shooting”, the Columbine school shooting, the media & it's role in the reporting of school shootings, PTSD, therapy, the lack of resources to deal with the aftermath of Columbine, the Trench Coat Mafia, the structure of her book, revisiting her memories to write the book, school shootings moving forward, being vulnerable in writing the book, her thoughts on what should be done to bring an end to school shootings, gun control, and what she would like readers to take away from reading her book. Join us for an enlightening conversation with Krista Hanley!Check out Krista's website at www.kristahanley.comFollow Krista on social media:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577262080499Interested in Krista's self-defense and safety training? Go to www.wearesafertogether.comSend us Fan MailFollow us on Instagram:@tenetpodcast - www.instagram.com/tenetpodcast/@wesbrn - www.instagram.com/wesbrn/@toddpiersonphotography - www.instagram.com/toddpiersonphotography/ Follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/TenetPodcast/Email us at todd@toddpierson.com If you enjoyed this episode or any of our previous episodes, please consider taking  a moment and leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, Pixal Fest producers Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo are back!About Keith Dukes III and Tony Diallo: Keith Dukes III is an aspiring filmmaker, storyteller, and founder of Pixal Fest Short Film Festival and Pixal Neon LLC, based in the DMV. Driven by a passion for connecting people through story, he has built Pixal Fest into a community-centered event that pushes well beyond industry standard — curating films from creators met through social media, the workforce, and personal collaboration. Tony Diallo is the marketing and operations force behind Pixal Neon and Pixal Fest, handling event promotion, graphics, and the overall experience leading up to show day. Together, they are three years into building something that is equal parts film festival, creative hub, and community movement.In our conversation, Keith and Tony revisit how Pixal Fest grew from a scrappy idea into an annual fixture in DC's creative scene, and what it means to build a space where filmmakers and appreciators alike genuinely feel welcome. Keith walks through how the festival's selection process is rooted in spotting raw genius over polished resources — and why getting to people before they go mainstream is exactly the point.Keith and Tony get into the experience they're crafting on show day — refusing the standard black-screen-between-films format in favor of something fully immersive and themed — and how a Pixal Fest magazine is keeping the community connected long after the festival ends. Tony speaks to how their relationship with the Miracle Theatre has given Pixal Fest a home that matches the vision he and Keith have been building toward.You may recall Keith and Tony's first conversation on The Truth In This Art — I encourage you to go back and check it out to witness their growth.Be sure to follow Keith Dukes III on Instagram at @500milesperhour.dukes and Tony Diallo at @Tony_Diallo_ to stay up with their work. For everything Pixal Fest, visit PixalNeonLLC.com and follow @PixalNeon across platforms.Pixal Fest returns to the Miracle Theatre on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at 535 8th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003. Whether you're a filmmaker, a film lover, or just curious — come pull up and be part of the community. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Renea S. Brown!About Renea S. Brown: Lexington, Kentucky-born multi-award-winning classical actress and Shakespearean specialist based in the DMV. A storyteller since childhood, Renea began her theatrical journey at nine years old, training at the School of the Creative and Performing Arts before building a career that spans the region's leading stages — from Folger Theater to Roundhouse Theater to Shakespeare Theater Company. She has earned three Helen Hayes Awards, co-founded the Black-led Eminent Theatre Company, and has appeared on screen in Godfather of Harlem and Law & Order.In our conversation, Renea breaks down Folger Theater's production of Measure for Measure — a Shakespeare play set in Vienna where a Duke quietly watches from the shadows as his appointed deputy, Angelo, abuses his power in the name of law and order. She walks through the play's central characters, the moral complexity at the heart of the story, and why themes of power, corruption, justice, and the silencing of women land just as hard today as they did centuries ago.She gets into what it means to perform this particular story within walking distance of Capitol Hill, why the Folger is the ideal space for it, and why live performance — people telling stories to people in real time — still matters in a world dominated by screens.Be sure to follow Renea S. Brown on Instagram and TikTok at @therealdarkLady and on Instagram at @ImminentTheatreCompany. For more visit https://imminenttc.org/ Measure For Measure, runs at Folger Theater from September 22nd through November 1st. Tickets start at $20 — go get yours. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

HI cutie! My Maternity leave continues with another BEST OF from Unleash! This one is with the great Colin Bedell AKA Queer Cosmos and we're talking all about astrology! Ever since my baby Leo was born, I've been obsessed with diving into his birth chart- I have the zodiac on the brain! ENJOY this episode --both a fun and informative one! Astrology is my fave. We will be back in October. Until then, enjoy these gorgeous eppys! On The Guest:Today's guest is Colin Bedell. He's a  nondenominational, strengths-based Astrologer looking to queer the cosmos and provide secular approaches to personal, relational, and professional development. His work has been seen in Cosmo Magazine, discovery plus, his amazing Instagram, @QueerCosmos and countless podcasts, including his own, Good Risings! NOTE: We have an amazing discussion at the top about life, self-development, Colin's career journey and the difference between self-acceptance and self-enabling, but if you just want the astrology deep dive, skip to minute 28!From this conversation you'll learn:Why Everything is the same everywhereThe Difference between self-acceptance and enablingWhat the Big Three (Sun, Moon & Rising Sign) REALLY are and what they mean about you/your journeyThe best place in the chart to look for career developmentWhere in your chart to look to find information about your creativity and careerHow to develop self-trustHow to not run away from fear but the face it and embrace itThe importance of meditation to seal off your dayWhy Catholic and Italian Culture actually pairs beautifully with astrologyFollow Colin: @queercosmos

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Johab Silva!About Johab Silva: Brazilian artist and arts educator who has lived in the Washington, D.C. region for 18 years. Based in Virginia, Silva works across AI, NFTs, VR and AR, generative media, animation, video projection, and 3D modeling to explore environmental and community issues connected to urban development.Johab reflects on how his practice shifted around 2017, after a major, material-focused exhibition at Transformer prompted him to investigate where his materials came from and how they connected to the environmental issues already present in his work. He also discusses how his education in the D.C. area, including earning the final Master of Arts in Education degree from the Corcoran before its acquisition by George Washington University, shaped his professional practice.We get into the hands-on nature of working with digital tools. Even when he is using a mouse and computer, Johab explains that he still needs to feel the work visually and remain deeply engaged with what he is making. His process can move through three or four different software programs, from sketching and 3D modeling to animation, rendering, and video projection—each stage adding another layer to the final piece.Johab also shares why he created New Media Workshop while teaching in the University of Maryland's immersive media department. Beginning with YouTube tutorials for his students, the project grew out of his desire to make intimidating technologies more accessible to artists and people working in the humanities. Drawing from his own experience learning software independently during his MFA, he emphasizes patience, kindness, and side-by-side support as essential to helping artists enter new media.Be sure to follow Johab Silva and New Media Workshop to keep up with his work, educational resources, and future projects.Photo courtesy provided by subject The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi CUTIE! I'm still out on maternity leave with my precious baby Leo. Check out my instagram to learn more and see some cute pictures of him! While I'm out, I wanted to I wanted to reshare one of my favorite episodes with my friend Nisha. In this one she shared how during the pandemic she completely started her life over- and why sometimes burning your life down is exactly what you need to get the freedom you dream of. Check it out and send me all your powerful good energy to help me be the best/most creative Mama I can be! MWAH! Do you ever feel like you're trapped by expectations, afraid to make bold moves in your creative journey? What if the key to unlocking your full potential is to embrace burning it all down and starting fresh? Today's guest is platinum-certified and Grammy-nominated songwriter Nisha, who has amassed over 300 million streams. She's sharing her powerful story of artistic reinvention and how embracing setbacks and maintaining high standards has shaped her career and life.From this conversation, you'll learn:-How to embrace change and navigate personal transformation-The importance of maintaining high standards to protect your artistic integrity & creativity-Practical advice on handling setbacks and failures as an artist-Tips for balancing ambition with personal well-being-The simple advice Nisha gave me that changed my lifeMore on Nisha: Nisha's music has been heard across the globe, from the U.S. to India and South America, earning recognition in Rolling Stone, Hulu, NBC, and Netflix. Beyond her hits, she's a mentor helping artists navigate the ups and downs of the creative industry, while staying grounded in their true identity.-https://thisisnisha.com/#about

This week, Wes and Todd talk with Contemporary Fiber Artist, Heather D. Schulte. Heather discusses Norway, what compels her to create, growing up in a family of makers, her art experiences as a child, language, weaving and computer technology, the mediums she works with, textiles, text & technology, patterns & algorithms, braille, her Peeky Blinders series, exploring different coding systems, her traumatic brain injury, repair & care being part of her art practice, textiles in the art world, teaching art, traveling and her world view, intergenerational communities, her “The Times” series, stitching on newspaper, binary code, collaboration, her work around Covid & the pandemic, “Stitching the Situation”, challenges she has faced as an Artist, the art community in Colorado, her “What We Feel We Cannot Say” series, her book suggestions, and the mantra that she lives by.Join us for a compelling conversation with Heather D. Schulte!Check out Heather's work at www.heatherdschulte.comFollow Heather on social media:Instagram - www.instagram.com/heatherdschulte/ - @heatherdschulteSend us Fan MailFollow us on Instagram:@tenetpodcast - www.instagram.com/tenetpodcast/@wesbrn - www.instagram.com/wesbrn/@toddpiersonphotography - www.instagram.com/toddpiersonphotography/ Follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/TenetPodcast/Email us at todd@toddpierson.com If you enjoyed this episode or any of our previous episodes, please consider taking  a moment and leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the returning guest is Dany Green!About Dany Green: Self-taught abstract glass artist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Working outside of traditional mosaic training, Green has developed an avant-garde technique she calls glass painting, building each piece shard by shard in response to light, chaos, and the intangible.Dany first joined the podcast several years ago, and in this conversation, she catches us up on where her practice and her life have taken her since then. She reintroduces her work for listeners who may have missed the first conversation, reflecting on how much she and her practice have grown.We get into the physical demands of her process, including a wrist injury from overuse, and why building in real rest has become essential to sustaining her work long term. Green also opens up about what it means to return to the DMV creative scene after time away, and the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with reconnecting to a community and asking whether she still belongs to that story.She also shares what's ahead, including her upcoming solo show, Cosmic Mirrors, at the Silva at the Art Island Gallery in Washington, D.C., as well as a virtual art workshop where she ships materials directly to participants so anyone can join from anywhere.Be sure to follow Dany Green on Instagram at @danyxart to keep up with her work and future projects.Photo courtesy of Mariah Miranda.Dany's Art WorkshopCosmic Mirrors Exhibition The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the returning guest is Farrah Skeiky!About Farrah Skeiky: DC-area photographic artist with roughly 15 years of experience behind the camera. Her work centers on music and underground scenes, including hardcore punk and DC's alternative drag scene, alongside commercial work in restaurants and hospitality. Everything she creates, she says, is in pursuit of connection.In our conversation, Skeiky catches us up on where her work and her life have taken her since her last appearance on the podcast. She talks about her ongoing long-term project documenting grief, and how staying connected to her fellow human beings remains at the center of that work, even when the subject matter gets heavy.She also reflects on letting go of the urgency and pressure often tied to social media, encouraging artists to ask themselves what they're really trying to make and whether platforms like Instagram should have any say in that process.Be sure to follow Farrah Skeiky on Instagram at @reallyfarah to keep up with her work and future projects.Photo for image always on her mind.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi Babes! I wanted to reshare one of my favorite minisodes I've done while I'm out on Mat leave. Enjoy and have a great week! MWAH Original Description: Have you ever felt like you shouldn't start something because “Everyone else is doing it” or “the space is too crowded?” Today we'll discuss the Myth of Crowded spaces and what that has to do with candles. Promise it will make sense later From This Episode, You'll learn:-Why I believe there's no such thing as "too crowded of a space"-The reason your idea will work-How a story about candles gives you the ultimate retort to anyone trying to discourage your dreams!

What if enjoying where you are didn't mean giving up on where you want to go?In this episode, my friend Robin Hopkins returns to Unleash for an honest conversation about ambition, success, entrepreneurship, and learning how to appreciate the life you've built while still dreaming big. We talk about why reaching a major goal doesn't automatically make fear disappear, how to stop constantly moving the goalpost, how to build self-trust through uncertainty, and what it really means to define success for yourself.From this conversation, you'll learn:-How to enjoy where you are while still dreaming bigger-Why achieving your goals doesn't automatically make you feel secure-How to stop measuring your worth by how much you accomplish-Why accepting that you can't do everything can actually set you free-How to redefine success as your life and priorities evolveIf you're an ambitious creative who is always thinking about the next goal, this episode is your reminder to celebrate how far you've already come. The life you're living right now might just be the life a past version of you dreamed about.

This week, Wes and Todd talk with Cynthia Ramu, the Fairy Godmother of the Pueblo Levee Mural Project. Cynthia discusses the history of the Pueblo Levee, the first time she painted on the levee, taking over as the coordinator, her exhibit “Concrete Creativity”, grants, Floyd Tunson, the project living digitally through History Colorado, the world record, how many murals on the levee, the old levee compared with the new one, stories about the levee, the murals that she has painted, her collaboration on a mural for the Ukrainian people, process to apply and paint on the levee, themes for the murals, the painting season, women leading the charge on the new levee, the future of her participation in the Pueblo Levee Mural Project, and the art scene in Pueblo.Join us as we catch up with Cynthia Ramu and the Pueblo Levee Mural Project.Check out the website Pueblo Levee Murals – www.puebloleveemurals.comFor more info on how to participate and paint a mural on the levee, go to www.pueblolevee.orgFollow the Pueblo Levee Mural Project on social media:Facebook – www.facebook.com/PuebloLeveeMuralProjectSend us Fan MailFollow us on Instagram:@tenetpodcast - www.instagram.com/tenetpodcast/@wesbrn - www.instagram.com/wesbrn/@toddpiersonphotography - www.instagram.com/toddpiersonphotography/ Follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/TenetPodcast/Email us at todd@toddpierson.com If you enjoyed this episode or any of our previous episodes, please consider taking  a moment and leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Georgina Coka Treviño!About Coka Treviño: A cultural strategist and arts advisor originally from Monterrey, Mexico, now based in Austin, Texas. Over the past two decades, she has worked at the intersection of artists, institutions, and contemporary art, collaborating with organizations including the Texas Biennial, Zona Maco, and Ontario Art Fair. Her practice centers on language, communication, and connection, helping artists and organizations clarify how they move through the world and how they speak to the people they serve.In our conversation, Coka Treviño talks through leaving nonprofit work after a difficult stretch and taking the time to reexamine where her energy and attention truly belonged. That reflection led her toward cultural strategy and art advising, work she describes as helping make doing good, doing meaningful work more accessible, easier, and less costly for the people trying to do it.She also discusses her newsletter, Yes, Please, and Thank You, and what it was like committing early ideas to the page for the first time. She reflects on the difference between writing for information versus writing to inspire thinking, and how the newsletter has become a space for warmth, recommendations, and connection, more like running into an old friend than consuming content.Be sure to follow Georgina Coka Treviño on Instagram at @yes_pleaseandthankyou to keep up with her work, writing, and future projects. Photo of subject courtesy of Cynthia Muñoz The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

What would happen if you finally took your creative dream seriously?Singer-songwriter Sophia Galaté spent years working behind the scenes in the music industry while quietly dreaming of becoming an artist herself. In this episode, we talk about how she finally found the courage to pursue music, build an authentic creative brand, grow a loyal community, and turn her dream into a real career.From this conversation, you'll learn:-How to finally start pursuing your creative dream.-Why small steps can help you move through fear and self-doubt.-How to build an authentic personal brand without losing yourself.-Why a niche community can be more powerful than a massive following.-How to balance creativity with the business of being an independent artist.If you have a creative dream you can't stop thinking about, this episode will remind you that you don't need the entire path figured out. You just need to take the next step.

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is LuvJonez.About LuvJonez: Portland, Oregon–based instrumental hip hop producer and beat maker whose work weaves a nostalgic, down-tempo blend of musical influences drawn from his cultural roots, extensive travels, and artistic experiences. Beyond music production, he founded and runs A Beat Happening, a free, monthly, all-ages, inclusive BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+-centered music producer and DJ showcase built to connect artists across the city.In our conversation, LuvJonez talks about how time on the East Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and around Caribbean culture shaped a sound that doesn't sit neatly in one lane. He remembers going to beatmaker showcases in DC and New York before moving to Portland, watching producers just share their music with no ego and no competition — something that stuck with him long before he had any plans of his own.He talks about his approach to making beats as less about chasing a style and more about following a mood, using the process to decompress and work through his day. It's a "no style is my style" kind of thing, where the genre-blending isn't really a decision so much as a byproduct of everywhere he's lived and everything he's taken in along the way.He also gets into how A Beat Happening came together, noticing that rappers in Portland had plenty of platforms to perform, but producers and beat makers didn't really have anything built for them. The idea started small: approach a local record shop, no money involved, no tickets, just a chance for beat makers to get on stage.LuvJonez reflects on the show now reaching its nine-year anniversary, having hosted over eighty events and featured more than four hundred local Portland artists along the way. For the anniversary, he changed things up — rather than booking individual artists like usual, he invited other music collectives around the city to share one lineup. He talks about going into it unsure whether everyone would say yes, and how surprised he was when every single collective agreed, turning the night into a rare moment where the city's music community showed up for each other instead of competing.Be sure to follow LuvJonez on Instagram, Bandcamp, and YouTube to keep up with his music, and follow A Beat Happening on Instagram @abeathappening or at abeathappening.org for show archives, photos, and videos from over four hundred featured artists.Image courtesy of Subject.  The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever wondered if the reason you feel stuck isn't because you don't know who you are... but because you've spent years hiding parts of yourself to make other people comfortable?In this episode, I'm joined by journalist, editor, and author Stacey Lindsay to explore what it really means to become more of yourself. We talk about why getting older can be one of the most freeing and creative experiences of your life, how to stop living for other people's expectations, and why your 40s might just be the beginning of your most authentic chapter yet.From this conversation, you'll learn:-Why so many of us shrink ourselves to make others comfortable.-How to stop living by other people's expectations.-Why courage is built through small, everyday choices.-How to reconnect with the parts of yourself you've hidden.-Why your 40s can be one of the most creative and empowering seasons of your life.Whether you're approaching 40 or simply longing to feel more like yourself, I hope this  conversation reminds you that it's never too late to become who you've been all along.

This week, Wes and Todd talk with Multimedia Artist, Madi Brunetti. Madi discusses Instagram handles, Black Sabbath, Death Metal, having the support of her parents, the mediums she works in, taxidermy, pinning bugs, cicadas, tattoos, therapy, moths, being neurodivergent, change, self-portraits, overcoming her eating disorder, mental health, marathons, masking, coping mechanisms, autism, embroidery, some of her pieces, getting her degree in studio art from Fort Lewis College, her residency at Art Gym, Bell Projects, road kill, death, pricing, hand embellishment, art as therapy, selling work, living your life, Bitfactory's “US” exhibition, and what the future holds for her.Join us for an illuminating conversation with Madi Brunetti!Check out Madi's work at www.madibrunetti.comFollow Madi on social media:Instagram - www.instagram.com/fairy.bootz/ - @fairy.bootzSend us Fan MailFollow us on Instagram:@tenetpodcast - www.instagram.com/tenetpodcast/@wesbrn - www.instagram.com/wesbrn/@toddpiersonphotography - www.instagram.com/toddpiersonphotography/ Follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/TenetPodcast/Email us at todd@toddpierson.com If you enjoyed this episode or any of our previous episodes, please consider taking  a moment and leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Thanks for listening! 

Hannah Eddy has built a career across murals, snowboards, apparel, products, and gallery walls while keeping her bold colors and playful characters easy to spot. Her roots in skate and snowboard culture helped turn old camp connections into collaborations with Vans, Patagonia, Hydro Flask, and more. She opens up about the project choices, business boundaries, and lifestyle decisions that protect her creative energy. You'll hear how she stays easy to hire while keeping the work unmistakably hers.Hannah Eddy is a Reno-based artist and muralist known for bold color, crisp lines, playful landscapes, and recurring characters influenced by skateboarding, snowboarding, and the outdoors. Her work appears across murals, gallery walls, skateboards, apparel, products, and collaborations with brands including Vans, Patagonia, Santa Cruz Skateboards, and Hydro Flask.Connect with Hannah:IGWebsiteHannah Eddy at Gallery ERGOHannah Eddy at ABV GalleryCreative Finds:The 1" Angled Brush is coming back for good. Keep an eye on enjoyzibra.com for the drop date and save 10% on your Zibra order with code BANTER10.In this episode, we discuss:Why a recognizable style can make the right brand projects easier to land – and the wrong ones easier to decline.A look at how years inside the skate and snowboard community opened doors no cold pitch could force.What Hannah's camper, six off-grid years, and low-overhead life taught her about protecting creative freedom.Why a one-year licensing term can keep an artist's characters from quietly slipping out of their control.What artists often overlook when Instagram starts replacing gallery openings, local art nights, and actual conversations.Welcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We're here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project. Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra; Annie Bolding, Founder of It's a Disco Day Designs; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio.Connect with Zibra: WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Jose Duran.About Jose Duran: Born in Moca, Dominican Republic, Duran is a painter, designer, and sculptor whose work constructs elaborate, opulent interiors rooted in Baroque and Rococo traditions. His practice is grounded in extensive research into survival, celebration, vengeance, sabotage, and aspirational desire within Black communities. Duran centers Black feminine figures in his compositions as a reclamation of their historically overlooked contributions to European standards of taste, and as a form of retribution for generations of forced labor under colonial rule.In the conversation, Duran discusses his early career in fashion, including time spent studying and working in Paris, as well as an MBA program in Taipei focused on the Asian luxury market. He explains his decision, at age 41, to leave the fashion industry behind and commit fully to becoming a visual artist, a shift shaped in part by a residency in Senegal that marked his entry into the art world.Duran describes the influence of his late mother, a hairstylist whose gatherings between the Bronx and the Dominican Republic shaped his early understanding of beauty, celebration, and hospitality. He also outlines his research process, including his study of the historical relationship between textiles and the transatlantic slave trade, and his investigation into love-attraction plants once used by enslaved women in the Caribbean, both of which directly inform his work.The conversation also touches on Duran's early relationship with artist Mickalene Thomas, and how that connection shaped both his confidence and his development as an artist.Follow Jose Duran on Instagram at @joseduranstudio to keep up with his work and future projects.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

I thought pregnancy would change my body. I didn't expect it to change the way I think about creativity, ambition, fear, relationships, and life.In my final live episode before maternity leave, I'm sharing the five biggest lessons pregnancy has taught me so far.From this conversation, you'll learn:-Why you should pre-prepare, but never pre-suffer.-Why pregnancy and Motherhood actually increases ambition.-Why advocating for yourself is one of the greatest acts of self-trust.-How surrender can unlock more creativity and peace.-Why protecting your energy changes everything.Even if you're not a parent, these lessons are for anyone navigating a major life transition, pursuing a creative dream, or learning to trust themselves more deeply. I hope this episode meets you exactly where you are.

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Bony Ramirez!About Bony Ramirez: Dominican-born artist based out of Jersey City, New Jersey, working across painting, sculpture, and installation to create a vivid celebration and exploration of Dominican life and Caribbean culture. Blending European painting traditions — Renaissance and Mannerist influences drawn from church art — with distinctly Caribbean imagery, symbolism, and materials, Ramirez has built a visual language entirely his own. His elongated, exaggerated figures function almost like landscapes, each one deliberately distinct, never referencing real people but instead pulling from memory and imagination.In our conversation, Ramirez talks through moving to the United States at 13 years old and how that transition shaped both his identity and his relationship to the culture he left behind. He reflects on how being physically close to New York City's art scene, including a stretch living in Harlem, became an essential part of his growth as an artist. Ramirez discusses his responsibility to tell Caribbean stories that are still underrepresented in contemporary art, noting how many people don't even know where his island is.He gets into how his figures evolved — starting from self-taught limitations that became a stylistic signature — and why he keeps cultural markers like plantains, machetes, and crabs, along with bilingual English and Spanish titles, at the forefront of his work, refusing to let that world fade into the background.Be sure to follow Bony Ramirez on Instagram at @bonyramirezz to keep up with his work and future projects.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi cutie! I am reairing the first-ever episode I did on Human design with Dana and Shayna from the Dayluna Human Design Podcast. I have been thinking a lot about birth charts with my son coming in just a couple weeks, and I had this episode on the brain because of that! It's a great one to start to learn about yoru design, so pull up your chart, sit back and enjoy!On The Guest: Shayna Cornelius and Dana Stiles, Human Design specialists and co-creators of DayLuna, are here on a mission to empower the collective towards self-love, personal freedom, and radical authenticity. Their wildly successful DayLuna Human Design Podcast has generated over 850k downloads worldwide.From this conversation you'll learn:How to navigate your life in alignment with your purposeThe danger of comparing yourself to your colleaguesThe basics of human designThe blueprint of your energyWhy self-awareness is freeingStrategy vs authorityThe 5 different energy typesEnergy differences in couples and how to navigate themThe ideal work hours for your energyIdeal careers for different energy typesWhat you're designed to feel when you are in alignmentThe importance of focus and rest for ProjectorsHow to use your specific creative energyThe danger in confusing the love of recognition for the love of the workThe collective “crumbling” and “rising”And so much more

I was privileged once again to attend Newport Folk Festival and even more grateful to sit down with Madi Diaz — four years after her first Roadcase guest spot in 2022. Madi is a striking artist with a unique flair for vulnerability and for putting her authentic self — and her feelings — on display in her songwriting. She is also a two-time Grammy nominee for her album Weird Faith, and was a member of Harry Styles' touring band in 2023.Madi talks to me about the importance of embracing her feelings, especially in navigating relationships, and she discusses with me how her knack for finding joy in uncertainty and the unknown helps shape not only her artistry but also her outlook on life. Her upcoming deluxe release — the UN-unplugged version — of her album Fatal Optimist is coming out on September 4, and it further underscores the hope embedded in her attitude of “defiant optimism.”  Heads up for more interviews from Newport Folk Festival, coming up this week and next!!=======================================Chapters:00:00 - Episode intro with Host Josh Rosenberg04:05 - Maddie Diaz's journey and upcoming album Fatal Optimist06:23 - How songwriting reflects personal and universal emotions08:53 - The meaning behind Fatal Optimist as laughing in the face of the current world10:26 - Strategies for managing intense feelings through acceptance and presence12:50 - Decision-making guided by gut instinct and living with no wrong choices14:55 - The creative process behind her innovative music videos and art installations18:28 - Navigating relationships and personal growth during tour adventures20:05 - The transformative experience of performing for Harry Styles and large audiences23:51 - Reflections on touring at Wembley and the impact on her music and mindset27:19 - Her focus on new music, upcoming solo shows, and ongoing projects29:23 - Episode Wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg=======================================For more information on Roadcase:https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.comOr contact Roadcase by email:  info@roadcasepod.comRoadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Dina AZ. Salem!About Dina AZ. Salem: Washington, DC–based abstract artist born in Alexandria, Egypt, working across painting and sculpture to create materially driven works that explore healing, transformation, memory, and resilience. Through layered surfaces, texture, and unconventional materials, her practice investigates how personal experiences can be translated into visual language. She signs her work with the initials of her late father, honoring the person who first encouraged her artistic journey.In our conversation, Salem talks through growing up as a hyperactive child in Alexandria, Egypt, and how her mother discovered that painting calmed her down—leading to a lifelong artistic practice that began at four or five years old. She shares how her father, Ahmed Zaki, a CFO who never used a calculator in his life, would sit next to her and watch her paint, eventually buying her early works for small amounts to encourage her. Salem recalls visiting her father's office at nine years old and finding all her blue paintings hanging on his walls, and how his passing when she was twelve stopped her artistic journey for years.She connects her path from applying to shoe design school in Italy to eventually attending Virginia Tech and landing in DC about four years ago, reflecting on how the journey "chose her." We get into her philosophy that materials carry memory—sourcing everything from sand to plaster to abandoned items found walking around DC and at Home Depot, her "happy place." As she puts it, she's interested in "how we become someone new without losing who we were." Salem discusses how living in two places has made her understand that "identity is never fixed, it's always evolving," and how she wouldn't create the same style of work if she had stayed in Egypt.Be sure to follow Dina AZ. Salem on Instagram at @dinaazsalem to keep up with her work and future projects.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi Cutie! Today I'm resharing an episode that changed my life! Listen to hear the advice that shifted everything in my creative career. Love this episode with Mural Artist, Patrick Ganino! Check it out. Original Description below: Today's guest is Patrick Ganino. He is an artist, author, and social media expert. He  is best known for creating absolutely spectacular murals and paintings for celebs such as Hulk Hogan, Chevy Chase, Rosie O'Donell and many more as well as his own book, ‘The Business of Faux,' and his ability to create and curate online communities.Patrick hustled his way to become a professional artist--from the start, he approached his art as a business and was relentless in his drive to pursue it. He doesn't let perfectionism or overthinking get in the way of creating -he always just goes for it and trusts his instincts. From this conversation you'll learn:What characteristics you need to redefine your relationship with fearHow to bust through a creative block The power of rest in the creative projectWhy Delegating is a powerful tool as a creative What the benefits are to creating quickly and living by the moto “less think, more do”How to find ways to build up your personal business and start from the ground upThe most effective To-Do list, EVER!How to figure out ANYTHINGHow to move past creative blocksThe power of taking a break from your creativity How to self-promote authenticallyHow set a price for your business and work & WHEN to get paidWhy it's important to be a light in the roomAdvice for people who haven't made money from their passion YET Why I believe in going where you're not expected creatively 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Simone Phillips!About Simone Phillips: Award-winning content creator and event curator behind Charm City Table, Baltimore's popular food and beverage platform with more than ten million impressions per month. She's become a trusted voice in Baltimore's culinary scene, highlighting the people, places, and stories that shape the city's food culture. She also curates vertical videos for the Maryland Film Festival and works closely with Parkway Theater.In our conversation, Phillips walks through her journey from starting Charm City Table in 2017 as a hobby to journal her dining experiences. Growing up, she didn't eat out much—Golden Corral and IHOP at church functions, but never exploring Baltimore's dining scene. After graduating college and moving back to Baltimore, she started exploring Harbor East, Fells Point, the Inner Harbor, Canton, and fell in love with all the options. That curiosity became her whole life.She shares her humanitarian approach to content creation—thinking about the restaurant owners and their feelings as creatives, but also the people spending their money who see something and get excited about visiting. We get into what it takes to build a sustainable brand voice rather than chasing virality, why Baltimore remains her intentional focal point even as she partners with national brands in New York, Chicago, and California, and what she believes is missing from Baltimore's food scene to take it to the next level: elevated service as an art form.Be sure to follow Charm City Table on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Every one of us carries a deeper story beneath the surface—one that words often fail to express. In this episode of The Lucas Mack Show, Lucas sits down with longtime friend and visionary artist Sophia Noemi for an intimate conversation about creativity, healing, identity, and the mysterious ways our souls communicate through dreams, symbols, and imagination. Sophia shares how she discovered her extraordinary gift of translating subconscious imagery into powerful works of art, including the story behind the painting she created from one of Lucas's recurring visions of a wolf. Together they explore why creativity is far more than self-expression—it can become a pathway to healing, transformation, and remembering who we truly are. The conversation also dives into Sophia's remarkable professional journey, from teaching paint-and-sip classes to creating large-scale historical murals, while navigating grief, personal loss, and seasons of creative uncertainty. Through it all, she reveals how journaling, protecting her energy, and staying aligned with her calling helped her reclaim both her identity and her purpose. If you've ever felt disconnected from your creativity, struggled through difficult seasons, or sensed there was something deeper trying to emerge from within you, this conversation will inspire you to trust the process and create from the truth of who you are. In this episode: How dreams and subconscious imagery can guide our lives The story behind Lucas's wolf vision and Sophia's painting Creativity as a tool for healing trauma Recovering your identity after loss and hardship Why artists must protect their energy and light Moving from small beginnings to large opportunities Journaling as a spiritual and creative practice Following your calling even when the path isn't clear If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that creativity isn't just about making art—it's about becoming who you were created to be. Follow  @SophiaNoemi  at https://www.instagram.com/artistsophianoemi/  WATCH MY TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG0zXJ8bUOA&t=47s S ign up for coaching: https://www.lucasmack.com/coaching Thank you for listening – if you're struggling to break free and need support – go to my website and www.lucasmack.com. There's you'll find resources like videos and eBooks and information on how to work with me for coaching.

Hi Creative! For today's best of, I am going DEEP into the archives: back to 2019! This was the first-ever time my parents came on the podcast. We shared our relationship and they spoke about how to raise a creative child. It felt appropriate given the fact that my baby boy is going to be arriving in the next 3-4 weeks! I can't wait to revisit this episode with you and continue on this journey down memory lane! LOVE YA!Original Description! On today's very special episode of Unleash Your Inner Creative, Lauren Talks with her parents, Jo Ann and Mike LoGrasso. They talk all about what it was like to raise a creative child, their tips for parents who are raising or hope to raise creative children and tips for people who might not have had that encouraging base as a start. They also reveal the first time they realized Lauren was creative, the dreams that they still hope to achieve and the most difficult part of raising a passionate child. Check it out! 

Abby Pawley started by painting surfboards in Virginia Beach, then said yes to a 50-foot mural festival wall that changed everything. Five years later, her work has shown up in Amazon's main entrance, an IKEA Monet collaboration, local landmarks, and commercial spaces across her community. Abby shares how she left a warehouse job with no perfect plan, followed up until clients answered, handled the panic of large-scale projects, and learned to keep painting through the ugly middle when even she needed to trust the process. She also talks honestly about AI-generated client requests, social media pressure, public rejection, and the kind of persistence that can turn a “no” into the next wall.Abby Pawley is the Virginia Beach artist and muralist behind Pawley Prints, creating colorful murals, coastal-inspired pieces, and large-scale commercial work for brands and local spaces. Based in Virginia Beach, her work carries the influence of her high school art teachers, who encouraged her early on, and the community that helped her grow.Connect with Abby:WebsiteIGTikTokCreative Finds:Zibra 1/8" Detail Brush – our most requested size, launching July 30 at enjoyzibra.com (use code BANTER10 for 10% off)In this episode, we discuss:Why Abby left her warehouse job after her first mural, even without a perfect planHow steady follow-up helped turn an Amazon referral into a real projectWhy referrals still require persistence, clear communication, and self-advocacyWhat changes when your work moves from small surfaces to 50-foot wallsHow artists can get through the ugly middle of a project without spiralingWhy Abby's most effective social media posts are often the simple, honest onesHow sharing rejection can build trust with your audience and help other artists keep goingWelcome to Brush & Banter—the podcast where creativity meets real-life hustle. Brought to you by Zibra, we go beyond perfect brushstrokes to explore the messy, magical, and meaningful side of being an artist. We're here to bring you conversations with working artists, practical tips to grow your creative business, and a built-in painting companion for your next project. Brush & Banter is co-hosted by Brie Hansen, President of Zibra; Annie Bolding, Founder of It's a Disco Day Designs; and Lauren Cooper, Founder of Rosemont Lane Design Studio.Connect with Zibra: WebsiteInstagramTikTokFacebook YouTubeBlog

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Louis-Antoine Gilbert!About Louis-Antoine Gilbert: French-American painter and artist known for his acrylic on canvas works that create the illusion of depth, living in Washington, DC for nearly a decade, creating colorful acrylic cityscapes inspired by brutalist and modernist architecture, art deco design, and graphic novels by Moebius, François Schuiten, and Benoît Peeters. His cubist-influenced work draws from M.C. Escher and Wassily Kandinsky, and he's also a musician, beat maker, and painting instructor.In our conversation, Gilbert talks through growing up in Paris with parents who brought him to free museums and concerts, first wanting to be an artist at age four after seeing an orchestra, and starting with graffiti following older kids in the streets. He connects his journey from Parisian punk bands to DC's basement show scene and digs into how DC's greenery—particularly Rock Creek Park—has transformed his gray, Parisian-inspired compositions into more hopeful work with vegetation. As he puts it, discovering DC made him realize "both cities, both of them have brutalist and modern buildings in them."He recalls meeting artist Autumn Spears early in his DC years, shares stories from selling affordable original drawings at the Little DuPont flea market every six weeks, and discusses learning that French house music actually originated from Detroit. We get into the realities of teaching painting in summers, the influence of graphic novels from his dad's collection, and how nearly a decade in DC has made him rethink the art deco shapes he loved from Paris.Be sure to follow Louis-Antoine Gilbert on Instagram at @antoine_paints to keep up with his work and future projects.Photo courtesy of subject.All views expressed by Louis-Antoine Gilbert are his own and not those of the Law Library of Congress or the Library of Congress The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi Creative! As I prepare for motherhood, continue building my business, Lauren LoGrasso Productions, release my next single and get the show ready for maternity leave, I realize need a little space to make the best work for you.  Therefore I have decided that I will [most likely] do best of episodes for the rest of July so I can get ahead and bring you brand new content in August and September while I'm out learning how to be a Mom! I might pop in with a solo or one with me and my hubby talking about prepping for parenthood, but otherwise, you're going to hear some of my fave episodes and ones I am re-listening to at this point in my journey! Also! I am putting out a new song on Friday, July 10th! Please pre-save it here: https://ffm.to/walkingonair2026 In the meantime, check out this FANTASTIC episode with Breathwork practitioner, Terry Moseley and hear you you can use breathwork in your life and creativity + my WILD first time doing breathwork including getting a visit from my ancestors! Original Description: Have you ever considered how the simple act of breathing could unlock profound changes in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being? Today's guest is Terry Moseley. She is a seasoned expert in breathwork and healing. She created Bionic Breathwork, which is based upon breathing techniques backed by science to help you begin to move through trauma, release old patterns and more. Today, Terry will teach you about the transformative power of breathwork and how it can not only enhance your daily life but also lead to deep healing and personal growth.From this conversation you'll learn:-What breathwork is-How it can help you release trauma-The Full Story of my (Lauren's) WILD breathwork experience--this is a must-hear!-What functional freeze is and how to get out of it -The connection between breathwork and therapeutic psychedelics & how to know which one is right for you-AND we will even walk you through a little breathwork at the end of the pod!Try a FREE Bionic Breathwork Class with Terry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpzBk3wXYWc

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Zoë Poindexter!About Zoë Poindexter: Documentary filmmaker, producer, and director based in Washington, DC. She attended journalism graduate school at Georgetown University, where she continues to work as a documentary teacher's assistant, and specializes in nonfiction storytelling.In our conversation, Poindexter walks through her journey to A Revolution Called Love, a feature documentary inspired by Black Love Day—a holiday created in DC in the nineties by Mama Ayo Handy-Kendi. After living in DC for almost ten years without ever hearing about it, she called the founder and asked to attend. She showed up in purple—the colors of Black Love Day, which happens to be her favorite color—stayed for the entire seven-hour ceremony, and came back saying, "Yes, this needs to be made into a film." The documentary is structured around the holiday's five tenets: love for the creator, love for yourself, love for family, love for community, and love for the Black diaspora. We explore how she's weaving community voices throughout—filming interviews with Black Washingtonians defining what those tenets mean to them, with select responses used as voiceover narration in the feature.She shares her commitment to telling positive stories that aren't clichés—"We have way too many clichéd stories about Black people, Black communities. I often ask myself, why do we need this again? Who is this actually being made for?" She hopes the film sparks conversation around what we think love is—a deeper dialogue about intention, community, and making work that's truly for us. This conversation came about through a shared passion for storytelling—and the belief that the stories we tell should actually be made for us.Be sure to follow the project (@blacklovedocfilm on Instagram, Black Love Documentary Film on Facebook) and visit BlackLoveDocumentary.com to learn more and support the crowdfund. Both Defining Love: Voices of Black DC (a short oral history film funded in part by Humanities DC) and A Revolution Called Love are currently in production.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

This week, Wes and Todd talk with Chloé Duplessis! Chloé discusses her family, her education, growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, living in New Orleans, moving back home, running for the school board, her involvement in politics, getting her diagnosis of Stargardt disease, moving to Denver, starting her art business, telling lesser known stories of history, working in different mediums, honoring her ancestors and our shared history, travel, being part of a supportive art community, creating the first accessible “I Voted” sticker for the City of Denver, the Colorado Black Equity Study, Cathay Williams, the history behind & the evolution of her exhibition “12 Tablecloths, burlap being her “soul fabric,” her exhibition “Origin Story” at Understudy, her piece “Reclaiming Liberty,” and her advice to Artists to “Serve from where you are.”Join us for a fantastic and inspirational conversation with Chloé Duplessis! Check out Chloe's work at www.chloeduplessis.com Follow Chloé on social media:Instagram - www.instagram.com/duplessis.art/ - @duplessis.art Chloé's exhibition “Origin Story” will be on display at Understudy through July 19th - https://www.denvertheatredistrict.com/understudy Hear Chloé talk about the exhibition “Origin Story” on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dNjq1pv9P0 Chloe's exhibition “Shared History” opens July 28th at the Center for Colorado Women's History - http://www.historycolorado.org/center-colorado-womens-history Check out Chloé's other shows happening later this year at www.chloeduplessis.com/eventsSend us Fan MailFollow us on Instagram:@tenetpodcast - www.instagram.com/tenetpodcast/@wesbrn - www.instagram.com/wesbrn/@toddpiersonphotography - www.instagram.com/toddpiersonphotography/ Follow us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/TenetPodcast/Email us at todd@toddpierson.com If you enjoyed this episode or any of our previous episodes, please consider taking  a moment and leaving us a review on your favorite podcast platform.Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Paloma Vianey!About Paloma Vianey: Interdisciplinary artist from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, now based in Washington, DC. She holds an MFA from Cornell University and has created large-scale public art installations along the US-Mexico border, with work exhibited at major museums and galleries internationally. She is primarily a painter and educator, teaching at the collegiate level.In our conversation, Vianey walks through her artistic journey from beginning to paint as a teenager when Juarez was labeled "the most dangerous city in the world," using art as catharsis during years of violence. She recounts completing a groundbreaking 72-foot-wide community-funded border bridge mural in 2018, depicting a girl blowing bubbles with each bubble representing emblematic images of Juarez including a tribute to femicide victims. We dig into her signature "Chamara" paintings—labor-intensive works where she hand-sews canvas jackets with industrial zippers over oil-painted urban landscapes of Juarez, creating what she calls "portraits of the city." One painting captured a pink house she'd see every time crossing the border—until one visit when she discovered it had been painted white. "That was a little heartbreaking for me," she shares, explaining how these works archive the changing memory of her hometown through a lens of resilience and hope.She shares insights on finding community in DC after moving six times in five years, her love for the U Street corridor (particularly Taqueria Xochi for authentic Mexican food), and how DC has been generous in giving her platforms to show her work. This conversation came about after I encountered Vianey's work at Umbrella Art Fair—a chance discovery that sparked a deeper dialogue about representation, resilience, and the power of challenging negative narratives through art.Be sure to follow Paloma Vianey (@palomavianey on Instagram) and visit palomavianey.com to keep up with her work and future projects. Her exhibition "Un Mismo Cielo Entre Washington y Juarez" is on display at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC until July 25th.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Hi Creative Cutie! This week I am just getting back from my Babymoon and wanted to reshare an episode that I LOVE and I've been thinking about a lot on my entrepreneurial journey. What I have found about both creativity and business ownership is that underneath it all, it's really a healing and self-development journey. This episode talks about exactly that: How to attain success through healing. ENJOY! Original Description: On The Guest:  Today's guest is Victoria Song. She is a leadership advisor and coach to CEOs, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs. She's worked with people like Cindy Crawford and Ryan Hudson who is the cofounder of Honey- which was acquired by paypal for 4 billion dollars.  She is also the author of the Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Bending Reality, was on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list and has been featured in ABC, NBC, Glamour, Boston Globe, and more.From this conversation you'll learn:How to get out of your head and into your bodyThe signs of an inflamed nervous systemHow to healthily express angerHow to heal from feelings of unworthiness How to bend reality What Contraction/ expansion is and how can you start leaning more toward expansionHow to build self-trustWhy it's important to celebrate successes and winsHow to change your inner critic voice into something supportiveHow to rewrite old stories AND MORE! 

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Miles Johnson!About Miles Johnson: Miles Johnson is a self-described "unclassically untrained oil painter" and mechanical engineer based in the DMV area. In over 4 years—starting with over a year on iPad before transitioning to oils 3 years ago—he has created numerous pieces. His late grandmother was a painter herself who created approximately 300 pieces and inspired his creative path. Miles first painted her portrait last summer for his solo show.Growing up, Miles would run cross-country to the Smithsonian, where Thomas Cole's four-part series "Voyage of Life" gave him a revelation: "I never thought that paintings were like almost manga panels." He also draws inspiration from Little Black Goat, incorporating anime-style faces into his work. Miles applies his engineering background with painting by creating bullet-point lists and maintaining over 200 pages of documentation in Google Docs. His research process studies figures like Fannie Lou Hamer—someone who was "born into sharecropping and ended up dying with a foundation that gave a million acres of land across Mississippi."Later we discussed Miles working on Common People Ain't Common, a 2025 undertaking. He made 100 pieces dedicated to celebrating the small moments in life and of the people he has observed.  His goal was to make this art affordable for the everyday people who supported him on his art journey. His aim is that these pieces will serve as a great investment for first-time collectors. His Instagram handle @MJonthewall pays homage to Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall" album. Connect with Miles on Instagram and TikTok at @MJonthewall or visit MJonthewall.com.Photo courtesy of subject. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

I was at Winnetka Music Festival June 19-20, where I spoke to @benkweller, a multi-genre multi-instrumentalist, whose very personal and revealing songwriting has been his trademark throughout his more than 20-year career. This episode is Part 1 of a four-part series of in-person interviews from the Winnetka Music Fest, and I'll be featuring these throughout this and the following week.Ben's latest album, Cover the Mirrors, is not only a personal documentation of his life, but also a tribute to his son Dorian, who died tragically in 2023. Ben's vulnerability and authenticity are on full display in this recent effort, and he talks to me about just how his songwriting plays a critical part in his life — and how it especially helped him during a time of unimaginable sorrow. This is a heartwrenching yet hopeful story of perseverance and grace. Ben's humor and joyful spirit is on full display in this lively conversation, and I'm honored to have sat down with him just prior to his set. I can't wait for you to give this one a listen!!=======================================Chapters:00:00 -- Episode Intro with Host Josh Rosenberg06:30 — Intro and joking around about an apparent show mix-up07:10 — Ben's vulnerability as a songwriter and communicator08:16 — Why plainspoken lyrics can still feel powerful09:50 — DIY instincts, business, and being direct11:31 — The loss of Dorian and how music stopped at home12:56 — Writing songs to communicate with Dorian14:38 — The story behind “Oh Dorian”16:56 — How the song shifted into a friend's perspective18:02 — The emotional weight of the album Cover the Mirrors19:06 — Fiction, first person, and writing from lived truth20:56 — How tragedy changed the impact of Ben's songwriting21:49 — Fans supporting Ben on tour through grief22:38 — Feeling Dorian's presence on stage23:37 — Creative momentum and working on a new album24:48 — Showing up for the muse and the creative life25:29 — Songs as something received, not just written25:59 — The French phrase in a new song and checking the translation27:47 — Flow state, openness, and the idea of receiving songs29:28 — How listeners interpret Ben's lyrics30:26 — Songs that took on new meaning after Dorian's death31:19 — Ben's musical beginnings as a kid33:49 — His music-first writing process and melodic math35:54 — Free will, destiny, and the shape of a life36:32 — Being Jewish, family traditions, and Shabbat38:15 — Shared cultural identity and appreciation for Jewish guests38:47 — Johnny/Modern Love Child and collaboration39:49 — Reissue news for On My Way40:37 — The next studio album, Agarita41:37 — Wanting a teleprompter for live shows42:30 — Thoughts on lyric stands and authenticity on stage43:22 — Daniel Johnston and outsider music43:53 — Roger Greenwald and producing a debut album45:45 — Artists as conduits and creating a unique path46:33 — Closing thanks and tribute46:50 -- Episode Wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg=======================================For more information on Roadcase:https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.comOr contact Roadcase by email:  info@roadcasepod.comRoadcase theme music:  "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Bernard Feinsod!About Bernard Feinsod: Editor, producer, writer, director, sound designer, and voice actor with over 17 years of experience in comedy, documentary, news, variety entertainment, and live events. A Baltimore-raised, Brooklyn-based creative who started at NBC's Today Show at 21, spent eight years at Vice Media, and is now navigating the independent content creator landscape.In our conversation, Feinsod talks through his 17-year journey in post-production—from the NBC mail room to creative producer, working with Sony, Field and Stream, and Huckberry across television, film, and new media. He connects his Baltimore DIY roots to his New York work and digs into how transitioning from Vice staffer to freelancer reshaped his creative approach. As he puts it, "it's easy to get complacent when you have like a day job that's holding you down so well."He recalls his time at Vice Media as "the best job I ever had," shares stories from editing Bret Raybould's comedy special, and discusses heading into a new self-starting phase. We get into the realities of working from a Brooklyn apartment edit suite for six years, the mass exodus from Vice, and how the last two years as an independent have pushed him toward more passion-driven, project-based creative work.Be sure to follow Bernard Feinsod to keep up with his work and future projects.Photo credit: Dan St. Ours The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Jacob Ming-Trent!About Jacob Ming-Trent: Acclaimed performer, playwright, and one of American Theater's people to watch. A celebrated artist bringing his solo play, How Shakespeare Saved My Life, to Washington, DC's Folger Theater, and later to The Public Theater in New York with Red Bull producing.In our conversation, Ming-Trent walks through his journey from a rough childhood in an abusive home to moving to New York at seventeen—having been homeless the previous year and recently dropped out of high school. He recalls the pivotal moment Shakespeare entered his life: at six years old, his father, an English major, mentioned the Bard alongside Amiri Baraka. Years later, he accidentally walked into the wrong classroom and was asked to read a Shakespeare speech. "It felt like home to me," he says. "The words were big enough to give context to my emotions that were inside."He digs into the origins of How Shakespeare Saved My Life, a play that poured out of him unexpectedly while working on a different project. The solo show follows a kid with a tough childhood who discovers Shakespeare and tries to use it to navigate his world—sometimes it works, sometimes it fails. "It's a raucous ride, it's outrageous, it's funny, it's sad, and in the end we experience some black joy," Ming-Trent shares. We discuss his decision to leave theater at 35 after feeling treated like "an affirmative action hire," his pivot to television in LA, and how a call from director Saheem Ali brought him back to the stage to lead Shakespeare in the Park in Merry Wives—which ultimately led to writing this play. He reflects on the influence of figures like Biggie, Tupac, James Baldwin, and Basquiat—all artists trying to save their lives through their work. He also talks about audience interaction, the differences between performing in Berkeley and DC, and why vulnerability and fear are necessary parts of telling personal stories.Be sure to follow Jacob Ming-Trent and catch How Shakespeare Saved My Life, running until July 5th at Folger Theater (201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC). Tickets start at $20. The play is also published by Bloomsbury Publishing. After DC, the show heads to The Public Theater in New York. The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcastThe Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Have you ever had one bad day that suddenly made you question everything? Yesterday, that was me. After my most successful month as an entrepreneur, I found myself crying hysterically, convinced I wasn't doing enough and wondering if I was failing. Looking back, I realized my brain had turned one incredibly stressful day into a story that wasn't fully true. In this solo episode, I'm sharing what happened, the surprising lesson it taught me, and the framework I'm using to move through creative spirals without letting them define me.In this episode, you'll learn:- How to recognize when you're spiraling instead of seeing the full picture-Why your inner critic says the things it does and how to respond with compassion instead of shame-How to separate what's actually happening from the story your brain is telling you-A simple practice that's helping me regain perspective and move forward one step at a timeIf you've been feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or like you're somehow falling behind, I hope this episode reminds you that one hard day doesn't get to write the story of your life.

Have you ever poured years into building something only to watch it fall apart right when you thought you'd finally figured it out? That's where Steve Kamb was when he wrote How to Try Again, his new book on starting over after failure.Steve, founder of Nerd Fitness, wrote this book on how to try again while actually trying again himself, navigating a divorce, a cancer diagnosis, and a full reinvention of the business he'd spent 20 years building.In this episode You'll Learn: :-Steve's PACT framework for trying again after failure -Why self-compassion beats self-criticism when you're starting over-How perfectionism keeps your best work hidden-Why sometimes progress isn't the goal, staying afloat isIf you're in the middle of starting over, or just need permission to try again, this one's for you.More on Steve: founder of Nerd Fitness, author of How to Try Again, a guide to starting over after failure. Get How to Try Again here: https://stevekamb.com/howtotryagain/ 

Have you ever made a big change in your life, only to realize you're still living by the same rules that made you feel boxed in, in the first place?After leaving corporate America and becoming an entrepreneur, I started noticing all the old beliefs, fears, and expectations I had unknowingly carried into this new chapter.In this solo episode, I share the hidden rules I'm learning to let go of, why creativity is about questioning assumptions, and how to stop bringing the past into the future you're trying to createIn this episode, you'll learn:-Why changing your circumstances isn't enough-The invisible rules that may be holding you back- How to create a life that actually fits who you are…If you're in a season of reinvention, this episode is for you.

Have you ever been told that becoming a mother means losing yourself? Losing your creativity, your ambition, your momentum?Well, what if the opposite was actually true?Today's guest is comedian, writer, and one of the sharpest voices on the internet, Ginny Hogan, and this conversation will completely reframe everything you've been told about motherhood and creativity.From this episode, you'll learn:-Why so many women have their greatest creative success after having a baby-The truth about body image, eating disorders, and pregnancy that nobody talks about-How to balance ambition, guilt, and creativity as a working mom-What giving birth taught Ginny about the power of her own body and creativityGinny's honesty about the messy, beautiful, reality of creative motherhood is packed with humor, hard-won wisdom, and moments that will make you feel deeply seen. Whether you're pregnant, a parent, want to be a parent, or just a woman trying to hold onto herself through a massive life transition, this one is for you.More on Ginny: Ginny Hogan is a comedian, writer, and one of the most followed voices on Threads, known for her razor-sharp, deeply honest takes on modern womanhood, ambition, politics, body image, and motherhood.

Since leaving corporate America, my podcast downloads have increased nearly 200%.And it's definitely not= because I suddenly became a genius marketer. It's because, for the first time in over a decade, I stopped treating my dream like a side project.In today's solo episode, I'm sharing the surprising energetic shift that changed not only this podcast, but my entire creative life and business.We dive into:-Why the energy behind your work matters just as much as the work itself-The hidden cost of splitting your energy between survival and desire-What happens when you stop hiding your ambitions-Why people can feel when you're finally all-in on yourself-How prioritizing your creative dreams can create major shifts in momentum, visibility, and growthIf you've been quietly building a dream while pouring most of your energy into someone else's vision, this episode is for you. Because your breakthrough isn't always about working harder, most often, it's about finally choosing yourself.

Have you ever noticed that the moment you step into a new, big, chapter of your life, your old patterns can suddenly come rushing to the surface? I have… In this episode, I share a major realization I've had during week three of full-time entrepreneurship: sometimes you have to start saying you're the thing before you fully become it. I share how I came to this, how it helped me manifest one of my biggest dreams and how you can use it in your creativity and career. Now back to what I started with…every time you level up, you need to level up your growth and self-development… and for me, one of those edges is continuing to heal codependency, people pleasing, and learning not to abandon myself while building a life and business that's truly mine.So today, I'm replaying one of my favorite conversations from the archives with codependency facilitator and spiritual counselor Erika Wright.This conversation completely changed the way I think about self-worth, relationships, creativity, emotional resilience, and what it actually means to stay connected to yourself.From this conversation, you'll learn:-How to identify and heal codependent patterns-The difference between creativity and codependency-How to stop abandoning yourself for other people-Why emotional discomfort is not an emergency-How to stop giving unsolicited advice and start turning inward-And how to stay connected to yourself while still loving othersThis episode is especially for you if you're in a season of reinvention, entrepreneurship, healing, motherhood, transition, or personal growth.More on Erika Wright: https://erikawright.org/

Have you ever wondered if all that doing is actually getting in the way of your creativity? What if I asked you to let yourself be less useful?This week I'm sitting down with photographer, documentarian, and creative force Lindsey Lerner, founder of Field Notes From the Work in the Wild, a stunning project on Substack that documents people in the messy middle of their most meaningful work.Lindsey started out as my creative coaching client and has since become one of my dearest friends and creative allies. And in this conversation, she gets radically honest about what happened when she finally stopped over-functioning, stopped building everyone else's dreams, and started making room for her own.We get into:-Why being less useful might be the most creative thing you can do-How to keep the faith when your path makes absolutely no sense-What it really means to ask for help, and why it's so hard for high achievers-How to braid your passions into something only you can create-Plus the moment Lindsey's wife said something so simple it rewired everything.If you've ever confused hustle for worth, or wondered if there's a more holistic, authentic way to create, this one is for you, cutie.And if you're in New York, Lindsey's bringing Field Notes to life on September 26th at Bronxlandia in the South Bronx. Subscribe to Field Notes on Substack to get first access to tickets: https://fieldnotesfromthework.substack.com/ Love you. Let's get into it.

For years I taught other people to unleash their creativity. This week, I finally had to put my money where my mouth was and unleash myself. This is my real-time, raw, first-week-of-full-time-entrepreneurship origin story, and I'm not waiting until I have it all figured out to tell it.Last week, I left corporate America after 11+ years to launch my own company, Lauren LoGrasso Productions, while six months pregnant, and I'm bringing you with me for every messy, terrifying, exhilarating moment of it.In this solo episode I'm sharing my 10 self-coaching takeaways from my first week of being fully self-employed, what leaving your job to pursue your creative dreams actually feels like from the inside, and why a business is one of the greatest creative projects you'll ever build.We get into:-How to bet on yourself even when you're terrified-Why rest is part of the creative process, not the enemy of productivity-How to stop forcing and start flowing-Why singing your own praises isn't bragging, it's necessary-Plus a very special announcement I've been dreaming about for years.If you've ever thought about leaving your 9-to-5, starting a creative business, or betting on yourself in a way that scares you a little, this one is for you.Because if I can do this, six months pregnant, fresh out of corporate America, betting everything on my creativity, so can you!Love you, cutie. Let's go!