In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Eddie Kawooya, author of the Ace and the Misfits series. We talk about how immigrant kids can foster friendships and a sense of purpose through sports.
Inspired by his own immigrant experiences, Eddie brings to life a community of young boys who thrive through sports and a joint sense of purpose. Upheld by the storytelling traditions of his Ugandan heritage, and specifically, his grandmother’s stories, Eddie’s Ace and the Misfits series is nostalgic and provides crucial insights into the lives of young, immigrant boys.
Ace and the Misfits vs the Soccer Knights is forthcoming in Spring 2026.
Show Highlights
00:00 – Introduction
2:31 – Eddie’s journey as an artist
11:29 – Discussing Ace and the Misfits vs The Soccer Knights
14:04 – Drawing from his immigrant experience to write the book
17:09 – Unpacking the challenges of immigration in children
23:04 – Learning from his grandmother and drawing from Ugandan storytelling traditions
28:40 – The hardest part of the book to write
31:27 – Addressing the challenges of young, immigrant boys
32:37 – Writing in the language of Gen Alphas
35:12 – Tips for writing for African children in the diaspora
37:55 – Full circle: Describing how he feels about his writing now
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fmydDmFEuPY
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Guest’s links
Pre-order Ace and Misfits vs The Soccer Knights: https://lernerbooks.com/shop/show/26221
Follow Eddie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boundless_kawooya/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
I’m truly honored to share this episode with Summer Brenner, fiction writer, poet, and the oldest guest on the show (Summer turned 80 this year)!
In this episode, we step back in time to the 1950s through her memoir, DUST. We discuss her encounters with racism and being Jewish in the South, caring for her brother who suffered from schizophrenia, dealing with her father’s suicide, other complexities with her family, and her thoughts on writing for over fifty years.
As I said on the show, this episode was as meaningful as I hoped it would be, and I hope you find it as meaningful too.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
02:08 – Summer on turning 80
03:33 – On discovering writing and poetry
7:15 – On freedom and happiness
09:25 – Looking back after fifty years of writing
11:47 – The impact of encountering racism on her life and her writing
17:05 – On her father and his influence on her writing
21:28 – On leaving to live and caring for her brother later in life
30:36 – The hardest part of the book to write
34:33 – Writing about family complexities and the family’s response
42:08 – On being a multidisciplinary artist and finding fulfillment
46:17 – Her secret to staying on the journey of the art
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Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Visit Summer’s website: http://summerbrenner.com
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In this episode, my guest is Adedayo Agarau, author of The Years of Blood, a poetry collection that explores trauma, memory, anxiety, and immigration.
Listen as we discuss the lack of emergency on ritual killings and abductions that inspired him to take on this subject, his struggles with mental health, and the ways community and religion impacted his ability to deal with his struggles.
Show highlights
00:00 – introduction
03:10 – Adedayo Agarau’s journey as a writer
14:39 – Taking on the subject of trauma
28:30 - The challenge of explaining anxiety and depression in the diaspora
37:04 - the questioning of God (the story of Taofiq) and predestination
45:25 - The beauty of language in the collection
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Guest's links
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Host's links
In this episode with Saad Omar Khan, we discuss depression, faith, unrequited love, and the connections between these. We explore these in Khan’s latest work, Drinking the Ocean, which tells the story of Murad, whose carefully constructed reality is upset by a chance encounter with a long lost love. Set in England, Canada, and Pakistan, Drinking the Ocean forces us to contemplate deep questions on faith and family responsibility.
Drinking the Ocean is out now from Buckrider Books.
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Guest’s links
Buy Drinking the Ocean: https://www.saadomarkhan.com/drinkingtheocean/
Follow Omar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.omar.khan/
Contact Omar: https://www.saadomarkhan.com/contact/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
What do math and art have in common? For most of my life, I’ve heard that these two concepts (and subjects) belonged in different worlds, but in this episode, we explore the intersection points between these two and how one helps the other.
00:00 - Introduction
2:10 - How art helped Jennifer through her personal struggle with math
6:33 - How important is art in teaching math?
11:06 - Creative strategies for older kids learning
math
14:43 - Balancing (content) creation and math education
20:46 - The Shape of Roti
23:15 - The role of teachers in deconstructing math
26:35 - Writing strategies for teachers writing
for the first time
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P0f0TOTvKv8
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Guest’s links
Buy The Shape of Roti and book a session with Jennifer: https://msmahal.weebly.com
Follow Jennifer on Instagram and TikTok: @ms_mahal
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In Episode 28, I’m joined by Kate Jenks Landry, author of A Summer Without Anna, to discuss the hardship children face when a family member is sick.
When we think about sickness, especially those requiring hospitalizations and long-term care, the focus is on the patient and rightfully so. But what happens to the children in the family, who often have to live with a relative or family friend? Is there any impact of this separation on their state of mind and worldview?
A Summer Without Anna revolves around Junie, a young girl who is placed in the care of her grandparents when her sister, Anna, is sick. Part memoir, the book is a glimpse into Kate’s own experiences as a child and offers a photographic contemplation of nature and family love.
Kate and I discuss the importance of allowing children to process feelings of anger and resentment during this time and the ways nature can offer a reprieve in the bleakest of circumstances.
Find out more about Kate at journeyoftheart.com.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
2:13 – The inspiration behind the story
5:27 – Exploring emotional honesty in children’s literature
10:33 – The impact of illness on siblings
16:48 – Finding community in difficult times
21:13 – The importance of perspective in storytelling
24:27 – Navigating childhood conversations about illness
27:57 – Processing emotions in a digital age
33:08 – The impact of literature on children
38:04 – Personal reflections on writing
42:52 – balancing authenticity and privacy
44:10 – All the Basements on Blackberry Street
48:29 – The art of collaboration on writing
Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Buy A Summer Without Anna: https://www.kidscanpress.com/product/a-summer-without-anna/
Follow Kate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katejenkslandry/
Follow Kate on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katejenkslandry.bsky.social
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
What parallels can be drawn between personal and societal crisis?
In this episode, I’m joined by James Cairns, professor and writer of the essay collection, In Crisis, On Crisis, to discuss what happens when we examine crisis not just from the lens of societal injustice and political upheaval but also from the lens of personal, secret struggles.
James opens up about overcoming alcohol addiction, and we discuss the impact of his revelation on his work relationships. We also stumble on a looming crisis as we unpack these matters—the diminishing privilege of truth telling and what that means for artists.
James is a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, Law and Social Justice at Wilfrid Laurier University, where his courses and research focus on political theory and social movements. He is also a staff writer at the Hamilton Review of Books, and the community relations director for the Paris-based Riverside Reading Series. James’ essay “My Struggle and My Struggle,” originally published in CNQ, appeared in Biblioasis’ Best Canadian Essays, 2025 anthology.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
1:47 – A word that describes James’s life as an artist
7:53 – What inspired the book?
15:35 – The consequences of telling the truth about alcohol addiction
21:32 – The crisis of not understanding crisis
24:08 – The form of the essay and in a world of brevity
34:38 – The privilege of truth telling
43:14 – Something James wants to hear now
I found this episode to be moving, and in the end, James leaves us with a profoundly inspiring statement, “another world is possible.”
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Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Buy In Crisis, On Crisis: https://bookstore.wolsakandwynn.ca/products/in-crisis-on-crisis
Connect with James on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesicairns/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
What do ADHD and ship salvage have in common?
In this episode of the Journey of the Art podcast, Elizabeth Rynecki and I discuss her six-part podcast series, That Sinking Feeling, exploring the similarities between her father’s job in ship salvage and her son’s ADHD struggles.
When Elizabeth completed her non-fiction memoir and began looking for her next project, an unlikely convergence of ideas occurred to her. Sorting through her father’s work in ship salvage, she began to see a connection between the explosive nature of ship salvage and her son’s explosive reactions due to his ADHD diagnosis.
We talk about inadequate school support for children with ADHD, the choice of ADHD medication, the shame and fears associated with parenting children with ADHD, and some of the considerations involved in producing this series.
Elizabeth is the author of the narrative non-fiction memoir, Chasing Portraits: A Great Granddaughter’s Quest for Her Lost Art Legacy for which she received a Kirkus Starred Review. She wrote, produced, and appeared in the documentary film, Chasing Portraits. She’s been featured in the New York Times, been a guest on NPR affiliate stations, and been a speaker at bookstores, libraries, book festivals, and film screenings around the world.
Are you a parent of a child with ADHD? Have you been diagnosed with ADHD? Let me know your thoughts on this episode and what resonated with you.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
2:08 – The rejection that became the podcast
10:20 – The odd project: ship salvage and ADHD
14:35 - Frustrations with the school system
19:12 - Support for parents who can’t rely on the school
22:29 – The choice of ADHD medication
26:17 – Processing the shame of parenting children with ADHD
30:00 – Navigating the fear of the school-to-prison pipeline
33:22 – Producing the podcast and writing for connection
41:38 – Choosing the right music for the podcast
44:35 – Reflections on the podcast
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Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Listen to That Sinking Feeling: https://www.elizabethrynecki.com/that-sinking-feeling/
Connect with Elizabeth on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erynecki/
Visit Elizabeth’s website: https://www.elizabethrynecki.com
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
Who really was Isabel de Saavedra? And was she really as cruel as history portrays her?
In Episode 25, Martha Bátiz tells me what inspired her to reimagine the stories of Miguel de Cervantes, his sisters, wife, and daughter, Isabel de Saavedra, in her latest historical novel, A Daughter’s Place.
Set in 16th-century Spain, the historical fiction revolves around Miguel’s daughter, Isabel, who finds out after her mother’s death that her father is the renowned poet and war hero, Miguel de Cervantes.
Isabel is forced to pose as a maid and help her new family as they support Cervantes in writing his famous work Don Quixote. In doing so, she discovers secrets about her new family and struggles to find a sense of belonging in a society and country groaning under the weight of war, plagues, and colonization.
A Daughter’s Place showcases the strength of four remarkable women as they navigate a critical moment in Spanish history. It’s out now from House of Anansi Press.
In this episode, we discuss:
0:00 — Introduction
3:59 – Martha’s inspiring journey from acting to writing
8:44 – Why Martha chose to re-examine the intriguing life of Isabel de Saavedra
21:51 – How to use voice and characterization to tell a unified story
38:51 – The role of the Moors in 16th Century Spain
47:37 – How to weave fact and fiction in historical fiction
Martha Bátiz holds a PhD in Latin American Literature and is an ATA-certified literary translator. Besides being the founder and instructor of the Creative Writing in Spanish course offered by the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto, she is a part-time professor at York University, where she teaches Spanish language and literature, as well as translation and creative writing.
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2gFXHA5wW9w
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Guest’s links
🛒 Buy A Daughter’s Place: https://houseofanansi.com/products/a-daughters-place?srsltid=AfmBOor7laixfQFYTpr94m3U4fFNniU1142pPnS3aJiX35A_OEsFUAFl
Follow Martha on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martha.batiz/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
I’m joined by poet, scholar, and renowned translator Radha Chakravarty for a powerful conversation on the crossroads between translation and literature, feminism in writing, and the inner work of creating across languages.
We explore Radha’s life as a multilingual writer in India, her deep relationship with Tagore’s work, and what it means to be a translator of emotion, memory, and resistance. From pandemic poetry to the importance of community, we unpack the responsibility—and courage—of those who carry words across borders.
If you care about women in literature, literary translation, and writing that honors both heritage and innovation, this episode is for you.
Show highlights
0:00 – Intro & guest introduction
2:48 – Growing up multilingual and her early inspiration.
5:58 – On the mental work of translation: Inhabiting another writer’s voice.
8:16 – Handling criticism in translation
10:28 – Writing with the echoes of great voices in your head.
13:44 – A distinguishing factor among the greats
16:02 – Radha reads from Subliminal
18:24 – Pandemic poetry & global connection
22:02 – Seeing with new eyes
24:40 – The disconnect between writers' intent and market realities.
30:20 – Translating women, teaching women’s literature, and confronting erasure.
35:29 – On Starlight: The cosmic humility behind poetry
42:12 – Final reflections & thoughts on retirement43:54 – A heartfelt close to one of the show’s most poetic conversations.
📚 About the guest:Radha Chakravarty is a professor, poet, editor, and translator of over 23 books, including The Essential Tagore and Subliminal, a poetry collection named one of the best South Asian books of 2024.
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Guest’s links
Connect with Radha on X: https://x.com/radhachakravar2
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
“Whatever my life story is, the last line cannot be: ‘And then he died in Texas.’” — Alex R Johnson
In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker and debut author Alex R Johnson to unpack the story behind his debut novel, how screenwriters are robbed of creative ownership, and what it takes to push past imposter syndrome—even at 50.
Show Highlights
00:00 – Introduction
3:11 – Leaving Brooklyn for Texas and the problem with copyright laws for screenwriters in Hollywood
5:41 – What inspired Brooklyn Motto?
12:04 – What Brooklyn in the '90s still teaches us today
13:39 – Exploring the father-son relationship
17:44 – Unearthing the works of forgotten artists and New York reinventing itself
20:04 – Aging artists and forgotten dreams
24:04 – How race, memory, addiction, and family shaped the world of Brooklyn Motto
30:39 – The impact of drug addiction on romantic relationships
34:43 – The role of illegal systems on the infrastructure of Brooklyn
39:26 – How gentrification contributes to the high housing costs in Brooklyn
44:00 – Advice to writers trying to overcome imposter syndrome
47:11 – Appreciation and end
🎙️ Journey of the Art is a podcast about the messy truth of creative work — hosted by Lola. Subscribe for honest conversations with artists, authors, and filmmakers making their mark.
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Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9yCLVeo-0S0
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Guest’s links
📚 Brooklyn Motto is available now — a gripping literary mystery set in 1990s Brooklyn. Get it here: https://www.brooklynmotto.com
Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIzYcweSAKj/?img_index=1
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In this episode, children’s book author and illustrator Thao Lam opens up about her latest picture book, Everybelly—a joyful celebration of body diversity and inclusion for young readers.
We discuss:
How her daughter’s first comments on her body sparked the book’s creation
The power of bellies as a storytelling lens
Raising kids to love their bodies in a judgmental world
Cultural identity, food, and body image
Her creative process, artistic challenges, and how she overcame imposter syndrome
Thao also shares her journey from illustrator to writer, what it’s like to write when you don’t feel qualified, and why she wants readers to walk away from Every Belly feeling one thing: hungry.
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Guest’s links
Buy Everybelly: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shadow-price?srsltid=AfmBOoqFp33iii1uLDQAzAJ7OxJvoKH3nrLcwuVyh21QhpBSqcIVc3lW
Connect with Thao on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaohlam/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
What happens when poetry meets climate crisis?
In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning poet Farah Ghafoor to discuss her poetry collection, Shadow Price, from House of Anansi Press.
Taking its title from an economics term—the estimated value of things without a clear market price—Shadow Price explores themes of climate change, capitalism, colonialism, and the multigenerational impact of biodiversity loss. Farah shares how her poems blend lyricism and essayistic form to confront uncomfortable truths about how we live, what we value, and the stories we pass down.
Whether you're a poetry lover, an advocate for the environment, or simply curious about the intersection of art and activism, this episode offers a moving reflection on what it means to live—and write—responsibly.
Show highlights
00:00 – Introduction
3:02 – Farah’s journey from accountant to award-winning poet
6:47 – The violence of extraction in “The Dream-Eaters”
10:55 – The power of language in shaping meaning—and erasing it
14:50 – Indigenous knowledge and the loss of generational wisdom
17:43 – Multigenerational impact of environmental choices
22:34 – Merging poetry with essay form
26:53 – On self-doubt and finding the courage to write
30:20 – How readers can approach this collection
32:31 – Appreciation and end
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Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art
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Guest’s links
Buy Shadow Price: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shadow-price?srsltid=AfmBOoqFp33iii1uLDQAzAJ7OxJvoKH3nrLcwuVyh21QhpBSqcIVc3lW
Connect with Farah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadowpricepoems
Connect with Farah on X: https://x.com/farah_ghafoor
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In Episode 20, I chat with Kid Haile, author and illustrator of Sometimes I Eat with My Hands. We explore the intersection of food, culture, and identity and how mealtime traditions shape our sense of belonging. Kid shares his journey from science to art, how his daughter inspired his book, the deep meaning behind the Ethiopian dish, injera, and the role of food in preserving cultural heritage.
Sometimes I Eat with My Hands gives us a glimpse into a mealtime at Feven’s house, the role of family members during mealtimes, and the importance of honouring eating traditions. It’s out on April 1 (link below) from Groundwood Books.
It was so interesting to see how our experiences intersected, and this episode caused me to re-evaluate what I might be teaching my kids about their own culture. Lots to think about! Anyway, I’d love to hear from you: What’s a food tradition from your culture that you love? Drop a comment below!
Show Highlights
00:00 – Introduction
2:24 – Kid Haile’s journey from a science background to becoming an illustrator
8:35 – The inspiration behind Sometimes I Eat with My Hands
12:15 – Balancing Ethiopian and Canadian cultures in illustrations & Overcoming childhood struggles with food and cultural shame
16:40 – The significance of family roles at mealtimes
20:00 – The communal nature of injera and the meaning behind it
23:44 – The process of writing and illustrating Sometimes I Eat with My Hands
26:12 – The publishing journey—how Kid brought his book to life
31:55 – Expectations for the book
33:46 – Appreciation and end
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nGAiv79NYSg
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Guest’s links
Follow Kid on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidhailebooks/
🛒Buy Sometimes I Eat With My Hands: https://houseofanansi.com/products/sometimes-i-eat-with-my-hands?srsltid=AfmBOoqflga1YrnktqaagxLM_AMA1vDefr4vgxYBF5rwzQSC7hnrGA7V
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Lola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
How can we help kids understand and process their emotions? This episode features Sandra V. Feder, author of the Emotions and Me series, to discuss her latest book, Shy Me. We explore the power of storytelling in helping children navigate their feelings, from anger and shyness to peace and resilience.
Sandra shares how her experiences as a parent and observer of children’s emotions inspired this series. We also discuss how Shy Me encourages young readers to overcome anxiety, and we get a sneak peek into Lonely Me, her upcoming 2026 release.
Show Highlights:
3:34 - How Sandra developed the Emotions and Me series and chose which emotions to explore
8:15 - The importance of respecting children's emotional intelligence
9:44 Why giving kids agency over their emotions matters
12:17 - The process of working with illustrators to bring emotions to life
14:30 - How Shy Me helps children manage social anxiety and build confidence
21:08 - Tips for children's book writers on capturing authentic emotions
25:11 - A look ahead at Lonely Me and why loneliness is an important emotion to address
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WwpEQ8Wmimo
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Guest’s links
Follow Sandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandravfeder/
Visit Sandra’s website: https://www.sandravfeder.com/home
Buy Shy Me: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shy-me?srsltid=AfmBOoqnZkGSlAZPxii8hjVUHZ1GRTSuzWGbEnr82SPPX167ugv0kKYu
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Lola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
What will we see about ourselves when we look at the past?
In this episode, I’m chatting with Jack Wang about his debut novel, The Riveter. We discuss themes of love, betrayal, honour, and identity.
Jack tells me how he was able to narrow down his research to the most important things and honour the past by carefully relocating it in present bodies. I learned a lot from Jack, and I think this episode is a great resource for anyone writing historical fiction.
The Riveter is out now from House of Anansi Press.
Show highlights
00:00 - Introduction
3:09 - Lola’s summary of the book
4:15 - Why Jack wrote a novel on the Second World War
6:50 - Designing the characters of Josiah Chang and Poppy
16:36 - Creating a connection between different kinds of freedom
20:18 - Bringing truth from the past to the present
23:03 - How much research should you use in writing historical fiction?
27:30 - Using drama to evolve your characters
32:08 - Writing about interracial relationships
37:36 - Brotherhood and belonging in war time
41:07 - Traversing through time and employing chronology
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NyYOI0m7hlc
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Guest’s links
Buy The Riveter: https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-riveter?_pos=1&_sid=63211d578&_ss=r
Follow Jack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwangauthor/
Follow Jack on X: https://twitter.com/jackwangauthor
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In this episode, I sit down with author Jenny Haysom to discuss the themes of keeping and losing in her novel, Keep. We explore the delicate balance between motherhood and creativity, the struggle of carving out solitude as a writer, and the impact of community on personal growth. We also look into the world of home staging, hoarding, and the emotional weight of objects.
Keep tells the moving story of two home stagers and their client, Harriet, an elderly poet who is reluctant to sell her home and let go of the paraphernalia of her life. As these stagers find ways to carefully declutter Harriet’s home, they find that they themselves must attend to the clutter in their own lives. Keep investigates how, why, and what we keep and lose, and the big question: what is the most important thing? Keep is out now with House of Anansi Press.
Show highlights
0:00 – Introduction
3:35 – What inspired Keep?
7:56 - The things we keep that aren’t ours
16:50 - Belonging as a thing we don’t keep
18:24 – Juggling motherhood and creativity
24:16 - Losing the things that are integral to us
28:18 – The antidote to loneliness: community & connection
32:44 - Writing about the elderly
37:22 - Learning to write and publish a debut novel
39:18 - Appreciation and end
Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/XH96GUsZ0wU
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Guest’s links
_____________________
Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola:https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In this episode, I reunite with Jonaki Ray (who I met in 2019 as a co-recipient of the Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award) to explore the themes of home, belonging, and the delicate dance between art and science in her poetry collection, Firefly Memories.
Part memoir and travelogue, Firefly Memories is a poignant collection that speaks to the struggles of belonging, blending beauty, food, and memory to confront hardship and heartache and redefining home and the search for safe places.
Whether you’re at home or in search of one, you’ll be inspired by Jonaki’s take on telling the truth and telling it slant.
Show highlights
0:00 – Introduction
2:47 – From scientist to artist: Jonaki’s journey
11:25 – Introduction to Firefly Memories
12:45 – Verdigris: Excerpt from Firefly Memories
15:06 – The goal and complexities of creating the collection
20:12 – Juxtaposing beauty and rejection
25:28 – Blending science and art in poetry
29:25 – Telling the truth with sensitivity
34:11 – Writing about the past and the present
38:42 – What writing from home looks like
41:35 – Appreciation and end
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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A-4pqaWn2E4
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Guest’s links
Buy Firefly Memories: https://www.coppercoin.co.in/product-page/firefly-memories
Follow Jonaki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonaki_stories/
Follow Jonaki on X: https://x.com/jona_writes
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
In this episode, I sit down with A.K. Herman, Caribbean poet and fiction writer, to discuss her latest work, The Believers. This compelling collection of eight short stories, mostly set in Trinidad and Tobago, explores themes of religion, politics, love, sex, and spirituality. A.K.’s storytelling pays homage to the storytelling traditions of the Caribbean.
A Goodreads Editors’ December Book Pick, The Believers captivates with its seasoned storytelling. A.K. shares the inspirations behind her writing, the cultural and spiritual influences shaping her narratives, and how she grew as a student of literature.
If you’d like to know what I think of A.K.’s book, skip to 6:00 of the show! 😊
Also, if you’d like to get your own copy of the book, and I highly recommend that you do if you’re a fan of Toni Morrison, you can do so here (link below).
Got any thoughts about this episode or want to suggest authors you’d like to see on the show? Send me your thoughts!
Show highlights
0:00 – Introduction
2:03 – AK’s journey into writing
6:00 – Lola’s high-level review of the book
7:30 – Sex as communication
10:35 – Theme of spirituality
16:19 – Writing about violence
22:57 – On the theme of spiritual vengeance
27:23 – On identity and rejection on the basis of language
33:11 – Allegory in The Iridescent Blue-Black Boy with Wings (After Márquez)
40:36 – Advice for writers who don't have an MFA
45:29 – The writing/publishing process of The Believers
48:03 – Appreciation and end
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Guest’s links
Buy The Believers: https://www.akherman.com/books
Follow A.K. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.k.herman/
Follow A.K. Herman on X: https://x.com/akherman_author
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow Lola on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/
If you’re a freelance artist wondering if there’s a secret to landing big clients in your industry, there is, and this episode will tell you what it is! Episode 14 of the podcast is with Feyisayo Oyebisi (aka Feyzo!), who I've known for over ten years.
Feyzo! is a makeup artist and special effects professional who has worked on the biggest productions in Nigeria’s movie industry, including A Naija Christmas and Everybody Loves Jenifa, which is currently in cinemas.
Feyzo!, who calls herself The Billionaire Makeup Artist, is also a two-time AMVCA nominee.
In this light-hearted yet serious chat, she shares the secret to landing big clients and the hardest thing about being a makeup artist in Nigeria's movie industry.
Show highlights
0:00 – Introduction
2:39 – This or that questions
3:24 – Feyzo’s journey into artistry
10:55 – The hardest thing about being a makeup artist in the movie industry
12:51 – The process of preparing for a character
22:13 – Managing the makeup/SFX team
28:07 – Handling unexpected challenges on set
37:45 – The secret to landing big clients
43:00 – Impact of the AMVCA on her career
45:13 – The importance of professional development
47:12 – A word to her future self
48:13 – Appreciation and end
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Watch on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@journeyoftheartpod?si=eDeQrPxScePjcpfT?sub_confirmation=1
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Guest’s links
Follow Feyzo! on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feyzomua/
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Host’s links
Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/
Follow JOA on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/
Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/