This week I had author, musician, and entrepreneur Mark Firehammer stop by the pod:) Mark is the author of The Echo and the Voice, which, in Mark’s words, is “a modern allegory about what gets lost when we trade creative truth for cultural belonging, and what it takes to reclaim it in a world that rewards conformity.”
He shared his perspective on staying authentic, creating for the market, creativity as a system, holding onto trust, and letting go of limiting beliefs.
Read more of his work and his vast collection of original songs via his website
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I had the distinct pleasure of chatting with a true multi-hyphenate for this week’s pod: Siquoyia Blue! Siquoyia is a songwriter, IT wiz, artist, author, and she is in the process of creating a new AI platform for creatives and entrepreneurs of all types. Siquoyia uses her IT knowledge to leverage tech for her music writing process and accompanying visuals. She shared her insight on balance, her pathway from songwriting to IT and back, and developing her unique music genre Abstract Soul.
Find out more about Siquoyia’s work, including her card game Dating Assassins, via her website<3
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Please welcome the hilarious and unique Paul Pape! Paul has had an extensive career in theatrical design, production, creative consulting and is now known as Santa for Nerds. His consulting business, Gamify Business, helps artists connect their creative thinking with business techniques to make a living out of their art. He shared his insight on burnout, rejection, letting go, business models, finding your audience, lightsaber s*x toys, and Dungeons and Dragons
If you want to work with Paul or read his books, find more info here
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A quick n dirty check in with our fave, Joshua<3 He shares the latest in his culinary escapades, being the official/unofficial event manager of my sister's engagement party, and our own anniversary plans
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A quick update on a feature I booked, a feature I wrote, a newsletter I craft, and how I'm doing it scared
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This week, musician and songwriter Reeya Banerjee joins me to chat all things songwriting, dayjobs, finding inspiration, and sharing your stories through art. Reeya is a multi-passionate, dabbling in film, writing, voiceover, and indieshark.com called her songwriting style “as if Carole King came of age in the post-grunge era.” With the release of her second album, out as of August 22nd, Reeya traces the evolution of her identity through the loss of a parent, interstate moves, and the ups and downs life throws at us.
Listen to her new album and learn more about Reeya’s story via her website
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This week, I had the privilege of chatting with Sarah Degrave! Sarah is an ADHD-informed creative coach for artists and entrepreneurs.
She shared her insight on how creative types are prone to ADHD tendencies, how to manage burnout and overwhelm, knowing when to seek support, perfectionism, building confidence, and ADHD as a superpower
If you would like to work with Sarah, you can connect with her via her website!
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Lucky number 7 of this recurring series where The Boy and I share a bunch of stuff we're into right now that bring us a little joy in this bleak existence.
These lists include, but are not limited to: documentaries, good habits, emotional reframes, podcasts, and flavored vinegar (don't knock it till you try it!)
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Please welcome Patrick Williams! Patrick is an artist, writer, public speaker, consultant, and the founder of Satori Innovation which helps business owners, artists, and entrepreneurs reconnect with their creative spirits.
Patrick shared his insight on what he calls Creative Colonization, Creative Collapse, reconnecting with your inner child, the importance of play, how vital it is to know yourself, and showing up as a bad-ass
See more of his work, including his TedxTalk and his beautiful flower series, via his website
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This week we have our first poet joining WHYBB! Please welcome Katerina Stoykova, she is a writer and teacher, originally from Bulgaria and now based in Kentucky. She also runs her own publishing company Accents Publishing. We chatted about the joy of creation, coming back to yourself, starting over, the importance of staying grounded, and the healing power of a chocolate chip cookie.
Her book “Between a Bird Cage and a Bird House” is centered around her search for cultural identity and what it really means to find home. Find her books everywhere books are sold including her guide on how to self-publish “A Poet’s Guide to Publishing: How to Concieve, Arrange, Edit, Publish and Market a Book of Poetry”
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Strap in everybody, this week we have none other than Alan Katz here to regale us with some of the craziest stuff I’ve ever heard!
Alan has had a long career in film and television, namely the hit anthology series Tales from the Crypt and he is the co-creator of the iconic Crypt Keeper character.
After persevering through writer’s block and some mental health challenges, Alan found his true calling in storytelling through a different kind of medium: podcasting:)
We chatted about the film industry, redirecting your life, and the power of storytelling
Find more of his work and his podcasts via the Costard and Touchstone website!
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This week, we have Canadian multimedia artist and activist Christopher Quigley here to share his perspective on relying on your own strength, honoring your own narrative, and standing up for what’s right.
CW: this episode mentions assault, trauma, and gender-based violence
After surviving two strokes, Quigley found a new sense of urgency to create work that has a direct impact on the world through immersive, experiential pieces that bring the viewer in direct contact with the work’s larger message.
Quigley’s latest work “Transformation of Dangerous Spaces” is centered around confronting gender-based violence, highlighting it as a women’s issue for which men need to take responsibility. His work, through his non-profit Alchemia Art Workshop, “is designed to engage them in an unsettling but vital experience, forcing them to confront the unspoken ways that masculinity, silence, and complicity contribute to harm.” (https://www.alchemiaartworkshop.org/tds)
Follow Christopher Quigley and learn more about this vitally important work via the Alchemia Art Workshop Website and his socials
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This week I have the distinct privilege of welcoming Allen C. Paul to the WHYBB pod!
Allen is a musician, writer, host of the God and Gigs Podcast, a family man, and a follower of the Christian faith.
We talked about putting your stamp on the universe, finding your artistic patron saints, trusting yourself through creative slumps, and listening to the divine messages that come from a higher power.
Allen’s perspective and personal philosophies about faith, creativity, and passion made for one of I think the best episodes of this entire project. Through his work and his podcast, he highlights how necessary it is to treat people right, why art should make us better, and the sacred and messy practice of living your creative truth.
And the question I think we should all be asking ourselves: what kind of person do you want to be as we live through hard times?
Find more of Allen’s work and his books via his website and https://godandgigs.com/
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Our sweet angel boy Josh is back for a recap on our trips abroad this past month, day job woes, summer in the city, my first theatre audition in 5 (!!) years, and turning 30. Holy moly I’m 30!!!
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Hey party people:) Continuing my quick lil summer lull with a cute little episode with some reasons not to quit! Hope you find some value
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I'm on a quick lil summer break for a couple weeks, so in lieu of a new episode please enjoy this pod-ception where I had the honor of being a guest on my friend Bill's podcast called "Where Have You Been?". His pod is all about travel stories, sharing the ups and downs of traipsing the globe both abroad and in our own backyards.
Listen to WHYB wherever you stream your podcasts and learn more about the podcast via Bill's website!
Very excited to have multi-media artist Joanna Blair on the pod this week! Her work, which celebrates the resilience of women and unlocking power, has been showcased internationally from the London Biennale to Tokyo, Dubai and beyond. We chatted about her process, protecting your peace, the ups and downs of the art market, AI in art, and how she found new strength in her artistic voice by surviving cancer. Joanna brought so much generosity to this conversation and I am so excited to share her insight and wisdom with you. Thank you Joanna!
See her work and keep up with her new releases via her website
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This week, we have writer and book coach Amy L Bernstein! Amy’s book “Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration” is an invaluable tool for creatives (and really anyone) who struggle with self-doubt and fear of putting their work out there. We chatted about what exactly a book coach does, where doubt comes from, how to stave off doubt as an artist laboring under capitalism, letting go of the need for external validation, and reveling in one’s own competency.
Find her book “Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration” anywhere books are sold including in audiobook format, and keep up with Amy via her website and Instagram!
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I am so deeply honored to have Mari Reisberg join as this week’s guest! Mari has a background in acting, the circus arts, music, and is now a licensed counselor and creativity coach. She shared her insight and experience in managing creative burnout, the difference between performative creativity and creativity for the self, mindfulness, art therapy, holding safety, and finding what speaks to your soul:)
Her podcast “Sustaining Creativity” can be found wherever you find your podcasts and you can work with Mari 1:1 to reclaim your creative power through her creative coaching practice!
Mari’s work is so important and so necessary right now, I really encourage anyone in the arts or arts-adjacent fields to give this episode a listen!
Find more info via her instagram too!
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This week, please welcome Christian Hurtado! Christian is a man of many talents, ranging from software development to salsa dancing. We talked about having multiple passions, the superpower that is ADHD, pushing through fear, the trial and error of writing jokes, and making strangers laugh.
See Christian at the Broadway Comedy Club June 7th, 10th and 19th!
And keep up with his shows via his instagram
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