Because of Course We Did

Highly sensitive people make weirdly good artists because we notice little moments that others completely miss. Why is that? Also why sharing your opinion is terrifying but necessary. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonat...

We were both conservative homeschooled kids who somehow turned into liberal artists, and this one's the whole messy backstory. The loneliness, the religious trauma, the zero chances to try out for anything, plus why so many ex-homeschoolers end up creative. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. However you're feeling right now...

If you're an artist who's been feeling demoralized this year, you're not alone. We get into the reality of creative struggles, mental health, and why making art is still worth the hard work. We talk about the vulnerability of making art and how the best creative work comes from your actual self, not from people-pleasing. If you've been rejected or ignored lately, this one is fo...

This week we're diving deep into the niche dilemma. Should you specialize to master a skill, or let your curiosity lead you everywhere? We talk ADHD tendencies, the creative struggle of wanting to do everything: sewing, painting, music, baking, birding, etc, as well as the joy of exploration balanced with the pain of abandoning something you got good at. From our little corner of Appalachia t...

If you've ever thought, "I'm not an artist..." but you get up to all kinds of creative shenanigans, we get it. In this one we get into the weeds about labeling yourself as an artist, the narratives that keep us stuck, the hollowness that comes from not creating, and why making art, even badly or slowly, is always worth it. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you&ap...

This week we're getting into the weeds about "spiritualizing" art: the books, the guilt, the church band trauma, and why we just wanna take credit for our own damn work. You might relate. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If t...

If you've ever been asked "is that ALL you do?" about your art, this one's for you. We talk about, internet discourse, whether people take you seriously at markets, why random old dudes assume you'll quit art for babies, and Ben's eternal struggle to finish a song. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. Howe...

This is a short episode, an introduction to the hosts of this show, Birdie & Ben, a couple of artists that want to share their experience about being artists in modern day. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with...

In this one, Birdie & Ben discuss imposter syndrome, what it is, how it affects us as artists, how common it is, methods we've used to overcome it. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us. However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it wit...

In this episode we delve into the nature and how it inspires us. We discuss how nature influences our art, how we find inspiration in the woods, and explore the importance of mindfulness and presence when engaging with nature. So get into the weeds with us about the role of nature in our creative pursuits. From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging w...

In this one we unpack the complicated joy and frustration of being artists in Appalachia. We explore growing up disconnected from the region, eventually falling in love with its beauty and culture, and now feeling fervently protective. We dive into the devaluation of Appalachian art and accents, the growing community of young, liberal creatives rising up in the South, and why pursuing art in Appal...