Life and Art

What happens when history forgets that its heroes were just kids? In Episode 1 of Season 2 of Life & Art, host Nicole Burgess sits down with filmmaker Quinton Littlejohn to talk about “Aggie Pride,” his narrative film about the four North Carolina A&T students who launched the 1960 Greensboro sit-in movement. For Quinton, the heart of the story isn’t the single dramatic day at the lunch co...

What does it look like to follow joy instead of obligation? Season 2 of Life & Art brings honest conversations about creating a life, not just a career. Creativity doesn’t belong to a select few. It belongs to all of us. Everyone listening is creating something: a life, a business, a relationship, or a way of moving through the world that is entirely their own. This season, host Nicole Burgess...

What does it take to go to dark emotional places for your craft and find your way back every time? In the Season 1 finale of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with actress, model, and writer Dana McBride for an honest, grounded conversation about mental wellness, emotional resilience, and what it truly means to care for yourself while doing deeply expressive creative work. Dana's...

What separates a story that informs from a story that truly transforms? In Episode 9 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with storyteller and documentary filmmaker Gareth Gwyn for a profound conversation about trauma, healing, and the emotional power of transformative narrative. For Gareth, storytelling is not simply a matter of structure or craft. It is an emotional journey that bri...

What if the most powerful thing a teacher can do is let their students see them as fully human? In Episode 8 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with educator Jasmine Nieto for a warm, inspiring conversation about creativity, connection, and what it truly means to teach with authenticity. Jasmine's philosophy is rooted in one core memory: being a child who felt deeply seen and valued...

What does it mean to be an author of a story that isn't entirely yours to tell? In Episode 7 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with cinematographer Kail Dingle for a thoughtful conversation about collaboration, trust, and what it truly means to serve a story through visual language. Kail's path into cinematography began through developing a foundational understanding of color, ligh...

What does it really mean to serve a story and what does it take to do it well alongside others? In Episode 6 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with writer, director, and producer Annie Taft for a rich conversation about craft, collaboration, and the discipline of storytelling in theater. Annie's journey began in performance, but evolved over decades into a deep and nuanced practice...

What happens when artistic vision meets the hard realities of market demand, and how do you keep moving forward? In Episode 5 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with filmmaker and producer Tye Banks for a grounded, practical conversation about the business of storytelling. Tye's entry into filmmaking was anything but conventional. He hustled CDs before an unexpected opportunity intr...

What if leadership and artistry aren't separate paths but the same path, expressed differently? In Episode 4 of Life & Art , host Nicole Burgess sits down with Anjanée Bell for a powerful conversation about identity, authenticity, and the intersection of artistry and leadership. Anjanée defines herself first and foremost as a creator and an artist who makes and transforms people, spaces, a...

What does it look like to build a creative career that reflects all of who you are, not just the parts the industry finds convenient? In Episode 3 of Life & Art Podcast , host Nicole Burgess sits down with actress, model, podcaster, and entrepreneur Yesse Rodriguez for a rich conversation about authenticity, identity, and what it truly means to grow with intention. Yesse's philosophy is si...

What if entrepreneurship isn't really about industries but it's about understanding how systems work? In Episode 2 of Life & Art Podcast , host Nicole Burgess sits down with actor, producer, and hotelier Julian Brittano for a wide-ranging conversation about systems thinking, creative entrepreneurship, and what it means to build across multiple worlds at once. But what makes Julian'...

What does it really mean to tell the truth in your art, and what does it cost you to hold it back? In the debut episode of Life & Art Podcast , host Nicole Burgess sits down with Jamla Records recording artist Heather Victoria for an honest conversation about vulnerability, growth, and the creative courage it takes to make music from lived experience. Heather's album I Can't Make This...

Honest conversations about what it means to create. Each episode, Nicole sits down with artists, filmmakers, musicians, educators, and storytellers to explore the real cost — and the real reward — of staying true to your creative voice in a world that constantly asks you to compromise it.