Art Heals All Wounds

Today, I’m joined by artists and educators Lenett Partlow-Myrick and Jenny O'Grady to discuss the medium of book art and the transformative workshops that they lead. Lenett describes book art as a way to reimagine the possibility of what books can be, how they’re created, and ways that we can interpret them. In their workshops, which they lovingly call “human bonding studios,” they lead group...

Today, I’m joined by Ganza Moise, a Rwandan writer and filmmaker, to talk about his art and the Rwandan film community. We unpack the themes and artistic direction of two of his recent independent films, “Sensory Overload” and “Mazunga.” Ganza describes the unexpected ways that he frames characters and explores philosophical, existential questions that so many of us grapple with. He also touches o...

Today, I’m joined by Ashley Hoff, an executive producer of the new Paramount+ documentary "11 Minutes." The four-part series offers an insider’s look into the mass shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1st, 2017. In our conversation, Ashley opens up about her experience being a survivor of this tragedy and details why she felt called to...

Today, I’m joined by Kimi Culp, founder and host of All the Wiser, a podcast that explores nonfiction storytelling through conversation. On her show, Kimi gives people from all walks of life the chance to tell their story in a way that maybe they've never had a chance to do before. We discuss Kimi’s deeply empathetic approach, what inspired her to illuminate people’s lived experiences, and re...

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault  Today, I’m joined by Robbi Stevens and Esme Pellegrini to talk about the overarching themes of their upcoming short film, The Nightingale. Robbi is the writer and director, and Esme plays the lead role of Grace.  Based on true events, the film follows 22-year-old Grace as she navigates post-traumatic stress disorder and life after sexual assault. Robbi, Esme, and I...

Today, I’m joined by Deane Bowers, a mixed media artist who creates environmental folk art with found objects. She’s the driving force behind the Together While Apart Artwork, which is a collective quilt-like art project made up of 35 squares, each square six inches by six inches. However, instead of fabric, each piece is made from recycled cardboard. In our conversation, we talk about what inspir...

Today, I’m joined by Claudia Marulanda, a New York City-based visual artist and educator. Claudia describes how she hit an emotional rock bottom and turned to her colored pencils and paint brushes to process her feelings. She’s expanding her reach by leading a series of workshops and art programs that encourage participants to build awareness around their emotions and channel their energy into a c...

Allison Landa discusses memoir writing as a tool for healing, self-acceptance, and emotional growth. Today, I’m joined by Allison Landa, writer and educator, to discuss the themes in her memoir, Bearded Lady. At the age of ten, Allison was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a genetic hormonal condition that creates dark, obvious facial hair and other symptoms. We talk about th...

Today, I’m joined by filmmaker and writer Bradley Berman to discuss his most recent documentary, Jack Has A Plan. The film follows the last three years of Jack Tuller’s life and his decision to exercise his right to die with dignity.    For 25 years, Jack lived with a brain tumor and was determined to navigate the medical system, his life, and his relationships in a way that meant he didn't s...

Today, I’m joined by William Rhodes, a mixed-media artist and Program Director of the Intergenerational Arts Program at Bayview Senior Services in San Francisco. We discuss what called him to quilting, how his art projects are dissolving divisions between communities, and the inspiration behind some of his recent projects, including works for The Southeast Family Health Center and the We Are Bruce...

Today, I’m joined by Alka Raghuram, an independent filmmaker who makes narrative, documentary, and experimental films, as well as multimedia projects. Alka and I discuss how her childhood in Indore, India helped shape her career, the influence of certain film professors, and the story behind her documentary film, Burqa Boxers, and an upcoming sci-fi project. Topics Covered: ●      The ethics aroun...

Today, I’m joined by Amikaeyla Gaston, a public keynote speaker, performer, educator, and author. She’s the founder and executive director of the International Cultural Arts & Healing Sciences Institute and a cultural ambassador for the US State Department. Amikaeyla leads corporations, universities, and other organizations through cultural competency, restorative justice, and racial equity tr...

Do you want to change the world? So do I! On this podcast, we meet artists whose work is doing just that. Each week I interview an artist and talk about their work. As creative thinkers, artists present us with some of the most compelling visions of ways that our world could work better for everyone--art around environmental, social, and racial justice, gender equity, ways to build community and b...

What can you learn from having a conversation? A conversation with someone who knows you really well, someone who may not always agree with you, but always has your best interest at heart. When you need to work through a problem you’re having or get a fresh perspective, that’s when you need to find that person that you love and trust and have a thorough conversation. I’m so happy to share with you...

To celebrate my birthday, I’m sharing one of my favorite podcast episodes!   How do you translate the sense of touch into an audio experience? This offering from Catherine Monahon and Material Feels does exactly that! This episode is part one of a work titled Conversations with the Material World that was on display at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC as a part of Sound Scene. If you’re in t...

  Please Fill Out the Listener Survey!     Episode Summary:  As I wrap up season two, I want to take a moment to thank the amazing team that helps bring this podcast to life, and all of you who tune in from around the world. Over the next few weeks, I'll be sharing a couple of episodes from other shows that I've enjoyed, and that I think you'll enjoy too.   I hope you’ll reach out t...

Please Fill Out the Listener Survey!   Episode Summary:  Today, I’m joined by Ceci Najar, a writer living in Los Angeles. She’s in the process of writing her memoir titled Unfuckupabale: A Love Story, which is all about taking control of your life by rewriting your story. She unpacks her experiences as a female Mexican-American writer in Hollywood, feelings of deceit and disappointment from her fa...

Please Fill Out the Listener Survey!   Today, I’m joined by my eldest daughter, Allegra Thelemaque. Allegra is a visual artist and writer. An enormous fan of acting, singing, and other performances, she's also an avid reader and movie watcher. Allegra was born with congenital myotonic dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. We talk about some of the creative wor...

Hear how art helps an immigration lawyer heal and advocate for social change. Today, I’m joined by Seattle-based immigration lawyer, Tahmina Watson. Tahmina describes herself as “a birding immigration lawyer who sketches” and often turns to nature photography as a way to cope with the intense nature of her work. She’s the founder of Watson Immigration Law and The Washington Immigrant Defense Netwo...

Today, I’m joined by Chris Watts, aka The Creationist. Chris is a San Francisco-based visual artist and recipient for The SF Guaranteed Income Pilot for Artists, a stipend program powered by Yerba Buena Center for the Arts that makes no-strings-attached cash payments to artists who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Chris and I discuss how participating in the program has made...

Today, I’m joined by visual and performance artist, educator, and community leader Victor Mavedzenge. Victor describes his feelings of not belonging and some of the ways that that feeling shaped him as a person and an artist. His journey from his home country of Zimbabwe, to London, to Berkeley, CA have led him to embrace an international identity. A natural community builder, Victor shares the st...

Today, I’m joined by mixed-media artist Mildred Howard to discuss how her inspiration for public art is shaped by consideration of the community and the history of the location. If you’re familiar with the Bay Area, you’ve probably seen some of Mildred’s work and not even realized it. She describes the story behind one of her recent installations called Frame in Hunter’s Point, as well as three ma...

Today, I’m joined by Oakland-based documentary filmmaker Spencer Wilkinson to discuss his second feature film called Alice Street. It’s one of the most moving, heartbreaking, and motivational films I saw this past year, especially as a person who has lived in the area for 30 years. The film explores the importance of getting the community's input for a piece of public art, how to create coali...

Today, I’m joined by Fay Darmawi, the Founder and Executive Director of the SF Urban Film Fest. The organization highlights art that addresses different aspects of urban planning and other systems that aren't serving the communities that rely on them. Fay and I discuss the history of cultural districts, specifically in San Francisco, and how the mission behind them has expanded beyond preserv...

Today, I’m joined by artist-healer Candace Roberts. She’s a ​​singer, songwriter, and performer, as well as a Certified Hypnotherapist and Journey Accredited Practitioner. Candace is known throughout the Bay Area for her campy, political cabaret shows, but like so many of us who came of age in San Francisco, Candace has been priced out of the city due to the tech boom. We discuss our complicated g...