Artist Recovery Podcast

In this deeply human episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Steve Boehm, aka Steve Sxaks—a multi-hyphenate creator whose journey spans punk rock stages, underground hip-hop culture, military service, homelessness, education, and authorship. This is not a highlight reel conversation. It’s a grounded, honest exploration of how identity is forged through adversity, fa...

In this deeply human and expansive conversation, Rich Wright sits down with Alexandra Beller—award-winning choreographer, educator, and former principal dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company—to explore what it truly means to live, create, and lead from the body when the world keeps asking you to conform. Alexandra’s story is not one of neat triumph or easy confidence. It’s a story...

What happens when hard rock meets stillness? When power, rhythm, and spiritual inquiry collide? In this deeply intimate episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast , host Rich Wright sits down with Clementine Moss —founding drummer of the all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zeparella , author of From Bonham to Buddha and Back, and a multidisciplinary artist whose life bridges rock performance and spir...

In this deeply human and unfiltered conversation, Rich Wright sits down with bestselling author, muralist, and creative entrepreneur Alli Koch for one of the most honest Artist Recovery Podcast episodes to date. Known for her iconic black-and-white florals, large-scale murals, and over 18 bestselling art books, Alli’s external success tells only part of the story. What unfolds here is a raw explor...

Some artists are born knowing exactly who they are — and then spend a lifetime being told not to trust it. In this deeply honest and soul-forward episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with bestselling mystery author and writing coach Liz Mugavero (also known as Cate Conte) for a conversation that moves far beyond publishing credits and into the raw terrain of identity,...

Some stories don’t start with a spotlight.  They start with being forgotten. In this deeply honest episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with musician, author, National Guard service member, and mental health advocate Tony Kessel for a raw conversation about identity, abandonment, creativity, and healing. Tony’s story begins in rural North Dakota — adopted late, moved...

In this deeply human and beautifully unfolding conversation, the Artist Recovery Podcast welcomes Aimee Carlson — artist, seeker, former educator, long-distance runner, yoga teacher, and founder of the SheForce movement — for a journey into sensitivity, selfhood, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to rise again in midlife. Aimee’s story is not a linear ascent. It’s a mosaic — shaped by ch...

Dive into one of the most powerful Artist Recovery Podcast episodes yet — a raw, inspiring, and deeply human conversation with Jacki Ramsey, the designer, photographer, entrepreneur, producer, and founder of Wood Sprite Organic Body. Her story is proof that creativity can save a life — and sometimes build an entire industry. In this episode, Jacki opens up about: ✨ Growing up surrounded by art af...

In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with watercolor artist, designer, speaker, and disability advocate Katherine Klimitas, whose life and art defy every expectation. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), Katherine had broken over 500 bones by the age of 10 — yet she transformed those challenges into a thriving creative career. From selling her first pet...

In this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with David “Letterfly” Knoderer — a circus-bred creative whose life spans drumming under the big top, elite horsemanship, old-school hand-painted artistry, motorcycle culture, addiction recovery, and the rediscovery of purpose through creativity and service. Letterfly opens up about growing up shy in Springfield, Ohio, shap...

What does it REALLY take to rebuild your identity, reclaim your voice, and reinvent your entire life — again and again? In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, creative storytelling expert and heart-math coach Anna Rosa Parker shares her deeply human, wildly inspiring journey from a minimalist childhood in Iceland to becoming a soul-led leader, mentor, brand strategist, performer,...

Step inside one of the most powerful and vulnerable conversations ever featured on the Artist Recovery Podcast. In this episode, host Rich Wright sits down with Jack Maher — Emmy Award–winning journalist, author, historian, and fifth-generation Colorado native — for a deeply personal exploration of grief, faith, resilience, creativity, family legacy, and the healing power of storytelling. Jack pul...

In this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with author, musician, creative visionary, and nonprofit director Mark Firehammer—a lifelong creator whose journey spans songwriting, AI-enhanced music, live-stream innovation, and a profound mission to reconnect humanity through art. From his early days as an introverted kid searching for meaning to becoming the mind behin...

At just 17 years old, Shanti Hershenson has written and published over 30 books — before even graduating high school. In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation with Rich Wright, Shanti opens up about her creative journey, her daily writing habit, and how she turned isolation during the pandemic into a powerful force of imagination. In This Episode: ~ Discovering writing at age 4, falling in...

What happens when a U.S. Army Ranger turned storyteller digs deep into his ancestral roots — uncovering forgotten French-Canadian and Algonquin legends that spark an extraordinary creative rebirth? In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Joseph Bolton — a West Point graduate, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of “Old Grandmother’s Tree” — to ex...

In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Lora Arbrador — a trailblazing artist, nurse, author, and co-founder of the Society of Tempera Painters — for a raw, emotionally rich journey through a life shaped by creativity, compassion, and resilience. WATCH TILL THE END for unforgettable moments about LSD trips in the '60s, surviving the AIDS epidemic as a nurse, and how a humble watercol...

From a homeschooled middle child in rural Western New York to a doctoral psychology student, Army veteran, podcast host, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist — Joel Bouchard brings raw honesty and profound insight into the artist’s inner world, navigating mental resilience, creative independence, and the myth of success on the episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast. VIRAL MOMENTS YOU CAN’T MIS...

Step into this deeply raw and inspiring conversation with Ellen Rozman, certified health coach, wellness facilitator, and author of Full of Sht* — a brutally honest memoir about gut health, identity, and the power of healing from the inside out.  💫 Episode Highlights Growing up Jewish in New Orleans: Ellen opens up about her childhood in a vibrant yet exclusive culture, where Mardi Gras parades m...

From co-founding Scholastic’s groundbreaking Graphix imprint (yes, the one that helped launch today’s graphic novel boom for kids) to founding Kids Comics Unite, Janna has been shaping the future of children’s publishing for decades. In this interview, she opens up about her childhood in Germany, culture shocks that turned her into a voracious reader, her creative breakthroughs at Scholastic, and...

What does it take to rebuild, heal, and reprogram your life when your past is filled with pain, estrangement, and reinvention? In this powerful interview, Eric Webster—a lifestyle engineer, hypnotherapist, ordained minister, and Akashic Records expert—opens up about his extraordinary journey from small-town Michigan to becoming a sought-after healer who guides people through profound personal tran...

In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with award-winning artist, TEDx speaker, educator, and founder of Satori Innovation—Patrick Williams. Known for his work exhibited across the US, Japan, and China, Patrick opens up about the challenges, inspirations, and deeply personal moments that shaped his journey. ✨ What You’ll Discover in This Interview: How...

In this inspiring episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Emi Matsushita — international performer, creative director, entrepreneur, and educator. Emi’s story is raw, moving, and full of lessons for creatives navigating identity, trauma, and the pursuit of an authentic career in the arts. From growing up in Japan as mixed race, to experiencing culture shock in the U.S., to discove...

What does it take to turn pain, loss, and controversy into creativity, freedom, and art that sparks national debate? In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with internationally trained artist, cultural entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for artistic freedom Julian Raven—and his story is nothing short of unforgettable. 🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: From Idyll...

What does it mean to turn grief into art? How does an artist navigate identity, mental health, and creativity across multiple disciplines? In this unforgettable episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with the brilliant Reeya Banerjee — a multidisciplinary artist, writer, musician, and voiceover talent whose story is as powerful as her art. Reeya opens up about her child...

What happens when a child survives a near-death experience, grows up battling PTSD, and reinvents himself through bodybuilding, poetry, and art? Meet Peter Gunn — United States Air Force veteran, resilience advocate, poet, guitarist, graphic novelist, and spiritual explorer — whose story of survival, creativity, and transformation will inspire you. ✨ Moments You Can’t Miss: The Childhood NDE – At...