Shaping Stories: A Glass Artists Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with Amy Lemaire, a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Brooklyn, NY, who currently teaches at Salem Community College in New Jersey. Amy shares how she grew up immersed in creativity—playing with plants, painting, and exploring art from a young age. She earned her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, focusing on painting, but along the way pi...

In Episode 19, I talk with multimedia artist Amanda Nardone about her creative journey from being an imaginative kid encouraged by her godmother, to discovering glass at summer art camp, to building a career that blends art and fitness. Amanda shares how drawing in high school gives her a foundation in the design process, her time studying art and fitness at Temple University, and the winding path...

Rebecca Silverman of Dreaming Tree Glass always knew she needed to create, she just hadn’t found the right medium yet. While studying elementary education in college, she discovered glass by accident through getting a job at a campus head shop, where she was trying to sell her drawings on consignment. That job led her into the flame shop at Global Glassworks, making borosilicate pendants, and glas...

Shayne and I met in the most modern glass-artist way possible — on Instagram. At the time, we were both working in New England and both running “blow-your-own” style classes out of hot shops. He happened to visit my studio on his birthday, and with the help of a few friends, I surprised him by having him make his own glass cupcake. We kicked off a friendship and creative connection that’s continue...

Lindsay and I have been friends for years, and she’s been making glass for going on 17. We first met in New England, USA before she went off to Mass Art in Boston.  A hard-earned semester abroad in Ireland ended up shaping where she found herself today. After graduating, she spent time traveling the country cooking at music festivals and helping put on big art installations.  She then settled in A...

Adrienne Ladd has been working with glass since 2009, starting out of necessity as a mom searching for a path that let her raise her child the way she envisioned. While she doesn’t necessarily recommend this unconventional route for everyone, it worked beautifully for her as the pieces fell into place. In our conversation, Adrienne shares her journey from the coast of Massachusetts to Maine, Color...

Meet Doni Hatz, a newly retired scientific glassblower whose life in glass has been nothing short of inspiring. Doni grew up in Portland, Oregon, and first discovered glass when she took a furnace glass class at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. That single class sparked a journey that led her all the way across the country to New Jersey, where she studied at Salem Community College from 198...

In this episode, I sit down with Southern NH-based glass artist Colton Machell, aka @canthave2much. When he’s not blowing glass, you’ll likely find him snowboarding or diving into his latest passion—mountain biking. Colton shares how his lifelong fascination with teeth (yes, really!) unexpectedly intertwined with his love for glass, especially after realizing that people actually make scientific l...

This week, I chat with Destiny Miller, a glassblower and flameworker based in Ontario, Canada. ✨🔥Destiny first got into glass in 2020, just before the pandemic put everything on pause. In this episode, she shares her winding path—from starting school at Fleming College’s glassblowing program, to an abrupt shutdown, to eventually returning and graduating. We dive into:✨ Her journey to Corning, N...

Katie grew up in rural Ohio and now calls western North Carolina home. She first discovered glass while studying art and illustration in Columbus, Ohio — but it wasn’t originally part of her program. Determined to follow her curiosity, she snuck into a glass class and never looked back. Today, Katie works full time in soft glass production and uses her off-hours to develop her own Borosilicate des...

Raven has been blowing glass since the year 2000, and for the past 25 years, he’s been deep in the flame, exploring borosilicate glass. Now based in Pittsburg, Kansas, he’s best known for his large-scale marbles. In this episode, Raven shares his journey into glass, how he got started, and the path that eventually led him to carving out his niche vending in Renaissance fairs across the country. We...

In this episode, I talk with Detroit-based glass artist Marc VandenBerg, whose journey with glass began humbly—with a couple of library books and a torch. Starting out with borosilicate and focusing on pipe-making, Marc’s path shifted dramatically when he landed a job working with soft glass from a furnace. That experience forever changed his creative trajectory. Marc shares stories from his time...

This week, I chat with Jasmine Steinacker, a talented glass artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. ✨🔥 Jasmine originally pursued a degree in photography, but a chance encounter with a glass class led her to double major in both photography and glass—knowing from that moment she wanted to make glass her career. She graduated during the height of COVID and shares what it felt like to miss out...

This week, I chat with Emily Henry, the creative force behind Funky Glassworks. Originally from Kansas City, Emily now lives in Mountain Home, Arkansas. ✨🔥 With a background in psychology, Emily first discovered glass in 2018 through a stained glass class she took just for herself. Today, she's a full-time glass artist, small business owner, and homesteader—sharing life with her husband and two...

This week, I chat with Kristina Logan, an internationally renowned glass artist based in Portsmouth, NH, best known for her stunning flameworked beads, jewelry, and intricate objects. ✨ 🔥Beyond the torch, Kristina has recently embraced a new creative passion: naturally tanning animal hides. In our conversation, she shares her inspiring journey—from discovering glass after college while working i...

In this episode I chat with Erin Morris of Imperial Moth Glass — a New Hampshire-based glass artist with a doctorate in entomology and a deep appreciation for both bugs and hot glass. 🐞🔥 Originally from Ohio, Erin now lives in New England, where she draws inspiration from her local town forest, enjoys shooting pool, and is learning how to sew. Her journey into making glass began when she was in...

Fishing, Getting Sued & Making Glass Welcome to the third interview episode of Shaping Stories: A Glass Artists Podcast! In this episode, I chat with my new friend Alan Jess, a glass artist based in Wheaton, Illinois. Alan somehow balances a full-time day job, walking a small dog, fishing, and riding motorcycles with his awesome wife—all while constantly daydreaming of glass. Alan’s journey in...

Welcome to the second interview episode of Shaping Stories: A Glass Artists Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Ferris—a talented borosilicate lathe glass artist based in Michigan, USA. Ryan, a devoted cat dad, began his journey in glass nearly a decade ago. He now lives with his wife and works from a studio he built in their home. In our conversation, Ryan shares valuable insights on b...

Welcome to the first interview episode of Shaping Stories: A Glass Artists Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with my friend David Zimmerman, a talented furnace glass artist based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.Dave began his creative journey in music, earning a degree in the field and working professionally for several years. Eventually, his passion for glass took over, leading him into a full-tim...

Welcome (back) to the podcast! In this brief intro, your host Dominique Caissie—formerly of the Connected in Glass Podcast—shares a quick update and an invitation to join this new chapter. While the name has changed and the journey continues solo, the heart of the show remains the same: celebrating the stories, inspiration, and creativity of glass artists. The full archive of past episodes is stil...