The Spiritual Artist Podcast

How do we use our perceived disabilities and turn them into assets? In this episode, Host CJ Miller interviews Photo Realism Artist and Art Educator Leonard Buscemi (Lenny) on a unique gridding system that has propelled his students to win state and national awards.  Born with ADD and dyslexia, Lenny was raised in a "disability-aware" household and forced to discover fresh ways to naviga...

In this podcast, CJ Miller explores and unpacks the effects of trauma and creativity with psychotherapist Dr. Don St. John.   Dr. Don has spent a lifetime exploring healing modalities after being raised by a physically and verbally abusive mother and an "almost non-existent" father. His recently revised book, "Healing the Wounds of Childhood and Culture," is available on Amazon...

Crystal Nelson is a mixed-media artist based in the DFW area. She studied printmaking and painting at the University of Texas El Paso and recently retired from teaching art for over 25 years.  In this college artist interview, Crystal shares seven ways to make shapes. Crystal often starts her work with collages by working out the color, shape, and textures. She uses a variety of methods to create...

In this podcast, Chris and Jennifer Roig Francoli discuss her new book, " Make Great Music with Ease! The Secret to Smarter Practice, Confident Performance, and Living a Happier Life." The book is now available on Amazon. Jennifer Roig-Francolí is a prize-winning violinist, certified Alexander Technique teacher, and creator of The Art of Freedom® Method for conscious living and masterful...

In this episode, sculptress and mixed-media artist Molly Sanger Carpenter shares her process of listening. She starts with a sketch but listens to her inner self throughout the process and lets the image unwind. The sculptress uses oil-based modeling clay to create a latex rubber mold for her delightful frames. She often reuses her molds with different subject matter and has made over 30 unique mo...

There is a force behind all things, and Chris calls it Creative Intelligence. He sees this force most clearly in the natural world, where an abundance of plant and animal life continues to increase and multiply. He shares that to practice creativity, we must first form a belief. We must believe that what we desire is possible. Then, we must continue to expand the boundaries of that belief to exper...

Podcast host CJMiller invites Muralist and Multi-disciplinary Artist Alex Cook to return to the show to discuss his "Your Are Loved" mural ministry and share his thoughts on empowering emotions.  Alex recently completed a newly commissioned 11' by 55' mural in Downtown Dallas' Thanksgiving Square with a slightly altered message of "Love People." The Thanksgiving...

CJ opens this podcast by pondering the concept of gratitude. He shares his appreciation for a great year, including multiple speaking engagements at several art groups and Artisan Santa Fe, his successful solo show "Emotional RollerCoaster," and his first Spiritual Artist Retreat at Lake Texoma, north of Dallas.  He mentions that the highlight of his Spiritual Artist Retreat was realizin...

CJMiller podcaster sits down with Las Vegas, New Mexico, Print Maker and Artist Julie Sola to discuss the importance of working from within and focusing on what excites you. Julie sells her work at several markets, including the Santa Fe Railyard Artisan Market.  Drawing on early childhood memories of her grandparents and Mexican culture, she focuses on whimsical images of animals. Owner of Fat Cr...

CJ Miller takes a break from painting to share his experience of feeling blue and depressed. He encourages the listener to feel the emotion and keep on painting. When we feel our emotions, they process through us and take us to a new place. He also discusses his childhood experience with Seasonal Depression Disorder and how he learned to walk through emotions he cites a recent interview with Dr. J...

CJ Miller invites Scottsdale, Arizona gallery owner and art blog educator Jason Horejs (pronounced Horsh) into his recording studio to challenge misconceptions about best artist practices. Jason’s recent blog titled, “Why Artists Should Focus On Quantity Over Quality,” caused an online stir.  Jason unpacks the benefits of focusing on quantity over quality and shares his experience on how galleries...

My solo show closes this weekend, and I'm taking a short respite in Santa Fe. I decided to re-release one of my favorite story-telling episodes about friends, trust, and guidance. I hope you enjoy this early episode A Recap: Listen to this heartwarming story about Chris' recent trip to Santa Fe. After taking several weeks off from producing "The Spiritual Artist Podcast," host...

Trans femme, genderqueer spiritual drag artist Bonnie Violet shares how the creative process out pictures in her drag performances and speaking engagements. She has learned to lean into Grace to expand her role as an artist and let her inner child out.   As a child, she was constantly told that she was not masculine enough or big enough by her father, but drag lets her lean in and embrace her femi...

The podcast host gives a Spiritual Artist Chat about the importance of being like a child. We're always told, "Don't be Childish," but Chris tells the listener to do the opposite. He shares his experience while taking an old-fashioned bubble bath and the importance of using water to become more present.  Notice the light hitting the bubbles, the sensation of the water on your s...

Creative Earth Coach and Artist Claire Takahashi explains the practice of creating a Morning Altar or Earth Art from natural objects. She guides her students through the process of creative sculptures with grass, rocks, leaves, seeds, and petals found in a wandering process.  Claire believes it is essential to realign ourselves with nature to restore creativity and live more colorful lives. Mornin...

Podcast host Christopher Miller sits with Irish Mixed Media Artist Iseult McCormack to discuss her upcoming solo show, "When I Close My Eyes."  Iseult paints intuitively, drawing inspiration from the universe of her dreams and emotions. Her work explores the interplay between chaos and harmony while inviting viewers to connect and find their meaning in each piece.  The artist believes in...

Join podcast host Christopher Miller as he explores the philosophical and spiritual implications of making AI art with artist Jeff Perkins.  Jeff is an AI artist who seeks to use artificial intelligence to create stunning artwork. Blending technology with creativity, Jeff would like to be part of the movement to expand the art world's horizons using artificial intelligence.  Chris challenges...

Creativity is a way to let emotions flow through you. When we express feelings, we facilitate the experience, but when they are repressed, they block our access to higher thinking and intuition. In this episode, Dr. Jayne Gardner, Performance Business Coach with a background in family therapy, explains that buried emotions never die, but they make us sick.  According to Dr. Jayne, our emotions are...

Dr. Lori Eanes, D.O., Author, and Corporate Wellness Speaker, shares her "Five Simple Solutions for a Healthier Lifestyle" with podcast Host Christopher Miller. Chris is having a frazzled morning when Dr. Lori advises him to stop, listen and retrain his brain.  At no time have we ever had so much information and distraction, and it's leading to a mental disorder. Dr. Lori says,&quot...

After visiting Daniela Pasqualini at her show, Podcaster Chris Miller furthers the conversation by asking about self-marketing, spirituality, and more. Daniela uses gratitude as a creative spiritual practice and radiates incredible positive energy. When approaching a lousy day, she uses routine, exercise, and focus to move through them. She uses exercise to free her mind and sets an intention ever...

Artist Rebecca Collins returns to The Spiritual Artist Podcast. Rebecca Collins is a mixed media artist working in mosaic, collage, watercolor and digital arts and was Chris’ first podcast interview more than two year ago.  Rebecca reminds listeners about the importance of slowing down and being present to the process both as a teacher and as an artist. As a teacher Rebecca is very aware of time;...

Are you in the channel of love? Are you practicing love consciousness?  After Podcast host Christopher Miller spends the afternoon volunteering in the Equity Texas booth during Carrollton Pride, he realizes that we have one resource that will never run out; love.  Why celebrate LGBTQ diversity? Because diversity inspires creativity. Chris notices the incredible creativity in dress and expression....

In this episode, Dallas-based multi-media artist Ann DeRulle shares how she receives intuitive guidance to create her transformative, inspirational, and uplifting paintings. She sees an image or hears words instructing her to create detailed pictures that display sacred geometry, often tiered through plexiglass layers that emanate transformative energy.  Ann and Chris discuss her creative process...

Dallas Glass Artist Amy Voss shares her process for making glass sculptures from damaged guitars, dealing with criticism of your art, and other essential life lessons.  Amy was passionate about music and was attracted to creating art from old guitars. She explains that she avoids huge grout lines by cutting precise glass and using Frit and gold leaf gilding. She doesn't use resin on the entir...

International Coach and Senior Trainer for the More to Life Foundation Ann McMaster shares how the More to Life methodology reveals your Real Reality.   More to Life is based on Dr. K. Bradford Brown and Dr. W. Roy Whitten's training program that enables people to make fundamental changes. Their premise is to be awake to reality– the reality of our essence, relationships, and the moment and c...