Creativity Unconfined

Imagine attending a play, but as you watch, you realize that the actors are telling the story of your own life. Ganga River grew up in the USSR with a father in prison. After his death and a prolific career behind the camera, she stumbled into a new line of work as an improv actress. However, despite improvisation, the stories she spins are not quite her own, nor those of a director. In playback t...

Welcome to a special episode of Creativity Unconfined, recorded at the 2026 American Art Therapy Association annual conference. Tune in to listen to art therapists, Rachel Mims, Delaine Due, and Chelsea Piotner share personal, reflective, and powerful examinations of their struggles and successes within the art therapy world.

Reverend Isaac Scott describes himself as a father, a son, a brother, a husband, and a real person who did time in prison. From incarceration to pastor and multimedia artist, Rev. Scott grew up in Harlem and was incarcerated in New York. From there, arts opened the door to his personal transformation and ultimately his mission to become a blessing to his community. He believes that art holds a pat...

Welcome to a special episode of Creativity Unconfined, recorded in front of a live audience. Tune in to listen to the panel presentation “Greater than the Sum of our Parts: Collaging Identity”, by art therapists Dr. Dave Gussak, Laurie Gentry, Dr. Elizabeth Graham Anderson, and Alicia Seymour at the 2026 American Art Therapy Association annual conference. The presenters share personal, reflective,...

What invisible prisons hold us captive, and how are they built? Dr. Girija Kaimal, artist, art therapist, professor and chair of the Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University joins Dave today to discuss women's mental healthcare, psychological violence, the mind-body-spirit connection, and stigmas.

What do fantasy novels and religion have in common, and how might they so deeply impact the trajectory of somebody's life? Dr. Sonya Cronin, professor of religion at Florida State University, joins Dave to share the power of reading on the psyche, particularly for those imprisoned through her work on the Carrier Pigeon Post.

Dave takes this week's episode to respond to comedian Lewis Black's direct question: "What the f*** is art therapy?".

The Holocaust is one of the more famous examples in recent history of genocide and mass imprisonment, but what don't we learn from the textbook narratives? Here to reveal some of the hidden history (artists and artworks included) of the victims and survivors of the Holocaust are Barbara Goldstein and Lauren Crampton with the Holocaust Education Resource Council.

This week, Dave digs deep to explore victims of all kinds and the trauma cycles that create and perpetuate victimhood.

Dr. Graham Anderson---a former student and current colleague of Dave's at Florida State University---discusses her experience years ago as a graduate assistant working on the writing of Dave's book The Frenzied Dance of Art and Violence.

If a painting could talk, what would it say? Poet and teaching artist Pam Hart specializes in engaging art forms in conversation with each other by teaching the art of poetic ekphrasis. Through this practice, she has equipped those behind bars in facilities including Sing Sing and Bedford Hills with the power of poetry to rewrite their stories and connect to the arts outside. This unique opportuni...

On 9/11, Dave Gussak gave his doctoral defense—a moment forever marked pride of receiving his doctorate and the tragedy of thousands of lives lost that day. In this video, he reflects on that experience and offers a moment of silence in remembrance of all those who lost their lives, loved ones, and families on 9/11.

Most parents don't expect their kids to grow up, graduate college, and then spend their 9-5 inside of a prison every day. In fact, many might shudder at the mere thought. Art therapist Laurie Gentry shares her experience entering prison in a helping role as both a graduate student and as a woman, navigating power dynamics and learning to safely build helping relationships.

Renowned artist Halim Flowers shares his experience in prison for over two decades, a sentence beginning at the age of 16---and how he now makes his living as a successful working artist. Halim has published a multitude of books under his own publishing company, founded and operates as CEO of Artonomics, and was a 2025-2026 Obama Foundation USA Leader. Tune in to be inspired to live authentically...

Dave shares some insight on the gender inequities of mental healthcare and the institutions that oversee policies, and why that's where we are today. Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in the video.

"Tir'd with all these, for restful death I cry." Shakespeare: In what might sound out-of-date to many, Devon Glover---The Sonnet Man---hears art, truth, relatability, and opportunity. He has devoted himself to bridging hip hop with Shakespeare, transforming his words to digestible and relatable lyrics. His recitations of modernized poetry that originally began in a school have since...

"It's not all f***ing hunky dory". Self-proclaimed abolitionist, activist, social worker, ex-con and poet, Jorge Antonio Renaud, shares his journey toward transformation. Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in video (https://ketsa.uk.)

A man kidnaps his two children, murders one, and attempts to kill the other. Dave talks about being an expert witness in the murder case as an art therapist. To hear the full, unabbreviated story read the book Art on Trial: Art Therapy in Capital Murder Cases. Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in video (https://ketsa.uk.)

Nineteen people in the state of Florida were executed in 2025. The next-highest state's number? Five. Grace Ellen Hanna, director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP; fadp.org), answers how the death penalty works in Florida, shares art from those on death row, and demystifies the political partition between pro and anti death penalty. Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in...

Berto Lule visits Dave again to speak about his "fingerprint": his identity and responsibility in the context of being a visual and performing artist, being previously incarcerated, and being a community member. He enlightens listeners on why exactly it is necessary for EVERYBODY to offer support to people who are currently incarcerated or are reintegrating into the community. We all are...

*Trigger Warning: verbal descriptions of graphic violence* Dave describes the attempted murder in prison he witnessed and the role he played that made him realize the fragility of identity on BOTH sides of the bars. How do we observe self and others as two dimensional or three dimensional beings, and how do we embrace transferential and countertransferential dynamics? Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk&#...

From prison to doctoral studies.... Berto Lule studies change, identity and reinvention as an artist and scholar. This episode dives into the discrepancies of a prison sentence and the role that culture and society plays for young populations (especially those of color) facing the prison pipeline. Stay tuned for part II. IG: @tierrabuenatattoos Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in the video.

The underestimated fool is the one who holds the truth, the humor, and the light. How can somebody embody transcendent humor to 'make light' in contrast to the darkness of holding heavy, painful stories and continually witnessing marginalization? Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in the video.

Do prisoners deserve to have the support of education? We aren't making special circumstances, we are simply giving them the opportunity. Walt Dunn shares his personal story of incarceration, education and evolution, learning the law from inside to ultimately free both himself and others. This journey led him to become the Robin to Mike Kostis' Batman at FCHEP, the Florida Coalition for Hi...

The therapist in prison performs a continual juggling act, exploring the dynamics of friend or foe when engaging with both prison staff and those imprisoned. This learning curve in prison culture is steep... Dave explains his experience of navigating expectations, compromises, and language in prison as an art therapist. Free Music by 'Ketsa.uk' in video (https://ketsa.uk.)