I Loved This Conversation

Nancy Schön - Looking Ahead

I loved this conversation with Boston-area sculptor Nancy Schön! We talked about building a good reputation with clients, making tactile work that encourages interaction, balancing creative ambition with being a mom in the 1960s, the importance of routine and making use of small windows of time, meeting world leaders, how Nancy's Make Way for Ducklings sculpture changed her life, Nancy's new political work and much more. Nancy's website: schon.com

Ari Grubb - Can’t Just Sit Around

I loved this conversation with Boston-area animator Ari Grubb! We talked about being utterly called to a hyper-specific idea, feeling like a mad scientist while deep in a creative project, seeking feedback from non-artists, teaching, the existential crisis that led Ari to change their career and their personal life all in one night, Ari's experience graduating college in 2020, and much more. Ariel's Instagram: @ariegrubb Ari's website: arielegrubb.com

We Love Your Conversation #2

What's up Convos? In this special episode, we (myself and guest co-host Whitney Tressel) loved hearing from YOU! With the help of your letters, we sat down for a chat about balancing personal and professional work, losing your identity as an artist, when to monetize a hobby, creating just to create, being patient during major creative blocks, maintaining long friendships and much more. Whitney's Instagram: @whitneytravels. Whitney's website: whitneytressel.com

Michael Talbot - Avalanche

I loved this conversation with Boston-area artist and illustrator Michael Talbot! We talked about the blessing and curse that is too much freelance work at the same time, having variety in your career vs. narrowing down to one kind of work, public art and public reactions to it, why it's great to have an "Art Rival," Michael's adjustment to school and life in the US having grown up in Jamaica, and much more. Michael's Instagram: @talbotsart Michael's website: talbotsart.com

McKersin - All Story No Glory

I loved this conversation with Boston-area dancer, choreographer, teacher and community organizer McKersin! We talked about the urgency of spreading happiness and resources through art, the pressure that comes with positive attention, the challenges of teaching the arts to kids in a variety of settings, how we deeply underestimate inner city kids, McKersin's unique creative process of creating dance pieces, and much more. McKersin's Instagram: @mckersin Lakai Dance Theatre: lakaidance.org

Matt Woodruff - Human Immunology

I loved this conversation with Atlanta immunologist, writer and science communicator Matt Woodruff! We talked about the creativity involved in scientific research, building a brand, not taking feedback personally, asking yourself if you've communicated your ideas clearly, Matt's passion for communicating science to the public in a more open and transparent way and how that builds trust, and much more. Matt's articles for The Conversation: theconversation.com/profiles/matthew-woodruff-1155340

Erik Wilson - The Potterfly Effect

I loved this conversation with Boston-area ceramic artist Erik Wilson! We talked about feeling your work isn't progressing, showing up for your art consistently, answering "what do you do?" when your passion isn't your day job, the ups and downs of measuring success with sales and money, resting to avoid burnout and repairing our relationship with social media. Erik's Instagram: @wilsonerikb

Sarah Lynne Reul - Time is a Chocolate Bar

I loved this conversation with Boston-area children's book author and illustrator Sarah Lynne Reul! We talked about incorporating playfulness into working hard, the endless cycle of making work and finding more work, the difficulties of time management, showing up to events when it's nerve-racking, parenthood, and Sarah's journey from growing up viewing art as an unstable career to taking the leap and becoming a working artist. Sarah's website: reuler.com. Sarah's Instagram: @thereul

Yoni Gordon - The Anxiety of Influence

I loved this conversation with Boston-area musician and songwriter Yoni Gordon! We talked about bringing online dating experiences into our art, balancing our outside influences with our own sensibilities and instincts, our writing processes, feeling more out of touch with an art scene than before the pandemic, and Yoni's journey from quitting music to work on himself to re-entering music in a healthier way. Yoni's Instagram/Twitter: @yonigordoni. Yoni Gordon on Spotify.

Mickey Grouse - That End of Night Feeling

I loved this conversation with Boston DJ Mickey Grouse! We talked about rethinking career balance after burning out, combining artistic vision with client expectations, handling rejection, misconceptions surrounding the art of DJing, how to gauge a good party, being in a city for the long haul, and much more. Mickey's Instagram: @mickeygrrrouse Mickey's Facebook Page: "The Mickey Grouse Club"