What happens when a quiet, neurodivergent kid who couldn't raise her hand in class grows up to found a literary press, publish award-winning fiction, and write the novel she dreamed of since second grade? You get Laura Stanfill — and this conversation is one you don't want to miss.

Laura Stanfill is the founder of Forest Avenue Press, author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary, and one of the most quietly powerful forces in independent literary publishing. In this episode, she opens up about growing up in a New Jersey home full of player pianos and air horns, being the quiet kid who found her voice through the written word, navigating a controlling college relationship that nearly broke her spirit, and how moving to Oregon with nothing but a car and a dream helped her rebuild from the inside out.
This isn't just a publishing episode. It's a conversation about resilience, creativity, neurodivergence, and what it actually takes to keep believing in your work when the world hasn't said yes yet.

In this episode:
— Growing up in a house full of musical oddities and how it shaped a creative mind
— How a 5th grade teacher changed everything by letting classmates beg to hear more of her stories
— Writing as a safe harbor for kids who feel like outsiders
— The college years that dimmed her light
— and why none of it was her fault
— Moving cross-country right after 9/11 with no safety net and no plan
— The 6-foot weed growing through concrete that became her metaphor for survival
— Why the book nobody was waiting for
— the one she just played with — was the one that sold
— The story of Keisha Ajo Fisher: an author who stopped waiting for permission and won an Oregon Book Award
— Real talk on self-publishing vs. agents vs. small presses
— and how to choose YOUR path
— Why honoring your creative spark matters more than chasing what's already selling


Connect with Laura:
Website: https://laurastanfill.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/laura.stanfill.98
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhstanfill

#LauraStanfill #ForestAvenuePress #IndiePublishing #SmallPress #HowToGetPublished #SelfPublishing #LiteraryAgent #PowellsBooks #OregonWriters #NeurodivergentCreatives #NeurodivergentAuthor #QuietKids #IntrovertedWriter #WritingAsAChild #WomenInPublishing #MarginalizedVoices #CreativeEntrepreneurship #OvercomingRejection #AuthorInterview #DebutNovelist #HistoricalFiction #LiteraryFiction #WritingCommunity #HowToWriteANovel #CreativeProcess #KeishaAjoFisher #OregonBookAward #WritingForHealing #CreativityAndTrauma #FindYourVoice #SingingLessonsForTheStylishCanary #ImagineADoor #TinPanAlley #WomenComposers #WritingAndMentalHealth #OutsiderCreativity #BookPublishing #HowToSubmit #CreativeCourage #WritingWorkshop #LiteraryPortland #AuthorPodcast #WritingPodcast #BookTok #WritingTok #AmWriting #WritersOfInstagram #podmatchguest #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited  ⁨@PodMatch_com⁩  

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What happens when a lifelong storyteller is forced to confront his own mortality?
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with musician, author, and cancer advocate Ray Hartjen — a man whose life has been shaped by movement, reinvention, and one life-altering diagnosis: multiple myeloma.
Born into a military family in 1964, Ray’s childhood was marked by constant relocation — Texas, Kansas, North Dakota, Indiana, Kentucky. Each move meant new schools, new identities, new stories. Books became anchors. Libraries became sanctuaries. Storytelling became survival.
From investment banking to organizational development, from marketing to corporate communications, Ray eventually realized something profound: every role he stepped into was rooted in one essential skill — telling stories that connect, heal, and move people forward.
Then came the diagnosis.
Multiple myeloma — a rare, incurable but treatable blood cancer — forced Ray to ask the question many creatives avoid:
"If not now, when?"

That question reshaped everything.
He began writing more boldly. Performing music more intentionally. Creating with urgency instead of hesitation. His memoir, Me, Myself & My Multiple Myeloma, shares his candid journey through illness. His novel Flank expands his storytelling lens. His acoustic duo, The Chronic Padres, channels resilience through song. And his passion project book chronicling the Indianapolis 500 became a testament to creative endurance.

In this conversation, we explore:
• Growing up in a military family and how mobility shapes identity
• The power of books and libraries in forming a storyteller
• The moment creativity became a conscious priority• How cancer reframes time, risk, and artistic courage
• Music as healing and performance as reclamation
• Why storytelling is the connective tissue of business, art, and survival
• The mantra “If Not Now, When” and living with urgency

This episode is about endurance. About reinvention. About refusing to wait.
It’s about what happens when life strips away illusion and leaves you with one simple truth:
Your story matters — especially now.
If you’re an artist navigating uncertainty…If you’ve faced illness or personal upheaval…If you’re waiting for permission to create…
This conversation will meet you where you are.

Connect with Ray:
Website: https://rayhartjen.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayhartjen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayhartjen
Youtube:  @RayHartjen

#RayHartjen  @RayHartjen   #MultipleMyeloma #IncurableBloodCancer #artistrecoverypodcast  #CancerAndCreativity #IfNotNowWhen #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #creativeresilience #podmatchguest 

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What if the very thing you thought was holding you back… was actually shaping your voice?
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with award-winning historical fiction author Teri M Brown for a deeply human conversation about shyness, identity, reinvention, motherhood, creativity, and the courage to step forward before you feel ready.
Teri’s journey didn’t begin with confidence. It began with thick glasses, middle-school insecurity, and a 13-year-old’s belief that everything would change overnight. It didn’t.
But what did change over time was her ability to rewrite the narrative.
Born in Athens, Greece, raised in Ohio, and later transplanted to North Carolina, Teri discovered early that creativity was an escape — a place where she could become anyone she wanted. Books became portals. Characters became mirrors. And imagination became survival.

She would go on to:
• Publish five award-winning nonfiction books
• Ride a tandem bicycle 3,100 miles across America raising money for Toys for Tots
• Launch a second creative career in historical fiction
• Win more than 70 literary awards across multiple genres
• Publish a memoir-inspired journaling guide and a children’s book
• Mentor authors and co-host The Teri & Edith Show
But none of it happened in a straight line.

In this episode, we explore:
✨ The identity shift that comes from moving states and reinventing yourself
✨ How childhood shyness still shows up in adulthood
✨ The creative power of reframing fear
✨ Why imagination can be both an escape and a superpower
✨ The difference between neurodivergence and “neurotypical” expectations
✨ The unexpected path from stay-at-home mom to award-winning novelist✨ Why creative courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s action in spite of it

Teri shares candidly about failing chemistry, leaving college, becoming a bank teller, marrying a photographer, raising four children, and eventually stepping into authorship later in life — not because it was planned, but because the story demanded it.
Her writing style? She’s a “pantser” — no outline, no master plan — just intuition and trust.

Connect with Teri:
Website: https://www.terimbrown.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terimbrown/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terimbrown_author
FB: https://www.facebook.com/TeriMBrownAuthor/
TY: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@TeriMBrown_Author⁩

#richwrightunlimited #artistrecoverypodcast #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #podmatchguest  ⁨@PodMatch_com⁩ #TeriMBrown #AwardWinningAuthor #HistoricalFictionAuthor #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #OvercomingShyness #LateBloomerSuccess #CreativeReinvention #WomenAuthors #WriterJourney #CreativeCourage #PantserWriter #MotherhoodToAuthor #NeurodivergentCreativity #FearOfRejection #AuthorInterview #creativeresilience #creativeidentity #artist #independentartist #author 

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What happens when a fenced-in yard becomes a blueprint for building culture?
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with Diarra “Uncle P” Collazo — veteran entertainment consultant, DJ, entrepreneur, and founder of platforms that helped shape Detroit’s hip hop ecosystem.
Born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan, Diarra’s journey began not in boardrooms or studios — but in a fenced yard where imagination became survival.
An only child guided by his great-grandmother, he learned early how to entertain himself, build worlds with Legos, and create community when none was handed to him.  That instinct never left.
From high school radio at Avondale — where he was one of the first underclassmen to earn his own show — to earning a degree in Music & Entertainment Management at the Art Institute of Atlanta, Diarra immersed himself in the mechanics behind the music.
While others chased record deals, he studied structure.
While others wanted fame, he wanted infrastructure.
After learning firsthand how record labels operate — and how glass ceilings are built — a pivotal piece of advice changed everything:
“If you really want to make an impact in this industry, don’t fall into someone else’s circle. Create your own.”
So he did.

Diarra launched Local Love Radio to spotlight Michigan hip hop when major stations wouldn’t.He acquired DetroitRap.com to build digital community before social media was what it is today.He stepped into internet radio before it was mainstream.He became a connector, a culture builder, and the kind of leader people now call “Uncle P.”

In this conversation, we explore:
• Growing up in Pontiac during its automotive boom
• Being raised by a great-grandmother and developing discipline early
• How karate shaped his mindset around focus and responsibility
• Why most people fail in creative industries (and what separates the 11 who graduate from the 117 who start)
• The glass ceiling realities of the music business
• The difference between being a taker and being useful
• Why Detroit struggled to embrace local hip hop — and what that revealed
• The power of creating your own platform instead of waiting for validation
This isn’t just a hip hop story.
It’s a masterclass in vision, resilience, and ownership.
For creatives feeling fenced in…
For entrepreneurs trying to build community…
For artists who want longevity, not just momentary shine…

Connect with Diarra:
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/unclep
Website: https://www.detroitrap.com

#DiarraCollazo #UncleP #DetroitHipHop #MusicIndustry #CreativeDiscipline #BuildYourOwnPlatform #DetroitRap #LocalLoveRadio #HipHopEntrepreneur #MusicBusiness #IndependentArtist #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunlimited #artistrecoverypodcast #theartrec #MusicMentorship #CultureBuilder #CreativeLeadership #UndergroundHipHopAwards #EntertainmentConsultant #HipHopCommunity #InternetRadio #ArtistLongevity #MusicIndustryTruth

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What happens when a creative soul refuses to choose just one identity?
In this deeply human episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Siquoyia Blue—musician, author, technologist, entrepreneur, and self-described modern-day renaissance woman—for an unfiltered conversation about resilience, intuition, and redefining success on your own terms.
Siquoyia is the creator of Abstract Soul, a signature musical sound that fuses the heart of R&B, the groove of funk, the depth of soul, and the edge of rock into something emotionally raw and spiritually resonant. But her story extends far beyond music.
Born in Connecticut and raised across Virginia, California, and Georgia, Siquoyia grew up feeling like an outsider—navigating loneliness, constant relocation, and an early sense that she didn’t quite fit into traditional systems of school, work, or expectation. Music became her refuge, her language, and eventually her lifeline.

In this episode, Siquoyia opens up about:
~ Growing up as a lone wolf and learning resilience early
~ Discovering music as a form of survival—not just expression
~ Attending performing arts high school and chasing creative validation
~ The disillusionment of exploitative creative industries
~ Battling depression while still choosing to create
~ Pivoting from music alone into entrepreneurship and technology
~ Entering the tech world without abandoning her artistic identity
~ Learning how intuition became her internal compass
~Redefining success beyond fame, money, or external approval

Siquoyia’s journey proves that creative wholeness is not only possible, it’s powerful.
Rich and Siquoyia explore how listening to your inner voice can save you from burnout, exploitation, and soul-loss—and how building financial stability doesn’t mean selling out, but can actually create freedom for deeper creative work.

This is an episode about:
~ Trusting your intuition when systems fail you
~ Building resilience without hardening your heart
~ Creating art without needing permission
~ Surviving long enough to define success for yourself
~ Honoring creativity as a lifelong relationship, not a destination
If you’ve ever felt too complex, too sensitive, too unconventional—or too creative for the boxes you were offered—this episode is for you.

Connect with Siquoyia:
Website: https://siquoyiablue.komi.io
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/blualchemistpodcast
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siquoyia

#SiquoyiaBlue #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #AbstractSoul #CreativeResilience #ArtistIntuition #CreativeBurnout #WomenInMusic #CreativeIdentity #MusicIndustryTruth #ArtistJourney #SoulfulPodcast #ArtistEntrepreneur #CreativesInTech #RedefiningSuccess #CreativeHealing #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #podmatchguest #IndependentArtist #ArtistRecovery #ResilientCreatives  ⁨@PodMatch_com⁩  

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What happens when recovery doesn’t just save your life—but reshapes your hands, your work, and your legacy?
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Jimmy Garcia, founder of Mean Mug Pistons, a Texas-based creative venture where reclaimed engine pistons are transformed into hand-carved sculptures known as Mean Mugs. What starts as a conversation about art quickly becomes a deeper exploration of sobriety, blue-collar creativity, fatherhood, and the long road back to self-trust.
Jimmy’s work is raw, industrial, and unapologetically honest—much like his story. After years of addiction, he found recovery and has now celebrated 15 years of sobriety since August 22, 2009. Instead of leaving his past behind, Jimmy integrated it into his creative process, using discarded materials and hard-earned wisdom to create pieces that speak to resilience, grit, and transformation.
In this episode, Rich and Jimmy explore what it means to rebuild from the inside out—how recovery changes not just your habits, but your relationship to work, identity, and purpose. Jimmy opens up about the realities of long-term sobriety, the responsibility of fatherhood, and the discipline required to keep choosing growth even when no one is watching.
They also discuss Jimmy’s journey as an e-book author and mentor, including his book Tenacity: A Blue-Collar Man’s Road to Healing, where he shares lessons learned through addiction, recovery, and reclaiming self-worth. This conversation speaks directly to artists, makers, and creatives who come from nontraditional paths—those who didn’t come up through galleries or academia, but through lived experience.
With a massive and dedicated following across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, Jimmy has built a global audience by staying grounded in authenticity. His sculptures ship worldwide, but his message stays personal: healing isn’t clean, creativity isn’t linear, and recovery is an ongoing act of courage.

This episode is for:
• Artists navigating recovery or sobriety
• Creatives from blue-collar or nontraditional backgrounds
• Anyone turning pain into purpose
• Makers redefining what art “gets to be”
• Those learning how to build a meaningful life one honest day at a time

Connect with Jimmy:
Youtube:  @meanmugpistons6014  
Facebook: @meanmugpistons
Instagram: @meanmugpistons
Tik Tok: @meanmugpistons

#JimmyGarciaInterview, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #RecoveryAndCreativity, #LongTermSobriety, #AddictionRecoveryJourney, #BlueCollarArtist, #ReclaimedMaterialsArt, #SculpturalStorytelling, #HealingThroughArt, #CreativeResilience, #FatherhoodAndRecovery, #TurningPainIntoPurpose, #SoberArtistJourney, #IndustrialArt, #MeanMugPistons, #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #richwrightart #metalworker #mechanic #mechaniclife

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

What happens when a creative spirit grows up surrounded by competition, comparison, and expectations—yet refuses to follow the status quo? In this deeply reflective episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with accomplished author, educator, and resilience advocate Sharon Neiss Arbess for an honest conversation about creativity, perseverance, and the long road to trusting your own voice. Sharon shares her journey growing up in Montreal within a high-pressure, achievement-driven environment—where excelling academically and athletically was the norm, and creativity often lived on the margins. From feeling like she never quite “measured up,” to discovering that not fitting in became her greatest strength, Sharon reveals how early experiences with competition, rejection, and self-doubt quietly shaped her resilience as a writer.

Together, Rich and Sharon explore: 

• Why rejection becomes easier when you grow up learning how to get back up 

• How creativity often develops outside traditional education systems 

• The courage it takes to release your first book after years of self-doubt 

• Why comparison is the thief of joy—especially for artists and writers 

• The hidden resilience behind “failed” projects and long creative timelines 

Sharon opens up about her books—including Me and My So-Called Friends, Get Up, and The Most Amazing Department Store—and how her storytelling centers emotional honesty, youth resilience, and navigating life’s uncomfortable moments with compassion. She also shares how her teacher’s manual Brave the Waves was developed to help middle-school students, parents, and educators build emotional awareness, resilience, and open dialogue around difficult topics. This episode is a powerful reminder that:

~Creativity doesn’t follow a straight line.

~Success doesn’t arrive on a perfect schedule.

~And resilience is built through showing up—again and again—even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. 

If you’re an artist, writer, educator, or creative who has ever questioned your path, struggled with comparison, or wondered if your voice truly matters—this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Connect with Sharon: https://sharonneissarbess.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonneissarbess

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-neiss-arbess-99315921

FB: https://www.facebook.com/SharonNeissArbessWriter  

 #SharonNeissArbess #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #CreativeResilience #WritingThroughRejection #AuthorMentalHealth #CreativityAndComparison #WomenAuthorsPodcast #YouthResilience #EmotionalWellbeing #CreativeVoice #PersistenceInArt #CreativeCourage #ArtistMindset #ResilienceThroughFailure #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #artist #creativeidentity #richwrightart

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

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, failure, and relentless self-inquiry.
From growing up drawn to attention and performance, to being shaped by punk ethics and DIY culture, Steve opens up about what it means to learn everything the hard way. No shortcuts. No safety net. Just lived experience as the teacher.
As a former touring punk musician turned respected audio engineer, Steve is the co-founder of Marston House Recording, one of Philadelphia’s most influential studios. He is also the creator of Marston House Ciphers, a platform dedicated to preserving authentic underground hip-hop voices. But behind those accomplishments lies a quieter truth—periods of instability, couch surfing, shelters, and rebuilding from the ground up while becoming a husband, father, and mentor.
This episode dives into:
• Growing up between chaos and creativity
• Punk rock as philosophy, not fashion
• Learning through failure—and why Steve lets his students fail on purpose
• Integrity in music, education, and collaboration
• Teaching young artists how to earn trust, not just credits
• Navigating homelessness, grief, and responsibility
• Why creativity often chooses us before we’re ready

Steve also reflects on his role as an educator and nonprofit leader, sharing how his own unteachable tendencies shaped the way he mentors emerging creatives today. His approach is simple but radical: experience it, own it, fix it, and never repeat it.
Beyond music, Steve is also a published author. His debut novel, Invasion of the Punkcrackers Who Drink Blood, blends rebellion, horror, and coming-of-age themes—mirroring the same raw energy that defines his life and work.
This conversation isn’t about success in the traditional sense. It’s about integrity, resilience, and what it takes to stay creative when life keeps testing you.

Connect with Steve Sxaks:
https://letsgoguy.com
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/steve_sxaks
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@stevesxaks⁩

#SteveSxaksInterview, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #PunkRockPhilosophy, #UndergroundHipHopCulture, #MarstonHouseRecording, #MusicIndustryIntegrity, #CreativeResilience, #RebuildingThroughArt, #HomelessnessAndCreativity, #PunkRockMindset, #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited #podmatchguest #AudioEngineerJourney, #TeachingThroughFailure, #veteran #militarylife #militarymentalhealth #MusicEducationMentorship, #DIYMusicCulture, #ArtistIdentityRecovery, #CreativeSurvivalStories, #VeteranArtist,  #IndependentMusicPodcast, #AuthenticStorytelling  ⁨@PodMatch_com⁩  

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

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 of contradiction—of being celebrated and unseen, powerful and insecure, grounded and exposed—all at the same time. From growing up as a highly sensitive, imaginative only child in New York, to navigating elite dance institutions that didn’t know how to see her, Alexandra shares what it took to stay connected to her embodied truth when external validation failed.

This episode dives into:
~What it means to belong to your body before the world approves of it
~How artistic feedback can create lifelong wounds—and how to survive them
~The pressure placed on artists to become symbols, role models, or “exceptions”
~Why confidence is often a projection—and contradiction is the real source of power
~Neurodivergence, intuition, and pattern recognition as creative intelligence
~Letting go of external legitimacy (institutions, titles, citations) to reclaim authorship
~The difference between success that looks impressive and work that feels true
~How dance, grief, joy, shame, and magic can all coexist in one body

Alexandra speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, body politics in dance, and the quiet violence of being forced into narratives that erase complexity. She challenges the idea that healing, success, or confidence must be linear—and offers a more embodied, compassionate way of understanding creative resilience.

This is a conversation for:
Artists who’ve been told they “don’t fit”
Highly sensitive creatives navigating systems not built for them
Dancers, writers, educators, and performers questioning external validation

Connect with Alexandra:
https://www.alexandrabellerdances.org
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/alexandrabellerdances
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-beller-0a56a57
FB: https://www.facebook.com/alexandrabellerdances

#AlexandraBellerInterview, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #BodyImageInDance, #ImposterSyndromeArtists, #HighlySensitiveCreatives, #NeurodivergentArtists, #EmbodiedIntelligence, #SomaticCreativity, #CreativeResilience, #ArtisticIdentity, #BreakingTheMoldInArt, #DanceIndustryPressure, #BodyPoliticsInDance, #ArtistsAndShame, #ConfidenceMyth, #CreativeAuthenticity, #EmotionalTruthInArt, #FeedbackTraumaArtists, #WomenChoreographers, #HealingThroughMovement, #ContradictionInCreativity, #IntuitiveIntelligence, #ArtistsMentalHealth, #NonconformingBodies, #CreativeBelonging, #ResilienceInTheArts, #ArtisticVulnerability, #RejectionAndCreativity, #RedefiningSuccessInArt #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited #podmatchguest  @PodMatch_com ​

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin

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 spiritual practice.
Clementine’s story is not about overnight success or tidy transformation. It’s about late beginnings, internal listening, and the courage to follow truth—even when it contradicts expectation.

Born in Southern California and raised in a household filled with music but not musicianship, Clementine didn’t discover the drums until her late twenties. What followed wasn’t just a musical awakening, but a complete reorientation of identity. Drumming became her language—one rooted in time, structure, mathematics, and intuition—while writing and meditation remained her compass.

In this conversation, Clementine reflects on:
• Growing up as an achiever and seeker in parallel
• How silence, reading, and writing shaped her inner world
• The tension between spirituality and rock culture—and why they’re not opposites
• Discovering meditation alongside music, including a life-altering 10-day silent retreat
• Why creativity isn’t about being seen—but about being true

Clementine’s voice is grounded, reflective, and honest—offering insight not just for musicians, but for anyone navigating reinvention, recovery, or the quiet knowing that there’s more waiting on the other side of fear.
This is not a performance.It’s a remembering.

Timeline:
00:00 – Meeting Clementine Moss
04:10 – Childhood, reading, and early sensitivity
11:30 – Achievement, identity, and internal pressure
19:40 – Spiritual curiosity before religion
28:15 – Junior high, depression, and self-attack
36:00 – Writing as survival and self-expression
44:20 – New York City & creative freedom
52:10 – Discovering drums later in life
1:01:30 – Seeing rhythm as blocks of time
1:12:00 – From silence to stage
1:23:40 – Spiritual practice meets rock performance
1:34:10 – Why drumming feels like home
1:46:00 – Unity, presence, and what music is really for

Connect with Clementine:
https://www.clementinemoss.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clementinemossmusic
FB: https://www.facebook.com/ClementineMossMusic
YT: https://www.youtube.com/@UCZdYUfNZ7MifaGf0mPa22aw

#Clementine Moss #Zeparelladrummer #femaledrummer #podcast  #artistrecoverypodcast #artistrecovery  #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited #podmatchguest  #musicandspirituality #latebloomer  #artist, #womeninrock  #drummingandmeditation #creativeidentity , #spiritualawakening #artist, #recoveryandcreativity #rockmusic #healing  @PodMatch_com   mindfulness and music, artistic reinvention

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin