Dive into one of the most powerful Artist Recovery Podcast episodes yet — a raw, inspiring, and deeply human conversation with Jacki Ramsey, the designer, photographer, entrepreneur, producer, and founder of Wood Sprite Organic Body. Her story is proof that creativity can save a life — and sometimes build an entire industry.
In this episode, Jacki opens up about:
✨ Growing up surrounded by art after her mother brought her into college drawing classes — even becoming the toddler “model” for 60-second gesture sketches.
✨ Escaping an abusive home environment and finding refuge in nature, animals, and creativity.
✨ The emotional impact of losing her brother — a defining moment that transformed her focus, discipline, and purpose.
✨ Discovering photography, filmmaking, and storytelling as lifelines and forms of expression.

Viral Moment Alert:Jacki shares the wild, unbelievable story of meeting Patrick Swayze at horse shows right before Dirty Dancing hit — and how her classmates called her a liar until she brought in the autograph.

The Documentary That Changed Everythingwith sheer determination (and zero budget), Jacki chased the story of the Yellowstone bison crisis — cold-calling government officials, interviewing Native American activists, and filming across Montana with donated gear and “short ends” of film stock. Even when the project was later plagiarized and aired on PBS without her involvement, Jacki learned the powerful truth that her work was good enough.

The Birth of Wood Sprite Organic BodyAfter quitting smoking, Jacki redirected her restless hands into crafting pure, natural soap — long before “clean beauty” existed. Handmade in tiny batches with essential oils and organic herbs, her soaps went viral in real life through word-of-mouth. Soon, Jacki’s hobby became a thriving business built on sustainability, integrity, and intention — a brand she still hand-crafts today.

Connect with Jacki:
https://www.woodspriteorganicbody.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/WoodSpriteOrganicBody
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/woodsprite

#JackiRamsey, #WoodSpriteOrganicBody, #CleanBeauty, #OrganicSkincare, #NaturalSkincare, #WomenEntrepreneurs, #TraumaToTriumph, #CreativeHealing, #ChildhoodTraumaRecovery, #ArtistRecovery, #OriginStory, #PatrickSwayzeStory, #MeetingPatrickSwayze, #YellowstoneBisonDocumentary, #DocumentaryFilmmaking, #FilmmakerJourney, #CreativeResilience, #OvercomingAdversity, #EmpathCreatives, #NatureHealing, #PhotographyJourney, #HandmadeSoapBusiness, #SmallBusinessFounder, #SustainableBeauty, #HolisticWellness, #PurposeDrivenBusiness, #InspiringWomen, #CreativeEntrepreneurship, #ResilienceStory, #EmotionalStorytelling, #TurningPainIntoPurpose, #ViralPodcastMoments, #InspirationalPodcast #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited

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In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with watercolor artist, designer, speaker, and disability advocate Katherine Klimitas, whose life and art defy every expectation. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), Katherine had broken over 500 bones by the age of 10 — yet she transformed those challenges into a thriving creative career.
From selling her first pet portrait at just ten years old to becoming a professional watercolor illustrator who paints lying on her side, Katherine’s story is one of radical resilience, relentless curiosity, and uncompromising artistry.
About Katherine Klimitas.

Katherine is a New Orleans–based watercolor artist, graphic designer, author, and keynote speaker known for her breathtaking animal portraits and her advocacy for accessibility and inclusion. Painting while lying down due to her condition, she’s developed a unique and masterful process rooted in precision, patience, and extraordinary determination. Her message: limitations don’t define you — your choices do.

🔥 Viral Moments & Key Highlights
The unbelievable moment she reveals breaking 500 bones by age 10 — and how she kept creating art.

• How a cheap watercolor set at age 5 changed the entire trajectory of her life.
• Why she refused to let her disability define her creativity, identity, or future.

• The shocking accessibility barriers artists with disabilities still face — including being removed from a ticketed concert floor seat despite ADA protections.
• Katherine’s business truth: why “design pays the bills, but art feeds the soul.”

• The genius new kids’ product she’s launching: Paint Like Katherine watercolor kits.
• How she overcomes burnout by “throwing spaghetti at the wall” until something sticks.

• Her upcoming wildlife collaboration with a Louisiana photographer — announced here before anywhere else.

 Perfect for Viewers Who Love
• Inspirational artist stories• Disability advocacy and inclusion• Creative entrepreneurship• Watercolor & animal art• Conversations about resilience and mindset• Behind-the-scenes artist life

Connect with Katherine: 
https://kakartnola.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kakartnola
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherineklimitas
FB: https://www.facebook.com/kakartnola

#osteogenesisimperfecta, #brittlebones, #disabilityadvocate, #resiliencestory, #watercolorartist, #creativeresilience, #overcomingadversity, #livingwithdisability, #breaking500bones, #inspirationaljourney, #disabilityrepresentation, #adaptivecreativity, #accessibilityissues, #creativeentrepreneurship, #petportraitartist, #neworleansartist, #paintingwhilelyingdown, #chronicillnessstrength, #inclusivedesign, #disabilityempowerment, #motivationalstory, #artanddisability, #creativemindset, #artisticperseverance, #paintersstory, #viralinspiration, #disabilitystruggles, #accessibilityawareness, #creativebreakthrough, #artistsuccessstory, #resiliencemindset #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #richwrightunlimited #podmatchguest

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In this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with David “Letterfly” Knoderer — a circus-bred creative whose life spans drumming under the big top, elite horsemanship, old-school hand-painted artistry, motorcycle culture, addiction recovery, and the rediscovery of purpose through creativity and service.

Letterfly opens up about growing up shy in Springfield, Ohio, shaped by a childhood where his autistic brother was bullied. Creativity became his refuge, leading him into music, drawing, and eventually the circus — the place where he finally felt he belonged.

Highlights:

• A childhood shaped by art and identity
Raised by an opera-singing mother and a draftsman father, young Dave found comfort in sketchbooks, instruments, and the circus as an escape from social pressure.

• The wild moment he joined the circus at 16
He wrote letters to every circus in the country and landed his first gig drumming under a traveling big top in the Appalachian Mountains. His father initially resisted — until he realized Dave was truly built for the road.

• How horses taught him emotional intelligence
Training Liberty horses and performing with dancing horses taught Letterfly relational skills he never learned as a kid. Horses became his bridge to understanding trust, partnership, and connection.

• Recovery, reinvention, and creative rebirth
Through AA meetings, mentorship, and emotional healing, he rebuilt his life. His artistry exploded — first as one of the most recognized RV muralists in America, then as a sought-after pinstriper in the Harley-Davidson world.

• The rise of “Letterfly” as a creative icon
From circus showmanship to gold leaf, hand lettering, and large-scale murals, Letterfly adapted as industries evolved, becoming the resident artist at one of the biggest RV dealerships in the country.

• Writing, storytelling, and living a life of service
Journaling during recovery sparked his writing career — now five published books strong, including Hit the Road and Thrive. 

🔗 Connect With David
Website: https://letterfly.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-letterfly-knoderer-bab1a17
Instagram: @letterflyart
YouTube: @letterflyart

Be a guest through @PodMatch_com

#circuslife #circusdrummer #Libertyhorsetraining #horsemanship #motorcyclepinstriping #handlettering #goldleafartist #oldschoolcraftsmanship #RVmuralartist #motorhomemurals #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #circuschildhood #creativityandtrauma #overcomingbullying #Aspergersimpact #artisticresilience #addictionrecovery #hittingrockbottom #creativereinvention #artisttransformation #servicemindset #creativejourney #storytellingartist #HitTheRoadAndThrive #carnivalculture  #HarleyDavidsonculture #livepainting #creativediscipline #emotionalintelligencefromanimals #relationshipwithhorses #recoverybreakthroughs #selfdiscovery #artistevolution #makingalivingasanartist #purposedrivencreativity #reinventionstory #inspirationalinterview #creativemindset #mentorshipandgr

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What does it REALLY take to rebuild your identity, reclaim your voice, and reinvent your entire life — again and again? In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, creative storytelling expert and heart-math coach Anna Rosa Parker shares her deeply human, wildly inspiring journey from a minimalist childhood in Iceland to becoming a soul-led leader, mentor, brand strategist, performer, and creative visionary. Anna Rosa’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-trust. Growing up in Reykjavik in an austere, often bleak environment with limited access to TV or creative resources, she learned early on how to build her own world — literally. She made her own books, imagined her future, transformed her home into sets and scenes, and became the director of her own creativity long before she knew what that meant. Today, she helps artists, creatives, and leaders do the same through her EVOKE framework — blending intuition, neuroscience, storytelling, and heart-centered coaching. The inner work behind overcoming shame, emotional patterns, and creative blockage - Every chapter of her journey reveals a profound truth:Creativity isn’t a talent — it’s a way of surviving, healing, and becoming.

Anna Rosa’s Creative Evolution: From performing in Icelandic theaters to competing in world aerobics competitions, to teaching, coaching, acting, auditioning, directing, producing, and ultimately founding her own creative guidance practice — Anna Rosa embodies the art of reinvention. Her transition from acting to brand strategy emerged from a desire for stability while still honoring the creative spark. Through her work with global brands like Baccarat Hotel, One Hotels, Soli Organics, Venus Williams, and more, she learned how storytelling unlocks identity, purpose, and personal power. Your story is your superpower — once you learn how to tell it!

Why This Conversation Matters If you’re an artist, creator, or anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, unseen, or uncertain of your path — this episode is for you!

Connect With Anna Rosa:  https://www.annarosaparker.com

Evoke Story: https://www.evokeyourstory.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-rosa-parker 

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

#IcelandChildhood, #CreativeRecovery, #ReinventionStory, #RejectionResilience, #CreativeStorytelling, #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd #podmatchguest #SoulLedLeadership, #IntuitiveCreativity, #EvokeFramework, #ActingRejection, #ChildhoodCreativity, #IcelandCulture, #DarknessAndLightIceland, #SoloShowNewYork, #CreativeConfidence, #EmotionalHealing, #MotherDaughterRecovery, #AddictionRecoveryStory, #CreativeInspiration, #StorytellingCoach, #VisionaryMentor, #CreatingYourOwnWorld, #IntuitiveGuidance, #OvercomingAdversity, #IdentityAndCreativity, #ArtistEmpowerment, #CreativeAwakening, #InnerHealingJourney, #CuriosityMindset, #FollowingIntuition, #SelfReinvention, #CreativeResilience, #TraumaHealing, #SpiritualGrowth, #EmotionalResilience, #PersonalGrowthJourney

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Step inside one of the most powerful and vulnerable conversations ever featured on the Artist Recovery Podcast. In this episode, host Rich Wright sits down with Jack Maher — Emmy Award–winning journalist, author, historian, and fifth-generation Colorado native — for a deeply personal exploration of grief, faith, resilience, creativity, family legacy, and the healing power of storytelling.
Jack pulls back the curtain on the extraordinary lineage that shaped him — from his Hollywood roots to the untold story of his grandfather, pioneering curator Eric Douglas, whose work elevated Native American art across major institutions. Jack reveals how uncovering that hidden family history inspired him to write Poppy, a historical novel selected by the Colorado State Library for its Colorado Book Club collection.
But the heart of this interview lies in "You Were Chosen, Just Like Mary" — a book born from profound love, loss, and faith. Jack opens up about surviving childhood trauma, navigating mental health challenges, the complexities of family dynamics, and the devastating loss of his younger brother, Chris — a gifted artist whose life was cut tragically short.
 Jack explains why suffering can sometimes be a gift to creatives, how faith can serve as a compass through life’s darkest chapters. He shares how writing became his lifeline — a way to channel grief, honor loved ones, and bring light into the world through art.
Key Moments in This Interview:
~Jack’s surreal childhood between Colorado and Hollywood
~The rediscovered family legacy that sparked the writing of Poppy
~What journalism taught him about truth, bias, and democracy
~The heartbreaking story of his brother Chris — and how grief shaped Jack’s artistic path
~How trauma resurfaces and how creatives cope through their craft
~Faith, healing, and the thin veil between this life and the next
~Jack’s most heartfelt message for artists struggling with mental health

If you’re an artist, storyteller, or someone navigating grief or healing, this conversation will stay with you long after the final minute.

Connect with Jack:
https://www.sandgoatmanorpublishing.com/
Get his books on Amazon:
Poppy - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVNVM4XN?tag=&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
You were Chosen - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH59SW4K?tag=&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

#JackMaher, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #CreativeHealing, #GriefAndCreativity, #TraumaRecovery, #MentalHealthForCreatives, #EmmyAwardJournalist, #StorytellingPower, #FaithAndResilience, #OvercomingLoss, #NativeAmericanArtHistory, #ColoradoAuthor, #HealingJourney, #CopingThroughCreativity, #EmotionalStorytelling, #TurningPainIntoArt, #CreativeResilience, #FamilyLegacy, #SurvivingTrauma, #ChannelingGrief, #ArtisticPurpose, #VulnerabilityInArt, #CreativeInspiration, #ResilienceThroughStorytelling, #HealingThroughWriting #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #podmatchguest  @PodMatch_com ​

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In this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with author, musician, creative visionary, and nonprofit director Mark Firehammer—a lifelong creator whose journey spans songwriting, AI-enhanced music, live-stream innovation, and a profound mission to reconnect humanity through art. From his early days as an introverted kid searching for meaning to becoming the mind behind The Echo and the Voice—an epic tale exploring creative identity and transformation【11:24-31】—Mark shares the deeply human experiences that shaped his creative evolution. If you've ever felt the pull toward something bigger, something more authentic, or something that reconnects you with your inner creative voice, this conversation will hit home.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode 

~The moment Mark realized his creative path was bigger than a career—it's a calling. 

~Why introverts often make the most powerful artists, and how Mark overcame the discomfort of stepping into the spotlight【11:58-60】. 

~How a small pizza shop in a college town became a live-streaming creative hub in 2007—years before streaming went mainstream【1:29:36-53】. 

~The birth of the Creative Humanity Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to awakening creativity across the globe, and why its mission matters now more than ever【11:35-38】【2:04:43-48】. 

~Why Mark believes creativity can reshape mental health, community, and even the human environment【2:06:61-67】. 

~A viral-worthy moment where Mark reveals the secret to protecting your creative work in the age of AI—and why releasing your creations publicly is often the most powerful form of copyright【4:83-85】. 

Connect and Support Mark: https://markfirehammer.com 

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfirehammer 

Creative Humanity Alliance: https://creativehumanityalliance.org

 Get Noticed and Be a Guest through ‪@PodMatch_com‬ : https://www.joinpodmatch.com/artistrecovery 

#MarkFirehammer, #creativeidentity, #artisticawakening, #introvertedcreator, #creativetransformation, #AIinmusic, #creativehumanity, #CreativeHumanityAlliance, #awakenedcreativity, #emotionalstorytelling, #creativepurpose, #innervoice, #authenticcreativity, #humanconnection, #creativefreedom, #personalevolution, #songwriterjourney, #musicianstory, #creativityandAI, #creativeecosystem, #artisticresilience, #creativemindset, #purposedrivencreativity, #creativeexpression, #transformativestory, #creativeleadership, #artisticempowerment, #creativehealing, #creativemission, #creatorjourney, #creativityawakening, #livestreampioneer, #earlyadoptercreator, #creativityandtechnology, #awakencuriosity, #podmatchguest ⁠ @PodMatch_com ⁠ #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd

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At just 17 years old, Shanti Hershenson has written and published over 30 books — before even graduating high school. In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation with Rich Wright, Shanti opens up about her creative journey, her daily writing habit, and how she turned isolation during the pandemic into a powerful force of imagination.

In This Episode:
~ Discovering writing at age 4, falling in love with storytelling before she could even spell her name.
~ The role of her magician mom and software engineer dad in shaping her creativity.
~ How fencing, Star Wars, and fantasy worlds influenced her writing style and imagination.
~ The creation of her first 240,000-word novel, “Biome Lock”, and how she taught herself self-publishing at 12.
~ The viral explosion of “Never Dying” on TikTok that changed her career overnight.
~How Shanti uses Patreon to share her latest work, Good Kids, Bad Choices — a 1,000+ page contemporary novel written and edited entirely before college.

Why This Interview Matters:
Shanti’s story is a blueprint for the next generation of creators.She’s proof that age doesn’t define ability — discipline and imagination do. From her first sci-fi saga to her poetry novel You Won’t Know Her Name (inspired by her real experiences with bullying), Shanti blends authenticity with artistry in a way that connects deeply with readers and creators of all ages.

About Shanti Hershenson:
~ Author of 30+ published books across sci-fi, fantasy, and contemporary genres
~ Advocate for anti-bullying and environmental awareness
~ Viral BookTok creator with millions of views on #NeverDying
~ Founder of her own creative community through Patreon
~ Shanti’s latest works include Good Kids, Bad Choices and Pontus and Electra to the Depths of the Sea — poetic, thought-provoking novels that merge activism with imagination.

Connect with Shanti Hershenson:
Website: shantihershenson.com
TikTok: @shantihershenson
Patreon: patreon.com/shantihershenson 
Instagram: @shantihershenson
Twitter: @shantihwrites

Be a Guest through ‪@PodMatch_com‬ :
https://www.joinpodmatch.com/artistrecovery

#ShantiHershenson, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #ViralAuthor, #TikTokAuthor, #BookTok, #NeverDying,  #1000WordsADay, #CreativeDiscipline, #WritingMotivation, #SelfPublishing, #IndieAuthor, #WritingJourney, #BullyingToBooks, #OvercomingBullying, #CreativeRecovery, #WritingInspiration, #PandemicCreativity, #CreativeTeenager,  #Storytelling, #AuthorMindset, #GenZSuccess, #ViralSuccess, #TikTokWritingTips, #MotivationForWriters, #WritingEveryDay, #FemaleAuthor, #FantasyWriter, #SciFiAuthor, #SelfPublishedAuthor, #CreativeProcess, #AuthorLife, #WritingProductivity, #ViralStorytelling,  #PassionToPurpose, #AuthorJourney, #CreativeResilience, #TurningPainIntoArt, #YoungNovelist, #AspiringAuthor, #ViralWritingMoment, #StudentAuthor, #CreativeDisciplineTips,  #GenZAuthor, #TeenNovelist,  #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd 

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What happens when a U.S. Army Ranger turned storyteller digs deep into his ancestral roots — uncovering forgotten French-Canadian and Algonquin legends that spark an extraordinary creative rebirth?
In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Joseph Bolton — a West Point graduate, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of “Old Grandmother’s Tree” — to explore how trauma, identity, and imagination can transform into art that heals both the creator and the culture it came from.
Watch this if you love:
Storytelling that blends mythology, family history & indigenous wisdom
Military-to-artist transformation stories• Deep conversations about resilience, empathy, and creativity after service
Ancestry, spirituality, and rediscovering your cultural roots

🪶 What’s Inside This Episode
04:00 – The Roots of Imagination: Growing up in Rhode Island’s French-Canadian Catholic culture, surrounded by ritual and folklore
10:00 – The Discovery: DNA tests reveal long-lost Native American ancestry, including the remarkable story of Mithyogoku, the courageous Algonquin ancestor who survived loss and became the “Old Grandmother” of thousands
20:00 – Turning Pain Into Art: How Joseph transformed historical research and personal grief into magical folk tales that honor resilience
35:00 – The Creative Spark: Writing through grief after losing his brother to ALS — and rediscovering storytelling as a lifeline
50:00 – Life Lessons From the Military: How discipline, detail, and determination learned in Ranger School shaped his artistry
1:10:00 – The Ghost Story That Almost Got Him Shot: The hilarious and shocking near-death moment in Afghanistan that became a viral favorite 1:15:00 – The Power of Ancestral Art: How reconnecting with heritage through writing can heal generations

Connect with Joseph:
https://oldgrandmotherstree.com/

Get Noticed and Be a Guest through ‪@PodMatch_com‬ :
https://www.joinpodmatch.com/artistrecovery

#JosephBolton, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #OldGrandmothersTree, #CreativeHealing, #VeteranToArtist, #Storytelling, #Ancestry, #NativeAmericanHeritage, #FrenchCanadianRoots, #ArtisticTransformation, #Resilience, #Imagination, #MilitaryToCreativity, #PostMilitaryHealing, #EmotionalStorytelling, #Folklore, #AncestralHealing, #Identity, #Purpose, #TraumaRecovery, #Empathy, #INFJPersonality, #CreativeRebirth, #Spirituality, #CreativeProcess, #ArtistJourney, #CulturalStorytelling, #ArtAsTherapy, #AncestralWisdom, #HealingThroughArt, #CreativeResilience, #VeteranStories, #TransformationThroughCreativity, #CreativeAwakening, #IndigenousAncestry, , #StorytellingThroughTrauma, #OvercomingLoss, #AncestralConnection, #SpiritualJourney, #CreativeDiscipline, #AuthenticityInArt, #EmpathyAndCreativity, #CreativeCourage #podmatchguest  @PodMatch_com  #richwrightartist #richwrightunlimited #richwrightunltd​

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In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Lora Arbrador — a trailblazing artist, nurse, author, and co-founder of the Society of Tempera Painters — for a raw, emotionally rich journey through a life shaped by creativity, compassion, and resilience.
WATCH TILL THE END for unforgettable moments about LSD trips in the '60s, surviving the AIDS epidemic as a nurse, and how a humble watercolor class in a basement launched a fine art career recognized by Cornell, Publishers Weekly, and art collectors worldwide.

Timestamps (for easy navigation):
00:00 – Intro to Lora Arbrador
02:50 – Lora’s Bronx childhood & feeling “not talented”
07:00 – Immigrant roots, poetry, and “poisonality” photography
14:00 – Discovering art late through a basement class
26:00 – LSD, Berkeley, counterculture & dropout days3
6:00 – Falling in love with egg tempera (life-changing moment)
46:00 – Becoming a nurse & nursing during the AIDS crisis
1:10:00 – “Ways of Dying” art series & creative healing
1:18:00 – Art and love: Europe, communes, and heartbreak
1:27:00 – The struggle of balancing art and survival

Key Highlights:
~"Not a Prodigy": Lora opens up about being dismissed as “untalented” — and how she proved everyone wrong.
~Egg Tempera Epiphany: Hear how a mandatory college assignment led to a lifelong devotion to a nearly forgotten painting medium.
~Love & LSD in the '60s: Wild stories from Berkeley’s heyday — communal vans, Janis Joplin at the Fillmore, and spiritual midwifery communes in Tennessee.
~Healing Through Art: Her award-winning series Ways of Dying was born out of heartbreak, grief, and frontline work during the AIDS epidemic.
~Double Identity: How she channeled her medical career into powerful artwork that won her recognition and gave voice to marginalized stories.
~Book Feature: Don’t miss talk of her acclaimed book Art and Love, chosen as Editor’s Pick by BookLife Reviews.
You’ll love this episode if you’re into:
~Healing through creativity
~Unconventional artist journeys
~60s counterculture and communes
~Art history, egg tempera technique

Connect with Lora Arbrador:
https://www.arbrador.com
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/arbrador
FB: https://www.facebook.com/lora.arbrador
Lora's New Book:
https://a.co/d/fMXnh6q

Get Noticed and Be a Guest through ‪@PodMatch_com‬ :
https://www.joinpodmatch.com/artistrecovery

#LoraArbrador, #ArtistRecovery, #EggTempera, #AIDSEpidemic, #NurseArtist, #ArtAndMedicine, #CommuneLiving, #60sCounterculture, #ArtistJourney, #CreativeHealing, #ArtTherapy, #ArtAsSurvival, #JanisJoplin, #DropoutToArtist, #LoveAndArt, #BerkeleyHippieEra, #ArtistResilience, #MentalHealth, #WomenInArt, #LateBloomer, #ArtSchoolRejection, #WaysOfDying, #EmotionalArt, #SpiritualMidwifery, #BookLifeEditorsPick, #ArtistPodcast, #HealingThroughArt, #NYtoCA, #FreeClinics, #NursingAndCreativity, #ForgottenArtForms #podmatch #podmatchguest  @PodMatch_c

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From a homeschooled middle child in rural Western New York to a doctoral psychology student, Army veteran, podcast host, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist — Joel Bouchard brings raw honesty and profound insight into the artist’s inner world, navigating mental resilience, creative independence, and the myth of success on the episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast.
VIRAL MOMENTS YOU CAN’T MISS:
~ The wild story of mowing lawns at age 12 and saving thousands before he could drive
~ His accidental rise to management at McDonald’s at just 17 — and the leadership lesson that followed.
~ Why Joel turned down an offer to tour with a full band playing his own songs.
~ The creative philosophy behind never playing his songs more than once.
~ The viral insight: “I don't want to be famous. I just want to make things I love.”

This episode is more than a life story — it's a creative manifesto. Joel shares what it really means to stay grounded while wearing many hats, and why he’s deliberately avoided monetizing his top 5% ranked podcast “From Nowhere to Nothing.”

What You’ll Learn in This Interview:
~ How homeschooling shaped Joel’s creative freedom and social resilience.
~ How a military career helped reframe personal challenges and taught the value of hardship.
~ His philosophy of "ever-evolving creativity" — and why he believes constantly starting over is the secret to staying inspired.
~Why he chose independent music creation over the industry grind.
~ How to find purpose outside traditional measures of success.
~“There’s a lot of mythologizing around success… but what if doing what you love — your way — is the real win?” — Joel Bouchard


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