Artistic License with Rachel Woodall

Katie Horwitch is a writer, a fitness trainer, a motivational speaker, and so much more.  Today, we are going to talk about an organization she started that I believe is very important for our society – it’s called Women Against Negative Talk, or WANT for short. It’s all about learning the art of positive self talk, as well as shifting the negative habits we have formed along the years. That is what today’s episode is all about.  To find more […]

Josie Dunne is a mega-talented singer-songwriter from La Grange, Illinois. She’s blossomed  out of the Chicago burbs in a big way, and she’s toured with names like Ben Rector, Julia Michaels, and Andy Grammer. Her music? It speaks for itself. The first time I heard her, I was an instant fan. There’s just something AUTHENTIC about Josie that is both refreshing and endearing. Her music carries that authenticity… and it’s super dance-able. I sat down with Josie to chat about […]

I discovered John “JJ” Thornhill through Aaptiv, an audio-based fitness app. As I took John’s classes, followed him on social media, and started interacting with him, I realized that John was more than just a super fun and motivating trainer. We had a lot of things in common..mainly, a love for art (and MANY arts at that.) Not only is John a killer trainer, but he is also a talented musician…the music in this episode is his! Listen as I […]

Remember how I am always encouraging you guys to look for art in the world around you? Well, I do that, too. Alyssa Wees just published her first novel, “The Waking Forest.” She is also one of my very dearest friends from back in high school. I wanted to feature her on the podcast because she did the most incredible thing by actually publishing a book! I’ve known her for over a decade, and she’s been writing the entire time. […]

It’s that time again… with podcasts continuing to boom the way they are, I wanted to check back in and see what YOUR favorites are! (This one included, of course!) Then, I sat down and spoke with fellow podcast maker and enthusiast, Chad Ellis. His podcast, Station Blue, is a fiction show that he describes as an “Antarctic isolation horror.” Delve into the world of fiction podcasts, the creative process, the evolution of the medium, and more. You can find […]

For anyone who follows me on social media (or knows me at all,) you know how much I love working out. From dancing, to yoga, to hitting the gym, I am always trying to find new ways to move. It’s helped me on my best days and my worst. That is why I have decided to dedicate the next few episodes of Artistic License in some way to the art of fitness. This episode is a special chat with Ceasar […]

Once in awhile, I like to scan the world around me and do a check-in on what kind of art is nearby. I always SAY it is everywhere, but sometimes, it can slip by unnoticed. I interviewed several individuals who surround me in my life and asked what they’ve been up to. By listening, I opened my eyes to some pretty awesome stuff. Hopefully, you’ll be intrigued to check out some of these arts and/or do an “art check-up” of […]

Joe Diamond has been called many things: a mind reader, an illusionist, a psychic, and a magician. The coolest thing about him is that he combines all of these into his art. Rachel Woodall sat down with Chicagoland magician, Joe Diamond, to talk about the art of magic: how he chose this as a profession, the nuances of the art, and why he thinks everyone should learn at least one magic trick. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3588317/joe-diamond_2019-01-22-114217.64kmono.mp3

What is your definition of adventure? Whether it’s climbing the pyramids in Egypt or hiking through your local forest presercve, there is adventure to find everywhere. Last year, Chad Ellis hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. The PCT spans 2,659 miles across California, Oregon, Washington, and up into British Columbia. It generally takes hikers six months to complete the trek. Rachel Woodall talked to Chad about his adventure along the trail, the culture among the hikers, the logistics of preparing for such […]

Our country has changed rapidly over the past year. (Yes, that could be considered a gross understatement.)The unsettled feeling which has plagued many of us makes us each want to act – a call to action which we can personalize to fuel the causes we believe in. Art, in all of it’s forms, is a powerful tool to be used to fight social injustice. The musicians of Rattle the Walls heard the call and came running, instruments in tow. I spoke […]