In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with award-winning graphic novelist, educator, and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yan.

Gene is best known for groundbreaking works like American Born Chinese, Boxers & Saints, and Dragon Hoops, which have helped redefine what comics and graphic novels can do in classrooms. His stories blend humor, heart, and mythology with his own personal experiences and explorations of identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling. In this conversation, Gene reflects on his creative journey, the responsibility and possibility of making art for young readers, and how comics can act as a bridge between cultures, generations, and lived experiences.

You can find Gene’s work at www.geneluenyang.com, and follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/geneluenyang.

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Creative Guts recently moved our newsletter to Substack, and you can find us at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with April Landry, a comic artist, writer, and the organizer of the Luna Moth Zine Festival.

April uses digital and traditional art to help explain and deal with the world around her. In our conversation, we discuss using art to process emotions, zine making, the story behind the name of the Luna Moth Zine Festival, and much more. We also dive deep into one of April’s pieces entitled “Bird Laundry Thieves Cartoon ” that you must see for yourself! 

Check out April's work at www.landrysesame.com and @landrysesame on Instagram, bluesky, tumblr, and ko-fi.

Learn more about the Luna Moth Zine Festival at www.lunamothzinefest.com and www.instagram.com/lunamothzinefest. The 2026 festival will be on April 18 in Manchester, NH.

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! 

Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake, Becky Barsi, and Joe Acone get cozy for a robust Hosts Chat. The three touch base on their own creative practices and goals, hot topics in the art world, and changes for the podcast. 

They also share a fond-farewell to founding co-host of the podcast, Sarah Wrightsman. Please join us in thanking her for her many years of dedication, leadership, creative thinking, and passion for the mission of our podcast, nonprofit, and its community. Plus the many laugh snorts she and Laura shared over the years!

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

In this episode, Creative Guts hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone are joined by Kyle Wood, the inventive art educator and creator behind the Who ARTed and Fun Facts Daily podcasts. 

Throughout our interview, Kyle shares his passion for demystifying art history, engaging students with creative media, and making art accessible and fun for all ages. The conversation spans his journey into podcasting as an educational tool, favorite materials and makers, and how he cultivates creativity for kids and teachers alike. 

To learn more about Kyle, check out the links below:

• WhoArtEd on Instagram
• Kyle Wood on YouTube
• Who ArtEd Website

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with Theo Martey, Ghanaian-born artist and founder of the Akwaaba Ensemble. 

From vibrant performances and hands-on workshops to his role as New Hampshire Artist Laureate, Theo shares how West African rhythms, storytelling, and the spirit of welcome have guided his artistic journey. The conversation explores Theo’s work in education, his passion for collaboration, and how music can build bridges across cultures and communities.

Learn more about Theo at https://theomartey.wixsite.com/theomartey, and follow Akwaaba Ensemble at  https://www.instagram.com/akwaabaensemble/ and

https://www.facebook.com/AkwaabaEnsemble. Also listen on Spotify here: "Akwaaba" Welcome Home and Jei Elaaja Wo (Lost in the World).

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

This bonus episode is all about gratitude! Host Becky Barsi talks about the third annual Art ‘Round the Room, and the generous sponsors who helped make this event possible. Listen in to learn how you can help make a difference and celebrate creative exploration and expression!

Big THANK YOU to our Art ‘Round the Room Sponsors: 

• Blick Art Materials
• Attorney S. William Dahar II
• Manchester Distillery
• The law offices of Orr & Reno
• The Derryfield School
• NH Craft Club
• Concord Bee Company
• Market Basket

Stay connected with Creative Guts on Facebook and Instagram (@CreativeGutsPodcast), and check out our website at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com

If you love what we do, consider making a donation! Creative Guts is a small nonprofit, and your support truly makes a big difference. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman sit down with Jordana Pomeroy, the director and CEO of the Currier Museum of Art. An art historian, author, and curator, Jordana started at the Currier in September 2024.

In this episode, we’ll chat about Jordana’s career at the Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, and more. Jordana shares what brought her to New Hampshire (spoiler alert: it was the Currier!) and how she thinks about the future of the Currier. We’ll also chat about Jordana’s book, the young adult novel titled Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun.

Plan your visit to the Currier Museum of Art by visiting www.currier.org, and follow the museum's social media: www.instagram.com/curriermuseum and www.facebook.com/CurrierMuseum.

Find Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun at your local bookstore or at: https://www.abramsbooks.com/product/daring_9781947440104/

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Creative Guts recently moved our newsletter to Substack, and you can find us at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman sit down with wildlife artist and author Matt Patterson! Matt is a wildlife illustrator and artist that specializes in turtles and other wildlife. He’s illustrated five books, including three with author Sy Montgomery, The Book of Turtles, Of Time and Turtles, and The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle.

In this episode, we’ll talk about everything from Matt’s adventures working with conservation organizations, the research that goes into his paintings, and the real-life turtles that inspire Matt’s work! We even talk a bit about the biggest threats to turtles and other creatures, and how you can help.

If you want to check out Matt’s work, you can find him online at www.mpattersonart.com and on Instagram and Facebook (@StoneRidgeArtStudios) at www.instagram.com/stoneridgeartstudios and www.facebook.com/stoneridgeartstudios.

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Creative Guts recently moved our newsletter to Substack, and you can find us at creativegutspod.substack.com.

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Joe Acone chat with Meg Locker, founder of NH Craft Club. 

Meg began NH Craft Club in early 2025 as a way for people to craft and connect through exploring new crafts. This inclusive and welcoming club hosts multiple events across the state each month, with projects like wreath-making, stamped tea towels, and building vision boards to name a few! 

In this episode, we chat about how NH Craft Club began, the art behind community organizing, social media's role in the club’s growth, the joy of being messy, and more! Meg also shares how her family has supported her in building this community, her love of travel, and her future plans for junk journaling. 

Learn more about NH Craft Club at www.nhcraftclub.com, www.instagram.com/nhcraftclub, www.tiktok.com/discover/nhcraftclub, and in the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/9559451004135403.

Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Creative Guts recently moved our newsletter to Substack, and you can find us at creativegutspod.substack.com. 

If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. 

Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!

In this mini episode, we share exciting details about our upcoming third annual Art ‘Round the Room event. Art ‘Round the Room is a one-of-a-kind experience where adults get to play and experiment with a variety of art mediums at timed stations, guided by professional artists. It’s a rare opportunity for grown-ups to get creative, explore new materials, and have some fun!

This year’s event will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at The Derryfield School, 2108 River Road, Manchester, NH 03104.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at www.creativeguts.org/events.

If the ticket cost is a barrier, please request a fee waiver by emailing [email protected].

Stay connected with Creative Guts on Facebook and Instagram (@CreativeGutsPodcast), and check out our website at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com

If you love what we do, consider making a donation! Creative Guts is a small nonprofit, and your support truly makes a big difference. Learn more and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.