Amber and Brady Black are a married couple currently living in Beirut, Lebanon, and they are a true inspiration. Having grown up and met in the United States, they decided to move to the Middle East to teach. The first five years abroad were not easy, and Amber found herself fighting depression, which she courageously shares about in our interview. After some discussion, they decided that they needed to leave the gulf region. In a series of synchronous events, a friend of a friend mentioned that there was an opening at "Home Of Hope" in Beirut, which is a home for abandoned and abused children in Lebanon. Amber and Brady went for a visit, and knew in their hearts that they had to teach there. Join me as I talk about hope, love, and Serious Creatures with Amber and Brady Black.

Serious Creatures closed for business in late 2023. This episode is being shared in the spirit of keeping the creative essence of this amazing business available to all.

In this interview we talk about: - How Amber and Brady met at college, and have "been married ever since" - What it was like to move to Oman from Texas - How Amber faced depression when she moved to Oman, and how she felt culturally isolated - How art, imagination, and hope changed their lives, and started a company - How Serious Creatures got it's name (hint: there's some Harry Potter magic involved!) - The way they were introduced to Home of Hope - What it's like to teach children of various ages and various levels of educational background - How they strike a balance of taking care of themselves while working with children from difficult backgrounds - Their kickstarter with Serious Creatures (Serious Starters) - What it was like for Brady to see children reacting to his art for the first time - What's next for them and Serious Creatures

Resources Serious Creatures Website Serious Creatures Instagram Serious Creatures Kickstarter Home of Hope Lebanon Facebook page