Susa Cortez joins Making Ways for an inspiring conversation about her immigration to the United States from Mexico as a teenager and the drive that compelled her to become an artist. Susa was the first in her family to go to college, earning a BFA from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in fine art from Herron School of Art and Design in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her work includes performance, sculpture, and installations that often evoke memories of her early life in La Loma, a rural town in Guanajuato, Mexico. On this episode, Susa shares moving advice about finding your voice in whatever you do. She also discusses her role at visual arts nonprofit Root Division, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and the impact the organization has had on her work and community connection.

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On today’s episode of Making Ways, interdisciplinary artist Rea Lynn de Guzman joins the show to talk about her artist path and her experience emigrating from the Philippines. You’ll learn the meaning behind Rea’s work and hear the stories that define her, from a not-so-everyday childhood to her separation from her family in Manila to a drawing class she took in college while studying for a business degree that began her career as an artist. Rea also talks about her time at visual arts nonprofit Root Division, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and its impact on her work, creative life, and community.

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Fine artist Robert Minervini joins Making Ways podcast to discuss his path to becoming a professional artist. Robert's work has been exhibited nationally and examines utopia-inspired landscapes, cityscapes, and still-life. In this episode, you'll learn more about what it's really like to make a life as an artist, the influences from film and literature Robert infuses into his work, and his time in Philadelphia at Tyler School of Art and at the San Francisco Art Institute to earn his MFA. Robert discusses his public art works and his upcoming commission for a permanent installation at San Francisco International Airport. He also shares the impact that visual arts non-profit Root Division had on his art practice and sense of community in the Bay Area.

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On today's show, fine artist, sculptor, and art educator Rachelle Reichert talks about her path to life as an artist. Rachelle discusses the curiosities that drove her to experiment with salt as a medium for sculpture and the research and creative work she does to bring together art and ecology. All this month, we are celebrating the 15-year anniversary of visual arts non-profit Root Division. Tune in for stories from some of their amazing alumni, artists the organization has supported to further their mission of connecting creativity and community in San Francisco and beyond.

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Julie Cloutier hails from Quebec, but has long called California home. After spending close to a decade working for small architectural firms in San Francisco, she grew restless. It wasn't until a round of layoffs finally instigated a giant sea change in her career. Julie followed an interest in ceramics to classes on nights and weekends while she worked at retail shops around the city. Soon Julie realized her next great endeavor would be away from the office and onto the potter's wheel full time. On today's episode Julie shares the winding path she took to a career as an independent artist. She also discusses the process of making ceramics and the balancing act it takes to thrive as a commercial and fine artist... building a business that's fulfilling and makes (dollars and) sense too.

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Iso Rabins first discovered his love of foraged foods after sourcing and then selling mushrooms out of his car to restaurant owners across San Francisco. Fast-forward to today and Iso has built a business around food education and cultivating entrepreneurship. He runs the restaurant incubator Forage Kitchen, hosts communal pop-up dinners as Wild Kitchen, and offers foraging excursions through ForageSF. The renowned Underground Market he pioneered helped to transform the local food and restaurant community in the Bay Area. On today's episode, Iso discusses his passion for turning creative ideas into real businesses. You'll learn about the sharp career turns Iso took after film school that led him to the restaurant world. Iso also shares how he leans on everyday conversations for mentorship and feedback for his burgeoning ventures. Tune in to Making Ways podcast with food entrepreneur Iso Rabins.

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On this episode of Making Ways, fine artist, illustrator, teacher, and writer Veronica De Jesus discusses her path to life as an independent artist. Veronica shares the story of her harrowing upbringing on the road, recounts the moment in college when her inner artist was awakened, and how her acclaimed Memorial Drawings series first came to life in the impromptu window gallery of a bookstore. Tune in for a meaningful conversation about the wonders of personal reinvention, self-discovery, and community-building through the process of making and teaching art.

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On this episode of Making Ways podcast, we're joined by Valerie Luu and Katie Kwan, the food entrepreneurs behind the popular Vietnamese pop-up restaurant and street food catering company Rice Paper Scissors. Shortly after Valerie graduated from college and Katie found herself jobless after working as a biotech analyst––the two launched their first impromptu eatery in just three days. Since then, they've taken up a weekly residency at Mojo Cafe here in San Francisco and are hard at work on their Kickstarter-funded brick and mortar restaurant opening in 2018. Listen in to hear Valerie and Katie's advice for turning bright ideas into reality, fast. And get a better sense of what it takes to leave behind early career expectations and chase down what you love doing the most.

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Alexandra Kenin joins the show to share how she left the corporate track to carve out her own independent path amongst the trees and parks of San Francisco as founder of Urban Hiker. Alexandra grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey before making her way to an MBA from the Wharton School. It was her time at business school that opened up the opportunity to join Google where she worked as a marketing manager for 5 years before ditching the 9 to 5 to start her own hiking company. On this episode Alexandra discusses her debut book Urban Trails: San Francisco and the mix of left brain / right brain work, including her role with the marketing and copywriting agency Wordsmithie, that keeps her in balance for optimal happiness in life and on the job.

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As a kid, anytime Paul Madonna visited a relative's house, he made a habit out of racing for the newspapers and diving into the comic strips. It wasn't until years later, studying fine art at Carnegie Mellon, that this memory came rushing back as he realized his life's work wouldn't be in painting or illustration but rather an amalgam of words and pictures built on the foundation of the panel comics he's always loved. On this episode of Making Ways, award-winning artist and writer Paul Madonna discusses his journey and the hard work and hustle he put in for over a decade before his beloved All Over Coffee series began running in the San Francisco Chronicle. Paul shares great stories about his internship at MAD magazine, the university professor who tried to have him expelled, and the advice he would give his younger self today. Listen in to hear how Paul carved his own unique path and cultivated the drive that still fuels his curiosity and creative pursuits today. Paul also talks all about his new illustrated novel Close Enough for the Angels. 

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