“I’m trying to figure out how I can stay a teacher but get out of it in the traditional sense.” This episode features Molly Keenan and Aaron Lichtov of RetroFutures Designs. Molly talks about transitioning from talking about herself as a classroom teacher to talking about herself as a practicing artist. Aaron talks about pushing […]

“One of coolest thing about writing for middle-grade audiences is that you’re writing several books at once.” Author Kelly Barnhill talks about writing books for young people. She also talks about how being a teaching artists informs her writing and how her writing informs her teaching. And Kelly talks about the many levels her […]

“By paying a babysitter I’m losing money every single day I drive to teach.” Musician and host of the Resonant Radio podcast Jeff Greene talks about working as a musician as well as a music teacher. Jeff talks about how he progressed through different instruments as much by happenstance as by desire. And he […]

“I kind of thought that composition was going to be something I could easily do from home.” Composer Jocelyn Hagen talks about stepping back from performing as she entered motherhood and now returning to the live performance part of her work. She shares how being raised by a piano teacher informed her becoming a composer. […]

“Stop asking if we want to be connected, the answer is that we do.” Leadership and Engagement Director for the Bush Foundation and Twin Cities Twitter user extraordinaire Lars Leafblad talks about coming into a well-established organization and trying to build upon its strengths while incorporating new ideas. He talks about building relationships in person […]

“I knew I wasn’t going to be able to make any money with a music degree.” Musician, Professor, and Improviser Bernie Armada talks about how he ended up teaching rhetoric. He also talks about how heavily influential mentors can be. And he shares how teaching helped him overcome his public performance anxiety. “Relics from […]

“I wanted to quit playing music because it grates on me, in a way.” Musician and front man from the band Van Stee, Charlie Van Stee, talks about trying to keep collaboration equal when the band is named after him. Charlie talks about working with musicians and a producer who push him beyond his creative […]

“You can never be good at parenting all the time.”  Broadcast journalist Mary Lahammer talks about journalism as a family business. She shares some of the personal relationships that inform how and why she reports on various issues. And Mary talks about the lack of separation between life and work. “People joke that I took […]

“When the Forbes list of the 100 richest people comes out there aren’t journalists on there.” Journalist Rick Ellis talks about his checkered career path that has included stand-up comedy, journalism, radio, television, and running his own entertainment journalism website. He talks about how much he has always enjoyed writing and how his obstinance is what […]

“I hate to be categorized as a thing.” Artist Peter Haakon Thompson talks about not wanting to bedefined by any one element of his work or life. He talks about going from a focus on photography to wanting to broaden out what he calls his art practice. And he shares how his interests always find […]