The Creator State

Susan Straight was born in Riverside and still proudly calls it home. Learning this about her comes as a surprise to many. But for Susan, the best, most powerful stories often begin at home.

In her new memoir, “In the Country of Women,” Susan explores home, the intricacies of family, and the stories of her family’s female ancestors.

Susan is a distinguished professor of creative writing at UC Riverside, where she has taught since 1988. She has published eight novels including “Highwire Moon,” “Between Heaven and Here,” and “A Million Nightingales.” She has been a finalist for the National Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the National Magazine Award.

Join host Rickerby Hinds for an insightful conversation with acclaimed author Susan Straight as we discuss what she calls “those who leave and those who stay,” writing, life, her love for Riverside, and the inspiring power and resiliency of women.

Shelby Worthington Loomis has a talent creating spaces people enjoy being in. Whether meeting friends for a drink or celebrating some of life’s grandest occasions, places play an important role in shaping the meaningful moments in our lives. In Riverside, there’s an emerging downtown scene – the historic Mission Inn, a convention center, eateries, antique shops, churches, museums, and nearby universities. Shelby Worthington Loomis believes so much in the potential of the area, she’s investing her time, energy, influence, and money to its success as a regional destination.

Be sure to check out https://atu.cr/Shelby for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

In this episode, join host Rickerby Hinds for a conversation with Shelby inside an event venue she owns in downtown Riverside. The building has a storied past: It opened in the 1920s as a hotel and furniture store. During World War II, it served as anti-aircraft intelligence headquarters and in the 70s, transformed into the Riverside Ballet Arts dance school. In 2014, Shelby partnered with a friend to renovate the space into the unique event venue now known as Loft .84.

Tech entrepreneur Kevin Marcus is naturally curious. With a knack for problem solving and tendency to take risks, he’s created some amazing opportunities for success. He’s started and sold companies, is the author of several patents, and he’s a self-proclaimed “tech evangelist” who created some of the world’s first mobile phone games. Today, Kevin is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Versium, a predictive analytics company helping businesses make sense of all their data. Tune in to hear how boredom can fuel innovation and why it’s a great idea to step outside your comfort zone every once in a while.

Be sure to check out https://atu.cr/KevinMarcus for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Hosted by Rickerby Hinds and recorded inside a computer lab in the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering at the University of California, Riverside.

Before Heidi Marie Garrett Villa was a successful bridal hairstylist and makeup artist, she was a Division I soccer player and the kicker for her high school football team. Tune in to hear Heidi explain how she’s turning her wedding industry competitors into a supportive community and why her biggest goal is to be able to give her services away for free. We’ll also explore how social media is altering the creative process for artists, and how she’s using her experiences as a competitive athlete, hair and makeup artist, and health coach to create new definitions of beauty.

Be sure to check out https://creatorstate.ucr.edu/blog/2018/08/13/episode-2-creating-healthy-definitions-beauty-heidi-marie-garrett-villa for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Hosted by Rickerby Hinds and recorded in the Goldware Library at the University of California, Riverside Alumni & Visitors Center.

From pitching projects on the Comic-Con showroom floor to a hip-hop fellowship at Harvard, John Jennings is creating art to inspire a new generation in an increasingly visual world. In this episode we talk with the award-winning illustrator about his work on the New York Times best-selling graphic novel adaptation of Octavia Butler's classic dark fantasy novel “Kindred,” and discuss ways in which art allows us to explore how the past continues to influence the present.

Be sure to check out http://creatorstate.ucr.edu/blog/2018/08/06/episode-1-creating-social-change-comics-john-jennings for notes, links, and photos from this episode.

Hosted by Rickerby Hinds. This episode was recorded at the Center for Ideas and Society at the University of California, Riverside.