The Lisa Congdon Sessions

I am so thrilled to share with you my conversation with Bridget Watson Payne. Bridget is Executive Editor for Art Books at Chronicle Books, and is herself also a writer and artist. Bridget is also my longtime editor at Chronicle. Bridget and I start our conversation by talking about her role as an editor – how she got there, what her job looks like and how she finds new talent. But we center our conversation on the topic of passion – she posits that passion is at the heart of most long term creative endeavors. Writing books requires it, having a creative career requires it, and engaging in months or years long creative projects requires it. We talk about what passion is, the benefits and pitfalls of passion, and what to do when your passion wanes.

I am thrilled to bring you my conversation with Morgan Harper Nichols. Morgan is an artist and poet whose work is inspired by real-life stories – and most of you know Morgan from Instagram the wonderful, heartfelt, art, poetry and writing she posts there to her two million Instagram followers. As you will learn, Morgan spent the first couple of years of her professional life as a college admission counselor, and then, as a full-time touring singer-songwriter and musician. It was on the road that she cultivated her curiosity and passion for writing, art, and design and slowly began to share her work online. I am lucky to know Morgan in real life, and am so excited to share the magic of her mind and spirit with you in this episode. Morgan and I focus our conversation on the notion of wholeness – what it means to be whole, how to cultivate a feeling of wholeness, and how to show up as a whole person in your life and work.

Lisa and photographer, artist and animal advocate Sophie Gamand talk about Sophie's journey from instagram fame to quitting social media, hamster wheel to dream projects and overwhelm to living with intention.

Lisa and Jen Hewett talk about Jen's latest book, This Long Thread: Women of Color on Craft, Community and Connection, published by Roost Books late 2021. Through this book, Jen celebrates and honors the diverse contributions of people of color in the craft community and explores the personal, political and creative potential of textile arts and crafts. Jen is one of a few prominent women of color in the fiber arts community and this book is her direct response to the need to highlight diverse voices. The book features interviews, essays and profiles and features a diverse spectrum of race, age, region, cultural identity, education and economic class. In this episode, Lisa and Jen talk about Jen’s journey in the craft community as a woman of color, especially after the racial reckoning of 2020, why this book is important, and how it might be different than what people expect. They also talked about some of the things that Jen learned when she was writing the book, why joy is an important element in the connection between women of color and craft, and... so much more! Enjoy!

This episode features artist, knitter and author, Brandi Cheyenne Harper. Lisa and Brandi spend an hour talking about being unapologetically joyful, self care as a radical act, and integrating self care into creativity and business. If you don’t know Brandi already, you are in for a treat. In addition to being immensely wise, she is also incredibly talented. She designs patterns and writes books on how to make handmade knitwear. She’s worked with Purl Soho, A Verb for Keeping Warm, Vogue Knitting, Etsy, West Elm, Better Homes and Gardens, and Country Living. Her new book, Knitting for Radical Self-Care, offers tips and suggestions for carving out time for creativity, alongside beautiful patterns to try yourself. The book includes ten original patterns inspired by revolutionary women of color, and Brandi speaks to these women and their immense impact on her life and our world.

In this episode, Lisa Talks with the ever-inspiring and light-filled Rae Senarighi, trans fine artist, designer and muralist, activist, and cancer survivor whose work centers around accurate and celebratory representation of the trans community. They chat about Rae's work and life and what it means to be working toward trans liberation at a time when trans rights across the US and parts of the world are being threatened.

Some of you may know Lisa Olivera from her popular Instagram feed - and that’s how Lisa discovered Lisa and her work. Lisa Olivera is a font of wisdom and compassion. Through her own inner work unlearning false beliefs she had about herself --- many of which stemmed from learning she had been abandoned by her mother as a newborn – she has become a trusted teacher to those who follow her and therapist to her clients. She writes about self worth, radical acceptance, community and living in our full humanity. Lisa Olivera has just published her first book, Already Enough: A Path to Self Acceptance. In this new book, she explores how our stories affect us. She guides us through reframing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we deserve so we can remember that we are already enough, just the way we are. Through the book, she guides us toward healing. The book is tender, hopeful, and inspiring, -- and it’s also utterly practical and down to earth. In this episode, Lisa chats with Lisa about the book, specifically her own story, working through the ever-present feelings of not being enough, shifting mindsets and changing the stories we tell ourselves about who we are so that we can live more fully – in our complete, flawed, humanity.

In this episode Lisa talks with her friend, design legend, Debbie Millman -- about her latest book, her award winning podcast Design Matters and radically transforming her life in her fifties.

This week is the third installation of the ASK LISA ANYTHING series! In this episode we cover a myriad of topics, including work/life balance (and does it really exist?), Lisa's favorite tools, how she deals with a lukewarm reception or criticism of her work, where she finds inspiration, staying inspired and so much more! Moderated by Lisa's wife Clay.