In this episode of The Qreative Life podcast, Q chats with her friend and fellow creative, Jo Hunter. They discuss Jo's unique use of both creativity and engineering in her work, and her lifelong passion for aircraft.

More about Jo Hunter:

Jo has always had one foot in each of the two camps of art and science. She grew up in the UK and emigrated to Texas in 2006 with her husband Alan. They lived in Austin for 15 years before moving to Kerrville in 2022, where Jo now uses a combination of digital artwork, laser cutter and 3D printing to make custom clocks, lamps and astronomical instruments. Jo has also enjoyed aviation photography for almost 30 years, during which time she has been published in a variety of magazines, and spent a similar amount of time working as a website coder.

While she does not yet have her pilot certificate, she has accumulated a number of rides in interesting aircraft. The pandemic forced a shift into digital illustration rather than photography, which then led to many of the patterns and shapes used in her current art.

Jo enjoyed several years as a glass artist before discovering lasers, and would like to continue that if she ever gets her workshop uncluttered. She dabbles in other creative pursuits such as painting and leatherwork, believing that a good art class now and again leads to cross-pollination of skills and ultimately, more ways to achieve the visions in her head.

Find Jo Hunter online:

• Aviation Photography Website: http://futurshox.net
• Handmade items from Jo's workshop: http://wavytail.com

Find Jo on social media:

• Bluesky (@futurshox.net): https://bsky.app/profile/futurshox.net
• Mastodon: @[email protected]
• Instagram (@Wavytail_art): @[email protected]

In this episode, Q talks with her friend and former co-worker, photographer Virginia Hernandez. They discuss Virginia’s new venture, striking out as a full-time working creative, her latest creative partnership, the value of a creative community, and the importance of having space to figure out who you are as an artist.

More about Virginia:

Virginia Hernandez is an award-winning photographer and video producer with a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. Her journey began at the age of eight when she received her first film camera—a bright red Vivitar that quickly became her prized possession. She later expanded into video production during college, taking on nearly every role on student documentary sets and eventually contributing to television shows and live broadcasts.

Known for her ability to capture authentic moments, Virginia excels at building a natural sense of comfort and openness with her subjects, both in front of and behind the lens. Her photography has been featured on Reagan Billboards, included in the Austin History Center archives, and published in magazines and newspapers across Texas. Her video work has reached national audiences, appearing on digital billboards and at large-scale corporate events throughout the state.

A native Texan and longtime Austin resident, Virginia has called the city home for over 20 years. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her family and her many beloved cats. She finds joy and creative fuel in live music, playing bass guitar, cooking, traveling, and delivering a steady stream of bad jokes.

Find Virginia online:

• WEBSITE:  virginiahernandez.com
• WEBSITE:  streamlinecreativeatx.com
• INSTAGRAM: @virginia.hernandezphoto
• INSTAGRAM: @streamlinecreativeatx

In this episode of The Qreative Life podcast, Q reconnects with Rita Toikka, an artist who has followed an unconventional path - first as a frontwoman of an L.A.-based rock band, then as a visual artist and educator. Toikka shares the story of her life, with all its successes and challenges, in this fascinating and heartfelt conversation.

About Rita Toikka:

Exquisite lucid dreams, sleep paralysis, and experimentation inspire my creations. I abstract my subconscious experience into more concrete forms to explore my connection to the spaces I occupy physically and existentially. It simultaneously drives me to collapse into myself, while exposing my precious oddities to others in an effort to deepen my worldly connections. Metal, wood, resin, and any other material I may encounter facilitates my need to build. I create, deconstruct, and rearrange to transform fragments of images, feeling, and wonder into more complete thoughts that add to my understanding of what it means to exist.

Find Rita Toikka online:

• Website [ritatoikka.com]
• Instagram [@ritatoikka]

In this episode, Q fangirls over guest Curtis Roush, a guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, and recording engineer for 25 years, and founder of The Bright Light Social Hour. They discuss the challenges of being a full-time indie rock band, and Roush's creative process for composing and producing music.

Find Curtis online:

• Instagram (@curtisroush)
• Spotify

Find The Bright Light Social Hour online:

• Website (thebrightlightsocialhour.com)
• Bandcamp (thebrightlightsocialhour.bandcamp.com)

• Spotify
• Instagram (@tblsh)

In this episode, Q interviews Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder – a community connector, an artist, and a mom with a PhD. in Religious studies from Yale University and rabbinical ordination from Hebrew Union College. Originally from Canada, she now lives in Atlanta, GA, where she and her husband do pottery at the Spruill Arts Center. Ruth loves cooking and especially baking challah. 

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In this episode, Q talks to Jena Kirkpatrick of Evermore.org, Jackie O’Brien of The Bright Light Social Hour, and Erin Walter of Parker Woodland about grief, and the role art plays in processing after monumental loss. 

Buy tickets for Love is Evermore benefit show on 11/17/24:  https://evermore.org/love-is-for-evermore

Find Evermore online:

Find Jackie O’Brien online:

Find Erin Walter online:

In this episode, Q talks to her friend Tarik Trad, founder of Focus Relief Photography for Charity. They discuss Tarik's lifelong love of photography, a chance encounter that led him to Antarctica, and his passion for service that resulted in founding Focus Relief.

Tarik is a wildlife photographer, digital strategist, storyteller and author who’s photography has led him to explore and capture distant and not-so-distant destinations, such as the Antarctic Peninsula; the Galapagos Islands; Havana, Cuba; Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska; the Na Pali Coast of Hawaii; the Lacandon Jungle of Mexico; the backcountry of Yosemite and Patagonia; and many other unique places across the globe. He has worked for such industry giants as the Los Angeles Times, Ernst & Young and Northrop Grumman and served as a backcountry ranger in Yosemite National Park.

In 2022, he published his first book, “Antarctica – A Photographic Expedition.” In a limited-edition run, this full-sized, 92-page coffee table book is filled with nearly 100 one-of-a-kind photos along with intimate stories from his transformative journey. It sold out almost immediately.

He was born, raised, and resides in the Los Angeles area where, among other things, he is trying to understand why we drive on a parkway yet park on a driveway.

Find Tarik online:

Find Tarik on social media:

In this episode Q hangs out with Erin Walter and Andrew Solin of the indie rock trio, Parker Woodland. The three of them discuss the evolution of Parker Woodland, their respective creative histories and processes, and their new album “There’s No Such Thing as Time” due out in September 2024. 

More about Parker Woodland:

Fast-rising indie rock trio Parker Woodland began as neighbors jamming in a small church in Austin, TX, and soon evolved into a powerful, sweat-soaked live experience. At the center is joyfully expressive frontwoman Erin Walter, a justice activist from the Girls Rock Camp and LGBTQIA+ scene, and Unitarian Universalist minister. 
The World’s On Fire (and We Still Fall In Love) -- Parker Woodland's 2021 debut EP, recorded with Jonas Wilson of Mr. Pink Records -- pulses with life-affirming energy, fuzzy riffs, and catchy, shout-along vocals.

Parker Woodland spent 2021-22 putting out a live EP and music video trilogy, all while on a unique 120-city virtual tour (including a peace benefit with Willie Nelson, a women’s conference, Rock the Vote events, and UU churches).

In 2022, guitarist Andrew Solin and drummer Keri Cinquina joined Parker Woodland, and the band began writing their first full-length album, playing a cathartic new live set of pandemic-era anthems. "When you write a song, that’s often where you discover what you really believe," Walter says. "I believe life is short, beautiful, and hard, and we will get through it together.”

Read The Austin Chronicle’s coverage of the first single and video from their new album, "Makeup, " inspired by the fight for trans youth rights in Texas. 

Find Parker Woodland online:

Connect with Parker Woodland on social media:

X [x.com/parkerwoodland]

In this episode, Q talks with Austin-based writer and author Roanna Flowers about Roanna's lifelong obsession with the written word, how she 'found her voice', and the benefits of breaking your own rules to overcome creative resistance.

About Roanna:

Roanna Flowers is a writer based in Austin, Texas. Her short story "The Bitches of Eastwick" was recently published in the anthology, Mixed Bag of Tricks. She is the writer of three award-winning short films, one of which played in over 30 festivals world-wide including the Cannes Short Film Corner. Roanna is the former editor of Treatment Today magazine, for which she interviewed the Ann Richards, General Colin Powell, and composer Paul Williams. Her claim to fame was asking a question that made Ann Richards speechless.

Find Roanna Online:

Connect with Roanna:

Read Roanna

In this episode of TQL podcast, Q talks with her friend Debra Haas about making jewelry and why its so important to her as a creative act. They discuss the difference between an art and a craft; how important it is to listen to practice self-care as an artist; and the value of having creative community.

About Debra Haas:

After 30+ years as a parent and policy wonk, Deb started taking introductory metal-smithing classes when she became an empty nester. The pandemic forced a premature hiatus, but now she's back at the bench living he best life, taking classes at Austin Community College in the jewelry department - for the pure joy of learning and creating.

Find Deb on Social Media: