Vulnerability in life and art

Natasha de Grunwald is a massage practitioner, teacher, and author with expertise in therapeutic Thai bodywork and breathwork. She began her practice working with women who were HIV-positive, who developed AIDS, whose children were dying.

She shares her personal experiences in coming to terms with our desire for external validation balanced against the more urgent need to express our true selves. She also emphasizes the need to understand oneself deeply as a whole person before being able to offer healing to others. That means taking the opportunity to step into the fearful, edgy, stretchy place as one looks within.

Learn more about Natasha's work at natashadegrunwald.co.uk and on instagram @natasha.degrunwald

Robert Kabwe talks about truth, censorship, and his work in animation, graphic and web design, and natural open world video games.

As he explains, some of us learned to see our true selves - the truth of who we are - as weakness, which then means sharing who we are requires strength. But ultimately, "Showing your vulnerability is just showing who you are."

One of the stories I appreciated was when Robert explained why he created his first video game. Because he wanted to. And when my son had an idea for a video game - Smash Guys - Robert built it for him.

If you're interested in video games, check out Wilderless and other games Robert has created. To learn more about what he's up to, visit protopop.com and @protopopgames on instagram.

Amanda Marchand is a creative and experimental photo-based artist I've known for over 40 years. She was gracious to take a chance on being the first guest on this podcast and I'll always be grateful that she invested time and energy in something entirely unknown to help a friend.

Her work focuses on the natural environment explored from the perspective of inner narratives - the stories we tell ourselves - which she describes as "the nerves beneath the skin."

Amanda shares some of the inspirations and experiences that led to projects such as Night Garden and Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again.

Check out her work at amandamarchand.com and on instagram @amandabethmarchand

This podcast explores how artists and other creatives take chances and show themselves through their lives and work.

It's about discovering who you are and can become through openness, risk, reflection, and conversation.

If you feel hesitant, not sure you can uncover and express who you are and want to become, listen to one or two of these conversations and I hope you'll find what you need to take one step, then one more step. One step after the other makes the journey.