Melza Harvey integrates multiple materials with her beloved clay to create provocative and playful pieces (I somehow figured out how to record my voice over her audio through an OG Walkman embedded in one of her sculptures).

Melza shares stories about gender fluidity, expressing herself through her work, making brave choices to pursue her passions as a person, artist, and parent, and the roles of determination and fear in her ongoing development. The take home message is to go after what fulfills you.

You can learn more about Melza and her work at melzaharvey.com and on ig @melzaharvey

The conversation opens with some tears, both in content and tone. Riel shares her experiences as a writer and performer, from growing up with parents in the arts, to touring with a horse and wagon travelling theatre company, to discovering and sharing her most integrated self on stage while learning to manage crippling stage fright.

You can see what Riel is up to on instagram @hahahahnsy and @i_see_voices

I talked with Susan Homa, wellness multipreneur, about her journey from traditional roles as interior designer and real estate broker to creator of Welmä Studio, a nurturing space for self-care, expression, and discovery.

As we move into a new year, consider what you may want to leave behind and what you want to welcome in 2024. And don't feel you have to stay in your lane.

Learn more about Susan and Welmä Studio by checking out welmalifestyle.ca and instagram @welmastudio

Observing without intent, to see what's truly there rather than what we think we see

The nature and purpose of collaboration, of creating collectively with others

Willingness to fail, as a greater opportunity for learning than success

Multidisciplinary artist Christopher Sicat goes deep into the nature of art, process and object, artist and subject, and self-expression. At heart, he is a poet and a dancer.

Be sure to check out his work on instagram @christophersicat

Susan Hensel is an experienced multidisciplinary artist working in media ranging from drawing with graphite to digital embroidery. I very much enjoyed our conversation, as we covered topics including the nature of beauty, the physics of light in triangular polyester thread, and just showing up, even if it's for only five minutes, as part of building a practice of competence and confidence.

Check out Susan's work online at susanhenselgallery.com and on ig @susan_hensel_multimedia_artist

This is an odd duck of an episode. I intended it to be a review of H of H Playbook by Anne Carson. It turned into a bit of a ramble about Anselm Kiefer, Heracles, the Vulnerability Journal Project, and a walk between darkness and light.

I'd love to hear what you think. You can email me at [email protected]

Anne Carson is a Canadian classicist, poet, translator, and professor. She has written a wide range of books, including Eros the Bittersweet and Men in the Off Hour.

Anselm Kiefer is a German painter and sculptor who has been creating monumental work throughout his career to ensure our collective history is not forgotten.

In this conversation, Mariette shares stories about what carried her and her husband Raymond from The Hague to Corrahopple in Ireland, how she opens herself to insights from the beings that surround her, the communities and larger families she connects through walks and conversations, and her reliance on intuition.

Learn more about life at Corrahopple through instagram @mariette_baptist

I enjoyed a lovely conversation with Gerry Bohan, farmer and author living in County Leitrim, in the northwest of Ireland.  I was touched by his first experiences with writing as a child, having his copy book thrown to the floor by impatient teachers.

Gerry talks about finding safe spaces to perform one's work, writing for self-expression, and sharing a way of life unique to his family and their connection to the land.

To learn more about Gerry's writing, you can check out https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/1362189/leitrim-writer-bags-top-literary-award-for-short-story-on-local-gaa-club.html

My conversation with designer Anna Agapova was impactful for me, and not just for learning about how she designs spaces with such attention to the influences of nature and art to meet the needs of each client. 

I was impressed by her focused energy, especially as she faces new challenges and opportunities to work in different ways.  The Greek root of Agapova is 'agape,' the highest form of love, and you can hear that in her voice as she describes what inspires and drives her.

Check out her work at oa-london.com and on instagram @annagapova

Time again for self-reflection...  I've been working through the idea of what it means and why it matters to share our stories with each other.  I may have talked myself in circles.  This is something I need to put more effort into understanding.

Any feedback would be very welcome:

[email protected]