“It's my purpose to use my privilege to be a voice and a vehicle for other people. That's it. End of. It has nothing to do with me. If I'm serving that, then I'm on my path. So I'm happy to help anyone who can advance the cause.” —Leslie Askew This is a story about the birth of an artist. It’s a story bucking the art establishment in favor of listening to your inner voice. Status quo says only certain types of media creators are artists. The status quo here in the United States feeds on the idea...
Jun 23, 2020•57 min
“When I was a child, I wanted to be a detective so I could satisfy the enormous curiosity I carried for the world and people around me. Instead of becoming a detective, I began making use of the camera to investigate. I still carry this curiosity with me when I make work and this often results in noticing simple, small details, that may seem unimportant.” —Melissa Schriek Dutch photographer Melissa Schriek talks in great detail about her journey from photojournalism to art photography. This is a...
Jun 02, 2020•35 min
“I speak on behalf of someone else too. I have to make sure my talent is comfortable with everything I'm doing. I don't make decisions without their okay. Not everyone operates like that, but we do. We're a team together.” —Brianne Almeida On the show today, Co-Founder and CEO of Lalaland Brianne Almeida. Her agency represents a selection of the most established and emerging creative talent in the global fashion industry today. We take a look at the ins and outs of representing creative talent f...
May 19, 2020•29 min
“There's only so many things you can do to get more gigs, but if you're building a business, then you're building a model of something.” —Justine Clay I am honored to have Justine on the show to talk about building a creative business. Her timely ideas are going to shape how creative entrepreneurs and freelancers position and market for years to come. We dive into the ins and outs of her coaching practice, as well as key principles in creating a business model. Justine’s a business coach, entrep...
May 05, 2020•44 min
“If a brand comes to me and their inspiration is a lot of the work I've done, then I know what they're trying to convey. If they bring a bunch of stuff that's different than what I do, that's where I start to wonder why I'm here and what's the purpose. Am I just this technician? Because anyone can take a picture. Anyone can light something, but what makes you as a photographer and as a creative is your vision.” —Jonathon Kambouris Jonathon Kambouris and I recorded this talk shortly before the Co...
Apr 14, 2020•30 min
“I was thinking about the Be Kind for Real performance I do to create space. It’s become increasingly important for me to come to the point of no real judgment. I can have opinions, but fundamentally I aim to be less and less judgmental. I’ve seen myself evolve in the performance. I have realized the importance of being present with someone. Listening to their story without judgment and coming in with little desire to preach or give advice. And offer energy that makes the other person feel comfo...
Mar 31, 2020•59 min
“It’s okay to be in the unknown. There is no other way. It’s cyclical, like the butterfly-caterpillar analogy. You perch on the edge of the unknown and it hopefully takes you to the next place. And you dwell in that place for a while, not necessarily feeling that you’re on the edge of the unknown. You feel like you know your jam, you’re in it. Then something starts to whisper deep down. And that whisper starts to churn and bubble up more and more. Then, there you are. You find yourself on the ed...
Mar 17, 2020•39 min
“In this industry oversaturated with photographers, the only way to make a name for yourself (and stay sane) is to pick clients who appreciate what you're doing.” — Christine Blackburne Today, we take a closer look at finding the right client base with Christine Blackburne. Christine’s an award-winning still-life photographer and videographer based in New York City, and she’s been in the game for over 15 years. She’s created media for Benefit Cosmetics, Shiseido, Tiffany, Essence, Food and Wine,...
Mar 03, 2020•29 min
"Architecture's a very poetic craft. There are many beautiful things in nature. Beautiful mountains, rock formations, natural bridges, and arches. And if we could inhabit those, we could capture some of that beauty for ourselves. And so if we use those principles, then a wall is not a simple wall, and a window is not a simple window. You're talking about an aperture, or a rupture, something more dynamic, something more natural." — Jake Thiel In this episode, we discuss sustainability with Jake T...
Feb 18, 2020•35 min
In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss openness with Luciano Fileti. Luciano is a commercial photographer in the fashion and still life space in New York, and he’s spent more than a decade, sometimes two, developing personal art projects too. Together, we’re going to take a closer look at how being intentionally receptive leads to experimentation, happy accidents, learning, and a sense of genuine connection with our environment and each other. Inside the Episode Luciano's work is at https://...
Feb 04, 2020•30 min
"I spend a lot of time thinking about who a person is. Who they are at their core, at work, with their girlfriends, walking down the street, when they're crying in bed by themselves, or who they are in the shower. I take a lot of time to think about that when I develop characters." —Rahima Rice In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss empathy and diversity with Rahima Rice. Rahima is an award-winning playwright from DC, and she founded The 4208 Group to cultivate the development of writers. So...
Jan 21, 2020•45 min
“No one knows where the work is going to take them. Doing work in the first place is such a vulnerable thing. Putting it out there, you’re already in the unknown.” —Maria Baez In this episode, I sit with Maria Baez, a principal photographer at jet.com. Maria is a friend, and we got to know each other at Estee Lauder Companies, where she set up a fantastic in-house media studio. She is a talented content creator and thought partner who is five years into her commercial photography career. We usua...
Jan 07, 2020•33 min
"From a tech perspective, we always have a choice. Do we want to go the route that will foster respect, integrity, kindness, and unity even when we differ? And there might be emotions. Allow for that space to happen and not take it and sensationalize it. And I always will choose that." —Adriana Teresa Letorney In this episode, I sit with Adriana Teresa Letorney, the founder and CEO of Visura. Adriana is a force of nature, and we met when we both worked at powerHouse Books. You’ll hear us talk ab...
Nov 26, 2019•51 min
"How do I feel more calm about all the stuff that's on my plate?" What a great question, thank you for sending it in. Yeah, how do we cultivate calm in an environment that's hectic and so demanding of our time and energy? We all face ever-growing asks, no matter our industry or level of experience. I am here to invite you to consider that there's a nugget of quiet within you, ripe for you to nurture and expand it. In this episode, I touch on cultivating an awareness of where calm exists in your ...
Nov 19, 2019•14 min
"Our flaws make us interesting. Scars tell a story. It's the same thing with every bump and every line. I'm middle-aged now, and I'm embracing the fact that lines are popping up on my face. I earned those lines. And so I feel like when I'm behind the camera, I'm not just a portrait photographer, I'm a documentary photographer. I'm just there with the studio lights, documenting the energy and the people. I'm capturing those in-between moments and emotions. Nothing's posed. Everything is real. Tha...
Nov 12, 2019•51 min
"It's beautiful that sound is blowing up right now. Everyone's into sound baths and things of that nature, it's amazing. It's so good because we need to reconnect with ourselves in this way. We need to remember that we have this capacity to be more awake in our bodies and with each other." —Stephanie Rooker Today we're gliding into the mind of vocalist Stephanie Rooker, founder of Voice Journey. Her practice encourages you to think of your voice in a new, empowered context and use your voice in ...
Oct 29, 2019•51 min
This week, I sit with my friend Danielle Kimmel to chat about wellness, essential oils, and balancing a career with family life. I am bringing Danielle into the fold because she’s a wellness specialist. We’ve talked a lot lately about turning vulnerability into empowerment, wielding it to create a positive social impact through our work. And here’s the thing. Our capacity to do so is tied to our well being. I definitely tune in better when I’m nourished or my head doesn’t hurt. And so many of yo...
Oct 14, 2019•28 min
"The cream always rises to the top, so if you are an artist and hard-working, and you believe in what you do, and you're speaking your truth, you'll eventually get there." —Nikki Iacovella My guest today is the contemporary art gallery director and incomparable, lovely human Nikki Iacovella. Nikki has worked for galleries and art fairs in the visual arts industry for over 15 years in Australia and the U.S. She’s produced exhibitions for Art Basel, the Affordable Art Fair, and currently Peter Fre...
Sep 30, 2019•31 min
Among listeners, a topic that’s come up often is vulnerability. So for the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on that. The Daring is built on the premise that vulnerability is the thrust for creative impact. It signals that we're on the precipice of growth and breakthrough in our craft — whatever the medium might be. I’ve seen this phenomenon in every creative role I’ve had I the past 15 years. Vulnerability is also what helps us connect with ourselves and each other. This is the anchor for Th...
Aug 21, 2019•4 min
“When I have an idea for a photo series, I try to go out and execute it as quickly as I can because I want that inspiration to remain at the fore of my mind. If I let it linger, it might dissipate to the point where maybe I won’t want to do it anymore. Often, the flow comes when I’m traveling, or when I’m with friends or family, and I have a camera on me. I want to pick it up and capture that moment. “—Tynan DeBold Tynan DeBold is an engineer and travel photographer. We met a few years ago while...
Aug 20, 2019•14 min
"Our culture is very immediate, you know. And art is not about immediate gratification. The arc of your life as an artist is long. I'm becoming gratified now based on things I've been doing for years and years and years. " —Ben Tyree Ben Tyree is a composer, guitar player, and eclectic musician with staggering versatility. He came up in the diverse D.C. music scene and we got to know each other as kids. I’ve watched Ben build a sustainable music career and collaborate with luminaries as varied a...
Aug 20, 2019•47 min
"Being the youngest person at the table, sometimes the only black person at the table, taught me that you got to be smarter, faster, hungrier, louder, or sometimes move in silence because when you talk about what you're doing, somebody could cut off your path." — Bryant Small Recording this episode with Bryant was a gift, like catching up with an old friend. He shares lessons he's learning about pricing creative work and positioning it in the market. Inside the Episode Follow Blissfully Aware ho...
Aug 19, 2019•29 min
"You need to make sure that your work stands up when you’re not there, especially if you use a rare medium. If it’s oil or acrylic or photography people get it, they know what it is. They can almost judge the work." — Bryant Small I admire Bryant's artistry and dedication very much. I'm so grateful we got to chat — about alcohol ink technique, growing up an artist in D.C., and running art like a business. I visited him in his studio and there is music in the background, and an occasional bump in...
Aug 18, 2019•32 min
Blissfully Aware is the podcast exploring what it’s like to find purpose even when we’re out on a limb. Join host Ioana Friedman for extraordinary deep dives into the moments that shape us. We bring you talks with creative leaders who share the ebbs and flows of their process.
Aug 15, 2019•1 min
