Blissfully Aware

“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 that resources are scarce.

Swimming in this soup, creatives compete for the attention and dollar of gatekeepers.

But what happens if we wake up and see alternatives? What happens when we build our systems and technique from a place of collaboration? When it comes to something as sacred and personal as art and creativity, how do we break from the establishment to nurture it?

Leslie Askew did just that. She IS doing that, every day. It’s a life-long practice. This episode is about her unique creative process. It’s a window into her philosophy and how the art of storytelling has taken her from CNN to independent documentary film.

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“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 story about a supremely talented photographer who faced a fork in the road at the start of her career. We dive into how documentary work shaped her vision, the tensions she felt as she was finding her voice, and how she's making art now, during the pandemic.

Her body of work The City is a Choreography has earned her commissions with fashion labels and features in It's Nice That, Ignant, and The Daring Media among other publications.

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“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 from an agent’s perspective. You’ll hear us talk about nurturing relationships, where things go right (or off-course) in producing shoots, and ways to think about hiring the right talent for the job at hand.

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“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, entrepreneur, writer, and speaker with a soaring ability to inspire and strategize.

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“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 Coronavirus ramped up and changed everything. It’s striking listening to this conversation now because it's much about shaping up a creative business. Thinking about how these processes might apply today is a great exercise in retuning. Because this feels like a different world, in so many ways.

There are many nuggets from Jonathon’s viewpoint that hold up because he gets to the heart of how art and commerce coalesce. You’ll hear him talk about finding his creative voice and how he brings it to the table when working with art directors and brand marketers. It’s eye-opening insight for creators and brand people alike. If you create visual media for commerce, this episode is for you.

Jonathon is an award-winning commercial still-life photographer and videographer. You may have seen his glossy, saturated images in Wired, The New York Times, in campaigns for Nars, Bobbi Brown, Coach and so much more.

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“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 comfortable to open up that they will walk out of our meeting with strength and joy to meet the world. It gives me goosebumps when I think about it.” —Daniela Groza

Welcome to an in-depth talk with multi-media artist Daniela Groza. She is a photographer, writer, performance artist, cook, and more. You might know her from Be Kind for Real, her centerpiece project that fosters kindness and acceptance through art. She speaks about how this project came to be, how it’s evolved, and how she’s changed with it.

In this crazy, strange time, let’s talk about creativity. How might we access it? How might we use our creative juices to feed back into the communities and causes we care about? What are some of the tensions we’re experiencing?

You will hear all about Daniela’s adventures driving Uber and getting nurses to work, all the while trying to keep herself and her home safe from the Coronavirus. Masks, plastic gloves, and hand sanitizer are a rarity. She’s on the road with her camera, documenting empty streets and taking notes about her passengers. Amongst all this, Daniela embodies a down to earth humor that completely disarms you and pulls you in. She’s an incredible storyteller, and this conversation is no exception.

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“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 edge of the unknown again, wondering, what’s next?” —Chantal Deeble

Chantal is a master trainer and owner of Kinespirit, a bicoastal Gyrotonic and Pilates studio. She takes us through the arc of her dance and movement career. We’ll see how one craft led to another and interconnect. We tend to look outward for best practices to move our business forward. Along the way—while we pick up important information about what’s going on in the world—we might lose sight of our particular circumstances: our resources, situation, and audience. How might we fit best practices into our specific context?

I think this is where the power of intuition comes in. Following our nose and steering onward based on informed decisions that FEEL right in our world. No two people are alike, no two companies are alike, and no two situations are alike. So, opening up our channels and listening, intuiting, helps us stay flexible and tweak continually based on what our distinct situation calls for.

I can’t think of a better person to talk about intuition with than Chantal. She’s been a business owner for over 13 years and built teams in New York and Portland. Her clients and her teams stick around for years. You’ll hear all about that too.

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“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, NY Magazine, the list goes on.

There’s conventional wisdom around finding the right audience, the right client base. We hear "just be yourself" or "co-create with your clients" so much, it's platitudes. What does this mean, day-to-day? What decisions might one make over the years to hone in on the right client? And what does the right client even mean? How might we improve our understanding?

We explore how Christine cultivates her creative voice and markets herself. She's continually sharpening her focus and evolving as an artist.

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"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 Thiel, founder, and CEO of Edifice Architectural. Jake collects timeworn arrowheads from the shores of the Potomac River. He appreciates their simplicity. He marvels in their history.

He applies this wonder to the building process. What would it look like for an architecture startup to approach its craft with a multi-generational timeline? What would it mean for a startup to think about adaptive, sustainable growth, not only for itself, but also based on the needs of our communities and our planet? We shed light on these themes today.

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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.

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"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 together, we’re going to start to unpack these themes and see where and how we can foster deeper empathy and diversity in culture to start to shift cultural norms.

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“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 usually talk with business owners and creative people who are further along in their careers, so this is a great time to bring in a fresh perspective. In this episode, we see the business through the eyes of someone who is also seeing it anew, charting a new path, and developing their voice.

This conversation is about a family history of immigration, learning a new language, and making a whole new life. The work ethic and tenacity Maria brings on set and as a thought partner at a brand is a testament to her heritage. And it's incredible to see it play out.

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"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."

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 about diversity, media literacy, and how visual storytelling changed with the digital revolution and the economic collapse. What follows is a story about personal history and cultural heritage that continues to inform and shape everything that we do in life. This is a story about feeling vulnerable, owning it, and turning it into empowerment and a way of connecting deeply with people — both professionally and personally. This is how Visura was born.

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"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 life and then reclaiming time wherever possible to that you may renew and recharge. Not only would your soul prosper, but so will your clients and partners and everyone else, when you show up with a full heart.

I’m so thrilled to have Heather White with us this week. Heather is a birth doula and a documentary photographer, and she brings so much warmth and courage to everything she touches.

You’ll hear us talk about life after birth, creating beauty out of tragic loss, changing social attitudes through human connection and emotional art, and regaining a sense of self as a parent. It’s serious stuff, yes, but we peppered it with lots of joy and humor — which is so reflective of Heather’s way of seeing and moving through life.

Heather talks about staying curious, always searching, and learning new things to feel alive and thriving. Her words remind me of what Ben Tyree has said on this podcast about never "arriving," respecting your craft, and always pushing it forward. It's been amazing to see how the wisdom of our guests and community keeps connecting.

"Our flaws are what make us interesting. Whenever I get a scar, I'm like, eh. Scars tell a story. It's the same thing with every bump and every line and everything. And you know, I'm middle-aged now, and I'm embracing the fact that lines are popping up on my face, and that's okay. 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, and I'm documenting the energy and the people.  I'm capturing those in-between moments and emotions. Nothing's posed. Everything is real. That's the sweet spot where you capture the real person."

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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 ways that can change your life—reduce stress, energize the body, increase mental clarity, improve mood, enhance communication, develop leadership skills, enrich relationships, and boost creativity. Her approach is transcendent—a tonic rooted in tribal and scientific knowledge about fundamental human truths.

You’ll hear us talk about the power of listening with our minds AND bodies. Finding our voice and using it to heal discord and pain and expand our capacity for creativity, connection, and joy. I could not be more excited to share this conversation with you. I think I’ve gently fallen in love with Stephanie, and I think you will too.

"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."

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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. You know, I definitely tune in better when I’m nourished or my head doesn’t hurt. And so many of you have shared the same. So here we are, creating space to take care of ourselves, in order to sustain our strength.

Danielle is so knowledgeable and open. You’ll hear about oil blending, getting over the fear of public speaking, concrete solutions for your everyday health that are easy to implement, and so much more.

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"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 Freeman Inc., among many others. Her knowledge of the creative industry runs as deep as her love for supporting artists. I’m so excited to dig into all this with her. You’ll hear about what it takes to run a gallery business today, patterns she’s seen emerge within the industry, and how she got in the game in the first place.

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You can find Nikki at Petter Freeman Gallery in New York City.

“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 he was developing graphics at The Wall Street Journal in New York City with Dov Friedman, my husband. He’s lived in Hong Kong and Copenhagen and has traveled to over 30 countries. He’s intuitively documented the places he’s been, and today we talk about his creative approach and what inspires him.

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"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 the mix, but it's all good vibes. Being in a room with him is invigorating. His energy is exuberant. The conversation bubbles with a side-splitting cackle. And while he’s aware of this gift to pull people in (he calls it razzle-dazzle), the man wears it like a blessing. And to top it off, his paintings are a lavish feast for the eyes. 

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