give space with Isabella Preisz

Ciara (they/she) reads us their original poem that they wrote in 30 minutes, in their backyard, during the summer of 2020. And it hits. Hard. We start out with a conversation about their process and how they felt writing this piece. As an artist, writer, and all around multi-media creator, she reflects on how it feels to create her art for herself vs. how she feels when she shares with an online space. They also speak on performative allyship, hyper-visibility, and taking time to learn how to be more intentional when adding our voices to the mix. Ciara reminds us sit in the discomfort, surrender, and be ok with allowing change to be intentional and incremental.

If you're craving a conversation about what it's like to navigate life as a post-undergraduate who is thinking about: fear, dating, being politically active, how to stop working for free, climate change, and/or just what it means to be a human right now — this episode is for YOU. Kate's words are genuinely so healing in this moment. She teaches how to get out of our own way and just do the damn thing that we call living! She reminds us to step into our power and stop making ourselves small. Recording this episode charged me up with so much incredible energy. You will not regret this listen. 

Trigger warning: In this episode, Kate mentions her thoughts surrounding her experience with recovering from an eating disorder. Please be advised. Xo 

Welcome to the first episode in the "Art of..." series. This is a vulnerable space dedicated to turning my deepest thoughts, fears, and ideas into an ongoing conversation instead of accepting silence and stagnation.

In this inaugural episode, I talk about the ways in which doubt has showed and stopped me in my tracks. I tell a couple intimate stories about what it was like to be 18 and sharing some of my deepest, and wildest thoughts with an online community. I end with a conversation about how doubt shows up when I compare myself to my peers.

In this episode, my partner-human-person (Phillip Soulliere) & I sip some Stella & talk about what it has been like to navigate beginning a relationship during a global pandemic. This episode is corky and silly, but also pretty vulnerable. Phil starts us off by talking about his greatest lesson learned during 2020 as a freelance artist maneuvering the pandemic as well as what it was like growing up in the Coachella Valley. We retell our origin story & jump into a sweet & expansive Q + A portion where we share what it feels like to support each other's dreams, navigate boundaries, & what our favorite / least favorite qualities are about each other. We end with a sweet & simple & yet compelling question about age & power dynamics in a heteronormative relationship. Woohoo! Happy listening! 

In this episode, Lindsey & I virtually hangout & discuss our latest thoughts surrounding pandemic life & all that we have learned this year. If you're looking for a soft listen — something to put on while you make soup or walk your dog — this is your episode. Lindsey shares with us some tad-bits about her journey with therapy & relationship with graphic design.  We end with a cute dialogue surrounding what's it's been like to become pet-owners during this crazy year. 

In this episode, I talk about the possibility of a new job opportunity before turning it over to a candid conversation with my dear friend Caroline (Ciaffy). During our chat, Ciaffy & I discuss what we've learned this year: defining boundaries, expanding our ideologies, and setting creative goals. Ciaffy reflects on her experience with meditation, plant medicine, and how those practices converge with her creative process. We also discuss how those topics intersect with privilege and express our own experiences with freedom of choice. Caroline invites us to take a deep breath and reflect on our breath. We end with an exhale. 

In this episode, Kalev & I talk about our latest side hustles and how we are navigating working from home amidst this global pandemic. Kalev shares how they are navigating finding balance and exploring their pillars of self. We wrap up with a condensed history of the intersectional roots of creative labor theorizing — a discussion of the seminal Combahee River Collective Statement and the lasting legacy of Black Marxist Feminism on organizing today.

My experience publishing a book in 2020, identity and how that relates to claiming the title of "artist," and thoughts I have towards being able to find a balance between creative flow & financial independence. 

Welcome to Give Space podcast — hosted by Isabella Preisz. This podcast is about giving space to all the thoughts, questions, and transitions that we go through as we move towards a path that fulfills us. Whether you’re an artist, writer, entrepreneur, or someone navigating an impasse in a relationship — this is a space where we can explore what it means to be a work in progress. A space to come to when we have more questions than answers.