Now That's Art with Mike Ruby

Preparing Your Creative Mind 

Sydney Rahimtoola is a photographer, filmmaker, and performer, Rahimtoola aims to increase the visibility and accessibility of stories of black and brown communities. She is from Queens, New York and a graduate from the Royal Academy of Art in the Hague based in the Nederland’s.

Her interview is simply inspiring. She talks about her creative process, the importance of discipline and moving out of love and not fear. She also  shares her experience working with Psilocybin and how this has impacted her art.

The creative process is a messy and mysterious land which provokes anxiety, fear and uncertainty. You are not alone in this. My conversation with Syndey is so empowering for me as it is a reminder that these can be your ammunition to which you paint, film, express yourself with. There is a wealth of knowledge in this interview, and I hope we all learn something new from this amazing creative.

Follow her on instagram at @sydrahim2la. 

Thank you for subscribing and you can reach out to us at nowthatsartpod@gmail.com. Lastly, if you are enjoying the show, give us a written review and share with a friend. 

Happy Listening! 

This week's episode is about the Creative Recovery. There is no guest this week just a reflection on my creative recovery. Here are some highlights below.

Creative Recovery
This is the BIGGEST block to your creativity! ⁠The answer is your ANXIETY ⁠

⁠For the past 10 years, I have been creativity blocked, though I did not know why. I found myself consuming massive amounts of content but not creating anything in return. I felt like a failure and just worthless. ⁠

⁠As hard as I tried, I kept starting projects but not finishing them causing many of anxiety attacks. ⁠Have you ever felt like this? At the end of the day, you are most alive when you are creating. ⁠It wasn't until I learned how to invite anxiety in and learn how to manage it. ⁠⁠You are not a failure or worthless. You will and can start creating again as it is just one breakthrough away. ⁠

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See you next week!

⁠

Today's episode we have writer Audrey Alunan who details her personal history of creating and battling creative blocks in her life. 

At 17 years old, she wrote for Seventeen Magazine on their Style Counsel for the fashion shows she was attending. Around that time, she was Tumblr famous from her personal essays and blog posts. After those amazing experiences were coming to an end, she entered into a depression and encounter a prolonged writers block. She talks about how she overcomes blocks in her everyday life and gives tips for others to do the same. Audrey does a great job describing creativity by talking about being ok with the unknown in the creative process, using creativity as a self-discovery tool, and towards the end, how to find inspiration in your life.

You can follow Audrey on Instagram @sus7.0 

Like and subscribe for our weekly drops and give us a 5 star written review -- if you are liking the pod :)

Reach out with any questions or feedback to nowthatsartpod@gmail.com. 

Happy listening! 

007 - How to make a Pizza Museum with Max Nelson

I welcome you Max Nelson, the co-founder of the Pizza Museum and a fantastic guy. We talk through his favorite art--Music, how he was able to pull off making the Pizza Museum of NYC, which was NYC's craziest fads, and finally we talk about his positive outlook on life. 

You are going to love this episode, I know I did. 

ALSO BIG NEWS - We got a co-host - Casie Rubio (my wife). I have no idea why she agreed to do this with me but as you will come to know she is a much needed voice. I cannot wait for you all to get to know her. 

Thanks for listening and please subscribe! This helps a lot and grows our community. 

As always, feel free to reach out nowthatsartpod@gmail.com. 

- Mike Ruby 

That's right, I am interviewing my mom for this next episode of Now That's Art. Obviously this is a personal episode, and I debated whether to post it or not. Though I ended up doing it because it has some great bits. I laughed and cried all throughout the episode and it is easily one of my favorite interviews. My mom opens up about how she chose a career in medicine and the battles she fought along the way.

She also puts me on blast about some of my teenage years and the silly things I did as a kid, which is funny I guess (ha!).

I hope you enjoy this episode because I know I did.

As always, we would like any feedback, interaction or any interview guest on the show (DON'T BE SHY). Email nowthatsartpod@gmail.com.

Enjoy :)

- Mike Ruby

Welcome! 

Today's interview is with the lovely Sara "Primary" Lieck. We had an awesome conversation about our colorful personalities, adversity and how we go through them and this weird southern tradition called cow tipping -- crazy. She is an entrepreneur, dancer and an all around hustler. She started her own entertainment company and talks through her time in NYC.

Follow her on IG: @primaryone @entxprimary. Website: Entertainment X www.entxprimary.com, www.saraprimarylieck.com 

Thank you again for listening and tell a friend about us!  

If you want to be interviewed or know someone who wants to be interviewed, then email nowthatsartpod@gmail.com. 

- Mike Ruby 

Christain Hill is a writer, actor who works on films. He also has a GIF, which is cool.

We talk about the woes of High School, our failures in our lives and how we get through them (or don't). Also we touched base on an interesting prostate exam he had, which was very funny.

You can follow him on Instagram @thechristainhill.

Booking info please email me at nowthatsartpod@gmail.com.

Please subscribe and tell a friend :)

- Mike Ruby

Welcome to the first episode, thank you so much for tuning in. 

Our first guest is Mika Turbo Brooklyn-based Trans/Nonbinary Photographer and coffee buff whose works have been featured on Ru Paul's Drag Race and capturing the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot which subsequently created the category of Drag in the US Library of Congress. They detail how that came to be.

I had so much fun talking with Mika. They are multi-talented and truly loves what they do. You can follow them on instagram @mika_snaps.

Please send all inquiries to nowthatsartpod@gmail.com and tell a friend.

- Mike Ruby