Want to be a guest on Artist Recovery Podcast? Send Rich Wright a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/artistrecovery
Rich Wright is a seasoned artist and designer with over 30 years of experience across multiple industries. Throughout his extensive career, Rich has faced and overcome significant mental health challenges, including a suicide attempt. His journey to healing has transformed him into a beacon of hope and inspiration for other creatives facing similar struggles.
My heart's desire is to help you step out of pain and self doubt - whether it's physical, mental, spiritual or emotional - and learn to have real compassion for yourself, uncover your true essence and thrive. I would love to help you on your journey to a life where you feel great, share your true gifts, and shine!
There are times when something deep inside you signals that a big change is needed. These wake-up calls can manifest as:
You are needed to step forward and share your true, authentic self with the world. It's time to create, form community and enjoy life!
In this conversation, Rich Wright and Tom Powell explore themes of humor, personal growth, and the creative road. They discuss Tom's multifaceted career, his upbringing in a pastor's home, and the challenges and triumphs of navigating school life as an achiever. The dialogue delves into Tom's athletic pursuits, creative endeavors, and the unique experiences of attending a Christian college, highlighting the importance of authenticity and connection in personal and professional journeys. In this conversation. In this conversation, Tom Powell shares his profound journey through personal and professional struggles, emphasizing the importance of faith, resilience, and creativity. He recounts the challenges of losing his home and the impact it had on his mental health, while also highlighting the role of faith in navigating these tough times. Rich and Tom discusses his commitment to empowering veterans through entrepreneurship and the significance of storytelling in recovery.
In this Episode Rich Wright sits down with Wendy Powell to discuss her life journey and how creativity has played out in her life along with a husband that is an Agency Lead and what it's like living with a creative. Wendy's journey has lead her to a place of becoming a certified Enneagram Coach which allows people to understand themselves better through the Enneagram types.
In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Rich Wright sits down with Maddox and Dwight Spencer, co-founders of For the Love of Creatives, to discuss creativity, resilience, and the urgent need to rebuild authentic community in a post-pandemic world.
In this inspiring and eye-opening conversation, Rich Wright sits down with Jon Bannan, an illustrator, designer, and musician based in Richmond, Virginia. Jon has worked with major names like Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, and Samuel Adams—but his journey has been anything but ordinary. From being homeschooled and starting college at just 14 to pursuing music, facing unexpected setbacks, and ultimately creating No Go Stories, Jon’s path is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless creativity.
What happens when your entire business collapses overnight? Tracy Matthews knows this story all too well. In this powerful and eye-opening interview, Tracy sits down with Rich Wright to share her incredible journey of reinvention, from losing her first jewelry company in the 2008 financial crash to rebuilding herself as a visionary leader, author, and business mentor.
💔 What if one moment changed your life forever?
For Dennis Liegghio, that moment came when he was just 13 years old, when he tragically lost his father to suicide. In this raw, emotional, and deeply inspiring interview, Dennis sits down with Rich Wright to share how he turned his personal pain into a global movement of hope, healing, and suicide prevention.
🌟 Get ready to be inspired! In this powerful episode, Rich Wright sits down with Scott Fisk—a professional hot rod illustrator, author, and founder of the "IAIAM Community for Creatives." Scott’s story is one of resilience, creativity, and purpose. From growing up in a blue-collar town in upstate New York to becoming a celebrated artist and entrepreneur residing in Vermont, Scott shares his incredible journey and the life lessons that shaped him. This is an episode you don’t want to miss!
🔥 WATCH THIS if you’ve ever felt stuck, doubted your path, or needed that one sign to keep going.
In this raw and inspiring episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with John McBride — Director of Product Design at Bestway Global Holdings, former Crayola designer, Matchbox/Hot Wheels mastermind, Designer at the Franklin Mint and founder of Midnight Octane. He opens up like never before.
🔥 What does it take to grow a brand from scratch and evolve through chaos? In this gripping episode of Artist Recovery Podcast we sit down with Gareth Robertson, the powerhouse behind GR-aphic Studio (formerly Design Pit). From his kitchen table to leading a full-fledged creative agency, Gareth shares the unfiltered truth about building a business in the ever-evolving world of branding and digital marketing.
If you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or just someone chasing a dream, Gareth’s story is packed with real-world lessons, branding gold, and emotional insight. His resilience, innovation, and honesty will leave you inspired.
In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Sarah Bierenbaum shares her inspiring and unorthodox journey from professional theatrical stage manager to tech startup executive, and now, founder and coach at Nimble Penguin Coaching. Sarah brings a unique blend of creativity and leadership experience to the table, offering invaluable insights on how empowerment, self-awareness, and alignment with personal values drive success—whether in the arts, tech, or entrepreneurship.
In this captivating interview on the Artist Recovery Podcast, Trea Cotton, founder of Next World Fitness, opens up about his unique journey in fitness and how he’s redefining wellness for artists and creatives. From growing up in Drew, Mississippi, to crafting a revolutionary approach to online fitness coaching, Trea shares insights on how his early life—shaped by gospel, blues, and family—helped him discover his passion for health and creativity.
🌿 In this unforgettable episode, we sit down with Claire O’Connor — intuitive essence midwife, brand stylist, and founder of Wellness Web Designers — to uncover a life journey filled with resilience, creativity, and spiritual reclamation. This is not your typical design or entrepreneurship story.
✨ Claire takes us deep into her early life in suburban New Jersey, painting a raw portrait of growing up in a household marked by intergenerational trauma, addiction, and religious dogma. From being a silent, withdrawn child in Catholic school to discovering salvation in art, books, and imagination, Claire's story is as powerful as it is relatable.
In this unforgettable episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with John Rios, a self-taught creative powerhouse whose art has graced the stages of rock legends like KISS, Motley Crue, Ted Nugent, Kid Rock, Eminem, Uncle Kracker and Alice Cooper. But this isn’t just a story about fame and paintbrushes—it’s about resilience, healing, and rediscovery through art.
🎤 WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH THIS INTERVIEW:
This episode isn’t just for artists—it’s for anyone chasing a dream, healing from trauma, or looking for inspiration to keep going when the odds are stacked high. John’s authenticity and powerful storytelling will leave you thinking, laughing, and possibly crying. Whether you’re a creative, a veteran, or just someone seeking a deeper purpose, this one is for you.
What happens when a quiet, sensitive kid grows up to disrupt industries and redefine what success really means? This week’s episode of Artist Recovery Podcast features the wildly original Lisa Borden—a reiki master, urban organic farmer, ethical entrepreneur, founder of Borden Communications, and creator of the Wellness Intelligence Collective.
🔥 In this raw and real interview, Lisa gets deeply personal about:
✨ Growing up misunderstood in conventional schools
✨ Being told she was “stupid” by teachers—and how she turned that trauma into empowerment
✨ Why perfectionism nearly crushed her, and how she found freedom through imperfection
✨ Creating her first business at age 22 using just the Yellow Pages and her intuition
✨ Raising bold, free-thinking kids who thrive outside the “system”
✨ The powerful role summer camp and her grandfather played in shaping her
✨ Why being “weird” is actually your superpower
In this soul-stirring episode of theArtist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright reconnects with visionary artist and former US Marine Peter Bragino, more than a decade after their last face-to-face meeting. What unfolds is not just an interview—it’s a powerful story of resilience, creativity, leadership, overcoming addiction and spiritual discovery.
👉 Listen now if you're ready to be inspired by the evolution of an artist who blends discipline, emotion, and intuition into every brushstroke.
🌀 WHO IS PETER BRAGINO?
Mixed-media visual artist & creative director
US Marine Corps veteran turned air traffic controller
Overcoming Addiction with Plant Medicine
Indigenous medicine community participant
Advocate for self-discovery and inner healing
Welcome back to the Artist Recovery Podcast — where creativity meets healing. In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, host Rich Wright sits down with multidisciplinary artist and board-certified creative arts therapist Lindsay Reynolds to explore a journey that redefines what it means to pivot, persevere, and create with purpose.
🧠✨ Lindsay’s story is more than art — it’s a blueprint for healing, growth, and reclaiming creativity.
If you’re a creative soul navigating a career crossroads, this episode is your sign to keep going. Lindsay speaks with raw vulnerability about growing up in a blue-collar family that didn’t fully understand her artistic path — and how she carved a space for herself as both a therapist and a visual storyteller.
We talk about the mental health benefits of sports, why creativity should never be confined to one identity, and the power of having just one mentor believe in you.
💡 Key Takeaways:
1️⃣ You’re Not Broken: Joanna emphasizes that no one is inherently flawed—our behaviors stem from early experiences, and understanding them is the first step to healing.
2️⃣ Intergenerational Imprints: Learn how trauma can be passed down through generations, even from your grandmother’s pregnancy, and how to break these cycles.
3️⃣ Art Meets Science: Discover how creativity, like Joanna’s birth art therapy, can unlock subconscious healing, making this episode a goldmine for creatives.
4️⃣ Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Joanna dives into the ACEs study, revealing how childhood trauma increases risks for issues like depression (4.5x) and suicide attempts (12.5x) when four or more ACEs are present.
🔗 Connect with Joanna Lloyd:
Echoes of Birth and how it’s changing lives: https://www.echosofbirth.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannalloyd/
🔥 In this powerhouse episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with the incomparable Pierre Mayo — a multi-talented recording artist, audio/visual production mogul, and pastor — for a raw, inspiring, and deeply personal conversation you don't want to miss.
From surviving childhood battles with sickle cell anemia to influencing the Detroit hip-hop scene having the monicker Kid Rock also and who got to keep the name, working with J Dilla, touring with Russ and contemplating suicide in a hotel room and gospel rap scene, Pierre’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and visionary creativity. With over 30 years of experience in media production, live event management, and music engineering, Pierre drops gems for aspiring creatives, producers, and entrepreneurs alike.
🔥 In this powerful and raw episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with the dynamic Jodi Remenap—a chef, entrepreneur, former physical therapist, and creative powerhouse. Buckle up, because her story is anything but linear.
🧠 From Science to the Stove:Jodi opens up about her pivot from earning a Master’s degree in physical therapy to finding deep fulfillment as a private chef and creative brand builder. Hear how she navigated early success, burnout, and rediscovered her calling through food and service.
👩🍳 About Jodi Remenap:With roots in Michigan and a career path that led through California and now Florida, Jodi has worn many hats: executive chef at Clean LA, brand developer, website designer, and founder of Fire Girl Inc. She brings an unmatched level of intention, creativity, and healing into every role she plays. Her story is a testament to reinvention—and the courage it takes to follow your gut even when logic tells you not to.
🔥 In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with LA-based illustrator Rey Paez, whose nostalgic, rebellious art style has made waves across pop culture giants like Stranger Things, Star Wars, Topps, and more. Rey opens up in one of his most vulnerable and inspiring interviews yet, sharing how a kid born with spina bifida in East LA became a nationally recognized creative force—armed with nothing but a pencil, passion, and unstoppable mindset.
🎨 Whether you're an artist, creative entrepreneur, or someone searching for your next step, this conversation will leave you inspired to push past limitations and redefine your path.
In this must-watch episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Sherry James—mental health advocate, CXO of Phoenix Speaks Inc., founder of 2020 Lives Changed, and host of Creating Mental Wealth—for a raw, emotional, and inspiring conversation that will stay with you long after the video ends.
💡 Sherry reveals how her Mental Wealth philosophy helps people treat emotional resilience like a bank account—assigning value to joy, reframing trauma as growth, and cutting “mental withdrawals” to preserve peace.
This week, we sit down with Dan Zimmermann — a name that might not be on the tip of your tongue yet, but one you won’t forget after hearing this. Dan is a renowned automotive design leader with over 20 years in the game. From iconic muscle cars at Dodge SRT to innovative concept builds at Mopar, Dan’s fingerprints are on some of the most thrilling vehicles on the road today.
But behind the polished exteriors and high-speed innovation is a kid who just loved drawing cars — and had to fight like hell to turn that passion into a profession.
🎤 Hosted by Rich Wright, this deep-dive interview is more than just a career retrospective — it's a survival guide for the modern artist.
✨ Whether you're a student at CCS, a weekend sketcher, a gearhead, or someone questioning their creative path, Dan's journey will move you, fuel you, and maybe even change your mind about what’s possible.
“I had three kidneys, abusive parents, and angels that kept me alive.” That’s how Claire Louise Hay @BeHealing begins her jaw-dropping story of resilience, spiritual awakening, and radical self-healing.
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Claire Louise Hay—renowned intuitive healer, YouTuber, and founder of BeHealing.com—to uncover her unfiltered journey from a terrifying childhood in England to global spiritual leadership.
Who Is Claire Louise Hay?Claire is an intuitive healer, energy reader, and founder of BeHealing.com. With thousands of loyal YouTube subscribers tuning in daily for tarot and energy updates, Claire offers grounded spiritual insight to people all around the world. Her methods blend intuitive downloads, neurotherapy, and real-life experience, creating transformative breakthroughs.
In this emotionally raw and deeply inspiring episode, Rich Wright sits down with Christopher Quigley—founder of Alchemia Art Workshop and visionary creator of Transformation of Dangerous Spaces. Quigley opens up about surviving not one, but TWO strokes in 2023, and how those life-altering events rewired his brain, reshaped his soul, and ignited a new mission: confronting gender-based violence through powerful public art.
From grief to grit, Quigley shares how the tragic murder of Elaine Mosher, a woman he never met but whose story pierced his heart, became the catalyst for a radical art movement. He unveils how he and a local transition house plotted to turn the very house she was killed in into a safe reintegration home for women—transforming pain into purpose.
Viral Moment: “We can’t just wait for someone else to build something... we ARE the people we’re waiting for.” — Christopher Quigley
Watch this emotionally raw, inspiring, and deeply human conversation with Mia Torr—a designer, educator, podcaster, and the powerhouse behind Authentic Networker, which scaled to 120 cities in just 3 years!
In this must-watch episode, Rich Wright and Mia peel back the layers of her unconventional journey—from a neurodivergent gifted kid who skipped grades and hid in hollow trees with a book, to a globally recognized community builder who’s helped thousands forge authentic professional relationships.
🌍 Born in Toronto to Swiss and Filipina parents, Mia’s multicultural upbringing, travels through Europe and Asia, and immersion in music shaped her unique worldview. But behind the success lies a mosaic of challenges—undiagnosed ADHD, the pressures of academic expectations, family trauma, bullying, and her sister’s runaway crisis—that nearly broke her.
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Jason Charboneau — Detroit-based musician, songwriter, and survivor — who opens up about his journey through addiction, recovery, and rediscovering his creative voice.
Whether you’re an artist, music lover, or someone navigating life’s toughest battles, this conversation will leave you inspired, motivated, and reminded that recovery fuels creativity.
Highlights from the interview with Jason Charboneau:
~ Jason’s early start in the Detroit music scene and how local influences shaped his sound.
~ His candid story of struggling with addiction and hitting rock bottom.
~ The turning point that sparked his recovery journey and reignited his passion for music.
~ Viral moment: Jason’s unfiltered reflection on choosing recovery over self-destruction — a quote that will stick with you.
~ His advice for emerging musicians on balancing artistry, sobriety, and success.
What does it take to walk away from nearly a decade in corporate finance and fully embrace the calling of art? In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with visionary artist Anna Irvine — founder of Le Beaux Travail Gallery — to talk about her courageous journey from boardrooms to brushstrokes, and the deeply human battles she overcame along the way.
Born in Bulgaria, shaped by South Africa, and seasoned by life in the U.S., Anna’s multicultural story is one of resilience, transformation, and the healing power of creativity. Her art is not just visual — it’s a call to action for sustainability, empathy.
This is more than an artist’s story — it’s a roadmap for resilience. Anna opens up about subjects many are too afraid to speak on: mental health, creative rejection, cultural displacement, and the hard truths about chasing passion over stability. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that wasn’t yours, Anna’s journey will move you.
What does it take to rebuild your life, your art, and your identity after loss, addiction, and reinvention? In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Sean Starr—a second-generation sign painter, master gilder, documentary filmmaker, and creative force whose story will leave you inspired.
About Sean Starr:
Sean is a master gilder, painter, and international creative whose works have appeared in galleries across New York, San Francisco, LA, and abroad. He’s the producer of Art is Love, Nepal and the host of Coffee with a Sign Painter. His mission? To keep traditional sign painting and gilding alive while inspiring the next generation of creatives.
What does it really take to chase your dream when life keeps throwing challenges your way? In this inspiring episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Sydney May, a professional ballerina whose story of resilience, artistry, and healing will move you as much as her performances do.
Sydney’s journey began with a childhood full of movement—living across the U.S. and even briefly in Japan—before finding her artistic home in Dallas. From discovering ballet at age nine, to training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Sydney’s path has been shaped by passion, mentorship, and powerful life experiences. But her story isn’t just about perfect pirouettes—it’s about facing the raw realities behind the stage lights.
What happens when a child survives a near-death experience, grows up battling PTSD, and reinvents himself through bodybuilding, poetry, and art? Meet Peter Gunn — United States Air Force veteran, resilience advocate, poet, guitarist, graphic novelist, and spiritual explorer — whose story of survival, creativity, and transformation will inspire you.
✨ Moments You Can’t Miss:
The Childhood NDE – At 7 years old, Peter describes leaving his body, walking through a tunnel of light, and meeting an angel who told him: “Your job isn’t done.”
What does it mean to turn grief into art? How does an artist navigate identity, mental health, and creativity across multiple disciplines?
In this unforgettable episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with the brilliant Reeya Banerjee — a multidisciplinary artist, writer, musician, and voiceover talent whose story is as powerful as her art.
Reeya opens up about her childhood as the daughter of Indian immigrants, growing up in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco, and how her mother’s long battle with cancer shaped her perspective on independence, resilience, and storytelling. From surviving loss at a young age to carving her own space in creative nonfiction, playwriting, and songwriting, her journey is raw, inspiring, and deeply human.
What does it take to turn pain, loss, and controversy into creativity, freedom, and art that sparks national debate? In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, Rich Wright sits down with internationally trained artist, cultural entrepreneur, and outspoken advocate for artistic freedom Julian Raven—and his story is nothing short of unforgettable.
🔥 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
From Idyllic Spain to Deep Loss: Growing up in 1970s Marbella, Julian paints vivid memories of Mediterranean light, nature, and creative curiosity—only to have his world shattered by the sudden death of his father.
In this inspiring episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Emi Matsushita — international performer, creative director, entrepreneur, and educator — to explore her remarkable journey of resilience, artistry, and transformation. Emi’s story is raw, moving, and full of lessons for creatives navigating identity, trauma, and the pursuit of an authentic career in the arts. From growing up in Japan as mixed race, to experiencing culture shock in the U.S., to discovering freedom through hip hop, Emi reveals how art became her survival and her empowerment.
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with award-winning artist, TEDx speaker, educator, and founder of Satori Innovation—Patrick Williams. Known for his work exhibited across the US, Japan, and China, Patrick opens up about the challenges, inspirations, and deeply personal moments that shaped his journey.
✨ What You’ll Discover in This Interview:
How growing up in Omaha with a father battling alcoholism and a chaotic home life pushed Patrick to seek refuge in art and nature.
The pivotal sixth-grade moment when a teacher’s guidance shifted his academic trajectory and revealed the power of persistence and creativity.
Stories of inspiration from mentors and professors who recognized his unique spark and fueled his confidence as an artist.
What does it take to rebuild, heal, and reprogram your life when your past is filled with pain, estrangement, and reinvention? In this powerful interview, Eric Webster—a lifestyle engineer, hypnotherapist, ordained minister, and Akashic Records expert—opens up about his extraordinary journey from small-town Michigan to becoming a sought-after healer who guides people through profound personal transformation.
From co-founding Scholastic’s groundbreaking Graphix imprint (yes, the one that helped launch today’s graphic novel boom for kids) to founding Kids Comics Unite, Janna has been shaping the future of children’s publishing for decades. In this interview, she opens up about her childhood in Germany, culture shocks that turned her into a voracious reader, her creative breakthroughs at Scholastic, and the hard lessons of burnout, reinvention, and recovery that every creative will relate to.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How childhood adversity can fuel lifelong creativity.
Why comics are not a genre but a medium that can tell any story.
How to navigate creative pivots when the traditional path doesn’t fit.
The role of humor, empathy, and resilience in surviving both personal and professional challenges.
Insider insights into publishing, literary agencies, and building creative communities.
Step into this deeply raw and inspiring conversation with Ellen Rozman, certified health coach, wellness facilitator, and author of Full of Sht* — a brutally honest memoir about gut health, identity, and the power of healing from the inside out. Hosted by Rich Wright, this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast uncovers how Ellen transformed years of pressure, perfectionism, and physical pain into purpose, presence, and profound healing. Growing up Jewish in New Orleans: Ellen opens up about her childhood in a vibrant yet exclusive culture, where Mardi Gras parades met hidden prejudice — and how early lessons in inequality shaped her core values.
The making of a perfectionist: From competitive gymnastics to private-school pressures, Ellen reveals the mindset that drove her to excel — and eventually to exhaustion.
Viral Moment – “Perfection is not a human quality.”
From a homeschooled middle child in rural Western New York to a doctoral psychology student, Army veteran, podcast host, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist — Joel Bouchard brings raw honesty and profound insight into the artist’s inner world, navigating mental resilience, creative independence, and the myth of success on the episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast.
This episode is more than a life story — it's a creative manifesto. Joel shares what it really means to stay grounded while wearing many hats, and why he’s deliberately avoided monetizing his top 5% ranked podcast “From Nowhere to Nothing.”
In this episode, we sit down with the incredible Lora Arbrador — a trailblazing artist, nurse, author, and co-founder of the Society of Tempera Painters — for a raw, emotionally rich journey through a life shaped by creativity, compassion, and resilience.
WATCH TILL THE END for unforgettable moments about LSD trips in the '60s, surviving the AIDS epidemic as a nurse, and how a humble watercolor class in a basement launched a fine art career recognized by Cornell, Publishers Weekly, and art collectors worldwide.
What happens when a U.S. Army Ranger turned storyteller digs deep into his ancestral roots — uncovering forgotten French-Canadian and Algonquin legends that spark an extraordinary creative rebirth?
In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Joseph Bolton — a West Point graduate, Afghanistan combat veteran, and author of “Old Grandmother’s Tree” — to explore how trauma, identity, and imagination can transform into art that heals both the creator and the culture it came from.
Watch this if you love:
Storytelling that blends mythology, family history & indigenous wisdom
Military-to-artist transformation stories• Deep conversations about resilience, empathy, and creativity after service
Ancestry, spirituality, and rediscovering your cultural roots.
At just 17 years old, Shanti Hershenson has written and published over 30 books — before even graduating high school. In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation with Rich Wright, Shanti opens up about her creative journey, her daily writing habit, and how she turned isolation during the pandemic into a powerful force of imagination.
Why This Interview Matters:
Shanti’s story is a blueprint for the next generation of creators.She’s proof that age doesn’t define ability — discipline and imagination do. From her first sci-fi saga to her poetry novel You Won’t Know Her Name (inspired by her real experiences with bullying), Shanti blends authenticity with artistry in a way that connects deeply with readers and creators of all ages.
Mark is an author, songwriter, musician, AI-integrated creator, and the director of the Creative Humanity Alliance. His work blends narrative, sound, and technology into a unified ecosystem of creativity—one designed not to distract or entertain, but to awaken curiosity and spark thought【4:70-75】.
He has produced a catalog of original songs, remasters, conceptual works, and AI-driven artistic interpretations, all rooted in decades of creative exploration and introspection. Mark’s mission is unapologetically human: to remind people of their innate creative power and give them the space to rediscover it.
Step inside one of the most powerful and vulnerable conversations ever featured on the Artist Recovery Podcast. In this episode, host Rich Wright sits down with Jack Maher — Emmy Award–winning journalist, author, historian, and fifth-generation Colorado native.
Jack pulls back the curtain on the extraordinary lineage that shaped him — from his Hollywood roots to the untold story of his grandfather, pioneering curator Eric Douglas, whose work elevated Native American art across major institutions. Jack reveals how uncovering that hidden family history inspired him to write Poppy, a historical novel selected by the Colorado State Library for its Colorado Book Club collection.
But the heart of this interview lies in the emotional and transformative journey behind his latest work, You Were Chosen, Just Like Mary — a book born from profound love, loss, and faith.
Anna Rosa’s Creative Evolution: From performing in Icelandic theaters to competing in world aerobics competitions, to teaching, coaching, acting, auditioning, directing, producing, and ultimately founding her own creative guidance practice — Anna Rosa embodies the art of reinvention. Her transition from acting to brand strategy emerged from a desire for stability while still honoring the creative spark. Through her work with global brands like Baccarat Hotel, One Hotels, Soli Organics, Venus Williams, and more, she learned how storytelling unlocks identity, purpose, and personal power. Your story is your superpower — once you learn how to tell it!
Evoke Story: https://www.evokeyourstory.com
In this episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with David “Letterfly” Knoderer — a circus-bred creative whose life spans drumming under the big top, elite horsemanship, old-school hand-painted artistry, motorcycle culture, addiction recovery, and the rediscovery of purpose through creativity and service.
Letterfly opens up about growing up shy in Springfield, Ohio, shaped by a childhood where his autistic brother was bullied. Creativity became his refuge, leading him into music, drawing, and eventually the circus — the place where he finally felt he belonged.
Viral Moments:
• The circus census magazine that changed everything
• Painting murals during the rise of the RV boom
• The surreal shift from training horses to customizing Harleys
• A customer telling him, “You’re traveling the country making people happy — write a book!”
• His honest account of hitting bottom and rebuilding from the ground up
In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, we sit down with watercolor artist, designer, speaker, and disability advocate Katherine Klimitas, whose life and art defy every expectation. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), Katherine had broken over 500 bones by the age of 10 — yet she transformed those challenges into a thriving creative career.
From selling her first pet portrait at just ten years old to becoming a professional watercolor illustrator who paints lying on her side, Katherine’s story is one of radical resilience, relentless curiosity, and uncompromising artistry.
Katherine is a New Orleans–based watercolor artist, graphic designer, author, and keynote speaker known for her breathtaking animal portraits and her advocacy for accessibility and inclusion. Painting while lying down due to her condition, she’s developed a unique and masterful process rooted in precision, patience, and extraordinary determination.
Dive into one of the most powerful Artist Recovery Podcast episodes yet — a raw, inspiring, and deeply human conversation with Jacki Ramsey, the designer, photographer, entrepreneur, producer, and founder of Wood Sprite Organic Body. Her story is proof that creativity can save a life — and sometimes build an entire industry.
In this episode, Jacki opens up about:
✨ Growing up surrounded by art after her mother brought her into college drawing classes — even becoming the toddler “model” for 60-second gesture sketches.
✨ Escaping an abusive home environment and finding refuge in nature, animals, and creativity.
✨ The emotional impact of losing her brother — a defining moment that transformed her focus, discipline, and purpose.
✨ Discovering photography, filmmaking, and storytelling as lifelines and forms of expression.
In this deeply human and beautifully unfolding conversation, the Artist Recovery Podcast welcomes Aimee Carlson — artist, seeker, former educator, long-distance runner, yoga teacher, and founder of the SheForce movement — for a journey into sensitivity, selfhood, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to rise again in midlife. Aimee’s story is not a linear ascent.
It’s a mosaic — shaped by childhood observation, creative sparks, spiritual searching, emotional endurance, and the kind of lived experience that becomes medicine for others.
This episode is a reflection for every creative who has ever wondered:
“Is it too late for me?”
Aimee’s answer is a resounding:
It is never too late to become who you were always meant to be.
Founder of SheForce, host of the SheForce Podcast, and creator of programs supporting women in claiming energy, clarity, purpose.
Some stories don’t start with a spotlight. They start with being forgotten.
In this deeply honest episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with musician, author, National Guard service member, and mental health advocate Tony Kessel for a raw conversation about identity, abandonment, creativity, and healing.
Tony’s story begins in rural North Dakota — adopted late, moved through foster care, raised in small towns where everyone knew your name but few truly knew you. As a child, Tony learned early what it feels like to be overlooked… and how performance, music, and creativity became a lifeline for being seen.
Bestselling mystery author and writing coach Liz Mugavero (also known as Cate Conte) for a conversation that moves far beyond publishing credits and into the raw terrain of identity, faith, trauma, and creative survival.
Liz is the author of multiple successful mystery series published by Kensington Books and St. Martin’s Press, including the Pawsitively Organic Mysteries, Cat Café Mysteries, and Full Moon Mysteries. But behind the accolades is a story shaped by silence, religious control, codependency, emotional abuse, and the quiet resilience it takes to keep creating anyway.
Raised in a strict Catholic environment that never quite aligned with her intuitive truth, Liz knew early on that something didn’t add up. Books became refuge. Writing became instinct. And storytelling — inspired in part by her grandfather, a former detective — became both a calling and a way out.
In this deeply human and unfiltered conversation, Rich Wright sits down with bestselling author, muralist, and creative entrepreneur Alli Koch for one of the most honest Artist Recovery Podcast episodes to date.
Known for her iconic black-and-white florals, large-scale murals, and over 18 bestselling art books, Alli’s external success tells only part of the story. What unfolds here is a raw exploration of perfectionism, people-pleasing, faith, identity, and the quiet pressure creatives carry long before the world sees the work.
What happens when Hard Rock meets stillness? When power, rhythm, and spiritual inquiry collide?
In this intimate episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Clementine Moss—founding drummer of the all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zeparella, author of From Bonham to Buddha and Back, and a multidisciplinary artist whose life bridges rock performance and spirituality.
Clementine’s story is not about overnight success or tidy transformation. It’s about late beginnings, internal listening, and the courage to follow truth—even when it contradicts expectation.
Born in Southern Cali in a household filled with music but not musicianship, Clementine didn’t discover the drums until her late twenties. What followed wasn’t just a musical awakening, but a complete reorientation of identity. Drumming became her language—one rooted in time, structure, mathematics, and intuition—while writing and meditation remained her compass.
What happens when your body doesn’t fit the mold—but your truth can’t be denied?
In this deeply human and expansive conversation, Rich Wright sits down with Alexandra Beller—award-winning choreographer, educator, and former principal dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company—to explore what it truly means to live, create, and lead from the body when the world keeps asking you to conform.
Alexandra’s story is not one of neat triumph or easy confidence. It’s a story of contradiction—of being celebrated and unseen, powerful and insecure, grounded and exposed—all at the same time. From growing up as a highly sensitive, imaginative only child in New York, to navigating elite dance institutions that didn’t know how to see her, Alexandra shares what it took to stay connected to her embodied truth when external validation failed.
Steve Boehm, aka Steve Sxaks—a multi-hyphenate creator whose journey spans punk rock stages, underground hip-hop culture, military service, homelessness, education, and authorship. This is not a highlight reel conversation. It’s a grounded, honest exploration of how identity is forged through adversity, failure, and relentless self-inquiry.
From growing up drawn to attention and performance, to being shaped by punk ethics and DIY culture, Steve opens up about what it means to learn everything the hard way. No shortcuts. No safety net. Just lived experience as the teacher.
As a former touring punk musician turned respected audio engineer, Steve is the co-founder of Marston House Recording, one of Philadelphia’s most influential studios. He is also the creator of Marston House Ciphers, a platform dedicated to preserving authentic underground hip-hop voices.
What happens when a creative spirit grows up surrounded by competition, comparison, and expectations—yet refuses to follow the status quo?
In this deeply reflective episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with accomplished author, educator, and resilience advocate Sharon Neiss Arbess for an honest conversation about creativity, perseverance, and the long road to trusting your own voice.
Sharon shares her journey growing up in Montreal within a high-pressure, achievement-driven environment—where excelling academically and athletically was the norm, and creativity often lived on the margins. From feeling like she never quite “measured up,” to discovering that not fitting in became her greatest strength, Sharon reveals how early experiences with competition, rejection, and self-doubt quietly shaped her resilience as a writer.
In this powerful episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Jimmy Garcia, founder of Mean Mug Pistons, a Texas-based creative venture where reclaimed engine pistons are transformed into hand-carved sculptures known as Mean Mugs. What starts as a conversation about art quickly becomes a deeper exploration of sobriety, blue-collar creativity, fatherhood, and the long road back to self-trust.
Jimmy’s work is raw, industrial, and unapologetically honest—much like his story. After years of addiction, he found recovery and has now celebrated 15 years of sobriety since August 22, 2009. Instead of leaving his past behind, Jimmy integrated it into his creative process, using discarded materials and hard-earned wisdom to create pieces that speak to resilience, grit, and transformation.
Siquoyia is the creator of Abstract Soul, a signature musical sound that fuses the heart of R&B, the groove of funk, the depth of soul, and the edge of rock into something emotionally raw and spiritually resonant. But her story extends far beyond music.
Born in Connecticut and raised across Virginia, California, and Georgia, Siquoyia grew up feeling like an outsider—navigating loneliness, constant relocation, and an early sense that she didn’t quite fit into traditional systems of school, work, or expectation. Music became her refuge, her language, and eventually her lifeline.
This conversation speaks directly to creatives who feel fractured between worlds—those told they must “pick one thing,” suppress parts of themselves, or sacrifice integrity to succeed. Siquoyia’s journey proves that creative wholeness is not only possible, it’s powerful.
Diarra P. Collazo also known as DJ "Uncle P" was born in Pontiac, Michigan. Raised by a single mother who worked and went to school to provide for the family, he stayed with his great grandmother for most of his childhood. Collazo’s grandmother had a huge fenced in yard that ran around the entire house, that yard was his world for the longest. In an effort to keep him out of trouble Collazo wasn’t allowed to leave the yard. That fence made Collazo one of the hardest working promoters and DJ's in the Midwest.
Collazo’s focus is still "how can he get people in the door to rock with him". To figure out the answer he uses his degree in Music Entertainment Management and over 30 years of experience as an entertainment consultant. The results have been largely successful and have led to Collazo’s DJ "Uncle P” brand becoming synonymous with innovative and creative events. In addition to being an entertainment consultant Collazo wears many other hats.
Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown graduated from UNC Greensboro. She began her writing career helping small businesses with content creation and published five nonfiction self-help books dealing with real estate and finance, receiving multiple awards.
She published her debut novel in 2022. Sunflowers Beneath the Snow is a historical fiction set in Ukraine. Her second novel published in 2023, An Enemy Like Me, takes place during WWII. Her third novel, Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, is a generational story about Appalachian healers . In June 2024, her short story, The Youngest Lighthouse Keeper, came out in the anthology Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. 10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure (Feb 2025) is an inspirational look at the life lessons she learned riding across the United States on a tandem bicycle. Her latest book, Little Lola and Her Big Dream, is a children’s picture book.
I am a writer, musician, songwriter, and content marketer living in Mission Viejo, California. In a professional career that has spanned parts of five decades, I have pivoted on many occasions, from investment banking to pharmaceuticals, from consumer electronics to SaaS software. One constant throughout my career path, however, has been storytelling.
A cancer fighter every day of the week that ends in a ‘y,’ I serve as a passionate advocate for patients, caregivers, and allies. We're all in this together, and we all get something. It's an honor to be a resource.
Laura Stanfill is the founder of Forest Avenue Press, author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary, and one of the most quietly powerful forces in independent literary publishing. In this episode, she opens up about growing up in a New Jersey home full of player pianos and air horns, being the quiet kid who found her voice through the written word, navigating a controlling college relationship that nearly broke her spirit, and how moving to Oregon with nothing but a car and a dream helped her rebuild from the inside out.
This isn't just a publishing episode. It's a conversation about resilience, creativity, neurodivergence, and what it actually takes to keep believing in your work when the world hasn't said yes yet.
I specialize in creating one-of-a-kind gifts, geekery, and short runs of custom toys, props, and merchandise for your small business or personal collection.
I have been creating personalized gifts since I could hold a crayon and decided to make it a full-time job in 2004. Trained in a theatrical background, my skillset allows me to work in many different mediums such as sculpture, woodworking, leatherwork, 3D design and fabrication, jewelry making, metalcraft, and more. I use these skills to help you realize your ideas.
.In addition to crafting unique creations, I also offer consulting and coaching services for Creatives, Companies, and Corporations. Whether you’re an artist struggling to monetize your talent, a business facing a creative roadblock, or a corporate team seeking innovative solutions, my expertise will empower you to unlock your full potential and achieve your goals
What happens when a little girl who just wanted to please everyone grows up to help transform how an entire corner of an industry works? In this deeply personal episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Jessica Rennard — President of NuSource, long‑time sustainable fashion operator, and one of the most quietly influential voices in the resale and circular fashion space.
But before the brand partnerships, the 7,000 resellers, and $9 million in revenue in 14 months — there was a girl on a bike, opening a bagel shop before school. A student who failed out of college. A woman who never quite fit the traditional molds she was offered.
Jessica’s story isn’t just about fashion or business. It’s about what happens when you stop trying to fit into spaces that weren’t built for you and start building your own.
In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with one of the most quietly revolutionary thinkers alive today — author, inventor, and polymathic scholar Jim Marshall. With over 50,000 hours devoted to studying human development across psychology, theology, engineering, philosophy, law, parapsychology, and metaphysics, Jim didn't just learn about the human experience — he mapped it.
Jim is the creator of Septemics — a groundbreaking periodic table of human nature consisting of 35 seven-level scales that decode patterns in human behavior for analysis, prediction, and transformation. After 40+ years as a human development engineer, treating and training hundreds of clients, and 28 years of formal education, Jim turned decades of empirical observation into a single system that anyone can use to understand themselves and the people around them.
Julia founded Graphic Girls in 1995 and built brand identities for clients including the Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Hall, Burger King, Café Gratitude, Birkenstock, and Julia Butterfly Hill. In 2006 she became a certified Strategic Attraction Coach. By 2011 she launched Magical Marketing — a brand built on the principles of authenticity, intuition, attraction, and transformation.
Her message is clear: the creative economy rewards those who are willing to be real.
Whether you're a healer, artist, designer, coach, or any kind of creative entrepreneur asking "how do I build a brand that actually feels like me?"
What happens when a boy raised between two worlds — a rabbi's son in an all-gentile neighborhood, a scholarship kid in the middle of Manhattan — refuses to stop learning, creating, and evolving?
Michael Wendroff's story is exactly that kind of full-circle journey.
In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, marketing consultant and debut thriller author Michael Wendroff joins Rich Wright for a conversation that spans Queens, New York City, global boardrooms, and the pages of a book that began with a mother's words whispered at birth: "How nice to see you again."
From growing up quietly on the outside of things — finding his first real sense of belonging on a track field — to earning his MBA at 21, working inside a literary agency before anyone knew his name, and building a 30-year global marketing career, Michael's path was never a straight line. It was always a spiral. Always coming back around. With his debut thriller What Goes Around.
I'm a strategic, enthusiastic designer, with a strong passion for creating meaningful experiences through design.
I care about the details and consider interaction design of affordances crucial in creating effective, intuitive interfaces. With a specialty in prototyping and design, and art direction, I can effectively deliver solutions that solve business challenges and meet the needs of your brand.
My name's Kirsten. A Masters of Divinity graduate from Iliff School of Theology, I live in Santa Fe, NM. As a kid I wondered, how does this world really work? Not only that, but is there room for Magic? Or God? Or Energy? This podcast about how we connect to what we cannot define and how that energy changes us!
What is a Panentheist?
I get asked this question all the time! For me it a more spacious way of relating to the world, to others and to myself. It is also a way of being in relationship to the world and its creations that makes infinite sense to my soul.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: “Panentheism” is a constructed word composed of the English equivalents of the Greek terms “pan”, meaning all, “en”, meaning in, and “theism”, derived from the Greek ‘theos’ meaning God. Panentheism considers God and the world to be inter-related.
Amy is the author of Wrangling the Doubt Monster, a widely praised guide for creatives and professionals navigating self-doubt, the critically acclaimed speculative thriller Be Real, the award-winning YA novel Fran the Second Time Around, and the forthcoming family saga Tent City. She is also a book coach, workshop facilitator, and Substack writer whose platform Doubt Monster has become a gathering place for creatives who are done hiding.
In this episode, Amy tells the truth about the journey. The drama kid who moved states and lost her creative community. The college application she fought for by advocating for herself when her father said no. The publishing internship that ended before it began. The man who sat her down and told her women could not write for a publication like the Village Voice. The morning on the train platform when she stood moments away from walking out of her own life. All of it unfiltered, all of it real.
Lucinda Sage-Midgorden, a storyteller, educator, author, podcaster, and lifelong student of the human experience whose creative journey is as layered as the stories she tells.
Lucinda grew up moving from town to town across the Pacific Northwest, learning early how to read a room, adapt to new environments, and find her footing in unfamiliar places. That constant navigation did not just teach her resilience. It taught her how to see people. How to observe the invisible forces shaping behavior. And eventually, how to ask the question that would change everything: not "why is this happening to me," but "what am I supposed to learn from this?"
From surviving bullying in small-town wheat country Washington to being the only woman in her college theology program, from discovering theater as both mirror and medicine to building an entire creative ecosystem in her later decades, Lucinda's story is a masterclass in the long arc of the artistic life.
With nearly 20 years of experience, Grant is the founder and creative force behind Curtis Creative Agency, where you deliver cutting-edge graphic design, brand identity, product development, and custom merchandise that helps startups and big brands stand out with purpose and impact.
Athletics and Discipline as Recovery Fuel — Grant credits consistent physical training, systems to avoid burnout, and that athlete's mindset for sustaining you sobriety, creativity, and relentless execution in both life and business.
Advocate for Resilience and Community — Grant shows how sobriety, strong networks, spiritual grounding, and pushing through tough seasons unlock authentic joy, deeper relationships, and unstoppable creative momentum
Award-winning novelist, writing coach, and manuscript editor John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis is the author of six mystery-suspense-thriller novels. In his most recent novel, ENEMIES DOMESTIC, protagonist Lark Chadwick is a pregnant White House press secretary at a time in the not-too-distant future when abortion is a crime and the president is a dictator. DeDakis, a former White House correspondent, regularly leads writing workshops at literary centers and writers’ conferences. He is also the host of the video podcast “One-to-One with John DeDakis” on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin, DeDakis now lives with his wife Cindy in Baltimore, Maryland. In his spare time, what little he has of it, DeDakis is a jazz and rock-and-roll drummer.
Cathelina Duvert, an alumna of Hofstra University with a degree in Creative Writing and Literature, captivates readers with her raw, authentic voice. Her blog, Cathy’s Cross: A Depressive’s Positive Perspective, has earned a dedicated following for its heartfelt chronicles of her personal battles with depression. This deeply relatable blog is set to become a memoir/journal, slated for publication in July 2025.
Cathelina’s debut novel, The Box, showcases her talent for weaving complex narratives and has been honored by Black Writers Workspace, receiving an Honorable Mention in their 2024 Chapter One Writing Competition. When not crafting stories or sharing her journey, Cathelina dedicates her time to shaping young minds as a 7th and 9th grade ELA teacher in New York City.
Scott Wells is a bestselling, acclaimed thriller and horror author.
He first made waves with his screenplay Phantom Ranch, a semifinalist at the Atlanta Screenplay Awards, and now in development as a novel. His breakout hit Marked by the Ouija solidified his place in the world of YA horror, merging supernatural tension with the raw emotional depth of adolescence.
At the core of all Scott’s work lies one chilling truth: things aren’t always what they seem.
Themes That Drive His Stories:
I'm Courtney Barriger, and my journey began with a simple but powerful vision: to use storytelling to create positive change in the world. Armed with a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of North Florida, I set out to make my mark through writing and art, never knowing that my path would lead me to become a voice for sustainable fashion.
During my time as a model in Los Angeles, I witnessed firsthand the environmental and human costs of the fashion industry. This experience transformed my perspective and purpose. Instead of just being part of the system, I chose to challenge it. As a designer, writer, and filmmaker, I now dedicate my work to exposing the truth about fast fashion while championing sustainable alternatives.
My artistry manifests in many forms - from designing eco-conscious clothing to writing books that educate and inspire, to creating films that illuminate the path toward a more sustainable future.
James is the author of the memoir "Accessory to Marriage: Chronicles of Outrageousness from My Life as a Wedding Photographer," host of the Joyful Rebellion podcast, and a creative mentor helping others tell their stories through photography, video, and audio. A self-described INFP innovator, dad, and educator, James blends humor, southern roots, and deep introspection into a conversation every sensitive, heart-centered creative needs to hear.
A different lifetime ago, I went to college for International Business and worked for years in the Finance and Insurance industries. I then left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home-mom to my 3 beautiful boys. These were the happiest and most fulfilling 12 years of my life!
Then when it became time to go back to work, I knew inside that I didn't want to return to the financial setting.
I began soul-searching to find out what I really wanted to be when I grew up. ;-) I have always enjoyed receiving massages, and there came a pinnacle point in my life about 11 years ago when I realized that I would enjoy giving a massage just as much as receiving one. From there, I embarked on a beautiful journey.
Over the last 9 years, I’ve been on my own personal spiritual awakening and healing journey. Life handed me some pretty traumatic situations and I had to learn how to overcome them to move forward in my life in a positive direction.
Dr. Rod Berger is recognized globally as an expert in the art of strategic storytelling. Rod has conducted over 4,000 interviews worldwide, including an audience with Pope Francis, NBA great Magic Johnson, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button. He has also engaged with United Nations officials in Rome and NGOs in Uganda’s refugee camps, uncovering the challenging life stories impacting an individual's everyday life.
With a firm understanding of how the art of storytelling can change lives, Rod has codified his practice as a communication architect to help empower individuals and organizations to build strong cultures and brands, create powerful narratives, and identify how to lead with impact, influence, and most importantly, curiosity.
With a doctorate in clinical psychology, Rod guest lectured at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades and acts as a strategic advisor to several companies in the U.S. and abroad.
Lindsey Kirkendall is a creative strategist, artist, and RTT practitioner who works at the intersection of art, identity, and meaningful work. With a background in the music business and creative entrepreneurship, she helps artists and creative founders untangle the internal narratives that shape how they create, lead, and show up in the world.
Lindsey is currently completing her Master Certification in Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT), where her work focuses on taking creatives from struggling and suffering to deep fulfillment and freedom by reprogramming the subconscious blocks keeping them stuck.
She lives in Florida with her husband and two sons and is passionate about building lives and businesses that support creative integrity rather than burnout.
International Songwriting – You are the Co-founder of DWB, one of the UK's most successful independent songwriting, production, and publishing teams, selling millions of units worldwide and becoming a leading publisher in Japan and South Korea — long before K-pop and J-pop were on anyone's radar.
Eurovision Trailblazer – Pioneered Eurovision as a serious career platform for UK songwriters, amassing 18 entries across 11 consecutive years and serving as a BBC Music Consultant on the 2019 You Decide TV show — helping select the UK's Eurovision entry.
Best-Selling Author & Mentor – You’re the Author of Keeping the Dream Alive, an Amazon best-seller, and an active mentor coaching songwriters — including neurodiverse creatives — to find their strengths, build their networks, and pursue success on their own terms.
Vanessa the Vivacious Younts is a podcaster, filmmaker, video journalist, musician, and founder of Vanessa the Vivacious Productions, a female-owned, Latina-led creative production company.
As creator of the series and podcast Humanity 2.0 and the former managing director and contributing video journalist for Are You Happy (with four million followers), she has traveled coast to coast interviewing thousands of people about happiness, overseeing a network of 3,000 contributing video journalists.
Born dirt poor in San Antonio, Texas, with dirt floors and windows that would not open. She started working at 13, tended bar at a Christian rock venue selling pop and water, waitressed through high school, and eventually became a first-generation college student before life pulled her in a hundred directions. She talks openly about experiencing homelessness in Seattle, serving in a soup kitchen and receiving food from those same volunteers the next.
My name is Noah May, and I am from the great state of Alabama. I graduated from Auburn University in December 2024 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, reading, writing, and podcasting. I also love watching YouTube and spending time with friends and family. Working towards my future goals has not been easy, especially as I have faced mental health struggles since I was 13. My battle with depression began at that young age, followed by anxiety at 18. I even contemplated taking my own life and nearly ended up in the hospital. Often seen as an outcast by my peers, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy. However, I have now become the host of three podcasts, where I leverage my experiences to foster mental health awareness and provide an open voice for those dealing with similar situations.
Stories of the World, told in Color and Light
I was born in the vibrant city of Mumbai, India, where colors, culture, and stories surrounded me like wildflowers. From an early age, I found joy in sketching my world, turning emotions into charcoal lines and watercolor washes. Life took me on many paths, and for a time, my brushes sat still as I focused on education and career.
But creativity has a way of calling you home. When I moved to the United States, that quiet longing returned. I picked up my tools again, not just with skill, but with fresh eyes and a curious spirit. The beauty of my new surroundings, combined with the vivid stories I encountered, became the paintbrush for my art. I fell in love with oil pastels and watercolors mediums that let me express both serenity and wildness.
Russell combined the brain research in Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz with the three default writing strategies in Strategies for Struggling Writers by James Collins while in graduate school. As a result, his initial research program was funded by the New York State Senate and is owned by the SUNY Research Foundation.
He found that motivated high school students with dyslexia increased their writing skills by 7 to 8 grade levels in one academic year. His approach is called The Writing Method.
Russell presented at The Everyone Reading Conference in Manhattan in 2006 and from 2014-2019. He also presented in November of 2018 at a conference run by The Learning Disability Association of NJ.
Russell has over 10 years of experience in teaching students with Dyslexia techniques to overcome their current struggles and recognize the superpower they’ve been given.
I am a psychologist and a writer. I’ve been working in the field of psychology for over 30 years. My first book, “From Sexless Marriage to Sex Goddess, A Memoir,” has just been launched this November 2025.
I spent the first half of my career working in community mental health settings and hospitals, providing services to a diverse client population with complex psychological issues. I have also taught and supervised graduate students and provided professional training in Mindfulness, DBT, and Trauma for clinicians.
Creativity and writing have been an essential part of my life since I was a child: dancing, painting, acting in shows, writing short stories, and poetry. During graduate school, I needed an outlet; however, a ridiculously small studio apartment in NYC required an activity that didn’t take up too much space, make a mess, or need ample storage. So I began making jewellery, for myself at first, but eventually I had a small jewellery business.
Dr. Fred Moss—known as The Undoctor—joins Rich Wright for a raw, sweeping conversation that runs from the streets of 1970s Detroit to four decades inside modern psychiatry and out the other side. A board-certified psychiatrist with an MD from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a biology degree from Wayne State, Dr. Moss has treated over 30,000 patients across private practice, tele-health, correctional healthcare, and nursing homes. He walked away from diagnosis-and-protocol psychiatry to pursue what actually heals human beings: real human connection.
Dr. Moss is the author of "Creative Eight: Healing Through Creativity and Self-Expression" and "Find Your True Voice," creator of the Creative Eight and True Voice methodologies, and host and guest across 600+ podcast episodes. His memoir, "Welcome to Humanity," tells the full story of how he became who he is.
My journey into healing did not begin in a classroom. It began in lived experience.
Growing up, I navigated challenging environments that left me searching for deeper meaning and inner stability. Like many people, I felt disconnected for years, knowing there had to be something more beneath the surface.
In 2018, my spiritual awakening began. In 2020, a near death experience changed everything. What I experienced was not symbolic. It was structural. My understanding of consciousness, energy, and human potential expanded beyond what I had ever known. I saw clearly how the body, subconscious mind, and energetic field are deeply interconnected.
That experience was not an ending. It was a call to refine, train, and ground what I had been shown.
Over the past eight years, I have immersed myself in intensive healing work, advanced certifications, and personal transformation. I rebuilt my identity from the inside out.