
Hosted by Stephanie Graham · EN

Ep #114: Sheri Rush — a life in art, big paintings, and staying creatively alive (noseyAF Classic)Summary This one's for every artist who's ever wondered how to keep the fire going — through decades, through doubt, through life just getting in the way. Chicago-based painter Sheri Rush has been making art since childhood, and she brings a rare honesty to this conversation. We get into what it actually looks like to sustain a creative practice long-term, the residencies that changed her, how nature shows up in her work, and what's coming with her enchanted forest exhibition.Chapters:00:39 - Introduction to Memorial Day Weekend10:33 - Exploring the Artistic Journey19:40 - Transitioning Artistic Perspectives28:06 - The Impact of Art Residencies on Artistic Growth40:15 - The Upcoming Art Show and Its Themes45:34 - Exploring Liminality and Transformation in ArtWhat We Talk AboutHow Sheri has kept a painting practice alive from childhood all the way through a full careerWhat artist residencies actually do for you — and why they're more than just a studio vacationHer upcoming exhibition centered around enchanted forests (yes, it's as magical as it sounds)The art of taking critique without losing your voiceWorking big: the logistics and the feeling of large-scale paintingAll about Sheri Rush You're gonna love Sheri — she's a Chicago-based painter and total force of nature who's been deep in her craft her whole life. Her work lives at the intersection of landscape, memory, and big feelings on even bigger canvases.Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin HourConnect with SheriInstagram: @sherilrushWebsite: sherirush.comhttps://www.thomasmccormick.com/More ways to connect:Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my work: http://missgraham.comFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: http://noseyaf.comSupport & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find it 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this: https://www.noseyaf.com/follow/Episode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier — all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. → Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchThis conversation was recorded Live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday May 9th, 2026Ep #113: Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah ShaeSummaryThis episode is for everyone who's ever looked at a film set and wondered who put that there, and why it matters. Aaliyah Shae is a Chicago-based production designer, photographer, and painter whose work is all about building worlds that feel lived in and deeply human. We talk about production design, what it actually means to create a "false reality" on screen, and how the small details, a hair tie on a nightstand, height markers on a door frame, are what make a story real. We also dig into Aaliyah's community work with the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid organization she helped launch just before Halloween, and what it looks like when art and activism melt into one.Chapters00:00 — Introduction to the Episode00:36 — Exploring Design and Creativity20:33 — The Art of Storytelling Through Design33:55 — Community Engagement and Activism53:16 — People's Panther Party Updates & Free People's Press LaunchWhat We Talk AboutHow Aaliyah figured out she could do both : design and film and why "pick a lane" is not the only way to build a creative careerWhat production design actually is and why every single thing on a film set has been accounted for (yes, even the books on the shelf — don't judge the books)"Life layers" — the small details that make a set feel real — hair ties, kids' drawings on the fridge, height markers on door framesHow travel sparked her design eye — from a high school architecture program in Kentucky to France and Barcelona with her French classThe film Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Aaliyah's go-to visual inspiration and why she says just Google the imagesWorking in indie film vs. studio projects — and why she encourages every filmmaker to just write something and design the heck out of a roomHow the People's Panther Party got started — collective exhaustion, a plane ride back to Chicago the day before Halloween, and the realization that some kids were going to sit inside while everyone else trick-or-treatedWhat they've done in just a few months — reverse candy drive, holiday grocery deliveries to 30 families, a bi-weekly grocery program, a grant win, and now the launch of Free People's Press, a quarterly community newspaperHer advice for anyone who wants to start showing up for their community — it starts with listening, not with having it all figured outPilsen as a neighborhood — why she loves it and what it gets right about communityThe crossover between film and activism — and how craft nights became a sneaky good way to build communityThings We MentionedPeople's Panther Party — Pilsen-based mutual aid organizationFree People's Press — their new quarterly community newspaper, available at Foxglove Coffee in PilsenFoxglove Coffee — woman-owned coffee shop in PilsenAaliyah Shae's WebsitePortrait of a Lady on Fire — French queer period film, Palme d'Or winner at Cannes; Aaliyah's visual inspo pickCUSP — Chicago United Solidarity Project — organization that helped People's Panther Party secure a grantPilsen Arts & Community House — one of the few free creative spaces in Chicago Aaliyah mentionsLiberate Your Business — book by Becky MollenkampAll about... Aaliyah ShaeYou're gonna love Aaliyah Shae — she's a world-builder in the truest sense. A Chicago-based production designer, set decorator, photographer, and painter, Aaliyah creates spaces on screen that feel like real people actually live in them. She also co-founded the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid org doing bi-weekly grocery deliveries, community events, and now a neighborhood newspaper — all born out of the belief that you don't have to be a professional organizer to show up for your community. She started making outfits out of paper for her little brother. She hasn't really stopped creating since.Connect with Aaliyah ShaeInstagram: @aaliyahshaeWebsite: aaliyahshae.comPeople's Panther Party Instagram: @peoplespantherpartyPeople's Panther Party Website: peoplespantherparty.orgMore ways to connectEmail: stephanie@missgraham.comSubscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie GrahamLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier — all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. → Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch Ep #112: Mutual Aid Isn't Charity with Eric Von Haynes (noseyAF Classic)This is a noseyAF classic — a conversation originally recorded in 2024 with Eric Von Haynes that was edited and reshaped to air live on Lumpen Radio (WLPN Chicago 105.5 FM). Eric is a printmaker, designer, publisher, and co-founder of Love Fridge Chicago, and he brings real clarity to what mutual aid actually means — and what it doesn't. We dig into how it differs from charity, why reciprocity is the whole point, and how his community fridge network Love Fridge Chicago puts those values into practice across the city. Plus we get into his art, why print is a political act, and why he believes the strongest groups — not individuals — survive.What We Talk AboutWhat mutual aid actually is and what it's NOT (hint: posting a Venmo link is probably just fundraising)Reciprocity as the heart of real community care, and why transparency mattersHow Love Fridge Chicago works, what it takes to maintain a fridge site, and why community buy-in is everythingThe difference between mutual aid and charity — and why Love Fridge isn't a nonprofitHorizontality, anarchist philosophy, and why Eric believes no one should be a billionairePhotographing people receiving food and why that's straight-up otheringPrintmaking as a democratic and political act — especially as a Black man in AmericaFlatlands Press and why getting ideas into physical multiples mattersThat time a yoga studio started leaving flyers at a fridge site 🙄Things We MentionedLove Fridge ChicagoFlatlands PressMutual Aid by Dean Spade (affiliate link)Artist Admin Hour (Stephanie's sponsor shoutout)Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago (where Eric had a exhibition)The Joan Flasch Artist Book CollectionChapters:00:00 - Introduction to Eric Von Haynes and Love Fridge02:21 - The Power of Mutual Aid20:29 - Exploring Mutual Aid and Community Support29:58 - The Importance of Community Engagement in Resource Distribution38:26 - Exploring the Differences Between Mutual Aid and Charity49:50 - Creating Diverse Spaces for Black VoicesAll about... Eric Von Haynes You're gonna love Eric he's a printmaker, designer, publisher, community builder, and co-founder of Love Fridge Chicago. He's also the president of the Chicago Printers Guild and the founder of Flatlands Press, where he creates and publishes artist books and printed matter for artists he believes should exist in the world. His work is rooted in anarchist philosophy, horizontality, and a deep belief that the strongest groups survive not the strongest individuals.Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour. It's a weekly Zoom session (Wednesdays, 7–9 pm Central) for artists to tackle the admin stuff they've been putting off — grant apps, residency applications, budgets, invoices — with body doubling, structure, and real community. Plans start at $65–$95/month, but if that's not doable, email Stephanie because getting this done matters. Check them out here: artistadminhour.comConnect with Eric Von HaynesWebsite: flatlandspress.comLove Fridge Chicago: thelovefridge.comEric’s Instagram: @manny_suenaMore ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comSubscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

This episode is a quick update about what’s coming next for noseyAF.In August, I’m launching a new series called 31 Days of Black Business — 31 conversations with Black business owners throughout Black Business Month. The idea came after hearing about the month from Denzell Turner of the Black Fridays podcast and getting inspired to try an everyday podcast challenge.Throughout August, I’ll be talking with Black business owners about how their businesses got started, what they do, and how we can support them.If you’re a Black business owner (or know one), applications to be part of the series are open through April 30.In the meantime, the feed may look a little different while I work on recording and producing the series. Expect a few solo episodes and occasional feed drops while I get everything ready.Thanks for listening, and I can’t wait to share this series with you.Apply for 31 Days of Black Business HereCheck out Denzell Turners Podcast "Black Fridays'Chapters:00:13 - Season Seven Reflection00:30 - 31 Days of Black Business: A New Series01:07 - Launching a New Initiative for Black Business Month02:33 - Transitioning to New Content02:53 - Reflections and Feedback03:07 - Farewell and Future ConversationsMore ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comSubscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes

Ep 110: What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later)SummarySeason 7 of noseyAF is officially wrapped — and what a season it’s been. In this reflection episode, host Stephanie Graham looks back on 22 conversations with artists, activists, filmmakers, educators, and community builders and the themes that kept showing up again and again.From redefining success and practicing care as infrastructure, to documenting the people and stories that matter, this season became something bigger than expected. In this episode, Stephanie reflects on the biggest lessons from Season 7, shares how these conversations sustained her through a difficult year, and explores why the season ultimately became a meditation on what we owe each other — in art, community, and creative life.What We Talk AboutThe five big themes that emerged across 22 conversations this seasonRedefining success and building creative lives on your own termsWhy care is structural — not softArchives, storytelling, and who gets rememberedEnvironmental grief, creativity, and community workThe messy middle of making art and showing up anywayWhat hosting Season 7 taught me during a challenging yearChapters: • 00:11 - Closing Season Seven • 01:24 - Reflecting on a Challenging Year • 10:50 - Exploring the Themes of the Season • 15:27 - The Importance of Care in Community • 24:52 - Theme Exploration: What We Owe Each Other • 26:59 - Reflecting on the JourneyThings We MentionedLumpen Radio — 105.5 FM ChicagoThe Change Collective FellowshipAvalon Park Film House (the micro cinema project I'm dreaming up)Black Business Month (coming up in Season 9 👀)More ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comSubscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbacknoseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛⭐ Rate & Review the Show to give the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show.📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear thisEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrickSegment Music By: Matrika “**On Vacation:”**Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/on-vacation License code: QGILSAQGSFMCX3KU

Ep #109 : Neighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann RosenSummary:It's our season finale, y'all! 🎉 We made it to the end of Season 7 of noseyAF — AND we crossed 100 episodes! I still can't believe it. None of this happens without you, so thank you for being nosey right along with me all season long. I am so grateful. In this episode, I sit down with Ann Rosen, a Brooklyn-based portrait photographer and activist whose decades-long practice sits at the intersection of art, social justice, and human dignity. We talk about her evolution from abstract portraiture to her current project On Being Seen — an ongoing photography and writing workshop series with women in New York City shelters and transitional housing programs. Anne opens up about her own personal struggles, including surviving addiction and emotional trauma, and how those experiences shaped her deep empathy for the women she photographs. If you've ever wondered how art can truly serve a community — and what it means to really see someone — this one's for you.Topics discussed:Ann's artistic journey from abstract photography to intimate portrait work, including her In the Presence of Family series documenting diverse NYC families at street fairsThe On Being Seen project — photographing and collecting the stories of women in NYC shelters, and how the diptych format combines portraits with the subjects' own handwritingAnn's personal history with addiction and trauma, and how it informs her empathy-driven approach to social justice photographyThe ethics and logistics of photographing vulnerable populations — model releases, privacy, and consentWhat photography can do that other forms of activism can't, and advice for photographers wanting to do community-centered workChapters:• 00:24 - End of an Era: Season Finale• 01:26 - The Journey of Ann Rosen: From Painting to Photography• 15:40 - Empathy Through Photography: A New Perspective• 28:33 - Understanding Homelessness and Resilience• 37:51 - The Journey of Recovery and Art• 45:50 - The Importance of Community and Neighborly RelationsAll About Ann: Ann Rosen (b. Brooklyn) is a New Jersey-based artist known for her social justice projects using portrait photography as a tool for empowerment and empathy. In Rosen’s current project, Being Seen, she teaches art and photography workshops with women from marginalized communities such as shelters, formerly homeless Veterans, recovering addicts, formerly incarcerated.Rosen graduated from SUNY at Buffalo (BFA) and the Visual Studies Workshop (MFA), studying with Nathan Lyons, Joan Lyons and John Wood. Her influences are stark B&W and color portraits by Irving Penn, Paul Strand, and Catherine Opie.Resources mentioned in this episode:Housing Plus — organization supporting women experiencing homelessness and those transitioning out of incarcerationFive Myles Gallery, BrooklynCEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY — upcoming solo show in NovemberBrooklyn Arts Council — grant funding source for Ann's workVisual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY — Ann's graduate schoolNoteworthy quotes from this episode:"I think that everybody has the right to be seen and everyone has the right to be respected.""Photography is a universal language. You don't need to know English or any other language.""I realized I was giving to others what I had experienced the joy of gaining after a traumatic lifestyle.""Nobody wants to be sitting on the street. But the gestalt of seeing a person who is homeless — they're going to harm me? No, they're not going to harm me."Connect with AnnInstagram: @annrosenphotographyWebsite: annrosen.comConnect with StephanieInstagram: @stephaniegrahamEmail: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my art and projectsEnjoy my work? Join my studio newsletterMore Episodes at noseyaf.comPlease leave me feedback or send me a message:Support the ShowRate and Review the show:Share noseyAF with your friends:Buy a pinBuy a printJoin the noseyAF DispatchEpisode Credits:Produced and Hosted by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Edited by: Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam FamCover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 108: Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole HavelkaWelcome back to another episode of noseyAF on Lumpen Radio!! We have Nicole Havelka joing us, a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, former pastor, and host of the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — to talk about what it actually takes to stop running on empty. Nicole gets into how she went from a self-described "recovering grind culture addict" to building a whole business around helping high-achievers and everyday radicals reclaim their time and energy. She introduces her Calm Calendar Club, a program built around planning your life in a way that actually honors your energy — not just squeezes more out of it. If you've ever felt like you're dropping the ball, this conversation will remind you: you're not dropping balls, you're just carrying too many.What We Talk AboutOkay, so pull up a chair — this one goes places.How Nicole went from overachiever to burnout recovery coach (and what growing up in Omaha, Nebraska had to do with it)Why hustle culture is literally designed for you to fail — and why that's not your faultBurnout in ministry and why being "on call 24/7" is just not humanWhat COVID quietly taught us about the power of saying noThe seven types of rest from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith — sleep is just ONE of themHow planning your calendar with your values first changes everythingWhy ADHD and neurodivergent folks need planning systems that actually work for their brainsThe Calm Calendar Club: what it is, how it works, and who it's forWhy "you're not failing the system — you're just trying to do too much"The radical act of rest as resistance, especially for Black women (shoutout to Tricia Hersey's Rest Is Resistance)Doing your part in activism and community work — without burning yourself all the way downThings We MentionedCalm Calendar Club — Nicole's program for planning your life around your energy and values → defythetrend.com/calm-calendarJust Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — Nicole's podcastRest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey (affiliate link)Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith (the seven types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, social, emotional, and spiritual) (affiliate link)Artist Admin Hour — Stephanie's weekly co-working session for artists tackling the admin work that makes the work work → artistadminhour.comChapters: • 00:33 - Introduction to noseyAF Conversations • 04:36 - The Pressure of Hustle Culture • 13:21 - The Challenge of Self-Care in Ministry • 16:54 - Navigating Burnout and Community Engagement • 23:50 - The Culture of Exhaustion • 29:50 - The Importance of Rest and Reflection • 37:30 - Addressing Time Management Challenges • 44:55 - Planning for Success: Reflecting on Your Values • 47:03 - Exploring Priorities and Planning Strategies • 54:45 - Exploring the Importance of Rest • 01:01:21 - Finding Balance: The Importance of Rest and HobbiesAll About... Nicole HavelkaYou're gonna love Nicole — she's a burnout recovery coach and certified mindfulness teacher who spent years in ministry before turning her hard-won lessons into a whole business helping people resist hustle culture and build sustainable lives. Her whole thing is that rest isn't lazy — it's the foundation for everything.More about Nicole: Nicole Havelka is a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, clergy person, and recovering grind-culture addict who helps people and organizations resist hustle and reclaim rest. A clergy person turned entrepreneur, she brings bold honesty and a healthy dose of play to help changemakers prevent burnout and build sustainable lives and workplaces. Nicole hosts the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals and leads a community of Rest Rebels on Substack. → defythetrend.com | defythetrend.substack.comSponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour The admin work that makes the work work. Every Wednesday, 7–9pm Central, artists show up on Zoom to tackle residency apps, grant applications, budgets, invoices — whatever you've been avoiding. Body doubling, no shame, real community. 25–45/month, but email Stephanie if that's not doable. → artistadminhour.comConnect with Nicole HavelkaWebsite: defythetrend.comCalm Calendar Club: defythetrend.com/calm-calendarPodcast: Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday RadicalsSubstack: https://defythetrend.substack.com/More ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #:107 The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSummary of the episodePublic speaking can be intimidating—especially for introverts. In this episode of nosey AF: conversations about art, activism, and social change, Stephanie talks with speaker, comedian, and author Mahlena-Rae Johnson, who calls herself the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright.For more than two decades, Mahlena has helped leaders learn how to communicate clearly and confidently, whether they’re pitching ideas, presenting on stage, or navigating everyday professional conversations. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be an introvert in leadership, why public speaking is so challenging for so many people, and how preparation, self-awareness, and practice can transform presenting into something much more enjoyable.Mahlena also shares insights from her book Speak Anyway, which encourages people to use their voices—even when fear or self-doubt shows up.If you’ve ever felt nervous about speaking in front of people, this conversation will remind you that finding your voice is a skill you can learn.What we talk aboutWhat introverted leadership looks like in practiceWhy public speaking anxiety is so commonHow preparation and self-awareness improve communicationCultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show upPersonal branding and navigating competitive job marketsRethinking genius, education, and how people learnChapters00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market46:09 – Exploring Genius and EducationThings We MentionedSpeak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnsonhttps://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/2023/11/speak-an.htmlAll about… Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSpeaker, comedian, and six-time author Mahlena-Rae Johnson describes herself as the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright. For more than two decades, she has helped leaders hone the superpower of public speaking and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.Her work focuses on helping founders and professionals—especially in the education technology space—develop communication skills that make pitching, presenting, and everyday leadership conversations easier and more authentic.Mahlena has been featured on CBC Kids, The Great Canadian Woman Podcast, BusinessBecause, and more.Connect with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonInstagram: @mahlenasguidetolife Website: https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/ Book: Speak AnywayConnect with StephanieJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare Nosey AF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsHosted by: Stephanie Graham Edited By Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 106: Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a YearThis episode was recorded live on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at Lumpen Radio.Summary of the episodeIn this live, unedited episode recorded at Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM in Chicago, I sit down with Chicago filmmaker Briana Clearly to talk about what it really means to choose consistency over perfection.Briana took on the ambitious challenge of making 12 films in 12 months — and then turned that experiment into a community-driven initiative called Filmmakers Mixtape. In this conversation, we unpack how committing to one film a month transforms not just your craft, but your mindset.We talk about creative blocks, releasing work before it feels “ready,” building artistic community without ego, and why making good films is actually a side effect — not the point.If you’re an artist stuck in perfectionism, a filmmaker craving momentum, or someone who needs a reminder to just make the thing anyway, this episode is for you.What we talk about (you know… casually)Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)Why consistency beats perfection every timeBuilding Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohortHow community makes better art (and better artists)Briana’s journey from the Navy to film schoolMentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedbackThe dream of friendship-centered dramediesReleasing work publicly — even when it feels scaryThings We MentionedFilmmakers MixtapeLeague of Their Own ChicagoBrain StudiosLumpen RadioAll about... Briana ClearlyYou’re gonna love Briana Clearly — she’s a collaborative director, community builder, and the creative force behind Filmmakers Mixtape, a 12-month filmmaking challenge designed to help artists prioritize process over perfection.A former Navy sailor turned Chicago-based filmmaker, Briana is deeply committed to telling stories centered on Black women, friendship, and lived experience — always inviting audiences into conversation rather than spectacle.She believes filmmaking is a practice, not a performance. And honestly? That energy is contagious.Chapters: • 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF• 09:02 - Exploring Filmmaking and Personal Storytelling • 20:54 - Exploring the Dynamics of Friendship in Storytelling • 31:56 - The Birth of Filmmakers Mixtape • 41:32 - The Importance of Vulnerability in Filmmaking • 50:41 - Exploring New Art Practices • 59:01 - The Art of FilmmakingSponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour.Every Wednesday from 7–9pm CT, artists gather on Zoom to tackle the admin we’ve all been avoiding — grant applications, budgets, residency forms, invoices, all of it.Because behind every exhibition is a clear budget.Admin is the flex.Join us at: artistadminhour.comConnect with Briana ClearlyInstagram: @brianaclearlyFilmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtapeWebsite: https://www.brianaclearly.com/More ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland FullerWhat this episode is about:What does it actually take to build a space where people feel like they belong? Garland Fuller — culture consultant and founder of Third Space Academy — has made it her life's work to answer that question. We get into the gap between what organizations say they value and how they actually operate, why "I want everyone to come" is a lot trickier than it sounds, and what intentional community building really looks like in practice.This one hit close to home — I share what I've been learning building my pop-up cinema project on Chicago's south side through the Change Collective fellowship, and Garland brings the strategic clarity to help it all click.Let's get into it:What is a culture consultant, actually? Garland breaks down the "people, place, program" framework and why culture is often the unseen force shaping how organizations actually operate — not just what's on the mission statementValues: aspiration vs. reality — Why integrity and service are on everyone's list, what it actually means to walk the talk, and when it might be time to update values that no longer fit who your org has becomeThird spaces are disappearing (or getting expensive) — From libraries to record shops to country clubs, Garland explains the spectrum of third spaces and who's really being invited inThe "I want everyone to come" trap — Why all-ages, all-inclusive spaces are aspirational but tricky, with real examples from Stephanie's micro cinema project (Poetic Justice vs. Disney night, anyone?)Building the Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital sanctuary for femmes who are done fitting into boxes, why she built it for community over solo learning, and the Show and Tell Mondays that keep it realAdapt or die: organizations that are going stale — A real talk about churches, legacy orgs, and what happens when your next generation isn't in your current membershipPractical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous mattersLeadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotesChapters: • 00:08 - Introducing the Guest • 07:20 - Understanding Culture and Values in Organizations • 16:55 - Creating All-Age Spaces: Building Community Connections • 19:00 - Exploring Community Engagement • 31:27 - Building Community and Support in Creative Spaces • 36:14 - Facilitation and Empathy in Group Dynamics • 44:21 - Facilitation and Engagement in Education • 48:21 - Creating Third Spaces: Starting from Your WhyThings We MentionedThird Space Academy — Garland's coaching program for leaders building intentional community spaces Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital community for femmes and changemakers The Change Collective Fellowship — the civic leadership fellowship Stephanie participated in that sparked her pop-up cinema projectSoho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third spaceRay Oldenburg's concept of "third spaces" — the sociological framework underlying this whole convo (optional — confirm if mentioned explicitly)All about... Garland You're gonna love Garland — she's an award-winning People Strategist with over 15 years of expertise in HR, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and training. She's also an adjunct professor at the USC Price School and Principal Consultant at Fuller Circle Consulting, where she helps organizations build optimal, inclusive workplaces. Oh, and she founded Third Space Academy — so yeah, she's been busy.Connect with Garland InstagramWebsiteCommunity Impact CollectiveConnect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam