What if joy could live on your sidewalk?

In this episode of Tiny Worlds, Big Stories, Lara sits down with Rachael Harms Mahlandt, co-founder of the Sidewalk Joy movement, to talk about tiny dioramas, mug exchanges, dino swaps, and the radical act of creating whimsy in public spaces.

From growing up making miniature worlds out of cardboard boxes to studying neuroscience, working in marketing, navigating early motherhood, and eventually building a worldwide map of nearly 800 community joy spots, Rachael’s story is one of courage, creativity, and choosing connection over cynicism.

They talk about:
• The fleeting nature of time — and how it shaped her childhood
• Motherhood, burnout, and reclaiming creativity
• The first Dino Exchange (and what happened when it was vandalized)
• The Mug Exchange that sparked a movement
• Going viral on The Kelly Clarkson Show and NPR
• Why joy is not frivolous — it’s necessary

This conversation is about more than miniatures.
It’s about belonging.
It’s about community.
It’s about keeping your heart open when it would be easier to close it.

If you’ve ever felt the urge to make something small that might mean something big — this episode is for you.

0:00 – Host introduction
0:42 – Rachael introduces herself
1:30 – Rachael explains how she got started
3:10 – Rachael talks about early challenges
5:25 – Rachael shares biggest career lesson
8:00 – Rachael on current projects
10:15 – Rachael gives advice to newcomers
12:00 – Closing comments from Rachael

https://www.instagram.com/pdxdinorama

https://www.instagram.com/sidewalkjoy

https://www.tiktok.com/@pdxdinorama

https://www.pdxsidewalkjoy.com/

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Lara's art:

https://www.instagram.com/larablairartstudio

https://www.larablairartstudio.com/

Rachael Harms Mahlandt of PDXDinorama & Sidewalk Joy