“It's my purpose to use my privilege to be a voice and a vehicle for other people. That's it. End of. It has nothing to do with me. If I'm serving that, then I'm on my path. So I'm happy to help anyone who can advance the cause.” —Leslie Askew This is a story about the birth of an artist. It’s a story bucking the art establishment in favor of liste…

“When I was a child, I wanted to be a detective so I could satisfy the enormous curiosity I carried for the world and people around me. Instead of becoming a detective, I began making use of the camera to investigate. I still carry this curiosity with me when I make work and this often results in noticing simple, small details, that may seem unimpo…

“I speak on behalf of someone else too. I have to make sure my talent is comfortable with everything I'm doing. I don't make decisions without their okay. Not everyone operates like that, but we do. We're a team together.” —Brianne Almeida On the show today, Co-Founder and CEO of Lalaland Brianne Almeida. Her agency represents a selection of the mo…

“There's only so many things you can do to get more gigs, but if you're building a business, then you're building a model of something.” —Justine Clay I am honored to have Justine on the show to talk about building a creative business. Her timely ideas are going to shape how creative entrepreneurs and freelancers position and market for years to co…

“If a brand comes to me and their inspiration is a lot of the work I've done, then I know what they're trying to convey. If they bring a bunch of stuff that's different than what I do, that's where I start to wonder why I'm here and what's the purpose. Am I just this technician? Because anyone can take a picture. Anyone can light something, but wha…

“I was thinking about the Be Kind for Real performance I do to create space. It’s become increasingly important for me to come to the point of no real judgment. I can have opinions, but fundamentally I aim to be less and less judgmental. I’ve seen myself evolve in the performance. I have realized the importance of being present with someone. Listen…

“It’s okay to be in the unknown. There is no other way. It’s cyclical, like the butterfly-caterpillar analogy. You perch on the edge of the unknown and it hopefully takes you to the next place. And you dwell in that place for a while, not necessarily feeling that you’re on the edge of the unknown. You feel like you know your jam, you’re in it. Then…

“In this industry oversaturated with photographers, the only way to make a name for yourself (and stay sane) is to pick clients who appreciate what you're doing.” — Christine Blackburne Today, we take a closer look at finding the right client base with Christine Blackburne. Christine’s an award-winning still-life photographer and videographer based…

"Architecture's a very poetic craft. There are many beautiful things in nature. Beautiful mountains, rock formations, natural bridges, and arches. And if we could inhabit those, we could capture some of that beauty for ourselves. And so if we use those principles, then a wall is not a simple wall, and a window is not a simple window. You're talking…

In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss openness with Luciano Fileti. Luciano is a commercial photographer in the fashion and still life space in New York, and he’s spent more than a decade, sometimes two, developing personal art projects too. Together, we’re going to take a closer look at how being intentionally receptive leads to experimentati…

"I spend a lot of time thinking about who a person is. Who they are at their core, at work, with their girlfriends, walking down the street, when they're crying in bed by themselves, or who they are in the shower. I take a lot of time to think about that when I develop characters." —Rahima Rice In today’s episode, we’re going to discuss empathy and…

“No one knows where the work is going to take them. Doing work in the first place is such a vulnerable thing. Putting it out there, you’re already in the unknown.” —Maria Baez In this episode, I sit with Maria Baez, a principal photographer at jet.com. Maria is a friend, and we got to know each other at Estee Lauder Companies, where she set up a fa…

"From a tech perspective, we always have a choice. Do we want to go the route that will foster respect, integrity, kindness, and unity even when we differ? And there might be emotions. Allow for that space to happen and not take it and sensationalize it. And I always will choose that." —Adriana Teresa Letorney In this episode, I sit with Adriana Te…

"How do I feel more calm about all the stuff that's on my plate?" What a great question, thank you for sending it in. Yeah, how do we cultivate calm in an environment that's hectic and so demanding of our time and energy? We all face ever-growing asks, no matter our industry or level of experience. I am here to invite you to consider that there's a…

"Our flaws make us interesting. Scars tell a story. It's the same thing with every bump and every line. I'm middle-aged now, and I'm embracing the fact that lines are popping up on my face. I earned those lines. And so I feel like when I'm behind the camera, I'm not just a portrait photographer, I'm a documentary photographer. I'm just there with t…

"It's beautiful that sound is blowing up right now. Everyone's into sound baths and things of that nature, it's amazing. It's so good because we need to reconnect with ourselves in this way. We need to remember that we have this capacity to be more awake in our bodies and with each other." —Stephanie Rooker Today we're gliding into the mind of voca…

This week, I sit with my friend Danielle Kimmel to chat about wellness, essential oils, and balancing a career with family life. I am bringing Danielle into the fold because she’s a wellness specialist. We’ve talked a lot lately about turning vulnerability into empowerment, wielding it to create a positive social impact through our work. And here’s…

"The cream always rises to the top, so if you are an artist and hard-working, and you believe in what you do, and you're speaking your truth, you'll eventually get there." —Nikki Iacovella My guest today is the contemporary art gallery director and incomparable, lovely human Nikki Iacovella. Nikki has worked for galleries and art fairs in the visua…

Among listeners, a topic that’s come up often is vulnerability. So for the next few weeks, we’re going to focus on that. The Daring is built on the premise that vulnerability is the thrust for creative impact. It signals that we're on the precipice of growth and breakthrough in our craft — whatever the medium might be. I’ve seen this phenomenon in …

“When I have an idea for a photo series, I try to go out and execute it as quickly as I can because I want that inspiration to remain at the fore of my mind. If I let it linger, it might dissipate to the point where maybe I won’t want to do it anymore. Often, the flow comes when I’m traveling, or when I’m with friends or family, and I have a camera…

"Our culture is very immediate, you know. And art is not about immediate gratification. The arc of your life as an artist is long. I'm becoming gratified now based on things I've been doing for years and years and years. " —Ben Tyree Ben Tyree is a composer, guitar player, and eclectic musician with staggering versatility. He came up in the diverse…

"Being the youngest person at the table, sometimes the only black person at the table, taught me that you got to be smarter, faster, hungrier, louder, or sometimes move in silence because when you talk about what you're doing, somebody could cut off your path." — Bryant Small Recording this episode with Bryant was a gift, like catching up with an o…

"You need to make sure that your work stands up when you’re not there, especially if you use a rare medium. If it’s oil or acrylic or photography people get it, they know what it is. They can almost judge the work." — Bryant Small I admire Bryant's artistry and dedication very much. I'm so grateful we got to chat — about alcohol ink technique, grow…

Blissfully Aware is the podcast exploring what it’s like to find purpose even when we’re out on a limb. Join host Ioana Friedman for extraordinary deep dives into the moments that shape us. We bring you talks with creative leaders who share the ebbs and flows of their process.By Ioana Friedman