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Why is there something rather than nothing? This podcast is a philosophical and psychological exploration into the act of creation (poets, musicians, writers, painters, thinkers, all of us) by: Ken Volante
Episodes

Oct 31, 2022
Oct 31, 2022
35 min
Born in Latrobe Pennsylvania, Kenneth Nicholson received his AFA from Westmoreland County Community College in 2010, BFA from Seton Hill University in 2014, and MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2016. He currently teaches as an adjunct instructor at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, Seton Hill University, and Westmoreland County Community College. His work has been exhibited in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Ohio, Washington DC, New Jersey, and New York.
Follow Kenneth's works in progress on Instagram @grosssferatu
Check out the finished pieces at https://kennethnicholsonart.com

Oct 23, 2022
Oct 23, 2022
1hr 3 min

Oct 13, 2022
Oct 13, 2022
34 min
Enjoy this wonderful conversation with the amazing painter and artist Robyn Tsinnajinnie. Robyn is a Native artist based in the New Mexico.
Robyn and I spoke about the Southwest, representations of Indigeneity, native shows & art & fashion, philosophy, color and Art School, and so much more!
Her paintings are to be adored and loved.
Find her at sanftmutig_one on Instagram

Oct 5, 2022
Oct 5, 2022
31 min
I’m Jonathan Case - a cartoonist from the great Pacific Northwest. I love to make art, to write stories, and to go on adventures with loved ones - especially if there’s a hammock involved. Daddy’s sleepy.
Stuff I’ve done:
My 2015 graphic novel, The New Deal (author/artist, Dark Horse), was a nominee for the Reuben, Harvey, and Oregon Book awards for best graphic album. In 2012 I snagged an Eisner award for Green River Killer, A True Detective Story (Dark Horse). My other books include Dear Creature (author/artist, Dark Horse), Batman ’66 (artist, DC), Superman: American Alien (artist, DC), and Over the Garden Wall: Distillatoria and Over the Garden Wall: Circus Friends (author, BOOM!). I’m currently working on a new graphic novel, Little Monarchs (author/artist, Holiday House), which is a sort of a joyful post-apocalyptic adventure book for kids.
In addition to comics I paint murals, create book covers, and illustrate for print. You can find some of that up on walls around Portland, Oregon (our current home base).
My chief adventuring partners are my wife, Sarah, and our two daughters, Dorothy and Miriam. Our son Otis, who we lost in 2016, tags along in spirit.

Sep 28, 2022
Sep 28, 2022
43 min
While Jeri Shepherd is new to the world of fiction, the author behind the Fault Lines Series has been in the writing industry for decades in playwriting, children's books, sportswriting, biography, leadership, ministry, and more. She wrote under the name Reji Laberje as a solo author and as a co-author alongside celebrities, athletes, and leaders of industry.
As Reji Laberje, Jeri has 12 #1 bestsellers in her 60+ books and plays, as well as another 17 #1 bestsellers amongst those books for which she was a contributing editor; ultimately, her pen was on 29 #1 bestsellers and she has been nominated for prestigious awards in playwriting and fiction. Jeri has combined print book sales of half a million copies across all of her works, in addition to sales in both audio and e-books. She's led more than 85 book projects in multiple roles including: author, co-writer, editor, designer, publisher, consultant, coach, and marketer; in that last role, she's led 80 different authors to #1 bestselling titles on lists with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, USA Today, and others. In addition, she consulted with and wrote for independent and traditional authors and publishers who then created entire new lines and book businesses as a result. Hundreds of stories have been told, published, and sold through her professional gifts and services.

Sep 21, 2022
Sep 21, 2022
33 min
Marc J Palm is an artist you definitely need to know. He is an Eisner Award nominated cartoonist with Mad Magazine. He makes amazing ART.
He is the self-publisher of The Fang, Punch to Kill, Dune mini comics and Intruder comix newspaper.
Listen here for a great conversation with Marc as we cover comix, music, life, bananafishbones (jk), the universe and everything.
Get his ART here https://www.etsy.com/shop/swellzombie

Sep 14, 2022
Sep 14, 2022
57 min
Susie deVille is on a mission to show entrepreneurs the power of trusting themselves. Work lighter while making higher profits. Eliminate self-doubt. To stop trying to overachieve one’s way into a sense of self, but rather lean into the surprising power of innate creativity. Her new book, Buoyant: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, shows you how.
In this transformational book, Susie shares the tools and exercises you need to tap into creativity, cultivate inspiration, and become your best, truest self.
Buoyant helps you shed the belief that being an entrepreneur means prioritizing productivity at all costs. Instead, Susie invites you to embrace an easier path to success and freedom. She provides all the knowledge you need to end burnout and live an artful life of joy.
Buoyant is The Artist’s Way for entrepreneurs. The way to creativity is to be wild, bold. Unapologetically yourself. Your voice and vision matter. You can positively impact the world, one idea, one person at a time.
https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/book/

Sep 6, 2022
Sep 6, 2022
18 min
A delirious time with Bonnie Bloomgarden and Sammy Westervelt of the Death Valley Girls
Stay on after the fun chat for the exclusive live cut of Abre Camino
Your day will be made more smiley by this experience.
Check out their Podcast - available on all major platforms!
Support their Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Deathvalleygirls?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan
Check out their bandcamp here:
https://deathvalleygirls.bandcamp.com/
Big ups to these heroes!

Aug 31, 2022
Aug 31, 2022
33 min
I was visiting the ocean. The ocean always transforms me.
I went to the market and faire. There I saw such fantastickal ART.
I saw animal-people and people-animals-both.
They were all the creations of someone named Holly who is Wildness by Design.
So, Something (rather than nothing) is happy to present Holly!
https://www.wildnessbydesign.com/about-holly/

Jul 28, 2022
Jul 28, 2022
1hr 8 min
Pamela Valfer still has my mind reeling on questions of space, time, art, philosophy and history. Check this episode out. Bonus: a lovely Kitty Craft song at the end.
Valfer's statement: "In my creative work I am interested in the politics of Space. I use a multidisciplinary approach (performance, installation, video and drawing) to reveal constructions of post-truth and our unconscious participation in mediated spaces. I actively draw upon historical moments to allow the viewer to unlock historical ideas, conflate them with similar political propositions being propagated today, and question their own role within these systems."
