Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!

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This conversation was recorded Live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday May 9th, 2026

Ep #113: Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah Shae

Summary

This 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.

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to the Episode

00:36 — Exploring Design and Creativity

20:33 — The Art of Storytelling Through Design

33:55 — Community Engagement and Activism

53:16 — People's Panther Party Updates & Free People's Press Launch

What We Talk About

How Aaliyah figured out she could do both : design and film and why "pick a lane" is not the only way to build a creative career

What 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 frames

How travel sparked her design eye — from a high school architecture program in Kentucky to France and Barcelona with her French class

The film Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Aaliyah's go-to visual inspiration and why she says just Google the images

Working in indie film vs. studio projects — and why she encourages every filmmaker to just write something and design the heck out of a room

How 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-treated

What 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 newspaper

Her advice for anyone who wants to start showing up for their community — it starts with listening, not with having it all figured out

Pilsen as a neighborhood — why she loves it and what it gets right about community

The crossover between film and activism — and how craft nights became a sneaky good way to build community

Things We Mentioned

People's Panther Party — Pilsen-based mutual aid organization

Free People's Press — their new quarterly community newspaper, available at Foxglove Coffee in Pilsen

Foxglove Coffee — woman-owned coffee shop in Pilsen

Aaliyah Shae's Website

Portrait of a Lady on Fire — French queer period film, Palme d'Or winner at Cannes; Aaliyah's visual inspo pick

CUSP — Chicago United Solidarity Project — organization that helped People's Panther Party secure a grant

Pilsen Arts & Community House — one of the few free creative spaces in Chicago Aaliyah mentions

Liberate Your Business — book by Becky Mollenkamp

All about... Aaliyah Shae

You'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 Shae

Instagram: @aaliyahshae

Website: aaliyahshae.com

People's Panther Party Instagram: @peoplespantherparty

People's Panther Party Website: peoplespantherparty.org

More ways to connect

Email: [email protected]

Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch

Check out my work

Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham

Listen to more episodes

Support & 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 the show

📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham

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 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 About

• What 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 matters
• How Love Fridge Chicago works, what it takes to maintain a fridge site, and why community buy-in is everything
• The difference between mutual aid and charity — and why Love Fridge isn't a nonprofit
• Horizontality, anarchist philosophy, and why Eric believes no one should be a billionaire
• Photographing people receiving food and why that's straight-up othering
• Printmaking as a democratic and political act — especially as a Black man in America
• Flatlands Press and why getting ideas into physical multiples matters
• That time a yoga studio started leaving flyers at a fridge site 🙄

Things We Mentioned

• Love Fridge Chicago
• Flatlands Press
• Mutual 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 Collection

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction to Eric Von Haynes and Love Fridge
• 02:21 - The Power of Mutual Aid
• 20:29 - Exploring Mutual Aid and Community Support
• 29:58 - The Importance of Community Engagement in Resource Distribution
• 38:26 - Exploring the Differences Between Mutual Aid and Charity
• 49:50 - Creating Diverse Spaces for Black Voices

All 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.com

Connect with Eric Von Haynes

• Website: flatlandspress.com
• Love Fridge Chicago: thelovefridge.com
• Eric’s Instagram: @manny_suena

More ways to connect:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch
• Check out my work
• Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham
• Listen to more episodes

Support & 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 the show

📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this

Episode 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 Here

Check out Denzell Turners Podcast "Black Fridays'

Chapters:

• 00:13 - Season Seven Reflection
• 00:30 - 31 Days of Black Business: A New Series
• 01:07 - Launching a New Initiative for Black Business Month
• 02:33 - Transitioning to New Content
• 02:53 - Reflections and Feedback
• 03:07 - Farewell and Future Conversations

More ways to connect:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch
• Check out my work
• Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham
• Listen to more episodes

Ep 110: What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later)

Summary

Season 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 About

• The five big themes that emerged across 22 conversations this season
• Redefining success and building creative lives on your own terms
• Why care is structural — not soft
• Archives, storytelling, and who gets remembered
• Environmental grief, creativity, and community work
• The messy middle of making art and showing up anyway
• What hosting Season 7 taught me during a challenging year

Chapters:

• 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 Journey

Things We Mentioned

• Lumpen Radio — 105.5 FM Chicago
• The Change Collective Fellowship
• Avalon Park Film House (the micro cinema project I'm dreaming up)
• Black Business Month (coming up in Season 9 👀)

More ways to connect:

• Email: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch
• Check out my work
• Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham
• Listen to more episodes

Support & Feedback

noseyAF 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 this

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Segment 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 Rosen

Summary:

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:

1. 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 fairs
2. The 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 handwriting
3. Ann's personal history with addiction and trauma, and how it informs her empathy-driven approach to social justice photography
4. The ethics and logistics of photographing vulnerable populations — model releases, privacy, and consent
5. What photography can do that other forms of activism can't, and advice for photographers wanting to do community-centered work

Chapters:

• 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 Relations

All 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:

1. Housing Plus — organization supporting women experiencing homelessness and those transitioning out of incarceration
2. Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn
3. CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY — upcoming solo show in November
4. Brooklyn Arts Council — grant funding source for Ann's work
5. Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY — Ann's graduate school

Noteworthy 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 Ann

Instagram: @annrosenphotography

Website: annrosen.com

Connect with Stephanie

Instagram: @stephaniegraham

Email: [email protected]

Check out my art and projects

Enjoy my work? Join my studio newsletter

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Episode Credits:

Produced and Hosted by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Edited by: Risha Brown

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 108: Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole Havelka

Welcome 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 About

Okay, so pull up a chair — this one goes places.

1. How Nicole went from overachiever to burnout recovery coach (and what growing up in Omaha, Nebraska had to do with it)
2. Why hustle culture is literally designed for you to fail — and why that's not your fault
3. Burnout in ministry and why being "on call 24/7" is just not human
4. What COVID quietly taught us about the power of saying no
5. The seven types of rest from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith — sleep is just ONE of them
6. How planning your calendar with your values first changes everything
7. Why ADHD and neurodivergent folks need planning systems that actually work for their brains
8. The Calm Calendar Club: what it is, how it works, and who it's for
9. Why "you're not failing the system — you're just trying to do too much"
10. The radical act of rest as resistance, especially for Black women (shoutout to Tricia Hersey's Rest Is Resistance)
11. Doing your part in activism and community work — without burning yourself all the way down

Things We Mentioned

Calm Calendar Club — Nicole's program for planning your life around your energy and values → defythetrend.com/calm-calendar

Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — Nicole's podcast

Rest 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.com

Chapters:

• 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 Hobbies

All About... Nicole Havelka

You'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.com

Sponsor 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.com

Connect with Nicole Havelka

Website: defythetrend.com

Calm Calendar Club: defythetrend.com/calm-calendar

Podcast: Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals

Substack: https://defythetrend.substack.com/

More ways to connect:

Email: [email protected]

Check out my work

Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham

Listen to more episodes

Support & Feedback

Share noseyAF with friends

Rate & Review the Show

Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #:107 The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson

Summary of the episode

Public 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 about

1. What introverted leadership looks like in practice
2. Why public speaking anxiety is so common
3. How preparation and self-awareness improve communication
4. Cultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show up
5. Personal branding and navigating competitive job markets
6. Rethinking genius, education, and how people learn

Chapters

1. 00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership
2. 09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice
3. 19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship
4. 32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market
5. 46:09 – Exploring Genius and Education

Things We Mentioned

1. Speak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnson
2. https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/2023/11/speak-an.html

All about… Mahlena-Rae Johnson

Speaker, 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 Johnson

Instagram: @mahlenasguidetolife

Website: https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/

Book: Speak Anyway

Connect with Stephanie

1. Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter
2. Listen to more episodes

Support & Feedback

1. Share Nosey AF with friends
2. Rate & Review the Show
3. Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art

Episode Credits

Hosted by: Stephanie Graham

Edited By Risha Brown

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Ep # 106: Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a Year

This episode was recorded live on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at Lumpen Radio.

Summary of the episode

In 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)

1. Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)
2. Why consistency beats perfection every time
3. Building Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohort
4. How community makes better art (and better artists)
5. Briana’s journey from the Navy to film school
6. Mentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedback
7. The dream of friendship-centered dramedies
8. Releasing work publicly — even when it feels scary

Things We Mentioned

1. Filmmakers Mixtape
2. League of Their Own Chicago
3. Brain Studios
4. Lumpen Radio

All about... Briana Clearly

You’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 Filmmaking

Sponsor 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.com

Connect with Briana Clearly

1. Instagram: @brianaclearly
2. Filmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtape
3. Website: https://www.brianaclearly.com/

More ways to connect:

1. Email: [email protected]
2. Check out my work
3. Follow me on Instagram
4. Listen to more episodes

Support & Feedback

1. Share noseyAF with friends
2. Rate & Review the Show
3. Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller

What 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 statement

Values: 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 become

Third 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 in

The "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 real

Adapt 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 membership

Practical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous matters

Leadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotes

Chapters:

• 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 Why

Things We Mentioned

Third 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 project

Soho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third space

Ray 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

Instagram

Website

Community Impact Collective

Connect with Stephanie

Check out my work

Follow me on Instagram

Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter

Listen to more episodes

Support & Feedback

Share noseyAF with friends

Rate & Review the Show

Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art

Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha Brown

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!

This Conversation was recorded live for Lumpen Radio

Ep #104: Joe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum

SUMMARY

What does care really look like — beyond Valentine's Day chocolates and heart-shaped cards? In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with Joe Schupbach, a mission-driven educator, theater maker, and instructional coach with over two decades of experience in public education, nonprofits, and community-centered theater. Together they explore care as a daily practice: in classrooms, in collaborative creative spaces, in our neighborhoods, and in ourselves.

Joe shares how he stumbled into creative leadership, what trauma-informed teaching really means in practice, and why experiential learning matters more than ever in today's schools. The conversation moves through faith and identity, the joys of cooking as connection, and ends with a rallying call to get nosy about your local schools — and to support live, in-person art.

WHAT WE GET INTO 💬

You know when a conversation just goes everywhere in the best way? That's this one. Here's a taste of what Joe and Steph cover:

00:26 — Introduction to noseyAF

01:15 — Care as a daily ritual: not just something you perform on Valentine's Day, but how it shows up in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and community spaces every single day

08:35 — How Joe accidentally fell into creative leadership — starting as a teaching artist right out of college and slowly becoming the person leading the room

18:06 — What trauma-informed teaching actually looks like on the ground, and why instructional coaches like Joe are changing the game in Chicago high schools

27:02 — Art-making during and after COVID-19 — how the pandemic forced a reckoning with what live, communal performance means and why it still matters

32:29 — Faith, identity, and how the personal bleeds into the professional for educators and artists alike

41:43 — Cooking as a love language: a genuinely delightful tangent about how preparing food for people is one of the most caring acts you can do

53:11 — How non-parents and non-teachers can meaningfully support local educators — including the surprisingly powerful role of Local School Councils (LSCs)

THINGS WE MENTIONED 🔗

Embarc Chicago — Joe's organization, working with 17 high schools in the Chicago area → embarcchicago.org

josephschupbach.com— Joe's personal site for artistic work, directing, and collaborations

Change Collective Fellowship — the leadership program Joe and Stephanie both participated in

Looking Glass Theatre — one of Joe's longtime artistic collaborators

PlayMakers Laboratory, The Neo-Futurists, The Ruffians, Salonathon, The Paper Machete — Chicago theater orgs Joe has worked with

DonorsChoose — mentioned as a way to directly support classroom supply needs

Local School Councils (LSCs) — the elected, community-based governing bodies of every Chicago Public School (and yes, you can be on one even if you don't have kids in the school!)

ALL ABOUT JOE SCHUPBACH 🎭

You're gonna love Joe — he's a two-MFA-having, theater-making, trauma-informed teaching wizard who genuinely believes care is the foundation of everything.

Joe Schupbach is an educator, writer, and director with 22 years of experience in public education, experimental community-based theatre, and nonprofit administration. He is a facilitator and instructional coach and currently serves as Head of Experiential Coaching at Embarc. Joe has been a frequent artistic collaborator with The Midwives, The Neo-Futurists, The Paper Machete, PlayMakers Laboratory, Pocket Guide To Hell, The Ruffians, and Salonathon. Joe holds two MFAs and is a proud Chicago Public Schools graduate. He was a 2024 fellow with Change Collective and is currently leading the Chicago Cohort of Change Collective fellows.

SPONSOR SHOUTOUT 💖

Come work with us at Artist Admin Hour , and get your work done.

CONNECT WITH JOE

Website: josephschupbach.com

Instagram: @joeschupbach

More ways to connect:

Email: [email protected]

Check out my work

Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham

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Support & Feedback

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Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Ep #103: Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace

Summary of the Episode

What really happens after you move abroad and the honeymoon phase wears off?

In this episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham sits down with writer and community-builder Stephanie Rubinato to talk honestly about mental health for expats, postpartum depression, and the emotional realities of building a life far from home. Living abroad is often portrayed as dreamy and effortless—but this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s usually left out.

Stephanie shares her personal experience navigating postpartum depression after moving to Italy, the isolation many immigrants and expats feel, and why community care is just as important as cultural immersion. Together, they unpack slow living, creative burnout, friendship shifts, and what it really takes to build meaningful support systems abroad.

This episode is a grounding, honest reminder that moving overseas doesn’t magically solve everything—and that seeking help, sharing resources, and building community is part of the journey.

What We Talk About

(aka: the real stuff you don’t see on Instagram 🇮🇹)

1. Mental health challenges for immigrants, expats, and digital nomads
2. Postpartum depression while living abroad
3. The gap between “aesthetic expat life” and reality
4. Building community through Moved With Peace
5. Slow living, self-trust, and creative rhythms
6. Friendship shifts, boundaries, and nourishment
7. Why vulnerability is a form of survival (not weakness)

Chapters

00:08 – Introduction to the Guest

03:07 – Navigating Mental Health Challenges as an Expat

22:32 – Navigating the Creative Chaos

35:51 – Building Community Abroad

39:51 – Navigating Friendships and Family Dynamics

Things We Mentioned

Moved With Peace – Stephanie’s community-centered project for immigrants and expats

Therapy resources & finding culturally aligned mental health support abroad

Slow living, journaling, affirmations, and grounding practices

The upcoming Italian Reset Retreat (launching 2027)

All about… Stephanie Rubinato

You’re gonna love Stephanie Rubinato — she’s a writer, community-builder, and calm-in-the-chaos type of creative.

Stephanie Rubinato is a writer and content strategist living in Italy, creating honest, grounded stories through Moved With Peace and Stephanie Rubinato Media. Her work centers slow living, self-trust, mental health, and building community—especially for immigrants and expats navigating life far from home. Through her writing, video projects, and upcoming retreats, Stephanie reminds us that we don’t have to do it all—we just have to do what’s real.

Connect with Stephanie Rubinato

Instagram: @movedwithpeace

Website: movedwithpeace.com

YouTube: Moved With Peace

Connect with Stephanie

Check out my work

Follow me on Instagram

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Support & Feedback

Share noseyAF with friends

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Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted by Me, Stephanie

Edited By: Risha Brown

Cover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrick

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam