NoseyAF Podcast
Stephanie Graham
Artist and Filmmaker Stephanie Graham digs deep with people who are nothing like her.
- 49 minutes 22 secondsNeighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann Rosen
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:
- 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
- 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
- Ann's personal history with addiction and trauma, and how it informs her empathy-driven approach to social justice photography
- The ethics and logistics of photographing vulnerable populations — model releases, privacy, and consent
- 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:
- Housing Plus — organization supporting women experiencing homelessness and those transitioning out of incarceration
- Five Myles Gallery, Brooklyn
- CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY — upcoming solo show in November
- Brooklyn Arts Council — grant funding source for Ann's work
- 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]
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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
24 March 2026, 9:00 am - 1 hour 5 minutesYour Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole Havelka
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.
- 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 fault
- Burnout in ministry and why being "on call 24/7" is just not human
- What COVID quietly taught us about the power of saying no
- The seven types of rest from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith — sleep is just ONE of them
- How planning your calendar with your values first changes everything
- Why ADHD and neurodivergent folks need planning systems that actually work for their brains
- The Calm Calendar Club: what it is, how it works, and who it's for
- Why "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 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]
Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
17 March 2026, 9:00 am - 52 minutes 11 secondsThe Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson
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
- What introverted leadership looks like in practice
- Why public speaking anxiety is so common
- How preparation and self-awareness improve communication
- Cultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show up
- Personal branding and navigating competitive job markets
- Rethinking genius, education, and how people learn
Chapters
- 00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership
- 09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice
- 19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship
- 32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market
- 46:09 – Exploring Genius and Education
Things We Mentioned
- Speak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnson
- 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
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Hosted by: Stephanie Graham
Edited By Risha Brown
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick
11 March 2026, 2:30 am - 1 hour 2 minutesConsistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a Year
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)
- Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)
- Why consistency beats perfection every time
- Building Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohort
- How community makes better art (and better artists)
- Briana’s journey from the Navy to film school
- Mentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedback
- The dream of friendship-centered dramedies
- Releasing work publicly — even when it feels scary
Things We Mentioned
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
- Instagram: @brianaclearly
- Filmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtape
- Website: https://www.brianaclearly.com/
More ways to connect:
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
3 March 2026, 9:00 am - 54 minutes 26 secondsWhy Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller
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
Connect with Stephanie
Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha Brown
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
24 February 2026, 9:00 am - 1 hour 17 secondsJoe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum
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]
Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
17 February 2026, 9:00 am - 45 minutesMental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace
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 🇮🇹)
- Mental health challenges for immigrants, expats, and digital nomads
- Postpartum depression while living abroad
- The gap between “aesthetic expat life” and reality
- Building community through Moved With Peace
- Slow living, self-trust, and creative rhythms
- Friendship shifts, boundaries, and nourishment
- 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
Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted by Me, Stephanie
Edited By: Risha Brown
Cover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrick
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
10 February 2026, 9:00 am - 51 minutes 37 secondsGetting Dressed Is Identity Work How Personal Style Opens Doors with Stylist Kyla
Ep #102: Getting Dressed Is Identity Work How Personal Style Opens Doors with Stylist Kyla
Summary of the episode
Ever had a full-blown meltdown trying to figure out what to wear? Personal stylist Kyla gets it—and she's here to tell you that your closet struggles go way deeper than just "not having the right clothes." In this episode, we're diving into the psychology of personal style, why taking your image seriously is actually a power move (not vanity), and how getting dressed every single day is identity work in disguise.
Kyla shares her journey from tech career to personal styling, breaks down why smart women absolutely DO care about their appearance, and explains how your closet might be signaling things about you that you didn't even realize. We talk about the "sexy Trinity," why you should only shop four times a year (yes, really), and how showing up ready to be seen has opened doors Kyla never expected. If you've ever felt invisible, stuck in leggings, or like your wardrobe doesn't match who you're becoming, this conversation is for you.
What we're getting into
- Why correcting people on your name is actually about claiming your presence (and how Kyla turned it into a whole brand)
- The connection between personal style and leadership—and why the "charismatic guy" gets ahead while brilliant women stay in the background
- How your closet reveals your mental state (spoiler: if it's cluttered, your mind probably is too)
- The three S's of feeling sexy: skin, support, and subject (aka the sexy Trinity)
- Why you should NEVER shop more than four times a year
- The difference between transactional styling and transformational styling
- How to build a mix-and-matchable wardrobe that actually serves you
- Why talent isn't enough—and how Kyla's style helped her land opportunities she never saw coming
- The real reason you have a closet full of clothes but "nothing to wear"
Chapters:
• 00:18 - Introducing Kyla: A New Perspective on Fashion
• 06:01 - The Journey of Identity and Image
• 19:12 - The Psychology of Personal Style
• 28:27 - Understanding Consumerism and Personal Style
• 45:11 - The Power of Style and Presence
Things We Mentioned
- Kyla's Closet Essentials Checklist - $2 resource with styling lesson (available at kylanotkayla.com)
- Master Class on Feeling Sexy - Kyla's course on the three S's of sexy style
- The Sexy Trinity: Skin, Support, Subject
- Capsule Wardrobe concept - Cyclical seasonal approach to your closet
- Fashion Psychology - The real psychological impact of what you wear
- Tech industry & remote work culture - Kyla's background before styling
- The Caribbean - Where Kyla spent two years before returning to the US
All about Kyla
You're gonna love Kyla—she's a personal stylist, former tech professional, and the woman behind "It's Kyla Not Kayla." She's equal parts practical systems guru (Virgo Moon energy) and woo-woo manifestation queen, and she truly believes your style is the biggest manifestation tool you have at any price point. Kyla helps creative women show up ready to be seen through transformational styling that goes way beyond just picking out cute outfits. She's all about identity work, closet psychology, and making sure you're the subject—not the object—in your own life.
Connect with Kyla
- Website: kylanotkayla.com
- Instagram: @itskylanotkayla
Noteworthy Quotes
"You can be wildly successful at something you were never meant to do."
"Smart women don't avoid caring about their appearance—they're strategic about it."
"Every day when you get dressed, it is the daily practice of identity work. Who am I being? Who am I becoming?"
"If your closet is cluttered, your mind is cluttered. If you are hiding in dull or shapeless clothing, you're trying to hide."
"Style is not supposed to be a costume. It's supposed to be something that supports you through your life."
"Your style is the biggest manifestation tool that you have at your disposal at any price point, at any stage in life."
"Stay ready so you don't have to get ready."
"Nobody should be shopping more than four times a year. It's a hill I'm willing to die on."
Connect with Stephanie
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced and hosted by me!
Edited by Risha Brown
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
Cover Art and Branding: Emma McGoldrick
3 February 2026, 9:00 am - 1 hour 15 minutesFreedom, Flexibility, and Filling the Gap: How Melquea Smith Built a Creative Life Through Children's Book Illustration
Ep #101: Freedom, Flexibility, and Filling the Gap: How Melquea Smith Built a Creative Life Through Children's Book Illustration
Summary
In this episode, I sit down with Melquea Smith, a children's book illustrator, author, and world traveler who's redefining what it means to build a creative life on your own terms. Fresh off five weeks in Belgium (with cats and a chicken!), Melquea shares how losing her nonprofit job became the catalyst for going full-time as an illustrator, why representation in children's books matters deeply, and how she's scaling her art through Brown Sugar Graphics—a clip art membership celebrating Black and Brown kids in all their beautiful diversity.
We get into the nitty-gritty of how picture books actually get made, what authors should look for when hiring an illustrator, and why visual storytelling is so much more than "just drawing." Plus, Melquea drops gems on building a sustainable creative business, navigating perfectionism, and finding alignment between your work, your values, and your joy.
If you've ever wondered what goes into those gorgeous picture books, dreamed of going location-independent as a creative, or just need permission to imagine a different way of living—this one's for you.
Chapters
- 00:19 - Introducing Melquea Smith: A Visionary in Children's Literature
- 10:13 - Navigating Change: Embracing Freedom and Creativity
- 20:00 - Transitioning to Children's Illustration
- 35:06 - The Importance of Representation in Children's Literature
- 56:41 - The Journey of Creating Diverse Clip Art
- 01:02:01 - The Creative Journey of Brown Sugar Graphics
What We Talk About
- How Melquea networked like a pro at the American Library Association Conference with custom postcards and a manuscript wish list
- Losing a job in the nonprofit world and choosing full-time illustration instead of going back to corporate
- Living and working abroad: five weeks in Belgium, falling in love with the Netherlands, and becoming a global citizen
- The actual process of illustrating a children's book—from thumbnails to color scripting to final art
- Why illustrators aren't just "drawers"—they're visual storytellers, marketers, and business owners
- The severe lack of diverse, high-quality clip art featuring Black and Brown kids
- How Brown Sugar Graphics is filling that gap with joyful, authentic representations of kids with different skin tones, hair textures, body types, abilities, and more
- What authors should know before hiring an illustrator (hint: it's not just about the art)
- The power of email lists, the exhaustion of social media, and showing up where it matters most
Things We Mentioned
- American Library Association (ALA) Conference – A major event for librarians, publishers, and children's book creators
- Manuscript Wish List (MSWL) – A tool agents, editors, and illustrators use to share what kinds of projects they're looking for
- Room to Read – An organization fighting illiteracy globally; Melquea illustrated Two Homes in Omar's Heart for them
- The Biggest Gift of All – Picture book illustrated by Melquea, written by Luda Goglushko, published by Cluedus Press
- The Time Machine – Picture book illustrated by Melquea, written by Pauline David Sachs, published by Cardinal Rule Press
- DeviantArt – An early online platform for artists (nostalgic vibes for millennials!)
- Dream Machine Course by Chris Oatley – The course that helped Melquea choose her creative path
- Liz Wilcox's Email Marketing Membership – The inspiration behind Melquea's membership model
- Brown Sugar Graphics – Melquea's clip art membership featuring diverse illustrations of Black and Brown kids ($9/month)
- IngramSpark – A self-publishing platform for authors
- Teacher Pay Teachers – A marketplace for educational resources
- Little Women Atlanta – Reality TV show Stephanie loves (and a great example of representation mattering!)
All About Melquea Smith
You're gonna love Melquea—she's a children's book illustrator, author, full-time creative, and certified world traveler who's all about Black and Brown joy, imagination, and possibility on the page. With over two decades of illustration experience and a background in nonprofit fundraising, she brings storytelling, strategy, and serious skill to every project. She's illustrated multiple picture books, co-founded a local cosplay group, rocks blue box braids and piercings with pride, and is currently plotting her move to the Netherlands. Basically, she's living proof that you can build a creative life that's aligned with your values, your body, and your joy.
Connect with Melquea Smith
- Website: prettykittypaintings.com (click the pink "Surprise" button for 3 free illustrations!)
- Brown Sugar Graphics: Join the membership for $9/month and get weekly diverse clip art featuring Black and Brown kids
- Instagram: Follow Melquea for behind-the-scenes illustration work, travel stories, and creative business insights
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More Ways to Connect
- Email: [email protected]
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Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced and Hosted by Stephanie
Edited by: Risha Brown
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
noseyAF Cover Art and Branding by: Emma McGoldrick
20 January 2026, 9:00 am - 1 hour 1 minuteChicago Artist Deirdre Fox on Turning Plastic Waste into Environmental Art & Visual Poetry
This conversation was recorded live at Lumpen Radio in Chicago on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
Ep # 100: Chicago Artist Deirdre Fox on Turning Plastic Waste into Environmental Art & Visual Poetry
Summary of the episode
Chicago-based artist Deirdre Fox joins noseyAF for a live, unedited conversation from 105.5 FM Lumpen Radio about art, plastic waste, and environmental consciousness. Deirdre’s practice transforms discarded consumer packaging into drawings, fiber works, and installations that challenge how we think about disposability, permanence, and material value.
In this episode, host Stephanie Graham talks with Deirdre about her artistic journey, the idea of visual poetry, and how mindfulness—both in making and consuming—shapes her work. Together, they explore the tension between organic and synthetic materials, the limits of recycling, and the role artists play in addressing environmental responsibility through creative practice.
This conversation invites listeners to slow down, look closer, and reconsider the materials that move through their everyday lives.
What we talk about
- Transforming plastic consumer packaging into drawings, fiber works, and installations
- Visual poetry and storytelling through material
- Mindfulness, consumption, and environmental responsibility
- The evolution of Deirdre’s artistic practice from representational to abstract work
- Making art that lives in the tension between permanence and disposability
Chapters:
• 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF
• 02:30 - Deirdre's Artistic Journey with Plastic Waste
• 15:20 - Reflecting on Pouch Cove
• 29:36 - Finding One's Voice in Art
• 42:56 - Balancing Time and Creativity
• 52:13 - Exploring Artistic Processes and Sustainability
• 58:43 - Exploring Artistic Collaborations
All about… Deirdre Fox
You’re gonna love Deirdre they’re a Chicago-based artist turning everyday plastic waste into visually refined, quietly radical works of environmental reflection.
Deirdre Fox crochets and weaves plastic consumer packaging into drawings, fiber pieces, and drawing installations. Her work functions as personal gestures of environmental consciousness, rooted in the understanding that plastics made for convenience—like single-use bags—last far longer than intended, and that recycling alone is not an adequate solution.
Her practice questions systems of built-in obsolescence and accumulated waste, while creating visual poems that hold time, care, and material awareness. Deirdre has exhibited at FlexSpace Riverside Art Center, Hyde Park Art Center, Boundary Chicago, Evanston Art Center, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Koehnline Museum of Art Gallery, and the Swedish American Museum, among others. She has received multiple grants from the City of Chicago and the Illinois Arts Council and maintains her studio at Mana Contemporary Chicago.
Sponsor Shoutout 💖
This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour
Get your work done with structure, with company. Check out Artist Admin Hour at missgraham.com/artistadminhour
Connect with Deirdre Fox
- Instagram: @deirdre_fox_art
- Website: http://www.artbydado.com/
Connect with Stephanie
Support & Feedback
Episode Credits
Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)
Recorded Live at Lumpen Radio
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
Cover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrick
13 January 2026, 9:00 am - 58 minutes 52 secondsThe Rise of Women’s Sports, NIL Money, and the Power of the Everyday Athlete
EP# 99 The Rise of Women’s Sports, NIL Money, and the Power of the Everyday Athlete with Angela Hollowell
✨ Episode Summary
Women’s sports are having a moment — and it’s about time.
In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with filmmaker, writer, and Melanin MVP founder Angela Hollowell to talk about the rise of women’s sports, the impact of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) money, and why the idea of the “everyday athlete” might change how we think about movement altogether.
We get into how women athletes, especially women of color, are finally getting visibility, how branding and social media have reshaped college and pro sports, and why athleticism doesn’t have to look one specific way. From glam on the court to cycling for joy, this conversation explores how creativity, confidence, and culture show up in sports — and in life.
If you’ve ever thought “sports aren’t really for me,” this episode might change your mind.
🗣️ What We Get Into
- Why women’s sports are finally getting real attention
- How NIL money changed the game for college athletes
- What an “everyday athlete” actually is — and why it matters
- Glam, femininity, and breaking outdated ideas of athleticism
- The pressure young athletes face in the age of social media
- Filmmaking, creativity, and finding balance without burning out
⏱️ Chapters
- 00:11 — Welcome & setting the scene
- 00:35 — The rise of women’s sports + NIL money
- 11:22 — How Melanin MVP came to be
- 17:06 — Everyday athletes & redefining movement
- 23:19 — Reality TV, Alabama, and cultural detours
- 27:30 — Documentary filmmaking & creative process
- 37:14 — Balance, focus, and doing less better
- 46:03 — Sports relationships & team dynamics
- 48:24 — Melanin MVP Awards brainstorm 👀
- 55:54 — The yearbook idea & what’s next
🔗 Things We Mentioned
- Melanin MVP – Newsletter + podcast spotlighting women athletes of color
- The Melanin MVP Cross-Training Quiz (not for the weak, apparently 😭)
- NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) legislation
🌟 All About Angela Hollowell
You’re gonna love Angela — she’s thoughtful, hilarious, deeply intentional, and casually changing how we think about sports and storytelling.
Angela Hollowell is the founder of Rootful Media, a creative documentary film production company based in Durham, North Carolina. She’s also the host of the video podcasts Honey & Hustle and Melanin MVP.
Her work centers Southern voices and explores the outdoors, health equity, environmental justice, and social impact — all through a thoughtful, culture-forward lens. Beyond filmmaking, Angela helps visual storytellers and creative entrepreneurs grow their audience and build meaningful creative businesses.
When she’s not working, you can find her outside, on a bike, or enjoying a fruity beer or margarita with friends 🍹.
🔌 Connect with Angela
- Instagram: @honeyhustlepod
- Website: https://www.angelahollowell.com/
- Newsletter / Podcast: Melanin MVP
👋🏾 Connect with Stephanie
- ✨ Check out my work
- 📸 Follow me on Instagram
- 💌 Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter
- 🎧 Listen to more episodes
🫶🏾 Support the Show
🎬 Episode Credits
Produced, hosted, by me, Stephanie
Lyrics: Queen Lex
Episode Edited by: Risha Brown
Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam
6 January 2026, 9:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App