What do you do for fun and when was the last time you had it?

What if I told you fun would make you a better parent, partner, friend and even better at your job!

⁠Dr Mike Rucker⁠ is an Organisational psychologist and author of the book - The Fun Habit joins me to talk about the importance of fun in our lives.

We talk about so much in this episode including:

• what fun is
• how Mike went from focusing on happiness to fun,
• one of the best stories you’ll ever hear about a mis-sent email ever
• can fun really become a habit and why it needs to be
• which cultures seem to have the best fun 
• and Mike’s top three tips for getting more fun in your life

Grab The Fun Habit in all good bookstores, and also head over to ⁠Dr Mike Rucker’s website⁠ for a whole range of anecdotes and further tools for getting more fun in your life. 

Also if you have a friend in your life who you maybe want to have more fun with, share this episode with them and let them know, good times are on the horizon!

The episode opens with what I’ve been finding about the different age groups when I ask them about fun, and I wonder, how do you compare?

This podcast is hosted and produced by Willy Russo and comes to you from the land of the Darkinjung people.

LIFE | My name is Willy Russo and chances are, you’re tuned in here for art content. As much as I love art and talking with creatives, over the summer I’ve worked on a couple of side episodes that I thought I would bring to you as a little holiday listening. 

These are not specifically art related. They are life related.

I am going to start to label the podcast with ART or LIFE straight up so you know if it’s an episode you want to tune in to. 

This first one is a celebration of a project I launched 10 years ago. I recently had three separate enquiries about it which made me think, maybe I need to revisit it. 

It’s a pretty personal project and most of you would know if you follow me here or on my socials, I don’t really talk about me. So it feels a little strange bringing this out.

Ten years ago I wrote a nonfiction book, a collection of stories about women who never gave birth to children of their own. The book’s called Couldn’t Wouldn’t Didn’t, insights into the lives of women who never gave birth. It's under my maiden name, Falkenhagen.

In this summer episode of the podcast, I thought I would read you the introduction. I am the 11th chapter in the book. Which can I tell you, re-reading it recently made me nauseous! And I wonder if for you, when you see some of your early creative projects you’re like, what was I thinking?!

You can grab the book now, it’s available on Amazon, that’s the cheapest place to find it. 

Podcast production and hosting by Willy Russo.

@wilamina_russo

Mid year holiday episode!

Sophie Vander is the Director and Founder of Curatorial + Co.

Curatorial + Co have built a solid reputation placing contemporary artwork within residential and commercial architecture and the public domain. They also have a thriving Art Consultancy business, working with a strong network of interior designers and architects.

Willy and Sophie talk about:

• her enduring love for art and the realisation she was never going to be an artist
• artist websites and what you need to have on them
• the most recent artist to join the gallery
• the role art fairs such as The Other Art Fair have in an emerging artists career
• and much more

___________________________

One-on-one mentoring, tailored to your artistic practice opens up again in January 2024, for further information head to www.wilaminarusso.com and sign up the monthly newsletter helping artists take the right next step - The Next Step

Interview With An Artist is hosted by Willy (Wilamina) Russo and produced by Cameron Furlong. 

Artist Susie Choi connected with her artistic love in a round about way. There was a kids party. There were decorations. And then before she knew it, she was enrolling at National Art School and ripping up the carpet in the nursery to turn it into a studio. Susie joins Willy Russo for the final episode of season one of Two Red Chairs.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator Willy Russo with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

Sophie Victoria is the Breaking Bad of the art world. Backyard chemistry with her uncle has led to a love affair with her art practice with stunning results. Sophie joins Willy Russo for Two Red Chairs talking about her relationship to her practice and how to keep the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator Willy Russo with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

Kim Leutwyler wants to take their art to Mexico for a cute date on the beach and we want to go with them! Kim and Willy chat about the benefits of having a day job, the experience of going full time into art, and how Kim deals with their tendency to go all-in and forget about the outside world. And as with each guest, Kim give's their top tip for keeping the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is hosted by artist mentor and content creator Willy (Wilamina) Russo with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

The power of journalling. An art store clairvoyant, of sorts. Ash Holmes, artist and Founder of HAKE House, joins Willy in the chairs talking about her relationship to her art and how she keeps the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator Wilamina (Willy) Russo, with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

Is this a toxic relationship? Ethical non-monogamy. Four pieces of advice that hold the pillars of a house up that keep a practice going - Jamie Preisz joins Willy Russo on Two Red Chairs to talk all things keeping the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by Willy (Wilamina) Russo, with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

Put on a good tune and shimmy your way back into the good books. That's just one piece of advice Sarah McDonald shares this week on her long lasting relationship with her art practice and how to keep the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator Wilamina Russo, with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

The piano might be his side love, but painting and drawing will always hold top spot. Michael Simms joins Willy Russo to talk through the love he has for his practice and how he keep the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator Wilamina (Willy) Russo with filming and production by Sean Hatzinikolaou.

Dee Smart⁠ and creativity have an eternal love affair. It may have morphed over the years but it continues to burn bright. Dee walks Willy Russo through the relationship evolution and gives her top tip for keeping the passion alive in the studio.

Two Red Chairs is created and hosted by artist mentor and content creator ⁠Wilamina (Willy) Russo⁠ with filming and production by ⁠Sean Hatznikolaou⁠.