How Curiosity Shapes Creativity, Learning, and Life | Emilio Williams

How Curiosity Shapes Creativity, Learning, and Life | Emilio Williams

What if the stories that shaped you are still trying to teach you something? In this episode, I’m joined by Emilio Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilio-williams-514aa0188/], award-winning playwright, educator, author, and lifelong learner, for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, creativity, community, and the importance of staying curious at every stage of life. We explore Emilio’s remarkable journey from Madrid to America, where he arrived with a suitcase and a dream of working for CNN, to his award-winning career as a playwright, educator, and mentor. Emilio shares how his love of theater, storytelling, and learning evolved over decades, leading him from journalism to playwriting, higher education, and now a doctorate program based in Paris. From creating artistic communities through The Blue Parrot in Chicago to mentoring emerging playwrights and developing open-source educational resources, Emilio reveals why meaningful conversations, collaboration, and generosity are essential to both art and life. We also discuss the challenges of maintaining focus in a world filled with distractions, the role of technology in modern communication, and why gathering around a table with food, ideas, and people we love remains one of life's greatest gifts. Grab a drink! This conversation will inspire you to embrace curiosity, nurture creativity, cultivate meaningful relationships, and continue learning no matter where you are in your journey. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro & welcome toast (01:16) Wine, friendship, and creative conversations (02:33) Why Emilio moved to Paris (07:36) Chasing a dream to work at CNN (11:00) Leaving journalism for the theater (14:04) The story behind The Blue Parrot (18:08) Building community through food and art (20:07) Inside Emilio's Paris playwright intensive (22:13) How Emilio spots a great play (26:36) Turning script feedback into a book (27:44) Making theater education free for all (30:25) The encyclopedia that shaped his life (33:44) Protecting focus in a distracted world (39:32) Why chosen family matters most (42:39) The actors every playwright needs Connect with me: Official website: https://www.backofyards.com/ [https://www.backofyards.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana [https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana]  Check out The Snugawinks of Cuddleton Falls: https://www.snugawinks.com [https://www.snugawinks.com]  Connect with my guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilio-williams-514aa0188/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilio-williams-514aa0188/]

How Storytelling Connects Us to History, Each Other, and Ourselves | Bianca Sams

What happens when creativity, history, and humanity collide in the hands of a gifted storyteller? In this episode, I’m joined by Bianca Sams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-sams-bb236a24/], playwright, TV writer, historian at heart, and creative force, for a deeply moving conversation about storytelling, forgotten history, creativity, and the courage to build your own path. We explore Bianca’s journey from acting to playwriting and television writing, and how her fascination with untold stories led her to research overlooked moments in American history. Bianca shares the inspiration behind her work, exploring the lives of unsung heroes like Claudette Colvin and Black World War II soldiers whose stories of love, sacrifice, and resilience were buried by history. From researching archives in Paris to writing for television and theater, Bianca explains how storytelling can bridge cultures, connect generations, and help people see themselves reflected in history. In this episode, she reveals the importance of preserving human stories, creating art with purpose, and refusing to wait for permission to pursue your creative calling. Grab a drink! This conversation will inspire you to think differently about history, storytelling, creativity, and the power of human connection. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro & welcome toast (01:08) Toasting friendship and storytelling (01:52) Meeting at Paris playwright workshop (03:44) Researching a WWII love story (06:47) The “wait, what?” story test (09:33) WWII romance shaped by racism (16:52) Writing others’ stories with care (20:25) Claudette Colvin before Rosa Parks (25:41) Unsung heroes who inspire change (29:07) Why history feels disconnected (29:40) Teaching history through human stories (31:17) Theater builds empathy through stories (33:01) Writing for stage and screen (36:06) Finding hope inside hard stories (38:29) One story, many storytelling formats (41:32) Start your own party (47:56) Legacy lives through human connection Connect with me: Official website: https://www.backofyards.com/ [https://www.backofyards.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana [https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana]  Check out The Snugawinks of Cuddleton Falls: https://www.snugawinks.com [https://www.snugawinks.com]  Connect with my guest: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-sams-bb236a24/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bianca-sams-bb236a24/]

Ashleigh Bergman: Building a Jewelry Brand with Heart and Soul

What happens when a love for jewelry and a passion for empowering others come together to create a thriving business? In this episode, I’m joined by Ashleigh Bergman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-cohen-bergman-5b220764/], founder of Milestones [http://www.ashleighbergman.com], jewelry entrepreneur, and creative powerhouse, for an inspiring conversation about turning passion into purpose, entrepreneurship, and the deeply personal connections jewelry can foster. We dive into Ashleigh’s journey from working at Fred Segal to becoming the senior jewelry buyer at Anthropologie, and how these experiences led her to launch her own brand, Milestones. Ashleigh shares how her deep-rooted love for jewelry, influenced by her family’s history, and her own entrepreneurial spirit propelled her to create a business that’s about much more than selling jewelry. From crafting meaningful connections with her clients to navigating the challenges of running a successful business, Ashleigh explains how Milestones is more than just a jewelry brand, it’s a community where personal growth, style, and authenticity shine through. In this episode, she reveals the importance of personalized customer service, maintaining authenticity, and the value of self-purchases in building confidence. Grab a drink! This conversation will inspire you to think differently about jewelry, business, and the magic of authenticity. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (03:52) Ashleigh's early jewelry origins and family (05:37) Working at Fred Segal at 14 (11:09) Building trust through online presence (14:07) The inspiration behind starting Milestones (17:25) Understanding the meaning behind Milestones (19:51) The value of buying jewelry for yourself (22:07) Repurposing family jewelry and passing it down (25:40) Keeping jewelry memories alive (29:15) Inner flame igniting outer sparkle (31:50) Stacking confidence with jewelry (34:02) Artistry in combining different pieces (36:23) Balancing legacy, family, and business (40:50) Real talk styling advice from Ashleigh (43:48) Meaningful heart heirloom and family ties (45:53) How Ruby got her name Connect with me: Official website: https://www.backofyards.com/ [https://www.backofyards.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana [https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana]  Check out The Snugawinks of Cuddleton Falls: https://www.snugawinks.com [https://www.snugawinks.com]  Connect with my guest: Official website: http://www.ashleighbergman.com [http://www.ashleighbergman.com]  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-cohen-bergman-5b220764/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleigh-cohen-bergman-5b220764/]

Alex Spitz: From Overwhelmed New Mom to Building a Nationwide Mom Support Community

What happens when a new mom turns isolation, anxiety, and overwhelm into a movement that supports mothers across the country?  In this episode, I’m joined by Alex Spitz [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraspitz/], entrepreneur, founder of New Mom School [https://newmomschool.com/], and mother of two, for an honest conversation about postpartum challenges, maternal mental health, and building the kind of support system most women never receive. We talk about her early experience with motherhood, where feelings of loneliness, relationship strain, and uncertainty led her to question everything, and how joining a simple mom group changed her life. Alex shares how that moment inspired her to create New Mom School, now a growing nationwide network that provides structured, research-based support for mothers during the first year postpartum. From soothing a crying baby to navigating feeding choices and emotional overwhelm, she explains how education and community can transform the motherhood experience. From scaling a business to 29 franchise locations to doing the inner work required to lead with empathy, this episode explores the realities of entrepreneurship while raising a family. Alex also reflects on identity, healing, and what it means to move from surviving motherhood to truly becoming within it. Grab a drink! This is a conversation that will change how you think about motherhood, support, and what women really need to thrive. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:34) Porch banter and iced tea obsession (03:51) Entering retreat while feeling broken (06:33) Feeling seen and supported by women (08:29) Finding emotional safety in coaching spaces (10:16) Postpartum isolation and early motherhood struggles (11:15) Middle school betrayal and lasting impact (12:16) Discovering power of mom support groups (12:58) New Mom School growth and expansion (13:17) Unexpected realities of early motherhood (19:04) Curriculum focused on supporting the mother (22:15) Group circles based on baby age (24:00) Instructor training and supporting new moms (25:54) Research based approach to mom groups (26:37) Rebuilding community and emotional support systems (27:16) Teaching baby soothing and early challenges (28:20) Feeding choices without guilt or shame (32:07) Mom guilt and emotional breaking points (35:28) Parenting trends and leading with empathy (38:18) Franchising challenges and letting go control (41:14) Building culture and supporting franchise moms (44:52) The gap in postpartum care system (46:21) Expanding access and insurance possibilities (51:29) Advice for new moms feeling lost Connect with me: Official website: https://www.backofyards.com/ [https://www.backofyards.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana [https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana]  Check out The Snugawinks of Cuddleton Falls: https://www.snugawinks.com [https://www.snugawinks.com]  Connect with my guest: Official website: https://newmomschool.com/ [https://newmomschool.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraspitz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraspitz/]

Arlene Malinowski on Growing Up With Deaf Parents and Finding Her Voice

What happens when a storyteller explores identity, language, and human connection across two worlds? In this episode, I’m joined by Arlene Malinowski [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arlene-malinowski-5921aab2/], Chicago playwright, performer, writer, and director of education and faculty for the Chicago Dramatists [https://www.chicagodramatists.org/] who grew up as a CODA, for an honest conversation about navigating life between deaf and hearing cultures, the power of storytelling, and how personal experience can become a bridge to empathy. We talk about the creation of her solo show (What Does the Sun Sound Like? [https://www.arlenemalinowski.com/what-does-the-sun-sound-like]) and book (Solo: The Everything Guide to Writing, Performing, and Producing Your One-Person Show [https://www.amazon.com/Solo-Everything-Performing-Producing-One-Person/dp/0810149710]), where deeply personal stories come to life through humor, vulnerability, and cultural insight. Arlene shares what it means to grow up translating not just language but emotion, how deaf storytelling traditions shaped her voice, and why stories have the power to transform how we see one another. From balancing art and making a living to investing in craft and finding purpose in creative work, this episode explores the realities of building a career rooted in passion and meaning. Arlene also reflects on family, belonging, and the moments that define who we are across different communities. Grab a seat! This is a conversation that will change how you think about communication, identity, and connection. Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (02:34) Growing up with deaf parents and early identity (03:19) What Does the Sun Sound Like and sensory imagination (06:37) Navigating code-switching between deaf and hearing worlds (11:22) Inside the deaf community and experiences in deaf church (13:54) What it really means to be CODA (child of deaf adults) (15:33) The origin of the show and the idea of coming home (19:24) How art, politics, and empathy intersect in storytelling (23:04) Traditions of storytelling within deaf culture (24:41) Figuring out a career path and creative direction (27:09) Balancing two tracks: passion and making a living (28:17) How a day job supports and fuels artistic work (28:54) The importance of investing time in craft (30:41) Why this book needed to be written (31:10) The creative dynamic behind the coauthor collaboration (33:17) What readers will take away from the book (34:38) The brain science behind why stories resonate (35:37) Transformation, meaning, and personal impact (38:58) Why solo shows create such strong audience connection (42:05) The “last sip” story and what it reveals (43:47) A sign language “meet the parents” moment (45:54) The “Penis Colada” story and its cultural context Connect with me: Official website: https://www.backofyards.com/ [https://www.backofyards.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana [https://www.instagram.com/muccidiana]  Check out The Snugawinks of Cuddleton Falls: https://www.snugawinks.com [https://www.snugawinks.com]  Connect with my guest: Official website: https://www.arlenemalinowski.com/ [https://www.arlenemalinowski.com/] Check out What Does the Sun Sound Like?: https://www.arlenemalinowski.com/what-does-the-sun-sound-like [https://www.arlenemalinowski.com/what-does-the-sun-sound-like] Check out Solo: The Everything Guide to Writing, Performing, and Producing Your One-Person Show: https://www.amazon.com/Solo-Everything-Performing-Producing-One-Person/dp/0810149710 [https://www.amazon.com/Solo-Everything-Performing-Producing-One-Person/dp/0810149710] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arlene-malinowski-5921aab2/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/arlene-malinowski-5921aab2/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arlenemalinowski/ [https://www.instagram.com/arlenemalinowski/]