Bloom & Build: The Art of Turning Craft to Commerce

Season Finale: Lessons Learned with Katin

As we wrap up Season One of Bloom and Build, Katin reflects on the lessons she has learned with her eight wonderful podcast guests. Katiin also shares a new venture for Made by Katin: The Bloom Box by Katin.

Elevating Voices: The Art and Activism of Steve Galindo

In this episode of Bloom and Build, host Katin Sarner sits down with Steve Galindo, a Los Angeles-based artist, curator, and arts consultant. Steve shares their inspiring journey from volunteering at AIDS Walk LA in high school to building a career that amplifies underrepresented voices in the art world, particularly those of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. They discuss the intersection of art, activism, and entrepreneurship, offering invaluable advice for emerging artists on finding their creative voice, forming meaningful partnerships, and navigating the ever-evolving landscape of art and fashion. This conversation is a celebration of resilience, community, and the transformative power of art.

Capturing Connection: Havana Garrett on Photography and Storytelling

In this episode of the Bloom and Build podcast, Katin interviews Havana Garrett, a photographer and filmmaker from Boise, Idaho. Havana shares her journey from experimenting with photography during the pandemic to capturing moments at New York Fashion Week. They dive into her sensory ethnographic project, Pretend I'm Not Here, her experiences at Prague Film School, and how she uses 35mm photography to explore human connections. Tune in for insights into Havana's artistic process, her career aspirations, and advice for emerging creatives.

Textiles and Tales: Raquel’s Exploration of Family and Nature Through Art

In this episode of Bloom and Build, host Katin Sarner interviews Afro-Latina multimedia artist Raquel da Silva. Raquel shares their journey from sewing and crocheting with their grandmother to discovering a love for etching while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. They discuss the role of textiles in storytelling, the challenges of stepping outside their comfort zone, and the importance of patience and problem-solving in art. Raquel also reflects on how family history and nature inspire their work, offering insights into balancing creativity with life’s transitions. This heartfelt conversation explores the beauty of art as a means to connect generations and share narratives.

Finding the Story You Just Can’t Walk Away From: A Conversation with Mary Morris

In this episode of Bloom and Build, Katin sits down with award-winning author and memoirist Mary Morris to talk about the long game of building a creative life. We dive into the realities of rejection, the persistence it takes to keep writing through uncertainty, and how to balance art with the practicalities of making a living. Mary shares unforgettable stories—from her early days as a young writer with boxes full of journals to the moment her colleague Toni Morrison won the Nobel Prize—and the quiet discipline that carried her through decades of writing. She also offers heartfelt advice for aspiring writers and artists trying to monetize their craft without losing their creative soul, plus the powerful origin story behind her new novel The Red House, inspired by a mysterious plaque in a small town in southern Italy. Whether you're navigating the early stages of your artistic journey or looking for inspiration to keep going, this episode is a generous and grounding reminder that great work grows from deep attention, patience, and love—for the story, and for the process.