18 - Finding Beauty in the Ordinary, with Johanna Benaïnous, Photographer & Artist

18 - Finding Beauty in the Ordinary, with Johanna Benaïnous, Photographer & Artist

In this episode of FEEL SEEN Space, we sit down with Johanna Benaïnous — photographer, artist, and one half of the acclaimed duo Elsa & Johanna — for a conversation about artistic vision, creative confidence, and building a sustainable career in photography. From photographing friends as a teenager to exhibiting internationally, Johanna shares how intuition, collaboration, and a strong sense of personal vision have shaped her practice. Together with Elsa Parra, she creates cinematic photographic worlds that transform ordinary people and everyday moments into powerful visual narratives. Hosted by Roxanne Doucet and Sara Van Pée, we explore: · How to develop a recognizable visual language and artistic identity · Why trust, intuition, and observation are essential creative tools · Building a long-term photography career while staying true to your vision · Navigating self-doubt, rejection, and the pressure to constantly produce · The importance of showing your work and creating opportunities for yourself · Balancing creativity with the practical realities of running an artistic practice · Finding inspiration, protecting your creative energy, and trusting your own timing This episode is for photographers, artists, and creatives looking to strengthen their visual voice, gain confidence in their work, and create from a place of authenticity rather than comparison. Resources & Links Book a mentoring session: ⁠⁠⁠⁠feelseenspace.com/mentors⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@feelseen.space⁠⁠⁠ Watch full episodes on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@feelseen-space⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Johanna: ⁠@johannabenainous Follow Sara: ⁠⁠⁠@saravanpe ⁠⁠⁠Follow Roxanne: ⁠⁠⁠@roxannedoucet⁠

17- Living by Design, with Marine Buffard, Artist & Animation Director

In this episode of FEEL SEEN Space, we sit down with Marine Buffard — Artist & Animation Director — for an honest and introspective conversation about creativity, attention, and building a life aligned with your own rhythm. Based in Paris and working internationally, Marine shares her journey from graphic design to illustration, and how stepping away from external expectations allowed her to reconnect with a slower, more intentional creative practice. From resisting productivity norms to protecting her focus in a hyper-distracted world, she offers a grounded perspective on what it means to truly “live by design.” Hosted by Roxanne Doucet and Sara Van Pée, we explore: · Letting go of the “ideal creative lifestyle” and embracing your natural rhythm · Why starting small is the best cure to procrastination · Navigating fast-paced editorial work vs. long-form, experimental projects · How constraints and imperfections shape a distinctive artistic style · Meditation, inner clarity, and reconnecting with joy in the creative process · The difference between art and content in an algorithm-driven world · Living and working with intention in a culture of speed and distraction This episode is a conversation about reclaiming time, attention, and authorship — and finding creative freedom by listening more closely to yourself. A must-listen for artists, creatives, and anyone seeking a more mindful and sustainable way of working and living. Resources & Links Book a mentoring session: ⁠⁠⁠⁠feelseenspace.com/mentors⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@feelseen.space⁠⁠⁠ Watch full episodes on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@feelseen-space⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Marine: ⁠@becomingamorningperson Follow Sara: ⁠⁠⁠@saravanpe ⁠⁠⁠Follow Roxanne: ⁠⁠⁠@roxannedoucet⁠

16- Building Cultural Visibility, with Hannah Gottlieb-Graham, PR and Founder of Alma Communications

In this episode of FEEL SEEN Space, we sit down with Hannah Gottlieb-Graham, founder of the New York–based PR agency Alma Communications for a conversation about storytelling, cultural visibility, and the evolving role of PR in the arts. Hannah shares her path from The New Yorker and Surface Magazine to leading communications at Aperture Foundation before launching Alma in 2019. Named after her mother, the agency reflects her upbringing in a family of writers and researchers — a perspective that continues to shape her relationship-driven work with artists and cultural institutions. Hosted by Roxanne Doucet and Sara Van Pée, we explore: · Starting a communications agency just before the pandemic and growing it organically with her husband through community · The art of PR: translating artists’ visions into compelling stories and media visibility · Working with emerging and established voices across photography, fashion, and contemporary art · Why relationships, trust, and shared values matter more than traditional client structures · The differences between supporting individual artists and large cultural institutions · The shifting media landscape, from traditional editorial to social platforms and new forms of storytelling · Staying curious: seeing art, reading constantly, and keeping a pulse on culture This episode is a conversation about community, storytelling, and the work behind making artists, institutions and cultural projects truly seen. Resources & Links Book a mentoring session: ⁠⁠⁠⁠feelseenspace.com/mentors⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠@feelseen.space⁠⁠⁠ Watch full episodes on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@feelseen-space⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Hannah: ⁠@hannahgottliebgraham Follow Sara: ⁠⁠⁠@saravanpe ⁠⁠⁠Follow Roxanne: ⁠⁠⁠@roxannedoucet⁠

15- Human Resonance, with Krešimir Špicer, Opera Tenor

In this episode of FEEL SEEN Space, we sit down with internationally acclaimed tenor Krešimir Špicer for a powerful conversation about opera, education, discipline, and the deeply human nature of music. From growing up in war-time Croatia to performing on the world’s leading stages, Krešimir reflects on how music shaped his life — not as an elite pursuit, but as a fundamental human necessity. He challenges the idea of opera as inaccessible, and makes a compelling case for curiosity, slowness, and the irreplaceable power of live performance. Hosted by Sara Van Pée, this episode explores: - Growing up with music during political upheaval and discovering a calling early - Opera as the most complete art form — combining music, theater, craft, and community - Why opera is not elitist, but has been institutionalized over time - The neuroscience of music and why arts education is essential - The psychological and physical realities of being an opera singer and the transformative power of live performance - Teaching singing as a process of self-discovery and undoing fear - Music as a spiritual, communal force woven into human history This episode is a reflection on voice — as identity, instrument, and expression. A must-listen for musicians, artists, and anyone curious about why music remains one of the most vital forces in human life.

14- Best of 2025: A Year of Becoming

As we step into 2026, FEEL SEEN Space pauses to reflect on our first year of conversations. Hosted by Sara Van Pée and Roxanne Doucet, this episode is a curated Best of 2025, drawing from 13 interviews with artists, writers, directors, and cultural workers who shared their stories, doubts, and wisdom. Through these voices, one question emerges: What does it really mean to be a creative today? From early feelings of otherness to professional turning points, from learning the craft to unlearning fear, this episode traces the emotional and practical realities of creative life — a living, evolving practice shaped by place, people, and self-trust. We explore: - How early sensitivity and difference shape creative identity - The influence of cities, culture, and public support - The craft of practice, attention, and curiosity - The emotional realities of freelance life: freedom, loneliness, resilience - Collaboration rooted in respect and integrity - Sustainable work lives through boundaries and self-knowledge - Fear, self-honesty, and knowing when to stay or leave - Redefining value, ease, and self-worth - Creativity as a healing, spiritual, and collective practice This episode is about being seen: seeing yourself, being mirrored by others, and building spaces where creativity can thrive without self-erasure. We are deeply grateful to our guests for their generosity and to our listeners for growing this space with us. Join us in stepping into 2026 with more alignment, courage, and care — for your work, your process, and yourself. ResourcesBook a mentoring session: ⁠feelseenspace.com⁠Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @feelseen.space Follow us on YouTube: @feelseen-space Follow Roxanne on Instagram: @RoxanneDoucetFollow Sara on Instagram: @SaraVanPe If you’re ready to be seen—artistically, emotionally, and holistically—this space is for you.