Why We Need to Understand Addiction, Connection and the Power of Our Stories

Why We Need Imagination and Creativity – Episode #48

Host: Jude DiMeglio TrangGuest: Sarah Bush Description:Jude welcomes mixed media artist, writer, and creativity coach Sarah Bush for a thoughtful conversation about imagination, creativity, and the ways these uniquely human gifts help us navigate life. From the artistic influence of Taos, New Mexico, to the challenges of perfectionism and the rhythms of the creative process, Sarah explores how creativity is not reserved for artists alone but is woven into everyday life and essential to human flourishing. We talk about: • Sarah’s background as a mixed media artist, writer, and creativity coach• How living in Taos, New Mexico, has influenced her artistic work and imagination• The difference between imagination and creativity• Why imagination is the wellspring and creativity is the act of bringing ideas into reality• How artists move from inspiration to creating finished work• The relationship between ideas, materials, and the creative process• Why creativity and imagination are muscles that can be strengthened• Everyday ways people use imagination without realizing it• How fear and anxiety can hijack our imagination• The importance of giving ourselves permission to explore and make mistakes• The difference between making something “good” and making something “true”• Why struggle and difficulty are natural parts of creativity• The “messy middle” that every creator experiences• How American culture often equates talent with ease rather than perseverance• Why previous generations were naturally more connected to creativity through making things by necessity• How modern life can disconnect people from their innate creative nature• The role of nature, beauty, and wonder in sparking imagination• Why creating with our hands connects us to the ongoing creativity of the universe• How expressing imagination and creativity can become gifts that enrich individuals, communities, and society Connect with Sarah: SarahBush.Substack.com [http://sarahbush.substack.com/] Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “gift of need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox. Music Credit: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com [https://judedimegliotrang1.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why We Need Independent Filmmakers

Description:In this episode, Jude talks with filmmaker, photographer, musician, and videographer Chris Carlone about the importance of independent filmmaking and the unique role indie artists play in preserving stories, building community, and bringing authentic voices to audiences. From music videos and documentaries to creative passion and perseverance, Chris shares why storytelling through film matters and how art can meet deep human needs. We talk about: • Chris’s journey from musician to filmmaker and photographer• How music inspired his love of visual storytelling• The influence of films like Star Wars on his creative life• Making hundreds of music videos and collaborating with artists• The connection between music and filmmaking• His documentary A Tale of Two Houses and Tucson’s underground music scene of the 1980s• Creating Lonely Trojan: Too Young for the First Wave and Too Old for the Second• Preserving musical legacies through documentary filmmaking• The challenges and rewards of independent filmmaking• Why indie films tell stories that major studios often overlook• The joy of bringing people together through art and filmmaking• Overcoming perfectionism and embracing the creative process• Encouragement for aspiring filmmakers and artists to simply begin and learn by doing• How creativity and following one’s passion can enrich both individuals and communities Connect with Chris: ChrisCarloneCreations.com [http://chriscarlonecreations.com/] Facebook: Lonely Trojan – A Documentary Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “gift of need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox. Music Credit: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com [https://judedimegliotrang1.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why We Need Content-Appropriate Epic Fiction - Podcast #47

Host: Jude DiMeglio TrangGuest: Elicia Johnson Description:In this episode, Jude sits down with author, artist, farmer, and educator Elicia Johnson to discuss her new novel Endling, a high-concept steampunk adventure that explores hope, purpose, imagination, and the power of story. Together they examine why content-appropriate epic fiction matters, how great literature inspires new adult readers (17-30), and why stories that illuminate beauty, truth, and wonder are needed now more than ever. We talk about:• The importance of fostering literacy and a love of reading in children• Finding books that spark a child’s imagination and curiosity• Why rich literature challenges young readers in meaningful ways• The difference between Young Adult and New Adult fiction• The inspiration behind Endling and the meaning of the title• Steampunk storytelling and creating immersive fictional worlds• Writing stories with values and moral themes without becoming preachy• Literary influences including classic fiction, mythology, and epic fantasy• Alicia’s serial fiction project, The Shanty Man• The connection between farming, creativity, and storytelling• The importance of nature, wonder, and hands-on experiences in shaping imagination• Making “the unseen seen” through stories of hope, beauty, redemption, and human connection Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “gift of need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox. Connect with Elicia: withloveelli.substack.com [http://withloveelli.substack.com/] Music Credit: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com [https://judedimegliotrang1.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why We Need Communities, Connection & Life Repair – Episode #46

Host: Jude DiMeglio TrangGuest: Sam Quinones Episode Summary: In this follow-up episode, I continue my conversation with investigative journalist and author Sam Quinones about the deeper roots of addiction—and how the unraveling of community has created fertile ground for despair, mental illness, and drug dependency. We revisit themes from Dreamland and The Least of Us but widen the lens to include the impact of high-potency marijuana, the failure of many sober living homes, and the dangers of ignoring the lessons of the opioid crisis. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:– Why legalizing hyper-potent drugs are repeating the mistakes from Big Pharma & opioids– The critical role of community in addiction recovery– What “life repair” really looks like after detox– How to build local systems of care that work—from jails to transitional housing– The quiet power of discipline, music, and purpose in the face of chaos Sam also gives us a preview of his upcoming book The Perfect Tuba—a surprising, moving meditation on finding fulfillment through hard work, collaboration, and the beauty of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. This conversation reminded me that recovery isn’t just personal—it’s communal. And that the needs we try to deny may be the very things that can save us. For more of Sam’s work go to: SamQuinones.Substack.com [http://samquinones.substack.com/] Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “Gift of Need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox. Music: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com [https://judedimegliotrang1.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why We Need to Understand Addiction, Connection and the Power of Our Stories

Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed investigative journalist and author Sam Quinones to talk about the human cost of addiction, the silence that once surrounded it, and why community is a vital need in the face of overwhelming societal challenges. Sam is the author of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic and The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth—two books that deeply shaped public understanding of the opioid crisis. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:– The rise of synthetic drugs and the destruction of community– How isolation and legally addictive products paved the way for addiction– The transformation from poppy fields to chemical labs in the drug trade– Why public storytelling helps shift policy and reduce stigma– The quiet acts of rebuilding community in the face of devastation Sam shares with honesty and clarity the ways in which this crisis is not just about drugs—it’s about us, our culture, and our desperate need for connection. We end with a personal reflection on my own family’s story and how Dreamlandhelped us feel less alone. For more of Sam’s work go to: SamQuinones.Substack.com [http://samquinones.substack.com/] Join the Conversation: We’d love to hear how you’ve seen the “Gift of Need” show up in your life. Share your story in the comments or leave a review. Please follow this podcast and rate it. Subscribe to my free newsletter to get future episodes and newsletters sent right to your inbox. Music: Gabe Kubanda / Damn Plans (Instrumental) © 2021 Kubanda Music Engineer: Ray Ingegneri, Third Street Productions, Tucson, AZ Producer: Jude DiMeglio Trang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit judedimegliotrang1.substack.com [https://judedimegliotrang1.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]