The Upward Acts Podcast

Creativity and Collaboration with Elephantbird

In this episode I had the honor of Interviewing the duo Elephantbird about creative blocks and mental health, making time for being creative, navigating creative collaborations, as well as the emotional and technical sides of live performance.  ElephantBird is a multi-genre, indie-folk meets hip hop-driven duo of K.D.T. Produced It K.D.T. Produced It (Kevin Andre de Toledo) an L.A. native independent hip hop producer and beat maker and singer/songwriter and Ziad Fattah who is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter, and has played in bands ranging from folk to funk. The duo met in 2013, but their first music collaboration came about in 2019 when they were tasked with creating the theme song for an independent TV pilot. That piece of music earned the duo a Telly Award nomination, and from there, they went on to cultivate their unique sound which you can hear in their debut album, Little Moves which is an eclectic blend of both artists' signature sounds, and combines vocal, poetry and spoken word, hip hop, acoustic, and electronic components. Listen to their latest project - pntg.net/camplittlemoves [//pntg.net/camplittlemoves]

Creating Our World Through Art with Arami Walker

I had the incredible opportunity of diving deep into conversation on why we create with a dear friend and collaborator Arami Walker. We got the chance to explore topics like: * Creative identities and how we form them * How we experiment with our art and how we finish projects * The nature of groove and the songwriting process * How our wellbeing and health impacts our art and creativity * Resilience, explanatory styles, and post-traumatic growth * The importance of a message in making meaningful art  Arami walker is a multidimensional musician and educator who intends to use the power of music, technology, and transformative practices to catalyze a shift in consciousness throughout the world. Inspired by poetry, music and language- she hopes to use traditional and non- traditional media to promote a healthier way to share stories and develop society. Walker graduated from UCLA in 2016 with a degree in World Arts and Culture as a True Bruin Scholar and Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar. While at UCLA, she traveled to over 14 countries researching cultural practices of music, dance, and communication. She is a dedicated global citizen who strives to contribute thoughtful content in the form of music, books, and educational lectures. Her first album, “A Universe by Nature” was released on January 28, 2021.  Album can be heard on Spotify, Apple music, Pandora and Tidal.

Therapy, Self Care, and Creativity with Bianca Demetrius

In this episode I had the all out pleasure of having an epic conversation with Creativity Coach and Therapist Bianca Demetrius. We were able to dive into some truly fascinating topics such as:  * Self care and how different types of rest impacts our creativity (Spiritual rest, Digital Rest, sensory rest, etc.) * Creativity systems and integrating different aspects of our creativity * "Junk Flow" and how to get deeply engaged in flow activities * Creativity Coaching vs Therapy  * Myths of Creativity  Bianca Demetrius (pronounced Bee-on-ka  D-meet-tree-us). Is a licensed clinical therapist, creative coach, wellness mentor, and an advocate for creating the life you want to live. She is the creator of @helping.create, which is an instagram page dedicated to sharing creativity, productivity, & wellness tips, education, and self-help tools. Bianca is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has an MA degree in counselling psychology and she has been working as a clinical therapist for over 10 years.  She currently works in private practice where she offers psychotherapy, coaching, and mentoring services. As a creative coach, she supports anyone who wishes to enhance their creative potential, regardless of their profession, hobby, or personal project.  She draws on her education and training in positive psychology, the psychology of creativity, cognitive psychology, and the psychology of motivation, to help creatives identify blocks and cultivate flow.

Authenticity and Non-Coincidence with Noah Boyd

For this episode I had the extreme honor of Interviewing a dear friend Noah Boyd.  We got the chance to explore such varied topics as non-coincidences in the creative process, the relationship between Authenticity and Self-Actualization, identity, developmental lines, and how different aspects of ourselves interact.  Noah Boyd is a curious psychologist, drawn to the field early on his pursuit of greater self-understanding. He now focuses on helping clients tap into their own authenticity through his coaching practice, Resonance. When he's not coaching or consulting, Noah stays busy developing his yoga practice and building experience as a reiki practitioner.

Stay Creative When Working for Clients with Alex Basa

For this episode I had the honor and privilege to interview one of the game-changingest artists I know. We explored: * Personal Work vs Work for Clients * Making creative decisions * The importance of Maintaining a passion project * Literally creating ourselves through our art Alex Basa is a San Francisco-based professional creative working in the advertising industry as a copywriter. He went to the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, graduating with a BFA in advertising. He does regular freelance work as a photographer, videographer, graphic designer, and all-around writer. A musician that plays both drums and guitar, Alex is one of my oldest and closest friends.