Journey of the Art

Ep 43: The Story and Science of Hope

Did you know that hope is a story and a science? In Episode 43, I'm speaking with journalist Andrea Curtis about her book for middle graders, The Story and Science of Hope.  Sparked by an observation of despair among children, Andrea set out to investigate the source and history of hope and what it could mean for the children she was observing. We talked about the difference between faith and hope, and most importantly, the difference between optimism and hope. We even discussed the role of goal setting in building hope.  Inspiring as it is, Andrea’s book acknowledges that not all kids have hope or live in hopeful situations. But “hope is not static,” she says, “It can be taught and nurtured.” This was such an insightful episode, and I hope you’re inspired by it. Chapters 0:10 - Introduction 1:51 - Time in the mountains 3:37 - Observing despair and investigating hope 6:32 - Hope is not static 10:45 - The difference between hope and faith  12:51 - How goal setting can help you build hope 16:17 - Hope in the classroom 20:44 - Kids with strong reserves of hope 23:03 - Hope is an action  26:45 - Writing about abstract topics in an interesting way 32:18 - The secret to staying on the journey of the art _____________________ Guest’s links Buy The Story and Science of Hope: https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-story-and-science-of-hope?srsltid=AfmBOor3dcZlAOT_rKoeAxG-BjhLqCqs0coxfaRqSG5dRMW3lHI5_CE- [https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-story-and-science-of-hope?srsltid=AfmBOor3dcZlAOT_rKoeAxG-BjhLqCqs0coxfaRqSG5dRMW3lHI5_CE-] Find out more about Andrea: https://andreacurtiskids.ca [https://andreacurtiskids.ca/]   _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ [https://www.journeyoftheart.com/] Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/] Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/ [https://wordcaps.com/coaching/]

Ep 42: An homage to Igbo ancestry and history

I’m delighted to resume the show with a discussion on naming and history. In Episode 42, I’m chatting with Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto about his poetry collection, “The Naming,” a book about revelations and ongoing conversations with ancestors about identity, memory, and history. Our journey begins with the definition of names and Chinua’s claim that his name is perhaps the most important in all of Igboland! We discuss the connection between names and Igbo history, touching on the Igbo Landing of 1803 and experiences of slavery in Igboland.  We also discuss the impact of internal and external influences on his creative work. Son of the late Ezenwa Ohaeto, co-winner of the 2025 NLNG Prize, Chinua shares the realities of unfair comparisons to his father and his management of harsh criticisms. He also reveals the critical advice he received from Kwame Dawes, which led to the creation of his collection. Shaped by moving stories, Chinua’s “The Naming,” is for those searching for the paths that lead home. For those who want to initiate their own conversations with their ancestors. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 1:41 - The most important name in Igboland 4:13 - Unmonkeying the monkey’s hand 8:21 - The Igbo Landing of 1803 18:27 - Filling his father’s jacket and being called a fake Achebe 23:55 - Using storytelling to give poetry meaning 31:07 - A story of hope during the Biafran war 34:55 - How to prepare for a PhD 36:42 - The secret to staying on the journey of the art _____________________  Guest’s links Buy The Naming: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496244703/the-naming/ [https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496244703/the-naming/] _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ [https://www.journeyoftheart.com/] Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/]

Ep 41: How to Talk to Kids About Food Insecurity Through Storytelling

In Episode 41, I’m joined by Canadian children’s book writers Eric Walters and Lana Button to discuss their award-winning book, One Can.  Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, One Can tells the emotional story of a young boy’s generosity and the importance of community in tackling food insecurity. It is a story of hope and a reminder of the power of positive storytelling in children's narratives. Parents will love this book that shows children the cyclical nature of generosity, and in it, they will find a valuable resource for talking to kids about real world problems like hunger and poverty. More than an approach to writing moral stories, Lana and Eric share the incredible power children's book writers have to uplift and empower children in a chaotic world. They also share important tips for writing children’s literature and reveal their secret to staying on the journey of their art. 00:00 - Introduction 2:20 - What started the book 6:37 - The reason for hope 8:15 - The symbol of the can 13:16 - Writing the most critical part of the book 16:19 - The psychology you need to write for children 21:03 - The reception of the book 24:23 - Why this book is so special to Eric 25:50 - How to get into the psychology of a child 31:01 - Writing in changing times 32:45 - The secret to saying on the journey of the art 🛒One Can is available for purchase from Groundwood Books: https://houseofanansi.com/products/one-can?srsltid=AfmBOorKtGP--hPmbbjvBgNlGiOVgYaSHSH1D9OfpAXr1P6OQpw94HOJ_____________________Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/18DdCmw0rV0 _____________________ Host’s linksFind out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

Ep 40: The Secret to Writing Children's Books

In Episode 40 of the podcast, I have the privilege of speaking with adult and children’s book writer Caroline Adderson, writer of A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests.   A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests is a brilliant children’s book about thinking and finding quiet moments in a chaotic world. Illustrated by Lauren Tamaki, the book imagines how an old haiku by Japanese poet Matsuo Basho came to be. Readers will enjoy the vivid storytelling, be amused by the silliness of the animals, and be truly inspired by the old poet’s tenacity.    Before we get into the intricacies of her work, I ask Caroline about her relationship with TV (it’s impressive!) and her love for cherry blossoms. We talk about how she gets unstuck in her writing and the door she unlocks to write children’s books.    If you’ve ever wondered about writing children’s books or if you love haikus, this is the episode for you. It was an all-round joyful conversation, and I’m grateful that I get to share it with you.     Show highlights 00:00 - Introduction 2:40 - The deal with TV 4:18 - Cherry blossoms vs Plum trees 6:21 – Why haikus don’t explain 7:59 – What is the importance of silence? 10:28 - The gestation of a poem  15:50 - A game of consonants  17:33 - Writing for kids vs. writing for adults  20:20 - How does a writer find joy?  23:51 - How to get unstuck in writing 26:37 - The secret to staying on the journey of the art _____________________ Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art] _____________________ Guest’s links Buy A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests: https://houseofanansi.com/products/a-pond-a-poet-and-three-pests?srsltid=AfmBOopY1872Domhwo66iCzcFm_XOzijIououUBi6Tqe5tIAjxV3bnoS [https://houseofanansi.com/products/a-pond-a-poet-and-three-pests?srsltid=AfmBOopY1872Domhwo66iCzcFm_XOzijIououUBi6Tqe5tIAjxV3bnoS] Visit Caroline’s website: https://www.carolineaddersonkids.com [https://www.carolineaddersonkids.com/]   _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ [https://www.journeyoftheart.com/] Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/]   Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/ [https://wordcaps.com/coaching/]

Ep 39: How a Tumblr post became a novel

In Episode 39, I’m chatting with Whitney French about her novel in verse, Syncopation, a science fiction novel about two women searching for meaning and purpose in a catastrophic world where memory is currency.  We talk about the musicality of Syncopation, how a random Tumblr post birthed the idea of the book, and what characters can teach us about ourselves. I ask Whitney to don her writing coach cap to share some strategies for achieving writing goals and overcoming popular writing challenges, and we go back in time to find out about Whitney’s Tree Sessions, a writing program she held under trees for writers who wanted to embrace nature while creating art. This was such a fun conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 1:54 – Tree sessions 6:22 – Describing her year in one word 7:42– How to structure a novel in verse 10:58– Nature eliminating itself in Syncopation  12:58 – How a Tumblr post became a novel 16:42 – What characters teach us about ourselves 19:57 – Musicality in Syncopation 22:28 – Intersections of migration 25:05– Common challenges among writers 29:58– Strategies to help writers 38:39 – About Hush Harbour Press 43:19 – Secret to staying on the journey of her art _____________________ Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LW5iwa9qvSw [https://youtu.be/LW5iwa9qvSw] _____________________ Guest’s links Buy Syncopation: https://bookstore.wolsakandwynn.ca/products/syncopation [https://bookstore.wolsakandwynn.ca/products/syncopation] Visit the Hush Harbour website: https://www.hushharbour.com/ [https://www.hushharbour.com/]  _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ [https://www.journeyoftheart.com/] Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ [https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/]   Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/ [https://wordcaps.com/coaching/]