ArtStorming
Ever wonder what makes really creative people tick? Where do their ideas come from? What keeps them energized? What kinds of things get in their way? In each episode of ArtStorming, we’ll explore how new ideas come to life, and how the most creative among us stare down a blank canvas or reach into the void and create something new. Host Lili Pierrepont takes us on a journey of discovery; inviting us to ponder what drives and sustains the creative spark within each individual. With great appreciation for music written and performed by John Cruickshank.
Episodes
Most of us are taught to treat death like a distant problem for “someday” and then we wonder why it feels so terrifying when it finally shows up. I’m joined by Joanna Ebenstein, the founder of Morbid Anatomy, to challenge that reflex and to reclaim death as a subject that can be met with dignity, curiosity, and even beauty.
Joanna Ebenstein:
A studio full of work can be a treasure or a ticking time bomb, depending on what happens next. We sit down with Patricia Watts, a curator, appraiser, and advisor, to talk about the behind-the-scenes reality of artist legacy planning and art estate management: the choices that decide whether decades of paintings and objects become a visible legacy or a private burden families cannot sort.
I want to take another minut...
Santa Fe can feel like a beautiful postcard, but what happens when the postcard replaces the place? We sit down with writer and historian Pen La Farge to treat “legacy” the way it shows up in real life: not as a name on a building, but as the culture a community protects, forgets, or hands forward.
I want to take another minute to remind you listeners that ArtStorming is a listener-supported non-profit, ...
A portrait usually freezes a moment, but what happens when the portrait is made from the life itself? We sit down with artist Heide Hatry, whose work transforms cremation ashes into hauntingly realistic faces using beeswax, encaustic layering, and a level of precision that borders on devotional. She walks us through the moment grief cracked her open, the shock of seeing what “ashes” actually are, and the...
A painting can be more than an image. It can be a witness, a prayer, and a record of what someone leaves behind. We’re in Santa Fe with nationally acclaimed artist Michael Scott, standing in front of a five-by-five canvas he carried for seven years after the loss of his mother: a boat filled with flames gliding through a marsh at night, smoke rising like calligraphy, a dove and a crow holding opposite truths a...
A cemetery can be a punchline, a sanctuary, a history lesson, and a living arts venue all at once, if we let it. I’m joined by Harry Weil, vice president of education and public programs at Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery, to talk about how a place built for the dead is quietly becoming one of New York City’s most surprising spaces for culture, community, and honest conversations about mort...
What if a violin could steady a room full of grief and turn it into a space for deep remembering? We sit down with Concetta Abbate—violinist, composer, and death doula—to explore how music moves beyond entertainment to become ritual, care, and legacy. From the first notes she learned as a child with a visual impairment to the ceremonies she now shapes for families, Concetta shows how sound can hold stori...
Mortality doesn’t have to be a closed door. We sit down with director Tony Benna and producer Stelio Kitrilakis to unpack “Andre Is An Idiot,” the award-winning documentary that turns a terminal diagnosis into a riotous, deeply human portrait of intention, family, and art. What starts as an unthinkable pitch—make a comedy about stage four cancer—becomes a blueprint for living bold...
What does legacy feel like when you can hear it in the music, touch it in a ribbon, and watch it breathe across a stage? We sit down with choreographer and educator Francisco Gella, artistic director of Zeitgeist Dance Theater, to unpack how a 42-minute work about Chimayó weaving—aptly titled Lineage—became a living tapestry of ancestry, grit, and community. From building a human-scale loom to threading ...
What if a walk through the woods could hold your grief and hand it back as something living? We sit down with artist Deb Todd Wheeler to explore Radio Silence, a geolocated audio walk at Brookline’s Lost Pond that folds field recordings, original songs, and quiet conversation into a moving ritual of remembrance.
I want to take another minute to remind you listeners that ArtStorming is a listener-supported non-...
If you’ve ever wondered how to align legacy with love for the earth and art infusing every step, this conversation offers a clear starting point and a lot of heart. We sit down with environmental educator and author Mallory McDuff to explore how end-of-life choices—green burial, aquamation, and human composting—can reflect our values, save money, and restore land.
I want to take another minute to r...
In this episode we explore how photography shapes memory, culture, and legacy with visual effects veteran Matthew Smith, tracing a line from 19th‑century spirit photos to AI deepfakes. The camera doesn’t capture truth; it curates stories, and we can choose how to author ours.
I want to take another minute to remind you listeners that ArtStorming is a listener-supported non-profit, and we need your help t...
What if a weapon could become a tool for growth, a song, or even a room you can step inside to remember a life? We sit down with Miranda Viscoli, executive director of New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, to explore how Guns to Gardens turns surrendered firearms into shovels, sculptures, instruments, and a traveling installation built by teens who refuse to let grief be the final word.
I want to take another minute...
What if legacy isn’t a monument, but a moment where someone finally feels seen? We sit down with Robert Washington-Vaughns to trace the unlikely path from corporate burnout and suicidal ideation to a life anchored by art, nature, and community—and a simple ritual that’s changing how men relate to themselves and each other. The Black Man Flower Project began with a brave question: why do most men on...
Dive into the transformative journey of artist Chris Moench as he shares the story behind his stunning ceramic prayer wheels. From a tragic disaster to healing and remembrance, Chris's art extends beyond aesthetics—it's a powerful medium for connection and reflection.
Music for ArtStorming was written and performed by John Cruikshank.
Memory can move like a boat in a draft, and that’s exactly what happened the moment we stepped into Elizabeth Fergus Jean’s dream studio in the woods. Suspended vessels, flickering shadows, stones with rings of time, and a labyrinth set on a forest power point created a space where grief felt present, tender, and strangely full of life. We set out to talk about legacy and found a living bridge between an...
A hidden cemetery. A mill built by an enslaved craftsman. A song written on the hillside where roots hold memory. Eric Mingus joins us to unpack a lineage that runs through the Great Smoky Mountains, across Cherokee land, and into a body of work that insists legacy must stay alive, not embalmed. What began as a visit became The Mill—composed on site, later performed with Yo-Yo Ma, and now growing into a travel...
What if the most meaningful part of your story is the chapter you haven’t designed yet. We’re opening our new season by taking a clear-eyed look at legacy, grief, and the artful choices that can turn memory into something living. Welcome to Season 2 ArtStorming the Art of Remembrance.
Music for ArtStorming was written and performed by John Cruikshank.
The Holzmans' work offers important lessons about resilience, creativity, and finding beauty in the discarded. Hear more about this father-daughter duo on this episode.
Music for ArtStorming was written and performed by John Cruikshank.
Catherine Sikora doesn't just play the saxophone – she uncovers ancient musical truths that have always existed in the ether, waiting to be discovered.
Music for ArtStorming was written and performed by John Cruikshank.
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Building on the belief that a deeper understanding of the natural world enriches all of our lives, host Steven Rinella brings an in-depth and relevant look at all outdoor topics including hunting, fishing, nature, conservation, and wild foods. Filled with humor, irreverence, and things that will surprise the hell out of you, each episode welcomes a diverse group of guests who add their own expertise to the vast world of the outdoors. Part of The MeatEater Podcast Network.
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. Come and join us our live event. You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026