Her Culture: Books, Film, Music & Women in the Arts

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the transformative power of drumming as a tool for mental clarity, creative liberation, and emotional release. This narrative-driven episode is designed for listeners interested in personal development, arts therapy, mindfulness practices, and the intersection of physical movement with artistic expression. If you have ever felt paralyzed by perfectionism, imposter synd...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan shares the inspiring story of how she curated a gallery show featuring emerging women artists with absolutely zero dollars. This narrative explores the transformative power of scarcity in the arts, demonstrating that budget constraints can actually fuel creativity, community engagement, and authentic connection rather than hinder it. If you are an artist, curator, or creative p...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the profound intersection of winter landscapes and artistic creation, specifically focusing on the meditative practice of painting through a blizzard. This narrative is designed for artists, creatives, and anyone seeking inspiration in stillness, offering a deep dive into how environmental silence can transform into creative presence. The episode unpacks the sensory ex...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the profound and often silent struggle of creative burnout specifically for women in their late thirties. This is not about being tired after a busy week; it is about marrow-level depletion where the spark that once fueled art feels like a demand or debt. If you are an artist, writer, maker, or creative professional feeling disconnected from your work, this episode off...

In this deeply personal and reflective episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the intersection of grief, creativity, and culinary tradition by sharing the story of naming her sourdough starter after her late grandmother, Agnes. This episode is for listeners navigating loss, those interested in the therapeutic aspects of baking, and anyone seeking a meaningful connection to their heritage through everyday rituals. T...

This episode of Her Culture explores the profound creative freedom and therapeutic value of writing screenplays for movies that will never be funded, filmed, or seen by an audience. Host Mallory MacGeehan invites writers, filmmakers, and artists to embrace the joy of unfunded dreams, arguing that creating art without the pressure of external validation allows for pure, unadulterated expression. This guide is specifically designed f...

In this deeply reflective episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the profound emotional practice of writing obituaries for fictional characters you created but never finished. If you are a writer, artist, or creative who has abandoned projects, lost inspiration, or felt grief over unpublished work, this episode offers a gentle, ritualistic framework for honoring those invisible creations. We discuss why we grieve p...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores how field recordings of rain and thunder can dissolve creative blocks and restore presence for artists, writers, and creatives who struggle with perfectionism. The discussion moves beyond the myth that creativity requires sterile silence, arguing instead that embracing ambient noise and natural soundscapes can provide a necessary container for ideas. This is essential ...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan invites you to look at the hidden narratives embedded in your everyday footwear. 'The Secret Lives of Shoes' explores how scuffed heels, frayed laces, and worn treads serve as archaeological artifacts of our creative journeys. This is not just a discussion about fashion or accessories; it is a deep dive into the philosophy of endurance versus polish in the artistic life. The ep...

Are you staring at a blank screen in your late thirties, feeling a terrifying loss of excitement for the creative work you once loved? This episode of Her Culture explores the specific, heavy texture of burnout that hits when you realize your soul has pulled the emergency brake. It is not laziness; it is a necessary shedding of old skin. For artists, writers, and creatives navigating this transition, this conversation offers a comp...

In this deeply reflective episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan invites listeners into a raw, uncurated exploration of creativity, self-acceptance, and the beauty found in imperfection. The narrative centers on a transformative experience where Mallory dances alone in an industrial warehouse filled with discarded furniture, using the space as a metaphor for the human mind’s accumulation of memories, regrets, and aban...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan invites listeners to transform the chaotic soundscape of city life into a source of artistic inspiration. 'Symphonies of Sidewalks: Finding Beauty in Urban Noise' explores the practice of urban sampling and field recording, encouraging audiences to hear their environment not as noise pollution, but as a living, breathing instrument. This guide is perfect for musicians, sound de...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the profound emotional impact of performing spoken word in sound-absorbing, acoustically dead rooms. This narrative non-fiction piece examines how stripping away natural reverb and ambient noise forces performers to rely on raw vulnerability rather than acoustic amplification. It is designed for listeners interested in the psychology of performance art, the intersectio...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the meditative and spiritual practice of building miniature terrarium ecosystems. This conversation moves beyond simple houseplant care to examine why creating enclosed, self-sustaining worlds offers a profound pause button in our fast-paced, digital-first lives. The episode is designed for listeners seeking mindfulness practices, creative outlets, and a deeper connect...

In this deeply personal episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the intersection of grief, jazz music, and creative healing by transforming her late mother’s lullabies into minor-key piano arrangements. This episode is essential listening for anyone navigating loss, seeking therapeutic outlets through art, or interested in how music can serve as a bridge between memory and present reality. Mallory unpacks the ...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the intimate and vulnerable art of drawing strangers on public transportation. This is not about performance art or seeking attention; it is a practice of 'invisible witnessing'—a quiet, radical act of seeing people who are usually ignored in urban spaces. If you are interested in street sketching, observational drawing techniques, or finding connection in modern...

In this deeply reflective episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the practice of 'Letters to Ghosts'—a therapeutic and artistic method of writing to ancestors, historical figures, or loved ones we never met. This episode is for anyone navigating grief, seeking a deeper connection to their family history, or looking for creative ways to process loss through journaling and empathy. We discuss how imagining conv...

In this episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the profound courage required to share your 'ugly first draft' with the world. This discussion is essential for artists, writers, musicians, and creatives who struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and the paralyzing fear of judgment. The episode addresses the specific anxiety many women feel when exposing their unfinished work, linking it to societal pressure...

In this deeply reflective episode of Her Culture, host Mallory MacGeehan explores the unexpected emotional weight of writing obituaries for fictional characters you invented years ago. If you are a writer, artist, or creative who has ever felt guilt over abandoned projects or disconnected from your past work, this episode offers a profound perspective on creative evolution. Mallory shares a personal story about finding a decade-old...