A Face Project

Kelly shares her journey about discovering art around the world by creating textiles and other products with her hands. She is a textile designer and founder of Cardamom Collective. - www.cardamomcollective.com/ Cardamom Collective is a socially conscious textile and home goods company. Kelly works with artisans and other small business owners to design and collaborate in an effort to create treasures to be purchased now, and passed down later. Music: SoundImage - soundimage.org Photography: Natalie Jennings- www.nataliechampajennings.com More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep12-kelly/ NOTES: [4:00] Kelly talks about coming from a family of quilters [4:50] Talks about realizing her love of textiles [5:25] Kelly talks about grad school in Sweden for the first time [7:00] Kelly talks about her experience going to Cultural Cloth [7:40] Speaks about the work and stories that go into handmade pieces [8:00] Kelly goes to Norway [9:10] She talks about becoming aware of where texti

Mental illness is widely misunderstood in our culture. In this episode, Chris shares his experience before and after his diagnosis as a person with Bipolar Disorder - www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml. Additionally, Chris shared a few resources for listeners wishing to learn more about Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and other mental illnesses. Natalie opens with a few notes on her experience at Podcast Movement 2016 in Chicago, the world’s largest conference for podcasters. This was the third annual gathering. - podcastmovement.com/ For information or support regarding mental illness: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: dbsa.org - http://dbsa.org/ National Alliance on Mental Illness: nami.org - nami.org/   Statistics mentioned in this episode came from MentalHealth.gov - www.mentalhealth.gov/ Music: Komiku - freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/Its_time_for_adventure_/Komiku_-_Its_time_for_adventure_-_13_Bleu   More info & vie

Laura Cortese is an American singer, songwriter, and fiddler. She was born in San Francisco and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she is currently based. We caught up with Laura on her cross country CD release tour in 2013. She is recording a new album this summer with her band Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards. Listen to a preview track here: http://www.thebluegrasssituation.com/read/listen-laura-cortese-dance-cards-california-calling “Since the release of Cortese’s most recent album, Into the Dark (2013), Cortese hasn’t shied away from heavy subjects. On “Brown Wrinkled Dress” she writes from the point of view of a woman who discovers her husband’s infidelity; on “Village Green” she sings in the voice of a servant who yearns for something more. Both songs echo traditional themes – “Brown Wrinkled Dress” is a murder ballad in the most classic sense – but others have an undeniably modern cadence. You can hear pop in Cortese’s deftly-written hooks and rock ‘n’ roll in the syncopated pulse th

In this episode, Keela shares her story about her son’s rare pulmonary hemorrhage at birth. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” -Albert Einstein **UPDATE from Keela (6/20/16): “Since we’ve last chatted, Calian is doing well. We have learned Calian’s left lung is not functioning or growing with him. This is causing asymmetry of his chest and pushing his heart over, which may cause issues over time. However, his right lung is healthy as ever and is growing large to compensate for his left. He also has some developmental delays, but catches up in his own time. We still do not know the cause for his lung hemorrhage, but the doctors continue to keep a close eye on him and his lung growth. “Despite these abnormalities, one can live fully well off just one lung. We are happy to report that Calian is healthy and very active, he is strong and we know whatever may come his way he will continue to push through it. He is the s

In this episode, 97-year-old Luba shares her story about moving to Ukraine from Chicago in 1922. Luba discusses her struggles and triumphs throughout her life, including surviving World War II as a factory worker in Germany and how she met her husband. More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep08-luba/ NOTES: [6:30] Talks about her beginning [7:15] Luba talks about moving to Ukraine [8:00] Talks about getting land and being happy with her family in Ukraine [10:00] Talks about how they would go to bed hungry [12:00] Luba speaks about the start of communism [13:00] Talks about having no communication with her father for 10-15 years [15:00] Speaks about knowing what it is to be poor and hungry [16:30] Talks about being taken to Germany for the first time [18:30] Talks about “disinfection” in Germany [20:30] Talks about meeting her husband [22:25] Talks about her and husband getting married [24:45] Writes a letter to her father in America [26:00] Talks about her feelings of America

Originally from a village outside of Hanoi, Vietnam (Ha Noi, Việt Nam), Giang now lives with his family in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam. In this episode, Giang shares his story about his job as a tour guide in Vietnam. His tours include biking, hiking, and kayaking throughout the diverse and beautiful scenery Vietnam has to offer. More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep07-giang/

Children’s book illustrator, Kayla, talks about her life as an artist and what inspires her whimsical and captivating artwork. Since this interview Kayla and Peter were married and Kayla signed a book deal with Sky Pony Press for her picture book “Mary Had a Little Lizard,” scheduled to be released in the fall of 2017. She also illustrated the picture book “Juma the Giraffe” for the Wild Nature Institute that will be available in the fall of 2016. This episode features music from Cloud Cult - www.cloudcult.com/. Cloud Cult is an experimental indie rock band from Duluth, Minnesota led by singer/songwriter Craig Minowa. The name originated from the ancient prophecies of indigenous North Americans. Kayla’s website: www.kaylaharren.com - www.kaylaharren.com/ Follow Kayla! She often posts new drawings to her instagram account here: @kaylaharren - www.instagram.com/kaylaharren/ More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep06-kayla/ NOTES: [5:10] Kayla talks about why she choose illustra

In this episode, Terri shares her story about surviving a major car accident, including her struggles, losses, and what it means to be given a second chance. Terri is a policy coordinator for Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition - www.ccjrc.org/, a “non-profit organization whose mission is to eliminate the overuse of the criminal justice system and advance community health and safety. We are people convicted of crime, survivors of crime, and the families and allies of both. We advocate and organize for public safety strategies that are more holistic, effective and just.” More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep05-terri/ NOTES: [3:30]: like the part that she probably wouldn’t have gone to college if not for what happened [5:45]: “we weren’t drinking lightly, we were drinking pretty heavily…” [7:00]: “we were getting shit-canned”… [8:30]: list of injuries might also be a good intro clip [15:50] She knocks on something when she says “thankfully’ [16:00] Description of back

We join Clarence at Vision Loss Resources where he shares his story about working with guide dogs after losing the central vision in both of his eyes later in life. Clarence passed away from a long battle with cancer after this interview. We’d like to dedicate this episode to his wife, Nancy, as well as all of his family and friends. Clarence had a passion for community involvement that allowed him to touch the lives of so many people from all walks of life. He will be deeply missed. Music: Eric Matyas - soundimage.org/sci-fi/ & Bensound - www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music/acoustic-folk/ Photography: Natalie Champa Jennings - www.nataliechampajennings.com/ Additional Resources: Guide Dogs for the Blind - welcome.guidedogs.com/ Vision Loss Resources - visionlossresources.org More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep04-clarence/ NOTES: [4:20] Talks about his eyesight and difficulties [6:50] Talks about his failure and his successes [7:20] Speaks about guide dogs for first

LIGO** scientist, Alastair, shares his experience being a part of scientific history due to the recent detection of gravitational waves from two black holes colliding over one-billion years ago. This discovery confirms Einstein’s theory of general relativity and opens the door to new scientific discoveries about our universe. Photography: Jonathan Hanson - www.jhansonphoto.com/ Music: Eric Matyas - soundimage.org/sci-fi/ Additional Resources: NY Times full gravitational waves article - www.nytimes.com/2016/02/12/science/ligo-gravitational-waves-black-holes-einstein.htm LIGO - www.ligo.caltech.edu/ **UPDATE: LIGO does it a second time: MIT - news.mit.edu/2016/second-time-ligo-detects-gravitational-waves-0615 More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep03-alastair/ NOTES: [4:15] Talks about first detection of gravitational waves [5:20] Talks about growing up with science as a child [6:05] Speaks about University and the beginning of his interest in gravitational waves [6:45] Talks

Julia shares her story with us about traveling to Korea from Minnesota to meet her biological family for the first time as an adult. To learn more about Julia’s perspective on adoption, check out her blog post “How I Know I’m Not White.” - confessionsofanoverachieversite.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/how-i-know-im-not-white/ More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep02-julia/ NOTES: [3:50] Julia reads letter from her father [5:40] talks about being adopted [6:10] What family is to Julia [7:20] talks about why she decided to find her family [8:50] talks about the importance of receiving letters from her family [11:00] Talks about going to Korea for the first time [12:00] Meets biological family [15:30] favorite part of the trip to meet her family [17:30] reactions her birth family had upon meeting her vs. feelings she had [18:50] Talks about the gratefulness of her adoptive family [20:00] Reflects on how birth family impacted Julia’s life

With performances including the Guthrie Theater, singing duets with Garrison Keillor on A Prairie Home Companion, opening for Atmosphere & Trampled by Turtles at Bayfront Festival Park, to being featured on the cover of Vita.MN magazine- representing one of the top 4 bands in the Twin Cities, you will find that Molly Dean truly does revel in the creative diversity of it all.” -Mollydean.net “…A diverse performer and a quick study” -Garrison Keillor Click here for Molly’s full bio. - mollydean.net/bio/ Thanks for tuning in to our first A Face Project Podcast episode! There are a number of ways to listen, just click the audio link above or visit our “ways to listen page” in our menu bar. The photos above are select images from our interview with Molly Dean. - mollydean.net/ Photography for this episode: Natalie Jennings - www.nataliechampajennings.com/ More info & view slideshow at http://www.afaceproject.com/podcasts/ep01-molly/ NOTES: [0:30] Molly talks about where she gets ideas [3:00] Molly talks a