Claim OwnershipBreaking the Blocks
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Hi!
Thanks for stopping by! Life is tough, and I think this podcast might offer you some relief. My aim? To inspire you to overcome some of your own blocks through the inspirational, honest, and at times, downright raw conversations with some wonderful guests, not huge celebrities, regular people like you and I. Let’s see how they have overcome the difficulties in their lives and offer you some advice and more importantly hope.
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www.craftymonkies.com
www.rachelpierman.com
42 Episodes
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Quilter Vendulka Battais shares her healing journey from realizing that external validation (including winning awards) made her happy, but didn't bring her ultimate fulfillment, she still needed to find her own inner worth and peace. She explores how her upbringing in communist Czechoslovakia and ancestral patterns influenced her sense of self-worth and her creative approach to quilting. • Growing up during communism in the Czech Republic shaped Vendulka's resourcefulness and creativity • Mo...
Taking a break between Season 2 and Season 3 to reflect on the journey and lessons learned throughout Breaking the Blocks. Thousands of listeners have shared how these conversations about overcoming challenges have inspired their own growth paths. • Life inevitably brings pain, loss, and unexpected challenges – our growth comes from how we respond • Understanding our role in our own suffering is key to breaking unhealthy patterns • We cannot change others, only ourselves – even after 27 year...
Mackenzie Thorpe shares his extraordinary journey from a dyslexic child in working-class Middlesbrough to a globally celebrated artist whose work touches hearts worldwide. • Born with an innate urge to draw on anything available—stones, cigarette packets, fireplace ashes • Struggled with undiagnosed dyslexia at school, describing himself as "word blind" rather than seeing jumbled letters • Found escape through art, developing a three-dimensional thinking ability that compensated for traditio...
Janet Clare joins Rachel to explore the journey of creative growth and authenticity in a world that often feels chaotic and judgmental. Together they reflect on how the pandemic reset their perspectives, helping them realize what truly matters in life and creative work. • Finding inner calm and creative peace even when the outside world feels unstable • Confronting the inner critic that asks "who am I to create?" and charging forward anyway • Understanding that creativity sits at the top of ...
Sarah Humphreys transforms lives teaching arts and crafts in a women's prison, helping incarcerated women rebuild their identities through creativity. Working with individuals who've experienced trauma and abuse, she creates a sensory sanctuary where women who arrive saying "I can't" leave as proud creators with newfound confidence and purpose. • Teaching in prison presents unique challenges with scissors and supplies requiring strict protocols • Around 75% of women in prison have mental hea...
Rachel Pierman sits down with textile artist Judy Martin for a profound conversation about creativity, mortality, and finding healing through art. They explore the spiritual quality of handmade quilts and how creative work can become a sanctuary during difficult times. • Judy describes her childhood in rural Canada where solitude and art supplies fostered her inner creative world • The transition from painting to quilting as Judy raised her four children while maintaining her artistic practi...
Resilience emerges as the central theme when textile artist Caz Holmes shares her journey as a full-time carer for her husband following his debilitating stroke. She offers profound insights into finding balance between caring for others and maintaining your own identity through creativity and connection. • Caz balances her renowned artistic career with caring for her husband Derek after his stroke in 2021 • The stroke left Derek with left-side weakness, limited vision, and spatial awareness...
Davey Powell shares his journey as a queer traveller, navigating the complexities of growing up in fairgrounds while knowing he was gay from a young age. Through therapy, sobriety, and quilting, he's found a way to unite his traveller heritage with his queer identity to become the authentic person he was always meant to be. • Growing up between two worlds - never "traveller enough" for the traveller community and too "traveller" for the outside world • Experiencing violence and fear on the f...
Sarah Spencer takes us on a journey of transformation, from corporate employee to artist, radio host, and community activist while navigating major life transitions and personal growth. • Moving from Canada to Chicago represents a complete life reset • Transitioning from property appraiser to artist required sitting with uncomfortable feelings of identity loss • Meeting her husband at Burning Man led to love, marriage, and eventually motherhood • Postpartum anxiety pushed her toward therapy,...
Leo Ransom shares his transformative journey from being in the wrong place at the wrong time to becoming an accomplished portrait quilter who channels his experiences of prejudice and hardship into creating meaningful art. • Started quilting at 16 and progressed from traditional to portrait quilting • Learned resilience after being arrested by association with drug dealers despite being innocent • Faces ongoing racial profiling and prejudice as a Black quilter in Texas • Developed a philosop...
Becca Shifflett shares her powerful journey from childhood abuse to becoming a successful YouTuber with a thriving community, revealing how she learned to shine her light after years of being taught to dim it. • Experiencing severe childhood trauma including physical and sexual abuse • Being removed from her parents at age 14 and placed into foster care • Learning to process trauma rather than compartmentalizing it • Finding healing through forgiveness without excusing harmful behavior...
A poignant exploration of grief and healing unfolds as Josh Dunn shares his transformational journey following the loss of his mother. He discusses how creativity, particularly quilting, became a source of connection and solace in his life. The episode dives deep into personal stories and valuable lessons learned through navigating grief and toxic relationships. • Josh talks about his close relationship with his mom and the impact of her passing • The role of therapy in understanding a...
David Owen Hastings' inspiring journey reveals how he transformed past trauma into a meaningful, creative life. He stresses the importance of embracing our experiences, seeking community support, and using creativity as a healing tool. • Discussion on David's challenging childhood and family dynamics • The significance of crafting as a coping mechanism • Insights into navigating life as a gay man during the AIDS epidemic • The power of creativity to foster joy and resilienc...
In this insightful episode, we engage with author Matt Eicheldinger, who returns to discuss the complexities of navigating success after achieving his dreams. With reflections on imposter syndrome, the joys of connecting with readers, and the importance of community, Matt emphasizes the significance of staying genuine through every stage of the creative journey. • Matt shares his experiences since becoming a bestselling author • He discusses ongoing struggles with imposter syndro...
This episode explores the transformative journey of resilience, creativity, and self-discovery through the experiences of Trudi Wood. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own emotional challenges and the importance of community and forgiveness in the healing process. • Trudi has shares her unexpected transition from the Air Force to quilting • Discussion on the impacts of solitude and loneliness • The recognition of self-sabotaging behaviors • Insights into the...
Brandy Maslowski's journey from firefighter to quilter illuminates the complexities of trauma and resilience. She shares her experiences with discrimination, PTSD, and ultimately, how creativity became her healing mechanism, inspiring others to recognize the strength within their own stories. • Brandy's background as a firefighter with familial ties to the profession • The discrimination experienced as a woman in a male-dominated field • Impact of workplace toxicity on mental hea...
After experiencing the profound pain of losing a loved one to suicide, Nicole Leth discovered the power of affirmations as a lifeline to healing. Her journey from personal tragedy to creating My Affirmation Project is a testament to resilience and creativity. Nicole shares how she transformed her grief into a mission of compassion, spreading messages of self-love and hope through various mediums like graffiti, quilts, and billboards. Her story is a powerful reminder that even in the darkest t...
Join us on Breaking the Blocks as Rachel Pierman welcomes Ian Garland, a charismatic quilter with a thriving YouTube community and a passion for fostering understanding through creativity. Ian shares his journey from Texas to Washington, seeking safer and more inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ community. Alongside his new podcast, Sew Off Kilter, co-hosted with Sew Becca, Ian explores the power of art to unite people and nurture personal growth, revealing how his own experiences in crafting have...
Join me for an inspiring conversation with Zak Foster, a trailblazer in the artistic quilting community, whose journey from a high school Spanish teacher to a full-time artist and podcaster is nothing short of transformative. Zak shares the pivotal moments during the pandemic that led him to embrace his passion and create the Quilty Nook, a vibrant community for quilters. Through our discussion, we uncover how Zak uses his art not just for expression, but as a force for community building and...
Crafting holds a meditative power, a truth that Lucy Brennan, also known as @CharmAboutYou (and she does a Saturday Night Craftalong on Instagram). embodies in her life journey. As she shares her story, we learn how the art of crafting, passed down from her grandmother and mother, became her refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Balancing a full-time job and creative passions, Lucy reflects on how crafting has found its way back into the hearts of a younger generation, offering a p...
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