The GOATs Podcast

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 3 we chat with Cindy Meyers Foley, the Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. We chat about her journey to becoming an Art Museum Director,  the history of Art Museums, Thinking like an Artist, Losing Creativity, the catalyst that is Boredom & regaining our Wonder & Curiosity, the power of Play and importance of an Artist Council. Lastly we chat about the GRAM's recently launched Diversity & Equity Acquisition Fund, the importance of Representation and the upcoming exhibition of artist Mario Moore.The GRAM's Diversity and Equity Acquisition Fund - Learn More & donate HereMario Moore Exhibition DetailsBIO:  Cindy Meyers Foley (@CindyMFoley) (she/her) has worked for 30 years to help museums become welcoming spaces that cultivate curiosity and social engagement. She is currently the Director and CEO of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, an institution that has just opened a Creative Learning Center. Foley has been critical in the development of a several groundbreaking projects including two city wide Creativity Summits to advocate for intentional creativity in all sectors,  Making Creativity Visible and Cultivating Creative and Civic Capacities two nationally recognized teacher research and professional development programs, Wonder School a museum/university laboratory preschool, and the Center for Art and Social Engagement an experimental gallery developed to activate conversation, reflection and action in relation to experiencing art that addresses social issues. Foley curated Playground, 2002  which included an experimental project with Miranda July, Harrell Fletcher and Yuri Ono that launched Learning to Love you More a website that crowdsourced online content to fulfill play based assignments. Foley has been on the faculty of the Maine College of Art, and Harvard’s Project Zero Classroom Summer Institute and regularly keynotes a variety of Museum, Art, and Education Conferences.  In November 2014, she was a TEDX Columbus Speaker presenting Teaching Art or Teaching to Think like an Artist and in 2016, she was asked to again take the TEDX Stage to present The Benefits of Boredom . Foley received the 2018 Ohio Distinguished Educator for Art Education award.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 1 of SEASON 3 we chat with Creative Director, Digital Artist and DJ Asia Horne about starting out as a graphic designer, grooving into DJ'ing, transiting from Atlanta back to Michigan, the DJ scene in the city, Black Women Femininity, the power of "seeing is believing," black creativity in Grand Rapids, and gatekeeping. Lastly we play a fun "name the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear this song" game to wrap it up the episode.BIO: Asia Horne aka @Venusxflyytrap is a Grand Rapids-based creative director, digital artist and DJ. Designing since the age of 12, the self-taught creative’s experience ranges from editorial to international brand design. In 2019, she founded Free Alchemy Studio, an experimental creative direction and production house with focuses of social strategy and design, experience production and sensory storytelling. Her WebsiteThis episode was photographed by Ivan LabraAbout: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part Two.The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success.. In EPISODE 7 of SEASON 2 we chat with Dancer, Photographer and Ministry Leader, our very own podcast photographer Mary Partee. We give her her flowers (literally) and chat with her about dance, transition from videography to photography, the tension between what the client wants and your own photographic style,  sabbath and "haters" being our motivators.BIO:  Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mary Partee is a creative individual with a wide range of interests. She is a ministry leader for youth and a self-taught photographer. Mary is passionate about apologetics and expresses a lot of her creativity through dance. In addition to her diverse pursuits, she finds joy in soccer, travel, and spending time with friends.This episode was photographed by Ivan Labra.Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

INTRODUCING our mini-series entitled: THE IN-HOUSE SERIES: Part One.The In-House Series highlights and give flowers to the in-house team members that are essential to our podcast success.. In EPISODE 6 of SEASON 2 we chat with Filmmaker, Breakdancer, Muralist, Graphic Designer and our very own podcast  Producer, Dave Benoit on his creative journey as a Muti-hyphenate. We give him his flowers (literally) and chat with him about the freedom of entrepreneurship, the plight of consistently, family and culturally creative influences, conquering new fears, unexpected accomplishments and so much more!BIO:  Dave Benoit The CEO of MadEthnic & The Creative Director of Grand Rapids Media & Film Incubator is a Haitian American Digital artist, Filmmaker, and breakdancer whose passion for creative freedom and community is a unwavering compass for his work.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 5 of SEASON 2 we chat with Graphic Designer, Painter,  Muralist, and Musician Esan Sommersell about his creative journey from getting into the arts via inspiration from his brother, family matters and the creative life as a husband and father while fostering the creative freedom of his children, artist communities and the importance of them. Lastly wrapping up talk about his show coming up and a few pieces the will be presented. Esan's Show Details:Tuesday to Saturday October 24 -28th1-7pmMuse Gallery727 Leonard St NWGrand Rapids, MI 49504ABOUT ESAN | For visionary Esan Sommersell, making is living. In a world where it's become increasingly more difficult to discern fact from fiction, Sommersell's paintings remind us that what we see, hear, touch, and taste cannot be separated from what we feel. With bold forms and surreal color palettes taken from the landscape of lucid dreams, his work is an affirmation of humankind's innate desire to create, to mold, to touch the raw nerve of experience and discover for ourselves what it means to be alive.IG - @plutomondayWebsite - https://www.starhustler.art_________ BTS Photography for this episode was by KamBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 4 of SEASON 2 we chat with Kristin Zuller about her creative journey from being a tap, jazz & ballet dancer in grade-school to being a multi-disciplinary artist consisting of Illustration, Murals, & Graphic Design. We get into chatting about her kids being creatives in their own right, still figuring out what she wants to say with her personal artwork, being ok having a “see what happens” mentality when it comes to creating & much more.We then dive into conversations surrounding the following questions:⠀What is the end game for you? (What’s is the overall goal for you, your work & artistic career)⠀What happens when the work isn’t enough? (What do you do, how do you feel when things outside of your control affect your opportunities and work?)⠀Who or what determines what “better” is for us in-terms of our art? ⠀How do we as artists measure growth for ourselves? ⠀ABOUT KRISTIN | Kristin Zuller, a multidisciplinary artist, harnesses the transformative power of design and technology to uplift humanity. Her background in design, illustration, user experience, and mural painting fuels her explorations in merging these disciplines. ⠀With over 15 years of corporate design experience, she has honed her skills in print and digital media, contributed to large-scale mural creation throughout her city, and collaborated with world-leading companies. Her passion for problem-solving led her to UX design, where she fervently advocates for user-centered solutions. Kristin's creative direction aims to elevate those she serves, pushing boundaries, experimenting with new ideas, and delving into the realm of installation and interactive arts. ⠀Infusing visual communication with storytelling, she believes in design as a tool for liberation and community-building, striving to create work that is beautiful, meaningful, and functional. ⠀Outside of work, her interests range from dream documentation, to reading Octavia Butler texts, and exploring nature.Follow Kristin | InstagramBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 3 of SEASON 2 the cast starts the episode sharing their April highlights, updates & some encouraging stats. They dive into artist & company responsibility and the importance of community surrounding the GLC Live at 20 Monroe mural contest.Link to article that our very own cast member Alfield was interviewed in — https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/news/arts-entertainment/grand-rapids-music-venue-faces-backlash-over-art-competition/Eventually wrapping up with an impromptu conversation surrounding music (s/o Ricky Martin lol) and briefly chatting about success.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 2 of SEASON 2 we chat with Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo about his journey as an artist, the importance and power of rest, creating for commodification, handling rejection and more.About Guillermo: Guillermo ‘ASMA’ Sotelo is a Chicano artist born and raised in Grand Rapids, MI. ASMA’s art is a vibrant blend of his Mexican-American culture, fatherhood and his passion for graffiti and public art alike. Practicing graffiti for over a decade, ASMA preserves the culture of writing and getting up by educating his community with events held at one of the two legal graffiti walls that he manages in West Michigan. Painting on walls has always been a passion and now it’s his profession. Somewhere between fatherhood and living out his dreams of creating art for a living, ASMA has found his voice and is speaking to the world one spray paint can at a time.Follow Guillermo | InstagramBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In our SEASON 2 debut we chat with creative Tanasia Najae about what she is up to with Impermanence Magazine, Fashion in relation to identity & freedom, creating excellence again, the tension between idea & execution and the feelings that come with going from artist to becoming the art.About Tanasia |  Tanasia Najae is a 24-year-old writer, stylist and artist living in London, England.  Born and raised in the small town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tanasia found early on that she had a love for fashion and storytelling.In 2020, she graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a BA in Mass Media Arts and a concentration in Print Journalism. Following her Bachelor’s, she moved to London in 2020 to study for her MA in Magazine Journalism. There, she was awarded Editor of the Year and created an arts and culture magazine awarded Best Magazine Design in all of England and Ireland (2021).Though Tanasia’s primary medium is writing, she also has a profound love for all things art ranging from fashion and runway to photography and curation. She is also immensely detail-oriented and a lover of words.Tanasia | Instagram & WebsiteAbout Impermanence Magazine | This magazine exists as the comfort and guide that one may need while working through the intricacies of their personal and worldly transitions. Through photography, fashion, and raw storytelling, Impermanence will tell the in-depth stories of the lives of people and the shifting truths of contemporary society.Impermanence Magazine | Instagram & WebsiteSupport Impermanence Magazine Social Impact Project | GoFundMeBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 5  we chat with Monroe  about his upbringing in New York, transition to West Michigan and his creative hardships, artistic responsibility and acclaim.About Monroe: Monroe A. O’Bryant, known as Akibang, is a self-taught Grand Rapids photographer, producer, and videographer. As the owner of the production company, A Fearless Brother Project, Akibang seeks to engage people in conversation about injustice in the American system, with a focus on the black experience. One of Akibang’s 2018 photography exhibits, “A walk in the park in America”, opens space for respectful conversation and explores the history of issues the black community faces today. Akibang uses his work and production company as a platform to encourage everyone to share their stories and to listen with open minds to the stories of others.  Akibang was born and grew up in Brooklyn, East New York, NY. In 2003, Akibang began developing his passion for the camera, teaching himself and watching the works of skilled videographers and producers such as Gordon Parks, Quentin Tarantino, and Spike Lee. His mentors and family embolden him in this motivation and his work. Through meetings with these inspiring people, Akibang found purpose and started using his camera as a weapon to fight for humanity. One of his mentor’s, James Palmore reminded Akibang of the importance of being an Artist, inspiring him to keep pursuing and developing his skills. While Akibang’s mentors and family have played a big role in his work, it is Akibang’s persistence that helps him keep pushing forward for positive change in the Grand Rapids community and America. His work will continue to bring attention and conversation to today’s important social subject matters.Now Akibang’s current works reflect the subject matter, passion, and technique of those that he looks up to, but with his own style. “I only have one chance in life to be the best me. I might as well go all out.” He said when reflecting on his motivation for continuing his art. His upcoming video project, “American Synonym: Where the same seems different”, will take an in-depth look at relevant controversial elements of today’s society. Freedom of speech, religion, sexuality, non-dualism vs dualism, and the future of America are just a few of the subjects he hopes to address in his new series. “American Synonym” will encourage conversation as well as document the current views of Americans. “Let’s tell’em a story by embodying timeless information that will be artifacts for the future.” He finds motivation in growth and a hopeful view of the future. Akibang is determined to use his life as an opportunity to affect positive change in his community and in the world.Find Monroe on Instagram About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 4  we chat with Octavia Ink on how our upbringings, adulthood & current communities  have impacted and influences our creativity and art journeys.About Octavia: Octavia Ink is an illustrator, printmaker, and graphic designer originally from Chicago, now based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She believes in art as a form of expression, using her art to represent those who are underrepresented while bringing social justice issues to the forefront. As an artist, Octavia is driven and inspired by Black women. She’s set out to push forward those who are severely underrepresented and even excluded from the art industry. She wants to see women that look like her at the helm and she reflects that in her art. Constantly utilizing bright colors and dynamic movement in each piece, Octavia loves to incorporate flowers throughout her work. Pushing the message that we should give ourselves our flowers and celebrate growth and joy.  | Octavia's Website Recording Location by Realtor Kyle Kimble of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids MI.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

In EPISODE 3 we chat with our first (but definitely not last 👀) guest, local mixed-media artist Medra Stoner about mental health & the arts. About Medra: Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, East Africa, Medra is an enthusiastic creative who strives to make an impact with her multimedia art. Her art varies from graphite portraits, pen crosshatch, oil and acrylic paintings, as well as mixed media works that often manifest in partially three dimensional art. She is not only passionate about serving others with her art but also allowing others to feel empowered and inspired through her writing and artist statements. Follow her art page on Instagram  - Medra's ArtSpecial Thanks to realtor Kyle Kimble of RE/MAX of Grand Rapids Michigan for allowing us to utilize his space to record this episode. About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

After a 4 year hiatus we’re backkkkk! The GOATs are back together again. In our return episode we reintroduce ourselves, chat about the impacts that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on us and our art. Lastly we quickly hit (pun not intended) on the Emmys & what we’re excited for this year!About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee

We introduce you to who the GOATs are, how we all met and got our respective nicknames. We also dive into what creative intelligence is and how we all got into photography as well.About: Multi-hyphenate creatives Sophie Rodriguez, George Ward and Alfield Reeves get together to chat about the arts, culture & their lives as creatives.GOATs Podcast Socials Instagram, Facebook & WebsiteProduced by Dave BenoitPhotography by Mary Partee