noseyAF: Conversations about Art, Activism, and Social Change

Stephanie Graham
  • 5.0 (32)
  • Arts
  • Updated Biweekly

Want to hear how real artists actually make it work? noseyAF skips the glossy bios and gets into the messy, human, creative parts of building a life in the arts, and using that life to change the world. Hosted by artist, filmmaker, and professionally nosey person Stephanie Graham, each episode goes deep with working artists, filmmakers, organizers, and culture-shifters about what's actually behind their work: the decisions, the doubts, the money stuff, the pivots, and the "how do you keep going?" moments. No hustle propaganda. No gatekeeping. No pretending it's easy. If you love peeking behind the curtain, noseyAF gives you the honest, energizing conversation you didn't know you needed.

  1. 10h ago

    Building a Green Space for Youth with Ted Gloster of The Forgin Initiative

    Ep #120 — Building a Green Space for Youth with Ted Gloster of The Forgin Initiative Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤 What happens when you come home during a pandemic and realize the community that raised you is stuck in survival mode? Ted Gloster left Detroit's District 2 in 2018 and came back during the pandemic — and instead of leaving again, he built The Forgin Initiative, a green space and after-school program teaching young people economic literacy, civic engagement, and emotional intelligence. This is a conversation about healing yourself before you can lead anyone else, and what it actually takes to build something from nothing. What We Talk About Why coming home during the pandemic forced Ted to confront generational poverty, financial illiteracy, and a disconnect from ancestral history in his own communityHow he built the Forgin Initiative from a 2017 idea into a physical green space and after-school program with three pillars: economic literacy, civic engagement, and emotional intelligenceThe unexpected turn: Ted's raw account of the personal breakdown that led him to therapy, prayer, and healing — and why he believes leaders can't pour into a community without doing that inner work first If you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:07 - Introduction to Black Business Month04:35 - Understanding Community and Identity13:10 - Healing and Growth: A Journey to Self-Discovery25:01 - Challenges of Building Community Programs33:40 - Understanding Leadership and Community Building All about Ted Gloster Ted is our new best friend(he never confirmed this though LOL) he's a multidisciplinary entrepreneur: investor, lifestyle brand designer, mentor, and opportunity economist, among other things. He's in year three of running The Forgin Initiative, and what sets the program apart isn't just its diverse, hands-on approach to teaching economics — it's that it stays youth-led, holding both the organization and the young people it serves accountable to that principle. Things We Mentioned The Forgin Initiative — theforgin.org (application for fall after-school programming opening soon)The Forgin Neighborhood Coalition green space — 15720 Alden St, Detroit, MI 48238Sevir — Ted's clothing brand This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast + resource for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤 Connect with Ted Gloster IG: @theforgininitiative or @theforgin_ncWebsite: theforgin.org Stay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it free More ways to connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.comFollow on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.com Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    Building a Green Space for Youth with Ted Gloster of The Forgin Initiative

  2. 1d ago

    From Loss to Home Care Business with Que Maxwell of Two Caring Hearts

    Ep #119 — From Loss to Home Care Business with Que Maxwell of Two Caring Hearts Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤 What do you do with your grief when you couldn't save the people you loved most? Que Maxwell built 2Caring Hearts — a home care and wellness business serving elderly, disabled, and post-hospital clients — after losing her father and her husband suddenly, within years of each other, and feeling the weight of not being able to do anything for them. Now she and her sister run a home care agency that's grown to 14 families in just five months, built entirely on word of mouth. What We Talk About How losing her dad at 13 and her husband years later turned personal grief into a calling to advocate for the elderly and disabledWhy she says "get a mentor" is the single best piece of advice for anyone entering home care — and the trial-and-error year it took her to learn that lessonThe unexpected turn: the client case that taught her to strengthen her intake questionnaire — and why she says families should never lie on the form If you love origin stories that don't skip the scary parts, this episode is for you. All about Que Maxwell You're gonna love Que! Que Maxwell is an entrepreneur, wellness leader, minister, and founder dedicated to helping women grow spiritually, personally, and professionally. Through her businesses, mentorship, and the Fly Girls Pray community, she empowers others to walk in faith, purpose, and resilience while navigating life’s challenges with grace and determination Things We Mentioned 2Caring Hearts Home Health — serving the Tri-County area of South Carolina (Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Lexington counties)Building While Bleeding — Que's book, first of a three-part series, available on Amazon/KDP and Barnes & NobleHome care funding options: long-term care policies, MCOs like UnitedHealth/Humana, Medicaid waiver programs, and VA aid & attendance benefits for veterans Chapters: 00:08 - Launching the Black Business Series01:51 - The Journey of Two Caring Hearts08:52 - Leading a Team: Insights from Entrepreneurship22:56 - Transitioning into Caregiving28:41 - Balancing Work and Family Life This series is supported by Off the Grid, a podcast for small business owners who want to leave social media without losing their clients. Find them at offthegrid.fun 🖤 Connect with Que Maxwell IG: Que_da_coachWebsite: https://tchhomehealth.com/Que’s Book Building While Bleeding Stay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it free More ways to connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.comFollow on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.com Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported; thank you for being here. 💛🫶🏾 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    From Loss to Home Care Business with Que Maxwell of Two Caring Hearts

  3. 2d ago

    "Start With What You Have" Denzel Turner on Building Black Fridays

    Ep #118 — "Start With What You Have" Denzel Turner on Building Black Fridays Podcast Part of noseyAF's 31 Days of Black Business series 🖤 What if the podcast you started on Zoom during 2020 became the reason you're now running black-owned business bus tours through Detroit? Denzel Turner built Black Fridays — a podcast with 200+ conversations with Black entrepreneurs — out of a need to get civically engaged after George Floyd's murder, and it's since grown into brand deals, a coaching business, and a literal bus full of people spending money at Black-owned shops. This is the episode that kicked off the whole 31 Days series — Denzel is the one who put me onto Black Business Month in the first place. What We Talk About How Denzel went from doing Instagram Live in 2020 to building a 200+ episode podcast library, starting with nothing but Zoom and a free audio hostWhy he started the Black Friday Bus Tour — a day-after-Thanksgiving event that's routed $7,000+ directly into Black-owned businesses across three toursThe unexpected turn: his "cheat code" theory of podcasting — that the show itself is marketing, and the real business lives on the back end (coaching, consulting, brand deals, speaking) If you love origin stories that start with "I just used what I had," this episode is for you. All about Denzel Turner You're gonna love Denzel he's a Detroit-rooted, self-taught, community-first media guy. He's been podcasting for almost six years, interviewed 200+ Black business owners, and still edits, hosts, and grows Black Fridays with the same "start with what you have" mentality he started with. Things We Mentioned Black Fridays Podcast — blackfridayspod.comThe Black Friday Bus Tour (Detroit, held day after Thanksgiving, Feb, and April)Glamaholics (Detroit-based beauty brand founded by Mia Ray)My Fav Episode of Black Fridays Podcast (so far!) Chapters: 00:11 - Introduction to Black Business Month06:07 - Spotlighting Black Entrepreneurship08:35 - Exploring Black-Owned Businesses: The Birth of Black Fridays20:08 - The Importance of Marketing and Self-Promotion for Business Owners27:04 - Leveraging Technology for Business Growth29:40 - The Business of Podcasting37:26 - The Importance of Black-Owned Businesses in Our Communities41:10 - Community Building and Podcasting Insights Connect with Denzel Turner IG: @blackfridayspodcastWebsite: blackfridayspod.comYouTube: Black Fridays Podcast noseyAF Black Business Series is supported by: Off the Grid- grow your business with no social media, y’all!! Thanks for supporting the project! Off the Grid Stay Connected : 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook → Download it free More ways to connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.comFollow on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.com Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits: Produced and Hosted by Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex | Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    "Start With What You Have" Denzel Turner on Building Black Fridays

  4. Jul 15

    More Than a Movie: Building Community Through Black Film with Black Film Club Collective

    This episode was recorded live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday, July 11, 2026 Ep 117: More Than a Movie: Building Community Through Black Film with Troy and Chi of Black Film Club Collective What happens when a love of movies turns into a movement? This week, Stephanie sits down with Troy and Chi of Black Film Club Collective, a Chicago-based platform creating spaces for people to gather, watch films, and have the conversations that happen after the credits roll. From apartment screenings to citywide events, they share how film became a catalyst for community, connection, and cultural preservation. What We Talk About How Black Film Club Collective grew from living room conversations into a thriving cultural communityWhy film creates a unique space for connection, dialogue, and deeper understanding across culturesHow screenings became a way to rebuild community after the pandemicThe power of discussing movies instead of just watching themWhat makes a film "Black" — even when people don't immediately think of it that wayHow their Fine Lines exhibition evolved into a larger storytelling and archival projectWhy community, memory, and family stories matter in preserving neighborhood historyThe unexpected joy of becoming artists, curators, and filmmakers along the way If you love film, culture, community building, or thoughtful conversations, this episode is for you. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF02:18 - The Origins of Black Film Club Collective20:23 - Exploring the House of the Collective25:56 - The Evolution of Screenings and Audience Engagement32:24 - Introduction to Fine Lines Project44:12 - The Journey of Artistic Discovery47:48 - Transitioning from Artists to Curators54:43 - Discussion on Black Films All about Troy & Chi You're gonna love Troy and Chi, they're thoughtful, joyful, and deeply committed to creating spaces where people can gather around Black storytelling. As the co-founders of Black Film Club Collective, they've built a Chicago-based platform centered on screenings, exhibitions, conversations, and cultural programming that celebrates Black film and visual culture. Their work brings together audiences, artists, filmmakers, and community members to engage with stories that inspire connection, reflection, and dialogue. Things We Mentioned Black Film Club CollectiveFine Lines ExhibitionChicago Film SymposiumLove JonesMississippi MasalaAtlanticsBanel & AdamaMy Father's ShadowLove BrooklynSinnersHouse of the Collective (gotta be picked for this link , i dont even have this plug yall) LOL! Connect with Black Film Club Collective IG: @blackfilmclubcltvWebsite: https://blkfilmclub.com Stay Connected 📬 Get the noseyAF Dispatch — all the month's episodes, straight to your inbox once a month. → Subscribe here 🏡 Grab the Good Neighbor Playbook — practical ways to build stronger connections in your neighborhood. → Download it free noseyAF is a project of Stephanie Graham's art practice — photography, film, and documentary work rooted in community, culture, and everyday stories. → See the work More ways to connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.comFollow on IG: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: noseyaf.com Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits Lyrics: Queen Lex | Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam | Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    More Than a Movie: Building Community Through Black Film with Black Film Club Collective

  5. Jun 30

    Detroit WiFi Energy: Building 31 Days of Black Business

    Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears! Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. Ep. 116: Detroit WiFi Energy: Building 31 Days of Black Business Summary I'm checking in from Detroit with a little voice note from the middle of things. In this episode, I share an update on 31 Days of Black Business, the audio series I'm producing for Black Business Month featuring Black entrepreneurs from around the world. We talk about what it's like to build a large creative project as a team of one, what I've learned from interviewing business owners, and how a power outage, scheduling hiccups, and a trip to Detroit have all become part of the process. I also share reflections from the MDW Summit, where artists, organizers, and cultural workers from across the Midwest gathered to exchange ideas, build community, and imagine what's next. If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a creative project—or what it looks like to keep going when life keeps life-ing—this one's for you. What We Talk About: An update on 31 Days of Black BusinessProducing, scheduling, editing, and fundraising as a one-person teamHow Threads unexpectedly helped me find participantsLessons from the MDW Summit in DetroitMy ongoing Prom Season photography projectPower outages, missed interviews, and creative problem-solvingWhy marketing your work matters just as much as making it Things We Mentioned: 31 Days of Black Business MDW Summit (Midwest artist convening) Threads Black Business Month Sponsor Shoutout 💖 Interested in sponsoring 31 Days of Black Business? I'm currently looking for sponsors who want to connect with a community of artists, entrepreneurs, and curious listeners. Reach out if you'd like to learn more. noseyaf.com/31dayspartner More Ways to Connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.com Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch Check out my work Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported—thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show. 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this. Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    Detroit WiFi Energy: Building 31 Days of Black Business

  6. Jun 2

    Introducing: The Art Biz | Why Titling Your Artwork Matters

    Introducing: The Art Biz with Alison Stanfield Today's feed drop comes from a podcast that has had a meaningful impact on how I think about building a sustainable art practice: The Art Biz with Alison Stanfield. If you've ever struggled to title your artwork—or wondered whether titles matter at all—this conversation is for you. In this episode, Alison Stanfield sits down with artist, writer, and educator Fran Gardner to explore why titling artwork is much more than an administrative task. Together they discuss how titles help artists understand their own work, deepen their connection to the creative process, and communicate more effectively with viewers. One idea that stayed with me is Fran's belief that a title is the first step toward a work's independence. Long after a piece leaves the studio, its title continues to carry meaning, offering viewers a way into the work when the artist isn't there to explain it. As someone who loves titles and thinks of them as containers that give shape to ideas, I knew I had to share this conversation with the NoseyAF community. In this episode:Why titling artwork is a creative practice, not an afterthoughtHow titles help artists better understand their own workThe relationship between writing and visual artDeveloping a personal process for naming artworkWhy artists should resist outsourcing titles to AI or social mediaThe role titles play in communication, marketing, and audience connectionHow thoughtful titling can strengthen an artist's professional practice Notable Quotes"A title is the first step toward your artwork's independence.""The writing is your studio work.""Your artwork is going to have a life beyond you."About Alyson StanfieldAlyson Stanfield has spent more than two decades helping artists build sustainable, professional creative careers. Through coaching, classes, writing, and The Art Biz podcast, she helps artists develop the systems, confidence, and visibility needed to thrive. Links referenced in this episode: artbizsuccess.com/essentialsartbizsuccess.com/spotlightfrangardnerart.comFran Gardner's Artists Will Find a Way book series affliate link Chapters: 00:08 - Introduction to the Podcast05:27 - The Importance of Titling in Art18:26 - The Process of Creating and Understanding Art28:20 - Understanding Personal Symbols in Art34:51 - The Importance of Titling in Art44:41 - The Interconnection of Creativity and Teaching Connect with Alyson: Website: artbizsuccess.com Podcast: https://artbizsuccess.com/podcasts/ Connect with Fran: Website: frangardnerart.com Instagram: @frangardnerart

    Introducing: The Art Biz | Why Titling Your Artwork Matters

  7. May 26

    Artistic Commitment: Sheri Rush on the Lifelong Path of Creativity (noseyAF Classic)

    Ep #114: Sheri Rush — a life in art, big paintings, and staying creatively alive (noseyAF Classic) Summary This one's for every artist who's ever wondered how to keep the fire going — through decades, through doubt, through life just getting in the way. Chicago-based painter Sheri Rush has been making art since childhood, and she brings a rare honesty to this conversation. We get into what it actually looks like to sustain a creative practice long-term, the residencies that changed her, how nature shows up in her work, and what's coming with her enchanted forest exhibition. Chapters: 00:39 - Introduction to Memorial Day Weekend10:33 - Exploring the Artistic Journey19:40 - Transitioning Artistic Perspectives28:06 - The Impact of Art Residencies on Artistic Growth40:15 - The Upcoming Art Show and Its Themes45:34 - Exploring Liminality and Transformation in Art What We Talk About How Sheri has kept a painting practice alive from childhood all the way through a full careerWhat artist residencies actually do for you — and why they're more than just a studio vacationHer upcoming exhibition centered around enchanted forests (yes, it's as magical as it sounds)The art of taking critique without losing your voiceWorking big: the logistics and the feeling of large-scale painting All about Sheri Rush You're gonna love Sheri — she's a Chicago-based painter and total force of nature who's been deep in her craft her whole life. Her work lives at the intersection of landscape, memory, and big feelings on even bigger canvases. Sponsor Shoutout 💖 This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour Connect with Sheri Instagram: @sherilrushWebsite: sherirush.comhttps://www.thomasmccormick.com/ More ways to connect: Subscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my work: http://missgraham.comFollow me on Instagram: @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes: http://noseyaf.com Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find it 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this: https://www.noseyaf.com/follow/ Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    Artistic Commitment: Sheri Rush on the Lifelong Path of Creativity (noseyAF Classic)

  8. May 13

    Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah Shae

    Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears! Join the noseyAF Dispatch 📬 At the end of the month, your inbox gets a little happier — all the month's noseyAF episodes sent straight to you. → Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch This conversation was recorded Live at Lumpen Radio on Saturday May 9th, 2026 Ep #113: Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah Shae Summary This episode is for everyone who's ever looked at a film set and wondered who put that there, and why it matters. Aaliyah Shae is a Chicago-based production designer, photographer, and painter whose work is all about building worlds that feel lived in and deeply human. We talk about production design, what it actually means to create a "false reality" on screen, and how the small details, a hair tie on a nightstand, height markers on a door frame, are what make a story real. We also dig into Aaliyah's community work with the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid organization she helped launch just before Halloween, and what it looks like when art and activism melt into one. Chapters 00:00 — Introduction to the Episode 00:36 — Exploring Design and Creativity 20:33 — The Art of Storytelling Through Design 33:55 — Community Engagement and Activism 53:16 — People's Panther Party Updates & Free People's Press Launch What We Talk About How Aaliyah figured out she could do both : design and film and why "pick a lane" is not the only way to build a creative career What production design actually is and why every single thing on a film set has been accounted for (yes, even the books on the shelf — don't judge the books) "Life layers" — the small details that make a set feel real — hair ties, kids' drawings on the fridge, height markers on door frames How travel sparked her design eye — from a high school architecture program in Kentucky to France and Barcelona with her French class The film Portrait of a Lady on Fire — Aaliyah's go-to visual inspiration and why she says just Google the images Working in indie film vs. studio projects — and why she encourages every filmmaker to just write something and design the heck out of a room How the People's Panther Party got started — collective exhaustion, a plane ride back to Chicago the day before Halloween, and the realization that some kids were going to sit inside while everyone else trick-or-treated What they've done in just a few months — reverse candy drive, holiday grocery deliveries to 30 families, a bi-weekly grocery program, a grant win, and now the launch of Free People's Press, a quarterly community newspaper Her advice for anyone who wants to start showing up for their community — it starts with listening, not with having it all figured out Pilsen as a neighborhood — why she loves it and what it gets right about community The crossover between film and activism — and how craft nights became a sneaky good way to build community Things We Mentioned People's Panther Party — Pilsen-based mutual aid organization Free People's Press — their new quarterly community newspaper, available at Foxglove Coffee in Pilsen Foxglove Coffee — woman-owned coffee shop in Pilsen Aaliyah Shae's Website Portrait of a Lady on Fire — French queer period film, Palme d'Or winner at Cannes; Aaliyah's visual inspo pick CUSP — Chicago United Solidarity Project — organization that helped People's Panther Party secure a grant Pilsen Arts & Community House — one of the few free creative spaces in Chicago Aaliyah mentions Liberate Your Business — book by Becky Mollenkamp All about... Aaliyah Shae You're gonna love Aaliyah Shae — she's a world-builder in the truest sense. A Chicago-based production designer, set decorator, photographer, and painter, Aaliyah creates spaces on screen that feel like real people actually live in them. She also co-founded the People's Panther Party, a Pilsen-based mutual aid org doing bi-weekly grocery deliveries, community events, and now a neighborhood newspaper — all born out of the belief that you don't have to be a professional organizer to show up for your community. She started making outfits out of paper for her little brother. She hasn't really stopped creating since. Connect with Aaliyah Shae Instagram: @aaliyahshae Website: aaliyahshae.com People's Panther Party Instagram: @peoplespantherparty People's Panther Party Website: peoplespantherparty.org More ways to connect Email: stephanie@missgraham.com Subscribe to the noseyAF Dispatch Check out my work Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show — it gives the show street cred and helps new listeners find the show 📣 Share noseyAF with a friend who needs to hear this Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie Graham Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    Doing Both: Art, Film, and Building Worlds with Aaliyah Shae
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Want to hear how real artists actually make it work? noseyAF skips the glossy bios and gets into the messy, human, creative parts of building a life in the arts, and using that life to change the world. Hosted by artist, filmmaker, and professionally nosey person Stephanie Graham, each episode goes deep with working artists, filmmakers, organizers, and culture-shifters about what's actually behind their work: the decisions, the doubts, the money stuff, the pivots, and the "how do you keep going?" moments. No hustle propaganda. No gatekeeping. No pretending it's easy. If you love peeking behind the curtain, noseyAF gives you the honest, energizing conversation you didn't know you needed.

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