noseyAF: Conversations about Art, Activism, and Social Change

Stephanie Graham
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Want to hear how real artists actually make it work? noseyAF is the show where we skip the glossy bios and get into the messy, creative, human parts of building a life in the arts. I’m Stephanie Graham, an artist, filmmaker, and professionally nosy person, and every episode I talk with working artists, filmmakers, organizers, and culture-shifters about what’s really behind their projects: 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. Just honest, energizing conversations that fuel your creative life and remind you you’re not alone. If you’re an artist, curator, cultural worker, or just someone who loves peeking behind the curtain, noseyAF gives you real talk, practical ideas, and the creative spark you didn’t know you needed.

  1. What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later)

    5D AGO

    What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later)

    Ep 110: What We Owe Each Other: Season 7 Reflections (22 Conversations Later) Summary Season 7 of noseyAF is officially wrapped — and what a season it’s been. In this reflection episode, host Stephanie Graham looks back on 22 conversations with artists, activists, filmmakers, educators, and community builders and the themes that kept showing up again and again. From redefining success and practicing care as infrastructure, to documenting the people and stories that matter, this season became something bigger than expected. In this episode, Stephanie reflects on the biggest lessons from Season 7, shares how these conversations sustained her through a difficult year, and explores why the season ultimately became a meditation on what we owe each other — in art, community, and creative life. What We Talk About The five big themes that emerged across 22 conversations this seasonRedefining success and building creative lives on your own termsWhy care is structural — not softArchives, storytelling, and who gets rememberedEnvironmental grief, creativity, and community workThe messy middle of making art and showing up anywayWhat hosting Season 7 taught me during a challenging year Chapters: • 00:11 - Closing Season Seven • 01:24 - Reflecting on a Challenging Year • 10:50 - Exploring the Themes of the Season • 15:27 - The Importance of Care in Community • 24:52 - Theme Exploration: What We Owe Each Other • 26:59 - Reflecting on the Journey Things We Mentioned Lumpen Radio — 105.5 FM ChicagoThe Change Collective FellowshipAvalon Park Film House (the micro cinema project I'm dreaming up)Black Business Month (coming up in Season 9 👀) More ways to connect: Email: stephanie@missgraham.comSubscribe to the noseyAF DispatchCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodes Support & Feedback noseyAF is listener-supported — thank you for being here. 💛 ⭐ Rate & Review the Show to give 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 Segment Music By: Matrika “**On Vacation:”** Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/matrika/on-vacation License code: QGILSAQGSFMCX3KU

    30 min
  2. Neighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann Rosen

    MAR 24

    Neighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann Rosen

    Ep #109 : Neighbors, Strangers, and the Stories Between Us with Ann Rosen Summary: It's our season finale, y'all! 🎉 We made it to the end of Season 7 of noseyAF — AND we crossed 100 episodes! I still can't believe it. None of this happens without you, so thank you for being nosey right along with me all season long. I am so grateful. In this episode, I sit down with Ann Rosen, a Brooklyn-based portrait photographer and activist whose decades-long practice sits at the intersection of art, social justice, and human dignity. We talk about her evolution from abstract portraiture to her current project On Being Seen — an ongoing photography and writing workshop series with women in New York City shelters and transitional housing programs. Anne opens up about her own personal struggles, including surviving addiction and emotional trauma, and how those experiences shaped her deep empathy for the women she photographs. If you've ever wondered how art can truly serve a community — and what it means to really see someone — this one's for you. Topics discussed: Ann's artistic journey from abstract photography to intimate portrait work, including her In the Presence of Family series documenting diverse NYC families at street fairsThe On Being Seen project — photographing and collecting the stories of women in NYC shelters, and how the diptych format combines portraits with the subjects' own handwritingAnn's personal history with addiction and trauma, and how it informs her empathy-driven approach to social justice photographyThe ethics and logistics of photographing vulnerable populations — model releases, privacy, and consentWhat photography can do that other forms of activism can't, and advice for photographers wanting to do community-centered work Chapters: • 00:24 - End of an Era: Season Finale • 01:26 - The Journey of Ann Rosen: From Painting to Photography • 15:40 - Empathy Through Photography: A New Perspective • 28:33 - Understanding Homelessness and Resilience • 37:51 - The Journey of Recovery and Art • 45:50 - The Importance of Community and Neighborly Relations All About Ann: Ann Rosen (b. Brooklyn) is a New Jersey-based artist known for her social justice projects using portrait photography as a tool for empowerment and empathy. In Rosen’s current project, Being Seen, she teaches art and photography workshops with women from marginalized communities such as shelters, formerly homeless Veterans, recovering addicts, formerly incarcerated. Rosen graduated from SUNY at Buffalo (BFA) and the Visual Studies Workshop (MFA), studying with Nathan Lyons, Joan Lyons and John Wood. Her influences are stark B&W and color portraits by Irving Penn, Paul Strand, and Catherine Opie. Resources mentioned in this episode: Housing Plus — organization supporting women experiencing homelessness and those transitioning out of incarcerationFive Myles Gallery, BrooklynCEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY — upcoming solo show in NovemberBrooklyn Arts Council — grant funding source for Ann's workVisual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY — Ann's graduate school Noteworthy quotes from this episode: "I think that everybody has the right to be seen and everyone has the right to be respected." "Photography is a universal language. You don't need to know English or any other language." "I realized I was giving to others what I had experienced the joy of gaining after a traumatic lifestyle." "Nobody wants to be sitting on the street. But the gestalt of seeing a person who is homeless — they're going to harm me? No, they're not going to harm me." Connect with Ann Instagram: @annrosenphotography Website: annrosen.com Connect with Stephanie Instagram: @stephaniegraham Email: stephanie@missgraham.com Check out my art and projects Enjoy my work? Join my studio newsletter More Episodes at noseyaf.com Please leave me feedback or send me a message: Support the Show Rate and Review the show: Share noseyAF with your friends: Buy a pin Buy a print Join the noseyAF Dispatch Episode Credits: Produced and Hosted by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!) Edited by: Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    49 min
  3. Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole Havelka

    MAR 17

    Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole Havelka

    Ep # 108: Your Calm Calendar: Rest, Burnout Recovery, and Resisting Hustle Culture with Nicole Havelka Welcome back to another episode of noseyAF on Lumpen Radio!! We have Nicole Havelka joing us, a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, former pastor, and host of the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — to talk about what it actually takes to stop running on empty. Nicole gets into how she went from a self-described "recovering grind culture addict" to building a whole business around helping high-achievers and everyday radicals reclaim their time and energy. She introduces her Calm Calendar Club, a program built around planning your life in a way that actually honors your energy — not just squeezes more out of it. If you've ever felt like you're dropping the ball, this conversation will remind you: you're not dropping balls, you're just carrying too many. What We Talk AboutOkay, so pull up a chair — this one goes places. How Nicole went from overachiever to burnout recovery coach (and what growing up in Omaha, Nebraska had to do with it)Why hustle culture is literally designed for you to fail — and why that's not your faultBurnout in ministry and why being "on call 24/7" is just not humanWhat COVID quietly taught us about the power of saying noThe seven types of rest from Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith — sleep is just ONE of themHow planning your calendar with your values first changes everythingWhy ADHD and neurodivergent folks need planning systems that actually work for their brainsThe Calm Calendar Club: what it is, how it works, and who it's forWhy "you're not failing the system — you're just trying to do too much"The radical act of rest as resistance, especially for Black women (shoutout to Tricia Hersey's Rest Is Resistance)Doing your part in activism and community work — without burning yourself all the way down Things We MentionedCalm Calendar Club — Nicole's program for planning your life around your energy and values → defythetrend.com/calm-calendar Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals — Nicole's podcast Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey (affiliate link) Sacred Rest by Sandra Dalton-Smith (the seven types of rest: physical, mental, sensory, creative, social, emotional, and spiritual) (affiliate link) Artist Admin Hour — Stephanie's weekly co-working session for artists tackling the admin work that makes the work work → artistadminhour.com Chapters: • 00:33 - Introduction to noseyAF Conversations • 04:36 - The Pressure of Hustle Culture • 13:21 - The Challenge of Self-Care in Ministry • 16:54 - Navigating Burnout and Community Engagement • 23:50 - The Culture of Exhaustion • 29:50 - The Importance of Rest and Reflection • 37:30 - Addressing Time Management Challenges • 44:55 - Planning for Success: Reflecting on Your Values • 47:03 - Exploring Priorities and Planning Strategies • 54:45 - Exploring the Importance of Rest • 01:01:21 - Finding Balance: The Importance of Rest and Hobbies All About... Nicole HavelkaYou're gonna love Nicole — she's a burnout recovery coach and certified mindfulness teacher who spent years in ministry before turning her hard-won lessons into a whole business helping people resist hustle culture and build sustainable lives. Her whole thing is that rest isn't lazy — it's the foundation for everything. More about Nicole: Nicole Havelka is a burnout recovery coach, mindfulness teacher, clergy person, and recovering grind-culture addict who helps people and organizations resist hustle and reclaim rest. A clergy person turned entrepreneur, she brings bold honesty and a healthy dose of play to help changemakers prevent burnout and build sustainable lives and workplaces. Nicole hosts the podcast Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals and leads a community of Rest Rebels on Substack. → defythetrend.com | defythetrend.substack.com Sponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour The admin work that makes the work work. Every Wednesday, 7–9pm Central, artists show up on Zoom to tackle residency apps, grant applications, budgets, invoices — whatever you've been avoiding. Body doubling, no shame, real community. 25–45/month, but email Stephanie if that's not doable. → artistadminhour.com Connect with Nicole Havelka Website: defythetrend.com Calm Calendar Club: defythetrend.com/calm-calendar Podcast: Just Rest: Burnout Tips for Everyday Radicals Substack: https://defythetrend.substack.com/ More ways to connect: Email: stephanie@missgraham.com Check out my work Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback Share noseyAF with friends Rate & Review the Show Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

    1h 5m
  4. The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson

    MAR 11

    The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson

    Ep #:107 The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson Summary of the episodePublic speaking can be intimidating—especially for introverts. In this episode of nosey AF: conversations about art, activism, and social change, Stephanie talks with speaker, comedian, and author Mahlena-Rae Johnson, who calls herself the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright. For more than two decades, Mahlena has helped leaders learn how to communicate clearly and confidently, whether they’re pitching ideas, presenting on stage, or navigating everyday professional conversations. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be an introvert in leadership, why public speaking is so challenging for so many people, and how preparation, self-awareness, and practice can transform presenting into something much more enjoyable. Mahlena also shares insights from her book Speak Anyway, which encourages people to use their voices—even when fear or self-doubt shows up. If you’ve ever felt nervous about speaking in front of people, this conversation will remind you that finding your voice is a skill you can learn. What we talk aboutWhat introverted leadership looks like in practiceWhy public speaking anxiety is so commonHow preparation and self-awareness improve communicationCultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show upPersonal branding and navigating competitive job marketsRethinking genius, education, and how people learn Chapters00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market46:09 – Exploring Genius and Education Things We MentionedSpeak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnsonhttps://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/2023/11/speak-an.html All about… Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSpeaker, comedian, and six-time author Mahlena-Rae Johnson describes herself as the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright. For more than two decades, she has helped leaders hone the superpower of public speaking and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence. Her work focuses on helping founders and professionals—especially in the education technology space—develop communication skills that make pitching, presenting, and everyday leadership conversations easier and more authentic. Mahlena has been featured on CBC Kids, The Great Canadian Woman Podcast, BusinessBecause, and more. Connect with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonInstagram: @mahlenasguidetolife Website: https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/ Book: Speak Anyway Connect with StephanieJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodes Support & FeedbackShare Nosey AF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode CreditsHosted by: Stephanie Graham Edited By Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

    52 min
  5. Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a Year

    MAR 3

    Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a Year

    Ep # 106: Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a YearThis episode was recorded live on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at Lumpen Radio. Summary of the episodeIn this live, unedited episode recorded at Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM in Chicago, I sit down with Chicago filmmaker Briana Clearly to talk about what it really means to choose consistency over perfection. Briana took on the ambitious challenge of making 12 films in 12 months — and then turned that experiment into a community-driven initiative called Filmmakers Mixtape. In this conversation, we unpack how committing to one film a month transforms not just your craft, but your mindset. We talk about creative blocks, releasing work before it feels “ready,” building artistic community without ego, and why making good films is actually a side effect — not the point. If you’re an artist stuck in perfectionism, a filmmaker craving momentum, or someone who needs a reminder to just make the thing anyway, this episode is for you. What we talk about (you know… casually)Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)Why consistency beats perfection every timeBuilding Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohortHow community makes better art (and better artists)Briana’s journey from the Navy to film schoolMentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedbackThe dream of friendship-centered dramediesReleasing work publicly — even when it feels scary Things We MentionedFilmmakers MixtapeLeague of Their Own ChicagoBrain StudiosLumpen Radio All about... Briana ClearlyYou’re gonna love Briana Clearly — she’s a collaborative director, community builder, and the creative force behind Filmmakers Mixtape, a 12-month filmmaking challenge designed to help artists prioritize process over perfection. A former Navy sailor turned Chicago-based filmmaker, Briana is deeply committed to telling stories centered on Black women, friendship, and lived experience — always inviting audiences into conversation rather than spectacle. She believes filmmaking is a practice, not a performance. And honestly? That energy is contagious. Chapters: • 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF • 09:02 - Exploring Filmmaking and Personal Storytelling • 20:54 - Exploring the Dynamics of Friendship in Storytelling • 31:56 - The Birth of Filmmakers Mixtape • 41:32 - The Importance of Vulnerability in Filmmaking • 50:41 - Exploring New Art Practices • 59:01 - The Art of Filmmaking Sponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour. Every Wednesday from 7–9pm CT, artists gather on Zoom to tackle the admin we’ve all been avoiding — grant applications, budgets, residency forms, invoices, all of it. Because behind every exhibition is a clear budget. Admin is the flex. Join us at: artistadminhour.com Connect with Briana ClearlyInstagram: @brianaclearlyFilmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtapeWebsite: https://www.brianaclearly.com/ More ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramListen to more episodes Support & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

    1h 2m
  6. Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller

    FEB 24

    Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller

    Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller What this episode is about: What does it actually take to build a space where people feel like they belong? Garland Fuller — culture consultant and founder of Third Space Academy — has made it her life's work to answer that question. We get into the gap between what organizations say they value and how they actually operate, why "I want everyone to come" is a lot trickier than it sounds, and what intentional community building really looks like in practice. This one hit close to home — I share what I've been learning building my pop-up cinema project on Chicago's south side through the Change Collective fellowship, and Garland brings the strategic clarity to help it all click. Let's get into it: What is a culture consultant, actually? Garland breaks down the "people, place, program" framework and why culture is often the unseen force shaping how organizations actually operate — not just what's on the mission statement Values: aspiration vs. reality — Why integrity and service are on everyone's list, what it actually means to walk the talk, and when it might be time to update values that no longer fit who your org has become Third spaces are disappearing (or getting expensive) — From libraries to record shops to country clubs, Garland explains the spectrum of third spaces and who's really being invited in The "I want everyone to come" trap — Why all-ages, all-inclusive spaces are aspirational but tricky, with real examples from Stephanie's micro cinema project (Poetic Justice vs. Disney night, anyone?) Building the Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital sanctuary for femmes who are done fitting into boxes, why she built it for community over solo learning, and the Show and Tell Mondays that keep it real Adapt or die: organizations that are going stale — A real talk about churches, legacy orgs, and what happens when your next generation isn't in your current membership Practical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous matters Leadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotes Chapters: • 00:08 - Introducing the Guest • 07:20 - Understanding Culture and Values in Organizations • 16:55 - Creating All-Age Spaces: Building Community Connections • 19:00 - Exploring Community Engagement • 31:27 - Building Community and Support in Creative Spaces • 36:14 - Facilitation and Empathy in Group Dynamics • 44:21 - Facilitation and Engagement in Education • 48:21 - Creating Third Spaces: Starting from Your Why Things We Mentioned Third Space Academy — Garland's coaching program for leaders building intentional community spaces Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital community for femmes and changemakers The Change Collective Fellowship — the civic leadership fellowship Stephanie participated in that sparked her pop-up cinema project Soho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third space Ray Oldenburg's concept of "third spaces" — the sociological framework underlying this whole convo (optional — confirm if mentioned explicitly) All about... Garland You're gonna love Garland — she's an award-winning People Strategist with over 15 years of expertise in HR, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and training. She's also an adjunct professor at the USC Price School and Principal Consultant at Fuller Circle Consulting, where she helps organizations build optimal, inclusive workplaces. Oh, and she founded Third Space Academy — so yeah, she's been busy. Connect with Garland Instagram Website Community Impact Collective Connect with Stephanie Check out my work Follow me on Instagram Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback Share noseyAF with friends Rate & Review the Show Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

    54 min
  7. Joe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum

    FEB 17

    Joe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum

    Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears! This Conversation was recorded live for Lumpen Radio Ep #104: Joe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum SUMMARY What does care really look like — beyond Valentine's Day chocolates and heart-shaped cards? In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with Joe Schupbach, a mission-driven educator, theater maker, and instructional coach with over two decades of experience in public education, nonprofits, and community-centered theater. Together they explore care as a daily practice: in classrooms, in collaborative creative spaces, in our neighborhoods, and in ourselves. Joe shares how he stumbled into creative leadership, what trauma-informed teaching really means in practice, and why experiential learning matters more than ever in today's schools. The conversation moves through faith and identity, the joys of cooking as connection, and ends with a rallying call to get nosy about your local schools — and to support live, in-person art. WHAT WE GET INTO 💬 You know when a conversation just goes everywhere in the best way? That's this one. Here's a taste of what Joe and Steph cover: 00:26 — Introduction to noseyAF 01:15 — Care as a daily ritual: not just something you perform on Valentine's Day, but how it shows up in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and community spaces every single day 08:35 — How Joe accidentally fell into creative leadership — starting as a teaching artist right out of college and slowly becoming the person leading the room 18:06 — What trauma-informed teaching actually looks like on the ground, and why instructional coaches like Joe are changing the game in Chicago high schools 27:02 — Art-making during and after COVID-19 — how the pandemic forced a reckoning with what live, communal performance means and why it still matters 32:29 — Faith, identity, and how the personal bleeds into the professional for educators and artists alike 41:43 — Cooking as a love language: a genuinely delightful tangent about how preparing food for people is one of the most caring acts you can do 53:11 — How non-parents and non-teachers can meaningfully support local educators — including the surprisingly powerful role of Local School Councils (LSCs) THINGS WE MENTIONED 🔗 Embarc Chicago — Joe's organization, working with 17 high schools in the Chicago area → embarcchicago.org josephschupbach.com— Joe's personal site for artistic work, directing, and collaborations Change Collective Fellowship — the leadership program Joe and Stephanie both participated in Looking Glass Theatre — one of Joe's longtime artistic collaborators PlayMakers Laboratory, The Neo-Futurists, The Ruffians, Salonathon, The Paper Machete — Chicago theater orgs Joe has worked with DonorsChoose — mentioned as a way to directly support classroom supply needs Local School Councils (LSCs) — the elected, community-based governing bodies of every Chicago Public School (and yes, you can be on one even if you don't have kids in the school!) ALL ABOUT JOE SCHUPBACH 🎭 You're gonna love Joe — he's a two-MFA-having, theater-making, trauma-informed teaching wizard who genuinely believes care is the foundation of everything. Joe Schupbach is an educator, writer, and director with 22 years of experience in public education, experimental community-based theatre, and nonprofit administration. He is a facilitator and instructional coach and currently serves as Head of Experiential Coaching at Embarc. Joe has been a frequent artistic collaborator with The Midwives, The Neo-Futurists, The Paper Machete, PlayMakers Laboratory, Pocket Guide To Hell, The Ruffians, and Salonathon. Joe holds two MFAs and is a proud Chicago Public Schools graduate. He was a 2024 fellow with Change Collective and is currently leading the Chicago Cohort of Change Collective fellows. SPONSOR SHOUTOUT 💖 Come work with us at Artist Admin Hour , and get your work done. CONNECT WITH JOE Website: josephschupbach.com Instagram: @joeschupbach More ways to connect: Email: stephanie@missgraham.com Check out my work Follow me on Instagram @stephaniegraham Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback Share noseyAF with friends Rate & Review the Show Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode Credits Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!) Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

    1 hr
  8. Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace

    FEB 10

    Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace

    Ep #103: Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace Summary of the Episode What really happens after you move abroad and the honeymoon phase wears off? In this episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham sits down with writer and community-builder Stephanie Rubinato to talk honestly about mental health for expats, postpartum depression, and the emotional realities of building a life far from home. Living abroad is often portrayed as dreamy and effortless—but this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s usually left out. Stephanie shares her personal experience navigating postpartum depression after moving to Italy, the isolation many immigrants and expats feel, and why community care is just as important as cultural immersion. Together, they unpack slow living, creative burnout, friendship shifts, and what it really takes to build meaningful support systems abroad. This episode is a grounding, honest reminder that moving overseas doesn’t magically solve everything—and that seeking help, sharing resources, and building community is part of the journey. What We Talk About (aka: the real stuff you don’t see on Instagram 🇮🇹) Mental health challenges for immigrants, expats, and digital nomadsPostpartum depression while living abroadThe gap between “aesthetic expat life” and realityBuilding community through Moved With PeaceSlow living, self-trust, and creative rhythmsFriendship shifts, boundaries, and nourishmentWhy vulnerability is a form of survival (not weakness) Chapters 00:08 – Introduction to the Guest 03:07 – Navigating Mental Health Challenges as an Expat 22:32 – Navigating the Creative Chaos 35:51 – Building Community Abroad 39:51 – Navigating Friendships and Family Dynamics Things We Mentioned Moved With Peace – Stephanie’s community-centered project for immigrants and expats Therapy resources & finding culturally aligned mental health support abroad Slow living, journaling, affirmations, and grounding practices The upcoming Italian Reset Retreat (launching 2027) All about… Stephanie Rubinato You’re gonna love Stephanie Rubinato — she’s a writer, community-builder, and calm-in-the-chaos type of creative. Stephanie Rubinato is a writer and content strategist living in Italy, creating honest, grounded stories through Moved With Peace and Stephanie Rubinato Media. Her work centers slow living, self-trust, mental health, and building community—especially for immigrants and expats navigating life far from home. Through her writing, video projects, and upcoming retreats, Stephanie reminds us that we don’t have to do it all—we just have to do what’s real. Connect with Stephanie Rubinato Instagram: @movedwithpeace Website: movedwithpeace.com YouTube: Moved With Peace Connect with Stephanie Check out my work Follow me on Instagram Join the Good Stuff Only Newsletter Listen to more episodes Support & Feedback Share noseyAF with friends Rate & Review the Show Buy Pins & Prints | Shop Art Episode Credits Produced, Hosted by Me, Stephanie Edited By: Risha Brown Cover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrick Lyrics: Queen Lex Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

    45 min
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Want to hear how real artists actually make it work? noseyAF is the show where we skip the glossy bios and get into the messy, creative, human parts of building a life in the arts. I’m Stephanie Graham, an artist, filmmaker, and professionally nosy person, and every episode I talk with working artists, filmmakers, organizers, and culture-shifters about what’s really behind their projects: 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. Just honest, energizing conversations that fuel your creative life and remind you you’re not alone. If you’re an artist, curator, cultural worker, or just someone who loves peeking behind the curtain, noseyAF gives you real talk, practical ideas, and the creative spark you didn’t know you needed.

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