Unapologetically Creative

Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Arts
  • Monthly

Unapologetically Creative is the official podcast from Vermont College of Fine Arts, featuring bold voices in art, design, and storytelling. Through fearless creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, each episode explores how culture is shaped and reimagined. Hosted by Andrew Ramsammy, the show highlights how VCFA’s collaborative community empowers creators to challenge convention, embrace risk, and lead with purpose. Cover Art by David Jon Walker

  1. Oct 27

    Design Against Racism: Omari Souza on Equity, Culture, and Creative Persistence

    Every design choice reflects an assumption about who is seen, included, and served. Omari Souza, designer, researcher, educator, and author of Design Against Racism: Creating Work That Transforms Communities, explores how design can reinforce inequity or become a tool for repair. He discusses the State of Black Design conference, his research into Black visual culture, and the importance of teaching designers to recognize the harm that everyday systems can create. Souza also shares why community, critical thinking, and persistence are essential to building a more humane and equitable creative future. TIMESTAMPS: 01:02 Omari Souza's creative community at VCFA 03:29 The mission of State of Black Design 04:59 Bringing design opportunities to HBCUs 06:41 The changing landscape of diversity funding 09:09 Progress, persistence, and Black design 12:49 Researching hip-hop and Black visual culture 15:28 Teaching designers to consider lived experience 19:51 How everyday design can create harm 23:19 AI, bias, and representation 26:25 Finding strength in community 27:10 Design Against Racism and restorative design 29:24 Building the future of Black design 30:50 Access, endowments, and wealth building

    Design Against Racism: Omari Souza on Equity, Culture, and Creative Persistence

  2. Oct 13

    The Power of Play: Cas Holman on Creativity, Curiosity, and Embracing Failure

    Designer, educator, and play provocateur Cas Holman explores why play is essential to creativity, learning, and personal growth at every age. From designing open-ended toys and interactive environments to challenging traditional ideas of success, Holman shares how curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to fail can unlock new possibilities. The conversation also examines the role of play in education, the workplace, and everyday life, offering a fresh perspective on the importance of taking risks, breaking routines, and rediscovering the freedom to create without expectations. TIMESTAMPS: 01:38 – Why Play Matters at Every Age02:30 – Rethinking Play for Adults04:25 – Designing Toys That Inspire Imagination06:11 – Embracing Experimentation and Failure07:07 – Finding Joy in Things You're Not Good At08:51 – The Connection Between Play and Creativity09:32 – Designing Environments That Encourage Play11:56 – Making Art Museums More Playful and Accessible15:12 – How Play Can Inspire Transformation17:45 – Bringing Authentic Playfulness Into the Workplace19:44 – Incorporating Play Into Everyday Life22:11 – Why Adults Need to Relearn How to Play24:37 – Taking Play Seriously in Education27:19 – Encouraging Risk-Taking and Embracing Failure30:03 – Simple Ways to Bring More Play Into Your Life32:15 – Breaking Routines to Spark Creativity33:19 – Why Has Pickleball Become So Competitive?

    The Power of Play: Cas Holman on Creativity, Curiosity, and Embracing Failure

  3. Sep 29

    Letting Go of Control: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on Collaboration, Perfectionism, and Creative Freedom

    Composer, arranger, and music director Miguel Atwood-Ferguson discusses how curiosity, collaboration, and moving beyond perfectionism shape his creative practice. He reflects on leading without controlling, helping students develop their own artistic voices, and making music that excites him while trusting his audience to find him. TIMESTAMPS: 00:25 Introduction to Miguel Atwood-Ferguson01:38 Growing Up with Music04:45 Moving Beyond Natural Talent05:55 Composing for Orchestra at Six08:55 Perfectionism and the Pursuit of Growth11:21 Letting Go of Control15:07 Collaboration and Creative Discovery17:42 Helping Students Find Their Voice18:26 The Music Director as a Facilitator of Magic20:53 Creating for Yourself or Your Audience22:36 Social Media, Connection, and Comparison24:18 Closing Reflections

    Letting Go of Control: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on Collaboration, Perfectionism, and Creative Freedom

  4. Sep 16

    The Art of Staying in the Game: Marq Evans on Filmmaking, Creative Business, and Persistence

    Award-winning filmmaker and VCFA alum Marq Evans shares the realities of independent documentary filmmaking, from finding and financing the right stories to navigating distribution and building an audience. He also reflects on treating the business side of art as a creative practice, using new tools like AI, and why persistence is one of the most important parts of sustaining a creative life. Time Stamps: 01:05 Clay Dream and the Story of Will Vinton03:22 Why Every Documentary Is Autobiographical06:56 Finding the Story and Gaining Access09:31 Staying Flexible Through the Filmmaking Process10:44 How VCFA Shaped Clay Dream12:01 Development, Production, and the Editing Process16:46 The Changing Documentary Marketplace18:10 Self Distribution and Finding Your Audience21:07 Bringing an Artist’s Work to Life on Film23:00 Treating Fundraising and Business as Creativity24:30 Using AI as a Creative Tool27:27 What It Means to Live a Creative Life29:54 Staying in the Game Through Rejection31:53 Advice for Independent Filmmakers

    The Art of Staying in the Game: Marq Evans on Filmmaking, Creative Business, and Persistence

  5. Sep 1

    Making Space for Play: Callie C. Miller on Storytelling, Creativity, and Finding Your Voice

    Children’s book author and animation writer Callie C. Miller discusses how play, curiosity, and persistence have shaped her creative life. She reflects on finding her voice as a writer, breaking into animation, building a career through relationships and intentional practice, and why making space for joy can lead to stronger, more meaningful creative work. TIMESTAMPS: 01:05 Meet Callie C. Miller02:33 Where Callie’s connection to play began05:06 Why adults need play too07:24 Finding your voice as a writer09:23 Creating space to be yourself10:21 Star Wars, representation, and writing the stories you wanted to see15:09 Why creative work is increasingly interdisciplinary17:37 Moving to Los Angeles and discovering animation19:10 Networking and finding a mentor21:50 Building an animation portfolio24:15 Writing for yourself first25:17 The creative breakthrough behind The Hunt for the Hollower28:14 Writing for younger audiences and the importance of representation29:19 Balancing IP work with personal projects31:16 Why play still matters in professional creative work33:22 Play as rest, problem-solving, and creative renewal

    Making Space for Play: Callie C. Miller on Storytelling, Creativity, and Finding Your Voice

  6. Aug 18

    Finding the Rhythm: Clifford Thompson on Jazz, Essays and the Creative Life

    Award-winning essayist, and educator Clifford Thompson discusses the essay as a form of inquiry—an argument with the self that can reveal unexpected meaning in lived experience. He reflects on how his collection, Jazz June: A Self-Portrait in Essays, came together as a mosaic rather than a conventional memoir, and how decades of listening to jazz shaped his sense of rhythm, sentence-making, and creative structure. Clifford also explores the unlikely connections linking literature, music, painting, film, and visual storytelling; his early fascination with comics; and the way art-making moves across disciplines. He closes with a candid look at writer’s block, the realities of sustaining a creative life, and why artists must trust their work—even when others do not yet understand it. Timestamps: 00:23 Meet Clifford Thompson01:41 Recognition for Jazz June02:55 What Makes an Essay?05:53 VCFA and Creative Community07:47 Jazz June as a Mosaic08:55 Jazz and the Rhythm of Writing10:10 The Essay as Self-Discovery13:51 Art, Music and Unexpected Connections17:11 Writer’s Block and Creative Discipline21:40 Painting, Comics and Graphic Stories23:57 The Hum of Creativity25:23 Success Beyond the Next Milestone28:42 Being Unapologetically Creative

    Finding the Rhythm: Clifford Thompson on Jazz, Essays and the Creative Life

  7. Aug 4

    Dressing the Story: Debra McGuire on Friends, Anchorman and the Art of Costume Design

    Award-winning costume designer Debra McGuire discusses how clothing helps shape character, comedy and the visual language of a story. She reflects on her journey from painter and jewelry designer to costume designer, the demanding pace of creating wardrobes for Friends, and her more than 30-year creative partnership with Jennifer Aniston. Debra also shares the collaborative process behind Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik costumes in the Sonic the Hedgehog films, how she built the distinctive 1970s world of Anchorman, and the story behind her memorable cameo in the film. She closes with an honest look at the future of the entertainment industry and why emerging artists should continue creating meaningful work, even outside the traditional Hollywood system. TIMESTAMPS: 1:03 Meet costume designer Debra McGuire1:57 Why costume designers are finally receiving recognition4:01 Debra’s new book, Dressing the Story5:28 Discovering fashion, art, and design as a child6:16 From painter and jewelry designer to costume designer9:46 Designing costumes that serve the character and story12:42 The technical challenge of creating multiple costumes14:17 How technology has transformed costume design15:54 Designing Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik costumes for Sonic17:08 Creating the iconic wardrobe of Friends18:03 Producing up to 72 costumes in a single week19:59 The secret to designing costumes for comedy21:44 Debra’s 31-year collaboration with Jennifer Aniston23:15 Designing the visual world of Anchorman24:53 Building Anchorman’s distinctive 1970s color palette27:05 The story behind Debra’s famous Anchorman cameo28:52 Where the film industry is headed31:17 Has American cinema lost its way?32:53 Closing thoughts

    Dressing the Story: Debra McGuire on Friends, Anchorman and the Art of Costume Design

  8. Jul 21

    Choosing Creative Risk: Tomás Gómez Bustillo on Storytelling, Purpose, and Independent Film

    Tomás Gómez Bustillo, an award winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and Vermont College of Fine Arts faculty member, explores the creative philosophy behind his acclaimed feature Chronicles of a Wandering Saint and why meaningful storytelling begins with embracing uncertainty. Drawing from his experience blending myth, memory, and visual poetry, he reflects on finding beauty in ordinary moments, developing a distinct artistic voice, and trusting audiences to discover meaning for themselves. Tomás also discusses the realities of independent filmmaking, balancing artistic integrity with commercial opportunity, and how purpose, mentorship, curiosity, and creative risk have shaped his career. Ultimately, he argues that being lost is not a setback but an essential part of the creative process, and that the most meaningful work often begins where certainty ends. TIMESTAMPS: 02:08 Why Small, Ordinary Moments Matter03:34 Letting Go of Being a "Serious" Filmmaker04:56 Anxiety, Patience, and Slowing Down06:25 Why Film Should Reward Patient Audiences07:54 Where Stories Begin09:17 Filmmaking and Living with Anxiety10:37 Mentoring the Next Generation of Filmmakers12:32 The Future of Independent Film14:58 Funding and Distributing Indie Movies Today17:00 Growing as a Filmmaker Without Losing Your Voice18:34 Why Chronicles of a Wandering Saint Had to Be Filmed in Argentina20:11 Directing Actors and Non Actors23:19 Why He Loves Making Movies25:02 The Bold Storytelling Choice That Changed His Film28:19 Choosing Projects That Align with Your Values30:29 What It Means to Be Unapologetically Creative32:25 Advice for Creatives Who Feel Lost

    Choosing Creative Risk: Tomás Gómez Bustillo on Storytelling, Purpose, and Independent Film
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Unapologetically Creative is the official podcast from Vermont College of Fine Arts, featuring bold voices in art, design, and storytelling. Through fearless creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, each episode explores how culture is shaped and reimagined. Hosted by Andrew Ramsammy, the show highlights how VCFA’s collaborative community empowers creators to challenge convention, embrace risk, and lead with purpose. Cover Art by David Jon Walker

Information

  • Creator
    Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Show Website
    Unapologetically Creative

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