Creative Guts

Creative Guts

Creative Guts is a podcast focused on the pursuit of creativity. This interview-style podcast will explore the roots of creativity, dive into the hearts of creators, and discover how creativity connects with the world around us.

  1. 2D AGO

    Erin Sweeney

    In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Laura Harper Lake  sit down with Erin Sweeney, an artist, educator, and founder of BrickHouse Arts.  Erin’s practice bridges book arts, printmaking, fiber arts, and installation, with work rooted in storytelling and a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. In this episode we learn about Erin’s journey as a creative, and how teaching at Plymouth State University, running her creative studio, and connecting with her community fuel her artistic journey. Learn more about Erin and her work at www.erinsweeney.net, www.instagram.com/brickhousearts, and https://www.plymouth.edu/person/erin-sweeney. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com.  If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.  Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!  Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

    48 min
  2. FEB 11

    Jihye Han

    In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with Jihye Han, a South Korean ceramic artist and educator, as well as the recipient of the 2025 Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.  Jihye’s work centers on cultural memory, identity, and human connection. Our conversation includes the inspiration behind her current moon jar series, the technical process of her ceramics, and how her multicultural background, teaching, and being a parent all inform her creative practice. We also cover what it was like applying to the Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant, and her reaction to learning the news she was the recipient! View Jihye’s art at https://www.jihyehanart.com/work. Follow her on Instagram at www.instagram.com/hjhalice. Learn about the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Artist Advancement Grant Exhibit featuring Jihye’s work at 3S Artspace at https://www.3sarts.org/aag-2026. Explore the 2026 Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant at https://www.nhcf.org/how-can-we-help-you/apply-for-a-grant/artist-advancement-grant-program/. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com.  If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.  Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!  Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

    58 min
  3. JAN 28

    Gene Luen Yang

    In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with award-winning graphic novelist, educator, and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yan. Gene is best known for groundbreaking works like American Born Chinese, Boxers & Saints, and Dragon Hoops, which have helped redefine what comics and graphic novels can do in classrooms. His stories blend humor, heart, and mythology with his own personal experiences and explorations of identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling. In this conversation, Gene reflects on his creative journey, the responsibility and possibility of making art for young readers, and how comics can act as a bridge between cultures, generations, and lived experiences. You can find Gene’s work at www.geneluenyang.com, and follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/geneluenyang. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Creative Guts recently moved our newsletter to Substack, and you can find us at creativegutspod.substack.com.  If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.  Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

    19 min
  4. JAN 14

    April Landry

    In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with April Landry, a comic artist, writer, and the organizer of the Luna Moth Zine Festival. April uses digital and traditional art to help explain and deal with the world around her. In our conversation, we discuss using art to process emotions, zine making, the story behind the name of the Luna Moth Zine Festival, and much more. We also dive deep into one of April’s pieces entitled “Bird Laundry Thieves Cartoon ” that you must see for yourself!  Check out April's work at www.landrysesame.com and @landrysesame on Instagram, bluesky, tumblr, and ko-fi. Learn more about the Luna Moth Zine Festival at www.lunamothzinefest.com and www.instagram.com/lunamothzinefest. The 2026 festival will be on April 18 in Manchester, NH. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com. Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com.  If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com.  Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show!  Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

    42 min
4.7
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Creative Guts is a podcast focused on the pursuit of creativity. This interview-style podcast will explore the roots of creativity, dive into the hearts of creators, and discover how creativity connects with the world around us.

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