Ground and Gratitude

Lorilee Rager
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How do you design a life that not only grows, but also gives? It’s a question that Lorilee Rager has been asking herself lately. From her upbringing on a rural farm in Kentucky to her career as a designer, entrepreneur, writer and professor, resilience has been essential. Now, Lorilee is determined to build on that foundation, exploring pathways to physical, mental, and spiritual health. There won’t be quick fixes, magic elixirs, or dubious schemes. Instead, you’ll hear plenty of honest conversations, expert advice, and reminders that the key to a healthier life lies within you and you have a choice to design the life you want. Because you are enough.

  1. 09/21/2022 · BONUS

    Coffee Break

    After a fantastic first season of Ground and Gratitude, Lorilee is taking some time to practice what she preaches: self care, rest, and reflection. From all of us here at Ground and Gratitude, thank you for coming along on this enriching journey of discovery and growth. While we take a break from producing new episodes, please check out Season 1 for many wonderful conversations exploring what it means to be a creative in this world and how to bring all the love, joy, and laughter back to the process of design -- and life too! Thanks so much for listening. We’ll see you again soon!

    3 min

  2. 07/13/2022

    Advice on Aging and Acting with Art Conn

    Lorilee’s close friend and colleague, Art Conn, joins her to discuss his creative journey. Art has worn many hats in his career, from acting and directing theater, to hosting radio and television shows, to working in marketing. He is also well known as the host and emcee for several Clarksville entertainment venues, in addition to being Committee Chairman for the “Best of Clarksville” event for the past 16 years. Currently, Art is a part of Lorilee’s team at Thrive Creative Agency, where he lends his many years of marketing and advertising experience. The pair talk about the origins of his creativity, the resilience it’s bred, and the many lessons of self care learned throughout Art’s adventures as a renaissance man. Highlights:  On Art’s playlist: “The Joker and The Queen” - Ed Sheeran & Taylor SwiftHis mother’s influence on his love for creativityAging and actingHis creative transition from acting to directing The importance of taking care of ourselvesCelebrating life and accomplishments in healthy waysAdvice for working in creative fieldsThe importance of passion One tool for our G&G toolbox  Sponsored by  Her-Bank.com

    42 min

  3. 06/29/2022

    Blending Strategy & Design with Shruthi Manjula Balakrishna

    Lorilee is joined by fellow designer and Vermont College of Fine Arts graduate, Shruthi Manjula Balakrishna. Shruthi is an accomplished creative who draws from many different fields for inspiration in her design aesthetic. Her work is deeply influenced by her interest in anthropology, philosophy, and behavioral psychology, as she strives to create with a human-centric sensibility. In addition to her role as Design Director at Austin, Texas based firm, FÖDA, Shruthi is also an educator, speaker, and researcher, exploring the effects of design on human behavior through her position as a Doctor of Design scholar at North Carolina State University. Shruthi and Lorilee discuss the balancing points between strategy and creativity, the importance of using both sides of our brains, the intrinsic value of listening, and how data can be an essential resource for designers, just as creativity can be equally as valuable for strategic teams. Highlights:  On Shruthi’s playlist: Silence…and Bollywood music!How she got her start in advertising strategyThe importance of synthesizing art and scienceBolstering efficiency and efficacy in design by maintaining inclusivity between creative and strategic teamsInternal/narcissistic Listening vs. focused listening vs. 360 listeningHow the psychology of consumption informs the psychology of design and vice versaOne tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode: Yoon Soo LeeVCFAHick’s LawSponsored by Her-Bank.com

    53 min

  4. 06/15/2022

    Finding Your Light with Susan Bryant

    In this episode, Lorilee connects with her friend and former professor, Susan Bryant. The two met in Susan’s class at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where she taught analog photography for 37 years. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibits across the country, and she has been the recipient of several distinguished artistic fellowships throughout her career. Though she retired from full time teaching in 2019, Susan continues to instruct online and in-person photography workshops, while also maintaining a robust and active studio practice. She and Lorilee discuss the nature and value of creativity in different phases of their lives, as well as their intertwined paths to recovery.  Highlights:  On Susan’s playlist: ‘I Am Light’ by India.ArieSusan’s early love for painting and photography Analog art versus digital art in the pursuit of play and discoveryHer Light Catchers workshopsTheir respective and overlapping journeys toward sobrietyUsing therapy to break down the walls that we buildSusan’s ‘third act,’ now that’s she’s sober  One tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode: We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowenTLC aka The Luckiest Club

    47 min

  5. 06/01/2022

    Singer-Songwriter Lauren Morrow on Performing and Personal Growth

    Lauren Morrow is an acclaimed Nashville-based songwriter and performer. Her music is unique, blending genres like rock and classic-country with her adept storytelling skills and expressive voice. Like Lorilee, Lauren has come to embrace and draw on her own background to create from the heart. With this approach, her individual experience has resonated with people from many walks of life. Lauren joins Lorilee for a personal conversation about what drives her as a creative, why she takes risks in her art, and how she pushes through negativity and self-doubt to make incredible music. Highlights:  On Lauren’s playlist: “It’s About Damn Time” by LizzoLauren’s creative rootsUsing performance as a vehicle for growthWhy she tells her own story through musicPushing through negative self-talkEmbracing good thingsHow the personal can speak to universal truthsOne tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode: The War of Art by Steven PressfieldBig Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert“You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” by Darrell ScottLauren’s new single, “Alabama”Sponsored by Her-Bank.com

    52 min

  6. 05/25/2022 · BONUS

    Special: Crisis of Charisma

    Anticipating needs, sidestepping disruptions, and maintaining stability are all vital skills when you’re running a creative, client-facing business; however, they can also come with a dark side. When left unchecked, this kind of conflict avoidance can spiral into repression and denial of one’s own truth. In this special episode, Lorilee unpacks her peacemaking tendencies in an effort to understand their roots and embrace the messy, muddy, middle of real, authentic life. “Crisis of Charisma” is an excerpt from ‘Cultivator and Creator: An autoethnographic study understanding the addicted artist’, which you can read in full at lorileerager.com.   Sponsored by Her-Bank.com

    21 min

  7. 05/11/2022

    Kirbee Miller on Passion and Purpose

    Entrepreneur Kirbee Miller joins Lorilee to discuss how she navigates life as a creative, caregiver, partner, and founder. Kirbee runs Nashville-based lifestyle brand KiNiMi Kitchen, where she channels her culinary expertise and love of cooking to foster community and connection. She also holds degrees in biology and chemistry as well as a Masters in healthcare informatics. The two connect over their respective paths toward authentic self-discovery -- and how those journeys are rarely linear! Highlights:  On Kirbee’s playlist: “I Am Light” - India.Arie Kirbee’s path from healthcare to launching her own brandFood as a powerful connector of peopleFinding the safety to just be humanEmbracing the nonlinear journeyHer relationship with gratitudeFinding balance in life One tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode: KiNiMi Kitchen    Sponsored by Her-Bank.com

    55 min

  8. 04/27/2022

    Curiosity in Life and Design with Marielena Andre

    Lorilee is joined by Marielena André -- a multimedia designer and educator living in New Jersey. She is an accomplished artist with expertise in textile, fashion, graphic and sustainable design, as well as  product development. Marielena and Lorilee discuss the fundamental curiosity that has fueled their respective journeys in creativity and education, as well as the importance of experimenting, failing, reinventing, and reapplying ourselves as we grow and develop our lives.  Highlights:  On Marielena’s playlist: Instrumental piano, Afrobeat, Brazilian music, Yo-Yo Ma, and SILENCE!Working with her hands and playing with materials from a young ageThe beauty and importance of reinventionThe power of curiosity and discoveryHow pivotal failure can be in the process of honing our education and craftBoundaries of skin, both physical and virtualRecognizing and synthesizing the different versions of ourselvesHow Marielena decided to move in a new direction with her careerOur intuition’s role in telling us it’s time for changeCrystalizing our priorities when our lives are busy One tool for our G&G toolboxMentioned in this episode: Taktile Design StudioAtmosphere Press  Sponsored by  Her-Bank.com

    51 min
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Trailer

5
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26 Ratings

About

How do you design a life that not only grows, but also gives? It’s a question that Lorilee Rager has been asking herself lately. From her upbringing on a rural farm in Kentucky to her career as a designer, entrepreneur, writer and professor, resilience has been essential. Now, Lorilee is determined to build on that foundation, exploring pathways to physical, mental, and spiritual health. There won’t be quick fixes, magic elixirs, or dubious schemes. Instead, you’ll hear plenty of honest conversations, expert advice, and reminders that the key to a healthier life lies within you and you have a choice to design the life you want. Because you are enough.

Information

  • Creator
    Lorilee Rager
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2022
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2021 Lorilee Rager
  • Show Website
    Ground and Gratitude