The Artsy Raven Podcast about Writing and Art with host JF Garrard

JF Garrard
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  • Updated Semimonthly

JF Garrard (writer, editor and publisher) has frank conversations with writers, editors, publishers, artists, actors, directors and other art professionals about what inspires them to create and what led to their success. Writers on the podcast will showcase their work by reading from their book. Main Artsy Raven website with access to 100+ episodes: https://artsyraven.com/ Artsy Raven merch: https://darkhelixpress.com/merchandise The Artsy Raven is on Feed Spot’s list of Top 60 Literature Podcasts & Top 10 Canadian Literature Podcasts on the web.

  1. 3d ago

    Ep154A Inside Independent Publishing with Kyle Bentley

    Kyle Bentley talks about life as an indie publisher, his character-first approach to storytelling, and the publishing scams aspiring authors should avoid. Kyle Bentley has spent most of his life in Ottawa, Canada, though some of his formative years were spent in the United States. He fell in love with creating fictional worlds and tellingstories from a young age, and decided he wanted to be an author while he was in high school. His favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the dark alleyways where the three intertwine. He went to university to study English and Psychology, to learn how to write better stories and more realistic characters. He is currently working on The Age of Entropy series, a series that blends science-fiction, fantasy, and horror with our modern world. The first two books, TheNightmare Schematic and The Price of Progress, have been published and both have won awards from Author Shout. Besides novels, Kyle also writes short stories and material for tabletop roleplaying games, which are published by Faceless Publishing, his small publishing house. When he isn’t writing, Kyle likes reading, playing games of all kinds, and building models. He lives with his wife Kelsey in a house that never seems to have enough room for books. You can learn more about Kyle’s books at his official website, https://kylerbentley.com/, or at the Faceless Publishing website, https://facelesspublishing.com/. Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ You can support the podcast by: 1) Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep154A Inside Independent Publishing with Kyle Bentley

  2. 3d ago

    Ep154 Growing Up With Stories with Anita Rau Badami

    Anita Rau Badami talks about growing up in a family of gifted storytellers, how a mysterious white-haired woman from her childhood inspired Asha in Her Garden, and why persistence is one of a writer's greatest strengths. Anita Rau Badami’s first novel was the bestseller TamarindMem.  Her novels The Hero’s Walk, Can You Hear the Nightbird Call? and Tell It to The Trees were all national bestsellers and were nominated for numerous awards, including being longlisted for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. Anita Rau Badami lives in Montreal. In this episode, Anita reads from Asha in Her Garden. Book link: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/565882/asha-in-her-garden-by-anita-rau-badami/9780735274341 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ You can support the podcast by: 1)  Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2) Wearing fan merchandise: https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/ 3) Sending a one-time digital tip: https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard 4) Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+ bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep154 Growing Up With Stories with Anita Rau Badami

  3. Aug 7

    Ep153A Writing the American Heartland with Ross Barkan

    Ross Barkan discusses how he balances life as an editor,columnist, and novelist, why memorable characters are the foundation of great storytelling, and how his travels through the American Midwest inspired his latest novel, Colossus. Ross Barkan is the author of five books, including the novelGlass Century. He's a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine, a columnist for New York Magazine, and the editor-in-chief of The Metropolitan Review, a books and culture review publication.  Book link: https://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/arcade-publishing/9781648211782/colossus/ Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ You can support the podcast by: 1)    Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2)    Wearing fan merchandise: https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/ 3)    Sending a one-time digital tip: https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard 4)    Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+ bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep153A Writing the American Heartland with Ross Barkan

  4. Aug 7

    Ep153 From Advertising to Thriller Author with Rachel Peterson

    Rachel Peterson  talks about leaving advertising for writing, navigating the challenges of thrillers, and why writing what you know makes stories stronger. Rachel Peterson graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a degree in English and creative writing. Born and raised in Ohio, she started her career in advertising before spending nearly a decade in New York City as a marketing executive for technology companies. An avid traveler, Rachel now splits her time between Manhattan and the Midwest, where she lives with her husband Ken, their dog Olive, and horse Hope. In this episode, Rachel reads from Killing Sadie. Book links: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Killing-Sadie/Rachel-Peterson/9798347109869 Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ You can support the podcast by: 1)    Liking us on Youtube or following on Spotify/Apple Podcasts 2)    Wearing fan merchandise: https://darkhelix.threadless.com/designs/the-artsy-raven-logo-v2/ 3)    Sending a one-time digital tip: https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard 4)    Support as a Patreon and gain access to over 150+ bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep153 From Advertising to Thriller Author with Rachel Peterson

  5. Jul 31

    Ep 152A Comedy Meets Documentary Filmmaking with Mily Mumford and Ky Sargeant

    Mily Mumford and Ky Sargeant discuss the inspiration behindtheir documentary Trans Girls: Raw & Uncut, the difficulties ofindependent filmmaking, and how the documentary challenges stereotypes by centering on real voices and experiences. Mily Mumford | Director, Producer, Story Editor(they/them) Mily Mumford is a writer/director/producer and scientistfocusing on film, immersive theatre and new media. They have had over twenty works as a writer/director produced for the stage, and have written and directed several award winning shorts and music videos. They are an alumnus ofthe Warner Brother’s Canada Access Writer’s Program (2022), the Women in the Director’s Chair Career Advancement Module (2023), the Gender Equity in Media’s Genre Lab (2024), TIFF’s Series Accelerator (2024), and the inaugural Disabled Producer’s Lab (2025) with the National Screen Institute. They have a BSc. in neuroscience and an MSc. in Interactive Technology and their scientific work greatly informs their creative work and vice versa.  Ky Sargeant | Executive Producer, Story Editor (she/they) Ky Sargeant, also known on stage as Kay, is the founder ofTrans Girls: Raw and Uncut and has solo-produced the show for the last 3 years, in addition to hosting an open-mic where she’s developed all the talent she needs for the show. She grew up in Singapore, before coming to Canada for university, and beginning her career as an organizational culture consultant. She found her way into stand-up and film after feeling jaded about the actual impact her work had, and decided to take all her skills and passions to build one of the greatest shows in the country. Outside of comedy, she is highly active in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community both in grassroots activism and serving as the board vice chair of a major local Charity. About Trans Girls: Raw & Uncut Trans Girls: Raw & Uncut | The Movie, is a feature-length documentary about an all-trans women comedy show that has become one of the most successful stand-up shows in Vancouver. Hot—Heartfelt—Hilarious, the documentary features seven comedians performing raw stand up routines, giving up close and personal interviews, and unfilteredbehind-the-scenes storytelling. Learn more or donate to the matching fundraising campaign here by Aug. 30, 2026. https://seedandspark.com/fund/trans-girls-raw-and-uncut-the-movie#story Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep 152A Comedy Meets Documentary Filmmaking with Mily Mumford and Ky Sargeant

  6. Jul 31

    Ep152 Writing, Motherhood, and Finding Community with Alison Gadsby

    Alison Gadsby shares how she balanced raising three childrenwhile returning to school to study English, what inspired her to create Junction Reads, and why community plays such an important role for writers. Alison Gadsby lives and writes in Tkaronto/Toronto. Hershort fiction appears in Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, TheEx-Puritan, Blue Lake Review, and many other literary journals in Canada and abroad. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia, and a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from York University. She is the founder/host of Junction Reads, a prose reading series in the west end ofToronto where she lives in a multigenerational home that includes several dogs. She enjoys writing novels, but is always writing weird, dark and strangely funny short stories. You can find links to her work at www.alisongadsby.ca and more information about Junction Reads at www.junctionreads.ca In this episode, Alison reads from Breathing Is How SomePeople Stay Alive. Author website: https://alisongadsby.ca Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep152 Writing, Motherhood, and Finding Community with Alison Gadsby

  7. Jul 24

    Ep151A The Power of Being Heard with Brian Ceci

    Brian Ceci shares his experience growing up Hard of Hearing,reflects on the emotional challenges of making his documentary HEARD, and explains why patience is one of the most valuable qualities a filmmaker can develop. For Brian Ceci, growing up Hard of Hearing was something was seldom acknowledged, but clearly a very important part of daily life. Brian’s career evolved in a more visual medium unfolded much later, catapulting him all over the world, documenting the human condition with his camera. Brian has shot numerous documentaries as a Director of Photography on networks like Discovery +, OMNI,and Telus Originals. The idea of leaning into his hearing came much later, through a series of events over decades which ultimately led to this film’s creation (HEARD). Brian’s hope is that this film will help people understand the limitations of hearing loss across it’s spectrum, whilst helping empowering people on their journey with with their own hearing. Film page link: https://heard-film.com/ Artsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrard Patreon subscribers remember to access your bonus content for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep151A The Power of Being Heard with Brian Ceci

  8. Jul 24

    Ep151 Building Writers Through Press and Community with M. C. JOUDREY

    M. C. JOUDREY discusses the importance of safeguardingcopyright for creatives, the origins of At Bay Press, and why both community and professionalism are essential for writers to succeed. M. C. JOUDREY is an award-winning Canadian writer, artistand designer. His second novel Of Violence and Cliché was released 2013, followed by his collection of short stories Charleswood Road: Stories in 2014 (nominated for a 2015 John Hirsch Manitoba Book Award). His novel Fanonymouswas released in 2019 and won the Independent Publisher gold medal for best work of fiction for Western Canada. It was also nominated for two Manitoba Book Awards, including the Margaret Laurence Award for best work of fiction. M. C.Joudrey has been a member of the submission selection committee for the CBC Short Fiction Prize and a jury member for the Manitoba Book Awards. As a designer, his work has been awarded two Alcuin Design Book Awards and theManuela Dias Manitoba Book Award for Design. He is also a bookbinder and a number of his works are held in galleries internationally. In this episode, Matthew reads from Marmalade Parade. Book link: https://guernicaeditions.com/products/marmalade-paradeArtsy Raven links: For more about The Artsy Raven Podcast or to join ourexclusive Artsy Raven club to receive free books and other cool stuff, visit: https://artsyraven.com/ If you really like this show, please feel free to send us a digital tip https://ko-fi.com/jfgarrardPatreon subscribers remember to access your bonuscontent for each episode: https://www.patreon.com/jfgarrard

    Ep151 Building Writers Through Press and Community with M. C. JOUDREY
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JF Garrard (writer, editor and publisher) has frank conversations with writers, editors, publishers, artists, actors, directors and other art professionals about what inspires them to create and what led to their success. Writers on the podcast will showcase their work by reading from their book. Main Artsy Raven website with access to 100+ episodes: https://artsyraven.com/ Artsy Raven merch: https://darkhelixpress.com/merchandise The Artsy Raven is on Feed Spot’s list of Top 60 Literature Podcasts & Top 10 Canadian Literature Podcasts on the web.

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