Painting Your Path

Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey

If you’ve asked yourself “Am I living the life I want to live or have I been living for someone else?” Maybe you’re 40+ and asking: “What do I really want to do when I grow up?” If so, this podcast is for you. It’s time for you to do the thing you’ve been waiting to do but maybe didn’t think it was possible. Here’s what I know: You can be, do, and have whatever you set your mind to. Create life on your terms. This podcast features interviews with inspiring people who share their stories about stepping out and creating a life they love. You can also expect solo episodes where I share what’s on my mind and heart, all to help you continue to paint your path.

  1. When did We Stop Knowing What We Want?

    MAY 8

    When did We Stop Knowing What We Want?

    In this episode of Painting Your Path, I reflect on a question many of us quietly carry — When did I stop knowing what I want?  While I was in Texas, I found myself sitting with this more deeply, thinking about how women are often taught to be polite, accommodating, and small, and how that conditioning can pull us away from our own desires, creative voice, and sense of self. I share my own journey of choosing art without outside permission, and how that same inner knowing has guided me through community work after the Eaton fire, as well as my personal healing journey with spasmodic dysphonia. This episode is an invitation to pause and listen to what keeps nudging you forward, even if it doesn’t make sense yet. Choosing yourself does not have to be loud or dramatic — sometimes it starts with one small step, one honest decision, or one imperfect beginning.  If you’ve been feeling disconnected, unsure, or stuck, I hope this conversation reminds you that your voice still matters and your next step is already waiting for you. 🎨 Free Live Class: Activate Your Creative Voice  If you’re ready to move from thinking about it… to actually beginning: 📅 May 11  🎥 Live on Zoom (replay available)  🔗 Register here https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/activate-your-voice-free-masterclass-clarissa Connect with Clarissa: Self-Paced Vision Board Workshop: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/visionboardSAVE THE DATE: June 6th ALTA Arts Fair at The Fraternal Order of Eagles #719, 455 E Woodbury Rd, Altadena, CA 91001Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissacastilloramsey.artSupport the show

    11 min
  2. I’ll Start Soon Is a Lie

    MAY 1

    I’ll Start Soon Is a Lie

    If you’ve been telling yourself “I’ll start soon”… this episode is for you. I found myself saying those exact words again recently. Not in a big, dramatic way—but in the quiet, everyday kind of way that keeps things just far enough out of reach. In this solo episode, I share an unexpected moment from a simple scribble art exercise that made me realize what was really underneath my resistance to starting. This isn’t about needing more clarity or more time. It’s about what happens when we only allow ourselves to begin if we can do it well. Inside this episode: The subtle way “I’ll start soon” keeps ideas stuck for yearsWhat a scribble art practice revealed about control, perfectionism, and startingWhy most people don’t have a clarity problem—they have a starting problemA simple shift that helps you begin without overthinking every stepIf there’s something you’ve been sitting on—a creative project, a new chapter, a next step—you’ll hear yourself in this one. 🎨 Free Live Class: Activate Your Creative Voice  If you’re ready to move from thinking about it… to actually beginning: 📅 May 11  🎥 Live on Zoom (replay available)  🔗 Register here or click this: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/activate-your-voice-free-masterclass-clarissa Connect with Clarissa: Self-Paced Vision Board Workshop: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/visionboardSAVE THE DATE: June 6th ALTA Arts Fair at The Fraternal Order of Eagles #719, 455 E Woodbury Rd, Altadena, CA 91001Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissacastilloramsey.artSupport the show

    10 min
  3. What It Really Takes to Reclaim Your Voice (Even When It’s Hard)

    APR 17

    What It Really Takes to Reclaim Your Voice (Even When It’s Hard)

    In this episode, I’m doing something a little uncomfortable… I’m speaking anyway. Lately, my spasmodic dysphonia has been giving me trouble and I also can’t let it get me down… If you’ve ever felt like you needed to “fix” something about yourself before you could fully show up: your voice, your confidence, your clarity, this conversation is for you. Today also happens to be World Voice Day, and I’m sharing more about my personal journey with spasmodic dysphonia… including a recent step I’ve taken that honestly feels both exciting and scary. But this episode isn’t just about my voice. It’s about: What happens when your identity shifts in ways you didn’t chooseThe connection between healing, creativity, and self-expressionAnd what it actually looks like to reclaim your voice on your termsI also share a story from a recent client inside The Art of Becoming, and what it took for her to finally prioritize herself. Because whether it’s your literal voice… or your inner voice, life doesn’t come back by waiting. Tune in here Connect with Clarissa: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissacastilloramsey.artSelf-Paced Vision Board Workshop: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/visionboardMay 11th FREE Activate Your Creative Voice Masterclass: Email ACTIVATE to clarissa@clarissastudio.com and I’ll get you registered!SAVE THE DATE: June 6th ALTA Arts Fair at The Fraternal Order of Eagles #719, 455 E Woodbury Rd, Altadena, CA 91001Support the show

    18 min
  4. Finding Home, Healing, and Resistance in Altadena with Courage Escamilla

    APR 9

    Finding Home, Healing, and Resistance in Altadena with Courage Escamilla

    In this episode of Painting Your Path™ I sit down with Courage: actor, activist, and community organizer to explore what it means to find home, rebuild after devastation, and keep showing up for your community. Courage shares how an unexpected Facebook ad, a cross-town bus ride, and a deep sense of grief led them from downtown LA to Altadena, where they discovered the kind of small-town community they didn’t know they were missing. They open up about living through the Eaton Fire, why their home’s survival felt like a miracle, and how that moment propelled them into intense community organizing in the fire’s aftermath. You’ll hear about the heart behind projects like the Altadena Community Recovery Calendar, support networks for fire survivors, and why Courage chose “resistance” as their word of the year. Tune in here (via YouTube) Connect with Courage:  Courage’s Altadena Central Info Hub: couragetheactor.com/altadenaAltadena Community Recovery Calendar: altadenacalendar.org Connect with Clarissa: April 11th Women’s Retreat in Pasadena, CA. Email the word “BLOOM” to clarissa@clarissastudio.com for more details or to sign up.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissacastilloramsey.artSelf-Paced Vision Board Workshop: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/visionboardSAVE THE DATE: June 6th ALTA Arts Fair at The Fraternal Order of Eagles #719, 455 E Woodbury Rd, Altadena, CA 91001Support the show

    45 min
  5. Healing After Disaster with Art Therapist & Project HOPE Leader Nadia Paredes

    MAR 21

    Healing After Disaster with Art Therapist & Project HOPE Leader Nadia Paredes

    In this episode of Painting Your Path™, I sit down with Nadia Paredes: art therapist, former president of the American Art Therapy Association, immigrant, mom, and community mental health leader with Project HOPE.   After losing her son’s school in the Eaton fire, Nadia’s personal and professional worlds collided, leading her back into disaster mental health and community care. She shares how art, creativity, and community can help us navigate grief, shock, and long-term recovery. Tune in to hear how Nadia thinks about healing after a crisis, what it really looks like a year later, and why she believes we are always “becoming.” In This Episode, We Touch On: Nadia’s story of losing her son’s school to the fire and how it reshaped her sense of community  Her journey back to disaster mental health work after years in other clinical roles  What art therapy actually is—and how it differs from “therapeutic art” or creative self-care  The mission of Project HOPE and how they’re supporting communities in crisis (including the Eaton fire response)  The idea of vicarious trauma for people working closely with survivors and communities  Simple micro-breaks and self-regulation tools to support your nervous system during stressful times   📺Watch on YouTube: Tune in here Connect with Nadia: Project HOPE website: https://www.projecthope.orgProject HOPE’s Mental Health Toolkit: https://www.projecthope.org/reports-resources/e-poster/quick-reset-mental-health-pocket-toolkit/CA for the Arts Therapy Session with Nadia: https://youtu.be/OyMb0Xj4_78?si=II-p1ehnRlJfKezQPasadena Village Hope to Healing program: https://www.pasadenavillage.org/events/4367-hope--healing-supper-club Connect with Clarissa: March 26th Free Virtual ArtfulRx (Paint with me session)April 11th Women’s Retreat in Pasadena, CA. Email the word “BLOOM” to clarissa@clarissastudio.com for more details. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarissacastilloramsey.artSelf-Paced Vision Board Workshop: https://fromemployee2entrepreneur.live/visionboardSupport the show

    47 min
5
out of 5
78 Ratings

About

If you’ve asked yourself “Am I living the life I want to live or have I been living for someone else?” Maybe you’re 40+ and asking: “What do I really want to do when I grow up?” If so, this podcast is for you. It’s time for you to do the thing you’ve been waiting to do but maybe didn’t think it was possible. Here’s what I know: You can be, do, and have whatever you set your mind to. Create life on your terms. This podcast features interviews with inspiring people who share their stories about stepping out and creating a life they love. You can also expect solo episodes where I share what’s on my mind and heart, all to help you continue to paint your path.