Journey of the Art

Lola Opatayo
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Books
  • Updated Biweekly

On Journey of the Art, we discuss the artist, unravel the art, and explore the road between, celebrating the highs of artistic achievement and pondering the lows of the artist's sacrifice. This is our biggest question: what is the secret to staying on the journey of the art? Stay connected Find out more about the show: https://journeyoftheart.com/

  1. 4d ago

    Ep 42: An homage to Igbo ancestry and history

    I’m delighted to resume the show with a discussion on naming and history. In Episode 42, I’m chatting with Chinua Ezenwa-Ohaeto about his poetry collection, “The Naming,” a book about revelations and ongoing conversations with ancestors about identity, memory, and history. Our journey begins with the definition of names and Chinua’s claim that his name is perhaps the most important in all of Igboland! We discuss the connection between names and Igbo history, touching on the Igbo Landing of 1803 and experiences of slavery in Igboland.  We also discuss the impact of internal and external influences on his creative work. Son of the late Ezenwa Ohaeto, co-winner of the 2025 NLNG Prize, Chinua shares the realities of unfair comparisons to his father and his management of harsh criticisms. He also reveals the critical advice he received from Kwame Dawes, which led to the creation of his collection. Shaped by moving stories, Chinua’s “The Naming,” is for those searching for the paths that lead home. For those who want to initiate their own conversations with their ancestors. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 1:41 - The most important name in Igboland 4:13 - Unmonkeying the monkey’s hand 8:21 - The Igbo Landing of 1803 18:27 - Filling his father’s jacket and being called a fake Achebe 23:55 - Using storytelling to give poetry meaning 31:07 - A story of hope during the Biafran war 34:55 - How to prepare for a PhD 36:42 - The secret to staying on the journey of the art _____________________  Guest’s links Buy The Naming: https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/nebraska/9781496244703/the-naming/ _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

    42 min

  2. Mar 26

    Ep 41: How to Talk to Kids About Food Insecurity Through Storytelling

    In Episode 41, I’m joined by Canadian children’s book writers Eric Walters and Lana Button to discuss their award-winning book, One Can.  Illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant, One Can tells the emotional story of a young boy’s generosity and the importance of community in tackling food insecurity. It is a story of hope and a reminder of the power of positive storytelling in children's narratives. Parents will love this book that shows children the cyclical nature of generosity, and in it, they will find a valuable resource for talking to kids about real world problems like hunger and poverty. More than an approach to writing moral stories, Lana and Eric share the incredible power children's book writers have to uplift and empower children in a chaotic world. They also share important tips for writing children’s literature and reveal their secret to staying on the journey of their art. 00:00 - Introduction 2:20 - What started the book 6:37 - The reason for hope 8:15 - The symbol of the can 13:16 - Writing the most critical part of the book 16:19 - The psychology you need to write for children 21:03 - The reception of the book 24:23 - Why this book is so special to Eric 25:50 - How to get into the psychology of a child 31:01 - Writing in changing times 32:45 - The secret to saying on the journey of the art 🛒One Can is available for purchase from Groundwood Books: https://houseofanansi.com/products/one-can?srsltid=AfmBOorKtGP--hPmbbjvBgNlGiOVgYaSHSH1D9OfpAXr1P6OQpw94HOJ_____________________Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/18DdCmw0rV0 _____________________ Host’s linksFind out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    37 min

  3. Mar 12

    Ep 40: The Secret to Writing Children's Books

    In Episode 40 of the podcast, I have the privilege of speaking with adult and children’s book writer Caroline Adderson, writer of A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests.   A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests is a brilliant children’s book about thinking and finding quiet moments in a chaotic world. Illustrated by Lauren Tamaki, the book imagines how an old haiku by Japanese poet Matsuo Basho came to be. Readers will enjoy the vivid storytelling, be amused by the silliness of the animals, and be truly inspired by the old poet’s tenacity.    Before we get into the intricacies of her work, I ask Caroline about her relationship with TV (it’s impressive!) and her love for cherry blossoms. We talk about how she gets unstuck in her writing and the door she unlocks to write children’s books.    If you’ve ever wondered about writing children’s books or if you love haikus, this is the episode for you. It was an all-round joyful conversation, and I’m grateful that I get to share it with you.     Show highlights 00:00 - Introduction 2:40 - The deal with TV 4:18 - Cherry blossoms vs Plum trees 6:21 – Why haikus don’t explain 7:59 – What is the importance of silence? 10:28 - The gestation of a poem  15:50 - A game of consonants  17:33 - Writing for kids vs. writing for adults  20:20 - How does a writer find joy?  23:51 - How to get unstuck in writing 26:37 - The secret to staying on the journey of the art _____________________ Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art _____________________ Guest’s links Buy A Pond, A Poet, and Three Pests: https://houseofanansi.com/products/a-pond-a-poet-and-three-pests?srsltid=AfmBOopY1872Domhwo66iCzcFm_XOzijIououUBi6Tqe5tIAjxV3bnoS Visit Caroline’s website: https://www.carolineaddersonkids.com   _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/   Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    30 min

  4. Feb 26

    Ep 39: How a Tumblr post became a novel

    In Episode 39, I’m chatting with Whitney French about her novel in verse, Syncopation, a science fiction novel about two women searching for meaning and purpose in a catastrophic world where memory is currency.  We talk about the musicality of Syncopation, how a random Tumblr post birthed the idea of the book, and what characters can teach us about ourselves. I ask Whitney to don her writing coach cap to share some strategies for achieving writing goals and overcoming popular writing challenges, and we go back in time to find out about Whitney’s Tree Sessions, a writing program she held under trees for writers who wanted to embrace nature while creating art. This was such a fun conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 1:54 – Tree sessions 6:22 – Describing her year in one word 7:42– How to structure a novel in verse 10:58– Nature eliminating itself in Syncopation  12:58 – How a Tumblr post became a novel 16:42 – What characters teach us about ourselves 19:57 – Musicality in Syncopation 22:28 – Intersections of migration 25:05– Common challenges among writers 29:58– Strategies to help writers 38:39 – About Hush Harbour Press 43:19 – Secret to staying on the journey of her art _____________________ Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LW5iwa9qvSw _____________________ Guest’s links Buy Syncopation: https://bookstore.wolsakandwynn.ca/products/syncopation Visit the Hush Harbour website: https://www.hushharbour.com/  _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/   Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    48 min

  5. Feb 11

    Ep 38: The Pugilist and the Sailor

    In this episode, I’m joined by Nadia Ragbar to discuss her latest work, The Pugilist and the Sailor.  The book follows the lives of conjoined twins, Bruce and Dougie. One an ambitious boxer and the other a bookkeeper. As the brothers pursue their individual desires, a love interest and a boxing championship, they are compelled to consider the true meaning of belonging, independence, and their own place in the world.  __________________________ Show highlights 00:00 - Introduction 1:48 - What’s been making Nadia happy lately  2:49 - Summarizing The Pugilist and the Sailor 5:13 - Starting the book from the last line 8:07 - Boxing as a tool to ground the body and differentiate 10:39 - List making as a way to foster inspiration  16:22 - Connecting to the humanity of characters  18:37 - The road to publication 20:34 - When plotting doesn’t work 22:47 - Navigating the editing process and choosing feedback 24:42 - Lessons from waiting for publication 27:36 - What Nadia needs to write 29:43 - Her writing superpower 31:12 - The secret to staying on the journey of her art _____________________ Guest’s links Buy The Pugilist and the Sailor: https://invisiblepublishing.com/product/pugilist-and-the-sailor/?srsltid=AfmBOooW_oY4TQOoIlGrAnTIwM_WtHSUl5r5-mUzKItlhgZcnbY3Rfgm Follow Nadia on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nadiaragbar/ Find out more about Nadia: nadiaragbar.com   _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/   Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    34 min

  6. Jan 29

    Ep 37: Twenty years to publication: Writing through rejection

    In Episode 37, I have the privilege of speaking with three-time Pushcart nominee Bill Gaythwaite about his short story collection, A Place In The World, winner of the 2025 Drue Heinz Literature Prize.  This stunning collection of compelling short stories features regular people battling betrayal, displacement, and loss and will leave you feeling a deep sense of connection with the characters. In A Place In The World, a teenage boy and his family grapple with the harsh realities of his father’s abandonment, a young lady yearns for belonging in the face of dispassionate affection, and a gay hustler’s secret is exposed. Beyond the collection, we discuss Bill’s staying power and his response to strings of rejections. This episode holds a powerful truth about the journey of artistry and is a much-needed reminder that consistency always rewards. Show highlights 00:00 - Introduction 1:22 – Resilience, the secret sauce 1:51 - Being a Pushcart nominee 3:37 - How to weave humour into painful stories 6:38 - Using the element of surprise  10:11 - How not to give up on a story 11:45 - How to know when a story is not working 12:45 - Building cohesiveness in a short story collection 14:16 - The theme of belonging vs. mystery  16:25 - Using the story within the story device  18:17 - How to build a short story collection  20:17 - The stories that didn’t make the collection 22:39 - The sacrifice of publication  24:16 - How to stay on the Journey of the Art  _____________________ Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NfrDy4OwIa8 _____________________ Guest’s links Buy A Place In The World: https://upittpress.org/books/9780822948766/ Connect with Bill on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billgaythwaite/ _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    29 min

  7. Jan 15

    Ep 36: Finding Her Voice As Her Mother Literarily Lost Hers

    In this episode, I have the honour of chatting with Minelle Mahtani to discuss her memoir, May It Have A Happy Ending.  In May It Have A Happy Ending, Minelle travels back and forth in time to investigate the parallels between finding her voice in broadcasting and watching her mother lose hers to tongue cancer.  The book is an exploration of voice, with people, animals, nature, and things speaking vividly about identity, belonging, and the importance of making our own place in the world. It challenges us to examine the impact of our voice, the manner of our questions and the weight of the answers we give others. It’s also an exploration of love. Of love that’s too much, too little, and love that’s just right. May It Have A Happy Ending is out now from Penguin Random House Canada.   Show highlights 00:00 - Introduction 2:09 - Talking about how the book makes me feel 5:57 - Laughing after death happens 10:45 - Keeping the voicemails of loved ones 15:31 - Holding love and the bad memories of the departed simultaneously  17:58 - The scam of false hope and the vulnerability of caregivers 20:51 - Finding home and idea 22:59 - Passing down traditions and sharing the role of matriarch 29:05 - Asking anti-colonial questions on the path to writing the book 34:49 - Knowing the worth of her sound _____________________ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0EbmSKFEpm8 _____________________ Guest’s links Buy May It Have A Happy Ending: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/704247/may-it-have-a-happy-ending-by-minelle-mahtani/9780385675208 Follow Minelle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minellemahtani/   _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    41 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Ep 35: The Importance of Telling Indigenous Stories of Joy and Creativity

    In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning Cree Métis storyteller and multidisciplinary artist Arnolda Dufour-Bowes to discuss her latest children's book, "Maggie Lou Meets Her Match." Arnolda shares her creative strategies, the importance of family and cultural storytelling, and her approach to balancing humor and serious themes in her work. You’ll find the initial part of our conversation deeply motivating as Arnolda talks about plunging headfirst into creative endeavours.   Maggie Lou Meets Her Match is a story about girlhood, creativity, and Indigenous family traditions. But mostly, it’s about joy, healthy competition, and the audacity to discover the world through the balance of joy and pain.   It’s out now from Groundwood Books.   Chapters 00:00 - Introduction  01:22 - Creative strategies and fearlessness  07:31 - The Maggie Lou series 09:01 - Family dynamics and Indigenous storytelling traditions 11:51 - The balance of family love and discipline in Indigenous culture 19:37 - Bringing back stories of joy 21:51 - Celebrating playfulness and audacity in girls 29:05 - Authenticity in writing about non-Western cultures _____________________ Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Vmfsd1tJAAQ _____________________ Guest’s links Visit Arnolda’s website: www.arnoldadufourbowes.com _____________________  Host’s links Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/ Follow Lola on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/ Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

On Journey of the Art, we discuss the artist, unravel the art, and explore the road between, celebrating the highs of artistic achievement and pondering the lows of the artist's sacrifice. This is our biggest question: what is the secret to staying on the journey of the art? Stay connected Find out more about the show: https://journeyoftheart.com/

Information

  • Creator
    Lola Opatayo
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lola Opatayo
  • Show Website
    Journey of the Art