Unapologetically Creative

Vermont College of Fine Arts
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  • ARTS
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Unapologetically Creative is the official podcast from Vermont College of Fine Arts, featuring bold voices in art, design, and storytelling. Through fearless creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, each episode explores how culture is shaped and reimagined. Hosted by Andrew Ramsammy, the show highlights how VCFA’s collaborative community empowers creators to challenge convention, embrace risk, and lead with purpose. Cover Art by David Jon Walker

Episodes

  1. NOV 19

    The Power of Welcome: Daniel Nayeri on Specificity, Truth, and Universal Storytelling

    Daniel Nayeri explores how specific details in a story can reveal something universal. He reflects on his fascination with “welcome,” from inviting strangers into his home for dinner to the moment characters meet around a fire, and discusses the role of food in his life and how being a pastry chef shaped his sense of pleasure, honesty, and craft. Daniel also shares what readers have taught him about vulnerability, why trusting his own palate matters, and how children and adults bring different emotional tools to stories, showing how specificity and truth help readers see pieces of their own lives in someone else’s story. 0:41 Introduction of Daniel Nayeri and Everything Sad Is Untrue. 1:14 The idea of “welcome” and storytelling through food. 2:27 Shoes on or off? Cultural norms and politeness as storytelling entry points. 3:47 Hosting strangers: the publisher’s reaction and surprising outcomes. 4:38 Unexpected connections — photographers, dinners, and shared creative space. 5:05 Daniel’s philosophy: everyone begins with welcome, but it can be lost. 5:54 Campfire metaphor: the moment two strangers negotiate trust. 7:33 Visualization and metaphor: crafting scenes with all five senses. 10:02 Life as a pastry chef: honest reactions in an open kitchen. 11:40 Applying the pastry chef mindset to writing. 13:52 Entertainment vs. art: palate cleansers and deeper meaning. 14:48 Why art isn’t just “chocolate and cocaine.” 15:34 Cooking and fighting: Daniel’s primary metaphors for truth. 16:35 Mike Tyson’s “everyone has a plan until they get punched.” 18:18 “Trust your palate”: the chef’s lesson on honesty. 19:04 Why trusting your own palate matters creatively. 20:08 Writing for children: appropriateness and development. 21:26 Children’s emotional depth and articulation. 26:07 Emails from readers and the weight of their stories. 29:03 Seeing ourselves everywhere; anthropomorphizing the world. 29:35 Art’s purpose: inviting others in without dehumanizing them. 30:30 Being unapologetically creative as a primal human act.

    32 min

  2. NOV 5

    Stories that Shape Us: Linda Sue Park on Representation, Reading, and Real World Impact

    Linda Sue Park, Newbery Medalist and author of A Single Shard and A Long Walk to Water, reflects on growing up without stories that reflected her Korean identity, the importance of representation in books, and how reading helps young people develop deep thinking skills. She also shares the real-world impact of A Long Walk to Water, which inspired students to raise millions for clean water projects in South Sudan and discusses how stories give children a safe space to practice life. 2:04 How her creative journey began, childhood reading and early influences 6:07 Lack of identity representation in childhood reading 6:16 Experiences growing up Korean American and early awareness of difference 6:46 How representation influenced her writing and Korean historical focus 23:26 Discussion of A Long Walk to Water and its global impact 23:51 Credit to her husband’s journalism and origins of the story of Salva Dut 24:12 How the book spread through classrooms and inspired students to act 26:19 How it felt to see the book’s real world impact 26:23 Reflections on young readers’ response and her newest book about coral reefs 26:56 Question about advice to her younger self 27:07 Advice, embracing what makes you different 27:27 How would you present that in book form 27:29 Continuing reflections, being true to oneself and finding strengths in difference

    30 min

  3. OCT 22

    The Art of Listening: Miller Wrenn on Improvisation, Authenticity, and Creative Connection

    Miller Wrenn is a bassist and composer who explores the beauty of improvisation, collaboration, and the deep trust that fuels creative work. In this conversation with Andrew Ramsammy, Wrenn reflects on how neurodiversity shapes his process, why true artistry begins with openness, and how music becomes a living dialogue between people. From his early days as an 11-year-old bassist to collaborations with acclaimed artists like Hildur Guðnadóttir, Wrenn reveals the lessons of resilience, community, and honesty that define his craft. 00:00–00:23—Opening Reflection00:28–01:35—Introduction01:36–03:05—Full Circle at CalArts03:06–05:11—Early Beginnings in Music05:12–06:37—Discovering Improvisation07:03–09:54—Collaboration and Connection09:54–13:04—The First “Date” with Hildur Guðnadóttir13:04–16:13—Experimentation and Musical Honesty16:14–18:29—Balancing Structure and Spontaneity18:30–19:52—Preparing for Improvised Performance19:53–21:24—Themes and Emotional Exploration21:25–22:56—Creative Blocks and Deep Listening22:57–24:46—Letting Go of Ego24:47–26:39—AI and the Future of Music26:40–28:51—Advice to His Younger Self28:52–29:51—Defining “Unapologetically Creative”29:57–30:39—Closing Thoughts

    31 min

  4. OCT 8

    Between Humor and Honesty: Christine Sneed on Story, Identity, and Creative Persistence

    Christine Sneed, award-winning author and creative writing professor, reflects on her path from teenage poetry journals to national acclaim. She shares how humor, specificity, and emotional honesty shape her storytelling, the moment in Paris that cemented her identity as a writer, and why trusting your instincts matters more than chasing trends. Christine also opens up about the realities of publishing, the craft lessons she teaches her students, and the quiet persistence required to build a life in literature. 01:54 — What Inspired Christine to Start Writing 02:38 — The Epiphany Moment in Paris: “I’m Going to Be a Writer” 04:36 — Returning from France & Early Mentors 05:53 — Getting an MFA at Indiana University 06:59 — Balancing Life, Writing, and Early Struggles 07:24 — What is “Domestic Realism”? 07:51 — Writing Structure, Titles, and Episodic Thinking 08:47 — Narrative Structure & Flashbacks 09:44 — Christine’s Writing Process & Routine 11:28 — Writing Humor & Her Book *Please Be Advised* 13:58 — Corporate Life as Creative Fuel 15:52 — Writing *Little Known Facts* and Hollywood Dynamics 17:30 — Who She Writes For (and Why) 18:08 — Research & Writing from Different Perspectives 19:39 — Writing for Publication vs Writing for Passion 21:12 — The “First Pancake” Philosophy 21:33 — Teaching & How It Shapes Her Writing 22:56 — How to Create Specific, Real Characters 23:09 — Craft Advice & The Power of Detail 25:23 — The Importance of Organic Strangeness in Fiction 25:26 — Advice to Her Younger Self 26:36 — What It Means to Be Unapologetically Creative

    30 min

  5. SEP 24

    Taraneh Hemami: Art, Memory and the Power of Community

    In this episode of Unapologetically Creative, host Andrew Ramsammy speaks with multidisciplinary artist and educator Taraneh Hemami, whose work bridges personal history and collective storytelling. From growing up during the Iranian revolution to building community through art in San Francisco, Taraneh shares how displacement, memory and resistance have shaped her creative journey. Through installations, public art and archival projects, she reclaims lost narratives and creates space for difficult conversations. This is a conversation about art as a force for connection, care and cultural preservation. Timestamps 00:03 – 00:31 · Art and politics: Why creatives must respond to the moment00:37 – 01:44 · Host introduction02:07 – 05:38 · Taraneh’s artistic journey: From Iran’s revolution to community-centered art05:46 – 07:50 · Childhood influences: Western art, music, and rediscovering Persian traditions08:22 – 08:57 · Early years in the U.S.: Surviving as an immigrant and working retail09:03 – 10:03 · Teaching as a path back to art and community10:19 – 12:57 · Community storytelling: Hall of Reflections and post-9/11 projects13:29 – 17:25 · Resistance and collective identity in art17:46 – 19:31 · Is art political? The tension of labels in the art world19:56 – 22:02 · Taraneh’s creative process: Proposals, experiments, and public art timelines22:25 – 24:12 · Identity, doubt, and belonging: Iranian, American, artist24:21 – 25:58 · The power of residency: Connection, reflection, and trust26:11 – 27:02 · Returning from residency: Teaching and making space for hard conversations27:07 – 27:27 · What “unapologetically creative” means to Taraneh Hemami27:29 – 28:17 · Closing reflection: Art as connection, responsibility, and resilience

    28 min

  6. SEP 10

    Reframing the Frame: Elizabeth Tremante on Art, Motherhood and the Museum Gaze

    In this episode of Unapologetically Creative, host Andrew Ramsammy sits down with painter Elizabeth Tremante, whose powerful and often humorous “paintings within paintings” challenge traditional museum narratives. From a rural childhood in upstate New York to graduate school at Stanford, Elizabeth shares how motherhood, feminism and a deep curiosity for art history shape her vivid imagined museum scenes—spaces filled with children, pregnant bodies and overlooked figures rarely represented in classical art. Together, they explore how art can be both comic and critical, tender and disruptive, asking us to see the gallery and the stories within it through new eyes. TIMESTAMPS: 2:06 – 3:22 | Early Life & Path to Art 3:25 – 4:18 | The Spark of Creation 5:08 – 6:31 | Describing Her Work 7:09 – 8:15 | A Daughter’s Reaction to Museums 8:53 – 9:44 | On Feminism and Representation 10:56 – 14:46 | Reframing Art History in Her Paintings 15:15 – 18:14 | Humor, Mythology, and Reinterpretation 18:41 – 19:58 | Reception and Criticism 20:09 – 21:17 | Art History as Power and Violence 21:27 – 23:31 | Making Blood Visible 24:17 – 27:31 | Themes of Care and Vulnerability 28:22 – 28:55 | Unapologetically Creative

    30 min

  7. TRAILER

    Season-1 Trailer

    Sneak peak of what's in store this season

    1 min

  8. JUN 24

    Creative Courage: Michael Riley on Pitching Big Ideas and Finding Your Path

    Michael Riley, founder of Shine Studio and the creative force behind iconic opening sequences for Gattaca, Kung Fu Panda, and Modern Family, joins Unapologetically Creative to talk about embracing uncertainty, trusting your instincts, and working in service of the story. From cold pitches to career pivots, Michael shares how saying yes to new opportunities and being okay with rejection can shape a long and fulfilling creative life. This is a conversation about staying curious, being brave, and showing up with your best ideas, no matter what. TIMESTAMPS: 0:22 — Introduction to Michael Riley and his motion design career 1:49 — Early passion for art and high school silkscreen business 3:00 — RISD experience and falling in love with typography 4:30 — Embracing multidisciplinarity in the creative world 5:18 — Influential internship with Tibor Kalman 6:30 — Embracing storytelling in film and TV 8:43 — First major TV project: Saturday Night Live 9:03 — First film: Gattaca and its creative marketing 11:10 — Working with directors and understanding their vision 12:38 — Lessons from pitching (successes and failures) 14:30 — Story of losing Bee Movie and landing Kung Fu Panda 16:25 — Role and function of a title sequence 18:07 — Designing differently for film vs. streaming 20:00 — Integration of title sequences into the story 21:06 — Designing sequences people won’t want to skip 22:33 — Processing creative feedback with professionalism 24:23 — Solving creative challenges under tight timelines 25:31 — Advice to his younger self 26:19 — Defining “Unapologetically Creative”

    28 min

  9. JUN 24

    Expanding the Frame: Amy Fortunato on Story, Identity, and Creative Possibility

    Book artist and educator Amy Fortunato joins Unapologetically Creative to share how her early experiences shaped a career built on curiosity, complexity, and care. From her first creative spark at CalArts to her current work mentoring students and crafting museum-quality books, Amy opens up about the power of asking questions, embracing identity in all its dimensions, and resisting the urge to stay in one lane. This episode explores how thoughtful creativity can honor stories, challenge norms, and lead to paths more fulfilling than we ever imagined. TIMESTAMPS: 0:25 — Introduction to Amy Fortunato and her multidisciplinary design practice 2:02 — Career overview and return to CalArts as part of VCFA residency 3:14 — Early creative experiences and lack of role models in the arts 4:19 — Cultural identity and underrepresentation in creative spaces 4:37 — The transformative impact of attending CSSSA. 6:59 — Lasting influence of early exposure to cross-disciplinary creativity 8:45 — Resisting creative categorization and embracing complexity 9:29 — Viewing identity and career through multidimensional “facets” 13:56 — Collaborative process of designing art books 16:27 — Favorite and most challenging aspects of book design 18:37 — The joy of holding the final physical product 21:04 — Physical books vs. e-books and the importance of tangible design 22:53 — Advice for students on documenting and shaping thesis books 25:52 — Advice to her younger self: trust the journey and stay open 26:35 — Defining unapologetic creativity as thoughtful irreverence

    29 min

  10. JUN 23

    Designing Without Permission: The Creative Journey of David Jon Walker

    In this premiere episode of Unapologetically Creative, host Andrew Ramsammy sits down with artist, educator, and creative entrepreneur David Jon Walker to explore his path from quilting as a teen to teaching design and graduating from Yale. David reflects on how discomfort builds creative strength, why resilience is essential, and what it means to make art without asking for permission. From screen printing at motorcycle rallies to hand-lettering daily on Instagram, his story is a masterclass in grit, grace, and creative independence. TIMESTAMPS: 0:28 — Introduction to David Jon Walker and his work 2:35 — Early creative influences from family 3:50 — First quilt project at age 13 4:31 — First commissioned creative work 5:13 — College experience and pivot to screen printing 7:53 — Growth into large-scale event merchandising 11:36 — Academic progression and transition to Yale 12:05 — Initial freelance and political design work 13:22 — Challenges in gaining recognition as a designer 16:06 — Motivation behind pursuing Yale MFA 17:12 — Financial preparation and family-driven ambition 21:01 — Daily public creative practice and accountability 22:44 — Running as fuel for creativity and focus 23:50 — Defining unapologetic creativity

    26 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Unapologetically Creative is the official podcast from Vermont College of Fine Arts, featuring bold voices in art, design, and storytelling. Through fearless creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, each episode explores how culture is shaped and reimagined. Hosted by Andrew Ramsammy, the show highlights how VCFA’s collaborative community empowers creators to challenge convention, embrace risk, and lead with purpose. Cover Art by David Jon Walker

Information

  • Creator
    Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vermont College of Fine Arts
  • Show Website
    Unapologetically Creative

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