This is Not Art Therapy (The Podcast)

• Episode 18: Hannah-Sode/ Healing in Relationship

  In this episode, Hannah explores the intersections of creativity, relational healing, and personal experience, sharing insights from her work as an art therapist and her own life journey. With five years of professional experience, Hannah draws on her background in art, small business, and cultural exploration. Originally from Yorkshire, England, and living in Canada for 15 years, she brings a culturally informed, experiential approach, often engaging with the Caribbean diaspora. Her practice emphasizes fiber arts, storytelling, and the ways art can serve as both a therapeutic medium and a lens for understanding relationships, culture, and identity.Hannah reflects on “healing in relationships,” describing how childhood experiences—being dismissed or criticized—can shape adult interactions. She emphasizes that relational healing happens incrementally through repeated moments of trust, acceptance, and connection. Art-making is central to this process, offering a safe space to experiment, embrace imperfection, and process experiences. Hannah shares examples from her knitting practice, where shared experiences and even mistakes are woven into the work, embodying relational stories and memory.Ultimately, the episode illustrates how creativity and relational work are deeply intertwined. Art models adaptability and acceptance, while relationships provide emotional richness and stories that inform creativity. Hannah emphasizes that healing and growth are cumulative, arising from small moments of connection, trust, and experimentation. Through stories of art, family, partnerships, and community, listeners are invited to consider how creativity and intentional relational work foster resilience, understanding, and emotional well-being.

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• Episode 17: Ry-Sode

  This week’s episode is full of time-jumping, storytelling, and the kind of connections that remind us why creativity matters. Ry joins us from Halifax, and right away he and John bond over their East Coast roots and accents, trading stories of growing up on the coast and how place shapes identity. Ry reflects on the huge role his parents played in supporting his creative path, sharing how their encouragement gave him the confidence to explore and take risks in his art.Over the years, Ry has shifted and experimented with many mediums—tattoos, murals, and large three-dimensional sculptures—before landing on something truly distinctive: highly original, colorful, and functional furniture that pushes the boundaries of what art can be. Along the way, we hear about the drive, curiosity, and playfulness that fuel his process.Linnea shares her creative response to Ry’s piece Writer’s Block—a thrifted jean jacket dripping with golden ooze (“I can feel the stagnation ooze out of me”), while John reveals his own sketches inspired by Ry’s work, including early ideas for furniture that blend practicality with imagination. Ry also takes us behind the scenes of his latest houseware collection, Go Big and Go Home, a bold and joyful project that captures his evolving vision.What shines through most is how awesome Ry is—not only as an artist but as a human. His creativity is matched by his entrepreneurial spirit, as he draws on his background in business to market and share his newest projects with the world. He’s a reminder that artistry and strategy can go hand in hand, and that following your creative impulses can lead to incredible places.We’d love for you to connect with Ry, explore his vibrant work, and support his journey. You can check out his website and follow him on Instagram for a closer look at his latest pieces and future projects.Follow us on instagram to get access to the images and the art we share.

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• Episode 16: Mindy-Sode/ Sandtray Therapy

  In this episode, Linnea and John are joined by their dear friend, art therapist, educator, and artist Mindy Alexander for a rich conversation about sandtray therapy and the meaning of wholeness. Together, they open up the wonderfully complex and playful world of sandtray, where miniature objects and shifting sand become tools for expression, integration, and healing.The conversation unfolds around the idea of wholeness—what it means to feel whole, how we can nurture it, and why it matters in our personal and collective lives. Linnea shares their own lifelong relationship with the concept of containment, reflecting on how the idea of “being held” has been present since early childhood. This theme of containment naturally ties into the structure of the sandtray itself, which provides both freedom for expression and boundaries for safety.Nature also plays an important role in this discussion. The three explore the grounding and restorative qualities of being in relationship with the natural world, whether it’s walking in the woods, sitting near water, or simply noticing the cycles around us. Wholeness, they suggest, is not just an internal process but also a reconnection with what is bigger than ourselves.Mindy offers generous and practical insights for listeners interested in trying sandtray therapy on their own. She shares how to set up a personal sandtray at home, but also emphasizes that you don’t need sand to engage with these practices. Everyday objects, simple rituals, or creative arrangements can serve as meaningful invitations into symbolic play and self-reflection.Whether you’re someone who loves the beach and the feel of sand beneath your feet, or you’re simply curious about expressive therapies, this episode offers an accessible entry point. It blends storytelling, personal reflection, and hands-on ideas that invite you to explore your own journey toward wholeness.

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• Episode 15: Maud-Sode/ Self-Taught Artisty

  Have you ever wondered who Linnea and John would bring to a dinner party, alive or dead? (I bet you’re a bit curious now.) Can you guess who turns their dinner party into a fight club between historical figures? Spoiler alert: Maud Lewis would be in for a treat.In this week’s episode, John and Linnea dive into the colorful world of Maud Lewis, the beloved Nova Scotia folk artist whose tiny painted home and whimsical scenes continue to capture hearts worldwide. During a recent trip to the Nova Scotia Art Gallery, they explored the permanent Maud Lewis collection and uncovered the remarkable story of her resilience, creativity, and self-taught artistry.Together, John and Linnea reflect on what it means to carve out an artistic path outside of traditional training. Linnea shares their own complicated journey with art school—how it shaped, but also at times stifled, their sense of creativity. John brings in his perspective on persistence, describing how confidence and a tough skin have helped him keep creating even when faced with setbacks.The conversation expands beyond Maud herself, touching on other works they encountered in the gallery. They discuss the transformative power of standing in front of great art—how certain pieces spark joy, curiosity, or even discomfort, and how these feelings can push us toward new creative directions.From highlights of Maud’s world-famous painted house to candid moments about what they loved (and didn’t love) in the gallery, this episode blends personal reflection with art appreciation. At its heart, it’s a celebration of creativity in all its forms—whether it grows in an art school studio, a backyard shed, or a tiny house by the sea.

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• Episode 14: Josh-Sode/ TTRPG

  In this week’s chapter of our grand podcasting saga, our adventuring party gathers ‘round the campfire to explore a realm brimming with dragons, daring, and dice—the fantastical world of Tabletop Role-Playing Games. Guiding us through these enchanted lands is our good friend and master storyteller, Josh Giroux.Once merely a guest in someone's Star Wars campaign, Josh has since claimed the mantle of a seasoned Game Master, weaving quests, shaping worlds, and guiding heroes through trials both epic and absurd. From bustling taverns of imagination to shadowed dungeons of the mind, Josh shares how these games can serve as more than simple entertainment—they can be powerful tools for healing, growth, and connection.Beside him, our steadfast companion John recounts his own origin story—how he first crossed the threshold into these boundless worlds of imagination. With his own dice-rolling adventures etched into memory, John’s passion matches Josh’s stride for stride. Together, they wield more than twenty years of experience, offering wisdom, encouragement, and the occasional bard-worthy joke.We delve deep into the magic of play itself—the way stepping into someone else's skin can unlock courage, creativity, and even healing. Josh’s insights remind us that these games can be more than mere pastime; they can be lifelines, invitations to connect, and spaces to safely try on new selves.As your humble host, I confess to feeling both enchanted and a little daunted by this vast realm. But with my companions at my side, I begin to see that the journey into role-play is not one taken alone.Whether you are a seasoned hero or a curious newcomer, this episode may just be your call to adventure. Sharpen your pencils, ready your dice, and join us—we promise the quest will be worth it.

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