Creative Guts

Hosted by Creative Guts

Business Arts Society CultureInterviews guestsExplicit

Website RSS feed

Episodes

306

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Creative Guts is a podcast focused on the pursuit of creativity. This interview-style podcast will explore the roots of creativity, dive into the hearts of creators, and discover how creativity connects with the world around us.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 14, 202650 min

Minh Nguyen

This week on Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Joe Acone sit down with Minh Nguyen, a short filmmaker based in Boston. His film, Double Impac t, was featured in the 2026 Creative Guts Short Film Festival. Our conversation dives into Minh’s journey as a director and how anime, video games, and Hong Kong cinema influenced his storytelling and style. He shares about The Black Sheep Guild, a film collective/action design team Minh founded that brings together actors and stunt performers to push the boundaries of action storytelling. We also learn about film choreography mechanics for fight scenes. If you’ve never heard of pre-visualization (pre-vis) before, here is your chance to learn why it’s a critical step for action scenes in film! Check out Minh’s work on YouTube at : www.youtube.com/Doppoganga . Follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/doppoganga/ Learn more about The Black Sheep Guild at www.instagram.com/theblacksheepguild/ . Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or stream it straight from our website at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Find us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord, and subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . Creative Guts runs on a small budget and a lot of heart. If the show means something to you, donations of any size make a real difference, and they're tax-deductible! Learn more and give at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for sponsoring the podcast! Grateful for our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show. Views and opinions shared by our hosts or guests are their own and don't necessarily reflect the views of Creative Guts.

October 7, 202612 min

RMFA: Off the Wall with Paige Speight

Creative Guts is pleased to share this episode of Off the Wall with Matt and Amy from the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, New Hampshire. Off The Wall is a semi-regular series where Matt and Amy chat with a wide variety of visual artists, digging into the nuts and bolts of their creative process to reveal more about the layers of meaning, emotion, and intent behind their work. In this episode, you’ll hear Paige Speight discuss "Titanic", an exhibition on view in the Bernier Room until November 6, 2026. The Bernier Room is located in the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH 03867. Visit rochestermfa.org to learn more. Any views or opinions expressed by the RMFA hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

September 30, 202647 min

Elizabeth and Ben Anderson

This week on Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Laura Harper Lake sit down with siblings Elizabeth and Ben Anderson, a Boston-based Scottish fiddle and cello duo. Blending Scottish tunes with lively rhythms and innovative harmonies, the pair create a sound rooted in tradition, inspired by the contemporary, and completely original. On stage, Elizabeth and Ben captivate audiences with their ability to effortlessly communicate musical nuances as only siblings can. Our conversation dives into how they got started, the welcoming Scottish music and dance community, and surprisingly, even Buffy the Vampire Slayer. www.elizabethandbenanderson.com www.youtube.com/channel/UCflYt-pX0U2xjB2xbhd2caw www.instagram.com/elizabethandbenanderson/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4ARWWyU6yNaefI3UlmGSPx?utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or stream it straight from our website at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Find us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord, and subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . Creative Guts runs on a small budget and a lot of heart. If the show means something to you, donations of any size make a real difference, and they're tax-deductible! Learn more and give at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for sponsoring the podcast! Grateful for our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show. Views and opinions shared by our hosts or guests are their own and don't necessarily reflect the views of Creative Guts.

September 16, 202650 min

Haley Searcy

This week on Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi sit down with Haley Searcy, a multidisciplinary artist and arts community organizer. Our conversation dives into Haley’s practice with various mediums, what brought her to New Hampshire (from one Durham to another!), and why community organizing is important to her. We also dive into the Paper Jam Zine and Print Fest, of which Haley is a co-organizer. This special event is happening on Saturday, November 7th at the Millspace in Newmarket, NH. Learn more about Haley’s work at www.haleysearcyart.com and @haleysearcyart on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Learn more about the Paper Jam Zine and Print Fest at https://paperjam.mailerpage.io/ and at www.instagram.com/paperjamzinefest . Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or stream it straight from our website at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Find us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord, and subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . Creative Guts runs on a small budget and a lot of heart. If the show means something to you, donations of any size make a real difference, and they're tax-deductible! Learn more and give at CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for sponsoring the podcast! Grateful for our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show. Views and opinions shared by our hosts or guests are their own and don't necessarily reflect the views of Creative Guts.

September 9, 202623 min

We're Back (Fall 2026)!

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake, Becky Barsi, and Joe Acone catch up after our summer break. We chat about non-podcast Creative Guts happenings from the summer, where we’re at in our individual creative practices, and a deep dive into movies and media. We’re thrilled to be back for a new season of the Creative Guts podcast and can’t wait to interview a new batch of creatives. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

July 8, 202651 min

Hosts Chat: AMA

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake, Becky Barsi, and Joe Acone sit down for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode. You asked and we shared! We touch on everything from our stances on AI, to our favorite anime, and even the order in which we put on our socks and shoes. So much to learn about who WE are as artists/creatives/podcast hosts. Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

July 1, 202644 min

Wildflower Festival

In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Joe Acone sit down with Drew West, Ryleigh Schwab, and Griff Comtois, the three founders of the annual Wildflower Festival, which is happening this year on August 22nd in Keyes Memorial Field, Milford, NH. This team is building stronger communities and enhancing green spaces through art, education, and action. Our delightful conversation covers how the Wildflower Festival starts, what it’s grown into, the message of ecology, and the collaboration between Drew, Ryleigh, and Griff. We also dive into the topics of garden design, the benefits of native plants, and the mystery of a missing plant! Learn more about the Wildflower Festival at www.instagram.com/wildflowerfest . Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

June 24, 202652 min

Northern Voices A Cappella

In this episode of Creative Guts, Becky Barsi and Joe Acone talk with Terry Neill and Jill Teeters of Northern Voices A Cappella, a Manchester-based chorus celebrating its 50th anniversary. This conversation covers how the chorus makes music, prepares for performances, and competes as part of SingUnited International (formerly known as Sweet Adelines International). Most recently, Northern Voices earned 1st place Division A, 3rd place overall, and “Most Improved” at the regional competition in Springfield, MA. Learn more about Northern Voices by visiting their website: Learn more at northernvoicesac.org on Facebook at Northern Voices A Cappella , and on Instagram at @northernvoicesacappella . Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

June 17, 202657 min

Women in the Arts: A Live Panel Discussion

In this special live episode of Creative Guts, recorded in partnership with the New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA), we gather a panel of extraordinary women artists to talk about making meaningful work and navigating the realities of being women in the arts. Joining the discussion are Cat Graffam, a painter, game developer, and content creator whose work bridges traditional and digital worlds; Maria Oakley, a painter, sculptor, and ceramicist; and Lori Moretti, a figurative painter. We are chatting while surrounded by work inspired by the memory of Sue Werner Thoresen, whose exhibition at the NHAA deepens the conversation about identity, memory, and artistic expression. Learn more about each artist on their websites: Cat Graffam: www.catherinegraffam.com Maria Oakley: https://mariaoakley.com/ Lori Moretti: www.morettipaintings.com Moderated by Creative Guts co-host Becky Barsi, our conversation spans inspiration, process, visibility, challenge, community, and what needs to change to make the art world more equitable for women and gender-diverse people. Creative Guts would like to thank the NHAA for hosting this event! Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.

June 10, 202651 min

Lee & Dr. G

In this episode of Creative Guts , co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with Lee & Dr. G, a New Hampshire-based blues/jam band known for their improvisational performances, deep musical chemistry, and roots in blues, rock, and funk traditions. Lee & Dr. G have built a following through energetic live shows that balance tight musicianship with spontaneity, creating performances that feel different every night. In our conversation, we talk about how the band developed its sound, what makes improvisation so central to their creative process, and how they navigate collaboration, performance, and keeping live music thriving in New Hampshire’s local scene. Learn more about Lee & Dr. G, their upcoming performances, and where to catch them live across New Hampshire and beyond on their website https://leedrg.co/ and also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lee_dr.g/ , Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Discord. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter at creativegutspod.substack.com . If you love listening, consider making a donation to Creative Guts! Our budget is tiny, so donations of any size make a big difference. Learn more about us and make a tax-deductible donation at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com . Thank you to Kennebunk Savings Bank for being an official sponsor of the podcast! Thank you to our friends at Art Up Front Street Studios and Gallery in Exeter, NH and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts in Rochester, NH for their support of the show! Any views or opinions expressed by our hosts or guests do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Creative Guts.