Shows
Creative GutsJihye HanIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with Jihye Han, a South Korean ceramic artist and educator, as well as the recipient of the 2025 Piscataqua Region Artist Advancement Grant by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. Jihye’s work centers on cultural memory, identity, and human connection. Our conversation includes the inspiration behind her current moon jar series, the technical process of her ceramics, and how her multicultural background, teaching, and being a parent all inform her creative practice. We also cover what it was like applying to the Piscataqua Region Art...
2026-02-1158 minCreative GutsGene Luen YangIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with award-winning graphic novelist, educator, and former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Gene Luen Yan.Gene is best known for groundbreaking works like American Born Chinese, Boxers & Saints, and Dragon Hoops, which have helped redefine what comics and graphic novels can do in classrooms. His stories blend humor, heart, and mythology with his own personal experiences and explorations of identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling. In this conversation, Gene reflects on his creative journey, the responsibility and possibility of making ar...
2026-01-2818 minCreative GutsApril LandryIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with April Landry, a comic artist, writer, and the organizer of the Luna Moth Zine Festival.April uses digital and traditional art to help explain and deal with the world around her. In our conversation, we discuss using art to process emotions, zine making, the story behind the name of the Luna Moth Zine Festival, and much more. We also dive deep into one of April’s pieces entitled “Bird Laundry Thieves Cartoon ” that you must see for yourself! Check out April's...
2026-01-1441 minCreative GutsHosts Chat: Catching up on our creativity!In this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake, Becky Barsi, and Joe Acone get cozy for a robust Hosts Chat. The three touch base on their own creative practices and goals, hot topics in the art world, and changes for the podcast. They also share a fond-farewell to founding co-host of the podcast, Sarah Wrightsman. Please join us in thanking her for her many years of dedication, leadership, creative thinking, and passion for the mission of our podcast, nonprofit, and its community. Plus the many laugh snorts she and Laura shared over the years!
2026-01-0740 minCreative GutsKyle WoodIn this episode, Creative Guts hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone are joined by Kyle Wood, the inventive art educator and creator behind the Who ARTed and Fun Facts Daily podcasts. Throughout our interview, Kyle shares his passion for demystifying art history, engaging students with creative media, and making art accessible and fun for all ages. The conversation spans his journey into podcasting as an educational tool, favorite materials and makers, and how he cultivates creativity for kids and teachers alike. To learn more about Kyle, check out the links below:WhoArtEd on InstagramKyle Wo...
2025-12-1751 minCreative GutsTheo MarteyIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with Theo Martey, Ghanaian-born artist and founder of the Akwaaba Ensemble. From vibrant performances and hands-on workshops to his role as New Hampshire Artist Laureate, Theo shares how West African rhythms, storytelling, and the spirit of welcome have guided his artistic journey. The conversation explores Theo’s work in education, his passion for collaboration, and how music can build bridges across cultures and communities.Learn more about Theo at https://theomartey.wixsite.com/theomartey, and follow Akwaaba Ensemble at https://www.inst...
2025-12-0337 minCreative GutsArt Round the Room Debrief + Thanks!This bonus episode is all about gratitude! Host Becky Barsi talks about the third annual Art ‘Round the Room, and the generous sponsors who helped make this event possible. Listen in to learn how you can help make a difference and celebrate creative exploration and expression!Big THANK YOU to our Art ‘Round the Room Sponsors: Blick Art MaterialsAttorney S. William Dahar IIManchester DistilleryThe law offices of Orr & RenoThe Derryfield SchoolNH Craft ClubConcord Bee CompanyMarket BasketStay connected with Creative Guts on Facebook and Instagram (@CreativeGutsPodcast), and check out our website at www.CreativeGutsPodcast.com...
2025-11-2603 minCreative GutsCindy RizzaIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with fine artist and painter Cindy Rizza.Cindy is celebrated for her intimate still lifes that transform everyday textiles, heirlooms, and domestic objects into meditations on memory, comfort, and vulnerability. Her work often blurs the line between sanctuary and tension, inviting viewers to consider the deeper emotional and cultural weight carried by familiar materials. In this conversation, Cindy opens up about where her inspiration comes from, the process of translating personal memories into her visual language, and how she’s learned to be gu...
2025-10-0843 minCreative GutsShanta Lee Honeycutt + Damon HoneycuttIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi chat with Shanta Lee Honeycutt, an award-winning visual artist, author, photographer; and Damon Honeycutt, a professional artist across the mediums of dance, martial arts, music composition. Both are also educators. Our conversations in this interview weave between the diverse mediums and adventures of these two creatives. We also discuss their meet-cute story and how collaboration goes from household to the work they do in the world.Shanta is a winner of the New England Poetry Club’s Grant for Poetic Achievement, Abel Meeropol Social Ju...
2025-09-2453 minCreative GutsJoel Christian GillIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with cartoonist, historian, and award-winning author Joel Christian Gill.Joel is celebrated for his powerful graphic novels that illuminate overlooked narratives from Black history, including Tales of The Talented Tenth, his graphic novelization of Stamped from the Beginning, and his autobiographical work Fights. His storytelling blends rigorous historical research with deeply personal narratives, fostering empathy and a more human understanding of the past and present. In addition to his published works, Joel chairs the Visual Narrative graduate program at Boston University, where he...
2025-09-1042 minCreative GutsChris ArcherIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with artist and educator Chris Archer.With a studio practice encompassing functional pottery, sculptural forms, arrangements, and site-specific installations, Chris's work has been showcased nationally and internationally, earning multiple awards and inclusion in esteemed collections such as the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts in Texas and Tokyo Geidai in Japan. Beyond his studio, Chris has dedicated over two decades to art education. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Art and Design at New England College, where he teaches...
2025-06-2544 minCreative GutsBen CassidyIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with freelance writer Ben Cassidy!A journalist whose byline you’ve likely seen in places like GQ, National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Scientific American, Ben’s writing blends curiosity with craft, often taking readers into the unexpected corners of science, culture, and the human condition.He’s been recognized by Longreads and The Sunday Long Read for his standout narratives and formerly served as the features editor at Seattle Met, where his longform work earned national awards. Now based in New England, Ben co...
2025-05-1440 minCreative GutsDaniela WenzelIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with Daniela Wenzel at the Mosaic Art Collective in Manchester, NH! German-born and a New Hampshire native, Daniela is a multidisciplinary artist whose work comprises oil painting, improvised quiltmaking, pyrography, and sometimes all of the above.Daniela describes her origin story, weaving in details of how her Bauhausian homeland, medical training, and family history are all fundamental influences in her work. Her practice is saturated with color and explores the boundaries of non-representational and craft. Learn how she embraces making as an “obsession” root...
2025-03-1942 minCreative GutsHannah Cole DaharIn this episode of Creative Guts, board members and co-hosts Becky Barsi and Joe Acone sit down with Hannah Cole Dahar in her studio at the Mosaic Art Collective in Manchester, NH! Hannah, a multi-talented artist and full-time art teacher, shares her creative journey from childhood to present day.Discover how Hannah's fiery train caboose drawing at age three sparked her artistic path and her secrets for balancing a thriving art career while nurturing young creatives in the classroom. Hannah's unique vision, rooted in nature and mysticism, comes to life as she discusses her collaborations and artistic...
2025-02-1941 minCreative GutsBecky FieldIn this episode of Creative Guts hosts Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi interview award-winning photographer Becky Field. They discuss Becky's transition from a career in wildlife ecology to photography, her project "Different Roots, Common Dreams" documenting New Hampshire's immigrant communities, and her latest work "Finding Home: Portraits and Memories of Immigrants." Becky shares insights on her creative process, collaborations with immigrant families, and how her scientific background influences her artistic approach.Learn more about Becky and her work at https://differentrootsnh.com.Listen to this episode wherever you listen to podcasts or on our...
2024-11-2050 minCreative GutsJoe AconeIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman chat with artist and educator, Joe Acone! We invited Joe on the podcast to talk about gamified teaching. A self-described nerd, Joe pulls from role playing games, like Dungeons and Dragons, and applies those concepts in the classroom!Today, Joe works alongside Creative Guts’ Vice Chair, Becky Barsi, at The Derryfield School in Manchester, NH. In the past, Joe has taught at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, Framingham State University, and LaSalle College. In addition to his full time job at the Derryfield Sc...
2024-02-1441 minCreative GutsTrailer: A Long WalkWe’re excited to share a trailer for A Long Walk, a new sci-fi\neo-noir drama podcast about a space pilot who must solve a mystery while marooned on a desolate planet. A Long Walk is written, directed, and edited by Ben Cardoza. Voice actors include Chris Sumner, Mark Michael Adams, and Creative Guts own Laura Harper Lake and Becky Barsi.In this episode, Laura shares the trailer, her experience working on the project, and why folks should give it a listen.You can listen to A Long Walk on Spotify and Soundcloud, and follow th...
2024-02-0704 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Seventy-FiveThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things giving them life lately. This week’s episode is hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, photographer, teacher, star of Creative Guts’ episode 25, and explorer of all things creative!In this episode, Becky talks about two visual artists and a local exhibit! Artist Ed Fairburn: www.instagram.com/edfairburn and https://edfairburn.com/Artist Christian Scott: www.instagram.com/blackbean_CMSEngrained, featuring the work of Daniela Wenzel an...
2023-12-0606 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Seventy-TwoThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things giving them life lately. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, photographer, teacher, star of Creative Guts’ episode 25, and explorer of all things creative!In this episode, Becky talks about a printmaker and a podcast!Artist Jay Caskie at www.Instagram.com/caskieprints and https://caskieprints.com/This is Uncomfortable www.marketplace.org/shows/this-is-uncomfortable-reema-khrais/Learn more about Becky Barsi, aka Arts...
2023-06-1604 minCreative GutsSlam Free and Fly at Exeter High SchoolIn this special episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Sarah Wrightsman and Becky Barsi are live at Exeter High School for the annual Slam Free and Fly poetry event! The evening was rich with original poetry from freshmen students participating in the Arts in Action project, a school to community partnership supported and funded by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the Racial Unity Team. In this episode, you’ll hear original poetry from 21 gutsy young people. These recitations represent some classroom favorites as well as some reciters returning to the stage from Slam Free or...
2023-03-2950 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Sixty-SevenThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things giving them life lately. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, photographer, teacher, star of Creative Guts’ episode 25, and explorer of all things creative!In this episode, Becky talks about a podcast, an artist, and a couple of plugs for things that are coming up soon!Heart Starts Pounding Podcast www.instagram.com/HeartStartsPoundingThe Ehret Twins www.instagram.com/ehretwins and https...
2023-03-2208 min
Who Arted: Weekly Art History for All AgesMarina Abramovic | The Artist is PresentMarina Abromovic is a contemporary performance artist. In this episode, we talked about her performance piece, The Artist is Present, in which she sat silently looking people in the eyes to form a connection that frequently moved people to tears. My guest this week was Becky Barsi. Becky is an artist and teacher. She was recently named New Hampshire's art educator of the year. She creates and exhibits her own work but also serves on the board of Creative Guts, a non-profit arts organization putting out a podcast as well as live events to support and empower...
2023-03-2035 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Sixty-FiveThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things giving them life lately. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, photographer, teacher, star of Creative Guts’ episode 25, and explorer of all things creative!In this episode, Becky talks about a couple of artists and a podcast she’s been digging!Roberta Boffo www.Robertaboffo.com and www.instagram.com/robertaboffoartJennifer Stefanek www.jenstefanek.com and www.instagram.com/thepicadillyprojectThis is Actually H...
2023-02-2207 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Sixty-ThreeThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things giving them life lately. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, photographer, teacher, star of Creative Guts’ episode 25, and explorer of all things creative!In this episode, Becky talks about a binge-worthy TV series, a podcast, and her secrets to sourdough!Severance on Apple+ at https://tv.apple.com/us/show/severance/umc.cmc.1srk2goyh2q2zdxcx605w8vtxThe Secret Room Pod...
2023-01-2506 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Sixty-OneThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things they think you ought to know about. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi, artist, art teacher, explorer of all things creative, and the star of episode 25 of Creative Guts!In this episode, Becky talks about three of her favorite podcasts... in addition to Creative Guts, of course.WhoArtEd Podcast www.whoartedpodcast.com @whoartedpodcast Death, Sex & Money www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/deathsexmoney/episodes...
2022-12-0709 minCreative GutsA Youth Art Event MontageToday’s episode of Creative Guts takes place at Kimball Jenkins! Following the summer youth zine, Creative Guts invited local participants to gather around for some treats from Teatotaller (thank you, Emmett Soldati!) and a lesson in printmaking led by Becky Barsi, head of the art department at The Derryfield School, manager of the Lyceum Gallery, and Creative Guts’ vice chair!In this episode you’ll hear from four attendees: Camilla, an 11 year old who wants to be an art teacher when she grows up; Florence, a 14 year old whose parents are both artists; Zora, a student of Bec...
2022-10-1221 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Fifty-Six: Guest Takeover with Becky BarsiThe Creative Guts’ team is back with another installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini episodes, someone from the Creative Guts’ team will share a glimpse at the inspiring, creative things they think you ought to know about. This week’s episode is being hosted by Becky Barsi. Becky is the artist behind Artsy Barsi, the head of the art department at The Derryfield School in Manchester, Creative Guts’ Vice Chair, and the star of episode 25 of Creative Guts!In this episode, Becky talks about…Adobe Education Exchange https://edex.adobe.com/ @adobeforeduAshley Normal www.ashleynormal.com @Ashle...
2022-08-0307 minCreative GutsMontage from the 2021 Maker & Food FestIn this special episode of Creative Guts, host Laura Harper Lake is joined by Mike Durkee and Becky Barsi at the 2021 Maker & Food Fest at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire where they had the opportunity to interview attendees about their creative passions. Bravo to all the youngsters and adults who stepped up to the mic, which included many who had never been on a podcast before! In this episode you will hear from writers, illustrators, content creators, photographers, musicians, and dancers of all ages, all who shared some very inspiring words about their creative pursuits! As...
2021-11-2435 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Thirty-One: Guest Takeover by Artsy BarsiThe Creative Guts team is back with the 31st installment of Creative Catalogues! In these bonus mini-episodes, someone from the Creative Guts team will share a glimpse at their creative consumptions — the inspiring creative things they’re loving lately. This week’s episode is brought to you by Becky Barsi of Artsy Barsi! Featured in this episode:Journal Fodder Junkies www.JournalFodderJunkies.comEric Scott www.EricScottArt.comDraw and Play Here www.DrawAndPlayHere.comBlack Summer https://www.netflix.com/title/80198988Lawrence the Band https://lawrencetheband.com/ and @LawrenceTheBandGo get more Becky Barsi at www.beckybarsi.com and...
2021-07-2106 minCreative GutsCreative Catalogue Twenty-Eight: Guest Host TakeoverThe Creative Guts team is back with the 28th installment of Creative Catalogues! In these mini-episodes, traditionally co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman share a glimpse at their latest creative consumptions, but today we’re shaking things up! Becky Barsi of Artsy Barsi, a visual artist, art educator, and a Creative Guts Board member, is taking over the show for her creative picks! Special thanks to Bug, for providing us with a great song to layer on this episode.You can find more about Artsy Barsi here: www.beckybarsi.comAnd learn more about Cre...
2021-05-0507 minCreative GutsBonus: Collaboration ZineThe team behind Creative Guts is back with the third Creative Guts Zine! As per usual, the Zine will feature the work of visual artists and writers who have been selected by jury, but this time we’re looking for collaborative pieces! Creative Guts loves collaboration, so the third Zine will feature collaborations between artists. The combinations are endless: we’re picturing photographers and dancers, writers and illustrators, and printmakers and poets!This Zine is a collaboration with the Lyceum Gallery at the Derryfield School. In addition to being featured in the Zine, selected works will also be o...
2021-02-0504 minCreative GutsBecky BarsiIn this episode of Creative Guts, co-hosts Laura Harper Lake and Sarah Wrightsman sit down with interdisciplinary artist and art teacher, Becky Barsi, in her home studio! A jack of all trades high school art teacher, Becky describes herself as an interdisciplinary artist, dabbling in every medium. Inspired by her students’ creativity and activated by her own tendency to get bored, Becky’s art can’t be described with any brevity. Becky has creativity in her every branch of her family tree, and fondly recalls learning to quilt from her grandmother, a professional artist herself. Before Becky settled into her ro...
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