AART - the podcast

06/05/2026

🎙️ People often ask why I started AART. The simple answer is to elevate women artists, to make their work and their names better known. If you stopped someone in the street and asked them to name three women artists, how many could‽

After years of interviewing athletes and artists, I have found that women artists often tell the most extraordinary stories. Stories about persistence, reinvention, failure, success, and finding a voice.

AART was created to go beyond the artwork and get to know the person behind their art.

Every week I have the privilege of sitting down with remarkable women artists from around the world and hearing their stories in their own words.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of this growing community.

What has been your favorite AART conversation so far?

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06/04/2026

✨ Coming Next Week on AART ✨

Step into the dreamlike world of digital artist and visual storyteller Maggie Taylor.

Known for her richly layered, surreal imagery, Maggie creates visual narratives that blur the boundaries between photography, memory, imagination, and technology. Her work invites viewers into carefully constructed worlds filled with symbolism, mystery, and wonder.

On next week's episode of AART, Maggie shares insights with Chris into her creative process, the evolution of her distinctive artistic voice, and how storytelling remains at the heart of everything she creates.

Join us for a fascinating conversation about art, technology, creativity, and the power of images to tell stories beyond words.

🎧 New episode drops next week.

WomenInArt ArtistInterview CreativeProcess PhotographyArt DigitalArtist WomenUnscripted Podcast

06/02/2026

🎙️ FROM THE AART ARCHIVES

Last summer, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Catalina Gómez Beuth for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about art, creativity, and the journeys that shaped her as an artist and woman.

Catalina shared insights into her work, her influences, and the experiences that have informed her unique artistic voice. It's one of those conversations that reminds us how art can connect us across cultures, experiences, and perspectives.

“What happened to me is since I started just 15 years ago, I always think that my time is too short and I want to experiment and I want to see other things too. So I do things, I create things for myself. I don't create things for other people. I always said, okay, I am creating this for myself but for somebody else, that if that person comes now, it's perfect. If it doesn't come, okay, it will be the right time whenever the person comes to get the piece that I was creating for that person. I think with my pieces, I always think that it gets to the right home. It's not that I create pieces for everybody. It needs to touch the soul of the other person.”

If you're new to AART or missed this episode the first time around, it's well worth a listen. And if you've heard it before, now might be the perfect time to revisit it.

🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts or watch on YouTube.

What was your favorite AART episode from the past year?

WomenArtists CreativeJourney ArtPodcast PodcastRecommendation ChrisStafford

From AART: From Silence to Color: Catalina Gómez Beuth on Art, Identity & Purpose
Jul 29, 2025

05/27/2026

Behind the Lens: A Cinematographer’s Eye on Story 🎬✨

This week on AART, we’re going behind the lens with a celebrated German cinematographer whose work transforms story into pure visual poetry.

From the subtle interplay of light and shadow to the emotional rhythm of the frame, this conversation Chris explores what it really means to see—not just shoot—a film. We talk the journey, instinct, collaboration, and the quiet decisions that shape the images we never forget.

It’s an intimate, unscripted look at the artistry of cinematography and the power of visual storytelling at the highest level.

Bebe shares some very personal experiences of life on set, from triumphs to tragedies.

🎧 Listen now on AART from the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.

FilmCraft VisualStorytelling PodcastInterview CreativeProcess BehindTheLens FilmIndustry ArtistsOnArt ChrisStafford PodcastRecommendations

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with today’s talented and creative women.

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
✍🏻 [email protected]
🎧 AART is available on all podcast apps
📺 WATCH on the Women Unscripted Channel on You Tube
AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.
All episodes are available on our YouTube Channel at Women Unscripted

05/22/2026

Coming Up on AART: The Art of Presence with German Cinematographer Bebe Dierken

Next week on AART, we’re joined by Bebe Dierken, whose work invites us to slow down, look closer, and experience the quiet power of observation.

In this upcoming conversation with Chris, Bebe shares the intention behind her work, and how presence, perception, and subtle detail shape the stories she tells through art. It’s a thoughtful, unscripted look at what it means to truly engage with the world as an artist.

Mark your calendars—this is one you won’t want to miss.

🎧 New episode drops next week on AART from the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.

ArtistInterview CreativeProcess ArtPodcast ArtistsOnArt ChrisStafford ArtCommunity PodcastComingSoon

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with today’s talented and creative women.

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
✍🏻 [email protected]
🎧 AART is available on all podcast apps
📺 WATCH on the Women Unscripted Channel on You Tube
AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.
All episodes are available on our YouTube Channel at Women Unscripted

05/18/2026

The Art of Sarah Hickey: Process, Inspiration, and the Contemporary Landscape

What defines a contemporary artist today—and how does one build a visual language that resonates globally?

Discover the work of Australian artist Sarah Hickey and the creative forces shaping her distinctive voice.

In this featured episode from the Women Unscripted podcast network’s Featured Artists playlist, Chris explores the work and creative journey of Australian artist Sarah Hickey—a contemporary voice shaping the evolving landscape of visual art. Known for her compelling approach to form, texture, and narrative, Hickey’s work reflects a deeply personal yet universally resonant exploration of identity, place, and perception

Through this artist spotlight, we examine Sarah Hickey’s artistic process, influences, and the themes that define her work within the broader context of contemporary Australian art. From the nuances of material and technique to the conceptual frameworks that underpin her practice, this episode offers insight into how artists today are navigating both local and global art conversations.

Discover more
Sarah Hickey Australian artist, contemporary Australian art, Australian contemporary artists, women artists, artist interviews, Women Unscripted podcast, AART podcast, featured artists playlist, modern art Australia

🎧 LISTEN to the full conversation and step inside the world of gold leaf, craftsmanship, and creative evolution.
📺 WATCH on YouTube at The AART Podcast Channel

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with today’s talented and creative women.

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
Email: [email protected]
🎧 AARTs available on all podcast apps
WATCH The AART Podcast on You Tube
🎧 Download and be inspired by talented women artists from around the world.

05/12/2026

Thea Gould: From Celtic Landscapes to Gold Leaf Mastery

From the windswept hills of Ireland and Wales to the mystical shadow of Glastonbury Tor, British gilder Thea Gould shares her extraordinary journey in life and art on the AART podcast with us. In this intimate and deeply personal conversation, Thea reveals how landscape, heritage, and a sense of place shaped her creative path—and how she discovered the ancient, intricate craft of working with gold leaf. Her work is rooted in tradition yet alive with contemporary expression, reflecting light, history, and patience in every piece. Through Chris' signature unscripted and trusted interview style, this episode uncovers the defining moments, risks, and inspirations that led Thea Gould to master a centuries-old art form while forging her own unique voice. This is a story about artistry, craftsmanship, and the quiet power of following a creative calling.

🎧 Listen now to explore the world of gilding, gold leaf artistry, and the journey of a British artist inspired by nature, history, and place.

Keywords: Thea Gould, British gilder, gold leaf artist, gilding art, AART podcast, Chris Stafford, Women Unscripted, artist interview, contemporary art, traditional craft, Glastonbury Tor artist, Ireland Wales inspiration, creative journey, women in art, fine art podcast, artist life story

ArtistJourney CreativeLife ContemporaryArt PodcastInterview ChrisStafford WomenUnscripted

🎧 LISTEN to the full conversation and step inside the world of gold leaf, craftsmanship, and creative evolution.
📺 WATCH the full episode on YouTube at The AART Podcast Channel

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with today’s talented and creative women.

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
Email: [email protected]
🎧 AARTs available on all podcast apps
WATCH The AART Podcast on You Tube
🎧 Download and be inspired by talented women artists from around the world.

05/08/2026

A luminous conversation is on the horizon ✨

On Tuesday, May 12, The AART Podcast welcomes British illuminist Thea Gould for an episode you won’t want to miss. Working in the centuries-old tradition of illumination—where gold leaf, intricate detail, and storytelling converge—Gould brings a contemporary voice to an art form rooted in history.

Thea shares her early childhood from Ireland to Wales en route to the south of England where she lives and works in the shadow of the Glastonbury Tor.

This episode also explores the enduring beauty of illumination, the discipline behind the craft, and how artists like Gould are carrying this meticulous practice forward in today’s art world.

Join us live and experience the art of illumination through the eyes of a modern master.

Music: Thea's playlist

🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE for more interviews with today’s talented and creative women.

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
✍🏻 [email protected]
🎧 AART is available on all podcast apps
📺 WATCH on the Women Unscripted Channel on You Tube
AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.
All episodes are available on our YouTube Channel at Women Unscripted

ContemporaryArt ArtPodcast AARTPodcast WomenUnscripted ChrisStafford ArtistInterview CreativeProcess ArtHistory LivePodcast

05/05/2026

A Look Back | Artist Spotlight 🎨

Last year on The AART Podcast, host Chris sat down with landscape painter Kim Casebeer for a conversation that still resonates.

Known for her luminous, atmospheric landscapes of the American West, Kim shared how she captures not just a place—but the feeling of being there. From light and shadow to memory and stillness, her work invites us to slow down and truly see.
In this episode, we explored:

✨ The emotional connection between artist and landscape
✨ Her process of translating observation into oil paintings
✨ How solitude and environment shape creative voice

It’s one of those timeless conversations that continues to find new listeners—and reminds us why art matters.

🎧 If you missed it, now’s the moment to revisit.

WomenInArt ArtistInterview PodcastRecommendation ArtPodcast CreativeProcess ArtCollectors ArtLovers AmericanWestArt

🎙️ Host: Chris Stafford
🎙️ Produced by Hollowell Studios
✍🏻 [email protected]
🎧 AART is available on all podcast apps
📺 WATCH on the Women Unscripted Channel on You Tube
AART is part of the Women Unscripted Podcast Network.
All episodes are available on our YouTube Channel at Women Unscripted

04/14/2026

NEW EPISODE of AART OUT NOW on podcast apps and YouTube:

Natalie Featherston: Mastering the Illusion of Reality

What if everything you saw… wasn’t quite real?

On this episode of The AART Podcast, we hear from American trompe l’oeil artist Natalie Featherston, whose work is so precise, it challenges your perception of reality itself.

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Natalie has mastered the centuries-old technique of trompe l’oeil — painting that “deceives the eye.” Through incredible attention to detail, light, and texture, her work transforms everyday objects into stunning illusions that feel completely real.
In this conversation, Natalie shares her journey into hyperrealism, the discipline required to achieve such technical excellence, and the deeper philosophy behind illusion in art. This is more than painting — it’s about how we see, what we believe, and how artists can shape perception.

If you love fine art, realism, and conversations with artists at the top of their craft, this episode is not to be missed.

🎧LISTEN now on any podcast app
WATCH The AART Podcast on YouTube�

💬 Tell us: what’s the most “real” painting you’ve ever seen?

In this episode of the AART Podcast, host Chris Stafford sits down with acclaimed American trompe l’oeil painter Natalie Featherston, a Charlotte, North Caro...