Episode 29 | Under the Surface with Decoupage Designer and Entrepreneur John Derian
This year John Derian celebrates 30 years of his eponymous boutique and antiques shop on 2nd Street in New York City's East Village neighborhood. His path took him from a creatively inspired childhood in Massachusetts to New York City as an adult where he built a design and retail business from scratch. He's known for finding antique illustrations and extending their life and enjoyment by applying them on glass objects through the craft of decoupage.  The John Derian retail shop (in NYC and Provincetown MA) showcases a thoughtful mix of handcrafted home goods from artisan suppliers alongside his decoupage creations and antiques that he sources in the United States and Europe. He also sells online and through collaborations with others. He shares in this episode the path, the challenges, and some wisdom as we look back on his storied career.For more about John visit www.alifecreativepod.comand check out A Life Creative on Instagram @alifecreativeÂ
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Episode 28 | A Return to Conceptual Art with Artist Julia Wachtel
Julia Wachtel is a conceptual artist who thrived in the New York City art scene of the 1980’s among contemporaries like Robert Gober, Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman. Her art looks at the interplay of advertising and other commercial media in everyday life and speaks to her interest in consumer and political culture.Julia has a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, studied at the School of Visual Arts and did independent study at the Whitney Museum of American Art.Her work is in the collections of NYC’s Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and, and the Walker Art Center among others.After more than a decade working in magazine publishing she returned to making art full-time facing a world of even more intense media exposure thanks to the Internet and social media. She curates and interprets the impact of all of this content through her work.
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Episode 27 | Botanical Impressions with Photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo
Ngoc Minh Ngo is a photographer whose poetic eye captures the quiet beauty of the natural world. Known for her evocative images of flowers, gardens, and interiors, Ngoc’s work reveals the harmony between art and nature. Born in Vietnam and based in New York City, she has authored several acclaimed books including Bringing Nature Home, In Bloom, and in 2025 Roses in the Garden. Ngoc models a sense of adventure and a willingness to try new things, which, over time led her to her professional photography career. She’s traveled the globe capturing images for stories appearing in Martha Stewart Living, Architectural Digest among numerous other publications.Through her lens, Ngoc invites us to slow down, look closely, and find meaning in the everyday grace that surrounds us.For more about Ngoc and links to her web-site and social media visit www.alifecreativepod.comVisit us on Instagram (and follow us too!) @alifecreativeÂ
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Episode 26 | High Style with Interior Designer Rebecca Robertson
Stylist, author, and interior designer Rebecca Robertson shares the story of how she developed an appreciation for antiques and collectibles at a young age and a lifelong interest in designing sets that has been a throughline in her career. She's led a very 'NYC' professional life working on film production, as a talent coordinator for the likes of Snoop Dogg, as a stylist at Martha Stewart Living, as a wine shop owner, and these days as an interior designer for model high rise apartments. In the midst of it all she's had a family and co-authored a book titled "Collected" with fellow stylist Fritz Karch (episode 18).For more about Rebecca and links to her web-site and social media visit www.alifecreativepod.comVisit us on Instagram (and follow us too!) @alifecreativeÂ
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Episode 25 | Uncommon Threads with Stephanie Housley, founder of Coral & Tusk
Stephanie Housley is the founder, designer, and creative force behind Coral & Tusk, an embroidered textile brand celebrated for its whimsical, nature-inspired home goods. Born and raised in the Ohio Valley, Stephanie studied textile design at RISD and spent fifteen years working as an interior textile designer in New York City before turning her passion project into a full-time business. In 2007, working from a small Brooklyn apartment with a single embroidery machine, she launched Coral & Tusk. Over time, her hand-drawn illustrations became the foundation for embroidered pieces that blend storytelling, craftsmanship, and texture. Now based in Wyoming with her husband, Stephanie continues to draw inspiration from nature, weaving narrative into every stitch and designing heirloom objects that surprise, delight, and endure. For more about Stephanie and links to her web-site and social media visit www.alifecreativepod.comVisit us on Instagram (and follow us too!) @alifecreativeÂ
This is a weekly show where listeners learn how creators navigate their careers in the arts, and find community with like-minded people who face similar challenges and joys while pursuing their passions. We'll be talking with photographers, artists, interior stylists and designers, food stylists, crafters, creative content creators, writers, publishers, marketers, and so many more. If you're interested in a career in the arts or any creative field, or you just want to know how creators are inspired and execute on their ideas you'll want to catch this show, and if you're looking for a creator community you've found your people here.
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