The Resistance

From her soulful music career as a member of Prince’s New Power Generation to her breakthrough acting role in the hit series Upload to her recent dive into the culinary world, Andy Allo has never confined herself to a single path. In the face of a culture that worries about personal brands and instant categorization, Andy’s only focus is expansion—staying true to herself while following her interests and the opportunities that open up in the process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pulitzer finalist Mai Der Vang opens up about the courage it takes to be a poet, the discipline required to stay with uncertainty, and the weight of writing for a community long silenced.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we typically speak with artists about the idea of resistance, we discuss their creative endeavors, but Dustin Kensrue (Thrice) has a more holistic view of it all. From creative freedom to family priorities, from the pull of side projects to the quiet cost of ignoring what really stirs the soul, he was kind enough to unpack what it means to make honest work in a world that demands constant output.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emmy and Grammy-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (Hacks, The Queen's Gambit) details the painful lessons required to get to a healthy space of being less precious about his creative work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the best-selling books and hit TV shows, author/screenwriter Ben Winters (CBS' hit show Tracker, The Last Policeman) says distraction and anxiety remain very much a part of the creative process—even in the face of his ever-growing run of successes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tina Cane's work as an activist and educator has kept her work as an author and poet (including a long stint as the former Poet Laureate of Rhode Island) so close to the earth. It’s beautiful and accessible and meaningfully grounded. After spending some time in conversation with her, it’s clear that her ability to be so authentic in her craft is the important result of being so intentional. In short, her internal work—of staying true to herself, of pushing against resistance—is made so clear in her external work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Dekker has had the right posture from the beginning. Of course, it probably helped that he was never trying in the first place. The central figure of Great Lake Swimmers has made a career in the music industry for more than two decades now, but as Dekker tells the story, that first self-titled record was never intended to be anything more than a personal passion project—to be heard by family and friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acclaimed artist and actor Lyrics Born speaks about finding a new identity beyond hip-hop, what he’s learned in 30 years as a recording artist, and the importance of saying yes when unexpected gifts come your way.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acclaimed songwriter Joan Osborne says the artist will never stop pushing against the Resistance, but the doubts that arise will take on different forms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Land of Talk's Lizzie Powell talks about spurned opportunities, lessons learned to protect the work, and the upsides of being a slow burn of a band—all of which has made them one of Canada’s most respected artists of the last 20 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.