Building Boldly is a podcast by Ariana Makonnen for founders and changemakers designing, funding, and leading successful creative ventures across art, film, fashion, books, and more.
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Art Basel, Visibility, & Your Boldest Move of 2025 (SOLO)
In this special solo episode of Building Boldly, Ariana takes you behind the scenes of her end-of-year whirlwind from dancing at a midnight party during Art Basel Miami Beach to sitting in a small D.C. conference room listening to dissidents and power players talk about censorship, freedom, and the urgent fight for democracy. Along the way, Ariana shares what Art Basel taught her about creative longevity, relationships, and showing up in rooms your future self belongs in, plus the biggest lessons from launching the first season of Building Boldly, including the unexpected YouTube traction that pushed an episode past 100K views. She reflects on what it really takes to build something meaningful (while also writing a book proposal and going through IVF), and offers an end-of-year prompt to help you honor the work you’ve already done, and what you want to carry forward into 2026. A grounding and energizing listen for anyone building a creative life who wants to end the year softly.
Connect:
Website: https://www.arianamakonnen.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arianaaustin/
Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast: @buildingboldlypodcast
Watch the full episode on YouTube: @waxandgold
Learn more + get exclusive resources at www.buildingboldlypodcast.com
Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us while you’re listening @buildingboldlypodcast – we love hearing from you!
Follow my creative life + stay in touch on IG: @arianaaustin
Produced by: Wax & Gold Media
4 Dec 2025
From NPR to the K-Beauty Capital: Elise Hu on Book Deals & Saying Yes to Change
In this episode, Elise Hu, journalist, author, and co-founder of the podcast studio Reasonable Volume, opens up about what it takes to build a media career with longevity and joy. Elise has followed the story wherever it leads from starting out in local news to covering geopolitics as NPR’s bureau chief in Seoul, writing a definitive book on Korean beauty, and most recently running her own podcast company. We cover how her nonfiction book deal came together, why she believes in a “just go” mentality even in an oversaturated media landscape, and why a YouTube-first strategy matters for podcasters right now. Along the way, the conversation digs into K-beauty and global beauty culture, and embracing change as a powerful force in work and life. It’s an energizing episode and a must-listen for anyone curious about media, publishing, or making their own bold pivot.
Resources & Links mentioned:
Reasonable Volume
Missouri Method
Elise’s TED Talk
TED Talks Daily
Flawless
Connect:
Website: Elise Hu Website
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisewho/
Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast: @buildingboldlypodcast
Watch the full episode on YouTube: @waxandgold
Learn more + get exclusive resources at www.buildingboldlypodcast.com
Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us while you’re listening @buildingboldlypodcast – we love hearing from you!
Follow my creative life + stay in touch on IG: @arianaaustin
Produced by: Wax & Gold Media
20 Nov 2025
How One Cold Call Supercharged Her Art Career with Arushi Kapoor
In this episode, art advisor and entrepreneur, Arushi Kapoor offers a new art world playbook. Raised between India and London, she grew up immersed in fine arts and has since opened a gallery in Los Angeles, advised collectors on blue-chip acquisitions, and forged an innovative partnership with one of the most recognizable luxury real estate brands–all sparked by a bold cold call to Real Housewives star, Mauricio Umansky. We get specific about what an art advisor actually does, how to move with intention inside exclusive circles, why art functions as an asset, and how to leverage AI and your network to build a career with staying power.
Resources & Links mentioned:
Agency Art House
Connect with Arushi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arushikapoor1
Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast: @buildingboldlypodcast
Watch the full episode on YouTube: @waxandgold
Learn more + get exclusive resources at www.buildingboldlypodcast.com
Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us while you’re listening @buildingboldlypodcast – we love hearing from you!
Follow my creative life + stay in touch on IG: @arianaaustin
Produced by: Wax & Gold Media
29 Oct 2025
From Etsy to the Vogue Fashion Fund: Akua Shabaka on Building a Brand with Style and Substance
Akua Shabaka makes clothes that celebrate the nuanced history of The Diaspora. Listen as she takes us on a spiritual journey of founding her fashion house alongside her mother, using garments as a way to keep the past alive, and the financial realities of producing story-rich clothes for the runway.
16 Oct 2025
From Artist to VC: Tara Tan’s Playbook for Funding Creative Founders
In this episode, Tara Tan, Founder of Strange Ventures and alum of IDEO, Formlabs, and Studio Now, says that creatives need to rethink their views on capital. Instead of seeing money as an opposing force to art, she urges creatives to view funding as a tool that can bring the right ideas to life. We discuss her impressive career from “breaking up with art” to backing the next generation of creative disruptors. We dig into choosing the best types of funders for your project (there’s more than Venture), the ethics around AI, and how to create momentum by “running an auction” so the right partners come to you.
If you’re building something of your own, this is a clear, generous roadmap from someone who’s sat on both sides of the table–as artist and investor.
Resources & Links mentioned:
Phyllis Kao controls the room
Aaron Harris’ Always Run an Auction article
Strange Ventures
Connect with Tara:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tantara/
Substack: https://thereview.strangevc.com/
X: https://x.com/taratan?lang=en
Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast: @buildingboldlypodcast
Watch the full episode on YouTube: @waxandgold
Learn more + get exclusive resources at www.buildingboldlypodcast.com
Subscribe, leave a review, and tag us while you’re listening @buildingboldlypodcast – we love hearing from you!
Follow my creative life + stay in touch on IG: @arianaaustin
Produced by: Wax & Gold Media
2 Oct 2025
From Rihanna to the Met Gala: Lillian Shalom on Designing for Icons
Lillian Shalom’s jewelry has adorned icons like Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga gracing both the Met Gala red carpet and the halls of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. Hear how Lillian built her singular brand through a distinctive vision, historical inspiration, and unwavering self-belief.
18 Sept 2025
From Set Life to Self-Made: How Producer Deniese Davis Carved Her Own Path in Hollywood
Deniese Davis, producer behind HBO’s Insecure, Rap Sh!t, and One of Them Days gives us the inside scoop about how she made it in Hollywood while still making work that matters to her. Listen here.
15 Sept 2025
Welcome to Building Boldly with Ariana Makonnen
Welcome to Building Boldly, a podcast by cultural strategist and philanthropist Ariana Makonnen for founders and changemakers designing, funding, and leading successful creative ventures across art, film, fashion, books, and more.
Each episode features special guests sharing their stories, challenges, and valuable insights into how they've designed—and funded their creative lives.
Tune in for fresh conversations and real talk about getting started and staying in it. And if you're building something of your own, consider this your invitation to keep going—with clarity, with courage, and in good company.
New episodes every other Thursday.
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
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