Casually Creative is a series of honest conversations with unexpectedly creative people. From poets to police officers, designers to developers, and artists to engineers, we’ll unpack how creativity is often evident in places we overlook. Co-hosts Byron Sanders and J. Damany Daniel talk to the people who embrace their creativity everyday and learn the things that make them “nerd out” along the way.
www.casuallycreative.co
Anthony Robinson: On Pursuing Passion, Growing Something from Nothing, and Bringing the Outside In
For as long as Anthony Robinson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-mrterrarium-robinson-2b738b112/) can remember, he's loved being outside. No, like really loved it. While other parents may have had to encourage, cajole, or even threaten their kids into outside hanging compliance, Anthony was always in the creek bed looking for animals, picking plants, and just generally exploring the natural world around him. After a series of jobs that ultimately brought him no joy, he decided to Kondo that $h!+ (our words not his) and pursued a dream to connect more people with nature. In the midst of the pandemic, Anthony launched Energy Gardens (https://www.instagram.com/energygardens/?hl=en), an Instagram page built to connect people with nature and bring more of the outside in. Followers of his page can purchase from his immaculately potted plants, learn more about custom living decor services, or be amazed at his large-scale moss installation artwork (we said what we said). Realizing that people needed more than an opportunity to bring the outside in, and wanting to create a space for people to love and be loved by plants, Anthony recently opened the Energy Gardens Plant Lounge which serves as an immersive shopping experience and topiary playground for would-be and established home horticulturalists alike.
We spent some time talking about growing up dirty, talking to your plants, and setting out on a journey to get Byron the green thumb he's always wanted.
Curiously Creative
IG: EnergyGardens (https://www.instagram.com/energygardens)
D Magazine Article (https://www.dmagazine.com/home-garden/2020/07/this-dallas-artist-creates-eclectic-home-decor-from-live-and-preserved-plants/)
26 Feb 2021
Keisha Whaley: On Creating Space and Emptying Conference Rooms, Babies Potty Training Babies, and Changing the Creative Services Industry
Keisha Whaley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/keishawhaley/) got tired of waiting. A veritable wunderkind in the marketing and advertising world, Keisha looked around the room at pitch meeting after pitch meeting and knew something wasn't right. Sitting in chairs ringing the room were bright, young, eager, and talented creative professionals...who were doing nothing but taking up space. As a young and successful creative executive she realized that her path was an uncommon one...but it didn't have to be. Understanding the inherent value in investing time, resources, and yes dollars in an "unskilled" workforce of interns, Keisha tried to get the agencies where she was working to create opportunities for interns differently- but no one would bite. So, she set out and decided to do it on her own.
Brass Tacks Collective (https://brasstackscollective.com/) is a mission driven creative agency that's focused on being the "embodiment of a future where diversity and inclusion are no longer boxes to be checked, but catalysts for beautifully and strategically-crafted brands." This multi-faceted agency boasts a client list that spans commerce, non profit, and some of the most iconic brands in recent history. What sets them apart, however, isn't just the quality of their work, but also the team they employ to make that work possible. As part of the BT Foundry (https://btfoundry.org/), burgeoning creative professionals are given more than just platitudes and an opportunity to make agencies seem larger than they are. Interns are trained, given new skills, and (gasp) paid for their time and their work, all while being able to substantively contribute to programs and campaigns that have an actual impact in the world. Keisha's drive to create equitable spaces everywhere started as a baby (no, really- ask her about it some time) and has continued through her work with brands and individuals to shape conversations that have substantive results.
Fun fact: this episode was recorded right before Winter Storm Uri hit, and if you listen closely, you can hear the tinkling sound and hopeful naivete of three people who have no idea they're all about to lose power.
10 Feb 2021
Imani Daniel: On Connecting Dots, Supporting Visions, and Bringing Creative Dreams to Life
Imani Daniel (https://www.linkedin.com/in/imanidaniel/) is one of those rare and amazing creative souls who can live comfortably in many worlds. As a trained dancer and choreographer, she spent much of her young life deeply immersed in the art and culture of performance, while simultaneously falling in love with the expressions available to people through fashion and traditional art forms. Bolstered by her parent's passionate love of the arts, Imani learned to love and live in the creativity she expressed, and celebrate the creativity revealed in others. In many ways, Imani is what you think of when you think of the word "creative." But it's her wholehearted embracing of herself as connector of dots, organizer of thoughts, and facilitator of visions that has made her an indispensable part of countless executive and creative teams over her storied several decade career.
After being introduced to an internship opportunity at Goldman Sachs by billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tudor_Jones), Imani quickly realized that she had found what she was meant to do. As an executive and administrative professional, Imani has stood alongside luminaries in business, entertainment, sports, and fashion and supported and brought to life some of culture's most iconic experiences, campaigns, and memorable moments. Her ability to bring order to chaos has helped visionaries see through the murky waters of their ideas to the clarity that can only come from a well thought out plan, well-organized team, and well-executed experience.
She also happens to be Damany's sister. We try not to hold that against her.
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