Unapologetically Creative is the official podcast from Vermont College of Fine Arts, featuring bold voices in art, design, and storytelling. Through fearless creativity and cross-disciplinary thinking, each episode explores how culture is shaped and reimagined. Hosted by Andrew Ramsammy, the show highlights how VCFA’s collaborative community empowers creators to challenge convention, embrace risk, and lead with purpose.
Cover Art by David Jon Walker
The Power of Play: Cas Holman on Creativity, Curiosity, and Embracing Failure
Designer, educator, and play provocateur Cas Holman explores why play is essential to creativity, learning, and personal growth at every age. From designing open-ended toys and interactive environments to challenging traditional ideas of success, Holman shares how curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to fail can unlock new possibilities.
The conversation also examines the role of play in education, the workplace, and everyday life, offering a fresh perspective on the importance of taking risks, breaking routines, and rediscovering the freedom to create without expectations.
TIMESTAMPS:
01:38 – Why Play Matters at Every Age
02:30 – Rethinking Play for Adults
04:25 – Designing Toys That Inspire Imagination
06:11 – Embracing Experimentation and Failure
07:07 – Finding Joy in Things You're Not Good At
08:51 – The Connection Between Play and Creativity
09:32 – Designing Environments That Encourage Play
11:56 – Making Art Museums More Playful and Accessible
15:12 – How Play Can Inspire Transformation
17:45 – Bringing Authentic Playfulness Into the Workplace
19:44 – Incorporating Play Into Everyday Life
22:11 – Why Adults Need to Relearn How to Play
24:37 – Taking Play Seriously in Education
27:19 – Encouraging Risk-Taking and Embracing Failure
30:03 – Simple Ways to Bring More Play Into Your Life
32:15 – Breaking Routines to Spark Creativity
33:19 – Why Has Pickleball Become So Competitive?
29 Sept 2026
Letting Go of Control: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson on Collaboration, Perfectionism, and Creative Freedom
Composer, arranger, and music director Miguel Atwood-Ferguson discusses how curiosity, collaboration, and moving beyond perfectionism shape his creative practice. He reflects on leading without controlling, helping students develop their own artistic voices, and making music that excites him while trusting his audience to find him.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:25 Introduction to Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
01:38 Growing Up with Music
04:45 Moving Beyond Natural Talent
05:55 Composing for Orchestra at Six
08:55 Perfectionism and the Pursuit of Growth
11:21 Letting Go of Control
15:07 Collaboration and Creative Discovery
17:42 Helping Students Find Their Voice
18:26 The Music Director as a Facilitator of Magic
20:53 Creating for Yourself or Your Audience
22:36 Social Media, Connection, and Comparison
24:18 Closing Reflections
16 Sept 2026
The Art of Staying in the Game: Marq Evans on Filmmaking, Creative Business, and Persistence
Award-winning filmmaker and VCFA alum Marq Evans shares the realities of independent documentary filmmaking, from finding and financing the right stories to navigating distribution and building an audience. He also reflects on treating the business side of art as a creative practice, using new tools like AI, and why persistence is one of the most important parts of sustaining a creative life.
Time Stamps:
01:05 Clay Dream and the Story of Will Vinton
03:22 Why Every Documentary Is Autobiographical
06:56 Finding the Story and Gaining Access
09:31 Staying Flexible Through the Filmmaking Process
10:44 How VCFA Shaped Clay Dream
12:01 Development, Production, and the Editing Process
16:46 The Changing Documentary Marketplace
18:10 Self Distribution and Finding Your Audience
21:07 Bringing an Artist’s Work to Life on Film
23:00 Treating Fundraising and Business as Creativity
24:30 Using AI as a Creative Tool
27:27 What It Means to Live a Creative Life
29:54 Staying in the Game Through Rejection
31:53 Advice for Independent Filmmakers
Who has been a guest on Unapologetically Creative
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Michael Riley
Amy Fortunato
David Jon Walker
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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