The Collection in the Closet: Lori VanEtta on Silencing Your Inner Critic and Finally Showing Up

What if you spent years making beautiful art and never thought it was good enough to show anyone? In their first ever interview episode, Rebecca and Tom sit down with artist Lori VanEtta for a conversation full of warmth, laughter, and a few things that will quietly stay with you. Lori has taught art across schools and studios, including to people living with dementia — and what she learned about creativity in those rooms will shift something in you. She assembled a body of work, convinced it wasn't ready, until a mentor pushed her toward galleries. She's been showing ever since. We talk about what it means to create with intention — to genuinely want your art to make people feel better — and what happens when you finally silence the inner critic that's been running the show. Lori's answer to that one is worth the listen all on its own. We also get into artist collaboration, the magic that happens when creative people find each other, and yes, we reference Big Magic because of course we do. If you have ever had a collection in the closet — art, writing, ideas, anything — that you haven't shown the world because it isn't ready yet, Lori's story might be the nudge you didn't know you needed. New episodes weekly. instagram @myartismyvoicepodcast email [email protected] Rebecca Danger's Website: rebeccadanger.com Tom Ferry's Website: tomferrystudio.com Lori VanEtta’s Website: lorivanettaartist.com