noseyAF: Conversations about Art, Activism, and Social Change

The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae Johnson

Ep #:107 The Introvert’s Guide to Speaking Up with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSummary of the episodePublic speaking can be intimidating—especially for introverts. In this episode of nosey AF: conversations about art, activism, and social change, Stephanie talks with speaker, comedian, and author Mahlena-Rae Johnson, who calls herself the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright.For more than two decades, Mahlena has helped leaders learn how to communicate clearly and confidently, whether they’re pitching ideas, presenting on stage, or navigating everyday professional conversations. In this conversation, we explore what it means to be an introvert in leadership, why public speaking is so challenging for so many people, and how preparation, self-awareness, and practice can transform presenting into something much more enjoyable.Mahlena also shares insights from her book Speak Anyway, which encourages people to use their voices—even when fear or self-doubt shows up.If you’ve ever felt nervous about speaking in front of people, this conversation will remind you that finding your voice is a skill you can learn.What we talk aboutWhat introverted leadership looks like in practiceWhy public speaking anxiety is so commonHow preparation and self-awareness improve communicationCultural identity, citizenship, and how they shape how we show upPersonal branding and navigating competitive job marketsRethinking genius, education, and how people learnChapters00:28 – Understanding Introverted Leadership09:12 – The Art of Speaking: Overcoming Fear and Finding Your Voice19:22 – Navigating Cultural Identity and Citizenship32:56 – Navigating Personal Branding in a Competitive Job Market46:09 – Exploring Genius and EducationThings We MentionedSpeak Anyway by Mahlena-Rae Johnsonhttps://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/2023/11/speak-an.htmlAll about… Mahlena-Rae JohnsonSpeaker, comedian, and six-time author Mahlena-Rae Johnson describes herself as the Professor X for introverted edtech CEOs with stage fright. For more than two decades, she has helped leaders hone the superpower of public speaking and communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.Her work focuses on helping founders and professionals—especially in the education technology space—develop communication skills that make pitching, presenting, and everyday leadership conversations easier and more authentic.Mahlena has been featured on CBC Kids, The Great Canadian Woman Podcast, BusinessBecause, and more.Connect with Mahlena-Rae JohnsonInstagram: @mahlenasguidetolife Website: https://mahlenaspeaks.blogspot.com/ Book: Speak AnywayConnect with StephanieJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare Nosey AF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsHosted by: Stephanie Graham Edited By Risha Brown Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam Cover Art: Emma McGoldrick

Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a Year

Ep # 106: Consistency Over Perfection: Briana Clearly on Making 12 Films in a YearThis episode was recorded live on Saturday February 28th, 2026 at Lumpen Radio.Summary of the episodeIn this live, unedited episode recorded at Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM in Chicago, I sit down with Chicago filmmaker Briana Clearly to talk about what it really means to choose consistency over perfection.Briana took on the ambitious challenge of making 12 films in 12 months — and then turned that experiment into a community-driven initiative called Filmmakers Mixtape. In this conversation, we unpack how committing to one film a month transforms not just your craft, but your mindset.We talk about creative blocks, releasing work before it feels “ready,” building artistic community without ego, and why making good films is actually a side effect — not the point.If you’re an artist stuck in perfectionism, a filmmaker craving momentum, or someone who needs a reminder to just make the thing anyway, this episode is for you.What we talk about (you know… casually)Making 12 films in 12 months (and why you don’t need money to do it)Why consistency beats perfection every timeBuilding Filmmakers Mixtape from a personal challenge into a cohortHow community makes better art (and better artists)Briana’s journey from the Navy to film schoolMentorship, vulnerability, and learning to take feedbackThe dream of friendship-centered dramediesReleasing work publicly — even when it feels scaryThings We MentionedFilmmakers MixtapeLeague of Their Own ChicagoBrain StudiosLumpen RadioAll about... Briana ClearlyYou’re gonna love Briana Clearly — she’s a collaborative director, community builder, and the creative force behind Filmmakers Mixtape, a 12-month filmmaking challenge designed to help artists prioritize process over perfection.A former Navy sailor turned Chicago-based filmmaker, Briana is deeply committed to telling stories centered on Black women, friendship, and lived experience — always inviting audiences into conversation rather than spectacle.She believes filmmaking is a practice, not a performance. And honestly? That energy is contagious.Chapters: • 00:00 - Introduction to noseyAF• 09:02 - Exploring Filmmaking and Personal Storytelling • 20:54 - Exploring the Dynamics of Friendship in Storytelling • 31:56 - The Birth of Filmmakers Mixtape • 41:32 - The Importance of Vulnerability in Filmmaking • 50:41 - Exploring New Art Practices • 59:01 - The Art of FilmmakingSponsor Shoutout 💖This episode is brought to you by Artist Admin Hour.Every Wednesday from 7–9pm CT, artists gather on Zoom to tackle the admin we’ve all been avoiding — grant applications, budgets, residency forms, invoices, all of it.Because behind every exhibition is a clear budget.Admin is the flex.Join us at: artistadminhour.comConnect with Briana ClearlyInstagram: @brianaclearlyFilmmakers Mixtape: @filmmakersmixtapeWebsite: https://www.brianaclearly.com/More ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland Fuller

Episode 106: Why Welcoming Everyone Gets Complicated with Garland FullerWhat this episode is about:What does it actually take to build a space where people feel like they belong? Garland Fuller — culture consultant and founder of Third Space Academy — has made it her life's work to answer that question. We get into the gap between what organizations say they value and how they actually operate, why "I want everyone to come" is a lot trickier than it sounds, and what intentional community building really looks like in practice.This one hit close to home — I share what I've been learning building my pop-up cinema project on Chicago's south side through the Change Collective fellowship, and Garland brings the strategic clarity to help it all click.Let's get into it:What is a culture consultant, actually? Garland breaks down the "people, place, program" framework and why culture is often the unseen force shaping how organizations actually operate — not just what's on the mission statementValues: aspiration vs. reality — Why integrity and service are on everyone's list, what it actually means to walk the talk, and when it might be time to update values that no longer fit who your org has becomeThird spaces are disappearing (or getting expensive) — From libraries to record shops to country clubs, Garland explains the spectrum of third spaces and who's really being invited inThe "I want everyone to come" trap — Why all-ages, all-inclusive spaces are aspirational but tricky, with real examples from Stephanie's micro cinema project (Poetic Justice vs. Disney night, anyone?)Building the Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital sanctuary for femmes who are done fitting into boxes, why she built it for community over solo learning, and the Show and Tell Mondays that keep it realAdapt or die: organizations that are going stale — A real talk about churches, legacy orgs, and what happens when your next generation isn't in your current membershipPractical strategies: surveying, focus groups, and why anonymous mattersLeadership advice that hits: People are watching you in the small moments more than the big keynotesChapters: • 00:08 - Introducing the Guest • 07:20 - Understanding Culture and Values in Organizations • 16:55 - Creating All-Age Spaces: Building Community Connections • 19:00 - Exploring Community Engagement • 31:27 - Building Community and Support in Creative Spaces • 36:14 - Facilitation and Empathy in Group Dynamics • 44:21 - Facilitation and Engagement in Education • 48:21 - Creating Third Spaces: Starting from Your WhyThings We MentionedThird Space Academy — Garland's coaching program for leaders building intentional community spaces Community Impact Collective — Garland's digital community for femmes and changemakers The Change Collective Fellowship — the civic leadership fellowship Stephanie participated in that sparked her pop-up cinema projectSoho House — referenced as an example of an exclusive, membership-based third spaceRay Oldenburg's concept of "third spaces" — the sociological framework underlying this whole convo (optional — confirm if mentioned explicitly)All about... Garland You're gonna love Garland — she's an award-winning People Strategist with over 15 years of expertise in HR, talent acquisition, employee engagement, and training. She's also an adjunct professor at the USC Price School and Principal Consultant at Fuller Circle Consulting, where she helps organizations build optimal, inclusive workplaces. Oh, and she founded Third Space Academy — so yeah, she's been busy.Connect with Garland InstagramWebsiteCommunity Impact CollectiveConnect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Risha BrownLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Joe Schupbach: Care Is the Curriculum

Thank you for listening to noseyAF! So happy to have your ears!This Conversation was recorded live for Lumpen RadioEp #104: Joe Schupbach: Care Is the CurriculumSUMMARYWhat does care really look like — beyond Valentine's Day chocolates and heart-shaped cards? In this episode of noseyAF, Stephanie Graham sits down with Joe Schupbach, a mission-driven educator, theater maker, and instructional coach with over two decades of experience in public education, nonprofits, and community-centered theater. Together they explore care as a daily practice: in classrooms, in collaborative creative spaces, in our neighborhoods, and in ourselves.Joe shares how he stumbled into creative leadership, what trauma-informed teaching really means in practice, and why experiential learning matters more than ever in today's schools. The conversation moves through faith and identity, the joys of cooking as connection, and ends with a rallying call to get nosy about your local schools — and to support live, in-person art.WHAT WE GET INTO 💬You know when a conversation just goes everywhere in the best way? That's this one. Here's a taste of what Joe and Steph cover:00:26 — Introduction to noseyAF01:15 — Care as a daily ritual: not just something you perform on Valentine's Day, but how it shows up in classrooms, rehearsal rooms, and community spaces every single day08:35 — How Joe accidentally fell into creative leadership — starting as a teaching artist right out of college and slowly becoming the person leading the room18:06 — What trauma-informed teaching actually looks like on the ground, and why instructional coaches like Joe are changing the game in Chicago high schools27:02 — Art-making during and after COVID-19 — how the pandemic forced a reckoning with what live, communal performance means and why it still matters32:29 — Faith, identity, and how the personal bleeds into the professional for educators and artists alike41:43 — Cooking as a love language: a genuinely delightful tangent about how preparing food for people is one of the most caring acts you can do53:11 — How non-parents and non-teachers can meaningfully support local educators — including the surprisingly powerful role of Local School Councils (LSCs)THINGS WE MENTIONED 🔗Embarc Chicago — Joe's organization, working with 17 high schools in the Chicago area → embarcchicago.orgjosephschupbach.com— Joe's personal site for artistic work, directing, and collaborationsChange Collective Fellowship — the leadership program Joe and Stephanie both participated inLooking Glass Theatre — one of Joe's longtime artistic collaboratorsPlayMakers Laboratory, The Neo-Futurists, The Ruffians, Salonathon, The Paper Machete — Chicago theater orgs Joe has worked withDonorsChoose — mentioned as a way to directly support classroom supply needsLocal School Councils (LSCs) — the elected, community-based governing bodies of every Chicago Public School (and yes, you can be on one even if you don't have kids in the school!)ALL ABOUT JOE SCHUPBACH 🎭You're gonna love Joe — he's a two-MFA-having, theater-making, trauma-informed teaching wizard who genuinely believes care is the foundation of everything.Joe Schupbach is an educator, writer, and director with 22 years of experience in public education, experimental community-based theatre, and nonprofit administration. He is a facilitator and instructional coach and currently serves as Head of Experiential Coaching at Embarc. Joe has been a frequent artistic collaborator with The Midwives, The Neo-Futurists, The Paper Machete, PlayMakers Laboratory, Pocket Guide To Hell, The Ruffians, and Salonathon. Joe holds two MFAs and is a proud Chicago Public Schools graduate. He was a 2024 fellow with Change Collective and is currently leading the Chicago Cohort of Change Collective fellows.SPONSOR SHOUTOUT 💖Come work with us at Artist Admin Hour , and get your work done.CONNECT WITH JOEWebsite: josephschupbach.comInstagram: @joeschupbachMore ways to connect:Email: stephanie@missgraham.comCheck out my workFollow me on Instagram @stephaniegrahamListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)Lyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam

Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With Peace

Ep #103: Mental Health for Expats — Building Community Abroad with Moved With PeaceSummary of the EpisodeWhat really happens after you move abroad and the honeymoon phase wears off?In this episode of noseyAF, host Stephanie Graham sits down with writer and community-builder Stephanie Rubinato to talk honestly about mental health for expats, postpartum depression, and the emotional realities of building a life far from home. Living abroad is often portrayed as dreamy and effortless—but this conversation pulls back the curtain on what’s usually left out.Stephanie shares her personal experience navigating postpartum depression after moving to Italy, the isolation many immigrants and expats feel, and why community care is just as important as cultural immersion. Together, they unpack slow living, creative burnout, friendship shifts, and what it really takes to build meaningful support systems abroad.This episode is a grounding, honest reminder that moving overseas doesn’t magically solve everything—and that seeking help, sharing resources, and building community is part of the journey.What We Talk About(aka: the real stuff you don’t see on Instagram 🇮🇹)Mental health challenges for immigrants, expats, and digital nomadsPostpartum depression while living abroadThe gap between “aesthetic expat life” and realityBuilding community through Moved With PeaceSlow living, self-trust, and creative rhythmsFriendship shifts, boundaries, and nourishmentWhy vulnerability is a form of survival (not weakness)Chapters00:08 – Introduction to the Guest03:07 – Navigating Mental Health Challenges as an Expat22:32 – Navigating the Creative Chaos35:51 – Building Community Abroad39:51 – Navigating Friendships and Family DynamicsThings We MentionedMoved With Peace – Stephanie’s community-centered project for immigrants and expatsTherapy resources & finding culturally aligned mental health support abroadSlow living, journaling, affirmations, and grounding practicesThe upcoming Italian Reset Retreat (launching 2027)All about… Stephanie RubinatoYou’re gonna love Stephanie Rubinato — she’s a writer, community-builder, and calm-in-the-chaos type of creative.Stephanie Rubinato is a writer and content strategist living in Italy, creating honest, grounded stories through Moved With Peace and Stephanie Rubinato Media. Her work centers slow living, self-trust, mental health, and building community—especially for immigrants and expats navigating life far from home. Through her writing, video projects, and upcoming retreats, Stephanie reminds us that we don’t have to do it all—we just have to do what’s real.Connect with Stephanie RubinatoInstagram: @movedwithpeaceWebsite: movedwithpeace.comYouTube: Moved With PeaceConnect with StephanieCheck out my workFollow me on InstagramJoin the Good Stuff Only NewsletterListen to more episodesSupport & FeedbackShare noseyAF with friendsRate & Review the ShowBuy Pins & Prints | Shop ArtEpisode CreditsProduced, Hosted by Me, StephanieEdited By: Risha BrownCover Art + Branding: Emma McGoldrickLyrics: Queen LexInstrumental: Freddie Bam Fam