In this episode of Journey of the Art, I’m joined by poet, scholar, and renowned translator Radha Chakravarty for a powerful conversation on the crossroads between translation and literature, feminism in writing, and the inner work of creating across languages.

We explore Radha’s life as a multilingual writer in India, her deep relationship with Tagore’s work, and what it means to be a translator of emotion, memory, and resistance. From pandemic poetry to the importance of community, we unpack the responsibility—and courage—of those who carry words across borders.

If you care about women in literature, literary translation, and writing that honors both heritage and innovation, this episode is for you.

Show highlights

0:00 – Intro & guest introduction

2:48 – Growing up multilingual and her early inspiration.

5:58 – On the mental work of translation: Inhabiting another writer’s voice.

8:16 – Handling criticism in translation

10:28 – Writing with the echoes of great voices in your head.

13:44 – A distinguishing factor among the greats

16:02 – Radha reads from Subliminal

18:24 – Pandemic poetry & global connection

22:02 – Seeing with new eyes

24:40 – The disconnect between writers' intent and market realities.

30:20 – Translating women, teaching women’s literature, and confronting erasure.

35:29 – On Starlight: The cosmic humility behind poetry

42:12 – Final reflections & thoughts on retirement43:54 – A heartfelt close to one of the show’s most poetic conversations.

📚 About the guest:
Radha Chakravarty is a professor, poet, editor, and translator of over 23 books, including The Essential Tagore and Subliminal, a poetry collection named one of the best South Asian books of 2024.

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Guest’s links

Buy Subliminal: https://www.amazon.ca/Subliminal-poems-Radha-Chakravarty/dp/811985831X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=26GJBMTQNSY4E&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.6Ts5_6VwGqB5XNucDUxrmQ.3781xbWJzj9ZI1dY--72C6QuKWOoFHkYqMXyrlkdIe0&dib_tag=se&keywords=radha+chakravarty+subliminal&qid=1747826724&sprefix=radha+chakravarty+sublimina%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1#detailBullets_feature_div

Connect with Radha on X: https://x.com/radhachakravar2

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

“Whatever my life story is, the last line cannot be: ‘And then he died in Texas.’” — Alex R Johnson

In this episode, I’m joined by filmmaker and debut author Alex R Johnson to unpack the story behind his debut novel, how screenwriters are robbed of creative ownership, and what it takes to push past imposter syndrome—even at 50.

Show Highlights

00:00 – Introduction

3:11 – Leaving Brooklyn for Texas and the problem with copyright laws for screenwriters in Hollywood

5:41 – What inspired Brooklyn Motto?

12:04 – What Brooklyn in the '90s still teaches us today

13:39 – Exploring the father-son relationship

17:44 – Unearthing the works of forgotten artists and New York reinventing itself

20:04 – Aging artists and forgotten dreams

24:04 – How race, memory, addiction, and family shaped the world of Brooklyn Motto

30:39 – The impact of drug addiction on romantic relationships

34:43 – The role of illegal systems on the infrastructure of Brooklyn

39:26 – How gentrification contributes to the high housing costs in Brooklyn

44:00 – Advice to writers trying to overcome imposter syndrome

47:11 – Appreciation and end

🎙️ Journey of the Art is a podcast about the messy truth of creative work — hosted by Lola. Subscribe for honest conversations with artists, authors, and filmmakers making their mark.

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Listen on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9yCLVeo-0S0

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Guest’s links

📚 Brooklyn Motto is available now — a gripping literary mystery set in 1990s Brooklyn. Get it here: https://www.brooklynmotto.com

Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIzYcweSAKj/?img_index=1

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

In this episode, children’s book author and illustrator Thao Lam opens up about her latest picture book, Everybelly—a joyful celebration of body diversity and inclusion for young readers.

We discuss:

• How her daughter’s first comments on her body sparked the book’s creation

• The power of bellies as a storytelling lens

• Raising kids to love their bodies in a judgmental world

• Cultural identity, food, and body image

• Her creative process, artistic challenges, and how she overcame imposter syndrome

Thao also shares her journey from illustrator to writer, what it’s like to write when you don’t feel qualified, and why she wants readers to walk away from Every Belly feeling one thing: hungry.

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Guest’s links

Buy Everybelly: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shadow-price?srsltid=AfmBOoqFp33iii1uLDQAzAJ7OxJvoKH3nrLcwuVyh21QhpBSqcIVc3lW

Connect with Thao on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaohlam/

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

What happens when poetry meets climate crisis?

In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning poet Farah Ghafoor to discuss her poetry collection, Shadow Price, from House of Anansi Press.

Taking its title from an economics term—the estimated value of things without a clear market price—Shadow Price explores themes of climate change, capitalism, colonialism, and the multigenerational impact of biodiversity loss. Farah shares how her poems blend lyricism and essayistic form to confront uncomfortable truths about how we live, what we value, and the stories we pass down.

Whether you're a poetry lover, an advocate for the environment, or simply curious about the intersection of art and activism, this episode offers a moving reflection on what it means to live—and write—responsibly.

Show highlights

00:00 – Introduction

3:02 – Farah’s journey from accountant to award-winning poet

6:47 – The violence of extraction in “The Dream-Eaters”

10:55 – The power of language in shaping meaning—and erasing it

14:50 – Indigenous knowledge and the loss of generational wisdom

17:43 – Multigenerational impact of environmental choices

22:34 – Merging poetry with essay form

26:53 – On self-doubt and finding the courage to write

30:20 – How readers can approach this collection

32:31 – Appreciation and end

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Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/journey-of-the-art

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Guest’s links

Buy Shadow Price: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shadow-price?srsltid=AfmBOoqFp33iii1uLDQAzAJ7OxJvoKH3nrLcwuVyh21QhpBSqcIVc3lW

Connect with Farah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadowpricepoems

Connect with Farah on X: https://x.com/farah_ghafoor

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠ https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

In Episode 20, I chat with Kid Haile, author and illustrator of Sometimes I Eat with My Hands. We explore the intersection of food, culture, and identity and how mealtime traditions shape our sense of belonging. Kid shares his journey from science to art, how his daughter inspired his book, the deep meaning behind the Ethiopian dish, injera, and the role of food in preserving cultural heritage.

Sometimes I Eat with My Hands gives us a glimpse into a mealtime at Feven’s house, the role of family members during mealtimes, and the importance of honouring eating traditions. It’s out on April 1 (link below) from Groundwood Books.

It was so interesting to see how our experiences intersected, and this episode caused me to re-evaluate what I might be teaching my kids about their own culture. Lots to think about! Anyway, I’d love to hear from you: What’s a food tradition from your culture that you love? Drop a comment below!

Show Highlights

00:00 – Introduction

2:24 – Kid Haile’s journey from a science background to becoming an illustrator

8:35 – The inspiration behind Sometimes I Eat with My Hands

12:15 – Balancing Ethiopian and Canadian cultures in illustrations & Overcoming childhood struggles with food and cultural shame

16:40 – The significance of family roles at mealtimes

20:00 – The communal nature of injera and the meaning behind it

23:44 – The process of writing and illustrating Sometimes I Eat with My Hands

26:12 – The publishing journey—how Kid brought his book to life

31:55 – Expectations for the book

33:46 – Appreciation and end

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nGAiv79NYSg

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Guest’s links

Follow Kid on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidhailebooks/

🛒Buy Sometimes I Eat With My Hands: https://houseofanansi.com/products/sometimes-i-eat-with-my-hands?srsltid=AfmBOoqflga1YrnktqaagxLM_AMA1vDefr4vgxYBF5rwzQSC7hnrGA7V

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Lola on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

How can we help kids understand and process their emotions? This episode features Sandra V. Feder, author of the Emotions and Me series, to discuss her latest book, Shy Me. We explore the power of storytelling in helping children navigate their feelings, from anger and shyness to peace and resilience.

Sandra shares how her experiences as a parent and observer of children’s emotions inspired this series. We also discuss how Shy Me encourages young readers to overcome anxiety, and we get a sneak peek into Lonely Me, her upcoming 2026 release.

Show Highlights:

3:34 - How Sandra developed the Emotions and Me series and chose which emotions to explore

8:15 - The importance of respecting children's emotional intelligence

9:44 Why giving kids agency over their emotions matters

12:17 - The process of working with illustrators to bring emotions to life

14:30 - How Shy Me helps children manage social anxiety and build confidence

21:08 - Tips for children's book writers on capturing authentic emotions

25:11 - A look ahead at Lonely Me and why loneliness is an important emotion to address

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WwpEQ8Wmimo

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Guest’s links

Follow Sandra on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandravfeder/

Visit Sandra’s website: https://www.sandravfeder.com/home

Buy Shy Me: https://houseofanansi.com/products/shy-me?srsltid=AfmBOoqnZkGSlAZPxii8hjVUHZ1GRTSuzWGbEnr82SPPX167ugv0kKYu

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Follow Lola on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

What will we see about ourselves when we look at the past?

In this episode, I’m chatting with Jack Wang about his debut novel, The Riveter. We discuss themes of love, betrayal, honour, and identity.

Jack tells me how he was able to narrow down his research to the most important things and honour the past by carefully relocating it in present bodies. I learned a lot from Jack, and I think this episode is a great resource for anyone writing historical fiction.

The Riveter is out now from House of Anansi Press.

Show highlights

00:00 - Introduction

3:09 - Lola’s summary of the book

4:15 - Why Jack wrote a novel on the Second World War

6:50 - Designing the characters of Josiah Chang and Poppy

16:36 - Creating a connection between different kinds of freedom

20:18 - Bringing truth from the past to the present

23:03 - How much research should you use in writing historical fiction?

27:30 - Using drama to evolve your characters

32:08 - Writing about interracial relationships

37:36 - Brotherhood and belonging in war time

41:07 - Traversing through time and employing chronology

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Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NyYOI0m7hlc

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Guest’s links

Buy The Riveter: https://houseofanansi.com/products/the-riveter?_pos=1&_sid=63211d578&_ss=r

Follow Jack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackwangauthor/

Follow Jack on X: https://twitter.com/jackwangauthor

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: https://www.journeyoftheart.com/

Book a one-on-one with Lola: https://wordcaps.com/coaching/

In this episode, I sit down with author Jenny Haysom to discuss the themes of keeping and losing in her novel, Keep. We explore the delicate balance between motherhood and creativity, the struggle of carving out solitude as a writer, and the impact of community on personal growth. We also look into the world of home staging, hoarding, and the emotional weight of objects.

Keep tells the moving story of two home stagers and their client, Harriet, an elderly poet who is reluctant to sell her home and let go of the paraphernalia of her life. As these stagers find ways to carefully declutter Harriet’s home, they find that they themselves must attend to the clutter in their own lives. Keep investigates how, why, and what we keep and lose, and the big question: what is the most important thing? Keep is out now with House of Anansi Press.

Show highlights

0:00 – Introduction

3:35 – What inspired Keep?

7:56 - The things we keep that aren’t ours

16:50 - Belonging as a thing we don’t keep

18:24 – Juggling motherhood and creativity

24:16 - Losing the things that are integral to us

28:18 – The antidote to loneliness: community & connection

32:44 - Writing about the elderly

37:22 - Learning to write and publish a debut novel

39:18 - Appreciation and end

Watch on YouTube:⁠https://youtu.be/XH96GUsZ0wU

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Guest’s links

Buy Keep:https://houseofanansi.com/products/keep?srsltid=AfmBOoq80vlJNg-7LZPX2RXSnOCUfA6TOdSZkSM6Zc4OwFAFsFSEjOUm

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Host’s links

Find out more about the show: ⁠https://www.journeyoftheart.com/⁠

Follow Journey of the Art on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/journeyoftheartpod/⁠

Book a one-on-one with Lola:⁠https://wordcaps.com/coaching/