'Stay Brave' with Debbie Millman
‘Stay Brave’ is an interview series by woman-identifying creatives for woman-identifying creatives to inspire bravery in the creative life. [Created and curated by Leah Umansky]
How do you interpret the phrase, "Stay Brave?"
Having enough courage to take risks, without certainty of the outcome.
As a woman-identifying writer, what are the ways that you “stay brave” in your life?
I try to live in courage, as opposed to fear, which is an effort every single day.
Who is someone in your life who models “staying brave” for you?
My wife, Roxane Gay.
What writers, artists, and/or musicians do you look to to foster a sense of “bravery?”
Writers: Carmen Maria Machado, Emma Donoghue, Suleika Jaouad, Jacqueline Woodson, Min Jin Lee; artists: Marilyn Minter, Deborah Kass, Patricia Cronin, Mickalene Thomas, Catherine Opie; musicians: Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco, Joan As Police Woman
What’s a piece of advice you would pass on to your younger self about “staying brave?” What’s something you know now, that you didn’t know in the past?
Don't worry about the future
Can you remember a time in your life where you realized your own bravery? How did you use it to propel you forward?
Surviving childhood sexual abuse, and realizing how hard that must have been for my 10-year-old self, as an adult.
What do you do when you aren’t feeling brave? What inspires you or motivates you?
When I am not feeling brave, I beat myself up. Fear of not living up to my potential in my life motivates me.
In what ways would you like to be more brave in your creative life?
I would like to not feel so scared about taking risks.
What is your proudest moment of bravery?
See answer to question #6.
What are you currently working on?
I am working on a new book about the quest for a garden!
Thank you, Debbie!
Named “one of the most creative people in business” by Fast Company, and “one of the most influential designers working today” by Graphic Design USA, Debbie Millman is also an author, educator, curator, and podcast pioneer. Debbie is host of the Webby award-winning podcast Design Matters, one of the first and longest running podcasts in the world; Chair of the first-ever Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts, Co-owner and Editorial Director of PrintMag.com, and the author of seven books on design and branding. She has worked on the design and strategy of over 200 of the world’s largest brands. Debbie is the recipient of a Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and a Lifetime Achievement award from AIGA, the Professional Association for Design.
[image from Design Matters, courtesy of website]
Leah Umansky is a poet, writer, curator, writing coach, artist and teacher. Her new collection of poems is OF TYRANT out now with Word Works Books. She earned her MFA in Poetry at Sarah Lawrence College and has curated and hosted The COUPLET Reading Series in NYC since 2011. Her creative work can be found in such places as PBS’’ ‘Story in the Public Square,’ The New York Times, POETRY, Bennington Review, American Poetry Review, Minyan Magazine, The Academy of American Poets' Poem-A-Day and others. She is a writing coach who has taught workshops to all ages at such places as Poets House, Hudson Valley Writers Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering and elsewhere. She is working on a fourth collection of poems ORDINARY SPLENDOR, on wonder, joy and love. She can be found at www.leahumansky.com or @leah.umansky on IG.
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