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PODCAST

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter

The Truth In This Art with Rob Lee is an arts and culture interview podcast connecting arts, culture, and community. Sharing stories that matter through in-depth conversations with artists and creatives — photographers, filmmakers, designers, musicians, chefs, writers, and more. Guests share studio routines, community roots, career insights, and the ideas and choices that shape their projects. New episodes, show notes, and transcripts available here.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

52:13

#53 – Can Art Make Philosophy Less Intimidating? |...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/24

Artist and philosopher Mia Ntenta joins the podcast. Ntenta is a visual artist working across painting, sculpture, and installation. Ntenta is one of several artists I interviewed from Spring/Break Art Fair 2025.Ntenta shares how her philosophy background led her to explore ideas through painting and sculpture. Ntenta explains how her visual language and symbols clarify complex philosophical ideas.Ntenta breaks down her ongoing, expansive work 'The Omegans Project'. The Omegans Project, an

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62:57

#52 – Can Sculpture Help Us Imagine Life After...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/22

Artist Rosalie Smith joins the podcast. Smith reflects on developing her unique style. Smith talks about making sculptures with old technology and everyday things. Smith shares her process behind her pieces, and how recent experiences in New York and her education have shaped her approach. Smith discusses balancing the absurd and the serious. Smith describes what it means to create and teach in today’s fast-paced and chaotic world. Smith, Fresh off her MFA at CUNY Hunter, also talks about

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44:50

#51 – Is Being Present the Secret Ingredient of...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/17

Chef & owner of On the Hill Cafe and CookHouse, George Dailey joins the podcast. Dailey is originally from Venezuela. He started his cooking career in Boston, then moved to Baltimore and opened On the Hill Cafe in 2005. In this conversation, Dailey shares his passion for global flavors, seasonal menus, and the art of hospitality. Dailey reflects on building two beloved Baltimore spots. Dailey shares his hands-on approach that ensures quality and consistency. Dailey reveals how he crafts

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53:50

#50 – How Does The Corner Pantry Grow? | Chef Neill...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/15

Chef & co-owner of The Corner Pantry (TCP), Neill Howell returns to the podcast to talk growth, creativity, and keeping standards high. Howell & TCP has expanded the cafe and deepened their commitment to local sourcing. Howell shares his philosophy behind TCP's menu and how to build community through food. Also, Howell discusses how evolving, being creative and has kept the business successful for 11+ years.Topics Covered:How Corner Pantry expanded while keeping its identity

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53:45

#49 – How to Stay Sharp When Knife-Making Gets Hard?...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/13

In this new episode of The Truth In This Art, Henry Hyde—artisan and owner of Hyde Handmade Knives—returns to talk craft, community, and creating work that resonates.Known for his kitchen knives and meticulous approach to materials, Henry reflects on the evolution of his process, from isolating early days in a factory during the pandemic to searching for real connection at local craft shows. We discuss the emotional realities of working alone, the value of hands-on feedback over fleeting

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63:06

#48 – How Do Reimagined Comics Challenge Social...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/11

Artist and professor Kumasi J. Barnett returns to the podcast to talk art, protest, and making work that cuts through the noise.Known for subverting classic comic book covers with raw, socially charged rewrites, Kumasi reflects on what’s changed since 2022—from running for office to teaching at Penn State. We talk about the realities of being a Black painter, creating in the shadow of systemic erasure, and why some truths hit harder in spandex.Why painting is the easy part—but being an

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88:54

#47 – Can You Keep Your Integrity and Still Eat? |...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/09

Multidisciplinary artist, researcher, and educator Joseph Cochran II returns for his second appearance on The Truth In This Art. Born and raised in East Harlem, Joseph’s practice spans photography, video, and archival work, focusing on the systems that define industrialized societies and the emotional toll of late capitalism.In this conversation, Joseph opens up about the years he spent living and working in China, rebuilding from personal loss, and how maintaining his identity shaped the

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51:18

#46 – Is Satire Still Dangerous? | Brian Andrew Whiteley

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/06

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66:39

#45 – Typing Through Democracy, Fear & Free Speech |...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/03

What happens when a typewriter becomes a tool for collective memory? In this episode, Rob Lee reconnects with interdisciplinary artist and activist Sheryl Oring—first featured on the podcast in 2023. Sheryl returns with updates on I Wish to Say, her decades-long public performance project where thousands have dictated postcards to the U.S. president. What began as a solo typewriter setup is now an evolving civic archive—and a way to resist censorship, document the moment, and hold space for

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57:56

#44 – Why Baltimore’s New Arts Office (MOACE) Matters...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/07/01

Director of Baltimore’s new Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Linzy Jackson III joins Rob Lee for his first appearance to discuss his journey from summer youth worker to one of the city’s key connectors between creatives and local government.In this episode, Linzy talks about what it means to streamline access to public resources, the cultural imprint of growing up in Baltimore, and his work tearing down red tape for artists and event organizers. He shares how early memories of

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59:14

#43 – Painting Resilience, Teaching Growth & Making...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/26

Visual artist and educator Christopher Batten returns to reflect on evolution, resilience, and what it means to keep pushing—on canvas and in the classroom.Now in his 10th year living in Baltimore and his third year teaching at Morgan State, Christopher shares how his practice continues to evolve. We talk about the role of failure, what teaching over 1,000 students has taught him, and how martial arts, memory, and perseverance shape his work. This conversation was recorded shortly before

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64:05

#42 – Portraits of Joy, Craft, and Reclaiming...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/19

Baltimore-based artist and designer Elijah Trice returns to talk about growth, storytelling, and painting the everyday with dignity and joy.Since our last conversation in 2022, Elijah has expanded his practice beyond hyperrealistic portraiture to explore themes of childhood memory and creative freedom. We recorded this just after his first solo show, Nothing Else Matters, which followed a transformative residency at Maryland Hall. Elijah shares how his architectural training shaped his

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63:09

#41 – How Do You Reinvent and Thrive in Baltimore’s...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/17

If you’ve ever danced your heart out at a sold-out basement party or streamed a late-night DJ set on your phone, you’ve felt the pulse of Kotic Couture’s world. In this episode, Baltimore Magazine’s 2023 Best Local Artist shares how she swapped rap verses for turntables, co-founded one of the city’s most inclusive monthly events, and turned a bedroom-studio experiment into the Prototype album—all while building a fiercely supportive community of fellow Black queer creatives. Embracing

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56:40

#40 – What Do Cracks Reveal That Clay Can’t Hide? |...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/15

Ceramic-based artist and educator Ara Koh returns to The Truth In This Art for her second conversation with Rob Lee. Known for her layered clay paintings and material-intensive installations, Ara shares how her practice has deepened through repetition, research, and unexpected cracks—both literal and metaphorical.In this episode, Ara talks about processing wild clay from her travels, the physicality of working with heavy materials, and the importance of fitness in sustaining her studio

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50:25

#39 - Can Museums Stay Open-Minded? Porosity, Power &...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/12

Curator, writer, and executive director of the ICA at VCU Jessica Bell Brown returns to reflect on her evolving leadership at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this conversation, we talk about openness as a strategy, the role of listening in shaping institutions, and what it means to make space for experimentation in times of uncertainty.Jessica shares how porosity, risk, and care shape her curatorial and executive approach—from expanding access

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75:14

#38 – Sound as Culture, Code, and Creative Resistance...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/10

Guggenheim Fellow, artist, producer, and educator Kokayi returns to unpack the layers of sound, storytelling, and being a vessel for cultural memory.Since our first conversation, Kokayi has pushed deeper into multidisciplinary work—blending sound design, improvisation, code, and community-building. This conversation tracks his reflections on legacy, experimentation, and why he’s wary of institutions that try to own culture. We talk about what’s next, how he stays rooted in practice, and

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50:08

#37 - Can Archives Shape What’s Next? Upton Mansion...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/07

Artist, educator, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood joins to reflect on legacy, growth, and leading one of Baltimore’s most ambitious cultural preservation efforts.Savannah has overseen major milestones—most notably, the $16M redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion, future home of the Afro-American Newspaper (AFRO) archives. We talk about curiosity as a compass, how archives become creative tools, and why joy, movement, and cultural memory drive her work forward.Topics

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48:14

#36 – Art Beyond Time, Memory & Convention | Lewinale...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/05

Artist Lewinale Havette returns for a conversation on art, spirit, and shedding constraints.Recorded at Palo Gallery during NYC Art Week, Lewinale reflects on her evolution since 2022—from early paintings shaped by language and migration to her latest abstract works rooted in instinct, spirituality, and ancestral memory. We discuss authenticity, pushing limits, and why she’s letting go of surface-level meaning in favor of deeper emotional truth.Why she’s moved from narrative-driven art to

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50:20

#35 - Fusing Circus and Storytelling | Sam Landa of...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/06/03

Director and choreographer Sam Landa joins for his first appearance on the podcast to talk about reimagining what circus can be—and how LIQUID uses punk aesthetics, narrative, and high-stakes performance to deliver something unforgettable.As co-founder of New York Circus Project, Sam blends circus, theater, and dance to push creative boundaries. We recorded this at Union Market District in DC just after the premiere of LIQUID. Sam shares how his training as an aerialist, studies in computer

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71:37

#34 Hae Won Sohn – Sculpting Process, Memory &...

The Truth In This Art: Stories That Matter ·

2025/05/28

Artist and educator Hae Won Sohn returns for a reflective conversation on process, adaptability, and making art that holds up—materially and conceptually.Now based in Queens, Hae Won shares what’s evolved since her 2021 Sondheim Prize win and how her process-first approach has deepened through teaching, repurposing materials, and balancing art with life. Recorded after her Surface Tension exhibition in Baltimore, this episode covers the intersections of sculpture, craft, and creative

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204 results

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