Episodes

What does it really take to become a confident creative? In this episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with award-winning Irish fiddle player, educator, and podcast host Tara Connaghan to explore the connection between creativity, confidence, community, and personal growth. Tara shares how one challenging lesson from her music teacher completely changed the trajectory of her life, why creativity is about far more than natural talent, and how Irish traditional music became bo...

Hollywood burnout and spiritual awakening don't happen overnight, and no one knows that better than Bob Degus. After more than a decade producing Oscar-nominated films and overseeing blockbusters at New Line Cinema, Bob hit a wall that no amount of money or credits could fix. If you've ever wondered whether the life you built is actually the life you want, this episode will shake something loose in you. Holly Hughes, TEDx speaker, intuitive healer, and author of Real, Not Perfect, sits dow...

What happens when you walk away from a successful corporate career with no real plan, follow your curiosity across continents, and accidentally build an entirely new life? In this episode, Holly sits down with Soraya Ho, multilingual tour guide, podcaster, former software developer, and one of Jeju Island's most passionate cultural ambassadors. After years of intense corporate work in South Korea, Soraya made a life-changing decision to leave it all behind and travel through Latin America....

What does it actually take to go from fire department paramedic to Emmy-winning studio head, with zero plan, zero roadmap, and zero interest in the spotlight? In this episode, Holly sits down with veteran Hollywood producer and ITV Studios executive Dwayne Shattuck, a man with multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, DGA, and PGA awards, 20+ television series under his belt, and a record of never once going over budget. Dwayne's career started with a back injury, a bored colleague, and an offer to get...

What do you do when the life you built… disappears? In this episode, Holly sits down with award-winning film producer and creative changemaker Michael Cain to unpack what it really looks like to rebuild your life when the plan falls apart. Because this isn’t a story about success.It’s a story about redirection. After losing everything in his twenties, Michael found himself at a crossroads with no roadmap, no certainty, and no clear way forward. What came next wasn’t a perfectly executed...

This week Holly sits down with Judy Carter, comedian, comedy coach, and author of The Comedy Bible, to talk about how to build a creative career, make money being funny, and turn your biggest problems into your most bankable material. Because here is the thing: your problems are not your problem. They are your material. Judy has coached Seth Rogen, Taylor Tomlinson, and Lisa Lampanelli. Her book has sold over 200,000 copies and been published in nine languages. She got rejected by 59 liter...

What if art wasn’t just expression… but responsibility? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with artist Akira Tsuboi and interpreter Woo-Hee Choi to explore the intersection of art, history, and truth, and what it means to create work that confronts what others avoid. Akira’s work doesn’t look away. It dives into the realities of war, cultural trauma, and systemic silence, using stark black, white, and red imagery to challenge narratives that have been softened, rewrit...

What if art wasn’t just expression… but responsibility? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with artist Akira Tsuboi and interpreter Woo-Hee Choi to explore the intersection of art, history, and truth, and what it means to create work that confronts what others avoid. Akira’s work doesn’t look away. It dives into the realities of war, cultural trauma, and systemic silence, using stark black, white, and red imagery to challenge narratives that have been softened, re...

What if writing about your past didn’t mean reliving it? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with author Monica Macansantos, writer of Returning to My Father’s Kitchen and Love and Other Rituals, to explore how we tell the truth about family, identity, and the stories that shape us, without getting stuck inside them. Monica shares how her father’s openness transformed pain into connection, and how writing became a way to process generational trauma without passing ...

What happens when someone who feels completely lost decides to leave everything behind and travel the world? In this episode of the Holly Hughes Podcast, Holly sits down with Jae Choi, founder of Good Mate Travel, to explore the unexpected journey that led him from uncertainty in South Korea to building a travel company that connects strangers from across the world through shared experiences. What started as a small food tour in a traditional Korean market eventually grew into Good Mate Tr...

What does it actually take to become a published author? In this conversation, Holly sits down with award-winning author Eugene Myers to talk about writing under pressure, creative discipline, publishing realities, and how to build a sustainable writing career while balancing a full-time job and family life. Eugene built his career the long way. Querying agents. Surviving years on submission. Attending Clarion West. Writing through burnout. Auditioning for Scholastic series. Meeting tight ...

What kind of makeup actually works for mature skin? In this conversation, Holly sits down with pro makeup artist and mature beauty educator Michelle Spieler to talk about makeup over 40, skincare shifts, aging confidently, and why heavy foundation might be doing you more harm than good. Michelle built her career in 1990s Los Angeles working at MAC before transitioning into television, where her lash expertise opened doors in Hollywood. Today, she’s known for helping women 40+ feel visible,...

Crafting words from a vision that only you as the author can see is one the oldest and most tried forms of creativity. The best authors throughout history have all shown a gift for sparking the imagination through the written word. That vision and those words need to come from somewhere, however. And one’s own lived experiences often shape both. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author and creative writing professor at the University of California Riverside, Tod Goldberg. Tod has ap...

Art is often inspired by the experiences we cultivate through our lives. Whether it’s through our interactions with others or our experiences in the world, our art is a reflection of the lives we’ve lived. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is fantasy author and editor Ellen McGinty. Ellen has just published her latest fantasy adventure novel, Saints and Monsters, while also serving other talented writers through her editing, all while living as an American in Japan. Ellen McGinty joins...

The best art often challenges our comfort zones and makes us reexamine commonly held beliefs. The work of today’s guest does that with one of history’s most challenging figures, while adding a dash of humor to the mix. Playwright and director Michelle Kholos Brooks joins host Holly Hughes for a delightful conversation about her creative playwriting process and challenging people’s perceptions about the treatment of young women through her latest play, Hitler’s Tasters. Holly and Michelle talk ...

Few things in this world embody grace, finesse, and beauty as ballet. Dancers train almost obsessively to refine their performances to the most minute detail. Dance can therefore become an all encompassing venture, but it doesn’t have to be. Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is professional ballet dancer Remi Okamoto. Remi is originally from Kyoto, Japan, but has trained and studied all around the world. Remi is currently residing in Charlotte, NC as part of Charlotte Ballet’s First Com...

Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is author Judy Goldman, an author of eight books — four memoirs, two novels, and two collections of poetry. Judy has recently released a book called The Rest of Our Lives, a reflection on the aging process no matter what stage of life you’re in. Judy joins Holly for a discussion around different perspectives on aging, evolving feelings about self-image and confidence, and the beauty of writing memoirs.

Canadian-Korean author Jinwoo Park joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast for a conversation about his journey of cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the creative process behind his debut novel, The Oxford Soju Club. Jinwoo and Holly explore themes of belonging, the challenges of fitting in, and the expectations placed on immigrant children. Jinwoo talks about his academic pursuits, the influence of family expectations on his career choices, and the importance of humor in storytelling.

Today’s guest on The Holly Hughes Podcast is a literary professional who helps countless other writers express their ideas and get their work published. Betsy Thorpe has worked with both big name authors at prestige publishing houses to indie writers trying to breakthrough. Betsy Thorpe joins host Holly Hughes for an insightful conversation about all things writing. Betsy talks about her journey to becoming a writer, how a good editor can shape a story, the emotional core of storytelling and the business of writing and publishing.

Filmmaker Rob Moniot joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast. Rob talks about his career in Hollywood, from being a stuntman to finding his path in filmmaking through short films. Rob also talks about the business of making movies, navigating loneliness, and telling a Jewish story as a non-Jew in one of his latest films.

Brian Lafontaine and Holly Hughes sit down for a conversation about how Brian uses his voice professionally. Brians talks about his background in the arts, particularly his love for live theatre. He also shares some of his philosophies for creativity, public speaking, and tuning into your own unique perspective to help you stand out from the crowd.

Indie musician Francis Doom joins The Holly Hughes Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about music and the identity behind the beats. Born in the US, but to Korean parents, Francis Doom grew up quietly rejecting his Korean heritage in favor of American assimilation. It wasn’t until he was older and grew more comfortable with his roots that he was able to truly embrace his craft. Francis Doom and Holly Hughes have a conversation about the creation of music, embracing identity, and the simple joys of creating.

Creativity is a holy way of being! The essence of creativity is both intangible and undeniable. Today’s guests on The Holly Hughes Podcast specialize in channeling your creativity energy and letting go of needless veneers. Sam Howarth is the founder of The Way She Was Made, where she is a “brand alchemist, Business doula, embodiment guide, and soul-led business strategist.” Phoenyx (Vanessa Giorgio) is a visual artist based in Toronto. Sam and Phoenyx join host Holly Hughes for a deep dive discussion on spirituality, creativity and tapping into our own intuition. Sam and Phoenyx also discuss human design and how it can help you live a more spiritually aligned life.

The essence of creativity is both intangible and undeniable. Today’s guests on The Holly Hughes Podcast specialize in channeling your creativity energy and letting go of needless veneers. Sam Howarth is the founder of The Way She Was Made, where she is a “brand alchemist, Business doula, embodiment guide, and soul-led business strategist.” Phoenyx (Vanessa Giorgio) is a visual artist based in Toronto. Sam and Phoenyx join host Holly Hughes for a deep dive discussion on spirituality, creativity...