Artist Adam Crist joins The Artist Is In for a grounded, heart-forward conversation about what it really means to become. For Adam, becoming isn’t about becoming someone new—it’s a returning to who he always wanted to be. We slow down together and notice the small moments in nature that recalibrate our pace, talk about rewriting the fear-and-self-doubt stories we tell ourselves, and name the hard truth: you can’t go around it—you have to work through it. Along the way, Adam keeps pointing us back to agency and inner wisdom: look in your pocket, because the key is already within you.

We talk about:

• Becoming as a returning—remembering your truest self
• Slowing down and letting nature reset your rhythm
• Spotting (and softening) the fear/self-doubt narratives
• Why avoidance stalls growth—and how to work through instead
• Small, sustainable practices that build courage and momentum
• Trusting your inner compass: the key is in your pocket

New episodes drop every other Thursday.

Adam Crist is a Lehigh Valley-based artist who rediscovered his creative voice in 2022 after a 20-year career in the corporate world. Working primarily in cyanotype, his art explores themes of healing, nature, and sacred geometry, often combining alternative photography with ink, pastels, and watercolor. A member of the Lehigh Art Alliance, Adam has exhibited regionally and was recently featured in Art and Color 365 magazine.

Learn more about Adam at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adamcrist_art

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/adamcristart

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EPISODE CREDITS
Produced and Hosted by Kat Collins and Nina Boodhansingh
Edited and Mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio @ninaboodart

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com/podcast

In this episode of The Artist Is In, I (Kat Collins) am thrilled to introduce abstract and collage artist Nina Boodhansingh for two distinct reasons:

1. She is now my co-host for the podcast The Artist Is In! In addition to artist interviews, we’ll bring you our artist chats about anything and everything related to art (and sometimes, not).
2. I get to interview her about her upcoming solo art show Chronically Chill at Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Glass Box Gallery.

We talk about Nina’s upcoming solo art exhibition and installation about a woman’s journey through life with mental (ch)illness and chronic pain. The show is humorous, real, educational, chaotic, and a bit serious. We also explore how living with invisible illnesses impacts our lives, both in art and in general. Growing up, Nina's creativity was influenced by making “cake art” with icing, and we discuss how a strong support system and pets help us cope. Nina shares how trusting her gut and embracing humor gets her through and holding bumblebees isn’t always the best choice.

If you’ve ever struggled or are struggling with mental illness, invisible illness, chronic pain, and trying to live a joyful, fulfilled, art life, this one’s for you.

🎤 About Nina Boodhansingh:

Nina Boodhansingh is an abstract painter, collage artist, curator, and co-host of The Artist Is In podcast. She is the former co-owner and Director of Midnight Gallery and a former Resident Artist at Kutztown University, The Cigar Factory, and The Banana Factory. Nina holds a B.F.A. from Kutztown University and an A.A. in Communications from Lehigh Carbon Community College. Her ethereal paintings and mixed-media works explore nature, the cosmos, and mental health, often blending introspection with wit and play. As a mentor, educator, and arts advocate, Nina is passionate about building creative community through both her practice and her voice on the podcast.

Learn more about Nina at:

Website: https://www.ninabood.com/aboutme

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina_bood/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninaboodart#

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening and share the podcast with your friends!

EPISODE CREDITS
Produced and Hosted by Kat Collins and Nina Boodhansingh
Edited and Mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio @ninaboodart

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com/podcast

Guest: Shiri Phillips

In this episode of The Artist Is In, painter Shiri Phillips joins Kat for a vibrant conversation about what it means to live—and create—with color at the center of it all. Trained in art history and rooted in graphic design, Shiri eventually traded digital grids for thick, expressive brushstrokes and a palette that pulses with energy.

We talk about her unique process of building paintings with precision and emotion, how growing up by the Mediterranean shaped her relationship to light and color, and why her personal motto, “Color is life,” is more than just a phrase—it’s a philosophy. Shiri shares how trusting her gut, embracing joy, and letting go of control helped her find her true creative voice.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to live more boldly, this one’s for you.

🎤 About Shiri Phillips:

Shiri Phillips is a painter in Omaha, NE. She studied at the University of Nebraska at Omaha's College of Communication, Fine Arts, and Media and received a bachelor’s degree in Art History. Drawing inspiration from the nuances of Impressionism and the structured elements of graphic design, her artwork mirrors a harmonious blend of these influences.

Impasto painted strokes of bright colors are the framework of artist Shiri Phillips’ abstract artworks. Phillips uses thick strokes of color and places them with precision on canvas, creating a graphic-like or pixelated look. Her art is defined by the deliberate use of upbeat colors to convey an emotional and physical response. Inspired by the vibrant surroundings she found growing up on the Mediterranean and the Southern Californian Coast, Phillips is driven by the philosophy of “color is life.”

Website: https://www.shiriphillips.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shiriphillips

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shiriphillipsdesigns

Send us a text

Support the show

Thanks for listening and share the podcast with your friends!

EPISODE CREDITS
Produced and Hosted by Kat Collins and Nina Boodhansingh
Edited and Mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

LINKS

Be sure to follow and tag us with #TheArtistIsInPodcast on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook: @katcollinsstudio @ninaboodart

Podcast: https://www.artistisin.com
Website: https://www.katcollinsstudio.com/podcast