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TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL

Maggie Fedorov

Your friendly reminder that all the challenges which arise in your creative pursuits are TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL. Exploring anything and everything pertaining to the art world and life as a creative.

thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com

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S3 · E37
September 7 · 1 hr
Episode 37: Commission Savvy w/ Hayley McAuliffe
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Hayley McAuliffe ( @offurandfeather ) of Portland, Oregon to talk about the unique challenges of operating a commission-based creative career as a freelance preservationist. Hayley discusses how client involvement impacts the results of a project and where it's important to leave room for your expertise to speak loudest; the ways in which how we carry ourselves in the conducting of business can lend itself to either humanizing or de-humanizing us as the creator of these pieces; and what kind of boundaries are important to hold for yourself to avoid the latter. Listen now to hear how we're building lasting and reciprocal relationships with our clients in the craft in order to do the work well without having to suffer from losing ourselves in it. Image courtesy of Hayley McAuliffe. Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Hayley on Instagram Hayley on Facebook Of Fur and Feather on the Web TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
#36
August 3 · 1 hr 38 min
Episode 36: THE ISOLATION EFFECT: Expansion and Growing Pains
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Michelle Jaramillo ( @michellejaramillomiami ) of Miami, Florida to talk about how expansion in creativity, business, and beyond requires isolation and what the struggles inherent in that stage of development looked like. Michelle discusses the necessity of having a mirror, an equal, that you can depend on; the importance of leaving time for boredom, play and whimsy; and the incongruence that comes when you have to reconcile holding cosmically huge struggles in one hand while not forgetting to celebrate the overwhelmingly huge wins you hold in the other. Listen now to hear some of our most real and unfiltered thoughts on what the first year in business has taught us about the growing pains through seasons of expansion and more. Image courtesy of Michelle Jaramillo. Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Michelle on Instagram The Beauty Boost Miami Instagram The Beauty Boost on the Web University of Washington Magazine: "Leisure is not a Luxury" TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
S3 · E35
July 6 · 46 min
Episode 35: THE ART OF LETTING GO: Discovering the Mystery of the Muses w/ Scott Breton
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Scott Breton ( @scottbreton ) of Queensland, Australia to talk about how tension, defiance, and NOT 'doing' enter the chat when we talk about how we move through the act of creation. Scott discusses the importance of embracing surrender and leaving space for the muses to show themselves; how creating meaning is woven in with our more primitive creative impulses; and finding the sacred in the process. Do you think you've introduced enough tension and struggle in your own life and the structure of your creative practice to make the meaning fully present in the work? Listen now to hear our thoughts on what this entails and more. Episode 35 is available now where you stream your podcasts! Image courtesy of Scott Breton. Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Scott on Instagram Structure to Soul with Scott Breton Instagram Scott's Website BLOG: "Art as an Act of Defiance" Huberman Lab Podcast: How to Access Your Creativity w/ Rick Rubin "Lost" S1 E13, on Michelangelo and the creation of the statue of David TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
S3 · E34
June 1 · 48 min
Episode 34: Burnout Arrest for the Artist w/ Melissa Clements
Ep34: Burnout Arrest for the Artist w/ Melissa Clements: In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Melissa Clements ( @melclmnts ) of Perth, Western Australia to talk about the delicate dance of avoiding burnout as an artist. Melissa discusses how burnout found her through the many hats the artist must wear; how she suggests we combat burnout by looking to the root of the problem; and how to ABSOLUTELY NOT give up on a dream that we know in our heart of hearts will take a whole lifetime to come to full fruition and be fraught with challenges every step of the way. Do you think you already have the right structural supports in place for burnout arrest in your creative practice? Listen now to hear our thoughts on what this entails and more. Episode image courtesy of Adam Kenna (@adamkennaphoto) Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Melissa on Instagram Melissa's Website Melissa's Substack: "Word and Image" Saeculum at Linton and Kay Gallery TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
S3 · E33
May 4 · 1 hr 36 min
Episode 33: The Outcast Among the Outcast
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Geneva Allen ( @geneva_seasfae ) of San Bernardino County, California to talk about the outsider experience and how that presents itself within the fine art world. Geneva discusses how much of the misfit archetypal experience is specifically imposed on artists that are multi-passionate and choose not to limit themselves to working in just one medium; how she views herself as an artist and a complex human being that has been deemed The Outcast™️; and how walking the path of the misfit with pride actually has turned out to be the best thing for both her creative vision and her inner artist. Do you think that the "othering" of our community members is a harm, a help, or perhaps a complex web of a little of both? Listen now to hear our thoughts on this and more. Episode image courtesy of Geneva Allen Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Geneva on Instagram Geneva's Website TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
S3 · E32
April 6 · 44 min
Episode 32: (EVERY/NO)THING IS ART w/ Indre Labanauskaite
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Indre Labanauskaite ( @manyiiiart ) of Vilnius, Lithuania to talk about her explorations in medium and more. Indre discusses how much of what we call "real" art, in her opinion, is tied up in medium; how she personally defines "art"; and how digging deep in process adds richness to her creative practice as well as elsewhere in life. Do you think that the art is the finished thing you end up with when you're done working; or do you feel as we do, that "art" is actually a secret other thing? Listen today to hear our thoughts on these topics and more! Episode 32 is available now! Episode image courtesy of Indre Labanauskaite Boone's Solace LLC © 2026. All Rights Reserved. SHOW NOTES: Indre on Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL on Instagram Maggie on Instagram
#31
March 2 · 57 min
Episode 31: The Valley of the Shadow: Admiration or Genuine Connection? w/ Jillian Morn
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Jillian Morn (@jillsvintagevault) artist and photographer of Seattle, WA to talk about the kinda dusty, kinda "mid" reactions that we're all familiar with then we share new work. Jillian discusses the role of intention in sharing art and how this impacts how we feel about the reception of the work; what kind of engagement feels really fulfilling for artists; and how artists can cultivate more feedback in line with their current goals for connecting with audiences. Do you think we tend to confuse admiration with connection? Listen today to hear our thoughts on these topics and more! SHOW NOTES: Jillian on Instagram Etsy: Jill's Vintage Vault TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie on Instagram
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
Epsiode 30: Strength, Mastery, Folly & Failure: MASTER & APPRENTICE w/ Paloma Strong
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Paloma Strong ( @strongtaxidermy ) of Los Angeles, CA to talk about her unique experience with seeking and acquiring a prestigious taxidermy apprenticeship, growing through it, and eventually finding it was time to step out on her own. Paloma discusses the work that hopeful future apprentices in any medium can do on their own time to stand out as a strong candidate; what masters are looking for in an apprentice; and what it took for her to feel like it was finally time to go out on her own in the world of Taxidermy. In this episode Paloma also considers how, as artists, we can pay homage to and respect our roots while we also find that ingenuity and continue to bring all of it with us into the future. Listen today to hear her thoughts on these topics and more! PHOTO BY JULIETTE @rabbitsmoon24 ( IG )COURTESY OF PALOMA STRONG Show notes: Strong Taxidermy on Instagram Paloma on Instagram Strong Taxidermy on TikTok Strong Taxidermy on the Web Strong Taxidermy on Patreon TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL PODCAST EP6: Sacrifice Is A Certainty w/ Shane Izykowski TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Sep 22, 2025 · 36 min
Episode 29: Creative Initiation w/ Emily Eccles / Nanny Goat Gallery
In this episode @maggiefedorov is joined by Emily Eccles, one half of Nanny Goat Gallery ( @nannygoatgallery ) in Petaluma, CA to talk about her experience of being initiated into the fine art world. Emily discusses the important precipitating factors that called for her pivot into art; the struggle of standing on the precipice and deciding to jump; and the best way to approach artists, gallerists, or other creatives that you'd like to see yourself work with. In this episode Emily also considers her path in retrospect, shedding light on what else was important for her success along the way. Listen today to hear her thoughts on these topics and more! Show notes: Nanny Goat Gallery on Instagram Nanny Goat Gallery Website TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Aug 25, 2025 · 58 min
Episode 28: Metric System: Measuring Success Beyond Likes and Views w/ Alondra Uhi
In this episode Maggie is joined by Alondra Uhi ( @alondra.uhi.art / @byherfruits.art ) to talk about the risks of using social media as a metric for success in the arts. Alondra discusses her own personal metrics for success that she uses in lieu of social media; the importance of contributing to your creative community; "trends" and "cringe" in content creation as an artist; and the pressure I think we have all experienced at some point or another to create faster than we're comfortable in order to appease the algorithm. In this episode Alondra also considers what it means to show up as your best authentic self online. Listen today to hear her thoughts on these topics and more! Show notes: Alondra Uhi on Instagram Alondra's Religious + Feminist Art on Instagram Howard Lyon on Instagram Esther Candari on Instagram Kelsey Critchfield-De Ferrari on Instagram: a great example of re-using the same finished works for fresh, new content that doesn't feel like you've seen it before One Peak Creative on Instagram: for a $40 Alondra-approved class to learn to make more engaging content TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Jul 28, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode 27: Art Marketing Magic w/ Michelle
In this episode Maggie is joined by Michelle ( @littleredheartart / @mmarketingbroward ) to talk about common places that artists are largely missing the boat in the world of business and opportunities. Michelle discusses places where all artists need to be putting themselves out there, even when that's asking us to step outside of our comfort zone; the easiest way to take back your time and energy in content creation; how to stand out online and in person as an artist; and the biggest mistake Michelle sees artists make that turns into lost opportunities (hint: it isn't competition!). In this episode Michelle also considers who is really in charge in the Art World™️. Listen today to hear her thoughts on these topics and more! Show notes: Michelle's Marketing Instagram Michelle's Art Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Jun 30, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode 26: My Cross to Bear w/ Heidi Lustig
In this episode Maggie is joined by Heidi Lustig of New South Wales, Australia to talk about how her decade-long art gap and corporate burnout were really part of the process all along. @violet_portrayal discusses a common block in finding one's unique artistic voice; the importance of doing bad work; how to avoid becoming a carbon copy of the shitty corporate boss you hated; and what it REALLY looks like making your first steps back to a "lost" art practice. In this episode Heidi also considers whether or not it's possible to separate the art from the artist. Listen now to hear her thoughts on this and more. Show notes: Heidi's Instagram Heidi's Website Heidi's feature in the Beautiful Bizarre Artist Directory TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
May 26, 2025 · 46 min
Episode 25: Spiritual Motion w/ Maggie Fedorov
Join Maggie Fedorov to talk about the experience of moving through her creative practice as a spiritual endeavor just as much as an artistic endeavor. Maggie dissects the Hermit archetype and what she means by "spiritual movement"; who would benefit from adding a spiritual element to their creative practice; and the ways that her unique spiritual care routines are now a fully enmeshed and invaluable part of her work acting not entirely unlike a creative catapult. In this episode Maggie also poses some very pointed questions for you about your spiritual hygiene and your spiritual & creative goals. What are you doing to propel your work forward? Listen now to hear Maggie's thoughts on all this and more. P.S. Stick around for bloopers! xo "By 'Spiritiality' I mean first and foremost that a person be inquisitive regarding what is referred to as 'the meaning of life.' That's at least a first step. A person who has asked that question can no longer fall below that level. They will already begin to improve. And secondly: The beautiful is hidden from the eyes of those who are not searching for the truth, for whom it is contra-indicated. But the profound lack of spirituality of those people who see art and condemn it, the fact that they are neither willing nor ready to consider the meaning and aim of their existence in any higher sense, is often masked by the vulgarly simplistic cry, 'I don't like it!', 'It's boring!' It is not a point that one can argue; but it like the utterance of a man born blind who is being told about a rainbow. He simply remains deaf to the pain undergone by the artist in order to share with others the truth he has reached. And finally: art must must carry man's craving for the ideal, must be an expression of his reaching out towards it; that art must give man hope and faith. And the more hopeless the world in the artist's version, the more clearly perhaps must we see the ideal that stands in opposition - otherwise life becomes impossible! Art symbolises the meaning of our existence." -Andrei Tarkovsky Show notes: Maggie's Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Youtube: Huberman Lab Podcast "Rick Rubin: How to Access Your Creativity" Huberman Lab Podcast "Robert Greene: A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose" Huberman Lab Podcast "A Science-Supported Journaling Protocol to Improve Mental & Physical Health" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Feb 24, 2025 · 1 hr 26 min
Episode 24: Grief & Creativity w/ Maggie Fedorov
We're flipping the script! Guest hosted by Sam Fedorov, today's interview gives us deeper insight into the inner workings of your usual host, Maggie Fedorov, of Seattle, WA to talk about her experience with moving through grief as a working artist. Maggie is the last of four artists in this series of episodes to discuss her experience with loss; the changes in her creative practice as a result of grief; the biggest hardships that emerged as she moved through loss; and the degree to which she is still impacted by it. In this episode Maggie also dissects what true strength in the face of grief looks like. Is it "weak" to be broken by your grief? Listen now to hear Maggie's thoughts on this. "Death is the great equalizer of human beings. Death is the boundary that we need to measure the precious texture of our lives. All people owe a death. There is no use vexing about the inevitable degeneration and death because far greater people than me succumbed to death's endless sleep without living as many years as me." -Kilroy J. Oldster Show notes: Maggie's Instagram Boone's Solace Candle Co. Instagram YOUTUBE: In Memoriam: Darla Anne Boone-Durrant ARTICLE: Burien Teen Drowns In Wenatchee River ARTICLE: What's That Smell You're Reading? TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Jan 27, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode 23: Grief & Creativity w/ Shane Izykowski
In this episode Maggie is joined by another old friend of the podcast, Shane Izykowski of Los Angeles, CA to talk about his experience with moving through grief as a working artist. Shane is the third of four artists in this series of episodes to discuss his experience with loss; the changes in his creative practice as a result of grief; the biggest hardships that emerged as he moved through loss; and the degree to which he is still impacted by it. In this episode Shane also considers what it's like to use the grief experience to step outside of 'The Matrix' and live a more intentional and meaningful life and what that looks like in the scope of his creative practice. But the question I'm still thinking about?... "Will I ever fully process my grief? Is there an ending? A resolution?" Listen now to hear Shane's thoughts on this. Show notes: Shane's Instagram Leviathan Goth Night's Instagram ARC Gallery: Joshua Coffy In Memoriam Dan Colonna's Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Dec 30, 2024 · 56 min
Episode 22: Grief & Creativity w/ Devon Walz
In this episode Maggie is joined by Devon Walz of Santa Ana to talk about the nuances and intricacies of moving through grief as an artist. Devon is the second of four artists in this series of episodes to discuss her experience with grief and loss; the changes in her creative practice as a result of grief; the biggest hardships that emerged as she moved through loss; and the degree to which she is still impacted by grief. In this episode Devon also considers the struggle over how to spend our time in the wake of a big loss. Is it weird to go to dance? Show notes: Devon's Instagram Devon's Website Devon's TikTok TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Nov 25, 2024 · 48 min
Episode 21: Grief and Creativity w/ Jennifer Allnutt
In this episode Maggie is joined by this year's Beautiful Bizarre People's Choice Award finalist, oil painter Jennifer Allnutt of Queensland, Australia to talk about the nuances and intricacies of moving through grief as an artist. Jenny is the first of four artists in this series of episodes on grief to discuss their experience with grief and loss; the changes that resulted in her creative practice as a result of grief; the biggest hardships that emerged as she moved through loss; and the degree to which she is still impacted by grief years later. In this episode Jenny also considers the surprising ways she was able to reconnect with joy and purpose in the wake of her grief. Show notes: Jenny's Instagram Jenny's Website ARTICLE: 'In the Studio With Jennifer Allnutt' ARTICLE: 'A Short History of the Sublime' EXCERPT: 'A Grief Observed' TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Oct 28, 2024 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 20: Beyond the Mount: The Art of Preservation w/ Matt Klope
In this episode Maggie is joined by award winning Taxidermist and retired Federal Wildlife Biologist Matt Klope of Whidbey Island, WA to talk taxidermy. Matt discusses accessing the flow state and how to recover when you lose it; the role of creative vision in the art of preparation; real-world applications for taxidermy in research, conservation, and beyond; and the steep decline in the taxidermy community as it loses favor in the eye of John Q. Public. In this episode Matt also considers what else we stand to lose if taxidermy should become a lost art. Show notes: Matt's Instagram Whidbey Island Taxidermy Website INSTAGRAM: See how taxidermy is helping humans rehabilitate 'Ingo' for release in Germany ARTICLE: 'Why Are Ducks Thriving as Other Birds Decline? Three Words: Investments by Hunters' ARTICLE: 'What is Taxidermy? An Intimate Relationship Between Death and Maker' Precious Creature Pet Taxidermy Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Sep 30, 2024 · 1 hr 16 min
Episode 19: Forging Tradition: Re-Kindling the Ancient Art of Coppersmithing w/ Evelynn Combs & Gerad Smith
In this episode Maggs is joined by Evelynn Combs & Gerad Smith of Alaska, both Archaeologists as well as artists, to talk about how they're re-conceptualizing the ancient art of coppersmithing. Gerad and Evie discuss the cultural and historical significance of coppersmithing in the Tanana Valley of interior Alaska; what it's like to work with a creative collaborator; the joys and hardships of time away from the forge; and the value of creative diversity. Evie & Gerad also consider cyclical time and the profound and incredible ways humans have been living the same experiences as our ancestors for millennia through the lens of Traveler and his stories in the Dene oral traditions. Show notes: Gerad's Dene Atlas Cambridge University Press Publication: "Innovation and Prestige Among Northern Hunter-Gatherers: Late Prehistoric Native Copper Use in Alaska and Yukon" Gerad's Instagram Evelynn's Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Leave a voice message for Maggie Maggie's Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com
Aug 26, 2024 · 1 hr 24 min
Episode 18: Brushstrokes & Boundaries: Art, Censorship & Shame w/ Jeff Troy
In this episode Maggs is joined by Jeff Troy, a multimedia erotic artist from Seattle, WA to talk about how his current body of work began from a spilling over of long-repressed shame. Jeff discusses finding community in unlikely places; how online censorship is impacting figurative and erotic artists; and how despair is an old friend and constant companion throughout his creative practice. Jeff also considers whether creativity is positively or negatively impacted when we have limits imposed on what we are able to do. Show notes: Jeff's Instagram TOTALLY F#@!ING NORMAL Instagram Leave a voice message for Maggs Maggs' Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thesacrosanctatelier.substack.com

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