21 Questions With Kirti Kana And Conscious Culture
Read our recent interview with Kirti Kana about starting a sustainable coffee community.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we recently launched 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Kirti Kana, founder of Conscious Culture, chats about creative flow, cultivating community and her favorite coffee roast.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
ABOUT KIRTI KANA AND CONSCIOUS CULTURE
At the heart of her design, Kirti Kana is a visionary. She unites entrepreneurs, change-makers, and thought leaders to champion a positive movement, for the purpose of fostering community and sustaining Earth.
This vision is spoken through her online intentional community, Conscious Culture, which is two-fold. The first aims to bring awareness to different sectors of one’s life, through a variety of assessments, themes, workshops, learning experiences, and themes. The second is an ethically sourced coffee project that introduces new flavor profiles from around the world which rotate monthly.
Ultimately, Kirti envisions sustainable autonomous beta-cities of the future, with the structure, ethos, and integrity of Conscious Culture weaving its way into this movement for the people and planet.
HERE ARE KIRTI’S 21 ANSWERS:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
Momentum—this simple word reminds me of the simplest action that motivates me and pulls me forward no matter what mental state I am in.
2. CONSCIOUS CULTURE in 3 WORDS?
Community, wellness, coffee
3. Why did you start conscious culture?
Conscious Culture stems from a project I’ve founded, Itopia Project, which involved regenerative autonomous beta cities of the future. Before the pandemic, I was living in LA close to sealing a deal for our first beta city outside of Santa Barbara, CA. Then, life happened.
The pandemic hit right when I was at home in Texas visiting family. I decided to stay and take a new and different approach in being able to transform people's lives without having the physical transformative environment. That is when I decided I’d start an online community centered around empowering individuals who are on the self-healing journey or the journey of transforming our world into a better place.
Coffee has just always been a part of my life, and it’s my way of giving back to farmers around the world that are doing it right. We’re planting the seeds of our larger products with coffee beans.
4. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
Motorcycle trip from Mexico to the tip of South America
5. The thing you most wish for the world is…
For people to have the option of living fully, authentically and happily with all of their basic essential needs met
6. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
Since we’ve just started (and I haven’t run any ads), I’d love to see more gals who are excited to change their social media diet and be a part of a community that is here to support their dreams and health and wellness goals.
7. No. 1 Muse?
Tulsi Gabbard, because this woman in politics makes me excited for our future.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
Well, I don’t really think… I reach for my morning pages journal and write down my vivid dreams. From there, I do a whole page of lucid writing of whatever comes to me or through me.
This way, I’m able to see where my mind is and guide it consciously through the first moments of being aware of where my energy is, where my thoughts are and how to self-coach myself through the good and bad.
9. Best compliment you’ve ever received?
“You’re 25 and and got funded to build a beta city? No way that’s true.”
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
I’ve let go of the part of me that had been craving social connection and feeling depleted. Instead of pouting around, I put myself out there (safely) and am now growing a community here in Austin that fills my cup every single week.
11. You want the future of Texas to look like...
Less diesel and more eco ;)
12. What’s one thing you learned about yourself recently?
I only noticed this while I was sitting at a traffic light yesterday… my mind constantly wanders thinking of innovations, re-creations and visions of the future of humanity and our planet.
13. Something new you’re trying?
If I don’t complete my goals and tasks of the month, my best friends have my Netflix and Prime account password where they’re allowed to lock me out until it gets done.
14. Favorite coffee roast?
Recently our Sidama, Ethiopia hits so good in the soul early in the AM.
I love to french press this one, add around ¼ of oat milk (Planet Oat because I don’t support Oatly’s connection to deforestation in the Amazon). I don’t even froth it. I stir it with a spoon—and voila. It’s my own version of a perfect cup of coffee early in the morning.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
Photo courtesy of Conscious Culture.
15. Currently listening to..
Anjunadeep 12 and KIDS album by Noga Erez (a Tiktok find that is GOLD)
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
There’s this beautiful thing called “flow states” from Steven Kotler. I have triggers around my flow state creativity and rules. I don’t wake up every morning full of desire to create sometimes or even have the desire to output client work or my own work for my company.
My happy triggers are five minutes of momentum into the project or task (undivided attention even if I don’t want to do it), and I get into it with the understanding that I don’t have to complete the creative process. I just have to get it started.
Anjunadeep Youtube Set is always playing. I’ve got an essential oil diffuser to awaken or relax me, and I set a timer to break for the next project or task.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
The biggest projects take the longest to be fully created.
18. What does a day-in-the-life of Kirti consist of?
Morning routines, booked out daily Google calendar, 1.5 hr gym sessions, nature time when I have the time, and work sessions into the late PM hours. I always reward myself with one episode of a show to unwind. I’m currently watching The Expanse (Holy bananas is it good!).
19. Proudest career milestone?
My biggest failures. Without them, I wouldn’t be pushing to my biggest dreams.
20. What are you most excited about in life right now?
The ability to finally be able to make friends in Austin, create community and share my smile with strangers in passing
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
The true essence of ethically sourced coffee, where someone can connect to the culture of where the coffee is coming from and actually appreciate it for its true form.
CONSCIOUS CULTURE is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Kirti’s favorites on the lineup are:
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
21 Questions With Erika Aldrich Murga and Temazcal Life
Read our recent interview with Erika Murga and Temazcal Life.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we recently launched 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Erika Aldrich Murga, founder of Temazcal Life, chats about walking her new pup, bathing rituals and treasuring solitude.
Photo courtesy of Temazcal Life.
ABOUT ERIKA MURGA AND TEMAZCAL LIFE
Temazcal Life is inspired by Pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican rituals meant to purify the body and the mind. We believe simple self-care rituals have the power to renew our entire self.
Temazcal Life was founded in 2016 by Erika Aldrich Murga with the purpose of helping people slow down, reconnect with themselves and prioritize their wellbeing, through cherished self-care rituals and goods, while making self-care accessible to disadvantaged communities.
HERE ARE ERIKA’S 21 ANSWERS:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
Progress not perfection
2. Temazcal Life in 3 emojiS?
🧘🏻♀️ 🛁 💆🏽♀️
3. Why did you start Temazcal Life?
To share with others the experience of feeling cared for and caring holistically about wellbeing–addressing mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and social wellness
4. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
Bathe in as many baths as there are cultures with bathing rituals
5. Drink of choice?
Agua de Tamarindo
6. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
More collaborative projects
7. No. 1 Muse?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Photo courtesy of Temazcal Life.
Photo courtesy of Temazcal Life.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
Coffee. I think I need to smell it and taste it more than my brain needs it to run.
9. Best compliment you’ve ever received?
A customer, who found the soap through a magazine gift guide, let me know that their sensitive and eczema-prone skin had not been irritated by Temazcal Life soap.
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
Financial security in exchange for autonomy and creative freedom
11. You want the future of Texas to look like...
Diverse, inclusive and artistic AF. I want to see people from all regions feeling welcomed and exhilarated about experiencing Texas. I’d like for people to have more ways to experience art in galleries, museums, public places or theater.
12. What’s one thing you learned about yourself recently?
I like things being packed neatly more than I like things being clean.
13. Favorite soap bar/scent?
Manjar and the lemongrass aroma is something that really energizes my morning and puts me in such a good mood.
14. Currently listening to…
Photo courtesy of Temazcal Life.
Photo courtesy of Temazcal Life.
15. Currently reading…
Clean by James Hambli
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
I research A LOT. I immerse myself in the material I'm working with, such as botanicals, oil extraction, infusions, chemistry, perfumery, native American and Mesoamerican rituals and ancestral practices. I just read a lot.
Then, I design experiments, and this involves having many conversations with my mom (she is my chemistry consultant). We have a lot of fun bouncing ideas and she gets a kick out of educating me on chemistry.
I also write a lot. Documenting my experiments and tracking data is a way to manage my product development cycles, measure my progress and improve my product often.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
Being ruthless about respecting my R&R time. The more rested I am, the better I can be at showing up for whom and what I care about.
18. Favorite daily routine?
Walking our new pup and stretching at the end of the day
19. Proudest career milestone?
Finding the vocation to help others no matter what skill I apply to my day-to-day activities
20. Something you treasure?
Solitude. The time I spend with myself reflecting and enjoying silence replenishes me.
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
Deserving of the time invested on themselves without feeling guilty or selfish. Dignified and worthy of better—a balanced life, good opportunities, positive relationships, freedom to reclaim their time.
TEMAZCAL LIFE is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Erika’s favorites on the lineup are:
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
21 Questions With Elizabeth Ryan and The Medicinal Melange
Read our recent interview with Elizabeth Ryan and The Medicinal Melange.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we recently launched 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Elizabeth Ryan, founder of The Medicinal Melange, chats about her current reads, favorite tea flavors and having a grounding connection to the earth.
Photo courtesy of The Medicinal Melange.
ABOUT ELIZABETH RYAN AND THE MEDICINAL MELANGE
Elizabeth Ryan (She/Her) is the sole proprietor of The Medicinal Melange, a holistic vegan apothecary in South Austin. Elizabeth has been working with plants her whole life, but felt called to herbalism and aromatherapy when her daughter was diagnosed with PANDAS and total healing wasn’t happening with prescription medicines. The Medicinal Melange is focused on introducing herbal healing to the community and cutting out harmful byproducts often associated with western medicine. Elizabeth is a prideful South Austinite, skater, wife, the mother of an unschooler, co-runs CIB Austin, and works closely with local mutual aid organizations while finding creative ways to give back to the community.
HERE ARE ELIZABETH’S 21 ANSWERS:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
“As we work to heal the Earth, the Earth will heal us.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer
2. Describe THE MEDICINAL MELANGE in three WORDS.
Accessible. Sustainable. Healing.
3. Why did you start THE MEDICINAL MELANGE?
To create valuable, accessible medicine for all
4. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
To form relationships with herbalists across the world and learn about their herbal traditions
5. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
To cut out the waste and plastics
6. No. 1 muse?
60’s Girl Garage groups
7. You want the future of Texas to look like...
A large community garden for all
Photo courtesy of The Medicinal Melange.
Photo courtesy of The Medicinal Melange.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
I need to brush my teeth ASAP.
9. You can never leave your house without…?
Tranquillium, my anti-anxiety tincture. “Fight or Flight” mode sneaks up on ya.
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
Saying yes when it takes up time I can't spare
11. Favorite small businesses in Austin?
Dempsey’s Official (BEST. SAUCE. EVER.)
12. Current favorite tea flavor?
Holy Basil and Lemon Balm
13. Hardest lesson learned?
I have to ask for help from time to time.
14. Something new you’re trying?
Qigong (life changing!)
Photo courtesy of The Medicinal Melange.
Photo courtesy of The Medicinal Melange.
15. Currently reading…
Re-reading the Hellbore zines
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
Methodical research with a splash of Magik
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
“Everything happens for a reason.” - My mom whenever it doesn't work out in my favor
18. What does a day-in-the-life FOR ELIZABETH consist of?
Sleeping in, learning through experiences, working until 2am
19. Proudest career milestone?
Selling out at my first market
20. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
A grounding connection to the Earth
21. What’s next for The Medicinal Melange and yourself?
Mutual aid, in person shopping, and buying more land to grow and share
The Medicinal Melange is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Elizabeth’s favorites on the lineup are:
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
21 Questions With Jasmine Cormier and Soy Society Wellness
Read our recent interview with Jasmine Cormier and Soy Society Wellness.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we recently launched 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Jasmine Cormier, founder of Soy Society Wellness, chats about her No. 1 muse, favorite candle scent and proudest career milestone.
Photo courtesy of Soy Society Wellness.
ABOUT JASMINE CORMIER AND SOY SOCIETY WELLNESS
Pleasure to meet you! I'm Jasmine, the owner of Soy Society Wellness.
I am an avid health enthusiast. I am not afraid of trying the unusual. I went from managing apartment complexes to working full-time in the fitness health industry. Creating Soy Society Wellness came from piecing all of me together versus trying to keep all my interests and values separated.
In 2015, I was struggling to manage my anxiety and depression. With no treatment, I began to have anxiety attacks at home and at the workplace. Anti-Depressants were more of a way to get me started on better managing my mental health and not an end-all-be-all means of fixing the issue. In my soul search, I became a certified RYT- 200 Vinyasa Yoga and Yoga Sculpt teacher. The mind-body connection strengthened who I was from the inside out.
Shortly after, I began my hand-poured candle collection to allow me peace through working with my hands. Creating aromatherapy candles grew my knowledge of essential oils, not only in my yoga practice but also their benefits in everyday home-life. Slowing down to hand make each candle keeps me grounded in my work and journey of mindfulness and wellness.
My vision for Soy Society Wellness is to offer you resources for a content and grounded life. With our candles we believe in room-filling fragrance, and candles that do good to your mind, body, and soul. Our candles have intentions which can inspire hope and support you on your journey. As we expand on our candle collections, we also offer Sip & Wick candle-making classes and a YouTube channel focused on helping entrepreneurs.
Here are JASMINE’S 21 answers:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
All things are working for my good.
2. Describe SOY SOCIETY WELLNESS in three emojis.
🕯👌✨
3. Why did you start Soy Society Wellness?
As a way to help people on their journey through intentions with candles
4. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
Zip line through the rainforest (I did get to zip line a jungle in Costa Rica 😆)
5. The thing you most wish for the world is…
That we could be happier with less and to care for the environment
6. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
I’d like to see them keep pushing and trailblazing and supporting one another.
7. No. 1 muse?
Rihanna—she’s such a boss and totally 💯 percent herself.
Photo courtesy of Soy Society Wellness.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
I need coffee first and then I do the work.
9. You can never leave your house without…?
My clear lip gloss and eyelashes
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
The idea that I need to do more or be more; I have everything I need.
11. Favorite small businesses in Austin?
Bruja, Dosí Blends and A Dose of Resin
12. Hardest lesson learned?
There will always be something on my to-do list, and that’s okay.
13. Something new you’re trying?
To be fully present in the moment and get to know people deeply so we both feel seen
14. Favorite candle scent?
It will always be WELLBEING, but I do love CONFIDENCE.
Photo courtesy of Soy Society Wellness.
Photo courtesy of Soy Society Wellness.
15. Currently listening to..
Anderson.Pak. Love 💕 his Malibu album.
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
My creative process is intuition-based. My production process is system-driven.
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
The best advice is my sister always saying “Go for it!” when I tell her my ideas.
18. What does a day-in-the-life FOR JASMINE consist of?
My day consists of working as a dance teacher, working on Soy Society and finding time to just be Jasmine.
19. Proudest career milestone?
That my candles are in WholeFoods
20. Something you treasure?
I treasure my family, my dog Evie and my gemstone rings 💍.
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
I want them to feel encouraged and supported, but also hype because the candle smells so darn good!
SOY SOCIETY WELLNESS is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Jasmine’s favorites on the lineup are:
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
21 Questions With Redeemer Small Batch CBD
Read our recent interview with Bailey Weickum and Jahna Martell, founders of Redeemer Small Batch CBD.
As part of our ongoing craftHER Market, we’re launching our first set of 21 Questions—a series of short and fun questions designed to spotlight the stories, missions and personalities of our featured vendors.
In conversation with bbatx Communication Design Intern Eunice Bao, Bailey Weickum and Jahna Martell, founders of Redeemer Small Batch, chat about their childhood career choice, day-to-day mantra and their provisioner’s production processes.
Photo courtesy of Redeemer Small Batch
ABOUT BAILEY WEICKUM, JAHNA MARTELL AND REDEEMER SMALL BATCH
Redeemer is a women-owned, small batch CBD provisioner (fronted by Bailey Weickum and Jahna Martell) based deep in the heart of Austin, Texas. Our full-spectrum CBD and CBG comes from one farm and one farm only—our family’s—using a patented, ZERO-chemical extraction process that holds more of the plant’s power. Take Care and take often.
Here are Bailey and Jahna’s 21 answers:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
Take care
2. Describe Redeemer Small Batch in three emojis.
💚🤠👨🎤
3. Drink of choice?
Dosed Desert Bird (which will be featured in our pop-up shop this Sunday)
4. Why did you start Redeemer?
To spread the good herb
5. Craziest thing on your bucket list?
Shark diving. Save the Sharks!
6. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
Collaborative consciousness
7. No. 1 muse?
#FreeBritney
Photo courtesy of Redeemer Small Batch.
Photo courtesy of Redeemer Small Batch.
8. First thing you think about in the morning?
CBD Coffee
9. You can never leave your house without…?
#MaskUp
10. What have you let go of this year that’s made a positive change in your life?
The familiar
11. Favorite small businesses in Austin?
Nixta Taqueria
12. Hardest lesson learned?
Saying no is self-care.
13. Something new you’re trying?
New wellness ritual with Temazcal soap
14. What was your childhood career choice?
Airport security guard (sweet belts)
Photo courtesy of Redeemer Small Batch.
Photo courtesy of Redeemer Small Batch.
15. Currently listening to..
Supplier by Kari Faux on REPEAT
16. How would you describe your creative and production process?
Pure chaos
17. Best advice you’ve been given?
We’re all here to help each other. - Mom
18. What does a day-in-the-life of Redeemer consist of?
Mostly laughing at our dogs
19. Proudest career milestone?
Making it to Redeemer’s first birthday in quarantine
20. Something you treasure?
The West Texas desert
21. What do you want people to feel when they buy/use your products?
Better
REDEEMER is part of craftHER Market—our creative community marketplace nurturing homegrown artists, small business owners and designers in Texas.
Want to know more about our vendors? Our digital catalogue, crafthermarket.com, is open through April 30. You can browse 120+ vendors there online 24/7.
Some of Bailey’s favorites on the lineup are:
Want to stay involved with bbatx?
Keep up with what we’re up to at bbatx—from virtual events to membership—here.
What Kept You Grounded In 2020?
Today, we’d like to introduce you to eight of this year’s team members—and the mindsets that held them down throughout this pandemic.
We survived this year, thanks to our team. And, because most of our events were in little Zoom rooms this year, you may not know who they are.
Today, we’d like to introduce you to eight of this year’s team members—and the mindsets that held them down.
So, what kept you grounded in 2020?
WHO: A’NYSHA AILEEN
bbatx committee member
“Digital drawing has definitely become the primary creative outlet to keep me grounded and bring me joy. I started with daily completed drawings, but I noticed I wasn’t having as much fun. Eventually, I moved to doing whatever felt best for the day. Outside of my drawing practice, I find joy in taking care of my office palm tree. Checking in on her and making sure she has all she needs is a reminder to do the same for myself.”
WHO: AMANDA VAUGHN
bbatx committee member
“2020 has brought about much change, and in a sense I feel it was needed for my personal evolution and growth. As a highly extroverted, self-proclaimed Renaissance woman, I generally tend to fill my space fully with a “the-more-the-merrier” approach. These times existing during a pandemic have signaled a shift in both daily ritual and creative release. I have pivoted my venue-based DJ practice to an at-home mixtape recording studio, play daily backgammon games with my partner, utilize free time for hikes in the hill country, and have opened myself up to embark on new styles of painting. My film camera has provided space for leaving my phone at home sometimes. Overall, this year has slowed down enough to allow me to listen more deeply, so that when it’s time to speak, I actually have something to say.”
WHO: LIZ WHITINGTON
bbatx committee member
“My children have kept me grounded and have made me see beauty in the chaos. I have used this time to lean into the times and experimented with everything and anything to figure out what works for me and my wolfpack (what I call my family.) I stripped everything down to the basics and layered back the things that give me happiness. I have figured out that I am my best when I am a balance of routines with a touch of a chaos to keep me on my toes. The best routine for me is hot tea and face mask before bed while reading or journaling. It's my quiet time and sometimes the only quiet time in my day, as my mornings are full of music to get the family dancing and grooving for the day.”
WHO: DIVINA CENICEROS-DOMINGUEZ
bbatx communications design intern
“Soon after quarantine began, I started planning a blog series (@calienteboss) on Latinidad that I released on September 15—the start of Latinx Heritage Month. I thought that doing it all would help me stay grounded and alert amidst the chaos, but I was wrong. I learned *the hard way* that taking breaks, being patient with myself, and just surviving is what's most important for me right now. I don't have to do everything all at once, especially when it comes at the cost of my joy. So now, I'm doing a lot more Netflix-watching, investing in pretentiously-good coffee, and (despite the chaos) trying my best to live my best, hot girl summer life.”
WHO: SARAH COLBY
bbatx committee member
“I planned to leave my career in tech at some point in 2020 but was scared and stalling. I'd previously left a career in arts nonprofit management to join tech, so I felt quite lost. When the pandemic hit, I was forced to leave my job, slow down, confront, and heal from burnout as I sought new passions that aligned with my creative values. I enrolled in film production and acting classes, explored photography, watercolor and drawing, needle-felting, cross-stitching, hand-balancing, gardening, tarot, candle-making, you name it. I wish I had answers to conclude this spiel, but I am still exploring. :)“
WHO: DIAMOND HAWKINS
bbatx committee member
“During this WILD time, I've taken my energy to build a company focused on inclusive beauty, Pothos Beauty! It really brings me joy! When I am not building the company, I spend time painting, reading, learning and connecting with friends digitally. I've also have taken my cooking skills to the next level (P.S: I think I am restaurant-worthy!) Playlist curation has also been such a vibe for me!!”
WHO: HALI MARTIN
bbatx committee member
“At the beginning of the quarantine, my partner and I started walking all the neighboring streets from our home. Then we started driving to new neighborhoods and walking two or three miles. These walks helped give us time outside of our home, now the 'everything place'. We continued this when we got a dog in September, now getting to know the neighborhood dogs and their families. We also started reading Crazy Rich Asians out loud in the evenings. It helped make reading, a solitary activity, into one that both has us laughing until we are crying and rushing through dinner to read the next chapter together.“
WHO: JEN RODRIGUEZ (aka Chef JRodi)
bbatx committee member
“My faith keeps me going, ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,’ which feeds my current mantra, 'trust the gift.' I've chosen to disconnect from the chaos, it does not feed me but distracts me from accomplishing my goals and passions. When not in the kitchen, I'm creating new menus and recipes, writing novels (hope to finish one—one day), reorganizing a room or taking Sunday drives to see the changing seasons. Routines aren't my strongest suit (haha), my mind goes in too many directions at once to stay on track, but that's what makes me unique—that I can create a menu in one breath, then decide to redesign a room or read old novel excerpts to 'hey, should I build a garden?' moments. Each never-ending road expands my creative world and opens the door to new possibilities to keep growing, blossoming my soul.“
See you in 2021.
You can learn more about how to get involved with bbatx next year here.
An Austin Gift Guide: 50+ Creative Small Businesses To Support This Holiday
This year’s annual bbatx gift guide of things from 50+ of the Austin-based creatives and small business owners we worked with in 2020.
Featuring everything from books and scarves to tattoos and arepas (we got you!), this year’s annual bbatx gift guide includes a selection of things from over 50 of the Austin-based creatives and small business owners we worked with in 2020.
Enjoy—and happy holidays.
here are our 50+ holiday gift picks—homegrown right here in Texas:
1. Custom, hand-made rugs from Odd Rugs
2. Austin local Rosé delivered right to your door courtesy of Dandy Rosé
3. Gift cards for super kawaii sweets by OMG Squee
4. Alok Vaid-Menon’s latest book, Beyond the Gender Binary, from The Little Gay Shop
5. Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman from local feminist bookstore, BookWoman
6. Cozy “Everybody Gay” sweatshirt from Thee Gay Agenda
7. Mexican Mint Marigold plant dye kit from the all-woman team at Miranda Bennett Studio
8. Screen-printed crewneck sweatshirt from Damn, Glam!
9. One-of-a-kind orange tassel sequined earrings from Las Ofrendas
10. Custom digital prints from bbatx resident artist, Aimée M. Everett
11. Our hand-screen-printed “Be Kind to the Parts of You That Are Still Learning” canvas tote made in collaboration with Suerte
12. Hypnotic water-marbled bandana made by local artist, Mercedez Rex
13. A studio photoshoot with photographer Riley Blanks of Woke Beauty
14. Number 1 Hits! screen-printed soft crop top from our fav electr0nic pop superstar, p1nkstar
15. Sterling silver oyster studs made by Year 901
16. Natural dyed silk sleep eye mask made by hand by See Phillips
17. Detoxifying alkaline-rich clay mud masks from OHM ESSENTIALS
18. Plant-based healing skin glow elixir by Flowers & Moondust
19. Cute little handmade ceramic face planter with drainage holes by Howdy Ceramics
20. Sumn Light fruity and refreshing herbal tea blend by Basic Ass Tea
21. Our locally screen-printed unisex texan feminist t-shirt sold through our friends at Radical Girl Gang
22. ATX Interfaces’ "Do You Want A Revolution? ATX Artists on the Carceral State" zine (available in physical and digital form)
23. Cantonese Cowgirl Waiting For her Lover Under Plumeria Tree print handmade by Tsz Kam
24. A coloring book featuring the work of 50 Austin-based artists compiled by The Austin Chronicle
25. The Coy Collection’s sold-out smiley tumbler featuring our classic bbatx squiggle
26. The holiday shop from Psychic Outlaw featuring stockings, totes, bandanas, recycled appliqué sweatshirts, stickers and gift cards
27. Superfood Latte Gift Set featuring a trio of super matcha, golden turmeric and sexy cacao from Curcuma (it’s 20% off!)
28. *Very* limited edition silky scarves designed by local artist, Xavier Schipani, sold by The Mall
29. A bundle of three large barrettes (classic tortoise, cotton candy pastel blue and pink, and pearly pink) made by Chauncey and Coco
30. Ceramic speckled yin yang planter (or tumbler!) sold by Tropic of Capricorn Plants
31. An e-gift card to one of our favorite East Austin coffee shops (now run by Alma Gabriela Lopez), Revival Coffee
32. A sampler pack of all six cold-pressed, non-pasteurized elixirs by Jeany’s Ginger Elixir
33. Ultra-soft 70s black stallion vintage tee hand-selected by Oddball Vintage
34. Elmore Mountain Therapeutics whole plant, full spectrum CBD tincture made with organic hemp seed oil sold by Mary Jae Smoke Shop
35. Monoprints created by bbatx board president and multimedia artist, Xochi Solis
36. Daydreamer super gentle cream face cleanser with chamomile, lavender, and grapefruit extract from Troupe Beauty
37. At-home arepa meal prep survival kits from Arepa Dealers ATX (vegetarian & vegan options available)
38. A silky Botnia gel cleanser, gentle yet balancing enough for all skin types from EleMINT Skin
39. A gift card for a tattoo from No Good Tattoo resident artist, @dopetoast (proceeds will go directly to artist)
40. A virtual class with the workout queen of quarantine, Erica Nix
41. An all-natural, nourishing golden oil for hair growth, strength, moisture and shine from Nubian Oasis
42. Vintage Machine, the newest EP from Austin-based guitarist and singer-songwriter, Jackie Venson
43. An e-gift card to Nixta Taqueria, an East Austin taqueria that fuses Mexican-American cuisine with West Coast vibes and French technique
44. Unisex Space Case Sweatshirt with a multicolored planetary illustration sold by REALM
45. Join our low-pressure learning community by signing up for the first-ever bbatx membership.
46. Branch art print designed by Austin-based independent muralist and bbatx 2020 resident artist, Catie Lewis
47. Personalized custom mixes for your holiday Zoom party curated by DJ Boyfriend
48. A bbatx gift card for online or in-person redemption for any of our merch and events
49. Begin your personal tarot journey with Elise of La Mystica.
50. Personal, the newest EP from Texas R&B singer, Nayome
51. Vintage porcelain checkered pillow vases made by Tanya Zal.
52. Handwoven, naturally dyed vessel tapestry by Zanny Adornments.
LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED?
Check out everything we’re doing virtually for women and nonbinary creatives and leaders (plus the people who support them) here.
The 2020 Impact Report: A Year Of Showing Up
Thanks to you, thanks to this community and thanks to our resilient as hell team, we are still here. In 2020, we supported $40,000+ in commissions and grants.
In 2020, we were collectively tasked with the work of reimagining our worlds.
And you showed up. You connected to us, to each other and to the communities we serve. And that energy made what we do possible. We hope you have stayed safe, well and as supported as you can. Continue reading for a recap of our impact (aka your impact) this year.
Here are three things you made possible for bbatx this year:
Our organization had some major growth moments in 2020, thanks to you, too:
We stepped up our approach to advocacy and community-care. Our team distributed year-long anti-racism resources, partnered with Art+Action to get the word out about the 2020 Census and teamed up with the City of Austin to distribute $3.5 million in COVID-19 grants with the Creative Worker Relief Grant.
We launched The Creative Future of Texas micro-fund with our friends at Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Our team officially expanded to four staff members, and our new Board President, Xochi Solis, stepped into her role. We also worked to restructure our budgets and ensure that all staff members received 100% free health care through bbatx in 2020.
We partnered with therapist and social worker Sandra Olarte-Hayes to connect 24 racial justice community leaders with pro bono therapy support in August and September 2020.
We worked with 15 Texas women and nonbinary artists in our digital residency to produce work online and off—including a dynamic installation with Aimée M. Everett at The Line Hotel.
We moved into our own headquarters and are working to open the location to the public in 2021.
We transformed our store to better support the community, with the introduction of new initiatives like THE CRAFTHER BOX.
We put out our first-ever data-informed study on supportive leadership environments, What We Need To Do Our Best Work. You can grab a copy here.
You can also read our full impact report, quarter over quarter, here.
As you can see — your support, attention, time and energy make a huge difference.
We would like to thank our 2020 staff, board and committee members for their support. We are also grateful to our partners and friends—particularly Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Giant Noise, the Texas MSTC and MBA Programs, the Stand With Austin Fund and Bumble—for their continued collaboration.
Together, we are increasing the number of opportunities for women and nonbinary creatives, entrepreneurs and leaders in Texas to find support, share their work and grow.
Do you want to get involved in 2021?
Become a member or donate to our end-of-year fundraiser. You can also explore all of the other ways to contribute here.
On Finding Your Creative Voice: Andie Flores
Read our recent interview with Austin-based writer, comedian, and performance and visual artist, Andie Flores.
As part of our ongoing digital residency, we’re spotlighting our recent interview with Austin-based performance artist, writer and comedian Andie Flores.
In conversation with bbatx committee member Liz Whitington, Andie chatted with us about how she goes about navigating collaboration, the value creative residencies can be of to artists, and how she combines comedy, performance art and drag in creating her work.
ABOUT Andie Flores:
Andie Flores is a writer, performance and visual artist, clown and comedian based in Austin, Texas. Her work (often site-specific) investigates messy, extravagant, delinquent bodies loudly stumbling toward some sort of Latinx queer futurity. Her most recent explorations include live-streaming an in-character performance at various public sites of high-pedestrian traffic, subject/object glitch character experiments, and home video archival research in search of present-day artist narration. Last summer, she was an artist-in-residence for MASS Gallery’s Hotbox 2019 residency with one of her artistic partners, Cindy Popp. Early next year, she'll have her first solo show at Presa House Gallery in San Antonio. Flores’ ongoing central artistic question is one of audience, loneliness, excess, and legacy. She is a second year PhD student in the department of Mexican American Latinx Studies at the University of Texas at Austin.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you got into performance, writing and comedy? How did you get to where you are now?
I have always been performing and have always had the personality for it (AKA I’m a ham). I’ve been performing in front of people at least since the sixth grade, and then from then through almost the end of college, I did the speech and debate team, which is essentially competitive performance and speech writing. After I graduated college in 2013, I discovered a whole other world of performance that I did not know about and began to experiment with different performance styles and ideas on variety shows like The Encyclopedia Show in Arizona. Then I just did weird, dumb stuff on a handful of different comedy shows in Austin when I moved here. I’ve spent the majority of my time in Austin (about six or seven years) trying to find my voice and format, and lately that’s meant interweaving comedy, drag, protest and performance art.
Photo courtesy of Andie Flores.
Photo courtesy of Andie Flores.
What compelled you to pursue a PhD, and how have your studies impacted your work?
For me, school was initially about getting excited about living in Austin for a few more years, and I also wanted to provide myself with options for new art career paths to take. School has given me a new approach to the city and I'm trying very hard to do it alongside regular performance work, which is great and keeps me incredibly busy. My program is Mexican American Latinx Studies, so I’m getting to merge my artistic pursuits with my community and scholarship about things I love.
You mentioned that you love to collaborate. How do you go about finding collaborators, and what does that collaborative process look like?
I really love working with other people. I think that’s because I see myself as less of an artist and more of an adult who likes to play. I’m drawn to other people who like to play, too and who believe in the wild, vast potential and power of play. Collaborating with someone else makes me figure out how to work with not only my artistic anxieties and energies but also how to be productive alongside theirs. It gives me space to narrow in on what I do best in the collaboration so I can hyper-focus on my work, which is a nice challenge.
What motivates or inspires you as an artist?
Music plays an important role in my creative/inspiration process, but I’m also continuously fueled by the ongoing experimentation of my favorite artists and performers. The work of artists like Xandra Ibarra, Shaboom!, Jibz Cameron/Dynasty Handbag, Lorelei Ramirez, Victor I. Cazares, etc. all motivate me energetically.
What themes does your work explore, and are there new themes you want to focus on?
I’m always interested in out-of-context performances, questions of online legacy and identity, frantic humor meets strange glamour, little kid sensibilities and poetry.
Photo taken by Jagan Cortez.
Photo courtesy of Andie Flores.
You’ve been a resident artist before with other creative institutions. How do residencies impact your artistic work?
My first official residency was last summer at MASS Gallery with my ongoing clown collaborator, Cindy Popp. The residency provided us with a studio/gallery space, freedom, and the opportunity to showcase our work in a show at the end of it all. To have time and space to create like that in a place like Austin is usually expensive or only comes with being seen as a more established artist. I enjoy that residencies often come with loose restrictions or boxes that are fun to play with, and I like seeing how I can work within those constraints to grow my practice. The best thing a residency can do is provide space, resources and access that I would not normally have.
Meet The Filmmakers Featured in Creative Medicine
Meet the six filmmakers featured in our Creative Medicine virtual film showcase, plus learn a little about the local filmmakers to keep on your radar.
In place of this year’s BABES FEST, we recently launched our Creative Medicine Series. :) As a series of virtual and open-air events, Creative Medicine is our slow response to a rapidly changing world.
On November 6, you can tune in from anywhere for three hours of independent film from six women directors in the Texas South, curated by us.
Screening a combination of shorts and feature films, the night’s showcase will span from experimental to comedic to documentary—and this year's featured filmmakers include Chelsea Hernandez, Meghan Ross, Chinwe Okorie, Evelyn Ngugi (Evelyn From The Internets), Brittany Reeber and Emily Basma. Read on to learn more about them, their work and featured films in Creative Medicine.
MEET THE FEATURED FILMMAKERS:
WHO: Chinwe Okorie
Chinwe Okorie is a Nigerian-born writer, director, and editor in Austin, TX. At age six, she immigrated to the United States and watched her first film, Titanic. It was then that her love affair with cinema began. In college, her student-run TV station Topper TV received The Rising Star Award, and Study Breaks magazine featured Chinwe as their Next Big Thing in 2014. After college, Chinwe went on to write, direct, and edit short films including her most recent film, Lovebites, which is currently distributed by Issa Rae Presents.
Chinwe’s Featured Film: LOVEBITES—currently distributing with Issa Rae Presents—follows one disorienting day in a young Black woman’s relationship with her boyfriend. The arthouse film employs split screens and a chilling audiovisual environment to raise questions about the nature of modern dating culture. The film depicts a Black twenty-something who just can’t seem to stay on the same page as her boyfriend, or even herself. Cat (Khali Sykes) has a mission to accomplish, and the audience is left to find out what it is until the very end of the film. Ukairo Ukairo stars alongside Sykes as her boyfriend, Chidi.
Photo by Bill Sallans.
WHO: CHELSEA HERNANDEZ
Chelsea Hernandez is an 8-time Emmy winning director, producer and editor in the Lone Star region. She has worked in television since the ripe age of nine, hosting and co-producing a children's educational TV program with her mother. Recently, Chelsea completed her first feature documentary, Building the American Dream which premiered at SXSW and was financially supported by the Ford Foundation | JustFilms, Latino Public Broadcasting, Tribeca Film Institute, Firelight Media, Marcy Garriott, City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Bay Area Video Coalition, Seed & Spark, and Austin Film Society. The film had its television broadcast debut on PBS on September 15, 2020. In 2019, Chelsea was selected as a Line Hotel / Big Medium Artist in Residence and lived and worked at the Line Hotel on a student debt art exhibition and podcast. She is currently in development on a feature documentary and fiction film, along with co-producing the New Orleans South Pitch Runner-Up short film IN TOW, directed by Sharon Arteaga.
Chelsea’s Featured Film: BUILDING THE AMERICAN DREAM is a feature documentary that follows three immigrant families who are rising up to seek justice and equality in an industry rife with exploitation. Across Texas, an unstoppable construction boom drives urban sprawl and luxury high-rises. Its dirty secret: abuse of immigrant labor. Building the American Dream captures a turning point as a movement forms to fight widespread construction industry injustices. Grieving their son, a Mexican family campaigns for a life-and-death safety ordinance. A Salvadorian electrician couple owed thousands in back pay fights for their children’s future. A bereaved son battles to protect others from his family's preventable tragedy. A story of courage, resilience and community, the film reveals shocking truths about the hardworking immigrants who build the American Dream, from which they are excluded.
WHO: EVELYN NGUGI
Evelyn Ngugi aka Evelyn from the Internets is a humor writer, digital storyteller, producer, and speaker based in Austin, Texas. She joined YouTube back in 2008, and today her channel has about 13 million views and 205,000 subscribers. She makes a grab bag of content, from travel vlogs and silly beauty guru-esque tutorials to funny first generation American stories and Black pop culture commentary. In 2017, she was a YouTube Creators For Change fellow, and received a grant to produce positive content that makes our world a better place. Naturally, she chose to talk to a puppet and wear a wig. She currently co-hosts and writes Say It Loud, a PBS Digital Studios show about Black histories and cultures. You can follow her on Instagram at @evelynfromtheinternets.
Evelyn’s Featured Film: HELLO, TIM chronicles a young woman participates in a documentary to explain the cautious relationship she has with the government agent she believes is tapping her devices. Hello, Tim premiered at Buffer Festival 2019 in Toronto, Canada and won the "Excellence In Comedy" award. You can watch the trailer for Hello, Tim here.
WHO: BRITTANY REEBER
Brittany Reeber is an award-winning filmmaker and producer. Her work encompasses music videos, projection, performance and short films in both documentary, narrative and something in-between. Originally from Florida, she is endlessly inspired by the Sunshine State and the ways in which it reflects the best and worst parts of humanity and our precarious relationship to the natural world. Her films are dark, funny and occasionally incorporate a choreographed dance routine.
Brittany’s Featured Film: THE CHEAP SEATS, a film by award-winning filmmaker and producer Brittany Reeber, is currently screening virtually around the country. Funded by the Austin Film Society, Kodak and American Documentary, it explores a real life psychic community in central Florida through a narrative approach that blends fact with fiction. Donna thinks psychics are just out to get her money, but she begrudgingly agrees to take Julianne to Cassadaga, Florida, the self-proclaimed “psychic capital of the world” where her skepticism is put to the test in this docu-narrative short starring Laura Cayouette (Queen Sugar, Django Unchained, Kill Bill Vol. 2) and a real-life Cassadaga medium, Nellie Conner. You can watch the trailer for The Cheap Seats here.
WHO: MEGHAN ROSS
Meghan Ross is a writer, producer, director, comedian, and activist. She’s the host of the all-women and non-binary late night show, That Time of the Month, as well as the weekly Instagram Live series No One Asked For This. Her first short film, An Uncomfortable Woman, premiered at Hollywood International Diversity Film Festival and her latest short film, If You Ever Hurt My Daughter, I Swear to God I’ll Let Her Navigate Her Own Emotional Growth, premiered on The New Yorker, featuring voiceover by Jon Hamm. Her writing has appeared in VICE’s Broadly, Reductress, The Toast, IFC, and Slackjaw.
Meghan’s Featured Film: AN UNCOMFORTABLE WOMAN is a dark comedy short film about Dylan, a 33-year-old woman experiencing a transitional period of her life. After the sudden death of her mother followed by the end of her long-term engagement, Dylan becomes obsessed with a foreboding thought: Don’t all bad things happen in threes? Sensing another tragedy lurks around the corner, Dylan must navigate her fear of being alone, the male species, and an unwanted house party, all while armed with questionable yet endearing support from her childhood best friend. (This screening will mark An Uncomfortable Woman’s Texas premiere.)
WHO: EMILY BASMA
Emily Basma is an Austin based photographer and filmmaker who explores myth, folklore, and iconography through a feminine gaze. Emily loves creating beautiful and atmospheric filmscapes that hopefully reminds the viewer of their most pleasant dreams.
Emily’s Short Film: SEEDS is a 16mm debut short film retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone through the lens of an American Tall Tale. The focus of the story is shifted to Persephone, allowing her the autonomy to decide her own fate.
LOOKING FOR MORE? Meet some of the Filmmakers-to-Watch in OUR NETWORK. :)
WHO: ERA MING
Era Ming is an agender queer of East Asian descent who currently resides in California. They are a genre writer who is interested in marginalized/neurodivergent characters searching for the truth, and they just finished a TV pilot about bringing back the dead to do good. You can follow Era on Twitter at @waxinglight.
Era’s short film, Tincture, is a magical realist thriller and an ode to queer longing, redemption, and the emotional memory of sacred objects.
WHO: Valarie Gold
Valarie Gold is a filmmaker born and raised in Austin, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree in film where she did a variety of editing and producing roles on short narratives. Nowadays, her film work focuses on telling stories through symbolism and experimental mediums. One thing that she’s recently acknowledged is that filmmaking does not have to be for an audience. Be yourself and create art because it's an expression that is worth expressing— it doesn't have to be anything more than that. Valarie is currently a graduate student at UT Austin, getting her Masters in Media Studies and her secondary English Teacher Certification. Her goal is to focus on youth agency through media production and literacy in public education.
Valarie’s latest project, Limerence Sucks You Dry, is a short reflection on toxic relationships. She made this film as an emotional release, with the intent of healing and finding internal growth. Plus, Super 8 cameras and film are fun to work with.
WANT TO ATTEND CREATIVE MEDICINE?
You can RSVP for the virtual film showcase here. To find out more about Creative Medicine and the events within the series, head to bossbabes.org/creativemedicine.