Maritza Lacayo, Associate Curator at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, is a woman who shows up unapologetically in every aspect of her life. In this episode, Salomé Gómez-Upegui sits down with Maritza to explore her journey in the art world, from starting part-time at PAMM’s front desk to becoming a curator who approaches her work as a storyteller in service of the museum and its community. They discuss Maritza’s latest exhibition, Elliot & Erick Jiménez: El Monte, a captivating show inspired by the Lucumí spiritual tradition, and along the way, Maritza shares her thoughts on what it means to be unapologetic, why she doesn’t believe in imposter syndrome, and how she hopes to inspire the next generation of women in the art world.https://www.pamm.org/en/exhibition/elliot-and-erick-jimenez-el-monte/Intro and outro music by Pryces.
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47:16
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47:16
Kathryn Mikesell on Intentional Community Building
Kathryn Mikesell is the co-founder of Fountainhead Arts, a Miami-based arts organization dedicated to supporting artists and fostering meaningful connections between creators and the community. A former tech professional turned cultural leader, she has become one of the city’s most trusted and beloved advocates for the arts.In this episode, host Salomé Gómez-Upegui sits down with Kathryn to explore her journey from the world of technology to the heart of Miami’s creative scene. Kathryn shares how falling in love—with her husband, Dan—first introduced her to the art world, eventually leading them to build Fountainhead as a space to nurture and connect artists with the broader community. She reflects on lessons learned from years of supporting artists, raising a family, and cultivating community, from the residency program to her legendary art-filled home and her “Dolphins and Rainbows” swim group.https://www.fountainheadarts.org/Fountainhead Arts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fountainheadarts/Intro and outro music by Pryces.
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49:23
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49:23
On Postpartum and Easing Back In
After a 10–month pause, host Salomé Gómez-Upegui returns to Reflections with a deeply personal life update. In this solo episode, she opens up about navigating postpartum for the second time, the challenges of rediscovering creativity in the midst of motherhood, and the duality of immense love and overwhelming difficulty that comes with raising young children. Here, Salomé reflects on what has helped her ease back into herself: leaning into small pleasures, cultivating soft discipline, allowing space for emotions, and embracing uncertainty. This episode is both a window into her own journey and an offering to anyone moving through transition, reminding us that we are not alone in the messiness of being human.Melissa Wood Health Workouts: https://melissawoodhealth.com/Intro and outro music by Pryces.
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22:47
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22:47
Emanuel Hahn on Motivation, Self-Discipline, and Financing Creative Pursuits
Emanuel Hahn is a Los Angeles-based photographer and filmmaker whose work delves into themes of identity, culture, diasporic experiences, and the search for belonging. In this episode, Salomé sits down with Emanuel to explore the thriving arts career he's built from the ground up, driven by relentless self-motivation and discipline. They also discuss the often-challenging relationship between creativity and financial stability, reflecting on how Emanuel has navigated this balance to achieve significant milestones. From self-publishing his first book, Koreatown Dreaming, which was later acquired by a major publisher, to recently completing his first short film, Emanuel shares the many strategies that have guided his journey.
To learn more about Emanuel's work, visit: https://www.emanuelhahn.com/
Intro and outro music by Pryces.
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1:03:52
Valentina Hernandez Botero on Entrepreneurship as a Creative Practice
In this episode, Salomé interviews Valentina Hernandez Botero the founder of Sana, a Miami-based skin studio redefining the skincare experience through goal driven facials, real guidance, and clean skincare. Among many subjects, Valentina and Salomé discuss the push and pull of looking for stability vs. taking creative risks, the path that led her to starting Sana, the experience of opening their doors only three weeks before the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, and how she views entrepreneurship as a creative practice.
Use the code "Reflections" to get $25 off your first sana facial.
Book mentioned by Valentina towards the end of the episode: The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
Intro and outro music by Pryces.
This is a podcast about purpose-driven creativity. A space to pause and reflect on some of the most pressing issues of our time through meaningful conversations with writers, artists, entrepreneurs, activists, and all sorts of trailblazing thinkers who are using their creative gifts in service of humanity and our planet.
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