Finding Purpose Through Creativity

An interview with John Vogel for New Ways

Recently, I sat down in conversation with

A Modern Remedy

founder

Russell Baker

, for his New Ways podcast. I talked about how I originally got involved with TW, the background and format of Weird Music, challenging the typical artist narrative, and my lessons from our climate change podcast episode, “Ambitions for the Future of Climate.” This episode serves as a companion to the upcoming TW episode on May 8 where I turn the spotlight on Russell to hear his take on what it means to sustain creativity.

In our interview airing later in this cycle, I ask Russell about financial incentivization from sustainable energy and health, the energy expenditure of new technology, and trying to meet people where they’re at when it comes to talking about issues of sustainability.

I’m a big fan of Russell’s positivity, assurance, and drive to use the methods of marketing toward a positive end that stands in the face of most commercial-driven advertising. As he puts it in one of his podcast episodes:

I want you to come away feeling empowered, not sad or pessimistic. Because for every problem, I truly believe that there is an answer, and it’s our job to help highlight those, from people and groups you may be unfamiliar with. AMR and New Ways aren’t just joining the chorus of digital noise; we’re a reprieve from doomscrolling—this is solution-focused media.

In addition to our conversation, I urge you to check out Russell’s work at A Modern Remedy and his other episodes of New Ways (including this one with TW’s Neva Talladen). —JV