New Episode: When Creativity Meets Sustainability + Summer Updates
Hey Creative Bestie!
Things are still beautifully chaotic on our end this summer, which is why you might be hearing from us a little more sporadically than usual 🙃! We're deep in production mode, chasing stories, and building some exciting new partnerships that we can't wait to share with you. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this wonderfully busy season!
NEW EPISODE: "Can Sustainable Creativity Create Circular Systems?”
Our latest episode of Could Be Pretty Cool News features Tamara Stands and Looks Back-Spotted Tail, founder of Lakota Women Business, LLC, and Jonelle Dawkins, Executive Director of Scraplanta. Together, they explore how sustainable creativity creates circular systems that honor both ancestral knowledge and innovative solutions.
Some key highlights from our conversations:
Tamara's journey from hearing of an elder's death from unaffordable heating costs to creating solar-powered solutions for the Sicangu Lakota community
How Lakota creation stories guide renewable energy projects using solar power (the gift of the sun) and wind energy as forces for preservation and wíčhozani (good health and longevity)
Jonelle's evolution from college jewelry-maker to running creative reuse centers that remove barriers for emerging artists
Building business infrastructure as Indigenous and Black creative entrepreneurs (HUBZone certification, Indian Arts and Crafts Act registration, nonprofit governance)
Creating circular economies where discarded art supplies become stepping stones for financial independence
Both guests demonstrate that the most powerful sustainable solutions emerge when we honor what already exists: ancestral wisdom about living in harmony with the earth and the simple human impulse to transform what others might discard into something beautiful and useful.
Listen Here
See You at PRX Podcast Creator Summit!
I'm thrilled to be featured on a panel at this year's PRX Atlanta Podcast Creator Summit on August 1st at 1:30pm. While Could Be Pretty Cool is definitely a small but mighty team effort, the panel I'll be on focuses largely on solopreneurship. Come learn about how to run an independent podcast production company, navigate the challenges of small-scale media, and build sustainable creative businesses. If you're in the podcasting space or curious about the behind-the-scenes of independent media, I'd love to see you there!
Partnership Announcement: The 5th Annual Wavy Awards
We're excited to announce our partnership with The Wavy Awards! The Wavys started in 2021 after being inspired to take action when the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study unveiled the glaring absence of women in the music industry. Founded in 2021, The Wavys celebrates historically excluded and marginalized talent including women, non-binary individuals, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and artists with disabilities.
We'll be presenting a money clinic workshop before the award show and celebration for a limited number of participants. This workshop will focus on financial empowerment for creative professionals something we're passionate about after hearing so many stories about the economic challenges facing independent artists and creators. Sign up now and more info will be coming soon!
As always, thank you for being part of our creative community. Your support means everything as we continue to amplify voices and stories that need to be heard.
Best of luck in all your endeavors!
Kacie Luaders | Founding Producer, Could Be Pretty Cool