The Artist Within Podcast
The Artist Within Podcast is a Project Human Inc. production hosted by founder Adela Hittell. The show explores creativity, storytelling, mental and emotional wellness, advocacy, faith, resilience, and the human experience of becoming.
Launched in July 2024, T.A.W. began as a space to celebrate artists and creators using their stories, talents, and lived experiences to inspire others. Now in Season 2, the podcast expands into deeper conversations about self-care, community, identity, trauma-informed growth, creative healing, and peer-to-peer advocacy.
Through solo reflections, guest interviews, Monthly Community Conversations, and PHInc. updates, The Artist Within invites listeners to define their own narrative, reconnect with themselves, and take practical steps toward healing, growth, and purpose.
The Artist Within Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Project Human Inc. is a peer-to-peer advocacy organization. We are not medical professionals, and this podcast should not be considered medical advice. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911 for immediate assistance.
Episodes
44 episodes
Tonya Jackson on Vitiligo, Faith, and Moving Beyond the Mask
For years, Tonya Jackson felt as though two versions of her existed: the confident leader who continued showing up—and the woman underneath who felt ugly, avoided mirrors, and wanted to disappear.After a traumatic birth experience and an...
The Empathic Mirror: Turning Sensitivity into Story and Resilience with Claire Louise Huder
A dream can break, a plan can evaporate, and you still have to wake up and decide who you are. That is the heartbeat of this conversation with returning guest Claire Louise Huder, an actor, writer, director, producer, and founder of Cinder Pict...
Meg Pettus: Life Is Too Dang Short To Match Your Socks
Fashion can be a mirror, a mask, or a lifeline. We’re taking the lifeline route, and we’re inviting you into the story behind Runway to Resilience, our September 19 fashion and art fundraiser for Project Human in Jacksonville. The whole point i...
Kali Farnsworth: If It’s Going to Hurt Anyway, Let It Hurt Doing Something I Love
Pain can steal more than movement. It can steal your plan, your confidence, and the version of you that felt unstoppable. Today we sit down with Kali Farnsworth, a 16-year-old athlete and early college student, to talk about what happens when c...
You Can Choose How You Wear Your Identities
This month's Community Conversation explores the identities we carry throughout life—the parent, caregiver, leader, survivor, peacemaker, employee, friend, and countless others.Together, we reflect on how these "hats" shape our thoughts,...
Men’s Health Is More Than a Checklist: Body, Mind, Stress & Peace
Men’s health isn’t just a number on a scale or a clean lab report, and we wanted a conversation that treats it like the full-body, full-life reality it is. We sit down with our community and hear honest stories of turning points that force clar...
Women Protect Their Health When They Stop Pushing Through
Your body isn’t being dramatic, it’s sending data. We sit down for a candid monthly community conversation on women’s health, and we start where most of us actually live: doing everything for everyone else, running on low sleep, and telling our...
March MCC | Forgiveness, Boundaries, and Letting Go
Forgiveness can sound like a rule you’re forced to follow, but we treat it like something far more honest: a decision you make so your body and mind can stop carrying what hurts. Our monthly community conversation gets into the real questions p...
My Plants Are Alive So I Am Too
On this deeply personal episode, I share the truth of what it means to survive, rebuild, and choose renewal. April 16 marks 33 years since the day my life changed forever, and for the first time, I can speak about it from a place of acceptance,...
FEB MCC | What If Self-Care Is Your Real Job
You can love people deeply and still be running on empty, and that “empty” shows up as stress, anxiety, resentment, brain fog, and burnout that feels normal because it’s been your baseline for years. We sit down for a monthly community conversa...
The Moment You Claim Your Past, Your Future Changes
Some stories begin at the bottom of a valley and keep climbing, one deliberate step at a time. This conversation is one of them: a raw, faith-forward journey through complex PTSD, dissociative amnesia, a medical maze that offered more pills tha...
Compassion, In Practice
Some conversations change how we move through the world. This one starts with a simple idea—showing up—and expands into a working model of compassion you can practice today: presence over fixing, empathy with boundaries, and community care that...
Becoming Your Own Healthcare Advocate: Lessons from the System
After a long hiatus following a car accident, I return to share how daily gratitude practice and self-advocacy helped me navigate serious healthcare challenges while strengthening my faith and purpose.• Starting each day with a "thank y...
From Mental Health Day to Magazine Cover: An Unexpected Creative Journey
This episode isn't just about fashion photography or magazine features—it's a testament to how creativity can transform our darkest moments into something beautiful, how authentic self-expression leads to unexpected opportunities, and why the a...
Your Presence is Enough: Building Community Around Mental Health
What happens when mental health support gets stripped to its most essential element—human connection? In this groundbreaking first episode of Project Human's Monthly Community Conversations, founder Adela Hittel takes us on a journey that chall...
Capturing the Narrative: Art, Mental Health, and Storytelling with William Cook
Adela welcomes award-winning filmmaker William Cook to discuss their creative partnership and how art heals trauma. Cook shares his journey from Florida to LA, the making of his Western short film "Blood Money," and how a desert sandstorm becam...
The Fabric of Identity: Fashion, Art & Self-Expression
Adela explores the power of creative expression through fashion, documentary filmmaking, and podcasting as tools for healing and self-discovery. She shares her journey of resilience, from navigating trauma to embracing multiple artistic mediums...
The Secret to Success: Understanding Your $24 Day
You are capable of creating change in your life by taking control of your time. This discussion emphasizes the importance of self-accountability, effective time management, and prioritizing personal values. - Importance of managing...
Breaking Through Burnout: The Power of Resilience, Self-Compassion, and Mental Health Advocacy
A deep dive into the importance of self-care, resilience, and community support during tough times. We discuss personal experiences and insights surrounding mental health and how to maintain faith in oneself. • Importance of taking...
Transforming Struggles Into Stepping Stones
What if understanding your emotional triggers could transform your life? This episode takes you through a personal journey of emotional growth, focusing on the delicate balance between supporting others and maintaining one's own well-being. Wit...
Finding Balance Through Unexpected Trials
How do you handle life's unexpected roadblocks, both literal and metaphorical? Picture this: a flat tire on an empty road, with no one around to help. Such moments can either break us or become pivotal experiences of growth. Join me as I recoun...
The Intersection of Art and Mental Health with Nesli Akkol
Join us on an enlightening journey through the intersection of mental health and the arts with our special guest, Nesli Akkol, a seasoned nonprofit development professional from Istanbul who has made waves in the Los Angeles nonprofit sector. W...
Managing Holiday Stress with Faith and Love
After a few hilarious home improvement mishaps, like dropping a hammer on my toe, I've discovered that preparation isn’t just for avoiding DIY disasters but also for embracing the holiday season with joy and calm. Join me, Adela Hittel, as I sh...
The Power of Reflection
After a turbulent journey marked by personal challenges and triumphs, I've learned one undeniable truth: resilience is both a path and a destination. This episode uncovers how life’s unpredictable turns, from injuring my thumb in a home project...
Embracing Patriotism and Purpose: Reflecting on Freedom, Sacrifice, and Resilience
In this episode of The Artist Within podcast, I reflect on my journey and the deep gratitude I hold for the sacrifices that have allowed me the freedom to express and create. Growing up as an immigrant in the United States, I understan...