What does it really take to chase your dream when life keeps throwing challenges your way? In this inspiring episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Sydney May, a professional ballerina whose story of resilience, artistry, and healing will move you as much as her performances do.Sydney’s journey began with a childhood full of movement—living across the U.S. and even briefly in Japan—before finding her artistic home in Dallas. From discovering ballet at age nine, to training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Sydney’s path has been shaped by passion, mentorship, and powerful life experiences. But her story isn’t just about perfect pirouettes—it’s about facing the raw realities behind the stage lights.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Early beginnings & big dreams: How a spark at age nine ignited a lifelong love for ballet.Family, loss, and resilience: Sydney opens up about losing her father during high school—and how dance became both her outlet and her challenge.The perfectionism trap: Insights into how anxiety and imposter syndrome affect artists, especially in competitive spaces like ballet.Breakthrough moments: From being waitlisted at Juilliard to securing leading roles with professional companies.The dark side of ballet: Industry pressures, injuries, and the “right vs. wrong” paradox that shapes dancers’ identities.Healing through mentorship: Sydney shares touching moments with her young students—especially one that reminded her of her own struggles with anxiety as a child.Love, artistry & community: How finding connection—in dance, in teaching, and even in her relationship—helped her step into a more balanced, hopeful chapter.

💡 Viral Moments to Watch For:Sydney recalling the first time she got pointe shoes at just nine years old—a milestone every dancer remembers.The heartbreaking yet powerful reflection on her father’s passing and how it reshaped her perspective on permanence and control.Her candid admission of slapping herself in frustration during practice, revealing the intense perfectionism so many artists face.A touching story about a 6-year-old student asking, “Are you mad at me?”—a mirror of Sydney’s own childhood anxieties, turning into a healing full-circle moment.The incredible “miracle” story of being hired by her company post-college in the middle of the pandemic, after months of uncertainty.🌟 Why This Conversation Matters:

Sydney’s journey isn’t just for dancers—it’s for anyone navigating self-doubt, resilience, or the search for meaning in creativity. Whether you’re an artist, a teacher, or someone chasing big dreams, her story offers both hard truths and hopeful takeaways about persistence, self-belief, and community.🎧 Listen if you’ve ever wondered:How do artists balance ambition with mental health?What happens when injury threatens your career?How can teaching and mentoring younger generations heal your own past wounds?Connect with Sydney:https://www.instagram.com/sydkneemaii/Connect with Rich:Website: https://www.theartistrecovery.comLinkedin: / @richwrightunltd Facebook: / @theartrec Instagram: / @richwrightunltd Instagram: / @theartrec #ballet, #ballerina, #pointeshoes, #BookerTWashingtonHighSchool, #DallasArts, #performingarts, #professionaldancer, #balletcareer, #impostersyndrome, #perfectionism, #anxiety, #mentalhealth, #overcominginjury, #ACLtear, #dancerresilience, #griefandhealing, #fatherspassing, #creativecommunity, #resilienceindance, #Juilliardaudition, #Juilliardwaitlist, #UniversityofUtahDance, #pandemicdancestory, #COVIDballet, #professionalballetcompany, #teachingyoungdancers, #balletmentorship, #artistrecovery, #creativeresilience, #overcomingselfdoubt, #healingthroughteaching, #balletindustrypressures, #mentalhealthfordancers, #resilienceinthearts, #balletjourney, #balletinspiration, #ballerinastruggles, #danceranxiety, #creativehealing, #artistpodcast, #inspiringartiststories

What does it take to rebuild your life, your art, and your identity after loss, addiction, and reinvention? In this powerful episode of The Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with Sean Starr—a second-generation sign painter, master gilder, documentary filmmaker, and creative force whose story will leave you inspired.About Sean Starr:Sean is a master gilder, painter, and international creative whose works have appeared in galleries across New York, San Francisco, LA, and abroad. He’s the producer of Art is Love, Nepal and the host of Coffee with a Sign Painter. His mission? To keep traditional sign painting and gilding alive while inspiring the next generation of creatives..From painting birds at age 10 to playing in an Austin band on 6th Street as a teenager, creativity has always been in his blood.But behind the artistry was a turbulent path: growing up in a strict religious environment, navigating scandal at 15, moving out on his own by 15, and battling mental health struggles..Viral Moments You’ll Want to Share:Sean reveals how he once ran away at 15 to live in Florida, working odd jobs and living with strangers—long before reconnecting with his family and joining his father’s paint shop.The shocking moment he realized he was taking 14 prescription pills a day—and the life-saving decision to quit cold turkey in 2004.How yoga and meditation unexpectedly ended decades of alcohol addiction in just weeks—an almost mystical transformation.The full-circle creative twist: after struggling with loss and identity, Sean ended up designing for The Cranberries and The Toadies—bands that once soundtracked his own darkest years.The surreal moment Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham sat beside him for hours, quietly watching him apply gold leaf by hand. Why This Episode Matters:Sean’s story isn’t just about sign painting or art. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and finding freedom in authenticity. He opens up about:

Breaking free from religious dogma and learning to live without duplicity.The deep connection between art, mental health, and healing.Why traditional craftsmanship is thriving in an age of AI and fast consumption.His belief that true creativity comes from creating for yourself—not for the audience.

Highlights You’ll Hear in This Episode:[00:55] Sean’s introduction: 35+ years as a craftsman, featured in Sign Painters, international exhibitions, and documentary filmmaker.[10:24] Growing up painting hot rods, boats, and even Willie Nelson’s tour bus.[21:56] The teenage scandal that pushed him into adulthood too early.[33:59] Addiction, loss, and the turning point where he left pharmaceuticals behind.[56:52] Yoga, meditation, and the end of a decades-long battle with alcohol.[1:08:54] Blending fine art with sign painting—building a studio on his own terms.[1:15:27] Full-circle creative destiny: collaborating with bands he idolized.Follow Sean Starr: https://www.seanstarr.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starrstudiostxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrstudiostx/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@seanstarrartistConnect with Rich:Website: https://www.theartistrecovery.comLinkedin: / @richwrightunltd Facebook: / @theartrec Instagram: / @richwrightunltd Instagram: / @theartrec #SeanStarr, #ArtistRecoveryPodcast, #ArtistInterview, #TexasArtist, #CreativeJourney, #ArtAndIdentity, #SignPainter, #MasterGilder, #GoldLeafArt, #TraditionalCraftsmanship, #CraftVsAI, #WillieNelson, #AustinMusicScene, #TheCranberries, #TheToadies, #FleetwoodMac, #LindseyBuckingham, #AlbumArt, #MusicAndArt, #AddictionRecovery, #AlcoholRecovery, #QuitColdTurkey, #YogaForRecovery, #MeditationHealing, #MentalHealthAwareness, #HealingThroughArt, #Resilience, #RecoveryStories, #CreativeReinvention, #ArtHeals, #CreativityIsMedicine, #SpiritualHealing, #ArtAndSpirituality, #AuthenticLiving, #InspirationDaily, #LifeAfterAddiction,

What does it take to walk away from nearly a decade in corporate finance and fully embrace the calling of art? In this episode of the Artist Recovery Podcast, host Rich Wright sits down with visionary artist Anna Irvine — founder of Le Beaux Travail Gallery — to talk about her courageous journey from boardrooms to brushstrokes, and the deeply human battles she overcame along the way.Born in Bulgaria, shaped by South Africa, and seasoned by life in the U.S., Anna’s multicultural story is one of resilience, transformation, and the healing power of creativity. Her art is not just visual — it’s a call to action for sustainability, empathy, and mindful living. Highlights from this interview:~ From Bulgaria to South Africa to America: How Anna’s immigrant journey shaped her worldview, her empathy, and her creative spirit.~The Bullying Years: Growing up feeling “different,” facing cruelty, and how creativity became a safe haven.~ Discovering Art as Survival: The powerful story of how a single drawing of a ballerina changed Anna’s life forever.~The Corporate Climb (and Collapse): Why excelling in finance left her unfulfilled, and what it feels like to “suffocate” in a job that doesn’t feed your soul.~ Mental Health Struggles: Anna’s candid account of living with OCD, intrusive thoughts, and the terrifying spiral that led to hospitalization.~ Breaking Free: The controversial advice from her aunt, the grueling detox process, and the moment Anna began reclaiming her mind and life.~ Love and Anchors: How meeting her husband in college gave her strength during her darkest chapters.~ Prophetic Dreams & Spiritual Awakening: The role her family’s faith and resilience played in her recovery.~ Le Beaux Travail Gallery (Dallas, Tx): Building an art practice that celebrates myth, history, nature, and sustainability.Why You Should WatchThis is more than an artist’s story — it’s a roadmap for resilience. Anna opens up about subjects many are too afraid to speak on: mental health, creative rejection, cultural displacement, and the hard truths about chasing passion over stability. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a life that wasn’t yours, Anna’s journey will move you, challenge you, and inspire you to honor your own creative calling.Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone navigating change, you’ll walk away from this episode with powerful lessons on empathy, perseverance, and finding beauty in even the hardest struggles.~ Join the ConversationWhat part of Anna’s story resonated with you most — her immigrant journey, her mental health battle, or her pivot into art? Share your thoughts in the comments! 💬Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 to never miss an episode.Follow Anna Irvine & Her Work:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annapeev/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annairvineart/Website: https://www.lebeautravail.com/Connect with Rich:Website: https://www.theartistrecovery.comLinkedin: / richwrightunltd Instagram: / richwrightunltd Coaching with Rich: https://www.theartistrecovery.com/coa...Artist Rich Wright's WOW Essential Spirit Paintings: https://www.theartistrecovery.com/white-owl-wisdom#AnnaIrvine #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #ArtAndHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #ImmigrantStory #WomenInArt #CreativityAndResilience #LeBeauxTravailGallery#AnnaIrvineinterview #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #LeBeauxTravailGallery #artandmentalhealth #immigrantartiststories #creativityandhealing #overcomingOCD #leavingcorporateAmericaforart #resiliencethroughcreativity #sustainabilityinart #BulgarianAmericanartist #SouthAfricanimmigrantstory #womeninart #mentalhealthawarenessforcreatives