Quentin has been creating for most of their life — theater, dance, vocals, performance, music — but this conversation centers on a project that took nearly three years to complete: their new album Tom Girl, an homage to the intensity, joy, heartbreak, and becoming of your twenties.

What started as a “little solo side project” became something much deeper: a vehicle for grief, endings, identity, queerness, and a return to love — the kind you only reach after you’ve walked through anger and resentment without judging yourself for feeling them.

We talk about what it looks like to let creativity lead you somewhere before you consciously understand where you’re going — and how art can become the place you process what life is putting you through.

What We Discuss:

• How creating music became a way to process grief, anger, and a painful breakup when talking or “moving on” wasn’t possible

• What to do when a creative project starts before you realize a chapter of your life is ending — and how to let the work guide you through it

• How choosing creation over self-destruction can become a practical tool for emotional regulation and healing

• Why resentment often points to unclaimed personal power — and how moving through it leads to peace and clarity

• Navigating queer identity, androgyny, and self-expression without shaping yourself to be more “acceptable” to others

• How learning to set boundaries made deeper love, safer relationships, and stronger creative work possible

• What actually goes into making an album — and how environment, collaboration, and production choices shape the emotional impact

• How to stay persistent in the creative industry, keep choosing your art during financial instability, and build a career without giving up on yourself

This Episode Is For You If…

• You’re in your twenties (or healing from your twenties) and want to feel seen

• You’ve ever used creativity to survive grief, heartbreak, or identity rupture

• You’re learning boundaries after years of over-giving or people-pleasing

• You want a real look at what goes into making an album (emotionally + technically)

• You’re trying to build a creative life without stable money — and still keep going

Notable Mentions:

• Listen to ⁠Cleo Sol⁠, as a solo artist, as well as the band she performs in, ⁠Sault⁠

• Check out ⁠Turnover⁠ and hit song “⁠Cutting My Fingers Off⁠”

• ⁠Poems and Power⁠ women studies class with Chelsea Diane

Follow Quentin: @itsquentin

Follow + Support The Artist Rendezvous
If you enjoyed this episode, the best way to support the show is to share it with a friend, follow the podcast, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @theartistrendezvousWebsite: theartistrendezvous.comReach out: hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

In this episode, the roles are reversed. Instead of interviewing a guest, Samantha Pfotenhauer — host of The Artist Rendezvous — sits in the guest seat as her friend Bradley interviews her about the winding, honest path that led her from a life centered on productivity and ambition – practicing corporate law in New York City – to a life centered on creativity.

What begins as a conversation about career pivots quickly opens into something deeper: how unprocessed trauma quietly shapes our choices, how curiosity creates exits where none seem to exist, and why creativity is not a frivolous exploration, but a skill that can provide direction and confidence. Samantha shares about panic attacks, leaving a prestigious legal career, dismantling an entire life she had built, and choosing aliveness over numbness again and again.

This episode is about what happens when you stop trying to force yourself into a life that looks good on paper — and start listening to what your body, intuition, and creativity have been asking for all along. You’re successful on paper but quietly miserable

What We Discuss:

• Leaving a “golden path” career in law and confronting the fear of starting over without a clear plan

• How unprocessed trauma and panic attacks quietly dictated career choices — and what changed when it was addressed

• Why curiosity and openness are foundational skills to build a meaningful life

• Choosing aliveness over numbness, even when it brings instability, grief, and identity loss

• The courage it takes to be bad at something publicly — and why that’s essential to creating anything meaningful

• How creativity becomes a tool for emotional regulation, healing, and self-trust

• The three pillars behind The Artist Rendezvous: inspiration, creativity, and connection

• What it means to live a creative life that is rooted in service, beauty, and community rather than status or certainty

This Episode Is For You If…

• You feel a pull toward creativity but don’t know how to trust it

• You’ve experienced panic, burnout, or emotional shutdown and want to understand why

• You’re navigating a major identity shift — career, relationship, or belief system

• You want permission to start before you feel ready, polished, or confident

• You’re craving a more alive, intentional way of living

Notable Mentions:

• Human Design (learn more at ⁠moonrisecommunity.com⁠ and our ⁠Youtube⁠)

• Somatic and trauma-informed healing work - check out Sam’s website ⁠www.wildriver.live⁠

• Austin, Texas as a creative and connective ecosystem

• The concept of “aliveness” as the space between terror and ecstasy, inspired by ⁠Annie Lalla⁠

Follow + Support The Artist Rendezvous
If this episode resonated, the best way to support the show is to share it with someone who needs it, follow the podcast, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway.

Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @theartistrendezvous

Website: theartistrendezvous.com

Reach out: hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life — and the mindset shifts that make it possible.

Dear Dry Drinkery was a shop that sold non-alcohol drink options, including wine, beer, and spirits. But in the years that it was in business, Dear Dry became a community living room for sober-curious Austinites. However, after two years in their brick-and-mortar location (and a few more years operating out of a food truck), Grace Vroom and her husband Joe made the decision to close their doors. In Part 2 of our conversation, Grace shares what went into that choice — including unexpected personal loss, break-ins, shifting market realities, and the honest realization that the business had grown into something different than the “simple little shop” they originally envisioned. (If you missed it, catch Part 1 to hear all about the creation of Dear Dry, Grace’s sober journey, and the importance of pursuing your creative passions, even when its hard.)

This is a candid conversation about entrepreneurship that is sometimes overlooked: the hidden costs, the emotional weight of being so publicly available, and the courage it takes to end something at the right time. Grace also reflects on what Dear Dry gave her: proof that she can do hard things, a deeper relationship to community, and a new clarity about how she wants to create going forward.

What We Discuss:

• Running a business during personal turbulence: Llosing her mom during their first Dry January

• The emotional + financial toll of break-ins

• When the market catches up to your mission: major retailers carrying NA products, shifting customer behavior, and margin pressure

• When the business looks different than you expected: how Dear Dry became an event space, community hub, and a bar/restaurant consultancy, rather than just a shop

• The real cost of a brick-and-mortar: rent, utilities, security, events, broken shipments, and constant “small emergencies”

• Defining success on your own terms and why closing the business did not feel like a failure

• The power of telling founders you admire that they matter — how one comment can carry someone for months

• What she’d tell someone feeling embarrassed about closing — and how to handle the “I knew you wouldn’t last” energy

• The post-close blank space: rebuilding confidence, choosing stability, and making room for the next creative chapter

This episode is for anyone who:

• Has built something and is questioning whether it’s time to let it go

• Is too afraid to start a project or business because of the fear of it closing

• Feels pressure to “keep going” even when it no longer fits

• Wants a realistic look at what brick-and-mortar retail actually demands

• Is navigating grief or major life change while still trying to show up for their work

• Needs permission to redefine success, set boundaries, and choose sustainability

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/YouTube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

Grace Vroom was afraid sobriety would ruin her life. Instead, it made her a creative entrepreneur.

Grace is the co-founder of Dear Dry Drinkery, Austin’s only non-alcoholic bottle shop, which was located in East Austin. Dear Dry is more than a store. It’s a beautifully curated space where ritual meets intention — offering non-alcoholic wines, beers, spirits, and functional beverages that bring all the flavor and none of the hangover. Since launching as a tiny custom trailer, Grace and her husband Joe have built a thriving brick-and-mortar business that’s become a hub for conscious celebration, creativity, and community connection.

After this episode was recorded, Grace and Joe made the decision to permanently close Dear Dry Drinkery. Come back for episode 7 in two weeks to hear about what went in to that decision. In the meantime, this episode is still relevant and inspirational, even though Dear Dry is no longer in business.

What We Discuss:

In this episode, Grace and I talk about what it really means to rewrite your rituals and reclaim your life. Here’s what we explore:

• Grace’s sobriety story — what made her realize alcohol was draining her joy, power, and time

• How building Dear Dry Drinker started as a dream and took shape through scrappy action, a food truck, and a lot of courage

• Ritual, connection, and social pressure — and what happens when you decide to opt out of drinking

• How non-alcoholic beverages can help preserve celebration while protecting your well-being

• The emotional and logistical challenges of starting a small business from scratch in Austin

• The surprising gift of boredom, play, and doing "kid things" as a path to reconnect with joy

• The impact Dear Dry Drinkery is having on customers — and why one thoughtful conversation can keep someone on their sober path

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered:

• How to stop drinking without losing your social life or identity

• What a non-alcoholic lifestyle can actually look and feel like

• How to build a business from scratch, especially when people don't get your vision

• Where to find joy, beauty, and ritual — without the booze

• What it takes to start over and create something truly meaningful

Credit for Dear Dry Drinkery Photos: Carson Rounds

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/Youtube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

What started as a biologist importing tea for friends became Austin's most unique gathering place. So-Han Fan, founder of West China Tea, shares how an ancient Chinese tea practice facilitates authentic connection in our disconnected world.

What We Discuss:

• What is tea? - why most things we call "tea" isn’t actually tea

• Gong Fu Cha magic - the folk art of brewing that demands presence and rewards patience

• Tea as plant medicine - the four compounds that create "tea drunk" euphoria without the crash

• Community without trying - how the right environment naturally melts strangers into friends

• From scientist to tea entrepreneur - meeting farmers in Chinese mountains and accidentally starting a business

• Inclusive community by design - how tea creates an engaging, friendly space that welcomes everyone and encourages authenticity

• Chi and water memory - Sohan's take on why tea works instantly on your body

Visit West China Tea

• New Location: 1715 E 7th Street, Austin

• Website: westchinatea.com

• YouTube: ⁠⁠TeahouseGhost⁠⁠ (tea education videos)

• Social: @westchinatea

For Anyone Who

• Craves authentic community connection

• Values community building

• Feels curious about mindful practices

• Loves learning about plant medicine and ancient rituals

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/Youtube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

Nick Campbell has built a career spotting the gaps in the art world and filling them—first in London, now in Austin. As an art advisor and founder of the Campbell Art Collective, Nick helps individuals and communities connect more deeply with art. In this episode, he shares about his journey starting and growing several businesses, what makes a piece worth collecting, why collecting art is a meaningful endeavor, and why public art projects are essential to thriving communities.

What We Discuss:

• What an art advisor actually does – helping people and companies build meaningful collections

• The “bug” of collecting – from buying a Warhol at 19 to launching a business at 25, and now owning and operating several businesses

• Why living with art matters – how collections reflect your inner world and life journey

• Breaking down intimidation around galleries and the misconception that art is “not for you”

• Founding the Campbell Art Collective – building community and spotlighting Austin’s local art scene

• The power of public art – from neighborhood voices to international installations on the Austin Trail

• Creating BITE – immersive dinners designed entirely by artists, blending food, music, and creativity

• The courage to leap – what it takes to start something new, from your 20s to your 40s

• The importance of saying yes – how small conversations and coffees help creative communities thrive

This episode is for anyone who:

• Wants to feel less intimidated about galleries and collecting art

• Loves the idea of art as a reflection of self and life’s journey

• Believes in the power of community, creativity, and public art

• Enjoys hearing how entrepreneurs spot gaps and build something new

• Is curious about Austin’s growing art scene

Visit and Support Nick's Work:

• Follow Nick on Instagram: @campbellartadvisory

• Join an event in Austin or Houston through Campbell Art Collective: campbellartcollective.com

• Campbell Art Advisory: campbellartadvisory.com

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/Youtube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

Kelly Frye has spent nearly two decades acting on television, with roles on Criminal Minds and Disney Channel’s Secrets of Sulphur Springs. In this episode, she pulls the curtain back on what acting really demands—the artistry, the collaboration, and the mindset that makes performances resonate. Kelly’s story is also one of courage and engagement: a woman who left the “safe” path to follow her passion, and who now brings that same creative energy into her community in Austin.

We discuss:

• Acting as collaboration on a massive scale—and why it can still feel lonely

• The moment she knew she had to pursue acting instead of law

• What it feels like to be on the wrong path, and the signs to look for

• The artistry behind acting—what makes performances truly resonate

• Why creativity is essential, and how Kelly describes it as oxygen

• Where confidence really comes from (and how self-doubt still shows up)

• Why she throws herself fully into her community and causes she believes in

• The value of volunteering and how giving back becomes a form of self-care

• Taking leaps of faith and trusting that life will work itself out

• The impact of great coaches in youth—and how they shape confidence for life

• The freedom of making mistakes and why play matters in artistry

Connect with Kelly Frye:

Instagram: @kellyfrye

Check out Kelly’s New Wearable Art & Purse Line: https://kellycampbellcollection.com/

Volunteer at the Trail Conservancy: thetrailconservancy.org

This episode is for anyone who:

• Wants to know what a long-term acting career is really like

• Is wondering if they’re on the wrong path and searching for signs of change

• Believes in the power of community, volunteering, and creative risk-taking

• Needs encouragement to trust the leap and see where it takes them

• Loves hearing how artists bring creativity into both work and life

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/Youtube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.

What happens when you realize at 35 that you need to change your career?

In this episode, I sit down with Nina, the owner of Take Heart, one of Austin's most cherished shops.

Nina is the owner and curator of Take Heart, located in East Austin. After 15 years as a social worker, Nina made a courageous career transition at age 35, following her creative instincts to open a store that celebrates handmade beauty and thoughtful gifting. Her shop features carefully curated pottery, home goods, jewelry, natural beauty products, and textiles. Over the past 14 years, Take Heart has become a beloved Austin destination, supporting local makers and creating an ecosystem where art, community, and commerce beautifully intersect.

What We Discuss:

In this conversation, Nina and I explore the journey from burnout to creative fulfillment. Here's what we dive into:

• Nina's awakening at 35 - the moment she realized she didn't want to spend 30 more years in social work and how "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron sparked her transformation

• The spiritual foundation of creative courage - how Al-Anon and developing faith in something greater gave her the confidence to take risks and trust her inner guidance

• Leap of faith - how as soon as Nina started taking action on her ideas, tangible opportunities, including business classes, a loan, and mentors, appeared along her path

• The art of curation as creativity - why Nina sees herself as a creative collaborator, building an ecosystem that connects makers with art lovers

• Building sustainable creative business - how she kept her social work job for three years while growing Take Heart, and why the three-year mark was crucial for financial independence

• Creating community through commerce - the unexpected joy of watching customers discover new artists and how her shop serves as a platform for local makers to build their businesses

• The collaboration with the universe - Nina's approach to receiving creative ideas and acting on them with faith rather than fear

Connect with Nina:

• Visit: Take Heart, 1211 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas

• Instagram: @takeheartshop

• Website: https://www.takeheartshop.com/

• Parking: Available in the back of the building!

Noteworthy Mentions

• Incense Sam loves from Take Heart: Oedo-koh Incense Set (favorite scent is Chery Blossom)

• "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron - the workbook that changed Nina's life

• "Big Magic" by Elizabeth Gilbert - great book on recognizing and acting on creative ideas

• Al-Anon - the spiritual program that taught Nina faith over fear

• BIGG Austin - nonprofit offering affordable business classes

• A+ Federal Credit Union - provided the zero-interest loan that started it all

• Natalie Davis - Nina's Austin-based business coach

For Creatives & Entrepreneurs

This episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to:

• Make a mid-life career transition from stable job to creative entrepreneurship

• Overcome fear-based thinking through spiritual practice and community support

• Start a creative business with limited capital and no experience

• Build sustainable income while maintaining artistic integrity

• Create businesses that serve and support other creatives

• Develop gratitude practices that fuel long-term success

Subscribe to The Artist Rendezvous on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube for more conversations with inspiring creatives.

Follow The Artist Rendezvous:

• Instagram/TikTok/Youtube: @theartistrendezvous

• Website: www.theartistrendezvous.com

• Reach out to Samantha at hello@theartistrendezvous.com

The Artist Rendezvous celebrates the creative spirit of Austin, Texas, sharing stories of inspiration, risk, and the courage to create. Each episode explores what it means to live a creative life and the mindset shifts that enable artistic success.