Art in Merge – The Podcast
Welcome to Art in Merge – A Podcast Celebrating Creative Voices
Art is everywhere – in movement, in sound, on canvas, and in the spaces between. Art in Merge is a podcast where I sit down with artists from across the creative spectrum – from dancers to singers, painters to DJs – to explore what art means to them and how their unique practices shape the world around us.
In our very first episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Valentina Yurkina, a live painter whose work transforms energy, music, and emotion into powerful, visual moments. We talked about the spontaneity of live painting, the connection between audience and artist, and what it means to create in the now.
Whether you’re an artist yourself or simply someone who finds inspiration in creativity, Art in Merge invites you into honest, inspiring conversations about the power of artistic expression in all its forms.
Planning
When I first began shaping this project, my idea was actually very different: I wanted to create a podcast or video series centered around museums. The plan was to visit museums and have curators present and discuss specific artworks from their exhibitions or archives.
However, I quickly realized how challenging this approach would be. Coordinating with museums, especially across the countries, turned out to be far more complex than expected. Communication wasn’t always smooth or consistent, and it became clear that this path wouldn’t allow me to finish the project within the timeline I had.
So I had to take a step back and rethink everything. I asked myself: What do I actually want to do? What really drives me?
The answer: art – in every shape and form. That’s when the concept for Art in Merge was born: a podcast that brings together creatives from all artistic fields – dancers, singers, painters, DJs, performers – to talk about what art means to them.
This idea didn’t just come out of nowhere. I’m lucky to be surrounded by many talented people in my personal and professional life who inspired me and made me realize how diverse and rich the world of art truly is.
Research
Once I had the concept, I dove into research. I started listing people I wanted to interview – some I already knew, others I came across through my previous projects.
Before Art in Merge, I had an Instagram account focused on museum visits, which gave me the opportunity to meet curators and engage with art enthusiasts. Thanks to that network, it wasn’t difficult to find interesting guests for the podcast.
Still, it took time to figure out the structure and flow of the episodes. I wanted everything to be cohesive and meaningful. Fortunately, things started to come together.
The first guest featured is Valentina Yurkina, a live painter whose work is as expressive as it is powerful. I’m also excited to share upcoming guests like Gerry Fässler and Monica Ray Scott, and already planning a special edition of Art in Merge during Art Basel.
This is not a one-off project – Art in Merge is meant to grow, evolve, and continue as an ongoing platform for artistic dialogue.
Promo Videos
To help bring the project to life visually, I created two promotional videos. I had the amazing support of Alissa and Janna (MMP24), who helped me film and shape the first teaser for the podcast.
The second video focuses on Valentina Yurkina and was directed and filmed by me. I wanted to capture her artistic essence and the energy behind her live painting practice.
Both promo videos are available on the Art in Merge Instagram page, and they’ve been a great way to visually communicate what the podcast is all about.
Outlook
This journey hasn’t been easy. There were many moments of doubt, times when I lost my motivation and questioned whether I could create something I truly believe in.
But now that the first episode is out, I feel proud of having pushed through. I’ve learned so much—and I’m even more committed to improving with every step.
Moving forward, I want to:
• Take more time to plan each episode with intention
• Build a stronger presence on social media
• Expand the podcast beyond Spotify—perhaps to Apple Podcasts and more
• Research my guests more deeply so I can batch-produce episodes and reduce last-minute stress
I’m genuinely thankful to have had the chance to bring this idea to life. Art in Merge is a project I care about deeply, and it wouldn’t have happened without the support I received—especially from Digezz, who helped make this possible.
Thank you for being part of this journey. This is just the beginning.
Critical Reflection on Art in Merge
Concept & Adaptability
One of the key strengths of this project was my ability to adapt when my original concept—centered around museums—proved too difficult to realize. While this flexibility shows creative resilience, it also revealed a lack of early feasibility analysis. In retrospect, I should have evaluated logistical challenges and communication hurdles with institutions earlier in the process. This would have saved time and allowed me to develop a more realistic plan from the beginning.
Planning & Time Management
A recurring issue throughout the project was time pressure, especially due to the late change in concept. While I eventually found a format I strongly believe in, the delayed pivot left little room for a calm and methodical execution. This resulted in moments of stress, last-minute decisions, and a general feeling of “catching up” instead of working ahead. In the future, I aim to plan more proactively, leaving enough buffer to avoid creative burnout.
Content Development
The diversity of artistic fields included in the podcast is a clear asset and adds richness to the overall format. However, this broad scope also presents a challenge: it risks lacking a clear narrative thread or thematic consistency across episodes. Going forward, I need to think more carefully about how to structure episodes in a way that ensures coherence while still embracing diversity.
Promotion & Platform Strategy
Currently, the podcast is only available on Spotify. This limits the reach and discoverability of the project. I also see potential for more engaging and sustained social media promotion. So far, content has been shared irregularly, and I haven’t fully utilized storytelling tools (e.g., behind-the-scenes, guest highlights, audio teasers). Developing a stronger cross-platform strategy will be a priority moving forward.
Personal Process
Emotionally, the production journey was not linear. I struggled with doubt and a temporary loss of motivation—largely due to the slow progress and uncertainty during the concept phase. In future projects, I want to establish clearer milestones and allow myself more time for reflection before major decisions. That said, I am proud to have moved past this phase and to have created something I genuinely stand behind.
Conclusion:
Art in Merge marks a promising start to an open, interdisciplinary art podcast. However, its potential can only be fully realized through clearer planning, stronger visual consistency, and a more strategic approach to communication and distribution. This reflection is an important step toward refining the project and growing with it.
(vha)