It's Never Too Late: Reclaiming Your Creative Identity with Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey
Art Heals All Wounds
03/19/26
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In this episode, I sit down with Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey, abstract painter, life coach, and host of the Painting Your Path podcast — for a rich conversation about how she reclaimed her own creative identity and how she coaches her clients, usually women in midlife, to do the same. We talk about overcoming self-doubt, and building resilience in the face of unexpected challenges.
Clarissa shares her winding journey from retail management to graphic design to finding her true calling as an artist and coach, and how a diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia — a rare neurological voice disorder — forced her to reimagine her work and reconnect with her deepest purpose.
We also discuss:
- How well-meaning discouragement in childhood can silence our creative instincts for decades
- Practical strategies for processing rejection as a creative person
- Why "giving yourself grace" is the foundation of any creative practice
- Clarissa's work supporting the Altadena community in the aftermath of the devastating 2025 Eaton Fire through art
Whether you're an artist, a creative in midlife, or someone rebuilding after loss, this episode with Clarissa offers genuine wisdom and encouragement.
00:00:12 — Introduction to the show and host Pam Uzzell
00:01:10 — Podcast updates: new schedule and hiatus explanation
00:01:53 — Introduction of guest Clarissa Castillo Ramsey and her background
00:02:37 — Clarissa's diagnosis with spasmodic dysphonia
00:03:08 — Clarissa's resilience and involvement with the Altadena community after the Eaton Fire
00:04:03 — Interview begins; Clarissa introduces herself
00:05:57 — Clarissa's life coaching work with women in midlife
00:07:13 — Growing up and receiving discouraging messages about pursuing a creative career
00:09:33 — The journey back to art: from retail management to graphic design to painting
00:11:40 — Discovering painter Rassouli at Agape International Spiritual Center
00:16:22 — Clarissa's spasmodic dysphonia diagnosis and how it affected her work
00:21:12 — Pam shares her own experience with myotonic dystrophy and voice challenges
00:24:56 — Theories on resilience and what keeps Clarissa going
00:27:55 — Dealing with rejection as a creative person; the TEDx talk rejection
00:36:16 — The Altadena community after the Eaton Fire and the healing power of art
00:39:11 — Where to find Clarissa and her podcast, Painting Your Path
🎙️ Find Clarissa on Instagram: @clarissacastilloramsey.art 🎙️ Listen to her podcast: Painting Your Path. Clarissa's Website.
Previous Episode
In this episode, I speak with artist, curator, and author Barbara Benish about her book ArtMill: A Story of Sustainable Creativity in Bohemia — a hopeful, timely memoir about artistic resistance, creative community, and rebuilding culture after totalitarianism.
In This Episode:
- [0:12] Host Pam Uzzell introduces the episode, reflecting on fear of communist countries during the Cold War and how that connects to today's political climate in the US
- [2:34] Introduction to Barbara Benish's book ArtMill: A Story of Sustainable Creativity in Bohemia and why it feels especially relevant now
- [3:49] Barbara describes her memoir — from leaving California as a young artist to integrating into Cold War Czechoslovakia, working with underground artists, and eventually founding a rural arts center
- [6:14] Growing up in Southern California with Czech immigrant heritage, witnessing the Soviet invasion of Prague in 1968, and losing connection to the Czech language
- [7:42] Crossing the Iron Curtain as a young American backpacker — navigating fear, border crossings, and Cold War propaganda
- [10:41] Connecting with dissident artists in Prague — serendipity, secret networks, and the surveillance state
- [12:08] Life under the secret police — being followed, bugged venues, and how artists developed coded communication to resist oppression
- [13:53] Barbara's frustration with the commercialization of art in 1980s Los Angeles and what drew her to the underground art scene in Czechoslovakia
- [15:14] The Art Dialogue exchange — bringing together LA and Czech artists during the Cold War and the challenges of mounting a cross-cultural exhibition under an authoritarian regime
- [16:57] The Velvet Revolution of 1989 — why it's also called the Artist Revolution, the role of playwright-turned-president Václav Havel, and lessons from The Power of the Powerless for democracy today
- [21:47] Buying the Červený Mlýn (Red Mill) in rural Bohemia — a $17,000 ruin, a leap of faith, and the beginning of a new life
- [26:28] Renovating the mill, building a rural arts community, and the reality behind the romance
- [27:46] ArtMill today — artist residencies, children's programs, university study abroad, and regenerative creativity in rural Central Europe
- [29:12] Art as sustainability — how creative practice connects to environmental stewardship, indigenous ways of knowing, and regenerative living
- [34:42] What today's political resistance in the US has in common with Cold War Czechoslovakia — and what comes after resistance
- [38:45] Barbara reads a moving passage from ArtMill about climate, beauty, dignity, and hope for future generations
- [40:35] Where to find Barbara Benish, upcoming California readings, and how to get the book
Resources & Links:
- Barbara Benish's website: barbarabenish.com
- ArtMill: A Story of Sustainable Creativity in Bohemia — published by New Village Press, distributed by NYU
- Art Heals All Wounds Podcast: arthealsallwoundspodcast.com
Next Episode
I sit down with Evan Raskin, National Campaign Manager for Earthday.org, to explore the powerful relationship between art and environmental activism. Evan shares how artists have been central to the Earth Day movement since its very first gathering in 1970 and how creative expression continues to drive climate action today.
Evan shares his own life as an artist and how art helps him find harmony in a world full of dissonance. We discuss why collective action — starting at the local level — matters more than ever.
🔗 Find Earth Day events in your community: earthday.org 🎵 Find Evan's music on Spotify: search Raskin 🌍 Learn more about the Global Halt street art project: search #EarthDay2020Halt
Timestamped Highlights
[00:00] I introduce the episode and its Earth Day theme
[01:03] Why I'm dropping this episode now: Earth Day is right around the corner
[01:34] I introduce my guest, Evan Raskin, National Campaign Manager for Earthday.org
[02:03] We introduce this year's Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet
[03:22] I ask Evan what a National Campaign Manager actually does — he breaks down his role
[05:03] I learn that Evan is also a musician, painter, and poet — and just published his first book!
[05:43] I ask Evan which art form he turns to when he needs release — his answer about music and rhythm is beautiful
[07:29] Evan explains how art can open perspectives, build empathy, and call people to civic action
[10:54] I ask Evan about his origin story: growing up with a Hollywood hairdresser mom and a Cirque du Soleil / hospital clown dad
[13:13] Evan tells me how a required college art class unlocked his visual creativity
[14:08] Evan makes the case that everyone has latent creative potential — and why you should just pick up that paintbrush
[15:15] I share my recent conversation with scientist Daisy Fancourt and her book Art Cure — even 10–15 minutes of creativity a day has measurable benefits
[16:27] I ask Evan how he came to work at Earth Day — it started with a college internship phasing out single-use plastics at the British Embassy
[17:49] Evan walks me through the history of Earth Day and how the 1970 movement used art, music, and protest to spark real policy change
[22:23] I'm amazed to learn that the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the EPA were all born from Earth Day 1970
[22:48] We do a deep dive into this year's theme: Our Power, Our Planet and what it means at every level
[25:51] I bring up the current political climate — Evan responds with hope, local action, and the wisdom of Fred Rogers: "Look for the helpers"
[29:37] Evan shares an encouraging stat: solar power has been the leading source of new U.S. electricity for nearly 25 months
[32:51] Evan tells me about his visit to COP 27 in Egypt, where global artists displayed installations made from pollution collected in their home countries
[33:20] Evan introduces me to Earthday.org's Artists for the Earth program and the annual official Earth Day poster
[33:52] The Global Halt Project: I love this — 500 artists across the world painted climate murals under cover of darkness, unveiled on Earth Day 2020
[35:47] Evan shares how YOU can get involved: visit earthday.org, find local events, organize a community cleanup, and start conversations in your school, faith community, or family
[38:10] I ask Evan where we can find his music and art
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