Artists often ask for feedback, but knowing when and how to give it can be tricky. In this episode, DBlack and Ali Blackbreak down the realities of honest critique, self-expression, and growth in creative practice.

• When artists genuinely want the truth, and when they're just looking for validation

• Balancing technical skill with conceptual depth in art

• How self-honesty impacts creative output and personal growth

• The difference between inspiring others vs. trying to influence them

• Understanding value, pricing artwork, and navigating feedback within the art world

We just dropped a fresh episode: "The Artist Guide to Disobedience" and it’s one you definitely don’t want to miss! DBlack gets real about what it means to break free from the boxes that society tries to put us in—and how that rebellion is key to finding your true creative voice.

Discover what it really means to practice creative disobedience as an artist. In this episode, DBlack breaks down why being yourself often means breaking the rules.

• How systems and education suppress individuality and creative expression

• Why artists must choose between obedience and true self-expression

• The internal conflict of seeking validation versus creating authentic work

• How cultural conditioning shapes our perception of art, success, and acceptance

• The lasting impact and value of being unapologetically yourself in creative spaces

Here are 5 keys you’ll learn from listening:

Drop the Acts: Why “code-switching” between rooms and audiences might hurt your authenticity—and how to break the habit.

Unique Voice Matters: Your perspective adds NEWNESS to old conversations in art; it’s not about inventing something entirely new but being the you that only you can be.

Honesty Wins: Being real about your story, your background, and your subjects immediately changes how your work is received (and yes, it could be the difference between getting grants or not!).

Portfolio Power: How focusing your portfolio on your story rather than just your “strongest images” can make a bigger impact.

Loneliness & Growth: Discover how the isolation of honest self-expression isn’t punishment—it’s the space where you become your best creative self.

Donald reveals he didn’t discover he was a “Black artist” until he was the only Black person at the biggest portfolio review in the country. It was an old Mexican curator who told him, “Don’t tell me the shit you tell white people”—and that moment changed everything about how Donald describes his work today!

So, if you’re tired of trying to “play the game,” want to get closer to your true self, or just love hearing real talk from real artists, hit play on this episode.