Keep Creating Ep. 7: Tonya Ingram on Self Care and Turning Struggle Into Art

Swiss psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross once wrote, “Should you shield the canyons from the windstorms you would never see the true beauty of their carvings.” 

It’s no secret that a creative life — let alone life in general — is full of hardships and frequent struggle. 

We all have memories and stories of painful moments. It’s natural to want to bury those memories and do whatever we can to keep pain out of our lives. 

However, like Kübler-Ross alluded to, it’s the windstorms that shape us and help us discover the unique beauty within each of us. 

In this episode we talked to poet Tonya Ingram, a Cincinnati native, Bronx-bred introvert. She’s also a mental health advocate, kidney transplant hopeful, Lupus legend, cat auntie, and a lover of “The Office.” 

She has graced the stages of The Getty Museum, Madison Square Garden, the San Francisco Opera House, Nuyorican Poets Café, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and "The Price is Right,” which she won. 

Tonya’s writing explores the necessity of taking care of ourselves, especially on the days we feel unworthy.

We discuss how Tonya practices self care, and how she translates life’s struggles into art.

You can stream this episode of the Keep Creating Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Like the music we used on the show? You can license and download it here.