Podcast by Cierra Venable
19 November 2025
In this episode, Cierra and Alex continue their dissection of power by mapping its new digital frontier: our algorithms. They expose how the new colonial frontier is in our Instagram stories, where reality is constructed and controlled. They connect this to the politics of physical space, referencing London's Barbican Centre as a case study in utopian design and exclusion. Together, they unravel how race, class, and power merge to dictate who gets to shape the world we all inhabit. The conversation culminates in a surprising and compassionate reflection on their art school experience, finding clarity and connection after deconstructing the very systems they were trained in.
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01:12:02
12 November 2025
In this episode, Cierra sits down with Alex Alexiou to dissect the unspoken curriculum of their prestigious art school—a hidden masterclass in social "othering" and power dynamics. Alex shares her unique perspective, contrasting her upbringing in the Middle East with the complex social politics of Western Europe. Together, they deconstruct how the status quo teaches us to see power as something external and transactional, rather than something we can generate from within. This is part one of a crucial conversation about unlearning the systems that divide us and redefining what real, authentic power looks like.
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01:38:54
22 October 2025
In this episode, Cierra opens with life updates from Fleet Week in Santa Monica to a graduation celebration back home in Virginia. Inspired by witnessing young Gen Z in their image-making element, she reflects on Lauren Greenfield’s Social Studies exhibition and the ways youth culture is shaping —and unsettling our current moment. Through Greenfield’s lens, Cierra unpacks how social media is redefining identity, aspiration, and the documentation of cultural values.
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55:54
15 October 2025
In this episode, Cierra celebrates completing The Artist’s Way and reflects on what it revealed about her artistic process. She unpacks how research is often limited to scientific models, leaving artistic inquiry undervalued and generally vague. Finally, she explores how our environments shape what we believe to be our “true” gifts—and what it takes to reach the emotional compass that guides our goals.
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44:49
08 October 2025
In this episode, Cierra sits down with her former professor Bruna Montuori for a rich conversation on the evolving dimensions of art direction and creative practice. Together, they explore how research and artistic process are not separate pursuits but deeply intertwined methods of inquiry. The episode closes with a hopeful reflection on how creativity can anchor us through uncertain political times— and knowing when you’re ready for a PhD.
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01:08:41
01 October 2025
In this episode, Cierra explores the tension between institution and industry, reframing career not just as a system of training or practice, but as a discipline of thought to be actively engaged in. She highlights the Institute of Black Imagination as one of the few platforms highlighting the future of cultural production. What if your career wasn’t about output, but about deepening your understanding?
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46:06