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by Bri + Sam
Welcome to Down the Rabbit Hole—a podcast where two artists, best friends, and lifelong seekers wander into the depths of what it means to be fully alive.We're not here to give you answers. We're here to ask better questions. About art, about grief, about the body, about love, longing, leaving, and everything in between.In this space, we dive into the tender, the taboo, and the beautifully unhinged parts of being human. Sometimes it's a conversation between just the two of us. Sometimes we bring on fellow artists, mystics, bodyworkers, and thought-shapers—who help us see with softer eyes. Always, we're chasing wonder. And curiosity So if you crave the kind of conversations that feel like late-night walks or a dinner conversation amongst friends Come with us. We're going down the rabbit hole.
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What if we've been getting matriarchy all wrong? In this potent episode, we go down the rabbit hole of matriarchy: where it appears throughout history, how its meaning has been distorted by the narratives we inherit, and what gets lost when we stop questioning who gets to define power in the first place. We unpack the distinction between matriarchy and egalitarianism, exploring what it might look like to move beyond hierarchies of domination altogether and toward a world built on reciprocity, autonomy, and collective power. But what does that actually look like in a world as massive, complex, and overwhelming as ours? How do we take the small, localized examples of more equitable ways of living and imagine something that scales? And how do we avoid becoming so consumed by the enormity of the problem that we forget our own capacity to create change? We get into the radical importance of critical and creative thinking, self-sustainability, questioning the stories we've been handed, and reclaiming our personal power in the places where we actually have agency: our homes, our relationships, our communities, and the choices we make every day. Because maybe the answer isn't waiting for the entire world to change. Maybe it starts with remembering that we have the power to shape the worlds we inhabit. A hopeful, honest conversation about history, power, possibility, and what it means to build a different kind of future, starting right where we are. References: Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, Tribe by Sebastian Junger You can find more of our work and join us out in the world on an upcoming retreat via instagram @thebodyistheblueprint + website TheBodyistheBlueprint.com, Sam's work: @sruetercreates on instagram + SRueterArt.com. Bri's work: @artbybri on instagram + ArtbyBri.com
After returning home from the Tour du Mont Blanc and settling back into life together in Boston, Sam and Bri unpack the strange emotional whiplash of transitioning from an intense, immersive adventure back into ordinary life. What begins as a series of hilarious stories about jet lag, Chili's, getting lost, peeing their pants, and sleeping for 14 hours eventually opens into a much deeper conversation about fear, identity, creativity, aging, capitalism, surveillance, social media, and the desperate need for real human experience. Bri reflects on the fear that comes with being in a transitional period of her artistic life: without her own studio, with her art practice temporarily taking a backseat to building The Body is the Blueprint. They question the capitalist pressure to constantly prove your identity through productivity and remind themselves that creativity can take many forms and move through different seasons. From there, the conversation expands into a broader fear around surveillance and the loss of unobserved life. They talk about social media, AI, cameras, the performance of self online, and what it means for younger generations to grow up constantly aware that they could be filmed, documented, and judged. Then the convo takes a turn, confronting one of the most complicated pressures facing women: aging and the desire to remain desirable. Sam talks candidly about watching her face and body change, questioning cosmetic procedures, and wrestling with the tension between wanting to make choices for herself while also knowing that her visibility can influence how other women — especially younger women — see themselves. Rather than offering an easy answer, they sit inside the contradiction: women deserve agency over their bodies, while also living inside a culture that profits enormously from their insecurity. Ultimately, the episode becomes an exploration of how to remain human in a world increasingly designed around performance, productivity, algorithms, aesthetics, and perception. Follow us on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/@thebodyistheblueprint Follow their retreat community: https://www.thebodyistheblueprint.com Follow Bri's Art: https://www.instagram.com/artbybri Follow Sam's Art: https://www.instagram.com/sruetercreates Follow Sam's Substack: https://samrueter.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips 00:00 Welcome Back and Exciting Changes 02:26 Life After the TMB Adventure 05:02 Cinematic Reflections: The Odyssey Experience 07:36 The Quirks of Everyday Life 10:36 Navigating New Roles and Relationships 13:46 The Struggles of Transitioning Back Home 16:40 Artistic Identity and Creative Flow 22:28 Facing Fears and Embracing Change 32:41 The Fear of Surveillance and Its Impact 36:34 The Loss of Authenticity in Human Experience 44:18 Aging and the Pressure of Beauty Standards 52:58 Finding Joy in Nature and Real Experiences
We actually survived the Tour du Mont Blanc, all 115 miles of it. In this episode, we strip away the more polished, aesthetic ideals of completing a trek of this magnitude, and we talk about the real, the gritty, and the type of silly goosery born out of a physical exhaustion that is hard to articulate. We were out there for 10 days and we're still processing it. The Swiss, French, and Italian Alps delivered the jaw-dropping immersion we came for, and with those highs can come some pretty grueling lows as well. We discuss how we handled some of the hardest moments, as well as describing in detail the old-school mountain refugios we stayed in, the questionable bathrooms and sleeping arrangements, and the relentless and bizarre food cravings. Sam gets radically honest about conquering this brutal physical feat while managing stage 4 endometriosis, and how having her dad step in as the ultimate support system proved that deep vulnerability can heal and transform relationships you thought were set in stone. We explore the tremendous pain and emotional thresholds of women both on and off the trail, plus Bri's tactical, sleep-deprived battle for window ventilation against a very stubborn, very stinky Frenchman in one of the dormitories. <div class="" data-bfc="" data-ved= "2ahUKEwj_jZXajpKWAxV0lIkEHTES
In this little re-connection episode, Bri and Sam discuss the ebbs and flows of the creative process: what it looks like to navigate transition, creative cycles, and how to embody the artist identity, even when you are stepped away from the work. Bri shares more about how her solo travel time is impacting her creative process, while Sam shares this year's big integration of a move and how that has prevented more work from being made. At the end of it all, they lean into the deep trust for the creative process, why connecting to your own divinity is essential to creative power, and so much more! A great episode for any artist who finds themselves asking, "Am I still an artist if I'm not making work?" To find our retreats and communal offerings: @thebodyistheblueprint and thebodyistheblueprint.com For more of Sam's Figurative Work: Instagram, Substack, Website For more of Bri's Figurative Work: Instagram, Website 00:00 Exploring the Beauty of Scotland 09:46 The Duality of Travel and Creativity 20:15 Navigating Change and Creative Process 29:30 The Essence of Creativity and Human Connection 32:30 The Rhythm of Creativity 34:08 Nature and Flow States 38:21 Self-Worth and Connection 40:02 Art as a Reflection of Life 43:41 The Power of Storytelling 47:24 Women Supporting Women 50:08 Travel and New Experiences 52:27 Navigating Chronic Endo Health and Adventure
This week, we're joined by friend, creative collaborator, and wildly talented musician Hannah Wicklund, for a conversation recorded from Edinburgh, Scotland. We celebrate the launch of her latest creative endeavor, the Strawberry Moon Tribune, a new print publication featuring contributions from Sam, Bri, and dozens of other creatives, and discuss the importance of creating spaces where artists can amplify one another's voices. We also dive into Hannah's remarkable self-made journey, from touring throughout her teens and twenties, to recently performing in Jimi Hendrix's London flat, to redefining her career on her own terms. Together, we explore creative reinvention, what real power looks like, and the importance of building what doesn't yet exist so we can create the lives, careers, and communities we truly want. A conversation about self-trust, collaboration, and the future possibilities once women begin relying on themselves and each other. Learn more about Hannah and follow along with her exciting new album release and magazine: www.hannahwicklund.com and on instagram @HannahWicklund Join our community or come on one of our upcoming global retreats at www.TheBodyistheBlueprint.com and on instagram @thebodyistheblueprint Sam's work: www.Srueterart.com | www.substack.com/@sruetercreates | @sruetercreates Bri's work: www.ArtbyBri.com | @artbybri 00:00 Hannah's Musical Journey and Accolades 06:25 Connections and Bonding Experiences 09:14 Finding Balance in Touring and Health 12:50 The Creative Process: Cocoon Phase and Authenticity 17:36 Uncovering Industry Challenges and Female Empowerment 20:52 The Dark Side of Fame 25:50 Breaking Free from the Industry's Chains 27:36 Reclaiming Power and Control 31:42 Trusting Yourself in a Corrupt System 36:16 Redefining Power and Wealth 38:14 Perseverance and Optimism in Adversity 39:15 Creative Collaboration and Community Building 40:20 The Power of Uplifting Others 43:47 The Importance of Connection and Shared Experiences 48:00 Navigating Personal Growth and Female Empowerment 48:51 The Intentionality Behind Art and Music 52:20 Rolling Out New Music with Purpose
In this episode, Sam and Bri go down the rabbit hole of hypervigilence as a woman, and the many facets and identities that can form because of it. They unpack the experience of hosting their Paris retreat, the contrast between American culture and European ways of living, and the tension many women feel between presence and productivity while traveling. Bri shares more about her current solo travel adventures in Europe, and the noticing of hypervigilence, protection, and what it looks like to balance all of that... how women are conditioned to anticipate everyone else's needs, overperform emotionally, and struggle to feel truly safe enough to rest. They share more about how women's retreats are the antedote for this constant scanning that women do, and the amount of exhaustion it can place on our lives. Sam dives into more personal details on her emotional hypervigilence as a recovering co-dependant, and how the passing of her Dog while in Paris brought more of this to the surface. The second half of the episode shifts into creativity, artistic evolution, and spirituality. Sam shares reflections on artistic growth, navigating critique, and the emotional resilience required to keep creating publicly. Together, they discuss the ways spiritual rituals, grounding practices, and intentional living can reconnect us to ourselves amidst uncertainty. Ultimately, the episode becomes a conversation about reclaiming aliveness....through travel, art, community, rest, and learning how to exist without constantly bracing for impact. 00:00 Lost in Paris: A Podcast Mishap 02:29 Reflections on the Paris Retreat 05:03 Cultural Observations: Americans Abroad 07:28 Traveling with Purpose: The Retreat Experience 09:26 The Launch of New Retreats 10:54 Finding Balance in Travel and Life 13:35 The Scarcity Mindset in Travel 15:42 The Importance of Community and Support 18:03 Self-Discovery Through Solo Travel 21:28 Navigating Social Anxiety and Openness 23:36 The Impact of Hypervigilance on Women 25:51 Creating Safe Spaces for Women 28:58 The Burden of Emotional Labor 31:36 Learning to Rest and Let Go 33:09 Understanding Hypervigilance and Relationships 36:25 The Connection Between Hypervigilance and High Performance 38:41 Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Coddling 41:49 The Importance of Self-Safety 45:06 Navigating Relationships and Expectations 48:21 Navigating Life's Uncertainties 52:19 The Weight of Hypervigilance 55:59 Artistic Growth and Learning 01:02:25 The Impact of Critique on Creativity 01:09:10 Embracing Spiritual Practices 01:13:27 Finding Grounding in Rituals
We're recording live from Ledger Studio in Paris while we prepare to lead a creative retreat, reflecting on the strange and beautiful paths that creativity can pull us down when we actually listen to it, and follow the threads. In this episode, we share a few ridiculous moments from life on the road, the unexpected places creativity has taken us, and how learning to trust your intuition can completely reshape both your art and your life. We explore what it means to follow the thread as artists, even when the next step doesn't fully make sense yet, and how that willingness can lead to the most unexpected places. 00:00 Welcome to Paris: Setting the Scene 01:51 The Reality of Travel: Glamour vs. Exhaustion 05:56 Creativity and Intuition: Following the Threads 09:06 Micro Decisions: The Power of Small Choices 11:53 Trusting Your Intuition: The Creative Journey 15:04 Origin Stories: The Importance of Your Journey 17:43 Rediscovering the Artistic Thread 20:44 The Impact of Travel on Artistic Growth 25:42 The Power of Following Intuition 31:02 Embracing the Unconventional Journey 38:27 Healing Through Ritual and Community
We're introducing Body Is the Blueprint, our new embodiment institute born from years of navigating the art world, questioning stability, and redefining what it means to build a sustainable creative life. In this episode, we unpack the myth of the "fragile artist," share the moments where conscious embodiment shifted our lives, and explore how learning to trust the body became the foundation for everything we've created. This is the origin story, not just of a business, but of a new way of living, creating, and leading. This episode is the beginning of something new. We're sharing the story behind Body Is the Blueprint, how our experiences as artists, the challenges of being taken seriously, and the deeper pull toward embodiment led us here. It's about the moments that shaped us, the risks we took, and the inner knowing we learned to trust. If you've ever felt the tension between creativity and visibility, this is for you. 00:00 Introduction and Exciting Announcement 03:34 The Launch of 'The Body is the Blueprint' 07:26 The Misunderstanding of Multi-Dimensional Creativity 11:09 The Fear of Being Taken Seriously as an Artist 14:23 Outsourcing Life Decisions and Its Consequences 18:27 The Journey of Embodiment and Disconnection 23:06 The Power of Community and Women Gathering 27:02 The Creative Piece in Embodiment 31:14 Confidence Through Movement and Art 34:59 The Political Nature of Disembodiment 38:05 Reconnecting with the Body 43:13 The Power of Community and Shared Experiences 47:17 Moments of Awakening and Transformation 54:04 Embodiment and Personal Truth 59:12 Cultural Disconnection and the Quest for Identity 01:03:07 Exploring Whimsy and Animal Archetypes
Welcome to Down the Rabbit Hole—a podcast where two artists, best friends, and lifelong seekers wander into the depths of what it means to be fully alive.We're not here to give you answers. We're here to ask better questions. About art, about grief, about the body, about love, longing, leaving, and everything in between.In this space, we dive into the tender, the taboo, and the beautifully unhinged parts of being human. Sometimes it's a conversation between just the two of us. Sometimes we bring on fellow artists, mystics, bodyworkers, and thought-shapers—who help us see with softer eyes. Always, we're chasing wonder. And curiosity So if you crave the kind of conversations that feel like late-night walks or a dinner conversation amongst friends Come with us. We're going down the rabbit hole.
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