Photographer Gioncarlo Valentine on Being Desperate to Write

Welcome to the CHANNELING PODCAST, a conversation series with fascinating, creative people about the cosmic seam that runs between creativity and wellness.

Hi Channelers!

Today is verrrrrry exciting because it is the debut of a new audio project that I’ve been experimenting with that will primary be for paid subscribers (largely because it costs money to make.) Think of these first few installments as pilots - they are a bit raw, a little rough and still coming together. Unlike some of my past audio ventures, I’m doing this one solo, so I appreciate your patience while I remember my sea legs and figure out what this thing ultimately looks like.

My first guest is Gioncarlo Valentine, an image maker and writer whose work always pries the lid off of some tightly-sealed vault inside of me, releasing emotions I didn’t even know I had. Their images stun.

Just Thoughtful Enough to Be Touched, Gioncarlo Valentine

Kiese Laymon, author of the award-winning “Heavy,” once noted that “Valentine has allowed us space to occupy photographs in the way we actually occupy life: fearfully stylized.” I’ve also recently come to know them as a beautiful writer, whose text deploys the same disarming methodology as their images: Unexpectedly and completely. We chat about the importance of quiet morning moments, the allure (and terror) of practicing criticism and the portals that cause immediate and irreversible destruction to the tender creative flame (spoiler alert: it’s Instagram).