Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with one of the most influential members of the American studio pottery movement, Warren Mackenzie. After an early apprenticeship at the Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall (1949-1952), Mackenzie became a ceramic professor at the University of Minnesota (1953-1990).

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Sarah Millfelt. As director of the Northern Clay Center, Sarah has been instrumental in the development of new programs like MN NICE, as well as ongoing projects like the American Pottery Festival.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Amy Santoferraro. Her colorful mixed media sculptures spring from a lifelong desire to collect and rearrange groups of objects. She says of her collections, “I relentlessly tinker with objects ceramicly until they fit and work in a way that is very mine.“ In the interview we talk about collecting, keeping work fresh, and seeking wonder in everyday life. 

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a panel discussion with Eileen Cohen, Julianne Shibata, and Samuel Johnson. In our broad ranging conversation we discuss their personal histories, Minnesota clay culture, and understanding the impact of new technologies. This episode was taped in front of a live studio audience at the Northern Clay Center.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a panel discussion on ceramic education with Ursula Hargens , Dustin Yager, Dawn Malcolm, and Juss Heinsalu. Hargens is a ceramic artist, educator, and founder of the Minnesota New Institute for Ceramic Education. This nine-month studio intensive offers advanced students an in-depth study of ceramic history, professional practices and critical thinking. 

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Aaron Nelson. Throughout a multifaceted career Aaron has mixed new digital technologies with a ceramic practice to create both sculpture and vessels. In addition to his studio practice Aaron is the artistic director of Medalta in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Clint Neufeld. Based in Osler, Saskatchewan, Clint utilizes large-scale slip casting to construct sculptural hybrids that reference the tools of heavy industry. 

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Walter Ostrom. One of the early adopters of earthenware Majolica pottery in North America, Walter has been a major influence on generations of ceramic artists. Through his almost forty year teaching career at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design he upheld functional ceramics as a conceptually rich medium that deserved equal footing in academia.

Today on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with Joan Bruneau and Jim Smith. Both are based in close proximity to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, where they use local terra cotta clay to make highly decorated functional pottery.

Today’s Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast episode features a conversation about the history of craft on Prince Edward Island with Henry Purdy, Ian Scott, Daphne Large Scott and Suzanne Scott. We talk about a wide range of topics including the back to the land movement, the School of Visual Arts at Holland College and the evolution of the Village Pottery.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler I have an interview with Alex Kraft and Tony Merino. Both are established ceramic artists and co-curators of the exhibition 50 Women: A Celebration of Women in Ceramics. In the interview we talk about gender, dismantling hierarchies, and the challenges of curating a large scale exhibition. 

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with ceramic artist Richard Burkett. Spanning a 45 year career in clay, Richard has been a studio potter, sculptor, author, and educator. In the interview we talk about his travels to Ecuador, his teaching philosophy, and the creation of the glaze calculation software Hyperglaze.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with ceramic artist Shannon Sullivan. Her sculptural and installation works are inspired by mineralogy, microbiology and other scientific interpretations of the natural world. 

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with ceramic artist Forrest Middelton. Utilizing screen printing techniques Forrest has developed rich repeat patterns that show the influence of Iznik decorative art, as well as other middle eastern traditions.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with Paul Blais. Along with being an experienced podcaster, consultant, and podcast marketer, Paul has had a career in electrical contracting and lighting design. 

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with Nigel and Cheyenne Rudolph. Both ceramic artists have roots in functional pottery but incorporate their experience in other professions into their ceramic work.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast I have an interview with Jim Skutt. After an early career away from the family business, Jim returned to the kiln company in 1987 where he has been an integral part ever since.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler podcast we feature a special 100th episode with Mark Shapiro interviewing TRCR host Ben Carter. In the interview we talk about making a career in ceramics, the origin story of the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler and the archetypes people inhabit within the clay world.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have an interview with ceramic artist and educator Joe Bova. Using biomorphic and zoomorphic subject matter, Joe creates hollow formed ceramic sculpture that serves as a vehicle for political, social and mythical narratives.

This week on the Tales of a Red Clay Rambler Podcast I have a panel discussion with Jason Burnett, Sunshine Cobb, and Doug Peltzman. Our conversation covers many topics including seeking sources for constructive criticism, reevaluating life goals after accruing academic debt, and defining success early in a career.