#18 Be Kind for Real

A story about Daniela Groza, an artist and taxi driver in New York City rising to the challenges presented by coronavirus in pretty intense situations.

Show Notes

“I was thinking about the Be Kind for Real performance I do to create space. It’s become increasingly important for me to come to the point of no real judgment. I can have opinions, but fundamentally I aim to be less and less judgmental. I’ve seen myself evolve in the performance.
I have realized the importance of being present with someone. Listening to their story without judgment and coming in with little desire to preach or give advice. And offer energy that makes the other person feel comfortable to open up that they will walk out of our meeting with strength and joy to meet the world. It gives me goosebumps when I think about it.” —Daniela Groza

Welcome to an in-depth talk with multi-media artist Daniela Groza. She is a photographer, writer, performance artist, cook, and more. You might know her from Be Kind for Real, her centerpiece project that fosters kindness and acceptance through art. She speaks about how this project came to be, how it’s evolved, and how she’s changed with it.

In this crazy, strange time, let’s talk about creativity. How might we access it? How might we use our creative juices to feed back into the communities and causes we care about? What are some of the tensions we’re experiencing?

You will hear all about Daniela’s adventures driving Uber and getting nurses to work, all the while trying to keep herself and her home safe from the Coronavirus. Masks, plastic gloves, and hand sanitizer are a rarity. She’s on the road with her camera, documenting empty streets and taking notes about her passengers. Amongst all this, Daniela embodies a down to earth humor that completely disarms you and pulls you in. She’s an incredible storyteller, and this conversation is no exception.

Inside the Episode

Find Daniela Groza at https://www.instagram.com/bekindforreal/

Our theme music is by Ben Tyree, and he tweets at https://twitter.com/BenTyree

Follow Blissfully Aware host Ioana Friedman at https://twitter.com/IoanaFriedman

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Blissfully Aware is the first podcast series from The Daring. We help organizations of all shapes and sizes cultivate audience affinity through creative strategy, design, and storytelling. Looking for some creative help with your transformation? Visit https://www.thedaring.co

What is Blissfully Aware?

A limited series audio magazine exploring creativity and rooting into purpose even when we’re out on a limb. Featuring stories from creative minds including visual storytellers, music artists, writers, and curators diving into the ebbs and flows of their creative process.