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Ideas worth spreading

Sara Reardon is Helping Rethink Postpartum Care With Radical Honesty

3/7/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Sara Reardon sitting by a window looking away from the camera
​Sara Reardon is on a mission to revolutionize the way we approach women’s health with a radical honesty and willingness to openly discuss often-taboo topics. The board-certified women's health physical therapist and doctor of physical therapy started her career in pelvic health in Austin and Dallas before returning to her hometown of New Orleans in 2017.

Today she is the owner of NOLA Pelvic Health, a private practice providing pelvic health physical therapy. Sara specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, including pelvic pain, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and pregnancy and postpartum recovery.  

The TEDxLSU 2019 speaker is also the founder of a popular online resource for pelvic health education that provides telehealth sessions to support, empower and educate women worldwide. Her open and occasionally blunt discussions of rarely discussed women’s health issues have gained her a substantial international following while serving to shine a light on important issues of wellness.

We spoke with Sara ahead of her TEDxLSU talk on March 23 to discuss her work, her life and what people overlook when it comes to women’s health. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

Where are you from originally?
New Orleans. I actually moved away for 17 years and just moved back here about a year and a half ago. I moved away to go to college at Washington University in St. Louis, which is a small private school. Then I stayed there for graduate school, so I was there for seven years.

Katrina happened while I was there. I graduated immediately after and there weren’t very many jobs here, so I moved to Austin for two years and started doing women’s health physical therapy there. Then I moved to Dallas for eight years, and just moved back to New Orleans in 2017 — with my two kids and my husband.

What attracted you to your field?
It’s something that nobody knows about, and I think it’s a much-needed service. We all pee and poop and may have problems with them. Nobody talks about it. I like working in a field where there’s not a lot known but there’s a lot that can be offered. I think to be able to help somebody with something that’s private and intimate but really affects their quality of life is very rewarding.

You’ve said that women’s healthcare needs a revolution. What do you mean by that?
As women having babies we’ve kind of just accepted that these changes in our body are just inevitable, and that’s really not the case. That’s why as a physical therapist I really advocate that women advocate for themselves and say that this isn’t acceptable that I have painful sex years after having a baby or I pee when I run because that’s just the way it’s going to be. We even see these pantyliner commercials that say “little leaks are part of being a woman.” We’ve accepted that as just our destiny as women, but these problems are addressable. There are things we can do versus letting things spiral down until we need surgery or something more aggressive.

Why is it important to talk about healthcare topics that are considered taboo?
We’re talking about them maybe on walks with our girlfriends, we’re giggling about them at dinner or we’re not just talking about them at all — and they really can have a huge impact on quality of life. It can affect marriages, going back to work, going back to exercise, taking care of children. They’re so impactful yet nobody says anything about them. I think why this message has really resonated with women is because they see that, finally, somebody is speaking up about these things that are universal experiences for us.

Are there other women’s healthcare or child care issues that are overlooked?
I think one of the biggest things is immediate postpartum care. We’re sent home from the hospital after just one or two days, then we don’t see a doctor for six weeks. So that whole time frame we get really no support and no guidance. Then after that six-week check up there’s nothing else for maybe a year. There’s just really a huge lack of support there.

Another thing I think is really challenging is that for new moms there’s a lot of pressure to breastfeed. We’re always like “breast is best” and “you have to breastfeed your baby,” but there is zero education and support for moms. And they struggle a lot of the time. They feel like they’re failing as moms, but it’s really the system that’s failing because they’re not getting the support that they need.

What do you do to unplug from work?
I have two kids, so there’s not a ton of time. I try to do Yoga. I read a lot. I like to hang out with my kids and husband and enjoy New Orleans.

I have a really strong spiritual practice as well — in meditation and Buddhist spirituality. That’s really the guiding principle for the way I try to live.  

Do you have any other hobbies or activities?
I like to travel, watch the Saints, workout and spend time with my family and friends and keep life pretty simple. I also do community workshops around New Orleans educating women on pelvic floor health alongside  doulas, fitness instructors and yoga instructors.

What’s your superpower?
Making people feel really comfortable talking about potentially awkward things - like pooping.

To learn more about Sara or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Brandon Ballengée Combines Art and Science in Innovative Ways

3/7/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
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Brandon Ballengée is a visual artist, biologist and environmental educator whose nature-inspired artworks are raising awareness of the human impact on the environment and garnering international acclaim. His artwork has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and internationally in more than 20 countries.

A central focus of his research been the occurrence of developmental deformities and population declines among amphibians and other cold-blooded vertebrates. His book Malamp: The Occurrence of Deformities in Amphibians, was published in 2010, followed by a solo exhibition at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

The 2019 TEDxLSU speaker continued his amphibian research as a visiting scientist at McGill University in Montréal and earned a PhD in Transdisciplinary Art and Biology from Plymouth University in the United Kingdom. Currently, Brandon serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, studying the impact on fishes from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. As an artist, Brandon is inspired by the nature around us and, in turn, is moved to inspire others to appreciate and support the diversity of other species.

“Today’s environmental problems are global in scale and complex,” he says. “To face this milieu of issues, we need the creativity of artists, scientists and those focused on other disciplines combined to creatively address such challenges we and other species currently face.”

Here’s a look at a few of Brandon’s artworks and commentary in his own words. You can learn more about Brandon, his research and his art on the TEDxLSU stage on March 23.
Malamp: Reliquaries
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Image: Cleared and stained Pacific tree frog collected in Aptos, California, in scientific collaboration with Stanley K. Sessions

“These reliquaries are created by chemically “clearing and staining” terminally deformed frogs found in nature. This process obscures direct representation — as I do not want to exhibit large images of “monsters,”which would be frightening and be exploitative to the organisms.

“This process is followed by high-resolution scanner photography of each specimen to create individual portraits. These portraits are printed as unique watercolor ink prints (never made into editions) and each individual frog will be centered appearing to “float” in what looks to be clouds.

“This otherworldly quality is reinforced by the titles named after ancient characters from Greco-Roman mythology. They are scaled so the frogs appear approximately the size of a human toddler, in an attempt to invoke empathy in the viewer instead of detachment or fear. If they are too small they will dismissed but if they are too large they will become monsters. Each finished artwork is unique and never editioned, to recall the individual animal and become a reliquary to a short-lived non-human life.”
Ti-tânes
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“With the Ti-tânes series, I aim to portray ancient animal species, which are able to survive (perhaps even thrive) in habitats environmentally impacted by human activity. Such organisms have endured millions of years and are now adapting to today’s ecological degradation. Symbolically the series is meant to link such animals to archaic lingering nature deities surviving, banished, in now degraded environs. It also references time in the ecological sense through species who have existed for much longer and perhaps will survive much longer than our own.

“As artworks this series began in 2012, where I selected a species that firstly is ancient (in the evolutionary sense) and secondly is able to survive (perhaps even thrive) in habitats environmentally impacted by human activity. Such organisms literally have endured for millions of years and now are adapting to today’s ecological degradation. For the works in this exhibition, three Nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) collected from the a polluted canal in Chamarande (France) were chosen as subjects and carefully stained using Alizarin red dye, which adhered to bone then cleared using digestive enzymes to make surrounding tissues transparent.

“From the biological research side this was done to analyze specimens for any developmental abnormalities that in life we could not have seen. Secondly, this treatment was performed as an artistic choice — as clearing and staining is a way to change the way we are able look at such organisms, how we perceive them- they are abstracted yet made more clear. Next they were photographed on coal (literally fossilized carbon) meant to recall ancient life as well as changes to today’s climate made through the continued burning of such fossil fuels.”

More information.
Ghosts of the Gulf
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Image: RIP Bluntnose Stingray

“The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill was the largest environmental disaster in the history of the United States. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important and biologically diverse environments in the world. It is a nursery for thousands of marine species, and numerous endemic organisms inhabit these warm waters. Gulf seafood is an important source of food for millions of people in North America, and, as marine species migrate following the Gulf Stream, people throughout Europe rely on these fish for protein. As such, the DWH spill could not have occurred at a worse place, from an ecological and economic standpoint.

“These images were made by chemically clearing and staining species collected in the Gulf after the DWH disaster. These species, once common, may now be in decline and are meant to be seen as apparitions. The clearing and staining process involves firstly preserving specimens then placing them in an acid bath with blue stain, which adheres to cartilage. Next the specimens are masticated in a digestive enzyme called trypsin, which begins the clearing of other tissues. Then the specimens are bathed in an alkaline solution with red dye which bonds with bone. The final stages transition the specimens threw a series of baths from Potassium Hydroxide to glycerin whereby the specimen tissues become transparent except for the bones and cartilage, which are vividly dyed red and blue. The final specimen looks like a brightly colored x-ray revealing the complex architectural anatomy of these beautiful and disappearing species.”

More information.


To learn more about Brandon or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience his talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

LSU Professor Lori Latrice Martin Explores The Intersection of Race, Money and College Sports

2/27/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Lori Martin holding a basketball in an office
For LSU African and African American Studies and sociology professor and author Lori Latrice Martin, sports are about far more than entertainment, especially from the perspective of student-athletes. But these sometimes painful challenges for student-athletes are often hidden from fans who see only the competition on the field of play.

A former collegiate athlete herself, Lori uses the lens of sports to study important issues of race, education and class, revealing the ways in which race and sports are related historically and in contemporary times.

Born and raised in Nyack, New York, Lori has published numerous books on race, education and athletics, and is a leading voice on racial disparities in athletic programs and the ongoing debate over the compensation of student-athletes.

Her latest book, Black Women as Leaders: Challenging and Transforming Society, will be published in 2019. In addition to her academic work, Lori is also active in efforts to honor and remember the sacrifices of people of color in their struggles for justice. She played a leading role in the Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project’s recognition of the historic 1953 Baton Rouge bus boycott and has co-authored a book uncovering the history of African Americans in South Baton Rouge.

We recently spoke with Lori ahead of her March 23 TEDxLSU talk about her research, her prolific writing and her life outside of academia. Check out the highlights of the conversation below.

How did you come to study race in athletics? Why do you believe it is such an important topic to explore?
I found that talking about athletics was a great pedagogical strategy for discussing race, which can be a very controversial subject. I also found that many people think they know a lot about race and about sports but few people consider the ways in which race and sports are related historically and in contemporary times.

Are there any lessons from your collegiate sports career that have stuck with you to this day?
I learned that sports are about more than individual contests. Sports is about more than entertainment, especially from the perspective of student-athletes. Being a student-athlete is hard work and sometimes the pain experienced by student-athletes is masked by the enjoyment of the fans.

What is something interesting that you learned through the research of your South Baton Rouge book?
I learned about the historic South Baton Rouge community and its historic role in the global civil rights movement. The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott should be more well known by area residents and the nation as a whole.

What prompted your work with The Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project?
I think it is important to honor and remember the sacrifices of people of color in their struggles for justice. The Toni Morrison Society’s Bench by the Road Project is an important effort to promote the preservation of historical memory for historically marginalized groups.

If you weren’t doing the work you do now, what would you be doing?
I cannot imagine doing anything else. Writing, conducting research, and encouraging people to think critically about seemingly mundane subjects are all really important to me. It is what I do and who I am.  

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I enjoy walking on the treadmill and playing Words with Friends with my uncle and cousin.

Do you have any other hobbies?
I have completed the Louisiana Marathon twice and the Northshore Half Marathon twice. I enjoy completing races for a good cause.

What is your superpower?
My superpower is motherhood. It empowers me with patience, understanding and unconditional love.

To learn more about Lori or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

Researcher Reagan Errera Investigates The Toxic Punch of Algal Blooms And Their Role In Global Climate Change

2/21/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Reagan Errera in a lab, standing next to beakers under a light
In research ecologist Reagan Errera’s opinion, phytoplankton, the microscopic algae and other organisms floating in unfathomable numbers throughout the world’s oceans, don’t get the proper respect they deserve. In reality, these tiny single-celled life forms are just as important as trees, cleaning the air we breathe and impacting the global climate in profound ways.

A native of Florida, Reagan developed a fascination for algae blooms as an undergraduate studying abroad at the University of Queensland in Australia. She continued her passion for ocean science at Texas A&M, earning a master’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and her PhD in Oceanography.

She moved to Baton Rouge in 2014 and worked as an assistant professor in LSU’s School of Renewable Natural Resources. Today she is a research ecologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, researching phytoplankton ecology with a special focus on global climate change and harmful algal species that produce a variety of toxins.

Her research is uncovering the massive impacts some of the planet’s tiniest organisms have on humans and the environment.

We recently chatted with Reagan ahead of her TEDxLSU talk on March 23 to discuss her research, her life and what it was like swimming with whale sharks in Mozambique. Read some highlights of the conversation below.

Why should we be studying harmful algal blooms?
Because they are awesome. Phytoplankton in general get a raw deal — no one really thinks about them or cares about them, though they are just as important as trees and in some cases more so. Harmful algal species are just a subset of phytoplankton, and what sets them apart is their ability to cause detrimental effects to the ecosystem. Only a handful produce toxins — that we are aware of. It’s the toxins that make them unique, and harmful to human, wildlife and ecosystem health.

What is your favorite part of you work?
I love watching students that were not passionate about the subject in the beginning become passionate over the semester based on the knowledge that I’m conveying. It’s amazing to see the light bulb go on and someone understand and make the connections needed to fully grasp ecosystem sciences.

In addition, an important aspect of my work is related to human health, which is why harmful algae are important to understand and recognize their presence. Being able to identify toxins or relate environmental conditions to toxin production and then relay that information to management in order to inform people of potential illness is what drives my work.

Tell us about your work in Mozambique and your association with All Out Africa.
All Out Africa is an amazing organization, one of their main goals is to educate individuals around the world about natural resource conservation in Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana and South Africa. The key to this is working with individuals in each country — so it is not South Africans coming into Mozambique teaching and promoting conservation, but Mozambicans.

In 2016, I bought my first study abroad class — only 3 students — over to Tofo and started a research project looking at the harmful algal bloom species Pseudo-nitzshia, which was mentioned to be in the area through other research, although not explored further.

I could not do this work with out All Out Africa’s support. Without their support and partnership, it would be difficult to relay the findings of the work back to the people of Mozambique, as I mentioned earlier, due to human health aspect of working with toxic algae, that relationship and communication is key. Working with people on the ground that are vested in the work but also curious has been key to my success.

What was it like to swim with whale sharks?
It’s surreal. I think that’s the best way to put it. Most of the whale sharks in the area are juvenile so not fully grown — yet they are still huge. You feel so small next to them, though they are so peaceful swimming and basically ignoring you in the water. Watching them feed is my favorite part because they have all these cleaner fish hanging out with them. As a phytoplankton ecologist, I often have to pinch myself when I get the chance to swim with them or with Giant Manta Rays, which are highly impressive as well.  

What is your philosophy or approach when performing research in a community?
Working with individuals within the community is important. When working with other harmful algal bloom (HAB) species within the US, I always consulted local members of the fishing community or general public. This approach can help you understand the history of the area and where blooms maybe occurring but also helps build a relationship with the people within the community where you can relay information back. Without the help of people on the ground and the community “buying in” to what you are studying, biological oceanographic studies would be hindered due to lack of local knowledge. This is true in developed world, but is of utmost importance in the developing world.

Many studies and researchers in developing countries come into a country, do a study and move on. This can be do to a number of factors including lack of funding, lack of access, graduate students finishing projects and so on. Due to the short time scale of these projects, most researchers aren’t able to develop long-term relationships with the community. The issue with this is that very little knowledge is passed on to the community in which the study was completed, this in many ways is a helicopter researcher.

I have made it a point in the last three years to build relationships with the people of Praia do Tofo, such as Peri Peri Divers, in addition to working with All Out Africa, who has a constant presences within the area. I can not be present in the community all the time therefore I relay on these relationships to transfer the knowledge and information back to the people of Tofo.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
Lego’s with my kid. I love to organize them, its my zen time.

To learn more about Reagan or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.

5 Reasons Not To Miss TEDxLSU on March 23

2/18/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
TEDxLSU logo

This March 23, TEDxLSU welcomes 12 new Talks to its growing idea library from artists, scientists, forward-thinkers and change catalysts that have shared their knowledge on the TEDxLSU stage.

The seventh annual event, held at the at the LSU Union Theater, is an immersive, day-long, intellectual experience for our Baton Rouge community.

Although the big day is rapidly approaching, there is still time to reserve your seat. Here are five reasons why you don’t want to miss out on this truly unique and illuminating community event.

Illuminating Science Talks
TEDxLSU has a long history of highlighting some of the brightest and most innovative scientific minds in and from the Southern Louisiana community — and our 2019 lineup is no exception.

This year evolutionary biologist and paleontologist Emma Schachner will highlight her research investigating how the specialized dinosaur lung may have helped the ancient creatures take over the planet and thrive for millions of years in a low-oxygen environment.

Brandon Ballengée — a visual artist, biologist and environmental educator whose nature-inspired artworks are raising awareness of the human impact on the environment and garnering international acclaim — will detail his “love motels for bugs” project.

Research ecologist Reagan Errera will tell us why phytoplankton is an important factor in global climate change.

Geographer Clay Tucker will explain how he uses tree rings to tell stories of Louisiana’s environmental past.

​Organic chemist and science communicator
Rolanda Wilkerson will shine a light on the science of beauty.


And LSU professor and researcher Juan Martinez will share his groundbreaking work on antibiotic resistance.

Old-World Circus Performer LadyBEAST
LadyBEAST in front of a curtain, sitting in a chair that is balanced on its back legs
New Orleans-based circus artist LadyBEAST, who has been wowing crowds across the country with amazing performances (she is the first woman to perform an escape from a strait jacket dangling below a hot air balloon), will hit the TEDxLSU stage March 23.

A specialist in Houdini-esque illusions, aerial displays and bottle walking, LadyBEAST’s dedication, skill and artistry are helping keep the magic and spectacle of old-world circus performance alive in modern times, while inspiring others to do amazing things of their own. You won’t want to miss her combination talk/performance on the TEDxLSU stage.

Connect With Other Interesting People
TEDxLSU — like all TEDx events — is not organized for political reasons, monetary reward or personal gain. Everyone associated with TEDxLSU does so because they believe in the power of ideas to ignite progress. Much like TED Conferences, TEDx events are centered on big ideas and inspiring talks intended to spark deep discussion and connection among participants — that includes you!

Our hope is that the ideas featured on the TEDxLSU stage and among our attendees spur conversation and action in our community.

Something for Everyone
TEDxLSU participants, speakers, volunteers, and organizers come from all walks of life — business, non-profits, art, education, technology and more. This year’s speaker lineup features a huge range of speakers, from scientific trailblazers to illuminating storytellers.

LSU librarians, Sarah Simms and Hayley Johnson, are uncovering the human stories of WWII internment camps in Louisiana.


Clothing designer and educator Andrea Eastin is demystifying the unseen forces behind mass-produced clothing

Physical therapist Sara Reardon is on a mission to revolutionize the way we approach women’s health, and she’ll tell us why that matters to everyone.

LSU African and African American Studies and sociology professor and author Lori Latrice Martin will dive into the complex and controversial world of compensating college athletes — and how race plays a role.


And Queer Black artist, activist and writer Nalo Zidan will share how she’s highlighting the nuanced lived experiences of masculine-identified women and nonbinary people.

An Exclusive After Party
Reserving your seat to TEDxLSU gives you a few perks, and one of our favorites is exclusive access to the TEDxLSU after-party hosted at Tin Roof. With brews and bites, games, good conversation — and for the first time ever, exclusive brewery tours to areas of the facility the public has never seen before — you won't want to miss this part of the TEDxLSU experience.

What can you expect at TEDxLSU 2019? Think high-energy. Think community. Think creativity. Think illuminating ideas.

Reserve your seat today.

To learn more about the speakers TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

​

Clothing Designer and Educator Andrea Eastin Reveals the Secrets Behind Mass-Produced Clothing

2/15/2019

 
Words by: Jeremy Harper
Photo by: Heather J. McClelland
Andrea Eastin standing in a studio, leaning against a dress form
Clothing designer, educator and TEDxLSU 2019 speaker Andrea Eastin is demystifying the unseen forces behind mass-produced clothing and helping others create their own attire truly designed for their bodies and lifestyle.

Andrea has honed her practice via her clothing design practice, sewing in the film industry and private consulting positions, but her roots in maker communities keep her passionate about illuminating clothing and our relationship with it. Today she is the owner, designer and educator of Fair Fit Studio, a sewing studio in Baton Rouge that offers personalized instruction on how to sew and make your own clothing.

Andrea teaches sewing instruction for students at all levels of experience, from absolute beginner to seasoned sewers seeking more advanced methodologies. She holds a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Fiber and Material Studies from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and has worked in various fashion creation, presentation and curation capacities in the making and business of clothing.

Through her teaching and advocacy, Andrea is raising awareness of the environmental and human implications of off-the-rack clothing while empowering people to understand the concepts, systems and mechanics behind clothes so they are inspired to engage their own creations.

We recently spoke with Andrea ahead of her March 23 TEDxLSU talk about her work, her life and how she’s teaming up with other businesses to help creative entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge. Check out the highlights of the conversation below.

Where in Iowa are you from?
I grew up in Madison County, on a farm near Winterset. This area is famous for the Bridges of Madison County, and it has always been a craft and quilt community, before crafting and quilting was the maker phenomenon that it is today.

What prompted you to start making your own clothes?
I fell in love with sewing when I was around 6 because I’d watch my mom make me things. I also was very much into clothing and fashion even though I was living in Iowa before the internet and the clothes I saw in magazines were not easy to find there.

If I had an idea for a garment I wanted to own and wear, I had to make it. I began fumbling my way through sewing patterns around age 11 or 12 and learned I had to customize them to make them look the way that I envisioned. I kept sewing my own clothes or customizing my thrift store finds into adulthood. If I had an idea for something I wanted to wear, I would make it. To me this was a life skill that came naturally and was a fun way to make my own personalized and unique wardrobe.

What is the most difficult type of garment to make?
I’ve sewn for over 20 years, so by now I take my knowledge a little bit for granted because I make everything, and am not scared to try something hard because even if I fail, I know I gain more mastery. Since I sew primarily for myself or to learn methods of construction to teach to my students, I don’t have the added pressure of someone else’s expectation of the garments final outcome — that’s what’s hard.

Sewing is a series of steps that if you do in the right order, you will get a great result. It is challenging to master the precision as to how you hold the cloth, how you mold a 2-dimensional piece of fabric into a 3D garment — and those are skills that with dedication, patience and regular practice, you will acquire over time.

What is your favorite aspect of your work?
To me the fun part is thinking through a garment’s purpose, by carefully considering why am I making it and how to make it more personalized. I love to think about an item of clothing’s story, and the character who would wear it, so when I am designing an item for either my wardrobe or my clothing line, I’m selecting the materials, sewing methods and design of the pattern to reflect that character and make sure that the garment serves me.

You can do this by thinking through the garment’s color, what red means instead of pink, or by thinking about the garment’s physiologies. A certain kind of collar is professional, while another one is more playful. The pattern of the cloth is important too- plaids and stripes mean different things than say birds and cat fabric. This is the playful part, mashing up all of these meanings into one item of clothing. It’s like you turn the life skill of sewing into a superpower when you learn your own customization methods and intentions.

What do you do to relax and unplug from your work?
I really love caring for my amazing and supportive husband and our two cats (I adore my cats, they help me unwind and force me to sit still.) I like to cook and read a lot. And I love my neighborhood pilates and yoga studio (I’m in Mid City). I try to go there 4-5 days a week because its my favorite way to decompress and let go of any stress or worry that I’m carrying from a day.

What’s the mission of the creative business group you founded?
I volunteer my time once a month in a private business group that I co-founded with another local business owner. It’s small — there are six businesses in the group and they are all in Baton Rouge and in the creative fields. They either make their own products or sell creative services.

My cofounder and I felt that they didn’t teach us enough business practices in art school and that we needed a place to run ideas past other risk takers. We share our collective knowledge and experience, and focus our meetings in business education and growth. Each month we try to choose topics we can all learn and apply in our businesses. I personally love every business in our group and want them all to succeed here in Baton Rouge.

To learn more about Andrea or about TEDxLSU 2019, follow TEDxLSU on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Reserve your seat now to experience her talk, as well as the talks of all of the other TEDxLSU 2019 speakers.
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