In the Making with Mander is a podcast that explores the inner worlds of artists, their creative processes and personal journeys.
It's like eavesdropping on two artists having a cup of coffee and getting real about their lives.
Join artist and arts leader Amanda Perry (aka Mander) as she dives into the joys, struggles, and revelations of making art and growing as artists.
Be sure to subscribe and join us for the journey. Find “In the Making With Mander” on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and wherever else you may get your podcasts.
Click the images below to watch podcast episodes on my YouTube channel!
In this debut episode of In the Making with Mander, I sit down with my dear friend Tiana to explore the root of who I am as an artist. From childhood memories and early creative sparks to the work I create today, we trace the threads that have shaped who I am as an artist. We talk about my process of making and working with natural inks, the emotional and symbolic connections I build through natural materials, and how mixed media helps me tell deeper, more layered stories. This is the beginning of something meaningful—a look at the why behind my work.
This one's a quickie 😊 Tiana Correa is with me again. We're going to talk about the three solo shows Mander has opening in 2025. We're talking about sexy titles, how art looks like pies, and divorce art. Each show this year is a completely different body of work. What was I thinking?!
What happens when two abstract artists — one a painter, one a composer — interpret the same story through different mediums? In this episode of In the Making with Mander, I sit down with jazz saxophonist and composer Nick Biello to talk about our collaboration on Before the Flood, a powerful and personal piece that started as sound and became a 20-foot painted scroll made with handmade inks inspired by ancient civilizations. We dive into the abstract nature of instrumental music and intuitive art, the deep trust involved in creative translation, and the magic of feeling truly seen in your work. We also talk about being present, letting go in the creative process, and how collaboration can unlock layers in your own practice you didn’t know were there.
I'm sitting down with artist and musician Andy Sorenson to explore the transformative and deeply personal ways art can heal, connect, and inspire the artist and the audience. We talk about getting uncomfortable making art and what happens when you challenge yourself to go to the places you didn't even realize you could go. Whether you’re an artist yourself, finding your path in art, or looking for inspiration, Andy’s reflections will leave you feeling grounded, hopeful, and ready to embrace what life throws at you, through art.
In this episode, I sit down on the couch with Mercury, an artist based in Hartford who stands out to me as a creative mind who sees and works with art like no one else I know. We talk about what it means to make art in Hartford, the fight for artist rights, and Mercury's own experiences where boundaries were crossed. We also dig into the complicated reality of public art, its purpose, and gentrification. Mercury keeps things mysterious, but one thing’s certain: they don’t hold back. This conversation is real, and bound to get people talking.
In this episode of In the Making with Mander, I sit down with musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Brandon Serafino to talk about the inspiration that can be found where you’re rooted. Brandon shares how his artistic roots connect him to community and the evolution so many artists go through with time, practice and maturity. We talk about building a creative life here in Hartford, engaging in the art scene beyond Connecticut’s Capitol City, and why teaching the next generation of musicians is central to his practice. This is a conversation about where art begins, how it grows, and the roots that keep us grounded.
In the first episode of 2026, I sit down with my friend Kolton Harris (Auston Phoenix) to talk about what it’s really like to navigate finding yourself as an artist. The quiet doubts and comparisons, the inspiration, and working around the blocks.
What does it look like to be unapologetically yourself as an artist? There are a lot of pressures out there to be like other artists, fit into an expectation, or conform to social norms. Grammy award-winning vocalist, lyricist, coach, and inspiration, Charmagne Tripp talks with me about being grown and grounded.
In this episode, I sit down with bandleader, composer, and drummer Jonathan Barber to talk about what it means to know your “why,” and how a clear sense of purpose shapes you as an artist. We also talk about life on the road, traveling the world, his band Vision Ahead, and how it feels to take your time when recording an album or making any kind of art. Of course we talk about the gym and going after them gains.
“In the Making with Mander” is produced by Tim Weisman with videography by Nivia Easterling