We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Dubner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
One of my teachers says, “Creative energy is powerful. If you don’t use it, it will use you.” This has certainly been the case for me! When I’m not creating or nurturing my inner artist, I get pretty spicy and scattered. I start focusing on what’s not going “right”. But when I’m channeling my energy into creating, whether I’m devising my solo show, co-creating a breathwork session with a client, or crafting a delicious meal, I feel at home. I move into a more present, playful, and proud state where I feel less consumed by fear. It doesn’t mean every step of my creative process is joyful giggles with brilliance flying out. (I wish!) It’s often showing up, being honest with what’s here — maybe some stickiness or deep desire, then honoring it by creating with it and letting go of the results.

Ultimately, I believe creating is a process of transformation and integration that puts us in touch with our power. We shift from consuming life to co-creating with life. For me, the process has helped me make sense of our world. And working with my clients, I’ve watched them come to life as they listen to their desires, express their truth, and shift their reality.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Professionally, I’m grateful to be both creating my own work and supporting folks in actualizing their own creative projects.

Right now, I’m in my final quarter of grad school for acting and am revising a workshop-experience. It has elements of movement, sounding, games, and slam poetry. So far, it’s hella weird, intense, vulnerable, and wild.

In the piece, I’ve been exploring the relationship between freedom and restriction. I recently read Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliot, and it got me curious about my relationship to pain and how I take some pleasure in my drama and the familiarity of it. Creating the piece has been some serious shadow integration. It also lovingly teases the self-help, healing industry, which is a space near and dear to my heart, though it, like everything, has its own quirks and pitfalls.

I’m blessed that my days are filled with discovery through the creative process. A few of my key components to sustaining myself are gratitude, community, and some form of nourishment— either meditating, breathing, dancing, smelling flowers, or enjoying my food. But truthfully, there are a lot of ups and downs, and it is challenging. I also think that’s life. It’s not what social media would have us believe, but life is filled with gains and losses. I’ve always been a pretty sensitive, deep-feeling person, so it’s an ongoing practice to open up to whatever is arising, feel it, welcome it in, and even give it a cup of tea.
There’s a Buddhist parable that talks about how we often relate to our suffering. The Buddha says that when pain arises in our life, for example, when I stub my toe, that pain in my toe is considered the first arrow. But then, what do I do with that pain? Do I go on to say something like, “Oh my gosh, I always hurt myself. Why am I so careless? Ugh…I don’t have good insurance. What if my toenail gets infected, and I can’t pay to go to the hospital, and they have to cut off my toe, and then I can’t dance. If I can’t dance anymore, oh, I couldn’t go on…” That’s the second arrow, the story and meaning we often create after the initial pain. So I practice slowing down, dropping into my senses, and then offering heaps of compassion for all the moments I forget or get caught up in the messy, wild humanness. Every time I notice, I’m gentler with myself and with others. I believe we’re all doing our best in any moment, and more love will bring more space for possibilities and lasting change.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Okay! In all truth, I don’t live in LA, but three of my dearest friends do, so I’ve got a lot of love for the LA magic. It may be basic, but when I visit, I’m headed to Erewhon first to stock up on some favorites and try some delicious, perhaps bizarre, new treats. I may pop over to Santa Monica for some hiking and a surf lesson if I’m feeling adventurous. I love the Den Meditation– all the workshops they offer are juicy. My favorite dinner spot is Gracias Madre with beautiful friends!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So many people and resources have supported me on my journey. Truly, it takes a village!

First, I absolutely love The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. If you haven’t read it and feel the call to create, this is your sign to pick up a copy. It’s a fantastic 12-week creative workbook to support folks getting back into touch with the creative muse that lives inside us all. I’ve gone through the process about five times in the last ten years, either by myself, in a group, or guiding the group. It’s helped me trust myself and believe that I can make my creative ideas into reality.

The second shoutout goes to the Wonderwell, which is a community for creatives offering nourishment, inspiration, and accountability. It was founded by my dear friend, Kate Bone, and it’s an incredible creative home. Being a part of Wonderwell has reminding me that we are seasonal creatures and our creativity is too! The community is filled with the most inspiring, kind artists of all different mediums, and everyone is hugely supportive and nurturing. Finding a space where you can say your wildest artistic dreams aloud, share your biggest fears, and have folks encourage and witness you is a game changer!
One more shoutout! I’m grateful to my breathwork teachers, Jesse Torgerson and David Elliot. Breathwork has allowed me to feel so much peace and joy in my body, and this practice has connected me to my own unshakable, innate love and wisdom.

Website: https://www.hannahdubner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahdubner/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahdubner/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HDubner

Image Credits
Most photos taken by Melanie Rivera Photography except for the one with the mic and the one seated with stars above The one photo of me on the stairs is credited to Jess Maynards Photography

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.