Adrienne Ladd has been working with glass since 2009, starting out of necessity as a mom searching for a path that let her raise her child the way she envisioned. While she doesn’t necessarily recommend this unconventional route for everyone, it worked beautifully for her as the pieces fell into place.

In our conversation, Adrienne shares her journey from the coast of Massachusetts to Maine, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and back to Maine, where she now calls home. She opens up about how her signature designs came to life, the challenges she’s faced within the glass community, and the ways she prioritizes her health and body while navigating the demands of the craft.

This is a story of resilience, creativity, and finding alignment between art and life.

Meet Doni Hatz, a newly retired scientific glassblower whose life in glass has been nothing short of inspiring.

Doni grew up in Portland, Oregon, and first discovered glass when she took a furnace glass class at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington. That single class sparked a journey that led her all the way across the country to New Jersey, where she studied at Salem Community College from 1983–1985.

In this episode, we hear about Doni’s path after school, her decades-long career in scientific glass, and the experiences and lessons that shaped her along the way.

Listen now to hear her story, wisdom, and passion for the craft.

In this episode, I sit down with Southern NH-based glass artist Colton Machell, aka @canthave2much. When he’s not blowing glass, you’ll likely find him snowboarding or diving into his latest passion—mountain biking.

Colton shares how his lifelong fascination with teeth (yes, really!) unexpectedly intertwined with his love for glass, especially after realizing that people actually make scientific lab equipment. That spark kicked off a journey into pipes, precision, and creative exploration.

We walk through the evolution of his major design styles, how each came to be, and what he’s learned along the way. He wraps things up with a powerful message about cutting corners—one of the best pieces of advice we’ve had on the show.

Follow Colton on Instagram: @canthave2much

This week, I chat with Destiny Miller, a glassblower and flameworker based in Ontario, Canada. ✨🔥Destiny first got into glass in 2020, just before the pandemic put everything on pause. In this episode, she shares her winding path—from starting school at Fleming College’s glassblowing program, to an abrupt shutdown, to eventually returning and graduating.We dive into:✨ Her journey to Corning, NY and when her class found out about COVID✨ Setting up a flameworking studio during lockdown without much guidance—and learning by doing✨ Building community in the glass world, and how she found the support and knowledge she needed✨ Working as a shop tech now at the very school where her journey began✨ What it’s like balancing her love for glass with dog life (she’s got a husky and her stepdad has two!) and time spent on trails and in the outdoors✨ Her advice on giving yourself space, staying creative, and asking for help when you need itYou can find her work under ‘@siren_glass_studios’ on Instagram.🎧 Listen now via the link in bio📲 Follow, comment & review on your favorite podcast platform📸 Stay connected @shapingstoriespod on Instagram, Facebook & YouTubeQuestions or kind words? Reach out anytime: dom@terrapinglass.com

Thanks for tuning in! 🙏

Katie grew up in rural Ohio and now calls western North Carolina home. She first discovered glass while studying art and illustration in Columbus, Ohio — but it wasn’t originally part of her program. Determined to follow her curiosity, she snuck into a glass class and never looked back.

Today, Katie works full time in soft glass production and uses her off-hours to develop her own Borosilicate designs. In this episode, she shares her story of stubbornly carving out a path in glass, staying true to what she loves in the material, and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for future artists in the industry.

Such a great conversation with lots of heart, reflection, and wisdom. 💛

Raven has been blowing glass since the year 2000, and for the past 25 years, he’s been deep in the flame, exploring borosilicate glass.

Now based in Pittsburg, Kansas, he’s best known for his large-scale marbles.

In this episode, Raven shares his journey into glass, how he got started, and the path that eventually led him to carving out his niche vending in Renaissance fairs across the country.

We also talk about life outside the torch—spending time with family and shooting pool—and how those moments fuel his creative fire.

Tune in for an honest and inspiring conversation. 🔥

In this episode, I talk with Detroit-based glass artist Marc VandenBerg, whose journey with glass began humbly—with a couple of library books and a torch.

Starting out with borosilicate and focusing on pipe-making, Marc’s path shifted dramatically when he landed a job working with soft glass from a furnace. That experience forever changed his creative trajectory.

Marc shares stories from his time working in a variety of studios over the years, including the impact of collaborative hot shop environments and how those experiences shaped his evolving style.

Today, he works primarily with COE 96, combining furnace and flame working techniques to create a distinctive body of work that reflects both technical skill and artistic vision.

As his story comes full circle, Marc has returned to mostly working solo—bringing a lifetime of lessons and influences into each unique piece.

You can explore Marc’s work at vandenbest.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram at @marco2150.

This week, I chat with Jasmine Steinacker, a talented glass artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. ✨🔥

Jasmine originally pursued a degree in photography, but a chance encounter with a glass class led her to double major in both photography and glass—knowing from that moment she wanted to make glass her career. She graduated during the height of COVID and shares what it felt like to miss out on celebrating that milestone the way she deserved.

We dive into:
• Her path from photography to becoming a full-time glass artist
• How she uses her photography skills to elevate and support her glasswork
• Sharing her art through funny, relatable videos on social media
• The various ways she earns income as an independent artist
• Her experience living in Asheville during recent devastation, and how the community is doing now
• The importance of self-care—Jasmine talks about her love for exercise, eating well, and meditation

You can find her on Instagram at @steinackerart.

🎧 Listen now via the link in bio
📲 Follow, comment & review on your favorite podcast platform
📸 Stay connected @shapingstoriespod on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube

Questions or kind words? Reach out anytime: dom@terrapinglass.com
Thanks for tuning in! 🙏