In this special solo episode of The Art Box, our always-curious research assistant Addie takes the mic for the very first time, venturing down a literary rabbit hole with The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.

After a suggestion from Episode 425 guest writer Brian Rouff, Steve sent Addie off on a mission: read the book, unpack its meaning, and see what wisdom might be hiding behind its wonderfully strange characters and wordplay.

What follows is a delightful and thoughtful exploration of Milo’s journey through the Lands Beyond, where boredom gives way to curiosity, language bends in playful ways, and learning becomes an adventure. Along the way, Addie reflects on why this timeless story still resonates, how it challenges the way we think about knowledge and imagination, and why perhaps the most important lesson is simply this: pay attention.

It’s whimsical, insightful, and unmistakably Addie, equal parts charm, curiosity, and just a touch of down-under perspective.

Learn more about Rian Rouff at: https://brianrouff.com/

Today we head into the bright lights and deeper truths of Las Vegas with author Brian Rouff—a writer who has spent decades exploring the thin line between luck and consequence, chance and choice.

From cult classic novels like Dice Angel to his powerful memoir A Long September, Brian takes us behind the scenes of a city built on probability, and reveals the very human stories that live underneath it all.

This is a conversation about storytelling, survival, and what happens when life doesn’t follow the odds.

This episode pairs well with episode 424 where Addie takes us solo through a book suggested by Brian.

Find out more about Brian at: https://brianrouff.com/

In this episode of The Art Box, we sit down with photographer Marla Aufmuth for a warm and engaging conversation about the craft, business, and heart behind photography. From her early days in a high school darkroom—watching images come to life—to building a career across music, weddings, events, and portraiture, Marla shares how curiosity and problem-solving have shaped her journey.

We explore her evolving relationship with photography—from film to digital—and her thoughtful perspective on technology as a creative tool. Marla also dives into her powerful project Love the Ride, highlighting women and their air-cooled Volkswagens as symbols of individuality, resilience, and freedom in traditionally male-dominated spaces.

It’s a conversation about creativity, connection, and what it really means to sustain a life in the arts—where passion meets persistence, and storytelling lives in every frame.

Please stop by the paruse Marla's current project passion: Love the Ride at: https://www.vwwomen.com/