#233 Unlearning to Relearn: My Journey of Self-Discovery Through Art with Deavon Smith-Collins

Explicit content warning

05/19/23 • 81 min

We had the pleasure of meeting our next guest, Deavon Smith-Collins, in her cozy home in North Little Rock. Growing up, it was just her and her mom, and her grandparents in a small town in Arkansas. As her mom worked hard to provide for her, they moved around quite a bit, and Deavon attended Christian schools in Little Rock and Fayetteville. While she learned a lot in these schools, she also realized there was a lot that needed to be unlearned, and she strives to be the kind of adult that she wished she had in her life growing up. Some of her biggest heroes were teachers, and now she finds herself in the same profession as an art teacher in a local school for the last few years.

During our conversation, Deavon opened up about her experience of being sexually assaulted in college. She shared that she only recently began to unpack and come to grips with the impact it had on her and her family. It has been a difficult journey, but she hopes that by coming out and sharing her story, she can inspire others to have the courage to speak out as well. It's an interesting time in Deavon's life, as she and her mom are facing new challenges. Her mother is returning home to take care of her grandmother, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, and Deavon is leaving Little Rock soon to follow her heart and chase love.

Deavon also shared that the hardest part of her journey has been saying goodbye to her fourth-grade students, who welcomed her as their art teacher since kindergarten. Saying goodbye to them was the most painful part of her journey so far. Join us on The Jar as Deavon navigates through her story and shares her experiences, hopes, and dreams.

For more of Deavon check out her Art: https://linktr.ee/jackkofalltradezz

For more of The Jar, visit:

Website: https://www.thejar.live/

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Disclaimer: The views stated in this episode are our guest's opinions and do not represent the views, beliefs or opinions of The Jar Podcast. Our goal is to provide a platform for everyone no matter what they believe, and we would like to continue to do that while making it clear our guests are not a representation of The Jar Podcast.

For behind the scenes content of the making of The Jar, meet the guests, see some footage of unreleased podcast episodes and more visit : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

To be a guest on the show email us at [email protected] or visit our webpage : https://www.thejar.live/

Follow The Jar on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thejar_podcast/

Follow The Jar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

For more of Deavon check out her Art: https://linktr.ee/jackkofalltradezz

For more of The Jar, visit:

Website: https://www.thejar.live/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

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

For behind the scenes content of the making of The Jar, meet the guests, see some footage of unreleased podcast episodes and more visit : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

To be a guest on the show email us at [email protected] or visit our webpage : https://www.thejar.live/

Follow The Jar on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thejar_podcast/

Follow The Jar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

Previous Episode

#232 From Rock Bottom to New Beginnings: My Quest for Sobriety and Inner Peace with Sara Jones

We had the pleasure of meeting Sara Jones on a sunny Saturday morning in her cozy home in Little Rock. Her big, warm personality filled the room as soon as we walked in, and it was easy to see why her parents have stayed happily married all these years. Sara is the youngest of her siblings and was a bit of a surprise baby to her big Mississippi family. Growing up, her family was deeply spiritual and Christian, but they always encouraged Sara to follow her own path and discover her own beliefs. These days, Sara is enjoying playing the role of auntie to her sister's kids, and she recently moved to Little Rock for work.

Sara found herself working as an executive assistant, which seems to be the perfect fit for her bubbly personality and organizational skills. We were excited to learn that she's also exploring her creative side, as she recently wrote a book and enjoys painting in her spare time. During our conversation, Sara opened up about her recent sobriety journey and how she got there. She shared that she's always been a hopeless romantic, but her relationships always seemed to end in disappointment and heartbreak. It wasn't until she hit rock bottom that she realized she needed to make a change in her life.

Sara also spoke about the profound insights that her brother, who has special needs, has given her. She shared how he has taught her to appreciate the little things in life and to be grateful for every moment. As we delved deeper into Sara's story, we laughed and cried with her as she shared her experiences and struggles. The Jar provided a safe space for Sara to open up and share her journey, and we were honored to be a part of it.

Check our Sara's Links:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/esseejones?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Vital Apparel discount link: https://vtlapparel.com/discount/Esseentially
Workout clothing brand that donates to mental health research
My book, Daily Dose of Melancholy: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daily-dose-of-melancholy-essee-jones/1142099558?ean=9798886802979&fbclid=PAAaYzrYs9qNWkVd9Me9w3yeYovqq_myEYBwAb53EIq_NuPzvXRYJVBRD_jxs
Therapy and medication management scheduling for the state of Arkansas through Chenal Family Therapy: 501-781-2230

For more of The Jar, visit:

Website: https://www.thejar.live/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

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

For behind the scenes content of the making of The Jar, meet the guests, see some footage of unreleased podcast episodes and more visit : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

To be a guest on the show email us at [email protected] or visit our webpage : https://www.thejar.live/

Follow The Jar on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thejar_podcast/

Follow The Jar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

Next Episode

#234 The Art of Healing: Unraveling the Threads of Tru and Blu with Jazzett & Dwight

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jazzett and Dwight at their newly reconstructed warehouse in downtown Memphis, called 99 Front St. This space will serve as the home of their new venture, Tru and Blu, a unique combination of a teahouse and art café. The name is a tribute to their twin boys, True and Blue, with whom they share a beautiful and heartbreaking story.

As we sat across from them, Jazzett's runway-model-like stature and confident smile complemented Dwight's contemplative demeanor and impressive dreadlocks and beard. They have been together for two years, and their connection is palpable. They describe their love as divine and beautiful, a journey that has brought them together to heal, learn, and grow.

Jazzett's life story is one of both fun and adventure as a runway model and of painful experiences, including sexual abuse and physical violence. On the other hand, Dwight was raised by a single mother and lost her to breast cancer when he was young. He found himself on a destructive path before becoming a father and ultimately a single parent. This was his turning point, which led him to escape his own domestic violence and grow as a person.

Together, Jazzett and Dwight have been healing from their past traumas, growing together, and building their dreams. They are on a beautiful journey of learning more about each other and themselves, and they're excited to share their story with the world. Join us as we delve into the depths of The Jar with Jazzett and Dwight and discover the beauty and resilience of their spirits.

Check out Jazz' facebook page, Jazzi Little

For more of The Jar, visit:

Website: https://www.thejar.live/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar

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

For behind the scenes content of the making of The Jar, meet the guests, see some footage of unreleased podcast episodes and more visit : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaTqB1dhDvl0Oh505ysdxTg

To be a guest on the show email us at [email protected] or visit our webpage : https://www.thejar.live/

Follow The Jar on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thejar_podcast/

Follow The Jar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podcast.thejar