Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cheryl Cantafio. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cheryl, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful work I’ve created so far is the poetry book I wrote and published in May 2023, called My Stay with the Sisters. I wrote it after my mother died in April 2022 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. The sisters noted in the title are Grief and Gratitude, and the poems are organized as if the two sisters invited you to their home to grieve a loss, and to experience some of the emotions that come with a grief journey. It was a cathartic experience for me, personally, and I hope the poems connect with others going through a significant loss. Grieving can feel like a lonely place, and no one escapes that feeling at least once in their lives.
Cheryl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
By day I’m an IT professional. During my time outside my job, I’m a poet and prose writer, podcast host, and Little Free Library steward.
I’ve always loved amplifying IT’s people, story, knowledge, and culture. I’ve spent most of her career improving the customer experience by helping internal and external customers solve business problems. I take great pride in assisting people find their stories, voices, and words. I’ve worked in different IT roles for over 25 years.
In 2022, I became a host for the You Only Go Once podcast with my friend, Eileen Grimes. We’ve had so many great guests share their stories of living their best lives. It’s been an absolute joy!
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
People have a tendency to think, “No one will care about my story.” I learned that for every story, there’s a person who feels a connection and less alone when they hear or read that story. Whether I am writing or I am sitting with guests to record the latest You Only Go Once podcast episode, I’m giving space to the connections that are being made. My personal mission is to give space to the bravery of sharing personal stories and experiences with the universe.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I think there’s an inner creative in everyone! I’ve found that many people in corporate America are sharing personal stories and insights on LinkedIn, and the connections bloom through comments and likes and shares.
You may not be a writer, or an artist, or a performing artist in a traditional sense, but we all have an element of creativity we can tap into and share in many different ways. The key is to find the outlet that works best for you. For me, it was writing and writing competitions. It’s also been the You Only Go Once podcast, where I’ve employed better listening skills to improve my interviewing skills and writing skills.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cherylc.writer
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylccantafio/
Image Credits
Image credits: Cheryl Cantafio Image credit for You Only Go Once Podcast logo: Cheryl Cantafio and Eileen Grimes