Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rietta & Connie Boksha & Maslan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Rietta & Connie, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The Podcast has been a meaningful project for us. We have talked to some of the most inspirational people, who have opened up and shared some of their intimate moments. One of our guests was wrongfully convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. He spent sixteen years in jail before finally being exonerated. His ability to turn such a loss into an amazing gain was incredible to hear. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t sad. He was just on a mission to make sure it wouldn’t happen to anyone else. Gave us a real perspective on life and the reminder that every moment is precious.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Connie is a wife mom and crafter from the south suburbs of Chicago. Often called the mini Martha Stewart because of all her little hobbies, she prides herself on her humor and one-liners!

Rietta is a military spouse, mom, and author also hailing from the south suburbs of Chicago. She has been telling stories from a young age and somehow managed to turn it into a career. She truly is a jack of all trades being a podcast host, author, insurance operations specialist and so much more.

The podcast actually started off as a joke between us. We always thought we had a crazy family and how fun it would be to share them with the rest of the world. Eventually, the joke became a reality and How to Deal When The Shit Gets Real, was born. We talk about topics everyone deals with and share stories that let people know they aren’t alone. One of our biggest hopes for the podcast was to be able to help people with whatever they may be going through and to give them that resource and outlet.

We are proud of what our podcast offers to the community. Hope. Resilience. Strength. Humor. If even one person finds our Podcast helpful, we have made a difference. We want people to know we are here for them and not only that but we will make you laugh. Connie isn’t the only one with a sense of humor, they don’t call Rietta the witty romance author for no reason! We also want people to know that if they want to be a guest to reach out to us. We are here to share the stories of the people we don’t normally hear about. The ‘heroes’ of our community.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We are so quick to use Amazon or Target to get the things we need because it is convenient. The problem with that is, it doesn’t support the people who really need it. The mom who started making things because she needed extra income for her family. The dad who started a BBQing business because he is passionate about food. Those are the people who really need us and the ones who are the heart and soul of the community. Go and find those people. Buy their products and not only that but leave them a review! Let them know that you loved whatever you got. I am telling you right now, that a review that took you five minutes to write will make their whole world spin. It also makes a huge difference in their continued success. Like the podcast, for instance, the more reviews we get the higher it pushes us into the rankings and the more it gets recommended. That small effort by just a handful of people can cause great success!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Yes, I do. I think it’s hard for non-creatives to understand why creatives choose the path we do. To them it could seem tedious or that it’s not even worth the journey. Creative people have very different views on success. Most people view success in monetary means but to creative people, that typically isn’t our top priority. Just the fact that our goods are being sold is worth it. The other thing is, we can’t not create. I feel like if I didn’t create, my mind would start to overflow with ideas and just, explode. I have to use them and get them out in whatever creative means necessary and then move on to the next one. I don’t think non-creative people experience feelings like that. It’s more cut and dry for them but that could just be my creative mind speaking.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.riettaboksha.com/podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisshitisrealpodcast/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRyX1ZAau_ArpWw-595XOog
• Other: TikTok: @thisshitisrealypodcast