Because of Course We Did Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:10 -0400 https://becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Because of Course We Did yes 43c61421-5847-507f-ac0c-a401a7e5b5f2 Birdie & Ben episodic true Join Birdie & Ben, two artists from Appalachia, as they talk about life as artists in modern day, mental health, and recovering from religious and homeschool trauma.
Spend some time with them as they discuss the intricacies of the artist's life, their growth in their individual pursuits, and let them encourage you to grow in your own artistic journey.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Birdie & Ben https://storage.buzzsprout.com/f97zpues9euuzq0w2o1lvqgpbbd9?.jpg Because of Course We Did https://becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com Ben Birdie EP7 - On The Artist Identity EP7 - On The Artist Identity If you've ever thought, "I'm not an artist..." but you get up to all kinds of creative shenanigans, we get it. In this one we get into the weeds about labeling yourself as an artist, the narratives that keep us stuck, the hollowness that comes from not creating, and why making art, even badly or slowly, is always worth it.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> If you've ever thought, "I'm not an artist..." but you get up to all kinds of creative shenanigans, we get it. In this one we get into the weeds about labeling yourself as an artist, the narratives that keep us stuck, the hollowness that comes from not creating, and why making art, even badly or slowly, is always worth it.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19471450 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1106 1 7 full true EP6 - On Spiritualizing Art EP6 - On Spiritualizing Art This week we're getting into the weeds about "spiritualizing" art: the books, the guilt, the church band trauma, and why we just wanna take credit for our own damn work. You might relate.



From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> This week we're getting into the weeds about "spiritualizing" art: the books, the guilt, the church band trauma, and why we just wanna take credit for our own damn work. You might relate.



From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19420134 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400 2282 1 6 full true EP5 - Me Core: The Only Aesthetic That Matters EP5 - Me Core: The Only Aesthetic That Matters If you've ever been asked "is that ALL you do?" about your art, this one's for you. We talk about, internet discourse, whether people take you seriously at markets, why random old dudes assume you'll quit art for babies, and Ben's eternal struggle to finish a song.


From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> If you've ever been asked "is that ALL you do?" about your art, this one's for you. We talk about, internet discourse, whether people take you seriously at markets, why random old dudes assume you'll quit art for babies, and Ben's eternal struggle to finish a song.


From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19321523 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 1693 1 5 full true EP4 - On Being an Artist in Appalachia EP4 - On Being an Artist in Appalachia In this one we unpack the complicated joy and frustration of being artists in Appalachia. We explore growing up disconnected from the region, eventually falling in love with its beauty and culture, and now feeling fervently protective. We dive into the devaluation of Appalachian art and accents, the growing community of young, liberal creatives rising up in the South, and why pursuing art in Appalachia is not only possible but worth fighting for.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> In this one we unpack the complicated joy and frustration of being artists in Appalachia. We explore growing up disconnected from the region, eventually falling in love with its beauty and culture, and now feeling fervently protective. We dive into the devaluation of Appalachian art and accents, the growing community of young, liberal creatives rising up in the South, and why pursuing art in Appalachia is not only possible but worth fighting for.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19300579 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1432 1 4 full true EP3 - On Nature EP3 - On Nature In this episode we delve into the nature and how it inspires us. We discuss how nature influences our art, how we find inspiration in the woods, and explore the importance of mindfulness and presence when engaging with nature. So get into the weeds with us about the role of nature in our creative pursuits.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> In this episode we delve into the nature and how it inspires us. We discuss how nature influences our art, how we find inspiration in the woods, and explore the importance of mindfulness and presence when engaging with nature. So get into the weeds with us about the role of nature in our creative pursuits.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19300131 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1397 1 3 full true EP2 - Imposter Syndrome EP2 - Imposter Syndrome In this one, Birdie & Ben discuss imposter syndrome, what it is, how it affects us as artists, how common it is, methods we've used to overcome it.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> In this one, Birdie & Ben discuss imposter syndrome, what it is, how it affects us as artists, how common it is, methods we've used to overcome it.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19299970 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 1737 1 2 full true EP1 - Introduction EP1 - Introduction This is a short episode, an introduction to the hosts of this show, Birdie & Ben, a couple of artists that want to share their experience about being artists in modern day.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> This is a short episode, an introduction to the hosts of this show, Birdie & Ben, a couple of artists that want to share their experience about being artists in modern day.

From our little corner of Appalachia to wherever you're listening, thanks for hanging with us.

However you're feeling right now, we hope you leave a little more encouraged to create. If this episode resonated with you, sharing it with someone who needs it means more than you know.

New episodes every other Thursday. You can follow the show, browse past episodes, and find more information at becauseofcoursewedid.buzzsprout.com.

Be kind to yourself, and keep making art.

- Birdie & Ben

Our art:

Birdie: thedawnbird.com
Ben: dwellertor.com

]]> Birdie & Ben Buzzsprout-19299939 Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400 582 1 1 full true