5 Questions- Ilene Berman

In each episode of 5 Questions-A Critical Mass for the Visual Arts Podcast, hosts Joe Kohlburn, Sarah Hammond, and Brett Williams sit down with a creative figure connected to the St. Louis arts scene. The format is deceptively simple, built entirely around a set of deliberately unusual questions designed to bypass typical artist interview tropes. This approach allows the conversation to move beyond standard career summaries and into more personal, unexpected, or even uncanny territory. Listeners will hear genuine, unrehearsed moments as guests grapple with queries they've likely never been asked before, revealing the idiosyncratic thoughts and experiences that fuel their work. The result is a series of compact, focused episodes that feel more like a revealing conversation than a formal interview. Released informally as they are recorded, this podcast offers an authentic and intriguing window into the minds shaping the visual culture of a specific place. It’s for anyone curious about the creative process, the stories behind the art, and the unique perspectives that often remain just below the surface in more conventional discussions.