#63: How to Bee Better with Ali Beckman of SoFlyTaxidermy
Do you feel yourself getting the creepy crawlies whenever you think about bugs? Or do you find them fascinating and get excited whenever one sneaks its way into your home?
Today’s guest definitely falls into that second group. Ali Beckman is the brains behind SoFlyTaxidermy and JUST launched her book (like, for real, it came out yesterday), Bee a Good Human: A Pollinator’s Guide to a Better Life.
Ali uses creatures that are donated, purchased, or found dead to create amusing cartoons and highlight the key roles insects play in our environment. Pollinators come in all shapes and sizes — for example, a tiny midge pollinates chocolate while beetles can pollinate certain flowers — and Ali showcases them with her work and shares how they keep our ecosystem thriving.
Her art also highlights the importance of loving yourself and finding confidence to say that, yes, you can do anything you put your mind to. That’s a pretty cool thing. We’re also talking about our pups and how you can become Instafamous…or at least what Ali has done to grow her account.
Highlights of our conversation include:
How Ali got started collecting ethically sourced dead insects and drawing around them. (2:50)
The ways Ali comes across her collection of bugs and what she’s looking for when she comes across them in the wild. (6:02)
Ali shares her “Moby Dick,” the insect that is her most prized possession. (8:26)
A look inside Ali’s content bank and why looking back at previous work can be helpful when you’re feeling a little less creative. (10:54)
The keys to Ali’s Instagram success — but definitely don’t call her an influencer. (13:12)
Why Ali tries to keep a message of self-positivity and loving yourself in all of her posts and artwork. (15:36)
Ali’s brand new book, Bee a Good Human: A Pollinator’s Guide to a Better Life, and what readers can expect. (16:45)
Why having a puppy is kind of chaotic but so wonderful. (22:20)
The top three things Ali has discovered during quarantine and now loves. (26:41)
Where to find Ali Beckman:
Pick up a copy of Bee a Good Human and be (or bee) sure to follow Ali on Instagram @SoFlyTaxidermy.
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