<p>Welcome to season 4, episode 6 of A Friend for the Long Haul - A Long Covid Podcast! One of my very favorite people is back on the pod: Amaranthia Sepia, co-founder of <a href="https://www.sistacreativesrising.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sista Creatives Rising</a>, commissioned seed packet artist for Sista Seeds, and now digital media manager for the disability and design podcast Down to the Struts. Amaranthia is a 26-year-old Black, disabled, neurodivergent artist and organizer based in New Hampshire, and in this conversation we get to really dig into her story, not only as a creative behind Sista Creatives Rising, but as an artist whose work is rooted in her family&#39;s gardening history, her love of Black women and the land, and her own hard-won journey toward self-preservation and community.</p><p>We talk about her stunning seed packet illustrations for <a href="https://sistahseeds.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Sistah Seeds</a>, founded by Amirah Mitchell. From the website: &quot;<strong>In 2021, Amirah founded Sistah Seeds to connect black and brown growers to our culturally-important seeds. Sistah Seeds is one of a small but growing number of black-owned seed businesses in the U.S., changing the landscape of the seed industry. Together, we are part of a multi-ethnic, multi-national movement of farmers and seed-keepers, working to preserve our heritage and create a strong agricultural future for our communities.&quot;</strong></p><p>We also talk about hydroponics, healing, and how growing food for her mom during a health crisis sparked something lasting. We talk about Amaranthia&#39;s new role at <a href="https://www.downtothestruts.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Down to the Struts</a>, how an unexpected $3,000 Social Security notice lit a fire under her to pursue additional work, and why remote, disability-justice-rooted employment is the difference between thriving and burning out.</p><p>We also discuss what it&#39;s meant to find a vibrant disabled community online after years of navigating bullying, racism, misogynoir, and ableism...including the assumption that being homebound automatically means your life is sad and small. (Spoiler: it absolutely does not.)</p><p>We also talk about Lilette, the tiny blue masking frog who has become the mascot of Sista Creatives Rising and might just end up in a children&#39;s book. No promises. But also maybe.</p><p><strong>Links mentioned in this episode:</strong></p><ul><li>Sistah Creatives Rising: <a href="https://www.sistacreativesrising.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sistahcreativesrising.com</a></li><li>Sista Seeds: <a href="https://sistahseeds.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">sistahseeds.com</a></li><li>Down to the Struts (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/down-to-the-struts/id1534151379" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">podcast </a>on disability &amp; design): <a href="https://www.downtothestruts.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">downtothestruts.com</a> </li><li>Sista Creatives Rising on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sistacreativesrising/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Instagram </a>(for <a href="https://linktr.ee/sistasuprisingfund?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=072788e6-be98-421a-9561-497b4afdc7ec&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnLaV-oMRWLZmw5yYlgOlFLpMusT5HnYiP9ImJc8oVmhltNHkLGAbEzRBJtmY_aem_ajGD2nRrbhPxumlcaqlung" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Lilette </a>merch &amp; links)</li><li><a href="https://www.sistacreativesrising.com/the-sistas-uprising-fund" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">The Sistas Uprising Fund micro grants</a></li></ul><p><strong>Mentioned or featured in this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/katrinadreamer/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Katrina Dreamer</a> (my pacing buddy, ep. 1, season 2 &amp; season 3)</li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lissy.donovan/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Lissy Donovan</a> (long hauler and business owner, ep. 9, season 3)</li></ul><p>📞 <strong>The Long Haul Line:</strong> 720-432-9368! Call or text to share a story, suggest a guest, or just say hi!</p><p>📧 <strong>Email:</strong> [email protected]</p><p>📬 <strong>Substack:</strong> <a href="https://f4lh.substack.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">f4lh.substack.com</a></p><p>I&#39;m also on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/afriendforthelonghaul/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a>.</p><p><em>A Friend for the Long Haul is a low budget/high love production made by a disabled one-woman operation. If it means something to you, share it with someone whose earballs need it. Thank you!</em></p><p><em>You can support this podcast by checking out:</em></p><ul><li><em>My</em><a href="https://www.bonfire.com/store/a-friend-for-the-long-haul/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em> online shop</em></a><em> full of long covid merch (tees, bags, etc)</em></li><li><em>Sending me something useful from </em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1F1EPRRPS71QH?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ggr-subnav-share_VPQJNKZ6C0BEBXD8W223" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"><em>my Amazon gift list</em></a></li><li><em>Sharing episodes, reels, and my unhinged memes</em></li></ul><p>Thank you!</p>