Ep. 33: Voice: Raina Telgemeier on Emotions as Truth and the Power of Emojis

Here are some highlights from our conversation with the NYTimes bestselling, award-winning cartoonist and graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier: 

• Why hearing her teacher's name was the first time Raina ever considered "voice"
• One gripe with Judy Blume
• How her voice has (or hasn’t) changed since middle school
• Power and difficulty of putting yourself back in headspace of child self
• Forming three dimensional pictures from memories
• Why emotional arcs matters more than details
• Sneak peek behind the scenes of her next graphic novel: The Cartoonist Club

Raina Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award–winning creator of Smile, Sisters, and Guts, which are all graphic memoirs based on her childhood. She is also the creator of Drama and Ghosts, the adapter and illustrator of the first four Baby-sitters Club graphic novels, and, with Scott McCloud, the co-creator of The Cartoonists Club. Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier is based on an exhibition that was held at The Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, and will be published in October 2025. Raina lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.