Episode Seven: John and Anni Furniss
In episode seven of the “How I Library” podcast, host Phil Morehart from the American Library Association speaks with artists and authors John and Anni Furniss. John and Anni Furniss are a married couple who live and create art from their home in Washington. John has been an accomplished woodworker for almost 20 years—he is also completely blind. A suicide survivor, John is passionate about sharing his story to help others. Anni is a mixed-media artist with a hypermobility condition who spreads awareness about using art to help with mental and physical challenges. Together, they have created an online community dedicated to mental health awareness, disability advocacy, and art with more than two million followers. In their book, "The Blind Woodsman” (Fox Chapel Publishing, 2024), John and Anni detail how they found each other and built a life and art practice together while navigating personal struggles and newfound fame. Morehart spoke with the Furnisses about their book, their art, their advocacy, and of course, how they library.