Today we released part one of our interview with Los Angeles-based dancer, Christopher Erk. For 20 years he’s traveled the world as a professional tap dance performer, teacher, and choreographer. Most recently he has toured with Tap Dogs, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, and was a featured Artist in Las Vegas's number one show, Absinthe at Caesar's Palace. In addition to his dancing, he’s the Founding Artistic Director of the Tap Factor, a production company that emphasizes the global implica...
Jun 30, 2025•41 min
Today we released part two of our interview with Leslie Shampaine. She's an award-winning filmmaker and teaching artist. After a 13-year career as a professional ballet dancer, she transitioned into documentary film, producing content for PBS, CBS, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. Her feature documentary, Call Me Dancer , has won 23 prestigious awards, including China’s top documentary prize. It has been showcased at major film festivals, New York's Lincoln Center, and screened by...
Jun 23, 2025•34 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Leslie Shampaine. She's an award-winning filmmaker and teaching artist. After a 13-year career as a professional ballet dancer, she transitioned into documentary film, producing content for PBS, CBS, the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. Her feature documentary, Call Me Dancer , has won 23 prestigious awards, including China’s top documentary prize. It has been showcased at major film festivals, New York's Lincoln Center, and screened by...
Jun 16, 2025•30 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Lynette Shy. She’s an arts marketer and the founder of Confluence Arts Solutions, a company that helps small to mid-sized arts organizations increase revenue and improve organizational effectiveness. Prior to founding CAS, she served as the Marketing Director at BalletMet where she helped earn four Emmy Awards, secure 20 times more media coverage and boost revenue for The Nutcracker by 54% in just 4 years. Plan to join us to hear Lynet...
Jun 09, 2025•24 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Lynette Shy. She’s an arts marketer and the founder of Confluence Arts Solutions, a company that helps small to mid-sized arts organizations increase revenue and improve organizational effectiveness. Prior to founding CAS, she served as the Marketing Director at BalletMet where she helped earn four Emmy Awards, secure 20 times more media coverage and boost revenue for The Nutcracker by 54% in just 4 years. Plan to join us to hear Lynette...
Jun 02, 2025•23 min
Today we release part two of our first Arts Grant Panel interview. Since artists and arts organizations were left scrambling for support this spring due to the budget cuts at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, we decided to launch our first panel discussion with experts who have experience as grant writers, grantors and grantees. Our goal is to shed light on grant funding and provide suggestions entities should consider when writing for grants. Joi...
May 26, 2025•36 min
Today we released part one of our first Arts Grant Panel interview. Since artists and arts organizations were left scrambling for support this spring due to the budget cuts at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, we decided to launch our first panel discussion with experts who have experience as grant writers, grantors and grantees. Our goal is to shed light on grant funding and provide suggestions entities should consider when writing for grants. Jo...
May 19, 2025•34 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with David Holmes. He’s an Educational Programming Manager at Candid, where he helps nonprofits and individuals find funding. He also coordinates national trainings and educational programming for the Midwest region. David returned to Candid in 2015 from a position as Senior Consultant at Grants Plus, writing grants and doing research for a variety of large and small nonprofit clients. In his initial nine-year tenure with Foundation Center,...
May 12, 2025•33 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with David Holmes. He’s an Educational Programming Manager at Candid, where he helps nonprofits and individuals find funding. He also coordinates national trainings and educational programming for the Midwest region. David returned to Candid in 2015 from a position as Senior Consultant at Grants Plus, writing grants and doing research for a variety of large and small nonprofit clients. In his initial nine-year tenure with Foundation Center,...
May 05, 2025•32 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Craig and Ally Black, the Founder and Managing Director respectively for Scottish visual artist Craig Black. Craig is renowned for his innovative “Acrylic Fusion” technique— a hand-poured paint process that creates mesmerizing art. His art has been exhibited in London, Sydney and Dubai, and his style and versatility has led to collaborations with global brands including FIFA, Porsche, Red Bull, Jaguar, the NBA and the NFL. Make sure yo...
Apr 28, 2025•33 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Craig and Ally Black, the Founder and Managing Director respectively for Scottish visual artist Craig Black. Craig is renowned for his innovative “Acrylic Fusion” technique— a hand-poured paint process that creates mesmerizing art. His art has been exhibited in London, Sydney and Dubai, and his style and versatility has led to collaborations with global brands including FIFA, Porsche, Red Bull, Jaguar, the NBA and the NFL. Make sure you ...
Apr 21, 2025•39 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Ranee Ramaswamy, the Founding Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company, along with her daughters Aparna and Ashwini. Aparna is the Executive Artistic Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer in the company; and Ashwini is a Choreographic Associate, Dancer, and Communications Director. The Ragamala Company tours extensively worldwide and has appeared at venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Jacob’s Pillow. ...
Apr 14, 2025•32 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Ranee Ramaswamy, the Founding Artistic Director of the Ragamala Dance Company, along with her daughters Aparna and Ashwini. Aparna is the Executive Artistic Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer in the company; and Ashwini is a Choreographic Associate, Dancer, and Communications Director. The Ragamala Company tours extensively worldwide and has appeared at venues including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and Jacob’s Pillow. In...
Apr 07, 2025•35 min
Today we released part two of our interview with Zoro. Known by musicians around the world as the “Minister of Groove,” he’s one of the world’s most respected and award-winning drummers. For more than thirty years, Zoro has been consistently voted the #1 R&B drummer and clinician by music industry publications such as Modern Drummer, Drum! Magazine, and Rhythm Magazine. He’s toured and recorded with celebrated musicians, including Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli, New Edition, and J...
Mar 31, 2025•42 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Zoro. Known by musicians around the world as the “Minister of Groove,” he’s one of the world’s most respected and award-winning drummers. For more than thirty years, Zoro has been consistently voted the #1 R&B drummer and clinician by music industry publications such as Modern Drummer, Drum! Magazine, and Rhythm Magazine. He’s toured and recorded with celebrated musicians, including Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown, Frankie Valli, New Edition, and J...
Mar 24, 2025•49 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Jeremy Rubenstein. He’s a distinguished educator, playwright and social entrepreneur, best known for his innovative approach to bullying prevention through interactive theater. He founded Box Out Productions, LLC in 2008 to blend his love for theater with bullying prevention techniques. Each year his company reaches over 100,000 students, parents and faculty and has been widely covered in the national media for its distinctive approach i...
Mar 17, 2025•30 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Jeremy Rubenstein. He’s a distinguished educator, playwright and social entrepreneur, best known for his innovative approach to bullying prevention through interactive theater. He founded Box Out Productions, LLC in 2008 to blend his love for theater with bullying prevention techniques. Each year his company reaches over 100,000 students, parents and faculty and has been widely covered in the national media for its distinctive approach in helping ...
Mar 10, 2025•32 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Red Hot Annie. For nearly twenty years she’s been a Chicago-based burlesque performer and creative entrepreneur who's been an advocate for helping artists build sustainable careers. As a performer, she offers dynamic live shows and empowering workshops designed to inspire confidence, connection, and bold self-expression. We hope you join us for this entertaining interview, and hear how Annie bootstrapped her business from an idea into th...
Mar 03, 2025•25 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Red Hot Annie. For nearly twenty years she’s been a Chicago-based burlesque performer and creative entrepreneur who's been an advocate for helping artists build sustainable careers. As a performer, she offers dynamic live shows and empowering workshops designed to inspire confidence, connection, and bold self-expression. We hope you join us for this entertaining interview, and hear how Annie bootstrapped her business from an idea into th...
Feb 24, 2025•23 min
Today we released part two of our interview with Valentina Caprini. She’s a jewelry designer, artist and teacher based in Florence, Italy. She comes from a long line of tailors and seamstresses, and studied at the Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School in Florence. Valentina founded Linfa Studio Gallery in 2019 and has given lectures on jewelry-making around the world. Her designs incorporate the ancient filigree technique of weaving metal threads, into what she describes as “wearable art.” If y...
Feb 17, 2025•21 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Valentina Caprini. She’s a jewelry designer, artist and teacher based in Florence, Italy. She comes from a long line of tailors and seamstresses, and studied at the Alchimia Contemporary Jewellery School in Florence. Valentina founded Linfa Studio Gallery in 2019 and has given lectures on jewelry-making around the world. Her designs incorporate the ancient filigree technique of weaving metal threads, into what she describes as “wearable art.” If y...
Feb 10, 2025•37 min
Today we released part two of our interview with Michael Sachs. He has a portfolio career at the highest levels of classical music: he’s in his 37th year as the principal trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra, he's the Music Director of the Strings Music Festival, an active soloist, author, instrument designer, and he's on the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. Though our interview mainly focuses on his entrepreneurial activities as a music director and musician outside of The Cleveland Orch...
Feb 03, 2025•50 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Michael Sachs. He has a portfolio career at the highest levels of classical music: he’s in his 37th year as the principal trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra, he's the Music Director of the Strings Music Festival, an active soloist, author, instrument designer, and he's on the faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music. Though our interview mainly focuses on his entrepreneurial activities as a music director and musician outside of The Cleveland Orch...
Jan 27, 2025•44 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Vera Holczer-Waroquet. She’s a Hungarian pianist who came to the US after finishing her degree at Budapest’s Bartok High School Conservatory. She studied music at UCLA and went to graduate school at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Upon graduation, she started a small teaching studio that quickly grew into the Aurora School of Music that trains over 1,000 students per week and hosts numerous events she hosts each year. Anyone interested in launch...
Jan 20, 2025•34 min
Today we released part one of our interview with Vera Holczer-Waroquet. She’s a Hungarian pianist who came to the US after finishing her degree at Budapest’s Bartok High School Conservatory. She studied music at UCLA and went to graduate school at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Upon graduation, she started a small teaching studio that quickly grew into the Aurora School of Music that trains over 1,000 students per week and hosts numerous events she hosts each year. Anyone interested in launch...
Jan 13, 2025•35 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Gina DeSantis. She’s the lead creator behind Gina DeSantis Ceramics—the company she founded in 2013. She began her ceramic studies at her local community college and by 2006 earned her MFA from Kent State University. Her works are in 400 retailers throughout the US such as Uncommon Goods, Anthropologie, and McGee & Co. Gina is the embodiment of persistence and lifelong learning, so if you or someone you know needs inspiration to powe...
Jan 06, 2025•29 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Gina DeSantis. She’s the lead creator behind Gina DeSantis Ceramics—the company she founded in 2013. She began her ceramic studies at her local community college and by 2006 earned her MFA from Kent State University. Her works are in 400 retailers throughout the US such as Uncommon Goods, Anthropologie, and McGee & Co. Gina is the embodiment of persistence and lifelong learning, so if you or someone you know needs inspiration to powe...
Dec 30, 2024•32 min
This week on the podcast is part two of our interview with Jess Williams. She’s a professional 2D/3D motion graphics artist, designer, and art director. Jess has designed graphics for national broadcast, sports, entertainment, digital channels, television shows and films, working with clients including Disney, Netflix and Warner Brothers. These days she works with companies and start-ups to create stunning explainer videos, logo intros/outros, social media content and product videos to tell thei...
Dec 23, 2024•27 min
This week on the podcast is part one of our interview with Jess Williams. She’s a professional 2D/3D motion graphics artist, designer, and art director. Jess has designed graphics for national broadcast, sports, entertainment, digital channels, television shows and films, working with clients including Disney, Netflix and Warner Brothers. These days she works with companies and start-ups to create stunning explainer videos, logo intros/outros, social media content and product videos to tell thei...
Dec 16, 2024•26 min
This week on the podcast is part one of interview with British entrepreneur, Rebecca Driver. She founded RDMR (Rebecca Driver Media Relations) in 2010 after having worked in classical music PR at Dvora Lewis PR, as publicist at the BBC Proms, BBC Radio 3, and Head of Press at the English National Opera. Make sure you tune in to hear Rebecca's anecdotes and what she's learned over the years working with clients such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic O...
Dec 09, 2024•36 min
