Advertise on podcast: State of the Arts

State of the Arts Episode 281 is now available for streaming on Spotify! Kevin Cheng is an actor and a playwright at Woodward Residency. This multitalented creative is a New Work Development Chair at Purple Light NYC and an Administrative Producer at Murmuration Theatre Co. A long time member of The Script Club, Kevin Cheng has been involved in multiple projects with them, including audio plays, a Shakespearean performance and many other productions. He worked on short films as well and continues to grow his career in the arts. With so much talent and the gift to smoothly multi-task, he is able to star in roles in some of his own works. I’m very honored to welcome this dynamic artist to my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 280 is now available on Spotify! My guest this week is award-winning independent filmmaker Devon Reed. This IMDb credited writer, editor and director is known for several acclaimed films including “The Audition”, “O Lucky Day” and “No More Mr. Nice Guy!” Several of his films were honored in well-known festivals including The Lovesick Film Festival, The Brightside Tavern Film Festival and The Nyack International Film Festival. “The Big Top” was his first feature film, which he boldly starred in himself when the lead actor unfortunately had to back out of the role. After this film was completed, Devon took a long break from filmmaking until he discovered Short Cuts NYC. Educated in film study and delightfully ambitious, my creative guest has shown himself to be a versatile, innovative filmmaker. I am honored to have this resourceful, creative talent on my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 279: The Autism Awareness Month Special is now available on Spotify! Kenny Peters Jr. is a filmmaker, photographer, writer and an advocate for autism and ADHD awareness. My talented guest is an alumni of Winter Support Lab, an organization that gives opportunities to neurodivergent filmmakers. The filmmakers are given a chance to collaborate with each other on projects because of this wonderful group. Last year my talented guest attended his first film festival, where two films that he was involved with were shown. His former high school also invited him back for a visit to promote his recent documentary “Life with Autism: A Day in Red Hook.” This resilient creative has written several scripts for fictional films as well. I am greatly honored to have this admirable talent on my podcast for a very special episode!

State of the Arts Episode 278 is now available on Spotify! Return guest Polina Lilu joins me for an in-person interview about Published Palette, which is her growing business that helps creatives self publish their own books. From design to marketing to distribution, Published Palette is there to guide future authors every step of the way. I am honored to have this successful entrepreneur back on my podcast for another informative interview. In addition to being the founder of Published Palette, Polina Lilu is a published author herself, an illustrator and a jewelry maker. Her multifaceted creativity expands to many areas of her life. Tune in for this enriching new episode with a champion for the arts.

State of the Arts Episode 277 is now streaming on Spotify, featuring a new guest: the multitalented Jon Tyler, who is a triple threat in the world of creativity- an actor, a filmmaker, and a photographer. As an active member of the community-driven Short Cuts NYC filmmaking group, he has earned a Frame award for his outstanding work on short films. As a working actor, he is represented by Bright Artists Management. Known for headshots, he is also the trusted photographer for many creatives, including my husband Joe and me. Jon Tyler is known for his candid photographs of a variety of subjects and events as well. Behind the scene looks on film sets are also captured in stillness thanks to him. This talent is multifaceted and I am honored to have him on podcast this week.

State of the Arts Episode 276: The Saint Patrick’s Day Special is now available on Spotify! This week I am honored to welcome my new podcast guest Madelyn Monaghan, who is a soprano, actor, and writer who specializes in Irish traditional (Sean-nós) singing. She is an educator of the style with students on five continents.​ As an actor, Madelyn has appeared in regional and Off-Broadway theatre as well as short films in the festival circuit. As a recording artist, she has collaborated internationally with renowned artists and labels. Her singing voice can be heard on feature film scores, commercials (Tullamore Dew), and in museums and EDM arenas all over the world. In 2022, Madelyn released her debut album éist with multi-instrumentalist Cullen Vance. In 2024, she made her festival debut on both sides of the Atlantic as a leading performer at the Celtic World Forum in Dublin and the Rockport Celtic Music Festival in Massachusetts. She returned to the lineup of the former in 2025. I am thrilled to welcome this accomplished artist onto my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 275: The International Women’s Day Special is now available on Spotify. My distinguished guest this week is Alexa Poller who is a German-born actor, dancer, singer and band leader. This multi-talented creative holds an Associate Diploma in Ballet Pedagogy and eventually toured Europe with a British dance company. She studied performing arts in New York City, where she has now established a successful career spanning multiple disciplines. As a dance instructor, she specializes in ballet, barre and Zumba classes. She has a rich background in ballet, jazz, lindy hop, and salsa. Additionally, she is an accomplished stage performer and leads the band “BB and the Polkahaus.” Her credits include television, film, modeling, and voiceover work, with notable credentials such as IMD-b credits, a membership in SAG-AFTRA and with the Actor’s Equity Association. I am deeply honored to feature this exceptional artist on my special podcast episode.

State of the Arts Episode 274 is now streaming on Spotify, featuring the incredibly talented writer Caroline Reddy, a multifaceted creative force who shines as a poet, author, librarian, teacher, Reiki master, and dance enthusiast. Her work has been showcased in esteemed platforms like The Bethlehem Writers Roundtable, The Journal of Expressive Writing, The International Human Rights Festival, and The Opiate, a testament to her innovative spirit. In 2021, her powerful poem 'A Sacred Dance' was nominated for The Best of The Net Prize by Active Muse, highlighting her exceptional talent. Caroline's latest masterpiece, the beautifully mindful book “Shake The Atmosphere to Reclaim the Empty Moment,” is a treasure trove of wisdom. As a pillar of the writer's community, she orchestrates numerous events that bring together literary artists and beyond, sparking meaningful conversations and fostering positive change, including important social justice issues. In the coming months, she'll be leading two extraordinary workshops that promise to nourish your soul. Join me in this captivating episode for an uplifting conversation that will leave you feeling inspired, renewed, and energized, as I was privileged to interview this remarkable creative for my podcast.

State of the Arts Episode 273: The Lunar New Year Special is now streaming on Spotify! I'm thrilled to welcome back the incredibly talented Ahra Sung, a content creator, cosplayer, photographer, illustrator, painter, and meetup organizer who embodies the spirit of artistic expression. In this extraordinary episode, we dive into the boundless world of conventions, cosplay, anime and more, as Ahra shares her remarkable experiences and insights. This episode is your ultimate guide to navigating the vibrant realm of comic-cons, fantasy, sci-fi, and anime, offering endless possibilities for creativity and connection. Whether you're a seasoned convention-goer or just starting out, Ahra's expert tips and infectious enthusiasm will empower you to unleash your inner fan and explore the multiverse of immersive entertainment. Join us on this uplifting journey through a world of imagination, camaraderie and inspiration, as we uncover the magic of conventions and cosplay together.

State of the Arts Episode 272: The Valentine’s Day Special is now available for streaming on Spotify! My dear husband Joseph Thomas returns to my podcast to take a deep dive with me into the unforgettable love story of Jimmy McGill and Kim Wexler from hit series “Better Call Saul” by the brilliant Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. A riveting show that was brought to life by the extraordinary performances of Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn. Together we explore the loyalty, the ambition, the boldness and the high stakes that define Jimmy and Kim’s bond — and how some pieces of their unconventional love story mirror our own.

State of the Arts Episode 271 now available for streaming on Spotify! This week we go behind the scenes with sound designer/technician and assistant lighting designer Nikki Belenski, whose work has illuminated stages of indie productions, international tours, Off-Broadway and Broadway shows. Nikki shares insight into the creative and technical artistry that brings theatre to life, discussing her work on major productions. Her impressive resumé includes “Wicked,” “Into the Woods,” and most recently, the Off-Broadway masterpiece “This is Not a Drill” by Holly Doubet. She works along side sound designers Shannon Slaton and Scott O’Brien for many productions. Join us as we explore the collaborative magic of stage production, the evolution of theatrical design, and the passion it takes to create unforgettable live performance experiences.

State of the Arts Episode 270: The Black Heritage Special is now available on Spotify! This week content creator and YouTube show host Dith returns to my podcast for a second time. “DatBoiDith” is Dith’s flourishing YouTube channel with over 10,000 followers. Reaction videos, tributes to singers, “guess the movie” segments, dance reels and holiday specials are some of the high-energy content on this entertaining channel. Dith has had many special guests on his show, including a very popular uncle, imaginative friends and on one occasion, his entire family. A huge shout out to Brandy Renée Baker, his cousin who was on my podcast multiple times in the past. She is an associate producer for Dith’s channel. Dith is on multiple forms of social media including Instagram (dithdayyoutuber) and Tik Tok (DatBoiDith). This podcast episode is an update on new reels and videos this creative host has been posting and another peek into the vibrant world of DatBoiDith.

State of the Arts Episode 269 is now available on Spotify! This week, I’m joined by return guest Josh Berkowitz for a Taylor Swift tribute episode with a deep exploration of The Swiftie culture and all topics centered on this modern music icon. Together we delve into how this fan community creates shared traditions and how fandom itself becomes a space for connection, interpretation, and creativity. From lyric analysis and era-based storytelling to online discourse and collective experience, this episode looks at how fans actively participate in shaping the life of her legendary music. Thoughtful, insightful, and grounded in cultural observation, this is an episode about fandom as a flourishing community and the inpact this superstar has had on pop music. I am so excited to have Josh Berkowitz back on my podcast once again to walk me through this captivating phenomena.

State of the Arts Episode 268 now available on Spotify! My guest this week is IMDb-credited actor Tap Rudra. Based out of NYC, my talented guest specializes in improv and comedy. He is also a musician and filmmaker. This creative, who embraces his Ukrainian and Indian heritage, has directed and contributed to film projects as a script supervisor, editor, and more. He is a part of a successful improv team and is familiar with several musical instruments. Along with being a fellow member of Short Cuts NYC, this multifaceted creative is also a part of Shared Manifest Entertainment and Boogie Manja. I am thrilled and honored to welcome this versatile artist to my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 267 is now available for streaming on Spotify! This week I’m joined by Ashley Wren Collins who is an accomplished, award-winning actor, producer, director, choreographer, and writer. This successful creative trained at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned her B.A. in English and Theatre Arts, and at the American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University. We take an upclose look at her artistic career, including her work as associate director and choreographer for Holly Doublets smashing Off-Broadway Musical “This Is Not a Drill.” My dynamic guest, who has written five books, lets me in on the upcoming release of her first fictional novel. She also shares reflections on creativity and careers in the arts. Tune in for a warm, inspiring conversation with this esteemed creative I am greatly honored to have as my podcast guest!