There is so much happening this summer. Listen in as Ali & Callie and Kristin (our producer who we actually gave the mic to this time) go over the highlights of performances so you can plan ahead!

Aspire Community Theater – aspirecda.com

CDA Summer Theatre - cstidaho.com

Lake City Playhouse - lakecityplayhouse.org

CYT – cytnorthidaho.org

CDA-ACT cdaact.com

Spokane Best of Broadway Series -

Theater on the Verge – theaterontheverge.com

Spokane Valley Summer Theater – svsummertheatre.com

Spokane Civic Theater – spokanecivictheatre.com

Spokane Symphony – Spokane Symphony

Coeur d’Alene Symphony – cdasymphony.org

Erin Hall, a talented singer-songwriter and cellist from Boise, Idaho, now resides and creates music in New York City. She was featured in the "Idaho in Song" series on Idaho Public Television, Season 8, episode 5, where she premiered her song "Lullaby of 55." This episode can be viewed online at PBS' Idaho Experience Series "Idaho in Song". The series highlights songs inspired by Idaho's history and its distinctive musical style.

"Lullaby of 55" is a heartfelt tribute to Erin’s father, Richard Hall, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2020. The song reflects the emotional journey from Boise to McCall on Interstate 55, a route that holds deep personal meaning for her. Erin’s musical style blends influences from Latin, jazz, blues, and French pop, which were further shaped during her time in Belgium as part of a Rotary Exchange scholarship. Her lyrics, sung in both French and English, explore the beauty of everyday life and the surprising wonders of nature. Erin’s music is available on all major streaming platforms under the names Erin Hall and Erin and Her Cello, or you can visit her website at erinhallmusic.com.

Be sure to listen to the end as Erin gave us permission to add her beautiful song to the podcast.

You know we all need to laugh... it is so good for our psyche... especially these days.

Artist Elizabeth Wilkes' journey is a powerful example of how art can be a tool for healing and recovery. It’s fascinating hearing how she used color and intentional creativity to not only rebuild her artistic expression but also reconnect the neural pathways in her brain. The idea of painting with her left hand to facilitate healing adds a deeply personal and neuroplastic element to her process.

The impact of art therapy is something that’s becoming more recognized in psychological and emotional healing, and Elizabeth's story exemplifies how much potential it has. It's great to hear that she now shares this healing journey with others through art, helping others overcome their trauma as well.

Visit her collection of art, or get in touch with her through her website at renewyourmindart.com.

Theater on the Verge is a new independent theater company based in Spokane, Washington that believes theater should be a visceral, personal experience—one that ignites conversation, inspires connection, and leaves a lasting impact. (To quote a favorite show, we’d rather be “nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred people’s ninth-favorite thing.”) Co-founders Troy Nickerson and Chris Jensen talk to us about what inspired them to start a new theater company and how they chose their first show.

Their first performance "Every Brilliant Thing" runs February 27 - March 15 at the Hamilton Studio in Spokane. This one man show, starring Doug Dawson, is heart-wrenching, hilarious…one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop.

For information about show times and to purchase tickets, visit theaterontheverge.com.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or know of someone who is, call 988 to get the help and support you need. It's free. It's confidential. And connects you with a trained crisis counselor.

We recently had the exciting opportunity to engage with Trey Busch, one of the visionary founders of Sleight of Hand Winery nestled in Walla Walla, Washington. Accompanying us was Sommelier Krista French and Robby French from Stylus Wine & Vinyl Bar, our local experts in wine and music.

Since its founding in 2007, Sleight of Hand Cellars has emerged as a standout among Washington State’s new wave of wineries. Recognized as one of "The Next Cult Wineries" by Seattle Magazine and celebrated in Wine Spectator, several of their superb wines—including the acclaimed 2015 Levitation and 2016 Archimage—have secured spots on various prestigious industry "Top 100" lists.

For wine and music enthusiasts, the winery's tasting rooms offer an unforgettable experience. With over 3,000 albums spanning a multitude of genres, both the Walla Walla and Seattle locations feature turntables spinning vinyl records, creating a unique ambiance. At their Walla Walla property, visitors can relax in the Wine Club Lounge while savoring heavenly, high-quality wines. Plus, there's a cozy vinyl shop to explore as you enjoy your tastings.

The Wine Illusionist Society is thrilled to partner with the iconic Sub Pop Records in Seattle. With every shipment, the Society delights members by providing the latest and greatest tracks from Sub Pop as digital downloads, ensuring the perfect soundtrack to accompany your wine experience!

For more details, visit sofhcellars.com and discover the magic of Sleight of Hand Cellars.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Robby and Krista French and the incredible staff at Stylus Wine and Vinyl Bar. Visit styluswineandvinylbar.com for more information.

A poet laureate is a poet who has been appointed by a government or some other organization. It is their responsibility promote poetry, which usually includes composing and reciting poems for special occasions.

Recently, the CDA Arts Commission appointed Jennifer Passaro as the city’s first Poet Laureate. Jennifer studied English and creative writing at the University of Montana and is excited to share poetry with community members, particularly those from vulnerable populations. The goal of the Poet Laureate is to enhance awareness of the role poetry and literature play in the community and to document the unique character of Coeur d’Alene.

Stacey Boe Miller, who served as the Poet Laureate of Moscow, Idaho for the past three years, holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Idaho. She is set to launch a new podcast titled "Workwhile," co-hosted with Sam Burns, starting December 6, 2024. Her podcast focuses on writing, whether for publication or personal enjoyment and features interviews with inspiring writers about how they manage to write while working full-time.

What fun to have incoming and outgoing poets to talk to us about poetry and what it means to be a Poet Laureate.

For more about Coeur d’Alene’s Poet Laureate visit cdaid.org/arts.

Or contact Jennifer directly at [email protected].

Find more about Stacy at stacyboemiller.com and find links to her podcast.

Bill Weimuth has spent the last 20 years writing, producing, and publishing a diverse collection of works, including books, audiobooks, video presentations, a documentary film, and online courses that explore American history. His first novel, *Down the Rivers of Peril*, is based on the true story of the journey to transport America’s first Western steamboat, the “New Orleans,” from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. This 2,200-mile voyage, taken by the Roosevelt family in 1811, involved enduring floods, earthquakes, fires, and Native American attacks, among other challenges. It is a gripping tale of survival and ambition.

Bill is not only a talented storyteller but also a passionate lover of history. He shared the three-year effort to bring his book from the initial idea to the final published copy. We were honored to hear several readings from his work in his own words. 

To learn more about Bill and his works, please visit HistoryHighlights.com. “Rivers of Peril” is available at Amazon.com.

Ellen Travolta, a beloved guest of the Ali & Callie Artcast, has graced us with her incredible stories and vibrant spirit over four seasons. As the first guest to appear five times in a gesture of our appreciation, we presented her with an Ali & Callie five-timer jacket, celebrating her as a valued member of our show and community. Thank you so much, Ellen, for your continued dedication to the arts. We truly appreciate you. 

This winter, Ellen will be acting in a Hallmark movie and producing "The Sounds of Christmas," this year's Christmas show at the Resort. The show promises to capture the true magic of the season. Produced by Ellen Travolta and directed by Roger Welch, this year's show features Jenny Shotwell along with her family—Jenny, Dalton, nine-year old Clark, and six year old Skye. The entire family will perform together, singing beloved Christmas songs and sharing stories, just as in previous seasons. 

Performances will run from November 29 to December 22, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 5:00 PM. To purchase your tickets, please visit cdachristmas.com. 

Lorna Hamilton, a versatile figure as a choreographer, director, producer, and author, shares her journey with Ali and Callie, starting in Coeur d’Alene in the 70s. Lorna, a recipient of the 2024  Mayor’s Award in Excellence of the Arts, has a humble dedication to the Arts in this community. She has authored two books, The Caregiver’s Story: Trading Anguish for a Life of Gratitude, a moving account of her ten-year journal chronicling the joys and challenges of caring for her ailing mother after a devastating stroke, and Being One- Managing Grief to Become Whole Again, both available on Amazon. Her third book, set to launch in December of 2024, is highly anticipated. Lorna, a spiritual life coach, has developed the “Love Joy Harmony Now” spiritual healing method to assist those in grief. She is NLP and ACET certified and utilizes her knowledge of breath techniques, yoga, and tai chi to promote happiness and abundance.