Branching out from her CMA roots, Audrey Schnell walks us through her theatrical directorial debut of the classic American play, “It Pays to Advertise”. From funny moments in rehearsal, to overcoming the struggles of rehearsing without a set, Audrey gives us a peek backstage at what it was like to make this year's Torrey Theater play happen.

Drama, romance, and good clean humor. “It Pays to Advertise” tells the story of a young man that sets out to prove to his father anything can be sold if you advertise it properly—even if it doesn’t exist. Problems arise when his advertisements are more successful than he ever could have imagined, but he has nothing to deliver.

Showings April 4-5. For more details and to get your tickets, click this link.

Biola Backstage is back again for Season 3! Executive producer and host Hope Li talks to Biola Snyder School students Emma Broyles, Jonny Harmon ‘24 and Po Yin Sham about how in the world their award-winning film “A Lovely Ending” had its beginnings. Hear about certain actors’ casting rizz, Easter eggs, a tangent on Emma’s wedding cake goals and why we need to hug our moms more.

• (02:15) - Finding a lovely name

About “A Lovely Ending”

“A Lovely Ending” is a film from Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema Media Arts that took almost two years to make, with almost 130 cast and crew members. It premiered at Biola University’s newly-renovated Ethel Lee Auditorium on Sept. 20, 2024. Watch the trailer here, and follow the film’s Instagram @alovelyending.musical as it continues on its award-winning journey. The official soundtrack to the film is available on Spotify and all the other music streaming platforms.

To watch the trailers of the films we mentioned in the episode, head to Jonny’s Linktree. For more of his work, follow him on Instagram @harmonmedia. Catch Emma’s recent scribblings on her Substack and her Instagram @emma_of_everywhere, and find Po cooking mushrooms, crocheting and on her Instagram @poyinsham.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the people we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio.

Dr. Matt Hall joins us on this episode of Biola Backstage. We ask him questions about his education, his teaching career, his relationship with the Spanish language and culture alongside discussing some other intriguing topics.

About Dr. Matt Hall
Dr. Hall grew up in Spain as a missionary kid before coming to America. He comes from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he has been an associate professor of church history, vice president for academic services, the dean of Boyce College and the provost and senior vice president of academic administration.
Dr. Hall on the Directory
Dr. Hall's LinkedIn

Dr. Chris Grace and his wife Alisa Grace join us for this Valentine's Day special on relationships, dating and singleness. One of the key points discussed in this episode was by Alisa who said that we should date for patterns, not potential. Dr. Grace regales us with some of his stories of when he first started dating and provides wisdom and insight in that area of life.

About the Graces
Dr. Chris Grace is the founder and co-director of the Center for Marriage and Relationships at Biola University. He has been with Biola since 1988 where he started as a professor in the Rosemead School of Psychology. His wife, Alisa, co-teaches a class on Christian marriage and relationships and is a co-director of the CMR alongside her husband. Additionally, they are the hosts of the "Art of Relationships" podcast where they discuss more relationship/marriage/singleness topics in depth. Together, they have three children and several grandchildren they are extremely proud of.
Dr. Chris Grace
Alisa Grace
The Art of Relationships Podcast
The Center for Marriage and Relationships

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

Crowell School of Business professor Dr. Rachel Bodell sits down to talk about her recent passion project for 2023: The Bible in a Year: The Story. She explains how the Bible podcasts were typically just commentary, just reading the Bible in a year or from the Catholic perspective. She saw a unique opportunity to fill a void. Through this podcast, Dr. Bodell explains how she had grown from hosting the podcast, drawing on theologians from Biola and bringing the Bible to people in a short, understandable way.

About Dr. Rachel Bodell

Dr. Bodell has studied all over the world — earning her undergraduate degree in the U.S., her masters in France and her doctorate in England. She joined Biola as an adjunct professor in 2019 and has been an associate professor since 2021.

Bodell’s CV

The Bible in a Year (The Story)

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

Host Charlotte McKinley sits down with Dr. Todd Guy, Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication, to talk about his life to Biola, his experience with music and what he does as a dean. They talk about SoFAC and how it's unique with its divisions, how Dr. Guy's primary objective is to equip faculty with the tools to better equip their students, changes and advice he would give to SoFAC students in particular.

About Dr. Todd Guy
Dr. Todd Guy did his undergraduate work at Marion College studying church music, music education and applied voice. He received his master's at Northwestern University before getting his doctorate in choral conducting at Ball State University. Before joining Biola as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication, he was a professor, chair and interim dean at Indiana Wesleyan for 30 years.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

President Dr. Barry Corey from Biola University joins us on this podcast episode to talk about his job as a president and what he does, explains his moniker “DBC,” talks about his children’s graduation handshake, and gives some advice to Biola students.

Dr. Corey describes being President of Biola with five areas:

• Board development
• Building the mission and vision of Biola
• Internal and external ambassador
• Resource development
• Personal professional development

About Dr. Barry Corey

Dr. Barry Corey is the 8th president of Biola University, starting his term 16 years ago in 2007. He holds a B.A. in English and biblical studies from Evangel University and his M.A. in American studies and Ph.D. in education from Boston College. 

Corey’s Biola Profile

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

Dr. Gary Lindblad joins us today as we talk about his experiences at Biola, how he got into business and his budding music hobby. In this episode, Dr. Lindblad explains how he got to where he was, his long history at Biola (including living on campus with his wife who was a Resident Director), and how over COVID, he started recording songs from his home studio.

ABOUT DR. LINDBLAD
Dr. Lindblad earned his undergraduate degree in English and Education from the SUNY, College at Fredonia before obtaining a masters in Christian Education from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University as well as a masters and doctorate degrees from UCLA in higher education, work and organizational change. Dr. Lindblad has been the dean of the Crowell School of Business since 2014 and is retiring in June of 2023 with many plans for retirement.
Dr. Lindblad's CV
Dr. Lindblad on Spotify
Dr. Lindblad on Apple Music

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

Adjunct professor of mathematics and Applied Instructional Technology Administrator for the Office of Digital Learning and Program Development Matthew Weathers joins us today to tell us a few stories from his life as a Biola student and his computer tricks he went viral for. He explains that it is important to be intentional — take the extra time to get ahead and do things well. Dividends will pay off.

About Matthew Weathers
Weathers has a B.S. in Math and Computer Science from Biola and an M.S. in computer science from University of Southern California. He has been teaching in the Department of Math and Computer Science since 1998 and is known among his students as a professor who loves explaining math and having fun with his students. Weathers went viral in 2017 for the computer tricks he played on his students.
Weather’s CV

Subscribe to Weather’s YouTube Channel

Math Teacher Pranks Class Video

Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio. 

Did you know that the Associate Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication has three different communication degrees — a B.A., M.A., and a Ph.D.! Dr. Joy Qualls joins host Charlotte McKinley on this episode of Biola Backstage. They talk about Dr. Qualls' experiences in work, her job in Washington, D.C., and advice she has gathered along the journey. Her most notable piece of advice is to enjoy the journey of being a college student — there is always a lot more time to be an adult.

About the Guest
Dr. Joy Qualls is an associate dean in Biola's School of Fine Arts and Communication. She teaches courses in communications research and political communication. Qualls started at Biola as a chair before moving into her current position. She graduated with a B.A. in Communication Studies from Vanguard University, and her M.A.  and Ph.D. in Communication from Regent University with research emphases in religious and political rhetoric.