This week on Black & A Half, we’re joined by director and world-renowned violinist Lara St. John to talk about her documentary Dear Lara.

The film examines abuse, power, and institutional silence within the classical music world. It’s a heavier conversation than usual for a comedy podcast, and we name that upfront. We talk about how abuse hides in places that are assumed to be “safe,” why parents struggle to know who to trust, and how entire systems protect reputation and talent at the expense of children and students.

We also talk about art, parenting, fear, responsibility, and what it means to keep loving music when the industry surrounding it has caused harm. And yes, after the interview, we do what we always do: process, reflect, deflect, and occasionally use humor as a survival tool.

This episode includes discussion of sexual abuse (not graphic), power dynamics, and institutional failure. Listener discretion advised.

Dear Lara premieres in the United States at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, with international screenings to follow.

It’s a New Year episode… but not the loud, “new year new me” kind.

In Episode 243, Silas and Samantha talk honestly about endings, beginnings, and what it actually feels like to move from a heavy year into a hopeful one. They unpack New Year’s resolutions, Chinese zodiac misunderstandings, creativity, work cycles, comedy, parenting, yoga, showing up imperfectly, and the strange pressure to have everything figured out by January 1st.

This one is thoughtful, funny, occasionally feisty, and very human. If you’ve ever felt the weight of a year and the relief of surviving it, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

Life is busy. Loud. Exhausting. And somehow we’re still supposed to be creative inside of it.

In Episode 242, Silas and Samantha talk honestly about what creativity looks like when life is laughing you straight in the face. From parenting and exhaustion to guitars, Halloween theatrics, perfectionism, and letting go of the idea that creativity has to be “big” to count, this episode is part therapy session, part philosophical ramble, and part classic Black & A Half chaos.

If you’ve ever felt like you used to be creative and aren’t sure where that version of you went...this one’s for you.