For the season finale of Bus Ride Talks, Divinia chats with Sam Martin (he/him/his). Sam is a woodworker, stained glass artisan, craftsman, scenic carpenter based in Baltimore and whose work can be seen from Center Stage to his independent business.

Sam's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrainandtheglass/

Thank you to everyone who has listened thus far! It's been wonderful to see so many of you engaging with Greatest City Collective and our wonderful guests, as well as offering tons of great feedback. Bus Ride Talks is going on a bit of a break in order to get the rest of GCC's content out into the world, such as the first issue of our magazine! Please continue to keep up with us by clicking on the links down below and feel free to reach out and submit your work, we would love to see it! Thank you again and we'll be back soon.

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Extra Life. For more information, check out their website: https://www.extra-life.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Thandi Jackson. Thandi's bio:

"As a communications major, my goal is to support innovative media and assist with creating publications. I ultimately aim to use my abilities as a storyteller to bring people together."

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Literacy, Inc (LINC). LINC is based on two beliefs: all children can read given enough one-on-one support and every neighborhood has strengths and resources that can be coordinated to support early literacy.

For more information, check out their website: https://www.lincnyc.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Fisayo Quadri. Fisayo's bio:

"Fisayo Quadri is a 2019 graduate of Pratt Institute with a BFA in fashion design. Her work focuses on using a mix of color, volume, and energetic line work to create engaging textiles combined with modern silhouettes. Upon graduating, she has worked with Nike, freelanced for a variety of independent labels, and founded LoveOhLou a line that focuses on highlighting the beauty in celebrating yourself daily."

Fisayo's website: https://loveohlou.com/

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: The Loveland Foundation. For more information, check out their website: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Will Arbery (he/him). Will's bio:

"Will Arbery is a playwright from Texas + Wyoming + seven sisters. His play Heroes of the Fourth Turning was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and the winner of an OBIE for Playwriting, the Lortel Award for Outstanding Play, the John Gassner Playwriting Award, and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. He's also the recipient of a Whiting Award for Drama. Other plays: Plano (Clubbed Thumb), Evanston Salt Costs Climbing (New Neighborhood), and Wheelchair (3 Hole Press). Commissions: Playwrights Horizons, Audible, MTC. He’s a member/alum of New Dramatists, The Working Farm at SPACE on Ryder Farm, Page 73’s Interstate 73, Colt Coeur, Youngblood, and Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers Group. New plays: Corsicana (dir. Sam Gold, developed at Playwrights Horizons/Ojai), and You Hateful Things (developed at The Public/NYTW/SPACE on Ryder Farm). He is currently developing a slate of film/TV projects at HBO, A24, BBC Films, Sight Unseen, and Hulu. MFA: Northwestern. BA: Kenyon College."

Will's website: http://willarbery.com/

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Creativity Explored. For more information, check out their website: https://www.creativityexplored.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Aldo Amparán (he/him). Aldo's bio:

"Aldo Amparán is the author of Brother Sleep (Alice James Books, forthcoming 2022), winner of the 2020 Alice James Award. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts & CantoMundo. His work most recently appears in the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day, AGNI, Best New Poets, Ploughshares, & elsewhere. He lives in the border cities of El Paso, TX, & Ciudad Juárez, CHIH, México."

Aldo's website: https://www.aldoamparan.com/

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Mariposas Sin Fronteras. For more information, check out their website: https://mariposassinfronteras.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Shadi Ray (she/her). Shadi Ray's bio:

"I’m a graphic designer based in Los Angeles with a focus on creating brand identities and campaigns. I also have a sweet spot for punchy motion graphics and user interface design, but nothing takes my breath away quite like a nice grid system. 

I’m currently working as a designer at imre, using my skills to break down the boundaries of what healthcare marketing & design can look like, creating a harmonious and dignified experience for patients at every step in their treatment journey. My work has been featured in the New York Times and awarded by premiere healthcare publications such as MM&M and PM360."

Shadi's website: http://shadiray.com/

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Planned Parenthood - a healthcare resource center dedicated to providing quick, often immediate, care for women across the country as well as education. For more information, check out their website: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Billy McEntee (he/him/his). Billy McEntee is a Brooklyn-based writer. As an arts journalist, he's written for The Washington Post, American Theatre, Vanity Fair, Observer, and others. His short film Lindsay Lindsey Lyndsey has won various screenplay awards and will come out next year. Billy is an editor at The Brooklyn Rail, works at Playwrights Horizons, taught with The School of The New York Times, and co-hosts the Lasagna Time podcast.

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: Sunrise Movement, a group formed and led by young activists who work to bring attention to and combat climate change. For more information, check out their website: https://www.sunrisemovement.org/principles

Brooklyn Rail: https://brooklynrail.org/2021/3/theater

In today's episode, Divinia chats with Temidayo Amay (they/them/theirs/friend). Temidayo is a Helen Award winning performer and, what they beautifully call, a multi-hyphenate artist. They talk about what those hyphens are, plants (and plant murder), activism, yoga, and the joy have having D.C. roots.

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of Choice: PILOT, a production studio working to center, uplift, and bring forth Black queer stories and the artists behind them. For more information, check out their profile: https://www.instagram.com/thepilotpro_/

In today's episode, Divinia chats with May Treuhaft-Ali (she/her). May is a playwright, dramaturg, and amateur chef. They talk about the who, what, and how of dramaturgy, new plays, public school, and the raw power of goats.

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of choice: Black Girl Hockey Club

You can support and find more information about their work on their website: https://blackgirlhockeyclub.org/

Today's guest is Gerrad Taylor (he/him). Gerrad is an actor, director, educator, and Associate Artistic Director for Chesapeake Shakespeare Company in Baltimore, MD. We talk about transitioning from neuroscience to the arts, approaching the classics without the white-gaze, and his surprising connection to Divinia.

Host: Divinia Shorter

Producer: Jacob Zeranko

Charity of choice: Casey Cares Foundation

You can support and find more information about their work on their website: https://www.caseycares.org/