Empowered Artist Collective Podcast - for actors, singers, dancers, writers, creators and performers

How can one lead a theater artistically, logistically, and sustainably, all with deep humanity? In this episode of our Artistic Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with Maria Manuela Goyanes, current Artistic Director of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre and incoming Artistic Director of LCT3 at Lincoln Center, for an honest conversation about what it takes to run a cultural institution with integrity. Maria offers wisdom on assessing risk in today’s theater ecology, why comedy and community are essential “tentpoles” for new audiences, and how she reframes leadership as a form of abundance, not scarcity. Together, they discuss how to build meaningful community engagement, reimagine institutional “best practices,” develop sustainable career pipelines, and say yes to bold, risky theater that centers innovation and joy. This episode reminds us that there is no one model of leadership and that the most revolutionary thing you can do is bring your full, human self to the table.

About Maria Manuela: MARIA MANUELA GOYANES (she/her) is currently the Artistic Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. She will assume the role of Artistic Director of LCT3 and Producer of Lincoln Center in NYC this fall. Prior to joining Woolly, she served as the Director of Producing and Artistic Planning at The Public Theater,  working on plays and musicals like HAMILTON by Lin-Manuel Miranda, PASSING STRANGE by Heidi Rodewald and Stew, and HERE LIES LOVE by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, to name a few.  While at The Public, Maria also held a position on the adjunct faculty of Juilliard and curated the junior year curriculum of the Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU. She has guest lectured at Bard College, Barnard College, Brown University, Columbia University, Juilliard, the National Theater Institute at The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, UCSD, the University of Texas-Austin, and Yale University, among others. From 2004 to 2012, Maria was the Executive Producer of 13P, one of her proudest achievements. Maria is a first-generation Latinx- American, born to parents who emigrated from the Dominican Republic and Spain. She was raised in Jamaica, Queens, and has a collection of hoop earrings to prove it. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2001 from Brown University.

Maria Manuela's IG: ⁠⁠@MariaGoyanes

Maria Manuela's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/maria-manuela-goyanes

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What does it take to move a play from the cloud of an idea onto the page? In this episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with one of the most produced playwrights, Lauren Gunderson, to unpack the alchemy of writing stories that matter. Lauren shares how she begins every piece with clarity around the ending, staying obsessed with a story long enough to see it through, then reverse-engineers her way through plot, character desire, and emotional arc. They explore her love for lean casts, the joy of adapting classics, her recent deep dive into musicals, and how collaboration fuels her creativity. Lauren offers tools such as balancing personal artistic fulfillment with the needs of theaters and audiences, utilizing collaboration as a creative accelerator, and trusting that a “bad” draft is merely a bridge to something better. No matter the style of writing, this episode is a reminder that good doesn’t come before done and that generosity, curiosity, and resilience are what carry a writer through.

About Lauren: Lauren has been one of the most produced playwrights in America since 2015, topping the thrice including 2022/23. She is a two-time winner of the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award for "I and You" and "The Book of Will,"  and the winner of the Lanford Wilson Award and the William Inge Distinguished Achievement in Theatre Award.

Lauren's IG: ⁠⁠⁠@LalaTellsAStory

Lauren's Podcast  "How To Playwright": how-to-playwright-podcast

Lauren's Website: www.LaurenGunderson.com

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How does one feel into being enough as an artist, and is art itself enough? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with author Stephanie Elizondo Griest to discuss her decade-long global exploration of women artists and the creative life. Stephanie shares the emotional, economic, and spiritual trade-offs she’s made in pursuit of a life devoted entirely to art on a path she calls being an “art monk.” Together, they unpack how capitalism and patriarchy can distort our sense of value, the pressures of conventional success, and the radical act of defining sustainability, fulfillment, and legacy on your own terms. They share tips around grounding practices and community models, as well as powerful reframes around enoughness, sacrifice, and resilience. Whether you're questioning your creative path, feeling torn between stability and passion, or simply seeking permission to honor your calling, this conversation will remind you that your path doesn’t need permission; it needs honoring.

About Stephanie: Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a globetrotting writer from the Texas-Mexico borderlands. Her six books include: Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana; Mexican Enough; All the Agents and Saints, and the forthcoming: Art Above Everything. She has also written for the New York Times, Washington Post, The Believer, BBC, VQR, and Oxford American. Her work has won a Margolis Award for Social Justice Reporting, an International Latino Book Award, and a PEN Southwest Book Award. A professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, she has performed as a Moth storyteller.

Stephanie's IG: ⁠⁠@SElizondoGriest

Stephanie's Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.StephanieElizondoGriest.com

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What are the essential tools, systems, and values behind running a multi-faceted Broadway marketing and media company in today’s fast-paced digital world? In this episode, Jennifer talks with Katharine Quinn, digital strategist and founder of the Broadway-focused marketing and media company, “And That’s Showbiz.” Katharine unpacks how a series of yeses, content creation, and a background in performing and directing unexpectedly led her to the world of social media strategy. She shares the real-world mechanics of running a business, scaling a one-woman operation to leading a full team, and the various tools to keep workflows both efficient and human-centered. Together, they offer tangible tips on producing inspired, fan-forward content across multiple platforms, managing analytics, and building trust with audiences through consistent interaction. Whether you’re an artist curious about the backend of content creation, want to better understand the world of digital marketing, or are dreaming of turning your creative passion into a purposeful business, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how digital storytelling can uplift and bring folks together.

About Katharine: Katharine Quinn is a digital strategist and the founder of And That's Showbiz, a multi-faceted Broadway marketing and media company taking a digital-first and fan-forward approach to amplifying theater beyond traditional spaces. From viral TikToks to photography, video production, influencer activations, partnerships, and fan events, ATS advances Broadway brands where audiences most frequently engage: online. The recently launched ATS YouTube channel featuring Broadway stars and innovators reached 250,000+ views in just one month. ATS’ strategy uses social media as both a growth engine and brand amplifier, extending the theatrical experience beyond the theater walls and bringing Broadway's talent directly to global audiences.

Katharine's IG: ⁠@itskatharinequinn

And That's Showbiz IG: @andthatsshow.biz

Website: ⁠www.andthatsshow.biz

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How do you build a multi-disciplinary directing career in today’s entertainment landscape? In this episode of our Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with Sammi Cannold, who shares her journey as a director of theater, opera, TV, film, and ceremonies. From directing Broadway’s How to Dance in Ohio to shadowing on Grey’s Anatomy to participating in Sundance’s Collab program, Sammi breaks down the hustle necessary for each area of the industry. She offers actionable tools and candid insights into what it means to work across mediums, practical advice on using university resources while in school, the importance of strategic preparation for projects, and how she gamifies the hustle of sending emails. They talk about the continuous humbling and education needed to learn what one doesn’t yet know, tangible tips on team building, hiring decisions, and managing interpersonal dynamics. This episode empowers emerging and established directors with real-world strategies, practical resources, and a deep understanding of a director's responsibility, not just artistically, but structurally and emotionally.

About Sammi: Sammi Cannold is a Broadway director and filmmaker who is one of Forbes Magazine's 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, one of Variety's 10 Broadway Stars to Watch, one of Town & Country's Creative Aristocracy, and a Drama Desk Award winner. In 2025, she was named a Sundance Writers Intensive Fellow and is developing her first feature film, The Homecoming, with the Sundance Institute. Additional: A.R.T. Artistic Fellow, member of Cirque du Soleil's Creative Cognoscenti, Sundance Institute Theater Fellow, and work for CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, and Apple TV+. B. A., Stanford University; M.A., Harvard University. Sammi is represented by CAA and Untitled.

Sammi's IG: @sammi.cannold

Sammi's Website: sammicannold.com/

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What is the role of a publicist and what does the job entail? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with longtime arts publicist Adriana Leshko, Executive Vice President at Blake Zidell & Associates. With over two decades in the field working with institutions, artists, and mission-driven nonprofits, Adriana offers clarity around the distinctions between institutional, personal, and production-based publicity, working with critics, and how press relationships are built and maintained. From her non-linear start as a writer to her extensive work at BAM before her current position, she shares what goes into drafting press releases, the specificity needed for pitching, coordinating press nights, and working with critics. Together, they discuss the importance of earning trust, amplifying the artist’s voice, and building genuine relationships that last. This episode is full of actionable insight on how to think about press, prepare for coverage, and work in partnership with a publicist to elevate your art.

About Adriana: Adriana Leshko joined the staff of Blake Zidell & Associates as Senior Vice President in 2017 after nearly a decade in the press office at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Prior to BAM, she worked for several years as an editor and writer for magazines and newspapers including Harper’s Bazaar (where she was the Arts and Entertainment Editor), The Economist, and The Washington Post, among others. She serves on the board of The Ukrainian Museum in her beloved East Village.

Adriana’s IG: @adrianaleshko

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What exactly does an orchestrator do, and what else is possible in the landscape of orchestration? In this episode, Jennifer sits down with orchestrator and founder of The Broadway Sinfonietta, Macy Schmidt, to explore the creative, technical, and entrepreneurial facets of orchestration. Macy breaks down the craft, from expanding a piano sketch into a fully orchestrated arrangement to choosing instrumentation, texture, and timbre that bring an arrangement to life. She shares the tools, techniques, and self-taught path that shaped her process and what led her to create The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra, which has partnered with global brands, reimagined what orchestras can look and sound like, and redefined the ceiling of possibility.  From practical tips around not relying on music software to business-minded strategies like writing compelling cold emails,  and fostering environments built on transparency and trust, Macy’s journey is a lesson in how creative innovation, ethical leadership, and artistic excellence can—and must—coexist for us to expand what is possible in the industry and beyond.

About Macy: A first-generation Egyptian-American, Macy Schmidt has forged an unprecedented career as both a businesswoman and a creative. At the age of 27, she has already been named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, collected her first Tony Award as a co-producer, and became the first & only woman-of-color orchestrator in Broadway history. She is known among her partners as a tenacious and imaginative producer — as well as a skilled musician — and has been trusted to grow powerhouse IP by the most prominent brands in media and entertainment.Macy is the founder and principal of both Overture Global Entertainment, a consultancy specializing in the design, development, and execution of large scale global concert ventures; and The Sinfonietta, an acclaimed all-women and majority women-of-color orchestra, production company, and musician management firm. Examples of her recent clients and partners include The Walt Disney Company, The Tony Awards, Sony Pictures, Forbes, TikTok, FIFA, Carnegie Hall, Condé Nast, and more. Macy’s unique career combining business acumen and an entrepreneurial spirit with her preceding musical reputation has also generated a robust resumé of high-profile international projects spanning the globe: from supervising entertainment for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, to projects in the UK, China, the Middle East, and India. Above all, she is passionate about elevating women’s voices, which is at the core of all she does.

Macy’s IG: @macyjschmidt

Macy's Website: www.macyschmidtmusic.com

The Broadway Sinfonietta IG: @thesinfonietta

Website: www.thesinfonietta.com

Barbie Movie in Concert IG: @barbiethemovieinconcert

Website: www.barbiethemovieinconcert.com⁠

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How do you navigate the delicate balance between creative vision, financial stability, and community engagement as an Artistic Director? In this episode, as part of our Artistic Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with Brisa Areli Muñoz, Artistic Director of the Musical Theater Factory. Brisa shares her interest in the intersection of artistic practice, justice, community, and healing and how that guides her responsibilities as an AD. She talks about the importance of clarity around a theater’s mission, how to center underrepresented communities, balancing artistic vision with fundraising, and long-term organizational planning. They discuss how vulnerability, patience, and long-term vision are essential, how power dynamics within the creative process can be subverted through genuine collaboration, and the importance of making space for autonomy, curiosity, and care. Whether you’re an aspiring Artistic Director or looking for ways to build deeper, more supportive relationships with the artists you work with, this episode offers powerful tools to apply to your own creative practice.

About Brisa: Brisa Areli Muñoz (she /they) is a theater director, healing practitioner, and cultural worker. She is the Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Factory, a theater company based out of New York City that develops changemaking new musicals in a joyous, collaborative community for collective liberation. Brisa served as the Artist Lead for Arts for Everybody's national campaign in partnership with the city of Edinburg, Texas. Muñoz has directed & facilitated work on Broadway, across the world, and in communities in partnership with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, American Repertory Theater, Center Theatre Group, The Kennedy Center, The Public Theater, Carnegie Hall, REDCAT Cal Arts Theater, Arts Emerson, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, BRIC Arts Media, Sojourn Theatre, ¡Oye! Group, CUNY Creative Arts Team, Hi-ARTS, CO/LAB, and Actionplay.

Brisa’s IG: @brisaareli

Musical Theatre Factory's IG: @mtfmusicals

Musical Theatre Factory Website: www.mtf.nyc

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What happens when we let go of expectations and write from a place of trusting your intuition? In this first episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with playwright, writer, and screenwriter Amy Berryman about navigating her writer's journey with intention, agency, and a little “woo.” Amy shares how different forms of writing activate different parts of her brain, how intuitive playwriting lets her characters lead the way, and how outlining for screen projects often starts before the fun begins. She dives into her process, shares her philosophy on residencies or self-made retreats, and offers actionable tools for giving your writing the same value you give to other commitments. Together, they normalize the reality of many drafts, the vulnerability of sharing your work, and the courage it takes to trust yourself while also discerning what feedback to incorporate. Whether you're a seasoned writer or starting out, this conversation invites you to return to your creative self, one intuitive action at a time.

Amy Berryman is a playwright, actor, and teaching artist. Her play WALDEN had its world premiere on London's West End in 2021 at the Harold Pinter Theatre, under the direction of Ian Rickson and produced by Sonia Friedman. The play then had its U.S. premiere at Theaterworks Hartford, directed by Mei Ann Teo. It most recently premiered off-Broadway at Second Stage, directed by Whitney White, and was nominated for a 2025 Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Play, as well as nominated for the John Gassner Award for a new American play in the 2025 Outer Critics Circle. Berryman's other works include ALIEN GIRLS (O'Neill Finalist 2024, Powers New Voices at the Old Globe, Center Theatre Group Writers' Workshop Commission), GOD'S FLESH (MTC/Sloan Commission), THE NEW GALILEOS (O'Neill Finalist 2019), THREE YEAR SUMMER, THE WHOLE OF YOU, and EPIPHANY, OR WHAT WOULD YOU? (Shakespeare's New Contemporaries Finalist). Berryman is developing work for TV and film in LA and is a MacDowell Fellow.

Sign Up for Amy’s Class: https://www.amy-berryman.com/classes

Amy’s Website: amy-berryman.com

Amy’s Instagram: @amyrberryman

Amy's NPX: ⁠newplayexchange.org/users/20564/amy-berryman

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What if you redefined success as trying, wholeheartedly, for the things that matter most to you? In this deeply reflective episode, Jennifer talks to returning guest, Liz Kimball, who explores how her creative process has evolved since her previous episode (#24) and what it means to redefine success on your own terms. They unpack the impact of achievement culture on artists, the myth of external validation, and how our worth is not tied to performance. They share tools to combat the inner critic to make space for expansion, talk about building inner safety to create freely, explore ways to celebrate small wins without shame, and unpack how self-kindness is not just soft—it’s revolutionary. It is a powerful invitation to create from exactly where you are, to rewrite your definition of success, and to honor the process as the art itself. If you’ve ever felt trapped by “shoulds,” or questioned whether your work matters, this episode brings the language, tools, and presence to help you reclaim your power and reimagine your creative life.

About Liz: Liz Kimball (MFA, CPC) is a creativity catalyst and transformational coach for visionary creators. She is dedicated to helping women and girls free their creative voices so that they can birth the great work of their lives. Liz's work focuses on catalyzing individual and collective change through the magic of creative process. Liz's work has been featured at Tedx, Oprah.com, The Guggenheim, The Female Quotient, and at universities and institutions throughout the country.

Liz's IG: @lizkimball

Liz's Website: lizkimball.com

Liz's Substack: substack.com/@lizkimball

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Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! https://appt.link/jenniferapple

Learn more about Jennifer Apple: www.jenniferapple.net

Jennifer Apple’s IG: @JenniferApple_ 

Monologue Sourcing Promo Link! https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo

Learn more: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast

EAC IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective 

EAC TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective

EAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/

Sign up for our newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch

Check Out Our Merch! https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/

Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices