Justin Kalifowitz founder and CEO of Downtown Music Publishing talks with Bill about inspiration, creativity and community. Justin talks about his journey into the music business, how he got started, what he is thinking about right now. This episode was recorded a week before Downtown Music Holdings announced its purchase of AVL Digital. Enjoy

Eric Adams is A life-long New Yorker. He has been active in civic life for more than thirty years as police officer, community organizer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President and in 2022 the Mayor of NYC. In the ‘90’s while still a uniformed police officer he founded ‘One Hundred Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care." In 2019, when he was Brooklyn Borrough Persident, I spoke with him about his journey, creativity and what inspires him.

Arian Moayed is probably best known in 2020 for his portrayal of Stewie on HBO’s hit series “Succession” but in addition to acting in theater, film and television Arian has a long history of creating theater as well as teaching and mentoring young artists.

He was five when his family immigrated to the U.S fleeing war and unrest in Iran. He shares his story of dislocation, hard work, and his determination to disobey the rules and make it up as he goes. As he talks with me about the journey and his vision of creating truthful theatrial works his positive energy is palpable and contagious. Arian is a creator who stands their ground and works to make space for others to grow and shine.

Listen deeply - enjoy.

Petra Hansen is a visual artist, designer, musician, writer and podcaster who incidentally, was HUGE in Japan. Hers is a story of constant creative reinvention challenging cultural norms as she follows the muse. Her energy, creativity and intelligence defy narrow definitions. With her project The B-Sider [thebsider.com] Petra seeks to inspire and empower people to re-imagine themselves as life-long creators.

William Clark talks about his journey from from 'enjoying a fine quality of boredom' in rural Virginia, where he worked designing used car advertisements, to being a literary agent in New York.

John Fell is a noted drummer, drum gear guru, photographer, motorcycle aficionado, co-founder of Main Drag Music, in Williamsburg Brooklyn. He’s worked with an array of bands and individuals including The Isolator, Miami Sound Machine, Perfect Strangers, Kid Congo Powers of the Cramps, Gun Club, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fell_(drummer)

Drummer, producer, entrepreneur Steven Williams has been active in rock, hip-hop, jazz, Americana, funk and even done some work on Broadway. He’s a New York musician - a player- in the best tradition. Steven shares his interesting journey from Baltimore to Brooklyn along the way working with Vanilla Ice, De La Soul, Digable Planets, Sade, David Byrne and many, many other top artists.

Nina Roberts is a journalist - writer and photographer based in New York. Her stories and photographs, primarily about immigrant entrepreneurs, have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Observer and The Boston Globe.

Follow her @ninarobertsnyc

Tom is the Executive Producer of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, previously as co-founder of Waterwell Theater in New York he directed Hamlet, Blueprint Specials, Goodbar, and The Persians, among others. He’s presented work at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, as well as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Indiana and Trinity College. Tom’s productions have won DFW Theater Critics Forum and ECNY Awards and been nominated for CT Critics Circle, IT and New York Magazine Culture Awards. He was associate/assistant director with Joe Mantello (The Last Ship, Chicago & Broadway), Tony Taccone (The Tempest, OSF), Daniel Sullivan (As You Like It, Shakespeare in the Park) and Barry Edelstein (Timon of Athens, Public Theater). Till 2017 he oversaw the Drama Program at the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) public middle and high school in Manhattan, providing world-class training to exceptional 6-12th graders.

Joe Lentol the second longest serving member of the New York State Assembly shares his thoughts about community and creativity.