I've Been Thinking...

We have musician and actor Edwin Aguila (EA) on the podcast sharing his journey to being an authentic artist. In middle and high school, Edwin used writing as a way to channel his feelings of being bullied. However, it was near his graduation that he discovered the love for performing which has led to his work in an off-Broadway production and the release of his very own full-length hip hop album. Edwin shares how his love of New York and his heritage fuel him to be authentic in his art.

Mixtape:

https://soundcloud.com/jabir-farooq/sets/the-new-yawwk-experience

Most recent work:

http://www.pingchong.org/nocturne_remix2020

Today we sit down for a conversation with Carolina Vazquez. Carolina discusses how she is viewing the current momentum around diversity and equity within the entertainment industry as a Chicane/Chicanx cinematographer living in LA. Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, Carolina grew up with a wild imagination and extremely visual gift of oral storytelling. She decided to take her skill of scaring kids with haunting tales at Halloween to New York City where she attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Since graduating in December 2014, she has been an assistant camera, gaffer, and director of photography for many features, commercials, new media, and shorts. After living in New York City for five years, she moved back home to Los Angeles, CA where she currently resides and works as a camera operator and director of photography. P.S. She is available for freelance projects!

Instagram and Twitter: @CaroVazquezDP

Website: www.CarolinaNVazquez.com

We have a conversation with the amazing Jess Glazer on this episode of I've Been Thinking. She shares her tips for leading a life centered around wellness and how she is personally navigating a year filled with constant challenges and helps us approach the idea of being well in all areas of our life. Jess is a full-time entrepreneur (business coach), CEO, speaker, philanthropist, and former celebrity personal trainer based in NYC. After 8 years teaching elementary school and building a successful health/fitness "side hustle", she quit her comfortable, secure job to go all in and take a risk on herself. Since leaving her job in 2017, she grew her cute side hustle to a million dollar online business, hired a team of incredible heart-centered humans, served hundreds of clients, raised & donated $50,000 to charity and been featured in Forbes, Shape, The New York Post, The Today Show, Good Day New York, Oxygen Magazine, Well + Good to name a few.

Instagram: @jess.glazer

We have an open and honest conversation with California-based performance artist Melissa McDonald about how to navigate the difficulties that come with non-people of color trying to understand and address systemic racism and oppression. Melissa is an Irish/Salvadoran American who's personal work confronting race and culture has her facing her own privileges as a white-presenting person while working to navigate the sharp learning curve of being an ally to Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. She shares how she is embracing the unknown, showing up in her life, relationships, and industry all while working to educate herself to become the best ally and advocate she can be. You'll be moved by her honesty and transparency.

Actress and Activist Nikita Chaudhry joins the I've Been Thinking Platform. Nikita Chaudhry is an artist, activist, and educator currently based in Los Angeles. A graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a major in Drama, minor in Performance Studies, and honors certificate in Theatre Studies, her work has expanded from stage to screen. She is most passionate about creative work that uplifts underrepresented voices and stories, and work that directly gives back to the community. Nikita shares her perspective as an artist that has also dedicated her efforts with social justice organizations, most notably the Women's March National team for the Women's Convention in Detroit in 2017. We discuss the balancing of identity politics and performance. Nikita can most recently be seen on ABC's Station 19.

Instagram: @Nikita.Chaudhry

Twitter: Nikita_Chaudhry

Website: nikitachaudhry.com

We have the great privilege of chatting with Mariama Jalloh, a NYC based community strategist and digital curator. As the founder of Jalloh Studios, she is also creating safe spaces for Black women artists and creators to cultivate sisterhood, share resources, and collaborate. In this episode of I've Been Thinking Mariama shares her commitment to collaboration, increasing access to creative, emotional, and personal resources and knowledge for Black women creatives, and fostering relationships that go beyond the surface to make creative spaces more enriching and beneficial for creative growth.

Instagram: @jallohstudios // @seeking_sabr

Website: jallohstudios.com

Maya Richardson (she/her) is an actress, singer, writer, and activist using the digital space to explore racial identity and artistic expression. We sat down with Maya to discuss how she is navigating her goal to be an unrelentingly authentic artist all while championing the communities and causes that matter most to her. You'll love her beautiful soul and genuineness.

Instagram: @mayarichardsun

We have the chance to sit down with producer, writer, and actor Patrick Ladonis, a multi-hyphenate in his own right. He is the creative mind behind the new hit web series, SCALES, a show about three friends who continue to face the struggle of balancing their lives with their careers and relationships with those they love. Patrick shares his creative journey, how he has embraced his unique and authentic voice in his work, and how he has cultivated a tribe of creatives to bring his visions to life.

Instagram: Scales Web series - @Scalestheweb // Patrick- @Iampatrickladonis

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SCALESthewebseries/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scalesvol1/

Website: IamPLS.com

Renee Harrison, actor and the founder of Black Girls Do Theater has lovingly created an online community and curation of culture and resources for black identifying women in theater with her digital platform @blackgirlsdotheatre. In this episode of I've Been Thinking we grapple with the questions of sisterhood, community, and a reckoning about racial equity in our current global terrain. Join us as we explore the intersectionality between art and civic engagement.

Instagram: @blackgirlsdotheater // @reneechanelharris

Twitter: @BlkGrlsTheater

#blackgirlsdotheater

https://linktr.ee/BlackGirlsDoTheater

What does doing the work to be a white ally to BIPOC artists of color feel like? What are the small steps non-people of color can take to be more conscious and empowered as we look towards a new future for theatre? Actress, friend and beautiful soul Suzi Weisberg discusses her commitment to embracing the discomfort of creating a more equitable theatre experience for all actors/actresses and the steps she's taking to be a better ally in the community she loves so much!