KeyBARD

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In this episode of KeyBARD, Host Thembi Duncan sits down with Chad Harper, founder and CEO of Hip Hop Saves Lives, a social entrepreneurship that uses hip-hop as a tool for education, empowerment, and global connection. Chad shares his journey from Cleveland, Ohio to New York City, where he combined his passions for hip-hop and community service to create a curriculum that teaches humanity through hip-hop.

Learn more about Chad and his work with Hip Hop Saves Lives and check out the single I'm Just Like You on YouTube.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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S1. E17. "I wanted to write the roles that I wish somebody would write for me."

Thembi talks with Caleen Sinnette Jennings about her journey as an actor, director, playwright, educator, and arts leader, including her memories of being introduced to Shakespeare in an international school in Nigeria, her motivation for becoming a playwright, her creative process, and why she believes she is "an everlasting learner."

Caleen Sinnette Jennings has had seven plays published by Dramatic Publishing Company, and her play Classyass appears in 7 play anthologies.  She has been nominated for 5 Helen Hayes Awards and has won awards from The Actors’ Theatre of Louisville and the Kennedy Center.  Plays in her Queens Girl Trilogy have been produced nationally and her children’s play, Darius & Twig did a Kennedy Center national tour in 2017.  She is Professor of Theatre Emerita at American University where she taught theatre for 31 years. Jennings has been commissioned to write for The Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, Everyman Theatre, and South Bend Civic Theatre. She has been a faculty member of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Teaching Shakespeare Institute since 1994, and she is Senior Consultant to the Director of the Folger Shakespeare Library. 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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In this episode of KeyBARD, singer, poet, actor, and emcee W.Ellington Felton opens up about his artistic journey, creative process, and love for teaching. He talks with host Thembi Duncan about his vision for turning 50, the different eras of his work, and what it means to truly be free.

Introspective. Loquacious. Giving. Insightful. Passionate. Honest. Transparent. Artist. W.Ellington Felton has long been described as a renaissance man and a ranter of his own thoughts, but if you talk to him or see him perform, it may all make sense. 

He is a DC native and son of jazz pianist Hilton C. Felton Jr., and heavily influenced by his surroundings. Growing up in Washington, DC Wes was introduced to the Fine Arts early on. Equipped at The School Without Walls with a backpack of notebooks filled with poems and rhymes, he hit the pavement running quickly making a name for himself on BET’s “Teen Summit”. He went on to study acting at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. After returning from college he went on to teach and act for Arena Stage’s “Living Stage Theatre Company” while pursuing his music career. 

In 2000 he formed the Hip Hop Soul Group “The Crossrhodes” with R&B Crooner Raheem Devaughn. He has collaborated and shared the stage with artists like Chris Rock, Meshell N’Degeocello, Dionne Farris, Eric Roberson, Common, Dave Chappelle and many more. Still a DC Resident and Single Father he has taught Oratory workshops part-time for Ford’s Theatre’s Education Department . 

With a featured role in the film “Love Dot Com” on Prime and roles in the upcoming film “The Empty Walls” and ALLBLK Network’s Season 2 of “Hush” these are just reminders that passion, training and hard work pays off. 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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In this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan sits down with Michael Lavine, a celebrated music director, performance coach, sheet music expert, and Broadway archivist. With a career spanning decades, Michael has worked with legends like Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Craig Carnelia, Hugh Martin, and Sheldon Harnick.

Michael shares how his passion for collecting sheet music led him to amass one of the world’s largest private collections—a treasure trove of Broadway history. He also reflects on his global experiences teaching musical theater, offering insights into how the art form resonates across cultures.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Michael built one of the largest private sheet music collections
✅ The importance of preserving Broadway’s musical history
✅ Behind-the-scenes stories from working with Broadway legends
✅ How musical theater connects cultures around the world
✅ The evolution of music direction, coaching, and performance

About Michael Lavine:

Michael Lavine is a renowned music director, conductor, performance coach, and archivist, known for his deep knowledge of Broadway history and sheet music preservation. He has worked with theater icons worldwide, helping performers refine their craft and bringing forgotten musical treasures back to life.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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Helynsia Brown: Leading with Purpose in Tech and Social Justice

In this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan speaks with Helynsia Brown, a technology executive whose career spans the U.S. Air Force, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Women Donors Network.

With a deep commitment to service, purpose, and social justice, Helynsia shares how technology can drive equity and change. From her early days in the military to leading major cultural institutions, she provides insights into the intersection of tech, leadership, and advocacy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Helynsia’s military background shaped her tech career
✅ The role of technology in preserving cultural history
✅ How women and people of color are reshaping the tech industry
✅ Why social justice and purpose matter in leadership
✅ The impact of technology on philanthropy and advocacy

About Helynsia Brown:

Helynsia Brown is a technology executive and advocate with a career dedicated to leveraging tech for social good. She has led digital initiatives at major institutions and currently works with the Women Donors Network, driving innovation, equity, and systemic change.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
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• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
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Sam Lewis: The Art of Theatrical & Film Design in a Tech-Driven World

In this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan interviews Sam Lewis, an omni-media artist and designer whose innovative craftsmanship spans multiple artistic disciplines.

Sam reflects on his earliest memories of working with his hands, which ignited a lifelong passion for creating immersive visual experiences. He breaks down his process for theatrical set design—from the first script reading to the final build—and shares insights into the evolving world of film and stage production.

Plus, stick around for Sam’s thoughts on artificial intelligence and its impact on artists in today’s rapidly changing creative landscape.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How Sam Lewis developed his multidisciplinary artistic approach
✅ The step-by-step process of theatrical set design
✅ The intersection of craftsmanship, storytelling, and technology
✅ Sam’s take on AI’s influence on artists and creative industries
✅ The evolution of theater and film design in a digital era

About Sam Lewis:

Sam Lewis is a renowned artist and designer known for his work in theater, film, and multimedia art. His designs merge technical precision with creative storytelling, bringing visionary concepts to life.

Explore Sam’s work: https://madebysam.com/

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

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In this episode, multi-talented theatre artist Lynne Streeter Childress shares her journey through 30 years of working in professional theatre, focusing on her extensive work in theatre for young audiences (TYA).

Lynne Streeter Childress is a playwright, actor, teaching artist, singer, director, and the founder and artistic director of Building Better People Productions, an organization based in Annapolis, MD, that uses theatre-based shows, workshops and classes based in themes of empathy, kindness, respect and the things that make us all better people.  

This is her 30th year in professional theatre, with much of that experience in theatre for young audiences.

This includes performing at the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage and Adventure Theatre, and teaching for institutions like the Folger Shakespeare Library, Everyman Theatre, and Baltimore School for the Arts. 

Through all those experiences, Lynne has seen firsthand how theatre can communicate the most important things in the clearest and most interesting of ways, especially to young people. 

Lynne is on the Arts In Education roster for the Maryland States Arts Council and the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, and through Building Better People Productions, has worked with students served by the Arlington (VA) Humanities Project, Arts Every Day, and the Howard County Arts Council. 

Lynne, along with fellow teaching artists Khaleshia Thorpe-Price and Jennifer Ridgway, facilitates Empathy Works, a program that helps organizations discover how empathetic thinking can change their company for the better.

Contact Lynne for bookings or get involved with Better People Productions at https://bbpproductions.com/.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

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In this episode, Dr. Roy Clariana describes his journey from the Peace Corps, through corporate training, and into academia, where he's been a tenured professor in Learning Design and Technology at Penn State University since 1997.

His recently completed 5-year National Science Foundation research project with colleague Ping Li examined how the implicit concept structure of texts influences fMRI brain patterns of activation and eye-track fixations of sixth graders and of adults when reading.

Roy’s current 3-year NSF project has developed a browser-based free open-education resource writing tool called Graphical Interface of Knowledge Structure (GIKS), that provides students with immediate knowledge structure network feedback of their writing. GIKS is designed to be used both for in-class writing activities to support lecture/discussion and is also appropriate for out-of-class time writing. 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

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S1.E10.

Thembi talks with brilliant playwright, poet, screenwriter, director, and cultural worker Goldie Patrick about the cities and cultures that shaped her identity and artistry, her innovative theatre projects, and her belief that Black liberation begins with Black womxn and girls. 

This dynamic conversation also covers Goldie's hip-hop pedagogy, how she encourages vulnerability in her work, and her thoughts on the broader implications of the Kendrick Lamar/Drake rivalry.

For over 20 years Goldie E. Patrick has been passionately working, living, and building artistic collaborations in theatre. A graduate of Howard University (BFA) and Columbia University (MFA-Playwriting), Goldie is actively working in writer's rooms and developing new works, while serving as the Director of Grants and Programming at the Dramatist Guild Foundation. 

Goldie has a unique skill in imagining and interrogating the world of the characters and the play through her "triple threat" skills and experience as a cultural worker, writer, and director. With a zealous approach to developing and collaborating, Goldie has cultivated a vast, culturally inclusive lens and praxis to her work.  

Working thoughtfully as a playwright and television writer, and director to model past contributions to the canon of works that illuminate the Black experience while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of form, style, and aesthetic.  The unique intersection of her  work as a writer, director and  cultural worker is indicative of her holistic approach to her writing.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
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S1.E9.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Giani Clarkson joins Thembi to discuss his journey as an educator, the importance of mentorship and cultural representation in education, his approach to teaching civic engagement, and he even lets us in on which Abbott Elementary character that he most identifies with.

Dr. Giani Clarkson is a proud graduate of Dillard University and received his master's and doctorate from Concordia University. Clarkson is a chemist in the classroom, converting ungenerous personalities into individuals of great worth. Programs he has pioneered in District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools have boosted test scores across the district and helped guide students to college and beyond. 

His mantra is simple: Every child deserves a chance to build the blueprint for their dreams and make it a reality. This message is consistent with his teaching style: pushing the envelope of conventional thinking and providing lesson plans that are relevant, and challenging, but as he says all the time..." learning covered in fun". 

He has been recognized by numerous organizations for innovations in teaching and mentoring children in civic engagement which includes community service and presenting policies to local government officials.

Clarkson also mentors 1st-year teachers through various programs at local universities. He has served as an adjunct professor at Coppin State University and the University of Maryland. Due to his expertise in the field of education and numerous accomplishments, Clarkson is now a featured editorial writer for the Dallas Weekly and several other papers across the country. 

He has won multiple awards from iCivics for excellence in social studies teaching, three Teacher of The Year awards, and won the first-ever Michelle Obama Award from the I Believe Project for excellence in teaching students about civic duties in connection to the importance of registering to vote. 

He has been selected as a Ford’s Theatre National Oratory Fellow for the past ten years. The Oratory Fellows Program gives teachers the opportunity to teach social advocacy through the power of oratory and history. Clarkson has presented on various occasions on behalf of Ford’s Theatre - discussing police brutality and gun violence. Clarkson has won Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Lead Teacher Award for his work with youth and social activism. In addition, Clarkson has recently been named a Board of Trustee Member at Ford’s Theatre. "What is important is to empower students no matter where they are from, love them through adversity, and celebrate their success." 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast