Today’s guest is Domè Moon  - "a visionary painter bringing awareness to the spirit realms to help us remember that we are connected to one another, our environment and the Divine." She is based in Colorado where she creates what is referred to as Visionary Art and it's available all over the interwebs.  Use the links below to  check it out  as it is quite visionary and impressive.   Also impressive is her journey from Lithuania, to Chicago to the rocky mountains, where she has employed all the powers of the natural world and the universe to grab that string and fly that kite.

Domè Moon's website
Domès Moon's Etsy Shop
Domè Moon's Pinterest
Domè Moon - Twitter
Domè Moon's Instagram

This is a re-release episode. This Episode with Kelly Campos was originally released on November 16, 2020 and re-released on February 22, 2021 in honor of Black History Month and because its a really cool episode.  When we re-release episodes, we also debut a video that will feature some pictures of Kelly, including some discussed in this episode.  See below for the video link. 

Kelly Campos has been singing and performing since the mid 90’s when she was still in her teens.  She's a mainstage alum of Second City in her hometown of Detroit and she's taken center stage in  some rocking, soulful bands,  including her 90's band, Jelly's Pierced Tattoo and more recently, the Kelly Campos Band.  She also performs routinely as a solo artist.   

At first blush, her day-job as a youth librarian seems incongruent with her cool-chick, rockstar persona, but we also learn about her love for words, which makes so much sense given what we learn about her childhood.  We explore a great deal more, including key messages and about a family's role in fostering creativity, race, and future ventures.  Listening to this podcast  will show how all these sides are nicely integrated into a singular Kelly Campos.

Note: there are some grown-folks words in this episode

Kelly's Website - https://www.kellycampos.com/
Kelly Campos on Chicago's Do312 https://do312.com/artists/kelly-campos
Cpplest Chick via Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/2I55Llrc5jykGrmqPjsjVe
That Cool Video that's discussed in the episode For What It's Worth video 

Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
Twitter:   @Kitesandstrings
Instagram:  @Kites_and_strings
Facebook: @kitesandstringspodcast

In this episode, Kites and Strings talks with John Concepcion. He’s a tenor working full time in the chorus at the world-renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago.  I am fairly confident that few people can claim that they know an opera singer, but don't fret, John is gracious in sharing his experiences as an opera singer;  from touring and playing opera houses all over, settling down in the chorus at the Lyric Opera, and literally filling the shoes of Luciano Pavarotti.  He educates us about voice categories, how operas are cast and how new operas come into being.  He shares a bit about his playlist, he weighs in on Cher,  operatic heavy metal music and his founding and producing a program called Opera Up Close at Governor's State University.  More seriously he speaks on how important it is to ensure Black voices are represented in opera and he shares about another program that confronts the forces that have kept opera white for far too long.

Note: There is some adult language in this episode

John Concepcion:
Founder & Director, Opera Up Close at Governors State University
https://www.govst.edu/About/Center_for_Performing_Arts/About_the_Center/Opera_Up_Closer/
Beyond Conversation, the Intreraction of Opera and Race
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SHBLM7BDtQ
Chorus Member, Lyric Opera of Chicago
https://www.lyricopera.org/
Board Member, Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago
https://www.caichicago.org/

Today we talk with Tim Lapetino, a designer with a journalism background, who co-authored the book Damn Good: Top Designers Discuss Their All-Time Favorite Projects.  He's also written the critically acclaimed book entitled The Art of Atari, which helps secured his place as a Geek Culture Historian. In this episode, we get Tim's take on the role pop culture and image have played in molding who we are. and we hear plans to chronicle Pac Man in his next project.  Tim's innate curiosity that drives him to always ask "Why", along with his indefatigable search for understanding, shows he's always happy to grab that string and fly that kite.  Click here for pics from this episode and past episodes.

https://www.timlapetino.com/

there might be a few adult words in this episode

Today we talk with Russell Woo, whose creativity and talents often find him airborne as he literally ran away to join the circus.   We discover in today's episode that the circus is only the beginning.  Yes, he's a talented aerialist who performs breathtaking acrobatics on trapeze and silks streamers high above the stage and you'll learn soon about his plans to play piano and weave tales while both he and the piano are suspended midair.  He's also classically trained dancer and pianist, and the piano work during our breaks today is all Russell.  He still consults with businesses, but finds a way to use creativity into his work as  he uses story telling to help corporations to better understand  their various perdicaments.   He’s been innovative and has created all his life and although there have been a few fits and starts with striking a balance between a professional and creative life, he's quite adept at grabbing all the strings of and flying - multiple kites.

Click here for pics from this episode and past episodes.

There is some adult language in this episode

https://www.russellwoo.com/
With the exception of the Kites and Strings Theme, all music in today's episode is played by our guest, Russell Woo.  The composers and names of said songs are as follows:

Granados - Allegro de Concierto, op. 46
Prokofiev - Sonata no. 8 (third War Sonata), op. 84, mvmt 2 "Andante Sognando"
Prokofiev - Sonata no. 8 (third War Sonata), op. 84, mvmt 3 "Vivace"
Schumann - Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Vienna Carnival), op. 26, mvmt 1 "Allegro" Schumann - Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Vienna Carnival), op. 26, mvmt 3 "Scherzino"
Scriabin - Vers la Flamme, op. 72

Today's guest is Tommy Womack, a founding member of the band Government Cheese who rocked the south in the 80s and 90s, filled college radio playlists, had a video in rotation on MTV, and have recently revealed a exciting piece of news that we will get to at the end of this episode.   

Since Government Cheese, Tommy has drawn critical acclaim as the co-founder of the bands, Daddy and the Bis-Quits, who recorded a 1993 album with John Prine's label, Oh-Boy Records.  His critical acclaim is not in small part due to his willingness to be brutally honest about who he is and what he is dealing with.  This transparency is evident in his many solo Americana albums  and in his books,  , Cheese Chronicles : The True Story of a Rock 'n' Roll Band You Never Heard Of and Dust Bunnies: a Memoir.  Both seem to have helped him work through issues with addiction and mental health and he readily shares, while displaying an innate ability to turn a phase and make you laugh.  In this episode we learn of his want and most recent moves to playfaster, harder and louder.  

I think you'll agree that Tommy, with a big dose of truth and a whole lot of humility - knows exactly how to grab that string and fly that kite.

NOTE:  This episode contains adult language

In her "regular" life, Jenn Renoe is an associate media director in an advertising agency and in this episode she shares a good deal about her work and her industry. But as you might expect, she's so much more than that. She's also a writer, comedian, improv artist, actor, and co-host of the podcast "Our Fractured Minds".  In addition to being hilarious, she's a fierce advocate for diversity and the transgendered. As a trans woman herself, she openly and courageously shares her journey towards solidifying who she is by expressing herself through her comedic art.  While on stage and in her shows, she manages to simultaneously educate people about the often difficult life of a trans woman while being way-funny. Obviously, the quarantine limits Jenn's ability to present herself on stage, but she'll never be someone who allows a mere pandemic to keep her from grabbing that string and flying that kite.

to catch Jenn on a very funny and recent, virtual show, check out this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu5ooQbqsRA

NOTE: this episode has adult language and themes

Harrison Amir wrote our theme music and all other live music is from https://pixabay.com/music/

We spoke with the multi-talented Nerissa Bradley, whose long list of creative accomplishments proves she knows exactly how to grab that string and fly that kite from wherever she's standing. She's an actor and voice-over artist, whose work has been featured on several national and international advertising campaigns. As a speaker, she's graced the TED Talk stage to educate us on "Why You Stopped Being Creative". She's also performed her music internationally, including on the stage at Carnegie Hall. Furthermore, the organization Celebrating Black Canadian Arts produced a video called "Heartache to Art", in which Nerissa was featured as a mental health advocate. 

In today's episode, Nerissa is candid about her life, her drive and how she has followed different paths because they seemed right at the time,  She's open about how the arts have helped her through personal struggles and challenges, what her creative process entails, and her move from Canada to London where she currently lives. Due to Nerissa Zooming in from the UK for this interview, we experience a few minor audio glitches. 

Note: there are a few adult words in this episode

Nerissa' TED Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tnh1CRnV8U

Nerissa Bradely - Just a Game, original recording on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr_QTjVKXWE

Today's guest is Ginny Loveday, who definitely uses her creative skills in her work as a project manager, and she has a passion for cosplay, spreadsheets and the roll playing game, Dungeons and Dragons. She's a respected dungeon master who writes her own campaigns, and she's contracted by the creator of D & D - Wizard of the Coasts Games - to write and publish stories for them as well. Her publications include Encounters in Theros, The Folly of Sneaky Simon, Jack of Daggers, and A Murder Most Foul, to name only a few.  Game stores have also built their gaming communities due to Ginny's ability to coordinate large swathes of the country to attend gaming conferences she's organized.

Besides her love of fantasy worlds, she's also a champion of social issues such as Diversity, LGBTQ rights, and rural hunger/homelessness. Stick around to the end, and we'll direct you to her website where you'll be treated to pictures of her in character.

NOTE: there are some adult words in this episode

Ginny's Website
Episode Pics from the Kites and Strings Website
 

Look at your calendar, if it says some date after 12/23/2020, this is a re-release.  If you're listening again, thanks for being so hardcore and for recognizing that this was a way fun episode, even though some of our guest's audio is wonkey.  If you're new to the episode, hold on, its way-funny. 

In this episode, our guest Steve Buchtel shares how he infuses creativity into his job at a bike shop. Because he has what could be considered a "regular" day-to-day work life, he doesn't think of himself as being creative in the traditional sense, since he's not making visual art, composing music or acting in plays. But hold tight...we'll discover how his particular brand of creativity earned him the title "Forest Kite".

He tells a few hilarious stories of using his monster bike to deliver goods throughout his community, helping small businesses deal with the quarantine. Steve B lets us in on the motivating force behind his drive to challenge himself to help others in creative ways and in ways that encourages fun and commuity. 

Steve B's stories are so funny, you will certainly be able to look past the less than perfect audio that is a result of interviewing him remotely and stuff.   

Note: This episode contains adult language.

Mentioned in this podcast.  Please click to visit associated websites/links:
Trail Mix Video with Steve B's script
GoodSpeed Cycles
Homewood Cancer Support Center
RedBird Cafe
Rabid Brewing
Village of Homewood, IL