My Job is to Play - Women in Television (Conversations on Creativity with Erin Mallon)

When I started this podcast, one of my main goals was to talk to people from all walks of creativity. I've always been so excited and kind of mystified by how orchestra conductors work. So I set out to find one to interview and I found the Feliza Estrada. Feliza is doing this great on-going project called "My Journey to Become a Great Conductor" where she shares so much of her process on social media. This interview allowed me to go back to my roots and geek out on classical music. I knew nothing about what it takes to become a great conductor before this chat with Feliza, and I had a blast learning from her. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I did. 

Welcome back to My Job is to Play for our 20th episode! It's been such a blast having these conversations every week and sharing them with you all. Today we have the amazing actor Richard Masur on the show. You know Richard, You've seen him in soooo many movies and TV shows. It would be ridiculous to even try naming them, but her are some of the biggies: The Thing, Risky Business, My Girl, Stephen King's It, One Day at a Time... the list goes on and on. He's currently on Broadway In Manhattan Theater Club's production of Prayer for the French Republic written by Josh Harmon, directed by David Cromer and featuring a truly incredible ensemble cast. We talk about Richard's experience working on this really timely play and also dive into some really fun anecdotes from his over 50 years of working in film. I love Richard dearly. It's such a treat having him in my life and I jump at every chance I get to work with him. You're going to really dig this one. 

Today we have the great Nana Malone on the show. Nana is a Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author, She writes Sexy Feel-Good Romance and loves all things romance and adventure. This interview was such a treat for me. I've long admired Nana's work as a writer and the way she puts her excellent energy and ideas into the world. This conversation skyrocketed my admiration for her. 

Today we have the wonderful Darin F Earl II on the show. Darin is a fantastic actor, writer and dramaturg. A real person of the theater. They also have an enormous amount of knowledge and skill when it comes to Shakespeare,  which we dive into quite a bit. 

It was so nice to spend this quality time with Darin talking about making art. I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as I did!

I'm so excited to have my dear friend Teddy Hamilton on the show today. Teddy is a well-loved audiobook narrator and a delightful dude. I jump at every chance I get to co-narrate with him or have him in one of my audio plays. If you've heard my These Walls Can Talk series, you know he tears things up as recovering misogynist/audiobook engineer Neil.  I wasn't sure where this conversation with Teddy was going to go. We start with audiobook narrating and then go balls-to-the wall talking about creativity - what lights us up, what shuts us down and how to keep boldly moving forward and make the things we wanna make. I really loved this chat and hope you do too. 

Today we're talking to Jacqueline Balloutine. Jackie is certified in Hypnotherapy and Past Life Regression with a focus on Spiritual Alignment. What does this have to do with creative flow you ask? Well, I can honestly say I have never felt more connected and "in flow" than during the sessions I was lucky enough to have with Jackie. This interview is a really cool deep dive into the work Jackie does to help people access their subconscious and higher selves and how connecting those dots can foster our ability to be more creative and free moving forward. This is a pretty darn revealing interview for me too because I basically spill who I was in a former life:) So.... enjoy!

Today we're talking to Moses Villarama. 

Moses is a wonderful actor and musician who just finished the Broadway run of Here Lies Love, created by David Byrne of The Talking Heads along with music by Fat Boy Slim. It was directed and developed by Alex Timbers, choreographed by Annie B-Parson and featured an all-Filipino cast for the first time on  Broadway. I got to see the show before it closed and it really knocked me out. I loved getting to talk about the process with Moses and dive into what it meant to him being part of this history-making show.

Today we're talking to J Ruth Gendler. J. Ruth Gedler is the author of the bestselling The Book of Qualities and the award winning Notes on the Need for Beauty and the editor of Changing Light: The Eternal Cycle of Night and Day. Her work as an artist has been featured in all her books and in exhibitions across the country. Ruth has also done an enormous amount of work as a teaching artist in schools for over 35 years and has so much wisdom to share on playfulness and creativity. I was hanging on her every word in this discussion. It is not an exaggeration to say that when I first read "The Book of Qualities," fresh out of college, it changed my life. It's one of those very special books that I've kept with me over the years and every time I revisit it, I find something new and exciting and illuminating. I cannot recommend Ruth's work enough and I was thrilled to spend this time with her.

Today we're talking to the awesome Autumn Jones. Autumn is a soulful R&B singer-songwriter and an alumni of Berklee College of Music in Boston. She's had a busy few years along with her band "The Smoke" releasing her debut EP "4.4.4.," winning a Tracks Music Award for her single "Bittersweet" and showcasing her music at venues like City Winery, Hard Rock Cafe and Rockwood Music Hall. Notion Magazine described her work as having a "neo-soul-style with full and effusive vocals reminiscent of blues veteran Corrrine Bailey Ray." Autumn is such a cool and emotionally connected person. Despite living on the same street, this was the first time we got to sit down together and really talk about making art. I loved every second of it and hope you do too. Be sure to stay til the very end of this episode because she shared an awesome  song with us you don't want to miss. 

Today we're talking to the awesome playwright Adam Szymkowicz. Adam’s plays have been produced throughout the U.S., and in Canada, England, Wales, The Isle of Man, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Turkey, Switzerland, South Korea, Thailand, Sweden, Austria, Slovenia and Lithuania. You getting the picture? This man's plays are everywhere. Adam's writing is hilarious and layered and full of heart and he is super smart in the ways he gets his work out into the world. I admire the hell out of this guy and I'm so glad I got a chance to sit down with him to talk shop.