Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak

By Dot Cannon: Public Speaker & New-Media ReporterSociety & CultureEducationArts
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Over Coffee® | Stories and Resources from the Intersection of Art and Science | Exploring How to Mak episodes

  • Tinker the Robot: Where "Cute" Meets CAD
    When  engineer and artist Kay Yang created Tinker the Robot, she wanted to be sure he'd be cute.
    Kay and fellow engineer Jason Chen developed Tinker to help teach kids to build with electronics, while having fun.  At the recent Orange County Mini Maker Faire, Kay and Jason exhibited their creation--and Kay said she'd just launched her Kickstarter campaign!
    Tinker is a fully-programmable robot, designed to be customized.  Kids can take him apart, put him back together, color him, and decorate him with stickers.  And while they're having fun, they'll also be learning how to code.
    Kay talked about the invention of Tinker the Robot and some of his programmable functions, and even shared some of the resources (including free CAD, or computer-aided design, files) that enabled her to create this unique interactive toy.
    11 min
  • Adventure Plus Inspiration
    Which of your dreams would be scary--and wonderful--if they came true?
    Actor,  filmmaker and TV host Shaan Dasani is executive producer and host of an exciting new digital docudrama series, based on this concept.
    Shaan says his goal, with this project, is to inspire people to work past their fears to pursue their dreams.
    At the IAWTV Awards, during the recent New Media Expo in Las Vegas, Shaan talked about his new show, Born 2 Trans4m,  and the personal journey which led him to create it.
    8 min
  • A Changing Sea
    by Dot Cannon
    Creativity and initiative were on display.  Projects that had met an adamant "no" from traditional media would, later that evening, become multiple award-winners.
    And the mood was festive, at the Fourth Annual International Academy of Web Television Awards,  at the Westgate Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on April 15th.
    The IAWTV Awards show, directed by Luminave Films founder Jenn Page, showcased the ways in which the growing independent online video production community  not only allows individual creators a voice--but gives them a chance to shine.
    On the red carpet, just prior to the awards ceremony, a number of content creators talked about their experiences making their dreams a reality, as well as some of the practicalities of bringing their vision to life.    They also offered advice for future members of their community!
    11 min
  • The Subject Was Storytelling
    by Dot Cannon
    How do you get people to want more of your creative projects?
    By creating something everyone loves: a good story.
    At the recent New Media Expo in Las Vegas, two gifted storytellers joined Over Coffee® for our first live broadcast from Podcast Alley.
    Valerie Geller is an international broadcast consultant, and president of Geller Media International.  Her radio experience has included on-air gigs in Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles, and she has coached air talent all over the world.
    She's also the author of four books; her  most recent one, Beyond Powerful Radio: a Communicator's Guide to the Internet Age is currently available.  (The audio version is set for release in early June of this year.)
    Meanwhile, Susanne Whatley is a Golden Mike- and APTRA-award winning newscaster.   Her on-air experience includes anchor positions at KFI and KFWB, as well as hosting the cable show "Healthline".  Currently, she is a news anchor at KPCC in Pasadena.
    Valerie and Susanne talked about the craft of storytelling and the responsibilities of citizen journalists, as well as how to take online content to the next level and "never be boring".
    45 min
  • She Produces…Magic
    by Dot Cannon
    "Women are natural producers," says producer, writer/speaker and creative-empowering artist Jenna Edwards.
    Jenna, who will be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming New Media Expo in Las Vegas, would know.
    While Jenna has been producing independent films since 2007, and is currently in production on an exciting talk show, Wake Up!™, she also shows fellow "creatives" the steps to achieving their goals.
    Her perspective on life is a unique one.  In 2003, Jenna was experiencing some major success in her acting career.   But then, she was onsite during one of the most tragic accidents in Santa Monica history: the crash which killed ten people at the Santa Monica Farmers Market.
    After recovering from severe PTSD, Jenna found both the creative path she loved, and the basis for her current work: helping people create the lives they want through her brand, Create With Jenna.
    Jenna talked about her background, her experiences, and some of the steps towards realizing a creative dream--as well as the panel on which she'll be participating at NMX.
    47 min
  • An Adventurer’s Guide to Staying Out of Trouble
    Award-winning attorney Ruth Carter doesn't just overturn "lawyer" stereotypes--she explodes them.
    Ruth is an avid flash mobber and the co-founder of Improv AZ, a flash mob and prank troupe in Phoenix.  She's also an expert on social media, blogging and flash mob law.
    As the founder of Carter Law Firm in Phoenix, Arizona, she says on her company's webpage that her goals include giving people the legal education to "run with their crazy ideas", and that she takes her work (but not herself) seriously.
    Ruth is the author of  three bestselling books on the legal aspects of blogging and flash mobs.    She also shares her travel experiences and her thoughts on current issues, including cyberbullying, on her blog, The Undeniable Ruth.
    Awards she has won include being named an American Bar Association Legal Rebel, in 2012, for her work with flash mob law.  In 2011, her work with Improv AZ led to her being chosen as a finalist for the 2011 Phoenix New Times Big Brain Awards for the performing arts.
    AND--she's going to be a featured speaker at the upcoming New Media Expo in Las Vegas, with a presentation on "Social Media Horror Stories From the Legal Trenches" on Tuesday morning, April 14th!
    Ruth talked about her background, her flash-mob experiences and offered a look at some of the legal issues involved in flash mobs and social media.
    (PLEASE NOTE: This post and podcast are intended for informational and entertainment purposes only.  They do not constitute legal advice.  Please hire an attorney if you have legal questions.)
    27 min
  • Working With Respect–and Love
    Filmmaker Jenn Page has literally made a career out of doing things differently.
    Jenn, who is both a professional actor and a director, worked in independent films in New York prior to moving to Los Angeles.  Her experiences working in L.A.  ultimately led her to create her female-friendly film production company, Luminave.
    Jenn's short films have won multiple awards, while providing women with the opportunity to work in all aspects of film production, including crew positions.   Cast and crewmembers say she has a gift for making them feel comfortable, and inspires them to give her their best.
    AND--she's going to be one of the featured speakers at the upcoming New Media Expo, in Las Vegas, with a panel on "Women in New Media"!
    Jenn talked about her background, her experiences creating her production company and the guidance she'd like to give other creative visionaries, as they go about making their dreams a reality.
    22 min
  • To the Next Level–and Beyond
    Comedian, motivational speaker and author Charles McFall likes to use his talents to help people "level up".
    But while that's a gaming term (appropriately, since one of his podcasts, From the Helicarrier, is about his favorite game), we're talking about real life.  His mantra: "Help Others Be Awesome".
    Charles, who discovered podcasting in 2004, is the Executive Producer and co-host of the Success Freaks podcast, as well as the co-author of the book Success Freaks Guide to Dream Hunting.   His background includes not only creating multiple live shows and producing shows for other podcasters, but ten years as a paramedic--and growing up as the "son of a preacher man".
    When New Media Expo 2015 takes place in Las Vegas, in another two weeks, Charles will be helping fellow podcasters "be awesome", as he hosts a panel on "How To Build a Community That Grows Your Influence and Income".
    Charles talked about his growing-up years, his experiences as a podcaster, and the lessons he's learned while building his own community.
    (Note: "Success Freaks" is a three-time finalist for the People's Choice Podcast Awards--and is in the running, once again, for the 2015 award!)
    22 min
  • BBVD to Swing Through SoCal
    by Dot Cannon
    Not many bands can say what Big Bad Voodoo Daddy can.
    Twenty-plus years after its inception, the band still has its original core members.  They were the featured band in the 1996 independent film Swingers.  This project ultimately led to sold-out concert venues all over the world and a number of high-profile television appearances--including the halftime show at the 1999 Superbowl.
    When BBVD plays a live concert (which they do approximately a hundred fifty times per year), they appear to be having a great time, right along with the audience.  And their music, which incorporates both jazz standards and original material, has an authentic sound that harks back to the swing era--and gets audience members up and dancing.
    When the band's popularity exploded during the mid-1990s, grunge, rap and Whitney Houston were topping the charts.    The unique, playful music of BBVD was a standout with their big-band, swing revival sound.  They continue to garner new fans as they pay tribute to jazz greats (such as Cab Calloway, whom they honor on their 2009 offering, How Big Can You Get) and have fun with Scotty Morris' new compositions, such as "Why Me" on their most recent album, Rattle Them Bones.
    Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's current tour includes a stop at Arcadia Performing Arts Center, one week from tonight--and it is going to be a party!
    BBVD trumpet player, producer and video director Glen Marhevka joined Over Coffee® to talk about his background, his experiences with the band, and most of all, their music.
    Big Bad Voodoo Daddy comes to Arcadia Performing Arts Center on Friday evening, March 27th, at 8:00.  Here's the link for more information.
    17 min
  • Her Heart Is In Her Voice
    Singer and songwriter Deanna Della Cioppa knows how to connect with an audience.
    In live performance, she can make listeners feel like they're "just hanging out" with her--even as she soars into Streisand hits, or delivers a very personal-sounding interpretation of "On My Own" from Les Miserables.
    You'll recognize Deanna as the main talent of Christmas 2014's "Big Lots" commercials.  Her professional resume includes co-writing and singing the 2000 dance hit "Higher", as well as singing for Patti LaBelle, performing with Cece Winans and more than fifty film, television and DVD projects, including "Sex and the City" and "Lipstick Jungle".  She's also a featured vocalist on numerous national ad campaigns.
    But, most people remember her best from Season 8 of "America's Got Talent"--and more than a few didn't agree with her elimination from the competition.
    Despite more than two thousand "likes" on her Facebook page,  Deanna says she doesn't have "fans".  She prefers friends, and would really like to have you connect with her, and/or follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@deannabombchica).  You can also see some of her performances on her YouTube channel, and her blog includes all her social-media links.
    Deanna talked about her background, her recent performance experiences and her exciting current project: her first solo album!
    28 min

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