Episode Overview: This episode really kicks off season two as Molly interviews our host for season 2: Micah. In this episode, Micah and Molly discuss the creative process throughout the pandemic, the 2017 version of Understanding Otherness, what it means to be a full time artist, and allowing ourselves to be poured into.

More about the speakers:

A US-born transplant and newly ecstatic resident of Ottawa, Micah Jondel DeShazer (micahjondel.com), over the last 15 years (between New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago and Madison) has developed into an accomplished actor, director, musician, artistic leader and educator. He had quickly immersed himself in the Ottawa theater community, acting in several local works, musical directing at Orpheus Theatre (Memphis), and directing independent works (Puzzles, Ottawa Fringe Festival 2022.), while staying plugged into his roots in Phoenix through his continued work with GBC. Always seeking the unexpected and drawn to passionate artists, Micah is honored to have been an ever growing list of so many. Notable projects include: The Tempest (Torchlight Theater - Company of Fools), Matilda (CTM), Passing Strange (iTheatre Collaborative) & Native Son (ariZoni, Best Actor).

The body of work by Molly W. Schenck (MFA, MEd.) is rooted in a quest to understand humans. She is fascinated with human movement - whether that is a social justice movement, individuals persisting through systems, or how a body moves through space and time. She is also interested in what interrupts the full expression of movement (stress, trauma, burnout, injuries, chronic pain, etc.). This has guided the evolution of her studies and career path. She worked in higher education as an adjunct professor and administrator for ten years. She taught mind body and group fitness classes for twelve years. She specializes in the intersection of creativity and trauma and is the creator of Trauma-Informed Creative Practices. She is the founder of Grey Box Collective (an interdisciplinary, experimental, post-dramatic, trauma-informed arts organization that devises original performances around topics of social and emotional wellbeing i.e. makes weird art about tough stuff). She is the author of ‘Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices for Dance Educators’. She is a certified Trauma Support Specialist, Personal Trainer, a 500-hour experienced yoga teacher (focused on asana, pranayama, and meditation), Certified Teacher of BodyMind Dancing™, a registered somatic dance educator and a Dynamic Embodiment™ Practitioner. For more information visit: mollywschenck.com

Links to more about Grey Box Collective:

https://www.greyboxcollective.com/

https://www.greyboxcollective.com/podcast

https://www.greyboxcollective.com/shop

https://www.greyboxcollective.com/product-page/introduction-to-trauma-informed-creative-practices

https://www.greyboxcollective.com/newsletter

https://www.facebook.com/GreyBoxCollective/

https://www.instagram.com/grey_box_collective/

https://www.instagram.com/traumainformedcreativepractice/