State of the Arts Episode 251 is now available on Spotify! Return guest Marc Black joins me once again to dicuss more griping topics. Stroke awareness is a cause that is very dear to his heart. A good friend of Marc’s was in a coma as a result of a stroke. When the situation looked hopeless and his life support was disconnected, he came to on his own. During his recovery period, he collaborated on songs with Marc. These songs eventually formed an album. A film called “Stroke of Genius” was made about Marc’s friend as well. “Everybody Wants My Hat” is a song Marc Black had released when he became a grandfather during the 2020 pandemic. In addition to his many original songs, he is also the proprietor of an advertising company called “Black Market Productions.” His music has been placed in various commercials and television shows. His works can be seen on a Sex and the City episode, an animated piece on Nickelodeon, an AT&T commercial and many other places. One of his most notable songs “I Love You, Rachel Maddow” was played on The Stephen Colbert Show. Tune in to this riveting episode for all the tea on this highly accomplished creative whom I am so honored to have on State of the Arts!

State of the Arts Episode 250 is now available on Spotify! Max Crawley is an animator and independent filmmaker with a degree in both animation and graphics design from The Rhode Island School of Design. His acclaimed senior project “Woodrow and Willow” was accepted into The DaVinci International Film Festival. He currently does projects when he can while he balances his passion with his day job. As an administrative assistant for a Presbyterian Church, he is still able to incorporate his artistry into his work as he designs flyers, web pages and other multimedia items for the church. I am proud to present this fellow creative, who shares a mutual friendship with our friend Joe Hughes of Burning Treehouse Film Company. Tune in to this intriguing milestone episode of State of the Arts to learn more about talented creative Max Crawley!

State of the Arts Episode 249 is now available on Spotify! This weekend I powered through the rainy weather to watch another smashing outdoor musical by Theatre for the New City. My trusted cohost Anthony Bonilla joined me on Zoom after I returned from “Life in New York” (a.k.a. “Home Sweet Home”), which was written and directed by the legendary Crystal Field. Together we pay a heartfelt tribute to the phenomenal Theatre for the New City on my podcast. Tune in for an engaging episode that celebrates a theatre that is also an art gallery, social club, education foundation, community center and second home to many talents. This is a well deserved tribute to an off-off Broadway theater like no other and all the people who continue to make it all possible!

State of the Arts Episode 248 is now available on Spotify! I am happy to welcome content creator Izzy Massis on my podcast this week for an uplifting discussion on his many different ventures. As a traveler, he documents his visits to various locations and even gives an overall review of multiple cities. Several anime characters are featured on his social media pages because he is an avid anime enthusiast. He also belongs to a few social groups including Relationspot. With a full calendar of social get-togethers and a heart for advocacy, Izzy Massis finds himself out every day in the excitingly vast city of New York. This endearing episode is a celebration of an intelligent creative who I am proud to have on State of the Arts!

State of the Arts Episode 247 now available on Spotify! Return guest Daniela Marini joins me once again with an exciting career update. Her dream of having her own store has been realized as she has recently opened up a jewelry boutique and healing nook. Celestial Art Gifts has found a permanent home in Woodstock, New York (40 Mill Hill Road). This jewelry designer and energy healer left her job in education to pursue a career in the creative field she is the most passionate about. After a few years of setting up booths at festivals and a steady stream of online sales, she has reached her goal of opening up a shop for her self designed products and healing practices. Her merchandise includes handcrafted pieces, imported crystals, natural stones and enchanting ornaments. As a gifted energy healer, she is also available for house clearings. In this riveting episode, we delve into her intriguing journey and many other topics. I am honored to have her back on State of the Arts! I am also delighted to conduct this interview in a pair of earrings she designed. If only this was not an audio-only podcast!

My guest this week is Shoshana Greenberg — a writer whose world is made of music, story, and stage. She writes musicals, plays, prose, and lyrics, and her work has found a home everywhere from Lincoln Center to Joe’s Pub.

Shoshana is also a theater journalist whose words have appeared in American Theatre Magazine, The Huffington Post, Howlround, and more. She hosts the podcast Scene to Song and sings regularly at Carnegie Hall with Essential Voices USA. In our conversation, we dive into the art of storytelling across forms, the evolution of musical theater, and what it means to build a creative life in New York City.

State of the Arts Episode 245 now available for streaming on Spotify! Podcaster Calvin Sampson is my guest of honor this week. Calvin, along with his wife Cathy Sampson and their dear friend Ray, co-hosts a podcast called (Ray, Calvin & Cathy) RCC Corporate. Their podcast is a steady platform for faith, hope and joy. As an active member of a church, my creative guest is a choir singer, drummer and Hammond organist. As the founder of “The Living Experience,” he brings a worship team to nursing homes and neighboring churches to perform gospel music. XoxBŕåñđý Řenee BâkeřXox is a mutual friend of ours who has also been on my podcast multiple times in the past. There are several shoutouts to Brandy Baker during this endearing episode. I am happy to have yet another fellow podcaster on State of the Arts! Tune in for an engaging episode about friendship, love, faith, hard work, dreams, goals, music and podcasting!

State of the Arts Episode 244 is now available for streaming on Spotify! Gordon Taft is an inspiring independent filmmaker and the cohost of “Uptown Films,” a podcast with a focus on the film industry. Alongside fellow hosts, Gregory Hernandez and Max DeMazza, Gordon Taft publishes episodes regularly. The three film colleagues are also members of the Bronx Independent Cinema Center. My talented guest has a rich background in independent filmmaking that started with a thorough education. At one point he was a videographer for the “Kerry’s Corner” radio show. He has a growing social media presence and future projects on the horizon. It is my honor to welcome this accomplished guest onto my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 243 is now available on Spotify! Marc Black is a guitarist, singer and songwriter known for his socially and politically impactful songs. His song “I Love You, Rachel Maddow” was featured on The Stephen Colbert Show when she was there as a special guest. He has enjoyed so many adventures following music through folk, blues, funk, experimental soundscapes, and scoring film. But in the end, it seems he always come back to his beloved guitar whom he named “Claudette.” A loyal instrument he has carried around for over 50 years. He started writing the “Everybody Wants My Hat” collection during a joyful monthlong visit to Berlin to meet his just-born granddaughter, Lola Simone. He then completed it while sequestered under the shadow of Covid 19. It is an honor and privilege to welcome this accomplished musician on my podcast!

State of the Arts Episode 242 now available on Spotify! Independent film actor Jazmine Brown joins me this week on my podcast. Like myself, this versatile creative is a member of Short Cuts NYC. “Eggshells,” a recent indie drama she starred in, has been accepted into The Big Apple Film Festival. With an education in voice, she moved to New York City from Anchorage, Alaska in pursuit of a career in musical theater. She quickly fell in love with acting for the camera and has shifted her focus a bit to films in addition to stage productions. Horror is a genre she has a deep appreciation for. So, she is known for several works in this spine-tingling arena. With great pleasure I am honored to announce that Jazmine Brown is my newest guest on State of the Arts!