State of the Arts Episode 115: The Valentine's Day Special just released. To celebrate the most romantic holiday of the year, naturally my podcast guest is my amazingly talented music composer husband Joe Grado Jr. After attaining a degree in music from The City University of New York- CSI, he has propelled into a diverse career in music. Having played in various bands, studied under accomplished music legends and taught both privately, as well as for prestigious music schools, Joe now takes his astonishingly versatile skills into the infinite arena of music composition. Thanks to his dynamic background he is comfortable composing in any genre of music. Currently his new website is about to be launched, he is rapidly growing his online channels and he is involved in multiple music scoring projects. I am blessed to be working with him on two of these projects. He can be found on various platforms of social media including Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. With every video he posts, his Tik Tok and YouTube Channels continue to grow. My heart is profoundly touched to have embarked on this celebratory episode with this extraordinarily gifted musical talent whom I am so esctatic to be spending the rest of my life with!  

State of the Arts Episode 114, The Black History Month Special just released! In honor of this special month this podcast episode is a memorial for late poet laureate Gwendolyn Brooks. This brilliant poet, author, and teacher created works that often dealt with the personal celebrations or struggles in the community. She was the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize. After going to a literary conference at Fisk University in 1967, she became an activist in the Black Power movement. She also started a poetry workshop from her home. Writing over twenty poetry books, this literary legend became the first African American to join the National Institute of Arts and Letters. In addition, she was the first black female appointed as consultant in poetry to the Library of Congress (now known as the poet laureate). She also received an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award, the Frost Medal, a National Endowment for the Arts Award, the Shelley Memorial Award, and fellowships from the Academy of American Poets and the Guggenheim Foundation. Impressively she had earned more than fifty honorary degrees during her career. In 1995, she was awarded the National Medal of the Arts. Her twilight years were spent dedicated to public service. She conducted poetry readings at prisons and hospitals and attended annual poetry contests for school children, which she often funded. On December 3, 2000 she passed away in Chicago where she lived. 

State of the Arts Episode 113 just published! Shirley Jaffe was an abstract painter whose revolutionary geometric shapes and patterns set her apart from the rest of the world of artists. After completing her studies at Cooper Union in New York in 1945, she continued her art education in Washington D.C. at the Phillips Arts School. When she had the opportunity to move to Paris with her husband, she immediately immersed herself into the prestigious Parisian artists' culture. By the 1960's she left for Berlin, Germany to attend the Ford Foundation. There she developed her original style that was not received very well initially when she returned to Paris. However, members of art society grew to love her new, unique work. Shirley Jaffe passed away in 2016. This is a memorable tribute to a legendary artist. I had the chance to see her paintings at the Tibor De Nagy Gallery, which is only a block from where I teach ballroom dancing in downtown Manhattan. This episode is a dedication honoring an artistic pioneer who revolutionized the immense universe of contemporary painting.            

State of the Arts Episode 111 just released! Pop International Art Gallery was founded by artist, curator and entrepreneur Jeff Jaffe. Originally from South Africa, he made waves in his native land as he courageously stood up against the grotesque injustice of the Apartheid. Eventually ending up in art school in the United States, he married here, started a family and began his journey in the museum industry. In 1997 he opened this extraordinary gallery where I conducted this priceless in-person interview. The cutting-edge, ground-breaking gallery specializes in pop, urban and photographic pop art. This downtown Manhattan gem has evolved into a bustling enterprise. A remarkable hub for major events, year-round art sales and captivating news stories. This fetching artists' Mecca, situated near the Bowery, is a magical venue for world famous art collectors, rising aspiring artists, enthusiastic hobbyists and renowned art legends. A well-known Andy Warhol piece can be sold next to a work by an unknown up and coming artist. I am humbled with a grateful heart for the privilege of interviewing this brilliant, kind-hearted, brave and creative guest on State of the Arts!                

State of the Arts Episode 110 just published. David Lawson is a writer, comic, performing artist, director, actor and teacher who has gifted my podcast with his delightful presence this week. An artist with multiple talents, he was an actor in the Comedy Central sketch "Rage Restaurant," teaches storytelling classes with Queens Theatre and has performed his one-man shows all over New York City (as well as across the nation). In his show "Nazis and Me" he recounts his encounters with hate groups as a Jewish man. The monthly Astoria Bookshop Storytelling Show, which is a free monthly storytelling open mic, is hosted by him. This show has been featured in the New York Times. Students learn to write and perform one-person shows in his enriching workshops. As a director, David Lawson has worked on several one-person shows including Richard Cardillo's one-man show "Invisibility: A Journey of Pasta, Prayer, Protest, and Peru." This richly entertaining production won the Audience Choice Award at the 2019 FRIGID New York Festival. At one time a podcaster himself, he's no stranger to the airwaves. He used to have his own podcast and he also performed on the popular storytelling podcast "RISK!" This diversely accomplished artist is the engaging, personable, witty and intelligent guest I had the privilege of having on State of the Arts this week!            

State of the Arts Episode 109: The New Year Special just published! My guest this week is a fellow dancer and podcaster. Also an actress, storyteller, writer and comedienne, Jenice Matias has proven herself to be a Renaissance woman. As a Jason Chin Scholarship recipient, she studied acting extensively in Great Britain. With a double bachelor's degree from Montclair State University, she has become a force to be reckoned with in the wonderful world of the arts. During her school years she was a member of the Theta Alpha Phi theatre fraternity, listed in the "Who's Who" among students in the United States and listed in the "Who's Who" for Hispanic students. As a podcaster she received over 100, 000 listeners for an episode where she shared an engaging story about her mother.  A maven for comedic monologues, she has performed in various solo productions. As a professional dancer she has been a prominent member of the Piel Canela Woman's Dance Company for many years. As an actress she appeared on several television shows including Law & Order and Nurse Jackie. In addition to having her own online variety show, she is the founder and artistic director of Tropical Delight in Action, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes multi-cultural awareness of the arts. A PCHCC award was presented to her for her service to the community. Not to mention her successful ascension as the top finalist position of the NBC and VCB showcases. I can't imagine a better guest for my podcast's New Year Special. So rich in talent, energy, positivity, worldliness and charm, Jenice makes the perfect guest to kick off 2023 on State of the Arts.          

My holiday cohost Anthony Bonilla joins me in my eccentric analysis of the legendary Santa Claus, his multicultural counterparts, his odd little assistants and his regal predecessors. Together we dissect the origins of an eclectic mix of yule tide characters. For instance, in certain parts of Italy a witch on a broomstick brings children their toys and cleans their home afterwards. In some Germanic cultures a raggedy wanderer named Belsnickel brings toys to well-behaved children and punishes the naughty. In some Latin American cultures the wise men bring the Christmas gifts instead of Santa. A little known fact about Santa Claus' attire is that Coca-Cola commercialism is the reason why Santa wears red and white. In this educational new podcast episode my cohost and I bring to light the myths, the legends, the mysteries and the histories of the yearly unseen Christmas gift bearer.

I’m joined by professional writer, salsa dancer, world traveler and patron of the arts Ken Valenti. A former journalist for The Journal News, he is currently working in the public relations industry. This Fordham University graduate also enjoys writing for leisure. As a participant of National Writing Month November, he has partaken in the lofty challenge of writing a novel of at least 53,000 words within the month of November once a year. Not a stranger to international adventure, Ken was a part of language study programs that gave him opportunities to visit several countries in Latin America. Recently he has returned from a trip to Iceland where he immersed himself into local culture by sampling the infamous Icelandic delicacy of aged shark meat. This worldly former salsa partner of mine was my classmate while we were both training in club-style Latin dancing at Dance Mosaic. Together we eventually taught salsa classes at Reka’s Thai Restaurant and a continuing education salsa class for Westchester Community College. As a member of the Piel Canela salsa team, he performed at the Connecticut Salsa Fest and at the South Street Seaport. A warm, gracious thank you to my dear friend for being such an interesting, bright, friendly, witty and entertaining guest on State of the Arts!

Stems Gallery and Arsenal Contemporary Art NY have joined forces across the Atlantic to present an exciting group exhibition that includes twelve artists working across various materials and techniques including painting, photography and sculpture. The exhibition brings the worlds of art, fashion and sports under the microscope to explore the connections between them while offering an understanding of their unique significance within the contemporary visual arts culture. In a compelling on-site interview with curator Anais Castro, I explore the depths of this ground-breaking exhibit that has multiple other similar installments both in the United States and abroad. Situated in the hectic streets of downtown Manhattan, the gallery where I interviewed this remarkable curator is conveniently located near several successful sporting goods stores. Shoppers stop in because of the sporty, eye-catching art displays in the window. Inspired sports fans are being introduced to the art world thanks to this ingeniously original project. The cleverly intriguing works offer a deeper realization: that the most routine activities such as watching the game, playing sports or the trip to the shopping mall are fragments of time filled with inspirational beauty.