State of the Arts Episode 292 is now available on Spotify! This week I am proud to welcome filmmaker Alex Black to State of the Arts to discuss the upcoming production of their new film, “The Bluest Sky.” The poignant indie drama, which has six transgender actors and an entire trans crew, is about a transgender chosen family coming together to celebrate the life of a dear friend on a well-intentioned evening that devolves into tragicomic chaos. For this micro-budget project, the innovative filmmaker/director writer has figured out numerous ways to keep expenditures down without sacrificing the quality of the filmmaking. It helps that they have a degree in film also. In fact, the sample scene that was made for Kickstarter, an independent productions promotions site, was done with no budget. I am elated to feature this groundbreaking filmmaker/writer/director on State of the Arts this week!

State of the Arts Episode 291: The Pride Month Special is now available on Spotify. This week is a State of the Arts dedication to Rockaway Borough Pride, which is an organization for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Rockaway Borough, New Jersey. My guests are Jan Aquilos (a writer, filmmaker, community activist and the grassroots organizer of Rockaway Borough Pride), Gina Kleinhans (the senior marketer for Revelation Creative and business development leader), Rob Devito (a police officer and Rockaway Borough Councilmember who used to work for prominent NYC nightclubs that featured well known drag performers) and journalist Anna Spiewak whose life has been touched in a personal way by what this important month stands for. This core team of Rockaway Borough Pride joins me on this one-of-kind podcast episode to discuss the flag raising they have organized, their local political victory of securing an official declaration of June as Pride month and many other relevant topics.

State of the Arts Episode 290: The Father’s Day Special is now available on Spotify. For 290 consecutive weeks, this podcast has featured incredible artists and creators, but this milestone episode is my most personal one yet. This week, guest host Josh Berkowitz interviews me about my dad and his remarkable life as a world traveler, ballroom dancer, marathon runner, bodybuilder, softball player, social worker, and published journalist. I am overjoyed to have this content creator and previous guest interview me about the man who inspired me the most. Tune in for a heartfelt episode that is a tribute to my greatest role model.

State of the Arts Episode 289: The Juneteenth Special is now ready for streaming on Spotify! This week, I am honored to sit down with award-winning independent filmmaker and playwright Andre Wells. This young, multitalented African American artist is a pillar in the metropolitan indie creative scene as he makes waves with both the independent film group Short Cuts NYC and the stage production writers' organization The Script Club. Fresh off winning a Season Two Award from Short Cuts NYC for his superb cinematic work, Andre joins me on my podcast this week to discuss his journey, collaborations with exceptional stage and film talents, and capturing the soul of New York City through his passion for photography. Get ready to be inspired by this incredibly versatile creative!

State of the Arts Episode 288 is now available for streaming on Spotify! Published cosplayer Tay (A.K.A. Shake Your Fawn) joins me on this fun new episode that spotlights her blossoming presence in the New York City cosplay community. This founder of Plus Ultra Sized is an innovative content creator who is always open to new collaborations. Since the development of her brand, she became a guest on Anime Ink Art Live Talks, she landed a spot as a finalist for Best Anime Cosplay in The Cosplay Awards and was invited to be a featured cosplayer at Brooklyn Comic Con. She continues to work on multiple projects as her creativity flows from an endless wellspring. From her black wedding dress to her playful tributes to Pokemon to her superhero alter egos, Tay has brilliantly built a magnetic world of her own design. I am overjoyed to have this incredible talent on my podcast for this enchanting episode!

State of the Arts Episode 287 is now streaming on Spotify! It is an honor to welcome Pragya Krishna to my podcast. When she was an active member of ShortCuts NYC, this versatile independent film actor starred in multiple indie shorts of a vast array of genres. My gifted guest studied acting with the prestigious, New York City-based Barrow Group. With the help of a filmmaker friend, she had written and produced her own romantic comedy when she was still new to the film world. This lighthearted film was selected to be shown at The Jersey Shore Film Festival, where it won an award for being an audience favorite. With a new corporate position, Pragya is currently on a break from acting. But, she intends to return to the art form one day and rekindle her remarkable journey as a film actor. I am grateful to have this gifted creative on my podcast this week!

State of the Arts Episode 286 featuring Sean Young “The Sober Shaman” is now available on Spotify! This week I welcome Sean Young to my podcast for a powerful conversation. Sean is a shaman, peer support specialist, life coach, content creator and Army veteran. In this compelling episode, we discuss his Norse-influenced pagan faith, his compassionate practice of offering spiritual help on a sliding scale and many other thought-provoking topics. Based out of Maryland, my gifted guest also travels the world as a part of his spiritual journey. This extraordinary talent participates in iron pours and spends time in his kitchen creating juices as well. I am grateful and honored for the meaningful discussion with this dedicated shaman!

State of the Arts Episode 285 The Asian Heritage Month Special is now available on Spotify! This week I welcome return guest and cohost Dean Aquino to my podcast for this annual celebratory episode. This is a joint episode as Dean Aquino is also hosting Episode 9 for his own podcast “Let’s Meet on Twitch.” This versatile talent is a cosplayer, comic convention reviewer/researcher, public transit advocate, landlord, pharmacist and dance reel choreographer. In this informative episode we have an in-depth discussion of his Asian-inspired dance reels, the controversial topic of viewer attention spans and many other riveting topics. I am grateful to have cohosted another captivating episode with this gifted creative!

State of the Arts Episode 284: The Mother’s Day Special is now available on Spotify. Rebecca Dunn, a talented watercolor and abstract painter, is not only a passionate advocate for the arts and a dedicated educator, she is also the devoted mother of an active, young child. As the curator of Artscene CTNY, she is now bringing her creative vision to The Danbury Fair Mall in Connecticut in the near future with her inaugural Art Market. My dynamic return guest, whose artwork masterfully reveals the intricate beauty of nature, has had her works showcased in esteemed galleries in the Connecticut and New York areas. Her art transcends limitations, inviting viewers to connect with the natural world on a profound level. I'm thrilled to welcome this remarkable artist back to my podcast for another episode as we share an inspiring, captivating and engaging conversation.

State of the Arts Episode 283 is now available on Spotify! Independent cinematographer, editor and filmmaker Victoria Kee is my guest this week. This dynamic talent is a dedicated member of New York-based indie film organization Short Cuts NYC. She is also involved in many other collaborative projects within the independent film community in the metropolitan area. One of her most recent works, the Japanese cinema inspired short “Ikiru” was selected to be shown at The Bushwick Film Collective’s screening. She has recently worked on a sketch comedy series as well. My inspirational guest has a preference for slice of life dramas, sitcoms, retro-style romantic comedies and family dramas. I’m thrilled to welcome this multifaceted artist to my podcast for this riveting episode!