State of the Arts Episode 232 The Mother’s Day Special now available on Spotify! In a touching interview, Naida Minaya, a mother of two adorable boys, speaks with me about modeling, acting, beauty pageants and being a security guard. This dynamic mom manages to juggle motherhood, working toward a position in a mall K-9 unit and a side hustle as a hair/makeup model on a regular basis. She was selected to compete in the Miss New York beauty pageant in Albany and was at one time a model for Columbian designer brand “Bogota.” With an interest in acting, she made her silver screen debut in my recent pet documentary “Angels in Our Midst.” The audience was introduced to her precious little feathered friend CoCo, whom she has trained very well. CoCo comforted Naida after the passing of her mother and is a sweet companion to her best friend Brandy Renee Baker’s group of birds. This episode is heartfelt tribute to an incredible mom and inspirational career woman.

State of the Arts Episode 231 now available on Spotify! Tonight for the first time ever I broadcast a podcast episode in the green room of a local rock band! The End is a tribute band for The Doors that is performing tonight at Carmine’s Deli. Led by Rob Venuti who is both the lead singer and the deli owner, this band is rocking the house with a firey set of far out jams. Along with musicians Anthony Venuti, Rich Mallet, Adam Power and Keith Wilson, Rob Venuti sets the venue ablaze. I join Nere Basora as the groovy backup dancers in this vibrant performance. I am elated to dance alongside such a remarkable talent tonight! This episode is a candid peek behind the scenes of this awesome event. Raw and uncut, I conduct this episode backstage prior to showtime!

State of the Arts Episode 230 now available on Spotify! This week content creator and YouTube show host Dith joins me on my podcast along with his cousin XoxBŕåñđý Řenee BâkeřXox. DatBoiDith is Dith’s fast growing YouTube channel with over 10,000 followers. Reaction videos, tributes to singers, “guess the movie” segments and holiday specials are some of the high-energy content on this entertaining channel. Dith has had many special guests on his show, including a very popular uncle, imaginative friends and on one occasion, his entire family. After a trip to Orlando, Florida, Dith even released a travel vlog. Dith is on multiple forms of social media including Instagram (dithdayyoutuber) and Tik Tok (DatBoiDith). This podcast episode is a zesty tour through the creative universe of Dith.

State of the Arts Episode 229 The Autism Awareness Month Special is now available on Spotify! My guests are mother/daughter team Robin Baron and Chloé Ziff, who along with Robin’s son Simon, are the founders of Relationspot. After its formation, Relationspot has evolved into a community that builds connections and friendships for people of all abilities. Relationspot is an embracing, neuro-inclusive social group for all orientations. The Relationspot community is built through weekly virtual meetings, in-person get-togethers, social coaching, matchmaking services, group classes, local outings and more. The Relationspot team is a dedicated, caring and diverse group of members working together towards the same goal of improving lives. I am greatly honored to have two of the founders of this vital organization on State of the Arts this week!

State of the Arts Episode 228 now available on Spotify! My guest this week is actor, director and writer Hannahjo Anderson. As a multifaceted creative they are an active member of The Script Club NYC and an artistic director/writer for Party Line Productions. With vast experience in theatrical productions, they continue to grace the world of stage performance with their versatile presence.

State of the Arts Episode 227 now available for streaming on Spotify. Jackie Jorgenson is an award-winning IMDB-credited actor, writer, producer and director who is also the founder of Shared Manifest Entertainment. Originally from Ontario, this versatile creative is now continuing to build an intentional network and a dynamic career in New York City. Her short films have been shown in many festivals and the internationally renowned art event ArtPrize. Jackie specializes in voice acting as well and has starred in multiple scripted podcasts. In Umber College in Ontario, Canada she studied comedy writing and performance.

State of the Arts Episode 226 now available on Spotify! Jordan Campbell is a travel blogger, a speaker and a content creator who made the leap from the corporate world into full-time content creation. After being an award-winning creative director for two decades, this fearless adventurer has successfully made her passion for travel into a career. She is the founder of Global Debauchary, a thriving brand, which promotes travel and adventure on social media. She also works with Wanderful, a travel organization specifically designed for female travelers.

State of the Arts Episode 225: The Women’s History Month Special now available on Spotify! I am thrilled to welcome one of my dearest friends, Tara Krieger to my podcast. As a writer, a baseball historian, an attorney, a Barnard graduate and a patron of the New York City theatrical arts, my multifaceted guest brings a rich tapestry to this momentous episode. She was an editorial producer for MLB.com at one point. As a board member of the Society for American Baseball Research, she continues to research, write and give talks about baseball history. “Yankee Stadium: America’s First Modern Ballpark” is the historical book about the iconic stadium that my captivating guest co-edited with Bill Nowlin.

State of the Arts Episode 224 The Saint Patrick’s Day Special now available for streaming on Spotify! My podcast guest Kelly Sisco is a visual artist, a performing artist and a writer. She also has training in dance, acting, creative writing and was the owner of a charming consignment boutique in Crestwood at one time. As a visual artist, her artistic creations were on display in various locations including the New Rochelle City Hall and the ArtsWestchester Gallery.

State of the Arts Episode 223: The International Women’s Day Special now available on Spotify! It’s my pleasure to announce that my guest is week is MJ Cass-Antony! My multitalented guest is a cosplayer, an illustrator, as well as an activist for the autistic, those with ADHD and others on the spectrum. She has attended and continues to attend many conventions as a cosplayer. Recently she has become very well known for her Loki costume. Many people recognize her as Loki even when she is not in costume. As a staffer and occasional table assembler, she enjoys all access passes to some of the most popular conventions.