Straight Talking With Kelly Armstrong and Guests

In this compelling episode of Straight Talking with Kelly, I sit down with acclaimed actor, writer, director, and producer, Mario Van Peebles for an inspiring conversation about the Van Peebles legacy, filmmaking, family and the power of storytelling. "Thanks for tuning in to this powerful conversation with Mario Van Peebles! If you love deep-dive stories, cultural heritage, and behind-the-scenes filmmaking insights, hit Subscribe to join the community for upcoming episodes!"

Kelly welcomes back Michael Aczon, Entertainment Lawyer, and Carlos Stanfield, Artist Management, to have a candid and fun convesation about music past and present, along with personal stories.

Michael brings the legal/business perspective, Carlos brings his music-industry experience, and I bring the cultural, educational and storytelling perspective.

If you enjoyed this conversation, hit that subscribe button, like the episode, and share it with someone who loves music as much as we do.

 #MusicIndustry #MusicBusiness #BehindTheMusic

Thembisa Mshaka pulls back the curtain on her music industry journey, revealing hard-earned lessons and the untold truths behind the business. She has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, and the Wu-Tang Clan. She’s a creative executive, a storyteller, and the author of Put Your Dreams First… and she’s helped shape careers in ways most people never get to see.
Instagram:   / officialhiphopbeauty
Email: [email protected]

In this powerful episode, Kelly sits down with entertainment attorney, artist manager, educator, and author Michael A (Michael Aczon) for an unfiltered conversation about what artists really need to know about the music industry today.

Social Media Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelAczon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@michaelaczon.com

Episode #67 Straight Talking with Kelly-Claudia Viek, Founder, Invest in Women Entrepreneurs (I-WE) Initiative

Join me and my guest, Claudia, as she discusses the importance of investing in women entrepreneurs.

Claudia Viek is a nationally recognized advocate for women entrepreneurs with over 35 years of experience in business incubation, micro-lending, and policy advocacy. She founded the Invest in Women Entrepreneurs (I-WE) Initiative to address the chronic underfunding of women-owned businesses and has helped secure millions in public and private funding to support women entrepreneurs across California and the nation.

Social Media
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudiaviek/

About Kelly Armstrong, Your Podcast Host: Image Consultant, Publicist, Educator, Personal Development Trainer, Speaker

Kelly K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. She hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.

Social Media
Email Address: [email protected]
Facebook: https://facebook.com/duiathk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellyk.podcastchannel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykpodcast 
Online Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly
Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917
Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=karenarmstrong

Straight Talking with Kelly “Where Real Conversations Happen”
It is your gateway to engaging with the brightest minds across many industries. I connect with a diverse group of individuals, all masters of their crafts. We embark on a journey with insightful discussions, invaluable tips, and resources.

Episode #66 Straight Talking with Kelly- Theo Ellington, Executive Director, Ruth Williams Opera House, Bayview.

Join me and my guest, Theo Ellington, as he talks about the city that made him. About Theo Ellington Theo Ellington, a third-generation San Franciscan whose life story is deeply intertwined with the city, is now seeking to serve as Supervisor for District 10. Raised in Bayview by a hardworking single mother, Theo’s path from adversity to advocacy began early — inspired by the community around him and driven by a determination to create a safer, fairer, and more vibrant San Francisco.

From producing documentaries featured at the SF International Film Festival and the World Economic Forum, to leading citywide initiatives that built 1,000 affordable homes, expanded homeless services, and created 3,000 living-wage jobs, Theo’s impact is felt across every corner of our city. Today, he continues his mission as Executive Director of the Ruth Williams Bayview Opera House, where he’s leading a cultural renaissance and nurturing the next generation of local artists. As a husband, father, and lifelong Bayview resident, Theo is raising the fourth generation of San Franciscans — and working to ensure this city remains a place where every family can live, work, and thrive.

Social Media
Email: [email protected]
Website: Ruth Williams Opera House- https://rwoh.org/
Website:https://www.bhfs.com/people/theodore-ellington/
Website: https://www.theoellington.com/about 
Facebook: / ellingtontheo  

Instagram:   / theoellingtonsf  

About Kelly Armstrong Kelly K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. She hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.

Social Media 
Email Address: [email protected]  
Facebook:   / duiathk  
YouTube:    / @kellyk.podcastchannel  
Instagram:   / kellykpodcast  
Online Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly  
Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917
Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=kar...

Straight Talking with Kelly “Where Real Conversations Happen”
#RealConversations #DJKellyC #WorkingGirlsVintage

It is your gateway to engaging with the brightest minds across many industries. I connect with a diverse group of individuals, all masters of their crafts. We embark on a journey with insightful discussions, invaluable tips, and resources.

Episode #63 Straight Talking with Kelly- Kelly Castagnaro- Communications Director at CASA of Oregon

About Kelly Castagnaro
From San Francisco City Hall to New York nonprofits and now spinning vinyl in Portland, Kelly Castagnaro has lived a life powered by storytelling. As Communications Director for CASA of Oregon, she champions affordable housing and equity through words and advocacy. Beyond the office, she’s DJ KellyC on Freeform Portland, sharing her passion for music, and the creative force behind Working Girls Vintage, where she restores and curates thrifted treasures.

 Social Media
Website: https://casaoforegon.org/ I
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kcastagnaro
Instagram: https://instagram.com/shopworkinggirlsvintage
FreeForm Portland Radio: https://freeformportland.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.castagnaro

About Kelly Armstrong,
Your Podcast Host: Image Consultant, Publicist, Educator, Personal Development Trainer, Speaker
K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. She hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.

Social Media
Email Address: [email protected]
Facebook: https://facebook.com/duiath/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellyk.podcastchannel I
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykpodcast
Online Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917 Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=karenarmstrong

Straight Talking with Kelly “Where Real Conversations Happen”

It is your gateway to engaging with the brightest minds across many industries. I connect with a diverse group of individuals, all masters of their crafts. We embark on a journey with insightful discussions, invaluable tips, and resources.

Episode #62 Straight Talking with Kelly- Beyond Bead Stringing – The Artistry of NinarossDesigns

About Linda MarieLinda Marie, aka "Artisan Girl," is a San Francisco, CA jewelry designer and owner of NinarossDesigns, who's been making wearable art for several decades. She is a self-taught artisan who enjoys working with wire, semi-precious gemstones, and making her own beads and components. Linda Marie uses several techniques to create unique designs, such as wire wrapping gemstones, handmade resin beads, and wire crochet. NinarossDesigns go way beyond ordinary "bead stringing".

Social Media
Website: https://ninarossdesigns.indiemade.com/storeTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@artsygirl830artsyGirl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artisangirlgoldieFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/NinarossDesigns

About Kelly Armstrong, Your Podcast Host: Image Consultant, Publicist, Educator, Personal Development Trainer, Speaker
Email Address: [email protected]  Facebook: https://facebook.com/duiathk/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellyk.podcastchannelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykpodcastOnline Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly 
Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917
Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=karenarmstrong

About Kelly ArmstrongKelly K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. She hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.

Straight Talking with Kelly “Where Real Conversations Happen. 
It is your gateway to engaging with the brightest minds across a spectrum of industries. I connect with a diverse group of individuals, all masters of their crafts, from various industries. We embark on a journey with insightful discussions, invaluable tips, and resources.

Episode #60 Straight Talking with Kelly- Andiey Gay, CEO of Andria's Ark

Join me and my guest, Andiey Gay, as she talks about the healing power of horticultural and urban agricultural activities.

About Andiey Gay
Andiey Gay is the CEO of Andria's Ark Incorporated, a not-for-profit organization geared toward helping individuals obtain and maintain mental and spiritual health through horticultural and urban agricultural activities.

Social Media
Facebook: @greenwitch79
Instagram & TT: @gardenwitchsuper

About Kelly Armstrong, Your Podcast Host: 
Image Consultant, Publicist, Educator, Personal Development Trainer, Speaker
Kelly K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. She hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.

Email Address: [email protected]  
Facebook: https://facebook.com/duiathk/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellyk.podcastchannel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykpodcast
Online Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly 
Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=karenarmstrong

Straight Talking with Kelly “Where Real Conversations Happen” Is your gateway to engaging with the brightest minds across a spectrum of industries.

I connect with a diverse group of individuals, all masters of their crafts, from various industries. We embark on a journey with insightful discussions, invaluable tips, and resources.

Episode #59 Straight Talking with Kelly- Emanuel Brueh

Join me and my guest, Emanuel Brueh, as he talks about being a stand-up comedian and comedy producer.

About Emanuel Today’s guest is a newly minted stand-up comedian and comedy producer who’s on a mission to connect people through laughter and shared experiences. Whether performing stories that toe the line between the absurd and the awkward or producing sharp, inclusive, and entertaining shows in venues ranging from intimate lounges to high-end hotels, he is all about creating moments of connection, one punchline at a time. Off stage, he brings over 40 years of professional experience in Human Resources and Hospitality, with expertise in everything from labor relations and policy development to training, recruiting, and employee satisfaction. Whether it’s managing a punchline or a performance review, he knows how to read the room.

Social Media
https://www.instagram.com/ebsf63/
 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576594253112 https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuelbrueh/

About Kelly Armstrong, Your Podcast Host:  Image Consultant, Publicist, Educator, Personal Development Trainer, Speaker
Email Address: [email protected]  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kellyk.podcastchannel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykpodcast
Online Scheduling Calendar: https://calendly.com/imagemakerkelly  
Professional and Personal Training Programs: https://thinktq.com/index.cfm?sa=111917
Flori Roberts Cosmetics: https://www.floriroberts.com/?ref=karenarmstrong  

 About Kelly Armstrong Kelly K. Armstrong is an image consultant and educator based in San Francisco. Armstrong hosts the Straight Talking with Kelly Podcast, where she interviews guests from various industries. Armstrong has over 25 years of experience in image consulting and public relations, advising on personal appearance, presentation skills, and job readiness training. She founded the Primed & Prepped program at the Bay View YMCA, which provides job training for young people in underserved communities. Armstrong is passionate about helping people look and feel their best.