The Artist Pivot

On this episode I am joined by entertainer Brian Davis. He is an Apollo Talent Search Winner, Philadelphia Tap Idol, and Substitute Executioner for the Apollo Theater’s Historic Amateur Night Competition. Brian began as a street performer with a dream, but with the support of his mother, Angela Davis, Brian earned the money he needed with nothing but a board, a bucket, and second-hand tap shoes. Tap Dancing helped pay his way through college at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he won the Award for Outstanding Performance in Tap Dancing. He went on to New York City to star in "Rhythm is Our Business'' and the inaugural cast of Broadway's "After Midnight'' on board the Norwegian Escape. Brian is now the proud owner of the Taptastic Network LLC. We discuss how pivoting has been and will always be Brian’s favorite word and action,  how there is no time like the present and how  important it is to share your light with the world. 

Get in touch:
Brian Davis
Website: https://www.brotherbriandavis.com/
Instagram: @taptasticbriandavis
Taptastic
Website: https://www.taptastic.net/

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by Actor and Artist Entrepreneur Coach J Nycole Ralph. As one of the top 2% of actors in the industry and as a powerful coach, J Nycole Ralph loves helping others become the actors and artist-entrepreneurs that they are meant to be!  Prior to the pandemic, J Nycole was living her dream of performing on Broadway and touring around the world for the past several years, in The Book of Mormon, while also working on several star-studded, award-winning films. alongside Adam Sandler, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Rosario Dawson, and Yara Shahidi, just to name a few.  She also created her own comedic series called Working Out the Kinks, streaming on Black Oak TV, that not only makes you laugh, but also uses hair as a vehicle to explore and educate on the differences between black and white culture.  Additionally, J Nycole is an executive producer on the American Black Film Festival feature film selection, Lola, the first African-American female boxing movie, starring Taja V. Simpson. During the pandemic, J Nycole became a certified life coach and theta healer, and her mission is to carry out the legacy of entertaining while empowering and educating- a legacy left to her by her mother and grandparents to whom she gives thanks and honor, for without them, she would not be the woman she is today. We discuss resistance, resilience, and the power of knowing there is better to come if you say yes. 

Get in touch: 
J Nycole Ralph 
Website: https://www.jnycoleralph.com 
Instagram: @JNycoleRalph

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by the true multi-hyphenate Michael Kushner. He is the Executive Producer of the EMMY Nominated series Indoor Boys and his next project is The Pink Unicorn film starring Tony Winner Alice Ripley, for which he'll be serving as producer and director of photography. He has performed in such shows as On the Town, Much Ado About Nothing, Sons on the Prophet and he is the creator of his one man show, Moo With Me. His photography has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, The Tony Awards, Playbill, and more. Creator of The Dressing Room Project, Michael has photographed Idina Menzel, Julie Andrews, and many more notable artists. Michael is one of the founding members of Musical Theatre Factory, currently in residency with Playwrights Horizons, and was awarded the first ever MTF Builder Award. During CoVid-19, Michael has stayed active in the theatre community by serving as Director of Photography and producing virtual events such as Moments in the Woods (A Virtual Gala for the HFWAA featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award), Betsy Wolfe’s A Pants Optional Holiday, and It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play featuring The Skivvies with Laguna Playhouse, and Leslie Kritzer’s Holiday Show for The Actors’ Home. He’s an active participant with Covenant House and in 2020, Michael served as the KeyNote speaker for Florida Thespians.He currently has two podcasts out: Dear Multi-Hyphenate and My Broadway Memory with the Broadway Podcast Network. We discuss the science behind being a multi-hyphenate, how casting protocols need to change, and he is using his many platforms to serve his life and others. 

Get in touch:
Michael Kushner
Instagram: @themichaelkushner on IG and TikTok.
Website: www.michaelkushneronline.com
Photography: www.michaelkushnerphotography.com.

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by Broadway Actress and Travel Planner Kris Roberts. She appeared in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and was currently in Little Shop of Horrors before the shutdown. She loves to travel and is proud to say she has now added Travel Planner to her resume! We discuss how she was afraid to reveal she had another passion because as artists this can seem taboo, how we should all keep the empowered feeling she hopes artists have discovered in this time and discovering her travel business as another way to give her her sense of worth. 

Get in touch:
Kris Roberts
Instagram: @krisroberts22
Website: https://www.krisroberts.net/

Instaventure
Instagram: @instaventuretravel
Website: https://www.instaventuretravel.com/

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by performing artist and  International Wellness Mentor & Advocate, Ceasar F. Barajas. Becoming a Wellness Mentor & Advocate came to be as he still presently copes and manages his own diagnosed anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress, and found his calling as an educator and supporter to mental health awareness causes. As a trauma-sensitive Certified Yoga Instructor, Meditation Teacher, and Breathing Techniques Instructor, he specializes in mindful resiliency for trauma recovery and compassion fatigue, and has taught all over the world. He’s served as a guest panelist & speaker at Rutgers and Fordham Universities, numerous corporate events, podcasts, and is an adjunct professor at Columbia University, teaching Meditation/Mindfulness for their Teachers College Summer Principals Academy. As a 7-year U.S. Navy Veteran, he also works with the Veterans Yoga Project as an Ambassador and Master Teacher, with experience supporting recovery and resilience of Veterans, many of which experience post-traumatic stress, trauma-related challenges, and other mental health issues. He not only serves the Veteran community, but active duty armed forces members, their spouses, and community at large. Ceasar also provides group yoga, fitness & meditation classes, and personal coaching and advisement, both in person, and online, to an international community of individuals via multiple apps and his website, www.TheJourneyWithCeasar.com And in his spare time, Ceasar is also an award-winning singer, dancer, actor, fight and dance choreographer, musical theater talent, and voiceover artist. We discuss how yoga and meditation is available to all, pandemic or no pandemic, the agency for artists to learn that worthiness doesn’t equate busyness, and how we must find a way with our art to stand up for ourselves, stand up against harassment of the black and brown communities and just be good humans. 

Get in touch: 
Ceasar F. Barajas 
Website: https://thejourneywithceasar.com/
Instagram: @ceasarfbarajas 

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by the multi-hyphenated Ned Donovan. He is a content creator whose background covers a wide range of skill and experience including: Acting, Singing, Fight Direction, Stunt Performance/Coordination, Audio Editing, Video Editing, Writing for all Mediums, and more. Currently, Ned is an actor on, co-producer of, and the audio editor for Encounter Party! A hit story-focused Actual Play podcast governed by the rules of Dungeons and Dragons and featuring 6 professional voice actors playing a campaign set inside the MagicL the Gathering realm of Ravnica. In the last 5 years, Ned has produced 7 total albums of music, 2 seasons of an award-winning rock musical web series, 4 original podcasts (and co-produced a 5th for Radiotopia), and a plethora of music videos and live music series. In addition to his life as a content creator, Ned holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College and has spent the majority of his career performing on stages all over the USA and on screens in nationally and internationally syndicated Films and TV Programming. We discuss how traumatic things in his life forced him to pivot, how these involuntary pivots were actually setting him up for future  success in our current landscape, and that even if you're not currently an actor you are still a creator.  

Get in touch: 
Ned Donovan
Instagram: @neddonovan
Website: https://www.neddonovan.com/

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by the multi-hyphenated Sharrod Williams. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey the middle child of Kevin and Pamela. A Capricorn in all the best ways, Sharrod is a dreamer, go-getter, and natural born leader. He graduated cum laude from Montclair State University with a dual major in Communication Studies and Dance. After discovering a desire to perform in college, his path led him to appear On-Stage and Screen. With some credits including Hamilton: An American Musical (Chicago Cast), and both Tuck Everlasting and CATS on Broadway.  Most recently, he has ventured into screenwriting and producing. We talk about how Sharrod, executive produced, created, wrote, cast, and starred in his own web series called NEIGHBORS. A series that amplifies people of color and the queer experience; how Sharrod believes his super power is connecting with people and about His favorite quote, “Life’s too short to live the same day twice”. 

Get in touch: 
Sharrod Williams: 
Website: http://www.sharrodwilliams.com/
Instagram:@sharrodsharrod7
Neighbors web series: 
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEF9sg4PlaGhdRWMEfM3MTQ
Instagram: @neighbors_series

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by founder and executive director of Omnium Circus Lisa Lewis. Lisa began her career with Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She earned a Masters Degree in Clown/Circus History from NYU. During the same period, she co-founded the Super Scientific Circus. A scientific, technology, engineering, arts, and math, also known as STEAM based series of 6 shows, which toured the country using Circus Skills to make science accessible for all learning styles. Simultaneously, she joined the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit and inspired by the efforts to serve new audiences, Lisa became project coordinator for Circus of the Senses. A performance adapted for blind, visually impaired, Deaf, hard of hearing and those with cognitive challenges. Lisa doubled the reach of the program and seeing a need in the community, she spear-headed the Embracing Autism performances. We discuss the many hats she has worn in her life long career in the circus and how she was able to produce an all virtual circus which the New York Times called “genuinely extraordinary”.

Get in touch: 

Lisa B Lewis
Omnium Circus Website: https://omniumcircus.org/
Instagram:@omniumcircus
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 

Ayana Major Bey
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by conductor Ryan Bancroft. He is originally from Los Angeles, California and is currently the principal conductor with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He studied trumpet at the California Institute of the Arts and received his Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. According to the Pool Alumni Magazine of Cal Arts The Malko prize is akin to the Grammy Award for Best new artist or being named NBA rookie of the year, and Ryan won this award! In 2018 he won both First Prize and Audience Prize at the prestigious Malko Competition for Young Conductors in Copenhagen, Denmark and the rest is history. We discuss how music entered his life, his voluntary pivot from trumpet player to conductor, and how the involuntary life halt that was brought on by the pandemic has turned into a necessary time to help him find his balance. 

Get in touch: 

Ryan Bancroft
Instagram: @ryanbancroftconductor
Youtube (the moment he won The Malko Prize): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRInXbKExbE
*Full video-start at 7:45- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdP34Px8IP0
The Pool Magazine: https://issuu.com/calarts/docs/pool4

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode I am joined by actor, voiceover artist, and teacher Tommy Coleman. A native of Norfolk, Virginia,  Tommy's love of acting took him to Philadelphia, Scotland, London,  back to Virginia and eventually New York. He holds a B.A in Theatre from Temple University and a M.A in Musical Theatre Performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He's been in an Emmy nominated documentary on PBS and can be seen along with an Emmy-Winner in American Dreamer starring Jim Gaffigan. Currently you can hear his voice as Danny Humbles in Fuser, a video game where you control the music, as well as Popeye's latest commercial promoting their Rip'n Chicken combo. As of January 2021, he joined the faculty of Winthrop University as an adjunct professor teaching college students auditions techniques, and adjusted the curriculum to fit a pandemic landscape.

Get in touch: 
Tommy Coleman 
Website: https://www.tommycoleman.net/
Instagram: @tommytoocool

Ayana Major Bey 
Website: www.ayanabey.com
Instagram: @ayanambey, @theartistpivot

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Executive Producer & Host: Ayana Major Bey 
Editor: Kieran Niemand

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.