Living in the Arts

Today’s interview is with fiction writer Katie Vandervalk, the VP of content strategy,  entertainment and beauty & style groups at Dotdash Meredith, novelist, and screenwriter. Her driven, get it done attitude pairs with her sense of humor and vulnerability to have me constantly learning each time we speak. We’re going to learn about her path into creative writing, content strategy, and her relationship to the writing process. 

Today’s interview is with Lowell Thomas, a videographer, photographer, and  . As a freelancer, he has been featured in The Root, American Theatre Magazine, Teen Vogue, Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Reader, and more. We’re going to learn a bit about making movies, how to choose who you work with, and that caring for your mind is caring for your process. One takeaway I can offer you already? Think about the type of work you want to ma...

Today’s interview is with Karilú Alarcón Forshee, a performer and dancer from Juárez, Mexico. She currently serves as Living Arts’ resident Teaching Artist, and has been teaching in each of our programs for well over a decade. 

We’re going to learn about the experience of being seen, making life a little better, and paying attention to what’s beyond the wanting. One takeaway I can offer you already? You Have A Lot Of Light (But You...

Today’s interview is with Alec Frey, a senior producer and production director at Obsidian Entertainment. His portfolio includes contributions to a string of celebrated video game titles, such as "Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire," "Tyranny," "The Outer Worlds," and, most recently, his role as the production director for "Pentiment." We’re going to learn about the gaming industry and the way it marries arts & entertainment mediu...

Today’s interview is with a decade long friend of mine, MC Steffen. MC is a director, writer, and instructor whose expertise in the personal essay has led to a varied career. We’re going to learn about solo performance, the college essay, curiosity, and self employment. One takeaway I can offer you already? “Find the question that your story can answer.”

If you enjoyed this interview, find MC and his collaborators teaching writin...

Today’s interview is with Tina El Gamal, an inspirational multi-hyphenate I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time during our interview. Tina is an actor, director, arts administrator, fundraising consultant, theater-leader, and activist. We’re going to learn about how they navigate the balance between personal artistic practice and full time work in the arts, the true challenge of conservatory education, and the essential ...

Today’s interview is with Connor Shioshita Pickett, a theatermaker and arts worker in Chicago. Currently, Connor serves as the Artistic Director of the Neo Futurist Theater. We’re going to learn more about his path into the arts, his own artistic practices, and some key advice for freelancers. For more, listen now!

If you enjoyed this interview, Connor is spearheading the massive end of year fundraiser for the Neos, help him reach...