ARTS. WORK. LIFE.

Latest Episodes:

The Healing Power of the Arts Aug 12, 2025

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They say that laughter is the best medicine, but so are human connection and genuine self-expression. In episode five, we explore stories about the healing power of the arts, not just for the creator, but for entire communities.

INTRO & ACT ONE: “Empty Barns, Not Empty Hearts" with Jeff Corle, a singer/songwriter from Windber, Pennsylvania.

ACT TWO: “Life Worth Living” with Sam Simon, a playwright, author and actor in McLean, Virginia.

ACT THREE: “Home Run” with Julián Silva, a music therapist based in Northern California.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Next week on the show Aug 05, 2025

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Sometimes the best medicine doesn’t come in a bottle. Next week on ARTS.WORK.LIFE., inspiring stories about the healing power of the arts. The episode arrives August 12th.

Inner Compass Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Working in the arts requires imagination, intuition, and a belief in oneself because oftentimes, you have to follow your inner compass. On today's episode, hear stories about discovery, perseverance, and recalibrating your direction when the road ahead isn’t clear.

INTRO & ACT ONE: “Para-Lyrics” with Chad Harper, the founder and CEO of Hip Hop Saves Lives in Madrid, Spain.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” withKersee Whitney, an actor, singer and dancer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ACT THREE: “Art Therapy" with Angelica McCarthy, a doctor of athletic training in Clinton, Connecticut.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Episode four arrives July 29th! Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

In the world of performing arts, the impossible happens every day. On stage, a special effect or optical illusion wows an audience. But what happens behind the scenes – what happens in the hundreds of small moments that shape a life in the arts – that’s where the real magic is.

Next week on ARTS.WORK.LIFE, stories from arts workers who hustle, reinvent themselves, and make the impossible possible.

It Takes a Village Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

Whether you are creating street art, launching a career, running a business, or building a “Globe-ette,” you can't do it alone. In this episode, we explore the breakthroughs, the challenges, the successes and the magic that comes from working together.

INTRO: “Each Brick In The Wall” with Sonia Clark, owner and producer of Unicycle Productions in Niagara Falls, New York.

ACT ONE: “Flying High” with Karen Franzel, the manager and booking agent for Danny the Acrobat based out of Orlando, Florida.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” with GregRobin Smith, the founder and managing director of The Washington Shakespearean Festival in Seattle, Washington.

ACT THREE: “In Family We Trust” with Juanita Anderson, the theater coordinator for Teatro Trail and Sala Catarsis theaters in Miami, Florida.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

A preview of episode three Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Next week on ARTS. WORK. LIFE, we bring you four inspiring stories about how performing arts communities form and evolve, creating opportunities and connections along the way.

Episode three arrives July 15th!

Finding Your Why Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Amid brutal competition, unpredictable hours, and variable pay, it’s important to remember WHY you chose a career in the performing arts. Episode two features four stories about listening to your inner voice and tapping into your passion.

INTRO: “Make The Most of It” with Jason Fletcher Christian Laws, executive creative producer and founder of the Laws Group in Brooklyn, New York.

ACT ONE: “Expiration Date” with Ami Otero Minars, a flamenco dancer, producer, and founder of Admission Nation in Montclair, New Jersey.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” with Dot McDonough, the director of marketing and operations for the Spire Center for the Performing Arts in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

ACT THREE: “Officially Obsessed” with Kieran Bailey, a content marketing specialist for Bauer Entertainment Marketing in Nashville, Tennessee.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Next week… Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

Next week’s episode is all about WHY we do what we do. Not just for the applause or the paycheck, but what drives us through the beautiful, messy, essential journey of finding your place in the performing arts world.

Episode two arrives July 1st, so follow the podcast and turn on your automatic downloads.

Trailblazers Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

Being the first to do something comes with accolades and recognition, but it can also be lonely. The premiere of season four features stories from four trailblazers who broke barriers, not just for their own advancement, but to create opportunities for others.

INTRO (0:00): “Trailblazer” with Precious Perez, a singer, songwriter, music educator, and disability activist based in Louisville, Kentucky.

ACT ONE (7:20): “Barre None” with Lydia Abarca Mitchell, a founding member of Dance Theatre of Harlem, now living in Marietta, Georgia.

ACT TWO (17:16): “A Day in the Life” with Magdalene Minnaar, the artistic director of Cape Town Opera in Cape Town, South Africa.

ACT THREE (21;01): “Let It Rain” with Yura Sapi, the CEO of LiberArte based in Chocó, Colombia and New York City.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Season 4 - now premiering June 17 Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

Season 4 of ARTS. WORK. LIFE. will take you around the world this summer with bold, never before-heard stories – now premiering in one week, on June 17th.

Because sometimes, just like ARTS. WORK. LIFE., things don’t go as planned, but we promise it’s going to be worth the wait.

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app and turn on automatic downloads to never miss an episode.

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