Ali & Callie Artcast

Jaime Rome Crain is a passionate fine artist based in the beautiful Inland Northwest. Working primarily in oil, Jaime dives deep into the complexities of the human experience—exploring themes like memory, emotion, and social issues—through vivid color, expressive figures, and dreamlike, abstract spaces. Her work doesn’t just hang on a wall—it connects, often stopping people in their tracks. And th...

Meet Noah Johnson, founder of Levity Theatre and a passionate force in the world of improv since 2018. With experience as a performer, teacher, and creator of the Northwest Improv Fest, Noah brings energy, warmth, and joy to everything he does. He especially loves helping people step outside their comfort zones, embrace their authentic selves, and discover the magic of being a little silly. Levity...

More Than Makeup: Meaghan’s Mission of Confidence and Kindness With a heart for encouraging others, Meaghan is on a mission to help women build confidence from the inside out. She is the proud owner of a salon that doubles as a drop-off location for beauty and hygiene products benefiting Project Beauty Share. Through her platform, #MoreThanMakeup, she empowers women by coordinating donation drives...

Paper Flowers: Remembering Fleetwood Mac is an exceptionally talented tribute band featuring Allison McCready, Cary Beare, Brian Burke, and Kosh—musicians recognized as some of the finest in the industry. Together, they bring the legendary music of Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, Mick Fleetwood, and John McVie to life with passion and precision. Their performance is a heartfelt...

One of our favorites of the free summer concerts is the Riverstone Summer Concert Series in Riverstone Park on Thursday evenings starting July 10 through August 28 from 6-8 pm put on by the CDA Arts & Culture Alliance. Board members, Ruth Pratt and Max Mendez, share this season's line up, another exciting one with a variety of genres, and great opening acts. Bring your chair or blanket, get th...

North Idaho native Caden Butera has been passionate about filmmaking for as long as he can remember. Driven by a lifelong mission to create art that offers fresh perspectives, sparks the imagination, and, above all, entertains, Caden has steadily turned his passion into a profession. He is the founder and owner of Paradox Studios, a multi-media production company specializing in original films as...

Michael B. Koep has built a life out of rhythm, storytelling, and adventure. A fourth-generation Coeur d’Alene native, he’s worn many hats—college educator, international touring musician, visual artist, novelist, and swordsman. Celebrating his 5th appearance on the podcast with the honorary 5-timer jacket, we talk to Michael about his passion for live music—and his deep love for the community—lea...

Fans of the Inland Northwest music scene might remember Manito Park, a melodic rock band from the early '90s. If you were old enough, you may even have seen them perform as they were regulars at the CDA Resort and the Fore and Aft. But even fewer likely recall the group’s earlier incarnation as Gotham. In 1989, Gotham released a powerful set of arena-style rock tracks—reminiscent of bands like Jou...

What a pleasure visiting Barry Aiken in his recording studio to dive into his life as a jazz musician, composer, and founder of BareMic Music Studio in Coeur d’Alene. With over 25 years of professional experience, Barry’s career has taken him from San Diego to Vancouver, BC. Eventually, he chose to return to his roots in Idaho—a move that reflects the deep importance of home and community. In addi...

Adam Schluter, photojournalist and founder of Hello from a Stranger, moved to Coeur d'Alene a few years ago, knowing no one. Feeling isolated, he longed for real connection. Inspired by his mother’s tradition of Monday night family dinners, he opened his backyard to the community with one simple rule: bring a side dish—no business, no politics, no phones. Just genuine connection. This May marked h...

Meet Christina Crawford, actress, author, and performer in theater, film, and television. Her first book, Mommie Dearest, was a New York Times Bestseller in 1978. She has always been an advocate for social justice, particularly for the rights of children and women who have been assaulted or abused. Her unwavering belief in justice, regardless of when the abuse occurred, is a powerful message of em...

Passion. Experience. Dedication. Words that describe Joel Riner’s photography career. Since his freshman year in college, Joel has pushed himself to become the best photographer, whether spending extra hours in the darkroom, trekking up mountains with his 4x5 camera or going in on days off to shoot some creative studio work. His passion for the craft has not faded over the years, and he is well-kn...

Christian Youth Theater (CYT North Idaho) is not just a theater program, it's a comprehensive after-school arts education program for ages 5-18. It offers a wide range of classes throughout the year, including drama, music, dance, technical theater, and more, ensuring that every child's unique talents and interests are nurtured. This week, Dawn Simmons, the Executive Managing Director of Christian...

Kennedy Shioya, who holds a B.F.A. in painting from Boise State, grew up in a creative household learning to sew from her Grandmother. An accomplished painter, Kennedy discovered her love for handcrafted leather bags and accessories in 2022, after becoming more excited about functional art. With her experience in sewing, she took a big step to create Kumé Designs, specializing in leatherworking an...

Meet Sara Bruner, Producing Artistic Director of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and Hannah Read Newbill, Festival Director of Marketing. We had a lively and inspiring conversation about the upcoming season and the immense effort it takes to bring five exceptional professional productions to life, running from May through September at the festival’s stunning outdoor amphitheater. This 770-seat, st...

The Idaho Commission on the Arts is a state agency committed to making the arts accessible to all Idahoans. Executive Director, Laura Curry, and Artist Services Director, John McMahon talked to us about the state of the arts in Idaho, what Arts Idaho does, how it is funded, and what the future holds. Arts Idaho: Inspiring, Educating, and Supporting Through the Arts Strengthening communities by con...

Louisiana native Jimmy Lewis grew up immersed in Cajun traditions in the small town of Roanoke, about three hours northwest of New Orleans. Each year, he brings a taste of the South to the Northwest by hosting a classic crawfish boil, complete with "mudbugs" shipped in fresh from Louisiana. The annual event, now a tribute to his late wife, has become a beloved community gathering, with all proceed...

Hara Allison, a highly skilled graphic designer, photographer, former podcaster, and publisher, has recently launched her passion project: Dream Studio—a space where creativity knows no bounds. Dream Studio offers meticulously curated sets and an expansive room that serves as a blank canvas, ready to be transformed by your imagination. The concept for Dream Studio was born from Hara’s own experien...

There is so much happening this summer. Listen in as Ali & Callie and Kristin (our producer who we actually gave the mic to this time) go over the highlights of performances so you can plan ahead! Aspire Community Theater – aspirecda.com at Midge & Pepper Smock Family Theater at the Kroc (1765 W Golf Course Rd, CDA) Guys and Dolls – April 25-May 4 Catch Me If You Can – Aug 1-10 CDA Summer...

Erin Hall, a talented singer-songwriter and cellist from Boise, Idaho, now resides and creates music in New York City. She was featured in the "Idaho in Song" series on Idaho Public Television, Season 8, episode 5, where she premiered her song "Lullaby of 55." This episode can be viewed online at PBS' Idaho Experience Series "Idaho in Song" . The series highlights songs inspired by Idaho's history...

You know we all need to laugh... it is so good for our psyche... especially these days. This episode features Alvin Williams, a “stand-up” comedian since his post grad years in Boise in 2006. We had so much fun laughing and chatting with him. For years, he has brought his unique brand of humor to a live audience, touring the United States and Canada from cruise ships to comedy clubs. Alvin's comed...

Artist Elizabeth Wilkes' journey is a powerful example of how art can be a tool for healing and recovery. It’s fascinating hearing how she used color and intentional creativity to not only rebuild her artistic expression but also reconnect the neural pathways in her brain. The idea of painting with her left hand to facilitate healing adds a deeply personal and neuroplastic element to her process....

Theater on the Verge is a new independent theater company based in Spokane, Washington that believes theater should be a visceral, personal experience—one that ignites conversation, inspires connection, and leaves a lasting impact. (To quote a favorite show , we’d rather be “nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred people’s ninth-favorite thing.”) Co-founders Troy Nickerson and Chris Jensen tal...

We recently had the exciting opportunity to engage with Trey Busch, one of the visionary founders of Sleight of Hand Winery nestled in Walla Walla, Washington. Accompanying us was Sommelier Krista French and Robby French from Stylus Wine & Vinyl Bar, our local experts in wine and music. Since its founding in 2007, Sleight of Hand Cellars has emerged as a standout among Washington State’s new w...

A poet laureate is a poet who has been appointed by a government or some other organization. It is their responsibility promote poetry, which usually includes composing and reciting poems for special occasions. Recently, the CDA Arts Commission appointed Jennifer Passaro as the city’s first Poet Laureate. Jennifer studied English and creative writing at the University of Montana and is excited to...