Creativity in Captivity

An Emmy-nominated television writer and executive producer who is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, currently living in Los Angeles. Prior to co-creating Bob Hearts Abishola, Al Higgins was best known for writing and producing the acclaimed series Malcolm in the Middle, for which he was nominated for both an Emmy and Producers Guild Award with his close associate Chuck Lorre; taking on the role of sho...

A maker of things, a creative entrepreneur and a photographer who was born and raised in Northwest Indiana. She uses her whole toolkit to create custom art, jewelry, leather, metal and retro pinup photography. Aubrey learned the traditional Native American and Mountain Man leather making techniques from her family, and she makes everything in her workshop by hand from handpicked materials. She was...

A five-time Emmy Award winning actor, writer and host of a weekly PBS series. John spent nine seasons hosting Around the Corner with John McGivern. His new show John McGivern’s Main Streets will air on PBS stations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa beginning in January of 2023. He has written articles for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Milwaukee Magazine about his t...

An executive creative director, UX practitioner, brand strategist and visual designer who designs for the tech world but encourages everyone to always be designing their life. Lisa started her design life as a self-proclaimed creative through painting and photography, then regrettably sold all her work at a garage sale during a confidence crisis in her early 20s. She switched to graphic design and...

For almost two decades Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis, the founders of Indian Ink Theatre Company, have pursued their idea of the ‘Serious Laugh’- opening mouths with laughter in order to slip something serious in along with a love of mask and story. The company blends western theatrical traditions with eastern flavors and has been critically acclaimed for their use of live music, heightened theatri...

A Canadian figure skater and choreographer who has won two Emmy Awards for Scott Hamilton: Upside Down and for choreographing the opening and closing of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Kawahara joined the Ice Capades at age 17 and skated with them for seven years. In 1997, she became the first skater to win the Best Choreography Emmy Award. Sarah has choreographed for numerous competitive skaters, inclu...

The founder of Accidental Creative, a company that helps creative people and teams be prolific, brilliant and healthy. Todd speaks, consults and advises regularly with companies about how to develop best practices that lead to everyday brilliance. He is the author of six books including Daily Creative, Herding Tigers, Die Empty, The Accidental Creative, Louder Than Words and The Motivation Code, w...

A former network executive who oversaw emerging artists for HBO, HBO Max and Turner. Kelly transformed herself into a full-time author, writer and producer under her Edwardian Pictures banner. In her executive role, the pilots she produced through the HBOAccess Writing and Directing Fellowships have screened at major festivals including Tribeca and SXSW garnering multiple awards. Prior to HBO, Edw...

Rosston Meyer is a designer, paper engineer and publisher who creates pop-up books, cards and prints with contemporary visual artists through his company Poposition Press. He’s gained a reputation among collectors for projects like Pop-Up Funk and The Pop-Up Art Book. Creating pop ups out of existing or new works, Rosston has released books from artists ranging from Andy Warhol, Junko Mizuno, Jim...

An outdoor journalist, bowhunter, forager and angler who founded Wildkind Academy with the desire to learn, share and grow in community with others drawn to expand and challenge themselves into a more integrated partnership with the natural world. A nature lover and professional rewilder in pursuit of a more joyful and adventurous life with a multi-disciplinary approach to optimal health. On this...

A San Francisco-based designer who creates innovative drill, staging and artistic visual projects for marching bands, winter color guards and indoor percussion ensembles around the world. Michael performed with Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, won a WGI World Championship with State Street Review and performed with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps for four years in the color guard. He started an...

A pianist, conductor, recording artist, composer, and arranger whose work as a music director and keyboardist led her to conduct and play with touring Broadway productions of Jersey Boys, Six & Motown: The Musical. Jo Ann Daugherty loves making all kinds of music. Her most recent jazz trio album Bring Joy earned a 4-star review from Downbeat Magazine and was listed as one of their “Best Albums of...

Bob Blumer is a professional gastronaut with an adrenaline addiction. He has created and hosted three award-winning TV series that have aired in over 20 countries, written seven acclaimed cookbooks, including his latest “Flavorbomb: A Rogue Guide to Making Everything Taste Better”, and broken eight food-related Guinness World Records. In his books and appearances around the globe, Bob transforms o...

A Belgian born multi-media artist and designer residing in the Los Angeles Arts District.  Her design projects and artwork include numerous permanent and temporary murals and installations, as well as exhibiting in galleries.  She works on multiple pieces in various media simultaneously, fueling the velocity of her creativity as she sways between the commercial and fine arts worlds.  Her work focu...

Puerto Rican born Rick Negron made his professional debut at age ten in a production of the musical The Me Nobody Knows in San Juan. By the time he graduated high school he had performed in musicals and danced on television with some of Puerto Rico’s top celebrities. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and briefly pursued a concert dance career before setting his sights on Broadway. His Broad...

One of the world’s greatest ventriloquists who also happens to be an extraordinary writer, comic, actor, cartoonist, poet and puppeteer. Jay considers his real job to be a tour guide on a journey into the imagination. He is best known for playing the schizophrenic role of Bob & Chuck Campbell on the classic television series Soap. His one man show Jay Johnson: The Two and Only! ran on Broadway and...

A writer, actor, filmmaker, and activist all embodied in one talented muti-disciplinary artist. Candice is a soul-centered entrepreneur from Houston, Texas who believes in the transformative power of belief. She is the creator of Fatherland, WAIL and 30 Ways To Get Free. In Candice’s artistic productions she merges her academic background (B.A., Black Studies; Master of Public Administration) with...

A New York City based director, choreographer and educator who recently directed the London premiere of On The Edge, a new musical from composer Sam Hall. On Broadway he served as the Associate Choreographer of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical School of Rock, which he also had the privilege of staging in Sydney, Melbourne, and Seoul. He currently serves as the Associate Choreographer on the Broad...

A master chocolatier who makes European-style chocolates and is recognized for igniting the artesian chocolate renaissance.  Fran’s smoked salted caramels are reported to be a favorite of President Obama who frequently shared them with visitors to the White House.  Fran’s passion for life underscores her appreciation of pure flavors paired with superb, fresh ingredients. Her joie d'vie and devotio...

A visual artist and designer that plants his flag at the center of art, nature & science.  Christopher works with reclaimed organisms and natural elements to create breathtaking museum exhibits by transforming exotic insects and tropical sea creatures into astounding works of art.  Marley’s artwork has been exhibited in hundreds of galleries worldwide. His solo exhibitions have been featured at Th...

A visual artist known for her hand-cut, wall-mounted paper forms and immersive, site-specific sculptures. Crystal’s colorful work exudes wonder and whimsy while being constructed from humble everyday materials like chicken wire and repurposed children’s birthday party tablecloths. Her sprawling installations can be seen bursting off of gallery walls and engulfing the outside of buildings from Lodz...

A Vice News Tonight correspondent covering stories at the intersection of politics and culture. Dexter is an Emmy-winning journalist plus two nominations and has contributed to Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage while working with the Los Angeles Times. He has a PhD in East Asian studies at Cornell University and is currently splitting his time between a pos-doctorate at Princeton and as documentary...

A musician and songwriter for over 40 years who rose to the top of the charts as a member of the iconic band The Go-Go’s. Kathy wrote or co-wrote some of the bands most renowned tunes, including the hits Vacation and Head Over Heels. Her journey went from opening for The Rolling Stones to the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. She returned to Austin to pursue creative opportunities as a public speak...

The Experience Architect for Virgin Galatic who was a 40-year veteran of Walt Disney’s Imagineering, the lead designer of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the principal creative force behind Walt Disney World Resort’s Expedition Everest thrill ride. Rohde was one of the lead designers on the Disney Vacation Club property Aulani in Oahu, Hawaii and is recognized as the creator of Pandora - The World of...

A Grammy-nominated comedian and podcaster with 10 appearances on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and 4 appearances on Conan. His debut Comedy Central special, Full-Time Magic, and his debut album, Yelled At By a Clown, reached #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts and remained on Billboard’s Top Ten Comedy Charts for weeks. Bargatze’s half-hour Netflix special on The Standups, premiered in 2017, and h...