Ali & Callie Artcast

What makes Shakespeare’s work still resonate more than 400 years later? This week on the Ali & Callie Artcast, we’re joined by Mary Bowers, Artistic Director, and Shelby Marcott, Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for Shakespeare CDA, to talk about their current production of Henry V. We’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at this powerful tale of leadership, courage, war, and the human experi...

What does it take to create the perfect sound for a story? This week on Ali & Callie Artcast, we’re talking with Rylan Butera, music composer and creative force behind Paradox Studios in Coeur d’Alene. Working closely with his brother Caden, Rylan helps bring creative visions to life through the power of music and sound. We dive into the fascinating process of composing music for trailers, com...

This week, we're turning the microphones on ourselves and sharing a little of what we've been up to creatively! Callie takes the stage with a look back at her performance for the CDA Library Foundation fundraiser on September 29, Well-Read and Slightly Improper: The Songs and Satire of Tom Lehrer. Meanwhile, Ali is getting ready to exhibit alongside 15 other artists in Critical Infrastructure, ope...

Get ready for a lively conversation with the wonderfully dynamic Toby Keough, botanical artist and co-owner of Modus Fine Art Gallery! Toby shares what inspires her colorful, expressive work and what it’s like being part of a gallery that brings together a collective of talented artists and creative minds. And then there are the bathrooms! Toby’s wildly imaginative and very fun gallery bathrooms a...

We're back with the second installment of our deep dive into the Living Lake Project, an initiative of the Coeur d'Alene Arts & Culture Alliance that brings artists, environmental leaders, and community voices together in support of Lake Coeur d'Alene and its watershed. This time, we sit down with Darya Pilram, co-founder of the Living Lake Project and Director of the Hillyard Creative Distric...

For 13 years, Kiki Miller has been a familiar and unstoppable force on the Coeur d’Alene City Council—but her impact on this community goes far beyond City Hall. From championing the arts and public art to tackling housing issues and historic preservation, Kiki has spent decades turning ideas into action and bringing people together to make things happen. During COVID, she rallied volunteers from...

Opera singer Madison Leonard joins us for a fascinating conversation about her journey into the world of opera, the places her music has taken her, and the passion that keeps her performing. From discovering her voice to traveling the world as a professional singer, Madison shares the experiences, challenges, and joys that have shaped her career. She’ll be bringing that passion to the Inland North...

What happens when you grow up surrounded by music? For young musician and songwriter Kenneth Booher, music isn’t just something he discovered—it’s been woven into his life and family from the very beginning. In this episode of the Ali & Callie Artcast, we sit down with Kenneth to talk about his musical journey, growing up in a musical family, the artists and experiences that have influenced hi...

In this episode, we meet Chelsea Cordova and Kelly Baker, the creative duo behind Front Room Fine Art Gallery, Spokane’s newest addition to the West End Arts District. Located at the corner of S. Adams and Railroad Alley, Front Room is part of an eclectic pocket of Spokane where galleries, artists and creative spaces come together—and where one of the city’s coolest courtyards sits tucked beneath...

What happens when you spend 22 years under the bright lights of Las Vegas? You collect some great stories! Former Las Vegas dancer and showgirl Liz Thorpe joins us to share the behind-the-scenes tales of her remarkable career on the Strip, including working with legendary designer Bob Mackie and being part of a spectacular production that was derailed by one of Las Vegas’ great fires. Liz regales...

Step inside the future of entertainment with Jeremy Whittington, founder and creative director of Cinema Quattro, the exciting new boutique cinema opening this November in The NoLL at Liberty Lake. More than just a movie theater, Cinema Quattro is being designed as a creative community gathering place where film, art, music, and live events all come together. Jeremy shares the vision behind the fo...

Step into the dazzling world of tap shoes, big laughs, and timeless Gershwin melodies as we welcome Paisley Siemens, director and choreographer of Aspire Theatre’s upcoming production of Crazy for You, on stage August 6–9. In this episode, Paisley shares what makes this beloved musical such a joyful celebration of the golden age of Broadway. We talk about the magic of directing and choreographing...

What happens when you gather an award-winning winemaker, a resident sommelier, and two curious podcast hosts around a table? A few pour decisions... and a whole lot of great conversation. Recorded at Stylus with resident sommelier Krista French, this episode features Fiona S. Mak, founder and winemaker of SMAK Wines, as we uncork the fascinating story behind Washington's first rosé-exclusive winer...

What a treat to sit down and talk with 10-year-old Clark Shotwell, the young star of John Travolta’s new film Propeller One-Way Night Coach, now streaming on Apple TV. Clark plays Jeff, a young airplane enthusiast whose cross-country journey with his mother becomes the adventure of a lifetime. Set during the golden age of aviation, the film is written, directed, narrated, and produced by John Trav...

What compels someone to step off a cliff, a bridge, or a skyscraper with only a parachute between them and the ground? This week on the Ali & Callie Artcast, we sit down with storyteller, songwriter, and BASE jumping pioneer JD Walker, author of BASE 37, a gripping memoir about the early days of one of the world's most daring sports. As BASE jumper #37, JD was there when the sport was still be...

In this episode we sit down with Carol Davis, a powerhouse jazz and blues vocalist. Carol shares how growing up in San Francisco with a classical pianist mother and a gospel-loving father ignited her lifelong passion for music, drawing inspiration from legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Etta James.  We talk about her early days singing in church at age five, her journey into formal m...

He's back—and as creatively busy as ever. Friend of the show and multi-talented artist, writer, musician, and concert promoter Michael Koep joins us for another engaging conversation about the many projects keeping his imagination in high gear. We catch up on the exciting lineup for this year's Koep Concerts summer season, which kicks off on July 8, bringing another series of unforgettable live pe...

Welcome to another music-filled episode of the Ali & Callie Artcast as we catch up with two familiar faces in North Idaho’s arts scene—Max Mendez and Ruth Pratt. Our conversation begins with a preview of the 2026 Riverstone Concert Series, the beloved free summer music tradition presented by the Coeur d'Alene Arts & Culture Alliance. Beginning July 9, the series returns to Riverstone Park...

When we first invited stained glass artist Atsuko Kroetch to the podcast, we planned to talk about the stunning stained glass horses she created for the cupola of the Coeur d'Alene Historic Carousel. What we discovered was a story far bigger than art alone. Born in China to Japanese parents, Atsuko shares an extraordinary life journey that spans continents, cultures, and pivotal moments in history...

What happens when curiosity, creativity, and collaboration come together to solve real-world challenges? In this episode of the Ali & Callie Artcast, we sit down with Marita Diffenbaugh, Director of Innovation for the forward thinking X-Labs program at North Idaho College. Marita shares how NIC X-Labs is creating a dynamic learning environment where students, faculty, community members, and in...

Join us as we talk to Executive Director Abby Light and Program Coordinator Mary Hanlin and dive into the powerful vision behind the Living Lake Project, an inspiring new initiative through the Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance that brings artists, environmental leaders, and community voices together in support of Lake Coeur d’Alene and its watershed. The Living Lake Project is a 15-month...

Welcome to the story of Modus Fine Art Gallery, a new kind of creative space shaped by artists, for artists. Opening June 12 during ArtWalk, Modus Fine Art is a collective gallery where collaboration, experimentation, and artistic ownership take center stage. Two of the owners, Chris Grubb and Maya Rumsey, talk about their new venture located in the former Art Spirit Gallery on Sherman in Coeur d'...

Get ready for a royally fun night at the theater as Lake City Playhouse presents the beloved musical comedy Once Upon a Mattress! Director Marie Hunt teams up with Music Director Scott Michaelson to deliver a lively production packed with charm, wit, and Broadway-style flair. Opening May 22 through June 3, this hilarious, heart-filled twist on The Princess and the Pea brings big laughs, bold perfo...

Step inside the heart of Hayden with this inspiring episode featuring The Village Bakery. Founder Dana Bellefeuille and her incredible team share how this beloved bakery is built on more than handcrafted breads and pastries—it’s built on people. Dana talks about her intentional mission to hire adults with different abilities, creating meaningful employment, dignity, and a true sense of belonging....

Get ready to get ogre it! We’re talking all things Aspire Community Theatre and their current production of Shrek with Executive Director Trigger Weddle and show director Abel Siemens. From fairytale fun to behind-the-scenes magic, they share what it takes to bring this larger-than-life musical to the stage. Don’t miss your chance to see this fun-filled show for its last weekend at the Kroc. Tonig...