The Artists’ Blend

Video and print producer McClain McKinney joined us to chat about the life of a producer! We talk about what tasks are involved in the process, what a “day-in-the-life” might look like, some current changes in the film industry, and what an aspiring producer (or aspiring artist of any kind) needs to know. Today we tried a blend called… wait for it… “The Artist’s Blend” from Endeavor Coffee Roaster...

Graphic design is today’s focus! We talk about how important and integral graphic design is in just about every single industry, the lowering barrier to entry, how AI is changing the graphic design world, and more. Today we tried another coffee bean from Lineage. Try their coffee here! Want to try fresh, roast-to-order coffee? For 10% off Carver coffees and teas, click here: https://www.carvercoff...

When you monetize your passions, how does that affect your artistry? And if you’re an independent contractor working gig to gig, how do you budget? American finance culture is centered around the “9 to 5.” Everything is based off of that. If you don’t have a "normal job," how do you manage your finances? We talk about different budgeting options as well as how art as income affects the spi...

For centuries, modern music and vocal performance has rooted popular practice based on “classical” Euro-centric techniques and perspectives. How are those practices and pedagogies (that are rooted in a gender binary) affecting vocalists and styles today? Are we being limited by these traditions? We had an amazing discussion with Deonté Warren on gender in vocal performance. We can’t wait for you t...

We’ve got something special for you today! We hopped on over to Jessica Newman’s show “Create Space,” a podcast about finding joy in storytelling, and we’ve got the episode right here. We had a great time talking with her about our work and our journeys! Want to try fresh, roast-to-order coffee? For 10% off Carver coffees and teas, click here: https://www.carvercoffee.com/?ref=theartistsblend For...

You asked, we listened! Here’s a collection of stories from YOUR experiences doing summer stock theatre. We talk about fair pay, housing, hours, and whether or not summer stock could be right for you! Today’s coffee comes from the women-owned Nashville roasting company: Pincup. “ Samwise,” a Nicaraguan coffee, is “the most loyal roast out there. It will never let you down with a smooth vanilla beg...

Come chat with us about “the process.” We talk about all things rehearsal room: memorization, directorial practices, environmental expectations, making choices, and all that fun stuff. Click here for the book we mentioned during the show by Frank Hauser: Notes on Directing. Today’s coffee comes from the women-owned Nashville roasting company: Pincup. “Rosie,” an Ethiopian coffee, offers a “sweet,...

Jos does A LOT. He was Lola in the international tour of Kinky Boots, he designed costumes for Steppenwolf, he had a featured role on Showtime’s “The Chi,” he’s a makeup artist, he offers multiple masterclasses, and so much more! We had a great discussion with Jos on how artists can not just juggle, but fully pursue their multifaceted nature and wide variety of interests as artists. Read Jos’ full...

Listen to us nerd out over a handful of film’s most influential and note-worthy composers. Join us as we chat about style, form, repertoire, and industry. Today we sample a single-origin coffee from Guji, Ethiopia, roasted by Lineage. Try it here! Want to try fresh, roast-to-order coffee? For 10% off Carver coffees and teas, click here: https://www.carvercoffee.com/?ref=theartistsblend For more, f...

Hi friends! We've got a special treat for you today: a preview of a podcast you'll love!! Play On Podcasts reimagines Shakespeare's timeless tales into epic audio adventures. Each episode explores plays from Macbeth to A Midsummer Night's Dream in a way you can actually understand, created specifically for the podcast form by some of America's most exciting playwrights, directo...

This episode, we played a little game as we talk through how we select our audition material! We each assigned the other person three characters/shows to audition for, and we decided what we would bring in for the “audition.” It’s a fun little episode with lots of laughs, interesting ideas, and hot takes. We’ve got another cup of coffee today from Foxtail Coffee Co. This time, we tried a cup of th...

Christopher and Sarah Bailey are a pair of new media creators, songwriters, and producers. They’re experts in creation and self-production, so we picked their brains on the trials, tribulations, and celebrations that come with producing your own art. Sarah has multiple EPs available to stream, Christopher has written a beautiful musical called The Pier , and together they created and produced a mu...

A listener suggested we do a Wizard of Oz deep dive, so we gladly obliged! Exploring the conditions of film artistry back in the late 1930s is quite an interesting journey that shows us how much the industry has grown in fair treatment and working conditions, as well as areas in which we still lack. We discuss the history of the Jitterbug, special effects mechanisms, conditions on-set, hospitaliza...

Okay, we know this sounds like clickbait, but truly, we have some really good stories to tell that offer a peek into the world of singing backup for major international artists. And yes, we had to censor the artists names and concert locations due to NDA-type agreements. These stories are crazy/hilarious/fun, but we learned a lot…..A LOT. We also delve into our music backgrounds, how we found our...

As the average American’s time spent online exponentially grows, exposure to content creation (digital graphics, artwork, music, storytelling, etc) only increases. Emily Stephens joins us to discuss the industry of content creation in social media, her career online, and how storytelling skills are necessary in all expressions of art be they traditional or “new age.” This episode we have a cup of...

We talk about the methodologies and spiritualities of songwriting, Sondheim’s book exploring and commenting on lyrics called “Finishing the Hat,” a workshop with Sara Bareilles hosted by Maestra, and other complexities of writing songs! We also mention the INCREDIBLE work that Maestra Music does in the industry. Check them out here! This episode we try a mystery coffee that we can’t tell you about...

Which came first? The movie or the musical (or the book)?! In this episode we dive into the world of adaptations and discuss the origins of different stories in different formats. We also chat about streaming services and entertainment in a pandemic-exiting world. We also reference a graphic of jukebox musicals from the Museum of Broadway . Oh, and check out Sumner McMurtry’s upcoming original fil...

Isabel Marie (@izreadsalot) joins us to discuss elements of good and bad storytelling, and what stories are “worth” telling. We approach the debate from the vantage points of performers, readers, writers, directors, and more. We reference a graphic by National Geographic that walks through the building blocks of storytelling as well as the The Playwright's Guidebook by Stuart Spencer. This epi...

As two working performers in the musical theatre industry, we’re no strangers to the audition GRIND (sorry, coffee pun). We’ve gathered our favorite (and least favorite) audition and rejection stories from over the years and share the lessons we’ve learned along the way. Consider this a group therapy session for actors. We have another cup from Carver Trading Co; this time it’s the Colombian beans...

In our first episode, we go back to the basics and talk about the ways we appreciate visual art in the 21st century. We discuss visiting museums, macaroni art, the Van Gogh Experience, and of course: Georges Seurat. From paintings to photographs to sculpture, how do we interact with art nowadays? Our first coffee we tried was Carver Trading Co’s Kilimanjaro coffee beans. For 10% off Carver coffees...

Hi friends! Austin and Easton here just saying hello and giving you an idea of what this show will be all about.