Rodney Veal’s Inspired By

What happens when a lifetime of storytelling, a deep love of history, and an infectious passion for the arts come together in one extraordinary creative spirit? On this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By , Rodney sits down with Detroit-based storyteller, actor, director, educator, and Kresge Arts Fellow Madelyn Porter , whose boundless energy and creative curiosity are as inspiring as the storie...

What happens when science, creativity, curiosity, storytelling, and even a little dance all collide in one wonderfully expansive mind? On this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By , Rodney sits down with renowned astrophysicist, author, and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson for a lively conversation about our place in the universe and the curiosity that drives us to better understand it. Ro...

What happens when a comedian, craftsman, history buff, veteran, and storyteller all occupy the same wonderfully curious mind? On this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By , Rodney sits down with comedian and creator Luke Capasso, whose unconventional journey has taken him from the U.S. Air Force to the comedy stages of London and beyond. With a singular mix of humor, history, DIY know-how, and sha...

Emerging Dayton artist Savonne Hagans joins Rodney Veal’s Inspired By to talk about his powerful ballpoint pen work, his roots at Stivers School for the Arts, and how Black history and Japanese craftsmanship shape his visual language. Listen to more episodes of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By and catch The Art Show anytime on YouTube or the PBS app. Follow Savonne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...

A life in dance isn’t something Megan Flynn and Teresa VanDenend Sorge “do” — it’s how they survive, process, and stay fully alive. In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, Rodney sits down with the “dynamic duo” of contemporary dance in Cincinnati to talk about creativity, aging bodies, risk, and why movement is still home. They trace their journeys from basement studios and mommy-and-me cla...

Multi-hyphenate doesn’t even begin to cover David Matthews. In this episode of “Rodney Veal’s Inspired By,” Rodney sits down with the Dayton-born poet, musician, social activist, and performer whose journey started on the basketball courts of Roosevelt High School and evolved onto stages across the country. David shares how a career-ending injury shifted his path from college basketball star with...

Gallery owner Ed Dixon joins Rodney live at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in downtown Dayton to trace his journey from aspiring scientist and hip-hop label co-founder to community-focused curator and arts leader. Ed shares how music, fashion, and arts activism led him to open a gallery dedicated to elevating local, regional, national, and international artists while staying deeply rooted in Dayton,...

Dayton-based artist Bil Tipton joins host Rodney Veal to talk about bright color, pop art, and building a creative life without a traditional art-school path. If you love pop art, street-influenced work, or stories of artists carving their own path in Dayton, Ohio, this conversation is for you. Watch more arts and culture stories with Rodney on The Art Show via YouTube or the PBS app. Learn more a...

From horse camps in Hamilton, Ohio to shooting for major clients and teaching at DAAP, Cincinnati-based photographer Hatsue shares her creative journey with host Rodney Veal. Learn more about Hatsue online: https://hatsue.site/ Follow Hatsue on Instagram: @byhatsue

DJ, artist, and curator Kimyon Huggins joins Rodney Veal to trace his journey from Dayton to New York’s underground club and gallery scene, and back home with a global vision. Learn more about Kimyon online: https://www.futureisnowx.com Follow Kimyon on Instagram: @kimyon333

In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, artist, activist, and muralist Joy Johnson traces her path from Fordham University and basketball scholarships to interior design, mural festivals, and leading community art on Dayton’s West Side. Learn more about Joy online: https://www.artislifedyt.com Follow Joy on Instagram: @joy4theworld23

Join host Rodney Veal as he sits down with Allyson West, co-founder and executive director of the Cindependent Film Festival in Cincinnati. Allyson shares her journey from Texas to CCM, thriving in New York as an actor, and the tough decision to return to Ohio to prioritize love, community, and a new creative path. Learn more about Allyson online: www.cindependentfilmfest.org Follow Allyson on Ins...

Tony Award–winning producer Rachel Sussman joins host Rodney Veal on Rodney Veal’s Inspired By to explore how purpose-driven theater can change hearts, minds, and communities. Learn more about Rachel online: https://www.rachel-sussman.com Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rachsuss

What happens when world-class opera collides with West Coast hip hop? In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, host Rodney Veal sits down with Babatunde Akinboboye, the viral “HipHopera” baritone who’s redefining what opera can be. Learn more about Babatunde online: https://www.hiphopera.com Follow Babatunde on Instagram: @babatunde_hiphopera

Painter and educator Erin Smith Glenn joins Rodney Veal to talk about a life shaped by art, Black womanhood, and radical self-acceptance. From drawing owls on a chalkboard after her parents’ divorce to earning her first scholarship at just eight years old, Erin shares how art became both a survival tool and a path to joy. Learn more about Erin online: www.etsy.com/shop/TheScarvinArtist Follow Erin...

In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, Poet, writer, and educator Aimee Noel shares how she “stumbled” into poetry through a professional development class, the life-changing influence of professor Adrienne Cassel, and why discovering there are no boundaries in poetry unlocked her creative path. Learn more about Aimee online: www.aimeenoel.net Follow Aimee on Instagram: @aimeekn

In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, Rodney down with encaustic and mixed-media artist Kate Santucci to trace her creative journey from theater costuming and ballet tutus to stone and wood sculpture, and ultimately to her luminous, layered encaustic paintings. Learn more about Kate online: www.katehusersantucci.com Follow Kate on Instagram: @katesantucciart

Dayton-based artist, educator, and community connector Tamiko Stump joins Rodney Veal to talk about her winding journey from pre-med student to figurative artist, professor at Central State University, and interim director of the Dayton Society of Artists. Learn more about Tamiko online: https://www.tamikostump.com Follow Tamiko on Instagram: @tamikostump

Join host Rodney Veal for a special live episode of the "Inspired By" podcast at Ed Dixon's Gallery, featuring acclaimed curator and collector Elijah Rashaed. In this insightful conversation, Rodney and Elijah explore the personal journeys that shape a love for art, discuss the importance of Black representation and honesty in the art world, and bust myths about collecting. Elijah s...

Join host Rodney Veal as he sits down with acclaimed artist Gretchen Durst Jacobs for an inspiring conversation on her creative journey. From her early love of art and formative family influences to transformative studies at the New York Studio School, Gretchen recounts her evolution from landscape painter to abstract artist. The discussion explores her transition from graphic design, the emotiona...

Renowned artist Lori Park joins host Rodney Veal to share how a childhood without TV sparked a lifelong passion for creativity. Hear about Lori’s global adventures, her leap from government work to art, and how her distinctive sculptures are shaped by experiences across cultures and continents. An inspiring conversation about art, innovation, and following your own path. Follow Lori on social medi...

In this episode of "Rodney Veal's Inspired By" we are joined by Heather Jones, an artist and Director of Programs and Engagement at The Contemporary in Dayton, and her husband Jeffrey Cortland Jones, an artist and art educator. The pair reflects on their backgrounds, their hardships and obstacles, and on the stark benefits that come from being in a family of artists. Follow Heather...

In this compelling episode of "Rodney Veal's Inspired By," host Rodney Veal welcomes internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer and choreographer Irene Rodriguez. The conversation delves into Irene’s early dance training in Cuba, her passion for flamenco, and her journey to the United States. Follow Irene on social media: @irenerodriguezcompania Learn more about Irene: www. IreneRodr...

On the Season 4 premiere of Rodney Veal's Inspired By Podcast, Rodney welcomes Bruce and Kathy Wade, who discuss their creative upbringing and the importance of storytelling. Bruce and Kathy, both accomplished in the arts, emphasize the value of storytelling in enriching society and share their experiences of being raised in a supportive, creative family. Follow Rico on social media: @ricobru...

On the Season 3 finale of Rodney Veal's Inspired By Podcast, Rodney speaks with Susanne Scherette King to discuss her unconventional path from teaching and garden design to becoming a celebrated self-taught painter. This episode was recorded in-person at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in Downtown Dayton.  Learn more about Susanne's work on her website: https://www.ask-art.com