Scratch Claw Push

Meet Carla Aaron-Lopez, artist, educator and curator based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. From the classroom to the streets to the museums, Carla has dedicated herself to helping people become better through the power of art. Carla’s Website: https://iamkingcarla.wordpress.com/ Carla Aaron-Lopez at the Elder Gallery in Charlotte North Carolina: https://eldergalleryclt.com/king-carla/ Black Mark...

Meet Val Bodurtha. Comedian and writer, who published a novel at 17 and won a Young Writer's Publication Contest and a Silver Benjamin Franklin Medal. Having caught the comedy bug at a young age, Val did some training in Chicago, and eventually returned to New York where she began to help set up shows for other comedians. Val Bodurtha's website: https://www.valbodurtha.com/ "Wax Paul Now" short fi...

Meet Greg Burnham, Author/Writer, Editor and Publisher and creative force behind the comic books Tuskegee Heirs, Search for Sadiqah and Swim Kelly, Swim! Greg has found a way to integrate love of history with his love of storytelling to craft unique stories that teach lessons while being wildly entertaining. Greg Burnham’s website: https://linktr.ee/greg_burnham7 Tuskegee Heirs: https://tuskegeehe...

Meet Jay Peterson. An actor, writer, stuntman, and a United States Marine Corp veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After years working in movies as an armorer, Jay stepped away to focus on acting and eventually wrote a fantasy novel called Renfield Blues: The First Grunt’s Grimoire Jay Peterson’s website: https://www.jaythebarbarian.com/ "Renfield Blue’s: The First Grunt's Grimoire" - http...

Meet Naomi B. Smith. Art director, set decorator, photographer, writer, and director. After years spent in the background of film and tv productions, Naomi stepped forward taking the reins as writer and director on her upcoming short film “I Love You.” Naomi Smith’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/naomibowiesmith Naomi Smith on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8569257/ “I Love You” Short Film on Seed...

Meet Rob Ward. An actor, choreographer, and writer who has worked in the Twin Cities’ theatre community since 2013. In addition to having recently written a book of poetry, Rob used his skills to channel the turbulent circumstances of the pandemic into an inventive science fiction novel called Click. Rob Ward’s website: https://www.robwardcreative.com/ Rob’s novel - Click: https://www.amazon.com/C...

Meet A.W. Miller. An actor, voice actor, audiobook narrator, teacher, and podcaster who says his most important roles are father and husband. As he nears the end of his career as an educator, A.W. produces a podcast called Alabaster Flats with his son, and his wife learned to edit audio to help him make audiobooks. A.W. Miller's websites: https://vochutzpah.com/ https://awmillervoices.com/ A.W. Mi...

Meet Christopher “Chiz” Chisolm: Actor, Writer, Producer, and director, who was part of the original launch team that started E! Entertainment Television. Having started his journey in the theater, Chiz would later go into TV & movies, eventually running a brick & mortar studio and watching the technology and business of entertainment evolve over a long career. Chiz Chisolm on Social: Face...

Billie Jo Konze and Brandon Duke talk about resilience in the face of disaster. GoFundMe for Billie Jo Konze: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-billie-jo-recover-from-a-devastating-fire?utm_campaign=p_lico%20thank-all-share&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=product&fbclid=IwAR2TWHirtcxvXwKfC5iGaOWoHtwFaDhOdJGtF8Y4E2I5Qvwr3c0VLWcg-Q0 Theme Music by Brandon Duke Logo Designed by Margeaux McC...

Meet Alison Young, a former professional flute player and American Public Media host turned professional writer, speaker, and podcaster. Despite many obstacles, Alison has hiked more than 12,000 miles on six different continents, sharing her amazing adventures as The Blissful Hiker to help inspire others on their own journeys. The Blissful Hiker - https://www.blissfulhiker.com/ Alison Young on Soc...

Meet Bryan Stoops. Comedian, Educator, Podcaster, Martial Artist…and former professional magician!…who launched his comedy career during the middle of the global pandemic. After spending years away from the stage in the classroom and on the mat, Bryan returned to the stage as a comedian and launched a podcast to shine a light on other his fellow comedians. Bryan Stoops website: https://bryan-k-sto...

Meet Jeff Adams, founder of the Icebox Radio Theater, which creates podcasts and live radio theater shows in America’s icebox, International Falls, MN. Twenty years after he first envisioned starting a community theater company, Jeff has produced several ongoing series, such as the Scoop Sisters Mysteries, Frozen Frights, Funny in a Small Town, and Rum Runner Sue…bringing stories of America’s nort...

Meet Kodac Harrison, singer, songwriter, and poet who’s been described as a Southern Tom Waits or a Rural Leonard Cohen. Kodac has been releasing for 40 years , but after a life-threatening injury he changed his perspective. And not only did he help his own career but he began to help artists in the Atlanta area as well. Kodac Harrison’s website: https://www.kodacharrison.com/ Kodac Harrison on So...

Meet David Benedict, Diana Lancaster and Kayla Pierre-Louis: three members of the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company which is best known for its podcast Mercury: A Broadcast of Hope. Since 1984, the ARTC has set out to create quality audio-drama with their flagship project crystalizing in the form of a faux-radio show set in the zombie apocalypse. The Atlanta Radio Theatre Company - https://artc.org/ M...

Meet Dan Nelken, copywriter, creative director, podcaster, and author of A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters. In the past few years, Dan has made a name for himself on LinkedIn, and has become an advocate for other creatives in the ad industry to start creating for themselves. Dan Nelken’s website: https://www.nelkencreative.com/ Dan Nelken on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannelken/ A Self-...

Meet Chuck Reece, a writer and editor in chief of Salvation South, a website where Southerners can share their stories in the forms of journalism and fiction. After years working journalism and politics, Chuck shifted his focus to using the power of storytelling to bring about change in the South and maybe even America as a whole. Salvation South: https://www.salvationsouth.com/ Chuck Reece on Soc...

Meet Theresa Davis, a poet, author, educator, self-proclaimed “pirate,” and MC of Java Speaks, a live workshop for spoken word artists and musicians. Over a long and impressive career, Theresa has made waves, gaining notice for her talent as well as her activism, while nurturing the next generation of artists and performers. Theresa’s Website: https://www.artisttheresadavis.com/ Theresa Davis on S...

Meet Jeremy Thao, a writer and director based out of Atlanta, who is receiving a lot of attention for his short film “Wok Man.” After working on many short films as an assistant director, Jeremy took the reins, and utilized his connections around the Georgia film community to bring his personal story of an Asian immigrant family to life. Jeremy Thao’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/wokman Wokman Shor...

Meet Julie Shaer, an actor, director and producer, who found her way back to the creative world after getting lost for a time in corporate America. Julie has fought her way back to the stage with the help of a group called Sketchworks Comedy, which had to win a lawsuit to show their play “Vape; The Musical” which is a parody of Grease. Julie Shaer’s website: https://www.julieshaervo.com/ Sketchwor...

Meet Chris Burke, creator of the Mandible Judy: a sci-fi horror podcast that has spawned 2 spinoffs, Under Dead Water and Becalmed. Over a long career, Chris has journeyed from music to sound design all the way to writing, directing, and producing his own podcast series. Mandible Judy website: https://mandiblejudy.com/ Mandible Judy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandiblejudy/ Mandible Ju...

Meet Vilma Llaguno, a talent agent and screenwriter who got her start as a stage mom. After managing her own childrens careers, Vilma eventually started her own talent agency to fulfill a need she saw in the Chicago market, and has since expanded to Los Angeles and Atlanta as well. Vilma Llaguno on Instagram: instagram.com/chicagovilma DreamTeam Talent Agency: https://www.dreamteamtalent.com/ Drea...

Meet Christopher R. Mihm, a writer, director and producer of the “Mihmiverse,” a series feature length films that pay homage to 1950’s drive-in cinema. Since 2006, Mihm has churned out a film almost every year creating a vast catalog of movies and a cult following to boot. The Films of Christopher R. Mihm: https://www.sainteuphoria.com/ Christopher Mihm on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2265115...

Meet Rachel & Gabriel Malasig, a husband and wife team who make up two thirds of the production company Pranksters Ink. Rachel is a veteran of several big Hollywood productions as well as producing several independent short films. Gabriel is an Air Force veteran who is making his way into the world of screenwriting having already won the screenwriting competition at the 2022 Slamdance Film Fes...

Meet Shannon Morrall. A director, writer, and actor, currently getting her MFA in film production from the University of Southern California. Shannon most recently had the chance to direct her first documentary short about the fight against the invasive lionfish in her home state of Florida. But Shannon aspires to share stories on a more epic scale. “Spear. Spatula. Submarine.” footage courtesy of...

Meet the creators of the comic KAMIKAZE: Carrie & Alan Tupper and Havana Nguyen. Their creation started as a web comic and grew from several print versions to an animated short with the help of a dedicated fan base and several crowdfunding campaigns. Kamikaze Webcomic: https://www.kamikazeanimated.com/ Kamikaze on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/KamikazeComic Kamikaze “Trial by Fire”: https:/...