Art Unknown Podcast

“I believe that's all we are here to do, is just to connect and love each other. Art does that in a way that other work doesn't.” - Matt Evans The Art of Reinvention Most people spend a lifetime becoming known for one thing. Dr. Matt Evans somehow became an equine veterinarian, a landscape painter, a stand-up comedian, and now the author of a memoir. In this episode we talk about the unexpected pa...

“I think as artists, we help people connect with themselves and feel their feelings.” - Jennifer Sklias-Gahan Finding Creativity in the Darkness Actor, filmmaker, and author Jennifer Sklias-Gahan joins the AU Podcast for a thoughtful conversation about creativity, resilience, and the winding path that leads us back to the work we're meant to do. From growing up in Queens as the daughter of a Greek...

“I think that art is the human experience. It's how we express ourselves.” - Jodi Krangle The Sound of Being Human What does it take to build a career using nothing but your voice? In this episode, we sit down with voice actor Jodi Krangle to explore the craft behind the commercials, brands, and stories you hear every day. From her early days in music and internet marketing to becoming one of the...

“Whatever it is that you want to do in life, don't give up on it.” - Kenneith Perrin Singing Songs for the Soul Singer/songwriter Kenneith Perrin joins the podcast for a conversation about music, spirituality, performance, and the healing power of art. From singing in church as a nervous seven-year-old to performing across the country with a message rooted in hope and encouragement, Kenneith share...

“If you will look I'm sure you'll find something that makes you feel something, and this is art.” - Joan Barbero Truth, Power, and the Stories We Dare to Tell A Catalan screenwriter steps out from behind the script and into the pages of his own story; and what unfolds is a conversation about truth, power, and the messy humanity inside every character he creates. From crafting hit Spanish TV series...

“You curate life like anything else. If you want that kind of life and you make it happen, then it will happen.” - Cliff Beach The funk, the hustle, and the grind Musician, author, and creative entrepreneur Cliff Beach joins Jim Wills for a lively conversation on persistence, reinvention, and building a life around passion. Cliff shares his journey from studying at Berklee, auditioning for America...

“Art is a form of self-expression. Caring about art is caring about how you feel, how other people feel, and how they express themselves.” - Kneet Through Music and Love, she will Rise This episode of Art Unknown starts as a creative conversation and quickly turns into something deeper; part origin story, part survival story, part “how did we get here?” I sit down with Kneet, a Thai Sikh artist in...

“I think we need something that's elevating or beyond us, otherwise life is just too drab I think.” - Lora Arbrador The Courage to Paint What Matters...with Eggs The Art Unknown Podcast sits down with Lora Arbrador; an artist whose life feels like it was dropped straight into the middle of history and told to figure itself out. From the chaos of 1960s Berkeley and living out of a van, to working a...

“For me, art is an experience. There is no right definition for it.” - Rupali Kumbhani The Art of Becoming Through Experience Jim Wills sits down with multidisciplinary artist Rupali Kumbhani to trace a life in motion. One shaped not by a single medium but by persistent curiosity and the courage to follow wherever creativity leads. From her early days in Mumbai to a practice spanning painting, pho...

“Life is the fuel of art and art is basically what grows out of it.” - Regina Linke The Boy, the Ox, and Questions That Shape Life In this thoughtful and luminous conversation, Jim Wills sits down with Taiwanese American author and illustrator Regina Linke to explore the unlikely journey that led her from nonprofit technology work to creating a philosophical children’s book series rooted in ancien...

“Art is here for all of us and it's for everyone. If you want to go and make art for the rest of your life, go and make art for the rest of your life.” - Alec Harrison The Sound Behind the Screen: Guest Alec Harrison pulls back the curtain on the invisible art that makes films breathe. From a life-changing encounter with armless drummer and speaker Alvin Law to a lifelong career scoring documentar...

“Keep being creative... continue to pursue whatever your passion is.” - Lee Isaacs A Song of Life: Sit down with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Lee Isaacs for an honest and wide-ranging conversation about creativity, storytelling, and building a life in music on his own terms. From his roots as a writer to discovering songwriting as a way to compress entire emotional narratives into just a few...

“I think that the operatic theatre is something that you can connect to, and in this moment when you are in the theatre you forget your worries.” - Evgenia Selina From Pop to Puccini: Engage in an enlightening conversation with the award winning, Russian-born opera singers Evgenia Selina and Ilya Lapich, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo now thriving in Germany. The episode delves into their distinct...

“What is art? On its basest level I think it's the communication of emotion.” - Chris Orcutt Memory Mining & 80s Magic In this episode of the Art Unknown Podcast, Jim Wills chats with Chris Orcutt, a writer and educator, in a reflective dialogue on art, memory, and creativity. They connect over their shared experiences growing up in the 1980s, using this as a backdrop to explore how art preserves...

“There's no secret recipe to how you find success. It's simply not giving up.” - Don Rodriguez Creativity Unleashed: Dive into an illuminating conversation with Don Rodriguez, where we explore the essence of creativity as a holistic way of life. Don shares his journey of embracing creativity across multiple fields; construction, real estate music and film, and how this has profoundly influenced hi...

“[Art] is how we express ourselves...It’s how we connect with people; and how we understand ourselves better.” - Franky Corcoran Crafting Stories and Community from the Great White North: In this captivating episode, host Jim Wills engages in an inspiring conversation with Franky Corcoran, a dynamic theatre artist from Miramichi, New Brunswick., Canada. Franky’s multifaceted career encompasses act...

"But to me art is a way of life, and it's the way of the curious, it's the way of the search." - Maba Ba Curiosity Is the Compass: Jim sits down with Senegalese-born filmmaker, writer, and entrepreneur Maba Ba for a rich conversation on curiosity as a guiding force in life and art. Maba reflects on his journey from Senegal to New York, from philosophy and film to winemaking, revealing how every cr...

"Art is here after we're gone, but art also documents culture...and art is our culture." - Wednesdae Reim Ifrach Transformative Artful Healing: Prepare to be inspired by Wednesdae Reim Ifrach, a visionary licensed art therapist and clinical counselor who is reshaping the landscape of mental health care. With a passion that transcends traditional therapy, Wednesdae is a beacon of hope and healing f...

"Art enriches our lives. It can transform people in a moment of deep need." - Dawn Farrow Crafting Experiences In this enlightening conversation, we delve into the intricacies of succeeding in the entertainment economy, focusing on the vital role of producing successful live events. Guest Dawn Farrow shares her journey from working in marketing for theatre and live events to founding On Sale Group...

"Art is the best means we have for exploring our own thoughts and our own nature." - Richard Moon From Physics to Fantasy This episode of the Art Unknown Podcast dives into the eclectic world of Richard H Moon, a man who seamlessly blends the scientific with the fantastical. As a co-founder of MoonHill Productions with his wife, Isabel Hildebrandt, Richard's journey from a degree in physics to the...

"I think art has an interesting way of tapping the emotions." - Kirk Voclain Capturing Life's Moments: In this engaging episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Kirk Voclain, a seasoned photographer from Houma, Louisiana. Kirk's passion for photography ignited with the purchase of a Kodak Instamatic camera from collecting cereal box tops, and by age 15, he was able to purchase his own SLR an...

"I really think if you want to be a balanced human being, you need to be creative." - Stan Lai A Maestro of Modern Theater A luminary in the world of theater, Stan Lai has long captivated audiences with his groundbreaking and thought-provoking plays. Renowned for his innovative storytelling, Lai seamlessly blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary themes, crafting narratives that reson...

"I think there is something good for our souls to create. We're built to create. The world changes when artists are doing their best work" - Dennis Welch From Knowing to Doing: A Songwriter's Journey In this captivating episode of the Art Unknown Podcast, we delve into the transformative journey of Dennis Welch, a passionate songwriter who has embraced the art of saying "yes" to life's opportuniti...

"Art creates love and connection to the human spirit." - Jim Wills For our 75th episode extravaganza, we're flipping the script and turning the spotlight on the maestro himself, Jim Wills! And who better to commandeer the host's chair than his exceptional wife, Janrace? She's got a knack for asking the questions no one saw coming; it's like a musical mystery tour, but with more cowbell and fewer m...

"I really feel that creativity is fundamental to our existence." - Cameron Smith In the realm of boundless creativity, where imagination flows like an unending river, one must harness this torrent of ideas and share it with the world. This is the very essence of our guest on Episode 74, Cameron Smith, whose life has been a testament to the art of storytelling since his formative years. From a tend...