Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive

Our Guest this week is Gabi Swain! (she/her)   Gabi is an improviser, comedian, and producer originally from Michigan, now based in Philadelphia!   Having hopped from place to place, Gabi eventually stumbled into local improv in Harrisburg, PA. What started as annoying neighbors soon became community, and set Gabi on a path towards comedy here in Philly. Starting multiple troupes in the scene such...

Our Guest this week is Hadley Precht! (she/her)   Hadley is an illustrator and designer from York County, PA, now based in the city of Philadelphia!   Inspired by cartoons and children's book illustrations, Hadley picked up a pencil at an early age and hasn't stopped since. She took a chance with University of The Arts, which she states as one of the best decisions she's ever made. Cultivating her...

Our guest this week is Gabe Moses! (he/they)   Gabe is an actor and director from upper PA, Pennsylvania, now based in the city of Philadelphia!   Gabe is the product of a single mother, and first of his family to pursue the performing arts professionally after finding said passion at age 3, dancing along to Barney the Dinosaur. From there, Gabe has studied the art of acting and Shakespeare since...

Our guest this week is Toby Thomas McDonald! (he/him)   Toby is a musician, filmmaker and writer from Philadelphia, as well as my younger brother! As a current student of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Toby's been discovering his voice as a filmmaker, inspired by the likes of Pee-Wee Herman and Kevin Smith. He's also been playing music at an early age with lo...

Our guest this week is Tyler Rocio Ecoña! (they/she)   She is a playwright, dramaturg and actor originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, now based in Philly!   A graduate of The University of the Arts, Tyler works to steward relationships within the Philly theater by creating and uplifting projects focused on collaboration. Making the effort to highlight the Latine, trans, and disabled artists that d...

Our guest this week is Rekha Shankar (she/her)   She is a comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker originally from Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles, California!   Knowing that she wanted to make people laugh, Rekha forged a path into comedy and film-making while attending NYU. This persistence led her to discover improv, move to LA, and get into all kinds of career defining rooms, including Col...

Our guest this week is Michael Jahlil (he/they)   They are an actor, singer and writer originally from Chester, PA, now based in Philadelphia!   Following in the footsteps of acting giants and a Juilliard college commercial, Michael knew that he needed to pursue the arts in one way or another, and to do that he needed to go achieve a Masters degree. This spark led him on a rollercoaster-esque care...

Our guest this week is August Hakvaag (they/them)   They are a butch theatre artist, primarily a playwright and actor, from Manhattan, NY and currently based in Philadelphia!   Having grown up in a small yet supportive suburban town in PA, August felt it obvious to pursue the arts and leave home. They soon graduated from Temple University with a BA in Theatre, and August has been an active member...

Our guest this week is John Faye! (he/him)   He is a career musician, originally from Newark, Delaware, that has been performing and teaching in the Philly music scene for the last 30 years.   Having some time as a signed musician in the late 90s with his band The Caulfields, John was given the chance to tour the country and beyond. A few years later, he broke away from the label and furthered his...

Our guest this week is McKayla / MK Prophett! (they/she)   They are a theater director, actor and teaching artist originally from Brunswick, Maine, now based in Philly!   Having started performing alongside their mother and brother at a young age, MK knew early on they wanted a life in theater. Though the path of a performer didn't shine quite as bright as a future in directing, leading them to pu...

Our guest this week is Nate Miles-McLean! (he/they)   He is an actor, dancer and avid stage combatant originally from Washington D.C., now based in Philly!   Growing up with a rigorous approach to the performing arts, Nate had an opportunity to slow down & play while studying acting at the University of the Arts. Now guided by those principles, Nate is committed to the work of an actor here in...

Our guest this week is Zoe Hollander! (she/her)   She is an actor, educator and improviser originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, now based in Philly!   Being shaped at an early age by children's theater both on and off stage, Zoe was set on a path to pursue a career in acting and telling stories. After her time studying at UArts & Temple University, she now finds herself on the ground floor...

Our guest this week is Alx Leyton! (they/them)   They are a multimedia illustrator originally from Delaware, now based in Philadelphia!   Growing up steeped in all forms of art thanks to their beloved grandmother, Alx settled on illustration as their career, pursuing a degree at University of the Arts. Graduating from Moore College of Art & Design after the UArts closure, Alx continues to expl...

Our guest this week is Kat Caro! (she/her)   She is a production designer & multimedia artist who's been part of the Philadelphia art community for over 20 years! She's also my mother! :)   Having a passion for visual arts and the works of Jim Henson from a young age, Kat got her start with early online doll communities, taking commission work. She later offered her skills to Philly Performing...

Our guest this week is Julian Perez! (any)   He is an actor from Miami, Florida now based in Philadelphia. With a passion for telling stories at a young age, Julian pursued his dream of being an actor by attending The University of the Arts, and graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater in 2024. Philly soon became home base for his art, falling in love with it's unique theater scene. In this episode...

Our guest this week is Emmet Rigg (he/him)   He is a musician and songwriter born and raised in South Philadelphia! Having grown up listening to the music of the 60s and 70s, Emmet took that sound and paved a path for himself in the Philly music scene. In this episode we talk about our many years of friendship, his approach to songwriting, and the influence our teachers had on our art. The Jette P...

Our guest this week is BRYANT (they/them)   BRYANT (they/them/all) is an actor, musician, writer & choreographer born and raised in North Philly! Growing up surrounded by a talented family, celebrating music at church, and writing full albums since 7th grade, Bryant has worked tirelessly to make art their career. In this episode we discuss how UArts set them on the path of an actor, uplifting...

Our guest this week is Carl Bright-Walck (he/him)   He is an actor and musician from Annville, PA now based in Philadelphia. Having studied the violin for over 16 years, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from (the former) University of the Arts, and just recently spent a season at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Carl has plenty to say regarding his unique role in the community. In thi...

Our guest this week is Ella Carter! (she/her) She is an illustrator and game designer from Ambler, PA now based in Philadelphia. Ella began her journey at University of the Arts, and is now finishing her degree at Moore College of Art and Design. Her specialties lie in the Tabletop RPG community, having worked with a multitude of independent clients, allowing her to bring original and fantastical...

Our guest this week is Valerie Barry! (she/her) She is an electronic musician, vocalist and producer from Delaware County, PA now based in Philadelphia. Having been set on being a performer since she was young, Valerie found her way into the underground music scene in Philly after spending time in the University of the Arts "MBET" (Music, Business, Entrepreneurship, & Technology) program. Unde...

Our guest this week is Lee Tew (they/them), They are a cartoonist and illustrator originally from South Florida (but born in Jim Thorpe, PA!), currently based in Philadelphia  Having fanned the flames for their love of comics while studying Illustration at UArts (now Moore), Lee is more than ready to share their stories of Hi-jinks, Love, Robots and more with our community and audience. Pre-order...

  Our guest this week is Isabel Lucio Penn! (they/he), They are an actor originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, but currently based in Philadelphia. Having just settled into the city after a season spent with the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Penn is hungry for acting work in the city of the brotherly love, and is here to share his love of storytelling with our listeners. You can find/contact Penn ev...

Our guest this week is Maria Kortz (she/her), She is an illustrator and printmaker originally from Nazareth, PA, but currently based in Philadelphia. Currently open for commissions and in the midst of creating a brand new online shop, Maria is eager to share her artwork and her story with our listeners. You can find/contact Maria everywhere cited below! Website - https://www.mariakortz.com/ Instag...

Hi, to those who don’t know me, my name is Gideon Caro McDonald. I am an artist and actor born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Welcome to the Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive. Let me tell you a bit about it. The goal of this podcast is to give back to this city’s art community. I am incredibly lucky to have grown up surrounded and inspired by artists who shaped me into who I am toda...