State of the Arts

State of the Arts Episode 94 just published! In this thrilling new episode my cohost Anthony Bonilla and I welcome Off Broadway actor, producer and creative director Matt DeRogatis. Teaming up with his mentor RJ Lamb, this mutli-talented stage maestro formed a non-profit organization called Ruth Stage in 2017, which has locations in both New York City and New Jersey. Matt DeRogatis is the chairman...

As all of you avid State of the Arts followers recall there was an Episode 57 and an Episode 59. The mystery of the missing episode has now been revealed! In Episode 59 I interviewed Jeff Free the guitarist of the Moonshine Runners, a Queens-based alternative rock band. Most recently I've interviewed the entire band for Episode 90. As a prequel to Episode 59, elusive Episode 58 has now been releas...

Noopur Parikh began training in a form of classical Indian dance called Bharatanatyam at an early age. Any style of classical Indian dance requires intensive training for many years. Mastering this breathtaking art form was what she attentively dedicated herself to. With diligence and positivity she balanced dance with her other studies. Her education was attained at the St. Francis Institute of T...

Once a classmate of mine at PMT Dance Studio where we studied the Argentine Tango under the great Brenda Neville, Svetlana Keselman is my guest of honor on my podcast this week! Svetlana was a competitive ballroom dancer at an early age. She competed until she reached high school when she decided to take a hiatus. By the time she began attending NYU, she reentered the ballroom world when she joine...

Fred Bernard is a painter whose artwork was on display at a popup near the Bowery in Manhattan. For a temporary stint, Parasol Projects hosted his exhibit in a quaint gallery right by the community center where I teach ballroom dance classes. His hypnotic painting boasts a synergy of surrealism, realism and graffiti with a unique quality of looking unfinished; which is his signature style. In the...

State of the Arts Episode 90 just released! The Moonshine Runners are a Queens-based rock band that brings an edgy new sound to the world of rock while channeling echoes of Nirvana, the Foo Fighters and other classic legends. State of the Arts welcomes the entire band this week as we speak of their new single "Tough Love," their favorite performance ever, future projects and many other topics. The...

State of the Arts Episode 89 just published! On State of the Arts this week I am joined by Willy Wenwe Chen who was once my classmate at PMT Dance Studio where we studied the Argentine Tango under New York dance legend Brenda Neville. Always the creative, at an early age Willy went to Pre-College Julliard. He's a classically trained violinist who also became interested in dance. After attending NY...

To commemorate Episode 88 I have written a parody of the song by 1980's New Wave Band The Nails called "88 Lines About 44 Women." My parody "88 Lines About 88 Podcast Guests" is a tribute and celebration to all the guests who have been on State of the Arts thus far. Co-host Derek Upright and I tip our hats to these wonderful people, these magnificent artists, these hard-working role models who hav...

State of the Arts Episode 87 just published! Annabelle Santos is the founder and CEO of Spadét, a line of pure olive oil beauty and wellness products. This brilliant entrepreneur was inspired to start this 100% organic line of products when her own daughter developed a skin condition she couldn't find a solution for. As a biochemist with two degrees she used her knowledge to develop the Spadét col...

State of the Arts had the privilege of having digital product designer, illustrator, 3D artist and motion video artist Adrian De Propertis as the guest of honor this week. This Pratt institute graduate currently studies at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology. Since the beginning of his studies he has excelled at motion graphics, digital illustration, advertising/package design, 2D/3D a...

This week I'm joined by Josh Berkowitz in an in-person interview at tranquil Turnure Park in White Plains, New York. He is prominent member of the Cos Play community. From conventions to photo shoots to starting his own Twitch channel Josh is immersed in the colorfully exciting world of Costume Play. Inspiration is drawn by him from anime movies and video games. At Spectrum Designs he is also a va...

This week my trusted co-host Derek Upright welcomes journalist, content manager, copywriter, producer and stand-up comedian Sarah Harvard to State of the Arts. This Japanese-Moroccan "Jill-of-all-trades" has a natural gift for comedy. A Nobel Prize nominee once encouraged her to enter into the world of professional comedy and even offered to pay for her education in comedy, which Sarah declined. W...

My guest this week is fashion entrepreneur Tisha Blake. This self-starting business owner is the sole proprietor of an online boutique called fashionstyleny.com. Her website offers glamorous, but affordable women's fashion for all body-types. With a diverse array of items including sundresses, sportswear, outfits for clubbing, jewelry and shoes fashionstyleny.com is like a candy-store for online-s...

State of the Arts rolls out the red carpet this week for stand-up comedian, actor and musician Dylan Adler. From belting out original show tunes to parody writing to hilarious spot-on impersonations to doing back flips on stage, there is never a dull moment when this Jewish-Japanese performer takes the spotlight. He has been featured on Hulu's "Eater's Guide to the World." The Vulture featured him...

State of the Arts Episode 81: The Father's Day Special just published! This week I am joined by my mother Caroline Osborne as we pay homage to my grandfather Sing Leung Lam. His unsung heroism during World War II, his breathtaking talent for calligraphy, his dedication to his career as a corporate executive in the British shipping industry, his knack for captivating storytelling, his respectful co...

State of the Arts Episode 80 just published! Country music duo Kelli and Kayla Lutzwig a.k.a. Wild Fire grew up in a musical home. Their father is a musician himself who introduced his daughters to the country genre when they were children. In 2016 these guitar-playing, singing sisters formed a gigging, album-releasing duo called "Wild Fire." The President of the Texas Country Music Association de...

Vince Chang is a successful Chinese-Jamaican stand-up comedian, actor and professional master of ceremonies. While attending City College, where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in political science, he decided to take on the stand-up world. With a distinct style that is full of energy and upbeat, he regularly brings down the house at many venues. From his unique ethnic background to life expe...

In this riveting episode my guest is author, ancient Chinese military tactics expert and historian Ralph D. Sawyer, who delves into the captivating writings of the legendary Sun Tzu. Although the existence of this ancient Chinese general and author is debatable, Sun Tzu's timeless book "The Art of War" has been widely read throughout the centuries by countless leaders of every variety. Contrary to...

In an unprecedented episode, my co-host Derek Upright and I welcome Derek's dad, David Upright to State of the Arts. David Upright was a power player in the advertising industry during its illustrious golden age. He found no need to watch the show Mad Men because he was there for the real thing. Feeling uninterested in the academics of college initially, he fortunately discovered his passion and t...

Michelle Lema, the creator of @ArtWorldNYC brings her enchanting artistry to State of Arts. While she was attending college in 2018, she discovered the therapeutic joy of going to art galleries. In the cozy ambiance of coffee shops, she would edit pictures she took, research artists and make posts on Instagram. These captivating posts attracted many curious followers. Traction began to build. With...

Pak Sau Lam my grandmother is my guest this week. She is 100 years old. Because of some health issues she cannot be interviewed. So my Mom is standing in her stead. My grandmother was a selfless elementary school teacher, a war hero, a wife, mom, grandma, an advocate for human rights, a gifted knitter, a fashion design hobbyist and a descendent of the royal imperial family of the Qing dynasty. Tun...

My co-host Derek Upright, who is an expert on Hollywood titan James Cagney, joins me this week in a tribute to this American symbol of entertainment. Born in 1899 in New York, James Cagney embarked on a career in movies, the stage, directing, productions and workers' rights activism. He won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, including an Oscar for his depiction of music c...

Brothers Jon and Al Kaplan who are the parody creators, composers, lyricists and writers who graced State of the Arts with their presence on this monuments episode. The Kaplan brothers studied concert composition and film music at USC after moving to Los Angeles in 1996. They are the accomplished creators of Silence! The Musical which is an internationally-known off Broadway stage production of Si...

Brothers Jon and Al Kaplan are the parody creators, composers, lyricists and writers who graced State of the Arts with their presence on this momentous episode. The Kaplan brothers studied concert composition and film music at USC after moving to Los Angeles in 1996. They are the accomplished creators of Silence! The Musical which is an internationally-known Off Broadway stage production of Silenc...

This week my co-host Derek Upright and I welcome a music legend to State of the Arts. James Lee Stanley, who is a long-time friend of Derek and his family. This extraordinary talent has a successful career that spans for decades. From countless awards to playing alongside good friend Peter Tork to playing space aliens on Star Trek, James Lee Stanley has shown himself to be a Renaissance man. This...