Teaching Artistry with Courtney J. Boddie

In Acts 1 and 2 of our newest episode, we learned about the origins of Teaching Artists Guild (TAG) and its merger with the Association of Teaching Artists (ATA). In Act 3, "Continuing the Continuum," Courtney sits down with Kerry Warren, Katie Rainey and Marissa Ontiveros, who all hold leadership positions at TAG, to discuss the future of the organization and of the field at large. Together, they...

What do the words intentionality, collaboration, community, responsiveness, tenacity, perseverance and leadership have in common? They’re all terms or themes that emerge in our newest episode. And they’re all used in reference to teaching artistry and its pivotal role in the constant reshaping and elevation of arts education and arts administration. In Episode 63, Act 2: “Collaborate, Cultivate, C...

We’ve got another great episode for you, TA PODience! We’re back with Act 1 of a fascinating three-act series titled “Looking Back to Look Forward.” Episode 63, Act 1: “Collective Field Building,” features an exciting panel of inspiring multi-hyphenate artists and arts administrators who were instrumental in the formation of what would eventually become the Teaching Artists Guild (TAG). This episo...

In Act 3 of our three-part series, “In Conversation with ‘Start the Conversation,’” we dive right into a crucial topic: emergency drill support for teachers and kids. In this episode, we spotlight New York City Children's Theater’s Caitlyn McCain and Nicole Hogsett who have developed a groundbreaking resource called, “Start the Conversation.” This video series aims to provide grown-ups with a rang...

We’re back with Episode 62, Act 2: “Make Space, Give Grace,” featuring Caitlyn McCain, Teaching Artist and Education Associate for Public Engagement with New York City Children's Theater (NYCCT), and Lindz Amer, creator of the video series “Queer Kids Stuff” and author of the book, “Rainbow Parenting.” This act is packed with rich discussion about gender and the conversations happening now in legi...

We are back with an exciting three-part series titled “In Conversation with ‘Start the Conversation.’” In episode 62, Act 1: “Step In and Go Slow,” Courtney sits down with panelists Caitlyn McCain, Tara Kirton and Nicole Hogsett to discuss how New York City Children’s Theater resources came to be, beginning with a three-part video series called, “Our Relationship to Race.” The series we focus on i...

We’re back. Act 2 of our newest episode, “Finding Paths for Freedom Dreaming,” can be whittled down to three main ideas: 1. Aspiring to a more liberated arts and culture world; 2. Feeling our emotions through the work we do as artists and arts educators and not giving in to shutting down when the work feels difficult; 3. Having the ability to recognize the power one has and knowing when the time h...

We’re back with Episode 61: “Finding Paths for Freedom Dreaming,” featuring Caitlyn McCain, Teaching Artist and Education Associate for Public Engagement with New York City Children's Theater (NYCCT) and recipient of the 2023 TYA Community Impact Award. Question: can you recall a teacher from your childhood—yes, that one teacher—the one who ignited the spark of your artistic trajectory? Courtney a...

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy,” featuring Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble. If Act 1 of Episode 60 reflected on the ways in which Courtney and Melissa’s artistic and administrative work has been challenged by the pandemic (masks, shutdowns, reframing the art we make and how we connect with students and each other during times of...

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a brand new two-act episode arc for you! Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy” features Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble, a professional social justice theatre company in New York City. In many ways, Episode 60 really holds its finger to the pulse of the zeitgeist. At the top of their chat, Courtney and Melissa take time to reflect on the myriad ways...

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 59: “Divine Self Development.” “Everybody’s story is so different,” says Courtney to our newest featured guest, Aminisha Ferdinand. In the first part of this two-episode arc, we posed the essential questions: What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of...

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a wonderful new two-act episode arc for you to kick off our sixth season! Episode 59: “Divine Self Development” features Aminisha Ferdinand. What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of artistry? These are the essential questions that fuel our newest episode. In Episode 59, Co...

In the second installment of this two-episode arc, Courtney continues her conversation with Alex Santiago-Jirau. This thought-provoking chat is driven by the essential questions: How can theater be of service to the community? How can theater hold value beyond production and how can we create experiences that are not transactional? Alex dives even deeper into his work with Theater of the Oppressed...

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a great new two-act episode arc for you! Episode 58: “Processing the Collective Scars” features New York Theater Workshop Director of Education, Alex Santiago-Jirau. Their conversation begins with connecting around the missions and multi-faceted approaches of both New York Theatre Workshop and New Victory Theater. The real inquiry begins with the question: What does it m...

We are back with Act 2 of Episode 57: “Arts, Essence…Us,” featuring activist, storyteller and educator Miko Lee, Director of Programs at Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). As in Act 1, Courtney’s chat with Miko remains at the intersection of arts and social justice. This conversation holds fast to the tone of the first half of the episode, which focused on arts and social chang...

Hey, PODience! We’re excited to share our newest episode with you. Episode 57: “Arts, Essence…Us” is a thoughtfully passionate conversation featuring activist, storyteller and educator Miko Lee, Director of Programs at Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE). The setting of Courtney’s chat with Miko is at the intersection of arts and social justice. At the top, we learn a lot about M...

What is it that drives you? What is the impact you want to have on the world? Those are the questions that are central to the heart of the conversation featured in the second part of our episode featuring James C. Horton. In Act 2 of Episode 56: “Arm Yourself with Hope,” Courtney and James’s conversation segues from the meaning of family and finding connection to the arts to the impact of the arts...

Hey, PODience! We’ve got a brand new episode for you and you won’t want to miss it. Episode 56: “Arm Yourself with Hope” is a thoughtful, and in some aspects spiritual conversation with James C. Horton, the newly-appointed President of Harlem School of the Arts in New York City. At the top of Courtney’s chat with James, a self-proclaimed "analog dude" and father of four ambitious kids, they linger...

Hey, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of our newest episode. This thoughtful conclusion of Episode 55: “Calling in Your ‘Why’,” features a deeper chat between Courtney and Shanna Melton, a poet and visual artist. Their discussion dives a bit deeper into what it means to grieve as humans, artists and learners, to lose oneself in trauma and to find oneself and one’s strength as they emerge from a pla...

Greetings, TA PODience! We’ve got a brand new two-episode arc for you! Act 1 of Episode 55: “Calling in Your ‘Why’,” features an introspective chat between Courtney and Shanna Melton, a poet and visual artist. Courtney’s conversation with Shanna, who believes in the power of being selective about where, when and how we leave our artistic imprints and energy in the world, is a thoughtful one. Their...

Hey, PODience! What are you saying "yes" to right now? What obstacles are standing in your way that you are willing to knock over in order to do and feel something new? These are just a few questions that pervade the second part of our two-episode arc featuring Melissa Parke. In Act 2 of Episode 54: "Walk in Truth," Melissa talks a bit more about her work. She specifically goes into more detail ab...

Hello, TA PODience. We hope you’re staying safe, healthy and cool during these extremely hot days. We’re back with a brand new episode that we think you’re going to love! What drives you creatively and personally? Can you name it or are you still trying to place it? These questions, and so many more, fuel this two-episode arc. Episode 54: “Walk In Truth,” features an inspiring conversation between...

Hey, TA PODience! Teaching Artistry podcast is made up of a team of humans that have many identities including LGBTQ+, Black, Jewish, and more. We acknowledge the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade. We are reaffirming our commitment to continue to uplifting and amplifying BIPOC women and other humans who do remarkable work in our field and advocate and fight for justice. We are back wi...

Hello, TA PODience. We are back with a brand new episode! In this two-episode arc, Episode 53: “Passing the Baton,” Courtney chats with Margie Johnson Reese, an educator and life-long advocate for children and the arts. She has over 40 years’ experience in the field of arts administration, including heading a local arts agencies in Dallas and Los Angeles. Courtney and Margie’s conversation is one...

Hello, TA PODience. When we posted Act 1 of Episode 52, we noted that we realize that there is a lot going on in the world and want to acknowledge the continued shared traumas we’re experiencing here and globally. Unfortunately, the same sentiment remains true as we post the second half of this two-part discussion. We truly hope that your takeaway from our newest installment is one of calm, joy an...