The Art of Kindness: Pop Culture & Positivity with Robert Peterpaul

Disney's High School Musical director-choreographer Kenny Ortega is in the studio, wildcats! The legendary creative (also behind classics like Newsies, Hocus Pocus and the Descendants franchise) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to celebrate 20 years of "breaking free" with the DCOM. This episode touches on: - How gratitude and kindness have shaped Kenny Ortega's legendary career and...

What's the best 2026 new year's resolution? Kindness! Join Robert Peterpaul as we fly to Pasadena, California and chat with Lori Milgard and JR Dzubak about their inspiring journey with the Kindness is Free initiative. From the Kindness is Free Hall of Fame to their epic participation in the Rose Bowl Parade, discover how small acts of kindness can lead to significant change. This conversation is...

Broadway's Desi Oakley joins The Art of Kindness podcast for our holiday extravaganza! The Wicked and Waitress star gets festive with host Robert Peterpaul about: Her new holiday single Christmas on the Coast + holiday favorites The challenges and rewards of working on Broadway during Christmas The power of "trying" and much more! DESI OAKLEY is a self-described Jane of all trades. She’s a Broadwa...

Christian Cowan , Fashion Designer turned Costume Designer (Queen of Versailles) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul as he makes his Broadway debut. This episode covers: - the kindness of embracing your unique style - learning on the job as Broadway Costume Designer with Queen of Versailles - working with legends like Paris Hilton, Kristin Chenoweth and more CHRISTIAN COWAN is a celebr...

Stranger Things: The First Shadow star Dora Dolphin discusses acts of kindness on Broadway with The Art of Kindness podcast. Her and host Robert Peterpaul cover: - Dora's wild audition process for Netflix and the Duffer Brothers. - Her kind meeting with onscreen counterpart Cara Buono, and the wisdom she shared. - Upside-Down kindness her and her Tony-winning company take part in + more. DORA DOLP...

Merrily We Roll Along's Broadway and film director Maria Friedman joins The Art of Kindness for a chat on translating her Tony-winning take on the hit Stephen Sondheim production to a SONY film, starring Jonathan Groff, Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez. The kind musical theatre titan and host Robert Peterpaul discuss: How kindness is at the core of Merrily. How to lead with kindness on Broadway...

Broadway star Christiani Pitts talks Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) on the Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul during a scrumptious conversation. The episode covers: the act of kindness from her drama teacher that made a lasting impression. the key to finding common ground with strangers. the dreamy process of bringing Two Strangers to Broadway and more! (We may even play a game al...

Disney legend Jodi Benson - the iconic voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid - returns to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to catch up on how kindness is showing up in her life and more. This episode covers: Learning self-kindness while leading a life of service. Working on new projects like Wingfeather Saga. Lessons learned from Ariel and Disney, plus more. JODI BENSON is best known aroun...

Wicked: For Good movie is in theaters this week, so please enjoy this wonderful conversation from the AOK library with the film's director Jon M. Chu. He and Robert Peterpaul to discuss being a kind leader on set, acts of kindness from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, his spellbinding memoir Viewfinder and more. Rejoicify - this is a thought-provoking chat filled with STAR-studded surprise guests!...

Tony-nominated Broadway star Lorna Courtney joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul for our World Kindness Day special! The multi-hyphenate shares how leading with love keeps her grounded on and off the stage. From &Juliet to Heathers: The Musical, the powerhouse performer opens up about confidence, community, and the acts of kindness that helped shape her journey. Happy World Kindness Wee...

Legendary illusionist Rob Lake joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul on the heels of his Broadway debut. "The World's Greatest Illusionist" discusses the magic of kindness and his new show Rob Lake Magic with Special Guests The Muppets. This spectacular episode covers: - Leading with kindness as he brings broadway's greatest magic show to life - What it's like to work with Kermit and the...

Happy Halloween! We're releasing our episode with Halloweentown star Kimberly J. Brown as an extra treat! The Disney legend joined The Art of Kindness to discuss: - growing up in the spotlight - working with the iconic (and kind) Debbie Reynolds - behind-the-scenes treats from the Halloweentown franchise + more! While Kimberly J. Brown is perhaps most known for the Halloweentown franchise, she is...

Netflix's Ginny & Georgia star Antonia Gentry joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, opening up about learning to drop expectations - of herself, her work, and others - in favor of curiosity and compassion. She reflects on the power of flexibility, the quiet confidence that comes from grace, and how kindness is not about pleasing people but meeting them where they are. This 'just peachy'...

Bestselling author and former Disney star Alyson Stoner joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to redefine kindness in a broken system. The mental health advocate unpacks their transformative new memoir Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything and breaks down how kindness can heal the world. This kindness podcast episode covers: Why kind acts alone won't cut it (and what will). Wha...

The Voice winner Cassadee Pope joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss unlocking vulnerability, shedding perfectionism as a storyteller, self-kindness on Broadway and tour, her new show Rolling Thunder and more. CASSADEE POPE rose to fame as the first female winner of the hit reality show The Voice. After fronting pop-punk band Hey Monday and releasing a chart-topping solo count...

Maybe Happy Ending Director Michael Arden speaks on kind leadership and more live from the 2025 Tony Awards winner's room, where The Art of Kindness podcast was stationed. Follow us ⁠⁠@artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul ⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Award winners Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jamie Lloyd take home Best Revival for their gripping, radically reimagined production of Sunset Boulevard on Broadway starring Nicole Scherzinger. In this episode, the Lloyds step into the Tony Awards Winner’s Room fresh off their big win to speak with members of the press. AOK recorded as the duo opened up about artistic risk-taking, their creative part...

Broadway star Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls) joins The Art of Kindness podcast with Robert Peterpaul to discuss all kinds of kindness from her sparkly gold kindness to Jonathan Groff's blue. Speaking of, she also touches on kind leadership, like with her new show Just in Time (starring Jonathan Groff) and the Netflix series The Four Seasons (led by Tina Fey). ERIKA HENNINGSEN stars in the Netflix s...

Emmy Award® winner Sarah Snook (Succession) wins the 2025 Best Actress Tony Award for her performance in THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY on Broadway. In an acting coup for the ages, Snook takes on all 26 roles in this gripping, witty and vibrantly contemporary production that breathes new life into Oscar Wilde’s classic tale. In this episode, Sarah walks fresh off the Radio City Stage into the Tony Awa...

Broadway Director & Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter (Bad Cinderella, School of Rock) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss creating kind communities in theatre, her magical new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse, why she only wants to work with compassionate people and more. JOANN M. HUNTER (Director & Choreographer). Always an honor and treat to b...

From the AOK archive: Broadway star Megan Hilty joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her incredible career through the lens of kindness. From Idina Menzel's career-changing act of kindness to what she learned from Dolly Parton herself, Megan shares countless inspiring stories and quips while reflecting on her journey. Megan Hilty is probably most recognizable for her portraya...

Tony-nominated actor Marjan Neshat (English) unpacks the kindness of her journey to Broadway on The Art of Kindness. The performer joins Robert Peterpaul to discuss $15 therapy that changed her life, what her history-making nomination means to her, the power of live theatre and more. MARJAN NESHAT emigrated to America from Iran as a child, leaving her homeland for safety and new opportunities amid...

Actor, writer, and director Max Talisman joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the power of creating inclusive stories, redefining queer romance on screen, and leading with kindness on set of his new film Things Like This. MAX TALISMAN is rapidly emerging as a leading voice in Hollywood, with standout performances in the indie thriller Super Dark Times, the Jennifer Lopez film...

Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall brings her signature openness to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, discussing her ongoing journey with self-kindness in the arts, the surprising truth about winning a Tony Award, and the supportive kindness of Jon Hamm while filming Your Friends and Neighbors. LENA HALL is a Tony award winner and Grammy nominee who stars alongside Jon Hamm on...

Emmy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee Norm Lewis joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss leading a cast with kindness, the unique way advertising influenced his career, his new show Ceremonies in Dark Old Men and more. NORM LEWIS was recently seen onstage starring in the national tour of the Tony Award-winning production of A Soldier's Play and in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End Conc...