The Language of Creativity Podcast

What does it take to stay grounded when your role changes night to night? In this conversation, Steven Leavitt sits down with Shari Washington Rhone, a working performer whose career spans dance, theater, voiceover, teaching, and martial arts. As a swing and understudy in the original Los Angeles theatrical company of The Lion King, Shari has lived inside a creative reality where visibility fluctu...

Update: Chris joined the Boston Symphony Orchestra as second clarinet in March 2022. Concert clarinetist and soprano saxophone player, Chris Elchico joins Steven Leavitt to talk about his experience being a classical musician, music teacher, and local coffee shop barista. Chris discusses the role of the classical musician, and what it’s like playing with a quartet with members that live across the...

Featured Art: “Ring of Fire” Featured Music: Improvisation on Acoustic Guitar performed by Mathias Manser In this thought-provoking interview, digital media artist Mathias Manser opens up about his creative process and journey as an artist. This discussion explores how life experiences are reflected in our art and leads the conversation to some interesting places. Growing up in Switzerland, Mathia...

How do you define success? In our second interview with landscape photographer Nat Magnuson, we dig into the story behind his life-long love of photography. An avid backpacker, Nat has been taking photos of the outdoors since he was a child. His photos, which focus on capturing the feeling of a moment are often tied to the story behind them. We dive deep, exploring the idea that it’s the journey,...

Steve hosts an engaging conversation with his long-time friend, Nat Magnuson. Nat is a photographer, songwriter, pianist, perpetual student, and a natural teacher. As a Hollywood set dresser, Nat found an outlet for his exceptional attention to detail. Then, following his own Roadmap (they discuss Roadtrip Nation more in Part 2), he decided to leave Hollywood behind to be closer to his true passio...

In this episode, Steve chats with Michael Zimmerlich, the founder and president of 80/20 Records. Michael formed this independent record label and management company in 2008 basing it off of the Pareto principle, giving 80% of royalties to artists. As the manager of the psychedelic indie-rock band Captain Squeegee, Michael gives an insider view of some of the hilarious antics that come with managi...

Indie Jen Fischer started her creative journey as a pianist, but eventually began her own production company, Think Ten Media Group, with her partner Ramon Hamilton. In this episode Jen shares how, as a producer and musician, she is broadening her creative repertoire through her new journey as a writer with her upcoming novel, The Leeches. Apple Podcasts users full show notes here: https://languag...

Adam Sears, of the progressive rock band Lobate Scarp, helps Steve name his new podcast! Together, they discuss the value of creating meaningful work that can make an impression on others or make the world a better place. Many starting out in the music industry might not have the means to create the caliber of music they’d like to. Adam and Steve share stories of navigating these challenges while...