The Moisture Festival Podcast

On this episode of The Moisture Festival Podcast, we welcome Keara Scannell of Tumbleweed Circus. We talk about her upbringing skating in her parents’ shop, where the name Tumbleweed came from, and how she turned those early influences into a one-of-a-kind career. Keara shares her journey to becoming a performer and how having a broken ankle early on didn’t stop her.  She also tells us who b...

On this episode, we welcome Oroki. We discuss the many aspects of Oroki’s performance life. We learn how it started on a date to an aerial class and how that led to producing theatrical shows all over Seattle. We dive into Oroki’s background in dance, choreography, and a little parkour. A great conversation with a fantastic performer.

On this episode, we welcome AmyLynn ! We learn about her journey from a gymnast, to a springboard diver, to being an aerialist! AmyLynn also talks about “circus values” and becoming an expert ant farmer!

On this episode, we welcome the multi-talented Katie Russo. We discuss her many disciplines, including Chinese pole, juggling, and trombone. We also talk about her journey from music to circus, and how being in a marching band was the perfect precursor to circus. A great conversation with a 2026 Moisture Festival first-timer. 

We’re back with another live episode from the 2026 Moisture Festival! In this episode we’ll chat with: Sizzle the Clown 2 Members of Spider Lounge Juggle Jawns Bill Robison This is a fun chat with new members to the Moisture Festival family and an old favorite!

This episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast has Louie chatting with Moisture Festival first timers! In this episode we meet: Leila Noone Cindy Marvel JW YOYO Bambi Karloff A It’s a great chat with new members of the Moisture Festival family!

On this episode, we welcome Aerialist and Cyr wheel extraordinaire Hayley Dynamo. Hayley discusses where her love for the circus came from and how her background in dance easily integrated into the circus’s physicality. We discussed her college studies and how her decision to move to Chicago helped her cement her decision to pursue circus full-time. We get some cameos from her cats!  A wonde...

In this episode, we welcome juggler extraordinaire Juggle Jawns. We discuss what makes his style so unique, the influences that inspired him, and how he incorporates a few different media into his performances. We talk about his background in athletics and how that coordination helped him when he began juggling. We also discuss how the juggling club at his college allowed him to meet and learn fro...

On this episode we welcome in the queen of rings Hillia Hula. We dive deep into all things hula. Hillia explains the different types of hula hooping, which ones she specializes in, tricks she is working on and she provides tips on how to make your own. We learn about how hula hooping captivated her imagination and how she became obsessed with it. We also discuss her journey to becoming a professio...

On this episode, we welcome Quantum Tease PhD . We talk about her life growing up in Belgium and why she decided to go to Scotland to get her PhD. We learn that their college offered a comedy class, which led them to many creative outlets, including comedy, music, producing, and burlesque. We discussed their move to Seattle and how it was the perfect place for her to expand across all those outlet...

On this episode, we welcome hula hoop extraordinaire  Jesse Patterson . We talk about how she fell in love with the hula hoop at a young age and how she found the circus community growing up in Texas. We discuss her particular style and how it incorporates some long-lost juggling techniques. She tells us what led her to go to circus school and walks us through the day-to-day routines at a circus....

On this episode, we welcome international funnyman Stefano Iaboni . We learn about how he learned to juggle on a backpacking trip and how that led him to a circus school in the Netherlands. He tells us all about how he had to scrape by just to get through school and what his next steps were after he left. We discuss comedy in multiple languages and how he has transitioned to teaching others to fin...

On this episode we welcome hula hoop specialist and circus organizer Vanessa Vortex. We learn about growing up on Broadway in New York and how she rebelled against her Show Biz parents by going to college. We learn about her journey across the country, how she got involved in circus and what led her to be one of the co-founders of the Bellingham Circus Guild. A fantastic conversation with an amazi...

In this episode we welcome Pinay Grigio. Pinay tells about her early years in dance and how Burlesque always caught her eye. She talks about what caused her to finally give it a shot and how taking that class launched her onto a  journey that has taken her all over the place. She discusses the balance between being a burlesque performer and a mom and how she keeps her kids busy while she is w...

On this episode we welcome in juggler and modern day vaudevillian Thom Wall. Thom talks about his life as a performer in Cirque du Soleil and how that drove him to pursue creating a one-man show that he performs on Cruise Ships. We discuss his upbringing and his exposure to ancient Egypt by his father. We learn about his book publishing business, Modern Vaudeville Press, and why he decided to star...

On this episode we welcome in comedian and clown Tyler West. We discuss how watching Cirque Du Soleil at a young age inspired Tyler to go into clowning. We learn how he approached getting information on being a professional clown at a young age and the things he did to get stage time. He talks about all the different shows he has been in and how he alters what he does to fit into the format of tha...

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast we welcome in 1/3 of the Mud Bay Jugglers Doug Martin. We discuss how they got their name, how they developed their own style and the creative choices they made to continue to be so unique. He tells us about the different incarnations throughout the years and the secrets to keeping a group together for over 40 years. A great conversation with a fest...

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast we welcome in Salamandir (yes. That’s his real name). Salamandir talks with us about growing up playing music and how his exposure at a young age allows him to pick up any instrument and play it. We discuss his abilities to fix instruments, his love of incense and even get insights into the first Moisture Festival. A great conversation with a...

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast we welcome in Cyara Hotopp. We discuss a wide variety of topics including her law degree, where she practiced law and how she gave up being a lawyer to pursue the circus arts. We talk about her background as a figure skater and all the lessons she learned from that and their application to ariel. A great conversation with a fantastic performer....

On this episode we welcome in clown Mick Holsbeke. We talk about growing up in Florida and how his economics teacher in high school introduced him to Harry Levine. We learn about his cross country journey to the Pacific Northwest and how seeing street performers inspired him to pursue street theatre. We talk about his journey to clown and how that art form has taken him around the world. A great c...

On today’s episode we welcome in comedy magic duo Trevor and Lorena . We talk with them about how they started in magic, the evolution of the act and learn about their alter ego’s Charlie and Delilah. We discuss Trevor meeting Lorena’s Dad for the first time and we even try to place their accents. A super fun conversation with two phenomenal people.

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast we welcome in puppet maker Annette Mateo. We discuss her interest in puppets as a kid and how she rekindled her interest in it after attending her first Fremont Solstice Parade. We chat about the puppet scene in Seattle and the various ups and downs over the years for her as a puppet builder. We also discuss her thoughts on emceeing the Moisture Fes...

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast Louie interviews his co-host Matt Baker. They discuss a wide range of topics including Matt’s time living in Western Samoa as a teenager and how he became a vegetarian. We also learn how Matt got into performing at a young age through hackysack (footbag) and how that skill took him across Europe and all over the US doing school assemblies. Mat...

On this episode we welcome in singer, magician and actor Cassandra Ruiz. We learn about her beginnings in singing and how her theatre background influences her show today . She tells us about her chance encounter with a famous magician that became her first exposure to magic. We talk about her run performing as a ninja magician at a Ninja themed restaurant and how her and how she balances all the...

On this episode we welcome aerialist Jessica Perry. Jessica tells us about her early life where she grew up on a sailboat sailing around the world. We learn what prompted her parents to do that and all how her parents used Ariel to keep her busy on long sea days. We discuss how her mom introduced her to flying trapeze and how eventually she was able to convince her parents to let her go to a circu...