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Episodes Archive

5.32 A Conversation with Ryan Renc
May 10, 2023

5.32 A Conversation with Ryan Renc

This week Jimmy talks with one of his senior theatre education majors, Ryan Renc. He talks about his experiences in college, his passion for young people, and taking care of your students during the production process.

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5.31 A Conversation with Jake Mouchawar
May 3, 2023

5.31 A Conversation with Jake Mouchawar

This week Jimmy talks with first year middle school theatre teacher Jake Mouchawar. He discusses training to teach in quarantine, the outdatedness of theatre education, and using the theatre classroom for community and community building.

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5.30 A Conversation with Annalise Zaverdinos
April 19, 2023

5.30 A Conversation with Annalise Zaverdinos

This week Jimmy talks with South African teaching artist Annalise Zaverdinos. She talks about her love of reading, her work with reader's theatre in South Africa, and taking care of yourself when you hear and see a lot of hurting …

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5.29 A Conversation with Rachel Davis Part 2
April 5, 2023

5.29 A Conversation with Rachel Davis Part 2

This week Jimmy talks with Season 5 guest Rachel Davis to follow up on the school year! She talks about a workshop she has developed for transgender inclusion in the theatre classroom, her life as a transgender teacher in Florida, …

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5.28 A Conversation with Jenn Janus
March 29, 2023

5.28 A Conversation with Jenn Janus

This week Jimmy talks with North Carolina theatre teacher Jenn Janus. She talks about coming into teaching later in life, her career in special effects makeup, and owning and operating her own haunted attraction!

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5.27 A Conversation with Tim Malboeuf
March 22, 2023

5.27 A Conversation with Tim Malboeuf

This week Jimmy talks with teaching artist and entrepreneur Tim Malboeuf. He talks about starting his own theatre training center- T3 Studios, elevating theatre education for young performers, and college audition prep!

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5.26 A Conversation with Zachary Zahand
March 15, 2023

5.26 A Conversation with Zachary Zahand

This week Jimmy talks with first year middle school theatre teacher, Zachary Zahand from Virginia. He talks about his switch from nonprofit theatre work to teaching, homeschool, and the challenges and joys of early career teachers.

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5.25 A Conversation with Steven West
March 8, 2023

5.25 A Conversation with Steven West

This week Jimmy talks with NYC based audition coach, Steven West. He talks about his switch from athlete to theatre artist, his company NYC College Audition Coach, and mental health care for students during the audition process.

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5.24 A Conversation with Dr. Suzanne Katz
March 1, 2023

5.24 A Conversation with Dr. Suzanne Katz

This week Jimmy talks with Washington, DC elementary theatre teacher Dr. Suzanne Katz. She talks about her very diverse career, arts integration, and empowering students.

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5.23 A Conversation with Roshunda Jones-Koumba
Feb. 22, 2023

5.23 A Conversation with Roshunda Jones-Koumba

This week Jimmy talks with 2022 Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education winner Roshunda Jones-Koumba. She talks about her Tony Awards experience, her mentors and inspirations, and her amazing work at her school, G.W. Carver Magnet High School in …

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5.22 A Conversation with Abe Ramirez
Feb. 15, 2023

5.22 A Conversation with Abe Ramirez

This week Jimmy talks with Texas high school theatre teacher Abe Ramirez. He talks about having the tools to take on any job, expanding the canon, and tending to the inner artist as a theatre teacher.

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5.21 A Conversation with Gillian McNally
Feb. 8, 2023

5.21 A Conversation with Gillian McNally

This week Jimmy talks with Theatre Education professor, Gillian McNally. She is currently at The University of Northern Colorado. In this episode she talks about theatre for the very young, wellness and burnout, and DEI work in theatre education, specifically …

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5.20 A Conversation with Sarah Esparza
Feb. 1, 2023

5.20 A Conversation with Sarah Esparza

This week jimmy talks with Chicago elementary theatre teacher Sarah Esparza. She talks about the community and belonging that theatre provides students, her work in Chicago Public Schools, and the need for boundaries and self-care.

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5.19 A Conversation with Cody Rogers
Jan. 25, 2023

5.19 A Conversation with Cody Rogers

This week Jimmy talks with Illinois theatre teacher Cody Rogers. He talks about the struggles of a first-year teacher coming out of COVID, working in a charter school, and the challenges and joys of being an out-gay theatre teacher.

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5.17 A Conversation with Madeleine Smith
Dec. 14, 2022

5.17 A Conversation with Madeleine Smith

This week Jimmy talks with international teacher Madeleine Smith. She talks about her work in international schools, burnout, and using theatre in rural areas to promote literacy.

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5.16 A Conversation with Murali Basa
Dec. 7, 2022

5.16 A Conversation with Murali Basa

This week Jimmy talks with Dr. Murali Basa in India. He talks about lighting design and digital media design from an Indian perspective, directing, and his upcoming books!

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5.15 A Conversation with Rachel Davis
Nov. 30, 2022

5.15 A Conversation with Rachel Davis

This week Jimmy talks with Florida theatre teacher Rachel Davis. She talks about technical theatre, diversity, and running a theatre competition.

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5.14 A Conversation with Brendan Kelso
Nov. 23, 2022

5.14 A Conversation with Brendan Kelso

This week Jimmy talks with California theatre educator and entrepreneur Brenden Kelso. He talks about his work with children and Shakespeare, running an elementary Shakespeare festival, and his company that produces adaptations of Shakespeare and other literary classics, Playing with …

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5.13 A Conversation with Rory Lance Schwartz
Nov. 16, 2022

5.13 A Conversation with Rory Lance Schwartz

This week Jimmy talks with retired New York theatre teacher Rory Lance Schwartz. He talks about his long career in theatre education, his work as an author, and his work with the NYC Department of Education.

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5.12 A Conversation with Rob Taylor
Nov. 9, 2022

5.12 A Conversation with Rob Taylor

This week Jimmy talks with Texas theatre teacher Rob Taylor. He talks about booster clubs, burnout, and rebuilding programs!

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5.11 A Conversation with Anna Beck
Nov. 2, 2022

5.11 A Conversation with Anna Beck

This week Jimmy talks with drama therapist Anna Beck! She talks about working with students with trauma, theatre in institutionalized settings, and the difference in theatre as therapy and theatre that can be therapeutic. htt...

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5.10 A Conversation with Dr. Kate Busselle
Oct. 26, 2022

5.10 A Conversation with Dr. Kate Busselle

This week Jimmy talks with Dr. Kate Busselle. She talks about consent based practices, intimacy choreography, and her company Heartland Intimacy Design and Training. https://www.heartlandintimacydesign.com/

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5.9 A Conversation with Richard Blank
Oct. 19, 2022

5.9 A Conversation with Richard Blank

This week Jimmy talks with teaching and linguist artist and CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center, Richard Blank! He talks about producing speech artists, script writing and role-playing, and calculated risk-taking!

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5.8 A Conversation with Emily Krull Wendover
Oct. 12, 2022

5.8 A Conversation with Emily Krull Wendover

This week Jimmy talks with South Carolina theatre teacher Emily Krull Wendover! She speaks about her training at AMDA, devised theatre with middle schoolers, and work life balance.

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5.7 A Conversation with Donald Robert Fox
Oct. 5, 2022

5.7 A Conversation with Donald Robert Fox

This week Jimmy talks with Donald Robert Fox. He talks about progressive lighting design, curriculum development for stage technology, and USITT!

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5.6 A Conversation with Kelsey Wilk
Sept. 28, 2022

5.6 A Conversation with Kelsey Wilk

This week Jimmy talks with California theatre teacher Kelsey Wilk. She talks about devised theatre, her MFA program, and creating curriculum for diverse communities!

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5.5 A Conversation with Darrin Person
Sept. 21, 2022

5.5 A Conversation with Darrin Person

This week Jimmy talks with Florida educator and teaching artist Darrin Person. He talks about preparing your students for the theatre business, running his own 501(C)3 Shakespeare company for young people, and product vs. process

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5.4 A Conversation with Dr. Desiree Cameron
Sept. 14, 2022

5.4 A Conversation with Dr. Desiree Cameron

This week Jimmy talks with California theatre teacher Dr. Desiree Cameron. She talks about her surprise jump into a career in teaching, the value of play and creative problem solving, and devised work with little ones!

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5.3 A Conversation with Mark A. Zimmerman
Sept. 7, 2022

5.3 A Conversation with Mark A. Zimmerman

This week Jimmy talks with Ohio theatre teacher Mark A. Zimmerman. He talks about his unique program, longevity in educational theatre, and the importance of the representation of diverse voices on our stages and in our classrooms.

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5.2 A Conversation with Jolaine Orlin
Aug. 31, 2022

5.2 A Conversation with Jolaine Orlin

This week Jimmy talks with Illinois theatre teacher Jolaine Orlin. She talks about her Emmy-winning career in broadcasting, her love for the resistant student, and teaching theatre in a post-pandemic world.

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5.1 A Conversation with Dana Taylor
Aug. 24, 2022

5.1 A Conversation with Dana Taylor

This week Jimmy kicks off Season 5 with Dana Taylor! Dana is a returning guest from season 2 and brings some great new information about the Backstage Exam, a partnership between USITT and EdTA. He also talks about life after …

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