Interview with the podcast co-producers June Guralnick and Tamara Kissane. THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changers – people who champion creative writing as a catalyst for soldiers’ healing, as well as soldiers whose lives have been radically tra…

Interview with Captain Moira G. McGuire, former Chief of the Arts in Health Program at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, and Sarah Moore, Community Specialist for Arts and Health at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist So…

Interview with Gail Ashby Bryant (Army veteran 1975-1981), Mark Bartholomew (Iraq Combat Medic veteran), and Bill Dixon (Vietnam veteran and Board Chair of Vets to Vets). THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changers – people who champion creative writ…

Interview with Brooke Dickhart, Executive Director of The Joel Fund and Linda Giles, retired social worker with the Department of Social Work at Womack Army Medical Center. THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changers – people who champion creative wr…

Interview with Barbara Aragon, social worker with Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration’s Tribal Training and TA Center, and Pedro Reyes, Iraq veteran and Native American digital storyteller. THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changer…

Interview with Joseph Bathanti, former North Carolina Poet Laureate and Dr. Bruce Kelly, retired Assistant Chief of Primary Care at the Charles George VA Medical Center. THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changers – people who champion creative writing as…

Enjoy this recording of two original audio dramas performed (LIVE) in front of an audience in the spring of 2023. Capital Arts Theater Guild partnered with Artist Soapbox to present ASBX LIVE: Bringing the Outside Inside. ASBX LIVE was an evening of theatrical fun, featuring LIVE presentations of two original audio dramas, written by North Carolina…

How can we use writing as a refuge during our journey thru grief? Can we evolve rather than dissolve as we act as caregiver for a loved one? In this episode, Julia Freifeld delves into her creative process as author and artist, and details the personal journey that led to her book: In Each Other’s Bones: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Living. In Each …

How do we create trans inclusive spaces? What is a gender consultant? How do theatre companies support best intentions with best practices? If you are committed to creating an inclusive space, this episode with Griffin James and Shira Helena Gitlin, is a must listen. Big thanks to Griffin for initiating this important and timely conversation with S…

Let's open our 2023 season with a conversation with writer, Marjorie Hudson, about her beautiful novel, Indigo Field. Indigo Field is being described as "among the best of contemporary Southern fiction". Marjorie Hudson is a longtime writer of fiction and non-fiction, a committed educator and community member, advocate and activist. Throughout this…

Tamara drops in to open the 2023 Season of the Artist Soapbox podcast, to touch base with you about the exciting episodes that will be coming to your ears, and to talk about the future of Artist Soapbox. [Spoiler Alert: This season includes: 3 interview episodes, 2 radio plays, and a 6 episode limited series. Then, a hiatus of indefinite length.] *…

Microwaves, family secrets, and the Potential of a Pancake converge in this zany dark comedy about a middle-aged woman reckoning with her power for the first time. Jesus Pancake is a new scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox and the Soapbox Audio Collective. Nine episodes of Season One will be released FALL 2022. Subscribe via your favo…

It’s Tamara here with a season 2022 wrap-up. In this short little episode, you'll hear a hodgepodge of season-related thoughts and recap, some numbers, what’s next for Artist Soapbox, recommendations, etc. It’s a little formless jumble of gratitude in audio form! Mentioned in this episode: ASBX Live Madame Magenta: Sonos Mystica Midnight Burger All…

If you are seeking encouragement, wisdom, and positivity, then this episode delivers! Brian Perry is a singer/songwriter, clarity coach, copywriter, author, speaker, and amazing person. Enjoy his conversation with host, Juliana Finch, about navigating the creative process, finding joy, and measuring success. *** BRIAN PERRY: Singer/Songwriter, Clar…

How about a special summer treat? This episode is a short audio play for middle-school kids created by the Curious Theatre Collective. *** Founded in 2016, Curious Theatre Collective creates original, interdisciplinary educational theater programming that inspires audiences to follow their curiosity, persevere through challenges, and believe in the…

Isabel O'Hara Walsh leads writing workshops through the Redbud Writing Project. Redbud offers classes virtually and around the Triangle on topics like Writing the Novel, Experimental Fiction, and one that Isabel and I talk about, Joyful Creation – how to get your writing juices flowing when staring at that blank page. Isabel shares about their expe…

It's Juliana Finch and Jess Klein! Jess Klein is an incredible songwriter-singer-performer, who has toured the world with her unbelievable music. She's been in the game long enough to know that creative cycles are normal and natural, and she approaches her process with a kind of ease that can inspire us all. Jess just finished producing an album th…

Griffin James speaks with theatre-maker and law student, Aysia Slade about her original play STATIC, creating art without causing harm to the artist, her writing process, Black theater and more. Aysia is a multi-talented artist who has such a thoughtful and nuanced approach to creating new work in theater. Enjoy this episode! BIO: Aysia Slade is a …

This conversation is teeming with content, strategies, and tips, so prepare to take notes! Jeff A.R. Jones and Lormarev Jones discuss the concept of care of Community and Company through the lens of Intimacy Direction, a growing field in both the theatre and film//television industries. BIO: Jeff A.R. Jones has staged fights and/or intimacy for ove…

Mara Thomas got to know poet and educator Zoe Tuck through the School of the Alternative in Black Mountain, North Carolina where Zoe taught a class called “Book Magic.” “Book Magic” started from the premise that there is a grain of truth to the magic we remember from children's books and other fantastical literature. And if those books contained a …

Writers, take note! Author Kayla Cagan gives insight into her writing process (including the publishing phase), as well as navigating writer's block with really practical ways to overcome it. Guest host, Juliana Finch, and Kayla provide resources and places to start when writing doesn't feel great or accessible BIO: Kayla Cagan (she/her) is the You…

Creating collaboratively! Making original work in new ways! It's all in this conversation between Griffin James and Rachel Klem. They discuss several of Rachel's original shows, her creative process, working with collaborators, and more in this episode. Rachel's Website: https://www.rachelklemtheatre.com/ Argo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPjfm…

Get your vitamin cocktail and motivational shot in the arm from this conversation between Lormarev Jones and the incredible Yolanda Rabun! We consider her a Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill celebrity, so we are start struck!! As a wife, mother, corporate executive, lawyer, singer-songwriter and publisher, motivational speaker, political scientist, commun…

It's Mara Thomas in conversation with artist and educator Luan Joy Sherman! Mara connected with Luan through the School of the Alternative (SotA) an immersive, non-hierarchical learning environment that seeks to “create conditions necessary for a present-day community of pioneering artists and critical thinkers.” During this year’s SotA session, Lu…

Friends and accountability buddies! Juliana Finch and Tori Grace Nichols get beautifully deep about writers block, self-care, and being open to the full range of the creative cycle. The conversation is full of tips for gentle process, progress, and productivity. Bio: Tori Grace Nichols (they/them/theirs) describes themself as a prismatic performanc…

A thoughtful and fun conversation between Griffin James and Teal Lepley about writing and performing new works, and accessibility practices for theatre-makers and audience members. Teal Lepley is a writer, playwright, and performer based in Raleigh, NC. An alumna of NC State University, she won the Creative Artist Award in 2016 as a student for her…

A deep, informative, and delightful conversation between Lormarev Jones and Nichole Palmer covering craft, community, and career. Nichole M. Palmer is a trained journalist, dramatic writer, and published author with more than 25 years of experience writing and editing for multicultural, mainstream, and faith-based audiences. She is an Alum of the K…

Hey friends, It’s Tamara here. I hope you enjoyed the previous episode introducing 2 of our new guest hosts: Lormarev Jones and Griffin James. I’m back once more before I had the mic over, to introduce two more guest hosts this season: Juliana Finch and Mara Thomas. Yes, if you’ve been a long time listener of Artist Soapbox, then you will likely kn…

Hey friends, It’s Tamara here. I hope you enjoyed the previous 3 audio fiction episodes from the Food for Thought project. As you know, Artist Soapbox produces original scripted audio fiction such as the three FFT projects, as well as interviews with artists about their creative process. We’re back to the interview/conversational format with this e…

Listen to the third of three excerpts developed by the Food for Thought Project, a year-long writing lab for aspiring audio dramatists. And Eat It, Too was written by Ashley-Ruth Bernier. SUMMARY: Jolie, an optimistic and talented baker in an impoverished island community, finds herself at a crossroads when a high-stakes, hugely popular cake decora…

Listen to the second of three excerpts developed by the Food for Thought Project, a year-long writing lab for aspiring audio dramatists. I'm Not Here Right Now was written by Shea Stanley. SUMMARY: Ella graduated college 6 months ago and is still living in her college town after her mom’s death kept her from moving away for a super cool journalism …

Listen to the first of three excerpts developed by the Food for Thought Project, a year-long writing lab for aspiring audio dramatists. Crocodile Twins was written by Tori Grace Nichols. SUMMARY: LaLa is a rambunctious adoptee from the Philippines living overseas on an American military base. Rey is quiet and obedient, and likes to help at his fami…

Happy 2022! This is the first episode of this year’s season. I’m excited to catch you up on all of the cool developments that were happening behind the scenes over the last five months, and let you know what’s in store for you for the remainder of 2022. Stick around til the end of the episode and you’ll hear our new highlight reel -- audio fiction …

Transcript: Hey friends, it’s Tamara here. It’s hard to believe, but it’s that time again when we shutter Artist Soapbox until next year. This episode is a very short year- in-review and update, but before that, I want to send a shout out to some supporters I haven’t yet thanked for their contributions to Jesus Pancake, our audio drama in developme…

Regardless of your medium or genre, you’ll find this conversation to be a delight. Three aspiring audio dramatists share numerous writing tips, vulnerabilities, and encouragement to tell your story as they write their first scripted audio fiction series. In 2021, Artist Soapbox has been conducting a 12 month pilot program for aspiring audio dramati…

A delightful and practical episode with novelist Heather Bell Adams. Heather discusses her approach to historical research when writing fiction, shares tips for making time to write, and suggests ways to get back into the writing groove. Heather also shares two excerpts from her novel The Good Luck Stone published by Haywire Books in 2020. Heather …

Get your notepad ready to jot down the words and wisdom of Mimi Herman. You’ll hear writing tips a plenty and Mimi reading two of her very well-chosen poems. Mimi has the incredible ability to combine compassion, craft, and play in her teaching and her writing. You’ll hear her speak about writing in these extraordinary times and the value of taking…

Enjoy this thoughtful, lovely conversation with short fiction writer, Ken Wetherington. You’ll hear Ken talk about themes in his writing, how he comes up with his ideas, his writing process, the value of a writing group, and more — including Ken reading two excerpts of his work! Please contribute if you are able to our Indiegogo campaign to support…

Rural West Texas, August of 1966. A skeptically hopeful fifteen-year-old returns home from church camp determined to uncover definitive proof of the existence of angels. The outcome of her act of faith yields lasting ramifications. by Amber Wood SHOW ME is the sixth of six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. A…

At the end of an age, a tale as old as time gets some corrections. “In the name of the…..?” by JoRose The Protagora (Or, the First Gathering) is the fifth of six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone exci…

Two people on a first date contemplate “what is art?” By Brook Livingston North Gallery is the fourth of six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, the new audio fiction series…

It only takes three minutes for a relationship to end. A suitcase. A cup of tea. Jasmine. Content Warning: Rated R for language by Ian Finley Jasmine is the third of six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get every…

Adapted from the short story “When the World Rushes In,” this scene finds ex-best friends, Val and Bonnie, unexpectedly reconnecting on a walk home in the summer of 1987. These thirteen-year-old girls navigate their way through an emotional and confusing conversation about Bonnie losing her virginity. The dialogue is both a barrier and an olive bra…

We’re never at our best when we’re hungry. But when Gabriel adds a late night rave, a drunken bicycle ride, and the heat of a Florida night,… Read more "Gabriel’s Last Ride: ASBX Shorts Episode 1" The post Gabriel’s Last Ride: ASBX Shorts Episode 1 appeared first on Artist Soapbox.By Tamara Kissane

A five minute update about what’s happening with Artist Soapbox. Hint: It’s all good news!!! Transcript Hey Soapboxers! It’s Tamara here. I’m so excited to connect with… Read more "ASBX JP is a G-O! (A solo update by Tamara)" The post ASBX JP is a G-O! (A solo update by Tamara) appeared first on Artist Soapbox.…

It’s the second of TWO solo episodes by Mara Thomas. If you haven’t listened to the first one yet, then scoot on back and listen to episode 146.… Read more "147: Overcoming creative inertia. Solo episode #2 with Mara Thomas." The post 147: Overcoming creative inertia. Solo episode #2 with Mara Thomas. appeared first on Artist Soapbox.…

It’s the first of TWO solo episodes by Mara Thomas. Mara Thomas is the MVP or VIP of ASBX. She has contributed 26 blog posts, participated in… Read more "146: You are here. Navigating your creative journey thru the pandemic with Mara Thomas" The post 146: You are here. Navigating your creative journey thru the pandemic with Mara Thomas appeared fir…

How about a special summer treat? This episode is a short audio play for kids created by the Curious Theatre Collective. “In an effort to make our… Read more "145: Creekside with Winona: an audio play for young audiences" The post 145: Creekside with Winona: an audio play for young audiences appeared first on Artist Soapbox.…

The Ink Project is “a global writers’ liaison that elevates the narrative of underrepresented writers & storytelling.” How do they do that and what does that mean?… Read more "144: Elevating unheard voices with Rimsha Afzal and Karyn Raynor of The Ink Project" The post 144: Elevating unheard voices with Rimsha Afzal and Karyn Raynor of The Ink Proj…

We cover some ground in this one! Writing plays and poetry, vulnerability and transformation, strength and gentleness, mental health and healing, and process, process, creative process —… Read more "143: Another avenue to healing. Poetry and process with Naima Yetunde Ince" The post 143: Another avenue to healing. Poetry and process with Naima Yetu…