Rodney Veal’s Inspired By: Recent Episodes
Kellie
The art world is vibrant and full of surprises. Let artist, choreographer, and self-described art nerd Rodney Veal be your guide on a journey of exploration as he interviews creative professionals about what inspires them. Each episode is a conversation with an honest-to-goodness working art maker, risk taker, and world shaper.
On the Season 4 premiere of Rodney Veal's Inspired By Podcast, Rodney welcomes Bruce and Kathy Wade, who discuss their creative upbringing and the importance of storytelling. Bruce and Kathy, both accomplished in the arts, emphasize the value of storytelling in enriching society and share their experiences of being raised in a supportive, creative family.
Follow Rico on social media: @ricobrucewade
Learn more about Learning Through Art: https://www.learningthroughart.com/
On the Season 3 finale of Rodney Veal's Inspired By Podcast, Rodney speaks with Susanne Scherette King to discuss her unconventional path from teaching and garden design to becoming a celebrated self-taught painter. This episode was recorded in-person at the Edward A. Dixon Gallery in Downtown Dayton.
Learn more about Susanne's work on her website: https://www.ask-art.com
Rodney Veal talks with artist and curator Jennifer Wenker about the art of curation, the power of community, and the transformative role of art in society. Jennifer shares her journey from aspiring artist to museum curator, reflecting on the importance of curiosity, inclusivity, and collaboration in the creative process.
Learn more about Jennifer's work on her website: https://www.jenniferwenkerart.com
Rodney Veal sits down with acclaimed photographer and artist Tina Gutierrez. Discover Tina's fascinating journey from classical music and fashion entrepreneurship to becoming a celebrated photographer known for her stunning underwater images and powerful portrait series, "America with an Accent."
Learn more about Tina Gutierrez on her website: https://www.tinagutierrezartsphotography.com
Rodney Veal interviews Laurent Che, a spoken word artist and multihyphenate, who shares his inspiring journey from a young dancer to a spoken word poet and creative professional. Through personal stories of overcoming challenges, he discusses the power of perspective, creativity, and pursuing multiple passions while staying true to one's vision.
Learn more about Laurent Che on his website: www.laurentchespeaks.com
Rodney Veal interviews Sierra Leonne, the Executive Director for the Home of Urban Creative Arts, about her creative life, exploring family roots, artistic passion, and community building in Dayton. From childhood journaling to producing groundbreaking cultural events, Sierra shares insights on creativity, resilience, and the power of storytelling across generations.
Follow Sierra on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/poetsierraleone/
Rodney Veal interviews artist Troy Campbell, a multifaceted artist and cultural advocate, discusses his journey from his early years in Ohio to his diverse career in music, television, and art. He also shares the inception and impact of the House of Songs project, which fosters international musical collaborations, and his ongoing work on the "City of Songs" series.
Learn more about City of Songs: https://www.instagram.com/cityofsongstv
Rodney Veal interviews artist Tiffany Countryman, the engagement and learning coordinator at the Human Race Theater Company, about her journey from producing her first play, "I Wish I Had a Daddy," to the importance of starting small, being patient, and staying true to one's passion.
Learn more about the Human Race Theatre on their website: https://www.facebook.com/humanracetheatre/
Rodney Veal interviews artist Nicole Zuraitis, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist and composer, about the challenges of breaking genre boundaries and the importance of persistence in the arts.
Learn more about the Nicole Zuraitis on her website: https://www.nicolezmusic.com/
Follow Nicole on Instagram: @NicoleZMusic
Rodney Veal interviews artist Susan Byrnes about the importance of transferable skills in the world of art, how the two of them came together on a piece for The Contemporary Dayton, and how sometimes the best way to ingest a piece of art is with patience.
Learn more about the Susan Byrnes on her website: https://www.susanbstudio.com
Follow Susan on Instagram: @susanbstudio
Check out her WYSO Radio Series: https://www.wyso.org/studio-visit
Rodney Veal interviews Lori Graves, a comedian from Chillicothe, about how she first joined the world of comedy on a dare and, since then, has found a real joy in using her talents to give back to her community.
Learn more about the Lori Graves on her website: https://www.lorigcomedy.com/
Rodney is joined by Dr. David Crean, Music Director for the Bach Society of Dayton, to discuss his lifelong dedication to music (starting with piano at age six) as he emphasizes the importance of intrinsic value in the arts, not just as a means to other ends.
Learn more about the Bach Society of Dayton: https://www.bachsocietyofdayton.org
Rodney is joined by artist Petah Coyne, who recounts her childhood experiences in a military family and her early realization of her artistic calling.
Follow Petah on Instagram: @petahcoyne
Rodney is joined by Brandon Ragland, Artistic Director of the Dayton Ballet, to discuss his journey and vision - emphasizing the importance of representation and mentorship in the arts. This episode was recorded LIVE at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery (feat. Mike Elsass) inside the Dayton Arcade on January 15, 2025.
Rodney Veal interviews David King, a musician and member of the jazz trio The Bad Plus, about his early musical influences, his love for visual art, and the significance of humanity in art.
Rodney is joined by artist Jamele Wright Sr., who grew up in Dayton, to discuss his journey, his influences, and how taking dance classes helped shape his artistic perspective.
Follow Jamele on Instagram: @artthenewreligion
Rodney is joined by Donna S. Collins, Executive Director of the Ohio Arts Council, to discuss her journey from theater to teaching to arts advocacy, as well as the impact of the arts in the state of Ohio. This episode was recorded LIVE at the Dana L. Wiley Gallery (feat. Mike Elsass) inside the Dayton Arcade on December 4th, 2024.
Learn more about the Ohio Arts Council: www.oac.ohio.gov
Rodney is joined by Michael Wilbur, a saxophonist and founding member of the bands Moon Hooch and Thundersmack, to share his journey from aspiring astronomer to professional musician that's toured the world. We've also got a special treat from Michael at the end of the episode!
Follow Michael on all social media: @michaelwilbursax
Rodney is joined by Julie Riley, a visual artist & President of the Dayton Society of Artists' Executive Board, to discuss the importance of a business mindset in the art world, and how important it can be for artists to connect with their communities.
Follow Julie on all social media: @julierileyart
Rodney is joined by James Pate, a visual artist & co-owner of Black Palette Art Gallery in Dayton, to discuss his artistic journey from Birmingham to Cincinnati, where he honed his skills at the Arts Consortium, to how Bing Davis inspired his use of storytelling in his artwork.
Follow Black Palette Art Gallery on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpaletteartgallery
Rodney is joined by Kathleen Clawson, the Artistic Director for the Dayton Opera, about her journey from New Mexico to Ohio, what her "core principles" are, and how they have helped to shape her life and career.
Follow Kathleen Clawson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operaclawson
Learn more about the Dayton Performing Arts:
https://www.daytonperformingarts.org
Rodney is joined by LaFrae Sci, a musician and Executive Director of the Willie Mae Rock Camp, for a conversation about her journey from Dayton to New York This episode was recorded LIVE from The Hub in downtown Dayton on July 16th, 2024.
Follow LaFrae Sci on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fraefraedrum
Learn more about the Willie Mae Rock Camp:
https://www.williemaerockcamp.org/
Rodney is joined by Dustin Wagner, a glass blower and owner of Nyminal Glass in Dayton, about his passion for glassmaking and its symbiotic relationship with teaching others.
Learn more about Nyminal Glass:
https://nyminalglass.com/
Rodney is joined by Mike Stankovich, owner of Longfellow Bar and Mid-City Restaurant, to discuss his journey from aspiring park ranger to restaurant entrepreneur, and why his emphasis is always on the importance of community, inclusivity, and hospitality.
Learn more about Longfellow Bar:
https://www.longfellowbar.com
Learn more about Mid-City Restaurant:
https://www.midcitycinti.com
In this episode, Rodney sits down with multi-platform storyteller Mathew Klickstein to talk about his early passion for storytelling, his journey through the creative industry and the importance of resiliency.
Show Notes: https://www.mathewklickstein.com/
Explore Other Stories with The Art Show on the PBS App or at https://video.thinktv.org
Rodney is joined by Dayton-based artist Gary Hinsche to discuss his journey from the days at ArtCenter College of Design, to working on the banner program for the 1984 LA Olympics, to his work for the National Holocaust Museum.
Follow Gary on Instagram: @garyhinsche
Rodney is joined by Juliet Fromholt, Music Director at WYSO Public Radio in Dayton, about her journey in arts and music, including a musical theater audition & a brief stint in film studies, as well as the vibrant Dayton music scene and it's growing support for local artists.
Learn more about Juliet:
https://www.wyso.org/people/juliet-fromholt
https://linktr.ee/attackofthefinalgirls
Follow Juliet on Social Media: @sonicpersephone
Rodney is joined by returning guests Countess V. Winfrey and Shon Curtis to discuss the concept of Afrofuturism in front of a live audience at the Dana L. Wiley GALLERY in The Dayton Arcade.
Learn more about the Dana L. Wiley gallery on their website:
https://danalwileygallery.com/
On this episode, host Rodney Veals talks with Dana Wiley, owner of the Dana L. Wiley Gallery, about how her love for all things art led her to a career handling the business side of things.
Learn more about the Dana L. Wiley gallery on their website:
https://danalwileygallery.com/
On this episode, Rodney talks with artist Jen Perkins about her time as a punk rock drummer helped keep her creativity alive on her journey through the arts and how beneficial it is for artists to allow themselves the room to explore new ideas.
Learn more about the Elemental Studio Dayton:
https://www.elementalstudiodayton.com/
On this episode, Rodney talks with Dr. Michael Coyan of the Harmon Museum about the importance of art in our lives and how a scheduling conflict led to a very special encounter with Stephen Sondheim.
Learn more about the Harmon Museum:
https://www.wchsmuseum.org/
On this episode, Rodney learns about Lisa Wagner’s leadership style, artistic brand and approach to making the Levitt Pavilion Dayton a true destination, especially for the Dayton community.
Learn more about the Levitt Pavilion: https://levittdayton.org/.
On this episode, Rodney sits down with Dayton-based photographer Shon Curtis to learn how he went from a background in sales to a life of finding the beauty in life through a camera lens. Hear how a college advisor gave Shon the choice of a lifetime and how an early attraction to jazz music put him on the path of the arts.
Learn more about Shon Curtis over on his website:
https://www.shoncurtis.com/
On this episode, host Rodney Veal speaks with Leroy D. Bean, a poet & spoken word artist native to Dayton, about the journey of his career and how his love for the English language helped him travel to Paris to present his work to the locals.
Learn more about Leroy D. Bean over on his website:
https://www.leroydbean.com/
On this episode, host Rodney Veals talks with Emily N. Wells, the Artistic Director for The Human Race Theatre Company, about the importance of art, storytelling, & access as well as how Emily's origins tie back to the city of Dayton.
Learn more about The Human Race Theatre Company on their website:
https://www.humanracetheatre.org
On this episode, host Rodney Veals sits down with stand-up comic Jesse Jutt to discuss the importance of writing, sacrificing your darlings, and how comics have to navigate the tricky, ever-changing landscape of a gig-based career. To quote Jesse himself: "I love that we live in a country where people have the freedom to put pineapple on a pizza, hot sauce on donuts and pancake syrup on fried chicken." Find out how comedians see the world just a little bit differently on Rodney Veal's Inspired By!
Learn more about Jesse Nutt:
https://www.gemcitycomedy.com/profiles/jesse-nutt
One this episode of Rodney Veal's Inspired By, our host sits down with special guest Audrey Davis, an artist, a social activist, and teacher here in Dayton, OH. She and her husband, renowned artist Bing Davis, have spent their lives fighting for change and a more beautiful future for people everywhere. Hear her story and learn what Rodney thinks makes her so iconic.
Learn more about the Bing Davis Art Studio & EboNia Gallery in Dayton: https://www.bingdavisartstudio.org/
On the Season Two premiere of Rodney Veal's Inspired By, our host sits down with his friend Glenna Jennings, a photographer who teaches as an Associate Professor of Photography and Social Practice at the University of Dayton, an Artist in Residency at the Hanley Sustainability Institute, and a co-founder of the Desert Kitchen Coalition.
In this special Summer Break episode of Inspired By, host Rodney Veal speaks with Keigo Hirakawa, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Dayton, about how he blends his life in education with his passion for jazz music.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal speaks with Michael London, a director & playwright, about his career spanning over 40 years and his residency with the Benjamin Franklin House in London.
On a new episode of Inspired By, host Rodney Veal speaks with Cedric Michael Cox, is best known for his paintings and drawings that merge surrealism and representational abstraction.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks with Hannah Beachler, an award-winning Production Designer, who has worked on films such as Fruitvale Station, Moonlight, and Marvel's Black Panther, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Production Design.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks with Mychaelyn Michalec, a fiber artist and painter working in Dayton, who shares stories about how having a family has impacted her career as an artists, and how her residencies helped build her relationships with the rest of the art community.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks with Jes McMillan, an artist and owner of The Mosaic Institute of Dayton whose passion for the art of mosaics has developed into a career spanning over two decades.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks with Joey Monda, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and theater manager, about how his time at Wright State helped shape his future in the business side of live theater.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks to Ron Rollins, an abstract artists and retired editor/writer for Dayton Daily News, about his background in the world of journalism and how a chance happening brought him and his wife to Dayton.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks to visual artist Amy Deal about her rural upbringing, how her family supported her passion for the arts, her relocation to downtown Dayton and how the pandemic helped her evolve her work and try new things.
In this episode, host Rodney Veals talks to filmmaker, philanthropist and general manager of The Neon, Jonathan McNeal about his passion for film, ways The Neon helps promote and grow independent films, how the pandemic has impacted the industry and what's next for film.
In this episode, host Rodney Veal talks to choreographer and dancer Countess V. Winfrey about her origins in dance, growing up loving art, working with family, and the importance of seeing and feeling representation in the world of dance.