The Path of Art: Recent Episodes
KSL Podcasts
The journey to creative success can be different for each artist, but the lessons learned along the way are often similar and act as road signs for those who follow. Join host Ryan Meeks as he learns from creative people about how they moved forward on The Path of Art. Ryan will speak with musicians, actors, directors, painters – anyone working in a creative field - about what it takes to get through the slow times, what motivates them to keep moving and what successes they are celebrating.
Actress and musician Kelsey Edwards talks about how the stories we tell ourselves shape our lives and by changing those stories, we can better ourselves and our situations.
Stories we tell ourselves can be both helpful and detrimental. So why wouldn't you tell yourself a good story instead of a bad one? Kelsey talks about the benefits of telling yourself a good story and how to make it happen in this episode.
Check out Kelsey's acting and her music.
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Figure painter and artist Mary Sauer helps us understand the dedication involved in becoming a successful artist. Mary talks about how she knew she wanted to be an artist since she was a little child and how that desire led to her college degree and an amazing career as an artist. She also talks about networking and the importance of getting to know other people in art.
See some of Mary's art here:
http://sloanemerrillgallery.com/mary-sauer
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Jo Schaffer Layton, a published novelist and screenwriter joins host Ryan Meeks to talk about her own work and how she co-founded one of the nation’s most successful literary programs for teens called Teen Author Bootcamp.
She discusses the in's and out's of being a writer and shares some helpful tips on how writers can move forward in their careers and how important it is to allow yourself to dream.
Check out Teen Author Bootcamp here.
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Check out what Dan Farr from FanX Salt Lake City had to say about the new guest, Jeff Padalecki, who they just announced today! Jeff Padalecki, the actor from Supernatural, Walker, Gilmore Girls and more.
Check out the FanX guest list here.
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On this episode of The Path of Art, show host Ryan Meeks sits down with his brother Sean Meeks a musician and producer to talk about where they are getting stuck on their path. Sean has produced both of his current projects and is trying to find a way to make something out of it while Ryan gets stuck on the producing part and is having Sean produce his music.
Check out Sean Meeks projects here:
Gardens of Eden: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0iNG1weOPJoVS1BHAeL7aT
Sinners: https://rb.gy/nbg49
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Ro Malaga is a multi-talented artist and professional. As a dancer, he has been in films like High School Musical (1, 2, and 3) and was also in Legally Blonde 2. Ro is also a DJ, boxing instructor, and the director of business development at FanX Salt Lake.
In this episode, Ro and show host Ryan Meeks talk about his path and how he went from the hip-hop scene in his hometown to a dancer in multiple feature films. Ro talks about some of the lessons he learned including time management and training yourself through victories and failures.
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In this episode of The Path of Art show host Ryan Meeks talks with artist Jeff Gaither who has done the album art for the punk rock band Misfits as well as t-shirts and other artworks for many other bands including Municipal Waste, Testament, The Undead, Hirax, The Accused, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, GG Allin, The Murder Junkies, Guns-N-Roses, and many more.
Jeff talks about his experience becoming such a known artist in the music world and how at one point in the interview he says, "Art saved my life."
Check out more work from Jeff Gaither at his website here.
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Al Denyer is an artist and a professor of art at the University of Utah. She holds an MFA from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and a BA Honors from Winchester School of Art, England.
Her art can be described as creating form and structure with line and texture using topographic influences which can be seen here.
In this episode, Al Denyer talks with show host Ryan Meeks about her work and her path and she talks about the advice she gives to her students and why it is important to educate people and clients about the value of your art.
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LA composer and music producer Mark Roos joins show host Ryan Meeks to talk about what musicians and bands need to do to create success in their line of work. Mark talks about his background and how he got to where he is and explains that there is a path and all artists can do it.
Mark Roos has produced many artists and composed many soundtracks for various productions. His work can be seen here.
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Katherine Beggs is a composer from LA who is on her journey to becoming a film composer. Right now she works as a composer for Cutting Room Music, a studio that creates music for film, TV, video games and more.
In this episode, Katherine talks with show host Ryan Meeks about how she was able to make it to where she is by learning to accept herself and by finding good mentors.
A sample of one of Katherine's songs on her recent 8-song EP is sampled in this episode with a conversation about its wonderful message. You can listen to Katherin's music at Katherin Beggs Music.
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Award-winning composer Kurt Bestor has some great advice in this episode of The Path of Art. He and Show host Ryan Meeks talk about his work, his career path, and how Kurt says that people should be passionate about their art, hone their craft and just jump into it.
While he is best known for his composition "Prayer of the Children" Kurt Bestor has an extensive portfolio of film/TV compositions and Christmas arrangements. This year in December 2022, Kurt will be performing his 35th Christmas concert in Utah.
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There is something about seeing a masterpiece in person that creates an experience that cannot be replicated any other way.
UMFA (Utah Museum of Fine Arts) senior curator Alisa McCusker talks with show host Ryan Meeks about how a curator takes care of art as well as creates an experience for people who visit the art shows at the UMFA.
Alisa was inspired to be a curator when she experienced the Albrecht Durer self-portrait and other works of art as a high school student traveling in Northern Europe.
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Jeff Whiteley the founder of the nonprofit Excellence in the Community, joins The Path of Art show host Ryan Meeks to talk about how things that seem to be failures often turn into successes and can be turned into successes with the right motivation.
Jeff has been involved with music in Utah for many years including his work as the guitarist and singer for Lark and Spur.
Jeff talks about his time in France and the contrast between that and being a musician there vs being a musician in Utah and what things need to change to make it better.
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This week Victoria Wynn (artist and founder of Wynn Modern Art) joins The Path of Art show host Ryan Meeks to talk about how her experiences with art as a child and how remembering those childhood feelings led to her becoming an artist, creating a thriving art supply business and achieving her dream of owning a cabana in Belize.
Check out Wynn Modern Art here
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Filmmaker and vocal director Mauli Bonner joins The Path of Art host Ryan Meeks to talk about his film "His Name is Green Flake" and many of the miracles that Mauli experienced while making the film.
Mauli also talks about how his experience growing up in diverse environments helped him navigate life in many areas.
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In this episode of The Path of Art, actor/director/producer Brando Eaton reveals to show host Ryan Meeks what it takes to move forward as an actor that also applies to any other career path that you may choose. "If you are treating it (acting) like a career that you're taking seriously, you're going to be ahead of 99% of the other actors."
Brando has acted in shows such as Dexter and The Secret Life of the American Teenager among many other projects in film and television. On the show, he also talks about where he is taking his career since moving out of LA and talks about building
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On this episode of The Path of Art host Ryan Meeks is joined by Landon Kraczek, Catherine Mortimer, and Jonah Kirkhart, the crew of the Busking Bus Theatre.
The Busking Bus is a traveling group of buskers who cut off the side of a bus and turned it into a mobile stage. They have been performing in various places in Utah and have only seen growth since they started in 2021.
They share with show host Ryan Meeks about their shared vision and how it has created something beyond what they had envisioned to begin with.
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Just days before his visit to Utah's Fear Factory haunted house, actor Brett Wagner (AKA "The Lost Leatherface", and the "Big Schwag") who played Leather Face in the 2003 film "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" joined the show to talk about his career amazing career in the horror genre.
Brett talks about how shows like The Twilight Zone helped inspire him and how learning how to speak and learning improvisation are key components to doing well as an actor.
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One's perspective can often manifest into reality given the right amount of effort. songwriter and performer Peter Breinholt joins Ryan Meeks to talk about Peter's path and the music he writes. In their discussion, Peter talks about getting past our own illusions and how the risky path was the safe path for him. Peter also shares a new live version of his song "What About" and a brand new song that will be on an upcoming release.
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We have all heard the words "you will never make it." In this episode, voice actor/actor Paul Cartwright challenges the notion that to make it means that you become a Hollywood star. This was an important realization to him after he was able to put himself through college while acting and then going on to a successful acting and voice-over career.
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The people you see who have successful careers have most likely spent most of their life getting there. Jon Smith, the morning show host for 103.5 The Arrow is one of those really determined and focused people.
While many creative people tend to have so many interests, it is hard to focus, since high school Jon has been determined to become what he is today and it certainly has paid off.
Listen to some of his advice and insights on what it takes to become a morning show host on this episode of The Path of Art.
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Derek Dyer (Executive Director of the Utah Arts Alliance) details the story of how he started the Utah Arts Alliance when the necessity for better representation for Utah artists presented itself.
The Utah Arts Alliance is the entity that has put forth many creative outlets in Utah including, The Urban Arts Festival, Mural Fest, Dreamscapes, and many others.
Derek also discusses some of his own art and the opportunities that have opened up to him since he started the Utah Arts Alliance.
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It is hard to see where the road ahead leads us, but taking steps forward and meeting opportunities as they come is what can lead to more opportunities.
Artist Heather Olsen from Riverton Utah joins The Path of Art host Ryan Meeks to talk about the various opportunities that led her to the right people who eventually would commission her to paint the painting named "Together We Can Do This."
That painting is currently on display in Intermountain Health Care's Murray location.
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Danny Drysdale, a film director who has made music videos for bands like The Killers joins The Path of Art host Ryan Meeks for this episode. Danny talks about how his unique preferences in art, music, and pop culture helped push his career toward success.
Danny also talks about how you should stick to your guns and why he never felt imposter syndrome.
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Life often has its unexpected twists and turns and Ryan Meeks, the host of The Path of Art, talks about his own path in this episode. He talks about some of the twists and turns that have gotten him to a place where he didn't really expect to be. Find out in this episode why he is so optimistic about where he is in life and why he started The Path of Art.
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