Wonderful Being: Recent Episodes

Queen Mab

It's a full time job being a "wonderful being." Come listen to Queen Mab (not my real name) talk about life as a musician and performer in this bizarre world we live in.

Click here for a summary and links!

An interview with Angelique Fustukjian, Matt Namik, and Jack Filsingerpart of the creative team forOur American Tragedy,a 2024 Hollywood Fringe Festival selection.Remember how John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln at a play?This show tells a story I’ve never seen in a history book - That of the actors onstage that night.

🌟Who WAS the original touring #girlboss ?
Maybe it’s Jenny Lind,
who
Shelley Cooper( @musical_shelley ) brings to life in her new
one-woman show
JENNY LIND PRESENTS PT BARNUM
Maybe it’s Beyoncé or Taylor Swift…
Or maybe it’s Shelley Cooper herself!
If you want to know about:
🌟performing a solo show in a 13th century European castle,
🌟Touring successfully with an original one-woman show, or
🌟Bringing history to life in the age of TikTok…
This is the interview for you!
Now go buy your tickets to see Shelley @hollywoodfringe !

Here’s my interview with Karen Hall, cellist and solo theater artist.

She’s the performer and creator of the show

Delusions and Grandeur -

a solo cello recital meets clown show.

If you see one show at this year’s Hollywood Fringe,

Make this the one!

For a list of episode highlights with timestamps, click here.

It was a big year for this neurodivergent media maker, but instead of regaling you with a boring "Year in Review" list, here are my top three takeaways from 2022...and my focus for 2023. Visit my website for links, a summary, and video.

Meet Tori Noquez, a magician who the New York times calls a “math professor by day, conjurer by night.” You’ll learn how math and music interact in her life, her advice for multipassionate folks…and why linear algebra is cool! Click here for links, video, and a summary.

Here's my full interview with Hima Joshi, soprano and chemist. The San Diego Troubadour will publish an edited version of this interview on September 1, 2022. We discuss her singing, her career as a chemist and professor, and her return to performance after the pandemic. We also had some interesting tangents about the connections between music and science education along with the nature of creativity. For links and video, click here.

I'm fixing my Black Swamp beryllium copper tambourine on Instagram Live TOMORROW, 8/18 at 2pm Pacific time. VIDEO/LINKS: https://bit.ly/3QznY34

David Hirata is one of my favorite Fringe artists of all time thanks to his insight, skill, and experience. He also taught me how to create community with others at Fringe festivals. I consider him to be a role model, and after you hear this interview, I bet you will, too! LINKS/VIDEO: https://bit.ly/3uL4Juz

As an autistic/ADHD double winner, organizing and planning is a challenge for me. I found that paper planners help. What helps YOU stay organized? LINKS/VIDEO: https://bit.ly/3yKZDB5

PS, I am NOT PLEASED with this audio; please be patient with me as I figure out which tools will help me improve this podcast!

I'm struggling with the competition between my own personal grief and the collective grief from current events. How do I balance the two? VIDEO/MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/3Av1tYd

Dancer, teacher, producer, choreographer, fitness professional, business owner - Erica Buechner tells me about her many skills, and how they influence each other. LINKS/VIDEO: https://bit.ly/3AfiYeY

I just finished 8 years of teaching middle school. Here's a message for my students...or a message from a Millennial to Gen Z. For links/summary/video, click here.

Mother and son performers Blaize and Marybeth Berry and director Tyrie K. Rowell told me all about the emotional creation process for their 2022 San Diego Fringe show "On the Spectrum." YES, this show is about autism, and it's also on tour. If it stops in your city, GO SEE IT! For video, click here.

Phillip Magin wrote, co-produced, and directed the San Diego Fringe show “Turn Me On, Dead Man,” which gives a potential rendition of how the “Paul McCartney is Dead” conspiracy theory came to be. For video, click here.

Get excited for "The Pandemusical Diaries," BJ Robinson's one-man show filled with music, parody, and multimedia! BJ told me all about his creation process and his advice for aspiring solo performers. TICKETS: click here. LINKS: click here. VIDEO: click here.

Katie Turner sat down with me to talk about "Iris and the Axe," a Turnkey Theatre production featuring animation, period costume, and floriography - the Victorian language of flowers. TICKETS: click here. LINKS: click here. VIDEO: click here.

Comedian Paco Erhard lived up to the title of his show, "Worst German Ever," (click for San Diego Fringe tickets!) when he showed up late to this interview - but he was a little tired from winning Patron's Pick at this year's Orlando Fringe. If you like political commentary shows like "The Daily Show," you'll love this interview! Click here for a summary and links. Click here for video.

Strippers...nudists...hippies...an unboxing...Al Gore...and an Emmy?! It got pretty fringey in my first interview with Gabriela Sosa, writer and performer of the San Diego Fringe show "Love in the Time of Taksim." Click here for TICKETS to "Love in the Time of Taksim:" https://bit.ly/3NZV4b1 Click here for video: https://bit.ly/3t35jDo

I've got a lot on my plate - but the biggest portion is grieving the end of my eight years as a middle school teacher. How can I grieve in a healthy way in a society that doesn't teach us to do that? Here are some of my thoughts. Click here for tickets to "Yes, No, Maybe So?" at San Diego Fringe. Click here for a summary (including links to cited authors). Click here for video.

I recorded this the day after performing my solo show, "Yes, No, Maybe So?" at Hi-Desert Fringe without any tech except for what I brought myself. I DID IT! HOORAY! Find out where you can see the show next along with my tip for anyone running sound cues off an iPhone. Click here for tickets to "Yes, No, Maybe So?" at San Diego Fringe. Click here for a transcription. Click here for video.

My solo show "Yes, No, Maybe So" has a TON of tech. I'm getting ready to perform it at Hi-Desert Fringe on May 14, 2022 at 8:15pm with NO TECH except for what I provide myself. Will the show still work? Click here for a summary and links. Click here for video.

I spoke with actor Tanya Thomas about the artistic and emotional process behind the creation of her award-winning solo show, “Naturally Tan.” If you’re a solo performer – or if you want to be one – this is required viewing! For links and a summary, click here. For video, click here.

Here's what happened when I took a sailing class while dealing with some serious autistic burn out. While it was a complete disaster, it gave me compassion for my students...and anyone else who has ever run out of a stressful situation!

Kat Dishongh is a singer, guitarist, lawyer...and literally the most interesting woman in the world. For more information and a video of this interview, click here.

Here's my interview with music journalist Enrique Lopetegui, who has just released a new book, "Nobody Told Me Nada: Latin Pop, Llama Poop, and Other Unexpected Writings." For video and a summary, click here.

I recently found out that San Diego Fringe is happening this year. Should I do "Yes, No, Maybe So" even though most folks I know have already seen it streaming? For a summary and video, click here.

Lynne Jassem is a tap dancer, comedian, and solo performer extraordinaire. We sat down to talk about her new show, "Being Richard Greene," which tackles Lynne's struggle with gender identity starting in the late 1940's - long before anyone was asking for pronouns - using spoken mime, characterizations, and multimedia. For video and ticket information, click here.

Here is my pandeiro cover and English translation of "Nada a Declarar" by Ultraje a Rigor, a Brazilian rock band. For video, lyrics, and more, click here.

As a neurodivergent musician, I am actually very glad that I know how to read (musical) notes. Here are some situations where it has come in handy. How has your ability to read notes (or not) helped YOU as a musician? For video and a brief summary, click here.

Not all cultures rely on note reading to communicate musical ideas. Here's what happened when I went to Brazil and experienced a culture with a very different viewpoint on reading notes. For video and/or a brief summary, click here.

I saw "Admissions" at OnStage Playhouse in Chula Vista last Saturday night (2/5/22), and it was OUTSTANDING. Here are my thoughts about the show. Warning: there are spoilers at the end! For ticket links, additional commentary, and video, click here.

Nothing gives me anxiety quite like recording does. Here are the top three things I learned from recording six songs in two weeks for my Zoom musical, "Thank You! It's True." What recording tips do YOU have to share? For a brief summary, click here. For video, click here.

I just got done performing my new musical (or perhaps "play with music" is more appropriate) "Thank You! It's True" at the Tucson Fringe Festival. Here are my tips for anyone else looking to perform a musical (or "play with music") live on Zoom.

At last...an interview with One Man Bond himself! Tune in to hear Tom Steward talk about his TWO SHOWS playing at this year's Tucson Fringe Festival. For tickets to "The Godfather Two Parts," click here. For a recording of One Man Bond, click here. For video and more information, visit queenmabmusic.com.

Besides having the coolest name on the planet, Lion Fludd is a magician who will be performing his show "The Hustle" in person at Tucson Fringe on January 13 at 6:30pm, January 14 at 7:30pm, and January 15 at 12:30pm Get your tickets here. Find Lion on Instagram @lionfludd. For a video of this interview, click here.

Azo Safo and Catherine Barnes went live on Instagram on December 27, 2021 to discuss their new show "Thank you! It's True," which will be premiering on Zoom as part of the 2022 Tucson Fringe Festival. Show dates are 1/13 at 5:30pm PT and 1/15 at 6pm PT. Get your tickets here!

Find Azo on Instagram or Twitter
Visit Catherine's website

I sat down and talked with Matt Denney about his new solo show "Matt-chong: A Swagapino's Search for Identity" that will premiere at the 2022 Tucson Fringe Festival! Buy tickets here, and catch his show in at The Screening Room in downtown Tuscon on January 15th at 8:30pm and January 16th at 1:30pm Matt's Website: https://www.mattdenney.net/

Matt's Social Media: @therealmattdenney on all platforms

For video of this interview, click here.

I am sorry for not having posted an episode in so long! To be honest, my video frequency will likely remain slow; I'm in get down mode finishing my new show, "Thank You, It's True," which premieres on Zoom January 13 at 6:30pm Mountain Time as part of Tucson Fringe! This show is all about metabolizing a crappy experience I had several years ago. Have you ever used a creative project to make something positive out of a painful experience? (UPDATE: Turns out tickets are already on sale; click here to buy yours!)

For a transcription, click here.

For video, click here.

I’ve been a fan of comedian, podcaster, drummer, and solo artist Bethany Vee ever since we started working together in Jessica Lynn Johnson’s solo theater classes. We sat down together to talk about comedy, podcasting, recovery, neurodivergence, and of course, drumming. For a summary of the interview, click here. For video, click here.

I took a break from video blogging because my students had a concert. In my opinion, it's much harder to do a concert with my students than it is to do a concert on my own. So why is there such a stigma about being a teacher and not a "performer?" For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here's the opening chapter from "The Three Fleas," the novel I started writing last year as part of National Novel Writing Month. We meet Andreas Kaladro - sailor, navigator, and bounty hunter - who arrives at The Three Fleas tavern in search of Aurelia Gonzaga, the notorious proprietress of the establishment. But the tavern is full of surprises, as he finds out to his dismay...

For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I participated in National Novel Writing Month last year. I made it to 50,000 words, but the novel isn't finished. Here's a word about my plans for participating this year. Have YOU ever done NaNoWriMo? What was your experience like? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

While watching a lot of streaming solo theater during the pandemic, I noticed that I have intense reactions to certain shows. I thought this might be a result of online viewing, but then I remembered that reactions like this started for me in high school with "Oedipus Rex." If you're too emotional to attend a talkback, how do YOU handle a strong reaction to a show? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Today I ran across the weirdest thing I have ever seen...ASMR videos on YouTube. My faith in humanity has evaporated completely. Can someone please explain to me why people like to watch/listen to this?!?!?

I've spent the past few videos ranting about the aspects of 12 Step Programs that I don't care for. Here are some of the things that have kept me coming back for the past 10 years...especially as a neurodivergent person. What aspects of the program work for YOU? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

The word "ego" has a very negative connotation in our society, and it might as well be a swear word in the Twelve Step rooms. However, I haven't found obliteration of the self to be helpful to me in my own recovery journey. What does YOUR relationship with ego (or self) look like? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I have always struggled with the insistence in 12 Step Programs that "God's will" is good and "self-will" is bad. At the same time, I'm grateful for having learned to surrender the things I can't control. How do YOU decide whether to push through a challenge or let it go? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I'm working on a new show that will premiere in January as part of the virtual arm of the Tucson Fringe Festival. It's all about a struggling mid-thirties woman who is seduced into an Internet self-help program by an unscrupulous female empowerment guru. What's YOUR experience with these types of self-help programs? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I've been attending 12 step groups for codependency issues for the last ten years. After looking at my own experiences with the program and reading three books written by women in the program, I have some questions about whether or not it actually works. What's YOUR experience with 12 step or any other form of support group (provided you're comfortable sharing, of course)? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I've been publicly sharing my art - in a gallery exhibit at work and on Instagram - even though I am not a trained artist. This is both frightening and liberating. I discuss why it's much harder to share my music with the same abandon. Have YOU ever tried creating in an art form in which you weren't trained? What was the experience like for you? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I had a blast doing my show "Yes, No, Maybe So" on 10/19 at the Santa Monica Playhouse, and I had way more people in the audience...both in person and virtual...than I thought I would! Thank you all for your amazing support. Here's what's coming up next! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I’m excited to share my interview with soprano and educator Anne Slovin, whose thought-provoking social media posts inspire me daily! We sat down to discuss the ways her varied interests have impacted her career as a singer, her experience as a vocal performance major in college, and the ways her vocal injury has continued to shape her as a teacher and performer. For a summary, click here. For video, click here. To connect with Anne, visit her website at anneslovin.com!

My solo show is TOMORROW NIGHT (10/19/21) at the Santa Monica Playhouse, where you can see it in person OR streaming live FOR FREE! Here's a word about my preparations AND about the interview I will release tomorrow with soprano and musicologist Anne Slovin. I hope to "see" you (or actually see you) at the theater or on the Internet! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I find it challenging to do the self-care necessary for an outstanding solo performance AND everything else in my life. Here's my plan for getting through my upcoming show on October 19, (2021). If you're a solo artist - or any other kind of performer - how do YOU take care of yourself while juggling jobs, life, and performance? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For tickets to my show, click here.

Many neurodivergent folks struggle with "black and white thinking," or deciding that a situation must be ALL GOOD or ALL BAD. I argue that labeling this type of thinking a "cognitive distortion" might actually be an ableist construct. Have YOU ever experienced an upside to literal "black and white" thinking? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For tickets to my solo show - in person or streaming - on October 19 at 7:30pm PT, click here.

I have a tough time getting myself to listen to new music. This is partially neurodivergence and partially that I'm just not sure where to find music I want to hear. Where do you get new music, and is there anything you'd especially recommend that I listen to? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For tickets to my show on October 19, click here.

I got some unsolicited advice from a well-meaning friend about the frequency of my posts. Here's my response. What's your take on content creation? Where are you showing up, even if you're not perfect? And how is that working out for you? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Tickets to my show on 10/19are here. Plopping is here.

Yesterday was a Jack O'Lantern Teeth day. I'll explain what that means before I give you an update on the projects I'm working on. What's your experience with days like this...and do YOU have a project you'd like to promote? Drop in the comments, and let's help each other out! Tickets to my solo show available here. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I hate promoting my show, so I've asked one of my main characters to do it for me. Meet Professor Sarah P. Outrage, my Inner Social Justice Warrior, who has some important reasons why you should attend - in person or streaming - on October 19 at 7:30pm PT. Here is a ticket link. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

There's a quote I keep seeing everywhere that I really dislike. HINT: It's from a Star Wars movie. I propose an alternate quote from a different fictitious source that more accurately summarizes my own viewpoint. What's YOUR opinion on this odious Yoda quote? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

What's a "stim?" It's how neurodivergent people cope with the overwhelm we experience from living in a neurotypical world. Here's what it looks like for me. If you're neurodivergent, what's YOUR preferred stim? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I'm a classically trained percussionist - so why didn't I try harder for an orchestral career? Here's my answer to that question. What have YOU failed at...or at least, decided was not for you? For a transcript, click here. For a video, click here.

Yes, I did make a Living on a Prayer parody. Don't worry - it's short. Thanks to everyone who's been tuning in, and if there's anything you'd especially like to hear me play, please send me your requests! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I wrote this song a few years ago based on an article by Alana Massey and another one by Reina Gattuso. Don't listen to it if you don't want to hear me say "dick" a whole bunch of times! If you're a woman who likes men, what's your take on dickonomics? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

My cousin Max has been an avid viewer ever since I started this vlog. He requested a Weird Al cover, so here is "I Love Rocky Road." Thank you, Max, for your amazing support! Anybody else have any requests? If so, send them my way! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

How am I practicing with two injured elbows? HINT - I have other limbs I can work with. Come hang out with me in the studio while I share my practice routine. What are YOU practicing these days? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here's the YouTube video that inspired this practice regimen.

I was feeling so happy after my band rehearsal last Saturday. Then I woke up in the wee hours of Sunday morning with intense elbow pain. Yoga helped in this case, but sometimes it doesn't. If you're a musician struggling with a playing-related injury, you are not alone! What kinds of solutions have been helpful for YOU? For a transcript, click here. For a video, click here.

I did it! I finally brought my drums in from the car! But as I celebrated, I noticed that I've got another maintenance project ahead of me...and this one is a real doozy. How do YOU tackle big, scary projects that require a lot of patience, organization, and planning? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

The disorganized drummer strikes again! I left my drums in the car for three weeks before rehearsing with my band on Saturday. Here's what happened. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here's a teaser for my chair dance in my solo show, "Yes, No, Maybe So." While working on this dance with choreographer Pamela Najera, I discovered that being sexy is DIFFICULT! Is it as tough for men to be pleasing to women as it is for women to be pleasing to men? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

For tickets to see my show for FREE, in person or streaming from the Santa Monica Playhouse on 10/19 at 7:30pm PT, click here.

When I was studying music in college, a conductor gave us some advice about being a musician in "the real world." I've spent years thinking about whether or not I agree with it; here's my verdict. What's the worst advice YOU'VE gotten from a teacher? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. To see my solo show for FREE - in person or streaming - on October 19 at 7:30pm PT, click here.

Despite years of musical training, I failed to write a song until I was in my mid-twenties, and after that, I still struggled to complete songs...until a friend gave me this advice. What helps YOU to finish songs (or other creative projects)? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here's Sasha Bayan's albumand Sasha's website.

What better way to fix a crummy day than to come home, play some pandeiro, and sing a wistful song about the need to prove oneself to a mentor? Here's "Be Like You," a song from the EP I just can't seem to finish. How does the need to prove show up in your life? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Executive function is the ability to plan and organize, and as a neurodiverse person, I totally suck at it! I "vlog" from my car today to share with you a particularly embarrassing instance of drummer executive DYSfunction. Is this a struggle for you, too? Tell me about it...you're not alone! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I spent the summer of 2011 in Haiti, and it's an important place to me. Today I share some resources for educating yourself about how the U.S. has caused harm in Haiti as well as some steps to take action against the deportations. There's no excuse for what's been going on at our Southern border - let the Haitians in! For a transcript (and all of the links mentioned), click here. For video, click here.

Astrology is NOT REAL...and I love it SO MUCH. Here's how astrology validates my neurodiverse perception of time, why I think I should only go to Uruguay when Mercury is retrograde...and of course...my various "signs." What's your opinion on astrology...and if you love it, too, what are your signs? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Disability advocate Christine Miserandino created the concept of "spoon theory" to explain the struggles disabled folks have with managing their energy. I'm working to conserve my spoons as I juggle my solo show, my day job, this vlog, and unexpected loss. What helps YOU to manage your spoons? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For FREE tickets to see my show "Yes, No, Maybe So" - in person at the Santa Monica Playhouse or streaming online - click here.

I had a successful tech rehearsal today because I managed to dodge a meltdown last night. Meltdowns are one of the limitations that come with neurodivergence. Here's what I did to take care of myself. If you're neurodivergent, how do YOU manage meltdowns/shutdowns? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

To see my solo show "Yes, No, Maybe So" on October 19 at 7:30pm PT - in person or streaming - for FREE - click here.

I'm struggling with grief this week after finding out about the death of a friend. In my opinion, (white) American society doesn't give us many useful ways to process this tough emotion. What helps YOU to deal with grief? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I am posting this short and imperfect vlog to hold myself accountable. I've done what I can do to edit my solo show down to an hour, and it's time to stop now! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Come see my solo show "Yes, No, Maybe So" on 10/19 at 7:30pm PT - in person at the Santa Monica Playhouse or streaming online - for FREE:

I’m excited to share my interview with playwright, actor, comedian, filmmaker, and author Lorinda Hawkins Smith, whom I met at Hollywood Fringe, where she premiered her solo show “Justice...or Just Me? The Bite." Click here for a summary of highlights from the interview. Click here for video.

You can follow Lorinda on Instagram @lorindahawk_. She’s also got a YouTube channel and a Facebook fan page @lorindahawkinssmith.

I keep telling you I'm neurodivergent - but what does that mean? I found out last year that I am most likely autistic. Here's the story of my journey so far. Click here for video.

I've done two solo shows, and both times, I felt intimidated by the memorization involved. Here's the line memorization process that works for me. What works for YOU? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For tickets to see "Yes, No, Maybe So" - streaming or in-person - on October 19 at 7:30pm PT, click here.

I'm working on editing my solo show "Yes, No, Maybe So" down to an hour. Here's the process that has worked for me. What works for YOU? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For tickets to see "Yes, No Maybe So" - streaming or in person - on 10/19 at 7:30pm PT, click here.

I learned about the concept of "putting a stake in the ground" - or picking a date to do my show even if I don't feel ready - from director Jessica Lynn Johnson. I'm doing just that with a new show I'm writing. I'll see you (virtually) at Tucson Fringe in January (if I don't see you first on October 19 at Binge Fringe Festival). Click here for a transcription. Click here for video.

I've written three musicals so far. The process has been different for each one. In fact, the one that felt the least "planned" turned out to be the easiest to finish. If you've ever written a musical, how did YOU go about it? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Click here for FREE tickets (in-person or streaming) to "Yes, No, Maybe So" at the Santa Monica Playhouse on 10/19 at 7:30pm.

Click here to listen to "Trouble! A Calamity Adventure."

Click here to watch a recording of my first solo show, "International Man of Mystery."

SPOILER ALERT for my solo show! I wrote a solo show called "Yes, No, Maybe So" about boundaries and consent after a very uncomfortable doctor's appointment that happened a year ago. I've always been racked with guilt about the fact that the real life ending is different from what I perform onstage, but yesterday, I got a letter in the mail that changed everything. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here. For FREE tickets to see my show on 10/19 at 7:30pm PT - virtual or in person - click here.

I have a three-song EP (extended play) that I just can't seem to finish. Many creative people - including British neurologist Oliver Sacks - get stuck on projects like this. What do YOU do to get unstuck? For a transcript (and corrections to the many mistakes I made with Dr. Sacks' book titles), click here. For video, click here.

My daily vlogging experiment continues, and the hardest part is not coming up with content...it's posting it! I struggle to maintain my focus as I share my content across various platforms. If you're a "creator," - especially a neurodivergent creator - how do you handle this? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

All my life I've been told I needed to "toughen up" or "grow a thick skin," but I always thought I was broken, because I just couldn't. Then I learned about rejection sensitive dysphoria, a condition many ADHD and autistic folks struggle with. Here's how I'm learning to cope. For a transcription, click here. For video, click here.

I thought that people would rather hear a cover than my originals...but that turned out not to be the case! It's tough to figure out what people will want to hear. If you're a performer, how do YOU choose your performance tunes? "Kiss Off" is by the Violent Femmes - NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED! For a transcription, click here. For a video, click here.

I'm so embarrassed; I recorded a video of myself wearing a fanny pack. Here I "unpack" all of my intense feelings around the lack of pockets in women's clothing and crappy North American attitudes towards this very useful fashion accessory. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I have a tough relationship with science for a variety of reasons. This summer, I decided to take an Intro to Organic Chemistry class. Here's how I use my percussion skills in conjunction with what I learned. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

It's my freakin' birthday. Here's a VERY ROUGH recording of my English translation of "Adios Juventud" and an apology for not having created the fully-produced music video I dreamed of having ready by today. Now go listen to Jaime Roos! For a transcription, click here. For video, click here.

Here's my first post-pandemic public pandeiro performance. And it is not perfect, but it was fun as hell. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I grapple with the reality of my own internalized misogyny as it relates to Ted Lasso and the podcasts I enjoy. How do I work on this? CORRECTION: I should have said Dr. Clint Smith instead of Dr. Clint Jones. My apologies! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I struggle hard with visibility online, and I've only recently discovered that it isn't just me. I give a brief description of my various neuroses in this area and ask for YOUR tips on how you handle visibility! For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Musicians get them. We don't talk about them, because we're ashamed. I have a playing-related injury. I'm afraid to talk about it, but I'm going to do it, because that's the only way to end the stigma. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I'll be honest - I struggle with how to fit practicing into my day. Does "Eating the Frog" work for musicians? Here are the time management decisions I'm making. What kinds of strategies work for you? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here are my tips for any future Hollywood Fringe performers (and for the festival organizers, as well). For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I met actor Johnathan Clouser in a webinar a few weeks ago. I was impressed with his drive and charisma, and so I decided to make him my first ever interview subject! Some highlights from our talk:

How he moved from video game design to acting because he “...loves to immerse [him]self in the worlds that [he] like[s] to observe and consume.”
An in-depth discussion of his hilarious video about the guy who gets eaten by the raptor in Jurassic Park.
How horror movies are “...a safe way to explore something unsafe.”
Johnathan’s upcoming projects, including a short film and a YouTube challenge!

Click here for a transcript. Click here for video.

Here are my last three reviews from the 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Shows mentioned: "Versatile" by Kevin Neighbors, "Dating Detox/Romance Rebab/Pussy Power and Power Outages" by Synida Fontes, and "I Have Too Many Feelings" by Bethany Vee. For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

I discuss my mixed relationship with Internet challenges (such as 30 blog posts in 30 days...or 30 selfies in 30 days). Can I really do 100 vlogs in 100 days? For a transcript, click here. For video, click here.

Here's how my unpleasant morning meditation session impacted my tough day at work. SPOILER ALERT: it helped more than I thought it would! For a transcription, click here. For video, click here.

Here's my experience with meditating in order to prepare for a tough day at work. SPOILER ALERT: it sucked! Stay tuned for PART III, in which I analyze the effectiveness of this practice after getting home from work. For a transcription, click here. For video, click here.

I love the show "Lady Liber-Tease" by Kirsten Laurel Caplan, because it's a white woman sharing her own experience about grappling with both her own privilege and oppression. For a transcription, click here. For video, click here.

I discuss my attempts at having a meditation practice, why I didn't stick with them, and why I'm trying again. For a transcription, click here. For a video, click here.

I discuss the two most recent shows I've seen, "TransSetter" and "RedeemHER," along with the guilt I feel about the shows I've missed.

For video, click here.

For a transcript, click here.

Here's "Queen Mab" (not my real name...I don't want my students to find this!) discussing "vlogging" despite feeling woefully unprepared and her recent run of her solo show, "Yes, No, Maybe So" at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. It's tough to figure out publicity when promoting a show for a Fringe festival, and it's even weirder now in COVID times. Tune in to this short episode, and learn from my mistakes!

I finally share the scary sign I made that I tried to show in my first vlog, but ultimately failed. I tell the story of my 2018 San Diego Fringe breakdown, and why I think I'm in a healthier place this year.

I've been talking about Fringe festivals while Afghanistan and Haiti go to hell...and it's (mainly) the fault of the United States. Here's a show about my own process around making sense of the world right now.

CLICK HERE FOR A TRANSCRIPTION

Here are my thoughts about the shows I've seen so far at the 2021 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Shows I mention: I Heart Maroc, Naturally Tan, After the Fall, The Tribe, No Matter Watt, and La Divina