Speaker. Storyteller. Coach.
Jeri Lynne Johnson, the founder and artistic director of Philadelphia’s Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, continues to break barriers across the US and Europe as the first woman and/or the first African-American woman on the podium for many orchestras and opera companies. In our conversation about sustaining a creative life, she shares the challenges she’s overcome along her artistic journey, what keeps her going, and how to transform grit into grace.
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Visual and sound artist Perri Howard talks about recording sound in the quietest place on earth, falling in love with whale songs, and always coming in second place. In every area of her creative practice, she’s willing to explore unfamiliar territory and shares with us how to do the same.
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Shannon Cason is a master storyteller — seen on Snap Judgment, TEDx, and The Moth stages to name a few — and is the host of the podcast Homemade Stories. In his words, he’s also a late bloomer, and with his trademark wit, wisdom, and incredible sense of timing, he shares how the right perspective can turn life’s rough patches into life-changing art.
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Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Amy Grant kicks off Season Two with an in-depth conversation about how she’s sustained her more than 40-year career. For her, it’s all about connection — with herself and with her community. She also talks about falling in love with the creative process, the importance of making art even if no one sees it, and her journey to recover her voice after she thought she’d lost everything.
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In our final episode of the season, I talk with Harris III, who shares his unexpected journey as a professional magician, storyteller, author, and the director and curator of Story Gatherings, an international conference on storytelling. We talk about misusing our imaginations, the importance of wow and how, and the lifesaving power of art.
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