The Creative Exchange Podcast

What makes Cape Cod a welcoming, meaningful, and substantive place to visit? The arts. Unfortunately, the region's housing crisis has made it increasingly more difficult for artists to live, work, and create here. State Senator Julian Cyr returns to the CX Podcast to discuss these challenges and how last year's landmark legislation, the Affordable Homes Act, will give Cape Cod and the Islands the tools to keep creatives here through the Seasonal Communities designation which prioritizes housing for artists.   Today's sponsors:  William Raveis Real Estate, The official real estate company of the AFCC, South Shore Playhouse Associates - Also known as the Melody Tent, TD Bank, John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation,  Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5. Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

What's the secret to life? For visionary designer Ken Fulk of Provincetown, it's in the power of saying yes. As he shares with host Julie Wake in this episode of the Creative Exchange, “Yes is such a glorious, intoxicating, exciting place to live.” It's what has led Fulk to new discoveries, incredible journeys, and unbelievable opportunities, all as he's built a magical career that reimagines how the spaces we live, work, and play in should operate.    Today's sponsors:  William Raveis Real Estate, The official real estate company of the AFCC, South Shore Playhouse Associates - Also known as the Melody Tent, TD Bank, John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation,  Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5. Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!  

Having grown up in a family filled with great cooks, it's not surprising that food is the centerpiece of Rebecca Orchant's first book, Simmering: A Kitchen Memoir, which came out earlier this year. In our latest episode of the Creative Exchange, the Provincetown purveyor of good eats – she and her husband Sean own Pop + Dutch on Commercial Street – dishes on everything from the role food plays in all aspects of our lives to writing to finding her authentic self on the Outer Cape to the sense of urgency with which she approaches life. Today's sponsors:  William Raveis Real Estate, The official real estate company of the AFCC, South Shore Playhouse Associates - Also known as the Melody Tent, TD Bank, John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation,  Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod,  Wequassett Resort & Golf Club,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5. Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!  

The logical, rational side of neuroscientist Lisa Genova's brain said not to write a book, but her heart said otherwise. Roughly two decades ago, Lisa listened to the latter, penning her first novel, Still Alice, a highly personal piece inspired by her grandmother's struggles with Alzheimer's. Following her true north has led Genova to writing four more books with another (More or Less Maddy) on the way in 2025. The New York Times best-selling author sits down with host Julie Wake to discuss taking that career risk, selling her first book out of the trunk of a car, and living a life with purpose.  Website: https://www.lisagenova.com/ Today's sponsors:  William Raveis Real Estate, The official real estate company of the AFCC, South Shore Playhouse Associates - Also known as the Melody Tent, TD Bank, John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation,  Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod,  Wequassett Resort & Golf Club,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5. Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!  

Why make art? For Frank Anigbo, it's in the act of creating — showing that everyone (and anything) he paints has value. In this episode of the Creative Exchange, Frank takes listeners on a powerful journey from his hometown in Nigeria to his studio (and home) in Barnstable Village, and how becoming a parent inspired him to put his passions into painting – where he explores the topics of poverty, the intrinsic value of all life, racism, and the anxiety of parenthood.   Today's sponsors:  William Raveis Real Estate, The official real estate company of the AFCC, South Shore Playhouse Associates - Also known as the Melody Tent, TD Bank, John K. & Thirza F. Davenport Foundation,  Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod,  Wequassett Resort & Golf Club,  Donald C. McGraw Foundation, Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5. Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

As an artist, creating the work is half the battle. Just as important is how you convey your work to your audience – inviting them into your world so they want to learn more about you and your art. The Creative Exchange welcomes back painter, teacher, and writer Pete Hocking who shares his tips for how artists should talk about their work, and why silence, walking, and nature can be an artist's best friend.  

Terry Szuplat's fascination with politics started with an album of JFK speeches his mom gave him as a kid. While his peers rode their bikes on the street near his East Falmouth home, Terry would listen to those speeches in his room – captivated by the cadence, the rhythm, and the poetry. It was then that the seeds for Terry's dreams of one day becoming a presidential speechwriter were born. After eight years fulfilling that dream as a speechwriter for President Barack Obama, Terry is releasing his first book, “Say It Well,” in which he shows how anyone (yes, you!) can use their words to inspire others and bring people together.

At the beginning of this year when the Josh Cellars memes went viral, the popular wine brand's founder Joseph Carr sat down with host Julie Wake to talk about the man behind the memes – his passion for producing wine, his drive, his love of the arts, and his vision for creating a wine that makes a positive difference, not only on the dinner table, but in the community. Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Join us for an intimate conversation with Australian actor Murray Bartlett, as he shares insights into his life on Cape Cod and his gratitude for the Provincetown community. Murray's openness and humor make for a delightful and engaging discussion as we explore his experiences on and off the screen, including his Emmy win and his ability to push boundaries.  Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Six frogs playfully sit in Boston Common — the magnificent bronze sculptures are the work of the talentedly prolific David Phillips. While he may be best known for these creations, David's work, which often combines illusion with nature with a mix of Eastern aesthetics, has delighted countless people who have crossed paths with his public art. Join us on this fascinating exploration of David's art which serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of human creativity.  Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Bob Staake's superpower? Meeting deadlines. It's how he was able to design the iconic New Yorker cover celebrating Barack Obama's historic victory in the 2008 presidential election in less than 24 hours. Fueled by a self-drive (and the occasional bag of Doritos) to create, Bob's curiosity has served as his motivation in a career that has spanned four decades, and which has seen his whimsical, playful, one-of-a-kind art fill the pages of the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Wall Street Journal. He's written or illustrated more than 75 children's books (with another on the way). And he's worked for a list of illustrious clients that have included the NFL, American Express, Sony, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Walt Disney, McDonald's, Hallmark Cards, and countless others. Despite his impressive career, Bob is never satisfied. His favorite project is always the next one. “If you're not doing something better tomorrow, what is the point?” he says in this captivating conversation which reveals his endless obsession with creating art.   Learn more about Bob.    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

What makes an artist tick? Why do creatives see the world differently? How can we apply an artistic sensibility to the way we live and work? Psychotherapist, author, and sought-after public speaker (and occasional artist) Rick Miller helps the Creative Exchange answer these questions as we explore the inner workings of the artistic mind.    Learn more about the Rick Miller!    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

The life of an artist is one of perpetual motion. It's a path that Sarah Dineen has taken during her career, constantly growing and evolving. In this episode, Sarah takes listeners on her creative journey which started with painting before transitioning into sculpting. Where will Sarah's career take her next? You'll have to listen — preferably with a cup of hot coffee and blueberry coffee cake — to find out!   Learn more about the Sarah Dineen!    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

In the heart of Provincetown's famed Commercial Street sits the Crown & Anchor, an iconic venue known for epic parties and must-see live entertainment. It should come as no surprise that the multitalented Jonathan Hawkins, a performing artist and singer, has helped evolve the nightclub's offerings as co-owner of the popular P-town establishment. Jonathan's impact on the local arts scene goes even further and in this episode, he takes us on a wild and wonderful ride into his love of the arts and a life shaped by the creative.   Learn more about the Crown & Anchor!    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

On this episode of the Creative Exchange, host Julie Wake travels over the bridge to Boston to talk with Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael Bobbitt. An artist  — Michael is a theater director, choreographer, and playwright — his life was forever shaped by an exposure to the arts at a young age. Now as the highest-ranking cultural official in state government, he's using his position to deepen the impact the arts is having throughout the Commonwealth. Learn more about Mass Cultural Council!    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Everyone deserves a second chance. And through art, Joe Diggs and Sam Holmstock are providing just that to youth in the juvenile justice system. In doing so, the pair are giving a creative outlet for marginalized children to express their emotions, work through trauma, and successfully reintegrate into society.   Connect with Joe Diggs through his website and Facebook! Connect with Sam Holmstock through his website, Instagram, and Facebook!    Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Like the iconic character Dorothy from the “Wizard of Oz,” Oren Sherman has long been a dreamer, creating art at the intersection of reality and imagination. It's led the renowned architect, designer, and artist to magnificent places – he's created multiple stamps for the U.S. Postal Service, and artwork for an impressive array of clients that have included the Olympics, Disney, PepsiCo, Steuben Glass, and Visa. Oren is a multifaceted talent – a gifted storyteller, successful entrepreneur, and branding wizard – who willingly shares his expertise with the next generation as a professor at his alma mater, the Rhode Island School of Design. In this funny, engaging, inspirational discussion with host Julie Wake, Oren takes listeners on a journey – he even makes a stop to the magical world of Oz – as he talks about the importance of failures, reinvention, and imagination.   Connect with Oren through his website and listen to his TedTalk that was mentioned in the episode!   Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Nearly four decades ago, Kate Pazakis first stepped on stage at Cape Cod Theatre Company in Harwich, giving her skills – confidence, communication, connection – that informed her approach to life, work, and art. Those childhood experiences allowed her to blossom as an adult in Los Angeles, where she created the Unauthorized Musical Parody Of (UMPO) series, taking popular movies and TV shows and adapting it for the theatrical world, and has provided her with the joy of returning to the theatre company where she is leading the nonprofit that made an indelible mark on her at a young age.   Connect with Kate through her instagram!   Learn more information about what's going on at the Cape Cod Theatre Company/Harwich Junior Theatre.      Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then Heather Pillar (Pil-ár) has countless stories to tell over a 25-year career that has led the talented photojournalist across seven countries in four continents, highlighted by her moving portrait series, memento Morrie: images of love and loss, spotlighting the last six months of Brandeis professor Morrie Schwartz's (of Tuesdays with Morrie fame) life.   Learn more about Heather through her website! Connect with Heather via Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.  To learn more information about Heather's projects that were mentioned in this weeks episode:  Turning Points memento Morrie: images of love & Loss   Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Percussionist, composer, and music producer Julian Loida talks about his creative journey as a young artist which has been propelled by a never-ending curiosity to explore the wide range of sounds, musical genres, and artforms.   Find more information about Julian via his website and listen to his music on Soundcloud.   Connect with Julian via Facebook, Instagram and Youtube!      Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

With a needle and thread, award-winning artist Salley Mavor has spent the past 45 years creating whimsical fiber art that tells a story, stirs the emotions, and stimulates the imagination. Mavor's one-of-a-kind art has been featured in over a dozen books she has either written or illustrated, including Pocketful of Posies which won the 2011 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the 2011 Golden Kite Award.   Find more information about Salley via her website.   Visit her Etsy and watch the Liberty and Justice Film!   Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

Mark is a painter, illustrator, naturalist, cartographer, writer, printmaker — he's also had stints as a wildlife field biologist, forest firefighter, gymnastics coach, and scientific illustrator.  In the first episode of Season 5 of the Creative Exchange, we get to know Mark as AFCC's 2023 Artist of the Year and his connection to place through mapping, journaling, poetry and more. Today's sponsors:  Cape Cod Foundation, Bank 5,  The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, John K. & Thirza K. Davenport Foundation, MassHire Cape & Islands Workforce Board, Rogers Gray, Cape Cod Melody Tent, and William Raveis Real Estate   Learn more about the Creative Exchange!  Learn more about the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.  The Arts Foundation's mission is to support and strengthen a vibrant and diverse arts and cultural sector for everyone in the region. Get involved!

This conversation was recorded live at Robert Henry's gallery and studio in Wellfleet, MA. Join us as we explore over 70 years of love, art and connection to Cape Cod as well as the ever-evolving practice and the latest chapter of his life as an artist. 

Senator Julian Cyr serves in the Massachusetts Senate representing Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. First elected to the State Senate on November 8, 2016, Julian is now serving in his second term and is the youngest senator in the 40-member body. And he's been a champion for arts and culture here on Cape Cod.  In this episode, we speak with the Senator about how the arts led him to a career in politics as well as how the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod's Creative Exchange is being bolstered thanks to $400,000 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  Senator Julian Cyr was instrumental in securing the federal dollars to support the Cape's creative economy, filing an amendment to the Legislature's $4 billion ARPA and surplus tax revenue spending bill, which Governor Charlie Baker signed into law in December 2021.  “These are once-in-a-generation funds that are meant to help us rebuild and repair and build more resilient communities,” Senator Cyr said. “When you look at what powers Cape Cod and the Islands' economy, it is not solely tourism and our gorgeous beaches and natural beauty. The fabric of our community is its creativity and innovation.”

Where do you go when you live in fear because you're different? If you're Scott Townsend, you escape to the stage. It is here where Scott, lovingly known to many as Thirsty Burlington, has forged a career spanning more than 20 years. Regarded as one of the finest female impersonators in the business, Scott has found a home in Provincetown and a safe haven on the stage, allowing him to bravely face the challenges that life has thrown his way – cancer, dyslexia, and childhood trauma. In this heartwarming conversation, the thoughtful and articulate Scott Townsend takes CEX Host Julie Wake on a creative journey of becoming who he is today.

How do you encapsulate a 26-year career in the arts? For former Cape Cod Theater Company/Harwich Junior Theater Artistic Director Nina Schuessler it looks something like this – over 270 musicals and plays produced and/or directed. But sheer numbers don't tell the whole story of Nina's impact on and passion for the arts which will never go away despite her recent retirement. In this episode of the Creative Exchange, we sit down with Nina, who has been a driving force in Cape Cod theater for over three decades and dive into her career and love of the arts.

In this conversation with visual artist Deborah Howard and writer Susan Blood, we discuss wiping the canvas clean and starting over, the impermanence of art, the path of least resistance, and adapting your practice.   Susan's writing has appeared in the Petigru Review, Christian Science Monitor, the London-based BachTrack, Provincetown Arts, and the Provincetown Banner. Her first book “How Not to Do Things” was published in 2017. She has credited her 2018 Arts Foundation of Cape Fellowship for inspiring her to write a second novel, “Hermit”, which she recently completed.   Having grown up on Cape Cod, Deborah has always been inspired by the region's ever-changing landscape. Drawn to the unpredictability of this environment, she attempts to convey its dynamic and ethereal nature in her work. Her paintings are about capturing moments she experiences and communicating the feeling of a certain time and place to the viewer.   For more information about Susan Blood - http://www.trouttowers.com/ For more information about Deborah Howard - https://deborahwhoward.com/

In this conversation with Tara Vargas Wallace and Maria Daluz Reid, we discuss inspiring students through arts, creating access, building confidence, and further representation of the BIPOC community in the arts on Cape Cod.   Tara Vargas Wallace is an artist and founder of Amplify POC.  She is a strong voice and advocate through her work with marginalized populations with severe socio-economic challenges.  Maria Daluz Reid is an artist and retired arts educator having taught in the Barnstable school system for over 35 years.  She aspired to build confidence in her students through art.   More information about Tara and Amplify POC - https://amplifypoccapecod.com/

In this episode "Being Content with the Unknown", we sit down with Paloma McLardy, the drummer and songwriter of the first all-girl punk band, The Slits.  Known as Palmolive in the punk scene, she now self-defines herself as a punk mystic. We explore her experience growing up in Spain under a Franco dictatorship, family and togetherness, her defiance to living a prescribed life, and how just 2.5 years in London playing punk music helped define a time that continues to live on in myths, movies, and fashion.  You can find more information about Paloma McLardy here: - https://www.punkspalmolive.com/ - https://www.facebook.com/WeDoCapeCod/

In this conversation with Jo Hay and Jonatha Brooke, we talk about so many facets of being an artist such as building our confidence, what drives the passion for the work, being fearless, and creating to the “edge.”  We also discuss the impact of COVID, privilege, climate change, and even aging.

In this episode "Brazen Naked Ladies Everywhere", Aanjes joins us to discuss the art of the tease, how Brazen Belles came to be, and her own discovery of self-love and body positivity. Aanjes is the founder and artistic director of Brazen Belles, a cape-based burlesque production. She is the daughter of a musician and NOAA fisheries marine biologist, Aanjes performed music and acted in high school and college, but she wanted an outlet that allowed more creativity and that combined music, acting, singing, and Comedy.   https://www.facebook.com/brazenbelles

Esteban del Valle is a Brooklyn based interdisciplinary artist whose work ranges from drawings to video animation and large-scale murals. In this episode, del Valle discusses how his art has taken on a distinct personal significance as a result of our newfound connectivity (or lack thereof), revealing a profound perspective on the importance of art as a self care practice. 

Provincetown-based musician and actor Anne Stott discusses the seesaw of structure and stability and the ways in which a global pandemic has asked us to to both rediscover and redefine a balance of the two in order to create.

Boston-based independent recording and performing artist Will Dailey shares a fresh take on the ways in which social isolation has affected the way we consume, interact with, and share art. In this thought-provoking discussion, Dailey explores an interplay between oversaturation and his personal movement towards genuine, irreplicable interactions with his art.

Provincetown-based visual artists Laura Shabbott and Marian Roth discuss shifts in their approaches to creating, teaching, and sharing art as a result of the pandemic. With two distinct and wise perspectives, this conversation is dynamic, warm, and a reminder that community and the freedom to create are at the center of it all.

Visual artist, arts educator, and the 2021 Citizens Bank Pops by the Sea artist Carl Lopes discusses the interplay between teaching, creating, and the importance of uplifting artists. Now retired from a long career at Barnstable High School, he shares how his students have influenced his personal work as well as the dynamic intersection of culture and history embedded in his artistic process.

Through MassDevelopment and the Hyannis Transformative Development Initiative Partnership, visual artists Rachael Devaney, Deanna Nagle, and Lily Olin were each given stipends and studio space in downtown Hyannis--tasked with creating works that challenge existing narratives of life on Cape Cod. In this episode, they share about the experience with the Fellowship and their work.

Matthew Scinto is the Founder, Conductor, + Executive Director of the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra. In this episode, he dives into how and why nothing--especially a global pandemic--can stop his growth as a musician, conductor, and arts leader. 

Ashleigh Gordon is a violist and Artistic & Executive Director of Castle Of Our Skins, a concert and educational series dedicated to celebrating Black artistry through music. This conversation dives into her relationship with the viola as it relates to her own personality and her work as a passionate music educator with a unique and thoughtful approach.   https://www.castleskins.org/ http://www.violashe.com/

As a soloist for the Boston Ballet and career dancer, Palkens discusses the unexpected ways the pandemic has impacted his relationship with his performance-based art.

Musician Sarah Burrill joins us for an all-encompassing conversation on using her artistic platform to connect people in times of isolation, whether in the throes of lockdown or a battle with chronic illness. She also reminds us of the importance of a little something she likes to call, “going out for oxytocin”.

Emily Ruddock is the Executive Director of MASSCreative, an organization that works with artists, leaders, and supporters of the arts and cultural sector to advocate for the resources and support necessary to make Massachusetts a creativity-driven state. Jo Hay is a British American contemporary portrait painter who lives and works in Provincetown. Her latest work, Persisters, is an ongoing series of large-scale portrait paintings representing trailblazing women in their pursuit of justice. In this episode, Jo and Emily come together to discuss the intersections of creative process and advocacy.

Malissa Kenney is the Executive Director of Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Netowrk (CapeCodCAN), an independent organization in partnership with the Cotuit Center for the Arts that provides innovative and inclusive visual performance and literary arts programs for teens and adults of all abilities. Meanwhile, Jessica Wilson is the Managing and Artistic Director of the WatermelonAlligator Theatre Company, a consortium of theatre professionals and dedicated amateurs committed to producing high-quality, local theatre. In this thought-provoking conversation, Malissa and Jessica reflect on the importance of accessibility in the arts and share about their collaboration offering performing arts workshops for students of all abilities and experience levels.

In this episode, we wrap up 2019 with some of our favorite clips from the year. From not-yet-released interviews at the Provincetown Film Festival to a few of our Season 1 and 2 guests, we found one common thread among our interviews this year: inspiration and the unique ways in which creative individuals find it. Featuring reflections from Paul Downs Colaizzo, Susan Blood, John Cameron Mitchell, Pete Hocking, Judith Light, Jillian Bell, and the CEX Live.  

Though she's always enjoyed music, Renzi didn't begin playing herself until her 20's. Now, a recipient of the 2017 Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Performing Arts Fellowship, Jordan has written, produced, and performed several original songs on Cape Cod and beyond. She has been invited to open for Kate Taylor, Paula Cole, Patty Larkin, and Marc Cohn, and has performed in SoFar Sounds shows in Boston and Paris. Her new album, Just A Dream, debuted in the Fall of 2019. She currently lives in Wellfleet. In this episode, Jordan reflects on her self-perception as a singer/songwriter and how she came to be a young musician on Cape Cod. From a cross-country tour camping out in her Subaru to playing a pop-up concert in Paris after hiking parts of the Camino de Santiago, Jordan shares a holistic, honest, and thought-provoking reflection on her creative life thus far. 

Carla and Matthias are musicians, composers, and co-founders of Rabbit Rabbit Radio, a musical collaboration that has grown to produce five albums. In addition to their work together, Carla is an educator currently on faculty at the New England Conservatory as well as the Vermont College of Fine Arts, while Matthias heads a video game music production company, Ridiculon. In this episode, they redefine the concept of genre, discuss the process behind their latest project, Black Inscription--a critically-acclaimed song cycle about the ocean, and share how they took their creative careers from California to Cape Cod.

Pete Hocking is a visual artist, writer, and educator currently based in Provincetown where he teaches painting workshops at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, is represented by Four Eleven Gallery, and serves as a founding board member of the Provincetown Commons. Before Settling on Cape Cod, he was the Director of Rhode Island School of Design's Office of Public Engagement and Associate Dean and Director of Brown University's Swearer Center for Public Service. Currently, he teaches at Goddard College and Rhode Island School of Design. In this episode, Hocking joins us to discuss his own embodied creative process, the unique position artists hold as problem solvers, and how this has influenced his own career as an artist and educator.

Curator Gregory Hischak has been creating new exhibits for the Edward Gorey House, where he resides, since 2014. Hischak is also a playwright, poet, musician, and book artist, who has received numerous awards including a Mass Cultural Council Fellowship in playwriting in 2015. Reflecting on Edward Gorey's life, creative process, and what it's like to live in the Edward Gorey House, this episode is a true immersion into the whimsical world of Gorey.

 In this episode, David Kuehn, Executive Director of the Cotuit Center for the Arts, gives us an inspiring glimpse into the mind of an arts leader and reflects on his journey from Los Angeles to Cape Cod. With a mission of being a welcoming hub for the arts on Cape Cod, no two days in David's shoes at the Center are alike. 

Born and raised in South Africa, photographer Julia Cumes shares the whimsical tale of how she came to America and the profound thought and creative process behind her work with vulnerable populations.

Amy and Julie talk to New York design veteran Tim Convery, about leaving his fast-paced life in favor of rediscovering his creativity in Provincetown and starting his iconic apparel and merchandise collection, "Tim-Scapes".