What you'll hear on "The Together Pod: Staying Connected in a Socially Distant Time", is host Serena Brook connecting with her artist and non-artist friends alike, checking in and asking about what brings them joy and what makes them tick. This is an unsettling time, and we need human interaction. Enjoy and take comfort that as the great High School Musical dictates, "we're all in this together".
On Episode 22, I talk to Mike Yard (The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore). Mike is a brilliant stand-up comedian living in Queens, NY. He shares a glimpse of life as a Black American, we talk about our country and its systems, and hope for the future.
On Episode 21, I talk to my friend, performer and comedian, Theresa Kloos. Theresa lives in Ohio with her fiancé, Matt. We laugh and talk about forbidden nicknames, experiences with passive-aggression and much more.
On Episode 20, I talk to the wise Seri Johnson. Seri is a Journey Coach living in Minneapolis. We discuss doing “Intervals” around the house, living by choice, and other juicy wellness topics.
On Episode 19, I talk to the kind, talented, New York-based music director and adjunct prof at NYU, Mr. Robert Frost. Robert and I met doing a 7th House Theatre Production in 2014. Robert and I have a chat about time, theatre, and celebrating good deeds.
On this Bonus Mother’s Day episode, I chit-chat with my sweet college friend, Caitlin Bigwood. She is a rad mom, a nursing student and performer with such a good heart. We chat about her awesome kiddo, and share some slightly embarassing childhood memories.
On Episode 17, I have a fantastic chat with Chris “Critter” Eldridge who lives in Nashville. Critter is an insightful, fun-loving, genius human. He’s a guitarist/vocalist and member of the Grammy-winning band Punch Brothers. We talk Live from Here, dinner theatre, Fiona Apple, and the tricky art of maneuvering our own egos.
On Episode 16, I talk to the delightful Ann Michels, Twin Cities actor, singer, nature lover, beacon of talent and light. We talk goose drama, fearlessness, and the joy of a good mishap.
On Episode 15 is with the hilarious, kind, smart Beth Kuhn. Beth is a performer and writer living in Chicago; she and I met during our New York days. We dream about Paris, discuss taking/deflecting compliments, Beth shares her Star Wars thoughts (after seeing them for the first time!), and more.
On Episode 14, I talk to multi-talented Twin Cities dance/musical theatre pros, Rush Benson and Renee Guittar. We cover a lot, from wizard staff challenges and cartoons to music of the 2000's, and I even got a freestyle about Minnesota weather out of Rush.
On Episode 13, I talk to Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and all-around sweet soul, Gaby Moreno. Originally from Guatemala, Gaby now lives in LA and we met performing on Live from Here. We chat about her new children's song, dodgeball (the game, not the movie), and land the next great song parody idea. (Fun Fact: Gaby wrote the theme to Parks and Recreation. NBD.)
On Episode 12, I catch up with my goofy, fun friend Brance Cornelius, the Papa Who to my Mama Who on the national tour of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Musical. Brance lives outside Orlando; we re-live our Whoville days, chat about "winter" in Florida, and how to glorify joy in quarantine.
On Episode 11, I check in with badass college senior Danielle Troiano who studies at Guthrie Theater’s BFA Acting program. I pressure Danielle to watch Fleabag. She pressures me to re-download TikTok. We both relish in the joy of a good song.
On Episode 10, I talk to nurse anesthetist and all-around joyful being, Becca Sample. Becca and I met playing trivia in Minneapolis; she shares some of her perspective from working in a hospital, we talk art and "content-creating", baking and our shared love of Parks and Recreation.
In episode 9, I chat with Twin Cities actor and kind-hearted soul Tod Peterson. Tod and I are in the same production of The Music Man at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters; we talk/laugh through onstage mishap stories, chat polar plunges, family and more.
On episode 8, I chat with dear Maddie Calhoon, a social worker and singer who lives in the Twin Cities. Maddie and I met working on Live from Here / A Prairie Home Companion, and we talk quarantine movies, live music and the beauty of dinner.
On Episode 7, I talk with sweet, smart, funny Sam Bolen, who lives in Brooklyn, NY. Sam and I met doing summer stock at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. We discuss his quarantine "uniform" and the joy of singing.
On Episode 6, I talk with sunshine human and Broadway performer, Ephie Aardema who lives in Jersey City. Ephie and I were roomates in Astoria, Queens for 3 years; we laugh, talk about what it's like to self-quarantine by oneself and relish in "books n' bath time".
On Episode 5, I chit-chat with lovable Twin Cities actor/singer/writer Max Wotjanowicz about the joy of making lists, making and consuming art and how to do a "drive-by hi".
On Episode 4, I chat with my college classmate and stay-at-home dad extraordinaire Tyler Sahnow. We talk dream vacations and chat about what it's like with two (awesome) school-aged kids at home during this time, all while enjoying adult beverages.
On Episode 3, it's a check-in to see how brilliant sweeties Holly Laurent and Greg Hess are doin in LA. We talk yummy daydream food, sock puppet tweets, and there’s even a quick cameo from Mega The Podcast’s Halle and Gray from Twin Hills Community Church.
On Episode 2 of The Together Pod with Evan Tyler Wilson, we check in, talk “brown rice” pasta, four-part harmonies and play some impromptu Evan-style games.
On Episode 1 of The Together Pod with Maureen Sherman-Mendez, we laugh, we talk life philosophies, theatre, how and what we’re doing during this bizarre time.