The White Rabbit Odyssey

Had the terrific opportunity to sit down with one of the most driven and talented artists I've ever worked with. Cassidy Edwards is one of the busiest creatives I know: with choreographing for musicals and studios, performing, teaching, and now business owning! Cassidy has recently opened her own dance studio: The Indigo Dance Collective, and has already begun to inspire many young minds and help them develop their passion for dance and movement. She is an alumni of Murray State University, the Broadway Way Dance Center in New York, as well as Jacksonville University where she earned her MFA in Choreography. We discussed performance in general, her recent journey in starting a thriving dance studio business, as well as the importance of trusting your gut. Follow Cassidy on Instagram: @cassedwards17 Follow the Indigo Dance Collective on Instagram: @indigo_dancecollective And follow the new White Rabbit Odyssey Instagram page: @thewhiterabbitodyssey

Daryl Phillipy has been one of the most important mentors I have had in my development as both an actor and as a person. Over the years he's helped me immensely in growing as an actor, and working with him has allowed me to really understand the importance of play in life and work, engaging with very truthful emotion on stage, and just having fun. I sat down with him in one of the last interviews I conducted at Murray State before graduation, and we discussed his early struggles in auditions, his long-standing admiration for movies and film, as well as his experiences with getting through to both students and actors as a professor and mentor.

After a brief hiatus from the show I finally got to sit down and have a terrific conversation with Jordan Smith, whom some of you might remember as being present for my interview with Dr. Bob Jackson. Jordan is the Executive Director of Government and Institutional Relations at Murray State, works in the Office of the President, as well being an active member on the Kentucky Film Commission. So naturally, we broke out our lists of our top ten favorite movies and had an absolute ball hashing out our selections and sharing movie trivia with one another.

Couldn't have been more excited for this one, I gotta say. Was absolutely honored to have former Kentucky Senator, and current President of Murray State University, Dr. Robert L. Jackson on the White Rabbit Odyssey for an engaging conversation about his work as the President of Murray State, his time as a State Senator, as well as his passion for history, Murray State University, and the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. Go Racers!

Dr. Warren Edminster, President of the Murray State University Honors College, joined me in the library and shared with me the experience of growing up as the son of missionaries in Rhodesia and South Africa, experiencing firsthand the system of South African Apartheid, as well as sharing his wealth of knowledge on Shakespeare and Medieval literature.

David Balthrop: a mentor, a Dean of Murray State University, and a friend, joined me on the Odyssey for a candid dialogue on a variety of things ranging from his passion for music and his interactions with musicians such as Eddie Van Halen, to his personal history with Theatre and working within the world of lighting design as well as Theatre administration.

Akeel Kalik was kind enough to sit down with me in his office and discuss his exciting adventures in travel, modeling for companies like The NorthFace, acting professionally, as well as the importance of family, faith, and a passion for Kanye West. Epic. Follow the man himself on Instagram: @akeelkalik

Has anyone heard of Fennel before, or is this just me? Apparently, I've been cooking all wrong. Jonah Clark was kind enough to sit down with me in his home and impart his vast knowledge as a chef, anecdotes about dying malls, and debate with me over fights between Grizzly Bears and Gorillas. Enjoy the free gravy recipes.

Man, I really need to brush up on my German. Had a wonderful conversation, (in English), with my former German professor, Dr. Roxane Riegler, about her time in France, her childhood in Austria, and my shortcomings in learning German sentence structure.

Lissa Graham-Schneider, one of the most influential people I've been able to work with as well as a tremendous director, mentor, and human being, joined me on campus to discuss theatre, her daughter's path to Olympic greatness, as well as her experiences with fan conventions and a perilous encounter working at a theatre in Florida.

Finally got the legend himself on the show. Those of you who know him, love him, and those of you who don't definitely ought to know him. Uncle Johnny was kind enough to clear of a section of his countertop full of displaced food, (his kitchen was flooded, it's been a whole thing), and sit down for a terrific interview with one of his favorite nephews. In between the sounds of my squeaky chair we were able to dive into his time spent in Haiti, his passion for sports and travel, and a myriad of family anecdotes.

Boston-Rapper and all around swell guy Eric Stubbs sat down with me in his very echoey sun room to explore a variety of topics including his early misadventures with live music, his knowledge of circadian rhythms, as well as apparently sharing the cure for hair loss. Additional apologies of the sincerest fashion to Disney fans, historians, the majestic Buffalo, and the curator of the Creation Museum. I know you compose most of my listenership.

Hope you like Star Wars and discussion of comedic actors. I sat down with one of the most insightful people I know, Sam Ward, and had a very pleasant conversation about Star Wars, Adam Sandler Conspiracy, and the imminent threat of Deep Fakes. To be candid, I do not endorse or condone violence against the writers of Jack and Jill; but I still feel wronged by a movie I watched in 8th Grade, so there's that. For anyone wanting the definitive watch sequence of the Star Wars movies as perfected by Sam, here you go: Solo: A Star Wars Story Rogue One Episode IV: A New Hope Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Episode I: The Phantom Menace Episode II: Attack of the Clones Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Episode VI: Return of the Jedi Episode VII: The Force Awakens Episode VIII: The Last Jedi Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

Recently I sat down with my favorite shrink and absolutely exhausted my inventory of ten-dollar words in an attempt to sound at least marginally intelligent in comparison to Dr. Carroll. Jonathan has been both a mentor and my therapist since I was in high school, and has had a tremendous effect on my development as an individual. I would also consider him to have become a dear friend. We discuss what has influenced him and his development, including his survival of the 1988 Atlantic Christian School Shooting, one of the first publicized school shootings in American History. I've included a link to a New York Times article about it for anyone willing to read further. Also, the man cannot stand Kanye West, and I could not recall any female country artists at the time. Enjoy. https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/17/us/student-with-pistol-kills-one-teacher-and-injures-another.html?smid=url-share