THED Talks

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THED Talks is a podcast for theatre teachers and theatre education students. Dr. Jimmy Chrismon, Theatre Education professor at Illinois State University, brings you stories and interviews from experienced K-12 theatre teachers, current theatre education majors, and professors of theatre education…

Jimmy Chrismon


    • May 7, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 255 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The THED Talks podcast is a truly remarkable resource for educators, particularly those in the field of drama and theatre education. This podcast offers a wealth of wisdom, laughter, and inspiration, all conveniently available without having to sacrifice your lunch hour to visit a colleague's classroom. The host, Dr. Chrismon, along with his guests, creates a sense of connection and community within the world of theatre education that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. Whether it be on your morning commute or during a quiet moment at home, listening to this podcast never fails to bring a smile to your face and opens your mind to new approaches in your work.

    One of the best aspects of The THED Talks podcast is the diverse range of topics covered in each episode. From discussions on effective teaching strategies to interviews with prominent figures in the field, there is always something new and exciting to learn. The pacing of the episodes is excellent, allowing for an engaging listening experience from start to finish. The sound quality is also commendable, ensuring that you can fully immerse yourself in the content without any distractions. Furthermore, even when featuring guest speakers who are friends or colleagues of Dr. Chrismon's, the discussions remain professional and focused on providing valuable insights and ideas for teachers at various levels.

    However, one potential downside of this podcast is its niche focus on drama teachers. While it may be a treasure trove for drama educators seeking inspiration and guidance, it may not have as broad appeal for educators in other subjects. Additionally, some listeners may find that they would appreciate more practical tips and techniques that can be directly implemented in their classrooms. Nevertheless, despite these minor limitations, The THED Talks podcast remains an invaluable resource for drama teachers.

    In conclusion, The THED Talks podcast stands out as an exceptional platform for educators looking to engage with innovative ideas in theatre education. With its ability to connect like-minded individuals from different corners of the world, this podcast fosters a sense of community and inspiration. The thoughtful discussions, excellent sound quality, and valuable insights make it a must-listen for drama teachers seeking to enhance their teaching practices. Whether you are a seasoned professional or a first-year teacher, this podcast offers an avenue for connection, relatability, and renewed motivation to revamp and rework your teaching.



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    Latest episodes from THED Talks

    7.37 A Conversation with Matt Webster, Adam Carter, and Jimmy Chrismon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 69:48


    This week Jimmy's mentor, Matt Webster, takes over and talks with Jimmy and Adam Carter about their new book, Trauma-Informed Practices in 9-12 Theatre Education! Order the book here!

    7.36 A Conversation with Sarah Palmer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 37:45


    This week JImmy talks with Massachusetts teacher Sarah Palmer. She talks about the joy and community that theatre brings, product vs. process, and casting.

    7.35 A Conversation with Gail Chase

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 65:57


    This week Jimmy talks with Florida theatre teacher Gail Chase. She talks about theatre changing her life, the need for play, and her Shakespeare experience that revolutionized her teaching.

    7.34 A Conversation with Cody Riker

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 44:03


    This week Jimmy talks with Australian based teaching artist Cody Riker. He shares about the importance of passion in your work, the challenging climate of education in the US, and being willing to pivot when you need to choose to keep loving what you do.

    7.33 A Conversation with Madison Gillis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 45:47


    This week Jimmy talks with Illinois theatre teacher Madison Gillis. She talks about the varied teaching load she has, settling into your career in the early years, and taking care of yourself and your kiddos.

    7.32 A Conversation with Janea Dahl

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 25:56


    This week Jimmy talks with the creator of The Drama Notebook, Janea Dahl. She talks about how theatre teachers impacted her life, seeing a need and filling it, and of course, The Drama Notebook and all its valuable resources!www.dramanotebook.com

    7.31 A Conversation with Frank Barranca

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 53:54


    This week Jimmy talks with New York theatre teacher Frank Barranca. He talks about his journey that led him to teaching, innovative ways to keep kids excited, and the importance of fun!

    7.30 A Conversation with Diane Rawlinson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 67:58


    This week Jimmy talks with Illinois dance teacher/teaching artist/educator Diane Rawlinson. She talks about her wonderful career in performing arts education, utilizing your global community, and dreaming again.

    7.29 A Conversation with Andrew Frey-Gould

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 41:14


    This week Jimmy talks with New York administrator Andrew Frey-Gould. He talks about starting a thespian parent association, technology in the theatre classroom, and school administration and the arts.

    7.28 A Conversation with Ildiko' Vojtek

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 49:23


    This week Jimmy talks with Hungarian teaching artist Ildikó Vojtek. She talks about language and literature, challenges with theatre companies, and motherhood.

    7.27 A Conversation with Julia Cuppy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 79:38


    This week Jimmy talks with Southern Oregon theatre teacher Julia Cuppy. She talks about creating community, new play development, and culturally responsive theatre education. 

    7.26 A Conversation with Jamie Monahan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 53:18


    This week Jimmy talks with Connecticut based teaching artist Jamie Monahan. She talks about the value of consent based practices, working with intimacy professionals, and the low level intimacy challenges in our students post-COVID.

    7.25 A Conversation with Lusie Cuskey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 47:55


    This week Jimmy talks with Dr. Lusie Cuskey! She talks about finding community in theatre, intimacy direction, and mental health coordination.

    7.24 A Conversation with Jason Goldstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 56:55


    This week Jimmy talks with Jason Goldstein of BookTix! He talks about the teacher that field his entrepreneurial spirit, theatre teachers as producers, and how BookTix can help your program grow!www.BookTix.com

    7.23 A Conversation with Javon Rougely

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 40:43


    This week Jimmy talks with Texas theatre teacher Javon Rougely. He talks about filling a predecessor's giant shoes, DEIA work in theatre, and approaching lessons from a director's perspective.

    7.22 A Conversation with Evan Tait

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 72:41


    This week Jimmy talks with Portland, OR teaching artist Evan Tait. They talk about the role musical theatre played in their life, the down side of pigeon holing students, and holding on to our humanity. 

    7.21 A Conversation with Pamela Vogel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 50:35


    This week Jimmy talks with Texas teaching artist Pamela Vogel. She talks about her InterACTive classroom she has that goes in depth with performance, immersive theatre, and discussions about heightened texts through the play WIT.  http://www.pamelavogelhomepage.com

    7.20 A Conversation with Danny Yuska

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 41:35


    This week Jimmy talks with Illinois theatre teacher Danny Yuska. He talks about the community that theatre creates for students, finding balance, and the Illinois All State Production of The Prom.

    7.19 A Conversation with Mary Beth Frank

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 65:09


    This week Jimmy talks with Indiana theatre teacher and professor Mary Beth Frank. She talks about the beat cycle, taking care of our kids, and utilizing processes to make things run smoother.

    7.18 A Conversation with Lauren Pilling

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 45:10


    This week Jimmy talks with SC theatre teacher Lauren Pilling. She talks about early career lessons learned, theatre competitions, and learning how to not doubt yourself. 

    7.17 A Conversation with Susannah Wagner

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 67:28


    This week Jimmy talks with NC theatre teacher and teaching artist Sussanah Wagner. They talk about their work as a props artisan, being “village people,” and teaching in a military town.

    7.16 A Conversation with Floyd Rumohr

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 40:35


    This week JImmy talks with teaching artist and author Floyd Ruhmor. He talks about using developmentally appropriate pedagogy for students ages 9-12, his work with young people, and his new bookStage It: Making Shakespeare Come Alive in Schools!www.stageitplays.com

    7.15 A Conversation with Kristi Jacobs Stanley

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 47:56


    This week Jimmy talks with Louisiana theatre teacher Kriti Jacobs-Stanley. She talks about her work in children's theatres across the country, student leadership, and the impact of the International Thespians.  

    7.14 A Conversation with Madison Williams

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 52:48


    This week Jimmy talks with teaching artist Madison Williams. She talks about the impact of her mentor, building and running a meaningful school program, and being a working teaching artist. 

    7.13 A Conversation with William Palmer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 51:20


    This week Jimmy talks with Missouri teacher William Palmer. They talk about dramaturgy, creativity and play, and dignity as DEI work.

    7.12 A Conversation with Dr. Thalia Goldstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 57:00


    This week Jimmy talks with Applied Developmental Psychologist Thalia Goldstein. She talks about her new book “Why Theatre Education Matter.” She talks about her research, the Eight Habits of Mind, and her future work in play! www.theatreedmatters.comwww.thaliagoldstein.com

    7.11 A Conversation with Talya Klein

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 74:18


    This week Jimmy talks with California theatre professor Talya Klein. She talks about her work as an acting professor, the difference between being uncomfortable and unsafe, and intimacy work. 

    7.10 A Conversation with Shelley Bajorek

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 60:46


    This week Jimmy talks with Michigan teacher Shelley Bajorek. She talks about the power of supportive caregivers, world premiere productions, and student leadership.

    7.09 A Conversation with AMHC's Amanda Edwards

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 52:26


    This week Jimmy talks with Amanda Edwards from the Association of Mental Health Coordinators. They talk about what a mental health coordinator is, what trainings AMHC offers, and teacher wellness and self-care.www.associationmhc.com

    7.08 A Conversation with Elizabeth Patterson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 50:18


    This week Jimmy talks with Maryland theatre teacher, Dr. Elizabeth Patterson. She talks about theatre and social justice, the universality of the work we do, and planting trees we'll never see. 

    7.07 A Conversation with Deb Baldwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 30:34


    This week Jimmy talks with Season 3 guest Deb Baldwin about her new book, “We're Live! Radio Theatre #101! Check out THED Talks social media this week for a book giveaway! 

    7.06 A Conversation with Calista Weis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 33:33


    This week Jimmy talks with South Carolina theatre teacher Calista Weis. She talks about starting a new program, COVID kids, and the impact of a moment for a child. 

    7.05 A Conversation with Chris Chapman

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 78:10


    This week Jimmy talks with Michigan auditorium manager and director Chris Chapman. He talks about the dangers of the one man show, competitive theatre festivals, and safety within our theatre programs.

    7.04 A Conversation with Jason Lasky

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 78:53


    This week Jimmy reconnects with Season 4 guest Jason Lasky. They talk about his new adventures with voiceover work and podcasting, actor and student wellbeing, and his new adventures moving to Moscow, Russia to teach theatre!www.jasonlasky.comwww.honeytoyourears.comwww.laskywellbeing.com

    7.03 A Conversation with Pam Atkinson of License Training Musicals

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 48:45


    This week Jimmy talks with Pam Atkinson of License Training Musicals. Theatre teachers this is a company you want to know about and bookmark on your computers to strengthen your musical theatre classes and craft development with your students! www.licensetrainingmusicals.com 

    7.02 A Conversation with Chris Permenter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 56:11


    This week Jimmy talks with Misissippi teacher Chris Permenter. He talks about being a jack of all traders, student travel, and student ownership of work.

    7.01 A Conversation with CJ Philip

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 92:23


    This week Jimmy kicks off Season 7 as he talks with the 2024 recipient of the Excellence in Theatre Education Tony Award CJAy Philip. She talks about her career as an artist and educator, Dance & Bmore, and using the authentic voice of people in her work. www.danceandbmore.com 

    6.54 A Conversation with Jimmy Chrismon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 78:18


    This week we flip the script. Season 6 guest Andrew Geha interviews the host and creator of THED Talks Podcast, Jimmy Chrismon. They talk about his journey, teaching in higher education, and trauma-informed practices in theatre education.http://www.jimmychrismon.com

    6.53 A Conversation with Sana Ghalia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 34:48


    This week Jimmy talks with theatre teacher Sana Ghalia from Amman, Jordan. She talks about her experiences and the importance and power of theatre in young lives. 

    6.52 A Conversation with Sam Marsden

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 46:33


    This week Jimmy talks with Sam Marsden from France. She talks about how play and creativity can change lives, her work with young people, and her work as an author.

    6.51 A Conversation with Nancy Lynch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 54:07


    This week Jimmy talks with Texas teaching artist Nancy Lynch. She talks about her work as an Intimacy Coordinator in K-12 settings, Upcoming trends and topics in intimacy work, and her company Class Intimacy Acts.Class Intimacy Acts

    6.50 A Conversation with Mandy Rausch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 57:03


    This week Jimmy talks with Texas theatre teacher Mandy Rausch. She talks about intimacy direction, being an empath and a teacher, and finding a new career later in life.

    6.49 A Conversation with Brian Herman

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 47:53


    This week Jimmy talks with Illinois theatre teacher Brian Herman. He talks about starting a program from scratch, giving students as man opportunities as possible to share their art, and creating community in the theatre program.

    6.48 A Conversation with Gina Geving

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 49:53


    This week Jimmy talks with Iowa theatre artist Gina Geving. She talks about starting a community theatre, taking risks, and the power of why not!

    6.47 A Conversation with Dr. Radhika Rao

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 74:30


    This week Jimmy talks with California teaching artist Dr. Radhika Roa. She talks about peace building through theatre, working in theatre in unconventional ways, and how her faith shapes her art and her work.

    6.46 A Conversation with Katy Evans

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 47:20


    This week Jimmy talks with Texas teacher Katy Evans. She talks about building a program from scratch, seeking out community support, and her own faith.

    6.45 A Conversation with Marie Miguel

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 46:53


    This week Jimmy talks with Virginia theatre teacher Marie Miguel. She talks about student centered programming, finding ways to keep your work exciting, and providing a space for students to be themselves.

    6.44 A Conversation with McKenna Finley

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024 48:31


    This week Jimmy talks with Utah teacher McKenna Filey. She talks about Improvisational Theatre, self-care, and the impactful teachers who shaped who she is as a teacher.

    6.43 A Conversation with Jennifer Lybarger

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 71:39


    This week Jimmy talks with Pittsburgh theatre teacher Jennifer Lybarger. She talks about the importance of theatre for elementary schools, getting rid of the show must go on mentality, and finding your tribe.

    6.42 A Conversation with Andrew Geha

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 71:29


    This week Jimmy talks with New York teacher Andrew Geha. He talks about immersive theatre, intimacy direction with high schoolers, and the power of theatre for a community.   www.andrewgeha.comShakesplosion at Youth Plays!

    6.41 A Conversation with Sandy Vlandir

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 44:39


    This week Jimmy talks with South African teaching artist Sandy Vlandir. She talks about the valuing every story in the space, using theatre for social and personal change, and taking care of yourself and your students in the process.

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