Think Things Through

Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

New York State, supposedly one of the most progressive in our nation, has the most conservative approach to divorce and separation. Why is that the case in 2021? New York was one of the first to allow gay and lesbian marriage legally. Why aren't lawmakers enlightened about the role two parents play in rearing children after divorce?New shared parenting bills are often introduced to Democratic lawmakers in New York; yet, progressive legislation is often shelved or remains stuck in committees headed by Democratic lawmakers who aren't as pioneering and trailblazing as they proclaim. The desire to maintain the status quo is strong. I explain why in today's podcast.Read more HERE:Without joint custody, children are the biggest losers - Shared parenting is best for children and families.To Live In Peace - My advocacy journey. Single Fatherhood In New York City -An interview from 2012 about fatherhood and family court. Do You Have To Pay Child Support? No, You Don't! - You can opt-outClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Read more HERE: https://claytoncraddock.substack.com/p/thinking-for-yourselfClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast. He's an alumnus of Howard University and is the drummer for the Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times Of The Temptations.Other musicals include: "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

The Bradley Amendment was named after its sponsor, Democratic Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey, and was passed as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. The Bradley Amendment prohibits the retroactive modification of child support arrearages by the state or any other state. No matter the circumstances, a child-support debt cannot be retroactively reduced or forgiven even if the debtor is unemployed. The same applies if the person is hospitalized, in prison, sent to war, proved not to be the father, never allowed to see his children, or loses his job, or suffers a pay cut. Show Notes: Petitioning the Government to Erase State-Owed Child Support Debt The Bradley Amendment NBC News. (2015, April 11). Walter Scott had bench warrant for his arrest, court documents show. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/walter-scott-shooting-warrant-over-child-support-court-records-show-n339151Washington, D. (2020, December 16). 6 penalties for parents who fail to pay child support. The Balance Small Business. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/failure-to-pay-child-support-penalties-2997972Weimer, D. R. (2000, July 27). The Bradley amendment: Prohibition against retroactive modification of child support arrearages. Every CRS Report – EveryCRSReport.com. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS20642.htmlClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.He's an alumnus of Howard University and is the drummer for the Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times Of The Temptations.Other musicals include: "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

I think everyone should read the Moynihan Report. This document, known then as "The Negro Family: The Case For National Action," held that many of the problems of American blacks resulted from the instability of black urban families. The report was leaked to the media in July 1965, one month before the devastating riots in Watts, and called for more government action to improve the economic prospects of black families. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was a sociologist and assistant secretary for policy planning and research at the Labor Department. He became a prominent U.S. Senator representing New York and later served as an adviser to President Richard Nixon. Moynihan urged that the Federal Government adopt a national policy for the reconstruction of the black family. He laid out clear arguments, noting that the real cause of the troubles in the black community was not so much segregation or a lack of voting power. He recognized the structure of the Negro family was highly "unstable and in many urban centers…approaching complete breakdown."Read more HERE: https://claytoncraddock.substack.com/p/the-moynihan-report-52fClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.He's an alumnus of Howard University and is the drummer for the Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times Of The Temptations.Other musicals include: "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

A $900 billion “relief” package was signed into law in December of 2020. Included in that bill was $16 billion for the Save Our Stages Act. Many independent venue owners thought they could breathe easier and figured their eight-month battle to secure financial assistance to stay afloat had finally come to an end. Unfortunately, that never happened.Show Notes:Sending Out An S.O.S. For Music Venues Chicago Venue Owners Still Waiting For Relief Funds From Save Our Stages ActClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.He's an alumnus of Howard University and is the drummer for the Broadway musical Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times Of The Temptations.Other musicals include: "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

It's Freedom Day here in New York State! You can go maskless in the state of New York.Show Notes:Juneteenth: http://juneteenth.com/history.htmA guide to New York's new rules on masks and distancing - https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/us/a-guide-to-new-yorks-new-rules-on-masks-and-distancing/ar-BB1gU3jyPODCAST - Episode 7 - What's The Point Of Vaccine Passports? - https://claytoncraddock.substack.com/p/podcast-episode-7-whats-the-pointPODCAST: Episode 10 - I Tested Positive For COVID-19. Here's My Story. - https://claytoncraddock.substack.com/p/podcast-episode-10-i-tested-positiveThey're Vaccinated and Keeping Their Masks On, Maybe Forever - Face coverings have been a political flashpoint for more than a year. But now, the backlash is directed at people who don't plan to take them off.Don't throw out that mask yet - https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-masks-must-not-disappear-yet-20210518-r57rppgusbcobn5dd6d3lls5ra-story.htmlWashington Post Vaccine Tracker:Tourism in NYC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_New_York_CityA "Progressive" Approach To Handling The Coronavirus - OPEN EVERYTHING! - https://claytoncraddock.substack.com/p/a-progresive-approach-to-handlingTake Off That Mask - If you are fully vaccinated, the time to resume normal life is now.Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast. Clayton was formerly co-chair of the New York affiliate of National Parents Organization and has written for several online publications. Clayton is also the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we continue our discussion about racism and tackle a few new hot-button topics connected to racism in America. Some think it's racist to read books that examine racism written by white people. Do you? Should books about racism only be written by those who are affected by it? If a white person chooses to move to a Black neighborhood knowing that this could be the beginning of gentrification, is this racist?Is it racist for a white person to laugh at the jokes of a Black comedian whose performance, which is before a Black audience, centers around poking fun at the foibles of Black people? What if it were someone like Bill Burr?Thought-Provoking Articles:Children Need Both Parents - A short documentary I participated in to support shared parenting.Groupthink And Mass Hysteria - Fear is a powerful motivator.PODCAST - Episode 8 - Single Fatherhood In New York CityThe Harm Principle - How much freedom should people be entitled to?PODCAST - Episode 7 - What's The Point Of Vaccine Passports?Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast. Clayton was formerly co-chair of the New York affiliate of National Parents Organization and has written for several online publications. Clayton is also the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we tackle a few different hot-button topics connected to racism in America. Josh Blumenthal and I continue our conversation about cultural appropriation. We also talk about whether or not it's racist to vote for a black candidate over another simply because of their skin tone and discuss if comedians are racist when they make fun of other groups. Thought-Provoking Articles:Defund The Police Is "A Snappy Phrase" - Only a small vocal minority of ideologues wants to actually abolish police forces - certainly not the people who need them.Resmaa Menakem - ‘Notice the Rage; Notice the Silence'Grade Inflation Is Ruining Education - A recent study conducted at the Naval Academy showed that students learn less from easy teachers. As the researchers state, “Instructors who tend to give out easier subjective grades… dramatically hurt subsequent student performance.”Expelling Asian Americans from top schools proves NYC education is off the rails. The most serious threat to Asian American New Yorkers is the Department of Education's ill-disguised effort to eliminate merit test-based admission to the city's eight highly selective high schools.When Journalism Blurs Into Activism—A Canadian Case Study - This all began with an imaginary teachers' manual. It ended with us challenging Canada's self-described “national newspaper” about a range of stories in which ideologically-driven narratives seemed to trump fact.Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast. Clayton was formerly co-chair of the New York affiliate of National Parents Organization and has written for several online publications. Clayton is also the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

I tested positive for COVID-19. Here's my story.Show Notes:Herd immunity and COVID-19 (coronavirus): What you need to knowPODCAST - Episode 7 - What's The Point Of Vaccine Passports?What Is The Point Of Vaccine Passports?- Any documentation that limits individual freedoms on the basis of biology risks becoming a platform for restricting human rights. It threatens, rather than protects, public health.Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Is racism the idea that a person's race determines one's characteristics, values, or abilities that are superior or inferior to those of another race? Or, is racism discrimination or prejudice based on race?Anti-racism is a process of actively identifying and opposing racism. Anti-racism aims to challenge racism and actively change the policies, behaviors, and beliefs that perpetuate racist ideas and actions. Anti-racism is rooted in action. It is about taking steps to eliminate racism at the individual, institutional, and structural levels. What do you feel it means to be anti-racist?These questions and many more are answered in another conversation with my friend/colleague and resident Old White Guy, Josh Blumenthal. It's an interesting conversation, and I think you'll find the discussion quite thought-provoking. Show Notes: Josh's OpEd: OPINION  - New York's a disaster for shared parentingClayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 29 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

I often wonder why people today still feel mothers should have more time with children post-separation or divorce than fathers. What makes a mother any more worthy than a father? Who should be the custodial parent when there are two mothers? What if there were two dads raising kids? If both parents are working 10 hours a day and a nanny is caring for the kids all day, who should get custody if the parents want to split?Why must kids miss out on certain family relationships when parents separate? It's cruel for children, who love both parents, to suddenly lose access to everything they once knew when their parents no longer want to live together. Does a child's love and need for both parents suddenly end when parents decide to separate?Show Notes:Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 29 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced The Excelsior Pass. It's an app, developed with I.B.M., and funded by the state, supposedly designed to support the recovery of industries most affected by the pandemic. New Yorkers will soon be able to pull up a code on their smartphone or present a printout proving they've been either recently tested negative or vaccinated against COVID-19. Soon, it will be accepted at dozens of event, arts, and entertainment venues statewide. Will the rest of the United States follow Cuomo's lead?Newsletter Post: What Is The Point Of Vaccine Passports?Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Is this the image you think of when you hear the phrase “old white man”? It's interesting to see how the old white man is being vilified by so many nowadays. I figured, I go directly to the source and ask one what he thought of current events - specifically the idea of ‘race.'I've known Josh Blumenthal for a few years. We were both involved with National Parents Organization and eventually were co-chairs. We both left before the pandemic hit to focus on other endeavors but stayed connected. We talk on the phone regularly about all kinds of things. I thought I'd try and capture some of our thoughts on a call and share them with my listening audience. There will be more coming. Hit that subscribe button, so you'll know when more episodes are published. In the podcast, I reference this debate: Word Salad – Political Correctness.Enjoy!Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Learned helplessness was first coined in the 1960s by the American psychologists Martin E.P. Seligman and Steven F. Maier. When they were graduate students, they researched animal behavior. When dogs received electrical shocks they couldn't control, they learned that they later showed signs of anxiety and depression. The dogs who learned that they couldn't escape the shock stopped trying in subsequent experiments. This occurred even when the dogs learned they could end the shocks by pressing a lever. Furthermore, the researchers learned that the dogs who received the uncontrollable shocks in the first experiment didn't even try to escape shocks in a later one—even though all they needed to do, was jump a low barrier.I see this with humans all around me now. As I drive around New York City, I see an entire population affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a sight to behold. 99.9% of people who are walking around outside alone, with no one around them, in masks. Many have even said, at least online, they will continue to do so, even after being fully vaccinated. What will it take to break people out of the fog they are under? People believe that nothing will end their suffering - or maybe they enjoy the conditions they live under. The idea that even after a full vaccination, people will continue to wear masks, socially distance, and not be around loved ones is perplexing. What are people waiting for? Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher,  Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Twitter: @claytoncraddock Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined our sense of risk. People are good at weighing risks against rewards, but now, many are confused as to how to proceed. Too many people are experiencing learned helplessness. But the good news is that the idea of waiting until there is definitive evidence that humanity is completely safe from the coronavirus before returning to normal is becoming untenable. Such evidence may never come. Science is rarely that definitive. With more guidance being handed down from elected officials that seems to make less and less sense, people are choosing to ignore the rules.A shift in mood is taking place. The fog is being lifted because vaccines are being distributed, and the reason is taking precedent over emotion.Ignore the CDC, WHO, and Dr. Fauci. The pandemic ends when the public says so.Clayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Twitter: @claytoncraddock Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Part II of my conversation with Dena Tauriello and Rosa Avila. We explore more reasons why they were the only two women drummers working on Broadway and off-broadway prior to the shutdown of all shows in 2020. Some of the topics we discuss include:Should broadway have half of the drum chairs be filled by women? If so, why? Is total equality the goal? Are they just not interested, or are there more nefarious reasons for the lack of women playing drums?Is the lack of women drummers working professionally primarily because of sexism and discrimination, or are there other factors?Finding women subs—what problems have they had with recruitment and/or finding qualified candidates?Are women reaching out to them for advice on how to do what they do?What can we do to bring more women into the collective of drummers? Dena Tauriello began playing drums at the age of eight. For 20 years, she worked with NYC rockers Antigone Rising who toured relentlessly, made numerous TV appearances, and served as cultural ambassadors to Israel, Palestine, and Vietnam. She's worked with Rob Thomas (from Matchbox 20) as a member of his “RT Quartet.”She has been featured in Modern Drummer, Drum! and Sticks ‘n' Skins, a photography book about the drumming community. Just over two years ago, Dena made the switch to Broadway after landing the chair for Head Over Heels featuring the music of the Go-Gos. Since then, she has also held the chair for Kristin Chenoweth's For the Girls, Magic Mike and Galileo (reading) and was a sub at The Cher Show. Before the shutdown, she held the chair for the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors and was set to sub at Six on Broadway. Rosa Avila was born in Germany and spent her childhood in Mexico and Austria. She began playing drums at age 16 and completed her education at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California. When she graduated in 1991, Rosa was presented with the Outstanding Student of the Year award and received the Human Relations Award.Rosa performed with legends like Ann Margret, Debby Boone, The Lennon Sisters,  Shari Lewis, Elkie Brooks, Glen Campbell, and Petula Clark. In 1992, she began her association with Andy Williams, with whom she performed until 2009.  In 2018, Rosa had the pleasure of holding the drum chair at Summer-The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, and in 2019 she played on four shows: Chick Flick, Broadway Bounty Hunter, Love in Hate Nation, and For Colored Girls at the public theater.Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher,  Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Today's podcast takes up the underlying reasons why there are so few women drummers working on Broadway musicals. I spoke to two amazing drummers, Dena Tauriello and Rosa Avila, to find out why they were the only two women drummers working on Broadway and off-broadway prior to the shutdown of all shows last year. Some of the topics we discuss include:Their thoughts as to why there weren't many female drummers during their formative years.Did they have women drum teachers, and if not, why was that the case?Should broadway have half of the drum chairs be filled by women? If so, why? Is total equality the goal? What about other groups of people? Should there be a proportional representation of other groups? (black, Asian, Latino, gay/lesbian, etc.) Is the lack of women drummers working professionally primarily because of sexism and discrimination, or are there other factors?What are some of the blatant sexist encounters they've experienced over the years and how were they affected?Dena Tauriello began playing drums at the age of eight. For 20 years, she worked with NYC rockers Antigone Rising who toured relentlessly, made numerous TV appearances, and served as cultural ambassadors to Israel, Palestine, and Vietnam. She's worked with Rob Thomas (from Matchbox 20) as a member of his “RT Quartet.”She has been featured in Modern Drummer, Drum! and Sticks ‘n' Skins, a photography book about the drumming community. Just over two years ago, Dena made the switch to Broadway after landing the chair for Head Over Heels featuring the music of the Go-Gos. Since then, she has also held the chair for Kristin Chenoweth's For the Girls, Magic Mike and Galileo (reading) and was a sub at The Cher Show. Before the shutdown, she held the chair for the off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors and was set to sub at Six on Broadway. Rosa Avila was born in Germany and spent her childhood in Mexico and Austria. She began playing drums at age 16 and completed her education at Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California. When she graduated in 1991, Rosa was presented with the Outstanding Student of the Year award and received the Human Relations Award.Rosa performed with legends like Ann Margret, Debby Boone, The Lennon Sisters,  Shari Lewis, Elkie Brooks, Glen Campbell, and Petula Clark. In 1992, she began her association with Andy Williams, with whom she performed until 2009.  In 2018, Rosa had the pleasure of holding the drum chair at Summer-The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, and in 2019 she played on four shows: Chick Flick, Broadway Bounty Hunter, Love in Hate Nation, and For Colored Girls at the public theater.Don't forget to subscribe to my podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe

Today is the first episode of the Think Things Through Podcast. I've been looking forward to this for quite some time. I finally had the opportunity to publish my inaugural episode today. I was able to interview Kenya N. Rahmaan. She is the author of The Child Support Hustle (N.K. Clark) and the Founder of The Reform Child Support NOW! Movement. Kenya began her writing career in 2007 and specializes in child support guidelines and regulations.  She earned an Associate's Degree in Small Business Management from Columbus State Community College, a Bachelor's Degree, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Franklin University in her hometown, Columbus, Ohio. Kenya is a member of The Board of Advisors for the documentary “Erasing Family', directed by Ginger Gentile. She is the co-host on The Child Support Hustle radio show with Marcus J. Echols. Kenya has written a bill to re-abolish debtor prisons and is continuing the fight for child support reform.Make sure you subscribe to my podcast on Apple Music! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/test/id1549480774?i=1000505941808Show Notes: Do You Have To Pay Child Support? No, You Don't! - You can opt-out. of paying child supportThe Child Support Hustle E-Book, N. K Clark (Kenya N. Rahmaan) Available at Amazon -  https://www.amazon.com/Child-Support-Hustle-N-K-Clark-ebook/dp/B00GOJ9W4GPetitioning the Government to Erase State-Owed Child Support Debt - A campaign has been launched to recruit 100,000 plus supporters who are willing to add their name and voices to a petition demanding that the Biden-Harris Administration issue an Executive Order to erase all state-owed child support arrears.  The Child Support Hustle Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/TheChildSupportHustle/The Child The Child Support Hustle - https://thechildsupporthustle.comClayton Craddock is a father, independent thinker, and the founder and publisher of the social and political commentary newsletter Think Things Through and host of the Think Things Through Podcast.Twitter: @claytoncraddock Get full access to Think Things Through at claytoncraddock.substack.com/subscribe