Podcasts about light talk

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our Young Designers Series, interviews lighting designer and Programmer, Rane Renshaw. In this episode, Rane, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Brackley's Legendary X-Rated Pool Party; Light Talk at LDI Surprise SWAG; The Village People; Designing at the huge nightclubs in Vegas; Rane's beginning his career at the church; The bridge between houses of worship and nightclubs; School days at CMU; "Bob Marley Hope Road" project at The Vanetian; Rane's "The Art of Programming" panels at LDI; "Limelight Wired" education programs; The "Alexa Console"; AI and the future of programing; Are Designer/Programmers the future of lighting?;  and "Being Around". Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our Young Designers Series, the Lumen family interviews lighting designer and Emmy Award winner, Hannah Kerman. In this episode, Hannah, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and Brackly discuss: Early days in Dallas;  Hannah's early years at Carnegie Mellon; Skipping grad school for real-world training in the industry; Cold-Emailing designers; A typical production week at "America's Got Talent"; Working on the Grammy's; How many Followspots?; Broadcast lighting's top choices in followspots; and Longing for The Dallas Theatre Center. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

Okay girlfriend, we're going there. We're talking about the thing nobody talks about when it comes to eating disorders: sex, intimacy, and what's happening (or NOT happening) in your bedroom. If you've noticed your sex drive has disappeared, you're avoiding intimacy with your partner, you can't be present during sex because you're too busy worrying about what your body looks like, or your relationship is suffering and you don't know why - this episode is for you. Host Lindsey Nichol gets incredibly vulnerable about her own experience with blocked intimacy during her eating disorder - how she was physically shut down, emotionally unavailable, and performing instead of experiencing. She shares the research-backed reasons why eating disorders completely sabotage intimacy (spoiler: your body is literally in survival mode), and gives you practical tools to address it. This isn't just about emotional connection - we're talking about SEX. Physical intimacy. The bedroom. Your relationship with your spouse or partner. Because your eating disorder isn't just stealing your relationship with food and your body. It's stealing your relationship with your partner too. In this episode, you'll learn: The 5 reasons why intimacy gets completely blocked when you have an eating disorder Why your libido has disappeared (hint: hormones, energy, survival mode) How body shame follows you into the bedroom Why you can't experience pleasure when you're disconnected from your body How to check your "intimacy temperature" and get honest about where you are Exactly what to say to your partner about what's going on Practical steps to start reconnecting This is real talk. This is vulnerable. This is the conversation we need to have. So grab your favorite Tarjay journal and let's get into it. Content Note: This episode discusses sexual intimacy and eating disorders openly. Best listened to in a private space. In This Episode, You'll Hear: Lindsey's Vulnerable Truth What intimacy looked like when she was in the thick of her eating disorder Being in a relationship while physically and emotionally shut down Not being present during sex - performing instead of experiencing Constantly worried about what her body looked like during intimacy Anxious thoughts: "Is my stomach flat enough? Can he feel certain parts? Should the lights be off? Should I keep my shirt on?" The realization: She wasn't experiencing intimacy, she was performing it The Research Nobody Talks About Women with eating disorders experience significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction Lower libido, avoidance of intimacy, relationship dissatisfaction are common We suffer in silence, fake it, avoid it, make excuses And our relationships suffer while we pretend everything is fine The Question We're Answering Why is intimacy blocked when you struggle with an eating disorder? And what can you actually DO about it? The 5 Reasons Why Intimacy Gets Blocked: Reason #1: Your Body is Literally Shutting Down When you restrict food, your body goes into survival mode Sex, reproduction, intimacy are NOT essential for survival Your hormones tank: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone plummet Your libido disappears completely You lose your period (amenorrhea) Your energy is non-existent Research shows women with anorexia and bulimia have significantly disrupted hormone levels All of these hormones impact sexual desire and function If you have zero sex drive, if intimacy feels like a chore, if you're exhausted - your body is saying "I don't have resources for this" Your body is trying to keep you alive, not reproduce Reason #2: You're Disconnected From Your Body When you spend every day hating, criticizing, punishing your body - you disconnect You dissociate from physical sensations The problem: You can't experience pleasure in a body you're not connected to Intimacy requires being IN your body, feeling sensations, being present But when you're trapped in your head analyzing what you look like - you're performing, not experiencing Research: Women with eating disorders report significantly higher body image concerns during sexual activity This directly correlates with lower sexual satisfaction and avoidance behaviors You can't enjoy intimacy when you're worried about appearance the entire time Reason #3: The Shame is Paralyzing Body shame doesn't stay in the mirror - it follows you into the bedroom When you feel disgusting in your own skin, how are you supposed to let someone see it? Touch it? The shame is so heavy that many women avoid intimacy altogether Making excuses, shutting down, pulling away Being vulnerable and exposed when you feel shame about your body is terrifying Intimacy requires vulnerability - shame blocks that completely Reason #4: You're Emotionally Unavailable When you're consumed by an eating disorder, there's no room for anything else Your entire mental and emotional bandwidth is taken up by food thoughts, body checking, planning, restricting, compensating You don't have capacity to show up emotionally for your partner Can't connect, can't be present, can't be intimate beyond the physical act Intimacy requires emotional availability When your eating disorder is screaming 24/7, you're not available - you're surviving Reason #5: Control Issues Prevent Vulnerability Eating disorders are about CONTROL Intimacy requires letting GO of control, being vulnerable, surrendering If you can't let go of control long enough to eat without anxiety, how can you surrender during intimacy? The same rigidity and need for control with food shows up in the bedroom It blocks true intimacy completely The Impact on Your Relationship: What This Means: Distance and disconnection in your relationship Your partner might feel rejected, confused, helpless They might think you're not attracted to them anymore They might think they did something wrong You feel guilty, broken, like you're failing at one more thing "I can't do anything right - not food, not my body, and now not my relationship" The Truth You Need to Hear: This is not a personal failure. This is a SYMPTOM of your eating disorder. Just like: Restriction is a symptom Body checking is a symptom Blocked intimacy is a symptom The Hope: Research shows that as women recover from eating disorders, sexual function, desire, and satisfaction improve SIGNIFICANTLY. Recovery doesn't just give you food freedom - it gives you intimacy freedom too. If your relationship is suffering, recovery is the answer. Not just for food. Not just for your body. But for your relationship too. What You Can Do About It (6 Action Steps): Step 1: Check Your Intimacy Temperature Get honest with yourself. On a scale of 1-10, where is your intimacy RIGHT NOW? Not where you think it should be. Not where it used to be. Where is it TODAY? Ask yourself: Am I avoiding intimacy? Am I going through the motions? Am I anxious the entire time? Am I emotionally checked out? Is my libido non-existent? Am I making excuses to avoid it? Get real about what's actually happening. You can't change what you won't acknowledge. Step 2: Recognize This is an ED Symptom Stop blaming yourself. Stop thinking you're broken or wrong or failing. This blocked intimacy is a SYMPTOM of your eating disorder. Your body is depleted. Your hormones are disrupted. You're disconnected. You're consumed. This isn't about: Not loving your partner enough Being inadequate Being broken Personal failure This is about your eating disorder stealing one MORE thing from you. Name it for what it is: An eating disorder symptom. Step 3: Bring It Into the Light - Talk to Your Partner This is the scariest step, but it's the most important. You have to talk to your spouse or partner about what's going on. When to Have This Conversation: NOT in the moment NOT during intimacy In a calm, safe space where you can be honest What to Say (Script): "Hey, I need to talk to you about something that's been hard for me. I've been struggling with my relationship with food and my body, and it's affecting our intimacy. I want you to know it has nothing to do with you or how I feel about you. My body is depleted, my hormones are off, and I'm having a hard time being present. I'm working on it, but I need you to know what's going on." You Don't Need: All the answers A complete plan To have everything figured out You Just Need: To be honest about what's happening To help them understand it's not about them To let them in instead of shutting them out Step 4: Start Small With Reconnection You don't have to fix everything overnight. Start somewhere small. Ideas: Physical touch that's NOT sexual - holding hands, cuddling, hugging Reconnecting with non-sexual physical intimacy first Being honest when you're not in the mood instead of forcing it or avoiding it Working on being present - staying in your body during intimacy instead of in your head Taking pressure off yourself and your partner Just start. Somewhere. Anywhere. Step 5: Work on Body Acceptance You don't have to LOVE your body to be intimate. But you do have to accept that your body is allowed to: Exist Be touched Experience pleasure Take up space This is work: Therapy work Coaching work Recovery work Daily practice work The more you work on accepting your body (not loving it, just ACCEPTING it), the more available you'll be for intimacy. Step 6: Prioritize Your Recovery If you want intimacy back in your relationship, you MUST prioritize recovery. Because the eating disorder is the blocker. What This Looks Like: Get support (coach, therapist, dietitian) Join a community Do the work of nourishing your body Work through the shame Address the control issues Heal the disconnection Recovery gives you: Food freedom Body peace Your relationship back Intimacy freedom Key Takeaways: ✨ Your ED isn't just stealing food freedom - it's stealing intimacy too ✨ Blocked intimacy is a SYMPTOM, not a personal failure ✨ Your body is in survival mode - sex is not a priority when you're starving ✨ You can't experience pleasure in a body you're disconnected from ✨ Body shame follows you into the bedroom and paralyzes intimacy ✨ You're emotionally unavailable because the ED consumes all your bandwidth ✨ Control issues with food show up as control issues with intimacy ✨ Research shows recovery improves sexual function, desire, and satisfaction ✨ You need to talk to your partner - bring it into the light ✨ Start small: reconnect with non-sexual touch first ✨ Body acceptance (not love) opens the door to intimacy ✨ Recovery gives you your relationship back Powerful Quotes from This Episode: "Let me just be really honest with you. When I was in the thick of my eating disorder, intimacy was one of the first things to go" "I wasn't experiencing intimacy. I was performing it. And I was anxious the entire time" "Research shows that women with eating disorders experience significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction, lower libido, avoidance of intimacy, and relationship dissatisfaction" "But we don't talk about it. We suffer in silence. We fake it. We avoid it. We make excuses" "When you're restricting food, your body goes into survival mode. And guess what's not essential for survival? Sex. Reproduction. Intimacy" "You can't experience pleasure in a body you're not connected to" "Intimacy requires you to be IN your body. But when you're trapped in your head analyzing what you look like - you're performing" "Body shame doesn't stay in the mirror. It follows you into the bedroom" "When you're consumed by an eating disorder, there's no room for anything else" "Eating disorders are about control. And intimacy requires letting go of control" "This is not a personal failure. This is a symptom of your eating disorder" "Recovery doesn't just give you food freedom - it gives you intimacy freedom too" "If your relationship is suffering, recovery is the answer" "You can't change what you won't acknowledge" "Stop blaming yourself. This blocked intimacy is a SYMPTOM" "You don't have to have all the answers. You just have to be honest about what's happening" "You don't have to love your body to be intimate. But you do have to accept it" "Your eating disorder has stolen enough from you. Don't let it steal your intimacy too" Research-Backed Information: Sexual Dysfunction & Eating Disorders: Women with eating disorders experience significantly higher rates of sexual dysfunction Lower libido is common across all ED types Avoidance of intimacy and relationship dissatisfaction are prevalent Hormone Disruption: Women with anorexia and bulimia have significantly disrupted hormone levels Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all tank during restriction These hormones directly impact sexual desire and function Amenorrhea (loss of period) is common and signals reproductive system shutdown Body Image During Sex: Women with EDs report significantly higher body image concerns during sexual activity Body image concerns during sex directly correlate with lower sexual satisfaction This creates avoidance behaviors and performance anxiety Recovery Improves Everything: As women recover from eating disorders, sexual function improves Desire returns as hormones regulate Satisfaction increases as body acceptance grows Recovery restores intimacy capacity Questions to Reflect On: About Your Intimacy: On a scale of 1-10, where is your intimacy right now? Are you avoiding intimacy? How often? Are you going through the motions or truly present? What are you thinking about during intimacy? (Your body? His reaction? What you look like?) When did intimacy start feeling like a chore instead of connection? About Your Body: Do you insist on lights off? Shirt on? Certain positions only? Are you disconnected from physical sensations during sex? Can you feel pleasure or are you too in your head? What body parts are you most self-conscious about during intimacy? About Your Partner: Have you talked to them about what's going on? Do they know you're struggling with an eating disorder? Do they understand why intimacy has changed? Are you making excuses or being honest? About Your Recovery: Is blocked intimacy motivation for you to prioritize recovery? What would it mean to get intimacy back in your relationship? Are you willing to do the work to heal this area too? What's one small step you can take today? Who This Episode Is For: This episode is essential listening if you: Have noticed your sex drive has completely disappeared Avoid intimacy with your partner or spouse Go through the motions but aren't present during sex Can't stop thinking about what your body looks like during intimacy Insist on lights off, shirt on, or specific positions to hide your body Feel anxious or panicked about being intimate Make excuses to avoid sex Feel guilty about avoiding your partner Feel broken or like you're failing at your relationship Have a partner who feels rejected or confused Want to understand WHY this is happening Need practical tools to start reconnecting Are married or in a long-term relationship Are ready to bring this into the light and talk about it Want your relationship back Need to know recovery can restore intimacy The Conversation Starter (What to Say): The Script: "Hey, I need to talk to you about something that's been hard for me. I've been struggling with my relationship with food and my body, and it's affecting our intimacy. I want you to know it has nothing to do with you or how I feel about you. My body is depleted, my hormones are off, and I'm having a hard time being present. I'm working on it, but I need you to know what's going on." Why This Works: Acknowledges there's a problem Takes responsibility without self-blame Reassures your partner it's not about them Explains the physical reality (hormones, depletion) Shows you're working on it Opens the door for support What Happens Next: They might have questions They might be relieved you're talking about it They might not fully understand (and that's okay) The important thing is you brought it into the light Important Truths About Intimacy & EDs: Your Libido Disappearing is NOT Your Fault: It's biology. Your body is in survival mode. Sex is not essential for survival. Your hormones are disrupted. This is a symptom. You're Not Broken: Your body is responding exactly as it should to starvation and restriction. This is protective, not defective. Your Partner Isn't the Problem: Even if you're attracted to them, your body can't prioritize sexual function right now. This isn't about attraction. Shame is the Enemy: The shame you feel about your body during intimacy is what's blocking connection. The body itself isn't the problem - the shame is. Recovery Restores Everything: This isn't permanent. As you nourish your body, your hormones will regulate. Your libido will return. Your ability to be present will come back. Intimacy can be restored. You Deserve Intimacy: Even with an eating disorder, you deserve connection, pleasure, and intimacy. But you have to do the recovery work to get there. Ready for Support? Work with Lindsey One-on-One: If you're ready to prioritize your recovery - not just for food freedom, but for your relationship too - Lindsey offers personalized recovery coaching where you work through: The food piece The body image piece The relationship piece The intimacy piece ALL of it Your relationship deserves you showing up fully. Your partner deserves you being present. YOU deserve to experience intimacy without shame, anxiety, or the ED blocking it. Recovery gives you that. And Lindsey is here to help you get there. Ready for Support? Option 1: The Recovery Collective Join Lindsey's group coaching program where you'll get: Community support from women who understand Weekly guidance and tools Accountability for hard days Strategies for stomach triggers and body image struggles Option 2: One-on-One Personalized Coaching work directly with Lindsey for: Custom plan for YOUR triggers and challenges Weekly support and accountability Tools specific to your recovery journey Personal guidance through the hardest moments Learn more about both options at www.herbestself.co You don't have to navigate this alone. Let's walk through recovery together. Connect with Lindsey Website: www.herbestself.co  Private Facebook Community: Her Best Self Society www.herbestselfsociety.com  1:1 Client Applications: HBS Co. Recovery Coaching - Client Application - Google Forms . Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you—if you saw yourself in Lindsey's rejection story—please subscribe to Her Best Self wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review. Your reviews help other women who are tired of perfectionism and people-pleasing find this show and realize they're not alone. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear the truth! About the Host Lindsey Nichol is a former competitive figure skater turned God-led entrepreneur, boy mom, and digital CEO. She understands how core beliefs formed in childhood can create and maintain eating disorder patterns, and she's passionate about helping women identify and transform these beliefs to find lasting freedom. If this episode helped you feel hopeful again and remember your worth isn't found in your body or on your plate, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women break the chains of limiting beliefs. *While I am a certified health coach, anorexia survivor & eating disorder recovery coach, I do not intend the use of this message to serve as medical advice. Please refer to the disclaimer here in the show & be sure to contact a licensed clinical provider if you are struggling with an eating disorder.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, From "The Best of Light Talk", we revisit last year's 7th Annual LIGHT TALK LIVE show from LDI!  The Lumen Family talks about everything from AI Madness to Our Favorite Sandwiches. Join Anne, Steve, Brackley, Zak, Stan, Snoot, and David as they pontificate about: The future of AI in our industry; What will be the relationshop of lighting and video sources in the future regarding output and control; Chapter 7 of "Bobby Danger... The Lighting Guy"; Our favorite lighting fixtures; Our favorite Vegas lighting displays; Zac's Casino heritage; The Neon Museum; Who thought that a Podcast was a good idea; and How do you tell an actor that they continually miss their spike mark? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen family interviews lighting designers Leo Lei and Sam Molitoriss. In this episode, Leo, Sam, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: The future of integrating the various lighting CAD and database programs to an all-in-one software; Consolidation vs. Fragmentation; When will AI make all this moot?; Should academic institutions focus more on teaching 3-D lighting programs and work-flow instead of 2D?; "Hog Factor" and Pre-viz; and The drones are coming! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Lighting challenging faces on television to Unfortunate news about your design fee. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Recapping our interview with Justin Townsend; The Daytime Emmy Awards for Lighting; Gobo sizing; Clever uplight solutions; Chin and Catch Lights; What happens when the theatre company can't pay your fee, Rembrandt Lighting; and Pissing off the Stage Manager.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen family interviews Broadway lighting designer Justin Townsend. In this episode, Justin, Ellen, Steve, and Dennis discuss: Justin's journey as a lighting designer; Teaching hand drafting; Working with Jonathan Groff and Alex Timbers; A trip to Home Depot for Mini 10's; "Bat Boy"; Teaching at NYU; "Here Lies Love"; Collaborating artistically with associates and programmers; Growing up with opera in the house; Playing with light; Staying Dangerous; Being ready to pivot; 48 Dimmers in a Basement; Learning how to work with a large team; Justin's panel at LDI; Challenges of mixing family life with work; and Lessons for young lighting designers of today.   Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister present their annual Halloween Spectacular! Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: What to feed the kiddies; Annoying your neighbors; Planning your display with the right design apporach; What to do when kids start  talking to inflatables; Halloween ghosts projections; Bats in the Belfry; Using haze, smoke, and strobes for maximum effect; The scary power of the Hammond organ; A ladle of seeds; Scary "Tales from Texas"; Being able to afford a Halloween display; and New ideas for LDI swag. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Cue Server to Director Talk. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and Stan as they pontificate about: News from Dallas and Bobby Hale; The futility of lighting black drapes; The production design of "The Studio"; What Ozzy really thought of Spinal Tap; Apple's "For All Mankind"; How to understand "Director Speak"; Working with Interactive Technologies' "Cue Server"; and What in the world is a "French Scene"? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our "Young Designers Series", the Lumen Family interviews Production and Concert Touring Designer Cort Lawrence. In this episode, Cort, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, Zac, and David discuss: Working with immersive video screens in design; Using AI in design development; Programmers and designers using AI to scan audio tracks to find compositional elements in a song; Human intervention for safety issues in design; Cooperation vs. Collaboration; Creatives acting as translators; Protecting your intellectual propery in an AI world; How being a student of history informs your design; Self-training on Cinema 4D in high school; Raw Cereal; and Advice for young production designers.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, as part of our "Emerging Young Artists Series", the Lumen Family interviews Broadway Lighting Designer Colleen Doherty. In this episode, Colleen, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: The Prime Time Emmy cinematography and lighting winners; Trump's Emmy; Starting as a performer in Florida; Undergrad and Graduate School Days; Getting a foothold in New York; Designing "The Twelfth Night Show" and "The Great Emu Wars"; Reliving sleepy productions; Having Don Holder as a mentor; Making the jump to Broadway; Dealing with competition and jealosy; "Comparison is the Death of Joy"; Working with Justin Townsend; Cold-Calling; Working in LORT theatres; Dealing with low fees; The right time to find an agent; Learning how to budget for a freelance career; Colleen's LDI panels; and Advice for young designers heading into the profession. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Entrepreneur and "Geezers of Gear" podcaster Marcel Fairbairn. In this episode, Marcel, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Being the Poorest guy in Wellington;  GearSource; Musical roots; The "Rock Mass"; Early days at Martin; Crazy parties; PAL 1200 and RoboScan stories; Ticket Bots; Dining with Dinosaurs at LDI; Sin City Sessions; GearShare, Solving cross-rental gear problems with AI; X-Live; Know Your Customer;  Marcel's pandemic Zoom Happy Hours; Are we close to an AI Lighting Console?; and Words of wisdom for young lighting entrepreneurs.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

Ellen Lampert-Greaux is the creative director for Live Design and LDI, an annual conference and trade show for entertainment design and technology professionals. She was on the five-person team that founded LDI in 1988, and has produced the conference and worked on special events for the show since its debut, working on all aspects from programming and promotion to operations, registration, and the attendee experience. She has also produced additional events for the Live Design/LDI franchise such as their Master Classes series for lighting, projection, audio, scenic design; the Envision Symposium; Backstage Las Vegas; and XLIVExLDI. She is also a triple award-winning writer - editor for Live Design (FOLIO: EDDY Award in 2021, 2022, and 2023) who specializes in entertainment design and technology, writing regularly for livedesignonline.com, as well as a freelance writer on technology and architectural lighting. She is also a co-host ( a Lumen sister) on the Light Talk podcast.She attended NYU where she was an English major, and Temple University for a BFA in television/film production. She earned her MFA in arts administration from Brooklyn College and was the publicity director of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (1979-1986). She is a theatrical press agent and a member of ATPAM/IATSE, as well co-founder in 1996 and co-director of the St. Barth Film Festival in the French West Indies, having run a similar festival in Avignon, France (1984-1993). She speaks fluent French and translates articles for magazines from French to English. This conversation explores the evolution and impact of LDI since its inception in 1988, highlighting the commitment of Light Switch to enhance experiences through design. The discussion covers various training opportunities, innovative events, and the importance of inclusivity and networking within the entertainment industry. The future of LDI is also addressed, emphasizing its role in fostering mentorship and professional growth.This Episode is brought to you by Lightswitch

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Mystery Budgets to Missing Professors. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Vectorworks says: "Thanks for the invite... but...."; The differences between an Assistant and Associate Lighting Designer; What do you do when your Superstar lighting professor is rarely at school; Knowing what your production budget is; Great Shakespeare come-backs; Why are some TV shows so dark; and When to freeze an academic show. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Rising  Vectorworks Prices to Dennis' Lighting Injustices. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Dancing in the Dark; The new Sphere Wizard of Oz show; Extensive uses of Gobos; Creating a stained glass look on a window; Paying attention to the playwrights' lighting notes; Designing the black before you design the light; Our most powerful blackouts; The new inflation barometer; Dennis' strange Dunkin Donuts encounter at LDI; Are software subscriptions here to stay?; Vectorworks' new pricing strategy; Kit fees; and Wasting time at technical rehearsals. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Being Attracted to Triangles to The Village People. Join Ellen, Zac, and David as they pontificate about: New time for "Light Talk at LDI"; Zac's new appointment as one of USITT's Digital Media Commissioners; Making the world safer for projections; Lighting Zones; Odds vs. Evens; Striving for a "Hot Center"; Designing for heat and hail storms at summer festivals; "The HAL 2001 AI Lighting Console"; Can the design process be standardized?; Favored Nations and negotiating design fees; Having the flexibility to adhere to other artists' standards; "Test and Adjust"; The "Zac-App"; David's Memoirs; and "Freezing" Shows.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Programmer/Designer and Tech, Matt Schiller. In this installment of our "Young Designers' Series", Matt, Ellen, Steve, Dennis, and David discuss: Getting started right out of high school; Telling Mom and Dad that you are going on the road; Doing the PRG Internship; Touring with Diddy; Safety issues when touring; Moving to Las Vegas; Sphere Stories; Working with “Dead and Company,” and “The Backstreet Boys”; Dead and Company's Par Cans; "Lighting Up" at The Dead shows; Road Stories; Are Followspots dead?; Setting up your console; Advantages and disadvantages of being on the road vs. a residency; Dealing with different levels of competency; The future of AI in console development; Changing things that your dad complained about; and Advice to young designers and techs who want to work in Las Vegas.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers and Sister, the Lumen Family interviews Lighting Designer Mextly Couzin. In another installment of our "Young Designers' Series", Mextly, Ellen, Dennis, and David discuss Mextly's amazing and meteoric career. Mextly describes her fearless journey from earning a Pure Mathematics degree to designing her first Broadway show. Tons of wise words and advice on many issues, including: Making connections; The story of "JOB"; Being proactive; Safety issues at summer theatres; Discovering "painting" with light; Things that need to be changed; Will AI take over our jobs?; and How to survive and succeed, at such a young age.   Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with stage designer and Professor of Scenic Design at San Francisco State University, Michael Schweikardt. Join Michael, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they discuss the Passing of Legendary Theatre Artist Robert Wilson; and The ever-changing landscape of budget, enrollment, workload, and expectations that are affecting the future of university theatre programs.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The "Ellipsoidal of Death" to  Poking Pigs. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Upcoming deadlines; The Billy Joel documentary; How should a resident lighting designer or assistant prepare for a visiting guest designer;  Our favorite lighting fixture; "Shower Curtains Can Be Your Best Friend"; Do people still use Fresnels?; The affects of working in a dark theatre for 18 hours a day; "The Rookie's Guide to Selecting Color"; "Disco Inferno"; Are organized labor unions becoming obsolete?; and Lighting an unpainted set. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Creating the Illusion to Remembering Ozzy Osbourne. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David and Snoot's wedding report; Our memories of Ozzy; Royal Castle burgers in a box; Tomorrowland fire; How to choose your colors while using subtractive and additive mixing; Remounting shows and matching color using different sources; How to create an effect of light coming through a slit in the wall of the set; What to do when your plot, paperwork and backups are stolen; Total Bastard's "Eternal Roll of Gaffer's Tape"; and How much pre-production decision-making is necessary. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Facebook Lighting Group Wars to Getting Drunk in Catalina. Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David's upcoming wedding; The Brouhaha occuring with lighting groups on Facebook; How to get more attention from your lighting professor; Undergraduate students in graduate classes; "Extra Credit"; Tales From the American Stage"; How to tell your director that part of the show is not working; and Are swatchbooks really obsolete? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with lighting designer and author Brad Schiller.  Join Brad, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: David and Snoot's European Adventure; The Virgin cruising experience; Studio School of Design's live classes; Brad's first experiences with light; Brad's new position at GLP; Brad's Showlight lecture; Sticking light bulbs up your nose; Finding gigs early in your career; Future unique products at GLP; The "Mad Max"; The GLP Road Show;  Brad's books; "GDTF" and "MVR";  and Advice for young designers and technicians.   Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK, the Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome lighting designer Paule Constable to the show.   Join Paule, Anne, Steve, and David, as they discuss: The challenges to having a career and a family, Paule taking her flatmate's followspot job, The continuing fight for gender equality in the lighting industry, Superman's telephone box, Renewing your spirit, The hubris of youth, Being the first woman who lit a show at the National Theatre, Being bold and asking for jobs, Embracing Complexity and Risk, Unconscious sexism, Gender balanced production teams, Being involved early in the process, What is the light doing in the room?, Articulating space with light, The intimacy of WarHorse, Our responsibility for sustainability in the arts, Fiddling while Rome burns, Time for zero-carbon festivals, and Don't use light for light's sake.   Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of THE BEST OF LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers interview "The Godmother of Projection Design", Wendall Harrington. Join Wendall, Zak, Steve, and David as they pontificate about:   Being the first projection designer on Broadway; "Stop Making Sense"; Trailblazing gender rights in the theatre; "They're Playing Our Song"; Video vs. Slide Projectors; Loving and missing Pani's; "The Who's Tommy"... behind the scenes; 2000 slides in 54 slide projectors; Balancing family and professional lives; Getting robbed of your femininity; Inspired mentors; Wise words from Sondheim; "The Wendall School";   Heading the Video Projection concentration at Yale; Visual story-telling; Theatre is afraid of the internet; Elevating the actor in a flat medium;  and Do you really need projections in your show? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, as part of our "Young Designers Series", The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk with lighting designer Paul Radasseo.  Join Paul, Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Wedding ideas; Favorite TV shows for lighting design; What Paul learned at Ithaca College; The decision to pursue broadcast lighting design; Getting into the business in NYC; First projects at LDG; The decision whether or not to go to graduate school; The beauty of Gothic architecture; First few years surviving in NYC; "Cold E-mailing" designers and pick-up gigs; The importance of hand-drafting; How to deal with different types of stress; Working on tour-productions; Advice on maintaining a work/life balance; and "Dream Jobs".  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from The Tony Awards to Stinky Cheese.  Join Ellen, Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Welcome back Ellen!; Report from Design Showcase West; Report from Showlight; Join the Club! Dennis makes a mistake!; Out of control submasters in broadcast lighting; External Validation; Comments on The Tony Awards; and How to successfully light over rehearsals and runs.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister kick off their "Young Designers Series", focusing on the challenges that young designers face when starting their careers. Today they talk with lighting designers Kelsey Araghi and Keegan Webber about starting their challenges and successes in starting their careers in professional lighting design. Join Kelsey, Keegan, Dennis, Zak, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: How important was their training in becoming lighting designers; Choosing the right university; BA or BFA?; The choice of not attending graduate school; How important is theatrical experience before attending school; Studying Stage Management; What training did they hope to receive at school, but didn't get; Achieving "Work/Life Balance"; Being the youngest person in the room; Finding jobs after graduating; Kelsey taking the bold step of contacting David; Knowing when to say "yes" or "no" to a job; The advantages of being partners; Working with LumaLux and Early Bird Visual; Blown New Year's Resolutions; Keeping up with technology with little funding to do it; Dreams; and Advice for young designers and programmers. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from High Testosterone to Horror Stories from the USA 829 Practical Exam.  Join Dennis, Zak, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Report from the National Portfolio Review; Dennis' Lee Watson experience at the Union Exam; Transfering the lighting of stage plays from theatre to television; Projectors vs. LED walls in the broadcast video world; Being "bathed in the image"; Considerations when running LED walls behind talent; The difference in lighting for high-end OLED televisions vs. standard definition televisions; Skin detail features; Lighting considerations for remote shots; A Public Service Announcement from PETA, "People for the Ethical Domestication of Antropods";  and Labeling and numbering light cues. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Annoying Assistant Directors, to the "LDI 2025 Light Talk After Dark Party". Join Dennis, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Making sure Snoot is happy; Sister Ellen having fun at Showlight; National Design Portfolio Review and Design Showcase West; Classes you should take and other opportunities to learn broadcast lighting design; Balancing artistic aspirations with real world budgets; "5 Guys"; "Have-a-Bisquit Sampler"; A Fuzzy Brick of Bliss; "Lighting Design and the Art of Problem Solving"; The Light Talk Puzzler answer; Zen and the Art of Lighting Design; How to best explain to a young lighting designer that their light cue has no purpose; and Lee Watson's Bow Ties. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Finding a Job on the High Seas, to Firework Shortages. Join Ellen, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Clay Paky mergering with EK; Wild trade shows in Italy; Size matters; Researching your artistic "instruments"; Finding a summer job on a cruise ship; "For the Love of Thespis, can we just enjoy a night at the theatre?"; The "Light Talk Puzzler" returns!;  and How to snare a job with a lighting production company. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Directors and Producers Altering Intellectual Property, to The Power of The Playwright. Join Ellen, Steve, and Stan as they pontificate about: Masking and Sightlines; Why are Americans terrified of Rakes?; European Paperwork; Edible Softgoods; and Who owns your work? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers talk about everything from Tharon's Magic, to The Coming Death of Academic Freedom for America's Educators. Join Steve, David, and Stan as they pontificate about: The reduction of scholarships for Undergraduate Design/Tech students; The weeding away of support for higher education; How to create subtle lighting cues; The "TB Profile"; "Color with a Full-Time Attitude"; Should you be hesitant to attend a university in a Red State?; Licking Frogs; and Will the tariffs negatively affect the entertainment lighting industry?  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Keeping your Atmospheres Beautiful, to Our New Color, "Olo".  Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Stan as they pontificate about: Girls on the Town!;  A new color no one has ever seen before;  New hope for Color Blindness; More news from Texas; Best technques for lighting an orchestra;  Lighting toilets in grand Central Station; Adding facial visibility to dark and textured atmospheres; Delivering brutal honesty with style; Light and Health; and The differences in "top-shelf" lighting consoles. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of The Best of LIGHT TALK (Originally broadcast on April 14, 2023), The Lumen Brothers and Sister welcome "Legend of Light" Jennifer Tipton to the show!    Join Jennifer, Ellen, Steve, Stan, and David, as they pontificate about: Jennifer's most vital career moments; White light and LED; Falling in love with the photon; Discovering moonlight; The "mystique" of being Jennifer; Light and music; Starting a career in Dance; Working with great directors and choreographers; The challenges of Dance lighting; Directing The Tempest; Designing with new technology; Working with The Wooster Group; Discovering bounce-light; Teaching students not to become clones; and Advice for young lighting designers.   Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister celebrate their 8th Year of presenting their "Casserole of Nonsense" to their listeners.  Join Ellen, Brackley, Zak, Steve, David, and Stan as they pontificate about: News from Texas; Nosferatu; "Magic Magenta"; Non-Spectral colors; Inexpensive drafting programs; Going "Old-School"; Using LED fixtures for front light; Gobos or Nobos?; "The Steam Leko 2025 Edition"; The genius of "Adolescence"; New state-of-the art projection surfaces; MuxWave; and Transparent LED screens.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Knowing Your Value, to David's Tax School.  Join Ellen, Steve, David, and Stan as they pontificate about: ETC's 50th Anniversary Bash in Orlando; Lobster Rolls in Orlando?; Meatballs with Faces; The High End Halcyon Silent; Are 1970's lighting angles still relevant today?; The "Jewel System"; "Adolescence"; Phone controlled motorized track-lights;  RCL's DX series; Should you file your taxes as a Sole Proprietor or an Employee?; Pet Sweat and 7-11's "Late Night Gourmet Wonders"; "Am I insured?"; Knowing your value; and What to bring to an industry portfolio review.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister talk about everything from Dining with Dinosaurs to Stan's Tax School.  Join Ellen, Steve, and Stan as they pontificate about: Upcoming trade shows and conferences; More on Black Trax and Follow-Me; Controlling LED's; Five important elements of a good rock n' roll lighting design; The Tiger Lilies; The Peak End-state Phenomena; Tax Coaster 2024; and The truth about income taxes.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers welcome Lighting Designer Jim Tetlow Back to the Show! Join Jim, Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: New events at Showlight; International diversification of lighting designers; Expanded and financially sponsored student program (Applications close March 31!); Interviewing French caterers; Upgrading the television lighting in The U.S. Senate Chamber; Lost baggage; Why live shows are getting brighter and brighter... Will it ever be bright enough?; Balancing video and stage levels in live entertainment and corporate shows; How about "Someplace to build from?"; and The Transition Phase to becoming a Crumudgen.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

Today we had the opportunity to speak Dana Knoetgen, host of the podcast Light Talk with Dana. She shared so many interesting personal paranormal experiences that featured everything from cryptids, spirits, and even ETs!

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Family welcomes Designer/Educators Clifton Taylor and Mark Stanley to the show! Join Mark, Clifton, Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: This year's Showlight preview; Mark and Jane's workshop in Copenhagen; What's new at The Studio School of Design; The High School Program in July in New York; Professional Development for High School teachers; The College Educators' Symposium in May; "The Tortoise and The Hare"; How many Gilbert's Bunnies fit in a hotel room; Dance touring training; The fall Lighting Curriculum Program; Lifelong learning; and The real value of The Studio School of Design.  Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from The Power of Palettes, to Making Nice with the AHJ. Join Ellen, Stan, Steve, and David as they pontificate about: Palindromes; Ellen is going to Showlite; The first micro-processor computer light board; Does lighting technology really makes things faster?; Why lighting palettes are important; Dealing with city safety inspectors; Bulk up with "The Better Than Nothing Industries Workout Diet"; and What to do when you are running out of time due to the Director restaging the show. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from The Hidden Benefits of a Performing Arts Degree, to DOPE-Bros. Join Stan, Brackley, and David as they pontificate about: Why some fixtures come in more than one varient; The worst college degrees for career advancement; Making the decision to commit to the arts; The Department of Podcast Excellence; Great presents for graduating lighting students, Leasing out your lighting consoles; and Marrying-Up! Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from The Mac Aura Raven XIP, to Fun in Catabucca! Join Stan and David as they pontificate about: Freezing in Seattle; Martin's new fixtures; Stan's favorite "South Pacific" song; Designing for Thrust with challenging lighting positions; "No Charge"; Dissing stagehands, "Theatre Fantasy Cruise", and Who has the best code? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from Rare Earths, to Box Jellyfish. Join Ellen, Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Steve's downloads; Frozen Octopus; Designing stage and architectural lighting control; Warm or Cold LED's; RGBW Houselight systems; Are gels making a comeback?; Working on a non-profit charity show; Good-will; "Evil Kitten's Tin Pants"; Our Superbowl Halftime Show Review; and The most important question to ask at a job interview. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from Our Grammys Review, to DMX à La Mode. Join Zak, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: "The Nightfly"; Why DMX modes are so confusing; Is it just a "Nerd Thing"?; Considering the light and color that is reflecting off of a surface; The art of negotiation; Our Grammy Show review; Noah Mitz's amazing lighting design; The most powerful moments; Beautiful and Incredible performances; The LA FIres tribute; Chappell Rone tells it like it is; The Tunnels; When its unnescessary for video content; Tips for capturing your designs in photos for your portfolio; and Taking videos of your videos. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sister discuss everything from 7000 Par Cans to Our Ultimate Lighting Fantasies. Join Ellen, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: NAMM Report; Grammy preview; Must you use all the lights on a light plot?; The return of "Drone Focus Deluxe"; Slow programmers; Dream light plots; "Lumen Master Control with AI"; Being an honorable professional; Avoiding being the "victim"; Exceeding the expectations; and What type of television should you buy. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from "Playing a Hooter", to Sleeping with the Monkeys. Join Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Snow in Florida; Fires near Snoot's house;  David at NAMM and the Grammies; The Majesty of Mellotrons; Steve heading to URTA; How not to burn bridges when you get really pissed off; What is so special about diffusion?; "A whole bowl of wrong"; GAM diffusion filters; Beam shaping; Moving to the United States for theatre gigs; A PSA from "The American Federation of Donut Makers"; Marijuana Donuts; What to say when you first meet your lighting team; Stan in a bucket; "The Finisher"; and Turning off the power prematurely. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from Giving it Up, to "My Dog Ate My Homework". Join Stan, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: The LA Fires; Cold weather at URTA; The Hemsley Lighting Programs Application; Distributing DMX; Improvements in wireless DMX; The importance of a high GPA when applying to graduate schools; When should you give up trying to be a professional lighting designer; Missing phone booths; How much homework is appropriate for grad and undergrad lighting students; Efficiency vs. gains in productivity; Raising expectations in art due to technology; and Keeping Par-Bars in the Air. Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.

In this episode of LIGHT TALK, The Lumen Brothers and Sisters discuss everything from URTA Prep to Crossbreeding Iguanas. Join Ellen, Jacqui, David, and Steve as they pontificate about: Researching graduate lighting programs; Useful skills to master; Using the library; Basic techniques in lighting musical production numbers; Creating the illusion of unobtainable lighting angles; Less is more; "Bring back the 10 out of 12's"; What happens when your production goes south; "Spiderman" Disasters; and Color Faders, Parellipspheres, and Kliegl 1355's... Why not keep old inventory? Nothing is Taboo, Nothing is Sacred, and Very Little Makes Sense.