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How did early modern England understand race and how has that influenced our thinking? Race is often considered a recent construct, but Shakespeare's works—both his plays and poetry—reveal a diverse world already aware of race, identity, and difference. In this episode, Patricia Akhimie, editor of The Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Race, discusses the growing field of study and what we can learn from it. She is joined by two of the scholars contributing essays to the guide, Dennis Britton and Kirsten Mendoza, who are exploring the ways race, gender, and power intersect in Shakespeare's long narrative poems. Britton examines Venus and Adonis, investigating how Shakespeare's portrayal of beauty, fairness, and desire upends traditional thinking about sexuality and race. Mendoza focuses on human rights in The Rape of Lucrece, revealing how Shakespeare's use of color symbolism exposes early modern ideas about race, gender, and bodily autonomy. Both scholars illuminate how Shakespeare's works have encoded ideas about race, which continue to resonate today. The Oxford Handbook of Shakespeare and Race is an essential resource for scholars, teachers, students, and readers interested in this important area of Shakespeare research. Patricia Akhimie is Director of the Folger Institute at the Folger Shakespeare Library, Director of the RaceB4Race Mentorship Network, and Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University-Newark. She is editor of the Arden Othello (4th series), author of Shakespeare and the Cultivation of Difference: Race and Conduct in the Early Modern World and, with Bernadette Andrea, co-editor of Travel and Travail: Early Modern Women, English Drama, and the Wider World. Dennis Austin Britton is an Associate Professor of English at the University of British Columbia. His research interests include early modern English literature, Protestant theology, premodern critical race studies, and the history of emotion. He is the author of Becoming Christian: Race, Reformation, and Early Modern English Romance (2014), coeditor with Melissa Walter of Rethinking Shakespeare Source Study: Audiences, Authors, and Digital Technologies (2018), and co-editor with Kimberly Anne Coles of ‘Spenser and Race', a special issue of Spenser Studies (2021). He is currently working on a new edition of Othello for Cambridge University Press and a monograph, ‘Shakespeare and Pity: A Literary History of Race and Feeling.' Kirsten N. Mendoza is an Associate Professor of English and Human Rights at the University of Dayton. Her first book project, ‘A Politics of Touch: The Racialization of Consent in Early Modern English Literature', examines the conceptual ties that link shifting sixteenth- and seventeenth-century discourses on self-possession and sexual consent with England's colonial endeavors, involvement in the slave trade, and global mercantile pursuits. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Renaissance Drama, Shakespeare Bulletin, The Norton Critical Edition of Doctor Faustus, Race and Affect in Early Modern English Literature, and Teaching Social Justice Through Shakespeare: Why Renaissance Literature Matters Now. From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast. Published February 10, 2025. © Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode was produced by Matt Frassica. Garland Scott is the executive producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster. We had help with web production from Paola García Acuña. Leonor Fernandez edits our transcripts. Final mixing services are provided by Clean Cuts at Three Seas, Inc.
We chat with Melissa Walter, co-owner and co-founder of Philadelphia's Love City Brewing, about the latest developments for the brewery and for her. Melissa's background as a social worker comes out in her balanced approach to grief, her business acumen is on full display in her ability to steer the ship toward Love City's upcoming 6th anniversary, and her future-focused vision is seen as she describes what is sure to be an exciting 2026 for Philadelphia (yes, 2026). Love City's IG, Melissa's IG Follow us on Instagram and check out our website. Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes here. Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of @lotiecreates.
Check out Love City's event called The Hating Game on Valentine's Day! Co-founder of Love City Brewing, Melissa provides an update of how things have been going since we last spoke. Snazzy theme music by Beer Person Gerry Mayer, check out more of his tunes here. Artwork by the illustrious Lotus of @lotiecreates.
Joining us this episode is Co-Owner of Love City Brewing and Chairperson of the Brewers of PA Equity and Inclusion Committee, Melissa Walter. We discuss the committee and its goals, as well as several other initiatives and events by Love City aimed at promoting and supporting marginalized communities. Plus discussions on resources and organizations aimed at making safe spaces for everyone, including the book Making Spaces Safer from author Shawna Potter and WOAR Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence. Of course, we also chat about what's new and exciting at Love City, including the upcoming release of an Italian Pilsner, cause that is our kinda jawn. In Happy Fun Time, we play a round of Libation or Fabrication – Music Edition, all about weird beer names based on artists, bands, and songs. During the proceedings, some beers are consumed. Do you love Beer Busters? Of course you do! Why not leave us a rating and review on your podcast platform of choice and consider supporting us on Patreon.
Melissa Walter, co-founder of Love City Brewing in Philly, moves the craft beer industry in a more inclusive, antiracist, antisexist direction. We discuss her vision for making Love City a welcoming space with delicious beer that also serves as an example of much-needed change. Artwork by @lotiecreates. Theme song is "Breath" by HoliznaCC0.
We are honored to be joined by Love City Brewing's Co-Owner, Melissa Walter. She discusses the importance for creating accountability and standards of safety within the hospitality industry. Find out what happens when you carry a #CraftForAll mentality from the design stage of your brewery all the way through daily operations. Cheers PA Beer Talk is a conversation series supported by Weis Markets that focuses on the stories and communities that are pushing Pennsylvania's thriving craft beer industry into the future. Cheers PA Beer Talk | Pennsylvania's Beer Talk Show www.cheerspa.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/cheerspa Instagram: www.instagram.com/cheers_pa Facebook: www.facebook.com/cheerspa Twitter: www.twitter.com/cheers_pa See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Recorded May 20, 2021: On this week's bonus episode of the Alternative Blacks Podcast, Tyler is joined by Melissa Walter, the co-founder of Love City Brewing, to discuss the racist and sexist acts to come from Tired Hands and Yards Brewing Company. While drinking Massive from Gigantic Brewing Company, Tyler breaks down the issues within the industry and how to create a safe space for everyone in craft beer. Make sure to follow us on Instagram so you can stay up to date on the happenings of the show, and catch us every other Thursday at 7 pm ET as we go live! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/alternative-blacks/support
Walter talks astronomy, neurology, and healing during the pandemic. Music by Nick Lesley. Originally published at hereinjournal.org/conversations/melissa-walter-with-herein.
This episode of Love + Grit is all about delicious beverages of the fermented variety —no surprise, since Philly is a city that takes beer seriously. Jamaar Julal of Philly-headquartered JamBrü kicks things off as he breaks down the mystery of kombucha —that delicious, trendy, good-for-you fermented tea. And hosts Laiya, Justin and Rachel also welcome Love City Brewing owners Kevin and Melissa Walter to discuss innovation and activism in the beer community, which has a deep history in Philadelphia. Tune in to hear how these Philadelphia beverage makers are adapting to the ever-evolving coronavirus world and welcoming visitors in search of a cold one.
The craft beer scene has plenty of bros waxing on about hops, but more and more women are making beer, too. And if they’re Love City Brewing’s Melissa Walter, they’re making change while they’re at it.Melissa is the co-founder of Philly’s own Love City Brewing, a vocal supporter of getting more women into the beer industry, and an advocate for safer, more inclusive bars everywhere. She joins us to talk about how she went from therapist to brewery owner, why she prioritized covering employee benefits and creating a philanthropic program from day one, and what it looks like to build a bar where everyone feels welcome. Yes, of course, we need to make money, we need to keep the doors open, we need to keep the lights on. But beyond that, I’m like, why do you need five million dollars this year? I’m not saying that making money is terrible, but I’m saying you can build these things in, grow a little more slowly, be a little more conscious... You live in this place, you should take care of it.—Melissa Walter, co-founder of Love City BrewingWe talk about: How she’s creating community for women in beer. “There are women in the industry, we just have to find them and bring them together.” Why diversity always matters. “I think any industry should look like the community in which it is involved.” What it looks like to make accessibility a foundational requirement. “Our front entrance is a ramp; everybody comes in the same way: you go up the ramp, done. So, people who use a chair or don’t use a chair, same entrance, same accessibility as everybody else. All of our bathrooms are gender-neutral, so anybody can use any bathroom whatsoever.” Why all Love City staff go through sexual harassment intervention training. “The things that I’ve read from other places are that if they do take advantage of this training it’s like they’re admitting something is wrong. And I’m like, ‘ah…no? You’re doing the thing to make sure things don’t go wrong!’” Why Love City decided to give back from day one. “You live in this place, you should take care of it.” Links Lovecitybrewing.comLove City on Twitter and InstagramMelissa on Instagram Pink Boots SocietySafe Bars Philly
This week on The Artist Unmasked I bring you five amazing and talented artists who were showcasing their art at KAABOO Del Mar. I chat San Diego Contemporary Artists Jason Humphrey of Original Ink Art, Brady Willmott, Darcee from Everyone Is Starry Eyed, Melissa Walter, and Monty Montgomery. KAABOO Del Mar creates a gallery-esque space where attendees are able to talk with the artists, purchase new pieces of work to add to their collection, and be introduced to talented artists from all over the country.
This week, Kristen catches up with Melissa Walter (co-owner of Love City Brewing), Erin Wallace (owner of the Devil’s Den), and Shawn Dulee (co-owner of Naked Brewing Company) who, along with other Pink Boots Society members are hosting the 1st Annual Bold Women & Beer Festival. This women-centered beer festival (the first of its kind in PA) is happening Saturday, May 4th at Love City Brewing, featuring more than 30 breweries, as well as food trucks and live music by four female-fronted bands. Tickets, which include a tasting glass and all you can drink, are $45 per person. Designated driver tickets are also available for $10. All profits from the event will go to a scholarship fund run by the Pink Boots Society, an organization that aims to assist and educate women in the beer industry. Buy tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bold-women-beer-festival-tickets-58375932987 Then, Debby Derricks, the Director of Development at the Veterans Multi-Service Center stops by the studio to talk about the 4th-Annual VMC Veterans Fashion Show - Rewrite the Runway. It’s Friday, May 3rd at the 23rd St. Armory beginning at 6pm. Veterans will be strutting down the runway wearing fashions from the VMC’s thrift store. Rewrite the Runway raises funds and increases awareness for the VMC’s ongoing mission of providing services, programs, and opportunity and advancement to Veterans of the United States military and their families. In addition to the runway fashion show, there will be a silent auction, catering by Harvest, open bar, and a DJ. Oh, and a few close friends of BEN-FM will be hosting - WMGK’s John DeBella and XTU’s Mark Razz! Buy discounted $75 tickets and find more information here: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/ThePhiladelphiaVeteransMulti-/Rewritetherunway.html Finally, Deborah Cassidy, the Director of Sales, Marketing, & Family Services at West Laurel Hill returns to BEN Around Philly to talk about this year’s 7th Annual Bow Ties, Big Hats & Bourbon Kentucky Derby Fundraiser. Easily the best derby party in the area, the event will feature live viewing of the 145th Kentucky Derby race on 4 TV’s, a betting board, cigar lounge, live music, fashion illustrations by Denise Fike, a fashion contest with prizes, open bar and buffet and horse-drawn carriage rides through the historic grounds of West Laurel Hill (187 acres - 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004). General Admission Tickets ($75) and VIP Tickets ($100) available. 4:00 VIP Check-in, 5pm General Admission to 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit Gateway HorseWorks, a 501(c)(3) public charity which offers transformative Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Services to children, adults, and families in a healing, farm-based environment. The very next day… Sunday, May 5th, West Laurel Hill will be hosting the Pennsylvania Ballet, offering two exclusive, one-day-only performances of scenes from Giselle and Romeo & Juliet on the historic grounds of West Laurel Hill. There will be a 12:30pm performance of a scene from Giselle and a 5:00pm performance of a scene from Romeo & Juliet. Performances will be followed by meet-and-greet receptions with the Angel and dancers of each performance along with light fare and drinks. Proceeds from the event benefit The Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery. Tickets for Giselle $100, Tickets for Romeo and Juliet $125. Find more information and purchase tickets for both events here: westlaurelhill.com/
Melissa Walter had a job at NASA. She did graphic design, illustration and social media, mostly for NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. She loved the job, but she also started obsessing over the fine art she was making at home in her spare time. At the end of 2015, she decided to take the leap: She quit her full-time job so she could become a full-time artist. "I was sort of having more confidence in what I was doing, and more excitement, and that's all I could think about," Walter said. "I realized, OK, this is it. This is what I should be spending my time on." In a new episode of Culturecast, Voice of San Diego's podcast about arts and culture, I talk to Walter about her transition to full-time artist, and the science-based art that's been fueling her success. Many artists who quit their day jobs flounder, at least in the beginning. But Walter has quickly flourished, scoring group and solo shows, plus residencies that have allowed her to explore large-scale installation work. She's also the subject of a new documentary by The Artist Odyssey, a San Diego production company that produces short films about artists for its subscribers. The interest in Walter's art stems, in part, from her perfectionism. She's a bit obsessive-compulsive, which means she's able to intensely focus on her work and use time-consuming processes – like using thousands of tiny dots to create a shading effect – that result in attractive, detailed geometric images. People also appreciate her exploration of astrophysics and astronomical objects. Because of Walter's background in science-based illustrations and graphic design, she's got a knack for turning complicated ideas into intriguing and meticulous minimalist drawings, sculptures and installations. But even those who glaze over the dark matter, gravitational waves and other complicated concepts at the center of her art can still enjoy the clean images she creates. "You don't have to know any of this to look at my work or appreciate it," she said. "I like the idea that people can connect to my work visually, and then if they take the time to learn about it more in depth, then maybe they'll be more curious or inspired."
Melissa Walter had a job at NASA. She did graphic design, illustration and social media, mostly for NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. She loved the job, but she also started obsessing over the fine art she was making at home in her spare time. At the end of 2015, she decided to take the leap: She quit her full-time job so she could become a full-time artist. "I was sort of having more confidence in what I was doing, and more excitement, and that's all I could think about," Walter said. "I realized, OK, this is it. This is what I should be spending my time on." In a new episode of Culturecast, Voice of San Diego's podcast about arts and culture, I talk to Walter about her transition to full-time artist, and the science-based art that's been fueling her success. Many artists who quit their day jobs flounder, at least in the beginning. But Walter has quickly flourished, scoring group and solo shows, plus residencies that have allowed her to explore large-scale installation work. She's also the subject of a new documentary by The Artist Odyssey, a San Diego production company that produces short films about artists for its subscribers. The interest in Walter's art stems, in part, from her perfectionism. She's a bit obsessive-compulsive, which means she's able to intensely focus on her work and use time-consuming processes – like using thousands of tiny dots to create a shading effect – that result in attractive, detailed geometric images. People also appreciate her exploration of astrophysics and astronomical objects. Because of Walter's background in science-based illustrations and graphic design, she's got a knack for turning complicated ideas into intriguing and meticulous minimalist drawings, sculptures and installations. But even those who glaze over the dark matter, gravitational waves and other complicated concepts at the center of her art can still enjoy the clean images she creates. "You don't have to know any of this to look at my work or appreciate it," she said. "I like the idea that people can connect to my work visually, and then if they take the time to learn about it more in depth, then maybe they'll be more curious or inspired." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Products of the Mind: A Conversation About the Intersection of Business + Creativity
Welcome to Episode 4 of Products of the Mind. On this episode, I speak with fine artist Melissa Walter. From Art School to NASA It was fascinating learning about Melissa’s journey as an artsy kid to illustrating rave posters in art school to a 15 year career working for NASA. I hope you enjoy listening to the interview as much as I enjoyed doing it. To see images of Melissa's work with NASA and her fine art, go to the show notes page for this episode: productsofthemind.net/melissa Want to learn more about NASA’s Chandra Observatory? Go to http://chandra.si.edu/. And if you’d like to see more of Melissa Walter’s art and learn more about her, go to https://instagram.com/_melissa.walter_/. Thanks for Checking Out Products of the Mind! If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the top and bottom of this page. Also, please consider taking the few seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes. They’re very helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I read every one. Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or your favorite podcast app to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live. Free Checklist Click here to download your free Intellectual Property for Entrepreneurs Checklist—a one-page guide to the high-level information you need to keep in mind in order to protect your trademarks, copyrights, patentable inventions, and trade secrets. The Credits As always, the music for this episode was provided by Le Chateau. The track name is “Bury You.” Go buy it on Soundcloud! The illustration accompanying these show notes is by Whit Harris. The NASA image credit is NASA/CXC/M.Weiss. This episode and these show notes © 2015 David Lizerbram