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Interview Date: March 23rd, 2025Episode Summary:This episode spotlights Robert Garland, Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH)—former principal dancer, DTH's first resident choreographer, and a Juilliard BFA graduate. Beyond the concert stage, Garland's work spans New York City Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and commercial projects from Sesame Street to Nike and the NAACP Image Awards.Garland traces DTH's roots to Arthur Mitchell's 1969 vision and explains how Mitchell's lecture-demonstration model built audiences and access. He folds in a vivid business/history lesson on George Balanchine—from the Ballets Russes and Coco Chanel's short ballet skirt to the Harlem Renaissance's jazz influence that helped shape neoclassicism and, crucially, how smart repertoire and audience-building choices drove growth. On the business side, Garland stresses that relationships power opportunities and fundraising—“contacts become contracts”—and lifts the curtain on the theater's “cottage industry” (development, marketing, production, stage management). For dancers, he offers pragmatic guidance: cultivate musicianship and form, be multifaceted (social, lighting, admin), and understand cycles of work—pace your week so you peak for shows. He unpacks today's video-first auditions, urging care with presentation, while affirming many legitimate pathways (college, company route, or self-directed study).Show notes:(0:00) – Robert Garland introduction & career highlights(09:41) – Dance Theatre of Harlem origin & mission(14:55) – Juilliard audition story and scholarship journey(16:56) – Balanchine, Coco Chanel, and neoclassicism explained(25:51) – “Contacts = Contracts”: relationships fuel opportunities(33:16) – Careers beyond stage: marketing, production, education(38:27) – Arts education builds empathy and compassion(42:34) – Audition process and rise of video submissions(51:41) – Transition into commercial/TV work with hip-hop artists(1:12:11) – From dancer to choreographer to creative leadershipBiography:Artistic Director Robert Garland was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company from 1985-1998, achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble, Arthur Mitchell invited Mr. Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization's first Resident Choreographer. Before becoming DTH Artistic Director, he was Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem school. In 2023, Mr. Garland was appointed the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Harlem. His works for the company include Higher Ground, New Bach, Return, Nyman String Quartet No. 2, and The Cookout among others, many are in his signature postmodern-urban-neo-classical style. In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH, Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain's Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet and many others. His commercial work has included music videos, commercials and short films, including the children's television show “Sesame Street”, a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter, the NAACP Image Awards, a short film for designer Donna Karan, and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.Connect on Social Media:Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/robertgarlandWebsite - dancetheatreofharlem.org
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kelenda Annette Baird. Title: Miss Corporate America Roles: Chief Revenue Officer of Reed’s Hideaway & Founder of Limitless Location: Based in Chelan, WA; works in Monticello, MS
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kelenda Annette Baird. Title: Miss Corporate America Roles: Chief Revenue Officer of Reed’s Hideaway & Founder of Limitless Location: Based in Chelan, WA; works in Monticello, MS
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed El' Deity Princey.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed El' Deity Princey.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed El' Deity Princey.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jamal Bryant.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jamal Bryant.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jamal Bryant.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Erica Gwyn.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Erica Gwyn.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Erica Gwyn.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie Edwards and her husband Charles Edwards.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie Edwards and her husband Charles Edwards.
This week's episode is one that's full of joy and inspiration and the payoffs of believing in yourself. Guest Kwame Alexander is one of the most upbeat, persistent, and tenacious people in book publishing, and we're honored that he SAID YES to coming back to Memoir Nation seven years after his first appearance. This week's show is about the power of yes and where yes can lead you—and we touch upon when and how to cultivate no, since sometimes you simply have to. Kwame shares stories from his past and how he became a 26-year overnight success story, and Grant and Brooke weigh in on how they balance (mostly) yes and (sometimes) no. Listen in! Also, for those interested in learning more about the Anthropic case that's this week's Book Trend, we encourage you to visit Brooke's Substack, Writerly Things, for this week's update. Kwame Alexander is an Emmy® Award-winning producer of The Crossover, his Newbery Medal-winning novel turned Disney+ TV series, the creator of the new animated PBS special Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Band, and the host of America's Next Great Author, the first reality television show for writers which will premiere in 2026. He is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 46 books, including his memoir, Why Fathers Cry at Night. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. His mission is to change the world—one word at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie Edwards and her husband Charles Edwards.
In Part 2 of our discussion on Harriet Jacobs's Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself, editor Evie Shockley returns to discuss her first encounter with this text in graduate school, the book's place in the literary canon and the classroom, and her favorite passage. Evie Shockley is the Zora Neale Hurston Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University and the author of Renegade Poetics: Black Aesthetics and Formal Innovation in African American Poetry. For her poetry collections—including suddenly we, semiautomatic, the new black, and a half-red sea—she has been awarded the Shelley Memorial Award, the Lannan Literary Award, and the Holmes National Poetry Prize, has twice won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, has received an NAACP Image Award, and has been named a finalist for the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the LA Times Book Prize. She has served as an editor of jubilat and Feminist Studies, and is Editor for Poetry at Contemporary Literature.To learn more or purchase a copy of the Norton Library edition of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written By Herself, go to https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393870787.Learn more about the Norton Library series at https://wwnorton.com/norton-library.Have questions or suggestions for the podcast? Email us at nortonlibrary@wwnorton.com or find us on Twitter at @TNL_WWN and Bluesky at @nortonlibrary.bsky.social.
Dr. Thema and phenomenal poet Aja Monet explore the poetry of coming home to yourself. They discuss growth, shifts, and breakthroughs within one's self and within relationships. aja monet is a Grammy-nominated Surrealist Blues Poet and cultural worker whose artistry transcends boundaries. As the recipient of the Nuyorican Grand Slam Poetry title, aja monet first made her mark in New York's Lower East Side, honing her voice and craft on the storied stages of a burgeoning poetry movement. She follows in the long legacy and tradition of poets participating and assembling in social movements. Her collaborative spirit has seen her shape and shift culture alongside internationally renowned artists, scholars, activists, and organizers. aja's first full collection of poems, my mother was a freedom fighter, is a powerful tribute to mothers, women, and girls striving for freedom, earning a nomination for a NAACP Image Award for Poetry in 2018. Her debut poetry album, when the poems do what they do , was nominated for a Grammy Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in 2024. The album explores themes of resistance, love, and the inexhaustible quest for joy. Awarded the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award for Poetry (2019), the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award (2024), The Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award (2024), the EBONY 100 Artist In Residence Award, and the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Vanguard Award (2025), aja also serves as the Artistic Creative Director for V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. In 2022, she created "VOICES," an audio play amplifying the stories of Black women across the diaspora and the African continent. aja monet released her latest book of poems, florida water, with Haymarket Books on June 3rd, 2025 and is currently working on her second studio album. Don't forget to like, comment, share, and subscribe.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kika Wise. A former professional dancer turned entrepreneur, franchisor, and wellness educator. She is the Founder and CEO of Kika Stretch Studios, a franchise specializing in assisted stretching for wellness and longevity.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Loni Love. Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, and author. The conversation centers around her memoir, I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To, and offers a rich blend of personal storytelling, cultural insight, and motivational wisdom.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Loni Love. Emmy Award-winning comedian, actress, and author. The conversation centers around her memoir, I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To, and offers a rich blend of personal storytelling, cultural insight, and motivational wisdom.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Keanna Sanders.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Lamar Tyler.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dami Kujembola. CEO and co-founder of Amplify Africa:
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Lamar Tyler.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dami Kujembola. CEO and co-founder of Amplify Africa:
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Lamar Tyler.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Miko Branch.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Miko Branch.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Miko Branch.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kem. Platinum-selling R&B artist, author of Share My Life
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rebecca Jarvis.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rebecca Jarvis.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kem. Platinum-selling R&B artist, author of Share My Life
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rebecca Jarvis.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Tremayne Thompson. A co-owner of Perfect Note, a dinner supper club with locations in Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. The conversation is a rich blend of entrepreneurship, community service, music, and food culture.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Laura Finney. A seasoned financial literacy educator and coach. Laura shares her deeply personal journey into financial education, sparked by a lack of preparedness in her own life and a family experience that resulted in the loss of generational wealth. Through candid storytelling and practical advice, she empowers listeners to take control of their financial futures with strategic planning, budgeting, and mindset shifts.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Lynn Richardson. A financial expert, author, and speaker. Here’s a breakdown of the key topics and highlights: Key Themes & Highlights Financial Mindset & Money Management Richardson emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and shifting one's mindset about money. She discusses how spending habits and financial discipline impact long-term wealth. Multiple Streams of Income She explains the necessity of diversifying income sources to achieve financial stability. Richardson shares strategies for entrepreneurs to maximize earnings through various business ventures. Estate Planning & Generational Wealth Richardson stresses the importance of estate planning to protect assets and ensure financial security for future generations. She highlights common mistakes people make when failing to plan for their financial legacy. Tax Strategies & Business Ownership She provides insights on tax deductions, particularly for home-based businesses. Richardson explains how proper business structuring can lead to financial advantages. Financial Education & Community Impact She advocates for financial education in underserved communities. Richardson discusses her mission to empower individuals through financial coaching and mentorship. About Dr. Lynn Richardson Dr. Lynn Richardson is a financial guru, ordained minister, and best-selling author specializing in wealth-building strategies. She has been featured on The Steve Harvey Show and has helped thousands of individuals break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. Through her W.E.A.L.T.H. University, she provides resources on budgeting, investing, and entrepreneurship to help people achieve financial freedom. #AMI #STRAW #BEST #SHMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Yasmine Cheyenne.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Yasmine Cheyenne.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Courtney Glaudé.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Courtney Glaudé.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Amy DuBois Barnett.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Amy DuBois Barnett.