Creativity in Captivity

Executive producer / magic consultant for David Copperfield for over 30 years from the live Vegas show at the MGM casino to worldwide touring and television events. In 2017 Chris was awarded a Creative Fellowship from the Academy of Magical Arts for his mastery of both the art and business of magic. He is one of those rare individuals who was not only proficient, but highly influential in card magic and coin magic. He is the author of the books Totally Out of Control and The Right Stuff which feature dozens of his close-up creations. On this episode Chris discusses his love of movies including Jaws and the little known whodunnit The Last of Sheila, he shares how he acquired his collection of artist Frank Kozik’s colorful vinyl busts and he explains how he stays curious about everything from bridge design to fire hydrant placement to keep his problem solving muscle flexed. 

The 1st Annual Christmas Cluster is a holiday salute to creativity with many special guest showcasing some seasonal treats. Music, poetry and comedy are on tap to make spirits bright for the week of Christmas. Enjoy music from the Jo Ann Daugherty Trio, Maia Sharp, Tony Haselden, Broadway Barbara, Catherine Porter & Seth Barrish, a poem from Alandra Markman, seasonal stand up comedy from your host Pat Hazell and a visit with Earlene Hoople from The Early Bird Morning Show. Grab a mug of holiday hooch and get ready for a cool yule.

Peoria native Liv Warfield takes cues from musical influences like Nina Simone, Etta James, Mavis Staples, Sade, Tina Turner and Mary J. Blige, but has carved out a style all her own, which can best be described as “alternative soul with a lil bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” In 2006, she self-released her debut album Embrace Me. By 2009, she caught the eye of music icon Prince and ultimately joined his group the New Power Generation. After touring for several years and soaking up as much knowledge as she could from the ultimate music mentor, Warfield made her big splash on the national scene as a featured artist for VH1’s You Oughta Know campaign, and then with the release of her major label debut album The Unexpected, which was executive produced by Prince. What followed were show-stopping performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Arsenio Hall Show; a 2014 Soul Train Music Award and nominations for two others; a BET Best New Artist Award nomination; an interview with National Public Radio; and high-profile cosigns from Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper, and Nancy Wilson of Heart. That same year, Warfield’s performance closing out Essence Fest was hailed as one of the most memorable after shows at the New Orleans House of Blues. In 2015, Warfield and the NPG Hornz were named one of the top 10 bands to see at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. In 2017, Warfield collaborated with another one of her childhood influences, Nancy Wilson, to create the band Roadcase Royale. Their lead single “Get Loud” was featured prominently in the 2017 Women’s March and they released their debut album First Things First later that year. If that weren’t enough, their remake of Heart’s These Dreams was featured in the film Molly’s Game. Warfield recently recorded music for the Oscar-nominated HBO documentary Da Bronx. Her third album Olivia is coming in 2023. 

An Emmy Award-winning producer, comedian, actor, author, writer, comedy historian and musician. Wayne is noted for numerous stand-up comedy appearances in clubs, theaters, and on television; his book on The History of Stand-Up; and supporting comedic acting roles in The X-Files, The Larry Sanders Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Crashing, Silicon Valley, Legally Blonde, 50 First Dates, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Step Brothers. He was the head monologue writer for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in its first season. He won a 2022 Primetime Emmy Award for producing the HBO documentary George Carlin's American Dream. In 2018, Wayne co-produced the Emmy-winning HBO documentary, The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling. He also produced an award-winning web series with Don Rickles entitled, Dinner With Don, as well as Judd Apatow's 2017 Netflix stand-up special, The Return. In 2022, Wayne produced the two part HBO documentary George Carlin's American Dream.

An award-winning solo show artist and nationally recognized writing coach who is making a big impact everywhere from off-Broadway to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Ann’s show Loveland, played for two years in San Francisco where it won the SF Weekly Award for Best Solo Show and garnered the SF Bay Critic’s Award for Best Original Script. In LA it won the LA Weekly award for Best Solo Show. Her solo show, Squeeze Box, was produced by Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft and enjoyed a successful off-Broadway run before touring the US, where it received both the Los Angeles Ovation Award and the LA Weekly Award for Best Solo Show. Ann’s other solo works include Down Home, Shelter and Miss America, for which she won the LA Weekly award for Best Solo Performer. Her current solo show, Inappropriate in All the Right Ways, has been described by The Huffington Post as “a show like no other.” A favorite spoken word artist, Ann is a Moth StorySLAM winner and has been a regular on LA’s long running spoken word series including Tasty Words, SPARK and Gorgeous Stories. Her personal essays and interviews have been featured on NPR, PBS and the BBC. As a member of the WGA, she has written scripts for Gullane Pictures, Lifetime TV, Brooksfilms, PAX, and Klasky-Csupo. Her widely popular writing workshop Unmute Yourself is offered in cities across the US and now online. 

An award-winning musician and published author who is active in the Austin music scene on vocals, cello, acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, electric bass, banjo, dobro, human beatbox and drums. John has produced, performed and recorded with Ozomatli, BoomBoxATX, Schrödinger's Cat, Woodwork, Trio Los Vigilantes, The House Jacks, The Swingle Singers and Sixpence None the Richer. He has eleven Austin Music Awards including “Best Acoustic Guitar” and “Best Miscellaneous Instrument – Human Beatbox.” He is in the Cirque du Soleil talent pool and his national commercial credits include principal appearances as a beatboxer for Chili’s, Schlotzsky’s Austin City Limits and Southwest Airlines, as well as music for Walmart. His acting credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Roger in RENT, a co-starring role on Fox's Prison Break and he played himself opposite Harry Connick, Jr. in the movie Angels Sing. John’s book Yesterday Was Weird, co-written with his dog Benny, has been featured on Today and in Good Housekeeping and Southern Living. 

Margaret Kerrison, author of Immersive Storytelling for Real and Imagined Worlds, discusses engaging audiences in co-creating narratives, balancing screen time for human connection, and the power of immersive storytelling in museums. She also explores the Sleep No More experience and site-specific customization in locations like Avengers Campus.

Steven Banks is a multi-disciplinary artist — a writer, musician, comedian and actor. He was head writer on SpongeBob SquarePants and also wrote on CatDog and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. He is the New York Times bestselling author of the middle grade series Middle School Bites. He wrote and starred in the cult classic Home Entertainment Center on Amazon, and co-created Shadowland with the dance/theater company Pilobolus, which has been performed in 40 countries. Steven’s second identity is the irrepressible Billy the Mime who appeared in the movie The Aristocrats and also paints folk art for Billy’s Moving Art Gallery. His latest projects include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Shaq’s Garage and the book for the Broadway musical Save The Last Dance For Me – The Doc Pomus Story. On this episode of the podcast, Steven shares his love of The Music Man and explains the concept of reverse shoplifting in museum gift shops.

A Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter, touring musician and philanthropist who started her career with the platinum-selling hit song Stay (I Missed You) from the film Reality Bites. A trailblazing independent artist, Lisa was the first pop musician to have a Number 1 single while not signed to a recording contract. She followed that remarkable feat with several hit singles and six albums, two of which were certified gold.Lisa is well known to parents and kids for her five children’s albums and two illustrated children’s books with music. Lisa recently collaborated to develop and write the children’s musical Camp Kappawanna which debuted at New York City’s Atlantic Theater Company. Inspired by her own love of summer camp, in 2008, Lisa started The Camp Lisa Foundation, which sends underserved kids to summer camp.  In January 2018, her family friendly album, Feel What U Feel, won the Grammy for Best Children’s Album, along with rave reviews and The Parents Choice Award. Among other shows, Lisa provides voice talent for the animated series Creative Galaxy and composes the original songs for the Emmy nominated, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie series. Often recognized for her iconic cat-eyed glasses, Lisa redefines how women accessorize with her own eyewear line. As an entrepreneur, Lisa oversees the business and eyewear design of Lisa Loeb Eyewear.  As an actor, Lisa’s recent film and television appearances include AP Bio, John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight, About a Boy, Hot Tub Time Machine 2, King of The Nerds and Sprout Channel’s Sunny Side Up Show (now Sprout House on Universal Kids). You might have also heard her voice on commercials including Alfa Romeo, Foster Farms Chicken and Chili’s.

An Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, actor and comedian currently serving as the announcer of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and a writer/producer of Saturday Night Live. Prior to The Tonight Show, Higgins was the announcer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014. Early in his career, he was part of the sketch comedy trio The Higgins Boys and Gruber, who had their own eponymous sketch series on Comedy Central from 1989 to 1991. Steve voiced the character Chadwick The Edible Blargmonger in the 2014 animated special ELF: Buddy’s Musical Christmas. He is a member of the Higgins comedy dynasty of Des Moines, IA. Steve tells what the average work week is like on SNL and recommends the book “The War of Art” by Steve Pressfield as required reading for young people pursuing a life in creativity.