Creativity in Captivity

A legendary Emmy-award winning TV writer, director & producer who co-wrote many of the classic episodes of The Dick Van Dyke Show and created the TV series That Girl starring Marlo Thomas. A former lifeguard in the Catskills mountains turned comedy writer for radio DJs at WNEW, Bill partnered up with Sam Denoff to write comedy for The Steve Allen Show, Good Morning World and many other sitcoms from the golden age of television. Persky went on to direct 100 episodes of the situation comedy Kate and Allie, as well as The Practice and Busting Loose. Bill also directed the feature film Serial. 

A singer, songwriter, lyricist, author, and founder of Two Tomatoes Records with 15 award-winning albums, more than 1 billion total streams, and nearly 450 million YouTube channel views. Laurie has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the White House. Business Insider dubbed Laurie “the gold standard of the children’s music world.” As a leader and innovator in children’s music and entertainment for more than 25 years, Laurie was the first recording artist to ever appear in music videos on Nick Jr., appeared regularly on the network’s Jack’s Big Music Show, and helped develop the short form animated musical preschool series Sing It, Laurie! on Sprout TV. Laurie has authored several picture books based on her songs and has created two Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen series with Audible Studios, who released them as 10-chapter audio books through the Audible Originals brand. She has written the music and lyrics for three children’s musicals originally produced Off-Broadway by New York City Children’s Theater, and now presented regionally.

A Primetime Emmy Award nominee best known for her tenure as a cast member of the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1995-2000. Cheri began her career in Promotions for A&M records for 4 years and joined up with the Groundlings, an improv-sketch comedy group based in LA. One night, a Saturday Night Live rep attended a performance with the intention of auditioning fellow Groundlings member Chris Kattan. Oteri performed a monologue during one of Kattan's costume changes, which led to her own invitation to audition for SNL where she played stand out comic characters such as Barbara Walters, Arianna an overly spirited Spartan Cheerleader with Will Ferrell, Rita DelVecchio, a grouchy Philadelphia woman who is mean to the neighborhood children; Cass Van Rye, the dim-witted co-host of the “Morning Latte” talk show; Nadeen, a testy employee whose catchphrase constantly orders everyone to "Simmer down now!"; Althea McMahonaman, an absurdly hyper child who is an awful passenger and disturbs public servants; Collette Reardon, a prescription pill-addict; Joy Lipton, Erotic Attic boutique owner; Adele, a vulgar and highly sexual office worker whose attempts at sexual innuendos disgust rather than attract her colleagues; Laura Zimmerman, one half of the Zimmermans, who suddenly break into rough and sexual behavior before returning to casual conversation as if nothing happened (with Chris Kattan). Oteri has appeared in a number of movies, including Scary Move, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Llyod, Shrek the Third and Southland Tales.  

One of sports photography’s preeminent visual storytellers. Jean does much more than take pictures. With a diverse portfolio in portraiture and sports of all kinds, she is devoted to capturing the dynamism of her subjects and revealing the stories behind the images. She covered everything from wrestling to sailing, from basketball to volleyball to track and field. And, of course, football — on any given Friday, she could be found taking full advantage of those Friday night lights, shooting the sport’s storied rivalries and eating at local snack shacks up and down northern California. Jean spent nearly a decade shooting the crown jewels of Bay Area sports — the Giants, the A’s, the 49ers. Her portfolio quickly expanded when she was invited to Cooperstown, where she helped build the archive of the renowned National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum. Jean’s work has also been seen at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Smithsonian. In 2019, Jean co-founded Grassroots Baseball, a non-profit that promotes and celebrates the amateur game around the globe, with the goal to grow interest and participation at the youngest levels. That year-round shooting schedule squares nicely with her commitment as a traveling photographer for La Vida Baseball and La Vida Sports, digital media companies that shares the stories of Latino sports across the United States and Latin America through original video, writing, and social content.  Jean’s first book, Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin, was released in 2019. Her latest, Grassroots Baseball: Route 66, was published in 2022, with proceeds benefitting the non-profit organization. Jean is honored to be designated by Sony as one of its select Sony Artisans of Imagery.

A creative comic genius known for concocting a cast of fictional characters all of whom he played live on air while also serving as the host of his national talk radio program. Hendrie actually started out as a disc jockey at WBJW 1440 AM in Winter Park, FL, a suburb of Orlando. After 15 years working as a disc jockey at stations across the country, he realized he hated what he was doing. Moving to Los Angeles, Hendrie debuted in talk radio as a weekend host at KFI-AM 640. In 1990 at KVEN-AM in Ventura, CA, Hendrie introduced his first fictional character on air — an Iraqi, Raj Fahneen. The Gulf War was happening and Fahneen vociferously defended Saddam Hussein. Thinking he was a real person, listeners went ballistic and the phones lit up. An entire cast of characters would evolve from that moment on, marking Hendrie’s place in radio history. Hendrie’s popularity resulted in the radio show going national in 1999. By 2006, he was ready to explore the next chapter of his career — acting in front of the camera. He departed from radio and quickly added to his resume which already included Trey Parker’s and Matt Stone’s motion picture, Team America: World Police, as well as television roles on Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Richard Appel’s A.U.S.A., and Judd Apatow’s North Hollywood. He also starred in Steve Levitan’s Phil Hendrie and wrote, executive produced and starred in Phil at the Gate. For the last 10 years, Hendrie has regularly played characters on FOX’s popular animated series King of the Hill and Futurama. Other recent television work includes roles on Giants of Radio, The Replacements, Three Strikes, Mike Birbiglia’s Secret Public Journal, David Mamet’s The Unit, and NBC’s Teachers. He also played Nets Coach in the motion picture, Semi-Pro. Hendrie continues to act today and is currently working on the motion picture, Last Call.

A color-forward visual artist, comic storyteller and the author of the new book Kinda Funny: Stories by a Full-time Comedian (with Four Part-time Jobs.)  JJ takes her stories from the comedic stage to the comedic page in a comedy-club-meets-therapy-session collection of essays. From aging parents, awkward first dates, and avoiding the dentist to traversing the difficulties of eating disorders, wrestling with faith and depression, and yet still stumbling into love after looking for thirty-five years in very odd places. JJ uses her experiences to reveal her understandings of humor, faith, mental health, and what it means to finally “grow up,” if that’s even something we ever actually do.  Her book offers stories that are kinda funny, kinda deep, kinda awkward, and even kinda spiritual, giving readers a place to go, offering comfort, sanity, and little to no answers about how to live a better life, but certainly a place to feel a little less alone and a little more entertained. KINDA FUNNY reveals the freedom a quippy sense of humor can unleash in all of us by bringing levity to those gritty moments.

Renowned photographer Stephen Wilkes discusses his career-defining projects, including Day to Night series capturing fleeting moments. He shares emotional stories of Ellis Island and Hurricane Katrina survivors. The podcast delves into merging analog and digital experiences in photography, capturing decisive moments, and finding beauty in dark stories through photography.

It’s National Poetry Month and we are joined by the Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason who has run poetry workshops in Botswana, Romania, Nepal, and Belarus for the U.S. State Department. Matt’s poetry has appeared in The New York Times and he is a recipient of a Pushcart Prize as well as fellowships from the Academy of American Poets and the Nebraska Arts Council. His work can be found in Rattle, Poet Lore, Prairie Schooner, and in hundreds of other publications. Matt serves as our poetry tour guide through a pantheon of poets as we showcase work from Scott Woods, Aliyah American Horse, Denise Duhamel, Deb Carpenter-Nolting, Sean Patrick Mulroy, Nicholle Laffer & Mighty Mike McGee.The Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason, serves as our sherpa guide through a pantheon of poets: Scott Woods, Aliyah American Horse, Denise Duhamel, Deb Carpenter-Nolting, Sean Patrick Mulroy, Nicholle Laffer & Mighty Mike McGee.

Sarah & Shannon are no strangers to the music industry. Together they span decades of hard work, songwriting, touring, and perseverance. Shannon LaBrie’s undeniable voice and musicianship have been described as “nothing short of breathtaking” by American Songwriter and NPR added her heroic anthem Firewalker to their Top 20 of 2020. Sarah Holbrook and her three sisters make up the genre-twisting spellbinding band SHEL with whom she wrote and performed for over 15 years. As a violinist and multi-instrumentalist she has earned her way onto stages with Amos Lee, Michelle Branch, Emmy Lou Harris and more. As a duo they span genres, coasting in and out of LaBrie’s soulfulness and Holbrook’s folk roots and unveiling a whole new phenomenon in the blend of their distinctive vocal tonalities and the arsenals of instruments they play. The “Folk Soul” duo is set to release their debut record in early 2025 and are headed out on tour with Maia Sharp and Bonnie Raitt in May of 2024. To keep up to date with their upcoming tours and releases follow them on Spotify and Instagram. 

Charlie Frye began life as a clown, performing alongside his father and grandfather. He then joined the circus and kidnapped a ballerina – his future wife, Sherry. Together they created a distinctive, original act that’s undeniably fresh, yet designed to feel classic, blending skill and physical comedy. As one of the world's most successful variety acts, they've appeared on television in over twenty countries, including numerous appearances on Le Grand Cabaret du Monde and starring in The World's Top Shows. They've also opened for Liza Minnelli and traveled extensively with The Illusionists, playing the famed Sydney Opera House and The Palace on Broadway. Voted “Specialty Act of the Year” in Las Vegas for their star turn in the Folies Bergere. Charlie Frye & Co are also the recipients of the coveted Ken Dodd Comedy Award in England, the Award of Excellence from the International Jugglers' Association, a Performing Fellowship from The Magic Castle in Hollywood, and an Honorary Professional Membership from The Magic Circle in London.