Podcetera

Architecting Empathy, Breaking Barriers, and Building Connections | Lance Simon

Lance Simon is a force in motion, always seeking to make a positive impact through his diverse skill set and passion for creating positive change. He is an architect, filmmaker, photographer, and advocate for both homelessness and mental health awareness. Lance shares his experiences growing up biracial in America and sheds light on the importance of combating homelessness while dispelling common misconceptions about the homeless. His insights emphasize the need for understanding, empathy, and fostering inclusivity in architecture and beyond.Lance is the Principal and Director of Design at Egan|Simon Architecture, where he leads the transformation of communities through award-winning housing design. With a deep-rooted passion for revitalizing neighborhoods, Lance uses his architectural expertise to create spaces that promote stability, health, and well-being for vulnerable populations. His career has spanned both rural and urban landscapes, from improving housing in Kentucky to working with renowned firms like Arquitectonica in Miami. As a champion of sustainable design and social impact, Lance's projects have helped more than 5,000 individuals, including military veterans and those struggling with homelessness and mental illness. His work has earned recognition from the Clinton Global Initiative and multiple industry awards. Lance is dedicated to using design to address inequities and improve communities, serving on various boards and advising government organizations to ensure lasting, positive change.
Guest Links:
Lance Simon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancesimon/
Egan|Simon Architecture: https://egansimon.com/
Code of the Heart Film: https://codeoftheheartfilm.com/
Out of the Ashes Images: https://www.outoftheashesimages.com/
 

Medieval Verses to Modern Insights: Toxic Academia and Why Humanities Matter | Irina Dumitrescu

Renowned and versatile academician, Irina Dumitrescu, Ph.D., leads the Department of English, American, and Celtic Studies at The University of Bonn. As an accomplished author, podcast host, and expert in medieval literature, she joins us to delve into a diverse range of topics. Our conversation spans from the intricacies of toxic academia to the integration of AI in classrooms, emphasizing the significance of humanities in our contemporary world and beyond.Irina contributes essays and a column to the Times Literary Supplement and is working on a book exploring how medieval literature helps her overcome perfectionism. She co-hosts several podcasts for the London Review of Books, including Medieval LOLs, and has written on topics like distraction, education, celebrity, and migration. Her first book, on teacher-student relationships in early medieval literature, was published by Cambridge, and her second project examines the medieval roots of celebrity.
Guest Links:
Irina's Website: https://irinadumitrescu.com/
Irina's Substack: https://substack.com/@irinibus

Creative Kaleidoscope: Crafting Characters, Melodies, and Moments | Heath Allyn

Heath Allyn is the embodiment of versatility. Not only is he a character actor, he is also a voice actor, writer, director, musician, vocalist, and composer based in Austin, Texas. We sit down with Heath to unravel his insights into the world of social media stardom and we discover the driving forces behind his creative spirit and what it means to be your true self online.When Heath isn't acting or performing music, he writes, directs, edits, and produces across various projects. Known for his paradoxical personality, he’s got a knack for humor and adventure. He once ate 42 Marshmallow Peeps on a dare from Gary Busey and embraces his role as a "renaissance man" with a love for both creativity and technology.
Guest Links:
Website: https://heathallyn.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/heathallyn
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/heathallyn/
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0021675/
TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@heathallyn

Proud Outsider: SHOWGALS and the Reality of Reality TV | Jeff Nucera

Producer and documentary filmmaker Jeff Nucera joins us to discuss his latest project SHOWGALS, a feature-length documentary that tells the story of Tight & Nerdy, the world’s first burlesque troupe devoted to “Weird Al” Yankovic. Jeff also delves into the reality of producing reality television and what it is like to open Weird Al's fan mail.
Jeff has been working in unscripted storytelling for more than two decades starting with two of the genre’s most groundbreaking series: MTV’s The Osborne’s and Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. More recently, he has been a Co-Executive Producer for shows you may or may not have heard of, including the MGM+ docu-series Blumhouse’s Compendium of Horror. 
When he is not producing television shows or directing documentaries, he stays busy doing odd jobs for “Weird Al” Yankovic, like writing thousands of trivia questions (and answers!) for Al’s Self-Indulgent, Ill advised Vanity Tour, or sorting Al’s fan mail - a job he has proudly held since 2001.
Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnucera/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1222480/bio/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Tight and Nerdy (Formerly Showgals The Movie): https://showgalsthemovie.com/

Beyond the Screen: Film Producing in the Stream Era | Mike Blizzard

From political consultant to film producer and director, Mike Blizzard has turned his talents for grassroots campaigning into a vibrant film career in Austin, Texas. His latest project is Richard Linklater’s HIT MAN, about a gun for hire who just happens to be working for the cops.
Mike was a producer on APOLLO 10 1 ⁄ 2: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD, and NO NO: A DOKUMENTARY about the life and times of major league baseball pitcher Dock Ellis. In 2018, he produced and directed the documentary ALSO STARRING AUSTIN which features scenes from locally shot films as a lens to explore the city, its evolving environment, enduring culture and its importance in American film history.
Austin film producer and director Mike Blizzard talks about his past, current, and future films and what it’s like to produce in the streaming era.Guest Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-blizzard-a7990a1
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3943530/