At last year’s APAP|NYC conference, we followed three arts professionals from sun-up to sun-down, capturing the excitement, ambition, and energy of the conference.

Featuring:

Ryan K. Johnson, the executive artistic director of SOLE Defined, based out of Washington, D.C.

Danielle Devlin, an agent and manager with Canis Major Music from Sheldon, Vermont

Aaron Shackelford, director of programming at DukeArts in Durham, North Carolina

The next APAP|NYC is from January 9-13, 2026! You can join APAP and register for APAP|NYC at https://apap365.org/conference/register/

Music in this episode is from Blue Dot Sessions, SOLE Defined; Skye Consort, Emma Björling, Alex Kehler, Amanda Keesmaat, and Seán Dagher.

ARTS. WORK. LIFE. is made possible with the generous support of the Wallace Foundation.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Almost all of us have a mentor who shaped our path—a teacher, a family member, or even someone miles away. In the finale of season four, we explore what happens when creatives step into that role and give back to the next generation. From sharing skills to offering encouragement, we discover how mentoring can be just as transformative—and sometimes even more fulfilling—than creating our own work.

INTRO & ACT ONE: “Passing the Mic” with Dumisani “Dumi RIGHT” Ndlovu, a performance artist and educator working in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

ACT TWO: “Stepping Stones” with Julie Opiel, the Director of Education and Community Engagement at BodyTraffic in Los Angeles, California.

ACT THREE: “Freedom to Lead" with Alex Ketley and Bill Clark, two performance artists and educators collaborating in Vacaville, California.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

They say that laughter is the best medicine, but so are human connection and genuine self-expression. In episode five, we explore stories about the healing power of the arts, not just for the creator, but for entire communities.

INTRO & ACT ONE: “Empty Barns, Not Empty Hearts" with Jeff Corle, a singer/songwriter from Windber, Pennsylvania.

ACT TWO: “Life Worth Living” with Sam Simon, a playwright, author and actor in McLean, Virginia.

ACT THREE: “Home Run” with Julián Silva, a music therapist based in Northern California.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Working in the arts requires imagination, intuition, and a belief in oneself because oftentimes, you have to follow your inner compass. On today's episode, hear stories about discovery, perseverance, and recalibrating your direction when the road ahead isn’t clear.

INTRO & ACT ONE: “Para-Lyrics” with Chad Harper,  the founder and CEO of Hip Hop Saves Lives in Madrid, Spain.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” with Kersee Whitney, an actor, singer and dancer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

ACT THREE: “Art Therapy" with Angelica McCarthy, a doctor of athletic training in Clinton, Connecticut.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Whether you are creating street art, launching a career, running a business, or building a “Globe-ette,” you can't do it alone. In this episode, we explore the breakthroughs, the challenges, the successes and the magic that comes from working together.

INTRO: “Each Brick In The Wall” with Sonia Clark,  owner and producer of Unicycle Productions in Niagara Falls, New York.

ACT ONE: “Flying High” with Karen Franzel, the manager and booking agent for Danny the Acrobat based out of Orlando, Florida.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” with GregRobin Smith, the founder and managing director of The Washington Shakespearean Festival in Seattle, Washington.

ACT THREE: “In Family We Trust” with Juanita Anderson, the theater coordinator for Teatro Trail and Sala Catarsis theaters in Miami, Florida.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Amid brutal competition, unpredictable hours, and variable pay, it’s important to remember WHY you chose a career in the performing arts. Episode two features four stories about listening to your inner voice and tapping into your passion.

INTRO: “Make The Most of It” with Jason Fletcher Christian Laws,  executive creative producer and founder of the Laws Group in Brooklyn, New York.

ACT ONE: “Expiration Date” with Ami Otero Minars, a flamenco dancer, producer, and founder of Admission Nation in Montclair, New Jersey.

ACT TWO: “A Day in the Life” with Dot McDonough, the director of marketing and operations for the Spire Center for the Performing Arts in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

ACT THREE: “Officially Obsessed” with Kieran Bailey, a content marketing specialist for Bauer Entertainment Marketing in Nashville, Tennessee.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Being the first to do something comes with accolades and recognition, but it can also be lonely. The premiere of season four features stories from four trailblazers who broke barriers, not just for their own advancement, but to create opportunities for others.

INTRO (0:00): “Trailblazer” with Precious Perez, a singer, songwriter, music educator, and disability activist based in Louisville, Kentucky.

ACT ONE (7:20): “Barre None” with Lydia Abarca Mitchell, a founding member of Dance Theatre of Harlem, now living in Marietta, Georgia.

ACT TWO (17:16): “A Day in the Life” with Magdalene Minnaar, the artistic director of Cape Town Opera in Cape Town, South Africa.

ACT THREE (21;01): “Let It Rain” with Yura Sapi, the CEO of LiberArte based in  Chocó, Colombia and New York City.

You can find a full transcript and more on APAP’s website: https://apap365.org/podcast/

Are you a performing arts worker with a story to tell? Submit it here: https://bit.ly/AWLpodsubmit

Next week on ARTS.WORK.LIFE, we celebrate the finale of season four with stories about mentorship, teaching, and the invaluable act of paying it forward.

Episode six arrives August 26th.