Episodes

  • S1E26 - Defining Talent With Montgomery King

    S1E26 - Defining Talent With Montgomery King
    May 17 2024

    ((FANFARE OF TRUMPETS)) Today's guest on Defining Talent is the dynamo of a multi-hyphenate artist, Montgomery King. Montgomery just finished their second year of the MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre/Writing Option program at Cal State LA, and in addition to the scripts and writing projects they've been working on, they also appeared onstage in Something Rotten and Macbeth. Throughout their life, they have always been invested and interested in working in many creative areas and exploring the intersections of narratives as well as the intersections of mediums.

    You can learn more about Montgomery and previous episodes/guests at www.definingtalentpod.com

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    58 mins
  • S1E25 - Defining Talent With Olive Lalli

    S1E25 - Defining Talent With Olive Lalli
    Apr 19 2024
    S1E25 - Defining Talent's guest is Olive Lalli, a powerhouse vocalist and actor who is currently finishing her Bachelor's in Theatre Arts/Performance Option at Cal State LA. On today's episode, Olive talks about growing up in a creative family and the benefits of arts access at home and support for pursuing a life in the arts; Laura and Olive dig in to their mutual love of RuPaul's Drag Race and the importance of representation and access; the two of them indulge in fits of laughter and cackling - and in between cackles, the connection between talent, love, and vulnerability is explored.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • S1, E24 - Defining Talent With Andrew Lyndon Knighton

    S1, E24 - Defining Talent With Andrew Lyndon Knighton
    Mar 25 2024
    Andrew Lyndon Knighton is today's guest: tenured professor of English at Cal State LA (and current Associate Chair of the Department of English), an appreciator of jazz and solitude and public transit and opportunities for reflection, someone who embraces the analog in our increasingly digital world, and a tremendously insightful - and delightfully sardonic - human being. If nothing else, you have to listen to this entire podcast so that you can get to one of the latter segments of the episode, in which Andrew and Laura discuss "The Melville People." You can find out more information about Andrew and previous episodes and guests at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • S1, E23 - Defining Talent With Rocelyn Islas

    S1, E23 - Defining Talent With Rocelyn Islas
    Mar 8 2024
    Is talent just another word for love? The relationship between love and talent gets scrutinized on today's episode, when Laura is joined by one of the humans she loves most, Rocelyn Islas. A lover of love and Snoopy, Rocelyn is the Administrative Support Coordinator for the Department of English at Cal State LA, and she is currently in her first semester of the Master's of Public Administration (MPA) program at Cal State LA. She and Laura became besties when Rocelyn was hired in 2021 as the joint Admin Support Assistant for Theatre and Music, and they've been cackling together ever since. SO thrilled to have Rocelyn on the pod!! You can learn more about Rocelyn and previous episodes at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    58 mins
  • S1, E22 - Defining Talent With Henry Alexander

    S1, E22 - Defining Talent With Henry Alexander
    Feb 23 2024
    On today's episode, guest Henry Alexander discusses the value of adversity and being a lifelong learner, as well as the importance of putting in the work. Henry is currently in his second year of the MFA in Television, Film, and Theatre/Content Creation program at Cal State LA, and he was cast in a major role in the 2022 production of "Keely and Du" that Laura directed. Henry is an incredibly well-rounded artist whose experience surpasses his years, and it was a joy to have him on the podcast. For more info about Henry and previous episodes, visit the podcast website at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • S1, E21 - Defining Talent With Cynthia Wang

    S1, E21 - Defining Talent With Cynthia Wang
    Feb 9 2024
    Dr. Cynthia Wang is an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Cal State LA and one of the most fascinating conversationalists on the podcast to date. Her wide-ranging interests and multi-disciplinary foci thread throughout this episode, enlivening what proves to be an already very lively and engaging discussion. She also may be one of the only people whose pandemic pet/investment was a horse. And getting to hear that story alone is enough of a reason to drop everything and listen to this episode. You can find out more about Cynthia Wang and previous guests at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • S1, E20 - Defining Talent With Uziel Colón Ramos

    S1, E20 - Defining Talent With Uziel Colón Ramos
    Jan 26 2024
    Uziel Colón Ramos is today's guest on Defining Talent. Not only is he a full-time Professor in the Department of Music at Cal State LA, where he directs the Afro-Latin Music program, he is also an incredibly accomplished musician. Uziel is a brilliant, dynamic pianist - seeing him perform live is a sheer joy - as well as a highly-skilled composer and arranger whose work excites and inspires. He infuses all that he does with such love and celebration, and it was an utter joy to have him on the pod. www.uzcmusic.com You can find out more about Uziel and previous guests at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • S1, E19 - Defining Talent With Steve Rothman

    S1, E19 - Defining Talent With Steve Rothman
    Jan 12 2024
    Steve Rothman is an award-winning director and educator who has directed hundreds of productions at theatres all over the US, as well as Italy and France and other international stages. He is currently writing a book about his life and ongoing work in the arts - a long overdue book, as Steve is a treasure trove brimming with stories that are populated by so many talented people and fascinating projects. You'll get a little taste of some of those stories on today's podcast - enjoy! You can find out more information about Steve and all of our guests at www.definingtalentpod.com
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    1 hr and 3 mins