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Empowered Artist Collective Podcast

Empowered Artist Collective Podcast

By: Empowered Artist Collective
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 The Empowered Artist Collective Podcast will be one in which we have insightful conversations with fellow artists about all sorts of things that pertain to our personhood and our artistry. Join our community of women and non-binary artists seeking a thriving and sustainable career in the arts as we ask hard questions, sit with open-ended answers or perhaps no answers at all, share resources and hopefully expand the dialogue around all the aspects of our industry that so many are not talking about in an open forum.  Whether you are an actor, singer, dancer, performer, writer, director, creator, theater and tv/film lover... If you are someone who is curious about others’ artistic experiences, believe that being an artist is about more than just the auditions you book, think this industry is in need of change, and want to get a personal glance at what’s going on behind the curtain: this is the podcast for you! Let’s be in community together. Let’s support one another. Let’s make this journey a little less isolating and more inclusive. IG: @EmpoweredArtistCollective // TikTok: @EmpowerArtistCollective // www.EmpoweredArtistCollective.com Host: Jennifer Apple // @JenniferApple_ // JenniferApple.net Head of Production & Editor: Nayara Alexis // @NayaraAlexis Podcast Music Composer: Aimee Lefkowicz // @Aimee.IsabellaCopyright 2022 All rights reserved. Art Entertainment & Performing Arts
Episodes
  • 130. Playwright Mini-Series: with Ngozi Anyanwu

    130. Playwright Mini-Series: with Ngozi Anyanwu
    Aug 19 2025
    How do you honor your creative timing in a culture that often has other priorities? In this episode of our Playwright Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with playwright and actor, Ngozi Anyanwu, for a conversation about claiming your artistic voice, holding your ground in the industry, and creating work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Ngozi shares how her background as a performer informs her playwriting, why specificity in storytelling leads to greater connection, and practices for protecting and honoring your process. Together, they explore how to write without feeling boxed in, how to build a creative ecosystem that supports you both artistically and financially, and why a community of trusted collaborators, champions, and truth-tellers is essential to longevity. Whether you’re a playwright shaping your first draft or an artist ready to expand your body of work, this conversation is a reminder to stay true to your voice, honor the stories only you can tell, and trust that your truth has a place on stage. About Ngozi: Ngozi Anyanwu is a multi hyphenated storyteller most recently seen performing in Nathan Alan Davis‘s THE REFUGE PLAYS at Roundabout Theatre with New Theatre workshop in 2023. Her upcoming play THE MONSTERS will make its world premiere at Two River Theater coproduced with Manhattan Theater Club in the 25/26 seasonin which she’ll also direct. Her most recent play LEROY and LUCY premiered at Steppenwolfe Theater in this past fall of 2024. She’s a 2020 Steinberg Playwright Award winner.. Previous productions include LAST OF THE LOVE LETTERS at the Atlantic Theater Company, GOOD GRIEF (Vineyard Theatre NYtime’s Critic’s pick in NYC / Center Theatre Group in LA) and THE HOMECOMING QUEEN (sold-out world premiere run and a NYtimes’s Critic’s pick at the Atlantic Theatre). GOOD GRIEF was on the Kilroys List 2016 and a semi finalist for the Princess Grace Award, and won the Humanitas Award. THE HOMECOMING QUEEN was on the Kilroys List 2017 and was a Leah Ryan Finalist. Her play NIKE… (Kilroys List 2017) was workshopped at The New Black Fest in conjunction with The Lark and The Strand Festival in conjunction with A.C.T and Space on Ryder Farm and New York Stage and Film. Ngozi also has been commissioned by NYU, The Old Globe, Two Rivers Theatre, The Atlantic Theatre, and Steppenwolf. Anyanwu has also received residencies from LCT3, Space on Ryder Farm, the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, The New Harmony Project, New York Stage and Film and Page 73. She attended Point Park University (BA) and received her MFA in Acting from University of California, San Diego. Ngozi's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@gozeface The Monsters - Two River Theater The Monsters - Manhattan Theatre Club Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://appt.link/jenniferapple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monologue Sourcing Promo Link!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • 129. Casting Director Mini-Series: An Actor's Advocate with Sujotta Pace, CSA

    129. Casting Director Mini-Series: An Actor's Advocate with Sujotta Pace, CSA
    Aug 12 2025
    How can performers turn the audition process into a collaborative partnership? In our first episode of our Casting Director Mini-Series, Jennifer sits down with casting director Sujotta Pace to pull back the curtain on the casting process and reframe how actors see the people on the other side of the table. A former actor herself, Sujotta shares how she collaborates with directors and creative teams to clarify vision, why preparation and bold choices matter more than perfection, and how to “book the room” even if you don’t book the role. She offers tips for self-tapes, reaching out when a project aligns with your strengths, using your emotions to bring truth to your work, and demystifying the many factors that go into casting decisions. Together, they reframe an audition as an invitation, unpack casting directors as the actors’ advocate, and give tips for ways to enter the field of casting. This conversation is a powerful reminder that casting is more about partnership, collaboration, and the shared goal of bringing great stories to life. About Sujotta: Sujotta Pace, C.S.A. (She/Her) is a freelance Casting Professional specializing in short films, new media content, podcasts, and plays (in New York and regionally). She is a Casting associate on the Roundabout Theatre Company/C12 Casting team (Broadway, Off-Broadway) and serves on the Board of Directors of the Casting Society, as well as a member of Theatre Producers of Color. Select casting director credits include the world premieres of Cats: The Jellicle Ball (Perelman Performing Arts Center) and Bad Kreyol (Signature Theatre Company). As an associate, she has contributed to &Juliet (Broadway), Home (Broadway), Yellow Face (Broadway), Tammy Faye: A New Broadway Musical (Broadway), Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical (Broadway) and the world premiere of Hippest Trip – The Soul Train Musical (Regional). Sujotta is committed to fostering brave, creative, and collaborative spaces. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, her passion for actors and casting is reflected in her thoughtful, intentional approach and the material she chooses to champion. Sujotta's IG: ⁠@sujotta Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://appt.link/jenniferapple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monologue Sourcing Promo Link!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 128. Artistic Director Mini-Series: Curating with Care & Clarity with Patricia McGregor

    128. Artistic Director Mini-Series: Curating with Care & Clarity with Patricia McGregor
    Aug 5 2025
    What does it look like to lead a major cultural institution with courage, care & a commitment to transformation? In this episode of our Artistic Director Mini-Series, Jennifer chats with director, writer, community organizer & Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop, Patricia McGregor, about how her full identity shapes her leadership. She shares how she curates using a funnel model rooted in collaboration & grounds her programming in rigor, risk & relevance. From building an “artistic compass” to reframing fundraising as a meaningful invitation, they also discuss burnout, tools for leading with purpose while centering people & why leadership isn’t about holding power, but holding space. Whether you’re stepping into leadership, shaping your practice, or dreaming of systemic change, this episode offers grounded inspiration & tools to lead artfully & live your values out loud. About Patricia: Born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Patricia McGregor (she/her) is the Artistic Director of New York Theatre Workshop. Throughout her tenure at NYTW, she has championed visionary artists, producing five world premieres & countless workshop sharings. She secured key funding to innovate community engagement & education programs. Centering virtuosity & accessibility, Patricia has renewed NYTW's standing as a place of belonging for adventurous artists & audiences alike. A renowned director & writer working in theatre, film, dance & music, she has twice been profiled by The New York Times for her direction of world premieres. Her productions include The Refuge Plays (Roundabout Theatre Company, NYTW); The Last of the Love Letters (Atlantic Theater Company); Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company); Blood Dazzler (Harlem Stage); Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole (co-writer/director; Geffen Playhouse, People’s Light, upcoming NYTW); Sisters in Law (Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts); Shakespeare: Call and Response, Krapp’s Last Tape, What You Are, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Measure for Measure (The Old Globe); Skeleton Crew (Geffen Playhouse); Good Grief (Center Theatre Group); Hamlet (The Public Theater); Place (BAM); The Parchman Hour (Guthrie Theater); brownsville song (Lincoln Center Theater); Indomitable: James Brown (Apollo Theater); Holding It Down (The Met); A Raisin in the Sun, The Winter’s Tale & Spunk (California Shakespeare Theater); Adoration of the Old Woman (INTAR Theatre); Four Electric Ghosts (The Kitchen); & the world premiere of Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Company). McGregor also served as a director for HBO’s emerging writer’s showcase & as tour consultant to Raphael Saadiq & J. Cole. She was associate director of Fela! on Broadway & directed The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway for many years. She co-founded Angela’s Pulse with her sister, choreographer & organizer Paloma McGregor. McGregor attended SMU, where she was a Presidential Scholar, & the Yale School of Drama, where she was a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow & artistic director of Yale Cabaret. Patricia's IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@patriciamcgregor⁠ NYTW ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nytw79⁠ & ⁠nytw.org⁠ Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠appt.link/jenniferapple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer’s IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monologue Sourcing Promo Link!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@empoweredartistcollective Sign up for our newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
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