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This week, we sit down with career and leadership coach Julia Starr to unpack a practical path through professional pivots. Julia isn't just a coach; she is a master of the "bold move." From her time as a Fulbright Fellow in Malaysia and a BCG consultant to her work streamlining a family sawmill business and earning an Ed.M. from Harvard, Julia has navigated the exact inflection points she now helps her clients master.

In this episode, Julia explains why the skills of a performing artist—the discipline of an opera singer (for example), the multilingual adaptability of a touring musician, and the high-stakes presence of a stage actor—are actually elite assets for global business and leadership.

We dive into:

• The Identity Shift: How to separate who you are from what you do.
• Career Design Thinking: Why you should treat your next move like a prototype—testing hypotheses and gathering data rather than guessing.
• The Language of Translation: How to turn your creative "strength stories" into the strategic language that recruiters and CEOs crave.
• The 5 A.M. Test: Why being a "thoughtful, curious colleague" is the ultimate competitive advantage in any industry.

Julia also shares her Value-Strengths-Action method, offering a look at how to use AI to surface adjacent roles you never knew existed. Whether you are an artist looking for your next stage or a professional feeling "stuck," this conversation provides the strategy and the "momentum" needed to build something extraordinary.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

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What if the most vulnerable part of U.S. arts isn’t creativity, but structure? Brett Egan, president of the DeVos Institute, joins us to unpack why public funding feels shakier than ever, how AI is making the arts more necessary—not less—and what it would take to build a resilient cultural ecosystem that can weather political swings.

We trace the long arc from the NEA’s founding to today’s accelerated attempts to shrink and politicize cultural agencies, with real consequences for stability, planning, and trust. Brett argues for a both‑and approach: defend what’s left while building capacity beyond government. He lays out a practical blueprint for a flexible national arts framework—more constitution than command—that invites thousands of organizations to align around shared pillars like arts education, creative workers’ rights, disability inclusion, community arts practice, and a legal defense fund for creative expression. Imagine collective philanthropy fueling a dozen long‑horizon campaigns that strengthen the whole field.

We also dig into what leadership looks like now. The future belongs to hybrid leaders who blend classic arts administration with AI literacy, policy fluency, and cross‑sector savvy in health, transportation, and education. Brett shares how to move research from the academy into practice, why structural thinking helps decode fast‑moving policy shifts, and how a big‑tent mindset—assuming good faith across differences—can turn overwhelm into coordinated action. If you care about funding stability, audience recovery, and the role of culture in a turbulent world, this conversation offers clarity and a path forward.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a colleague, and leave a review to help more arts leaders find it. Your feedback shapes future episodes and fuels the work.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

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What if the freedom you crave onstage has less to do with the perfect high note and more to do with the state you bring to it? Today we sit down with mental performance coach and five-time national karate champion Christopher Wellbrook to unpack how elite sport principles can transform the lives of singers, musicians, and creative pros. Christopher believes fully that opera singers are elite athletes. From long rehearsal blocks to constant travel and high-stakes visibility, the mental load rivals any arena. Together we dig into practical, science-backed tools that turn pressure into presence.

We explore why outcome chasing rarely delivers fulfillment and how to replace it with a grounded, other-centered mindset. Christopher shows how tiny, identity-based habits—sleep routines, hydration, daily movement—build durable confidence and reduce the chaos of last-minute schedules. He walks us through visualization that embraces imperfection, so you’re not blindsided when nerves hit, and introduces anchors and box breathing to calm the nervous system in real time. You’ll hear how to communicate with creative teams without defensiveness, how to reframe burnout by raising the excellence of the room, and how to protect your identity when career turbulence hits.

If you’ve ever thought, once I win that competition, then I’ll feel worthy, this conversation offers a better path. You’ll leave with simple strategies, pre-performance steps, and a mindset shift that makes composure repeatable and joy sustainable.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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A vacant sub-basement in an affordable housing building isn’t where most people expect a new theater to bloom — but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, host Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman welcomes Jaime Martino, Executive Director of Toronto's Tapestry Opera, to share the story behind the new Nancy and Ed Jackman Performance Center, a flexible black box space that seats 100–150 and brings neighbors, artists, and first-timers together in one room.

Jaime walks us through how a modest rehearsal plan evolved into a full venue with a bar, box office, rehearsal studio, and shared offices — powered by community partnerships, city champions, and a clear mission: build access, not barriers.

We dive into the partnership with Nightwood Theatre and explore the decision-making culture that carried the project through three years of design choices, budget tradeoffs, and technical puzzles. Consensus wasn’t slow — it was strengthening. From tiered rental pricing and resident companies to opening traditionally “insider” events to the public, Jaime explains how a venue can become an ecosystem. Today, the space hosts indie rehearsals, mainstage runs, one-night concerts, and soon, commercial events that help subsidize artist use.

We also zoom out to confront the bigger questions facing opera and the arts today — shrinking corporate support, rising costs, and what belonging really means in a legacy-driven field. Jaime’s take is clear: small casts and chamber forces make intimate stories land; multidisciplinary curiosity keeps the form alive; and safety nets enable bold risks. Micro experiences — genuine welcomes, open rehearsals, human-scale venues — turn first visits into lasting relationships.

If you care about cultural infrastructure, community building, and the future of live performance, this conversation offers a practical, hopeful roadmap.

Come see the space, meet the people behind it, and help shape what happens next.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

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What if your performing arts career was built to last—not just to launch? 🎭

In this episode, we sit down with Kaye Kelly—Berklee College of Music professor, singer-songwriter, and author of The Modern Creative: A Practical Guide for 21st Century Artists—to explore how today’s artists can build resilient, values-driven, and financially sustainable careers.

Kaye’s book doubles as a field manual and workbook, and together we unpack her prompts and practices for defining your artistic narrative, mapping multiple income streams, and getting grants within reach.

We trace how the creative landscape has evolved through streaming, the pandemic, and AI—and why artists now thrive by wearing many hats. Kaye shares what professionalism really looks like: reply fast, communicate clearly, show up prepared, and think strategically.

From teaching, arranging, and session work to licensing and arts leadership, we dig into building a portfolio career with both active and passive income. Then we go straight to the money talk—budgeting for unpredictable income, planning for taxes, and starting retirement early.

Community engagement emerges as both a compass and a growth engine. Kaye walks us through ways to connect with local cultural councils, public art initiatives, and small grant programs that align your work with community priorities while expanding your audience.

We close with the habits that protect creativity—silence, privacy, and device discipline—and small rituals like journaling to shift into creative flow.

Forget the starving artist myth. Choose alignment, guard your time, and let your creativity evolve across seasons.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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What if “talent” isn’t rare—and the real scarcity is time, teachers, and belief? We sit down with Anthony (Tony) Mazzocchi, Executive Director of Kaufman Music Centerand Kinhaven Music School, to unpack how raising expectations and resourcing music education can reset a community’s cultural life. Tony traces his journey from trombonist and freelancer to a decade inside a Brooklyn public school, where a rigorous, well-supported band program revealed what students can do when adults stop underestimating them. That experience now fuels a mission-first strategy at Kaufman: Merkin Hall as a living classroom, Lucy Moses School as a true community hub, and Special Music School—the nation’s only K–12 public school with music embedded daily—delivering academic results that rival its artistic ones.

We dig into the structural headwinds: shrinking early access, budget pressures, and a national teacher shortage that’s quietly closing programs even when money exists. Then we get practical about engagement. If the first run club can feel intimidating without pace groups and a welcome, imagine a first concert with no context. We trade tactics to make newcomers feel seen—first-timer meetups, simple explainers, artist Q&As, and food-and-music pairings that translate feeling into flavor without flattening the art. Anthony also spotlights Kinhaven’s new boarding program, a 50–50 music/academics model that turns festival immersion into a school-year reality, opening doors with a tuition-free pilot and a collaborative ethos.

Throughout, we return to a simple idea with big consequences: music is for everyone when the pathway is clear and the bar is high. In a world quickly being reshaped by AI, the concert hall can model human skills we need more than ever—listening, empathy, and shared leadership. If you care about music education, arts access, or the next generation of audiences, this conversation sheds light on what’s possible when belief meets support.

If it resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who works in arts education, or someone who has young kids.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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Belonging doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built in small, steady moments. Elizabeth Bowman sits down with community architect Tasha Van Vlack, founder of The Nonprofit Hive, to unpack how nonprofits and performing arts groups can move beyond buzzwords and create connection that lasts. From the loneliness many leaders face to the power of one-to-one conversations, Tasha shares a playbook for building trust without big budgets.

We get tactical about cadence and rituals, the quiet engines of community. Think weekly touchpoints instead of marketing blitzes, and visible first-timer signals that invite warm welcomes. We talk merch that actually means something—earned pins and badges that reflect contribution, not just logo placement—and why a flywheel mindset beats the old funnel model when life pulls people in and out. You’ll hear how to elevate natural advocates, host micro-gatherings that feel human, and design recurring partnerships that compound results year over year.

Don’t rush to shiny new tools. Before launching an app or forum, start by investing in the essentials: a clean website, clear ticketing, and thoughtful emails or SMS reminders that people will actually read. Then add layers like behind-the-scenes Zooms, curated introductions, and personal follow-ups that turn transactions into memories. Whether you’re filling seats, welcoming first-timers, or stewarding long-time supporters, this conversation offers practical steps to spark word-of-mouth, strengthen loyalty, and grow community from the inside out.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review—then tell us the one ritual you’ll start this month.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.

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Ever wondered what drives the International Opera Awards? British entrepreneur Harry Hyman takes us behind the curtain of the Awards, revealing how a passion project has transformed into a pivotal force in the opera world.

The awards serve a triumvirate of purposes - distributing roughly $100,000 annually in bursaries to emerging talents, celebrating excellence across all facets of opera production, and perhaps most crucially, dismantling the elitist stereotypes that keep potential audiences away. "People from a younger generation might be put off by the notion that opera is only for extremely wealthy people, that it's very long and can be very dull," Hyman explains, highlighting the awards' mission to change these perceptions.

What began as a London-based ceremony has blossomed into a truly global celebration, with previous ceremonies hosted in Madrid, Warsaw, and Munich. The 2025 awards will unfold at Athens' Stavros Niarchos Foundation Opera House on November 13th, with nominations open until August 31st. Last year saw over 16,000 nominations flooding in across 24 categories, each carefully evaluated by a distinguished jury of opera experts.

The real magic happens in the careers launched and elevated through these recognitions. Previous Young Singer winners like Ermonela Jaho and Aigul Akhmetshina have rocketed to international acclaim, while bursary recipients gain priceless exposure performing before the opera world's luminaries. As one judge aptly dubbed them, these aren't the Oscars but the "Toscas of opera" - a fitting tribute to an art form that, as Hyman reminds us, speaks to our most fundamental emotions: "lust, envy, love, seduction, deception."

Ready to nominate your opera heroes? Visit operaawards.org and become part of this remarkable celebration of an art form that continues to evolve while honoring its rich traditions.

All episodes are also available in video form on our YouTube Channel. All episodes are hosted by Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bowman.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the love, and leave us a review to show your support—it means a lot to us!

Don't hesitate to reach out to us with guest ideas, information you'd like covered, or any ideas you might have—the hope is for this to be a continuous resource and dialogue with our listeners.

Visit TheSceneRoom.com for more information.