On this episode we feature Adam Kaufman, the creator of Jewish Jerky Brand. After a move from Los Angeles to Baltimore and a few literal signs along the way, Adam has shifted his focus onto an unexpected project: snacks.

Made with Chutzpah, Jewish Jerky Brand has set out to create a new take on an age-old practice. Drawing on the spices, seasonings, and cuisines found in the places where Jews have settled throughout the world, Adam’s food challenges assumptions about what jerky can be.

Through passion and dedication, as well as support from Baltimore locals at his synagogue and other chefs he’s met along the way, Jewish Jerky Brand has arrived at places like the Baltimore Farmers’ Market. There, Adam is looking for more than just a point of sale. He’s interested in being in conversation and contributing to his community while providing an elevated product.

This episode features the multi-hyphenate theater artist and writer, Bell Gaskin-Burr. As a writer, Belle works to uplift through the content on “Pop Culture Uncovered" aka PCU, a social and media commentary platform she helps run. Her goal is to amplify underrepresented voices, advocate for equity, and give back to the city of Baltimore.

Bell is also heavily invested in the Baltimore theater community. As a working actor and self-described performer who adapts, she continually hones her skills through both short-form and long-form improv.

As a director, Belle always encourages nontraditional performers to audition. She taps into her connections at pop culture conventions throughout the region to expand the pool of actors here in Baltimore and change perceptions about inclusivity in local performances.

Belle is joined in conversation with Barbara Hauck, Director of Arts Council Programming at Create Baltimore.

Alanah Nichole Davis is a Bronx-born, Baltimore-raised writer, cultural strategist, and social designer whose work bridges storytelling, civic imagination, and community care. She’s built a legacy of using creativity and empathy to connect people, nurture ideas, and reimagine what’s possible for her city.

Her essays, talks, and public projects often explore the intersections of race, womanhood, technology, and belonging — inviting audiences to see Baltimore not just as a place, but as a living story. Beyond her role in city government, where she serves as the Chief Storyteller in the Mayor’s Office of Innovation, Alanah’s influence extends through arts, journalism, and local advocacy, where she’s helped amplify voices and shape spaces that honor authenticity and joy.

A proud graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Master of Social Design program, she continues to mentor emerging changemakers and collaborate with artists, institutions, and neighborhoods invested in Baltimore’s collective future.

On this episode we're joined by Robyn Murphy, the CEO of the newly announced Create Baltimore.

Create Baltimore is our new name and brand identity, launched this week with blessing of the city and Mayor Brandon M. Scott under Robyn’s leadership.

Just as Robyn has created a space for us to connect with creatives and hear their stories on our podcast, this week we’ll hear from her about her experiences in media, business, arts and culture, and most importantly, her vision for Baltimore’s creative come-up and laying the groundwork for meaningful, sustainable growth.

Please remember to like, comment, and subscribe so we can keep sharing stories of Baltimore’s creative community!

On this episode we feature Katie Pumphrey, an interdisciplinary artist and ultramarathon open water swimmer living and working in Baltimore.

In June 2024, Katie swam an incredible 24 miles from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Her effort was a celebration of a swimmable Inner Harbor, which has been transformed into a safe, recreational resource for the city.

Pulling from her experiences in the water, her paintings, sculptures, and installations use abstraction and imagery to investigate our anxieties and fears, as well as how our imagination sometimes plays tricks on us. Katie explores these tensions through humor, the connectedness between human instincts, and play.

Her latest exhibition, Swimming Pool, which features her signature style, large canvases, and detailed set design, is a full circle moment as she returns back to the Creative Alliance where she was a resident artist from 2011-2014.

On this episode we feature VILLAGER, a Nigerian-born artist living in Baltimore. VILLAGER's work spans across various media in an interconnected ritual of honoring and remembering Indigenous Yorùbá knowledge systems, visual & material culture, and African spiritual technologies and philosophies.

After immigrating to the United States, VILLAGER was left to process the trauma and grief of abruptly moving to a new home. This struggle ultimately lead them to several difficult decisions, including curtailing their formal education in Earth science and adopting a new name that more closely aligned with their choice to practice art in Baltimore.

We’ll also discuss VILLAGER’s recent solo exhibitions including ÀṢẸ: Embodying the Divine, which was part of BOPA’s Emerge series, as well as Devotion, Dreams, and Destiny at the Eubie Blake Cultural Center - a collection partially inspired by the novel The Famished Road by Nigerian author Ben Okri. And on top of that, this year VILLAGER was a recipient of the Mayor's Office Individual Artist Award through the Creative Baltimore Fund.

This week we feature Chris Wisniewski, the Executive Director of The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Chris was formerly the Executive Director of the arts organization Studio in a School and Deputy Director for Education and Visitor Experience at the Museum of the Moving Image.

Each year, The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers presents The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, which is the nation's longest-running and most prestigious teen recognition program for students in grades 7–12.

As the 2025 Maryland affiliate for The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards regional competition, BOPA was tasked with collecting and evaluating submissions from all 27 Maryland counties.

Along with hearing from Chris, this episode we’ll also feature several award-winning students who gathered at the Top of the World Observation Level in downtown Baltimore to receive an array of prizes which range from an Honorable Mention, Silver Key, or Gold Key . Gold Keys are automatically forwarded for consideration at the national level of the Scholastic Awards.

The top five submissions in the region for visual art are named American Visions nominees, while the top five for writing are named American Voices nominees. These 10 nominees will go on to compete for a National Medal.

On this episode we feature Jaz Erenberg, a Baltimore-based public artist, community organizer, and advocate for creative expression and social justice. As a muralist and visual storyteller, Jaz’s work focuses on the intersection of art and activism, with a deep commitment to creating public art that reflects and celebrates the diversity, resilience, and history of the communities she serves.

Jaz recounts stories of support from her family at a young age that empowered her to draw outside the lines and pursue a career as a working artist. Her experiences led to co-founding Baltimore’s Brush Mural Festival, which aims to connect local artists and residents through collaborative, large-scale mural projects.

Jaz also discusses her role as the Chair of Baltimore’s Public Art Commission. The PAC is a citizen review board charged with administering Baltimore's 1%-for-Public-Art Program, as well as reviewing permanent gifts of public art to the city. As she serves, Jaz guides initiatives that shape the city's artistic landscape while fostering an environment of collaboration and inclusivity.

Cover photo by: Justin Tsucalas