From Chapman University in Orange County California the Catalyst podcast was created as a way to give listeners a chance to learn about the Creative and Cultural Industries through conversations with individuals from a wide array of backgrounds who are working in these sectors all over the world. Originally created in house at the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries, the podcast transitioned in season four to the hands of our students. Students create their own Catalyst segments exploring the Creative and Cultural Industries from their own unique perspective.
Mr. Ryan Haley, who teaches the podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries here at the University is your series host, as he introduces and closes out each episode. Each interview segment however is completely written, conducted, recorded and produced by Chapman students. These students of the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative and Cultural Industries in Practice-Podcasting, start by learning to focus on the relationship between theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of podcasts in modern media, they go out and create their own podcasts. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
Catalyst will be releasing new and exciting episodes when it returns this fall with Season Fourteen, be sure to tune in and experience firsthand how our CCI students take an in depth look at the Creative and Cultural Industries though each of the hand-crafted episodes.
Before that however, as a special bonus, coming this summer 2025 Catalyst will host a new run of the special Series, The Artist is Present. Releasing an episode every Thursday in July, this series, which is being produced in conjunction with the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art here at Chapman University, will feature interviews with some of the artists whose work can be seen as part of the Collection. We hope that you will tune to hear these intriguing interviews which allow the audience to gain valuable insight on the artists behind some remarkable pieces.
Summer 2025’s run of Catalyst Presents: The Artist Is Present, a 4-part series from the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection
Summer 2025 Trailer- The Artist is Present, also including Catalyst Season 13 wrap up and Season 14 preview!
Summer is HERE! And that can only mean one thing, Catalyst is once again lucky to be able to present this Summer’s Special Series, The Artist is Present! Listen along to Ryan Haley, CCI Faculty member and Shannon Halverson, CCI Program Manager as they do a short wrap up of Catalyst Season 13, and a sneak peak of Season 14, before presenting the trailer for the 3rd installment of The Artist is Present.
“The Artis is Present” was developed under the direction of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art’s Director, Fiona Shen, and Collections Manager, Jessica Bocinski, so that a wider
audience would have the opportunity to hear directly from the artists in the Escalette
Collection at Chapman University. The Collection is fortunate to include artists from
diverse backgrounds whose work fosters new and interesting ways of knowing the world.
In listening to these perspectives, we hope that “The Artist is Present” serves as
an educational resource and an enjoyable reminder of how art shapes our understanding
of the past, present, and who we might become in the future.
Referencing the important performance art piece by Marina Abramović, the title of the series, “The Artist is Present”, evokes the sense of closeness and deep engagement inherent to the interview-based style of the podcast. All the interviews were researched by Chapman University students and conducted by Chapman University, students, staff and Alumni. This season was hosted by Chapman University’s Helene Vlok ‘26, a Business Administration (Marketing) and Art History double major.
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences is the proud home of the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art. The collection is supported by an endowment established by the late Phyllis and Ross Escalette and is comprised mainly of contemporary and modern paintings, prints, and sculpture. Rather than being housed in a museum or gallery, The Escalette Collection functions as a “museum without walls” where artwork is displayed throughout the Chapman campus in hallways, public spaces, and study areas. Beyond its role in curating art in public spaces, the Escalette is a learning laboratory that offers diverse opportunities for student engagement, research, and involvement with the broader community.Photo Credit:
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The Artist is Present Podcast Cover designed by Chapman student Cassandra Chan '25
Sound Credits:
- Catalyst Intro/Ending music: Taryn’s Electric Dream, by Taryn Stroop
We start the Season Thirteen Finale off strong with a look at the incredible life
and work of
We start Catalyst this week with Mackenzie Kim '26, a Creative Producing major/ CCI
minor and her interview with Sharon Westenhofer, executive director at The Music Room,
a school for performing arts in Orange County. Mackenzie dives in with Sharon by discussing
the balance of business and art and what the good and the bad aspects of creating
your own company and studio can be. They talk about the inner workings of The Music
Room, including classes and what is required in money and manpower to make the business
work. It is revealed through the conversation that several Chapman students work at
The Music Room as both teachers and directors. Listen to hear how this creative business
has been succeeding in Orange County for forty years!
To begin our show this week, Public Relations, Advertising and Entertainment Marketing
major / CCI minor, Laeticia Cerdas '27, interviews Warner Brothers Senior Producer
Image and Sound, Victoria Kennedy. They begin with a discussion of what got Victoria
into the industry, backtracking to her high school experience. Victoria explains how
that is when she began in journalism and got the opportunity to shadow at the local
news station. They talk about her trajectory post-college from small-town news in
Sherman-Dennison, Texas, to a bigger market in Dallas, Texas, and how she got into
her current position in Atlanta as Senior Producer, Image + Sound. The pair also revisit
some moments in Victoria’s career that stick with her to this day, such as working
breaking news during the Sandy Hook shooting and the Orlando bar shooting, where she
was called to report on the scene. Finally, Laeticia asks Victoria what advice she
would give to journalism students, which includes making connections with the professionals
met along the way, persevering despite how hard of a market it can be to pierce, and
for students to take risks and decide what they want early on. 
On this week's first segment Brenna George '26, Business Administration major/ CCI
minor, gets to speak with Naomi Alabi, the founder of 
Senior Sydney Cook Rogoff ’25, a Creative Writing major/ CCI minor, begins our episode
with an in-depth discussion of the Creative and Cultural Industries with Kellen Sweny,
a Tech Initiatives Program Manager for the Walt Disney Company, specifically Walt
Disney World. They discuss in detail the study of Creative and Cultural Industries
before diving into the different aspects of the Walt Disney Company and focusing specifically
on the responsibility the company has to continue to produce outstanding content and
how Sweny contributes to this goal.They touch on how Sweny came to work for the company
and what drew her to it in the first place, before they conclude with Sweny’s “words
of wisdom” for anyone trying to get a job in the corporate world of Disney, and how
she worked to get her job. They touch on the Disney College Program (a program set
up by the Walt Disney Company for aspiring Disney employees) and how this program
helped her attain her current role at Disney.
Hosting our first segment this week is Jadyn Ayala '26, a Business Administration
major/CCI minor who brings us an interview with Joshua Gaspar, a professional dancer
and choreographer. Joshua opens up to Jadyn about his early years in dance, sharing
how his passion transformed into a career despite financial challenges and setbacks.
They discuss how Joshua founded Exchange, a dance team focused on sharing ideas, power,
and community, and what it was like to build that team from the ground up. Next, they
discuss Joshua’s residency in Las Vegas and how he later turned that into a North
American tour with Donny Osmond. They close the interview by talking about how Joshua
plans to take his passion even further in the future. 
In our first segment this week, Senior Strategic and Corporate Communication major
Lauren Kalama ’25 sits down with Kamaka Dias, host of The Keep It Aloha Podcast, to
explore his unique journey of starting his podcasting career. Dias reflects on growing
up in Hawaiʻi as a Native Hawaiian and shares how his heritage shaped his worldview
and influenced his career. They explore how Dias’ passion for social media evolved
into a thriving creative career, leading him to podcasting and the importance of infusing
cultural authenticity into his media content. The interview then concludes with offering
advice for aspiring creatives in hopes of being an inspiration and guide in navigating
their path while honoring their cultural identity.
This week’s first segment looks at what it is like to be a freelancer in the music
industry landscape of Los Angeles in the year 2025. Chapman senior Amber Zhu, a Film
Studies major/ CCI minor, dives into this topic with the subject of her interview,
Lu Cheng, a freelance music composer based in Los Angeles, California, who got his
master's degree from USC has worked as a composer for various media formats including
film, TV and the gaming industry. Zhu and Cheng discuss Cheng’s career trajectory,
from his first job as a composer assistant, through his moving on to short films and
then expanding to other media forms. They discuss the experience of working with and
for creatives before touching on current industry trends including Cheng’s insights
regarding the emergence of AI technology and how short-form vertical videos like those
on the ReelShort platform have changed or will change the landscape of the creator's
community. They wrap up the conversation with Lu's advice for future creators and
people who want to pursue careers in the creative industries.
This week starts off with a real bang as Business Administration major/ Law and the
Liberal Arts minor, Franca Strandell '27, leads us through an interview with Ned Dane,
the Digital Partnerships Marketing Coordinator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC). They discuss how Ned's career took a surprising turn when, after starting in
finance, he accepted an internship with Formula 1 racing that opened his eyes to the
world of sports partnerships and marketing. The pair discuss the highs and lows of
moving from finance to sports, the differences between the industries, and what it
takes to break into the competitive sports industry. Dane also gives the audience
an idea of what his current role at the UFC is like, where he spends his days analyzing
data and planning creative projects like content shoots featuring top fighters. Before
signing off, Franca and Ned touch on the difficult balance of optimizing partnerships
and how to keep the UFC’s brand authentic without overdoing commercial content.
We kick off Season 13 of Catalyst with a look at the career of Sammy Smith, a talented
Los Angeles-based photographer, who sat down to speak with Brianna Jones '25, a Communication
Studies Major and CCI & Leadership Studies double minor here at Chapman. Sammy relates
how she grew up in Connecticut and what her journey was like, both physically and
As we begin to wind down the season, we start today’s episode with an intriguing interview
featuring Montana Golin. Montana is the events producer at Dodge College of Film and
Media Arts here at Chapman University and she speaks with Senior Iliana Nordenso,
a Public Relations/Advertising major/CCI minor, about her career trajectory, starting
with her education at Southern Methodist University in Texas. The pair examine the
world of event management including Montana's various experiences as a general event
planner with non-entertainment events such as weddings, corporate events, and ceremonies.
They also discuss the path to her current position, and what the day-to-day looks
like as an events producer. Montana elaborates on some of her accomplishments that
she feels most proud of, and they conclude by revealing some interesting misconceptions
about event planning and what Montana wishes aspiring event planners knew about events.
We jump into this week’s episode of Catalyst with Accounting major/ CCI minor Sofia
del Rey '25 and her interview with Ryan Metzler. Metzler, an educator whose focus
is in media production and the film industry has worked with students that range from
middle schoolers to college. Metzler talks about his role in helping students develop
the vocational and creative skills necessary for those pursuing careers in the film
industry. They also discuss what he sees as the importance of fostering community
within his classrooms, teaching students that they must rely on the support of those
around them. In closing, he touches on the challenges of working in the Creative and
Cultural Industries, but they wrap the interview with Metzler’s advice for those pursuing
a career in the arts.
To close our episode this week, Creative Writing major/CCI minor, Maya Caparaz ’25,
talks with John Lacy, a veteran Film Industry lighting technician from the Bay Area
who has more than 30 years of experience. Lacy’s career illustrious career includes
credits on such films and TV projects as Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, American
Sniper, 13 Reasons Why, and Captain Marvel. Maya and John discuss how his interest
in filmmaking as a child influenced him to study film in college. They then talk about
John's more recent projects such as serving as the chief lighting technician on Freaky
Tales, a film that premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and is set to be released
in theaters with stars like Pedro Pascal and Tom Hanks. Through the interview, John
explains the work that he does as a chief lighting technician including working directly
under the director of photography to implement their ideas for the lighting while
also taking into consideration the budget that the producers have decided for the
lighting department. They conclude the interview with some of John’s thoughts on the
influence of lighting on the acting and story of a film or television show.
In this episode of Catalyst Communication Studies major /CCI minor, Nicole Marsh '25,
starts us off with her interview of artist, and educator, Cedric Tai. Together the
two discuss Cedric’s career as an artist, including their most recent project that
was featured in the Guggenheim Gallery, located on Chapman University’s campus. The
exhibit, @fakingprofessionalism, stood out from other art exhibits in many ways from
the incorporation of virtual reality to interactive art exhibits. Cedric provides
insight into what it means to truly be a part of a creative industry, and what draws
specific kinds of people to these fields of work. They also offer insightful advice
for aspiring young artists considering pursuing work in the creative industry.
Anthropology and CCI, talks to Pershon about her career from her beginnings where
she worked at such theme parks as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm as a tech behind
the scenes at some of their live performance shows. They discuss how Pershon now works
as a freelance contracted live technician, specializing in audio and video effects,
for live immersive experiences. Pershon talks about the differences in working for
a company like Disney versus working as a freelance contractor as well as the advantages
and disadvantages to both. They also talk about what the day to day looks like for
her now as a freelance technician, and discuss where they think the future of live
immersive experiences is headed.
To begin our episode this week Strategic & Corporate Communications major/CCI & Public
Relations double minor, Annie Hirsch '26, speaks with Debby Pearlman, President and
co-founder of SparkBird Productions, a television and film production company based
in Los Angeles, California. The pair discuss Debby’s years of experience developing
show ideas in the television industry including her experience working as Senior Vice
President of Development for Bright-Kauffman-Crane which produced the hit television
show
Each episode of Season 12 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Our season begins with Grace Cochrane '26, a Strategic & Corporate Communications
major/Music Business & CCI double minor, whose interview with author
Tahereh Sheerazie is a fabric artist, landscape designer, and educator. She is also
a founding member of The Running Stitch, a Los-Angeles based sewing and quilting collective
for Muslim women of all backgrounds. Since 2001, The Running Stitch has dedicated
itself to philanthropy. All of the quilts and other textiles the group created were
sold at small fundrasiers to support families and communities in need throughout the
world. They have raised money for families affected by Hurricane Katrina and Northn
Pakistani villages ravaged by the Kasmir earthquake. In addition to helping others,
the Running Stitch served as a means of healing through community-building.
Bovey Lee is a cut paper artist based in Los Angeles, California, USA. Born in Hong
Kong and practicing Chinese calligraphy since the age of ten, Lee studied painting
and drawing in her formative years and completed her BA degree in Fine Arts at the
Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 1993, Lee came to the United States as a painter
and earned her first Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California
at Berkeley. Subsequently, Lee earned a second MFA in computer graphics and interactive
media at Pratt Institute in New York. She is now known primarily as a paper-cut artist,
creating artworks and site-specific installations which focus on themes of migration
its impact on our shared humanity and the environment.
A native Californian, Elizabeth Turk is an artist, primarily known for marble sculpture.
In 2010, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship and the Annalee & Barnett Newman Foundation
award. Today, she splits time between Santa Ana, CA and NYC. Turk received her MFA
from Maryland Institute College of Art, Rinehart School of Sculpture in 1994, her
BA from Scripps College, Claremont, CA in 1983. Turk’s work searches the boundaries
of paradox: the contemporary in the traditional, the lightness in weight, the emptiness
in mass, the fluidity of the solid, extended time in a moment. Reducing hundreds of
pounds of stone to essential matrices of 5-25 lbs., her intricately carved sculptures
defy gravity and make possible that which seems impossible. Inspired by the natural
world, she references its myriad of elegant organic structures, yet her work is not
complete until abandoned to larger environments, humbling the intensity of her creative
focus. Her studio is located in Santa Ana, CA.
Born in Madrid to an American mother and Spanish father, Daniel Canogar’s life and
career have bridged between Spain and the U.S. Photography was his earliest medium
of choice, receiving a M.A. from NYU at the International Center of photography in
1990. He soon became interested in the possibilities of the projected image and installation
art. He has created permanent public art installations with LED screens at museums,
galleries, and public spaces throughout the world including a multi-billboard installation
in Time Square. Through video, new media installations, photo-murals, and public art
projects, Canogar explores themes related to electronic waste, visual excess, and
the archeology of new media. His projects often involve the visualization or representation
of data. 
As we head into summer we are excited to not only offer you some Catalyst season 11
highlights, and season 12 teasers, but to also announce that this summer Catalyst
will be hosting 4 new episodes of the special series “The Artist is Present”! “The
Artist is Present” was developed under the direction of the
Our season finale begins with Strategic & Corporate Communications major, CCI & Music
Business double minor Jacky Kim '26’s interview with Jonathan Heyon. Heyon, a film
student at California State University of Northridge, discusses with Jacky the inspiration
behind his creative portfolio "August is Green." The pair also discuss how the landscape
of the Creative and Cultural Industries is changing and how having additional skills
in varying creative sectors can be an advantage when navigating ones career path.
The two end the interview with words of encouragement for the audience to follow their
creative dreams.
Our second to last episode of Catalyst this season begins with an interview of the
director of education and community engagement at the 
the son of a former tribal chief and the great-great-grandson of one of the most revered
Native American leaders, Chief Quanah Parker, his work presents strikingly modern
depictions of Indigenous men and women from various tribal Nations of North America.
Through the interview the pair discuss how Nocona has a great overview of the business
side of art due to his extensive experience in navigating the art world at a young
age. They also touch on Burgess’ podcast experience and the classes he teaches at
the Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) which deal with the business side of art.
Samantha Combs ’24, Business Administration major/CCI minor begins our episode this
week with her interview of Jorgie Kubursi a social media and content creator who has
grown up all over the globe. Jorgie shares her insights on personal brand development
and how she successfully markets her defining traits to distinguish her from other
creators. Samantha discusses with Jorgie how, from a content evolution standpoint,
she places emphasis and importance upon personal introspection and how it gave her
insight into who she is and what her intentions are within the industry. Listen along
to hear about defining moments in Jorgie’s career thus far, and discover what are
the key defining factors of her content, as well as her goals and aspirations.
We begin this week with a look at the work of Maria McHugo, an up-and-coming stand-up
comic from Washington DC, who has also worked with Los Angeles Comic Manager, Barry
Katz of Barry Katz Entertainment. Maria speaks with Francesca Zorlas ’25, Business
Administration major/ CCI minor, about her comedic character arc, from humble beginnings
at the University of Virginia as a media studies major with plans to be a lawyer,
to her choice to pursue her dreams of storytelling through entertainment. Listen as
she unravels her comedic ventures and talks about the trials and tribulations of working
in this male dominated industry. Maria also imparts some advice to prospective females
looking to break the ice and enter the entertainment industry.
This week’s Catalyst episode comes in like a gale force wind when Strategic & Corporate
Comm major/ CCI minor Alia Hagi ’25, interviews Hawaiian weatherman and television
personality, Guy Hagi (Instagram @hnn.guyhagi). Alia discusses with Guy how his career
has spanned both traditional broadcasting and the digital landscape focusing on how
Instagram and meme culture combined with Guy ability to convey his charming personality
when broadcasting came together to make him a standout in his field. 
Catalyst begins this week with an interview of Skye Bleu and Savannah Rae the co-founders
of 
Paige Brooks '24 a Communication Studies major/CCI minor starts this week’s episode
of Catalyst with an interview of veteran performer and choreographer Brittany Barney.
The pair discuss the array of opportunities one can find within a singular creative
industry, Barney’s process when it comes to choreography and how culture and history
impact artistry. They also reflect on what success looks like in a performance-based
industry, where professional rejection is part of the game and how at times it is
necessary to adjust a career plan to accommodate reality. Still Barney is hopeful
that the information she imparts in the interview will inspire creatives, and that
the career-development timeline she shares will be a particularly useful tool.
This week we start Catalyst with an interview by Keri Wendt '24, a graduating Communication
Studies major/CCI minor, who speaks with Taylor Ross, co-founder of Bati Goods. Bati
Goods, which was established in 2017, specializes in leather goods. Ross shares the
fascinating story behind building a company in the heart of Paraguay, including the
impetus behind the creation of Bati Goods, which sells hand-made leather-wrapped goods
sourced directly from Paraguay. A portion of the profits from Bati Goods goes back
to the students at The Macchi School in Tobati, a school that offers a to
The first interview of Catalyst’s eleventh season features Senior Business Administration
major/CCI minor, Leah Hallal '24, speaking with Sarah Hallal, a designer with the
consumer direct marketing, Creative Studio division at Nike. They open the interview
by discussing the dynamic world of fashion marketing. Sarah then talks about her career
journey starting with navigating internships, and then moving on to talk about the
pivotal choices that led to her current job with the iconic company. Sarah also shares
what a day in her role might look like, as well as offering some valuable advice to
young creatives. The pair conclude the interview by exploring what the future may
hold for Sarah.
Our episode begins today with a look at the career and life of filmmaker Will Geiger.
A producer, writer, and director for films such as Elvis and Anabelle and Ocean Tribe,
Geiger graciously sits down to speak with Communication Studies major/ CCI minor,
Cate Soboleski ’26. Will recalls how he got into filmmaking through creating shorts
at Orange Coast Community College and how that experience helped him realize this
was his passion. The interview covers some of Will’s early professional experiences,
as well as what it is like to live and work abroad as a filmmaker, including pros
and cons of working in film outside the United States. This leads to an interesting
discussion on how film can play a role in shifting cultural values, and the repercussions
of that.
Diving into our first interview this week, we have Montana Dobrovich-Fago '24, a Business
Administration major/CCI minor talking with Patrick Smith, the head of visualization
at 
We start the show this week with an interview conducted by Communication Studies major/CCI
and English double minor Rohan Chhabra '24 who sits down with the Head of Literary
Management at Bold Soul Studios, Michael Masukawa. Rohan discusses with Michael his
journey from his early college days interning at as many production companies as he
could find to his current role at Bold Soul. They also discussed how he also founded
his own creative consulting company, Masukawa Creative Management. Michael provides
helpful insights for creatives, including that his path is not one that everyone follows,
and that is a good thing.
Each episode of Season 10 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
We start the show this week with Melissa Wong ’24, a Strategic & Corporate Communications
major/CCI minor who sat down with the founder, designer, and owner of Anna Learns
Things, 
Each episode of Season 10 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Each episode of Season 10 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
The two wrap the interview with a retrospective analysis of Rocky’s work in the Creative
Industries.
For the Season Nine Finale this week, we are taking a look back at the beginning of
Catalyst. CCI Faculty, and Catalyst Co-host, Ryan Haley (pictured left), and his Season’s Eight and Nine Co-host, Mike Gravagno (pictured below) ’18 speak with former Catalyst hosts Taryn Stoop ’10 and Shannon Halverson (pictured below in group) about how the podcast came into existence, what its purpose was, and how it has
evolved through the CCI 304: CCI in Practice Course.
Halverson, who is currently the Program Manager for the Center for Creative and Cultural
Industries at Chapman University and Stroop touch on early recording days of Catalyst,
when Gravagno helped to record and produce the episodes. They look at how that format
transitioned under Haley’s course, and how the students now fully produce the interview
sections of the show each season. The quartet wrap the interview with some musings
on where they think the cultural and creative industries are headed in a post pandemic,
AI filled future.
This week we have a special episode when Senior Business Administration Major and
Creative and Cultural Industries & Advertising double minor, Pamela Coelho ’23, and
Alissa Sakamoto ’24 a fellow Business Administration Major and Creative and Cultural
Industries minor interview Dr. Javier Moscoso.
This week we start with an interview of Donna Smith, the CEO and Founder of 
Danielle expounds on her experience at the highest levels of event marketing, production
and talent buying. Known for her contributions to popular music festivals such as
Outside Lands San Francisco and Life is Beautiful Las Vegas Danielle sits down to
share with Alissa her insights on the industry, including the cultural importance
of live events and experiences to communities that they reflect and serve. They also
touch on such things as how the concept of sustainability within the culture of live
events is evolving to reflect the change they want to see. For example, utilizing
creative initiatives at events to decrease the percentage of the waste produced that
goes to landfill vs compost and/or recycling. Before they conclude the talk, Danielle
and Alissa discuss the impetus for launching Madeira and Partners and what Danielle
hopes to see in the world of live events and festivals in the future.
Tristan Foster ’23 a Creative Producing major/Media, Culture & Society cluster senior,
begins our episode this week by interviewing Aaliyah Kashyap, a content creator who
is from Mumbai, India. Having grown up in and around Bollywood, with a father who
is a director, Aaliyah is no stranger to the power of using audience momentum. She
has channeled that firsthand experience into creating her own YouTube channel which
boasts over 130,000 subscribers and has curated an Instagram audience of 300,000 followers.
She uses the platforms to discuss the reality of life in the spotlight and has also
brought the topic of mental health and wellbeing into the conversation, a topic that
can be seen as controversial in India. Tristan and Aaliyah discuss Aaliyah’s professional
journey from vlogging to social media up to the launch of her jewelry company Athena
Jewels.
Business Administration major/CCI minor Ashley Retzer '26 kicks off this episode with
an interview of Kelsy Parkhouse, owner of the sustainable fashion brand 
In our second episode of season nine, Communication Studies major & CCI minor, Carly
Dinowitz '24 conducts our first interview with Rose Costolo, a jewelry artist who
created 
Each episode of Season 9 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Professors Pepper and Lewis were meeting with Center for Creative and Cultural Industries
Director Dr. Patrick Fuery, and giving several lectures on Chapman’s campus, when
Pam was able to grab several minutes of their time for the Catalyst interview. Hear
how both Professor Pepper and Lewis became interested and involved in the Creative
sector in the UK, what Creative Industries looks like in Cardiff, Wales, and how Cardiff
University interacts with and supports local CCIs.
We start the season eight finale with an interview of Mikey Brockmann by Sociology
major/ CCI minor, Anna Mauldin ’23. Brockmann is the post-production manager at Slappers
Productions, a comedy channel primarily on Youtube but also on platforms like Instagram
and Tik Tok, with over one million subscribers. The pair cover Brockmann’s journey
from graduating with a BFA in screenwriting during a pandemic to how he came to work
with Slappers, touching on what inspired him and pushed him to want to work within
the creative and cultural industries. Brockmann goes on to share some insight with
the listeners about what he does personally as the post-production manager and how
he promotes creativity through the content he works with. The interview wraps up with
Anna delving into what Mikey is working toward in his personal growth with the company
and as a creative content creator.
To start our show this week, Perla Nino ’23, Film Studies major/CCI minor, interviews 
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
with a CCI minor closes our episode this week with her Interview of
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
started as a way to shift her creative energy into starting her own small business.
They touch on how all of Rachel’s experiences, from her International Relations studies
in college, to work in the music festival industry to her current status as a small
business owner and artist, relate and influence one another and how the philosophy
of ‘remaining a learner’ as allowed Rachel to gain a balance of happiness and success
in her career choices.
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Opening our show this week, we hear an interview by Public Relations and Advertising
major/CCI minor Olivia Creech ’23, who was joined by Dr. Rebecca S. Hall, a curator
for the
In our opening segment this week 
Each episode of Season 8 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Francisco Art Institute. He received his MFA in Studio Art from the University of
North Carolina in 2003 where he was awarded a Weiss Fellowship for Urban Livability.
He currently resides in Edinburg, TX where he is a full-time lecturer at the University
of Texas-Pan American. His current work represents his experiences growing up in a
bi-cultural (Mexican American and Anglo) household and childhood memories of life
in the Central Valley of California. Valadez uses mixed media, acrylics, metal, and
text to create works that deal subtly with race, culture, and history through a concept
of “old signage.”
Seann Brackin
Michael Hafftka is an American figurative expressionist painter living in New York
City. His work is represented in the permanent collections of a number of museums,
including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Museum of Modern Art, Brooklyn
Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the
New York Public Library. The works by Hafftka included in the
Jenny Yurshansky
“The Artist is Present” is a special series which is being hosted under the Catalyst: A Creative Industries Podcast of the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries. “The Artis is Present” was developed
under the direction of the 
transgender member of parliament. Sukkhapisit who has held a multitude of different
jobs within the film industry including being a screenwriter, actor, producer, and
director for various television shows, shorts, and feature-length films, and whose
most recent directorial work is a TV series titled 
Segment two this week highlights third year Business Administration major/CCI minor,
Aidan Finlayson, and his interview with social media content creator Daniel Foldes.
With his work on TikTok gaining views and followers, his work was propelled on to
other platforms such as Instagram and Twitter which provided him with the influence
needed to gain sponsorships. Listen along as Aidan dissect Daniel’s rise to fame and
hear about his plans for his future in the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Catalyst kicks off this week with Eva Simpao ’23, a Communication Studies major/CCI
minor sitting down to interview professional videographer and cinematographer Luciano
Picazo. With a background originally in dance, Picazo talks about his transition to
film and how his dance background still influences his approach to the projects he
works on now. He also offers advice on how to tackle creative blocks when working
on a project, and tips on how to set yourself up for future work when you are starting
out in the industry.
Camryn Tynan ’23 speaks with multimedia journalist Steffi Roche. A current student
at the Missouri School of Journalism, Steffi, is also a multimedia journalist for
NBC KOMU 8 News. They discuss the process of progression within the journalism program
at University of Missouri, and how Roche ended up pivoting from her original plan
of musical theater. They end the interview with Steffi’s plan for her next career
moves and her advice to younger students that have an interest in going into the same
creative field that may not know the right place to start.
Senior Business Administration major/CCI minor, Bailey Sullivan, leads us into the
first segment this week with an interview of Ari Elkins a digital creator and music
curator who has developed a 
Segment one this week tags along with Joey Graziano ’23, Strategic & Corporate Communications
major and Economics & CCI double minor as he sits down to talk with entrepreneur Timmi
Jandro, co-founder of the online retail experience Energy Muse. Jandro explains the
jewelry, crystal and gemstone business that she runs with her partner and how she
found that her background in the garment industry could be applied when starting Energy
Muse. In addition, Joey and Timmi delve into marketing for the company and what the
exciting next steps are for expanding the experiences Energy Muse. 
Each episode of Season 6 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by
CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
This week’s episode of Catalyst features Economics & Japanese Studies double major/CCI
minor Koki Kayo’23 as he talks shop with Animation/ VFX artist and student Cheryl
Lee. Lee whose areas of specialty include animation, visual effects, film production
and graphics design, sits down for an honest interview with Koki about what an internship
experience with a full-service visual effects studio is really like. Lee who interned
with
Film Studies major/CCI minor Isabella Caron ’22 partners this week with Film Production
major/CCI minor Li Anne Liew ’22 to interview the inspiring Nadine Jasmine. Jasmine,
located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a powerhouse who created and runs 
Please note that all of our segments this season were created in the spring of 2021
while still under quarantine conditions. Therefore, in observance of safety protocols
students were often not in the same space with each other and/or their guests for
recording. In light of this if the sound quality suffers a bit this season, we are
sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound quality we make up for with pure
moxie.
Please note that all of our segments this season were created in the spring of 2021
while still under quarantine conditions. Therefore, in observance of safety protocols
students were often not in the same space with each other and/or their guests for
recording. In light of this if the sound quality suffers a bit this season, we are
sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound quality we make up for with pure
moxie.
Please note that all of our segments this season were created in the spring of 2021
while still under quarantine conditions. Therefore, in observance of safety protocols
students were often not in the same space with each other and/or their guests for
recording. In light of this if the sound quality suffers a bit this season, we are
sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound quality we make up for with pure
moxie.
Please note that all of our segments this season were created in the spring of 2021,
while still under quarantine conditions. Therefore, in observance of safety protocols,
students were often not in the same recording space with each other and/or their guests
for recording. In light of this if the sound quality suffers a bit this season, we
are sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound quality we make up for with
pure moxie.
To begin our show Samantha Young ’21 a Film Production major/CCI minor and her fellow
interviewer Javari Hunt ’21 a Public Relations & Advertising and Anthropology double
major catch up with Troy Charbonnet ’21 a Film Production major with a Race & Ethnicity
cluster, who is also a working as a freelance film editor in the music industry. With
editing credits that include working with artists such as Jack Harlow, Future, Halsey,
and Roddy Rich to name but a few, Troy illuminates what it can be like as such a young
working creative in Hollywood. 
This week we begin with Sonny de Nocker ’21 a Screenwriting major with a Media, Culture
& Society cluster and Stephen Michaels ’21 a fellow Screenwriting major with a CCI
minor, who score a major interview with John Mattson, Faculty member of Lawrence and
Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Mr. Mattson opens up to them about
the reality of screen writing in Hollywood, as they discuss a variety of his work
including his screenplay for 1994’s Milk Money, which sold to Paramount Pictures for
$1.1 million. 
Jacqueline Alves to discuss the interconnections of acting, events, and business when
they speak to her about her role working as a character at children’s parties. In
addition to talking about the nitty gritty of the job, they touch on how the business
and her role within it had to quickly adjust in the time of Co
vid. 
Please note that all of our segments this season segments were created in the fall
of 2020, under quarantine conditions. The students were not allowed to be in rooms
with each other, or with their guests for recording. Therefore if the sound quality
suffers a bit this season, we are sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound
quality we make up for it in moxie. 
We begin this week with Rory Biles ’22 a Business Administration major/CCI minor and
Madison Boyd ’22 a Psychology major /CCI minor who have music on the brain when they
sit down to talk with fellow Chapman student, Political Science major Dylan Hartanov
’23 about the process of learning to become a musician. They also delve into the creative
connections between athletics and playing a musical instrument, and how to nurture
both within a college environment. 
Please note that all of our segments this season segments were created in the fall
of 2020, under quarantine conditions. The students were not allowed to be in rooms
with each other, or with their guests for recording. Therefore if the sound quality
suffers a bit this season, we are sure you can forgive us, for what we lack in sound
quality we make up for it in moxie.
This week in segment one “The Pod”, Sociology major/CCI minor Sylvie Messing ’21 and
her partner, Strategic and Corporate Communications major/CCI minor Allison Wu ’22
Interview Ted Davis, a Chapman Alum who is working in the music industry in a multitude
of ways. First and foremost a musician, Ted has also approached the industry as culture
writer, magazine editor, Pitchfork contributor. Sylvie and Ali dive into his unique
entry into the world of music, his time at Chapman, and where he hopes to go in the
future.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
All of the hosts and interviewers you’ll hear from for the rest of this season are
Chapman students who have completed the Podcasting class, which is just one of the
topics offered through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries course: 304-Creative
and Cultural Industries in Practice. In class, we focus on the relationship between
theory and practice. This means that after discussions focused on the importance of
podcasts in modern media, we go out and create our own podcasts. Students who had
no podcasting experience or technical ability were able to contribute all of the segments
to the Chapman Catalyst podcast, with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’
experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series.
In this special series,
In this concluding episode of Forgetting Fascism, listen to how even Jews exculpated
Italy; in this episode, Klein explains why. Travel back in time to nineteenth-century
ghetto life to understand Jews’ gilded memory of Fascism.
In this episode of Forgetting Fascism, now that you know what happened in Italy, listen
to find out what people say happened. Oddly, Italy has gone down in history as the
country that saved Jews, the “good Axis.” Dr. Shira Klein explores the romanticized
persona of the “Good Italian” in World War II Italy.
In this episode of Forgetting Fascism, learn about Italy and the Jews in World War
II. What did the Holocaust look like in Italy, and who were its perpetrators? Dr.
Shira Klein uncovers the Italian Race Laws, the Nazi and Fascist manhunt for Jews,
and how Jews attempted to escape via the snowy Alps.
A self-described bookworm, Gustavo Arellano spent his childhood at the Anaheim Public
Library where he fell in love with classic works, such as The Catcher in the Rye and
The Importance of Being Earnest, and the surrealist poetry of the Beats. Influenced
by jocular treasures such as Mad Magazine and In Loving Color, Gustavo shares how
he discovered his own comedic voice through the development of his satirical column
“Ask a Mexican” and how his experience at the
It is almost as if artist Brian Singer is riding a giant pendulum through the chapters
of his life. One moment he is managing a communication design team at corporate giant
Facebook, but the next time you see him he is orchestrating a public-space art installation
highlighting the plight of homelessness in his city of San Francisco. His work stands
out whether you are viewing it at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Skirball
Cultural Center in Los Angeles, or a billboard on the corner of Brosnan and Valencia.
But what makes this self-proclaimed introvert able to seamlessly move through the
business of art and graphic design, whether it is corporate or producing projects
in his own self-owned studio? Perhaps it was the improve classes.
Did you know public archaeology was a thing? We certainly didn’t, not until we sat
down for a chat with Chapman Creative Industries Professor Jamie Larkin and his fellow
alumnus and friend, Paul Burtenshaw, Ph.D. Neither of these accomplished men began
their education with a clear idea of where they would end up. Their journeys each
evolved as they put one foot in front of the other, at times it took them on detours,
but ultimately a sense of curiosity about the world eventually led them to the fields
of public archaeology and cultural heritage, and as a bonus they gained a friendship
along the way. Join your hosts Shannon Halverson-Gorajia and Taryn Stroop as they
chat with Jamie Larkin and Paul Burtenshaw to discover just what exactly is public
archaeology and cultural heritage.
When exploring the creative and cultural industries, it can be overwhelming just how
diverse and far-reaching yet intertwined the concepts and real world applications
can be. Succinct examples of CCI can consequently be challenging to represent well.
It might be easier just to have a conversation with our first guest this season, Mr.
Raul Guzman. As a graduate of UCLA, NYU, and Johns Hopkins University he has degrees
in History, Museum Studies, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. He has applied
his knowledge and passions to everything from commercial production design to working
as an Assistant Director at a Non-Profit, and now has found a perfect fit as an Assistant
Curator at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Since 2014 fans of history and Hollywood, and darn good writing, have enjoyed the
delectable
Have you ever been really good at something and thought I wish I could do this for
a living? Conversely, have you ever been really good at something but then decided
to walk away from it? Our lives are filled with hard choices almost from the time
we start to make choices. But the decision of what you are going to do, what your
career is going to be, whether or not you should follow your passion, has to be in
the top five at least.
There are times in life when one realizes that they have come full circle from whence
they started. A child who grew up with a father in film production, Sorrel purposefully
chose a path that would lead her away from that industry. However, the stops of life
and career she made along the way, including working for the Olympic committee, and
in events and outreach for our very own Dodge College here at Chapman University,
informed and empowered her journey back to the film industry.
We’ve all been there. You are on a trip, you have a finite amount of time and money,
but souvenirs are expected and so this keychain of a cartoon pig on a Ferris Wheel
will have to do. But what if you actually found a place that highlighted local artists
and artisans from the city you were visiting. What if the things in that shop were
affordable. What if that shop felt welcoming and curated to your wants and needs?
Well that is what MaryAnne LoVerme wanted too.
Leaving the small town for the big city, seeing the world, doing the job you are passionate
about. This life is one that Photographer Taea Thale embarked upon almost 20 years
ago…er, well not quite 20, let’s not focus on the number! Taea followed her dreams
to New York, becoming a well-respected photographer, with a client list that includes
The New York Times, W Magazine, NYLON Magazine, and JCREW to name just a few. But
what is the price for following your dreams?
To live in Southern California is to know someone who works in The Industry. Entertainment
has been the lifeblood of the region since the first film studios began to move west
from New Jersey in the early 1900s. Recently The Otis College of Art and Design predicted
in its 2018 Otis Report on the Creative Economy that between 2016-2021 there will
be a 12.3% increase in the number of jobs in the entertainment industry alone in the
Los Angeles area. However, what about those individuals that are Industry Adjacent,
how do these individuals see themselves fitting into the creative landscape of LA.?
For many of us, our story grows out of the joys, sorrows, and hard won victories of
our parents or caregivers. Where do they leave off and where do we begin? What will
always carry over? Our guest this week takes us on a very personal journey of growing
up in the southland as part of an immigrant community, and how those layers contributed
to her education, her sense of belonging and ultimately to a career that allows her
to put it all together. 
To call Rose Eveleth a Renaissance man, is, well, sexist. To call her a Renaissance
woman seems quaint. But, to refer to Rose Eveleth as a powerhouse seems just about
right. With degrees in ecology, behavior & evolution, and journalism, Rose can and
will delight you with tales of pelagic invertebrates or how to write a column for
BBFuture, while teaching you the fundamentals of animation, before she rushes off
to produce and host her own podcast Flash Forward.
It happens to the best of us, every once in a while we have to admit that maybe,
Mike McHargue AKA Science Mike is an author, podcaster, general advice giver, and
a hug in the form of a human. His bestselling debut book, Finding God in the Waves,
has helped thousands understand faith in the 21st century. His podcasts include Ask
Science Mike, where he leads a forum of thousands of listeners through inquires covering
topics that range from terraforming, micro-biomes, and masculinity in the 21st century,
to miracles, prayer, and purity culture, with countless topics in-between. He also
co-hosts The Liturgists Podcast with his friend Michael Gungor, which with over a
million downloads per month, The Liturgists Podcast is reshaping how the spiritually
homeless and frustrated relate to God.
Are you sick of relatives teasing you when you go home for the holidays with questions
of “What the heck are you going to do with that degree?!” while you expound upon your
French Fine Arts & Philosophy double major? Do they say things like, “The only good
poet is a dead poet” when you share you started a new monthly reading series in a
haunted basement? If these taunts sounds familiar, you might want to send them to
speak with Amy McBride, the Arts Administrator for the office of Arts and Cultural
Vitality, Tacoma, WA. Amy is an excellent example of how a liberal arts background
can provide the skills necessary in cultivating a career combining various passions
and interests. In Amy’s case, that just so happens to be a long and well-respected
position with city government.
Dark roast, Dark brews, Dark...tourism. Portland, the largest city in Oregon, has
a long and complicated past. Seated in the shadow of Mt. Hood, the region was originally
home to the indigenous Chinook peoples, and saw large populations of pioneer settlers
entering the area in the 1830s. The city that developed came to be known as a gritty
logging and port hub, and was once dubbed “the most filthy city in the Northern States"
by its own hometown paper. Today Portland is more known for its infestation of microbreweries,
award-winning coffee, and quirky personae, but its history still creeps throughout
the dark corners--if you know where to look.
In Part two of Episode 002: On Becoming 222, hosts Shannon and Taryn speak with Aly
Thompson, founder and owner of Olysocial the marketing design company hired by the
222 Market, and Carissa Dickson and Iana Franks co-owners of Fleurae floral design
and boutique, one of 222’s founding artisans. All three ladies discuss the adventure
of starting their own business and their experience working with Olympia’s premier
artisan market.
Olympia, the state capital of Washington, in many ways still has the feel of a small
town. In a time when so many of our communities, towns, and cities are experiencing
the strain of modern day life, Olympia’s 222 Market is bringing together local artisans,
restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs with the goal of creating a place for families and
friends to connect around local culture and heritage. So how and why was the 222 Market
created? What has made it successful? And who are the makers involved?
Have you ever wanted to visit a book publisher where you can also check out an art
gallery opening, and hear a live podcast taping all while enjoying a coffee that tastes
like it mated with a cinnamon roll, called a dirty horchata? This question isn’t the
result of a combined fever dream, we simply wanted to be able to say, Well, have we
got the place for you!
Sometimes life calls for safe reasonable choices, and sometimes it calls for you to
dive head first into something you love. When is the right time for either of these?
Who knows? Your answer is tied to a hundred different little things that make up who
you are. A podcast can’t give you the answer, but it can talk to two highly successful
women in the film and television industry that have developed their careers from very
different paths.
Founded in 1861, Chapman University sits nestled among one of Orange, California’s
iconic Craftsman and Victorian neighborhoods. A mere 30 miles from Los Angeles, and
a stone’s throw from Santa Ana’s arts district and downtown Anaheim, Chapman University
is a perfect incubator for an emerging Creative Industries program. But what is Creative
Industries?