Peter Hawley

This week I talk with folks from Free Spirit Media.  First up is Jeff McCarter, Free Spirit’s Founder and Executive Director.  Jeff shares FSM’s beginnings from Hoops High, to where they are today.  Jeff is followed up by two Free Spirit Media teachers, Brandon Johnson and Shé Rogers.  Shé is also a graduate of FSM.  They talk about the joys, and struggles of teaching to urban youth.

FREE SPIRIT MEDIA provides teens and young adults in communities of color on Chicago’s West and South sides with a comprehensive foundation in media literacy and hands-on media production experience. Free Spirit Media runs IN-SCHOOL arts education, AFTER SCHOOL and summer digital media programs, and advanced CREATIVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT programs.

Find them here.https://freespiritmedia.org

Listen to the podcast here.

OK, I get a little fan boyish on this one.  I have been a New York Times Crossword puzzle fan for more than 30 years.  A few years ago, I was frustrated by a Sunday puzzle and I googled to see if anyone else was bothered by it.  I landed on Rex Parker does the NY Times Crossword Puzzle.  http://rexwordpuzzle.blogspot.com It is a well written, funny, insightful look at the NYT puzzle.  Michael writes this every day (night)!  It’s there when you get up in the morning.

Michael’s day job is teaching at Binghamton University.  We talk about the puzzle, the blog, close reading, teaching how to write, and Michael’s expereince (positive!) teaching inmates in a maximum security prison.

Listen here.

Teacher Man

I had a great talk with two current NU students about life as a college art student today, and more importantly, The Niteskool Project.  I was part of the group of student who started Niteskool in 1984.  Erica and Sid have taken it in directions we could not have imagined.

See their first production here:

And listen to the podcast here:

More during the week.

Teacher Man

Oh man was this fun!

I met Jacob for the first time when he walked into Soundmaker Post, where I record Teaching in the Arts, and we hit it off immediately.  We talk about playing a gig in a chicken coop in Bermuda, drummer Kenny Aronoff, and the difference between conservatory music schools- Jacob went to DePaul University- and the Old Town School.

We really get into it about teaching styles, influences, and the “magic” of taking a class of beginning adult guitar players, and 80 minutes later having them play a song.

Listen here, or subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, and Stitcher.

Teacher Man

Julie Hill joins me as we talk about her career as a journalist in print, radio, and TV.  Julie has taught at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, the University of Chicago, Tribeca Flashpoint College, and currently at Loyola University in Chicago.  We talk about the importance of internships- Julie lived both Rome and New York City on her internships- letter writing, Women in Media in the #MeToo moment, and the performative aspects of teaching.

Killian Heilsberg joins me to talk about her journey from a Kentucky childhood to appearing in more than 160 theater productions.  Highlights include her story about teaching on 9-11, women in media, and finally vodka!

Killian and I have taught many classes together, and she is just about the best teacher in the arts I have ever seen in action.

My pal, Brian Cagle sits across the table as we talk about his journey from Chattanooga to New York City, to helping start Northwestern University’s school in Qatar.

Find us on Itunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Sound Cloud and email me with suggestions for guests and comments.

Teacher Man

Teaching in the Arts a podcast for and about teachers in the arts has arrived! I talk with teachers, students, and artists.  New episodes every Monday.

Bill Baykan is guest number one.  We talk about his journey from the Chicago suburbs to UCLA Film School, to HBO, Harpo, and finally as a teacher at DePaul University, and since 2011 as head of the Post-Production concentration at Tribeca Flashpoint College.

Subscribe to the podcast

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/teaching-in-the-arts/id1344501320?mt=2