Best Blanka Podcasts (2025)

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The Space Between - Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and Me 1:05:47

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26m ago1:05:47

1:05:47

"It's not an emptiness or a void, it's actually full of possibility. And once I started to explore it, how they explained it, the Japanese concept is about when you listen to music, there's always space between the notes. And then if you apply that to a book or a page, there's always space between the words. So that space, that white space, another…

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Brian Anthony Wilson 48:24

4d ago48:24

48:24

As a Holiday, treat, the Philadelphia actor Brian Wilson talks with us about his life and career. Brian tells us about his memories - everything from his roles on "The Wire," to his work with the director Walter Dallas, to his quest to perform in all the plays of August Wilson (no relation!). And he shares this thoughts about the state of African-A…

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If We Can Do Good - Max MacGillivray 45:51

12d ago45:51

45:51

"I'm only a small cog in this. I'm developing this thought about trying to do good, but we can't all do it alone. If we can all collectively hold hands and all just have this thought that if we can do good in this world… I do think that there's a lot to be said for farming and fresh produce because it's feeding the world in a sustainable manner and…

1
Chris & Louis Lippa: A House Remembered is Never Dark 51:41

18d ago51:41

51:41

A conversation with Chris Lippa about the life and work of his father, the late Louis Lippa, the Philadelphia playwright and actor - and about Chris' vision to make a real home for the history of theater in the city. For a tribute to the life and work of Louis Lippa (1928-2018), see this page on the website of People's Light and Theatre Company, wh…

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A New Type of Thinking - Marsha Ramroop 49:01

1M ago49:01

49:01

"A new type of thinking is essential if humankind is to survive and reach higher levels." Marsha Ramroop (quoting Einstein) Marsha Ramroop explains how her purpose, giving the unheard voice a place to speak, first emerged during her broadcasting career, and how it now shapes her work in cultural intelligence and organisational change. We explore in…

1
Encore Episode: The Walls of Walnut Street 32:49

1M ago32:49

32:49

A reprise of our 2023 interview with Bernard Havard of the Walnut Street Theatre - including a tour of the historic building. Newly remixed, and with a new introduction and extra content about our upcoming episodes of the podcast! A blog post with images from our visit to the Walnut can be found on our website: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/phot…

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The Power of Proximity - Dave Delaney 47:43

1M ago47:43

47:43

“But getting back to the power of proximity, let's say I would meet people on Twitter … then we would all go to South by Southwest Interactive, the big tech conference in Austin … Suddenly we'd meet in person and as I wrote about in my book, it's hugs, high fives, handshakes.” Dave Delaney Dave Delaney joins me to talk about the thing that most con…

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Interview: Bruce Graham 49:54

2M ago49:54

49:54

We talk with Bruce Graham - a son of Ridley Township in Delaware County who has been writing, teaching, and performing in Philadelphia since the 1980s. Graham has written dozens of plays which have been produced everywhere from Los Angeles to London, as well as turning out scripts for Hollywood films, TV movies, sitcoms and soap operas - but he alw…

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The Unique Story of Everybody - Blanka Campbell 52:24

2M ago52:24

52:24

“80 years ago, the Institute for Functional Medicine started collecting the data, doing the research, and that's their number one priority, that it's really evidence-based and you will have clinical studies for everything. But then they also wanted it to be patient-centred. They wanted to listen to the unique story of everybody." Blanka Campbell Bl…

1
Carol Rocamora and Michael Hollinger - New Plays for Philadelphia 50:57

2M ago50:57

50:57

An interview with writer, director, translator and theater critic Carol Rocamora, who founded the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays in 1981, and was its Artistic Director to 1994. Philadelphia-area playwright Michael Hollinger was Rocamora's literary manager in the early 1990s, and credits his time working with Carol at PFT for helping to…

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Beyond the Solar System - Angelo Vermeulen 52:55

3M ago52:55

52:55

"My interest is beyond that. Beyond the solar system. Of course I have this interest in Mars, but what I'm really interested in is the post planetary condition of humankind.” Angelo Vermeulen Angelo Vermeulen and I talk about imagination, exploration, and what it means to lead and collaborate beyond boundaries. Angelo is a scientist and a visual a…

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Seth Rozin and InterAct 55:59

3M ago55:59

55:59

A conversation with Seth Rozin, the founder and artistic director of InterAct Theatre of Philadelphia. Seth shares some great stories about the early years of the company, including the tour of Ireland in the autumn of 1988, the creation and performance of the play "6221," and how he has made a career in the world of non-profit American theater. In…

1
Being Yourself - Eamon FitzGerald From the Archives 44:39

3M ago44:39

44:39

"As it turns out being authentically me means more sales when it comes to marketing and everything. So that was the big lesson I learned early on. It took a very tough learning experience. But that sense of being yourself for all its flaws and all its good things as well that was a huge learning for me." Eamon FitzGerald Eamon FitzGerald and I talk…

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Interview: Tom Teti 52:20

3M ago52:20

52:20

A conversation with actor Tom Teti about his life, his career in Philadelphia theater, and his long association with People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern. For a blog post with images and additional information about Tom's career, go to: https://www.aithpodcast.com/blog/tom-as-in-teti/ For more information about the October 2025 production …

1
I Back Myself - Julie Smith 52:25

4M ago52:25

52:25

“There’s probably something about confidence that I back myself, that I can do more or I can strengthen this particular skill. I can learn to do a new thing.” Julie Smith Julie Smith and I talk about the realities of confidence, humility and self-doubt and how these play out in both life and leadership. Julie describes confidence as “trust in yours…

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Blanka and Pat's Excellent Adventure 1:04:56

3M ago1:04:56

1:04:56

Director Blanka Zizka and stage manager Patreshettarlini Adams talk about their decades of work at the Wilma Theater, sharing stories of their longstanding artistic collaboration and deep friendship. And they agree that "Theater is Music." An excellent and heartwarming Adventure in Philadelphia Theater History! Music from historic Wilma Theater pro…

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Beyond the Words - Solo Episode 34:38

4M ago34:38

34:38

This is a special episode to mark the 5th anniversary and the launch of the audio book version of Leading Beyond the Numbers. In this episode I share: 5 reflections from 5 years of podcasting: Hosting or facilitating Holding space and listening The most surprising thing... The power of voice Why this podcast still matters to me A short interview by…

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The Wilma Story, Part Two 31:05

4M ago31:05

31:05

The history of Philadelphia's Wilma Theater during the 1990s, with archival recordings of the voices of Jiri and Blanka Zizka. For images and additional information about this episode, see the blog post on our website HERE. The original interviews of Jiri Zizka can be found on YouTube - HERE and HERE. The original interview of Blanka Zizka can also…

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We Eat Stories - Mari Giuseppe 50:03

4M ago50:03

50:03

"We don't eat nutrients, we eat stories." Mari Giuseppe Mari Giuseppe and I delve into the intricate relationship between food, culture and self-perception. Mari, a dietician with a unique approach, explains how food isn't just nutrition; it's deeply intertwined with the stories we tell ourselves. We discuss the pressures of cultural ideals, the im…

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The Wilma Story, Part One 38:45

4M ago38:45

38:45

The voices of Jiri and Blanka Zizka help to narrate the history of Philadelphia's Wilma Theater during the 1980s. For images and additional information about this episode, see the blog post on our website HERE. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can be ordered from independent bookstores and at all online book r…

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A Very Different World - Laura Haycock 44:19

5M ago44:19

44:19

"When I first become aware that I was experiencing perimenopause, or at least put a name to what I had been experiencing for years without knowing what was going on, it was a very different world. That was just 10 to 15 years ago." Laura Haycock Laura Haycock and I talk about her recently published book, M-Power, which addresses menopause as a crit…

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Marcia Ferguson: How the Zizkas Changed the Landscape of Philly Theater 28:56

5M ago28:56

28:56

A conversation about the impact that Blanka and Jiri Zizka had on the Philadelphia theater scene in the 1980s and 90s. If you have not yet listened to our Episode 97, "Off-Off Broad Street," in which we discuss the history of "The Wilma Project" during the 1970s, you can find it here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1721762/episodes/16873817 This is one…

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Availability is Not a Skill - David Lee, Dr Susanne Evans & Me 1:08:25

5M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

"I'm a great one for saying yes to things because I like saying yes to things .... and my husband always says, availability isn't a skill, Susanne. So, I have to remind myself of that sometimes." Dr Susanne Evans Susanne, David and I speak about burnout. Not as a concept, but as something that we may well have to navigate in our work-lives. We talk…

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A Festival of Music Theater 54:32

6M ago54:32

54:32

Charlie Gilbert returns to talk about the music theater and the many new musicals being created and developed in Philadelphia during the 1980s and 90s. We discuss the founding and early years of the American Music Theatre Festival, musicals performed at the Walnut and Arden Theatres, and the beginning of the Musical Theater Program at the Universit…

1
Future Proof - James Culmer-Shields 51:53

6M ago51:53

51:53

“I want to create something which fit that space and would help those people... to future-proof themselves.” James Culmer-Shields James Culmer-Shields and I recently sat down at my kitchen table and talked about something that touches all of us: how we stay well enough as we age to live the lives we want to live. James has spent decades in the worl…

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Memories of the Freedom Theatre 37:42

6M ago37:42

37:42

An interview with actor Johnnie Hobbs and choreographer Patricia Scott Hobbs about the Freedom Theatre in North Philadelphia. In an archival recording, the Philadelphia composer and teacher Charles Gilbert talks to his longtime friends about their experiences at the Freedom, including working with founder John E. Allen and his successor Walter Dall…

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All Stories are Useful - Jay Perry 54:13

6M ago54:13

54:13

"So by that definition, all stories are useful. The question is: to what end?" Jay Perry Jay Perry and I explored what happens when we begin to see story not as decoration or distraction, but as data - the language we use to survive, connect and create. Jay shared his definition that “a story is language put to use” and reminded us that “all storie…

1
The Joe Canuso Interview 53:41

7M ago53:41

53:41

Director and Producer Joe Canuso sits down with us to talk about his life and career in Philly theater. From acting at the Pocket Playhouse in the 70s, performing with dance troupes in the 80s, creating cutting-edge shows for the new Fringe Festival in the 90s, founding and leading Theatre Exile in the 2000s, Joe did brought a darkly comic edge and…

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The Artist Inside Us - Alexander Inchbald 53:08

7M ago53:08

53:08

"There is a pilot light running in all of us, and to me that pilot light is the artist inside us." Alexander Inchbald Alexander Inchbald and I have an in-depth conversation about creativity and the courage to listen to something larger than ourselves. Alexander equates our inner spark - our "light" - with the artist within, present in all of us, ev…

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Interview: Sara Garonzik and the Philadelphia Theatre Company 59:38

7M ago59:38

59:38

A conversation with one of the longest-serving and most consequential artistic directors and producers of the modern era of Philadelphia theater history, Sara Garonzik. As we continue our Season Four, we learn about her early years - first as and actor, then as a director, then as a producer at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. And we learn her sto…

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Interview: Robert Hedley at Villanova 58:30

8M ago58:30

58:30

Our interview with teacher, writer and director Robert Hedley - the former Chair of the Theater Departments of both Villanova and Temple Universities. In our conversation, we discuss many things - including his early years, his coming to Villanova, his work with playwright David Rabe and producer Joseph Papp, and his work in helping to found The Ph…

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What My Heart Beats For - Compilation Episode 39:10

8M ago39:10

39:10

"At this particular moment, am I in alignment with, am I in resonance with my values, with what I stand for, with what my heart beats for?" Migena Gjerazi In this special compilation episode, I revisit conversations from Episodes 100 to 200, to bring together moments from conversations to explore how choice isn’t always obvious, but it’s always the…

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"Curtains Up On Cato!" - Special Episode 1:10:37

8M ago1:10:37

1:10:37

Cato: A Tragedy was a famous 18th Century play by Joseph Addison - supposedly the favorite play of George Washington himself! What connection did it have to the history of America - and the theater history of Philadelphia? This is an edited audio recording of a panel discussion at the Museum of the Revolution in Philadelphia, recorded on April 9th,…

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The Joy of Conversation - Episode 200 - A solo episode 39:58

9M ago39:58

39:58

I didn’t set out to reach 200 episodes—I set out to follow the joy. And in this episode, I reflect on how joy hasn’t come from numbers or milestones, but from the moments in between - from the magic of sitting down and having real, honest conversations. Over the years, I’ve explored everything from emotional intelligence to leadership transitions, …

1
Playfulness - Chris Marshall 49:47

9M ago49:47

49:47

"Playfulness is our natural state of well-being. We are playful when we are well." Chris Marshall Chris Marshall and I explore why playfulness isn’t frivolous or childish but fundamental to how we thrive at work and in life. We discuss how playfulness helps us embrace complexity, navigate uncertainty and show up as our whole, human selves. Chris sh…

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Off-Off Broad Street 31:27

9M ago31:27

31:27

The story of three small ambitious cutting-edge Philadelphia theater companies of the 1970s. Why did some survive - and some falter? For a blog post with images of the productions and people we discuss in the episode, go HERE. (Cover photo for the episode shows the actor Daniel Oreskes in The Servant of Two Masters, which was being presented by The…

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Americana Jubilee - 1976 51:18

10M ago51:18

51:18

An interview with Joe Stinson and Ed Sabato about Philadelphia theatrical projects that employed so many local actors before and during the Bicentennial Year of 1976. In the very place where the American experiment began, regular work in "historical re-enactment" and patriotic storytelling gave young and ambitious Philadelphia theater artists a boo…

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Stay Inquisitive Longer - Martin 'Murph' Murphy 46:39

10M ago46:39

46:39

"... you take people outdoors. They get into a resourceful state, you're able to explore more. You can use nature. I call it wayfinding, just like you use a compass and things like that. You can use the path you're on as a metaphor. And because you're outdoors, you can stay inquisitive longer." Murph Murph and I explore the incredible benefits of m…

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Hear the Silence Emerging - Carissa Bub 55:00

10M ago55:00

55:00

"You can hear the silence emerging in the room. You can hear the sound of silence. There's a peace that comes with, a harmony that comes from it. It offers an opportunity for more sharing, more cooperation, less competition. So it's very generative." Carissa Bub Carissa Bub and I explore the transformative power of silence in leadership and life. W…

1
Tom Bissinger's Fun House 1:03:15

10M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

An interview with the director, writer and artist Tom Bissinger, in which we talk about his work in the 1960s and 70s, including his all-too-brief term as the final Artistic Director of the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia. A native of San Francisco, Tom's fascinating life story is interwoven with so many iconic names from the 60s and 70s…

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And They Pay Me - Ana Clements 49:34

11M ago49:34

49:34

"When I realised how much joy there was to be had in life, full stop, in your job and in people paying you to do something you actually enjoy, blew my mind. After 20 years of office work, I was like, wait, wait, I get to have fun and they pay me. I was really surprised by that." Ana Clements Ana Clements and I explore the journey of rediscovering p…

1
Mary Robinson and the Drama Guild 45:25

11M ago45:25

45:25

A recut and remixed and refocused version of an interview with the director Mary B. Robinson, about her years she spent in the 1990s as the Artistic Director of the Drama Guild. (Stay tuned at the very end for an brief announcement about the future direction of the podcast - and my thoughts about current events) A short blog post on our website has…

1
We're All Imperfect - Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee & Me 56:39

11M ago56:39

56:39

"...because we're all imperfect if we have any kind of power, including even just like having a strong personality, that we can be doing things that we don’t even realise are intimidating or shutting down other people." David Lee In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Susanne Evans and David Lee for one of our irregular but always insightful conversa…

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Interview: Gregory Poggi 42:40

11M ago42:40

42:40

Gregory Poggi successfully led the Philadelphia Drama Guild throughout the decade of the 1980s. He talked with us about his memories of those days - tussles with board members, battles with critics, fundraising triumphs and the growing audience support for professional nonprofit theater companies in the city. For a blog post on our website with add…

1
Transfixed with James Thirlwall 43:17

11M ago43:17

43:17

"I was completely transfixed by the idea of these very tiny teapots and these tiny tea cups that were serving small amounts of tea." James Thirlwall James Thirlwall and I explore the connection between tea and creating connection. I venture out of my usual space to record in a delightful and intimate setting: a tiny teahouse in East Oxford. We delv…

1
The Philadelphia Drama Guild 33:08

12M ago33:08

33:08

The sudden success of the Drama Guild - a former amateur theater group transformed into a professional local powerhouse - finally fulfilled the promise of giving Philadelphia a flagship nonprofit theater company. For a brief blog post with images from the episode, go HERE. Support the show "Adventures in Theater History: Philadelphia" the BOOK can …

1
Unlimited Futures - Solo episode 40:00

12M ago40:00

40:00

"Any given moment contains unlimited futures that can become real. The reality that occurs is the one you pay attention to." [Quoting] Penney Peirce In this inaugural episode of 2025 I reflect on three recent inspirations — a movie and two exhibitions — that explore themes of creativity, certainty and choice. Drawing connections between the iterati…

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Encore Episode: New Years' Day in the New Theatre, 1800 32:55

1y ago32:55

32:55

A reprise of one of our early episodes from Season One, in which we travel back 225 years to a single fascinating day in American theater: January 1, 1800. Philadelphia's premiere theater company rang in the New Year with their production of the spectacular Romance entitled "Blue Beard, or Female Curiosity." Meanwhile, in the audience, there are ot…

1
Beyond the Status Quo - Compilation 43:40

1y ago43:40

43:40

In this year-end episode of 'Life Beyond the Numbers,' I explore the theme of going beyond the status quo. The episode features a compilation of interviews and stories from previous episodes focused on creating a more fulfilling work life by emphasising the human side of our work-lives. I share a selection of snippets with insights on topics such a…

1
The Arts Centers: New Philly Theaters for the 1970s 51:03

1y ago51:03

51:03

Three new Philadelphia theater complexes are built for the mid-century modern era - funded by wealthy philanthropists. The Annenbergs would donate grand new Modernist-style Arts Centers at Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania, and the Haas family would spearhead the drive to renovate the old Walnut Street Theatre. For a blog post wi…