Best Creative Voices Baltimore Podcasts (2025)

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#46 – Is Satire Still Dangerous? | Brian Andrew Whiteley 51:18

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1d ago51:18

51:18

Artist and provocateur Brian Andrew Whiteley joins The Truth In This Art to talk about creating work that pushes buttons and blurs boundaries. Based in New York, Brian is known for his politically charged performances and installations—from the infamous Trump Tombstone to his leadership at the artist-run Satellite Art Show. In this wide-ranging con…

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#45 – How Can Typing in Public Challenge Fear and Defend Free Speech? | Sheryl Oring 1:06:39

5d ago1:06:39

1:06:39

What happens when a typewriter becomes a tool for collective memory? In this episode, Rob Lee reconnects with interdisciplinary artist and activist Sheryl Oring—first featured on the podcast in 2023. Sheryl returns with updates on I Wish to Say, her decades-long public performance project where thousands have dictated postcards to the U.S. presiden…

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#44 – Why Baltimore’s New Arts Office (MOACE) Matters? | Linzy Jackson III 57:56

7d ago57:56

57:56

Director of Baltimore’s new Office of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Linzy Jackson III joins Rob Lee for his first appearance to discuss his journey from summer youth worker to one of the city’s key connectors between creatives and local government. In this episode, Linzy talks about what it means to streamline access to public resources, the cu…

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#43 – How Does Painting Build Resilience in Art and Life? | Christopher Batten 59:14

12d ago59:14

59:14

Visual artist and educator Christopher Batten returns to reflect on evolution, resilience, and what it means to keep pushing—on canvas and in the classroom. Now in his 10th year living in Baltimore and his third year teaching at Morgan State, Christopher shares how his practice continues to evolve. We talk about the role of failure, what teaching o…

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#42 – How Can Art Help Us Reclaim the Joys of Childhood? | Elijah Trice 1:04:05

19d ago1:04:05

1:04:05

Baltimore-based artist and designer Elijah Trice returns to talk about growth, storytelling, and painting the everyday with dignity and joy. Since our last conversation in 2022, Elijah has expanded his practice beyond hyperrealistic portraiture to explore themes of childhood memory and creative freedom. We recorded this just after his first solo sh…

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#41 – How Do You Reinvent and Thrive in Baltimore’s Underground? | Kotic Couture 1:03:09

21d ago1:03:09

1:03:09

If you’ve ever danced your heart out at a sold-out basement party or streamed a late-night DJ set on your phone, you’ve felt the pulse of Kotic Couture’s world. In this episode, Baltimore Magazine’s 2023 Best Local Artist shares how she swapped rap verses for turntables, co-founded one of the city’s most inclusive monthly events, and turned a bedro…

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#40 – What Do Cracks Reveal That Clay Can’t Hide? | Ara Koh 56:40

23d ago56:40

56:40

Ceramic-based artist and educator Ara Koh returns to The Truth In This Art for her second conversation with Rob Lee. Known for her layered clay paintings and material-intensive installations, Ara shares how her practice has deepened through repetition, research, and unexpected cracks—both literal and metaphorical. In this episode, Ara talks about p…

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#39 – How Does the Institute for Contemporary Art Balance Power and Possibility for the Public? | Jessica Bell Brown 50:25

26d ago50:25

50:25

Curator, writer, and executive director of the ICA at VCU Jessica Bell Brown returns to reflect on her evolving leadership at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this conversation, we talk about openness as a strategy, the role of listening in shaping institutions, and what it means to make space for experimen…

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#38 – How Does Sound Become a Tool for Creative Resistance? | Kokayi 1:15:14

28d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Guggenheim Fellow, artist, producer, and educator Kokayi returns to unpack the layers of sound, storytelling, and being a vessel for cultural memory. Since our first conversation, Kokayi has pushed deeper into multidisciplinary work—blending sound design, improvisation, code, and community-building. This conversation tracks his reflections on legac…

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#38 – Sound as Culture, Code, and Creative Resistance | Kokayi 1:15:14

28d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

Guggenheim Fellow, artist, producer, and educator Kokayi returns to unpack the layers of sound, storytelling, and being a vessel for cultural memory. Since our first conversation, Kokayi has pushed deeper into multidisciplinary work—blending sound design, improvisation, code, and community-building. This conversation tracks his reflections on legac…

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#37 – Can Archives Shape What’s Next? Upton Mansion and a $16M Vision | Savannah Wood of Afro Charities 50:08

1M ago50:08

50:08

Artist, educator, and Afro Charities Executive Director Savannah Wood joins to reflect on legacy, growth, and leading one of Baltimore’s most ambitious cultural preservation efforts. Savannah has overseen major milestones—most notably, the $16M redevelopment of the historic Upton Mansion, future home of the Afro-American Newspaper (AFRO) archives. …

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#36 – Art Beyond Time, Memory & Convention | Lewinale Havette 48:14

1M ago48:14

48:14

Artist Lewinale Havette returns for a conversation on art, spirit, and shedding constraints. Recorded at Palo Gallery during NYC Art Week, Lewinale reflects on her evolution since 2022—from early paintings shaped by language and migration to her latest abstract works rooted in instinct, spirituality, and ancestral memory. We discuss authenticity, p…

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#36 – How Can Art Transcend Time, Memory, and Tradition? | Lewinale Havette 48:14

1M ago48:14

48:14

Artist Lewinale Havette returns for a conversation on art, spirit, and shedding constraints. Recorded at Palo Gallery during NYC Art Week, Lewinale reflects on her evolution since 2022—from early paintings shaped by language and migration to her latest abstract works rooted in instinct, spirituality, and ancestral memory. We discuss authenticity, p…

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#35 - Fusing Circus and Storytelling | Sam Landa of New York Circus Project 50:20

1M ago50:20

50:20

Director and choreographer Sam Landa joins for his first appearance on the podcast to talk about reimagining what circus can be—and how LIQUID uses punk aesthetics, narrative, and high-stakes performance to deliver something unforgettable. As co-founder of New York Circus Project, Sam blends circus, theater, and dance to push creative boundaries. W…

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#34 - Sculpting Process, Memory & Material Integrity | Hae Won Sohn 1:11:37

1M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

Artist and educator Hae Won Sohn returns for a reflective conversation on process, adaptability, and making art that holds up—materially and conceptually. Now based in Queens, Hae Won shares what’s evolved since her 2021 Sondheim Prize win and how her process-first approach has deepened through teaching, repurposing materials, and balancing art wit…

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#33 – How Shaolin Jazz Redefines Film & Sound | DJ 2-Tone Jones 1:15:31

2M ago1:15:31

1:15:31

Shaolin Jazz co-founder DJ 2-Tone Jones—one half of the duo behind the genre-bending brand—returns to reflect on growth, alignment, and his continued love for blending film and music through Can I Kick It? Finding purpose through Shaolin Jazz: how re-scoring films with hip-hop and jazz gave his DJ career renewed meaning Can I Kick It?: building a n…

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#32 – How Do You Choose Stories Worth Telling? | Joe Tropea 49:31

2M ago49:31

49:31

Baltimore’s award-winning documentary filmmaker, public historian, and Baltimore City Hall curator Joe Tropea returns to share how personal connection guides his project choices, why he embraces “ums” and raw moments in the edit, and what it takes to build strong creative partnerships — from abandoned true-crime concepts to a new mayoral portrait g…

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#31 – Why ‘Irma Vep’ Is a Wild, Campy Celebration at Everyman Theatre | Joseph W. Ritsch 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at The Mystery of Irma Vep – A Penny Dreadful at Everyman Theatre, where director, choreographer, and arts educator Joseph Ritsch brings gothic farce, drag, and campy spectacle together in a production bursting with sharp humor and political edge. In this episode, Joseph joins Rob Lee to unpack why Charles Lud…

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#30 – How Do You Blend Archive and Activism in Your Art? | Isaiah Winters 1:11:40

2M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

You know those moments when a photograph or film clip feels like it’s speaking hidden truths? New School professor and interdisciplinary artist Isaiah Winters returns to share how rigorous archival research fuels his photography, film, and mixed-media practice. From earning his MFA at Parsons to documenting pro-Palestinian campus protests and expos…

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#29 – How to Bring Portraits to Life on Canvas | Monica Ikegwu 48:31

2M ago48:31

48:31

You know that moment when a painting feels so real you swear the subject might blink? Hyper-realist portraitist Monica Ikegwu returns to reveal the behind-the-scenes rigor—hours of glazing, precise lighting choices, and minimalist backgrounds—that turn a single photograph into a living, breathing canvas. Join Monica as she unpacks her journey from …

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#28 – How Do You Bring Art to the People? | Ky Vassor 1:02:39

2M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

You’ve probably admired one of Ky Vassor’s murals without even knowing it—now she’s back to pull back the curtain on how those vibrant public artworks, pop-up workshops, and neighborhood installations all began with a passion for community and a sprinkle of hustle. In this episode, Baltimore’s interdisciplinary artist and Galerie Myrtis Assistant D…

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#27 – How to Master Moving People Through Music | DJ James Nasty 1:16:26

2M ago1:16:26

1:16:26

Baltimore’s own DJ and producer James Nasty returns to share how stepping away from substances sparked new clarity, how he built Ecstatic Dance Baltimore into an inclusive, sober dance movement, and why guiding crowds through music remains his driving passion—from late-night club sets to substance-free floors. Finding clarity through sobriety: how …

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#26 - How Does Art Turn Pain Into Power? | Ayiana Viviana 58:35

2M ago58:35

58:35

Abstract neurographic artist Ayiana Viviana shares how reconnecting with Puerto Rico, battling inner struggles, and choosing self-trust transformed her art—and her life—with new courage, clarity, and creative depth. How a return to Puerto Rico—and a visit to an Indigenous site—recharged her spirit and creativity Neurographic art as emotional releas…

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#25 - Can Paintings Voice the Feelings We Never Say? | Xenia Gray 1:01:26

2M ago1:01:26

1:01:26

Contemporary figurative painter Xenia Gray unpacks how post-Soviet Siberia, spiritual retreats, and life in D.C. converge in canvases that pulse with raw feeling. Growing up in 1990s Siberia—creating a protective “shell” and turning to art for what words couldn’t say Finding her visual voice later in life: mixed media, unseen faces, and the recent …

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#24 - What Makes FilmFest DC Survive 39 Years? | Tony Gittens 46:08

2M ago46:08

46:08

Founder and director Tony Gittens returns with the inside story of steering the Washington DC International Film Festival—now in its 39th year—through last-minute venue shake-ups, budget poker with distributors, and a mission that never changes: bring global cinema to everyone in the nation’s capital. Losing a flagship theater six weeks out—and the…

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#23 – How Do Bold Colors Carry Heritage? | Alexi Abi 44:03

3M ago44:03

44:03

Visual artist Alexi Abi returns to talk new work, new influences, and what it takes to stay visible in Washington’s competitive arts scene. How her Lebanese heritage and years in the Caribbean shape today’s bold color fields Building momentum since her last visit—grants, gallery shows, and a pivot toward larger canvases Balancing three lanes: studi…

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#22 – How Do 90s Pop Aesthetics Shape Modern Headwear? | Jerrill Sankey 52:53

3M ago52:53

52:53

Designer Jerrill Sankey (formerly “Creative King”) returns to talk evolution—name change, sharper focus, and bigger ambitions. 90s music videos and Vogue tear‑outs that still shape his color and form Turning a one‑man label into Jerrill Sankey Headwear—process, pricing, perseverance Artistry × craft: why materials and fit matter as much as concept …