Nathaniel Stampley is a joyful artist and a pleasure to talk to. On this podcast episode, I interview Milwaukee-born Stampley who just ended his run on Broadway with Tony-nominated Paradise Square. His full-throated laugh is contagious as we walk through his theater, music, and television career to date. His website sets the tone, as his "Nate's Grates" page salutes about 100 people who have had a "tremendous impact on my life." Stampley talks about differences in working on a  theater production vs. acting, encouraging folks to follow their passion.

Kate DiCamillo believes in 'seeing' children. Presenting them with characters who speak to the full humanity of childhood. She doesn't shy away from the lows, along with the highs. “There’s this wonderful case of being seen when you find a story and feel like somebody is telling you the truth," Camillo says. Her books tug at the heart strings of children and adults. With 40 million books in print, in 43 languages, Two Newbery medal awards, a Newbery Honor, and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, among others, she's just getting started. www.katedicamillo.com

This episode features Meredith Shea, a top executive at ARRAY. Founded in 2011 by filmmaker Ava DuVernay, ARRAY is a Peabody award-winning multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change. Meredith spearheads industry relations at ARRAY Crew, the personnel database designed to connect below-the-line crew, with a special focus on the amplification of women, people of color and other underrepresented film and television professionals with studio executives, department heads and producers. ARRAY Crew is supported by all of the major studios and streamers, including: Warner Bros. Discovery, A24, Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, Disney, FOX, Lionsgate, MGM, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Membership is FREE for anyone 18+ with at least one verifiable production credit.  Join Here: https://arraycrew.com

Filmmaker Suzanne Jurva has reached pinnacles in her career. Who wouldn't want to have working with Steven Spielberg, Oprah and Tom Hanks on their resume?  As founder and head of the Research department at DreamWorks SKG, Suzanne worked on Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Minority Report, AI, The Lost World, Gladiator, Price of Egypt and more. Following that she began her own passion projects and produced films screening at 50 film festivals around the world.  She's accomplished all this while placing family first, and taking the time to mentor up and coming women filmmakers. Her advice to budding filmmakers and artists of all types is priceless.

Abby Ginzberg has the unique talent of discovering passionate individuals and bringing their accomplishments to the forefront through documentary filmmaking. Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power is her latest film. Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee's story is one of a champion for little heard voices in America. Her mentors included the first African-American woman who ran for president of the U.S., in 1972, Shirley Chisholm. As we herald the 50th anniversary of Chisholm's run, Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power powerfully demonstrates how mentorship is changing the very fabric of this country.

Lissa Jones is known as a public intellectual. Her caring and concern for the next generation shines through. Her storytelling on Black Market Reads, through the Archie Givens Foundation for African American Literature, and her literacy efforts provide a platform for Black authors.  She strongly believes in building a better world for her children and all children. She welcomes all to the table called America and invites us to work it out so everyone has a voice.