Justin Kalifowitz founder and CEO of Downtown Music Publishing talks with Bill  about inspiration, creativity and community. Justin talks about his journey into the music business, how he got started, what he is thinking about right now.  This episode was recorded a week before Downtown Music Holdings announced its purchase of AVL Digital. Enjoy

Justin Kalifowitz - episode 21

Mayor Eric Adams is A life-long ‘born and raised’ New Yorker who has been active in civic life for more than thirty years as police officer, community organizer, State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President and in 2022 the Mayor of NYC.  In the ‘90’s while still a uniformed police officer he founded ‘One Hundred Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. In 2019 before he became mayor of NYC. we talked with me about his journey, creativity and what was inspiring him.

Mayor Eric Adams - episode 20

Arian Moayed is probably best known at this moment for his portrayal of Stewie on HBO’s hit series “Succession” but in addition to his dynamic acting career in theater, film and television, Arian has a long history of creating engaging activist theater as well as teaching and mentoring young artists. 

He was five when his family immigrated to the U.S fleeing war and unrest in Iran. He shares his story of dislocation, hard work, and a determination to disobey the rules and make it up as he goes.  As he talks about the journey and his vision of creating truthful works of theater, his positive energy is palpable and contagious. Arian is a creator who stands their ground and works to make space for others to grow and shine.

Listen deeply - enjoy.

Arian Moayed - episode 19

Petra Hansen is a visual artist, designer, musician, writer and podcaster who incidentally, was HUGE in Japan.  Hers is a story of constant creative reinvention challenging cultural norms as she follows the muse. Her energy, creativity and intelligence defy narrow definitions.  With her project The B-Sider [thebsider.com] Petra seeks to inspire and empower people to  re-imagine themselves as life-long creators.

Petra Hansen - episode 18

Literary agent William Clark talks about the journey that took him from designing advertisements for Autotrader, enjoying a fine quality of boredom in rural Virginia, to working in the New York literary world.

William Clark - episode 17

John Fell is a noted drummer, drum gear guru, photographer, motorcycle aficionado, co-founder of Main Drag Music, in Williamsburg Brooklyn. He’s worked with an array of bands and individuals including The Isolator, Miami Sound Machine, Perfect Strangers, Kid Congo Powers of the Cramps, Gun Club, and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fell_(drummer)

John Fell - episode 16

Drummer, producer, entrepreneur Steven Williams has been active in rock, hip-hop,  jazz,  Americana, funk and even done some work on Broadway. He’s a New York musician - a player-  in the best tradition. Steven shares his interesting journey from Baltimore to Brooklyn along the way working with Vanilla Ice, De La Soul, Digable Planets, Sade, David Byrne and many, many other top artists.

Steven Williams - episode 15

Nina Roberts is a journalist - writer and photographer based in New York. Her stories and photographs, primarily about immigrant entrepreneurs, have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Observer and The Boston Globe. 
Follow her @ninarobertsnyc

Nina Roberts - episode 14

Tom is the Executive Producer of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, previously as co-founder of Waterwell Theater in New York he directed Hamlet,  Blueprint Specials, Goodbar, and The Persians, among others.  He’s presented work at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, as well as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Indiana and Trinity College. Tom’s productions have won DFW Theater Critics Forum and ECNY Awards and been nominated for CT Critics Circle, IT and New York Magazine Culture Awards. He was associate/assistant director with Joe Mantello (The Last Ship, Chicago & Broadway), Tony Taccone (The Tempest, OSF), Daniel Sullivan (As You Like It, Shakespeare in the Park) and Barry Edelstein (Timon of Athens, Public Theater). Till 2017 he oversaw the Drama Program at the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) public middle and high school in Manhattan, providing world-class training to exceptional 6-12th graders.

Tom Ridgley - episode 13

Joe Lentol the second longest serving member of the New York State Assembly shares his thoughts about community and creativity.

Joseph Lentol - episode 12

Vahap and his partner Lexy created the first brand identified with Brooklyn - Brooklyn Industries - way back in 1997. But Vahap doesn’t think of himself as a business guy, he's an artist whose  works are shown in galleries and museums around the world.  Vahap’s fascinating story begins in his family’s ancient village in the mountains of Turkey and then winds through Europe, New York City and ultimately to Brooklyn. Along the way he creates ideas, businesses and art. As he talks with Bill about inspiration, creativity and community you’ll feel the relentless creativity drives him - not in pursuit of money but to make things that expose our shared humanity and the cultural forces that shape us all. 

http://vahapavsar.com/
www.brooklynindustries.com

Vahap Avsar - episode 11

Cassandra's music has been described as  tender and trance like.  Cassandra is also an accomplished visual artist and interestingly, an avid urban bird watcher. Cassandra shares her thoughts about inspiration, creativity and community.

www.cassandrajenkins.com

Cassandra Jenkins - episode 10

Dhruv Chopra talks with Bill about his interesting journey, from Bombay to Bushwick via Yale.  A musician and a social entrepreneur Dhruv is focused on building new sustainable cultural and economic modes and institutions - most recently as co-founder of Elsewhere the game changing cultural venue in Bushwick Brooklyn. He's active in urban and cultural  policy ideation in NYC and he's really just getting started. Dhruv shares his thoughts about inspiration, hard work and maintaining his positive attitude. 

www.elsewherebrooklyn.com

Dhruv Chopra - episode 9

Elodie was on the fast track to be major player in the world of Parisian couture but found herself bored by the prospect of a career designing  frou frou frocks for wealthy women. She left Paris and couture behind and moved to LA where she created conceptual garments, and theatrical events that examined the performative nature of garment, identity and fashion. Now an award winning designer, she's crafted a career that fosters her love of making for the sake of making. Elodie talks eloquently with Bill about hard work, risk inspiration, creativity parenthood and community.

www.elodieblanchard.com

Elodie Blanchard - episode 8

Arash Mokhtar is an accomplished NYC actor, who in a previous life limited his creativity to visual art - fortunately for theatrical audiences, a moment of clarity lead him on a new path as an actor.  His theatrical work embodies truthful, empathetic and complex portrayals of characters we all can identify with. 

www.arashmokhtar.com

Arash Mokhtar - episode 7

Dafna is a sound artist, electronic musician, composer, improvisor, technologist and educator. Her work spans genre and category its an intersection of mechanical, digital, visual, auditory, composition and improvisation. 
She joined Bill to talk about inspiration, creativity and community. 

dafna.info

Dafna Naphtali - episode 6

Jason Kende is developing ways to empower creators by utilizing blockchain, AR, VR and crypto currency. Jason and his like are transforming  Brooklyn's  L Train Corridor into an urban center of innovation where new forms of content meet new technologies.

Jason Kende - episode 5

Kristen Balouch is an author, illustrator, designer and small business woman. Her wonderful children books and illustrations tell empowering heart warming stories that kids and adults love. Her unique design sensibility and eye that is sought after by fabric manufacturers.
Kristen shares her interesting journey and her thoughts about inspiration, creativity and community. 

www.littlebluemushroom.com

Kristen Balouch - episode 4

Karl Myers started Main Drag Music in Williamsburg Brooklyn  back in the early 90's  Williamsburg was not a thing. Karl and his partners made Main Drag into a center of gravity in NYC and a destination for musicians from across the planet. Karl talks about the changing nature of commerce and culture in NYC and shares his ideas about how to grow a community focused business.

www.maindragmusic.com

Karl Myers - episode 3

Ernie Brooks was a founding member of The Modern Lovers, one of the most important bands that paved the way for punk and new wave.  In addition to a musical life Ernie has a long history of political activism, which seems inexorably linked to his creativity.  As a young teenager he participated in the civil rights movement, traveling south to register voters and participating in the Selma to Montgomery walk. Later at Harvard as a member of SDS he participated in anti-war actions including the occupation of the Harvard administration building. Since then he has been active in a variety of local and national issues.

Ernie and I had a great conversation about inspiration, creativity and community.
 
Here are a few links that relate to our conversation:

Selma to Montgomery marches 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selma_to_Montgomery_marches

Students for a Democratic Society - SDS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Students_for_a_Democratic_Society

The Modern Lovers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Modern_Lovers

The Harvard Occupation:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1969/4/9/students-occupy-university-hall-eject-deans/

The Necessaries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=_bo_e9NFm2U 
	
Arthur Russell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Russell_(musician)

Harvey at the Undisclosed Location

Harvey at the Undisclosed Location

Get Started

Download the App