Pianist/composer Aruán Ortiz, classically trained in Cuba and influenced by jazz musicians from Chick Corea to Muhal Richard Abrams, narrates his journey over excerpts from his 2025 concert at Roulette pushing the boundaries of musical Afro-diasporic traditions and storytelling. A 2024 Guggenheim Fellow, we'll hear solos and ensemble works with clarinetist Don Byron, flutist Nicole Mitchell, and percussionist Mauricio Herrera alongside strings and vocalists. Photo by Michal Novak.
Love On Top (with André Holland)
We talk our favorite films about love and we interview the star of the new movie Love, Brooklyn...André Holland.
What would urbanist legend Jane Jacobs think of downtown Brooklyn today? Jacobs' "four elements for a good neighborhood" are foundational for many modern urban planners. But Jacobs herself did not hold downtown Brooklyn in high regard when she was writing in the 1960s. In this episode, host Maheema applies Jacobs's own four elements to modern DTBK
The Power of Black Boy Joy
We celebrate the career of Malcolm-Jamal Warner and his impact on how Black men are portrayed on television.
Super Hero Summer
The two biggest brands in the superhero business are rebooting their flagship characters at the box office. Throw in a
few super-powered tv series with these movies and we've quite an interesting summer. We will give our reviews of what
has been released so far and talk about what we are excited to see next.
Films On Freedom
It's Independence Day but most of us marginalized folks don't feel free. So we curated our own list of films with freedom
themes to go with your bbq and fireworks. America is a mess but you can still enjoy the day off. Go be free, booboo.
We discuss America's longest running tv sketch comedy show and ponder what could be next. We'll also rundown the list of our sketch comedy faves.
Queer Story Survival Kit: All Letters Matter
This is the last installment of our Pride series. We talk about all of our Queers siblings the we do see enough of in
popular media. Say the whole thing with us sweetie, L-G-B-T-Q-I-A-PLUS. Why? Because all of these letter matter.
The sonic world and career of composer Pauline Oliveros (1936-2016) featuring a 2008 interview with the artist conducted by David Weinstein for the radio station of the Clocktower Gallery in support of an exhibition at PS1 Contemporary Art Center (now MoMA PS1) entitled WACK: Art of the Feminist Revolution. We also hear solos and collaborative works recorded for the Roulette concert series dating from 1984 to 2014 including excerpts with the Deep Listening Band (Stuart Dempster, trombone, didjeridu and David Gamper (piano, "toys"), and a trio with David Arner
(piano) and Doug Van Nort (custom electronics). The influence of Dr. Oliveros on contemporary music is unrivaled, from electronic innovations, sonic meditations, ceremonial works, the Deep Listening paradigm, her Expanded Instrument System (processing time and space), hot-wired accordion, and merging a social conscience with sound.
https://roulette.org/
Queer Strory Survial Kit: Ladies First
We are still in our Pride series, but this week we'll be talking about some great selections featuring the stories of Queer
women. We have a lot of thoughts about the landscape for Woman-led queer stories. Most of our thoughts sum up to
one idea: HUNNY, we all need to pay more attention to Queer women of Color. Duh.
We discuss the rollercoaster rides emotion that come with romantic-relationship centered reality TV.
Queer Story Survival Kit: Queer TV Dads
In the second edition of our Pride series we take look at the Father figures on TV. Happy Pride Y'all!
Vibraphonist, marimbist, and composer Patricia Brennan in conversation with excerpts from performances at the Roulette Concert Hall in Brooklyn. Raised in Mexico and now in Brooklyn and honoree of many awards, Brennan's work as a bandleader and side person includes projects with pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, trumpeter Adam O'Farrill, and her ensembles More Touch and the Patricia Brennan Septet. Brennan celebrates a new album, Of The Near And Far on Pyroclastic Records, at Roulette on December 1, 2025, inspired by celestial configurations.
https://roulette.org/
EP20- In this inspiring episode of *Let's Talk Passion & Purpose*, host Nicole Thomas sits down with Hanna Guzman, dynamic storyteller and creator of *The Advice From Hanna Show*. Since launching her podcast in 2018, Hanna has built a global platform that's reached over 30 countries and 35,000+ downloads by empowering listeners to embrace their truths and own their stories. She opens up about her personal journey, the evolution of her brand, and how authenticity and connection have fueled her mission to create lasting impact through storytelling.
EP19 - In this thought-provoking episode, host Nicole Thomas chats with visual artist and writer Chunbum Park about the power of identity, creativity, and self-expression through art. From their journey growing up in South Korea to earning an MFA and launching innovative projects like *ArtBid*, an art auction card game, Chun shares how personal transformation and gender identity shape their vibrant, introspective work. They discuss the role of storytelling in visual art, their writing for *New Visionary Magazine*, and their efforts to support fellow creatives through the Emerging Whales Collective. Tune in for an inspiring look at art as a tool for self-discovery, advocacy, and breaking creative boundaries.
Playing and discussing classic jazz, also discussing social justice and political issues
This is a podcast is on various leadership or business topics
EP18 -In this empowering episode, Nicole Thomas sits down with Her Excellency Dr. Theresa A. Moseley—a United Nations Peace Ambassador, U.S. Army Veteran, international motivational speaker, and 21x best-selling author—whose work in global peacebuilding has earned her two Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards and international acclaim. Featured in over 300 media outlets and on the covers of multiple global magazines, Dr. Moseley shares her inspiring journey from military service to becoming "The Peacemaker," a transformational leader dedicated to promoting equity, purpose, and peace. She unpacks the Seven Steps to Equity and Excellence in leadership, the value of soft skills, and the mission behind her company, TAM Creating Ambassadors of Peace LLC. Tune in for powerful insights on discovering your purpose, resolving conflict, and becoming a force for unity in your community and beyond.
Playing and discussing classic jazz, also discussing social justice and political issues
EP17 - In this inspiring episode of Let's Talk Passion & Purpose, Nicole Thomas sits down with Tamara J. Madison, a poet, author, spoken word artist, editor, and instructor whose work has captivated audiences worldwide. Tamara shares her journey through the literary arts, the power of poetry as a form of storytelling and healing, and how she has built a career fueled by passion, creativity, and purpose.