Tampa Bay’s chalk art and mural scene isn’t just vibrant — it’s a full-blown creative ecosystem. And artist Hilary Frambes sits right at the center of it. In this episode of the Tampa Bay Arts Passport Podcast, Hilary shares what it really means to make art in public: the planning, the pressure, the weather apps, and the pure joy of creating something while strangers watch it come to life. From chalk festivals to large-scale murals, she walks through the evolution of her career, the power of collaboration, and the resilience artists need right now. We talk about:• Why chalk art feels like a performance in real time• Tampa Bay’s uniquely supportive (and sun-drenched) public art culture• What it took to hand-paint our new Arts Passport “Tampa Tales and Tails” merch piece• How one offhand comment from a teacher almost derailed her career• The grind and the beauty of working outside — wind, rain, scaffolding, and all• Why her one-word hope for the arts in Tampa Bay is resilience• The loss of her five Sarasota sidewalk art pieces — and what comes next Hilary also shares the artists who inspire her (hello, Georgia O’Keeffe), the value of creative community, and why supporting public art matters more than ever. Explore Hilary’s Arts Passport merch collaboration:Hand-painted prints, totes, tees, and more featuring her “Tampa Chicken” artwork. Follow Tampa Bay Arts Passport for more conversations, behind-the-scenes stories, and the artists shaping our region.

What does it look like to build a music career from the ground up in the middle of Tampa’s nightlife? In this episode of the Arts Passport Podcast, underground artist and entertainer Lil Trini Kid breaks down the real grind behind his rising music career — from dropping freestyles that caught fire online to navigating late-night club shifts, digital rollouts, and the art of “having the sauce.” We talk about everything:• how he creates songs in 30 minutes,• moving from Korea to Utah (“the curry of America?”),• being queer and thriving in Florida’s club scene,• why Tampa is the place he finally feels at home,• manifesting comfort, community, and a career built on authenticity,• his new single “Waist So Slim,” and the artists who shaped him (Ariana, Nicki, Uzi, Beyoncé, Ice Spice — obviously). It’s a conversation about creativity, reinvention, and what it means to chase visibility on your own terms — with jokes, chaos, and a whole lot of vibe. Listen, follow, subscribe, and go stream Lil Trini Kid on all platforms.

This episode is about the moment you stop asking permission to be an artist. Playwright, actor, and voice actor Jenna Jane talks about walking away from full-time journalism, surviving in Florida as a working artist, and refusing to play roles that sexualize or stereotype young women. “I made a commitment to myself… I was no longer going to play any roles that perpetuate stereotypes or involve my clothes falling off.” That decision meant less stage work — and also, a new path. We get into:– That “it’s here” moment when an idea hits and everything else has to stop– How her sci-fi play Bionic has evolved from a one-act to a full-length built for real-world production– Why new work doesn’t get produced (and why “new work doesn’t sell” is usually just bad marketing)– What theaters owe actors and audiences when it comes to safety, access, and not pre-casting the same five friends– Why she left a “safe” field after her position was eliminated and said, “Why not do what I love?” We also talk burnout, redefining success, and the radical, stubborn act of choosing joy in a politically hostile moment. Follow Jenna Jane to catch upcoming staged readings of Bionic and her newest work across Tampa Bay — and sometimes internationally. Programming notes:– November Book Club: Night + guided tour at the Florida Holocaust Museum– December Book Club: My Broken Language + Latin History for Morons at Stageworks Tampa Bay Arts Passport: local arts journalism, but with teeth.Like, follow, subscribe, and go see new work in your city.

When state arts funding collapses and women’s stories keep getting erased, what do artists do? They make more art.In this episode, Erica Sutherlin (The Studio@620) and Clareann Despain (Powerstories Theatre) join host Avery Anderson to talk about their co-production of Cadillac Crew, the power of small organizations, and why artists will always show up—no matter what Florida politics throws at them.

Nonprofit theater isn’t a vibes-only economy. Aoslo Rep managing director Ross Egan joins Avery for a candid dive into money, models, and why “the mission is the heart, but the model is the engine.” From Chicago storefronts to Sarasota’s mainstage, this episode unpacks sustainability, salaries, and why a $5 gift from every audience member could change the game.

Actress Susana Cordón joins Avery to talk about starring as Lucy in the Straz Center’s Dracula: A Comedy of Terror—why rooting comedy in truth makes it funnier, what “belonging” in the arts actually feels like, and yes, a healthy amount of Audra McDonald worship. Plus: first impressions of Tampa Bay’s arts scene, from murals to humidity.

What does it feel like to carry an entire Andrew Lloyd Webber show on your back? For hometown artist Julia Rifino, star of Tell Me on a Sunday at freeFall Theatre, the answer is joyfully... a lot of things. In this conversation, Julia opens up about going from shy kid with a sketchbook to singing 26 songs solo onstage, why she refuses the “starving artist” narrative, and what it means to celebrate a breakthrough moment on her own terms.