Teaching Artistry With Courtney J. Boddie

In Act 2 of Episode 67: “The Power of Queer Joy!,” Courtney continues her conversation with guest Lindz Amer. Their chat pivots in tone and substance from Act 1, which was focused on what it means to be a child that is free to explore and to keep that inner child alive as an adult. Act 2 focuses in on Lindz’s work as a content creator and the myriad differences between creating and distributing online content, and creating their longform, non-fiction book, “Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies.” One (of many) interesting parts of this conversation is centered around Lindz’s journey away from and back to programming for young audiences, and realizing the importance of feeling and expressing Queer joy in spaces and through content that have not traditionally held space for that joy or narrative.

You know what they say: New year, new episode! In Episode 67: “The Power of Queer Joy!” Courtney sits down with guest Lindz Amer, whose impressive list of credits spans stage performance, author, musician and educator. This discussion focuses on a number of Lindz Amer’s creative projects ranging from their award-winning web series Queer Kid Stuff, a viral TedTalk on gender and sexuality, and their recently-published book, Rainbow Parenting: Your Guide to Raising Queer Kids and Their Allies. The heart of this episode is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to be a kid with opportunities to experiment with a range of ideas and experience the wide spectrum of human emotions, and what it means to be an adult while trying to keep one’s inner child alive in a world that wants adults to just grow up. This thoughtful, introspective episode is one you won’t want to miss.

In Act 2 of Episode 66: “For Vocal Girls…,” Carmen Kelly tells of her 22-year history with Creative Arts Team (CAT) and her 40-year career as a teaching artist! This inspiring conclusion to our four-episode arc discussion delves into Carmen’s work with high school-aged kids and what it was like developing strategies for talking to them about HIV/AIDS at a time when nobody else had the courage to do so. Carmen also takes time to speak about what it was like to be present within the evolution of teaching artistry. And, in a thoughtfully candid moment, she takes time to highlight the transferable skill sets that made her transition from teaching artistry to a more programmatic leadership role.

In Episode 66: “For Vocal Girls…,” Courtney continues her conversation with guest Carmen Kelly. This thoughtful discussion focuses on Carmen’s journey from artist, to office temp, to teaching artist, and everything in between! As Courtney and Carmen weave through their chat, Carmen offers intriguing stories about her stint in the national tour of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow is Enuf, the many “under fives” she played on soap operas, how camping out in the Drama Book Shop led to her first commercial spot, and how grad school helped her connect theory to practice.

Courtney continues her conversation with Carmen Kelly, an inspiring human with a rich history in arts education and current Program Director of the Brooklyn-based NIA Community Services Network's after-school program. The first portion of Act 2 acts as a kind of “rewind” moment that offers context for Kelly’s journey from childhood to school, to her career trajectory. It holds simplicity and complexity as it focuses primarily on two things: the importance of play and finding community at a young age. As the episode moves forward, Kelly really talks about her journey into the arts and to New York City. We don’t want to spoil too much about this rich second act. What we do want to highlight here is that our guest, the joyous Carmen Kelly, really digs into her past to bring us back to her present. In between those two points in her life (thus far), there are so many touchstones and flashpoints that truly highlight what so many of us already know and understand on the deepest of levels—if we’ve found ourselves

In Episode 65: "A Soft Place," Courtney sits down with Carmen Kelly, an inspiring human with a rich history in arts education. Currently, Kelly is a Program Director at the Brooklyn-based NIA Community Services Network's after-school program, which aims to engage kids in the arts to create positive pathways in their lives. As Courtney takes us deeper into her work, we learn that Kelly aims to encourage primarily Black and brown youth to examine themselves and work to find and name what is intrinsically good about who and what they are. Kelly notes that this work is all about fostering difficult and deep conversations, and intentionally setting up systems that center young people. At the core of this, Kelly tells us, is creating a soft place for kids to turn to, especially in our increasingly chaotic world. Questions that are addressed in this episode are: How can we create opportunities to let young people know that adults care about them and what they have to say? How can young people feel successful in

Hi, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of our fascinating chat with Yazmany Arboleda titled, “Mobilizing Interdependence.” In their discussion, Courtney and Yazmany continue to tackle a range of deeply meaningful topics. One major theme that really stands out in this episode is how the process of making art in community with others helps us to understand one another, to learn new skills and to evolve into something new. In Act 2 of Arboleda’s fast-paced, joyful chat with Courtney, they also discuss Yazmany’s work with the Little Amal, the problematic aspects of land acknowledgments, land ownership v. land stewardship in western cultures, and how our lived experience affects how we approach how we move through the world and how we create our art.

Episode 64, Act 1: “Mobilizing Interdependence,” featuring the passionate Yazmany Arboleda, will leave you invigorated, activated and inspired to up your game and think about how you could be engaging with your art and how you’re inviting others to engage with and through what you’re creating. Have you ever stopped to think that we, as humans, are collectively co-creating our future at all times? Do you center inquiry as the basis for creating works of art? Have you thought of art as a mechanism for healing individual and shared traumas? In his fast-paced, joyful chat with Courtney, Yazmany Arboleda explains that the foundation of his artistry is all about remaining curious about the state of his own existence. His aim is to engage people through inquiry and to imagine the impossible, and collectively rise to the challenge of co-creating something that makes the impossible, possible.

In Acts 1 and 2 of our newest episode, we learned about the origins of Teaching Artists Guild (TAG) and its merger with the Association of Teaching Artists (ATA). In Act 3, "Continuing the Continuum," Courtney sits down with Kerry Warren, Katie Rainey and Marissa Ontiveros, who all hold leadership positions at TAG, to discuss the future of the organization and of the field at large. Together, they talk about the organization's current goals and the tapestry of strategic plans for its future, which include analyzing the co-leadership model intrinsic to the current and future success and expansion of the organization. Their goals also focus on the necessity of building on past strategic plans from the center outwards, in order to strengthen TAG's community and strengthen the continuum of ever-changing leadership and continued learning. Their goals are clear: the organization aims to deepen their advocacy strategies, develop a more representative nationwide community of artists and build toward a more equitabl

What do the words intentionality, collaboration, community, responsiveness, tenacity, perseverance and leadership have in common? They’re all terms or themes that emerge in our newest episode. And they’re all used in reference to teaching artistry and its pivotal role in the constant reshaping and elevation of arts education and arts administration. In Episode 63, Act 2: “Collaborate, Cultivate, Celebrate,” a number of big ideas and questions arise, two of which take center stage: In a world in which the non-profit industrial complex holds such a firm presence, how do we establish a more equitable leadership model? In what ways can we center teaching artists’ voices and perspectives to help drive organizational practices forward? In this newest installment, a panel of arts practitioners and administrators discuss the merger between Association of Teaching Artists (ATA) and Teaching Artists Guild (TAG) and the interpersonal discussions that were had, and the big ideas and systems that, out of necessity, were

We’ve got another great episode for you, TA PODience! We’re back with Act 1 of a fascinating three-act series titled “Looking Back to Look Forward.” Episode 63, Act 1: “Collective Field Building,” features an exciting panel of inspiring multi-hyphenate artists and arts administrators who were instrumental in the formation of what would eventually become the Teaching Artists Guild (TAG). This episode is a fascinating reunion of sorts that is made up of Jean Johnstone, Kai Fierle-Hedrick, Lynn Johnson, Miko Lee, Jessica Mele, Eric Booth and of course Courtney J. Boddie. In Act 1, we learn about the “who” and “how” this confluence of creative minds intersected to found Teaching Artists Organized (TAO), and how that turned into Teaching Artists Guild. We also learn about the creation of two different tools developed in part by this group, one of which is the Teaching Artist Manifesto and how to create such a hold statement representative of every facet of teaching artistry as a field. The other is a larger, de

In Act 3 of our three-part series, “In Conversation with ‘Start the Conversation,’” we dive right into a crucial topic: emergency drill support for teachers and kids. In this episode, we spotlight New York City Children's Theater’s Caitlyn McCain and Nicole Hogsett who have developed a groundbreaking resource called, “Start the Conversation.” This video series aims to provide grown-ups with a range of tools needed to engage in ongoing conversations with children on important and complex subjects like race, politics, mental health and LGBTQ+ identities. Our panel discussion focuses specifically on emergency drill support. The inspiration for their work on emergency drill support stems from real-life classroom experiences, including active shooter drills and fire drills. Drawing from their own experiences in classrooms, and in collaboration with educators and mental health professionals, Caitlyn and Nicole have created valuable resources for teachers, teaching artists and anyone working with young people. Thei

We’re back with Episode 62, Act 2: “Make Space, Give Grace,” featuring Caitlyn McCain, Teaching Artist and Education Associate for Public Engagement with New York City Children's Theater (NYCCT), and Lindz Amer, creator of the video series “Queer Kids Stuff” and author of the book, “Rainbow Parenting.” This act is packed with rich discussion about gender and the conversations happening now in legislative bodies and learning spaces across the country about how we see (or don’t see) and understand (or don’t understand) gender. In their chat, the second in our three-part series, “In Conversation with ‘Start the Conversation,’” Courtney, Caitlyn and Lindz cover topics like pushing back against the current wave of anti-LGBTQIA legislation on the federal and local levels, book bannings and filling the void of Queer representation in TYA. In an effort to confront all of these issues, they discuss a shared interest: developing engaging education content that invites adults to have big conversations with kids about a

We are back with an exciting three-part series titled “In Conversation with ‘Start the Conversation.’” In episode 62, Act 1: “Step In and Go Slow,” Courtney sits down with panelists Caitlyn McCain, Tara Kirton and Nicole Hogsett to discuss how New York City Children’s Theater resources came to be, beginning with a three-part video series called, “Our Relationship to Race.” The series we focus on in Episode 62, Act 1, as Caitlyn and Nicole state, was born out of urgency and necessity during the racial uprisings of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd. Caitlyn notes that the series they’ve created invites deep conversations between adults and kids about their relationship to race and racism within the context of the U.S. and its ongoing struggle to reconcile its society’s shared violent past and present. As Tara states, these conversations may seem, to some, too big for kids to understand but, as she also notes in the episode, research tells us that is simply not true. Kids, indeed, notice and are curiou

We’re back. Act 2 of our newest episode, “Finding Paths for Freedom Dreaming,” can be whittled down to three main ideas: 1. Aspiring to a more liberated arts and culture world; 2. Feeling our emotions through the work we do as artists and arts educators and not giving in to shutting down when the work feels difficult; 3. Having the ability to recognize the power one has and knowing when the time has come to relinquish that power. The second part of this episode steers us more intentionally into our upcoming episodes, which showcases the New York City Children’s Theater’s (NYCCT) resources titled, “Start the Conversation.” In their chat, Caitlyn takes a deeper dive into the work she does at NYCCT. She talks about how that work has only deepened since the start of the pandemic and has aimed at being responsive to kids and families with a focus on ”having conversations about topics that I wish someone would've talked to me about when I was a kid.” The conversation reaches its most grounded moment when the focu

We’re back with Episode 61: “Finding Paths for Freedom Dreaming,” featuring Caitlyn McCain, Teaching Artist and Education Associate for Public Engagement with New York City Children's Theater (NYCCT) and recipient of the 2023 TYA Community Impact Award. Question: can you recall a teacher from your childhood—yes, that one teacher—the one who ignited the spark of your artistic trajectory? Courtney and Caitlyn can and do in this two-episode arc! Episode 61 is all about identifying passion, knowing where one is meant to be, loss and grief, and finding meaning and power in the arts. In this time machine of a discussion, Courtney and Caitlyn go back to their respective moments of foundational learning to investigate their lived childhood experiences, and reflect on the people that supported their growth and urged them to be their best selves. They also delve into what it means to find one’s calling in the arts, dreaming big and the harsh realities that reveal themselves when artistic ambition and lack of financial

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy,” featuring Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble. If Act 1 of Episode 60 reflected on the ways in which Courtney and Melissa’s artistic and administrative work has been challenged by the pandemic (masks, shutdowns, reframing the art we make and how we connect with students and each other during times of unrest), Act 2 continues down a similar path but focuses even more on access and inclusivity. The main themes of this episode are: breaking down barriers to provide opportunities for young people to experience live theater, creating art that truly represents and amplifies young people’s voices, the positive effects of young people seeing themselves represented in stories being told on stage, and the gaps in learning and implementation still present in the theater industry after “We See You White American Theater” was first published. You won’t want to miss the conclusion of this profound conversation, still taking p

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a brand new two-act episode arc for you! Episode 60: “The Pursuit of Synergy” features Melissa Friedman, co-founder of Epic Theatre Ensemble, a professional social justice theatre company in New York City. In many ways, Episode 60 really holds its finger to the pulse of the zeitgeist. At the top of their chat, Courtney and Melissa take time to reflect on the myriad ways in which their artistic and administrative work was challenged by the pandemic. For instance, Melissa names and digs into the complex frustrations and roadblocks created by simply donning a mask. In a way, masks became her Kryptonite, diminishing her so-called “super powers” as well as her ability to effectively connect with a group of students. She also uplifts what it meant to discover and implement new mechanisms for teaching and mentoring young people while covering the most expressive and communicative part of her body. Courtney and Melissa speak very personally and thoughtfully about what it feels like on this

Hello, PODience! We’re back with Act 2 of Episode 59: “Divine Self Development.” “Everybody’s story is so different,” says Courtney to our newest featured guest, Aminisha Ferdinand. In the first part of this two-episode arc, we posed the essential questions: What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of artistry? And we’re going to stick with and build upon those questions. In Act 2 of Episode 59, Courtney and Aminisha continue their deeply philosophical conversation about what it means to fall into or find one’s way to the arts. When Aminisha was young, people told her that she was “good at [theater and dance]” and she admittedly “like[s] to do things that [she] feels [she’s] good at.” This time around the discussion really begins to focus on what happens when dreams shift, the universe takes a hand and one finds themself doing something they know they want to do but it’s in the wrong space and time. What does it

Hello, PODience! We’ve got a wonderful new two-act episode arc for you to kick off our sixth season! Episode 59: “Divine Self Development” features Aminisha Ferdinand. What ignites something in you that must be expressed through art that cannot be expressed through words? Where do you fit on the spectrum of artistry? These are the essential questions that fuel our newest episode. In Episode 59, Courtney and Aminisha have a philosophical conversation about what it means to fall into or find one’s way to the arts. For instance, when she was a young child, people told Aminisha that she was “good at [theater and dance]” and she “like[s] to do things that [she] feels [she’s] good at. Their discussion digs deeper when they talk about what it means to find and exist with a community of artists and the reciprocal nature of making something new with a cohort of creative humans. They take a step further when they ideate on how our creativity lives inside of our brains but looks and acts differently—in good and bad wa