As we head into a new school year, I had the chance to sit down with Meridian Elementary School Art Teacher, Allison Goodwin, about her favorite projects she does with her students, the way she sees her students grow every day, and how we can all help support the arts in our schools this year. Want to support Allison and her classroom? Send her a m…

Tune in to hear Reese Johnson, Miss West Michigan's Outstanding Teen 2022, and I discuss all things pageants, theatre, and songwriting! It's always a pleasure to chat with Reese, and I could not be more proud to have her as my teen. On this episode, we got to chat about what song she's most proud of (which is out now, and you can listen to it here!…

A professional DJ, Grand Rapids socialite, and my friend, Adrian Butler (DJ AB) was part of the Windows Project in Grand Rapids, Michigan in May 2020. When riots began to break out following the murders of George Floyd, the Windows Project turned boarded-up windows into canvases, allowing local artists to use them as a catalyst for social change. T…

Sometimes, the darkest times of our lives can end up giving us the space to create the most beautiful works of art—things that bring people together and lift them up. That just so happens to be the case for my friend Micah Trout, AKA Radlee, whos new album, Wonder, is coming out on January 28th! Tune in to hear him and I discuss his creative proces…

As a Music Therapist working with everyone from children with special needs in classrooms, to hospice patients, my good friend Amanda Partlo is passionate about creating moments that heal and unite individuals through music. Tune in to hear about some of her favorite moments as a music therapist (like how she creates music out of a heartbeat), and …

To watch Tangled is to love Tangled. The Disney movie is a feel-good, easy-to-love movie for all ages, and it happens to be my friend Sabrina's favorite (She can quote the entire movie from memory, and has done so for me once while hiking down a mountain). Sabrina also has a dream to work in animation, as well as a deep love and interest in film ps…

Amplify the Arts is officially BACK! I'm so excited to kickoff season 2 and am looking forward to many more conversations about why the arts matter. Today I thought it'd be fun to take a look back at my favorite moments of season 1! But that's not all... listen in for a surprise that I am INSANELY excited about ;) or if you can't stand to wait that…

What's it like to be a power couple running an incredible wedding photography/videography business and essentially getting to tell stories for a living? That's the life of my latest guests, long-time friends and creatives, Patrick and Alayna Hellenga! Click play to hear all about the joy and purpose they find in their business, Shore their own pers…

Press play to hear from Sarah and Katie Daniel, twins who were living their lifelong dream of being Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall up until the pandemic took over all of our lives. I got to chat with them about everything from what the journey of training to become Rockettes looked like, what life has looked like since having to say goodbye to …

While it's not rare for people to have hobbies or careers in the arts, it's less common to hear about art being used as a legitimate form of therapy--which just so happens to be exactly what one of my best friends, Sabrina Kloss, is passionate about. Give this one a listen if you want to hear her make one too many Avatar references, hear us get way…

Shelby is approximately 8,000 beautiful things wrapped into one. She's an artist, a singer, a songwriter, a storyteller, a nonprofit founder AND president, she's currently Miss Sunrise Side and placed in the top 12 at Miss Michigan 2019... I could go on. After receiving the life-altering news that she was positive for Huntington's Disease, she made…

If you’re anything like me, when you think of art, food might not be the first thing that you think of. I don't remember the last time I thought very hard about the food I was eating, the creative thought process and design behind my food, or sitting down to take the time to intentionally enjoy it. That's why I loved getting to sit down and learn f…

Diving into the good, the bad, and the ugly of the world of dance with my good friend, Emma Seidel, was SUCH a treat. From addressing the hyper-sexualization of young girls in the cutthroat field of competitive dance, to finding her sense of identity after a big injury left her almost unable to dance, to how she empowers young girls as a dance teac…

Not all of us are singers, dancers, or actors. We're not all going to perform on big stages for thousands, or have our art hang in the most grandiose of galleries. But for those who are in the arts, we all had a teacher that made it possible for us. And for hundreds of middle school students at Meridian Junior High over the last several years, that…

Hello hello! Welcome to the very first episode of Amplify the Arts! The arts have played such an influential role in my life, so much so that they essentially ARE my life. Press play to hear more about who I am, what I do, and why Amplify the Arts came to be! Be sure to connect with us on our Instagram, @amplifythearts, and subscribe so you never m…

Acting literally requires you to walk a mile in someone else's shoes - something each of us could definitely improve on! Between having a well-rounded background in theatre, years of pageant experience, and serving as an advocate for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, today's guest, Erica Kennedy, is no stranger to the stage--or to serving and lovi…