Podcast
Cultural Catalysts with Alison McNeil
Hosted by Alison McNeil · EN
Welcome to Cultural Catalysts with Alison McNeil—the podcast that celebrates the creative visionaries working behind the scenes in arts and entertainment. This podcast uplifts the voices of producers, publicists, directors, and other behind-the-scenes creatives who shape culture but don’t always get the spotlight.
From the challenges of building sustainable careers to the triumphs of crafting unforgettable artistic moments, Cultural Catalysts dives deep into the inspiring lives of those who make the magic happen. If you’re curious about the people driving creativity and innovation in the arts, this podcast is for you.
🌐 MCE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcearts
🌐 Impact Roadmap™: The Art of Describing Your Impact: http://mceimpactroadmap.com
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Executive Management Consulting in the Arts and Culture: How Candace Jackson Built CJAM
Dec 1701:16:00Tap to summarizeConsultant, strategist, and CJAM Consulting Principal Candace Jackson joins Cultural Catalysts for this season’s final episode to trace how an operations and HR leader inside arts organizations became a designer of what she now calls “executive management consulting.” She shares how believing in serendipity and deja vu as confirmation helped her recognize when she was on the right path, including the “accident” of shortening her too-long business name—Candace Jackson Arts and Management Consulting—into CJAM at a client’s request so it would fit on a check. Candace unpacks early missteps in setting her hourly and day rates based on her last salary, before realizing she needed to price in overhead, insurance, and employer taxes, and reflects on being repeatedly tapped as an interim executive director by boards navigating leadership transitions. Candace’s experiences clarified that she no longer wanted to stay inside the organizational frame permanently and instead wanted to enter as an external partner who can stabilize, support, and then step back out through CJAM’s executive management consulting model—combining interim leadership, executive searches, and deep partnerships with leadership teams. Throughout the episode, Candace talks about naming and claiming her lane, treating “accidents” as alignment, and building a consulting practice that centers clarity, structure, and care for the people doing the work.Find out more:CJAM Consulting / CJAM Consulting on InstagramCandace Jackson Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →From Booking to Big Vision: How Anshia Crooms Shapes Tours, Careers, and Festivals
Dec 1000:48:30Tap to summarizeEntertainment executive and booking agent Anshia Crooms joins Cultural Catalysts to share how a small-town girl who fell in love with film and music, built a nearly 20-year career shaping live experiences and artist opportunities. As founder, CEO, and Chief Booking Agent of Briclyn Entertainment Group, Anshia has evolved her company from an artist management shop launched at age 23 while in grad school at The New School into a boutique booking and events agency representing Adam Blackstone, Eric Roberson, Gabby Samone, and more, placing them on stages from Afropunk to the Kennedy Center and Jazz Café in London. She breaks down the difference between management and booking, how her SummerStage apprenticeship became a masterclass in live production, and why every artist on her roster must be able to deliver a powerful live show. Anshia also discusses the role of relationships and team “zones of genius” in sustaining festivals like the Love Music Festival and East Orange’s Mac Fest, and how her faith and instincts guide who she works with and which pivots to make as the live events landscape shifts. Anshia is candid about seasons of being broke in New York, weathering slow ticket sales and economic uncertainty, and using affirmations, prayer, community, and simple joys like nails, massages, and quarterly “friend dates” to stay grounded while continuing to pour into others.Links:Briclyn Entertainment GroupAnshia on InstagramProject Hygiene: ph@projecthygiene.orgThe Recording Academy: MusiCares | Grammy UMastering Publicity Strategies with Nyle Washington: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Camille A. Brown on Moving the Culture and Breaking Glass Ceilings
Dec 301:05:25Tap to summarizeTony-nominated choreographer, director, and artistic director Camille A. Brown joins Cultural Catalysts to talk about how a shy Black girl from Jamaica, Queens who choreographed to DuckTales and TailSpin theme songs grew into one of the most influential voices in contemporary theater and dance. From early training at Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center and the Ailey School to dancing with Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and then founding Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Camille shares how movement became both a safe space and a calling as she navigated body policing, “ideal” ballet standards, and the scarcity of Black women choreographers on major stages. She opens up about creating a distinct choreographic voice, saying no when asked to imitate others, and building an organization that now includes mentorship, touring concert works like Black Girl: Linguistic Play and ink, and her social dance platform, Everybody Move, which celebrates African American social dances as archives of history and joy. Camille and Alison also dig into the realities of being the first Black woman since Katherine Dunham to direct and choreograph a Broadway play, the toll and responsibility of “breaking glass,” and the lineage of Black women artists and administrators whose names and labor she insists on honoring. Along the way, Camille reflects on directing and choreographing across Broadway, opera, and film; the collaborators and administrators who helped her grow from a one-woman shop; and how she is learning to hold grief, boundaries, rest, and humanity alongside unprecedented professional visibility.Find out more:Camille A. Brown & DancersEvery Body MoveNEFA's National Dance Project Production GrantSix Black women choreographers whose Broadway work precedes Camille: Katherine Dunham Debbie AllenMabel Robinson Hope Clarke Diane McIntyre Marlies Yearby Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Afrofuturism in Motion: Tewodross Williams on Film, Animation, and Black Futures
Nov 2601:00:30Tap to summarizeTewodross Melchishua “Teo” Williams—award-winning filmmaker, animator, Afrofuturist, and Professor & Department Chair of Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts at Bowie State University—joins Cultural Catalysts to explore how movement, music, and Black futures shape his visual storytelling. From being inspired by seeing Black people in space in Star Trek and Star Wars, to creating his “visual jazz” style, Teo shares how synesthesia, hip hop, jazz, reggae, and house music inform his animation, film work, and live projections for projects like Cinderella: The Remix at Imagination Stage and the Shaolin Jazz “The 37th Chamber” and “Page to Stage” collaborations. He dives into Afrofuturism as a lens for centering Black narratives, details his new sci-fi feature he’s calling, ‘The Beat,’ and explains how HBCUs like Bowie State function as interdisciplinary laboratories where dance, immersive media, VR, gaming, fashion, and film collide. Find out more: About Tewodross “Teo” Williams:Visual Jazz studio: visualjazzmedia.net Instagram: @soulcinematic"Planet X Marks the Spot: Nommo Music for the Suckas" Bowie State University – Department of Fine and Performing Arts / Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts (VCDMA)Megamind Media / Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood Shaolin Jazz Listen to Above the Clouds by Gang Starr: Spotify | Apple Music Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Community-Driven Arts Education: Shirley Taylor on Transforming NYC Youth
Nov 1901:12:51Tap to summarizeShirley Taylor, Executive Director of Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center, joins the show to share the story of her journey from visual artist to transformative arts administrator, and the creative vision that powers her legacy in New York City. In this conversation, Shirley reflects on her early days at NYFA, her award-winning student arts exhibitions, and launching youth career pipelines at the Apollo Theater. She discusses what it means to design programs that empower young people, support whole-person growth, and offer real-world opportunities—from internships to paid creative jobs. Together with host Alison McNeil, Shirley opens up about the personal values that guide her leadership, the challenges of fundraising and strategy, and her deep belief in centering community, preserving cultural heritage, and making arts access a reality—especially for historically underrepresented youth. If you care about mentorship, creative careers, or building authentic opportunity through the arts, this episode offers wisdom, energy, and hope for what’s possible when the community leads.Find out more: Mind-Builders Creative Arts CenterThe Apollo TheaterShirley Taylor on LinkedIn Laura Greer Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →The Making of a Dynamic Producer: Kitab Rollins’ Life Backstage at NJPAC
Nov 1201:02:29Tap to summarizeKitab Rollins, Assistant Vice President of Performance and Broadcast Rentals at NJPAC, joins Cultural Catalysts to unpack two decades of creative leadership in Newark’s dynamic arts world. As a proud Newark native, Kitab shapes how the arts connect communities—working on major productions, innovative broadcast rentals, and strategic programming that uplifts local talent and celebrates cultural diversity. He shares insights from his journey through almost every behind-the-scenes role, reflecting on mentorship, collaboration, and how he stays true to Newark while elevating its artists.Find out more: New Jersey Performing Arts CenterFollow Kitab on InstagramBaraka SeleDonna Walker-Kuhne Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Presenting the Arts through Thoughtful Risk and Unconventional Welcome with Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
Nov 501:15:05Tap to summarizeColleen Jennings-Roggensack has shaped the arts landscape for decades as Vice President for Cultural Affairs at Arizona State University and Executive Director of ASU Gammage. A Tony Awards voter and recipient of a Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre, she has built a career grounded in curiosity, mentorship, and community connection. In this episode, Colleen shares how she reimagined ASU Gammage with its Connecting Communities mission, created spaces where Broadway and boundary-pushing performance coexist, and nurtured generations of leaders by insisting that leadership is horizontal, not vertical. From producing her first neighborhood show in fourth grade, to commissioning groundbreaking works, to guiding the national arts field as Vice Chair of the Broadway League, Colleen demonstrates the power of vision rooted in service. Listeners will leave inspired to expand their own curiosity, honor the shoulders they stand on, and become shoulders for others.Sponsor Spotlight: Ingram Financial ManagementBig thanks to our sponsor, Ingram Financial Management — a trusted firm providing personal tax preparation, small business support, and financial education since 2011. With expertise in Military Tax Matters, Multi-State Returns, Small Businesses, and Residential Rentals, they help clients make confident, informed financial decisions year-round.Learn more at ingramfinancialmanagement.comFind out more: Arizona State University Cultural AffairsASU GammageEmail Colleen: cjr@asu.edu and mmjcap@msu.edu Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →The Art (and Science) of Marketing in Theater with PennyMaria Jackson
Oct 2901:00:43Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Cultural Catalysts, host Alison McNeil sits down with PennyMaria Jackson, Director of Marketing & Communications at Chicago’s iconic Steppenwolf Theatre Company. With nearly 20 years in arts management, PennyMaria has shaped campaigns for institutions like the Apollo Theater, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and the Tony Awards. From launching Pulitzer Prize–winning plays to creating community access programs, she shares how thoughtful marketing transforms audiences into movements. Listen as we explore the art, science, and heart behind cultural storytelling.Find out more: Steppenwolf Theatre CompanyArtzVentureWomen of Color in the Arts (WOCA)Baraka SeleColleen Jennings-RoggensackDonna Walker-KuhneStephanie Hughley Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Kimberly Douglas on Building DC’s Theater Community and Cultural Bridges
Oct 2200:42:53Tap to summarizeKimberly Douglas, Managing Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, joins Cultural Catalysts to talk about building, leading, and sustaining community-centered theater in Washington, DC. Kimberly shares her journey from her foundational years at Roots Activity Learning Center and Duke Ellington School of the Arts to her transformative leadership at The ARC Theater and now Woolly Mammoth. She explores why access to the arts is essential infrastructure, not a luxury, and how every role—from production manager to managing director—has fueled her mission to make space, nurture local talent, and ensure stories on stage help communities grow and heal.Find out more:Woolly Mammoth Theatre CompanyBuilding Bridges Across the RiverRoots Activity Learning CenterDuke Ellington School of the Arts Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
Transcribe →Bridging Art and Business: Arvind Manocha’s Journey from McKinsey to Wolf Trap
Oct 1500:56:01Tap to summarizeVisionary arts leader Arvind Manocha, President & CEO of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts—home to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts—joins Alison to explore what it really takes to run one of America’s most beloved venues. Arvind traces a winding path from McKinsey & Company to the LA Philharmonic (including the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall), and digs into metrics that honor both the ephemeral magic of a single performance and the perpetuity of long-term capital projects. We get real about philanthropy’s role, artist hospitality (why backstage matters), and why programming a national park must reflect the nation. Also in the mix: mentorship, wellness, and building a career in the arts without losing your joy. Plus shout-outs to colleagues at ASU Gammage and beyond.Find Out More Here:Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing ArtsWolf Trap Professional Development WorkshopsAssociation of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) Want to know more about the Impact Roadmap: The Art of Describing Your Impact? Join the waitlist to get first access.🔗 Connect with Alison:LinkedInInstagram🌐 Find out more about McNeil Creative Enterprises.
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