Creator's Cafe

Jessica Payne

Host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs breaks down the subtle and the sublime of the creative process with inspiring artists at the Creator's Cafe.
More info at https://www.kikalabs.com

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Top 10 Creator's Cafe Episodes

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2. Nicholas James Connell: Exuding Pop Comedy Positivity

Creator's Cafe

10/13/23 • 52 min

Host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs breaks down the subtle and the sublime of the creative process with inspiring artists at the Creator's Cafe.
In this episode, Nicholas James Connell breaks down his love of all things pop comedy along with navigating the wild success of his Off-Broadway hit Titanique, piano bars and viral YouTube creations.
Follow Nicholas:
IG | @nicholasconnell
YouTube | @NicholasConnell
SoundCloud | Nicholas Connell
Titanique | TitaniqueMusical.com
Quotes from Nicholas's Papa:
"Never trouble trouble 'till trouble troubles you"
"The harder I work the luckier I get"
Challenge | Take your favorite song or most inspiring piece of art and take a small chunk of it ( a chorus or a scene) and write a sequel or your version of it - #creatorscafechallenge #cccnicholas
Content Warning | Brief mention of suicide
Next project | Mannie with Wendy Rosoff and Tom DeTrinis
Titanique Producer | Eva Price of Maximum Entertainment Productions
Arno Diem - YouTube Videography
Piano Bars

Programs

Bio | Singer/Songwriter/Arranger/Orchestrator/Conductor/Pianist/Actor
Nicholas Connell is a singer/songwriter who is passionate about bringing the joys of pop music to his audiences.
With a background composing and music directing starting at Berklee College of Music taking him from cruise lines to regional productions, he has worked on many excellent shows. He music directed productions of In Search of Lost Time, The Color Purple, Xanadu, In the Heights, Next to Normal, and many more.
You can see him play piano on ENCORE! on Disney+, and watch him perform live at piano bars in LA and NY: Tramp Stamp Grannies, Duplex, Sid Gold's.
His current project is the cult hit and Lucille Lortel award-

Creator's Cafe with Jessica Payne of Kika Labs
Host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs breaks down the subtle and the sublime of the creative process with inspiring artists at the Creator's Cafe.
Find out more info on the show and host Jessica Payne.
Offering digital courses, performance coaching, and more! www.kikalabs.com
Jessica's Featured Course:
If you or someone you know is on the job search, check out her digital course "Level Up Your Video Interviews."
More info and resources at | www.kikalabs.com
Follow the Show | @creatorscafebykikalabs
Facebook Group | Creator's Cafe by Kika Labs
Theme Music
Our theme music is composed and performed by Kyle deTarnowsky.
www.kyledetarnowskymusic.com

10/13/23 • 52 min

1. LaNisa Renee Frederick - Taking Up Space and Learning Who You Are

Creator's Cafe

10/03/23 • 59 min

Creator's Cafe with Jessica Payne of Kika Labs
Episode 1: LaNisa Renee Frederick - Taking Up Space and Learning Who You Are
Actor/ Writer/ Content Creator/ Voiceover Artist and coach
In this episode, LaNisa Renee Frederick embraces her comedic rise through Hashtag Booked, TV, Film, and voiceover. She encourages us all to step out of our comfort zones to create a career we are excited about.
More info | www.kikalabs.com
Follow the Show | @creatorscafebykikalabs
Facebook Group | Creator's Cafe by Kika Labs
Lanisa | https://linktr.ee/lanisareneefrederick
@lanisafrederick
@hashtagbooked
Quotes from LaNisa:
Hone in on yourself. Listen to who you really are. Focus on what strengths you bring to the table.
It is never too late. It might be a little harder, but it's not too late.
Creator's Challenge: Document doing something outside of your creative comfort zone and tag @creatorscafebykikalabs
Hashtag Booked | www.hashtagbooked.com
Coaching/Studios | LaNisa - Business of Voice Over
Bio
My guest Lanisa Renee Frederick is a successful Actor/ Writer/ Content Creator/ Voiceover Artist and coach.
You can see her across TV and film, where she is currently featured on Snake Oil and voices the teacher Mrs. Slothworth on the hit TV show interrupting chicken. She was featured in a LA Times column about the future of Black Hollywood .
LaNisa trained at the University of Essex, Chicago's Second City, the Victory Gardens Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Steppenwolf.
She's made us laugh on sitcoms such as Mom, Young Sheldon, A Black Lady Sketch Show, The Goldbergs, and Brooklyn 99 to name a few. And you've definitely seen her hold her own in national commercials with Kevin Hart, Mr. T, Amy Poehler, and Flo from Progressive.
LaNisa made voiceover history as "Syd," the first black woman to be a major playable character in Call of Duty, and is featured in Ada Twist, scientist, which is executive produced by the Obamas.
LaNisa and her creative partner Danielle Pinnock went viral over the pandemic with their social media account Hashtag Booked where

10/03/23 • 59 min

3. Alex Rose Wiesel: Acting Authentically - Sexy Sausages and Neck Flashlights

Creator's Cafe

10/19/23 • 50 min

In this episode, Alex Rose Wiesel examines the psychology of owning a career full of progress and success. She is an advocate for self-directed creative power and inspires me to take a strong point of view.
Follow Alex:
Alex Rose Wiesel IMDB Reel
@alexrose720
Alex's LinkTree
Follow Jessica:
More info and resources at | www.kikalabs.com
Follow the Show | @creatorscafebykikalabs
Facebook Group | Creator's Cafe by Kika Labs
Alex's Quotes:
"The catalyst for creation for me is a point of view."
On getting representation: "You don't have to force a spark with someone who is not your energy."
Tactic: Create a Google Doc - "Who do I know that could help my representation?"
Creator's Challenge:
A Different Point of View with Alex Rose Wiesel
Take a portion of a piece of work you've made (or a monologue, song, paragraph, scene, dance phrase, piece of art, etc.) and recreate it with a drastically different point of view."
#creatorscafechallenge #cccAlexRose
Mentioned:
Improv Olympics (IO) - Cofounder of Pumps
USC
AMDA College of the Performing Arts
Living Living Donor - UPMC
Easy Red for Anywhere Tools Neck flashlight on QVC
Bio:
My guest, Alex Rose Wiesel is an actor, educator, improviser, and host. You might have seen her on shows such as So Random, Heart of Dixie, Two and a Half Men, House of Lies, and Dexter. Her theatre credits span from Les Miserables to Lucky Stiff and from Disney musicals to Scooby Doo. Alex is a founding member of the first all female main stage improv team and IO West called Pumps Comedy. She might have sold you a breakfast sandwich or a neck flashlight, and she is going for her doctorate. She contains multitudes. She is a ray of sunshine with resting nice face and a passionate advocate for change.
Education:
M.A., Theatre Arts, California State University, Northridge

10/19/23 • 50 min

4. Kyle deTarnowsky: The Validity Comes from Yourself

Creator's Cafe

10/27/23 • 45 min

In this episode, Kyle deTarnowsky and I talk about how music is like baking and how important it is to find joy of expression without getting stuck on how "good" you are, though he's secretly quite good.
Quotes:
"If you express yourself in any way through music; you're a musician."
Creator's Challenge: Music Meets Movement
Connect with something deeper than yourself. Take a phrase of music that you connect with emotionally and physically connect to it. Sing it. Play it on the piano. Dance it.
Stay in touch:
@kyledetmusic
@piano_barre
Kyle on IMDB
Mentioned:
"Murder She Wrote" project with collaborators
Erin Fagundes and Courtney Potter
inspired by original Music by John Addison
Bio:
Musician: composer, arranger, orchestrator, music director, instrumentalist (piano, woodwinds)
My guest, Kyle deTarnowsky, is a musician of all kinds. He's a composer, arranger, orchestrator, music director and instrumentalist. Kyle has worked on music that has been featured on TV shows such as Lost Nashville, the Academy Awards, and such delightful titles as Cats and Dogs, The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Go West Happy Cow. Also the Academy Awards.
If you missed that part. He's a music director and plays for cabarets and music theater shows all around Los Angeles. He's a talented composer who works regularly in short films, and I was lucky enough to have him compose the Creator's Cafe theme music when he's not in rehearsal or teaching at one of the two colleges he teaches at.
Kyle can be found composing his original musical on "Murder, She Wrote" based on the Angela Lansbury TV series. He is as delightful as his projects make him sound.

10/27/23 • 45 min

5. Emily McGregor: Don't Not Film the Joke

Creator's Cafe

11/02/23 • 59 min

In this fun conversation, Emily McGregor confesses what she's afraid of (truly scary), why she doesn't get writer's block, and and how she's learning a new style of leadership. Come along for a snappy and fun ride!
Content warning: Lots of joyful swearing
Follow Emily
IG: @emcgree
Director's Reel on Vimeo
IMDB
Website
PenguinCat Creative
Quotes
"Don't Not Film the Joke"
"Funny = Good"
Creator's Challenge: Film the Joke.
Write a joke and film it. Don't not film the joke!
Bio & Intro
My guest, Emily McGregor, is a writer, director and CEO. She runs Penguin Cat Creative, where she writes incredible marketing copy. Before that, she co-founded Cosmo Diva, where they used female driven comedy to develop branded campaigns, sketches and web series that garnered over 12 million views. Emily's work has been featured all over, including CNN, Wired, Jezebel, Adweek, BuzzFeed, just to name a few.
Emily has developed branded content for Pepsi, Google, Netflix and other huge companies, and she has sold a script to Amazon. And her work writing and directing is featured on Amazon Prime in the anthology "Edge of Her Mind". Emily is winning award after award most recently for her script, "The Tabby" she co-wrote with her husband Sam Weller. And they have a feature film that she is slated to direct that is already financed.

11/02/23 • 59 min

6. Levi Petree: Sing Your Heart Out

Creator's Cafe

11/09/23 • 59 min

6. Levi Petree: Sing Your Heart Out
Levi Petree and I chat Cajun roots and picking up a dream later than you'd expect. We dig into how he brought me joy after heartbreak and how he's walking the same road himself.
Follow:
levistpetree
radiopublicapresents
LeviPetree.com
IMDB
Acting Reel
Music Reel
Creator's Challenge:
Come up with two melodies; a verse and a chorus that you can sing around the house and record it.
Bio & Intro
Levi Petree is an actor, musician and writer. He was born on the bayou in Lafayette, LA and his Cajun roots shine through all his work.
He's a formally trained actor with Steppenwolf street cred. In LA, he has worked in film, tv, commercials, industrials, narrative audio, theatre, and live events.
He's also a rocker who writes incredibly fun songs with influences ranging from rock and country to new wave and British Punk. He and his band, The Radio Publica always incites some raucus dancing, and have an album sarcastically titled "It's Country."
I've seen Levi perform classic rock in a Vegas Casino, a ballad over gun violence on the Sunset Strip, Cajun country at a Hootenany, and as a vampire in downtown LA, and somehow they all completely work.
I'm delighted to introduce you to this exhuberant artist and human who I put in my work whenever I can, Levi Petree!
Mentioned
Deanna Bedoya
Joanne at Rage Talent
Sarah Jessica "SJ" Rhodes Smith
Jacob Smith
Band: Radio Publica
Sean Novak
Chad McKinsey
"Rusty" Ryan Dean Porter
Jeff Ginsburg (taught at Columbia)
Sheldon Pitinkin (Columbia, Steppenwolf, 2nd City)
Monica Payne (Meisner Teacher)
Amy Morton (Meisner Teacher)
Sally Reed - actor from Scotland
Meisner Technique
Steppenwolf Theatre

11/09/23 • 59 min

7. Kaylee Hawley: Don't Be Afraid of a Bad Drawing

Creator's Cafe

11/16/23 • 52 min

Description:
Kaylee Hawley and I chat finding your style while following your bliss and making preschoolers defend their art on gallery walks!
Follow Kaylee:
IG: @kayleehawley
IG: @ducks_ina_row
Website: www.kayleehawley.com
Ducks in a Row store
Agency: Radish House
Melrose Trading Place on Sundays
School: El Sol Academy
Blue Sky Academy of Art
Creator's Challenge: Draw from Observation
Go to a coffee shop or public place; be present and aware of the beauty around you. Collect visual images.
Quote:
"Don't be afraid of a bad drawing. - Kaylee Hawley
"You'll live a happy life if every day you create something, you learn something, and do something physically."
"It's better to say 'oh well' than 'what if'."
Bio:
My guest Kaylee Hawley is an Illustrator and Art Teacher. She's represented by Radish House Agency where she's working on multiple projects including two children's books. She’s illustrating them as we speak! She is also working on her brand Ducks in a Row whose mission is to create and sell products based on organization, creativity, and positivity.
Kaylee is an elementary and middle school art teacher (I wish I was so lucky to have had her!) She works with artists and El Sol Science and Arts Academy and at Blue Sky Academy of Art. She is a positive force of nature to be reckoned with and her illustrations are beautiful and uplifting. I encourage you to check them out, especially if you have young artists or Elementary or Middle School teachers in your life.
Mentioned:
Luca Malacrino (Kaylee's husband)
Pasadena Arts College
Kyle Payne (Jessica's husband) @therealkylepayne
"Luca Magoo Don't Eat the Glue"
California State University, Fullerton
Sophie McPike
Tools:
ProCreate
https://www.adobe.com/ng/products/fresco.htmlAdobe Fresco
Google Docs
Ipad

11/16/23 • 52 min

8B. Bonus Episode: Dr. Ben Samuel - Breaking Down AI Storytelling

Creator's Cafe

11/23/23 • 24 min

Dr. Ben Samuel and I talk his performances on Hulu and Netflix, how he is crafting the future of storytelling by having AI and humans build worlds together.
Watch for 8B's bonus episode where we dive into the difference between styles of AI generation of and the shifts we need to keep AI storytelling a diverse and inclusive landscape.
Dr. Ben Samuel is an actor, improvisor, game designer and developer, and a recently tenured assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of New Orleans. As an actor, Ben starred in Hulu's first scripted series, "Battleground" where the New York Times said he was the best reason to watch the show. He was a breakout audience favorite in the reality show "Dating Around." The AP said he was adored and both The Times and Wired praise his likability and compare him to Danielle Radcliffe as "Harry Potter."
In his work as an interactive game designer, Ben is building the platorms that will shape the future of storytelling. His game Bad News is an AI social simulation blended with live improvised performance. He created the social physics engine Ensemble. His social simulation game Prom Week made Richard Evans, the AI lead of Sims 3s say the "characters in Prom Week are capable of doing things that Sims couldn't even dream of."
And his current project Bad News combines AI social simulation and world generation with live improvised interaction. His team has presented Bad News at SlamDance film Festival, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, toured it internationally, and they won the Audience Choice Award at Indicade Game Festival, one of the largest independent gaming festivals.
Follow:
IG: Progresspian
IMDB
LinkedIn
NY Times Article on him in Hulu's "Battleground"
Bad News game
"Dating Around" AP Interview
"Prom Week" game
Vespace
Comme il Faut
Expressive Intelligence Studio,
Ben's PhD advisors Michael Mateas and Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Theatre Arts at Santa Cruz
Creator's Ch

11/23/23 • 24 min

8. Dr. Ben Samuel: Sculpting the Possibility Space

Creator's Cafe

11/23/23 • 56 min

Dr. Ben Samuel and I talk his performances on Hulu and Netflix, how he is crafting the future of storytelling by having AI and humans build worlds together.
Watch for 8B's bonus episode where we dive into the difference between styles of AI generation of and the shifts we need to keep AI storytelling a diverse and inclusive landscape.
Dr. Ben Samuel is an actor, improvisor, game designer and developer, and a recently tenured assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of New Orleans. As an actor, Ben starred in Hulu's first scripted series, "Battleground" where the New York Times said he was the best reason to watch the show. He was a breakout audience favorite in the reality show "Dating Around." The AP said he was adored and both The Times and Wired praise his likability and compare him to Danielle Radcliffe as "Harry Potter."
In his work as an interactive game designer, Ben is building the platorms that will shape the future of storytelling. His game Bad News is an AI social simulation blended with live improvised performance. He created the social physics engine Ensemble. His social simulation game Prom Week made Richard Evans, the AI lead of Sims 3s say the "characters in Prom Week are capable of doing things that Sims couldn't even dream of."
And his current project Bad News combines AI social simulation and world generation with live improvised interaction. His team has presented Bad News at SlamDance film Festival, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, toured it internationally, and they won the Audience Choice Award at Indicade Game Festival, one of the largest independent gaming festivals.
Follow:
IG: @Progresspian | IMDB | LinkedIn
NY Times Article on him in Hulu's "Battleground"
Bad News game
"Dating Around" AP Interview
"Prom Week" game
Vespace
Comme il Faut
Expressive Intelligence Studio,
Ben's PhD advisors Michael Mateas and Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Creator's Challenge: Phone a friend

11/23/23 • 56 min

9. Leonora Anzaldua: Lighting the Mystery

Creator's Cafe

11/30/23 • 45 min

Leonora Anzaldua and I dive into how she uses the camera as a character in her cinematography, and how she brings dramatic dimension through lighting the darkness.
Follow: LeonoraMakesMovies.com
IG: LeonoraMakesMovies
IG: LeonoraMakesPhotos
IMDB
Creator's Challenge: Tell a story in a single picture
Communicate a message with just images
Bio & Intro
My guest Leonora Anzaldua is a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller. She has worked on American Horror Story, shot documentaries across Asia, created many award-winning short films, and shot with AwesomenessTV and Skybound Entertainment. Leonora has worked with Barnes and Noble, All Saints, Ball is Life, Buzzfeed Branded, Fox Studios, and WNYC Studios.
Her works have screened at many festivals and earned her the Sun Cinematography award, along with a Student Emmy nomination. She creates stunning images through her work which combine deep character reflection with beautiful storytelling. is inspired by Renaissance painters, contemporary studio artists, and her own deep dive into cultural representation. Leonora is a passionate creator committed to amplifying underrepresented voices.
Mentioned
Ian Asbjørnsen
Caravaggio/Chiaroscuro
Gregory Crewdson
Latina Hollywood
Emily McGregor
Michael Goi
Nikki S. Lee

11/30/23 • 45 min

FAQ

How many episodes does Creator's Cafe have?

Creator's Cafe currently has 10 episodes available.

What topics does Creator's Cafe cover?

The podcast is about Actor, Writer, Acting, Artist, Art, Interview, Music, Podcasts, Movies and Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Creator's Cafe?

The episode title '2. Nicholas James Connell: Exuding Pop Comedy Positivity' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Creator's Cafe?

The average episode length on Creator's Cafe is 51 minutes.

How often are episodes of Creator's Cafe released?

Episodes of Creator's Cafe are typically released every 6 days, 22 hours.

When was the first episode of Creator's Cafe?

The first episode of Creator's Cafe was released on Oct 3, 2023.

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