The Artists Dojo

Afrim Gjonbalaj

5.0 (4)
Arts

Conversations with Artists of all disciplines.

04/07/2025

012: Damon DiMarco

Damon DiMarco is a writing and communications expert with a long track record for conceptualizing, filming, editing, performing, & disseminating content as story. He is the author of critically acclaimed oral histories, non-fiction, & fiction under his own byline and as a ghostwriter. Over the years, he's developed a particular skill at synthesizing complex information into simple, compelling language in his work and very much so in this episode. Damon has been a guest on national television and radio, including CNN, The National Geographic Channel, Odyssey Networks, FOX, and the Premiere Network. Also a guest speaker at colleges, universities, and community groups across the country. He is a member of SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity Association, and a founding member of New River Dramatists. Please visit Damon's website [https://www.thewritestuff.pro](https://www.thewritestuff.pro/) for more details.
10/13/2023

011: David Crownson

Born and raised in exotic French town, New Jersey, David Crownson grew up with a passion for storytelling, which started with comics and film. This has served him as an actor and writer. He is the writer creator of Harriet Tubman Demon Slayer published by his company, Kingwood Comics. This bestselling comic is soon to become a TV series distributed by Disney's Onyx Collective produced by Prentice Penny, who produced HBO's Insecure and Netflix's Uncorked, and Sebastian Jones of Stranger Comics. He loves God, his Mom, his girlfriend, long walks, Red Lobster biscuits, and petting your dog. David can be seen on the YouTube series Bubbly Brown Sugar and is followed by Barack Obama on Twitter.I hope you enjoy the conversation. 🔴 David Crownson https://kingwoodcomics.com 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo KO-FI: https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/TheArtistsDojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/ 🔴 Review Fix https://reviewfix.com/ #DavidCrownson #HarrietTubmanDemonSlayer #TheArtistsDojo
09/30/2023

010: Jamie Burton Oare

Today's guest is Jamie Burton Oare, an award winning director whose feature film directorial debut doing the LA thing premiered at American Black Film Festival in 2008. Jamie was nominated for the best director first feature award at the Pan African Film Festival, and she was the winner of the HBO Best Feature Award at the Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival. Jamies Short film, The Bully garnered the best short film award at the Boca Black Film Festival. Soulful Steps is her first feature length documentary and premiered at the 16th annual Martha's Vineyard African-American Film Festival in 2018 and won best documentary at the Trinity International Film Festival in Detroit, Michigan in 2019.Jamie has a bachelor's of business administration and marketing from Howard University, and she completed film school at Los Angeles City College and earned a master's of fine arts in screenwriting from Cal State University, Northridge.Her films are produced through her production company, Jomaja Films, and she is a native to Flint, Michigan, which is the foundation for much of her work.I hope you enjoy the conversation. 🔴 Jamie Burton Oare https://www.instagram.com/jamieburtonoare 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/ 🔴 Review Fix https://reviewfix.com/ #JamieBurtonOare #Director #TheArtistsDojo
09/12/2023

009: Charles Goforth

Today's guest is Charles Goforth, director, actor, producer and acting teacher in New York City. He's been a member of the Labyrinth Theater Company since 1995. Under their illustrious banner, Charles has been a part of numerous productions, workshops, acting, directing and he's the producer of The Lovely Dark, a fiction podcast about how darkness in our lives may reveal a path to love and light. Each of the episodes are short audio plays written by an award-winning writer and performed by a cast of remarkable actors, including Oscar winners and members of the New York City's Labyrinth Theatre Company. Each episode is produced with a full cast, a beautiful, immersive soundscape and original score. 🔴 Charles Goforth https://www.thelovelydark.com/bios-th... 🔴 The Lovely Dark https://www.thelovelydark.com 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/ #CharlesGoforth #Producer #TheArtistsDojo
08/28/2023

008: David Butler

Today's guest is David Butler. He's an eclectic artist, actor and designer living in Buffalo, New York. Over the last 15 years, he has transitioned to the film industry and has production designed or art directed 13 motion pictures. David has designed and created 51 professional theater and dance sets in a variety of theaters across Western New York. Butler has written, designed, and produced dozens of installations and full on theatrical pieces, often blurring the edges of traditional stage drama by combining traditional theater with live music, modern dance, spoken word, visual art and new media in his work.
08/21/2023

007: Arianna Esquerre

Today's guest is a jet setting actor based out of Brooklyn, New York. She recently had a recurring role where I personally believe she stole the show. Because of the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike, I won't say what that show was, but if you are so inclined, IMDB.com can Manifest the answers to your questions. From Shakespeare to comedy to drama, she does it all. I'd like to welcome my sister from another mister, Arianna Esquerre. 🔴 Arianna Esquerre https://www.instagram.com/catfish_rita28/ 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/ #AriannaEsquerre #Storyteller #TheArtistsDojo
08/14/2023

006: Angel Feliciano

From television, to film, to theater, to dancing all over the world and composing film score, Angel Feliciano, is the rare convergence of diverse artistic expression and the spirit of an entrepreneurial self starter. A New Yorker through and through. We had a great conversation. 🔴 Angel Feliciano https://www.instagram.com/afelicianonyc 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/ #AngelFeliciano #Composer #TheArtistsDojo
08/11/2023

005: Noé Socha

(PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON August 9th of 2021) Noé (pronounced ‘No-ay’) Socha is a New York City-based guitarist and harmonica player from Carpi, Italy. He began playing the guitar at age 12, influenced by artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young. While studying music at Musicology, he discovered the Blues and immediately fell in love. He studied at Berklee College of Music and received a BA in Guitar Performance. After winning several awards at Berklee including the ”Jimi Hendrix Award” for the college’s leading guitarist and the “Billboard Magazine Endowed Scholarship” presented to the college’s top student, Noé has had the great honor of touring, performing, and recording with artists such as Nona Hendrix (Labelle), Vernon Reid (Living Color), and GRAMMY Award-Winners, Javier Limón, and Paula Cole. In 2017, he released the album, Blues and the World Beyond, which he recorded as one half of Likho Duo. Noé was featured alongside SZA and other artists as a part of Mastercard’s Start Something Priceless campaign in 2018. His work was also highlighted on the iHeartRADIO podcast, Sleepwalkers, as well as Reddit, for his yearlong project entitled ”The Everyday Project” on his Youtube channel called Blind Selfie in 2019. He was also interviewed for CBS New York in a story called ‘’Blind in the Pandemic’’. 🔴 Noé Socha https://www.noemusic.net/ 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/
06/29/2021

004: Patrick Hickey Jr.

Patrick Hickey Jr is the author of the widely successful book series “The Minds Behind the Games” and is the writer of the comic book “Condrey” published by Lesser Known Comics. He is a also a full-time Lecturer of English and Assistant Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College, the Chairman of City University of New York Journalism Discipline Council and is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. 🔴 Patrick's Website http://patrickhickeyjr.com/ 🔴 The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews with Cult and Classic Video Game Developers https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Behind-G... 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/
01/01/2021

003: André De Shields

Today's guest is Broadway Legend and Performing Activist André De Shields. In a career spanning 50+ years, he has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director, and educator. André De Shields is the triple-crown winner of the 2019 awards season, having won the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony awards for Best Featured Actor in a musical for his critically acclaimed performance as Hermes, Messenger to the Gods, in Hadestown. He also received the 202 Grammy Award for Musical Theater Album for Hadestown. For a more elaborate list of accomplishments, news and upcoming events please visit www.andredeshields.com It was an absolute Blessing to have this conversation with André on the culturally significant day of Kuumba (Creativity) in the tradition of Kwanzaa. A wealth of knowledge, a beautiful human being and a modern day Griot, André De Shields. 🔴 André De Shields https://www.andredeshields.com/ 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/
07/20/2020

002: Mark Normand

In my opinion, Mark Normand is one of the best stand up comedians in the world today, check out his special "Out to Lunch" FREE on Youtube and check out "Tuesdays with Stories" the weekly comedy podcast he co-hosts w/ Joe List. 🔴 Mark Normand's Bad-Ass New Orleans Trans Nannyhttps://youtu.be/rrO21SPR3-k 🔴 Mark Normand: Out To Lunch - Full Specialhttps://youtu.be/tDolNU89SXI 🔴 Tuesdays with Stories!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsE7... 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo ⁠https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo⁠ 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo ⁠https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo⁠ 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor ⁠http://jefftayloralive.com/⁠
06/19/2020

001: Tom Fontana

Today's guest is prolific award winning writer and producer Tom Fontana (OZ, Borgia, Homicide: Life on the Street and St. Elsewhere. Just to name a few) 🔴 Tom Fontana https://www.tomfontana.com/ 🔴 The Tommy Westphall Universe Hypothesis https://thetommywestphall.wordpress.com/the-master-list/ 🔴 "Why We Hate Tom Fontana" http://www.windowseat.org/homicide/fontana/ 🔴 Become a Supporter of The Artist Dojo https://ko-fi.com/theartistsdojo 🔴 All Things The Artists Dojo https://linktr.ee/theartistsdojo 🔴 The beautiful musical expression on the theme is by Jeff Taylor http://jefftayloralive.com/

12 Episodes

5

out of 5

4 Ratings

Conversations with Artists of all disciplines.

Creator

Afrim Gjonbalaj
Years Active

2020 - 2025
Episodes

12
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Afrim Gjonbalaj
Show Website

The Artists Dojo