Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive

Gideon Caro McDonald
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive is an ever growing collection of Philadelphia’s local artists and creatives, highlighting the city’s thriving community. Hosted by Gideon Caro McDonald, he sits down with a Philly based artist and interviews them about their specialty, relationship to the city, and upcoming projects. This is a love letter to his city and friends, wishing to create a hub for collaboration and opportunity. Episodes are posted bi-weekly! - Editor: Fern Morehouse - Cover/Logo Artist: Ella Carter - Theme Music: Valerie Barry

  1. Episode 23: Gabi Swain

    May 30

    Episode 23: Gabi Swain

    Our Guest this week is Gabi Swain! (she/her)   Gabi is an improviser, comedian, and producer originally from Michigan, now based in Philadelphia!   Having hopped from place to place, Gabi eventually stumbled into local improv in Harrisburg, PA. What started as annoying neighbors soon became community, and set Gabi on a path towards comedy here in Philly. Starting multiple troupes in the scene such as Swear Jar, ChitChat, and Bird Hands, she has made it her goal to cultivate joy with laughter and collaborative storytelling. Now, Gabi gives right back to the community with her annual indie improv-comedy festival "Swear Jar Jamboree" which goes up July 9-12th, showcasing a plethora of Philly talents. In this episode we talk about the importance of the "relationship" in a scene, what it takes to put up a festival, and our shared love of Dungeons & Dragons. You can find/contact Gabi everywhere cited below!  Instagram - @gabandgoof TikTok - @gabandgoof Email - gabi@coin-drop.org Swear Jar Improv - weareswearjar.com ChitChat Improv - @chitchatimprov Make sure to check out Swear Jar Jamboree! Tickets are for sale HERE  You can also catch Gabi with ChitChat at the Del Close Marathon 2026 on June 14th! - Tickets to DCM   Make sure to follow Gabi's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits! - Host: Gideon Caro McDonald - Guest: Gabi Swain - Editor: Gideon Caro McDonald, Fern Morehouse - Cover Art/Graphic Design: Ella Carter - Theme Song: Valerie Barry

    2h 3m
  2. Episode 22: Hadley Precht

    Mar 28

    Episode 22: Hadley Precht

    Our Guest this week is Hadley Precht! (she/her)   Hadley is an illustrator and designer from York County, PA, now based in the city of Philadelphia!   Inspired by cartoons and children's book illustrations, Hadley picked up a pencil at an early age and hasn't stopped since. She took a chance with University of The Arts, which she states as one of the best decisions she's ever made. Cultivating her style of bold shadows and hatching, she graduated from Moore College of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration, and continues to work as a freelance artist. Working to "write the pictures" in her own voice, Hadley finds comfort and inspiration in the indie art community that she's now a part of. In this episode, we talk about the dangers of generative AI for visual artists, how individuality becomes your brand as a designer, and the joy of fan art!   You can find/contact Hadley everywhere cited below!  Instagram - @hadleyprecht_ilus Email - hadleyprecht@gmail.com Portfolio Website - hadleyprecht.com Make sure to check out her latest original project FractoMorphia, a fully written and illustrated ARG in the form of a zine! Read it online here, or reach out for physical copies! Like Hadley's art? You can also commission her for custom work using this form!   Make sure to follow Hadley's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits! - Host: Gideon Caro McDonald - Guest: Hadley Precht - Editor: Gideon Caro McDonald, Fern Morehouse - Cover Art/Graphic Design: Ella Carter - Theme Song: Valerie Barry

    1h 54m
  3. Episode 21: Gabe Moses

    Mar 14

    Episode 21: Gabe Moses

    Our guest this week is Gabe Moses! (he/they)   Gabe is an actor and director from upper PA, Pennsylvania, now based in the city of Philadelphia!   Gabe is the product of a single mother, and first of his family to pursue the performing arts professionally after finding said passion at age 3, dancing along to Barney the Dinosaur. From there, Gabe has studied the art of acting and Shakespeare since early high school. Today, Gabe has made a name for themself among multiple regional theaters, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and has even returned to his high school as a director. Now he stars in Romeo and Juliet at the Arden Theatre Company as the titular leading lover, continuing to recognize life's full circle moments. In this episode, we talk about the importance of understudies, the brilliance of Eddie Murphy, and living through one's ancestors through your art.    You can find/contact Gabe everywhere cited below!  Instagram - @gabejmoses Email - gabemosesbusiness@gmail.com People's Light Company - peopleslight.org Make sure to follow Gabe's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out! Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - Gabe Moses Editor - Fern Morehouse, Gideon Caro McDonald Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    1h 54m
  4. Episode 20: Toby Thomas McDonald

    Mar 8

    Episode 20: Toby Thomas McDonald

    Our guest this week is Toby Thomas McDonald! (he/him)   Toby is a musician, filmmaker and writer from Philadelphia, as well as my younger brother! As a current student of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Toby's been discovering his voice as a filmmaker, inspired by the likes of Pee-Wee Herman and Kevin Smith. He's also been playing music at an early age with local Philly rock group The Jette Planes, and most recently the punk band Witheld. In this episode we talk about the songwriting process, growing up surrounded by art in South Philly, and Toby's next steps as a Drexel Dragon film student! You can find/contact Toby everywhere cited below!  Portfolio Website - tobymcdonald Instagram - @toby_tmcd  Email - tobytmcd@gmail.com YouTube - @McDonHale Go listen to Witheld's debut single "Misathrofied" on BandCamp as well as The Jette Planes 2nd studio album "Behind Three Walls" to check out Toby's recent music!   Make sure to follow Toby's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - Toby Thomas McDonald Editor - Fern Morehouse Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    1h 33m
  5. Episode 19: Tyler Rocio Ecoña

    11/06/2025

    Episode 19: Tyler Rocio Ecoña

    Our guest this week is Tyler Rocio Ecoña! (they/she)   She is a playwright, dramaturg and actor originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, now based in Philly!   A graduate of The University of the Arts, Tyler works to steward relationships within the Philly theater by creating and uplifting projects focused on collaboration. Making the effort to highlight the Latine, trans, and disabled artists that don't often see themselves represented in theater, Tyler hopes to push boundaries not only socially, but magically. In this episode, we talk about admitting that some people know more than you, the effort it takes to find community, and her newest piece "The Machu Picchu Play."   You can find/contact Tyler everywhere cited below!  Instagram - @tyleriito New Play Exchange - Tyler Rocio Ecoña Make sure to follow Tyler's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - Tyler Rocio Ecoña Editor - Fern Morehouse Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    1h 36m
  6. Episode 18: Rekha Shankar

    10/18/2025

    Episode 18: Rekha Shankar

    Our guest this week is Rekha Shankar (she/her)   She is a comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker originally from Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles, California!   Knowing that she wanted to make people laugh, Rekha forged a path into comedy and film-making while attending NYU. This persistence led her to discover improv, move to LA, and get into all kinds of career defining rooms, including College Humor/Dropout, Animaniacs, Aunty Donna's House of Fun, and NBC's Grand Crew. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly to develop her unique voice and perspective, and ultimately hopes to achieve her goal of "being a professional idiot". In this episode, we talk about writing for live improv vs scripted comedy film, integrating your identity and culture into your art, and the Philadelphia community's warmth and hospitality towards those it claims as its own.  You can find/contact Rekha everywhere cited below!  Instagram - @rekha_s Newsletter - buttondown.com/RekhaShankar Patreon - rekha|shankar Website - rekhashankar.com Rekha has just begun shooting her new film, Vidhya's Guide to the Afterlife! This deeply personal, sci-fi buddy comedy following the only two left behind behind the Hindu rapture was written by Rekha and will be directed by fellow DesiQuest cast member Sandeep Parikh! In order to stay in the loop about the film's updates, make sure to follow Rekha everywhere cited above, as well as check out rekhamovie.com!    Make sure to follow Rekha's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - Rekha Shankar Editor - Fern Morehouse Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    1h 13m
  7. Episode 17: Michael Jahlil

    10/07/2025

    Episode 17: Michael Jahlil

    Our guest this week is Michael Jahlil (he/they)   They are an actor, singer and writer originally from Chester, PA, now based in Philadelphia!   Following in the footsteps of acting giants and a Juilliard college commercial, Michael knew that he needed to pursue the arts in one way or another, and to do that he needed to go achieve a Masters degree. This spark led him on a rollercoaster-esque career, including American Idol, national tours, and multiple collegiate auditions. Until eventually, Michael took a break and started over, shaping his acting career through training at the Community College of Philadelphia, University of the Arts, Temple University, and cabaret clubs here in Philly. Now, with a seasoned career in this city, Michael still works to achieve his lifelong goal of providing arts education to low income communities and children in need of performance and expression. In this episode we talk about the highs and lows of the theater industry, finding confidence in your art, and the magic of Sister Act 2.   You can find/contact Michael everywhere cited below! Instagram - @michael.jahlil.deux Email - themichaeljahlil@gmail.com Make sure to follow Michael's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - Michael Jahlil Editor - Fern Morehouse Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    2h 44m
  8. Episode 16: August Hakvaag

    09/20/2025

    Episode 16: August Hakvaag

    Our guest this week is August Hakvaag (they/them)   They are a butch theatre artist, primarily a playwright and actor, from Manhattan, NY and currently based in Philadelphia!   Having grown up in a small yet supportive suburban town in PA, August felt it obvious to pursue the arts and leave home. They soon graduated from Temple University with a BA in Theatre, and August has been an active member of our community ever since. They joined the PlayPenn Foundry program as an upcoming playwright, became an advocate for health safety in their work since the pandemic, was part of the original cast of the Twenty Sided Tavern, and continued their studies at Temple for a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Alongside all of this, August continues to work as an actor as well in both local theater work and TTRPG podcasts! In this episode we talk about knowing when to take a break, the magic of tabletop storytelling, and the two plays they have in this year's Fringe festival!   You can find/contact August everywhere cited below! Website - augusthakvaag.com Instagram - @a.hakvaag Email - august.hakvaag@gmail.com Make sure to follow August's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY! OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!   Credits Host - Gideon Caro McDonald Guest - August Hakvaag Editor - Fern Morehouse Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter Theme Song - Valerie Barry

    2h 10m
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About

Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive is an ever growing collection of Philadelphia’s local artists and creatives, highlighting the city’s thriving community. Hosted by Gideon Caro McDonald, he sits down with a Philly based artist and interviews them about their specialty, relationship to the city, and upcoming projects. This is a love letter to his city and friends, wishing to create a hub for collaboration and opportunity. Episodes are posted bi-weekly! - Editor: Fern Morehouse - Cover/Logo Artist: Ella Carter - Theme Music: Valerie Barry

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