Babble

Tritone Paradox Productions

Calling artists of all kinds, this podcast is for you!  Have you ever wondered how your favorite artists became who they are today? How Lupita Nyong’o went from being an actor in Kenya to an Oscar winning actress? She’s not yet on the show…but there are others. Babble is an interview style podcast where creatives discuss inspiration, dedication, and endurance in an ever changing industry. Join hosts Lebene Ayivor and Samantha Kolb as they guide artists to break down their creative journey defining who they were, where they are, and what they hope for the future.  Babble is produced by Tritone Paradox Productions and hosted by Lebene Ayivor and Samantha Kolb. 

Episodes

  1. Jul 23

    Domonique Zen

    With Guest: Domonique Zen Hansen is a multifaceted artist born in the vibrant city of Atlanta, yet her roots run deep in the sun-kissed shores of Miami. A true renaissance soul, she thrives as an actor, director, dancer, and writer. Recently, she celebrated the achievement of earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater at The New School - School of Drama, where she sharpened her craft in the enchanting realms of acting and directing under the wise guidance of Stephen Brown Fried. Among her illustrious endeavors, she directed an Audio Play produced by Tritone Paradox Productions, titled Lys, and collaborated on MFA student Shonari James' thesis project, Grace's Birthday. Her own original creation, Impurities, also graced the stage, with both works premiering in the vibrant spring of 2024. Beyond her directing prowess, Domonique served as a captivating college host on WNSM radio, enchanting listeners with her show, Zentrification. Tracklist: Love Me Jeje - TemsThat Dress - DijonTake A Chance - Domi and JD Beck (ft. Anderson Paak)Florida Baby - Isaiah FallsSailor Moon - LayaLove Me Jeje - TemsBerhana - Breaking BreadStop (Askin' me 4shyt) - Victoria Monet

  2. Jul 23

    Belinda Man (pt. 2)

    They’re back with part two of the interview with filmmaker and video director Belinda Man. In part one, Belinda shared her origin story and what it means to break traits as a first generation Chinese American. In this episode Belinda discusses what inspired her to become a filmmaker, the directors that inspire her work and shares details on her next artistic venture, the magazine Nufly.  With Guest: Belinda Man is a media artist with 25 years of experience. Starting at the age of 10 with graphic design and growing into photography to video to creative writing to film to print design, she has been connecting the dots through storytelling for a long time. She underwent an intensive 3-year IT program sponsored by IBM + Adobe in high school before acquiring her BA in Media at Evergreen State College. Currently, she has been a stagehand with IATSE Local 16 for the past 9 years specializing in Video + Graphics and running a magazine called NÜFLY based in San Francisco while shooting videos for music artists related to Soulection. Tracklist: Lost In Translation Soundtrack - Intro / TokyoNali - Journal EntryMac Miller - AquariumJoe Hisaishi - One Summers DayThe Roots - SleepSZA - Child's Play (feat. Chance The Rapper)Thomas Newman - WalkawayLykke Li - I Follow RiversBlack Strobe - I’m a ManWanda Jackson - Funnel of LoveDavid Holmes - Rodney YatesFlying Lotus - Never Catch Me (feat. Kendrick Lamar)Dave Grusin - Ascension to VirginityRyan Adams - Come Pick Me UpWheat - Don’t I Hold YouJ Dilla - Dilla Says GoThomas Newman - What A Wonderful World

  3. Jul 23

    Camille Simone Thomas

    Camille Simone Thomas has a presence, a self assured spirit that is wise beyond her years. As a child she interviewed the elders of her church for a self published magazine. A courageous choice for the budding artist. Today that combination of courage and curiosity has led her into collecting the stories of her family members, and retelling the lives of women and communities generations before her own. On today’s episode, Lebene sits down with playwright, poet, producer, performer, and educator Camille Simone Thomas to discuss her life as writer, where she finds inspiration for her work, the beauty of an artistic community and how to embrace rejection. The clips heard throughout the episode are from Camille's past projects, including her latest play Sweet Blood.  With Guest: Camille Simone Thomas is a 5th generation African-American Detroiter through her father’s side and a first generation Jamaican through her mothers. It’s important for her to name this because her work most often interrogates cultural legacies, familial healing, spirituality + ancestral wisdom, and the general kicking and screaming of how Black folks get free despite the oppressive forces of colonialism, capitalism, and white supremacy. She’s a multi-hyphenate playwright producer - performer - educator - facilitator. Her plays have been workshopped and performed Off-Broadway The Connelly Theatre, MCC, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Sanguine Theatre Company, Blackboard Playwriting series, Lime Arts Theatre company, American Slavery Project, The Obie Award-winning Harlem9 and Detroit Public Theatre Company, Dixon Place, Workshop Theatre, Barter Theatre Company, The National Women's Theatre Festival, The Brick, and more! She was a 2023 Broadway Advocacy Coalition Artivism fellow. A 2024 finalist for the Eugene O’neill NPC for her play “At God’s Back”. A 2023 New Harmony Project finalist, 2023 Hedgebrook Writers retreat finalist, 2023 Catskills Creative Residency finalist. She was in the 2024/2025 Civilians R&D Group, 2024/25 Artistic Research Fellow at The Folger in DC, was most recently the 2024/25 JACKLabs Artist. Up next she will be doing a writers retreat with Hedgebrook. She works as a teaching artist for Partnership With Children, Dreamyard, Manhattan Theatre Club, and The Apollo.

  4. Jul 23

    Belinda Man (pt. 1)

    With Guest: Belinda Man is a media artist with 25 years of experience. Starting at the age of 10 with graphic design and growing into photography to video to creative writing to film to print design, she has been connecting the dots through storytelling for a long time. She underwent an intensive 3-year IT program sponsored by IBM + Adobe in high school before acquiring her BA in Media at Evergreen State College. Currently, she has been a stagehand with IATSE Local 16 for the past 9 years specializing in Video + Graphics and running a magazine called NÜFLY based in San Francisco while shooting videos for music artists related to Soulection. Tracklist: Love Nwantiti vs Tera Nasha (Acoustic) - Katuk x Jazzir jaz Edit-Kautuk ParkarOAKK Madeleine - OAKKIce Spice-Munch (sen whoo Remix) - sen whooKrs.// Waiting in Vain Edit - Krs.Stallion Sin Cielo - SefGeturfreakon w/ Ale Rossi - FuzzThe Boy is Mind ( Decemberkid & Erik Soto Edit) - DecemberkidChances - "KKAAYTTRAA"Sad Girlz Luv Money (ft. Molly) - AmaaraeUltimatum - sujazzgetit2getha - IAMNOBODIBalana (Decemberkid & Radya Edit) - RadyaSwing My Way (Bluepiano Edit) - Blue Methodbetter - Joy Orbinson & Léa SenPoetic Bounce - TdesuThink U The Shit (Fart) (DJ Kasir UKG Edit) - Ice Spice, DJ KasirNeeded Me (DJ CDQ UKG Remix) - DJ CDQall i had - estaShake (excerpt from Komunitas Jengelot, Vol. 4) - NAJ

  5. Jul 23

    Samira Mendoza

    Raised in a household of music filled with turntables, belly dancing and live percussionists; Samira Mendoza knew they would be a professional musician by the time they’d reached the 8th grade. A chance audition for a music conservatory involving Mozart and an improvised horn section, and later the encouragement of a classmate to explore DJing, would soon have Samira deeply invested in the realm of musical experimentation. The curiosity of sound would manifest itself into a multidisciplinary creative career ranging from music, movement, sculpture, community organisation and so much more. On today’s episode Lebene sits down with Samira to discuss salsa and bomba as a form of resistance music, the power of the drums and the importance of speaking truths.  With Guest: Samira Mendoza is a cultural worker rooted in transdisciplinary performance art, curation, and education. Their work centers improvisation through different mediums including sound, sculpture, organizing, and movement to investigate oppressive systems, familial history in Latin America and the Caribbean, and their personal experiences growing up in the South. Mendoza sees improvisation as an act of resistance, a space to reject formal structures and create new ideas. Their radical expression can be heard in all aspects of their multidisciplinary work, including in Dendarry Bakery, Las Mariquitas, Recao Rulé, Tó Ara, Dyspheric, Uhaul Disco, Spiral Generator, and under their DJ moniker MIRA MIRA. Tracklist: Disco In Outer Space - Mark Grusane editComo Me Queiro (ft. Sara Ramirez, Yaissa Jiménez)Ndodemnyama (Beware, Verwoerd) written by Vuyisile Mini - Miriam Makeba

  6. Jul 23

    Gyedu-Blay Ambolley (pt. 2)

    With Guest: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley affectionately known as the "Simigwa Do Man", was born in the port city of Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa. Ambolley's early years of musical interest dates back to the age of eight. The young music enthusiast learned the rudiments of music from the late Sammy Lartey. As a singer, songwriter, producer and "musical-life-force" he exploded onto the Ghanaian music scene in 1973 with a jazzy highlife sound called Simigwa-Do. He has toured throughout West Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the world’s most celebrated artists such as; Miriam Makeba and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He has played the Playboy Jazz Festival, the House of Blues in Hollywood, and the Jazz Bakery in California. Ambolley has received numerous prestigious accolades and awards. In 2003 Ambolley was recognized for his commitment to his musical craft with a "Lifetime Achievement Musical Award" and then Inducted into the "Jazz at Drew Music Hall of Fame" at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA. and in 2013 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ghana Music Awards in 2013. Nana Kobina Nketsia of Essikado, Sekondi honored him as Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley, “King of Simigwa Music in Sekondi” in the Western Region of Ghana. L.A.Weekly nominated Ambolley for "Best World Beat Recombinant Artists" in 2003. "The genre of Ambolley's music is entertainingly elevating and spiritually inescapable, such that its uniqueness transcends all musical categories.” He has 34 albums to his credit. Tracklist: Afrika Yie - Gyedu-Blay AmbolleyTeacher - Gyedu-Blay AmbolleyYekor A Ye A Yeaba - Gyedu-Blay AmbolleyEddie Quansa - Peacocks Guitar BandRound Midnite - Gyedu-Blay AmbolleyAma Bonsu - The Ramblers BandLove Supreme - Gyedu-Blay Ambolley

  7. Jul 23

    Dyani Douze

    Lebene and Sam chat with Dyani about alignment bringing him onto score Lys, the early days growing up in Paris and South Florida, The Ryan Leslie effect, and his journey from music production to film scoring. They also play a few tracks from Dyani’s monthly astrology playlist. With Guest: Dyani Douze. Musician, film composer, performing artist, dreamweaver, spiral guide & sound healing practitioner Dyani (he/they) works in the underground electronic music tradition of sonic myth-making to resurrect spiritual tradition, ancestral memories, generational trauma and healing. The South Florida-born artist released his debut album, “Under” in September 2020, which was featured as “Album of the Day” on Bandcamp Daily, Wire Magazine, Mixmag, Thump Magazine, and more. His debut feature film score for “Mountains”, directed by Monica Sorelle, has won awards at Tribeca Film Festival, BlackStar Film Festival, Charlotte Film Festival and screened at TIFF. Former member of the New Negress Film Society, Dyani’s multimedia projects have been showcased at The Knockdown Center, The Whitney Museum, MoMA PS1, Socrates Sculpture Park, among others Tracklist: neighborhood party - 1997Oliver Mtukudzi - Dzoka UyamweAngelique Kidjo - ShangoJohnny Dyani - Grandmother's TeachingDerek Gripper, Tunde Jegede - Kaira KonkobaLokowat - Ponto SuspeitoCavo Tagood - Port DouglasSerani - No GamesMoris Beat, Nass Beatz - SakuraPedro da Linha, Branko - TakréJordan Rakei - Theta StateLucy Pearl - TrippinAnna Butterss, Carlos Niño, Jeff Parker, Josh Johnson, Makaya McCraven, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Butterss'sKokoroko - Ewà Inú (VanyFox Remix)Pleasewakeupalittlefaster please... - Carlos Niño, Carlos Niño & Friends, Jamael Dean

  8. Jul 23

    Gyedu Blay Ambolley (pt. 1)

    With Guest: Gyedu Blay Ambolley affectionately known as the "Simigwa Do Man", was born in the port city of Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa. Ambolley's early years of musical interest dates back to the age of eight. The young music enthusiast learned the rudiments of music from the late Sammy Lartey. As a singer, songwriter, producer and "musical-life-force" he exploded onto the Ghanaian music scene in 1973 with a jazzy highlife sound called Simigwa-Do. He has toured throughout West Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States. He has performed on the same stage with some of the world’s most celebrated artists such as; Miriam Makeba and Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. He has played the Playboy Jazz Festival, the House of Blues in Hollywood, and the Jazz Bakery in California. Ambolley has received numerous prestigious accolades and awards. In 2003 Ambolley was recognized for his commitment to his musical craft with a "Lifetime Achievement Musical Award" and then Inducted into the "Jazz at Drew Music Hall of Fame" at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA. and in 2013 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ghana Music Awards in 2013. Nana Kobina Nketsia of Essikado, Sekondi honored him as Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley, “King of Simigwa Music in Sekondi” in the Western Region of Ghana. L.A.Weekly nominated Ambolley for "Best World Beat Recombinant Artists" in 2003. "The genre of Ambolley's music is entertainingly elevating and spiritually inescapable, such that its uniqueness transcends all musical categories.” He has 34 albums to his credit. Follow his journey @gyedublay_official. Tracklist: Cloud Nine - The TemptationsAdwoa Amissah - Gyedu Blay AmbolleySimigwa-Do - Gyedu Blay Ambolley

  9. Jul 23

    Lindsay A. Jenkins

    Everyone needs an LJ. A passionate dramaturg, educator and theatre producer, Lindsay A. Jenkins, is a woman breaking the mold of traditional theatre practices. Based out of Los Angeles by way of Dallas Texas, she is the founder of Maroon Arts and Culture, an organization committed to the development and production of Black theatre.  On today’s episode LJ talks with Lebene about the necessity of destroying hierarchy, making theatre accessible, and she answers the question on everyone’s mind; what exactly is a dramaturg? With Guest: Lindsay A. Jenkins (L.J.) is a dramaturg based in Los Angeles by way of Dallas, TX. Her area of specialty is Black Performance Heritage, connecting past performances to contemporary experiences. Recent dramaturgy credits include the 20th anniversary production of The Brothers Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney at the Geffen Playhouse. She is the Founder of Maroon Arts and Culture, an organization committed to the development and production of Black theatre. Tracklist: Tell Me Something Good - Chaka KhanBossy - Kelis ft. Too ShortDon't Rain on My Parade - Barbara StreisandLost Ones - Lauryn HillNot Tonight Remix - Lil Kim (Ft. Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliott)

  10. Season 1 Trailer

    Babble Season 1 Trailer

    New here? Good. Consider this your personal invitation. Grab your headphones and press play. We'll take it from there.

    Babble Season 1 Trailer

  11. Jun 27

    Introducing Lys

    Join Sam, Cait, and Lebene as we delve into the musical inspirations and themes of Lys, aka Lysistrata of Aristophanes: An African Version, while listening to high life, traditional drums, contemporary beats and original music from our composers: Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Dyani Douze.

    Introducing Lys
  • 1 Trailer
    10 Episodes

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About

Calling artists of all kinds, this podcast is for you!  Have you ever wondered how your favorite artists became who they are today? How Lupita Nyong’o went from being an actor in Kenya to an Oscar winning actress? She’s not yet on the show…but there are others. Babble is an interview style podcast where creatives discuss inspiration, dedication, and endurance in an ever changing industry. Join hosts Lebene Ayivor and Samantha Kolb as they guide artists to break down their creative journey defining who they were, where they are, and what they hope for the future.  Babble is produced by Tritone Paradox Productions and hosted by Lebene Ayivor and Samantha Kolb. 

Information

  • Creator
    Tritone Paradox Productions
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Babble
  • Show Website
    Babble