Biola Backstage

The Torch
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In Season 3 of Biola Backstage, your hosts Hope Li and Jake Russo interview student crews to get the story behind the scenes, on camera and on stage. Biola Backstage is a production from The Torch Podcast Network at Biola University.

  1. 12/09/2025

    Backstage with Maddie Araman and Ashton Pulis of "Live from Lot F"

    Writers and actors Maddie Araman and Ashton Pulis walk us through the production of "Live from Lot F" which premieres tomorrow. "Live from Lot F" is a sketch show that features student written and student performed sketch comedy. Showings December 10. See tickets here.

    34 min

  2. 11/19/2025

    Backstage with Kaylin Kenders and Lauren Tateishi of "They're Getting Married Again?"

    Director Kaylin Kenders and Production Stage Manager Lauren Tateishi walks us through the fully student-run show "They're Getting Married Again?" which premieres tomorrow. The pair talks all about the comedy, their experiences, and...stunts?  The show takes place ninety minutes shy of the renewal of vows for characters Avery and Madison. The maid of honor and organizer extraordinaire, Evelyn Adler, is sent into a tailspin as she tries to pull everything together for her best friend. Finding the groom unconscious proves to be the least of her worries as she deals with a missing priest, propaganda puppets and her mother to make sure everything is perfect - for better or for worse. Showings November 20-23. For more details and to get your tickets, click this link.

    25 min

  3. 04/04/2025

    Backstage with Audrey Schnell, Director of 'It Pays to Advertise'

    Branching out from her CMA roots, Audrey Schnell walks us through her theatrical directorial debut of the classic American play, “It Pays to Advertise”. From funny moments in rehearsal, to overcoming the struggles of rehearsing without a set, Audrey gives us a peek backstage at what it was like to make this year's Torrey Theater play happen. Drama, romance, and good clean humor. “It Pays to Advertise” tells the story of a young man that sets out to prove to his father anything can be sold if you advertise it properly—even if it doesn’t exist. Problems arise when his advertisements are more successful than he ever could have imagined, but he has nothing to deliver. Showings April 4-5. For more details and to get your tickets, click this link.

    15 min

  4. 09/23/2024

    Backstage with Emma Broyles, Jonny Harmon and Po Yin Sham, writer, co-directors and producer of the dance musical film “A Lovely Ending”

    Biola Backstage is back again for Season 3! Executive producer and host Hope Li talks to Biola Snyder School students Emma Broyles, Jonny Harmon ‘24 and Po Yin Sham about how in the world their award-winning film “A Lovely Ending” had its beginnings. Hear about certain actors’ casting rizz, Easter eggs, a tangent on Emma’s wedding cake goals and why we need to hug our moms more. (02:15) - Finding a lovely name (04:43) - Beginnings of the ending (10:15) - A lovely co-director (14:40) - Writing (and finishing) a lovely script (19:41) - Also, Emma and Po are roommates (26:41) - The lovely actors, and calling Dibs (40:04) - A love for musicals (and people) makes for a lovely film (54:50) - Locations, locations, locations ... Shout out BeReal! (01:02:35) - Easter eggs, tea and a wedding cake request (01:11:01) - Emma's mom and mothers' sacrificial love (01:16:17) - Therapy and the stress of making a lovely film (01:22:58) - Post-production: a lovely ending to "A Lovely Ending" (01:26:29) - Final remarks About “A Lovely Ending” “A Lovely Ending” is a film from Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema Media Arts that took almost two years to make, with almost 130 cast and crew members. It premiered at Biola University’s newly-renovated Ethel Lee Auditorium on Sept. 20, 2024. Watch the trailer here, and follow the film’s Instagram @alovelyending.musical as it continues on its award-winning journey. The official soundtrack to the film is available on Spotify and all the other music streaming platforms. To watch the trailers of the films we mentioned in the episode, head to Jonny’s Linktree. For more of his work, follow him on Instagram @harmonmedia. Catch Emma’s recent scribblings on her Substack and her Instagram @emma_of_everywhere, and find Po cooking mushrooms, crocheting and on her Instagram @poyinsham. Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the people we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at torchradio@biola.edu or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio.

    1h 36m

  5. 02/21/2023

    Backstage with Dr. Matt Hall, Provost and Senior Vice President

    Dr. Matt Hall joins us on this episode of Biola Backstage. We ask him questions about his education, his teaching career, his relationship with the Spanish language and culture alongside discussing some other intriguing topics. About Dr. Matt HallDr. Hall grew up in Spain as a missionary kid before coming to America. He comes from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he has been an associate professor of church history, vice president for academic services, the dean of Boyce College and the provost and senior vice president of academic administration. Dr. Hall on the DirectoryDr. Hall's LinkedIn

    42 min

  6. 02/14/2023

    Backstage with Dr. Chris and Alisa Grace Grace, Directors of the Center for Marriage and Relationships

    Dr. Chris Grace and his wife Alisa Grace join us for this Valentine's Day special on relationships, dating and singleness. One of the key points discussed in this episode was by Alisa who said that we should date for patterns, not potential. Dr. Grace regales us with some of his stories of when he first started dating and provides wisdom and insight in that area of life. About the GracesDr. Chris Grace is the founder and co-director of the Center for Marriage and Relationships at Biola University. He has been with Biola since 1988 where he started as a professor in the Rosemead School of Psychology. His wife, Alisa, co-teaches a class on Christian marriage and relationships and is a co-director of the CMR alongside her husband. Additionally, they are the hosts of the "Art of Relationships" podcast where they discuss more relationship/marriage/singleness topics in depth. Together, they have three children and several grandchildren they are extremely proud of.Dr. Chris GraceAlisa GraceThe Art of Relationships PodcastThe Center for Marriage and Relationships Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at torchradio@biola.edu or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio.

    41 min

  7. 02/11/2023

    Backstage with Dr. Rachel Bodell, Host of "The Bible in a Year (The Story)"

    Crowell School of Business professor Dr. Rachel Bodell sits down to talk about her recent passion project for 2023: The Bible in a Year: The Story. She explains how the Bible podcasts were typically just commentary, just reading the Bible in a year or from the Catholic perspective. She saw a unique opportunity to fill a void. Through this podcast, Dr. Bodell explains how she had grown from hosting the podcast, drawing on theologians from Biola and bringing the Bible to people in a short, understandable way. About Dr. Rachel Bodell Dr. Bodell has studied all over the world — earning her undergraduate degree in the U.S., her masters in France and her doctorate in England. She joined Biola as an adjunct professor in 2019 and has been an associate professor since 2021. Bodell’s CV The Bible in a Year (The Story) Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at torchradio@biola.edu or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio.

    30 min

  8. 01/26/2023

    Backstage with Dr. Todd Guy, Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication

    Host Charlotte McKinley sits down with Dr. Todd Guy, Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication, to talk about his life to Biola, his experience with music and what he does as a dean. They talk about SoFAC and how it's unique with its divisions, how Dr. Guy's primary objective is to equip faculty with the tools to better equip their students, changes and advice he would give to SoFAC students in particular. About Dr. Todd GuyDr. Todd Guy did his undergraduate work at Marion College studying church music, music education and applied voice. He received his master's at Northwestern University before getting his doctorate in choral conducting at Ball State University. Before joining Biola as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Communication, he was a professor, chair and interim dean at Indiana Wesleyan for 30 years. Thank you for listening to this episode of Biola Backstage! If you are interested in learning more about the person we interviewed or have ideas for future guests, please email us at torchradio@biola.edu or DM us on Instagram @kbr_torch_radio.

    35 min
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About

In Season 3 of Biola Backstage, your hosts Hope Li and Jake Russo interview student crews to get the story behind the scenes, on camera and on stage. Biola Backstage is a production from The Torch Podcast Network at Biola University.

Information

  • Channel
    The Torch
  • Creator
    The Torch Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Torch Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Biola Backstage

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