PIECES OF WORK

JASONCHARLES.NET PODCAST NETWORK

PIECES OF WORK is an original podcast series of in-depth interviews with people who love their work, in their own words.  Interesting subjects and unusual suspects reveal their work day and the passion for their chosen professions.

Episodes

  1. PIECES OF WORK Episode 9 THE MUSICAL THEATER COMPOSER/WRITER Featuring Guest JAMES HARVEY

    10/21/2025

    PIECES OF WORK Episode 9 THE MUSICAL THEATER COMPOSER/WRITER Featuring Guest JAMES HARVEY

    PIECES OF WORK Episode 9 features special guest, New York City-based musical theater writer/composer, music director and sought-after piano accompanist/arranger JAMES HARVEY.   In addition to creating, writing and developing the recent successful Off-Broadway run of his latest musical "Kafkaesque!," theater pro JAMES HARVEY also performed as the leading actor in the acclaimed production.   In this thoughtful and engaging piece, James talks about his upbringing as a musical theater obsessive, including influences like "The Wiz," Sondheim, and Alan Menken, among others.  He discusses the creation and evolution of "Kafkaesque!" and he shares insights about the creative process of writing and composing by himself as well as collaborating with others - and soldiering on as an artist when success seems elusive.  However, James has enjoyed many successes throughout his long career writing and staging musicals, performing musical comedy shows around NYC, and working as an accompanist and musical director for the city's finest cabaret performers, including Alan Cumming, Catherine Cohen, Larry Owens, Matt Rogers, and Bowen Yang.  Recognized as one of the leading young musical writers in the city, per the New York Times, James' "voice and...ideas are vital to the continual evolution of musical theater" (Alexander Gemignani).  He has performed his one-man musical comedy show, "The Bald Faced Truth," throughout the US and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and it is available to stream in its entirety on YouTube.  For several years James hosted "The Second Cousins Show," a popular East Village variety show. Kafkaesque!, a world premiere featuring book, music and lyrics by James Harvey (Prime Day, The Bald Faced Truth, The Crack in the Ceiling), recently played at 154 Christopher (formerly the New Ohio Theatre). The production was directed by Ashley Brooke Monroe (Hamilton national tour, Life of Pi; The New Group: All of Me) and produced by Patrick Trettenero and Staro Industries (Here Lies Love). Keep up with updates on future productions of "KAFKAESQUE" at kafkashow.com and to find out more information about James Harvey go to WWW.JAMESHARVEY.COM and follow him on Instagram @JAMESGHARVEY PIECES OF WORK is a unique monologue/interview series of interesting subjects and unusual suspects talking about their chosen profession.  Check out previous episodes anytime and subscribe NOW on all podcast platforms or live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network TALK channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  2. PIECES OF WORK Episode 8 The Mult-Media Producer/Director featuring Guest CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN

    09/11/2023

    PIECES OF WORK Episode 8 The Mult-Media Producer/Director featuring Guest CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN

    PIECES OF WORK Episode 8 features special guest CHRISTOPHER THOMAS ALLEN, an accomplished artist and filmmaker based in Hackney, East London. His work crosses a range of different media and formats, from award-winning documentary films and animations; immersive interactive installation projects to pioneering live cinema performances that have been experienced by audiences internationally. A thoughtful and fascinating personality, throughout this in-depth monologue, Chris reveals his creative inspirations, collaborating with multi-disciplinary artists and academics, how he established himself as one of the top innovative audio-visual producers in the international music, art, film and design world, creating his now 20+ year firm The Light Surgeons, and much more. Over the past 25 years, Chris and his studio has exhibited this work in major museums, art galleries, cultural institutes, festivals and biennials. Many of his projects involve collaboration with other artists and designers across the creative disciplines. This collaborative practice led him to establish a media arts studio under the name “The Light Surgeons” in the mid 1990’s.  Through this studio, Chris operates as a filmmaker, audiovisual artist, creative producer and director, collaborating with a network of different sound artists, musicians, animators, architects, designers and software developers to realize a wide range of different creative projects. Visit the Light Surgeons website at www.lightsurgeons.com to see photos and videos of the incredible and awe-inspiring art, design and installation environments created by Chris and his team! Check out The Light Surgeons' “Super Everything Project” at www.supereverything.net and for the “Super Everything” vinyl release on Utter Recordings, go to the Light Surgeons' bandcamp page, or listen on all major streaming platforms. More film and documentation of The Light Surgeons’ installations and performance work can be found on their YouTube and Vimeo channels - and follow them @thelightsurgeons on all social media. Original episode artwork photo courtesy dizqo PIECES OF WORK is a unique interview series of interesting subjects and unusual suspects talking about their chosen profession.  Check out previous episodes anytime and subscribe NOW on all podcast platforms or live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network TALK channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  3. PIECES OF WORK Episode 7 The Crime Historian

    11/28/2022

    PIECES OF WORK Episode 7 The Crime Historian

    For Episode 7, PIECES OF WORK is thrilled to welcome Award-Winning ORGANIZED CRIME HISTORIAN and author CHRISTIAN CIPOLLINI, also an investigative journalist, comic book writer, and collector of rare crime-related photographs & artifacts.  On this episode, go inside the world of organized crime and organized crime history as our special guest takes you along for an adventure into the ins and outs of being a professional historian and author in this exclusive and fascinating field of research. In addition to his catalog of nonfiction books, Christian's work can be found in numerous publications and digital realms including the Mob Museum Blog, Real Crime Magazine & Writersofwrongs.com.  As a consultant, he is often quoted in print and online publications, has lectured at colleges and appears on episodes of Reelz Channel Series "The Real Story of...." & "Gangsters: America's Most Evil," Travel Channel Series "Mission Declassified," History Channel Series "United Stuff of America," AHC's hit series "America: Facts vs. Fiction" & served as a Location Producer on National Geographic Channel's critically-acclaimed series DRUGS, INC. His book "Murder Inc.: Mysteries of the Mob's Most Deadly Hit Squad" won the 2015 Hollywood Book Festival "Non-Fiction" category and "Lucky Luciano: Mysterious Tales of a Gangland Legend" was a finalist in both the 2014 USA Best Book Awards and the 2015 International Book Awards.  He collaborated with UK rapper Yellow Balaclava for the independent hip-hop album 'Salvatore Lucania,’ and as a graphic novelist, Christian has also written the true crime comic book series "LUCKY," based on the rise of America's most infamous gangster - Charles "Lucky” Luciano.  The final part of this four-part comic series, “One Last Kiss,” is coming in 2023 as an exclusive Amazon Kindle digital comic! Collect them all and pre-order the upcoming final installment NOW! His latest book, "Diary of a Motor City Hit Man: The Chester Wheeler Campbell Story," is available NOW on Amazon and Kindle. Go to the Episode 7 page of PIECES OF WORK on jasoncharles.net Talk Channel to hear an exclusive site-only outtake from this interview, where Christian chooses his number one mob film recommendation, and answers the questions he's asked the most: "does the mafia still exist?" For more information about Christian and his work, follow him on Twitter @GanglandLegend and on Instagram @ganglandlegend PIECES OF WORK is a unique interview series of interesting subjects and unusual suspects talking about their chosen profession.  Check out previous episodes anytime and subscribe NOW on all podcast platforms or live & direct on jasoncharles.net Podcast Network TALK channel See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min

About

PIECES OF WORK is an original podcast series of in-depth interviews with people who love their work, in their own words.  Interesting subjects and unusual suspects reveal their work day and the passion for their chosen professions.