Artists of New York

Dan Riley

A new podcast profiling creatives trying to make it in the art capital of the world.

  1. Episode 111: Nikkole Salter - Stories, Selves, Society

    17h ago

    Episode 111: Nikkole Salter - Stories, Selves, Society

    Nikkole Salter is an actress and playwright, based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Arriving in NYC and 9/11 at NYU (01:48) Discovering acting through Cinderella in Los Angeles (04:02) Early auditions and Hollywood rejection lessons (06:43) Why child acting can be damaging (08:37) Choosing NYU despite disliking New York (10:38) Storytelling as an essential human service (13:22) Acting versus celebrity culture (15:05) Graduating NYU and surviving as an artist (17:36) Personal training, aerobics, and early hustle years (20:11) Touring an HIV/AIDS play with Danai Gurira (22:49) Jealousy, purpose, and Danai’s career ascent (26:07) Searching for a deeper storytelling mission (29:08) Finding the role you were made for (31:24) Stories shape reality and human experience (34:02) Cultural programming and the power of narrative (36:05) Reflection versus projection in storytelling (38:19) Actor, playwright, and creative agency (40:04) Defining success through fulfillment and potential

    41 min
  2. Episode 110: Derek Gaines - Janitor, Jazz, Jokes

    4d ago

    Episode 110: Derek Gaines - Janitor, Jazz, Jokes

    Derek Gaines is a standup comedian based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) From Jazz College to Comedy (03:18) Failing Music Theory, Finding Jokes (06:42) First Open Mic at Laugh House (09:25) Five Years Building in Philly (12:36) Competitive Open Mics and Real Crowds (15:48) Cul-De-Sac Black Comedy Voice (18:31) The Comedy Cellar Legend (21:07) Moving to Jersey City (24:02) Turnpike Janitor by Day (27:19) Grinding Clubs Across Jersey (30:06) Getting Better and Finding Momentum (32:14) Gersh, Pilot Season, and MTV (35:02) Broke-Ass Game Show Changes Everything (37:41) Choosing Scripted Acting (39:58) Acting and Stand-Up Feed Each Other (42:35) Getting Passed at the Cellar (45:26) Chasing the Flow State (48:14) Building After the Cellar (50:21) Success, Family, and Authenticity

    51 min
  3. Episode 109: Chanel Ali - Courage, Comedy, Calling

    Jun 5

    Episode 109: Chanel Ali - Courage, Comedy, Calling

    Chanel Ali is a standup comedian based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Moving To New York With One Suitcase (01:24) Hitting A Ceiling In Philadelphia Comedy (03:05) Knowing She Was A Comedian At Seven (05:01) Weed, Truth, And Choosing Comedy (08:12) Foster Care, Purpose, And Fearlessness (10:22) Being One Of Two Women Comics (12:35) Terrifying First Time On Stage (15:18) Discovering Home Under The Spotlight (17:36) Building Buzz Through Relentless Open Mics (20:14) New York Arrival And Starting Over (22:11) Michael Che And Caroline's Breakthrough (25:04) Uber, Odd Jobs, And Survival (27:46) Girl Code Opportunity Changes Everything (30:42) Faith, Confidence, And Comedy Advice (33:09) Just For Laughs And Career Momentum (35:24) Why New York Accelerates Comedian Growth (38:02) Reputation, Consistency, And Business Discipline (40:44) Viral Success, Future Projects, And Defining Success

    46 min
  4. Episode 108: Nolan Byrd - Rhythm, Resilience, Relationships

    Jun 1

    Episode 108: Nolan Byrd - Rhythm, Resilience, Relationships

    Nolan Byrd is a drummer and a musician based in Manhattan. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Moving From California To New York (02:42) Discovering New York’s Jazz Scene (05:31) Music In The Family (07:11) Falling In Love With Drums (09:48) Great Teachers And Early Development (13:18) School Music Programs And Opportunity (16:41) Following A Musical Calling (19:12) Why Jazz Became The Focus (21:38) Choosing North Texas (25:04) Business School Or Music Career (28:06) Inspiration From Elite Peers (31:04) New York, Grad School, And Community (34:12) Building A Career Through Relationships (38:01) Early Gigs, Touring, And Saying Yes (42:09) Wedding Bands And Making A Living (46:05) Longevity, Burnout, And Mental Health (49:12) Future Goals And Making An Album (52:01) Relationships, Happiness, And Success

    55 min
  5. Episode 107: Monroe Martin - MegaBus, Mics, Manifestation

    May 29

    Episode 107: Monroe Martin - MegaBus, Mics, Manifestation

    Monroe Martin is a standup comedian, based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Fake Megabus Tickets To New York (02:01) Leaving Philly For Comedy Dreams (04:29) Starting Over In New York (06:48) Surviving With Flyer Jobs And Hustles (09:13) College Gigs Keeping Comedy Alive (12:04) Favorite Early New York Comedy Clubs (13:54) Realizing Comedy Momentum Was Building (16:07) Goals, Agents, And Late Night Dreams (18:44) Confidence, Anxiety, And Belonging In Comedy (20:11) Performing Stand-Up Across China (24:06) Travel Changing Comedy Perspective (27:12) Comedy Festivals And International Touring (29:18) Evolving From Joke Writer To Conversational Comic (32:41) Writing Material Through Stage Exploration (35:01) Saying No To Bad Opportunities (37:18) Scaling Audience And Expanding Reach (40:06) Redefining Success Beyond Money (44:03) Building A Rich Life Through Comedy

    47 min
  6. Episode 106: Natasha Vaynblat - Comedy, Clarity, Childless Freak

    May 25

    Episode 106: Natasha Vaynblat - Comedy, Clarity, Childless Freak

    Natasha Vaynblat is a writer and a comedian based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Arriving In New York By Chinatown Bus (01:41) Escaping Russia After Soviet Collapse (04:12) Discovering Family’s Hidden Artistic Roots (06:11) Middle School Improv Changes Everything (08:08) Feeling Like Comedy Was Forbidden (10:02) Starting A More Inclusive Improv Team (12:37) Discovering New York Through Improv Festivals (14:28) Teach For America And Exhausting Hustle (17:06) Leaving Teaching For Comedy Full-Time (19:14) Commercial Acting And Early Survival Jobs (21:08) Falling In Love With Stand-Up (24:05) Bombing Through New York Open Mics (26:14) Rejecting Comedy Clubs For Indie Shows (28:02) Writing About Motherhood Ambivalence (31:08) Discovering Fear Instead Of Desire For Kids (35:17) Learning To Trust Personal Instincts (41:26) Audience Reactions To Childless Freaks (46:11) Redefining Success Through Vulnerable Art

    50 min
  7. Episode 105: David Drake - Standup, Struggle, Sirius

    May 22

    Episode 105: David Drake - Standup, Struggle, Sirius

    David Drake is a standup comedian based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Moving From Chicago To New York (01:14) Loud Kid To Aspiring Comedian (02:31) Music Dreams And Advertising School (04:12) First Open Mics In Miami (05:38) Why Chicago Felt Right (07:22) Pure Comedy And Work Ethic (09:11) Grinding Hundreds Of Sets Yearly (11:03) Chicago Clubs And Laugh Factory (13:04) Finding His Comedy Voice (15:26) Knowing It Was Time To Leave (17:32) Landing In New York Comedy (19:47) Indie Shows And Comedy Reality (23:02) SiriusXM And Comedy Income (27:18) AI Killing Copywriting Work (28:44) Daily Writing And Emotional Resonance (33:12) Fatherhood Changed His Comedy Output (36:19) Road Work, Family, And New Hours (40:41) Success, Money, And Supporting Family

    44 min
  8. Episode 104: Sirintip - Bangkok, Becoming, Belonging

    May 18

    Episode 104: Sirintip - Bangkok, Becoming, Belonging

    Sirintip is a musical artist based in New York City. Instagram and all episodes (00:00) Moving To New York For Jazz (02:11) Singing Through Bangkok Traffic (04:28) Thai And Swedish Cultural Contrasts (06:41) Doctor Or Musician Dilemma (08:32) Singing As Athletic Performance (11:07) Training The Body For Vocals (13:34) Bruce Springsteen And Tour Discipline (15:06) Student Visa And Jazz Competition (18:02) Imposter Syndrome And Early Success (20:26) The Olympics Of Jazz (22:47) Classical Training To Jazz Freedom (26:01) Processing Her Father’s Death Through Pop (29:04) Sweden’s Tall Poppy Culture (32:21) Touring With Snarky Puppy (35:08) Pandemic Festivals And Film Scores (38:16) Translating Science Into Music (40:54) Art, Identity, And Emotional Translation (43:12) Freedom, Purpose, And Artistic Success

    47 min
See All (111)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

A new podcast profiling creatives trying to make it in the art capital of the world.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Riley
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    111
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Artists of New York

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