LEVEL FORWARD
BRAVE STORYTELLING
.webp)
Through in-depth conversations and curated resources for all of your curiosities, host Andrea Ambam connects you with the creatives and culture-makers who are pushing the boundaries of entertainment, diving deeper into the topics, themes, and questions ignited by today’s most acclaimed works on stage and screen. This is arts and culture journalism, conversation style.
Subscribe on your favorite pod platform and browse the full archive episodes below!
In season 1, we head straight to Broadway for rich conversations with the cast and creatives of SLAVE PLAY. Written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O’Hara, SLAVE PLAY is the most tony-nominated play in Broadway history and is often described as one of the most provocative (and controversial) plays to come to Broadway in years. Tune in to meet the people who have brought Slave Play to life, before, during, and after Broadway.
In this talk wrapping up season 1, Andrea Ambam sits down with Robert O' Hara (Director) and Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Kaneisha) for the final conversation on Slave Play. With laughter and candor, we take it all the way back to the first rehearsal and navigate the directorial choices and audience reactions up until closing. What does walking away from Slave Play feel like?
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Jakeem Dante Powell (Gary) and Devin Kawaoka (Dustin). In Slave Play, Gary and Dustin are an interracial gay couple whose relationship is underscored by fiery exchanges and palpable tension. How do Jakeem and Devin navigate the tricky dance between Gary and Dustin? Where do young queer people find models of loving relationships? What does black, queer, and biracial representation add to the canon? We talk about it all and more in this episode!
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Elizabeth Stahlman (Alana) & Rashaad Hall (Phillip u/s). In Slave Play, Alana and Phillip are one of the kinkiest couples in the show, foolishly living in "post-racial bliss". However, in therapy, that bliss swiftly fades away and what has previously gone unsaid turns into several onstage meltdowns. What is it like to embody people like Alana and Phillip? What personal stories do the actors bring to these characters? What do they learn about themselves and our society? Listen now!
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Irene Sofia Lucio (Patricia) & Chalia La Tour (Tea). In Slave Play, Tea and Patricia are the scientists/therapists who created "antebellum sexual performance therapy" based on their own interracial relationship. In the context of race, sex & trauma - is it possible to separate lived experience from experimentation? What happens when the experiences of the people trying to lead a group keep bubbling to the surface? Listen to Chalia and Irene unpacking these tricky questions and more!
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Johnathan Higginbotham (Phillip) & Devin Kawaoka (Dustin) to explore "what it means to be in-between" through the eyes of the two characters in Slave Play who struggle most with their racial perception. Through personal stories and actors' insights, we unearth where the biracial experience materializes in Slave Play!
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Jakeem Dante Powell (Gary). Filled with tons of laughter, deep questioning, and even sour patch kids - Jakeem traverses the significance of Black, Queer representation and individualization in Slave Play, the theatre industry, and beyond.
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Kaneisha), Chalia La Tour (Tea), and Eboni Flowers (Kaneisha/Tea understudy) - the Black women of the cast of Slave Play Broadway, whose voices are often missing in the heated discussion around Slave Play's impact on Black women. In their own words- they explore the complications and celebrations of being a part of a play that challenges so many.
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Claire Warden, the Co-Intimacy and Fight Director of Slave Play. Together, they explore: How do you put on a play like Slave Play safely? Is it possible? How do the actors prepare for such charged on-stage intimacy?
Cue the B*tch Beats and strike a power pose because More To Talk About is back! In season 2, host Andrea Ambam brings you brand new in-depth and of-the-moment conversations—this time with the cast, creatives, and coalition behind POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive. Written by Selina Fillinger and directed by Susan Stroman, POTUS is a riotous new comedy about the women in charge of the man in charge of the free world. Using pivotal moments of the show as a starting point, we'll take an intersectional approach as we dig into to the real issues women face in politics, the workplace, and beyond.
Bonus Episode! Listen to Oklahoma! national tour actors Sis (Ado Annie) and Ugo Chukwu (Cord Elam) unpack their unique experiences as Black actors in this new, innovative reimagining of a beloved classic, and what it's like to be a Black creative in a tumultuous theatre industry.
Bonus episode! Host Andrea Ambam sits down with cast members from the Oklahoma Broadway National Tour and folks from Human Rights Campaign on March 31st, 2022 - International Transgender Day of Visibility - to talk about the importance and complexity of trans visibility onstage and off.
Season Finale! DOUBLE FEATURE EPISODE using the events of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive as a launching point. 1 | Majority Rules: Feminism on the Ballot In POTUS, Harriet (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the president’s chief of staff and is the real reason the country hasn’t fallen apart yet, though her achievements have always lived under the president’s spotlight. In conversation with Julie White (the tony-nominated actress who plays Harriet), Amanda Brown Lierman (Executive Director of Supermajority Education Fund), and Stephanie L. Young (Executive Director of When We All Vote) we seek to dismantle the narratives that keep women from achieving greater political power and organize around what it means to operate with a feminist agenda that creates greater equity for us ALL. 2 | Women & Leadership Who Run the World? In POTUS, Stephanie (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the president’s quirky secretary who is struggling with confidence in the workplace despite a long list of skills and a resume that should put her imposter syndrome to shame. In conversation with Anita Abdinezhad (the actress who covers Dusty & Stephanie), Jennifer Fouché (the actor who covers Margaret, Harriet, Bernadette, & Jean), Zunera Ahmed (IGNITE Board Member), and an expert (through study or experience) who can speak on women in the workplace, we’ll demystify the narratives surrounding women and confidence - including taking up space and imposter syndrome. Queue up your b*tch beats as we explore how radical and inclusive women empowerment can lead to more equitable workspaces in politics, theatre, and beyond. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
SPECIAL DOUBLE FEATURE EPISODE using the events of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive as a launching point. 1 | Dismantling Obstacles to Equality: An Urgent Excavation In Honor of Pride and Resistance In POTUS, Bernadette (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the president’s look-alike sister and a proud lesbian who quickly proves that street smarts definitely belong in the white house. In conversation with Lea DeLaria (the actress who plays Bernadette), Carol Jenkins ( ERA coalition), Zakiya Tomas (New President & CEO of ERA Coalition), alongside Charlotte Clymer (Writer & Activist), we celebrated Pride month by engaging in the activist work of our queer ancestors and asking how we can move towards an “equal future.” Looking at how passing the Equal Rights Amendment can benefit us all, we got real specific about the intrinsic connections between sex-based discrimination and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. 2 | My Body, My Choice: Sexual & Reproductive Justice In POTUS, Dusty (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the president’s dalliance and one of the most unexpected voices for reproductive rights (and other hot button issues) throughout the show. She’s also got a knack for conflict mediation. In conversation with Gisela Chípe (POTUS company), Nancy Northup (President & CEO of Center for Reproductive Rights), and Yolanda Miranda (National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice), we talked about all things body autonomy including the right to choose, and how organizers across the country are working to protect every person’s right to access safe and affordable reproductive care especially in light of the Dobbs decision. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
In POTUS, Margaret (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the first lady desperately trying to reframe her public image while all of her great services to society, her role in the president’s successes, and her accolades go ignored. Sound familiar? In conversation with Vanessa Williams (the actress who plays Margaret) and LaTosha Brown (Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter), we’ll get real about the role that Black women have continuously played in uplifting and protecting our democratic rights. We’ll also talk through how we can move beyond praise and into tangible support of Black women’s political power- using the events of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive as a launching point. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
In POTUS, Chris (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is a white house journalist eagerly trying to gather the facts around the president’s scandal, all while balancing the demands of motherhood. In conversation with Lisa Helmi Johanson (an actress who plays Chris), Liuba Grechen Shirley (Founder and CEO of Vote Mama), and Françoise Olivas (NYS Senate Candidate), we’ll traverse what it means to be a mother and/or a caregiver running for office, the policies/issues they are uniquely fit to address, and why we need more moms and caregivers in the white house - using the events of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive as a launching point. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
In POTUS, Jean (1 of the 7 women trying to keep a great dumbass alive) is the president’s press secretary meaning she knows all about the power of shaping a story. In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with Suzy Nakamura (the actress who plays Jean), Aimee Allison (President of She The People), and Maya Contreras (Political Narrative Strategist and Former Democratic Congressional Candidate), to explore how reshaping the cultural narrative can support the on-the-ground effort for more women of color in politics - using the events of POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive as a launching point. Recorded on the day the draft Dobbs decision was leaked, this talk starts with how to organize around abortion rights. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
In this talk, Andrea Ambam sits down with feminist greats, Gloria Steinem and Jamia Wilson, alongside POTUS playwright Selina Fillinger as they explore the past, present, and future of intersectional feminism and movement building in a conversation inspired by Broadway's POTUS: Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying To Keep Him Alive. Please note: All of these POTUS conversations deeply impact a range of gender and sexual identities. This includes cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary people, and a range of LGBTQIA+ identities who are marginalized.
Fresh off an Anthem award for a podcast that aims to raise awareness for an Education, Art & Culture Cause, Season 3 of More to Talk About season 3 is stacked with deep dives into theatre, feature films, and documentary shorts that ignite insightful conversations on Black women in sports, mental health, sexual intimacy, the state of the wellness industry, and more. Plus, a special partnership with Our Body Politic spotlighting an all-women, all-Indigenous group of motorcyclists using story to combat the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women / Relatives crisis.
Andrea Ambam sits down for a 1 to 1 interview with a special guest from a previous episode this season—Dr. Leeja Carter.
In conversation with the filmmakers, Kristy Guevara-Flanagan (Director of BODY PARTS) and Helen Hood Scheer (Producer of BODY PARTS), and cultural critic Dr. Stephane Dunn.
We discuss how raw, real, and sometimes chaotic depictions of mental illness on screen help shatter the stigma, with filmmaker Alex Heller , executive producer HaJ, and NAMI's Alexa James.
Live from Tribeca Film Festival 2023! Listen to an unvarnished conversation about the making of Mountains and immigrant representation on screen, featuring Monica Sorelle & Robert Colom from the filmmaking team, and Define American's DJ Reed.
Inspired by the events and themes within the adrenaline-packed play FLEX, Andrea Ambam sits down with sport psychology practitioner Dr. Leeja Carter, Girls Talk Sports TV's Khristina Williams, and activist & writer Jamia Wilson for a myth-busting conversation about the unique experiences of Black women athletes.
Inspired by the events and themes within the adrenaline-packed play FLEX, this soul-searching conversation—with Rachel Cargle, Mahogany L. Browne, and playwright Candrice Jones excavates the triumphs and tribulations of coming-of-age, the misconceptions of the south, and the power of interdependence.
In season 1, we head straight to Broadway for rich conversations with the cast and creatives of SLAVE PLAY. Written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O’Hara, SLAVE PLAY is the most tony-nominated play in Broadway history and is often described as one of the most provocative (and controversial) plays to come to Broadway in years. Tune in to meet the people who have brought Slave Play to life, before, during, and after Broadway. You don’t want to miss this.
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR CURIOSITYIn season 1, we head straight to Broadway for rich conversations with the cast and creatives of SLAVE PLAY. Written by Jeremy O. Harris and directed by Robert O’Hara, SLAVE PLAY is the most tony-nominated play in Broadway history and is often described as one of the most provocative (and controversial) plays to come to Broadway in years. Tune in to meet the people who have brought Slave Play to life, before, during, and after Broadway. You don’t want to miss this.
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT YOUR CURIOSITY
