KeyBARD
Welcome to the KeyBARD Podcast, hosted by Artist/Educator Thembi Duncan.
In each episode, Thembi sits down with trailblazers, visionaries, and innovators who are shaping the landscape of our world. From distinguished educators to acclaimed artists and tech pioneers, KeyBARD offers a platform for thought-provoking conversations that transcend boundaries and spark new ideas.
Whether you're passionate about the arts, intrigued by technology, or committed to advancing education, KeyBARD has something for everyone.
Subscribe to stay up to date!
Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768
Episodes
33 episodes
S2.E13 | Fatima Quander | Shaping Theatre through Black Women’s Stories
In this episode of KeyBARD, I sit down with actor, director, and educator Fatima Quander, whose 20+ year career in theater is deeply rooted in research, collaboration, and cultural responsibil...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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55:42
S2.E12 | J.J. Johnson Part 2 | Theatre, Film, and Building Community
Part 2 of 2Our discussion continues with actor, writer, and teaching artist J.J. Johnson taking us deeper into his creative process. He shares what it’s like to navigate the vulnerability, pressure, and freedom of creating a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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1:00:11
S2.E11 | J.J. Johnson Part 1 | Stories of Black Boy Joy
In Part One of this two-part conversation, Thembi sits down with actor, writer, and teaching artist James J. Johnson, known to many as J.J.He opens up about growing up as a quirky, intelligent, and imaginative kid in the small town of Fr...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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41:36
S2.E10 | Jared Redick | Transformational Leader in Performing Arts and Education
This episode of KeyBARD features Jared Redick, an award-winning, sought-after master teacher, choreographer, and coach whose leadership has shaped the global dance community. A third-gener...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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50:40
S2.E9 | Dr. Ilke Demir | What Makes Us Human in the Age of AI?
Dr. Ilke Demir, Senior Staff Research Scientist, IntelWhat makes us human in the age of artificial intelligence?In this episode, Thembi speaks with Dr. Ilke Demir, a pioneering research scientist whose work explores the int...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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45:33
S2.E8 | Alan Sharpe | Placing Black LGBTQIA+ Stories Center Stage
Alan Sharpe, ACTWhat does it take to build a theatrical legacy that centers the lives and truths of Black LGBTQIA+ folx? In this episode, Thembi sits down with prolific playwright, director,...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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57:57
S2.E7 | Keta Newborn | Faith and the Strength to Begin Again
Keta Newborn: A Life Rewritten Through TheatreThere are moments in life when everything seems set—the destination clear, the plan solid. And then, something unexpected happens, shifting everything we thought we knew. Today’s guest...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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46:44
S2.E6 | Dr. Dwayne Wood | Instructional Design that Meets the Moment
From Military Leadership to Instructional Design: Dr. Dwayne Wood on AI, Education, and Rethinking GradingIn this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan interviews D...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:00:48
S2.E5 | Eric Ruffin | Crafting Theatre with Love at the Root
In this episode, I sit down with acclaimed director and educator Eric Ruffin to explore the artistry, history, and purpose that fuel his work. We talk about his unexpected journey fro...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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59:11
S2.E4 | Keith Hamilton Cobb Part 2: Shifting the Paradigm of American Theatre-making
What kind of art would you create if money was no object? What stories would you tell? It’s a powerful question, but in American theatre, too few artists ever get to explore it. In Part 2 of my conversation with actor/p...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:09:49
S2.E3 | Keith Hamilton Cobb Part 1: Upholding Artistic Integrity in American Theatre
In this episode I speak with award-winning actor and playwright Keith Hamilton Cobb, and this conversation was so rich that I had to split it into two parts. In part 1, we talk about Keith’s training and his early years as an actor. We get into...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:14:19
S2.E2 | Jose Moreno | From Netflix to Neulight: What happens when you bet on yourself?
Thembi talks with Jose Moreno, Founder and CEO of Neulight, an ed-tech company leveraging AI to help K-12 educators support student success.In this episode, we discuss:✅ What it’s like to transition from streaming tech to educatio...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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49:13
S2.E1 | Nadia Duncan | Season 1 Recap
What in the world is a KeyBARD, anyway? In this episode, I sit down with my daughter Nadia to reflect on the first season of the pod and look ahead to Season 2. We get into the heart of why I started the podcast, from the joy of dee...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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14:51
S1.E20 | Farah Lawal Harris: Joy, Healing, and the Power of Storytelling
S1. E20.“There's always an aspect of joy, because otherwise, what's the point?”In this episode, Thembi speaks with playwright, poet, and artistic leader Farah Lawal Harris<...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:05:50
S1.E19 | Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich: Exploring Identity and Emotion in Children’s Books
The Power of Storytelling: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich on Writing, Identity & Empowering Young Readers“Story was just the foundation of my life.”In this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan speaks with award-winnin...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:06:27
S1.E18 | Chad Harper: Building Children's Self-Esteem Through Hip-Hop
S1. E18.In this episode of KeyBARD, Host Thembi Duncan sits down with Chad Harper, founder and CEO of Hip Hop Saves Lives, a social entrepreneurship that uses hip-hop as a tool f...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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55:09
S1.E17 | Caleen Sinnette Jennings: Crafting Theatre of Empowerment and Transformation
S1. E17. "I wanted to write the roles that I wish somebody would write for me."Thembi talks with Caleen Sinnette Jennings about her journey as an actor, director, playwright, educator, and arts leader, including her memories of being in...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:16:13
S1.E16 | W.Ellington Felton: Building a Legacy of Originality and Artistic Innovation
S1. E16.In this episode of KeyBARD, singer, poet, actor, and emcee W.Ellington Felton opens up about his artistic journey, creative process, and love for teaching. He talks with hos...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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2:02:30
S1.E15 | Michael Lavine: Preserving Broadway’s Musical Treasures
In this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan sits down with Michael Lavine, a celebrated music director, performance coach, sheet music expert, and Broadway archivist. With a career spanning...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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36:58
S1.E14 | Helynsia Brown: Driving Equity and Innovation in Technology
Helynsia Brown: Leading with Purpose in Tech and Social JusticeIn this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan speaks with Helynsia Brown, a technology executive whose career spans the U.S. Air Force, the National Museum of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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41:41
S1.E13 | Sam Lewis: Innovating Craftsmanship in Film and Theatre
Sam Lewis: The Art of Theatrical & Film Design in a Tech-Driven WorldIn this episode of KeyBARD, host Thembi Duncan interviews Sam Lewis, an omni-media artist and designer whose inno...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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52:23
S1.E12 | Lynne Streeter Childress: Improving Social Emotional Health Through Theatre
S1E12. Lynne Streeter ChildressIn this episode, multi-talented theatre artist Lynne Streeter Childress shares her journey through 30 years of working in professional theatre, focusing on her extensive work in theatre for young audiences...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:05:02
S1.E11 | Roy Clariana: Exploring Brain Patterns and Knowledge Structures with Educational Technology
S1.E11.In this episode, Dr. Roy Clariana describes his journey from the Peace Corps, through corporate training, and into academia, where he's been a tenured professor in Learni...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:27:03
S1.E10 | Goldie Patrick: Centering Black Womxn and Girls through a Hip-Hop Pedagogy
S1.E10.Thembi talks with brilliant playwright, poet, screenwriter, director, and cultural worker Goldie Patrick about the cities and cultures that shaped her identity and artistry, her innova...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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2:27:07