God & Other Delicacies

God in the harmony of voices mingling together in song; being a person of color in the white world of choral music; God shining down on her at the age of five; being raised by her mother while her father followed his music; Kwanzaa; and owning her own identity in the age of Black Lives Matter.   Dr. Zanaida Stewart Robles is an award-winning American composer, vocalist, and teacher. She is a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion in music education and performance.  She is a performing arts instructor at Harvard-Westlake Upper School in Studio City, CA.  She is also the director of music at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, CA.  As a concert soprano soloist, studio vocalist for film and television, and professional ensemble singer, Dr. Robles has sung throughout the United States and the world. Her film, television, and video game credits include Glee, Tinkerbell: Pirate Fairy, Godzilla, Minions, Creed, The Lego Movie, Despicable Me 3, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Venom, Smallfoot, Frozen 2, Underwater, Mulan, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Dr. Robles holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, a Master of Music degree from CSU Northridge, a Bachelor of Music degree from CSU Long Beach, and she is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.   Zanaida's official website: Zanaida Stewart Robles Zanaida's Twitter: @znrobles Zanaida's Music: Zanaida on Soundcloud   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

On creating “God 101” with Julie Chen Moonves; the celebration of her Armenian identity and culture; the loss of her Jewish father as a child; “welcoming Jesus into her heart” as a grade schooler; a message and direction from her mother’s spirit; and giving her husband a second chance after a botched first date.   Anita Vogel is a Correspondent and Anchor for the Fox New Channel, as well as an actor, voiceover artist, moderator and host.  A graduate of the University of Southern California with degrees in both Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, Anita spent ten years as a full-time anchor and correspondent at FOX.  As a contractor today, she flies all over the country delivering content for multiple news outlets.  As an actor you may have seen her on 911, The Last Ship and Rosewood.  She is based in Los Angeles and often lends her time to charities and community organizations as a host and speaker.   You can find Anita's show #God101 with Julie Chen Moonves and others on Instagram here: @juliechenmoonves #God101 on Instagram: #God101   Anita's Instagram: @anitajvogel Anita's Twitter: @anitajvogel   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

His grandmother as conduit to his ancestors and what is “holy”; deep reflections on slavery and his journey through “The Slave Letters”; the brutality and abuse of his parents and grandfather; the rejection of Christianity and his embrace of Buddhist practice; the release of guilt and a future bound up in kindness and beauty.   Michal Dawson Connor is an accomplished performer and composer of choral, chamber, and solo vocal works, with a particular emphasis on slave songs created before the Civil War. He was born in Jamestown, New York and is a proud alumnus of Carnegie-Mellon University and L’Ecole Hindemith in Vevey, Switzerland.  Mr. Connor’s Broadway credits include featured performances in the Tony-Award winning productions of RAGTIME and SHOWBOAT as well as starring roles in productions of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, BIG RIVER, and PORGY AND BESS. In addition to soloing on multiple occasions for President Ronald Reagan, he’s immensely proud of performing for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Billy Graham, Elizabeth Dole, and Admiral Michael Mullen. Mr. Connor is a published author of THE SLAVE LETTERS currently available on Amazon.com.  On network television, he was a guest star on FRIENDS, as well as several appearances on the Emmy-Award winning show: EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION. Here's a link to Michal's project, THE SLAVE LETTERS: https://www.theslaveletters.com/about    Michal's Instagram: @michal.d.connor Michal's YouTube: Michal's Videos   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Music as foundational to understanding the spiritual; being a religious skeptic while loving the church choir; how the pandemic freed her musical “beast”; reflections on the future death of her mother; the release of control and the glee that followed.   Majel Connery is a vocalist and composer with the NYC art/punk band Sky Creature, which recently released its Bear Mountain/Childworld double EP. On the side, she composes electro/acoustic music as a solo artist, and recently released the album “The Rivers are Our Brothers,” a song cycle on the natural world. The male choir Chanticleer recently commissioned an arrangement of The Rivers are Our Brothers for their fall 2023 tour. Connery has a background as a Classical pianist and opera singer. For ten years, she ran avant-garde opera company, Opera Cabal. An artist with a Ph.D. in musicology, she has held visiting professorships and artist residency positions at Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Wellesley and the University of Chicago. Here's another link to Majel's new art/punk band, Sky Creature: https://www.skycreature.nyc/    Majel's official website: https://www.majelconnery.com/ Majel's Instagram: @majelconnery   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Nick will be recurring throughout the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, premiering this Thanksgiving 2022 on Paramount+! Nick is in graduate school pursuing his Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School.  It's one of only two Unitarian Universalist seminaries in the world. What is Unitarian Universalism?   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A "goodbye for now"; and excerpts from two of Nick's favorite books.   Nicholas D'Agosto is a professional television, film and stage actor, and the creator and host of this podcast - God & Other Delicacies.   Here's a link to Gore Vidal's review of Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" in The New York Review of Books - Fabulous Calvino by Gore Vidal Here is an article in The New Yorker compiling some of Italo Calvino's letters, one of which was a letter of appreciation to Gore Vidal regarding the aforementioned review Vidal wrote of "Invisible Cities - The Letters of Italo Calvino And, if you desire, here is a link to choose where you'd like to purchase... Brian Browne Walker's translation of the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu.   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A Christ follower that's wary of the word "Christian"; her mothers' final, transcendent moments; Top Story Tonight: Jesus! and how her research has redefined her faith; and the contentment that comes with knowing and choosing what is right for oneself.   Jane Wells is an award-winning broadcast journalist with over 30 years experience in the news media.  She has worked all over the country, moving up from local news stations to national ones, but it is at CNBC, her current employer, where she has spent the bulk of her career, developing features, special reports and contributing to breaking news coverage.  Jane received a Peabody in 1992 for her role in the live coverage of the Rodney King trial.  She is also a podcaster, having developed the Strange Success franchise for CNBC, and now self-producing her new podcast, the Top Story Tonight! franchise - the latest iteration of which focuses on Jesus, with Jane's modern media twist.    Get started with the first episode of Top Story Tonight: Jesus! here, at this iTunes link -- Top Story Tonight: Jesus! Christmas Part 1   Jane's Twitter: @janewells Jane's Instagram: @janewells Jane's Facebook: Jane Wells Jane's Linkedin: Jane Wells   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Being religious but not spiritual; the search for serenity; learning about his OCD; reflections on the temptations and dangers of "status"; choosing the internal good; the admiration of material indifference and non-attachment; and the dilemma of loving the individual despite possessing opposing ideologies.   Jeffrey Guhin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at UCLA, with research interests in education, culture and religion.  His first book -- Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools -- has just been released through Oxford University Press.  Jeff received his doctorate and masters degrees from Yale University, his bachelors from Loyola University in New Orleans, and he has studied in Damascus, Syria, and Mexico City, Mexico.    Here's a link to Jeff's new book... Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools And here's a link to Jeff's writings for SLATE, including the one he mentioned about Neil deGrasse Tyson: Jeffrey Guhin at SLATE   Jeff's Official Website: jeffguhin.com Jeff's Twitter: @jeffguhin   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Owner of award-winning Hotville Chicken in South LA; daughter of an Evangelist preacher; God in every facet of her life; prayer; and hilarious stories about the Prince Family men and other philanderers who got punished by the scalding heat of the Hot Chicken tradition in Nashville.      Kim Prince is the owner and creator of Hotville Chicken, a Los Angeles restaurant serving Nashville Hot Chicken in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw neighborhood of South LA.  Recently voted one of LA's Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine, Hotville is also partnered with Greg Dulan of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants (who was a previous guest on this podcast).  Kim's great-great Uncle, Thornton Prince, is credited with having invented the Hot Chicken recipe and tradition in Nashville, and the Prince Family has been serving Nashville Hot Chicken for nearly 100 years.  Kim is a graduate of Fresno State University, and she previously worked for over 20 years in television production.     Looking for a deep history on the Prince Family and the origins of Nashville Hot Chicken?  Check out this excellent article in The New Yorker: The Prince Family Business Prince's Hot Chicken - the original Nashville restaurant that Kim grew up working at - was named: One of America's 38 Essential Restaurants by Eater   Hotville Instagram: @hotvillechicken Hotville Twitter: @hotvillechicken Official Website: Hotville Chicken   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Faith in combat; reflections on his service during the Iraq War; the self-discoveries from time spent "in extremis"; the unintended consequences of war; and how he carries his service as a civilian.   Ben O'Rourke is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, a combat veteran, and a graduate of the US Army War College.  He graduated from Notre Dame, and currently serves as an executive for an enterprise tech company in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and children.   Here is a brief overview regarding the Iraq War, which Ben describes throughout this episode from his unique vantage point: The Iraq War (or Second Persian Gulf War) An article discussing Viktor Frankl's book, which Ben found at a deeply poignant moment in his journey: Man's Search For Meaning    Ben's Facebook: Ben O'Rourke Ben's LinkedIn: Ben O'Rourke   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

On being a South LA community touchstone; the life and death of his renowned father; overcoming anti-Black business practices; the challenges of being a business owner in South LA; the spiritual calling that is his work; and selling Nashville fried chicken in Ghana!   Greg Dulan is the owner of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants in South Los Angeles, well-regarded as a Los Angeles soul food institution.  He is also co-owner of Hotville Chicken, which serves Nashville Hot Fried Chicken in South LA, and was rated one of the Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine.  Greg has a business degree from Howard University, has studied at UCLA, and is a beloved community member and leader.   At one point, Greg describes how his Grandfather was a Baptist Minister, and a master "Whooper".  He made me promise that I would look up some whooping online, and I gave him my word that I'd leave a link here for everyone to get an idea about what it is: The Art of Whooping And here's an article from the LA Sentinel, honoring the life of Greg's father, Adolf Dulan, LA's "King of Soul Food": Los Angeles Mourns the Loss of Adolf Dulan And another, reporting on how Dulan's was recognized as as a Best Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce   Dulan's Soul Food Instagram: @dulanssoulfoodkitchen Dulan's Restaurant on Crenshaw Instagram: @dulansoncrenshaw Hotville Chicken's Instagram: @hotvillechicken   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The dangers of "coming out" as a celebrity in the '90's; how cancer taught him to be joyful; how the USO changed his mind on the military; and the discovery of his current sense of purpose.   Bill Brochtrup is a professional television, film and stage actor, best known for his role as "John Irvin" in ABC's critically-acclaimed hit series, NYPD BLUE.  He has also had long-running roles on hit shows like Showtime's "Shameless", and TNT's "Major Crimes", among dozens of other credits in television and film.  A prolific stage actor, Bill is also Co-Artistic Director of The Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, CA.  He works with numerous charities and philanthropic organizations, including AIDS Walks, and the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment.   On the 5th Anniversary of his being free from cancer, Bill participated in an ancient spiritual pilgrimage in Northern Spain that is still alive today: Camino De Santiago  To learn more about the United Service Organizations: USO To learn more about Armed Forces Entertainment: AFE   Bill's Instagram: @billbrochtrup Bill's Twitter: @billbrochtrup Bill's Facebook: Bill Brochtrup   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Stories from Vietnam; racism and desegregation in the '60's; the early deaths of his sister and father; the dawn of his agnosticism; and the value in pursuing what is "dangerous and alive".   Ned Schmidtke is a professional television, film and stage actor with a resumé spanning decades.  He has had long-running roles on shows like Medium, Days of Our Lives, Point Pleasant, and JAG.  His film roles include Wedding Crashers, The Change Up and Accepted.  He's appeared on Broadway, in Chicago at the Goodman and Steppenwolf, and in theaters all across the country.   Ned tells a story of getting to see Ike and Tina Turner performing live at the Paradise Club in Missouri when he was a young man.  Here's a picture from one of those legendary performances (note the low ceiling!): Ike and Tina Turner at Club Paradise   Ned's Facebook: Ned Schmidtke   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Losing a sister at birth; merging Catholic and Mormon faiths; sons with epilepsy and Coats' disease; her charity Know the Glow; and the relationship to faith that she hopes her children will carry with them.   Megan Webber is the Co-Founder of the non-profit charity Know the Glow, which aims to eliminate early childhood blindness.  Megan launched Know the Glow after her son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Coats' Disease in 2009.  Megan also sits on the Advisory Board of The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and works to support the doctors and patients there through the volunteer organization, Bright Eyes.    Here is a link to learn more about...: Coats Disease And, Megan is a big fan of the...: Peloton Bike   Megan Webber's LinkedIn: Megan Lynch Webber Know the Glow's Instagram: @know_the_glow Know the Glow's Twitter: @know_the_glow   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The fear of God; dark years of addictions; shame; being saved by his Grandmothers' spirit; sobriety; and a lesson about God from his young son.   Paco Lozano is a professional television and stage actor.  Recent credits include Jessica Jones, Law & Order: SVU, and God Friended Me.  He was born in Puerto Rico to Cuban and Mexican parents, and he lives in New York City with his wife and young son.    Here's a link to the mission of the Mobile Unit at The Public Theatre, which Paco will be a part of when live theatre can return in New York: The Mobile Unit at The Public And Paco loves to cook.  Here's one of his favorite chefs to watch for inspiration: Sam the Cooking Guy   Paco's Instagram: @puertopaco Paco's Twitter: @puertopaco   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Leaving his Evangelical faith and family; the similarities of atheism and fundamentalism; doubt; confusion; regret; new life; and the love of music and writing.   Jonathan Buchanan works in film production, and has been a prop master since 2007.  He is also a musician, and he writes, sings and plays guitar in his anti-folk band Campfire Cassettes.    Listen to his music on Spotify: Campfire Cassettes   Jonathan introduced me to a term that was core to his Evangelical belief system growing up: Eternal Security Jonathan briefly references a famous Christian songwriter I had never heard of before, Keith Green, who died in a tragic plane crash at 28.  Listen to Keith Green on Spotify    Jonathan's Instagram: @jonathanbuchanancomedy Campfire Cassettes Instagram: @campfirecassettes   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Reflections on suffering; God's apparent absence and/or disregard; death; the moment he decided to become a Jesuit; and the intersection of art and spirituality.   Joe Hoover, SJ is a religious brother in the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, working primarily in the arts.  He is an actor, playwright and essayist, and his first book - "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting: A Meditation on Suffering" - will be released December of 2020 from Orbis Books.  He is also the poetry editor at America Magazine.     At one point, Joe mentions one of his early heroes: Dorothy Day, a progressive Catholic activist. Here is a link describing one of the cornerstones of Jesuit training: The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius And for good measure, once again, his new book: "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting: A Meditation on Suffering" from Orbis Books   Joe's Facebook: Joe Hoover   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Sobriety; racism; spirituality in music; acceptance; the influence of his Indian heritage; his love of Indian mythology; and lots of humor.   Utkarsh Ambudkar (The Mindy Project, Pitch Perfect, Barbershop: The Next Cut, Free Guy, Marry Me) is a professional actor, writer, rapper and musician.  A South-Asian American of Indian descent, born in Maryland to immigrant parents who are both progressive scientists as well as quiet practitioners of prayer, Utkarsh possesses a unique perspective on spirituality and culture.  He is also charming, funny, kind, quick-witted and thoughtful, which makes for a delightful and insightful episode between these two old friends (who met on the set of the film Rocket Science 15 years ago). Utkarsh has done a great deal of positive self-reflection, and he speaks reverently about the spiritual growth and awareness he has achieved after giving up drugs and alcohol and articulating and accepting a loving God-force into his day-to-day.  He speaks about the different religious worlds both in India and the U.S. that have been available to him throughout his upbringing, and yet somehow were never imposed upon him.  He speaks about his love and proclivity for music and rhyme, what that meant to him growing up, and what it means to him today.  And he also makes Nick laugh many times throughout the episode, the loudest of which probably came after he revealed to Nick what his quiet, loving God-voice said to him after his cable went down.  It's a beautiful episode, and I hope you enjoy it.   Utkarsh is a successful and prolific independent musician, with two new albums set to drop in the next six months or so.  Find him at the following link, or wherever you get your music:  Utkarsh on Spotify Also, Utkarsh mentions how his grandmother is a practitioner of Jainism.  Here's a link describing some of the basic tenets of the Jain belief system: Jainism at a Glance   Utkarsh's Instagram: @utktheinc Utkarsh's Twitter: @utktheinc   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Cancer survivor (twice!); her mothers' last moments and words; her fathers' difficult last years; the importance of live theater; a new purpose born of survival; and Jin Shin Jyutsu.   Kitty Swink (The Fosters, Crossing Jordan, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Patty Hearst, In The Mood) is a professional actor, and Co-Artistic Director of The Antaeus Theatre Company (where I am a member).  Kitty opens a window for us into her nuclear family, and the extraordinary pairing that was her father and mothers' marriage.  With deep affection, charm and lots of humor, Kitty tells about her mothers' final days, spent at home in the embrace of her loving family.  What is captured in her telling is the poignant, sweet, authentic, hilarious, ludicrous, magical and mysterious nature of the final moments of a human life.  Kitty opens up about the complexities of her fathers' last years too, as well as her own brushes with death, having now been a cancer survivor twice over.  It is a sublime hour, spent in reverence for life, and in meditation on what gives it meaning.     Kitty speaks about a healing art that she credits, alongside the work of her oncologists, with saving her life after cancer and bringing her back to full health: Jin Shin Jyutsu  At one point, Kitty tells a heartwarming story about me and one of her dear friends and mentors who passed away in 2013: Joe Ruskin   Kitty's Facebook: Kitty Swink Kitty's Twitter: @KitSwink Kitty's Instagram: @kittyswink   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Overcoming regret; second chances; Living in Truth; purpose in art; and the transformative power of theater.   John Apicella (The Call of the Wild, Seinfeld, Freaks and Geeks, Twin Peaks, Friends, The West Wing) is a professional actor, and a fellow (and founding) member of The Antaeus Theatre Company (which is how we met).  John opens a window for us into his childhood and early adulthood from the vantage point of the man grown wiser from that lived experience.  In turns sweet and sad, and always compellingly honest, John shares the regrets he has, and the remorse he feels, for some early mistakes he wishes he could take back.  But what emerges from the painful process of taking responsibility for his past actions is an artist with an ethos oriented toward "Living in Truth", and a man whose spirituality is framed by love, connection, and community.    John has a deep love for the transformative power of theatre, and here is a link to an article about one of his favorite playwrights and activists: The great Václav Havel    At one point, John delights me by introducing me to an old profession which was still around when he was a kid in Chicago: The Ragpicker   John's Facebook: John Apicella   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano