Modern Romantic

We’re thrilled to welcome David Stephens, founder of All Hands Productions, to the podcast!David is a nationally acclaimed solo puppeteer, storyteller, and banjo player whose imaginative retellings of classic fairy tales have captivated families for over 20 years. His work has been featured everywhere from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta to Sesame Street!Join us live as we talk about storytelling, fairy tales, handmade art, music, and what it means to keep wonder alive at any age. Find David online at https://www.allhandsproductions.com

Jason is known for his large-scale murals and his beautifully unexpected altered vintage paintings, where old landscapes and forgotten portraits become home to whimsical robots, curious creatures, and whimsical stories that bridge past and present. His work lives in the space between nostalgia and imagination, blending humor, sustainability, and wonder in ways that invite both reflection and delight.Find Jason online at https://artistjasonjones.com

Once upon a time (now) there was (is) a group of people who occasionally did unrehearsed script readings (live in front of an audience) of their favorite plays and films. The only rule for each actor was they had to make each character they played their own in whatever way they wanted, and to not actually share that with the other actors. So everyone shows up, ready to go, with no idea what's about to happen.The Princess BrideCast:Wesley – Chris HunterButtercup – Neka MarieInigo Montoya - Carlos A. Williams Jr.Valerie / Mother / Popping Sound in Fire Swamp – Lindsay StewartPrince Humperdinck / Grandson / Miracle Max – Josh MaioloCount Rugen / The Grandfather / Narrator / King of Florin – Trey PittmanFezzik / The Impessive Clergyman / The Albino / Castle Guards / Crowd and Brute Squad Noises – Michael StewartVizzini / Booing Woman / Soldiers at the Castle Gate / Brute Squad Sounds – Laura PackerYellin / Brute Squad Member – Emily Kramer

Julie Floro creates dreamlike photographic worlds rooted in nostalgia, memory, and that quiet space between waking and sleep. Her work invites viewers to step beyond ordinary reality and into images soaked in imagination, vulnerability, and wonder, and we're here for every pixel!Join us as we chat about photography as escape and home, the power of nostalgia, cultivating a community of dreamers, and why creativity is often the place we feel most like ourselves. If you’re a seeker of meaning, magic, or the Narnia hidden inside everyday life… this one’s for you. Learn more at juliefloro.com

Gina Gallina is a crochet artist in Arkansas who fills the world around her with color, texture, and wonder! She had created crochet items that would surprise you! Giant mushrooms a human can fit in, wrapping whole buildings in granny squares, and dressing models for the runway are all part of her crochet designs. There's no limit to Gina's creativity, and we talk about all of it on the show. Find Gina online at www.ginagallina.com

Best Blues Album winner and Grammy Nominee Glenda Benevides joined us on the show, and what a fun episode this was! We are excited to share Glenda recently won Best Blues Album for Four Shades of Blue at the World Entertainment Awards! What an unstoppable force of creativity, heart, and soul.Glenda’s music invites listeners into stories of resilience, connection, and transformation. With a signature sound and a magnetic presence, she’s an artist who doesn’t just perform... she moves people.https://glendabenevides.com

Ali Williams is an artist, illustrator, and the unapologetically bold founder (along with her husband) of FUMEINK. the adult coloring book company that proves creativity doesn’t have to be quiet or polite. FUMEINK is where coloring meets catharsis. Their books are packed with sarcasm, dark humor, laughs, and gloriously unboring designs. Think: stress relief with a wicked grin. From “Dark & Creepy” to “Humor & Sarcasm,” from pop-culture tributes to cheeky cocktails, every page is therapy for grown-ups who know life’s too short for bland lines and inspirational quotes that lie.Ali doesn’t just make art, she builds fun worlds full of attitude, builds community through laughter, and even uses her irreverent creations for good, partnering with organizations like Fayetteville Animal Services through special charity coloring books.

Growing up surrounded by the pioneers (his parents) of the American Studio Glass Movement and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Alex developed a vision all his own. His pieces blend steel and the luminous fragility of glass, creating sculptures that feel both powerful, modern, and organic.From teaching at the Corning Museum of Glass to leading the Glass Department at the Worcester Center for Crafts, and now creating full-time in his Asheville, NC studio, Alex continues to shape glass into reflections of resilience, transformation, and grace.Learn more about Alex at https://alexbernsteinglass.com

This lovely guest really needs no introduction! But we know she'd love one, just the same. It's Mrs. Carol Claus! Christmas Executive Officer of the North Pole, wife to Santa Claus, caretaker of reindeer, baker, crafter, friend of the elves, and so so much more! Mrs. Claus was also involved with a recent book project, and it's not too late to grab one for yourself or as a gift: "What Would Mrs. Claus Do?" is a delightful book for the season, and really for any season.This might be our most fun and whimsical episode of the year, and we're sure you'll enjoy it too! Learn more about Mrs. Claus here: https://mrscarolclaus.com

Maija Katak Lukin is an artist, hunter, fisher, sewist, crafter, baker, advocate, leader, and so much more.She lives a big life in little Kotzebue, Alaska - one that weaves together creativity, community, and stewardship of the Arctic land and waters her people have lived with for thousands of years.Maija has served as Mayor of Kotzebue, as Superintendent of Western Arctic National Parklands (overseeing 9 million acres of parkland), and is now the Native Relations Program Manager for the National Park Service in Alaska. She’s also the author of Create Like an Iñupiaq! a book that teaches everything from sewing traditional garments to filleting salmon with an ulu.There’s no single way to capture the scope of her life — and that’s exactly why you need to join us for this conversation. Find her patterns and book here: https://ahluspatterns.squarespace.com

In this episode, we sit down with Amy and Dusty Droz, the creative duo behind Dux Somnium Games, an indie studio crafting immersive tabletop worlds where immersive storytelling meets strategy.From sketching their first game concepts to building full-fledged adventures, Amy and Dusty share how imagination, collaboration, and a love for community and family fuel their creative process. Together, they explore what it means to bring people around a table to connect, dream, and play, and why games are one of the most enduring forms of storytelling.Whether you’re a lifelong gamer, a storyteller at heart, or just curious about how ideas come to life, this conversation is full of insight, laughter, and creative sparks.Learn more and check out their games at https://duxsomnium.com/

Ilana Zaks is a “fearless, refreshing, and commanding” violinist whose performances have graced some of the world’s most iconic stages from Carnegie Hall to the Berliner Philharmonie.By age 22, Ilana was already a first violinist with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. Today, she continues to share her dynamic artistry through concerts, innovative projects like Sound Worlds, and by teaching the next generation of musicians.In this delightful and impressive chat, Ilana talks about how music moves her, and how her relationship with music impacts the world around her. Learn more about Ilana at https://www.ilanazaksviolinist.com

Anne Elise Teeling, is a Brooklyn-based soprano whose voice and storytelling captivate audiences nationwide. From starring as Eurydice in Orphée aux enfers to performing Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Anne Elise brings characters and music to life with depth and heart.This year (2025) alone, she’s won top prizes in national competitions, debuted new roles, and joined the New York chapter of Opera on Tap. Beyond the stage, Anne Elise writes short stories, exploring human connection through words as well as song. Learn more: www.anneeliseteeling.com

We're thrilled to have actress and author Susan Berger back on the show - to discuss her new book, and talk about what she's been up to since we last chatted a year and a half ago. Find more about Susan here: www.susanbergeractor.comIf you want to preview and provide feedback for her new book Lord Byron's Daughter, please contact us: emily@themodrom.com

In this fun episode, Emily and Trey sit down with glass artist Jenn Justad for an inspiring conversation about the art and science of glass blowing. Jenn shares her journey from discovering glass at a summer camp to becoming a skilled creator whose colorful, functional pieces bring joy to everyday life.They dive into the behind-the-scenes world of glass blowing, how molten glass moves, why teamwork matters in the studio, and how something as simple as a favorite cup can transform daily rituals. Jenn also talks about the challenges and delights of art fairs, the tactile magic of her work, and her belief that art should be touched, used, and loved, not just displayed.Full of warmth, humor, and a touch of science, this episode will leave you seeing glass, and creativity itself, in a whole new light. Find Jenn online at www.justadglass.com

Tricia Copeland is an award-nominated fantasy and YA author who believes magic can be found everywhere: in sunsets, in stories, and in the worlds we create. From her Kingdom Journals series to dystopian adventures and paranormal tales, Tricia transports readers into realms where the extraordinary feels just a page away. She’s also the host of the Finding the Magic podcast, where she explores the wonder behind books and their creators. Learn more about Tricia on her website: https://triciacopeland.com

Steven L. Anderson is an Atlanta-based artist, curator, and Co-Director of Day & Night Projects, an artist-run gallery he helped launch in 2016.Since 1996, Steven’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums across the U.S., and can be found in collections from Microsoft to Coca-Cola to the National Park Service. His sketchbooks even have a permanent home in Emory University’s archives.Steven is not only a celebrated artist (and winner of major grants like the 2023 Idea Capital award), but also a creative explorer who has taken his practice from Atlanta to New York to France, blending art, community, and curiosity wherever he goes.

You’ve seen her work on Lady Gaga, Solidad O’Brien, 50 Cent, and possibly your cousin’s wedding photos, now hear the story behind the brush.Jenny Greene-Magliano is a top-tier makeup artist working across film, TV, fashion, and private clients in the Hudson Valley and NYC. She’s the calm in the chaos, the glam in the grit, and the secret weapon behind so many iconic faces.We talk artistry, work ethic, weird moments on set, and what it means to help someone feel like their best self.

No guest - just a candid chat about art, maple syrup, forgetting what year it is, Trey at seven years old eating a strawberry, fresh figs, bread baking, The Rivers of London, how you know you're in love, getting swept away, and how maybe, just maybe we should start a podcast.

Opera singer and author Kay Sparling brings the story of an opera singer/spy to the page in her new book Mission Thaw. In this episode we discuss her journey from opera singing (something she and Trey had in common) to writing, the synopsis of her book (with lots of interesting tidbits), and what's in store next.Content Advisory: Some topics very briefly discussed in this episode may be difficult for some of our audience to hear. Topics include: abuse, sexual abuse, and trafficking.