On this episode of the ⁠PAD podcast⁠, Rob chats with actor/director/writer/producer ⁠Tijuana Ricks⁠ about her fantastic and varied career post-graduation from growing up in Gramercy, Louisiana to attending WashU to graduating from the Yale School of Drama to sharing the stage with the likes of Viola Davis, Dustin Hoffman, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman to being a 2023 ⁠Women in Film⁠ Fellow to co-founding ⁠Some Folks Productions⁠ that strives to "tell stories that advance the narratives of the unheard." This is a good one folks!
Don't miss this inspirational episode!

04: Tijuana Ricks

Episode 13 of the PAD podcast features director, writer, educator Pirronne Yousefzadeh who joins the podcast from Minneapolis, Minnesota in her current role as Associate Artistic Director at the Playwrights' Center. Pirronne has directed and developed work all over the country at places like The Public, New York Theatre Workshop, The Kennedy Center, Williamstown Theatre Festival, American Conservatory Theater, Actors Theatre of Louisville, La Jolla Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, and Geva Theatre Center to just name a few. She is also a founding member of Maia Directors, a consulting group for artists and organizations engaging with stories from the Middle East and beyond. Pirronne received her MFA in Directing from Columbia University under the mentorship of Anne Bogart, Robert Woodruff, and Brian Kulick and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Theatre and English Literature from WashU. Do not miss this inspiring and thought-provoking episode with the delightful and talented Pirronne Yousefzadeh.

13: Pirronne Yousefzadeh

In this episode of Engineering the Future, Jessica Wagenseil, professor of mechanical engineering & materials science and Vice Dean for Faculty Advancement, discusses how her interdisciplinary work combines mechanics and biology to understand cardiovascular health. Wagenseil uses computational models to predict disease progression and collaborates with physicians to help inform clinical decision-making and future therapies. She also shares her experiences with teaching, mentorship and outreach, including her work with the BrightPath STEAM Academy to encourage local youth interest in science and engineering.

Engineering Cardiovascular Health with Jessica Wagenseil

On this episode of Engineering the Future, Jon Silva, professor of biomedical engineering and of computer science & engineering, discusses his work at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and cardiac care. Tune in to learn more about Silva’s interdisciplinary research in treating cardiac arrhythmia using augmented reality and his entrepreneurial journey from lab discovery to market application. Plus, get Silva’s insights on the future of biomedical engineering and a few sci-fi media recommendations!

Engineering arrhythmia therapies with Jon Silva

Episode 14 of the PAD podcast is live and features producer, writer, marketing director, and author Eric Schnall! Eric has worked on and off Broadway for more than twenty-five years which included winning a Tony Award for the Broadway revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch and a Lucille Lortel Award for Fleabag. He has also written about techno and electronic music for Billboard and Revolution, profiling DJs and musicians from around the world. Eric lives in New York City with his partner and his dog. His first novel I Make Envy On Your Disco was the winner of the Barbara DiBernard Prize in Fiction and has been promoted on programs like Watch What Happens Live. Eric speaks about his journey before, during and after his time at WashU and imparts some beautiful wisdom for all the listeners. Don’t miss this one!

14: Eric Schnall

In the latest episode of Engineering the Future, host Shawn Ballard dives into the realm of brain science and the future of mental health with guest ShiNung Ching, associate professor in the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering. They explore the intersection of engineering and neuroscience, discussing the complexities of understanding brain functions, the challenges of interdisciplinary research, and the promising future of neuroengineering in addressing mental health issues. Listen in to learn how advanced models and technologies are being developed to enhance cognitive function.

Engineering Interdisciplinary Neuroscience with ShiNung Ching

On the season finale of Engineering the Future, we conclude our focus on Engineering Human Health with Spencer Lake, associate professor in mechanical engineering & materials science. Lake describes his work on orthopedic soft tissues, including tendons and ligaments that let the body move. Lake’s lab works to advance our fundamental understanding of these tissues, using experimental and computational approaches to inform clinical applications and treatment strategies.

Engineering Musculoskeletal Health with Spencer Lake

Episode 15 of the PAD podcast is a special one featuring our first in-person podcast interview with recent PAD alum and director of the #WashU production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ Brenna Jones! Literally on the Spelling Bee set, Rob talks with Brenna about all things Spelling Bee comprised of an all-student cast, designers, and crew but also discusses her many outside projects that she managed even while a busy WashU student! In 2018, Brenna was approached by the Showboat Theatre Board in her hometown of Hermann, MO and asked to start a program for the local students to experience theatre. Along with her business partner, Brenna created the Half Act Theatre Company, which has grown to a troupe of over 100 students ages 4-18 that continues to bring summer camp theatre to Hermann and change young lives in the process. She has also helped to kickstart the Riverside Theatre Project, which is a cross-community collaboration between St. Louis and Hermann designed to open up dialogue between rural and urban artists. Don’t miss this inspiring episode interview with one of Missouri’s rising theatre stars: Brenna Jones!

15: Brenna Jones

After a summer hiatus, the PAD Podcast is back with a brand-new episode featuring PAD alumnus Jayson Johnson. Jayson is currently the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Chief of Staff at Genentech based in San Francisco. Rob and Jayson begin by talking about his journey at WashU studying and practicing Dance in the PAD followed by his post-graduation journey from Washington Ballet to the San Francisco Ballet where he worked his way up to his current position on the Board of Directors for that world famous institution. Jayson served for two years as a Commissioner for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and receives rave reviews from co-workers: “I gave him some of the most ambiguous problems to solve and he consistently delivered something better than I could have imagined”. Don’t miss this delightful interview where we learn about all the things Jayson learned at WashU that prepared him for all the multiple roles he has had in life and how he continues to choreograph his future.

16: Jayson Johnson

17: Adriane Heflin

Episode 18 of the PAD Podcast features our first master’s graduate from the WashU Performing Arts Department in Dr. Jenny Kokai. Dr. Kokai is an award-winning educator, playwright, scholar, and administrator. She is currently the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance and Professor of Theatre at the University of South Florida (USF). As a scholar, she is recognized internationally for her work on tourism and performance, with a focus on themed and immersive entertainments. In 2017, she published the well-reviewed monograph Swim Pretty: Aquatic Spectacles and the Performance of Race, Gender, and Nature and in 2019 co-edited the anthology, Performance and the Disney Theme Park Experience: The Tourist as Actor. She also continues to publish as a playwright and her most recent work in that arena just came out in the form or two plays for young audiences: Zombie Thoughts and Ballet for Aliens co-written with her son, Oliver Kokai-Means. Ballet for Aliens toured and was presented to over 10,000 elementary school students throughout Utah in 2022-23 with Plan-B Theatre and Zombie Thoughts was turned into an app game by Riverside in Australia. Don’t miss this enlightening conversation with multidisciplinary artist and administrator Dr. Jenny Kokai!

18: Dr. Jenny Kokai

I am a Teaching Professor of Drama (Design) at Washington University in St. Louis

04: Tijuana Ricks

Robert Mark Morgan

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