115: Challenges and Influences in Performance based CCIs

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 13 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Hosting our first segment this week is Jadyn Ayala who brings us an interview with Joshua Gaspar, professional dancer and choreographer. Joshua opens up to Jadyn about his early years in dance, sharing how his passion transformed into a career despite financial challenges and setbacks. They discuss how Joshua founded Exchange, a dance team focused on sharing ideas, power, and community and what it was like to build that team from the ground up. Next they discuss Joshua’s residency in Las Vegas and how he later turned that into a North American tour with Donny Osmond.  They close the interview talking about how Joshua plans to take his passion even further in the future. 
Next up this week, is an interview with a singer/songwriter who performs as Acacia. Acacia sits down to talk with Gabby. The pair discuss Acacia’s creative process, revealing how she manages to balance deeply personal experiences with universal themes. They also discuss the evolution of her music over time—how her sound has shifted and what’s influenced these changes. Acacia reflects on the roles her cultural background has played in shaping her music, offering a deeper look at how her life experiences and where she grew up influence both the lyrics, the melodies she creates, and her experiences with interpersonal relationships. They wrap up the interview with an exploration of the realities of the music industry, from how involved Acacia is in the business side of things to the biggest challenges musicians face today.