The Art of Being Seen | Photographer Jackson Davis on Creativity & Authenticity

Liz Kimball on the 5 Rules of the Creative Process and Finding Your Original Voice

Mi amor! Get ready for one of the most inspiring Playdates ever. 🌙If you've ever felt creatively stuck, convinced your voice doesn't matter, or wondered if you have anything new to say, this hour might just change your life.Liz Kimball changed mine. She completely revolutionized my relationship with creativity and guided me back to my own magic. I could think of no greater gift than bringing her into the fort and introducing you to this unstoppable force. 💫Together, we travel back to Liz's wonderfully unconventional hippie childhood, her dramatic Barbie soap operas, her alter ego Sally Kimball (a tiny businesswoman in fake heels 👠), and the winding journey from professional dancer to transformational coach and creativity catalyst.But mi amor, this episode is so much more than a life story.It's an invitation to reclaim your original voice.And if you've ever struggled with body image, weight, or grown up in a world that taught you to obsess over how you look instead of how you feel, this conversation will hold you gently. ❤️ We talk about growing up in dance culture, the pressure so many women face to shrink themselves, and Liz's powerful decision to create a life where her worth and livelihood were no longer dependent on the size or shape of her body.We talk about why your weirdness is your gift, why telling the truth is the greatest thing a creative can do, how to stop trying to become your "best self" and instead become more yourself, why sharing your work is part of the creative process, and why the world desperately needs your creative voice right now.We also play games 🎭, have an epic Cringe story, put on what might be the most feminist puppet show in Playdate history, laugh until we cry 😂, and have some truly life-changing conversations about art, freedom, self-expression, and what it means to fulfill your soul's curriculum.If you need permission to make the thing, share the thing, trust your instincts, release the pressure to be perfect, and take up space exactly as you are...This Playdate is your permission slip. ✨Now grab your glitter pens, make something delightfully weird, and go share your gift.I love you. Welcome to the fort. 🌙✨🔗 Follow & ConnectHost — Lorena MartinezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biencreativelorena/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playdatewithlorenaWebsite: https://www.playdatetheshow.comActing/Speaking/Coaching: https://www.biencreative.comGuest — Liz KimballInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizkimball/Website: https://lizkimball.com/💌 Media, Partnerships & SponsorshipsFor media inquiries, brand partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:📩 pr@biencreative.com⭐️ If You Loved This EpisodePlease subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/playdate-the-show/id1878479697, and share this episode with someone who needs a little bit more play in their life

Find Your Fuego 🔥 | DD Fuego on Drag Race, Failure & Fighting for Your Dreams

Mi amores… this episode means the world to me. 💛This week inside the fort, I get to play with one of my oldest friends in the entire universe: my childhood bestie from Monterrey, Mexico… the wildly talented drag artist, storyteller, creator, and human firework: DD Fuego. ✨🔥We go ALL the way back. Theater kid dreams. Broadway obsessions. NYU auditions. Spring Awakening mania. Running around New York together, trying to build lives that felt impossible.But at the heart of this episode is something much deeper:How do you keep believing in yourself after heartbreak?How do you continue creating when the dream doesn’t unfold the way you imagined?How do you find your fuego again?DD opens up about auditioning for RuPaul’s Drag Race for TEN YEARS… finally making it onto the show… and the devastating experience of being eliminated first. We talk about disappointment, shame, ambition, artistry, queerness, resilience, and what it means to keep creating even when the world doesn’t immediately hand you the flowers you hoped for.And somehow… we also laugh NON STOP 😂This episode is for every artist who has ever wondered:“Was I brave for nothing?” (You weren’t!)Inside this PLAYDATE: ✨ Growing up queer and artistic in Monterrey, Mexico ✨ Theater school dreams & moving to NYC together ✨ Discovering drag as an art form ✨ The 10-year Drag Race audition journey ✨ What REALLY happens emotionally after reality TV ✨ Finding your fuego and following the spark anyway ✨ Friendship, grief, play, and creative survival ✨ Why being cringe might actually set you freePLUS:🎭 A RECORD-BREAKING Broadway Heads Up🫧 Bubble compliment extravaganza📚 The story behind DD Fuego’s coloring book❤️ The most emotional LOVE BOMB of my life👑 Drag Race tea🔥 A very important conversation about building an artistic life on your own termsThis one is loud-hearted, funny, vulnerable, deeply Mexican, bilingual, theatrical, and full of love. I’m so proud of my friend. And I think this conversation will help a lot of people feel less alone.Go support artists who are brave enough to keep creating after disappointment. That is real courage. ❤️🔗 Follow & ConnectHost — Lorena MartinezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biencreativelorena/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playdatewithlorenaWebsite: https://www.playdatetheshow.comActing/Speaking/Coaching: https://www.biencreative.comGuest — Daniel Dabdoub aka. DD FuegoInstagram: @ddfuegoWebsite: www.ddfuego.com💌 Media, Partnerships & SponsorshipsFor media inquiries, brand partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:📩 pr@biencreative.com⭐️ If You Loved This EpisodePlease subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/playdate-the-show/id1878479697, and share this episode with someone who needs a little bit more play in their life.

The Art of Being Seen | Photographer Jackson Davis on Creativity & Authenticity

Mis amores… this is an EXTRA special episode because it is the very first PLAYDATE we ever shot. 🥹✨ There was never a question in my mind about who I wanted to kick this whole adventure off with: my favorite photographer in the world, Jackson Davis.Jackson is not only the photographer behind PLAYDATE… he is one of the artists who changed the way I see myself forever. Years ago, I did my first shoot with him while creating materials for a TV project, and I can confidently say my relationship to myself radically shifted afterward. He captured parts of me I wasn’t even aware existed yet. Plus… it does not hurt that he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on??? This episode is packed with incredible conversations about creativity, acting, photography, authenticity, and what it really takes to build a life as an artist. We talk about Jackson’s journey from a little boy dreaming of becoming a stand-up comedian, doing impressions for his classmates after his sixth grade teacher literally gave him a comedy slot at the end of class 😭… to joining the Navy right before 9/11… to eventually finding his way back to acting, photography, and creative freedom. Inside this PLAYDATE: ⚡ Jackson’s childhood dream of becoming a comedian and the teacher who gave him five minutes to perform for the class every week ⚡ his intense experience serving in the Navy during 9/11 ⚡ the surprising path that led him from military life to Hollywood ⚡ the BEST acting advice we’ve ever discussed in the fort ⚡ Meisner repetition, vulnerability, and learning how to truly listen ⚡ why authenticity is the secret weapon for actors and artists ⚡ how to prep for a headshot or photoshoot like a pro ⚡ audition rituals, creative flow, and calming nerves before high-pressure moments ⚡ why “thinking is the death of creativity” ⚡ what photographers are actually looking for in a session ⚡ why waiting for permission is destroying artists ⚡ plus games, puppets, cringe stories, LEGO architecture, emotional chaos, and… an alarming amount of pee stories 💀 Grab a craft and come play with two artists talking about creativity, fear, dreams, beauty, and what it means to become more fully yourself.“Radical self acceptance and authenticity is the way forward as any kind of artist. ”Welcome to the fort, bebe. 🏕️💛 ✨ About PlaydatePlaydate is a filmed podcast and creative playground hosted by Lorena Martinez; actor, creator, and TEDx speaker.Inside this fort for grown adults, we love hard, play, create, laugh, and have honest conversations about creativity, courage, and building a life you’re obsessed with. 🔗 Follow & ConnectHost — Lorena Martinez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biencreativelorena/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playdatewithlorena Website: https://www.playdatetheshow.com Acting/Speaking/Coaching: https://www.biencreative.com Guest — Jackson Davis Instagram: @jacksondavisphotoWebsite: www.jacksondavisphotography.com 💌 Media, Partnerships & SponsorshipsFor media inquiries, brand partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:📩 pr@biencreative.com ⭐️ If You Loved This EpisodePlease subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/playdate-the-show/id1878479697, and share this episode with someone who needs a little bit more play in their life.

The Hidden Link Between Creativity, Spirituality & Mental Health | Director + Writer Andrew Russell

What if creativity, mental health, and spirituality are all the same electric current? ⚡Writer & director Andrew Russell breaks down bipolarity, theater, and the energy of being human.Welcome to the Fort, mi amor! 🧡This week on PLAYDATE, we dive deep into the wildly brilliant, hilarious, and soul-stretching mind of writer and director Andrew Russell… and baby, this one is a JOURNEY.From growing up in rural Indiana to becoming an award-winning playwright and director, Andrew’s story is a tapestry of theater, identity, imagination, and radical honesty. We talk about the kind of creativity that saves your life… and the kind that demands you tell the truth.✨ Inside this episode:- His iconic obsession with Whoopi Goldberg (yes, he created an entire Whoopi Goldberg Day in high school 😭)- The magic of divas as lifelines for queer kids growing up in small towns- His award-winning play My Maria and why it’s “a secretly gay play about straight people”- His gripping upcoming novel Norm Red (think: Tennessee Williams meets Drop Dead Gorgeous)- A chilling and fascinating reflection on fear of groups of men and toxic masculinity culture- Growing up in 4H, county fairs, and country music dreams- His creative process: how ideas arrive, how stories choose their form, and how to follow them- A raw, powerful conversation about living on the bipolar spectrum and navigating mania, depression, and creative energy- Why creativity, spirituality, and mental health might all be part of the same electric current ⚡- Theater as a sacred space for human connection in a world racing toward AIAnd of course… this is Playdate: 🎨 We craft 🎭 We puppet 🎲 We play 🔥 We get a little chaotic (hello Cauldron Chaos + Bubbles + Ridiculous Accents) 💌 And we close with a heart-cracking Grimoire momentThis episode is funny, deep, vulnerable, and wildly inspiring. It’s about embracing your inner world, telling the truth, and daring to be seen… even when it’s messy.Press play, get cozy, and come play with us 💫✨ About PlaydatePlaydate is a filmed podcast and creative playground hosted by Lorena Martinez; actor, creator, and TEDx speaker.Inside this fort for grown adults, we love hard, play, create, laugh, and have honest conversations about creativity, courage, and building a life you’re obsessed with.

The Secret to Unleashing Your Voice, Power & Magic | Amy Chapman

Mis amores!This week inside the fort, I get to play with the one and only Amy Chapman… aka THE Voice Witch. ✨🎤🧙‍♀️A licensed vocal therapist, healer, and absolute wizard of sound, Amy works with some of the most iconic voices in the world: Idina Menzel, Shakira, Sia, Dick Van Dyke, Brian Littrell, James Van Der Beek, and so many more.And this episode? It is pure vocal witchcraft!We go all the way back to little princess-dress Amy singing Disney songs in the backyard, dreaming of Broadway… to the heartbreak of rejection that led her to become one of the most powerful voice healers in Hollywood.Inside this PLAYDATE:✨ The truth about finding your REAL voice🎤 Voice witchcraft exercises that instantly change your sound (and blow your mind)🧠 A powerful exercise for Parkinson’s, aging voice, weak voice, and vocal strength💥 How to unlock your belt, your high notes, and release tongue tension🎭 Stories from working with icons like Idina Menzel, Shakira, Sia, Dick Van Dyke, and Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell (I’M DEAD BTW)😭 A deeply heart-wrenching story about the late James Van Der Beek that I will never forget🎶 Why singing is healing, prayer, and one of the most powerful things we can do for ourselves👑 Why women need to brag more, take up space, and love themselves out loud! 🧜‍♀️ A full voice-over lesson as we create and discover the voices of two new magical members of the fort: Amy the Mermaid and Paloma (pero you can call her Jam 👀)🎭 Puppet voice play, character building, and the kind of ridiculous joyful chaos that could only happen inside the fortThis one is funny, emotional, magical, and honestly… life-changing.If you have ever felt like your voice was too much, too small, too broken, too scared, or too hidden… this episode is for you.Welcome to the fort, mi amor.Come sing. Come brag. Come play!AMY'S DARE:🎤 Sing + Brag! Sing out loud to someone or a group of people without caring what you sound like! And Brag about it. Please share it with us! ✨ About PlaydatePlaydate is a filmed podcast and creative playground hosted by Lorena Martinez; actor, creator, and TEDx speaker.Inside this fort for grown adults, we love hard, play, create, laugh, and have honest conversations about creativity, courage, and building a life you’re obsessed with.🔗 Follow & ConnectHost — Lorena MartinezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/biencreativelorena/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playdatewithlorenaWebsite: https://www.playdatetheshow.comActing/Speaking/Coaching: https://www.biencreative.comGuest — Amy ChapmanInstagram: @amychapmanWebsite: www.voicelabla.com💌 Media, Partnerships & SponsorshipsFor media inquiries, brand partnerships, or sponsorship opportunities, please contact:📩 pr@biencreative.com⭐️ If You Loved This EpisodePlease subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/playdate-the-show/id1878479697, and share this episode with someone who needs a little bit more play in their life. CHAPTERS:0:00 Welcome to Playdate!5:30 Love Bomb!9:25 Little Amy + Broadway Dreams13:00 Becoming a Voice Healer17:07 Speed + Meeting Andrew Lloyd Webber22:44 Heads Up! + The Importance of Bragging 29:30 Dare Time! 32:35 VOICE WITCHCRAFT38:50 Parkinson's and The Voice43:20 Jingle + Puppet Voices! 48:58 Craft Time and ICONIC Stories Of Legends She's Worked With. 1:00:11 Why Singing Heals You1:12:14 The Song That Makes Amy Cry1:17:00 The Grimoire Closing Ritual