Rodney Veal’s Inspired By

Joy Johnson | Artist & Curator

In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, artist, activist, and muralist Joy Johnson traces her path from Fordham University and basketball scholarships to interior design, mural festivals, and leading community art on Dayton’s West Side. Learn more about Joy online: https://www.artislifedyt.com [https://www.artislifedyt.com] Follow Joy on Instagram: @joy4theworld23

Allyson West | Executive Director, Cindependent Film Fest

Join host Rodney Veal as he sits down with Allyson West, co-founder and executive director of the Cindependent Film Festival in Cincinnati. Allyson shares her journey from Texas to CCM, thriving in New York as an actor, and the tough decision to return to Ohio to prioritize love, community, and a new creative path. Learn more about Allyson online: www.cindependentfilmfest.org [https://www.cindependentfilmfest.org/] Follow Allyson on Instagram: @cindependentfilmfestival

Rachel Sussman | Producer & Educator

Tony Award–winning producer Rachel Sussman joins host Rodney Veal on Rodney Veal’s Inspired By to explore how purpose-driven theater can change hearts, minds, and communities. Learn more about Rachel online: https://www.rachel-sussman.com [https://www.rachel-sussman.com] Follow Rachel on Instagram: @rachsuss

Babatunde HipHopera Akinboboye | Musician

What happens when world-class opera collides with West Coast hip hop? In this episode of Rodney Veal’s Inspired By, host Rodney Veal sits down with Babatunde Akinboboye, the viral “HipHopera” baritone who’s redefining what opera can be. Learn more about Babatunde online: https://www.hiphopera.com [https://www.hiphopera.com] Follow Babatunde on Instagram: @babatunde_hiphopera

Erin Smith Glenn, MFA Artist & Professor

Painter and educator Erin Smith Glenn joins Rodney Veal to talk about a life shaped by art, Black womanhood, and radical self-acceptance. From drawing owls on a chalkboard after her parents’ divorce to earning her first scholarship at just eight years old, Erin shares how art became both a survival tool and a path to joy. Learn more about Erin online: www.etsy.com/shop/TheScarvinArtist [https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheScarvinArtist?dd_referrer=] Follow Erin on Instagram: @thescarvinartist