220. ICYMI, David Deaton

225. Ben Grimes: Serving is a Core Value

Episode 225: Ben Grimes: Serving Is a Core Value Actor. Army veteran. Founder. Artistic Director. Ben Grimes has spent much of his life moving between worlds: from a performing arts high school in Arkansas, to the hustle and bustle of New York City, to military service in Iraq, and now to leading one of Kentucky’s most impactful theater organizations. In this conversation, Benjamin and Ben explore how theater became a tool for self-discovery, why service remains one of Ben’s core values, and what the military taught him about leadership, purpose, and community. They discuss the surprising connection between Shakespeare and trauma recovery, the scars we carry through life, and the role storytelling can play in healing. The conversation also examines the future of American theater: resident companies, community engagement, artist compensation, nonprofit sustainability, and Ben’s vision for Market House Theatre as a cultural anchor for western Kentucky. At its heart, this episode asks a simple question: What happens when we gather in a room together and truly pay attention? TOPICS DISCUSSED * Growing up as a military brat and finding identity through theater * Why acting became a path to self-discovery * The challenges of pursuing a career in New York City * Military service, leadership, and life after the Army * Shakespeare, PTSD, and the healing power of storytelling * Trauma, empathy, and the scars we carry * The rise and fall of resident acting companies * Community theater vs. professional theater * How nonprofit theaters actually work * Endowments, sustainability, and arts funding * Building Market House Theatre’s future * Why theater remains a powerful tool for community building ABOUT BEN GRIMES Ben Grimes is the Artistic Director of Market House Theatre in Paducah, Kentucky. An actor, Army veteran, arts administrator, and founder of Riverside Actors Theatre, his work centers on storytelling, service, and the transformative power of the arts. CHAPTERS 00:00 Finding Identity Through Theater Ben’s childhood, ADHD, and discovering drama. 06:32 When Acting Wasn’t Enough New York City, artistic ambition, and joining the Army. 15:45 Service as a Core Value How military service reshaped Ben’s perspective. 19:05 Can Shakespeare Heal Trauma? PTSD, storytelling, and the science behind theater’s impact. 29:01 Building a Theater for Healing The Breach, Riverside Actors Theatre, and therapeutic arts. 37:28 What Is Professional Theater Anymore? Resident companies, community theater, and artist compensation. 46:46 The Future of Market House Theatre Ben’s vision for western Kentucky. 56:31 Theater as a Gym for Empathy Why communities still need shared artistic experiences.

224. Jenny Bennett: Hope is a Discipline

What does it mean to spend a lifetime making theatre? Actor, director, educator, and fourth-generation theatre artist Jenny Bennett joins Ghostlight host Benjamin Reed to explore the power of presence, communication, and community. From growing up backstage in Michigan to building a theatre company in Taiwan, Jenny reflects on the experiences that shaped her artistic vision and her belief that meaningful communication begins with listening. Together, Bennett and Reed discuss actor training, directing, language acquisition through theatre, the economics of the arts, why live performance still matters, and the unique ability of storytelling to bring people together across cultures and differences. Along the way, Jenny shares lessons from a life in the theatre, why the best collaborators aren’t always the most talented people in the room, and why she believes that hope is not a feeling, but a discipline. Topics: Theatre, directing, acting, Taiwan, communication, community, arts funding, Shakespeare, collaboration, storytelling, attention, hope.

223. Ron Román-Meléndez: Why Stories Matter

In this episode, Benjamin sits down with actor and storyteller Ron Román-Meléndez to explore why stories matter, who they are for, and what happens if institutions lose sight of their purpose. Drawing from more than a decade working at some of the country's leading classical theaters, Ron reflects on storytelling, artistic excellence, community, accessibility, and the tension between art and economics. Together, they examine the role of theater in a world filled with distractions, the difference between spectacle and substance, and why audiences continue to seek meaningful shared experiences. The conversation also explores the future of the arts, the value of live performance, the challenges facing cultural institutions, and the responsibility artists have to the communities they serve. At its heart, this episode asks a simple question: What are stories for? And what do we lose when we stop paying attention to one another? CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction & Why Stories Matter 04:00 Attention, Advertising, and Modern Storytelling 07:20 Why We Tell Stories in the First Place 10:30 Community, Universality, and Shakespeare 16:30 What Makes Great Storytelling? 22:00 Trusting the Text and Trusting the Audience 27:00 Vulnerability, Performance, and Presence 37:00 AI, Imagination, and the Future of Art 43:00 The $250 Question: Why Leave the House for Theater? 51:00 Excellence, Craft, and the Pursuit of Better Work 58:00 Transparency, Institutions, and Funding the Arts 01:07:00 Technology, Access, and Expanding Audiences 01:13:00 Community, Civilization, and Why Stories Endure

222. Sam Moss

In this episode, singer-songwriter Sam Moss reflects on creativity, community, and the slow work of making meaningful art. Together, Sam and Benjamin explore the difference between performing and connecting, why some songs take years to finish, the challenge of balancing artistry with a livelihood, and what happens when we give our attention fully to a craft. The conversation also dives into touring, house concerts, audience building, the changing nature of live performance, and why smaller, more intimate spaces may hold the key to deeper artistic experiences. At its heart, this episode is about patience, presence, and the value of creating things that cannot be rushed. Chapters * 00:00 The Origin Story of Sam Moss * 16:04 The Joy of Music and Performance * 33:12 Expectations and Performance * 46:43 Balancing Art and Entrepreneurship * 01:03:59 The Art of Slowing Down

221. Caleb Clark

In this episode, Caleb Clark shares his journey through professional acting, creative burnout, fatherhood, and building a coaching business for actors in Atlanta. Together, Caleb and Benjamin explore the realities of sustaining a creative life, the emotional toll of rejection, the illusion of “making it,” and why theater continues to matter in an increasingly disconnected world. Caleb reflects on: * moving to Atlanta right before the pandemic * performing at the Tony Award-winning Alliance Theatre * balancing artistry, business, and family * the relationship between discipline and creativity * and why theater feels less like entertainment… and more like communion. The conversation also dives into: * money mindset for artists * acting technique and orchestration * mental health in creative careers * storytelling and empathy * and the importance of community in artistic work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Creative Hustle 01:12 Moving to Atlanta Before the Pandemic 03:35 The Reality of Being a Professional Actor 08:12 Success, Discipline & the Myth of “Making It” 17:24 Family, Fatherhood & Creative Balance 20:45 “Theater Is Church” 30:48 Communication, Empathy & Storytelling 35:04 Building a Coaching Business for Actors 47:02 Money, Value & the Artist Mindset 49:15 Consistency & Orchestration in Acting 54:45 The Importance of Play Analysis 01:01:05 Rapid Fire Questions 01:03:07 Final Thoughts & Creative Encouragement Coach Clark's Website - https://thecalebclark.com [https://thecalebclark.com] Coach Clark Presents Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-clark-presents-artists-i-admire/id1541234567 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-clark-presents-artists-i-admire/id1541234567] David Ball's Backwards and Forwards - https://www.amazon.com/Backwards-Forwards-Understanding-Acting-Process/dp/1234567890 [https://www.amazon.com/Backwards-Forwards-Understanding-Acting-Process/dp/1234567890] Guest Links Instagram - https://instagram.com/coachcalebclark [https://instagram.com/coachcalebclark] Website - https://thecalebclark.com [https://thecalebclark.com]