Episodes

Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
EPISODE 96: Janet Cowell
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
Wednesday Mar 15, 2023
In this episode Artistic Director Jerome Davis interviews Janet Cowell. Janet is the CEO of the Dix Park Conservancy, as well as a former City Councilor (Raleigh), State Treasurer, and State Senator. She discusses her unique personal background and the importance of thoughtful urban development, a thematic tie-in to Burning Coal's THE CHERRY ORCHARD.
Timestamps:
- Intro: 00: 12
- About Janet: 1:30
- Janet’s time in Asia: 3:24
- Why Raleigh?: 4:19
- Janet’s time in public office: 5:18
- Why Janet ran for office: 6:20
- The History and future of Dix Park: 10:47
- The Mission of the Conservancy: 13:24
- Raleigh’s Growth: 16:28
- Goodbyes: 20:53

Monday Mar 13, 2023
EPISODE 95: Juan Isler
Monday Mar 13, 2023
Monday Mar 13, 2023
In this episode, Artistic Director Jerome Davis interviews the inimitable actor and sound designer Juan Isler.
Juan discusses how he got into theatre, being a founder of TORN, and his role in Burning Coal's production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD.
Time Stamps:
- Intro: 00:13
- Who is Lopakin? 1:20
- Juan’s Past Projects: 2:25
- Randy’s Return to Directing 4:27
- Juan’s Early Days and start in theatre 6:27
- Juan’s First Audition 12:15
- Juan’s Political activism 16:25
- Belonging in Theatre 20:24
- Thoughts on The Cherry Orchard 26:30
- Goodbyes 30:25
Interested in starting your own podcast? Use link https://www.podbean.com/coal for 1 month of free hosting on Podbean! We've been using it a couple years now, and can vouch it as user-friendly, practical, and great for beginners and advanced podcasters alike.

Thursday Feb 02, 2023
EPISODE 94: Dr. Richard Bergl
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
Thursday Feb 02, 2023
On this episode, Dr. Richard Bergl from the North Carolina Zoo discusses elephant poaching and animal conservation efforts. This discussion is in connection to our production of MLIMA'S TALE by Lynn Nottage.
Interested in starting your own podcast? Use link https://www.podbean.com/coal for 1 month of free hosting on Podbean! We've been using it a couple years now, and can vouch it as user-friendly, practical, and great for beginners and advanced podcasters alike.

Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Audio Described Program for MLIMA’S TALE by Lynn Nottage
Thursday Jan 26, 2023
Thursday Jan 26, 2023

Saturday Jan 21, 2023
EPISODE 93: Willie Hinton
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
Saturday Jan 21, 2023
On this episode, Willie Hinton discusses choreography for Mlima's Tale and his history as a dancer and educator. Learn more about Burning Coal's production of Mlima's Tale at https://burningcoal.org/mlimas-tale/.
Interested in starting your own podcast? Use link https://www.podbean.com/coal for 1 month of free hosting on Podbean! We've been using it a couple years now, and can vouch it as user-friendly, practical, and great for beginners and advanced podcasters alike.

Saturday Dec 03, 2022
EPISODE 92: Jeremy Vance
Saturday Dec 03, 2022
Saturday Dec 03, 2022
In this episode, stage manager Jeremy Vance talks SILENT SKY as well his past Burning Coal productions, A GREAT BIG WOOLLY MAMMOTH THAWING FROM THE ICE and I AND YOU.
- Intro: 0:12
- Jeremy’s Background in theatre: 1:12
- What is a Stage Manager?: 7:18
- Jeremy’s Approach to SMing: 10:09
- Jeremy’s experience other areas of theatre: 12:15
- Other Theatre’s Jeremy’s worked with: 13:25
- Other artists that inspire Jeremy’s work as an SM: 14:24
- David Korins aesthetic: 17:02
- Hardest part SMing a show: 19:00
- How to get into SMing: 22:26
- Should you learn about other aspects of theatre?: 23:46
- Goodbyes and Outdo: 24:36

Monday Oct 17, 2022
EPISODE 91: Dana Bouquin
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
In this episode, Artistic Director Jerome Davis talks to Dana Bouquin about the impact of Henrietta Leavitt in real life. Join us for SILENT SKY to experience Henrietta's journey.
Time Stamps:
- Intro, 0:00
- Dana’s work 1:13
- Librarian or Astrophysicist? 3:10
- Dana’s Background 4:10
- What is astrophysics? 6:43
- Women’s history in STEM 9:37
- Henrietta Levitt and her impact on Astrophysics 10:40
- Henrietta’s Role at Harvard College Observatory 14:45
- Glass Plate Photography 16:27
- The relationship between Arts and Sciences 19:!7
- What’s next in Astrophysics? 22:19
- Why is Astronomy important? 24:15
- Wrap up 25:50

Thursday Oct 13, 2022
EPISODE 91: Sean Moran
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Thursday Oct 13, 2022
Sean Moran, Collections Manager of Paleontology and Geology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, talks to us about the real-world background of A GREAT BIG WOOLLY MAMMOTH THAWING FROM THE ICE.
Timestamps:
- Intro: 0:13
- Who is Our guest? 0:25
- What is Climate? 2:13
- Global climate shifts over the years and their affects 3:21
- Evolution of mammoths 9:00
- Mammoths found in ice 9:57
- Bringing Mammoths back from extinction 10:52
- How has climate change impacted specimen discoveries 12:08
- Specimen collection process 17:10
- Why museums want fossils 18:23
- Monetary values and fossils 18:46
- Link between western industrialization and climate change? 23:34
- What should we do to fight climate change? 27:29
- Can art have an impact on climate change? 31:10
- Outro: 34:26

Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
EPISODE 90: Lucy Jane Atkinson
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Lucy Jane Atkinson talks about her role as director for the world premiere of A GREAT BIG WOOLLY MAMMOTH THAWING FROM THE ICE.
Time Stamps:
- Intro, 0:00
- Lucy’s Recent Projects 0:48
- How she gets it done 5:26
- On working with Tatty 7:28
- Working on new v. Old works 9:32
- Lucy’s process working with actors 10:57
- Working with Playwrights 19:50
- Working on Great Big Woolly Mammoth 25:40
- Outro 29:27

Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
EPISODE 89: David Wybrow of The Cockpit
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
On this episode, artistic director of the London theatre The Cockpit discusses Burning Coal's upcoming London production of TALLEY'S FOLLY.
Time Stamps:
- Introduction, 0:00
- What is the cockpit? 0:56
- What’s the community? 2:04
- When did Dave join the cockpit? 4:20
- Cockpit’s building history: 4:40
- Dave’s Childhood 5:55
- Dave’s intro to theatre 12:20
- Young people and theatergoing today 18:12
- About New York voices: 22:37
- How does Talley’s Folley fit at cock pit? 24:40
- Outro 29:29