The Apollo Theater, the Kennedy Center, and National Sawdust announce a new podcast collaboration, Active Hope, exploring how artists and arts leaders can shape this transformational, historical, and polarizing moment. Listeners are invited to join a new engaging conversation each month with a leadership trio from these national arts institutions—acclaimed theater director and Executive Producer at the Apollo Theater, Kamilah Forbes; poet, TED Global Fellow, and Kennedy Center Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact, Marc Bamuthi Joseph; and composer and Artistic Director & Co-Founder of National Sawdust, Paola Prestini.

The pilot episode, recorded during a live digital event in January, and available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify beginning February 18, includes performance clips from the archives of all three institutions and asks questions such as “How can artists and arts workers shape the transformational and polarizing moments of today?” and “How can we apply creative intelligence to cross borders and build a path for healing and the future?” Future episodes featuring special guests across a range of backgrounds and disciplines will also be recorded during live digital YouTube events for subsequent podcast release. Learn more about the series HERE.

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Episode 1: Pilot

Livestream Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021

Podcast Release Date: Thursday, March 4, 2021

Listen on Spotify   |   Listen on Apple Podcasts

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Episode 2: Incarceration, Law, and Politics - with guest Van Jones

Livestream Date: Friday, March 12, 2021

Podcast Release Date: Thursday, March 25, 2021

Listen on Spotify   |   Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 3: Borders - with guest Mayor Regina Romero

Livestream Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021

Podcast Release Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021

Listen on Spotify   |    Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 4: Futurism - with guests Marina Gorbis, Brenda Shaughnessy, and Tim Fielder

Livestream Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Podcast Release Date (Part 1 with Marina Gorbis): Thursday, June 10, 2021

Listen on Spotify   |    Listen on Apple Podcasts

Podcast Release Date (Part 2 with Brenda Shaughnessy and Tim Fielder): Thursday, June 17, 29021

Episode 5: Feminism & Social Justice  |  Beauty & Aesthetics - with guest Adrienne Maree Brown

Livestream Date: Thursday, June 24, 2021

Podcast Release Date: Thursday, July 8, 2021

To receive more information about Active Hope and updates regarding future livestreams and podcast episodes, click here.