 This episode's guest is comedian Darryl Littleton. Darryl began his comedy career writing sketches for “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” on CBS Radio. Soon afterwards he became a regular at the world famous Comedy Store, adopted the stage name, “D’Militant” and landed a job as D. L. Hughley’s exclusive writer when he hosted BET’s “Comic View”. Darryl was promoted to writer/producer and also penned material for Cedric the Entertainer, Sommore and Don DC Curry. Darryl’s television credits include Robert Townsend’s WB sitcom, “The Parent Hood”, “Townsend Television” for Fox, HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam”, Comedy Central’s “Make Me Laugh”, Martin Lawrence’s “1st Amendment”, Telemundo’s “Loco Comedy Jam”, Byron Allen’s “Comic’s Unleashed” and ABC’s “America’s Funniest People” where he was the Grand Prize Winner. Darryl toured Europe and Asia as a stand-up comedian entertaining US military troops, released his comedy CD, “Am I Lying?!”, won the prestigious Bay Area Black Comedy Competition on its 20th Anniversary, worked as a commentator for NPR and his first published book, “Black Comedians on Black Comedy”, is taught at USC and was adapted into the Robert Townsend directed documentary, “Why We Laugh” where Darryl served as executive producer. Littleton co-hosted the podcast “Tuezdae’s with D’Militant”, toured as a public speaker, produced “Black & Blue: The Laff Records Collection” and dropped his sophomore album “Too Raw for Mainstream” along with publishing five additional books: “How to Be Funny: The Essential Comedy Handbook”; “Forefathers”, “Pimp Down”; “Comediennes: Laugh Be a Lady” and “Black Revenge.” Darryl Littleton is the Associate Curator of the Comedy Hall of Fame and is an Emmy nominated writer for his work on the documentary, “Joan Rivers: Exit Laughing”. You can check out his new weekly show "D'Militant Got A Show" streaming live Mondays at 2:00 p.m. every Monday PST. We discuss his beginnings in comedy, getting his start in media, being a writer and performer, and so much more on episode 56 of The Avert Your Eyes Podcast. Consider Yourself Warned. Follow Darryl Littleton on Facebook, Twitter, or check out his website. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

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056 - Comedian Darryl Littleton

 This episode's guest is comedian Tony Casillas. Tony started performing stand up comedy in Dallas, Texas, during his senior year in college by going on stage and telling stories about his life. He has been able to evolve those stories into an act that has allowed him the opportunity to open up for comics like Jim Jeffries, Tj Miller, Orny Adams, Theo Von and Bobcat Goldthwait. He is also 1/2 of The Before and After Podcast with comedian Parker Slavens, where they recap funny stories, news headlines, and thoughts they had during the week. You can see Tony this Valentine's Day, as he headlines at The Dallas Comedy House. Tickets and more information about that show are available at www.dallascomedyhouse.com. I recently sat down with Tony and we discuss what drew him into comedy, working with other comedians on the road, hecklers and so much more on episode 55 of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast. Consider yourself warned. Follow Tony Casillas on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

055 - Comedian Tony Casillas

 Dr. Becca Peixotto is the Curator of the Origins: Fossils From The Cradle of Humankind exhibit at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. Located in the heart of Dallas, TX, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) and the National Geographic Society, proudly announces that fossils of not one but two recently discovered ancient human relatives (Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi) are currently on display in the U.S. from South Africa for the first, and likely only, time to be featured in the limited-run exhibition – Origins: Fossils From The Cradle of Humankind. The exhibit brings to life years of scientific research tied to the Perot Museum’s recently launched Center for the Exploration of the Human Journey, a global hub for education, communication and research in the study of human origins. With Dr. Peixotto, we discuss what lead her to become an archeologist, the exhibit that is currently on display through March 22, 2020 and so much more on episode 54 of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast. Consider yourself warned. About the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The top cultural attraction in Dallas/Fort Worth and a Michelin Green Guide three-star destination, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a nonprofit educational organization located in the heart of Dallas, Texas. With a mission to inspire minds through nature and science, the Perot Museum delivers exciting, engaging and innovative visitor and outreach experiences through its education, exhibition, and research and collections programming for children, students, teachers, families and life-long learners. The 180,000-square-foot facility in Victory Park opened in December 2012 and is now recognized as the symbolic gateway to the Dallas Arts District. Future scientists, mathematicians and engineers will find inspiration and enlightenment through 11 permanent exhibit halls on five floors of public space; a children’s museum; a state-of-the art traveling exhibition hall; and The Hoglund Foundation Theater. Designed by 2005 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Thom Mayne and his firm Morphosis Architects, the Victory Park museum has been lauded for its artistry and sustainability. To learn more, please visit perotmuseum.org. About the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate the wonder of the world, define critical challenges and catalyze action to protect our planet. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 14,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature convenings and content. To learn more, visit nationalgeographic.org. About the University of the Witwatersrand. Wits University is a research-intensive University, one of the leading institutions on the African continent that produces world-class research that is locally relevant and globally competitive. Wits is a global leader in the paleosciences, one of its key research areas. Wits’ research output has increased by over 45% in the last four years with more than 85% of its research published in international journals. Wits offers a free space for the exchange of ideas and a vibrant intellectual community that fosters debate and knowledge transfer both within and beyond our lecture halls. Wits’ latest research available at wits.ac.za/research.

054 - Becca Peixotto, Ph.D.

 This is a very special edition of the podcast! I attended a round table conversation featuring documentary filmmaker, Joe O'Connell, and the subject of his film "Danger God," Gary Kent, who was the inspiration for Brat Pitt's character in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood." They discuss the documentary, stunt work through the years, Gary's real-life run-in with Charles Manson, and so much more on episode 53 of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast. Consider yourself warned. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

053 - Danger God

 This episode of the podcast, we are on the red carpet of the 2019 Frame4Frame Film Festival in Arlington, TX. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

052 - Frame4Frame 2019 Red Carpet

 The Frame4Frame Festival 2019 is September 19 - 22 in Arlington, Texas and features art, music, films, and fun. Ahead of the festival, we sit in on the media round table with James Hawthorn and Vivian Fullerlove with the festival. Then, we talk with filmmakers Nicholas Muthersbaugh of "Alora," Sheran Keyton of "Purgatory," and George Wada of "Once Upon A Time." Next, we speak with director Daniel Montoya and Ethan, the subject the documentary "Him." Finally, we talk with filmmaker Ya'Ke Smith whose films "Wolf" and "Heavenly" both screen during the festival. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

051 - Frame4Frame Festival 2019

 This episode's guest is actor Selase Botchway. He is a first-generation Ghanaian. Growing up in the Arlington area, as a young boy in an African enriched family, Selase became heavily influenced in the Arts, Music, Sports. He performed in several plays, sang in the choir, and participated in the championship comedy team in high school. After going to college in Iowa, he returned to North Texas fulfilling his dreams as an actor and signed with Linda McAlister Talent and Gill talent in Chicago. Selase has been in several print campaigns including Lifetime Fitness, Dicks Sporting Goods, Nike Dry Fit, Bose Speakers, Sony, FedEx, and Lays. He's also been a spokesman for Payless Power, Sudden Link Cable, Lennox Air, The Salvation Army, the Texas Lottery. He's performed on shows including Queen of the South and in movies such as Sense Of Urgency (on Amazon Prime Video), A Man Called John, Hello Henry, TX Zombie War, Zulu 6, and much more. Selase recently won Best Actor at Rack Focus Final Round 7 in 2018, with his performance in short Film Patient Zero which was directed and written by Issa Currie. Together, their most recent collaboration is a new short called Silent Partner where Selase gets to play a detective named Joel. The film premieres during Rack Focus 9. During our conversation we discuss his recent trip back home to Ghana, acting, upcoming projects and so much more on episode number 50 of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

050 - Selase Botchway

 This episode's guest is Maria Tuadi. She is an Indonesian-American musician and filmmaker raised in SoCal that I met while attending the 2019 Asian Film Festival of Dallas. Her film Always screened during the Women's Block. Her "Love, Sweat and Fears" EP that she wrote, performed, and produced, is an exploration of contemporary RnB and Soul singing. The EP features the single, "Still", a Session I 2016 Grand Prize Winner and Lennon Award Winner in the R&B Category of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest! Tuadi’s latest single, “Always” is the title track of her Asian on Film Festival Best Original Score Award-winning short film of the same name. During our conversation we discuss her film, music and more on episode number 49, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... Visit Maria's website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Apple Music, YouTube, Spotify, and Soundcloud. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

049 - Maria Tuadi

 This episode's guest is Richie Lunsford. Richie lives in Fort Worth and is a main stage cast member of Four Day Weekend, the longest running show in the southwest. He is also a Writer, Director and Performer in the YouTube Web Series called For King and Country. Currently, Richie sits on the board of directors for the Fort Worth, non-profit called Girls Rock Fort Worth, which is a program that helps empower girls through music education and performance. During our conversation we discuss comedy, redemption and so much more on episode number 48, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

048 - Richie Lunsford

   This episode's guest is Fort Worth rapper, The.Naaman. He is currently nominated for a 2019 Fort Worth Weekly Music Award in the R&B/Hip Hop Category. Check out his current single here. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

047 - The.Naaman

 This episode's guest is Kate Morgan. She is a critic, writer, and poet currently residing in Dallas, Texas. If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

046 - Kate Morgan

 This episode's guest is Dave Lieber who is “The Watchdog” columnist at The Dallas Morning News. He is also on a mission to bring back to life a forgotten historical figure of North Texas – Amon G. Carter – who owned the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, WBAP-AM and what’s now NBC 5. Carter is credited with bringing a trillion dollars worth of businesses to North Texas. Dave’s eighth book is called "AMON! The Ultimate Texan." He’s also written a play of the same name that was performed before more than a dozen sellout audiences at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst in May 2019. I got the chance to see the play following our sit down interview and this trip through history was amazing! Seeing actor Kelvin Dilks portray such a larger than life person in the flesh was a roller coaster of highs filled with big bravado and laughs and the touching, sad lows that made you feel his personal tragedies. If you have lived, worked, dreamed, or played in Fort Worth, I highly recommend you see the play! Catch it if you can at the Artisan Center Theater! For tickets, visit www.artisanct.com. During our conversation, I got to sit behind the desk on the set as in between performances as we discuss his new play, the death of journalism, and so much more on episode number 45, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

045 - Dave Lieber

 This episode's guest Katy Blakey, weekend morning anchor and a reporter during the week at NBC 5 News. Born and raised in McKinney, Katy is a proud graduate of McKinney High School and Southern Methodist University. She graduated president of her class with a BA in journalism and political science. Katy is an Emmy Award-winning reporter, and her work has also been honored with Lone Star Emmy nominations, including Best News Anchor, and was recognized by the Oklahoma Associated Press. Katy began her career as a reporter and anchor for KTEN-TV in Denison, Texas, where her investigative reports into private jail funding led to resignations and changes in local law enforcement. Later, Katy co-anchored the weekday morning news and reported for KOCO in Oklahoma City, OK. The first reporter on the scene of a deadly medical helicopter crash, her reporting also included a hostage situation ending with the rescue of a six-year-old girl, devastating wildfires and severe storms. She tracked rare twin tornadoes, covered multiple tornado outbreaks, reported on the wide-scale destruction and heroic rescue operations left by a massive EF5 tornado in Moore, Oklahoma and President Obama's tour of damaged communities. No stranger to breaking news or severe weather, Katy solo-anchored live coverage of the early morning attack on Dallas Police Headquarters and hours-long stand-off. She covered the national outpouring of support for five DPD officers killed while protecting a peaceful protest in downtown Dallas and traveled to Houston for President George H. W. Bush’s memorial services. On the coast as Hurricane Harvey made landfall, she provided extensive coverage of rescue and relief operations as the storm caused catastrophic flooding in the Houston area. From endearing "Texas Connects Us" stories to following a young cancer patient bringing smiles, hope and congressional attention to much needed funding for childhood cancer research to reporting from the mass shooting tragedies in Orlando and Las Vegas, Katy understands the privilege of reporting local and national news to her hometown community. During my conversation with Katy, we discuss what it takes to be a journalist, some of the impactful stories in her career, chasing tornadoes, and so much more on episode number 44, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

044 - Katy Blakey

 This episode's guest is Deborah Jung, the Founder and Executive Director of Kids Who Care. Deborah is a 2007 Great Women of Texas honoree, 2008 Legacy of Women Award recipient for the Arts, and most recently the Heart of Gold award recipient from the Fort Worth Arts Council. Deborah Jung has produced and directed tours of original musicals since 1990 with Kids Who Care, previewing Off Broadway at the Lamb's Theatre, and appearing at the Kennedy Center, Bass Hall, and Disneyland. Additional tours include venues in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, Italy, Albania, Germany, Washington D.C., Orlando, Nashville, across Texas and at 30,000 feet in the air on the American Airlines Wish Flight. Deborah has produced and directed family musicals for Kids Who Care including West Side Story, Peter Pan, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Godspell, Narnia, Wizard of Oz, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, A Christmas Carol and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Under Deborah’s direction, Kids Who Care has produced Family Concerts with Peter Yarrow, Trout Fishing in America, Sara Hickman, Inca Son, Eddie Coker, Danny Wright, and Joseph Vincelli. Prior to founding Kids Who Care, Deborah Jung was a member of Actor’s Equity and a member of the Resident Company at Casa Mañana (1975-1989). While at Casa, she directed and/or appeared in over 75 productions and is the original founder of Casa Kids. Celebrating thirty years this year, Kids Who Care is still following the original vision and desire of Founder and Executive Director Deborah Jung….. which is “To Create a place where the Child is Cherished. To Write and Produce Original Works designed to Change the World. To Find Stellar Arts and Business Professionals, who adore Kids, and work with them. To Gather the Brightest Business and Community leaders, who love Kids, and ask them to volunteer alongside us. So that, When the Lights Go Up … We Find Delight!” Kids are transformed when their confidences are built, and when the combination of artistic development is infused with entrepreneurial leadership, Kids are more than ready for the bright futures that await them! At Kids Who Care, they do this by leading with an entrepreneurial mindset, valuing the artistic integrity of kids, promoting excellence in artistic development, seeking financial and cultural diversity, teaching ensemble driven mindset, mutually respecting all ages, and producing original works that are designed to change the world! By offering a year round artistic education to kids of all ages and backgrounds, children have opportunities to be part of summer musical and leadership camps, weekly classes, or even the opportunity to tour an original work which is designed to change the world. During my conversation with Deborah Jung, we discuss how she accidentally got into theater, her time at CASA Mañana, the creation of Kids Who Care, and so much more on episode number 43, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

043 - Deborah Jung

 This episode's guest is Amanda Sweet. She is a Culture Creator - connecting with people through multimedia experiences. She focuses her energy on photography, curating and hosting events, and producing. Her true specialty is pinpointing people’s talents and making opportunities to set their talents free. We discuss and being from Detroit, the art scene, fear of success, and so much more on the answer to everything, episode number 42, of the Avert Your Eyes Podcast! Consider yourself warned... If you enjoyed the episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and kindly leave us a rating, a review, and subscribe! You can also subscribe via Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn or Google Play. Follow us via Facebook and Twitter. Visit our website. Click here to take our listener survey! We now have Avert Your Eyes Podcast merchandise! Check it out here!

042 - Amanda Sweet

Speaking with some of the most interesting creators within North Texas and beyond.

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Avert Your Eyes

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