Riverside Chats

My guest today is Ella Weber. Weber received a Bachelor of fine arts from the university of Nebraska Lincoln and Master of Fine Arts with distinction from the University of Kansas, with an emphasis on printmaking and print media.She has had many artistic residencies across the nation, and some of her recent solo shows have included exhibitions at Western Exhibitions (Chicago, IL), Munson (Utica, NY), Radial Gallery (Dayton, OH), The Union for Contemporary Art (Omaha, NE), Plains Art Museum (Fargo, ND).We’re discussing the importance of flexibility with the artistic process, and ways for more artists to have increased access to studio spaces.

My guest today is Barron Breland. Breland began singing as a child in the Atlanta Boy’s Choir, and later received his undergraduate in music theory from the University of Georgia and doctorate of music in choral conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is the artistic director of the River City Mixed Chorus,  one of the first GALA (Gay & Lesbian Association of Choruses) ensembles established in 1984 and features singers from all LGBTQ+ identities and allies.He also is the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs & Dean of the Graduate School at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Here is my conversation with Barron Breland.

Today, I’m talking with Arturo Aceves Gonzales. Gonzalez is a native of Mexico, and received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Universidad de Guadalajara.He is the Head of Health Equity and Economic Opportunity at the Latino Economic Development Council. In our conversation, we talk about upwards mobility for Latinos in Omaha, as well as the nuts and bolts of entrepreneurship for community members of all citizenship levels. Here is our conversation.

My guest today is artist Rachel Mindrup.  Mindrup was raised in Omaha and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Nebraska Kearney before receiving her Master of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. She is an associate professor of drawing and painting and the Richard L. Deming, MD Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities at Creighton University.We’re talking about how Mindrup balances medicine, healing, and identity through her artistic practice, as well as her work advocating for Neurofibromatosis on Capitol Hill.

My guest today is Jennifer Sheshko Wood.  Wood is a native to Canada, and grew up in Montreal, QB. She came to the states to pursue her MFA in Costume Design from Indiana University.As a costume designer and crafts artisan, her American credits include the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Indiana University, Indiana Festival Theatre, the American Players Theatre, and Opera Theatre St. Louis. Jenn worked in Montreal with Geordie Productions, The Segal Center for the Arts, Table d’Hote Theatre, and Fallen Angel Productions.

My guest today is advocate Christopher McCroy.  McCroy was born and raised in North Omaha, and received his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Morehouse College and is completing his PhD in higher education at UCLA.He has been the executive director of 100 Black men of Omaha since the fall of 2023.The 100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc. (100) was established in 1995, an alliance of leading African-American men from a myriad of professions including community leaders, business executives, physicians, attorneys, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and educators volunteering their time to better the community. ”Real Men Giving Real Time.”They are having their 20th annual men of honor fundraiser celebrating 30 years of impact in their community anniversary this Saturday, November 15thHere is my conversation with Christopher McCroy.

My guest today is Drew Newlin. Newlin grew up in various parts of Omaha, where his passion for skateboarding began after playing some Tony Hawk video games.He attended the University Of Nebraska Omaha, where he received his bachelors in political science.He continued skateboarding along the way, and began incorporating advocacy with his shredding, which led to working at the Bay.The Bay originated out of Lincoln in 2010, and is a non profit that offers free or pay what you can programming in music, art, media, fashion, and skateboarding. They opened a second location in 2024 at the Benson Community Center. Today, we’re discussing our favorite skateboarders, how advocacy needs new approaches to reduce harm in 2025, and the steps required for establishing a community skate park.  

My guest today is business owner and guitar repairman, John Svatos.Svatos grew up in the Millard area, and was a self identified ‘guitar kid’ in his neighborhood. As he got older he got more involved in the Omaha music scene, which led to guitar repair work and owning and operating Ground Floor Guitar. Ground Floor Guitar is a local guitar retail and repair shop that was created in 2016. They offer a large range of repair services including: guitar setups, pickup installation, fret leveling, electronic repair, and deep cleaning. They’re currently in the North Downtown area, on 1715 Cummings street. Today, we’re discussing the unique education required for guitar repair work, how he balances aesthetic with functional appeal when crafting guitars, and the joys of the youth learning about 90’s grunge culture.

My guest today is artist and educator Bart Vargas. Vargas was raised in Bellevue, where he was the youngest of four brothers.  He began drawing as a young child, and eventually received his bachelor of fine arts from the  University of Nebraska Omaha and then his Master’s of Fine arts from The University of Minnesota. Vargas’ art explores concepts of salvage, collection, and repetition. He does  sculptures, paintings, ceramics and serigraphs, and his exhibitions can be found throughout the United States and also in China, Oaxaca Mexico, and India.Today, we’re discussing color theory, what he’s learned as an art educator for over 15 years, and the creative power of patience. 

My guest today is Leo Louis II. Louis has been a community advocate in a multitude of roles, including gang intervention, urban farming and entrepreneurship for over a decade. Louis began his career in advocacy while a sophomore at North Omaha High School, where he drafted a 10 point  email addressing issues relating to gang violence and CC’d every person in the school, which led to community-centered gang intervention programming that is still active.He has also worked with the Malcolm X Foundation where he helped create the Shabazz Community Garden before serving as Board President of the organization from 2019 to 2024. He also stars in a new film called My Omaha, a documentary highlighting  social movements during the social and political unrest in Omaha in 2020. My Omaha,  directed by Nick Beaulieu (Bow-lee-yew) was selected to the Slamdance, Middlebury, and Ashland Film festivals. Today, we’re talking about the intrinsic connection with social justice and hip hop, ways community members can be more invol

Today, I’m talking with Renzellous Brown, a singer, playwright and actor based out of Omaha. Brown, a native of Flint Michigan, received their Bachelor of Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Midland University, where they participated in multiple ensembles including the Blu Notes, University Choir, and Unforgettable Jazz combo.You can catch them singing at various jazz clubs throughout Omaha, and onstage at your local stage production. They also offer vocal coaching services!  If you’re interested, reach them at 402-739-9567, or email them at renisartist@gmail.com . If you would like to schedule online, go to calendly.come/renzealous. Today, we discuss incorporating feedback as part of the creative process, how songwriting compares to playwriting, and lessons they’ve learned as a working bandleader and jazz vocalist in Omaha.

JordantheNinja is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, actor, and dancer.He grew up in North Omaha and attended Northwest High School. He began his music career performing with his older brother, Jared, and got more involved with acting through various gigs at the Omaha Community Playhouse.As a musician, he leads multiple ensembles including Parfait, a multi-genre band that features fresh interpretations of well-known hits, with influences ranging from Motown classics to songs from Super Mario. They won the 2025 Omaha Entertainment Award for Outstanding Cover Band.In this conversation, he discusses  the role of discipline in the creative process,  lessons he’s learned while performing in different spaces throughout Omaha, and what upwards mobility looks like for artists in 2025.

Yanira Garcia is a community advocate who serves on the Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority, representing District 3. Additionally, she has over a decade of experience in communications, public relations, and advertising.The Transit Authority, also known as Metro, is responsible for running Omaha’s bus system, including ORBT and MOBY services.The elected board has seven non-partisan board members, voted by community members. Prior to the fall of 2024, seats were appointed by the mayor rather than elected. The change is part of Metro’s increased budget and expanded regional services. Board responsibilities include determining transit policy, overseeing the budget and handling contracts.Garcia has called South Omaha home for over 25 years and grew up in the Upland Park Neighborhood. She attended Omaha South High School and later received a Master of Arts in Integrated Media Communications from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Today, Garcia discusses her approach to being a grounded public official, the ro

Neal Duffy is an audio engineer, DJ, and yoga instructor. He’s an Omaha native, and  received his education in sound at the School and Audio Workshop in Ohio before transferring to Iowa Western. Afterwards,  he received his yoga certificate while working with Omaha acts before landing his big break with the Neon Trees.Since then, he has worked with diverse national acts including Bright Eyes, Marilyn Manson, Clay Aiken, Eminem, Cursive and Anderson Paak.In Omaha, you can find him facilitating yoga courses or near a dance floor as DJ Werdisbond. Today, we’re talking about the audio science involved in delivering unforgettable performances, the administrative and management responsibilities that go into a successful tour, and how others can blaze unique career paths while still calling Omaha home. 

Alejandra Sandoval-Montañez is a mezzo-soprano and Holland Community Opera Fellow. The fellowship brings community-focused artists to live and work in Omaha. Sandoval-Montañez grew up in Mexico and received her Masters in Vocal Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois. Her stage credits include roles in productions of “Carnaval!,” “A Little Night Music,” “Pirates of Penzance” and “Patience.”Sandoval-Montañez is also an educator and social media manager. She runs the Instagram account Aspiring Opera Singers, which offers resources and inspiration to those coming up in the craft. The account has more than 22,000 followers.In this episode, Sandoval-Montañez and Michael Griffin are talking about techniques used in operatic singing, the role of live performance in shaping Omaha’s culture, and how the operatic tradition can meet today’s cultural needs.

Maggie Wood is executive director of the nonprofit, arthouse cinema Film Streams. This year, Film Streams is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its Dundee Theater with the Dundee Hundee series. The yearlong program includes 10 films, one for each decade of the theater’s history. The next screening is at 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 24, featuring the 1948 Technicolor film “The Red Shoes.”Maggie Wood was born and raised in Bloomington–Normal, Illinois. Since moving to Nebraska in 1997, her nonprofit experience includes work with Opera Omaha, Planned Parenthood and Inclusive Communities, where she was co-executive director for eight years.In this episode, Wood is talking about film as a cultural connector, Wood’s history with Film Streams and how Dundee Hundee came together.

For Mother’s Day, today's episode features pediatrician Arlana Phillips, mother of host Michael Griffin. She attended medical school at the University of Kansas and completed her residency at University of Nebraska Medical Center. She has been practicing at Charles Drew Health Center for over 20 years. Charles Drew Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center, meaning they serve at-risk community members that are frequently uninsured.In our conversation, Phillips and Griffin discuss her motivations for pursuing a career as a physician, as well as the responsibility that physicians have to provide high quality healthcare to community members of all types.

Hana Baba is creator of the new audio series “Folktales From Sudan.” The series is a passion project inspired by the stories Baba grew up hearing when visiting relatives in Sudan. Each episode is a single story narrated by Baba with music and sound effects. Baba says the series marks the first time the tales have been recorded in English. “Folktales From Sudan” premiered in March and is now available wherever you get your podcasts.Baba is an award-winning journalist with KALW in San Francisco, where she hosts the long-running news magazine “Crosscurrents.” She reports on immigrants and communities of color, health, education, race, identity, culture, religion and arts. Baba was born in Sudan and migrated to the United States with her family as a child.Michael Griffin talks with Baba about storytelling’s role in culture, and the virtue of sharing African stories on a global scale.

Mayor Jean Stothert is running for reelection against John Ewing. The election is Tuesday, May 13.  We spoke to Ewing on last week’s show, and you can find that episode wherever you get your podcasts. This is Stothert’s fourth campaign for mayor. Before she entered politics, Stothert was head nurse at St. Louis University Hospital. She moved to Omaha with her family in 1993 and has served on the Millard Board of Education and the Omaha City Council before she began her first mayoral term in 2013.Michael Griffin is talking with Stothert about her life before politics and how her background in critical care nursing prepared her for city government. She shares her priorities for a fourth term, including increased public safety and developing the urban core.

It’s election season in Omaha, and today's guest is John Ewing, who’s running for mayor against incumbent Jean Stothert. We’ll hear from Stothert in next week’s episode. Ewing spent 25 years as a police officer before assuming office in 2007 as Douglas County Treasurer. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and criminal justice and a master's degree in urban studies from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.Ewing and Michael Griffin are talking about Ewing’s decision to seek mayoral office after decades of public service and his priorities if he wins the election on May 13.