Katie Merrick Finan is a plus-sized actress, model, singer, and cast member of "The Art of Blowing It". She is the queen of odd jobs and is passionate about building a sustainable and fulfilling life while pursuing your creative and artistic endeavors. Katie was thrilled to put on her best plus-size "Barbie Doll" playing the role of Mattel Barbié alongside Ashley in "The Art of Blowing It". 

You can follow Katie on Instagram at BigBlondeandBodyPositive or online at KatieMerrickFinan.com

In this episode, Ashley goes back in time to the 90s for an authentic love letter to grunge. Originally a theatrical production Grunge Musical became an audio drama that was recorded during covid in people's closets and never being in the same room.  This Audio Drama is available on all streaming devices including Audible and Apple Podcast.  Written by Leyna d'Ancona with music and lyrics by Paul Siegel. The soundtrack album includes unreleased songs written between 1991 to 1998 by Paul Siegel with Jon Evans on bass and Scott Amendola on drums, rerecorded and remastered this six-episode audio drama series.  

This episode covers why Leyna and Paul chose now, why an audio drama, and how they didn't let fear stop them. Get ready for Grunge Musical! Oh and did I mention I am the narrator as well as Molly!

https://www.grungemusical.com/

Grunge Musical Youtube

More on fear

In this episode, she shares her healing journey through her music, finding her religion and gender. She also opens up about her work on The Art of Blowing It. Lydian is a former Nashville Evangelical turned Queer Brooklyn Musician.  She has worked off-broadway and in film, written and performed her one-woman show Sunday Clothes, and is the artist behind the music project "Lydian" you can listen to the latest Lydian single, "Jane" on iTunes and Spotify.  

Instagram  @lydianmusic_

In this very special episode, Ashley welcomes actress, producer, & Business Coach for Actors, Kari Nissena. Today you are in luck and will get some inspiration for everything from your fear, IMDB, and career transformation. 

Kari Nissena has performed extensively on both the stage and screen. With hundreds of acting credits to her name, she has acted in film, television, theater, radio, commercials, voiceover, and more. On the producing side of things, she has produced dozens of films, webisodes, training videos and programs for actors, and other projects and events in the entertainment industry. As a sought-after industry expert, speaker, and business coach for actors, she has coached thousands of actors in Marketing, Press, IMDb, How to Improve their Online Presence, How to take control of their careers, and much more.

http://www.IMDb.me/KariNissena

https://www.youtube.com/c/ActorTransformation

https://www.instagram.com/KariNissena/

http://twitter.com/KariNissena

https://twitter.com/ActorWorldMag

http://www.ActorTransformation.com

Judy Jean Kwon shares her journey growing up in a Korean American video store, where she fell in love with the art of filmmaking and storytelling. She talks about standing out in standup and why she created her ballbusting comedy MILFriend. 

Catch up on Season 1 of MILFriend 

Follow Judy  Yo Mama Rice Facebook Instagram

Thank you for listening to the show; I am so grateful! If you would like to support the show, you can share it with a friend or join me on Patreon or Instagram. Catch up on Season 1 of The Art of Blowing it 

If someone fell from the sky and didn't know what a musical was... What shows would you introduce them to? Actor and writer,  Josh Bardier came up with an awesome list of 5 with some honorable mentions.   What do you think? What show do you think this person who fell from the sky would need to see?! Leave a comment and check out Josh's full episode on the podcast at Ep 58 :)

Josh is a king of Queens; dubbed the mayor of Astoria by his block. Josh is the creator and host of ACTORIA, a spotlight cabaret based on giving his community space to perform for the Love of it all. With his millennial Mister Rogers spirit and his fusion of old soul and electric energy, the New York Times called him a “force”. They were actually writing about a hurricane but... the same thing. Josh is a mental health advocate and has a deep passion for universal equal rights.  His hashtag/mantra is #leadwithlove. 

You can find him @joshbardier everywhere- he’s the only one in the world.   

Follow him on Instagram so you can hear an update on his upcoming podcast "Hi Neighbor: The Podcast" and see his freelance photography. He is also working on the newest solo show right now titled "Beside Myself"

https://www.instagram.com/nowstarringashley/ 

Watch Season 1 of The Art of Blowing it  

This week on the podcast I welcome my friend and neighbor open-hearted Josh Bardier (bar-dee-ay). In this episode, we talk about Josh's journey in theater leading him to London then to New York with 3 bucks and a dream. He is a ‘Jack of all trades’ performance artist originally from Worcester, Massachusetts. Acting, singing, instruments, hosting, writing, composing, dancing, spoken word- if there’s a story to tell and an audience to listen to, you’ll find Josh.   

He’s a king of Queens; dubbed the mayor of Astoria by his block. Josh is the creator and host of ACTORIA, a spotlight cabaret based on giving his community space to perform for the Love of it all. With his millennial Mister Rogers spirit and his fusion of old soul and electric energy, the New York Times called him a “force”. They were actually writing about a hurricane but... the same thing. Josh is a mental health advocate and has a deep passion for universal equal rights.  His hashtag/mantra is #leadwithlove. 

You can find him @joshbardier everywhere- he’s the only one in the world.   Follow him on Instagram so you can hear an update on his upcoming podcast "Hi Neighbor: The Podcast" and see his freelance photography. He is also working on the newest solo show right now titled "Beside Myself"   

WARNING: He speaks openly in only the loving way that Josh does, about his struggles with mental health and suicide.  If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. 

This episode is a beautiful share by Josh and I am so grateful he came on the show!  

https://www.instagram.com/joshbardier/ 

Watch Season 1 of The Art of Blowing it and more for Ashley

Welcome to The Eff Your Fears Podcast! This week we welcome back our guest from last week Kristin Cantwell. We share our top picks for Bada$$ plus-size characters. I would love to hear what you have to say, and before y'all get all crazy on me, these are subjective, and you can have your own feels but share with kindness. And also I know some won't consider Mindy Lahiri plus-sized, but that's how I identify her in my head, and you can't fight with crazy so let me have that :)  

In this list, we talk about  

Khadijah James (Queen Latifa) in Living Single 

 Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) in The Mindy Project  

Aidy Bryant as a cast member on Saturday Night Live 

Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson (Danielle Brooks) in  Orange Is the New Black 

Fran (Lolly Adefope) in Shrill 

Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy) in Gilmore Girls  

Ruby Hill Good Girls and as Donna in Parks and Rec portrayed by Retta 

Annie  (Aidy Bryant ) in Shirll Carmen (Britney Young) in Glow   

Paula Proctor (Donna Lynne Champlin) in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend 

Emmy Hart (Ashley Monique Menard... ME) in The Art of Blowing It  

We also have a chat about everything from Shrill with the women's need to take care of a man to fat Monica in the suit to body representation in the 90s. Do you cancel the show or still have a space for it? 

Also, check out www. theartofblowingittheseries.com