Most theatermakers care about inclusion, but what does it really take to build spaces that center healing, agency, and belonging?

Educator and consultant Maati Wafford joins me to explore how the Montessori method, mental health, and DEI work intersect, and what the arts can learn from this powerful approach. We explore the role of adult accountability, the power of prepared environments, and why curiosity (not control) is the key to real change.

With a sweet cameo from my son Levi, this episode is both practical and deeply personal.

Enjoy the episode, friends!

Grab resources, see the full show notes, and more at

https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/what-can-we-learn-from-the-monetssori-way

Register Now for our Fall Cohort

Connect with Kira:
@kiratroilo
@artandsoulconsulting
@inclusivestages
"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide
Website
Join our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the page


Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

What really happens in a Broadway audition room, and how do you get remembered down the line, even if you don’t land the role?

Broadway casting director Peter Van Dam joins me to discuss what really goes into casting a show, from open calls that launch careers to the quiet instinct it takes to build a cast that feels right. We explore his journey from a shy kid with a VHS of Mary Poppins to helping shape productions like SIX and Dead Outlaw.

Peter shares what casting directors do, how to stand out in auditions, and why inclusive casting is about more than checking boxes; it’s about creating rooms where people belong.

This one’s for the artists, the dreamers, and anyone navigating the long game of a career in theater.

Enjoy the episode, friends!

Check out the full show notes and other resources at

https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/can-casting-directors-be-inclusive-with-peter-van-dam

Register Now for our Fall Cohort

Connect with Kira:
@kiratroilo
@artandsoulconsulting
@inclusivestages
"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide
Website
Join our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the page


Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.

Most artists are experts at expressing emotions, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been taught how to navigate them offstage.

What does it really mean to build emotionally intelligent spaces in the arts?

Zena Collins, one-third of the Inclusive STAGES team, joins me to unpack emotional intelligence as a powerful tool for creative leaders. We discuss how emotions function as data, why most of us aren’t as self-aware as we think, and how assessments like the MSCEIT can reveal surprising insights into how we present ourselves in our work.

From navigating hypervigilance and burnout to rewriting the stories we tell ourselves, this episode is full of practical takeaways and powerful reflections on what it takes to lead with empathy, clarity, and courage.

Enjoy the conversation, friends!

Check out the show notes and resources mentioned at

https://www.inclusivestages.com/post/what-are-emotionally-intelligent-creative-spaces-with-zena-collins

Register Now for our Fall Cohort

Connect with Kira:
@kiratroilo
@artandsoulconsulting
@inclusivestages
"'Black Hair'" Is Hair: An Entertainment Industry Guide
Website
Join our mailing list - scroll to the bottom of the page


Thanks to our music composer, Zachary McConnell, and our producer, Leah Bryant.