Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 11 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

We begin this week with a look at the work of Maria McHugo, an up-and-coming stand-up comic from Washington DC, who has also worked with Los Angeles Comic Manager, Barry Katz of Barry Katz Entertainment. Maria speaks with Francesca Zorlas about her comedic character arc, from humble beginnings at the University of Virginia as a media studies major with plans to be a lawyer, to her choice to pursue her dreams of storytelling through entertainment. Listen as she unravels her comedic ventures and talks about the trials and tribulations of working in this male dominated industry. Maria also imparts some advice to prospective females looking to break the ice and enter the entertainment industry.

To conclude Catalyst this week, we feature an interview by Clare Thompson who talks to professional musician Matthew Wilson. Wilson, who has a degree in Global Jazz Studies from UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music, discusses with Clare what shape his budding musical career is taking, starting with his run as a bassist for several bands, including Flamango Bay and Serialist, the latter of which has garnered attention for its song “Sometimes” on such streaming platforms as Spotify. Thompson and Wilson discuss Matthew’s background in music, going all the way back to marching band. They move on to discuss what Wilson feels were important lessons to be garnered from being a music major, before talking about his current bands. Wilson explains his writing process, and how that changes and adapts depending on which band he is working with at the time.