Inclusive STAGES: Building Healthy Arts Spaces

What if the tension you’re feeling in the rehearsal room isn’t just about the work, but about how we define harm and discomfort?

In this solo episode, I explore the growing disconnect in creative spaces and share a practical tool, the Stoplight System, to help you tune into your body, name what’s really happening, and respond with care. From personal stories to questions that can shift entire conversations, this episode invites you ...

Most artists crave authenticity, but what happens when the systems we’re trained in ask us to perform instead of feel?

Sound healing artist and singer Davin Youngs joins me to discuss reclaiming one's voice, unlearning perfectionism, and reimagining performance as a space for healing, presence, and transformation. We talk about the ways formal training can limit creative freedom—and how Davin found his way back to joy. 

This epi...

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 t...

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 Dea...

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 a...

Most creative teams want to build inclusive environments, but without a clear process, things can fall apart quickly.

So, how do we move from intention to action?

In this episode, I’m walking you through the STAGES Framework—the six-step method I created through Art & Soul Consulting to help arts organizations build brave, resilient, and psychologically safe spaces. When artists feel supported, their work isn’t just safer—it’s be...

Most theater companies want to support their artists, but many are missing the mark without realizing it.

What does it actually mean to create psychologically safe spaces in the arts?

There’s a powerful case to be made for prioritizing artists’ mental health—not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it strengthens the work. When we center psychological safety in our rehearsal rooms, everyone benefits.

Dr. Charmain Jackm...

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to bring you this conversation with the incredible writing team behind "Finn" - Chris Nee, Chris Dimond, and Michael Kooman - for an inspiring discussion about artistic resistance in the face of political censorship. 

When their critically acclaimed children's musical about a shark who discovers he might be a fish was abruptly canceled at the Kennedy Center following a presidenti...

In this special episode of Inclusive Stages, host Kira Troilo steps into the guest seat for a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of DEI consulting in theater. Interviewed by her husband Jared, Kira unveils her unique approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion work that builds bridges instead of barriers. As a DEI consultant challenging traditional training methods, she shares powerful insights about creating truly i...

Welcome to the Season 2 finale of the Inclusive Stages podcast! 2024 has been a wild ride—it feels like I just started the podcast and it’s surreal to already have two seasons under my belt. Today, I’m going to share my lessons and reflections from 2024 as well as plans for 2025. 

But before we get into it, I want to share my gratitude—for the people who’ve trusted me, who’ve listened to me and the guests that I've brought on, ...

We’re doing things a little differently. My son Levi Troilo joins me today for a very special episode of the Inclusive Stages podcast!

Levi and I love listening to podcasts where parents and children are reading books. We thought it would be fun to read a story and talk about a topic that applies to all kids and adults—the zones of regulation. The zones are especially helpful for improving communication and enabling each of us to ta...

In theater and in the arts world, self advocacy can feel almost impossible, especially for artists who so often feel they’re replaceable. In a lot of ways, that assumption is true and something we as an industry need to work on changing. Being able to advocate for yourself helps lay the groundwork for inclusion. 

Waiting to advocate for yourself can lead to a lot more stress, tension, and negative things that make communication diff...

EDI (or DEIB) work truly is for all of us! And given how much heat the industry has received recently—it could use a bit of a rebrand. Because representation in storytelling has the power to help us solve big problems in the world! If we let it…

With a journey that’s taken her to Harvard, Walt Disney, Google, and even the TEDx stage—Julie Ann Crommett knows just how big of a ripple effect inclusive storytelling can have! In this con...

Welcome to a very special episode of the Inclusive Stages podcast. A conversation centered around defining inclusion, creating a shared vision for this work, and establishing a brave space for difficult conversations. Because we can only become stronger and more connected people, organizations, and artists when we learn how to engage in hard conversations. 

I'm joined by two of my favorite collaborators and incredible colleague...

As a music director, Dan Rodriguez knows how critical inclusion is in theater and the arts. It’s critical in often unseen places like the pit, where you’ll find musicians, vocal performers, and the music director. Music directors tend to be with production processes the longest, which means they understand and have a unique position of influence within a show. In this conversation, we discuss Dan’s journey into theater, the importa...

Brave spaces, I hope you'll agree, aren't a luxury in the arts. They’re a necessity for theater lovers and professionals. Without them, we can't push the boundaries of art and storytelling in a way that's healthy and sustainable. And isn't that what we're all here to do? Create art and theater that's daring and meaningful and makes a difference. There's a lot of wisdom we can take from physic...

There’s a business case to be made for theater companies and arts organizations. We need to fill the seats with more dedicated theater lovers and friends. To do that, it’s important to be inclusive of the community we serve, think outside the box, and consider how we can welcome new audience members in a thoughtful, sustainable way. Aubrey Bergauer joins me for this conversation, where she shares more about the math of diversity, t...

Being a theater costume designer is about so much more than creating an outfit someone will wear for a performance. It’s about seeing that person, collaborating with them, and empowering them to bring this character to life night after night! Raquel Adorno began as a stage performer and, over time, transitioned into her most impactful role—theater costume designer. She shares about her entire journey—including what it’s been like b...

There are so many other talented, dedicated, and caring folks out here supporting everyone who brings a production to life. And this conversation is actually the very first time I met Alexa Smith! She’s had a very similar journey to me with acting, motherhood, and EDI consulting. Alexa shares about her early acting career, what led her to become a consultant, and (possibly my favorite topic) how she’s navigated motherhood in the th...