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April 30, 2025 41 mins

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In Part One of this two-part conversation, Thembi sits down with actor, writer, and teaching artist James J. Johnson, known to many as J.J.

He opens up about growing up as a quirky, intelligent, and imaginative kid in the small town of Front Royal, Virginia, and we dive into his earliest artistic influences, how humor became his tool for connection, the evolution of his creative process, and the semi-autobiographical play that brought his childhood friends to the theatre for the very first time. 

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Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan, a theater artist, educator, and tech enthusiast exploring the intersections of art, education, and technology through conversations with creative thinkers.

Theme music by Sycho Sid.

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