The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul

• Fun Is a Prerequisite: Broadway Director-Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter’s Recipe for Kind Leadership

  Broadway Director & Choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter (Bad Cinderella, School of Rock) joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss creating kind communities in theatre, her magical new production of Disney's The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse, why she only wants to work with compassionate people and more. JOANN M. HUNTER (Director & Choreographer). Always an honor and treat to be back at Paper Mill Playhouse! Over 30 Broadway, West End, and Australian first-class credits. Directed and choreographed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Early and infant stages: director-choreographer of Jo: The Little Women Musical, Yasuke: The Legend of the Black Samurai, and Birds of New York by Sophie B. Hawkins. I have worked with some extraordinary creatives in my career. How very lucky was I. In honing my craft, I keep my mentors in my heart. I am proud to be a Japanese American woman, and am more than just that. Follow Megan ⁠@meganhilty⁠ Follow us ⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠ / ⁠@robpeterpaul⁠ ⁠Support the show⁠! (⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Tony Nominee Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her): Let Kindness Be Your Star [Re-Release]

  From the AOK archive: Broadway star Megan Hilty joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss her incredible career through the lens of kindness. From Idina Menzel's career-changing act of kindness to what she learned from Dolly Parton herself, Megan shares countless inspiring stories and quips while reflecting on her journey. Megan Hilty is probably most recognizable for her portrayal of Ivy Lynn in the NBC Musical Drama “Smash.” Before that, Hilty started her career on Broadway, playing Glinda in “Wicked,” Doralee Rhodes in “9 to 5 The Musical,” and Brooke Ashton in “Noises Off,” which earned her a Tony Award Nomination. Other stage credits include Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Kennedy Center), Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” (Encores/NY City Center) and Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Encores/NY City Center). Her numerous television credits include “Sean Saves The World” with Sean Hayes, “Difficult People,” “Braindead,” “The Good Fight,” playing the iconic Patsy Cline in “Patsy and Loretta” and Lily in NBC’s “Annie Live!” Megan’s voiceover work spans from audiobooks to kids animated favorites on Disney, Nickelodeon, Netfilx, Hulu & Cartoon Network. Hilty continues to tour her cabaret show with her band, led by Grammy Nominated Matt Cusson, which has been taped for “Live from Lincoln Center” on PBS, and regularly appears with world renowned orchestras including the NY Pops, Boston Pops and the National Symphony Orchestra. Follow Megan @meganhilty Follow us @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul Support the show! (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok) Got kindness tips or stories? Please email us: ⁠[email protected] Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. We are supported by the Broadway Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• From $15 Therapy to Tony Nomination: Broadway's Marjan Neshat on Radical Kindness

  Tony-nominated actor Marjan Neshat (English) unpacks the kindness of her journey to Broadway on The Art of Kindness. The performer joins Robert Peterpaul to discuss $15 therapy that changed her life, what her history-making nomination means to her, the power of live theatre and more. MARJAN NESHAT emigrated to America from Iran as a child, leaving her homeland for safety and new opportunities amid difficult circumstances. Nowadays, you may recognize her from hit TV shows like New Amsterdam, The Blacklist, and a recent stint on The Night Agent or iconic films like RoboCop.  She’s also a stage veteran, most recently earning a Tony nomination for her stunning performance in English at the Atlantic Theater Company. Not a bad way to make a Broadway debut. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play English, by Sanaz Toossi, is a comedic and thought-provoking drama about Iranian adults preparing for the Test of English as a Foreign Language exam. The play explores themes of language acquisition, identity, and empathy… Follow Marjan @marjie33 Let's be friends! ⁠⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠@robpeterpaul⁠⁠ ⁠⁠youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Support the show⁠⁠! (⁠⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠⁠) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: [email protected] Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Is Brutal Honesty Ever Kind? Max Talisman on His Bold Rom-Com ‘Things Like This’

  Actor, writer, and director Max Talisman joins The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul to discuss the power of creating inclusive stories, redefining queer romance on screen, and leading with kindness on set of his new film Things Like This. MAX TALISMAN is rapidly emerging as a leading voice in Hollywood, with standout performances in the indie thriller Super Dark Times, the Jennifer Lopez film Marry Me, and hit series including Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, and Search Party. Now, he makes his highly anticipated directorial debut with Things Like This, a bold reimagining of queer romance that follows two men with the same name as they navigate love and self-discovery in New York City. Starring Joey Pollari (Love, Simon), Jackie Cruz (Orange is the New Black), and Cara Buono (Stranger Things), the film steers away from traditional coming-out or trauma-centered stories, instead embracing humor, complexity, and the universal joy of connection—positioning it as one of 2025’s most exciting indie releases. Follow Max @themaxtshow Let's be friends! ⁠@artofkindnesspod⁠ / ⁠@robpeterpaul⁠ ⁠youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast⁠ ⁠Support the show⁠! (⁠https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok⁠) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: [email protected] Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Tony Winner Lena Hall (Your Friends & Neighbors) on Trusting Your Intuition & Cutting Out the Noise

  Tony Award winner and Grammy nominee Lena Hall brings her signature openness to The Art of Kindness with Robert Peterpaul, discussing her ongoing journey with self-kindness in the arts, the surprising truth about winning a Tony Award, and the supportive kindness of Jon Hamm while filming Your Friends and Neighbors. LENA HALL is a Tony award winner and Grammy nominee who stars alongside Jon Hamm on the new Apple series, Your Friends and Neighbors, which premiered to rave reviews on April 11th (one episode a week after initial first two episodes in premiere week). Lena plays “Ali Cooper” the younger sister of “Coop” played by Jon Hamm. We come to find out she is a singer / songwriter who has had some mental health issues regarding a past relationship and is trying to start over again both in life and in music. Lena’s character gets to perform throughout the episodes, performing original material that Lena wrote, as well as covers of Radiohead, The Thompson Twins and more. She will be releasing an EP and album of her music from the show. Add in the Tony Award winning / Grammy nominated rock and roll voice and fans new and old are very excited. Previously, Lena starred on AMC’s Snowpiercer for 4 seasons opposite Jennifer Connolly after winning the Tony Award for co-starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway opposite Neil Patrick Harris. She originated the role of Nicola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots Her other Broadway credits include Cats, 42nd Street, Dracula, the Musical and Tarzan, the Musical. Hall has also starred in Off-Broadway productions such as Radiant Baby, Bedbugs!!!, Rooms: A Rock Romance, The Toxic Avenger, Prometheus Bound, Chix6, Little Shop of Horrors, and the 2017 original play How to Transcend a Happy Marriage. Follow Lena @lenarockerhall Let's be friends! @artofkindnesspod / @robpeterpaul youtube.com/@artofkindnesspodcast Support the show! (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theaok) Got kindness tips or stories? Want to just say hi? Please email us: [email protected] Music: "Awake" by Ricky Alvarez & "Sunshine" by Lemon Music Studio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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