đď¸ The Arts Passport Podcast
Your backstage pass to Tampa Bayâs boldest stories in art, music, and performance.
Every other week, host Avery Anderson goes beyond the playbill and into the real conversations shaping the cultural life of our region. From the rehearsal rooms where new work is being born, to the neighborhoods where murals meet politics, to the green rooms where artists spill the stories they donât put on Instagramâthis is where Tampa Bayâs creative pulse beats loudest.
Think less press release, more dinner-table talk: honest, funny, sometimes messy, always real. Whether youâre an artist, an audience member, or just arts-curious, the Arts Passport Podcast is your invitation to discover why the local scene mattersâand why now.
Finding the Artists Behind Tampa Bayâs Creative Scene with Blake Cortez of Art Docs
What happens when you start documenting the artists hiding in plain sight across Tampa Bay?
In this episode of the Tampa Bay Arts Passport Podcast, Avery Anderson sits down with Blake Cortez, founder and producer of Art Docs TV, a documentary series dedicated to shining a light on the artists and creative stories happening throughout the Tampa Bay region.
Blake talks about how Art Docs began as a small experiment and grew into a platform highlighting local artists, how he finds the stories behind the work, and why the creative process can be just as compelling as the finished piece.
They also dive into the growth of Art Docs, the launch of its Studio Sessions, the importance of connecting Tampa and St. Peteâs arts communities, and why more people need to be telling the stories of the incredible artists working here.
Tune in for a conversation about local art, storytelling, creative entrepreneurship, and building a stronger artistic community across Tampa Bay.
3 Sept 2026
Inside the Modern Works Festival: Playwright Stacey Isom on War, Friendship, and First Drafts
Playwright Stacey Isom is back at Urbanite Theatre's Modern Works Festival with a brand-new play, The Longest Walk â the story of two female Marines whose bond survives Iraq and Afghanistan but is tested by the trauma they carry home. She talks about her nomadic childhood, what it's like to hear a play out loud for the very first time, and why new play festivals like this one are a lifeline for playwrights in a shrinking industry. Funny, moving, and honest â this is a behind-the-scenes look at a play still finding its shape.
2 Sept 2026
Art Everywhere: How Creative Pinellas Is Building the Future of Arts in Pinellas County
What happens when an entire county decides to put the arts front and center?
Creative Pinellas Funding Director Todd Wellman joins Avery Anderson to talk about Arts Everywhere, a new celebration bringing 28 unique arts and cultural experiences to Pinellas County throughout November and early December.
From theater and dance to public art, books, music, museums, and experiences in unexpected places, Todd shares how Arts Everywhere came together and why bringing all of this creativity together at one time could change the way visitors and residents experience the county.
The conversation also explores whatâs next for Creative Pinellas, including new initiatives, creative partnerships, arts and well-being, and the organization's evolving role in supporting the creative community.
Plus, hear a little about the first-ever Pinellas County Theater Week and why thereâs plenty to be excited about this fall.
Listen now on the Tampa Bay Arts Passport Podcast!
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2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
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