In this episode of CK Café, Ethan Felizzari-Castillo sits down with musical theatre composer and songwriter Julia Segal for a thoughtful conversation about creating in today’s theatre landscape.

Julia opens up about her upcoming musical theatre work, her journey as a songwriter, social media and how she balances artistic integrity with the realities of commercial production. Together, they explore the evolving state of Broadway and indie theatre - what’s thriving, what’s struggling, and where emerging creators fit into the equation!

From developing new work to navigating industry expectations, this episode is a candid look at what it means to build theatre in a changing creative economy.

Follow Julia on Instagram to learn more!

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

CK Café welcomes musician and creator, Diana Bidea, for an honest conversation about carving out your own lane in today’s music industry. From her journey as an independent artist to building a powerful presence as a TikToker, Diana opens up about the risks, reinvention, and resilience it takes to make your own path - without waiting for permission. Joined by Rosie Dean, the episode dives into creativity, community, and what it really means to bet on yourself in a constantly shifting industry.

Follow Diana Bidea on Socials!

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

In this episode of CK Café, we sit down with actor and writer Peter-William Jamieson to explore the new CK/Street Kid collaboration, "Sea Wall" by Simon Stephens and the artistic fire behind 'Borderless' - his award-winning one-man play about a soldier confronting the emotional and spiritual aftershocks of war - that CK co-produced and is now turning into a feature film! Dive into the meaning of the piece, its impact on veterans, and how storytelling can create real pathways toward healing.

Peter also shares insight on why imagination, vulnerability, and purpose sit at the heart of every piece of art he creates. This conversation is an emotional, inspiring deep-dive into what it means to make work that matters!

To learn more about Street Kid Collective & Peter visit https://instagram.com/streetkidcollective & get tickets to 'Sea Wall' or other upcoming projects at https://streetkidcollective.com

Learn more about CK Café at ckproductionsnewyork.com/podcast

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

In this episode of CK Café, we sit down with viral creator and writer Jessica Vill (@JBunzie) to talk about her bold new project - a Marilyn Monroe biopic (Becoming Her) produced by our team at CK! Jessica opens up about the pressures of life as a social media creator, finding her artistic voice beyond the algorithm, and what it means to bring new life to an icon

To learn more about BECOMING HER visit https://instagram.com/marilynfilm & follow Jessica @jbunzie on all platforms!

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

In this episode of CK Café, we sit down with Nory and his creative director, filmmaker, Eduardo Machado, to talk about resilience, creativity, and pushing past the limitations that so often hold artists back. From navigating obstacles to finding joy in the process, this conversation is all about creating your own rhythm and refusing to be stopped!

Nory’s new album F**K THAT THIS THE RHYTHM is out now on all platforms!
Stream ▶️ https://unitedmasters.com/m/fuck-that-this-the-rhythm

Follow Nory - https://instagram.com/noryaronfeld
Follow Eduardo - https://instagram.com/dut.mac

Learn more about CK Café at ckproductionsnewyork.com/podcast

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a filmed podcast and live conversation series spotlighting creators — especially those from underrepresented communities — who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by @RosieDean and @EthanFelizzari ​

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

This week’s CK Café episode is a special one. We sat down with Paul Zaentz — yes, from The Talented Mr. Ripley and Amadeus — who's now serving as an Executive Producer on Backyard/Desert through his company Teatro Della Pace Films. We talk legacy, the importance of subversive films in today’s political climate, the evolution of independent film, and his family’s iconic film One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest - including some breaking news about a new adaptation of the classic film!

Paul has helped lovingly restore Cuckoo’s Nest for its 50th Anniversary! The classic film is returning to theaters July 13th & 16th across the U.S. thanks to Fathom Events. Don’t miss the chance to experience it on the big screen: Get tickets now. 🎟️

Watch CK Café here!

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

In this candid episode, we sit down with fellow producers of our first large-scale feature film, Backyard/Desert, to unpack the emotional rollercoaster of indie film fundraising. Backyard/Desert follows a young border patrol agent who discovers a dying migrant in the Yuma desert - forcing her to confront the harsh realities of her job and her identity. We open up about the grind of raising funds as first-time-feature filmmakers, share lessons learned, and offer real tips for those just starting out.

Support the film: wefunder.com/backyarddesert
Follow: @BackyardDesert on all platforms

🌵 Learn more: backyarddesert.com

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).

In today's CK Café, we dive into The Importance of Local Film Festivals with a special spotlight on the Queens Film Festival, happening July 7–13th at Court Square Theater in Long Island City, Queens. We sit down with festival founder Mridul Sharma to talk about the power of community-driven cinema, why festivals like Queens FF matter for emerging filmmakers, and how they're shaping the future of indie film. Grab your tickets to the festival and learn more at www.queensfilmfest.com!

What is CK Café?
CK Café is a podcast and live conversation series by CK Productions spotlighting creators who are building their careers in film, music, theatre and beyond. Each episode explores the artist’s personal journey, the challenges they’ve faced, and the love behind their work. Whether through deep-dive interviews, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, or live panels, CK Café offers inspiration and real talk for artists and audiences alike.

Follow CK's journey at https://instagram.com/ckproductionsny and on Substack https://ckproductions.substack.com/

Visit our website to learn more about CK at https://ckproductionsnewyork.com

CK Café is Hosted by Rosie Dean (@RosieDean21) and Ethan Felizzari-Castillo (@ethanfelizzari) and produced by CK Records (A CK Productions Co.).