In this episode, we are honored to welcome AKO, a distinguished New York-based actress, director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Amaterasu-Za. AKO’s influence spans local and national theater, where she continues to leave an impact on audiences and fellow artists through her dynamic contributions. As she prepares for the upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of OKUNI (Izumo no Okuni) this November, AKO shares her creative journey and insights, taking time from her busy rehearsal schedule to speak with us. This is the Part 2 of AKO's interview.

Featuring AKO, Renowned Actress, Playwright, Producer, and Founder of Amaterasu-Za Theater. The 2024 Disney series "Shogun" has won Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards.

She played a key role in depicting the "Iyo no kata" the wife of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In this episode, we are honored to welcome AKO, a distinguished New York-based actress, director, playwright, and founder of the theater company Amaterasu-Za. AKO’s influence spans local and national theater, where she continues to leave an impact on audiences and fellow artists through her dynamic contributions. As she prepares for the upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of OKUNI (Izumo no Okuni) this November, AKO shares her creative journey and insights, taking time from her busy rehearsal schedule to speak with us. This is the Part 3 of AKO's interview.

Ms. Sheila Massey, inspired by a stray kitten named Sadie, began her journey in animal welfare in 2008 by doing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) work across New York City. Her TNR efforts took her to diverse locations, including a prison, an evangelical church, a landmark mansion, a community garden, and a parking garage, where she honed her community relations skills. Sheila co-taught "Neighborhood Relations" and TNR training for the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals’ Feral Cat Initiative. In 2020, Sheila founded Hard Hat Cats, an innovative non-profit that places unadoptable feral cats from NYC shelters into “jobs” with employers seeking non-toxic rodent control. The cats, thriving in settings like breweries, parks, and hotels, live independently, focused on deterring rodents while largely ignoring people.