Jenni Ruiza is a Goddess. She has her finger on the pulse of where life and the meaning of art crash. She does it all. Write. Act. Produce. LIVE. And she does it not only to thrive as a creative, but to challenge the world and herself.

Fearless. Funny. Flawed. Complicated. Passionate. What more do you want? Grab a cool drink in this summer heat and listen up. Jenni has a few things to say and you're definitely going to want to soak it all in. And as always follow the #TheUnusualCreatures

Jenni Ruiza is a Puerto Rican writer/actress from The Bronx, who thrives on telling stories that explore the concept of being comfortable with being uncomfortable. The world around her is diverse in color, thought, and purpose and she’ll be damned if her characters don’t reflect that. The kind of content that resonates deeply with Jenni explores mental health, grief, and self-inflicted toxicity by way of intergenerational trauma—all grounded in humor. Jenni is no stranger to comedic commentary, producing segments on ABC/Fusion’s “Come Here and Say That” with Alicia Menendez and appearances on Buzzfeed, Funny or Die, and TBS’s “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee”. Jenni's writing credits included Fitz Games’ ¡Dios Mio!, co-writing the main, sucia, and holiday decks and solo-writing their “Puertorriqueña” deck, a fantastical journey of resurrecting the spirit of Vanessa Gomez’s dead abuela via ash-ridden blunt with Maydé Alpi, called “Smoking Abuela” and “Lovexes”, a story about a woman who needs to decide between her job and her sanity at a chaotic NYC love tech startup. You can find Jenni in the upcoming films, “Playing Sam” and “Honey” and on HBO’s “Fantasmas” with Julio Torres. 

www.jenniruiza.com 

Trailer for feature film "Playing Sam" (producer/co-writer)

An op-ed I wrote for Syndrome Mag on mental health, familia, and Bustelo

Who is Thomas Dane? The Unusual Creatures take their interview pod and turns it on it's head, with one of their illustrious hosts being interviewed by Jenny and Season One guest extraordinaire, Kim Berrios-Lin. We dig into Tom's tumultuous journey (and who's journey isn't) and learn why he has always stayed with the arts. Against all odds.

Thomas Dane is an actor, writer, pod host, visionary, dog daddy, unabashed homosexual, producer, soap opera fan and dancing-enthusiast human. He is an in tune Sagittarius who loves Blood Orange Cosmos. His go to Karaoke song is ‘Purple Rain.’

Thomas was born in Astoria, Queens, and then spent many formative years in West Palm Beach, Florida being raised by a steel-strong single mother. For his studies he attended the International Fine Arts College with thoughts of becoming a film director. That focus changed on his first film set when he realized the camera was not on him. Not because he needed the attention, but because he realized the kind of storyteller he wanted to be - which was a human chameleon. Acting is something he loves deeply and has brought him great healing and pain. He has performed extensively in NYC and premiered original work in Amsterdam.

Some of his favorite roles include Marc Antony (Julius Caesar), Hal (Proof), Berdine (Psycho Beach Party), Pontius Pilate (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot), Sebastian (Raised in Captivity). He has also starred in the internationally awarded and viewed film ‘CAKE’ by Anne Hu, a film in which you can observe his naked rear end. Later, he realized his joy and gift for writing. His one act play ‘Scrambled’ has been performed nationally and he writes on the daily for ‘The Social Edge and GeorgeTakei.com”. Thomas has found that this crazy world of art and storytelling seems to be his calling and dark mistress. Which is why when his best gal pal, ride or die, bad influence, Jesus to his Judas, Jenny Gomez called to host a podcast, he jumped at the chance.

Let’s discuss it all. Art. Creativity, Pain. Frustration. TRIUMPH! The journey. The success, the perceived failures. In the end, he wants to be a better person through his art. Maybe it’s the dreamer’s way. Maybe it’s the harder, more weathered road. But it’s his.

So get ready. Because Thomas is ok taking all the world with him in any direction. XO

There is no clear path when one embraces their journey of being a creative. As an artist, well as a human really, one of our most over looked lessons is the need to learn... the Pivot. You have to be limber enough to pivot. There will be no straight line in any life. Nothing is fair and nothing will ever go exactly as planned. And that's ok. So we keep learning and growing and following our passions. And nobody understands that lesson better than this week's guest. Unusual Creatures... please welcome, Sean Tyler Foley. 

Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and stage performer and has been acting in film and television since he was 6 years old. He has appeared in productions including Freddy Vs Jason, Door to Door, Carrie, and the musical Ragtime. Tyler is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage and impact an audience with their stories. He is currently the Managing Director of Total Buy In and author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked. Visit his website at https://www.seantylerfoley.com/about

As Summer 2022 takes it's bow, take a listen to Sean. He has navigated his way through ups, downs and sideways and learned that using one's own voice will always lead us to where we need to be. And stay until the end and learn how to get his bestseller. 

Thank you of tuning in and enjoy our Season 1 Finale. 

It's not often you come across a small town metallurgist with a penchant for the Fluxus movement. But that's this week's guest, the wildly interesting and incredibly skilled Ben Jennings. Hailing from Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Ben has played in many physical mediums like ceramics and jewelry-making before landing on the complex and challenging medium of metal casting. He calls his art his "condition", a state of mind and being that he can't escape - or stray from- no matter how hard he's tried. Like so many artists whose names aren't ones you know in your household, Ben works a day job for the local municipality where he's been inspired by the GIS work in his day to day. 

From his artist statement, his art explores the interpretation of mapping systems through cast metal sculpture. This interpretation can be seen within maps and geospatial layers of lines, features and symbols which create unique identity. On a day to day basis he works with mapping systems to maintain data for the collections system for the city of Wisconsin Rapids.  Within Geographical Imaging System (GIS) software he is able to organize and do an accurate inventory of infrastructure maintenance though layers of collected data. His work is an evolving quest to strip down the complexities of GIS within the constraints of industrial grade foundry materials as expressed through sculpture. This process allows him to focus on the aesthetics surrounding these beautiful systems. His practice has allowed him to translate information through the transformation of 2D images into 3D sculpture by direct carving and in a sense, drawing with power tools. The dichotomy between natural and manmade space is a constant theme throughout his work. 

Ben has over 15 years of mold making experience and casting metals such as bronze, aluminum, and iron. Art is the condition that defines who he is and like so many of the unusual creatures we talk to, the thing he keeps coming back to. We talk to him about his former installations - including one that attracted national news for it's unusual materials - and what it means to him to bring his daughter into his studio to learn some metal casting skills. This is a conversation about permanency and legacy that you don't want to miss. Let's dig into our latest Unusual Creature and a brand new medium to explore. Ben Jennings, ladies, gentlemen and non-binary humans. Dig in.  

Happy August Creatures! This week we have a guest who's life is all about imagination. Like a magician, he creates art out of thin air. His canvas is a blank piece of cloth, a Times Square billboard, a NYC subway ad or whatever space is possible to transform. He has traveled the world and through his career and his passion he shares what creation can be. Will you please welcome... Tony Batolucci...

Tony Bartolucci is an artist, designer and creative director based in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and studied Design at The Ohio State University's Department of Industrial, Interior and Visual Communication Design. As a designer and creative director he helps organizations establish or redefine their brands and visual identities on a global scale. As an artist, he is best known for his bold and highly stylized scenes, either real or imagined, that inspect moments in time through a cheeky and off-kilter lens. There’s an element of organized chaos in his contemplative images, which place context and story around people, objects and landscapes, and explore human emotions and states of being. He is inspired by patterns, textiles, human-made artifacts, the outdoors, the indoors, the pulse of cities, and the people he has met.

Anything is possible is you just try. Sort of a Tony motto. Doodle. Write. Think. Express. Dance. Inspire. Dream. So take a listen for a bit to a person who has tapped into the well of artistry. Maybe you'll awaken a voice you always knew was there. Tony did. Let's be like Tony. 

bartolucci.work

Hello Creatures... it's a new week and a new creature family member for all of us to get to know. This week's guest is an artist of many trades. Her artistic roots were forged in music and on the stage, and now she has branched out into the business world and has fashioned her art for... well, fashion. From Oklahoma, to sailing around the world, to New York and then back to the home of her origins and Route 66, this maverick has seen it and done it all. Well, for now. Please welcome... Lindsie VanWinkle-Guthrie.

Lindsie spent 13+ years in NYC where she originated roles in 4 Off-Broadway shows (The Magdaelne, Flipside: The Patti Page Story, Nevermore and A Dog Story), did the national tour of White Christmas and crisscrossed the country working in regional theatres all over the US. She’s played a lot of roles, but none better than Mama to her 3 year old son Jed… and wife to her husband of 14 years, Scott. Her list of side gigs is as intriguing as her theatrical resume, and one spawned her new career- owner of a boutique bridal consignment shop! The shop is called Found Love Bridal Consignment-

www.foundlovebridal.com

@foundlovebridal (insta/fb)

After just a few minutes with Lindsie, you soon realize, she's someone we all should aspire to be. Life is never going to work out the exact way you want. And too many of us refuse to adapt. Lindsie is a lesson in adapting, pivoting, growing, thriving and spreading one's passion in all directions. So settle in and take a moment with someone who can show you how most things are possible. And how to recognize the fun in all the highs and lows. 

And just for a little extra fun... learn about Lindsie's small connection to Madonna. Happy Birthday Madonna! 

Felicita Munoz is both a "stayer" and a "strayer" and this episode will make you realize that even though you might stray, you will always, inevitably, stay somehow in the arts. She felt the creative bug when she was a little girl. Her first performance was when she was three years old on an Amtrak train going from NY to Fl. She were having breakfast in the dining car and all of a sudden she stood up and started singing “Tomorrow “ from Annie. Everyone applauded. She still doesn't know if she was any good or if she was just cute - but that was it - she was hooked.

We discuss her journey from Homosassa Springs, FL to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York to Orlando to study make up effects and back to Jersey City where she's thrilling the community with windows at Morlees. She started displaying art from local artists in her store windows and incorporating the merchandise like an outdoor gallery. It was a great way to bring art to the community. At the end of the day, no matter where life takes her, when you’re an artist, you’ll always find a way to create. Or, maybe the creativity finds you. So to all the unusual creatures out there.. keep shining bright!

We love the windy paths that bring us home again. And Felicita's story is one of perseverance, tenacity, and a real love for creativity. She's found it in every nook and cranny and we hope her words will help you do the same. 

This week's guest is just who we need to hear in the midst of the everything going on in the world these days. This Unusual Creature is an actor, artist, father, healer and New York City aficionado. After years of trodding the boards and becoming immersed in the best of all New York City had to offer, Adam Perabo changed direction slightly to attain what meant most to him. And his pivot has paid off brilliantly.

Mr. Perabo comes from under the boardwalk of the Jersey Shore. His joyous adventurism led him to the funhouses above and beyond and finally to New York City where he's called home since 2004. A graduate of Ohio University's Department of Theatre, he's always created and followed the arts and artists into all their lairs and laboratories working with theatre companies and production houses who were fearless in creating from their hearts. Perabo now heads a progressive music collective called Golden World Music - releasing sound healing music into the world. You can likely find him with his wife, Victoria and daughter Florence kicking around Hell's Kitchen or flopping down the Shore.

Adam is the shining example of how to follow your dreams with your heart. Dreams change, and life is rarely what you think it's going to be, and some people just know how to make the most of that magic. Enter Adam... Take a listen, embrace the smile and follow your passion with Adam as your guide.