Apr 3, 2025
Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman
University. Each episode features Chapman students who have
completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and
Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no
podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before
taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to
Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this
‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their
very own series. Each episode of Season 13 will feature one to two
different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different
aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.
Hosting our first segment this week is Jadyn Ayala who brings us an
interview with Joshua Gaspar, professional dancer and
choreographer. Joshua opens up to Jadyn about his early years in
dance, sharing how his passion transformed into a career despite
financial challenges and setbacks. They discuss how Joshua founded
Exchange, a dance team focused on sharing ideas, power, and
community and what it was like to build that team from the ground
up. Next they discuss Joshua’s residency in Las Vegas and how he
later turned that into a North American tour with Donny Osmond.
They close the interview talking about how Joshua plans to
take his passion even further in the future.
Next up this week, is an interview with a singer/songwriter who
performs as Acacia. Acacia sits down to talk with Gabby. The pair
discuss Acacia’s creative process, revealing how she manages to
balance deeply personal experiences with universal themes. They
also discuss the evolution of her music over time—how her sound has
shifted and what’s influenced these changes. Acacia reflects on the
roles her cultural background has played in shaping her music,
offering a deeper look at how her life experiences and where she
grew up influence both the lyrics, the melodies she creates, and
her experiences with interpersonal relationships. They wrap up the
interview with an exploration of the realities of the music
industry, from how involved Acacia is in the business side of
things to the biggest challenges musicians face today.