Jaren Michelle
ProducerJaren Schoustra started at WVIK in the spring of 2022 as a producer. Jaren fell in love with radio in college where they started as an on-air talent and associate news director of the campus station at Indiana Wesleyan University. After graduating with a writing degree from Saint Ambrose in Davenport, they worked for the Quad Cities iHeartRadio stations, where you may have heard their voice in the afternoons on WLLR. Jaren has always worked as a sort of radio station "swiss army knife," and loves having their hands in a little bit of everything.
As someone who loves music, theater, and being an active part of the local arts scene, Jaren feels right at home at WVIK. In their spare time, they can be found at any local bar or coffee shop where live music is playing, or at home trying to tackle an ever-growing pile of to-be-read books. Jaren also enjoys watching 80s horror movies and going on walks with their big fluffy cat, Sergio.
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CommunityThis week, we welcome Mike Schulz: actor, director, writer, movie buff, and super fun conversationalist from Crystal Lake Illinois (not related to the summer camp with a questionable history). -
CommunityIt's always fun to have old friends on the pod, and this episode is no exception. Michael Carron has had a colorful career in Quad Cities community theater, and it was such a pleasure to hear his stories. We hope you enjoy!
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CommunityThis week, we welcome to the stage, the man, the myth, the legend, the former state senator, the founder of WVIK and Genesius Guild, actor, director, and dear friend and mentor: Don Wooten.We're proud and privileged to share this one with you. We hope you enjoy!
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CommunityThis episode, we welcome to the stage: Jake Ladd. Director, actor, and SoCal native, Ladd has been around the block in his theater career, brushing elbows with no shortage of big-deal stars (most of whom Jaren is too young to know). This episode is nothing short of a love letter for small Midwest theater; we hope you enjoy!
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CommunityThis episode, we welcome Tristan Tapscott: actor, podcaster, host and producer of Living Local, jack of all trades, and one of the founders of the Mockingbird On Main.We hope you enjoy!Check out his Disney podcast here: https://www.quadcities.com/shows/of-mice-and-main-street-men/
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Meet your hosts: Chris Hicks and Jaren Michelle. How did a seventy-two-year-old theater reviewer and a twenty-five-year-old radio producer end up hosting a podcast together? What's so special about their little Mississippi river town? Why should you care about community theater? We'll be answering these questions, having a few (okay, many) laughs, and learning a heck of a lot about Midwest theater in the process. Thanks for listening, and we hope you'll follow us on this new adventure!
