APEX Hour at SUU

Granting Personhood to the Great Salt Lake: McLane explains why he titled his anthology Stories for—rather than of—the Great Salt Lake, emphasizing the lake as an entity with its own agency. He also highlights the urgent threat facing ancient, complex lakebed ecosystems called microbialites as water levels drop.Environmental Hope Through Action: While warning that Utahns must move past a "culture of convenience" regarding water allocation, McLane finds deep hope in the Indigenous leaders, scientists, and everyday citizens working on the ground to restore the lake. His advice to SUU students and listeners: don't wait for "one day"—go visit the lake and get involved in your community today.The Creative Process & Literary Mentors: Embracing a non-regimented writing style driven by sudden bursts of inspiration, McLane discusses how editing allows him to act as a catalyst for other creatives. He also reflects on the profound influence of Utah literary figures like Terry Tempest Williams and his late mentor, Jeff Metcalf.Utah’s Downwinder Legacy: McLane shares personal family ties to the Radioactive Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and discusses his chapbook, Trace Elements, unpacking the lingering, intergenerational health and environmental impacts of Cold War nuclear testing across the Intermountain West.Quotes:(03:23) On personhood for the lake: "To think of it as more than just a place, to think of it as an entity with agency in and of its own."(10:51) On water conservation: "Americans as a whole are not comfortable with inconvenience. We are a culture of convenience. And we're past the point where we can be unwilling to be inconvenienced on a topic like this."(12:31) On community action: "They are the people that give me hope... Because they're not giving up. And if they're not giving up, neither should we."(51:22) Advice for experiencing Utah's landscapes: "Don't wait for one day. Just go."Connect with SUU:Learn more about upcoming campus lectures and events at suu.edu/apex ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

From Radio Jock to Political Anchor: Lindsay discusses her career trajectory across Utah media, navigating layoffs, and carving out a unique beat as the host of Inside Utah Politics.The Power of Local Elections: Why city councils, school boards, and state legislative tax structures impact our daily routines far more than national news cycles.Urban vs. Rural Perspectives: How key issues like public lands management and education funding carry distinctly different weights between the Wasatch Front and Southern Utah.Building Trust Behind the Desk: Navigating media scrutiny, vetting high-profile tips (such as executive orders on national monuments), and fostering mutual respect with elected officials.Notable Quote: "The election closest to you is the one that matters the most... It impacts your daily life almost daily." — Lindsay Aerts ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

The Power of Authentic Mentorship & Legacy: Emily reflects on lessons learned from growing up in a working theater family, the value of kindness in the room, and taking up space as a physical actor[cite: 17, 18].Unpacking the Intimate Anes Season: An inside look at playing dual roles in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and navigating the complex, highly ambitious character of Ana in The Book Club Play.Self-Production and Solo Performance: Exploring how stand-up comedy and writing her solo show, Furious, taught Emily to embrace vulnerability, fail boldly, and create her own artistic opportunities.Connect with SUU & The Festival:Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apexBook your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

The Dual Role of Production Leadership: Tanya breaks down her responsibilities as Festival Stage Manager supervising the department and as Artistic Associate collaborating on season selection, calendaring, and casting.The Nerve Center of the Festival: An inside look at how stage managers serve as the ultimate hub of communication between directors, actors, designers, and crew from early rehearsal to closing night.The Art of Calling a Show: A step-by-step walkthrough of executing a production—from running pre-show checklists and managing headsets to calling precise lighting, sound, and automation cues.Building a Supportive Artistic Community: Reflections on human-centered leadership, equity standards, and creating collaborative environments where artists and staff are set up for success.Connect with SUU & The Festival:Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apexBook your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

Show NotesThe Process & Science of Clay: Dean Schmidt breaks down the stages of pottery—from wet clay and leather hard cheddar-cheese states to bone dry firing, glaze chemistry, and atmospheric kilns.Skill Building & Letting Go: Why repetition, discipline, and embracing failure (even dumping work in a shard pile or using the "golden hammer") are essential to mastering ceramics.Functional Art & Community Connection: Exploring how utilitarian pottery—handmade plates, cups, and bowls used in everyday life—connects people across cultures and history. ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

Key Takeaway 1: The Journey of a Regional Actor & Educator: Jacob Dresch details his path from high school band and community theater to earning a BFA at DeSales University, an MFA at UC Irvine under mentor Phil Thompson, and balancing professional regional acting with university teaching. Key Takeaway 2: Unpacking The Book Club Play: An inside look at playing Will, exploring documentary camera meta-dynamics in an intimate three-quarter-round space, and defending the value of popular culture alongside classical literature. Key Takeaway 3: Dual Roles in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: Examining the memory-play structure of David Catlin's adaptation while navigating the tragic flaws, hubris, and moral complexities of Victor Frankenstein and Percy Bysshe Shelley Connect with SUU & The Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

Key Takeaway 1: The structural mechanics of running a 65-person costume shop during peak build, balancing artisan craftsmanship with the daily logistics of wardrobe supervision. Key Takeaway 2: How historical clothing and silhouettes—from Victorian leg-of-mutton sleeves to corsets—function as social commentary and shape physical movement on stage. Key Takeaway 3: The distinction between costume design and costume technology, and the career advice that "there is no schedule but your schedule" when building a healthy life in the arts. Connect with SUU & The Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

A Lifelong Performing Career: Guest Brian Gonzales traces his journey growing up in Dallas and San Antonio, raised by a television crew chief father and a blues singer/director mother, leading to his Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Crafting Iconic Character Roles: An inside look at originating Babkak in Aladdin on Broadway and stepping into two distinct 2026 Randall Theater roles at USF: the explosive, comedic seer Nostradamus in Something Rotten and the delicate, pragmatic clerk Ladislav Sipos in She Loves Me. The Interconnected Theater Community: Reflections on lifelong artistic partnerships, working alongside close friends like director Alan Muraoka and actor Blake Henri, and navigating the shifts of regional theater. Connecting with the Audience: A deep dive into how actors read and respond to live audience energy, adjusting timing without losing the grounded emotional truth of a production. Connect with SUU & The Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

From Magnet School to the Stage: Guest Kayland Jordan discusses growing up in Dallas, attending specialized performing arts middle and high schools, and earning a BFA in acting in New York City. Unpacking Classical Character Depth: A discussion on bringing fresh humanity, grief, and comedic timing to iconic figures like Olivia in Twelfth Night and Horatio in Hamlet. Representation and Intentional Casting: Kayland reflects on working with open-minded directors, rejecting tokenism, and serving the core story rather than letting casting choices feel like forced statements. The Transformative Nature of Performance: Reflections on how collaborative rehearsal processes foster mutual trust, artistic growth, and genuine connections with live audiences. Connect with SUU & The Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex

From the Ballfield to the Ghost Light: Guest Blake Henri shares how a high school injury and an unexpected moment alone on stage redirected his life path from sports and business toward a passionate, career-focused pursuit of classical acting. Depth Behind the Antagonists: A compelling discussion on breaking traditional performance stereotypes to discover grief, regret, and genuine human love in roles like Sir Toby Belch and Laertes. The War Correspondent of Troilus and Cressida: An inside look at transforming the classic truth-teller Thersides into an embedded modern media correspondent who reframes historical conflict for a contemporary audience. Mentorship and Supportive Connections: Reflections on the mentors, directors, and collaborative colleagues who opened doors, provided reality checks, and fostered a sense of home within the regional theater community Connect with SUU & The Festival: Discover upcoming speaker events at suu.edu/apex Book your tickets to the 65th anniversary season at bard.org ***Eccles APEX Website: https://www.suu.edu/apex