A Life Creative Podcast

Jim Newman is a long time pal of host Melanio Gomez having met years ago as new homeowners in Asbury Park, NJ.  On this episode he shares how he built his career in the performing arts, debuting on Broadway early on in The Who's Tommy, and performing in numerous other shows with names in lights, including Kristin Chenoweth and Liza Minnelli.  For several years he travelled the world as the 'Cowboy' in the Village People and from there landed a leading role in ABBA's Mamma Mia roadshow, which is currently playing on Broadway.  He also shares how he grew a substantial social media following, why it's become a necessity for actors, and a cautionary tale of romance scams played out with his images on social media.  For more about Jim visit www.alifecreativepod.comVisit us on Instagram at @alifecreative

Artist Jeff Wallace (from episode 4) joins Melanio to co-host this episode with guest Devin Wilde.  Devin channeled drive and discipline across competitive cycling as a teenager, getting through Stanford's architecture program, designing digital user-experiences for tech companies, and ultimately crafting his own educational curriculum in the arts through various creator residencies.  All of these steps led to an epiphany that clay was 'the thing' that really captured his imagination.  In this episode Devin shares how he's built his design practice and studio from the ground up, and the retailers and media that helped garner attention to his work that enabled his business to get off the starting block.  And, also how the Gilmore Girls can be essential viewing in a design studio.For more about Devin visit www.alifecreativepod.comVisit us on Instagram at @alifecreative

Since high-school age, Jaya Saxena has been drawn to the process of creating thoughtful and articulate essays.  The craft of capturing a vibe in one's own perspective and voice in a manner that resonates with readers is the art and special alchemy that professional writers bring to the table.  Jaya's unique brand of writing style, built on a series of numerous writing gigs, led her to a position as a staff writer for Eater.com, creating pieces on food and NYC's restaurant scene.  In 2025 she received an honor from the International Association of Culinary Professionals for an article she wrote entitled "Martha Stewart's 'Entertaining' Let Me Party Like It Was 1982".  In this episode Melanio and Jaya chat about the steps she took to establish her professional career as a writer, carving out her own voice, and building a network of collaborators with people that enjoy the business of writing.  She also shares some food memories, and restaurant recommendations for both Mexico City, where she recently travelled, and New York City where she resides.Visit www.alifecreativepod.com for more information about JayaCheck us out on Instagram @alifecreative

Show Notes: With Thanksgiving just around the corner it is especially timely to chat with Lucinda Scala Quinn, Author and Founder of Mad Hungry.  Melanio and Lucinda share the heritage-inspired dishes that are on their holiday tables and reminisce about their time working at Martha Stewart Living.   Lucinda has a storied career in food, starting from her high-school days onward and has now published 8 books including the 3 in the Mad Hungry series and her latest book published in 2025 titled Mother Sauce.  She’s a vocal advocate for how good food cooked at home really does bring family back around the table. For more on Lucinda visit www.alifecreativepod.comFollow A Life Creative on Instagram @alifecreative

This year John Derian celebrates 30 years of his eponymous boutique and antiques shop on 2nd Street in New York City's East Village neighborhood.  His path took him from a creatively inspired childhood in Massachusetts to New York City as an adult where he built a design and retail business from scratch.  He's known for finding antique illustrations and extending their life and enjoyment by applying them on glass objects through the craft of decoupage.  The John Derian retail shop (in NYC and Provincetown MA) showcases a thoughtful mix of handcrafted home goods from artisan suppliers alongside his decoupage creations and antiques that he sources in the United States and Europe.  He also sells online and through collaborations with others.  He shares in this episode the path, the challenges, and some wisdom as we look back on his storied career.For more about John visit www.alifecreativepod.comand check out A Life Creative on Instagram @alifecreative