Katherine is the Executive Director of Conspire Theatre, a non-profit organization offering theater programs for incarcerated women at the Travis County Correctional Complex. The goal is to address the specific needs of women, who have often been physically and sexually abused in their lives. Such programs exist in other parts of the United States and abroad and have been successful at bringing down recidivism and disciplinary actions.
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October 12, 2011: Conspire Theatre
In 2009, Venus was diagnosed with breast cancer. She got 2 doctors’ opinions – both of them recommended double mastectomy and chemotherapy. However, Venus believed in “the body’s ability to heal itself given the right tools.” She opted not to follow the doctor’s orders and instead chose a series of natural healing methods, including a raw diet, daily vegetable juicing, and supplements. Today, Venus no longer has breast cancer and feels healthier than ever. Despite her success story, she finds some people don’t believe her and get downright angry.
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October 12, 2011: Venus DeMarco
Casey had been accepted to Cambridge University in England for a graduate studies program but was turned down for a scholarship. And, yet, her acceptance was contingent upon proving that she had 17,000 pounds to attend, money she did not, in fact, have. Then, a miracle occurred: she saw an ad in the paper for a game show called Word Slam that was offering the grand prize winner $35,000, pretty much exactly the amount she needed for Cambridge. Amazingly enough, Casey won that grand prize and got to attend Cambridge. We’ll hear more about the game show and the whole process that led up to it.
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October 5, 2011: Casey Butterfield
Donna is the author of Holy Ghost Girl, a memoir about growing up in the tent revival circuit. When Donna is just 3, her mother becomes the organist for Brother David Terrell, an enormously popular tent preacher traveling the country and offering visions of the apocalypse and hands-on healing. Donna’s own life is tumultuous, both inside the tent and also outside, where she and her brother are left for long periods of time with virtual strangers so they can attend school while their mother continues on tour. At age 17, Donna is disillusioned and wants more in life – she leaves the ministry and begins the long and difficult process of acclimating to her new “outside” life.
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September 28, 2011: Donna Johnson
Donna Johnson
Abigail with Andrew Tilin
Andrew has written a memoir, The Doper Next Door, about his yearlong adventure with doping. As a journalist, he initially tried to interview everyday people who dope, but they wouldn’t speak to him. So, out of curiosity and to become his own subject, he tried the drugs himself.
Andrew Tilin
During that year, he experienced the improved performance and body that come with doping but also the hormonal changes and mood swings, as well as exposure to the seedy underbelly of doping subculture. Andrew’s work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Outside, and other publications.
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September 21, 2011: Andrew Tilin
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