When Christopher Austin asked to interview me for GrassRoot Ohio, I said YES to to my fellow actor/activist friend - this is Chris’ show & I’m in the hot seat! Shout out to Curtain Players Performance - The Laramie Project!
Carolyn Harding with Christopher Austin, fellow artist/activist and colleague.
Christopher Austin graduated from Otterbein University with a major in Theatre and received his Master’s Degree in Pastoral and Professional Counseling from Methodist Theological School. He has received awards for his theatrical performances and completed his first feature film “Things Are Tough All Over,” directed by local film maker Chris Bournea. Christopher has worked in the field of counseling and social work for 6 years and has received recognition and awards for his work in the field. He is active in the Columbus community with the goal helping people find their voice of empowerment through the arts, volunteering in religious and community outreach, and social activism.
In June, 2020, I interviewed Chris on GrassRoot Ohio. His petition to take down the Christopher Columbus statue in front of the Columbus City Hall, was the straw that broke the camels back, after years of activists’ work to bring this symbol of trauma down.
But I first got to know Chris from our other shared world - the Arts.
In November, 2012, we were in a theatrical production of To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Mark Mann. Chris played the role of Tom Robbins, the man falsely accused and convicted of rape by a white woman. I played Ms. Stephanie, the nosey neighbor of Atticus Finch- white, privileged, complicit, racist.
In July, 2019, Chris was cast as the lead character in “Things are Tough All Over”, an independent feature film by Chris Bournea, and I was cast as the school principal, this time an ally.
Two months ago Chris asked me if he could interview me for GrassRoot Ohio. I was taken back, a bit flummoxed, with everything going on in our world….
But I said yes to Chris and so here we are.
This is Christopher Austins’ show, and I’m in the hot seat.
Friday 5 pm broadcast on WGRN.org, GrassRoot Ohio now airs on Sunday’s, at 2pm on WCRSFM.org, 92.7/98.3 FM Columbus, and at 4pm on WEJP-LP, 107.1 FM, Wheeling/Moundsville WV.
You can also find us on Soundcloud, Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube, Face Book & Instagram. Thanks for joining us.
