Shows
At The VanguardInside The Voice Of Pokémon (Jason Paige)In this episode of At The Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Jason Paige—best known as the voice behind the iconic Pokémon theme song—for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about art, autonomy, community, and what it really means to build a creative life.
While Pokémon fans will appreciate Jason’s firsthand account of recording the theme song, its unexpected cultural afterlife, and the massive resurgence sparked by Pokémon GO, this conversation goes far beyond nostalgia. Jason speaks candidly about the realities of being a working singer in the late-90s New York...
2026-01-131h 12At The VanguardThe Reality Of Screenwriting (Caden Douglas)In this episode of At the Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Caden Douglas — writer, director, producer, and instructor at Bad Pitch Writers Lab — for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the craft of writing and the realities of making work in today’s film industry.
Caden shares his journey from a childhood acting career in Canada to becoming a writer-director in Los Angeles, including why he walked away from acting and what ultimately pulled him toward writing and directing. Together, we explore why writing is uniquely difficult, what aspiring writers often misunderstand about the craft, and wh...
2025-12-1655 minAt The VanguardAn AI Speaks On The Future Of Art (ChatGPT)Artificial intelligence has become one of the most defining—and divisive—topics of our time. For artists, it sits at the crossroads of excitement and anxiety: a powerful new tool full of possibility, but also a force that raises profound questions about authorship, originality, and the future of human creativity.
In this episode of At The Vanguard, we do something different. Instead of hearing more opinions about AI, we hear directly from it.
My guest is ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence capable of conversation, reflection, and insight. Together, we explore some of the most compelling questions faci...
2025-11-1834 minAt The VanguardSolving The Dance World’s Mental Health Crisis (Michelle Loucadoux & Kristin Deiss)In this episode of At The Vanguard, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala sits down with Michelle Loucadoux and Kristin Deiss, founders of Danscend — a groundbreaking organization bringing mental wellness education to the dance world.
Together, they unpack the myths and realities of mental health in the arts, exploring why toughness and compassion are not opposites, how the dance industry can evolve beyond tradition, and what it means to truly support artists from the inside out.
From confronting perfectionism and body image to re-defining what it means to be “mentally tough”, Michelle and Kristin share personal stories, hard t...
2025-11-1154 minAt The VanguardOwning The Stage, Owning Yourself (Tomasina Abate)Tomasina Abate is a powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and creative visionary whose career has spanned Disney’s Tomorrowland stages, arena crowds, and independent artistry. In this conversation, she opens up about the courage it takes to stand alone, the cost of excellence, and why real artistry begins the moment you stop asking for permission.
We talk about:
• Building a cult-favorite band at Disneyland and redefining what it means to "own the stage".
• The tension between perfection and vulnerability—and why audiences crave the cracks.
• Creating Plate of Gold, her upcoming disco-/EDM-inspired album born of love, loss...
2025-11-031h 07At The VanguardLead With Light, Play With Heart (Sarah Tubert)Deaf actor, motivational speaker, and athlete Sarah Tubert joins host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala on At The Vanguard for a deeply inspiring conversation about art, identity, and resilience.
From voicing Lucita in Disney’s Primos to captaining Team USA at the Deaf Olympics, Sarah shares how creativity has been her bridge between worlds — and how breaking barriers in entertainment can start with one powerful question: "What do you need?"
She opens up about representation in Hollywood, accessibility in the arts, and her children’s book The Girl With The Crooked Smile, which teaches young readers to embrac...
2025-11-0148 minAt The VanguardThe Vanguard VisionWelcome to At The Vanguard, a podcast about elevating the arts and empowering the artist in each of us.
In this inaugural episode, host Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala shares the story and philosophy behind The Vanguard Institute for the Arts — a bold movement dedicated to creativity, mindfulness, and artistic excellence. Through reflection and hard-won insight, Christopher invites listeners to rediscover the art within themselves, reconnect with purpose, and rebuild from burnout toward a life of meaning and creation.
You’ll hear how art lives not only in music, theatre, and design but in how we think, conn...
2025-11-0107 minAt The VanguardAt The Vanguard: TrailerWelcome to At The Vanguard — a show about elevating the arts and empowering the artist in each of us.
Hosted by musician and educator Christopher Lloyd Bratten-Zappala, this podcast explores the creative spirit through conversations with artists, thinkers, and innovators who are redefining what it means to lead with vision and create with purpose.
In this trailer, Christopher introduces the mission behind At The Vanguard and invites you to join a community built on curiosity, accountability, and transcendence.
Follow now to hear the premiere episode on November 1.
2025-10-2501 min