In this episode of On the Aisle, host Tom Alvarez sits down with Yoshiko Kamikusa for an intimate conversation about the global journey that led her to the Indianapolis Ballet. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii, Yoshiko traces her path through elite training in Vancouver, competing in international ballet competitions, and launching her professional career with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet before arriving in Indianapolis. Along the way, she opens up about the discipline and sacrifices behind a ballet career, the realities of company life and competition, dancing through the challenges of COVID, and the artistry required to make the impossible look effortless on stage. Yoshiko also shares a deeply personal chapter honoring her late father by opening a family Japanese restaurant. Making this conversation a heartfelt look at perseverance, passion, and building a life both on and off the stage.

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In this episode of “On the Aisle,” host Tom Alvarez Zooms in with Polish‑American Broadway music director and pianist Eugene Gwozdz, tracing his journey from a musical immigrant family in Fort Worth, Texas, to becoming a go‑to collaborator for stars like Betty Buckley, Chita Rivera, Ariana DeBose, and more.

Eugene shares wild behind‑the‑scenes stories about helping Buckley learn “Memory,” sight‑reading early workshops of In the Heights, building tribute concerts at Casa Mañana, and shaping new musicals from a Dolly Parton show to a Spanish‑flu piece he composed while waiting in the hospital for a heart transplant.

With dishy name‑drops, emotional “pinch me” moments, and a powerful message about following your dreams no matter what, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and the unexpected paths a life in music can take.

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On this episode of “On the Aisle,” host Tom Alvarez sits down with community leader and musician Shelly Snider, who shares her journey from growing up as a United Methodist preacher’s kid in Indianapolis to becoming a powerhouse in Indiana’s LGBTQ+ community through Indy Pride, the Pride of Indy Bands, and now the Damien Center.

She talks about juggling corporate life, nonprofit work, and family, the joy and healing power of music, and how a scrappy idea on a pizza-napkin became a 60+ member queer band that has marched in presidential inaugurations and is headed to the Tournament of Roses Parade.

Shelly opens up about surviving professional setbacks, honoring queer history and the AIDS crisis, raising her son with her wife, and why she believes risk-taking, collaboration, and radical hope are essential for the next generation. If you care about arts, activism, or what it really means to build community in the Midwest, this conversation is packed with heart, history, and inspiration.

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