The Art Box

From international stages to television studios, bestselling author, speaker, artist, and creativity advocate Judi Moreo has spent a lifetime helping others discover what they're truly capable of. In this inspiring conversation, Judi shares her journey of resilience, reinvention, and creative courage, along with lessons learned while speaking in 29 countries and empowering countless individuals to pursue their dreams. We also discuss her newest passion project, The Center for Creative Expression, and why she believes creativity is not reserved for artists, it's one of the most important survival tools we possess as human beings. A thoughtful conversation about embracing...

On Episode 447 of The Art Box, we sit down with one of Mesquite's most beloved performers, volunteers, writers, and community champions, Cheryl Kilker. From her days traveling the world with Up with People as Cheryl Kirking to her years on stage, in community service, and as an author, Cheryl has spent a lifetime creating connections and inspiring others. We talk about her remarkable journey, her love of music and performance, her experiences as Ms. Senior Mesquite and Ms. Senior Nevada, and the life lessons that inspired her book, 100 Ripples of Joy. Along the way, Cheryl...

Turn it up, Art Box listeners! For our milestone Episode 450, MJ takes The Art Box on the road to the Headliners Club for an electrifying evening with Petty Fever, one of the nation's premier Tom Petty tribute bands. From the first guitar riff to the final encore, the energy was off the charts as fans packed the venue to celebrate the timeless music of one of rock's most beloved songwriters. MJ goes backstage and behind the music to chat with the talented musicians who bring the spirit, sound, and soul of Tom Petty and the...

On Episode 446 of The Art Box, we conclude our Gardnerville, Nevada road trip with Scott and Vicki, owners of Uninhibited: A Craft Brew Experience. What began as a love of craft beer has grown into something much larger, a gathering place where neighbors become friends, conversations flow as easily as the beverages, and community is always on tap. Scott and Vicki share the story behind their unique business, the welcoming atmosphere they've created in Gardnerville, and their mobile craft beer experience that brings people together at block parties, holiday celebrations, community festivals, and special events throughout the...

On Episode 445 of The Art Box, recorded during our Gardnerville, Nevada road trip, we visit with tattoo artist and business owner Jennifer Sutton of Above the Bar Tattoo. Jennifer shares stories from her early life, her path into the world of tattoo artistry, and the creative journey that eventually led her and her husband Nick from Venice, California to the Carson Valley. What they found in Gardnerville was more than a place to open a business—it was a place to build community. Today, Above the Bar Tattoo serves as much more than a tattoo st...

On Episode 444 of The Art Box, recorded during our Gardnerville, Nevada road trip, we visit with artist Will Pender at the lively atmosphere of DST Coffee. Will shares stories of being the kid who was always drawing, how his artistic talents unexpectedly led him into a career as a law enforcement sketch artist, and how retirement has opened new doors for exploration, creativity, and curiosity. Today, Will is known for his striking travel poster artwork, capturing the character and beauty of places. Join us as we discuss the intersection of art and observation, the fascinating...

Nestled in the heart of Gardnerville, Nevada, Luminary Books is much more than a bookstore, it is a community gathering place where creativity, curiosity, and connection thrive. In this episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with owner Marissa Mills, an artist, dance instructor, passionate reader, and champion of all things creative. Marissa shares the story behind one of Steve's favorite independent bookstores, her love of literature and the arts, and the many imaginative events she creates, from book discussions and author visits to painting experiences that bring people together. Along the way, they explore the...

Step back in time with us as we visit Gardnerville, Nevada, and meet Rielynn, the creative force behind Eye of Rie Tintype Photography. In an age of smartphones and instant images, Rielynn has embraced one of photography's oldest and most fascinating processes, creating stunning tintype portraits that connect modern subjects with the rich history of the photographic arts. In this episode, we explore Rielynn's journey into historic photography, the challenges and rewards of working with nineteenth-century techniques, and why people are increasingly drawn to handcrafted images in our digital world. We discuss chemistry, creativity, patience, and the...

Recorded in Gardnerville, Nevada, Steve sits down with Jen Tune, Executive Director of Main Street Gardnerville, for a conversation about the power of creativity, collaboration, and community vision in rural Nevada. Jen shares how Main Street Gardnerville works to support local businesses, strengthen economic development, celebrate the arts, and create a vibrant sense of place for residents and visitors alike. From revitalization efforts to community events, she discusses the challenges and opportunities that come with helping a small rural town thrive in a rapidly changing world. The conversation explores how curiosity fuels innovation, why the...

Poet, scholar, and proud Arab American Rayann Hijazi joins The Art Box Podcast to discuss the powerful intersection of poetry, culture, and science. A former Poetry Out Loud national competitor and current Microbiology and Immunology student at the University of Nevada, Reno, Rayann shares how her Palestinian heritage influences her writing, the challenges of finding your voice between different worlds, and why poetry remains one of the most powerful tools for understanding ourselves and each other. Thoughtful, insightful, and wise beyond her years, Rayann reminds us that curiosity and creativity belong in every field of study. Sometimes...

Join us as Wyoming Poet Darrell Holden recites his poem "Thanks" and Mesquite, Nevada resident DJ Van Dyke sings a beautiful Memorial Day ballad. 

Episode 438 steps into the sharp edges of perseverance, trust, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of possibility. In this conversation, Steve sits down with author, climber, speaker, teacher, and lifelong seeker Dierdre to discuss her new book, Success in 7 Steps, and the lived experiences that shaped it. From rock climbing partnerships where lives quite literally hang in the balance, to navigating difficult personal chapters with grit and tenacity, Dierdre reflects on the lessons that taught her how dreams are not simply wished into existence — they are climbed toward, one deliberate hold at a time. Along the way, she sh...

What happens when four talented photographers who first met through creative wanderings across the American West finally sit down together for a roundtable conversation? A whole lot of laughter, insight, storytelling… and a deep appreciation for the art of noticing. In this special The Art Box Podcast roundtable episode, Steve welcomes returning guests Tiffany Weems, Sue Beauchamp, Teresa Wasiak, and Marla Aufmuth for an engaging conversation about photography, creativity, travel, human connection, and the stories waiting quietly behind the lens. Steve first met Tiffany, Sue, and Teresa through Travel Nevada FOCUS photography conferences, wh...

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with Kristi Tausinga, manager of the Mesquite Works STEAM Center, to explore creativity, mentorship, healing, and the joy of helping young minds discover those unforgettable “aha” moments. A retired police officer turned educational leader, Kristi brings a deeply human perspective to her work with students. Known for thinking outside the box, she helps create unique hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity, confidence, and imagination. And if you ask the students, they’ll tell you the same thing—Kristi genuinely cares, and it shows. Steve...

From England to Southern Africa to the Nevada desert, Stephen Murray has lived a life shaped by travel, reinvention, observation, and story. In this thoughtful episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with the author, retired software entrepreneur, and host of Gift of Giving on WWDBTV in Las Vegas to explore how a lifetime of experiences eventually found their way into fiction. Stephen shares reflections on writing six novels across multiple genres, the importance of strong character development, and why he believes dialogue should reveal who a character is without always needing to say their name...

In this heartfelt and deeply reflective episode of The Art Box, Steve sits down with one of his best friends in Mesquite, Kaye Ashbridge, for a conversation centered around intuition, healing, self-reflection, and leading with the heart. Kaye shares thoughts from her intuitive practice and her work with tarot cards—not as tools to predict a fixed future, but as gentle doorways into deeper thought, self-awareness, and personal growth. Together, Steve and Kaye explore the Hawaiian practice of Ho'oponopono, the importance of listening inwardly, and the idea that sometimes the answers we seek are already quietly waiting in...

In Episode 433 of The Art Box, Steve welcomes Virginia poet Tom Snarsky for a thoughtful and wonderfully wandering conversation about poetry, mathematics, the internet, rejection, collaboration, and the strange beauty of language in modern life. Tom is the author of several poetry collections including Light-Up Swan, Reclaimed Water, and his newest release A Letter From The Mountain & Other Poems. Living in the mountains of northwestern Virginia, Tom writes poems that are at once deeply conversational, intellectually curious, and quietly human. Together, Steve and Tom explore how poems begin with fragments, titles, sounds, and passing observations...

In June of 2023, we sat down with Michael Napper for one of our most poignant episodes—Episode 10 of Clouds in the Sand—where he shared his powerful journey as a healthcare worker navigating the challenges of COVID, offering care, compassion, and presence during one of the most difficult times in recent history. Now, Michael returns. This time, we step into a different side of his story—one that has been with him just as long. With over 40 years as an LPN and decades of musical exploration, Michael shares how music—first discovered as a young...

Spring 2026 East Fremont Festival of Arts | Downtown Container Park, Las Vegas Sometimes the best episodes aren’t planned—they’re discovered. In this special on-location episode of The Art Box, Steve heads to the vibrant Spring East Fremont Festival of Arts, hosted by our friend Liezl Siojo of ART BOX, at the ever-energetic Downtown Container Park. Under a sky full of color, music, and creativity, we set up and invited something simple… and powerful: Share a poem. What followed was a beautiful, spontaneous collection of voices—artists, vendors, and visitors a...

In this episode of The Art Box, host MJ sits down with Joe Dwyer, whose life’s work spans from representing workers as a Teamster in Billings, Montana to serving on state boards for three governors as Chairman of the Montana State Fund. Born in New Brighton, Pennsylvania, Joe reflects on a lifetime of service, leadership, and advocacy—before ultimately finding his way to Mesquite, Nevada with his wife of 52 years Kathy. It’s a conversation about purpose, perseverance, and what it means to serve others throughout a lifetime.