Student Artists

This season we speak with students who are on the path to a career in art. From filmmakers to watercolorists, to performing artists, this season we speak to talented students on finding their passion in art and their advice to other emerging young artists.

Poster: Student artist in blue singing into a vintage microphone. Musical theatre with Makenna Kirsch. Season 4.

Episode 1: Musical Theatre with Makenna Kirsch

Student Artists graphic: Watercolor portrait with blue, purple, and white text. Darcy Espiritu is the artist.

Episode 2: Fine Arts and Watercolor with Darcy Espirutu

Student artists filming a movie with Hannah Sam; silhouetted figures on a pier at sunset.

Episode 3: Making a Movie with Hannah Sam

Student musicians in a studio; one at a computer, the other singing. Vibrant blue/purple design promoting the event.

Episode 4: Music and Collaboration with Dallas Clark

Podcast Production Team

Woman with dark hair and a black top, smiling in front of a white wall.

Malaika Hollist

Malaika Hollist is our new host of Season 2 of the Arts Axis Florida Podcast and the Brand Manager of Arts Axis Florida. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida and a Bachelor's degree in Film and media Arts from the University of Tampa. Malaika already co-hosts a podcast called Full moon with her best friend and is an avid listener of many different podcasts.With a background in youth and family studies, digital media, and a podcasting background she is the perfect fit to join the team. Amplifying the voices of our organizations is something she cannot wait to continue doing.

Man with glasses and beard smiles, wearing a maroon shirt, bookshelves in background.

Scott Wachtler

Scott Wachtler is a writer and journalist who has worked in Tampa Bay and Boston. He’s the author of the True Crime novel Young Blood: Murder in the Woods. While working for WUSF he has produced podcasts for StoryCorps and has written and edited the Healthcare Superteams podcasts for USF Health. He is currently the editor of Cyber Florida’s No Password Required podcast and the Arts Axis Florida podcast. When he’s not working, he likes to spend time with his family.