Philly Phone Book: a Podcast Artchive

Our Guest this week is Gabi Swain! (she/her)
 
Gabi is an improviser, comedian, and producer originally from Michigan, now based in Philadelphia!
 
Having hopped from place to place, Gabi eventually stumbled into local improv in Harrisburg, PA. What started as annoying neighbors soon became community, and set Gabi on a path towards comedy here in Philly. Starting multiple troupes in the scene such as Swear Jar, ChitChat, and Bird Hands, she has made it her goal to cultivate joy with laughter and collaborative storytelling. Now, Gabi gives right back to the community with her annual indie improv-comedy festival "Swear Jar Jamboree" which goes up July 9-12th, showcasing a plethora of Philly talents. In this episode we talk about the importance of the "relationship" in a scene, what it takes to put up a festival, and our shared love of Dungeons & Dragons.
You can find/contact Gabi everywhere cited below! 
Instagram - @gabandgoof
TikTok - @gabandgoof
Email - gabi@coin-drop.org
Swear Jar Improv - weareswearjar.com
ChitChat Improv - @chitchatimprov
Make sure to check out Swear Jar Jamboree! Tickets are for sale HERE 
You can also catch Gabi with ChitChat at the Del Close Marathon 2026 on June 14th! - Tickets to DCM
 
Make sure to follow Gabi's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits!
- Host: Gideon Caro McDonald
- Guest: Gabi Swain
- Editor: Gideon Caro McDonald, Fern Morehouse
- Cover Art/Graphic Design: Ella Carter
- Theme Song: Valerie Barry

Our Guest this week is Hadley Precht! (she/her)
 
Hadley is an illustrator and designer from York County, PA, now based in the city of Philadelphia!
 
Inspired by cartoons and children's book illustrations, Hadley picked up a pencil at an early age and hasn't stopped since. She took a chance with University of The Arts, which she states as one of the best decisions she's ever made. Cultivating her style of bold shadows and hatching, she graduated from Moore College of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration, and continues to work as a freelance artist. Working to "write the pictures" in her own voice, Hadley finds comfort and inspiration in the indie art community that she's now a part of. In this episode, we talk about the dangers of generative AI for visual artists, how individuality becomes your brand as a designer, and the joy of fan art!
 
You can find/contact Hadley everywhere cited below! 
Instagram - @hadleyprecht_ilus
Email - hadleyprecht@gmail.com
Portfolio Website - hadleyprecht.com
Make sure to check out her latest original project FractoMorphia, a fully written and illustrated ARG in the form of a zine! Read it online here, or reach out for physical copies!
Like Hadley's art? You can also commission her for custom work using this form!
 
Make sure to follow Hadley's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits!
- Host: Gideon Caro McDonald
- Guest: Hadley Precht
- Editor: Gideon Caro McDonald, Fern Morehouse
- Cover Art/Graphic Design: Ella Carter
- Theme Song: Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is Gabe Moses! (he/they)
 
Gabe is an actor and director from upper PA, Pennsylvania, now based in the city of Philadelphia!
 
Gabe is the product of a single mother, and first of his family to pursue the performing arts professionally after finding said passion at age 3, dancing along to Barney the Dinosaur. From there, Gabe has studied the art of acting and Shakespeare since early high school. Today, Gabe has made a name for themself among multiple regional theaters, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and has even returned to his high school as a director. Now he stars in Romeo and Juliet at the Arden Theatre Company as the titular leading lover, continuing to recognize life's full circle moments. In this episode, we talk about the importance of understudies, the brilliance of Eddie Murphy, and living through one's ancestors through your art. 
 
You can find/contact Gabe everywhere cited below! 
Instagram - @gabejmoses
Email - gabemosesbusiness@gmail.com
People's Light Company - peopleslight.org
Make sure to follow Gabe's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - Gabe Moses
Editor - Fern Morehouse, Gideon Caro McDonald
Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry
 

Our guest this week is Toby Thomas McDonald! (he/him)
 
Toby is a musician, filmmaker and writer from Philadelphia, as well as my younger brother!
As a current student of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), Toby's been discovering his voice as a filmmaker, inspired by the likes of Pee-Wee Herman and Kevin Smith. He's also been playing music at an early age with local Philly rock group The Jette Planes, and most recently the punk band Witheld. In this episode we talk about the songwriting process, growing up surrounded by art in South Philly, and Toby's next steps as a Drexel Dragon film student!
You can find/contact Toby everywhere cited below! 
Portfolio Website - tobymcdonald
Instagram - @toby_tmcd 
Email - tobytmcd@gmail.com
YouTube - @McDonHale
Go listen to Witheld's debut single "Misathrofied" on BandCamp as well as The Jette Planes 2nd studio album "Behind Three Walls" to check out Toby's recent music!
 
Make sure to follow Toby's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - Toby Thomas McDonald
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is Tyler Rocio Ecoña! (they/she)
 
She is a playwright, dramaturg and actor originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, now based in Philly!
 
A graduate of The University of the Arts, Tyler works to steward relationships within the Philly theater by creating and uplifting projects focused on collaboration. Making the effort to highlight the Latine, trans, and disabled artists that don't often see themselves represented in theater, Tyler hopes to push boundaries not only socially, but magically. In this episode, we talk about admitting that some people know more than you, the effort it takes to find community, and her newest piece "The Machu Picchu Play."
 
You can find/contact Tyler everywhere cited below! 
Instagram - @tyleriito
New Play Exchange - Tyler Rocio Ecoña
Make sure to follow Tyler's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - Tyler Rocio Ecoña
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is Rekha Shankar (she/her)
 
She is a comedian, writer, actor and filmmaker originally from Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles, California!
 
Knowing that she wanted to make people laugh, Rekha forged a path into comedy and film-making while attending NYU. This persistence led her to discover improv, move to LA, and get into all kinds of career defining rooms, including College Humor/Dropout, Animaniacs, Aunty Donna's House of Fun, and NBC's Grand Crew. Throughout her career, she has worked tirelessly to develop her unique voice and perspective, and ultimately hopes to achieve her goal of "being a professional idiot". In this episode, we talk about writing for live improv vs scripted comedy film, integrating your identity and culture into your art, and the Philadelphia community's warmth and hospitality towards those it claims as its own. 
You can find/contact Rekha everywhere cited below! 
Instagram - @rekha_s
Newsletter - buttondown.com/RekhaShankar
Patreon - rekha|shankar
Website - rekhashankar.com
Rekha has just begun shooting her new film, Vidhya's Guide to the Afterlife! This deeply personal, sci-fi buddy comedy following the only two left behind behind the Hindu rapture was written by Rekha and will be directed by fellow DesiQuest cast member Sandeep Parikh! In order to stay in the loop about the film's updates, make sure to follow Rekha everywhere cited above, as well as check out rekhamovie.com! 
 
Make sure to follow Rekha's career/upcoming projects by joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - Rekha Shankar
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Design - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is Michael Jahlil (he/they)
 
They are an actor, singer and writer originally from Chester, PA, now based in Philadelphia!
 
Following in the footsteps of acting giants and a Juilliard college commercial, Michael knew that he needed to pursue the arts in one way or another, and to do that he needed to go achieve a Masters degree. This spark led him on a rollercoaster-esque career, including American Idol, national tours, and multiple collegiate auditions. Until eventually, Michael took a break and started over, shaping his acting career through training at the Community College of Philadelphia, University of the Arts, Temple University, and cabaret clubs here in Philly. Now, with a seasoned career in this city, Michael still works to achieve his lifelong goal of providing arts education to low income communities and children in need of performance and expression. In this episode we talk about the highs and lows of the theater industry, finding confidence in your art, and the magic of Sister Act 2.
 
You can find/contact Michael everywhere cited below!
Instagram - @michael.jahlil.deux
Email - themichaeljahlil@gmail.com
Make sure to follow Michael's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - Michael Jahlil
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is August Hakvaag (they/them)
 
They are a butch theatre artist, primarily a playwright and actor, from Manhattan, NY and currently based in Philadelphia!
 
Having grown up in a small yet supportive suburban town in PA, August felt it obvious to pursue the arts and leave home. They soon graduated from Temple University with a BA in Theatre, and August has been an active member of our community ever since. They joined the PlayPenn Foundry program as an upcoming playwright, became an advocate for health safety in their work since the pandemic, was part of the original cast of the Twenty Sided Tavern, and continued their studies at Temple for a Graduate Certificate in Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Alongside all of this, August continues to work as an actor as well in both local theater work and TTRPG podcasts! In this episode we talk about knowing when to take a break, the magic of tabletop storytelling, and the two plays they have in this year's Fringe festival!
 
You can find/contact August everywhere cited below!
Website - augusthakvaag.com
Instagram - @a.hakvaag
Email - august.hakvaag@gmail.com
Make sure to follow August's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - August Hakvaag
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is John Faye! (he/him)
 
He is a career musician, originally from Newark, Delaware, that has been performing and teaching in the Philly music scene for the last 30 years.
 
Having some time as a signed musician in the late 90s with his band The Caulfields, John was given the chance to tour the country and beyond. A few years later, he broke away from the label and furthered his musical expression in Philly with groups such as John Faye Power Trip, IKE, John and Brittany, and eventually his own solo career. Now with 16 studio releases under his belt, John continues to push himself as a songwriter and performer, as well as uplifting the underground scene and smaller musicians. In this episode we talk about his time as an educator at both Bluebond Guitars & Music School and Drexel University, advice about today's music industry, and his bestselling memoir The Yin and The Yang of It All.
 
You can find/contact John everywhere cited below!
Website - johnfaye.com
Email - johnfayemusic@gmail.com
Instagram - @johnkimfaye
FaceBook - @jfaye
Patreon - johnkimfaye
Make sure to follow John's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - John Faye
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry

Our guest this week is McKayla / MK Prophett! (they/she)
 
They are a theater director, actor and teaching artist originally from Brunswick, Maine, now based in Philly!
 
Having started performing alongside their mother and brother at a young age, MK knew early on they wanted a life in theater. Though the path of a performer didn't shine quite as bright as a future in directing, leading them to pursue the Directing, Play-writing and Production BFA at University of the Arts. Driven by a desire to tell new, queer, and bold stories, MK now works as a director in Philly in hopes to be a siphon for creation and collaboration. In this episode we talk about the need for art influenced by the state of the world, the relationship between a director and their team, and the brilliance of Spongebob Squarepants.
You can find/contact MK everywhere cited below!
Instagram - @mk.prophett
Email - mkprophett@gmail.com
YouTube - @mckaylaprophett2338
Website - Coming Soon!
Make sure to follow MK's career/upcoming projects by Joining our weekly Newsletter! Sign up TODAY!
OR Check out our Guest Contact Sheet, which is updated whenever our previous guests have new art to share! Check it Out!
 
Credits
Host - Gideon Caro McDonald
Guest - MK Prophett
Editor - Fern Morehouse
Cover Art/Graphic Designer - Ella Carter
Theme Song - Valerie Barry