On the latest episode of the ArtiGras Podcast, we sit down with James (Jim) Barbato of Palm Beach Opera, the General Director of one of South Florida’s most celebrated performing arts organizations. From his early days as a performer to navigating career crossroads and ultimately stepping into leadership in arts administration, Jim shares the moments that shaped his path and what it takes to sustain a world-class opera company. This conversation explores the evolution of his career, the deep connection between community engagement and artistic excellence, and how opera continues to thrive through education programs and innovative thinking.

Jim also opens up about his insights on why live performance matters now more than ever, how Palm Beach Opera has carved out its unique identity, and what it takes to build a sustainable artistic ecosystem that serves audiences of all ages.

🎯 Topics Covered:

• 01:27 — Jim Barbato’s journey from performer to arts leader

• 03:36 — The impact of industry challenges and career pivot points

• 29:36 — The resident artist program and cultivating emerging talent

• 38:04 — Palm Beach Opera’s role in community engagement and education

• 40:08 — Opera as a visceral, live art form that moves audiences

• 52:02 — Making opera accessible and relevant to new audiences

• 1:09:24 — Vision for the future and growing opera tourism in Palm Beach County

The ArtiGras Podcast celebrates the artists and stories that bring Palm Beach North to life, revealing the creativity and heart behind our art community.

Love local stories and community leadership? Check out our sister series, the Palm Beach North Podcast, to stay updated with the future of Palm Beach County’s business community. Listen anywhere podcasts are found or visit palmbeachnorthpodcast.com!

Check us out on social media!

Instagram:

ArtiGras: @artigras

Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber

Facebook:

ArtiGras: /artigrasfineartsfestival

Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber

LinkedIn:

Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber

Website:

To learn more about ArtiGras Podcast, visit: https://www.artigraspodcast.com

To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com

'To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com

Follow our guests!

Website: pbopera.org

Instagram: palmbeachopera

#OperaInPalmBeach #ArtsLeadership #LivePerformance #CommunityThroughArt #ArtiGrasPodcast

Kerri Paizzi is the CEO of Flavor South Florida and a passionate advocate for food as an art form that brings people together. With roots in the restaurant industry and a deep love for community connection, Kerri has helped turn September into a month locals genuinely look forward to.

In this episode, Kerri shares how Flavor South Florida grew into a beloved culinary tradition, why dining is about so much more than what’s on the plate, and how creativity, generosity, and shared experiences continue to shape the region’s food culture.

Janeen Talbott is a multidisciplinary creative whose path into filmmaking was shaped by curiosity, service, and a deep respect for storytelling. From early creative encouragement at home to experiences that challenged how representation shows up on screen, her work is rooted in lived experience and thoughtful process.

In this episode, Janeen shares how her journey through journalism, the Peace Corps, and film school led her to filmmaking, along with how community, color, and audacity continue to guide her creative work.

From surfing Jupiter waves to leading a world-class orchestra, David McClymont’s career path is anything but traditional. As CEO of the Palm Beach Symphony, he brings endurance, discipline, and data-driven thinking to an art form often seen as purely creative.

In this episode of the ArtiGras Podcast, David shares how leadership in the arts mirrors athletic endurance, why creativity and metrics must coexist, and how the Symphony has expanded access through education, outreach, and unforgettable community experiences.

Topics Covered:

00:48 Growing up in Jupiter, competitive surfing, and early influences

02:57 Ironman training, endurance, and leadership at scale

07:16 Balancing data, creativity, and sustainable decision making

09:47 A pivotal leadership moment ahead of the Kravis Center debut

12:20 Winning the Symphony’s first Emmy and Carnival of More Animals

15:54 Mission-driven growth and expanding arts education across Palm Beach County

The ArtiGras Podcast celebrates the artists and stories that bring Palm Beach North to life, revealing the creativity and heart behind our art community.

Love local stories and community leadership? Check out our sister series, the Palm Beach North Podcast, to stay updated with the future of Palm Beach County’s business community. Listen anywhere podcasts are found or visit palmbeachnorthpodcast.com!

Check us out on social media!

Instagram:

ArtiGras: @artigras

Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber

Facebook:

ArtiGras: /artigrasfineartsfestival

Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber

Website:

To learn more about ArtiGras Podcast, visit: https://www.artigraspodcast.com

To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com

Follow our guests!

Palm Beach Symphony Website: https://www.palmbeachsymphony.org

Palm Beach Symphony Instagram: @pbsymphony

Palm Beach Symphony Facebook: /palm beach symphony

Palm Beach Symphony LinkedIn: /company/palm-beach-symphony

David McClymont LinkedIn: /in/david-mcclymont

#ArtiGrasPodcast #DavidMcClymont #PalmBeachSymphony #ArtsLeadership #PalmBeachArts

Wilkine Brutus has lived many creative lives. Award-winning journalist, poet, speaker, and founder of Maps & Diaries, he grew up in a Haitian household full of big, dramatic stories, discovered poetry and hip-hop as his creative language, and learned to turn rejection, curiosity, and community into fuel.

In this episode, Wilkine talks about growing up on exaggerated family legends, going viral as “Teacher YouTube” in South Korea, why libraries and third places matter, how he thinks about success and “luxury” now, and the four guiding principles he shares with other creatives.

Scott Jeffries has lived more than one life. Lawyer, addict, survivor, artist, and founder of Fannie Ward Carmen Scott. What began as a moment of curiosity in his grandmother’s studio became a journey of freedom, color, and purpose. Today, Scott Jeffries, a Palm Beach County artist and consultant, channels his recovery through art, painting what he calls “mirrors,” vibrant reflections of emotion, resilience, and the creative journey that shaped his life.

In this episode, he shares how art became both his recovery and his calling, why he never negotiates his worth, and the life lesson he swears by: if it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end.

On the latest episode of the ArtiGras Podcast, we sit down with Noelia Solange, Co-Founder of Subtropic Film Festival, and filmmaker David Hamzik. From launching a truly indie festival in West Palm Beach to hosting year-round pop-up screenings and workshops, Noelia and David share how community, collaboration, and Florida’s distinct creative energy are shaping a new film culture across South Florida.

This conversation explores how Subtropic curates shorts by feeling and theme, why opening night at the Norton Museum matters, and how partnerships—from hands-on film workshops to cross-city screenings—keep local filmmakers in the spotlight. We dig into creative highs, on-set curveballs (rainstorms and 4 a.m. shoots), and the business side of art: how to sustain creativity by surrounding yourself with the right team.

On the latest episode of the ArtiGras Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Kato, Chief Executive & Producing Artistic Director of the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. From growing up in Jupiter to producing the Tony Awards and leading a $50M+ expansion that reshaped a beloved local institution, Andrew shares how vision, community, and a “talented & kind” culture power world-class theatre in Palm Beach County.

This conversation explores how the Maltz builds every show in-house, why audience energy changes a performance, and how experiences like the Island Theatre and creative lobby activations (think Creature Features during Misery) turn a night at the theatre into something immersive. We also talk leadership, legacy, and what it means to make arts access real for everyone.