Pegasus News content partner interview: Mandrake Arts & Media

by Alex Bentley

Mandrake Arts & Media, headed by JW Richard, is another one of our longest-standing content partners. Richard originally joined in September 2007 with his first site, Mandrake Society Radio. His initial podcasts on Pegasus - interviews with griot Alassane Sarr and local poet Opalina Salas - immediately showed that Richard brought something different to the table. Since then, he has brought two new sites into the mix (hence the new name) while continuing to explore arts in the Dallas area.

Pegasus News: You started Mandrake Arts & Media with Mandrake Society Radio – when was that and why did you come up with the idea? And what is the meaning behind the name?

Richard: Around February 2005, after blogging for a couple of years, I'd heard a buzz about podcasting. I loved the idea that you could create a piece of entertainment for others to download and enjoy whenever they wanted versus a need to be near the radio or computer at a certain time. I also saw it as a way to bring back my radio training from college. So on May 13, 2005, Mandrake Society Radio podcast began. The show continues to be a fusion of arts and spirituality with local African-American and LGBT interest. I aim to make it as Dallas-centric as possible so that we have a historical record of our experience in audio form.

I've always been drawn to the word "mandrake." As I studied about the root itself, there was a lot of superstition and speculative information around it even though it serve can a unique role in the plant kingdom. Similarly, people of darker-skinned lineage and non-heterosexual people have also been cast with misinformation and superstition even though we have a purpose in this world. Thus the name of the show is a call for us to explore, recognize, and celebrate our purpose in the world, beginning with the local level.

Pegasus News: You recently expanded to add two new sites – Mandrake FM and popolio. Why did you decide to create these new sites?

Richard: Initially, I shared music podcasts on the main site. These were early mixes usually involving chill-out type electronic music. However, I want to discuss music more often, so in March 2007 I created a music-only podcast and blog called Mandrake FM. Popolio was an idea sparked by my Austin partner-in-blog, Freddie Rodriguez, in August 2008 in an effort to create a more mainstream pop music blog.

Pegasus News: You've interviewed a lot of people in the arts from the Dallas area – do any of the interviews stand out as favorites?

Richard: Had a fun conversation with David Rodriguez of Art Love Magic on Inauguration Day this year. Also, in preparation for the Fire & Ink conference (a gathering of African-American LGBT writers) in Austin this October, I kicked off a series of interviews African-American LGBT authors. A Dallas author who currently lives in Louisiana, Tuan N'Gai, kicked it off in February. In fact, Tuan N' Gai was my first guest on the podcast in 2005, so it was great talking to him again. Earlier interviews of note with conversations with Vicki Meek of the South Dallas Cultural Center, griot Alassane Sarr who is from Senegal and currently based in Dallas, and a conversation with poet Opalina Salas.

I also enjoy the popolio pop quiz that comes out every other Friday. Clay Pendergrass totally wowed us with his quiz and artwork.

Pegasus News: What local artists or upcoming events do you think are worthy of notice?

Richard: As far as ongoing, local events, any Art Love Magic event that I can make is a fun time. I enjoy exploring new artists at the South Dallas Cultural Center's Arthello Beck Gallery as well. The Mad Swirl event on first Wednesdays of the month at Absinthe Lounge is a blast and when I can make it out, Jammin' at the Center (SDCC).

Pegasus News: What would you like your readers/listeners to get out of your sites?

Richard: Together, the sites have become an arts & lifestyle portal with a Texas and/or African-American and/or LGBT perspective. Furthermore, when you're on Mandrake Society Radio site, there are two widgets (courtesy of SpringWidgets) in the right sidebar that display the latest posts on the other two sites. All three sites are widgetized (is that a word?) to add to your own blog or MySpace, or Blogger, or Wordpress.com site and share the communuity.

Pegasus News: How much of a role, if any, do readers/listeners play in how you approach what you write/do podcasts about?

Richard: Most of my feedback comes from my email list and from a reader survey that conduct annually. I've recently added a new bi-weekly poll that sits on MSR just to the right of the first blog post. Of course, the stats on podcast downloads and SEO help too.

Pegasus News: What do you see as the future of the Mandrake Arts & Media?

Richard: Online, there will be more writers and podcast hosts from throughout Texas on each of the sites. We do have some offline events coming up including a blog anniversary event in September marking popolio's 1st birthday in Dallas and in Austin. Another offline is involving poetry and music, but we're still working out the logistics on that.

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