Episode 70: Mark Keller; POZ & This Is Just What I Do Now

This episode dives into a deeply personal and powerful journey, Mark Keller talks about going from an HIV diagnosis to turning that experience into art and advocacy. We talk about what it really takes to write and perform a play that hits so close to home, and the emotional weight (and release) of sharing that onstage. We also get into the revival of the theatre piece POZ, what it takes to fund and produce meaningful work, and why telling stories about real issues, like HIV still matters so much. Plus, a wild 24-hour play fest, the beauty of collaboration, and what it means to find purpose through creativity AND SO MUCH MORE! We laugh, we cried, I love this conversation. 

GET YOUR TICKETS TO POZ HERE: 
https://ca.patronbase.com/_NativeEarthPerformingArts/Productions/POZ/Performances?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwJvFg1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp5KnxMkHyCTYY62aHUVpbwj4Q_1rkGUJsoRf4HPhzPKNhQ5IvWr_uUiIXLev_aem_bmyDkqtvZOXHfeDeOlLYxg

You can follow Mark on IG [at]kellerlikehelen

And we were so close, it's gofreddie.com 



Chapters

00:00 The Journey Begins: A Personal Story of HIV Advocacy
02:54 Finding Strength Through Art: Transforming Rejection into Empowerment
06:01 The Power of Community: The Friends for Life Bike Rally Experience
08:54 Candlelit Ceremony: A Moment of Truth and Acceptance
12:02 From Script to Stage: The Birth of POZ
14:59 Winning the Fringe: A Surprising Turn of Events
18:05 Facing the Audience: The Challenge of Sharing My Story
20:55 The Emotional Impact: Connecting with the Audience
24:01 The Mantra of Acceptance: Just What You Do Now
27:06 Writing as a Lifeline: The Importance of Self-Expression
29:59 Navigating Feedback: The Art of Collaboration in Writing
33:51 The Comeback of POZ
39:01 Funding and Partnerships for Theater
42:34 Addressing HIV Awareness Through Theater
48:17 The 24-Hour Play Festival Experience
55:14 Collaboration and Creative Partnerships
01:00:23 Reflections on the Journey
01:05:29 This is Just What I Do Now