OCT. 5 | 6–8 P.M. @ VPM
PODCASTING/
Podcasting in RVA
What does it take to build a podcast—and a community—that Richmonders actually want to be part of?
Join RVA’s Got Issues host Rich Meagher for a conversation with Myke Metzger and Perri Young of Vera House, the podcast that’s been popping up across Richmonders’ feeds. They’ll talk about how Vera House came together, the community they’re building, and what they’ve learned about creating conversations that connect with Richmond.
Who are these guys, what are they building, and why is Richmond listening?
After the conversation, stick around to keep the discussion going, meet fellow Richmond creatives, and connect with the people behind the mics.
_edited.jpg)
Rich Meagher
Moderator
Richard J. Meagher [pronounced MARR] is Professor of Political Science, Director of Social Entrepreneurship at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and your guide as we take you deeper into the issues in the city and surrounding counties.
He is an expert observer of local and state politics in the capital city of Richmond, Virginia, and has been featured everywhere from print to television to radio. He is a political analyst for WRIC 8 News, and his commentary and opinion have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and his own RVAPolitics site. He is a Faculty Fellow for Brandeis University’s Educational Network for Active Civic Transformation (ENACT), a national program engaging undergraduates in state-level legislative change. His 2020 book, Local Politics Matters, argues for the importance of participation in city and county politics. In 2023 he launched the Virginia Amendments Project, a resource for scholars and citizens about amendments to the Constitution of Virginia.

Myke Metzger
Panelist
Myke Metzger is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, creator, and co-founder of Vera House Studios.
Over the last decade, he has built multiple businesses, generated millions of dollars in revenue, and helped hundreds of brands grow through marketing, branding, content creation, and digital strategy.
Highlights include:
-
Built and scaled a nationally recognized branding and marketing agency
-
Ranked one of the Top 100 Branding Agencies in the United States
-
Worked with hundreds of clients across the world - including professional and Olympic athletes, UFC world champions, professional authors, celebrities, content creators, YouTubers, Fortune 500 companies, and more.
-
Clients have over 40 million followers combined
-
Made first $100K at 26
-
Managed over $3 million in advertising for some of the most successful companies in the US
-
Wrote professionally for Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine
-
Self-published a book titled "Credibility Method"

Perri Young
Panelist
Perri Young is a Richmond-based media producer, filmmaker, DJ, and creative entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience spanning music, sound, visual storytelling, and digital media. He is the founder of Oto Productions and the co-founder and executive producer of Vera House.
Among his most significant production work, Perri created a documentary-style showcase for NASA’s Convergent Aeronautics Solutions team. The project took him inside the team’s facilities and laboratories to document its researchers and experimental work for a presentation supporting continued federal research funding. His broader portfolio includes work for Markel, Genworth, Swedish Match, Berkley Mid-Atlantic, Sportable, and Collegiate School.
At Vera House, Perri oversees the production and editing of the long-form podcast and has helped develop the show into one of Richmond’s most visible independent media platforms. Built around candid conversations about the city’s people, history, and culture, Vera House has grown to more than 42,000 Instagram followers and reaches approximately one million accounts each month.
As a DJ, Perri has performed at venues including The National, Brown’s Island, Flash in Washington, D.C., and Ciao Ciao in New York City. He has shared stages with artists including Skrillex, Chromeo, Carl Craig, Hot Chip, and DJ Holographic.
Throughout his career, Perri has built a reputation for combining technical experience, creative curiosity, and an authentic connection to Richmond’s culture.

OCT. 5 | 6–8:30 P.M. @ VPM
FILM/
The Snake Rescuer’s Son/
Feedback screening with Melissa Lesh + Mallory Bracken
About the film
Join filmmakers Melissa Lesh and Mallory Bracken for a special feedback screening of their unreleased documentary, The Snake Rescuer’s Son. They’ll share selected scenes from the work in progress and take us behind the scenes of the filmmaking process, exploring the challenges, discoveries and creative decisions that have shaped the project along the way.
Following the screening, Craig Martin will lead a conversation with the filmmakers about the making of the documentary and where it goes from here, then open the floor for audience questions, reactions, and feedback.
In the snakebite capital of the world, a rebellious young snake rescuer struggles to reconnect with his estranged father, a legendary conservationist, as he reluctantly steps into the dangerous family trade. Set in the South Indian city of Mysore, The Snake Rescuer’s Son is a comedic coming-of-age story about legacy, sacrifice, and the personal cost of devoting one’s life to a cause.
![2025_The Lost Office-Portrait TOP PIC[34]_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/19c824_077e4e2ae19640b2bed3769ae79e89dc~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_437,w_2000,h_1334/fill/w_439,h_293,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/2025_The%20Lost%20Office-Portrait%20TOP%20PIC%5B34%5D_edited.jpg)
Craig Martin
Moderator
Craig Martin has spent the past 30 years filming in war zones, disaster zones, and remote villages in more than 85 countries. As a video/film producer, director, writer and editor, Craig has produced hundreds of projects both long and short form.
Currently, Craig is the co-host and producer of a 5-time, Daytime Emmy nominated TV docu-series called The Good Road. This series explores the world of philanthropy and Season Five is aired through American Public Television and World Channel with Season Six coming in development. Craig lectures and teaches at VCU on AI and has written two books on the topic; 1:0 Commandments: You May Never Yield a Return and 1.0 Commandments: Home is in My Head. Craig has also produced a podcast called Philanthropology and written a memoir called Confessions of a Philanthropologist.
Craig lives with his wife in Richmond, Virginia and is the father of twins.

Melissa Lesh
Panelist
Melissa Lesh founded Emerging Earth Films in 2014 as a way to bridge the arts and sciences. Her first film, Person of the Forest (2017), was a partnership with National Geographic depicting cultural behaviors in wild orangutans. Her feature-length directorial debut and most recent film, Wildcat (2022), was acquired by Amazon Studios, released in theaters globally and won an Emmy Award for Best Nature Documentary. Lesh is a Sundance Documentary Film Program grantee and former resident at the Jacob Burns Film Center in New York. Born in Mumbai, India, she now calls Richmond, Virginia home.

Mallory Bracken
Panelist
Mallory Bracken is a filmmaker and photographer drawn to stories that explore environmental justice, community, and the ways larger systems shape individual lives, human and otherwise. Most recently, she served as post-producer on the documentary short film THE GREY ZONE for Wildlife Investigative Reporters and Editors in collaboration with Rolling Stone Magazine. She co-produced and associate edited the Emmy Award-winning feature documentary WILDCAT for Amazon Studios and associate edited the feature documentary ALL YOU HEAR IS NOISE, a 2023 Tribeca Official Selection. She is a 2019 Sundance Documentary Fund, Sandbox Films grantee and 2022 artist in residence at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, New York, and has worked with Burn Magazine, the Nature Conservancy, and Eddie Bauer. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.

OCT. 6 | 6–8 P.M. @ VPM
THEATER/
Launch Point: Richmond.
The rising number of new original works premiering on Richmond's stages belies the conventional wisdom about the risks involved. Are local companies building a bridge from Broad Street to Broadway?
Join Style Weekly theater critic David Timberline in conversation with key voices from Richmond’s theater community as they explore why more companies are investing in new work, what it takes to bring an original production to the stage, and what this creative momentum could mean for Richmond’s place in the broader theater landscape.
_edited.jpg)
David Timberline
Moderator
David Timberline has been writing for Style Weekly for 25 years. He is one of the cofounders of the Richmond Theatre Community Circle that has bestowed the annual Artsie Awards for 15 years, recognizing excellence in local professional theater. He talks with local theater professionals about Broadway on his podcast “Chasing Phantom” and about intergenerational misunderstandings on his podcast “Convince Me I Care.” He spends many nights in theaters but most days out riding his bike.

Irene Zeigler
Panelist
Irene Ziegler is a two-time fellow in the Pipeline New Works Initiative sponsored by Cadence Theatre, mentored by the multi-decorated playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire.
As an actor, her film and TV credits include The First Lady, Doom Patrol, The Walking Dead and Safe Haven among many others. Irene is the author of novels Rules of the Lake and Ashes to Water.
She is also the voice on the buses in Richmond, VA and preceded Siri as the voice of GPS-navigation and airport announcements. She was once yelled at by Anne Bancroft and made Gillian Anderson laugh.

Jason Marks
Panelist
Jason Marks is an award-winning singer, actor, and composer.
Stage work includes Broadway Gypsy of the Year (with Carol Channing), Young Edgar, and Bound for Broadway (NYC). He has performed regionally with Virginia Repertory Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Mill Mountain Theatre, Riverside Center, Park Playhouse, New Stage Theatre, and Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre.
Awards include the 2008 Artsie Award (Richmond Theater Critic's Circle) for his portrayal of Nicely Nicely Johnson in Barksdale Theatre's production of Guys & Dolls, as well as the 2012 Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts (Theater) from Richmond Magazine. He was also the recipient of the 2010 Big Broadway Break competition from Staybridge Suites Times Square, NYC.
As a composer, Mr. Marks has penned numerous original works, including the award-winning Croaker, which received its Off-Broadway premiere in 2016 in New York City. His original stage works have been commissioned by Virginia Repertory Theatre, and several currently tour the country through Virginia Rep on Tour.
Jason is a native of Richmond, Virginia, and a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory (BFA Music Theatre).

Nathaniel Shaw
Panelist
Nathaniel Shaw is the Producing Artistic Director for the Firehouse Theatre. He was the Founding Artistic Director for The New Theatre, served as Artistic Director for Virginia Repertory Theatre, and was the founding Artistic Director for The Active Theater (NYC). He was the inaugural New Play Development Director for Glass Half Full Productions (Tony and Olivier Award Winning Producers of Betrayal and Two Strangers), and was an Associate Choreographer for Once, supervising both the Broadway production and the First National Tour.
He is an award winning director/ movement director / choreographer with credits that span classical and contemporary musical theatre, established plays, and the development and premiere of new work.

OCT. 7 | 6–8:30 P.M. @ VPM
VISUAL ARTS/
Our Community. Our Canvas./ Premiere Screening + Conversation
Join us for the premiere screening of Our Community. Our Canvas., a new documentary exploring the power of community-engaged art to create connection, spark conversation, and inspire change.
Produced by 19RED, the film follows public artist and host Hamilton Glass as he meets artists using creativity to transform shared spaces and bring people together. Traveling from Richmond to Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Providence and University Park, Glass explores how making art together can help communities process grief, celebrate milestones, inspire learning and create moments of empathy and understanding.
Following the 55-minute screening, Producer/Director Pam Hervey will moderate a conversation about the film and the broader role of community-engaged art with Producer/Host Hamilton Glass and featured artists Matt Lively, Noah Scalin and Alfonso Pérez Acosta. The conversation will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Pam Hervey
Moderator
Pam Hervey believes in telling stories that create connection, inspire action, and change communities. As Owner and President of Fuel, a Richmond-based production company, she has produced impactful video content primarily for nonprofit organizations since 2003. She is also Managing Producer/Director of 19RED, Fuel’s original productions division, where she creates episodic, journalistic, and documentary programming for PBS/VPM.
Pam has earned two Emmys and 11 Emmy nominations for her work in public television. Her productions include The Art Scene, Blackbird: Legacy of Innovation, Aged Out: Finding Home, and Mending Walls: The Documentary. Her digital work includes Verses and In the Pen with Roscoe Burnems, stories about spoken word and slam poetry competitions in Virginia, and Bee Thoughtful with Dr. Hollee Freeman which teaches audience about the wonders of honeybee science. All episodes are currently on VPM Spark.
Her latest documentary, Our Community. Our Canvas., grew from a belief that art can create common ground across differences, bring together people who might not otherwise meet, and give communities a shared experience through which to connect and see one another differently. The film, following local public artist Hamilton Glass, explores what happens when the act of creating something together can transform not only a wall, but the people and community around it.

Hamilton Glass
Panelist
Hamilton Glass is a painter and public artist living in Richmond, Virginia. His work focuses around using public art to build up communities and create spaces in which the community members feel they have a stake in their surroundings. To him, it is vital that he uses his work in ways that serve the public and engage people through art. He believes in the power of art, which can hold communities together, and increase equity around access to the arts.
Hamilton started his art career as an architect, and after working in the field for 7 years discovered his true passion lied with painting. His paintings, however, are reminiscent of his past as an architect through technique and style. He often utilizes geometric shapes, line, and color to create bold, graphic murals that work with the existing architecture or landscape to create site-specific works of art. One of the most important themes Glass likes to work with in his designs is movement–his work carries energy and momentum, either within the piece itself by moving the viewers eyes through layers of color and line, or more physically, in large scale murals. He uses rhythmic lines to connect vibrant colors, often adding in imagery/objects that more directly represent the concepts in his work. Glass is honored to be a frequent collaborator with organizations who are focused on community growth and outreach. This part of his practice offers him the opportunity to give back to the community through his art and is a huge inspiration in itself.

Noah Scalin
Panelist
Noah Scalin is the creator of the Webby Award-winning project Skull-A-Day and the collaborative science fiction universe & performance art project League of Space Pirates. He was the Grand Prize winner of Artfields 2022 and his collaboration with Old Navy was one of the most viewed commercials of 2020. Noah’s art has been exhibited internationally, including installations in Times Square, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Mütter Museum and solo exhibitions at La Luz de Jesus in LA & Krause Gallery in NYC. His work has been commissioned by the Martin Agency, Capital One, and Goodwill; and has been featured in dozens of publications including Fast Company, Hi-Fructose, Juxtapoz, USA Today, The Telegraph, and the New York Times. Noah is the author of six books, a sought-after public speaker on creativity and was the inaugural Artfields festival artist-in-residence as well as the first artist-in-residence at Old Dominion University’s Strome College of Business and Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business. He is also the founder of Another Limited Rebellion an art & innovation consulting firm which he co-runs with his sister.

Alfonso Perez Acosta
Panelist
Alfonso Pérez is a Colombian-American artist living and working in Richmond, Virginia since 2015. With a formation in Fine Arts and a Master’s in Education, his practice unfolds in the intersection of art and participation, employing multimedia languages in a variety of community-based projects, with a special interest in contemporary drawing and healing practices. Most relevant works include the Settling Tables project with the VMHC, the Together We Rise mural for the Mending Walls project and the creation of Casa Lápiz Art Program for middle school students at the Sacred Heart Center. His recent exhibitions include Lengua Twister at Art180, The Barefoot Circle at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Trust Building/s mural series in Richmond.

0CT. 8 | 6–9 P.M. @ VPM
MUSIC/
Creating Space in Creative Spaces
How do we preserve the heart of Richmond’s music scene while making room for everyone? Join us for "Creating Space in Creative Spaces," a panel discussion bringing together local venue owners, artists, and curators. Hear directly from local scene leaders on how we can create and foster new environments across Richmond’s music spaces.
Following the discussion, stick around for drinks and a live performance by panelist and award-winning singer-songwriter Erin Lunsford.
%20(2)_edited.jpg)
Andrew Cothern
Moderator
Andrew Cothern is a writer and music lover based in Richmond, best known under the
name RVA Playlist, who champions the local music scene regularly. He is also an award-winning author for his book "RVA Playlist: Stories from the Richmond, Virginia Music Scene." When he’s not going to shows, he loves watching terrible movies. Follow him on social media at @rvaplaylist

Erin Lunsford
Panelist
Erin Lunsford is an award-winning singer/songwriter from Fincastle, Virginia and now based in Richmond and is also the frontwoman of Erin & The Wildfire. Her music blends Appalachian roots with Americana, folk, and country influences. She has earned praise from NPR Music for her “mesmerizing voice and fantastic vocal technique” and “impressive, expressive voice and some serious guitar chops.” She recently released her latest album “Rhinestones” and regularly uses her platform to foster community impact. Her single “Strawberries” inspired a regional tour that raised over $16,000 for local food pantries.

Rheese Johnson
Panelist
Rheese Johnson, also known as King Kaiju, is a hip-hop artist in Richmond by way of Newport News. He’s a Newlin Music Prize nominated rapper, and a co-founder of the 80404 Club, a collective of local beatmakers and artists whose primary instrument is the Roland SP-404 sampler, that hosts a free beat showcase at venues like Hot For Pizza.

Grant Mathews
Panelist
Grant Mathews is the co-creator of the Bellwether Garage, a neighborhood concert series at a working motorcycle garage in Church Hill. Grant also serves as Vice President on the board for the Chimborazo Park Conservancy, operates a family owned oyster farm on the Chesapeake Bay called Waveland Oyster Company and volunteers as Jazzy Jaguar, the mascot for Chimborazo Elementary School.
ABOUT
FWD:RVA

FWD:RVA is a curated week of arts and culture programming presented by Style Weekly in conjunction with artoberVA. Designed to spotlight the creative energy driving Richmond forward, each night focuses on a different discipline — from visual art and theater to music, film, and design. Through performances, conversations, and special events, FWD:RVA creates space to engage with the work shaping the city — not just to celebrate it, but to explore where it’s going, who’s behind it, and what’s possible next.

FAQS
Do I need a ticket to attend?
Yes. Advance registration through Eventbrite is required, as space is limited for each FWD event.
Can I attend more than one FWD event?
Absolutely! Each event is ticketed separately, so join us for one event or make a week of it.
Where does FWD take place?
All FWD events take place at the VPM x Style Weekly Headquarters:
15 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Where should I park?
Complimentary parking is available in the VPM parking garage at 16 E. Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
When you arrive, turn right into the alley and then take an immediate right into the garage.
What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 6 p.m. for most evening events, with programming beginning at 6:30 p.m. Check your individual event for exact timing.
Will there be food and drinks?
Light refreshments will be available at each event. Check the individual event for details.
What should I wear?
Come as you are! There’s no dress code for FWD.
Are FWD events accessible?
Yes. If you need a specific accommodation to participate, please contact us in advance so we can help make arrangements.

.png)
.png)
![Tribute_Logo_Tagline_Black_2022_MRSEAVES-01[1].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/19c824_c11ea4ace0ea4ab89f6a09908231fb1b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_361,h_83,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Tribute_Logo_Tagline_Black_2022_MRSEAVES-01%5B1%5D.png)