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Welcome to Fem Forte--your new favorite source for inspiring interviews with women in music and performing arts. Fem Forte is hosted by Amanda DeFrees, Director of Media at Ultimate Drill Book. Come join me on this journey as I sit down and have real conversations with women who are making strides and impacting the community in a positive way. Whether you are a band director, performer, conductor, musician, or love music and performing arts, this podcast is for you!
Arielle Isaac Norman doesn’t just tell jokes—she challenges the entire system. In this episode, we dive into Arielle’s sharp, boundary-pushing comedy and how she weaves politics, gender, and identity into her work with fearle...
Julie Davila is a name you’ll find etched in the halls of WGI and PAS, but her story is far more than accolades. In this episode, Julie shares how her career was built on relationships, initiative, and the quiet power of foll...
What happens when you finally give yourself permission to create what you want? Kelly Raaz answers that question through her story of starting a successful business built on punk nostalgia and self-expression. We talk about h...
Kate Warren is here to challenge every limiting belief about musicianship. In this episode, she talks about mental health in the arts, the science behind motivation, and how social media can be a platform for positive change....
From Mean Girls to Cirque du Soleil, Mackenna Tolfa has played it all—and played it well. In this episode, she reveals how staying curious led to world tours, composing original works, and becoming one of the first female dru...
What does it mean to direct without dominating? Allison Price (they/them) invites us into their world of intimate, immersive theater and queer performance. With accolades from the Kennedy Center and a deep commitment to inclu...
Podcast Host
Amanda DeFrees is the host of Fem Forte and currently serves as the Director of Media at Ultimate Drill Book. Fem Forte is a podcast that celebrates women in the arts. This podcast is meant to empower the next generation of women in the performing arts by interviewing amazing female educators, performers, and professionals alike who are currently in the industry. Amanda has worn multiple hats throughout her career as a performer, musician, and media professional. Amanda has been featured in Business Innovators Magazine, Canvas Rebel Magazine, Texas A&M Kingsville Foundation Annual Report, The South Texan Newspaper, and Corpus Christi Caller Times. Amanda is a proud alum of Winter Guard International Silver Medalist Crossmen Winds Performing Ensemble, 5points Percussion, and has performed as a contracted musician at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment and NCAA Final Four Entertainment Ensemble.