Diane Strand on Inclusion and Opportunity

Wendy & Rich 0:01
Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios, Hartford County Living Presents, Conversations with Rich Bennett. Hi, good to see you. You're not going to show up. You're not going to show up. You're not going to show up. It's kind of a few seconds after. It's kind of like an ambulance. No, no, no, it's not. It's kind

Rich Bennett 0:27
What if the key to building a successful business wasn't just strategy or marketing, 

Diane Strand 0:32
of like an ambulance. 

Rich Bennett 0:33
but inclusion? What if the Arts could do more than entertain? What if they could create real career pathways for foster youth at risk teens and adults with special needs? Today's guest didn't just build a seven figure media company. She built the movement. Diane Strand is the award-winning entrepreneur, producer, and leadership coach who turned her creative passion into a thriving business with JDS productions. She's worked behind the scenes on major productions like General Hospital, Friends, and Projects with the Walt Disney Company. She's launched actors into mainstream success. She's one tele-awards, communicator-awards, Anthem-awards, and I'm sure I'm probably missing some other ones and she's not slowing down. But what might be the most powerful about Diane's story isn't the awards. It's what she chose to do with her success. Through JDS Creative Academy, she's creating inclusive workforce opportunities for marginalized youth and special needs adults. Using visual, performing, and digital arts to build confidence, skills, and real-world careers. This isn't charity, it's empowerment, it's economic inclusion, it's leadership and action. So first of all, Diane, welcome, but I want to thank you for starting this because I'd never heard of anything else like this. 

Diane Strand 2:09
Oh, well thank you very much. It's a pleasure to be here. And you know, I'm just a girl who loves the arts and creativity and found a way to make an impact with it as monetize it. 

Rich Bennett 2:24
So, what was the trigger that said, I need to start a nonprofit to help these people and build with your building. 

Diane Strand 2:34
Well you know, I wish I could say I had this all-touristic, you know, outlook on how to impact many and do things. 

Rich Bennett 2:43
Right? 

Diane Strand 2:44
It really didn't start that way, you know. That's not where it organically grew from. We had an actor studio that we were launching actors and they were asking for more. Can you teach script writing? Can we learn this? Can we learn that? And you know, I have the same 24 hours in a day that everybody else has and in thinking about how could I do more and where could we do that? That's where the idea of a nonprofit really came to be able to pull together my industry friends and allow them to make an impact and create more. And it started around my kitchen table. And you know, how do we really do more for these youth and teens who want more creativity? At that time, you know, it was not focused on adults with special needs or in the inclusion space except for the fact that the arts are very inclusives. 

Rich Bennett 3:44
Right. 

Diane Strand 3:45
We were inclusive by nature, but not by design at that time. 

Rich Bennett 3:49
And what year did you start this? 

Diane Strand 3:52
The nonprofit started in 2014, but I became an entrepreneur in 2003, 23 years ago. I became an entrepreneur and then we launched the actor studio, you know, eight years after we became entrepreneurs to launch an actor studio. And now the nonprofit's been around for 12 years. 

Rich Bennett 4:16
You know, I got to ask this then. So before you became an entrepreneur, what were you doing? 

Diane Strand 4:23
were my Hollywood days, right? That's 

Rich Bennett 4:25
Those 

Diane Strand 4:25
when I was working on General Hospital and friends and built the high death control room at Staples Center. I guess I should take it to where I don't have to date myself so much, but yes, I'm probably older than I look. 

Rich Bennett 4:42
I was gonna say probably about 

Diane Strand 4:45
36 maybe, but you 

Rich Bennett 4:47
35. 

Diane Strand 4:47
know, 

and a few more decades 

Rich Bennett 4:51
Oh, 

Diane Strand 4:51
there. 

Rich Bennett 4:52
please, come on. You definitely don't look at that's for sure. So within, with the non-prob, and it is a 501 C3, right? 

Diane Strand 5:01
Correct. 

Rich Bennett 5:01
Okay, so you're sitting right on the kitchen table, you get this idea. How hard was it to launch? 

Diane Strand 5:10
Well, the launch in and of itself was super easy, 

Rich Bennett 5:14
Hmm, 

Diane Strand 5:14
because all we had was a lot of passion and a lot of purpose. And we were hungry, and just got it going, but in reality, you know, we had a lot of struggles in the beginning. You know, financially, you know, in the beginning, uhm, you know, establishing ourselves, it was self-funded. My 

Rich Bennett 5:36
yeah. 

Diane Strand 5:36
husband and I self-funded the non-profit, and that was one of our biggest challenges, and then just letting people know who we are and what we do and getting it out there. But, um, a non-profit is a business. And- Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 5:49
oh, yeah. 

Diane Strand 5:50
Really started to put my same business mindset to the non-profit. It started to really grow and make a difference. 

Rich Bennett 6:00
I think that is a mistake that a lot of people that started a non-profit make, they don't look at it as a business. And- And it is a business. You still have to pay taxes. So, yes, it is a business. 

Diane Strand 6:15
I don't know about the taxes other than payroll 

Rich Bennett 6:17
Well, 

Diane Strand 6:17
taxes, but- 

Rich Bennett 6:19
yeah, 

Diane Strand 6:19
but in a sense, they're, you know, you still have to pay your bills. That's for sure. And just because you're a non-profit, everybody doesn't give you something for free, 

Rich Bennett 6:28
yeah. No. 

Diane Strand 6:28
because they're a business. And, you know, they need to make money to be able to provide their services to your 

Rich Bennett 6:35
And- 

Diane Strand 6:35
business. 

Rich Bennett 6:37
So, with JDS Creative Academy, I want to get into, you know, the- the people that you're helping, because when people hear special needs or, you know, especially special needs adults or even at risk youth, they often think in terms of limitations. What strengths do you see that others overlook? 

Diane Strand 7:02
Well, what people overlook are just all the opportunities that they can bring to you. Everybody has a gift and a talent. It's how we highlight those gifts and talent. And for our at risk and foster youth, they just need a chance. They just need an opportunity. They just need someone to open a door for them and to show them that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes, maybe it's hold their hand a little way down the tunnel. 

Rich Bennett 7:29
Mm-hmm, 

Diane Strand 7:30
But then they just need, you know, to know that there are options and opportunities and not every door is going to be slammed in their face, because that's what happens for the at risk teens and youth is everybody's disappointed them and let them down. 

Rich Bennett 7:45
yeah. 

Diane Strand 7:45
So that's what I love about the arts is the arts is some way for them to be able to express to be able to find the cathartisism that comes out of that. It doesn't mean that they're all going to become famous actors, artists or anything, but they're going to learn the tools of resilience and 

Rich Bennett 8:03
Mm-hmm, 

Diane Strand 8:03
stepping outside their comfort zone and teamwork and know that you don't have to do it alone because the arts bring a community. 

Rich Bennett 8:11
yeah. 

Diane Strand 8:11
And then for the those that have some sort of challenge or maybe an ability 

Rich Bennett 8:19
Mm-hmm. 

Diane Strand 8:19
challenge that might they just need to learn a different way 

Rich Bennett 8:23
right 

Diane Strand 8:23
I am dyslexic and I went undiagnosed till I was probably well in the college right nobody ever even knew what it was they said I couldn't read they definitely I had challenges and obstacles, but it wasn't 100% labeled because I hit it so 

Rich Bennett 8:42
right. 

Diane Strand 8:42
well. And so when for somebody who has some sort of new nor diverse challenge we just have to find another way for them to learn there either auditory learners they are or maybe they need to read to learn or maybe they need to have their hands on it which is what I have found is the most constructive way to teach is touch 

Rich Bennett 9:06
Yeah 

Diane Strand 9:06
it. push the buttons get it working repeat it to it again and again and they learn and then the most their challenge of maybe being a little slower to pick it up and learn their focus in being able to hone in on something and get it right and do it to the right and want to impress the loyalty they are the best employees that you will find. 

Rich Bennett 9:33
Oh yeah that's one of the things we all say about it especially people that are in addiction recovery those those people when there are those are the best employees are some of the best entrepreneurs you'll ever meet. you'll ever meet. 

Which is 

Diane Strand 9:50
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 9:51
unreal, it's like, they said they're, they said their mind is something they're going to do it. They're going to do 

Diane Strand 9:57
They 

Rich Bennett 9:57
it. 

Diane Strand 9:57
feel like they have something to prove, 

Rich Bennett 9:59
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 9:59
which they don't, but yet at the same time, that's their mindset coming into it, 

Rich Bennett 10:05
M-hm. 

Diane Strand 10:06
and, you know, they're there to make sure you're supported. All they want is a little bit of support and return. And an accommodation that once you really look at whatever that accommodation is, that they're looking for. It's so miniscule in the, in the grand scheme of things that it's amazing and the creativity and the productivity and the support and commitment and loyalty outweigh everything else. 

Rich Bennett 10:34
So with, with JDS, alright, I got to make sure I say JDS creative academy because you got JDS productions, you probably got JDS everything, probably even JDS ice cream. 

Diane Strand 10:47
No, that's not a bad 

Rich Bennett 10:48
Not 

Diane Strand 10:48
idea. 

Rich Bennett 10:49
yet, right? But with the creative academy, what, is it classes that you offer different, what, what are the things that you offer? 

Diane Strand 11:00
well, we offer a little bit of everything. 

Rich Bennett 11:02
Okay, 

Diane Strand 11:02
We have classes which are extracurricular, visual performing and digital art classes, musical theater, script writing, which is virtual. 

Rich Bennett 11:10
All in, oh, ver, whoa, okay. 

Diane Strand 11:12
Yeah, we do have a virtual script writing class so you can come from anywhere in the world and be a part of that. But musical theater and filmmaking and backstage production. And then we have events and activities. We do big festivals like Digifest, which is an international festival that is open for submissions for people to submit their digital content creations from film, video, podcasting your show should be entered right into this as well as Animation and graphics and websites and demo reels and voice on, voiceovers and 

Rich Bennett 11:53
Wow. 

Diane Strand 11:53
books on tape and all the different things. So that's Digifest, which is in its tenth year. 

Rich Bennett 11:59
Really? 

Diane Strand 12:00
We have a, yeah, we have three TV shows, a radio show, a podcast. They're all vehicles for training, but yet our TV, one of our TV shows is on ABC and broadcast throughout seven California and stream globally. We have spirit of innovation arts across America. 

Rich Bennett 12:23
Oh, okay. So I just saw something jump out. 

Diane Strand 12:27
I was like, that was scary. 

Rich Bennett 12:31
Wow. Okay. 

Alright, so TV podcast screen. And I want to get back to the screenwriting. Because this is something that surprised me because when you mentioned this lexic and it's I never realized how many authors, screenwriters, people in Hollywood in general are dyslexic. You would never even think that with that being said and with you having dyslexia and you've done screenwriting, right? 

Diane Strand 13:10
I've sold a screenplay. I'm a best-selling author, four times over. 

Rich Bennett 13:15
How hard was that? 

Diane Strand 13:18
Well, in today's world, it's a little easier because I have tools that can help me and I... I'm talking to my phone and I can get my stories out. 

Rich Bennett 13:26
Okay. 

Diane Strand 13:27
I'm a storyteller. And the minute I stopped worrying about how to spell, where the comma went. And you know, all of the things that you know, you get your knuckle slapped with in school. And I realized I'm a storyteller. And it changed everything. I really didn't find my storytelling voice till I was in college 

Rich Bennett 13:50
Right. 

Diane Strand 13:50
and I started working for the school magazine. And it was really because I wanted to go do an interview at that time if you remember way back when Bobby McFarron... 

Rich Bennett 14:02
Wow. 

Diane Strand 14:02
He had a background came out, right? Well, he was coming and they were looking for someone to go do this interview and I'm like, I'll do it. And that's when...all of a sudden I had to tell his story and interview him and tell his story. And I couldn't worry about where the comma's work. And that's where support came in. Somebody else could edit my 

Rich Bennett 14:24
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 14:24
work. needed to tell the story. And that's what then all of a sudden opened up so many avenues. Now, as I said, I'm an author. I'm a speaker. I write curriculum for Title 17 programs. I have a California State approved apprenticeship curriculum. And 

Rich Bennett 14:43
Wow. 

Diane Strand 14:43
it just really stops. It started when I realized there's stories to tell. It didn't matter, you know, where the comma and where the spelling was and that changed everything. And that's what I teach today. And now with all the tools that are out, it makes it so much easier 

Rich Bennett 15:02
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 15:02
than it did when I was, you know, in school and trying to get through. And people just thought I was stupid because, you know, I didn't share that. Oh, I just, you know, not everybody's words 

Rich Bennett 15:17
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 15:17
bounce in front of it and switch places. And I can't read that fast because I'm trying to slow the words down, 

Rich Bennett 15:23
you know. And that's one of the things when I, because well, God, when I was back in school, dyslexia, ADHD, all that. I don't even think they were even words yet. You know, we were, we were labeled as stupid, you know, or dumb or lazy, was the other. You just don't want to do the work. You're just lazy. You know, but nowadays, yes, it's a lot easier, I think that, you know, people can see that. And with what you guys are doing helping people, it's just amazing. What made you, because with, with, you said, foster kids as well, right? 

Diane Strand 15:58
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 15:59
So because, I mean, it's a wide range of, I mean, at-risk teens and even to foster youths, how did you decide these are the groups that we're going to help out? 

Diane Strand 16:11
It's, it wasn't a decision. It, nobody's excluded. They were just people, you know, in my backyard and in my community, who would benefit from the arts. 

Rich Bennett 16:23
Mm-hmm. 

Diane Strand 16:24
So that's who we connected with, you know, we went to the, you know, the, the schools that have more at-risk students and 

Rich Bennett 16:34
Right. 

Diane Strand 16:34
let them know what we were doing to help them with learning and stepping outside their comfort zone and doing something, you know, a little bit more creative. And then we started getting, you know, confirmation that it was really working and helping. And then we started to be able to bring that out. And more people were coming our way as we started sharing the impact we were seeing that the arts was making. 

Rich Bennett 16:59
All right, so, 

Diane Strand 17:00
How to read 

Rich Bennett 17:01
yeah. 

Diane Strand 17:02
or, you know, whatever. 

Rich Bennett 17:03
Now you teach it in some of them acting as well. 

Diane Strand 17:06
Yeah. Oh yeah. 

Rich Bennett 17:07
Really? 

Diane Strand 17:07
Yeah. That's where they really learn is through the acting because when you're up there, it's like, okay, what is the character thinking? Talk like the character in that mind and thought. And this is your word guideline. We're putting words in your mouth. It made a whole difference of, I have to read the word word for word and what is happening. It's like, no, I have to read the word so I can tell you what's happening, word for word. And taking it inside and making how would you say it? How would you bring it out? And it's okay. Philanthropy is the word I'm trying to 

Rich Bennett 17:43
Mm-hmm. 

Diane Strand 17:43
say, right? We all have to sometimes take that pause and you gave me that minute. You didn't interrupt me, 

Rich Bennett 17:48
Right. 

Diane Strand 17:49
right? We give that grace. And so when we start to teach that in acting, we allow people to be more authentic and more human. And when they're moving forward, and that's done through acting and being able, that's how I became a stronger reader because I would miss a word with my dyslexia. It's like, I'm reading and then I jump three words and continue a sentence. But I would still have to put it in there and, you know, I, most people who dyslexic also have a photographic memory. 

Rich Bennett 18:18
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 18:19
And so I do have a photographic memory, and I would look at it. I would get to the end of the sentence and realize I know what they're talking about. I can figure out the words that I can't read in the middle. 

Rich Bennett 18:30
Wow. So with JDS, I keep thinking about, especially with special needs. Growing up, I don't, I can't recall a lot of shows or movies that had anybody in it with special needs. Maybe people that were deaf, but I always go back and I'm going to forget the name of the TV series. It was a Beatles song that was the theme song. And the sun had Down syndrome. I think his name was Corey. 

Diane Strand 19:06
Right. 

Rich Bennett 19:06
You know, 

what did you say was? 

Diane Strand 19:10
I think it's my soul caught light. 

Rich Bennett 19:12
Yeah, something like that. Yeah, but he's the first one, like with Down syndrome that I saw acne. And I believe he's even a musician if I'm not mistaken. But I was just I fell in love with the show, I fell in love with him because he was so damn good. I mean just blew me away. Then after that, I'm seeing more and more and more people, whether it be with special needs or whatever, that are out there performing. With that being said, and this is the part that I really love. Can you share one or two or three or four? I don't care how many. Feel good stories of somebody that went through JDS Creative Academy. And you don't have to use her name unless you want to. It's up to you. 

Diane Strand 20:02
Well, I mean, currently we have a student who came in and started working with us probably about six months after we started the program. And there's still in program, but yet at the same time they have a job as a production assistant where they work part time, they got it, they had two internships. And now they are becoming more independent and self-sufficient, they are out there, you know, they have an agent and they are working as well as they are still in program as well. So they realize what benefits them and they are living a fully successful life. They are now about 28 years old. They have been with us seven years. They are about to move into their own apartment. 

Rich Bennett 20:45
Wow. 

Diane Strand 20:46
And find their independence and be able to have the thriving adult life that we all seek as humans. Right? And being able to experience that. I have other individuals who their dream has to be on stage and perform. And they have been in our musical theater program for years and they are living out their dream because in reality are they going to make it to Broadway? Probably not, but they are living 

Rich Bennett 21:16
dream. 

Diane Strand 21:16
their 

Rich Bennett 21:16
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 21:16
Right. Right now. And being able to do that. Some that are gone on to be editors. You know, they are learning real skills that they are able to 

Rich Bennett 21:27
Mm-hmm. 

Diane Strand 21:27
monetize and they have got themselves listed on sites like Fiverr and CreativeArtist.com to where they can do freelance work and, you know, find what makes them shine. And that is the best. And it is not only in the special needs that it is happening. You know, in the careers that we have launched, whether you know, some are young actors who come in here and then we get them an agent and they work for five or six years and then they go off and they have great college lives and then they go on to be doctors, but 

Rich Bennett 22:01
school. 

Diane Strand 22:01
the 

Rich Bennett 22:02
Wow. 

Diane Strand 22:02
Those that they learned, you know, they, they learned, they were acting. They have 

Rich Bennett 22:07
yeah, 

Diane Strand 22:07
great sense of professionalism already instilled in them, they have the power and the tools of the arts for the resilience to go on to be, go through medical school, right? And to be able to do that. So that's like on all different sizes. We had, you know, we have individuals who come who are having identity issues and not sure who they are and then they come here and they feel ostracized because they're just in question or in flux in their life, 

Rich Bennett 22:37
right? 

Diane Strand 22:37
And then they come here and they find out they're accepted. We don't care whether they're a girl, a boy, a she, a they, a them, 

Rich Bennett 22:47
he, 

Diane Strand 22:47
a 

Rich Bennett 22:48
they're human, 

Diane Strand 22:49
right? And they're creative. And by the end of it, they figured out who they were. 

Rich Bennett 22:54
Yeah. 

Diane Strand 22:55
And they found their identity because somebody gave them the space to figure it out and the creativity and not the focus on, don't be different. 

Rich Bennett 23:04
Right? 

Diane Strand 23:05
Don't be weird, right? So it's just, it's a safe space to explore. And we see it in all over. I have parents who come to me and say, you know, my kid really doesn't talk, but then they started coming to program and now they come home and tell me what they did every single day in program. And we didn't get that for, you know, for their first 20 years of life going to school every day. And now they come home excited and want to know about new opportunities and feel like they can do things and, you know, like just last night, we have these education series that we put on their free, their online, their virtual. And we had the founder of autism and entertainment come and speak on our education series. And, you know, there was, you know, 40 people that were impacted, some are students, some just the community that are learning and seeing that there are opportunities out there. 

Rich Bennett 24:05
Wow. So with JDS, that means anybody can register to take part in it, right? No matter where. 

Diane Strand 24:14
Yes, correct. 

Rich Bennett 24:17
I love that. And I know you go out and speak because you've even done TEDx, but do you travel out side to California to go and talk about the nonprofit? 

Diane Strand 24:28
Absolutely, invite me. 

Rich Bennett 24:29
Oh, you're hearing that people aren't, well, women. If somebody wants to invite you, how do they get in touch with you? 

Diane Strand 24:34
Well, you can find me all over social media at Diane Strand, #JDSFamily. Uh, you can find the nonprofit at JDSCreativeAcademy. org. Our mission is Arts Across America. That's Arts Across America. org. And I always say 

Rich Bennett 24:50
Oh. 

Diane Strand 24:50
a great website to start is JDSStudio. live because that is an umbrella site that takes 

Rich Bennett 24:59
you everywhere. Really? 

Diane Strand 25:01
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 25:01
Well, I didn't have all those links. 

Diane Strand 25:04
Well, I can give you those. 

Rich Bennett 25:05
Well, yes. Yeah. All right. So besides, did, did you fast? 

Diane Strand 25:13
Digifest. 

Rich Bennett 25:14
Beside. 

Diane Strand 25:14
Yes. Digifestimacula. org. 

Rich Bennett 25:16
All right. So besides that. Ha ha. Oh, that's God's don't want. You got websites everywhere. Besides that, how do you and donations? How else do you guys raise money for JDSCreativeAcademy? 

Diane Strand 25:29
Well, donations are always 

Rich Bennett 25:31
Mm 

Diane Strand 25:31
welcome. 

Rich Bennett 25:32
hmm. 

Diane Strand 25:32
We're very grateful for them. And that's through the nonprofit. It is a 501C3. And you can donate right through the website. You know, but donations come in many shape sizes and forms. Follow us like us. Share our story. Share our message. Watch our shows. Come to our events. Come see a show. I mean if you're in town and you're around, it doesn't even cost anything to come see our, our plays. Now, I won't say that we don't pass the basket. But yet at the same time, it doesn't cost anything for you to make a reservation and come see frozen junior. We're doing guys and dolls. It's very cross collaborative. You got your mainstream professional actors that have agents and you also have a cross collaborative with neurodiverse and performing as well. 

Rich Bennett 26:20
So when, with these performances, are they video tapes? So you guys can put them online? 

Diane Strand 26:27
Well, no. Unfortunately, because I don't have a right to be able to share them all. 

Rich Bennett 26:30
Oh, 

Diane Strand 26:31
that this is this is copyrighted material that we're doing. We get the rights to perform it live. But 

Rich Bennett 26:38
for 

Diane Strand 26:38
we 

Rich Bennett 26:38
thought of that 

Diane Strand 26:38
I won't say that. It's not recorded and sometimes, you know, 

Rich Bennett 26:44
it 

Diane Strand 26:44
you know, 

Rich Bennett 26:44
what's educational? 

Diane Strand 26:45
The magic inside link. 

Rich Bennett 26:48
Yeah, 

Diane Strand 26:49
you might be able to find it. 

Rich Bennett 26:51
God, I would love to see. I guess I got to come out to California just to see the performances. Don't I? Yeah 

Diane Strand 26:57
absolutely. You need to come for Digifest and enter your podcasts. 

Rich Bennett 27:01
I or it's so because I'll be honest with you and you said 10 years. I've never heard it. Did it run it, it's here. I never heard it. Digifest. 

Diane Strand 27:11
Digifest, it's digifest. live. Digifestimecula. org. We're in to macula. This is where it was founded and where I created it from. It it really grew out of the fact that we had a film and musical festival here in to macula. It was running for 17 18 years. 

Rich Bennett 27:29
Mm-hmm, 

Diane Strand 27:30
And we were big supporters and sponsors of it through our business and involved. And then it kind of faded away and went away. There was some political stuff that was playing a role in it and funding and when it went away this the city I work very closely with our city of to macula. They kept saying you need to pick it up. You need to do it. This needs to be it. I'm like I'm not stepping into that mess and I'm not really a film girl. 

Rich Bennett 27:55
right. 

Diane Strand 27:56
I'm a TV girl and I'm digital so I had I'm like if I'm gonna create something I'm gonna do something that more represents what we do and who it is and one night we were brainstorming are we gonna do this are we not gonna do this and I'm like well I'm gonna do it I'm gonna call it digifest. And it just kind of stuck and we were like well what would it look like and next thing you know we were creating a three day festival it started in 2017 

education and it was a place and emerging professionals with 

industry people to learn how to walk the path and now it and t schools are all involved, we a universities and then professionals and we now give out awards and we are partnered with big huge people 

Rich Bennett 28:59
mm-hmm 

Diane Strand 29:00
for a diggy fast and like this year we have Justin Greeney who is the American Idol runner up for season one next to Cali Clarkson, he'll be singing, performing and speaking, we have Curtis Young, his Dr. Dre's son, so he's also uh, called the Hooded Surgeon in his rap world, we have Colin Egel's field, uh, who just started a movie with Kate Hudson, we have um, Sam Larson from Glee, so 

Rich Bennett 29:30
wow. We 

Diane Strand 29:31
have Rob Cutner, he's the, he's one of the screenwriters, script writers for the John Dele show, so we have inclusion coming, we have couple of actors from Love on the Spectrum, who will be here. 

Rich Bennett 29:43
Really, I love that show. 

Diane Strand 29:46
Yes, so, you know, that's what diggy fast is, those are the speakers and the presenters and the performers and then we have students, amateurs and other content creators in the professional space that, uh, you know, we bring the business side of it as well as the creative content side and merge it all together at diggy 

Rich Bennett 30:05
Oh, 

Diane Strand 30:05
fast. 

Rich Bennett 30:06
wow. 

Diane Strand 30:07
Come walk the red carpet, all the things. 

Rich Bennett 30:10
I, 

God, I would love that. I have that would be a blast and this is, this is the tenth year it's every year and when, when is it April, 

Diane Strand 30:22
April 24th, 25th, and 26 this year. 

Rich Bennett 30:24
Alright, well, I can't come this year because my nephew's getting married, but I got, it's always in April, right? 

Diane Strand 30:31
It's always in April. 

Rich Bennett 30:33
Okay. 

Diane Strand 30:33
It's usually the last, last weekend or so of April, depending on where 

Rich Bennett 30:39
I 

Diane Strand 30:39
Easter. 

Rich Bennett 30:39
was just gonna say that, 

Diane Strand 30:40
It's 

Rich Bennett 30:40
yeah. 

Diane Strand 30:40
kind of fake. Um, but it's, um, it's in April, but submissions are still open, you do not have to be present to win, so you can still enter. 

Rich Bennett 30:49
I ain't worried about Henry and I want to get it when you said, love on the spectrum. I'm like, I'm hooked, dear. God, the name's going to escape me, but the one young lady, I think she makes hats and everything. 

Diane Strand 31:01
Um, I'm not sure. There's Danny Bowen, who is one of the original cast members. This year we have, um, Tip Sabou and, uh, Artie coming. 

Rich Bennett 31:12
Okay. Uh, God, all right. So something very important, even though you probably gave the website, give it again. So people know where to go to make a donation. 

Diane Strand 31:23
JDS creative academy dot, or you will find that under the giving tab. 

Rich Bennett 31:29
And you gave all the other websites. Didn't you? 

Diane Strand 31:32
I did. I 

Rich Bennett 31:33
Are you 

Diane Strand 31:33
did. 

Rich Bennett 31:33
sure you're not missing one? 

Diane Strand 31:36
Well, I mean, that's why I always say hashtag JDS Family. Type in JDS Family into Google and we'll come 

Rich Bennett 31:43
up. It'll come up. 

Diane Strand 31:45
the creative academy JDS creative academy is the nonprofit 501 C3. 

Rich Bennett 31:50
So 

Diane Strand 31:50
You can always start with JDS studio. Live and you'll get to the creative academy and everything else. 

Rich Bennett 31:57
Are you sick crazy question? What's everybody that has gone through the academy is there because you said some of them are on five or all that. Is there like a directory? If people want to hire strictly people that went through the Academy, is there a directory that people can go to for that? 

Diane Strand 32:14
No, we don't have that's a good idea. No, we don't have a directory. A lot of them we have an in-house studio, 

Rich Bennett 32:22
OK. 

Diane Strand 32:22
so. You are looking to hire any of our neurodiverse talent and are looking for, and maybe you can offer an internship of remote. 

Rich Bennett 32:32
Ooh, 

Diane Strand 32:33
I'm for an editor. You're looking for a content creator. And you are in Maryland, right? And 

Rich Bennett 32:39
there. 

Diane Strand 32:39
you want to hire someone, they can work remote for you and internship for you remotely. 

Rich Bennett 32:46
Ooh, I know I do know a lot of piecasters that do look for that don't because 

Diane Strand 32:54
I 

Rich Bennett 32:54
I'm one of the sickers that love doing everything. But seriously, I know a lot piecasters that are looking for that and people are 

Diane Strand 33:04
looking 

Rich Bennett 33:04
always 

Diane Strand 33:04
for. I actually have someone who is an editor who is primed and ready to take on an internship. 

Rich Bennett 33:14
Really. 

Diane Strand 33:14
And it's about 15 hours a week. And so if that would help somebody and alleviate their editing woes, because a lot of people, that's very tedious work for them. And we have trained editors, if you give clear direction. We could set you up with an intern. They are paid so they are getting paid, but they're getting the experience through you. 

Rich Bennett 33:45
Yeah, I think I got ripped off because back in the day, when I was going to broadcast the school, we did internship and interns weren't paid then. 

Diane Strand 33:54
No, right. 

Rich Bennett 33:54
I don't know when that's changed, 

Diane Strand 33:56
it's 

Rich Bennett 33:56
but 

Diane Strand 33:56
a live 

Rich Bennett 33:56
work. Yeah. 

Diane Strand 33:57
Today, more internships are becoming 

Rich Bennett 34:00
paid. And it should be that way to be honest with you. Because let's face it, there are some people who take advantage of it, unfortunately. So is there anything you would like to add before I get to my last question? 

Diane Strand 34:14
You know, just connect. I love to connect with people. I'm all about connection. Those are my words for the year. Connection, strategy, and structure. So connect build confidence and be more visible. 

Rich Bennett 34:28
And I have to get you on again, just to hear your story, but I know talking to you about your story can take an hour, at least. All right. So this is going to be hard for you. You ready? 

Actually hard for me. I'm sorry. I need you to pick a number between one and five. 

Diane Strand 34:49
Three. 

Rich Bennett 34:50
We'll back up rich. All right. Now pick a number between 41 and 60. 

55. 

55. Okay, drive. All right. Don't sing rich. 

You know what? I think this question actually goes well with what we've been talking about. What is a question you wish more people would ask themselves? 

Diane Strand 35:25
I would say ask yourself why you are where you are and the way to do that is to connect your guts. You cannot do that looking forward. You have to look back. a great Steve Jobs quote and that will start to tell you why you are where you are. And then you can also celebrate the growth that you've made because when you hit those moments where you might have found pain and challenge, you realize you got through it and then you grew and that growth was permanent. Because remember that the pain is only and discomfort is only temporary. So I know exactly why I am where I am when I start connecting my dots. They make absolute sense. Although if you would have asked me 15 years ago that I would have a program for neuro diverse individuals, I'd be like why would you think that? 

Rich Bennett 36:22
It's 

Diane Strand 36:22
I don't know anything about that. But that's exactly where I am. And when I start connecting my dots, there's a lot of reasons that say exactly why I have a program for neuro diverse individuals. Because it's about the arts. I'm dyslexic. I have learning disabilities and challenges. And somebody gave me a helping hand. Why can't I pay that forward? So that would be my question to everyone. Find out why you are where you are and then that will help you move forward from there. 

Rich Bennett 36:54
I love that. That's a great question. Very good. Diane, I want to thank you so much. Those of you listening don't forget to go there and donate. I will have all the links in the show notes. And those of you, my friends that are in podcasting, if you need editors or anybody that more than I mean too, I'm sure they can do the social media for you and everything. You know where to go. There you go. You know where to go now. Thanks Diane. 

Diane Strand 37:24
Thank you. 

Rich Bennett 37:26
Thank you for listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learned something from it as I did. If you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast. So you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love it if you could leave a review. It helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at ConversationsWithRitchBent.com for updates, giveaways and more. Until next time, take care. Be kind and keep the conversations going.