It started with a simple question at a Starbucks window — “Are you in theater?” That moment cracked something open. What followed was a conversation about creativity that refuses to stay quiet, the tension between performance and grace, and the surprising places where joy still hides. From opera memories and community theater to Top Gun: Maverick and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, we trace how small scenes can awaken big parts of ourselves — old dreams, honest fears, and the courage to try ...