Guests
Travis Eriksen
Executive Director, Child's Play Charity
He / Him
Travis Eriksen began his journey with Child's Play Charity in 2016, where he serves as Executive Director. Formerly a dedicated middle school math and Career and Technical Education teacher, Travis transitioned his passion for education into a role advocating for children's health and well-being through gaming. His time at Child's Play has been marked by expanding its impact globally, promoting the therapeutic benefits of gaming including pioneering a new career path within children's hospitals. His advocacy continues to shape the charity's mission, empowering children through the power of play.
Visiting Friday, Nov 8, 03:00 PM - Nov 9, 04:00 PM PST
Teller
Magician Extraordinaire and King of Sin City
He / Him
(Second from the left, with Penn and Run DMC)
From humble beginnings busking on the streets of Philadelphia to acclaimed sold–out runs on Broadway to the longest-running, and one of the most-beloved resident headline acts in Las Vegas history, magic’s legendary duo continues to defy labels—and at times physics and good taste — by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy.
The duo star in the current hit series Penn & Teller: Fool Us! for The CW Network, on which up-and-comers and magic veterans try to fool Penn & Teller for a chance to star in the pair’s hit Las Vegas stage show. In recent years they’ve become acclaimed documentarians with the release of Tim’s Vermeer, which follows Texas-based inventor Tim Jenison on his quest to discover the methods used by Dutch Master painter Johannes Vermeer.
Teller has directed versions of Macbeth and The Tempest that toured to raves from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, co-wrote and directed the Off-Broadway thriller Play Dead and has written two books. Last season, together, Penn & Teller were unmasked after several spirited performances on The Masked Singer.
In 2023, Penn & Teller celebrated 48 years of professional partnership.
Calling in Saturday, Nov 9, 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM PST
Jared Nyberg
Jagasilk - Co-Founder & Owner
He / Him
Jared Nyberg is co-owner of JagaSilk, a maccha specialty company that directly sources from small farms in Japan. They mill, roast, blend and ferment. He is also the president of the International Tea Appreciation Society that puts on the annual Victoria Tea Festival Revival, and is the band leader of Truth and Dolphin, who are currently on their Musical Tea for Peace Tour (performing their unique brand of Theatre-folk-rock with a Tea Artist making Kung Fu Tea while also raising money for Save the Children).
Calling in Monday, Nov 11, 04:00 AM - 05:00 AM PST
Ken "Value Added" Steacy
He / Him
Visual storyteller Ken Steacy has worked for half a century as a writer, illustrator, art director, editor, and publisher, with clients including Marvel, DC, Disney, and Lucasfilm, to name but a few. The recipient of an Eisner and an Inkpot award, in 2009 Ken was inducted into the Joe Shuster Canadian Comic Book Hall of Fame, a lifetime achievement award for contributions to the industry.
From 2012-2021 he taught Comics & Graphic Novels, a program he co-created with his wife, visual storyteller Joan Steacy, at Camosun College in Victoria, BC. Ken is currently working on a graphic novel that explores the invisible subculture of military brats, as well as volunteering as graphic designer for the British Columbia Aviation Museum.
For his generous contribution of collectibles, commissions, and original artwork to Desert Bus For Hope over the years, he is very proud to have been dubbed Ken “Value Added” Steacy, as well as 20K+ other nicknames. B^)
Visiting Thursday, Nov 14, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST
