We’ll put just about anyone in The HotSeat—visiting performers, interesting professionals, local tastemakers—as long as they don’t mind answering a few of our hard-hitting questions (asking about a go-to Bodo’s order is the height of journalism, folks). Here are a few of our favorite answers from 2024.
Grad student/lecturer Chandler Jennings
Most embarrassing moment: A few years ago, I ran into an acquaintance from high school. We chatted for a bit, and then she kind of waved goodbye at me. I didn’t realize that it was a wave and reached out and clasped her hand, interlocking fingers, and we kind of rocked them back and forth for a sec before I disentangled and ran away.
Actress/musician Schuyler Fisk
Best advice you ever got: “You meet the same people on the way up that you meet on the way down.”—My mom [Sissy Spacek]
Podcast hosts Mendy St. Ours and Bree Luck
How did you settle on “Well, That Was Awkward” as a title and concept?
Mendy: Pretty much every day, people tell us about something awkward in their lives. Sometimes it’s a small story—like going to a PTA meeting with your skirt tucked into your drawers—or a BIG story, like your ex showing up at your wedding with a clown nose on.
Bree: That happened to me.
Local Girl Scouts Penny (age 10) and Beatrice (age 10)
What’s something about Girl Scouts that people would be surprised to learn?
Penny: We learn knife skills.
Most embarrassing moment:
Beatrice: When I accidentally said “farted” in front of the class instead of “started.”
Trivia host and Monticello tour guide Olivia Brown
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be? I think I’d like to be a millennial’s house plant. Just put me in a nice sunny spot, doted on day in and out, happily growing.
Charlottesville Ballet teacher Izabelly Gleed
What have you forgotten today? To buy eggs at the grocery store—I was too focused on planning my ballet classes!
Virginia Film Festival Artistic Director Ilya Tovbis
Why is supporting the arts important? Especially in our ever-more polarized society, I believe the arts are our best, most honest, and most direct way of connecting to, and understanding, those different from ourselves.
Comedian Brian Regan
What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn? I’m not funny every waking moment. And I’m not funny at all when I’m asleep.
Writer, organizer, director John Gibson
Favorite Charlottesville venue: Various basements, leaky warehouses, overgrown gardens, and fire traps, all long since condemned or torn down, replaced with things fancier, safer, and saner.
Musician Robert Earl Keen
Proudest accomplishment: Proudest accomplishment objectively is my two daughters. My oldest—when she was 5—she won the Miss Apple Dumpling Beauty Contest. It knocked me out of my chair and I was so proud.
Theater Director Bob Chapel
Favorite curse word? Or favorite word: (I’m) Sorry.