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How the Educational Podcasts Came To Be
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From the beginning |
Where we are now |
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The idea for The Spectral Summit was born when our producer, Kelley Cody-Grimm noticed that the Superb and the Marco Polo—two historic presidential train cars—used by Warren G. Harding and Franklin Roosevelt at the Southeastern Railway Museum were parked side by side. She found herself imagining what the spirits of the presidents who had traveled in them might say to each other if they could meet. That spark of curiosity grew into a dramatic podcast, where history comes alive with a high school newspaper editor who can have conversations with the spirits of the past, exploring their legacies, personalities, and the moments that shaped the nation.
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After The Spectral Summit was created, we realized there was even more to explore. That led to the creation of The Literary Summit, a companion series that brings history and literature together in exciting ways. Each month, we release two episodes one historic and one literary complete with worksheets, activities, and quizzes, pairing classic stories with the historical moments that shaped them. Students step into the worlds of authors like Edgar Allan Poe, O. Henry, Alexander Hamilton, Emily Dickinson, Dorothy Parker, and many more, experiencing literature not just as words on a page, but as living stories connected to the past.
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The Cast and Production Crew
Kelley Cody-Grimm - (Writer/Producer/Ms. Langley/Eleanor Roosevelt)
Kelley's journey as a writer and actor started in grade school as the awkward chubby girl who could make the other kids laugh. She first honed her improv skills with the group Mental Floss and founded both The Eclectic Company and the award-winning OTC Comedy Troupe. She has appeared in The Resident, Queens and Judge Dad. As a teacher, Kelley enjoys seeing her students learn to open their creative abilities with improv and encourages them to find several outlets for their creativity whether it's writing, acting, or filmmaking. Her scripts have won at several national and international film festivals. She most recently served as the Executive Producer for the short films The Demonis and The Campaign Tweet. She recently completed a holiday screenplay, and a new pilot script with writing partner Bill Neenan in addition to writing the first six episodes of The Spectral Summit.
Kelley's journey as a writer and actor started in grade school as the awkward chubby girl who could make the other kids laugh. She first honed her improv skills with the group Mental Floss and founded both The Eclectic Company and the award-winning OTC Comedy Troupe. She has appeared in The Resident, Queens and Judge Dad. As a teacher, Kelley enjoys seeing her students learn to open their creative abilities with improv and encourages them to find several outlets for their creativity whether it's writing, acting, or filmmaking. Her scripts have won at several national and international film festivals. She most recently served as the Executive Producer for the short films The Demonis and The Campaign Tweet. She recently completed a holiday screenplay, and a new pilot script with writing partner Bill Neenan in addition to writing the first six episodes of The Spectral Summit.
Max Grimm - (Director/Warren G. Harding/Principal O’Connell)
Max was born in a small rural Florida town with a great love of the arts and a crippling speech defect. He found solace, healing, and the ability to express what he otherwise could not through painting, writing, and as many of the arts that were available. After moving to Miami as a teenager and receiving speech therapy, he became fascinated with the process of acting. Dozens of productions (ranging from Shakespeare, children's theatre, avant-garde, performance art, modern dance, radio theatre, television, and film, as well as over 60 contemporary and classical stage plays) later he was presented with his first opportunities to teach and direct. Here, he found the ability to share his passions and guide his fellow students on the path of acting. He currently has a podcast on creativity and poetry called a River between Chaos and Zen.
Max was born in a small rural Florida town with a great love of the arts and a crippling speech defect. He found solace, healing, and the ability to express what he otherwise could not through painting, writing, and as many of the arts that were available. After moving to Miami as a teenager and receiving speech therapy, he became fascinated with the process of acting. Dozens of productions (ranging from Shakespeare, children's theatre, avant-garde, performance art, modern dance, radio theatre, television, and film, as well as over 60 contemporary and classical stage plays) later he was presented with his first opportunities to teach and direct. Here, he found the ability to share his passions and guide his fellow students on the path of acting. He currently has a podcast on creativity and poetry called a River between Chaos and Zen.
Kenya Stewart (Sierra)
Kenya is an actress, model, and writer with a Bachelor of Theatre Arts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While in school, she earned two scholarships, toured performing children’s theatre, and starred in the one-woman show 39 Years of Peach Cobbler, winning Best Actress in a Ten-Minute Play. She also debuted her first original play, To Just Be, which was later featured in Horizon Theatre’s Young Playwright Festival in Atlanta. In Birmingham, she served as the first Vice President of Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre and was nominated by Broadway World Birmingham for Best Actress for her role in Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop. Since moving to Atlanta, Kenya has expanded into film, television, voiceover, hosting, and theatre. She starred as “Coco” in Until My Last Breath (Amazon Prime and Tubi), appeared on TV One’s Payback, and leads the upcoming feature Monster in Me. She also performed in the podcast drama Demonis and recently booked one of the biggest feature film roles of her career.
Kenya is an actress, model, and writer with a Bachelor of Theatre Arts from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While in school, she earned two scholarships, toured performing children’s theatre, and starred in the one-woman show 39 Years of Peach Cobbler, winning Best Actress in a Ten-Minute Play. She also debuted her first original play, To Just Be, which was later featured in Horizon Theatre’s Young Playwright Festival in Atlanta. In Birmingham, she served as the first Vice President of Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre and was nominated by Broadway World Birmingham for Best Actress for her role in Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop. Since moving to Atlanta, Kenya has expanded into film, television, voiceover, hosting, and theatre. She starred as “Coco” in Until My Last Breath (Amazon Prime and Tubi), appeared on TV One’s Payback, and leads the upcoming feature Monster in Me. She also performed in the podcast drama Demonis and recently booked one of the biggest feature film roles of her career.
Billy Barefoot – (FDR/Richard)
Billy is an Atlanta-based actor and proud IATSE member whose career bridges stage, screen, and audio drama. He has worked extensively with the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company (artc.org), where he brings classic and original stories to life for live and recorded audiences. On screen, Billy has appeared in hit television shows including The Resident, Ozark, and Will Trent, showcasing his range across drama and suspense. In addition to his film and television credits, Billy has built a reputation as a versatile voice actor and performer, equally at home in historical drama, contemporary stories, and imaginative audio theatre. His collaborative spirit and technical expertise also extend behind the scenes, where his work deepens his understanding of storytelling from production to performance.
Billy is an Atlanta-based actor and proud IATSE member whose career bridges stage, screen, and audio drama. He has worked extensively with the Atlanta Radio Theatre Company (artc.org), where he brings classic and original stories to life for live and recorded audiences. On screen, Billy has appeared in hit television shows including The Resident, Ozark, and Will Trent, showcasing his range across drama and suspense. In addition to his film and television credits, Billy has built a reputation as a versatile voice actor and performer, equally at home in historical drama, contemporary stories, and imaginative audio theatre. His collaborative spirit and technical expertise also extend behind the scenes, where his work deepens his understanding of storytelling from production to performance.
Liz Ireland (Florence Harding)
Liz has worn many creative hats over the years. She started out teaching theater and dance at a college near Chicago, where she also directed plays, managed productions, and worked with a summer repertory company featuring nationally known actors. After earning tenure, Liz made a bold career shift, moving to Atlanta and spending several years with Disney Worldwide, including a year in Burbank. Her passion for storytelling soon led her to screenwriting, where she’s written or co-written fifteen scripts. Two earned recognition in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship competition, and several have been optioned. Liz is also fascinated by 19th-century American theater. She channels that love into her historical mystery series featuring actress and amateur sleuth Lillian Nolan. The adventures begin
with A Walking Shadow, continue in Foul Deeds Will Rise and Forms of Things Unknown, and she’s currently at
work on book four, Mortal in Folly.
Liz has worn many creative hats over the years. She started out teaching theater and dance at a college near Chicago, where she also directed plays, managed productions, and worked with a summer repertory company featuring nationally known actors. After earning tenure, Liz made a bold career shift, moving to Atlanta and spending several years with Disney Worldwide, including a year in Burbank. Her passion for storytelling soon led her to screenwriting, where she’s written or co-written fifteen scripts. Two earned recognition in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowship competition, and several have been optioned. Liz is also fascinated by 19th-century American theater. She channels that love into her historical mystery series featuring actress and amateur sleuth Lillian Nolan. The adventures begin
with A Walking Shadow, continue in Foul Deeds Will Rise and Forms of Things Unknown, and she’s currently at
work on book four, Mortal in Folly.
Danielle Grimm (Darcy/Producer/Sound Editor)
Although Danielle isn’t related to the actual “Brothers Grimm,” that hasn’t stopped her from writing her heart out. Despite having a mild reading and learning disorder as a kid, her determination to become a prolific writer never wavered. She also put together table reads of scripts she wrote, including an entire season of her original series, The Demoni’s– which was an official selection at the Southern Horror Film Festival. Together with her Award-Winning Acting Coach/Screenwriter/ Actress mother, Kelley Cody-Grimm, and her sister Amber Grimm, they have written a catalog of over 200 monologues for the Demo program at 541 Productions. Most recently, Danielle has also received Quarter-Finalist at Atlanta Screenplay Award for another of her scripts, Acid World. Danielle is also a proud trans woman, who wants to give more creative opportunities to her community.
Although Danielle isn’t related to the actual “Brothers Grimm,” that hasn’t stopped her from writing her heart out. Despite having a mild reading and learning disorder as a kid, her determination to become a prolific writer never wavered. She also put together table reads of scripts she wrote, including an entire season of her original series, The Demoni’s– which was an official selection at the Southern Horror Film Festival. Together with her Award-Winning Acting Coach/Screenwriter/ Actress mother, Kelley Cody-Grimm, and her sister Amber Grimm, they have written a catalog of over 200 monologues for the Demo program at 541 Productions. Most recently, Danielle has also received Quarter-Finalist at Atlanta Screenplay Award for another of her scripts, Acid World. Danielle is also a proud trans woman, who wants to give more creative opportunities to her community.
Amber Grimm (Robbie)
Amber is an artist at heart who loves to create in many forms—drawing, writing short stories, baking, and graphic design are among her passions. She’s also a proud cat mom to four rescued cats. Amber is excited to be part of The Spectral Summit, a project that blends her love of storytelling with her belief in the importance of truth and education. She sees creativity as a quiet but powerful way to challenge censorship, spark curiosity, and bring people together. Like her character Robbie, Amber is driven by curiosity and courage—always seeking to tell meaningful stories and encourage others to look deeper.
Amber is an artist at heart who loves to create in many forms—drawing, writing short stories, baking, and graphic design are among her passions. She’s also a proud cat mom to four rescued cats. Amber is excited to be part of The Spectral Summit, a project that blends her love of storytelling with her belief in the importance of truth and education. She sees creativity as a quiet but powerful way to challenge censorship, spark curiosity, and bring people together. Like her character Robbie, Amber is driven by curiosity and courage—always seeking to tell meaningful stories and encourage others to look deeper.