Binder Podcast

As the CMA’s curatorial team adds the final touches to the newly refreshed CMA Collection galleries, Ray and producer Drew sit down with curators Sadé Ayorinde and Michael Neumeister for a sneak peek at what’s in store when the galleries reopen on January 17, 2026. Hear what it really takes to reimagine and rehang 20 galleries in just 12 months—and how this latest overhaul brings the collection into a whole new light.

Inspired by the CMA's current exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision, the Binder crew goes outside to touch some grass in an episode dedicated to art in public spaces. First, producer Drew puts Ray to the test with a quiz on the artworks on Boyd Plaza. Then One Columbia’s Pamela Zeljak joins the conversation to talk about how public art both reflects and shapes a city’s identity, its ever-changing nature, and One Columbia’s digital directory of local works.

Host Ray McManus is back to discuss simplicity, access to art, and working quickly on an episode dedicated to the CMA's latest exhibition Keith Haring: Radiant Vision. He kicks things off with Chadric Devin, the museum’s Director of Learning and Engagement, to talk about Haring’s bold approach to art and the parallels Devin sees in his own trajectory through the arts. After the break, Richland Library’s Ashley Warthen drops in to talk about upcoming author talks, the library’s exhibition Art of Being: Visible, and her love for Haring’s iconic style.

Host Ray McManus experiences the museum through the eyes of its youngest visitors, uncovering the lasting impact of arts education. Producer Drew steps in to chat with museum docent Patsy Storla and 5th grader Amadeo Topakas about their shared experience with Sam Gilliam: Printmaker. Later, Curator of Education Glenna Barlow returns to reflect on the power of curiosity in young audiences and thetransformative potential of the "magic question." After the break, writer Zakiya Mickle joins the show to talk about her new book, Cotton Candy Skies, and what it was like having Ray as a teacher.

On today’s episode, producer Drew explores the fascinating intersection of science, psychology, and the way we experience art. Inspired by the museum's current lighting renovation, Drew sits down with Jackson Councilman, a recent college graduate with a concentration in neuroscience and former intern for the CMA's communications department, to unpack how light waves interact with the human eye, colorblindness, and how the work of Claude Monet may have been influenced by ultraviolet light. After the break, USC psychology professor Dr. Melanie Palomares joins the conversation to discuss how the brain processes visual information, the connections between Gestalt theory and the work of artist Bridget Riley, and why attention plays such a critical role in how we see.