First Online with Fran
Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things in the Arts
Kiana Webb: Choose the Energy
Erica Lauren Ortiz: Building Coalitions
Anne Hamburger: Site-Specific Theater
Kay Smith-Blum: TANGLES triumph
Pooya Mohseni: Poking at Prejudice

AN AWARD- WINNING PODCAST

AMAZON PODCASTS

Best Arts podcasts, 12K+ downloads

BLUBRRY

50 Countries Reached

PODCAST TONIGHT

Featured Guest

Welcome to First Online with Fran

A podcast celebrating Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things in the Arts

Hosted by Dr. Frances McGarry, a multihyphenate creative with a PhD in Educational Theatre from NYU, this vibrant show shines a spotlight on the transformative power of the arts in our culture. Since its launch in 2018, First Online with Fran has produced over 100 episodes, sharing authentic stories from creatives whose work inspires, heals, and uplifts. In 2023, the podcast was recognized by Amazon Podcasts as one of the best in the Arts category and surpassed 12,000 downloads. That same year, Blubrry awarded it the “Countries Reached (50)” badge, marking its international impact. Based in New York, Fran brings charisma, curiosity, and deep passion to every conversation—amplifying voices that deserve to be heard and championing the power of artistic expression to spark change.

Hi, I’m Frances McGarry.

Radiating with personality and charisma, I am a professional actress, author, arts advocate and theater educator with a PhD in Educational Theatre from NYU. Based in New York City, my passion for the arts fuels my mission to communicate important messages, shift cultural perspectives, and make a mark in the lives of students, audiences, and filmmakers around the world. Over the last decade, I’ve starred in TV, films, theatre, voiceovers, and national commercials, including my most recent co-star role in the Hallmark movie One Royal Holiday. In 2018, I launched First Online With Fran a podcast featuring ordinary people doing extraordinary things in The Arts. Currently, I am working on a book as an extension of my commitment to the legacy of Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Festival and its Artistic Director, Sheri M. Goldhirsch.

Recent Episodes

Special Thanks to March Hare Media

Award-winning in art direction and broadcast, C.A. Kotlar Turchyn Media+Marketing is a woman-owned media and marketing enterprise that offers extensive involvement as a Digital Media Strategist in the User Experience, including creative direction, website development, eNewsletter design, promotion strategies that integrate tech applications with marketing campaigns, educational programs, and weekend events.

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