The Goddard Spark

10/09/2026

[TESTIMONIALS] https://goddardspark.org/testimonials/
[FAQs] https://goddardspark.org/faqs/
[DONATE] https://goddardspark.org/donate/?form=donate

Vera Wylde (she/they) is an author, podcaster, reviewer, video essayist, actor, and burlesque performer. They're best known for the YouTube channel Council of Geeks where she creates video blogs, discussions and reviews for a number of different topics from pop media analysis to LGBTQIA+ representation. The success of her work as a creator has led her to contribute to many wider communities in meaningful ways, such as speaking on multiple panels at the Doctor Who centric 'Gallifrey One' convention over the last several years. As an author, Vera has run multiple successful kickstarter campaigns to get her books published, including for her first novel, Dreams of Fire. Vera is also a frequent collaborator (and podcast co-host) with our April 2026 Goddard Spark instructor Jessie Earl, and was personally recommended by Jessie for our next residency.
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Zyg Peters (they/them) is a professional touring musician, an arts educator and the founder of the music production company Soul Poets Records, as well as a Goddard alum. As a recording artist, producer, and DJ, Zyg crafts music at the intersection of underground hip-hop, jazz musicianship, and experimental sensibility. Building each project from the ground up, they treat recording as a fully immersive process—shaping sound, structure, and emotion with intention from first idea to final mix.
From Grammy-nominated early work to NPR-recognized releases, Zyg has earned a reputation for groove-driven production, thoughtful lyricism, and a clear artistic voice.
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Gordon Myers (he/him) practiced law for 27 years with International Finance Corporation, at various points leading the IFC legal department's venture, private equity funds, cybersecurity, and intellectual property practices and was instrumental in developing its globally recognized funds investment and cybersecurity frameworks. Presently, among other things, Gordon works with ISLP, a nonprofit organization mobilizing pro bono legal representation for (among others) civil society, and heads ISLP's responsible technology practice.

10/07/2026

INTRODUCING OUR FIRST 3 2027 RESIDENCY INSTRUCTORS (June 18-20, 2027)
(Details on their courses coming soon)

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Vera Wylde (she/they) is an author, podcaster, reviewer, video essayist, actor, and burlesque performer. They're best known for the YouTube channel Council of Geeks, where she creates video blogs, discussions and reviews for a number of different topics from pop media analysis to LGBTQIA+ representation. The success of her work as a creator has led her to contribute to many wider communities in meaningful ways, such as speaking on multiple panels at the Doctor Who centric 'Gallifrey One' convention over the last several years. As an author, Vera has run multiple successful kickstarter campaigns to get her books published, including for her first novel, a fantasy adventure titled Dreams of Fire that was published in 2021. Vera is also a frequent collaborator (and podcast co-host) with our April 2026 Goddard Spark instructor Jessie Earl, and was personally recommended by Jessie for our next residency.
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Zyg Peters (they/them) is a professional touring musician, an arts educator and the founder of the music production company Soul Poets Records, as well as a Goddard alum. As a recording artist, producer, and DJ, Zyg crafts music at the intersection of underground hip-hop, jazz musicianship, and experimental sensibility. Building each project from the ground up, they treat recording as a fully immersive process—shaping sound, structure, and emotion with intention from first idea to final mix.
From Grammy-nominated early work to NPR-recognized releases, Zyg has earned a reputation for groove-driven production, thoughtful lyricism, and a clear artistic voice.

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Gordon Myers practiced law for 27 years with International Finance Corporation, the private sector financing arm of the World Bank Group, at various points leading the IFC legal department's venture, private equity funds, cybersecurity, and intellectual property practices. Gordon was instrumental in developing its globally recognized funds investment and cybersecurity frameworks. He also represented IFC in connection with the development of IFC’s Performance Standards and the Operating Principles for Impact Management. Presently, among other things, Gordon works with ISLP, a nonprofit organization mobilizing pro bono legal representation for (among others) civil society, and heads ISLP's responsible technology practice. He is also Senior Adviser, Sustainable Technology, for Valoris Stewardship Catalysts LLC, an advisory firm counseling public and private sector clients on corporate governance, stewardship and sustainability issues, where he has helped develop technology and cybersecurity governance frameworks for Valoris clients. Gordon holds an A.B. in economics from Stanford University, an A.B. in Finance from The Wharton School, and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.

You can help us raise the money to pay them fairly here https://goddardspark.org/donate/?form=donate

FAQ: https://goddardspark.org/faqs/
Testimonials: https://goddardspark.org/testimonials/

10/04/2026

Sale at just $40, a Goddard Spark special price for John Ollom’s workshops that would usually be $40/per 90 minute session–meaning 75% off his usual price, but only until October 7th!!!…

10/01/2026

09/30/2026

⚡ NEW COURSE OFFERING ⚡

https://goddardspark.org/courses/courses/creative-writing/internal-landscapes-method/

⚡- Tuesdays for 4 Weeks - ⚡⚡-1:00-2:30 PM EST-⚡

⚡-October 20th, 26th and November 3rd,10th-⚡

This special four-part course introduces you to a methodology that helps you discover your authentic artistic voice using the progressive pedagogy model that supports each participant following their own inquiry. This course will offer a way to connect with your inner voice through new techniques that help remove obstacles to creativity and create your own safe space to explore the creative world.

Internal Landscapes© is a process where the student learns to create works of art which incorporate movement created from an authentic impulse within the artist which integrates feelings, emotions and ideas. His goal is to motivate artist to appreciate their unique beauty, both technically as well as emotionally. His approach is based on trust among artists, as well as providing positive reinforcement that creates both eloquent and personal artistic works.

Sale at just $40, a Goddard Spark special price for John Ollom's workshops that would usually be $40/per 90 minute session--meaning 75% off his usual price, but only until October 7th!!!

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--About the Instructor--

John Ollom is the author of three books: Internal Landscapes, Dark Matter and Rocks in the River. John's book Internal Landscapes is the culmination of fourteen years of movement research, movement technique classes and personal introspection that have created the revolutionary methodology of Internal Landscapes©.

John has been teaching and coaching for over 24 years in New York City. He teaches the Ollom Floor Series© core conditioning classes throughout NYC. His classes range from group classes to private lessons to select movement artists. He often facilitates movement and healing workshops at Easton Mountain Retreat Center. John’s coaching in partnering is highly sought after and includes: professional partnering classes at the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd St Y, master classes, partnering workshops, Juilliard students, and private coaching. His methodology has been taught at Kalani Retreat Center in Hawaii, Baruch College and Atmananda Yoga Sequence in NYC, with special workshops across the US. He has served as a professor of ballet and dance at City University of New York (CUNY) and as featured faculty member of Ollom Art’s Internal Landscapes© Program since its inception in 2002. John was chosen to be the 2010-2011 Artist in Residence at the Eastern Michigan University Dance Department. In 2023, he was chosen as an Artist Workshop Facilitator for the Jungian Scholarly Society Conference in Asheville, NC.John's work has been the subject of numerous articles and documentary films including: "Late Bloomers" by Annette Cyr, Professor of Art at the National University in San Diego; "The Making of M.U.D.: An Exploration of the Work of John Ollom and Ollom Movement Art" by Robert Kazmayer, MA; the award winning "There's Something About John" by Emma McCagg; About, or in, the Liminal Space: John Ollom at 954 Dance Movement Collective; in Phindie; a featured artist with Art As Air (see the Art as Air video here); and, the award winning "Inside the Hole Project" and "Pierced Heart" by Vaughan Grey. In 2023, John was a recipient of the Gay City News Impact Award which honors those who have made a positive impact on the LGBTQ community in New York City and beyond.

His work, The Other Species premiered at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in Denver. In 2008, a new work entitled A Man of War was presented as the keynote performance at "Creativity and Thought", a Long Island University Honors Program Conference. In April 2010, the short film Karpos & Kalamos, directed and choreographed by John was presented as part of the New FilmMakers Series film festival. His work M.U.D. (Men Under Dirt) has toured the Tri-State area and Florida, including a presentation at the prestigious Leslie/Lohman Gallery in SoHo in May 2010. His work Internal Landscapes: Evolution was presented at Spool MFG in Binghamton, NY. Composition #1 was presented in Austin, Texas, The Leslie-Loman Project Space and was filmed at Soliphilia Farm in Greenwich, NY. "The Hole Project” came out of his extensive research in movement art and healing that he has been teaching across the US. Much of his findings reveal that people have been locked in prisons of shame. John's latest work Threads premiered at The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!) in 2024.

Sale at just $40, a Goddard Spark special price for John Ollom’s workshops that would usually be $40/per 90 minute session–meaning 75% off his usual price, but only until October 7th!!!…