Actor Michael Chiklis (The Commish/The Shield) on Saving the Arts for Children | Up+Adam

Sponsored by The Mountain Air | Sponsored by Benny’s Pizza | SLOFreeParkingMichael Chiklis has played some of television’s most unforgettable characters, from Vic Mackey on The Shield to Tony Scali on The Commish and Ben Grimm in Fantastic Four. But this conversation with Adam Montiel goes somewhere deeper than Hollywood.In this episode of Up+Adam, Michael Chiklis opens up about the very real moment that changed the course of his life: a regional theater in Massachusetts, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and a 14-year-old kid discovering storytelling for the first time. What followed became a moving conversation about why arts funding matters, how creativity shapes young minds, and why Chiklis is now advocating alongside The Creative Coalition to protect artistic expression and opportunities for future generations.There’s also a hilarious detour involving his dog “Tom Brady,” reflections on The Shield and The Commish, and one of those rare interview moments where a guest stops sounding like a celebrity and starts sounding deeply human.This one’s about storytelling, advocacy, creativity, and the life-changing power of being given a chance.• Learn more about The Creative Coalition: The Creative Coalition*********PORTABIDET: UP+ADAM IS AN OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON FOR PORTABIDET - USE THIS LINK FOR UP+ADAM LISTENERS TO LEARN MORE AND GET YOURS!*Timbre Event with Cal Poly EIM Students Info HEREListen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.comApple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple PodcastsSpotify: Up+Adam on SpotifyiHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadioYouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music********CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!********ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!********FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM*********Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!Life ElementsCity of SLOWoodsHumaneSocietyTin City DistilleryOriginal Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner CollectiveMoonshiner on Spotify HEREPlease Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com©2026 Up+Adam with Adam Montiel / LoBro Studios, All Rights Reserved.