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- Ravi Patel has been in over 70 national commercials, films and TV shows, most notably Transformers, Scrubs, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Comedians, Master of None, and Grandfathered BUT Ravi never intended on acting. In fact, Ravi planned on a career in finance. After faking his transcripts to secure a more reputable job, Ravi discovered that the finance world was not his cup of tea. His journey into acting is filled with serendipitously spontaneous adventures paving the way for Ravi being a recognizable face in your living room. An impromptu emcee job led to casting calls. A Ryan Seacrest billboard led to a stick figure drawn headshot that put Ravi's natural improv skills on display in Michael Bay's film Transformers. The well-circulated press trailer for Transformers was mostly Ravi's small, but impactful, hilarious scene that grabbed the attention of a theatrical agent and several other opportunities in television.
- Katheryn Winnick now stars in the History Channel critically acclaimed show Vikings in the iconic role of Lagertha, but it took 14 years to find the right role to really embrace and represent Katheryn's unique strength as a double black belt holder in Tae Kwon Do and Karate. Katheryn started her journey into acting by getting fired off of her first set by being too enthralled in the realism of the major action on set and instinctively starting to yell in the scene as a background artist. Her mother picked her up from set and Katheryn defiantly held her head high and told her Mom, "One day I'm going to be a lead actress and they won't be able to fire me." Katheryn is not only a lead actress, she is critically acclaimed and is on the short list for every major studio. Katheryn's business savvy skills as a young child made her the proud owner of three Tae Kwon Studios by the age of 21. When she started to pursue acting in New York in her early 20s she avoided having the torturous struggling artists syndrome because she had a thriving lucrative empire back in Toronto.
- Damon Dayoub didn't dream of being an actor, he was working 90 hour weeks in El Paso, TX managing bars and decided he needed a hobby. That hobby landed him in Los Angeles at the mercy of some of the best casting directors looking out for him. Damon worked hard on his new found love of acting and started crafting a career by learning some tough lessons, taking chances and being humble. Many of Damon's job have been from a few casting elites who have an eye for greatness and trust his instincts. Damon landed his first TV guest star role on the show, The Whole Truth (2010) casted by Michael Testa. Damon has also appeared on shows such as, Brothers and Sisters, Single Ladies, Dallas, NCIS, and The Last Ship. Damon currently plays Detective Quincy Fisher on the third season of Freeform's Stitchers (also cast by Michael Testa) and will be seen on the big screen later this year in Danger One.
- Merle was born in Okinawa, Japan to a mother of Korean and Japanese descent and an African-American father serving in the U.S Force. Growing up in Nebraska,but not into football, Merle didn't know where she fit. A friend encouraged Merle to choose drama as a study because she was told it was "easy". Little did Merle know that the drama department would be the community she had been longing for and that expression would give her the platform to explore social conditions and and the emotions that must be exposed to understand and accept each other. Merle graduated college and had a wild inclination that New York was where she needed to be to fulfill her purpose. With $107 in her pock, a packed Uhaul and an ailing kitten, she drove to New York and landed in the sea of many hopeful artist.
- Today I sit down with Maz Jobrani, an Iranian born comedian, best known for his comedy specials Immigrant, The Axis of Evil and his role as Fawz in Superior Donuts. Maz details how creating a career in show business doesn't always have to be all or nothing. He shares how he maintained a day job while building his career and the importance of creating his own work. This entrepreneurial actor and comedian career spans decades from film and tv to commercials and theatre. This actor's hustle never stops. A career forged by authenticity and preparation. Maz Jobrani's credits include Curb Your Enthusiasm, Shameless, Last Man Standing, Superior Donuts, The Descedents, The Interpreter, Friday After Next and True Blood. His original standup special IMMIGRANT, was filmed at the prestigious Kennedy Center and is currently streaming on NETFLIX. He's also released 3 additional solo specials on SHOWTIME including: BROWN AND FRIENDLY, I COME IN PEACE, and I'M NOT A TERRORIST, BUT I'VE PLAYED ONE ON TV Jobrani currently hosts his own podcast Back to School.
- Today we sit down with actor Tom Pelphrey. What began as a sports injury, from a very short-lived high school football career, and a friend subsequently suggesting he try out for the school play, a perfect storm of influences and awakenings (and the power of encouragement) made Tom realize that he was good at something for the first time in his life-his natural aptitude on stage eventually launched him into a full and thriving career in theater, television, and film. Tom's work continues to captivate audiences, with roles on Cinemax's Banshee, Marvel's Iron Fist, Netflix's original hit series Ozark, and many more. From his first audition with casting director Alexa Fogel (where he didn't land the job), Tom explains how not booking the role evolved into a now 15-year working relationship with one of television's most respected casting directors. He shares how self-doubt and struggling with feelings of inadequacy accompanied him throughout his twenties, and how he discovered validation out of admiration, how to evaluate self-value, and the realizations that can only come from maturity and experience. We get to chat about the power of memorization muscle, soap stage stories, and how to navigate the tide of workload shifts, seen through his mountainous climb from one-take-wonder jobs to working under the guidance of an industry master, Mr. David Fincher. Coming out of "guest-star land" to becoming a series regular, Tom explains what it means to not take things personally and the importance of not attaching one's self-worth to the results.
- Today, I am joined by the transformative talent that is Leonardo Nam. Over the course of the next hour, you will hear how Leo found his way as a young actor growing up in Australia, how he relentlessly hustled in NYC, and how he built the career of his dreams, starring in shows like Westworld and working with the Duplass Brothers on Room 104. Whether he's auditioning for Hamlet still wearing his rollerblades or deciding to eat a turkey sandwich DURING his audition for The Perfect Score, the studio film that changed his life, Leo has faced every chapter in his career with a sense of adventure and a brilliant connection to his instincts. Recent notable credits for Leonardo include the DC Universe series "Swamp Thing," Amazon's "Sneaky Pete," and the Arthouse film "Hummingbird." He has also recurred on titles such as the Amazon series "Betas," and has appeared on "The Flash," Disjointed," "Hawaii 5-0," "Royal Pains," "Bones," "Franklin and Bash," and "Stalker." His breakout role came in the Paramount Pictures comedy "The Perfect Score," starring Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, and Erika Christensen. Since then, he has gone on to star in a string of movies, namely "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" 1 and 2, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Vantage Point," "He's Just Not That Into You," and "One for the Money."
- Today I sit down with Simone Missick an actress truly led by spirit. This kick-ass woman is no stranger to walking in faith and trusting the process. When she booked her breakout role of Misty Knight in Marvel's Luke Cage for Netflix she had only a handful of co-stars to her resume. She admits to struggling with self-doubt about choosing a life path as an actor. Her focus is on her inner journey over the business. This interview is a refreshingly honest and vulnerable look at what it means to literally walk into one's vision and be a light for others. Simone leads CBS' ALL RISE which is currently the most popular new network show of 2019. She is the first African American woman to lead a series on CBS, and it's been a huge huge hit for the network. She will also soon be seen opposite Anthony Mackie in the second season of Netflix's hit sci-fi anthology drama ALTERED CARBON.
- Today's guest is an actor, writer, director, and producer. She is none other than Sarah Wayne Callies, best known for portraying Lori Grimes on AMC's record-breaking series The Walking Dead. Sarah's made an unforgettable impression on audiences worldwide by bringing complex and powerful female characters to life on screen. Her appreciation for these dynamic roles began long before she was a series regular on multiple critically acclaimed shows (including Unspeakable, Colony, Prison Break, and her upcoming leading role on NBC's Council of Dads). Exploring and sharing the female voice has always been important to Sarah-from studying feminism and mythology in college to honoring the guidance of strong women in her family. Sarah's career, as she says, is a miracle and series of accidents. But as you'll find out, it's also a testament to hard work, gratitude (always gratitude), and resourcefulness. You'll hear how she used riding on the Subway to improve her on-camera audition technique, what helps her return to true North, and how important it is for artists to know and trust themselves - even if that means moving to British Columbia.
- Today's guest has been around the arts her entire life. She is the acclaimed and generously creative British actor, writer, director and producer Rebecca Hall. Many of us first saw her in Christopher Nolan's The Prestige and soon after starring in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Rebecca witnessed early on what an artist's life could be. Her first on screen appearance was in the TV mini-series The Camomile Lawn at the age of 10. It was also around this time that her father (celebrated stage director Peter Hall) gave her some advice: the key to being an actor is making sure that you remember to live. She talks about her time at University and finding success on stage before appearing on screen again. After The Prestige, Rebecca continued on to a truly incredible career that's lead to multiple awards and critical recognition. Her work includes The Red Riding Triology, The Town, Parade's End, Iron Man 3, Transcendence The Awakening, Frost/Nixon, The Gift, Christine, and Tales from the Loop. Later this year you can watch her in Godzilla vs. Kong. She's a master craftswoman. From sketching actors in the back of her father's stage rehearsals to directing her own projects, you'll hear the stories of how Rebecca pushes beyond expectations to create the art and life that she wants to express. For Rebecca, it all comes back to the work.
- Today we sit down with Atkins Estimond and in his world timing is everything. Atkins hit the Atlanta scene right at the beginning of its boom as a regional market. Self-taping his way to every role. If you're considering starting your acting career in Atlanta or making a move there this is the episode for you. In this interview we pull back the curtain on the Atlanta market and get specific about what actors can do to get working there. A die heart Atlantian Estimond has found his career to flourish from roles in studio features like "Get on Up" opposite Octavia Spencer and "Dumb and Dumber To" opposite Jeff Daniels and Jim Carey to major recurring roles on Fox's "The Resident" and AMC's "Lodge 49." These are just a few of the amazing projects Atkins has booked in the southeast market. He has now landed his first series regular role on Jerry Bruckheimer's "Hightown" premiering on Starz May 17th, 2020 directly out of Atlanta and sees nothing stopping his ability to continue to not only work but build a legacy career from his beloved Georgia. Listen as Atkins breaks down exactly what he did to back door his way into Hollywood and even begin working out of LA and New York. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Atkins Estimond right here.
- In today's episode, we're chatting with actor, director, producer, and host Michael Urie whose early desire to become a drama teacher carved an unexpected path to his breakout role in ABC's UGLY BETTY. From growing up in Texas, making movies with G.I. Joes, to winning the John Housman Award at Julliard, his journey shows tenacity, trust, and uncanny comedic instinct. In this episode, he shares the pivotal moments that moved his career forward, moments when he trusted his gut and asked for what he wanted. We chat about his love for theater and New York-how throughout his almost 20 year career (which includes television credits such as YOUNGER, PARTNERS, THE GOOD WIFE, THE GOOD FIGHT, MODERN FAMILY, and the upcoming CBS and WARNER BROS TV sitcom FUN) he's stayed as close to the stage as he possibly can. It was theater that encouraged him to stand bravely in his truth, and it was the smell of hot garbage on 8th Avenue in the summer that told him 'this is where I want to be.'"
- Today's guest is a big believer in second chances. You may recognize him as Detective Ray Abruzzo in the brand new Starz's series High Town, or from AMC's Rubicon, or maybe the award-winning mini-series The Pacific. James Badge Dale is an actor who's worked through the high and low levels of this game, turning him into an endlessly interesting, authentic, and raw storyteller. He's truly an example of how rewarding it is to give your craft those 10, 000 hours and to never give up. This man holds his own working alongside collaborators such as Scorsese, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Jeff Bridges, and Robin Wright to name just a few. You'll hear how he learned to tune into his own instrument, and how he deals with that enigmatic audition room chair.
- Today we're sitting down with Oge Egbuonu. She's a director, writer, producer-a storyteller. A voice that's piercing the veil of what history has shown a Black woman's experience in America to be. Her directorial debut, (In)Visible Portraits, was just released on Juneteenth. It's a Think Piece, a self-described "love letter to Black women, and a re-education to everyone else." Oge shares how she found herself in the middle of creating this film, aware of its bigger purpose in being a vehicle for people to start questioning what they were taught to believe as true. Her journey to becoming a filmmaker is beautifully unconventional-from working in a hotel, to discovering a calling in teaching yoga, to accepting an unexpected job at Raindog Films where she helped bring to life Eye in the Skye (starring Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman) and the award-winning film Loving (starring Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton). Each plot twist of her story shows a divine calling and a desire to be a vessel of service. Oge reminds us that we're in a collective space of reimagining what's possible, and that is the most powerful place we can be in right now.
- Today's guest is a supreme example of the power of stillness. She radiates a quiet magnetism that draws her audiences into the inner life of the riveting and layered characters she portrays. Mireille Enos talks with us today about her journey and the major signs the universe was giving her along the way indicating a big YES to whether or not she was on the right path. Starting with winning the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship, an award annually presented to the nation's top collegiate actor, she went on to spend 10 years in New York City gaining confidence and experience as well as a Broadway Tony nomination for her portrayal of "Honey" in Edward Albee 's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" In addition to stage credits, she went on to work in both film and television and gained critical acclaim for her lead role of detective Sarah Linden in AMC's crime drama, The Killing. She can currently be seen playing the role of Marissa Wiegler in the Amazon original series, Hanna . Today, Mireille shares her wealth of knowledge and experience from how she knows when a role is meant for her, to the importance of switching from artist brain to business brain when considering agency representation, and of course, what it was like to chemistry read with Brad Pitt.
- A talented and charming actress, writer, director and producer, Emily Mortimer continues to challenge herself with a variety of creative endeavors, leaving audiences captivated on the big and small screens alike. Mortimer is currently in production on her directorial debut "The Pursuit of Love" for BBC One, a three-part mini-series she has adapted from the 1945 novel of the same name by Nancy Mitford. Today, this insightful, charming, magnetic talent opens up about her shyness, the continual struggle with imposter syndrome and what made her stop apologizing and ultimately own her art expressing how insecurities in life have allowed her to let go of expectations and thrive in the audition room. Emily speaks to the beauty of what happens when you don't try too hard and how auditioning for great storytellers ignites her. This skill of being completely open and deeply vulnerable has landed her the responsibility of playing some of the most coveted roles in Mary Poppins Returns, The Newsroom, Shutter Island, Lars and the Real Girl, Doll and Em, Match Point, Lovely and Amazing and so many more plus the upcoming projects, like the new horror film Relic and the Quibi show Don't Look Deeper with Don Cheadle.
- In today's episode we're chatting with Ben Barnes. This British actor (and skilled musician) has charmed audiences as the heroic prince in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian and surprised them as the enigmatic Logan Delos in HBO's science fiction thriller Westworld. His love for storytelling began early: on stage performing with the National Youth Music Theatre. Since then his career has told the story of an artist who possesses true grit, a love for craft, and a desire to explore whatever he hasn't done. He shares how blind persistence landed him his first agent, and how a secret injury helped him create one of his most recognizable roles. For Ben, perspective and perseverance is key. Moving through the peaks and valleys of this industry requires trusting what you have to offer and choosing to be empowered regardless of circumstance. And that's exactly what Ben continues to do. His work includes an array of diverse film and TV credits such as Easy Virtue, By The Gun, Seventh Son, Big Wedding, Sons of Liberty, The Punisher, Gold Digger and a lead role on Netflix's soon to be series Shadow and Bone.
- Today's guest has put in his 10,000 hours and then some. As he says, he's marked his spot. We're talking with Maximiliano Hernandez, who's an actor, writer, producer, and teacher. Many of you will know him for his role as Agent Jasper Sitwell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's appeared in Thor, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Endgame, as well as Marvel's hit TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. His journey began in Brooklyn and continued to the stage in New York City before moving on to a prolific career in film and television. His credits range from TV dramas like FX's The Americans, TNT's The Last Ship, Amazon's Hand of God, and Audience Network's Mr. Mercedes. As well as critically acclaimed films like Sicario and Warrior. He shares how being dyslexic is one of his superhero talents, how being a 'nice guy' can seal the deal, and how important it is to stay open, stay prepared, and to let go of how we think things should happen. That's when the magic can happen.
