Camera Ready & Abel

Life is About Moments with Brian Medavoy

It's a truism in coaching that we learn something from everyone we meet. I learned a ton from my conversation with award-winning producer, manager, and Hollywood Navigator, Brian Medavoy and I learn something new every time I listen to this episode: Life is about moments. Because it's the little wins, the moments, that add up to something bigger. There's no Olympics, World Cup, World Series, Super Bowl or Oscars without the moments that add up to get there.  Key Takeaways: Moments gets yo...

Build Discipline, Embrace Fear with Eric Cogorno

This is another one of my "asking for a friend" episodes. I thought you'd be as interested in me in learning how performance golf coach, Eric Cogorno, built a 7-figure business with his popular YouTube channel and online training platform, cogornogolf.com. I got that and so much more: A masterclass in working through fear, setting goals, writing a detailed 10-year plan that includes income projections, the power of meditation and daily visualizations and showing up consistently even when yo...

Marketing: If You Build It and You TELL People About It, They Will Come with Brian Patacca

This episode with life, business and career coach, Brian Patacca, has been one of my go-to's ever since he shared this nugget with me: Marketing is going public with your gifts and being seen for your gifts. If you build it and you tell people about it, they will come. Grab your journal. Brian and I begin with marketing and end with dignity and respect.  Along the way, Brian reframes the entire concept of marketing around generosity and purpose: Be determined each day, not to leave your f...

Everything You Need to Know About Sales with Aleasha Bahr

I used to think sales was a dirty word, especially when it came to selling myself and my services. I know I'm not alone in this, which is why I am excited about this episode with Aleasha Bahr who shares everything you need to know about sales.  We're all in sales - whether you're selling yourself to an employer in an audition or job interview or pitching your idea to a network or for financing or trying to get your boss or team to buy into your idea.  Aleasha is a woman in a male-dominated...

Creativity is a Transferable Skill with Ed Bazalgette

Creativity is the ability to create, produce, or develop original work theories, techniques, thoughts and ways of seeing. You are creative, whether you tap into it or not, and you take your creativity wherever you go, and I think it's often overlooked how valuable creativity is as a transferable skill: the abilities you take from job to job. Here to discuss is BAFTA-nominated television director, Ed Bazalgette, who exemplifies creativity as a transferable skill, having first found success a...

How to Build a Sustainable and Successful Career with Producers Roni Selig and Marcie Mulé

If you want to know how to build a sustainable and successful career, then look no further because this episode of Camera Ready & Abel delivers a masterclass from 2 titans of the unscripted television world, Roni Selig and Marcie Mulé. Roni is a multi-Emmy-winning producer whose credits span from GMA to CNN most recently launched a new digital platform for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and executive produced The Call to Unite, a 24-hour global livestream event, hosted by Tim Shriver ...

Feeling stuck? Try unlearning your need for approval with Chris Witherspoon

This is one of my favorite evergreen episodes. Chris Witherspoon is an entertainment journalist, producer, entrepreneur and CEO of PopViewers who taught me how his career soared to the next level when he unlearned the importance of seeking approval. Instead of looking outward he focused inward on his approval matrix: Feeling happy, great in his own skin, confident and loving his work. As a recovering people pleaser I know firsthand how much time and energy is wasted seeking approval. Chri...

Determination with Shannon O'Dowd

My guest for this episode, Shannon O'Dowd, has one of the most unique perspectives of the camera-ready universe of anyone I've ever interviewed because her experience covers every aspect of the industry both in-front of and behind the camera. Shannon is an on-camera host, commercial spokesperson, actor, media trainer, certified life coach, author, CEO of Shannon O'Dowd Presents and agent with Taylor Talent Services. When Shannon says determination is essential for success, she knows what sh...

How to Seize the Opportunity with Hena Doba

Seizing opportunity is essential to getting ahead in media and entertainment. It is not a passive, I-think-I'll-wait-until-it-comes-to-me kind of a business. You not only have to seize the day - carpe your diem - you have to do something with the opportunity if you want to move forward in your life and career. My guest for this episode, Hena Doba, generously walks me through how she did just that, going from a local news producer, behind the camera in Watertown, NY, to anchor and contribut...

How to Stay in the Room with Buki Elegbede

It's one thing to get in the room. It's a whole other strategy to stay there. Here to discuss and go deep is multi-Emmy award winning television host, producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede. Buki shares that when you get in the room it feels good and it's a cause for celebration but it's only base camp. You've still got a whole mountain to climb.  Be prepared to play the long game When the industry shuts down, you don't shut down - you hone your craft and strategize Embrace delayed grati...

How to Know When You Are Ready For Your Big Break with Kamie Crawford

This episode of Camera, Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Know When You Are Ready for Your Big Break. It's an important question to ponder because, let's face it, the world is full of people you don't remember who flamed out because they weren't ready. And it's very hard to get a second chance, especially in the entertainment arena. But it's not impossible. My guest for this episode is Kamie Crawford - television and podcast host, content creator, genuine influencer, body...

Redefining Success with Leila Sbitani

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Redefining Success, a personal, perennial favorite of mine. The Berkeley Wellbeing Institute defines success as: reaching your goals, learning something new or overcoming fear. If that's what success is, why don't we all feel massively successful? My guest for this episode, Leila Sbitani, is a beloved TV host, media coach and teacher with one of the best workshops in New York City (I highly recommend). Her list of credits i...

Permission with Barbara Barna Abel

I've wanted to explore the word permission ever since Marki Costello asked this most relevant question on her episode of Camera Ready and Abel: Are you prepared to walk in the room and kick ass? Why permission? Because after you explore all the ways to prepare to kick ass like getting your talking points and marketing assets together, plus a cute outfit and flattering makeup, the salient question is: Do you give yourself permission to walk in the room and kick ass? Permission means to gr...

How to Land Your Dream Job with Elizabeth Wagmeister

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Land Your Dream Job. It's a rebroadcast of my episode with Elizabeth Wagmeister and was originally titled, Resilient, because Elizabeth rightly believes being resilient is a key to success. It's been a joy to know and work with Elizabeth since we met when I was casting Page Six TV and she became one of the hosts. Elizabeth is a consummate professional and genuine pleasure - and makes the work look easy. But as Elizabeth points out, hard-...

Preparation with Marki Costello

Winners don’t wing it, they prepare for it! I believe this so much it's tip #12 in my 12 Tips for Success On-Camera (and off) Here to join me for a rollicking conversation about how preparation makes and breaks careers is the legendary talent manager, casting director, media trainer and CEO of Become A Host, the premier TV hosting Academy, Marki Costello. Marki pulls back the curtain on how TV really gets made, what executives are really looking for, how and why one of the secrets to bill...

How to Craft an Amazing Speech or Presentation with Barbara Barna Abel & Kim Rittberg

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Kim Rittberg’s The Exit Interview podcast, where we discussed how to craft an amazing speech or presentation. In our conversation I offer practical tips for delivering a powerful and clear message while mining the G.A.P. (Goal Audience Platform), which is a shorthand reminder to adapt your delivery based on the audience and the platform. Kim is a digital marketing strategist, social media and video expert, an on-camera media coach and public...

How to Know Your Worth with Bianca Jade

Knowing your worth and believing you are worthy is essential for happiness and wellbeing according to Psychology Today.  When your self-worth depends on external situations it can get unstable, especially in the Camera Ready & Abel space. Knowing your value in the marketplace and having the confidence to ask for what you're worth are also key. Joining me to dive deep and discuss is Health & Wellness Expert and TV/Digital Host, Bianca Jade, who advocates for female empowerment and transformat...

How to Manage Your Stress & Anxiety with Marta Ravin, Dr. Heather Hans, and Patricia Stark

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, How to Manage Your Stress and Anxiety- a Camera Ready evergreen topic featuring actionable advice from Podcast guests Marta Ravin, Dr. Heather Hans, and Patricia Stark. The World Health Organization defines stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Anxiety is defined by Oxford Languages as a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease typically about an imminent event with an uncertain outcome and can produce phys...

It Gets Greater Later with Bevy Smith

This encore episode of Camera Ready and Abel is brought to you by the phrase It Gets Greater Later, which is the signature mantra of the divine Bevy Smith who first came on the podcast in late 2021.  Quintessential Harlem girl, Gracie Award winner, and life-long New Yorker, Bevy is the host of Sirius XM’s “Bevelations” on Radio Andy and the author of “Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie,” where she generously lays out, step-by-step, how she successfully transitioned from a hig...

Imperfect Success: Stop Shoulding Yourself with Barbara Barna Abel & Nicole Baker

This episode is a rebroadcast of my appearance on Life Coach Nicole Baker's Imperfect Success podcast, discussing one of my favorite topics, stop shoulding yourself. We all have an inner critic that likes to should on us. Your shoulds are a list of false rules you tell yourself that feed your narrative but ultimately hold you back, such as, I should be more productive, thinner, disciplined, etc. My shoulds are often a loud discussion inside my head and I’ve finally learned to turn down the...

How to Read the Room with Marta Ravin

This episode is brought to you by the phrase, how to read the room, an essential skill for everyone whether you're giving a presentation or a speech, going to a meeting or job interview or audition, leading your team or asking your boss for a raise... Here to discuss is returning champion Marta Ravin. Marta is an Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner and sought after keynote speaker who started her career in standup comedy, which is where we first met, and where Marta honed her e...

Why Everyone Should Take a Commercial Acting with Brooke Thomas & Mary Egan Callahan

The directive to just be yourself can be easier said than done when it comes to lights, camera, actions but in some arena’s it’s critical to your success and as Brooke and Mary have said in the past, “honesty is the most attractive thing people want to see on camera.” This episode is brought to you by the phrase, Why everyone should take a commercial acting class. Here to discuss are legendary commercial casting directors and teachers, Brooke Thomas and Mary Egan Callahan.   Brooke Thomas ...

How to Create Opportunity and Make Money with Blair Taylor

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase, How to Create Opportunity and Make Money.  My insightful - and delightful - guest is talent agent Blair Taylor, CEO of Taylor Talent Services, who has been innovating and creating opportunities for his clients for over 25 years. Blair has built a successful career by accessing opportunities untapped by traditional agents. He has represented commercial actors and spokespeople for national and international campaigns for so...

Measure Your Inchstones with Angela Marie Hutchinson

This mini episode is brought to you by the phrase, Measure Your Inchstones, which was a gem that Angela Marie Hutchinson shared with me on her episode of this podcast. We all know about milestones, even if we forget to mark them. A milestone is defined as an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development. Angela opened my eyes to the beauty and power of measuring your inchstones, the small, incremental essential steps you take daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly th...

Unsubscribing from Perfectionism with Nicole Baker

This is one of my favorite asking for a friend episodes. When Nicole Baker - host of the Imperfect Success podcast and a coach who helps high achievers ditch perfectionism, cut out hustle culture, and start achieving their goals with fun, fulfillment, and a whole lotta free time - connected with me, I immediately thought, this woman has wisdom I need to hear. So many highlights and takeaways to Unsubscribing from Perfectionism: Perfectionism is often the root cause of procrastination Our ...

The Secrets to Creating Social Video that Gets Noticed with Kim Rittberg

On this episode of Camera Ready & Abel the highly engaging Kim Rittberg teaches how to crack the code of creating social video that gets noticed. Because as Kim says, if you're hiding from the camera, you're hiding from clients. Kim's simple strategy is based on her Four Cs: Confidence Concise Consistency Creativity and she gives a big permission to let go of perfection, focus on value and don't get hung up on all the technology. Keep it simple with a ring light and a microphone and e...

Lights Camera Cash with Nicole Sellars

Relationships: It’s Who Knows You!

The topic of relationships come up often in my conversations on Camera Ready & Abel. This is no surprise since media and entertainment are relationship-driven industries. People like to work with people they know and trust to to get the work done on time, on budget and well executed. It's also a fact that media and entertainment are referral driven businesses, and people recommend people they know, like, and trust. So I've pulled together a best-of featuring snippets from my conversations w...

Play to Your Strengths with Sean DeSimone

My dear friend, Sean De Simone, is back on the podcast and we are discussing the phrase, Play to Your Strengths. This comes up in all areas of our business from coaching to casting to the courses we teach. My favorite definition of Play to Your Strengths is: Do what you are able to do well, instead of trying to do other things. Sounds simple but so often we waste energy on trying to conform to a narrow ideal - The Shoulds - that we miss the opportunity to highlight our unique value and what...

Camera Ready and Confident with Barbara Barna Abel & Vinnie Potestivo

Camera Ready and Confident is a rebroadcast of my guest appearance on Vinnie Potestivo's I Have a Podcast two years ago, shortly after the launch of Camera Ready and Abel. Vinnie is my dear friend, co-conspirator and Emmy Award-winning media advisor who helps people and their business get seen and heard. Vinnie and I met years ago when we were talent executives at MTV Networks.  Listening back to this episode I can hear how far I've come as a podcaster which is reminder that consistent pra...

Daily Disciplines with J.D. Durkin

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Daily Disciplines. According to success.com being a high performer is the result of your daily disciplines. Here to discuss is my friend, journalist, J.D. Durkin, who opens up and shares the personal details of how developing his daily disciplines with intention helped him navigate his career, work through challenging times in his life and evolve as a human being. J.D. is a host and reporter at the New York Stock Exchange ...

Am I Allowed to Say That with Karith Foster

I get asked all the time by clients and students Am I allowed to say that?? It used to be we were afraid of causing offense or being inappropriate, now add to that the very real fear of being canceled. I'm very happy to have this timely conversation with a bonafide expert on the subject, Karith Foster, who is a diversity engagement specialist and creator of the groundbreaking INVERSITY™ methodology and other signature programs.  Karith is also a humorist, author, television and radio pers...

How to Talk to Anyone with Crystal Jones

Humans are social creatures and yet it can be mighty hard to talk to people. It's a serious challenge - when you Google, how to talk to anyone, 455 million hits come up. Here to discuss is my dear friend Crystal Jones, who is the associate director of Major Gifts for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and who talks to people all day, every day for a living and talks them into making serious donations. The alternative title to this episode of Camera Ready & Abel could have been How to talk to an...

Question Everything with Danielle Robay

Everyone from Socrates to Euripedes to Virgil Abloh has commanded us to Question Everything. My guest for this episode, television host and professional interviewer Danielle Robay, figured out early on that questions are a superpower - and all of us can develop and tap into it.  At a critical time in Danielle's career, when she was rebounding from the dream job that turned out to be a soul crushing mistake, she turned her superpower inward, asking herself five thoughtful questions per day, ...

The 3 M’s: Mastery, Marketing & Mindset with Wendy Alane Wright

Mastery = deep, comprehensive knowledge or skill which is the difference between knowing how to do something and doing that something extremely well. Marketing = the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services. Mindset = the established set of attitudes held by someone Here to discuss the 3 M’s is Wendy Alane Wright - acting career coach, Hollywood talent manager and founder of the Hollywood Winners Circle Academy and the Talent Managers for Actors (TMFA) conferenc...

Work Ethic is a Superpower with Buki Elegbede

Several guests have said this to me: Working harder IS working smarter.  My guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel - multi Emmy nominated Television Host, Producer and journalist, Buki Elegbede - says his Work Ethic is his Superpower. Buki believes his work ethic is what has given him a competitive advantage in an industry that is saturated with talent. As he says, quoting Milton Berle, “when opportunity doesn't knock, build your own door.” More takeaways: Work ethic includes work...

Write Your Dream Role with Emily Grace

This episode of Camera Ready & Abel is brought to you by the phrase Write Your Dream Role, an action at the heart of creating opportunity. A core principle of being camera ready. My guest for this episode is Emily Grace - a career coach and Sundance award-winning actress - who lives the mantra: Why wait? Don't ask for permission. Go do. Because that's what Emily did. She learned hard lessons as an actor going from making a big splash to fizzle and went on a mission to figure out how the i...

Industry Trends with Mark Turner

Trends and market changes - like emerging technologies and shifts in consumer behavior impact every industry -  and are hitting entertainment and media particularly hard right now.    Here to discuss both the opportunities and challenges of current industry trends is legendary agent Mark Turner, who currently serves as a Partner and Vice President of programming, digital media licensing, branding and head of unscripted talent at A3 Artists Agency.    Mark started his storied career after gra...

Balance with Erin Palinski-Wade

I grew up with an imbalanced idea of what life balance is, thinking all the different parts had to be in equal amounts. What a huge relief and step forward when I met my guest for this episode, Erin Palinski-Wade, who helped me understand balance is about having the correct proportions. Erin is the ultimate multi-hyphenate:  a nationally recognized nutrition, diabetes, and fitness expert, author, TEDx speaker, business owner, frequent television guest, and busy mom of three, who also happen...

On Message with Johanna Maska

Being on message means saying things that agree with the official position of a political party, organization, business, or brand…and most importantly, being true to your own message! My guest for this episode, Johanna Maska, is an expert bar none on the how and why of being On Message. Johanna shaped the message and image of Barack Obama, beginning with the Iowa caucuses in 2007, all the way through being White House Director of Press advance until 2015, and recently launched her podcast,...

Industrious with Matthew Hoffman

This feel great episode is brought to you by the word industrious which means diligent and hardworking, and also implies a habitual devotion to the work, which in the Camera, Ready & Abel universe is one of the keys to success. This episode could also have been called Industrious: How to Get the Gig! because my guest, TV host, narrator, and media personality, Matthew Hoffman, generously - and hilariously - walks me step by step through how he landed the gig that propelled him to the next le...

You Choose! with Beth Schiff

Life is a series of choices. To choose means to select freely after consideration, to decide upon, to vote (important reminder!), to have a preference. This implies both freedom and responsibility. Joining me to discuss on Camera Ready & Abel to discuss the phrase You Choose! is legendary Talent Executive, Producer and Casting Director, Beth Schiff, who believes in the power of choosing so much she named her business You Choose Creative. Beth has more than twenty years in the entertainment...

Alignment with Tamiko White

“Alignment is a real place,” shares my guest Tamiko White who joins me on this episode of Camera Ready & Abel to discuss the journey to alignment. Tamiko White is the founder of White Noise Consulting and creator of #NOWTrending, a branding course and community for entrepreneurs. She is a fashion and media entrepreneur, creative brand consultant and writer who has worked with an impressive list of clients over the past 30 years- in front of the camera and behind the seams- to help everyone ...

How to Pitch with Dave Noll

If you're thinking I'm not in sales or I'm not a creative, I'm never going to pitch anything, think again! As my guest for this episode, Dave Noll, says, life's a pitch, life's a series of pitches...whether it's love or work or anything important. Selling anything, creating anything, anything important in life comes with a pitch. Dave knows what he's talking about. He and his partner, Cleve Keller, are the mega-successful creators and producers of Chopped (the most successful show in the h...

Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Cat with Alice Ford

Dreams only become reality when we actually are curious enough to start implementing and making them happen. - Alice Ford I say all the time that I'd be sitting in my villa in Tangier right now if I had a dollar or ten for every single person I've encountered who said I want to host a travel show. My guest for this episode, award winning host, adventure filmmaker and stunt woman, Alice Ford, created a travel show and turned it into a viable business. Alice says curiosity is the key to all ...

Civility with Kristi Spencer

I am a card-carrying etiquette nerd along with my guest, for this episode, Kristi Spencer, who spent over two decades working in the rough and tumble world of local news before becoming a certified business etiquette expert and launching her business The Polite Company. Why does it matter? Good manners are good for business. Good manners minimize or prevent problems with reputation and employee/client retention (which impact the bottom line), make you more memorable and good manners are ke...

Dealing with Bozos and Bullies with Iggy Perillo

The title of this episode of Camera Ready & Abel - Dealing with Bozos and Bullies - tells you a lot about my guest for this episode. Iggy Perillo, founder of WSL Leadership, helps leaders and educators do right by their people with warmth, humor and compassion, training them to do the hardest part of great work more easily, through group and one-on-one coaching masterminds and experiential workshops designed to make it simple for them to connect with their people, create meaningful change an...

Laughter On Call with Dani Klein Modisett

Dani Klein Modisett is a comedian, actor, author and accidental entrepreneur who (accidentally) founded, Laughter On Call - a company that runs innovative, interactive workshops for individuals and organizations rooted in mental wellness, designed to foster connection through shared laughter, by combining compassion with comedy to boost morale - when she saw the positive impact comedy had on her mother when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Since the company's founding in 2018, more than...

On Brand Part 2: It’s Always an Audition

On this episode of Camera Ready & Abel my conversion with Aliza Licht continues but this time I am in the guest seat as I re-air my interview on her podcast, Leave Your Mark. This episode is brought to you by the phrase, it's always an audition, because no matter the career field you are in, a job interview is an audition.  What makes a great audition? First off, to recognize that it starts the minute you walk into the building, so be memorable and be delightful. Leave the room better than ...

On Brand with Aliza Licht

Problem: What's my personal brand? Solution: Aliza Licht, my guest for this episode of Camera Ready & Abel discussing her new book, ON BRAND: shape your narrative, share your vision, shift their perception. Aliza explains being on brand means you have a clear understanding of what you align with, what it is you want to be known for and how to make sure other people see you that way. That last bit is key because your brand is your story and in the absence of your story, people will create ...