Spoken Dreams
123 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsA storytelling podcast from KTLA 5 in Los Angeles. Each week, Aspiring actors, musicians, models, filmmakers and more share their stories and experiences of working to fulfill their dreams in L.A.'s entertainment industry.
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Episodes
Kaila Yu, Travel Writer/Blogger
December 10, 2018 13:28 - 18 minutes - 17 MBKaila Yu is a travel writer and blogger originally from Upland, California. Kaila was raised in a traditional Asian household. Growing up a lot of focus was put on her academic future. She did well in school, but because she was under so much pressure to succeed, she lacked a real sense of identity. By high school, Kaila began to rebel, and her grades began to slip. Later, she discovered drugs, and the course of her life would take a completely different direction. Kaila achieved so...
Lovely Lola, Singer/Songwriter
December 03, 2018 13:35 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBLovely Lola is a singer who grew up in the mountains of Sunland in the San Fernando Valley. She's part of the music duo Nomad & Lola. Lovely Lola has been singing for as long as she can remember, and shares how she found a way to do what she loves for a living. Nomad drops in too with a few updates on what they've been up to since his previous visit last year. Nomad & Lola also perform one of their new Christmas songs live. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendrea...
Spencer Trinwith, Actor
November 26, 2018 13:36 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBSpencer Trinwith is an actor originally from San Jose, California. The son of two actors, his love for performing began at a young age. Since childhood, Spencer's instincts told him he was always meant to be an actor. He went on to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts, which further solidified his sense of belonging. Spencer did everything he could to set himself up to have a career as a performer. But then, his future was then severely put into question. A terrible medical i...
Thanksgiving Holiday Sampler
November 19, 2018 19:48 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBIn this episode of Spoken Dreams, Bobby shares clips from some of KTLA's other podcast offerings from Frank Buckley Interviews, The News Director's Office, and California Cooking. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Derek Warburton, Fashion Stylist/Creative Director
November 12, 2018 13:32 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBDerek Warburton is a stylist, consultant, and slew of other roles in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment industries. He is also owner and creative director for LAPALME Magazine. Born in New Hampshire, Derek's childhood was fraught with difficulty. He faced a number of challenges including abuse and homelessness. It wasn't until he was 15-years-old that Derek finally felt he gained something he had been missing all his life: freedom. For the first time, he was able to be himself, a...
Jordan Morgan, Actor
November 04, 2018 15:41 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBJordan Morgan is an actor from the town of Truman, Arkansas. Jordan's performing experience began as a member of his church choir, and he also acted in plays there. While Jordan enjoyed acting, he had always considered it an after-school hobby. As he prepared to apply for college, he toyed with the idea of law school or a career in medicine, but never gave a future as a performer any serious thought. During his freshman year of college, Jordan discovered Shakespeare, and decided he w...
Rose Emanuel, Actress
October 29, 2018 12:41 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBRose Emanuel is an actress originally from London, England. Rose comes a family of entertainers, so naturally she grew up with a dream to be a star. Her father, however, wasn't so sure that was the best safest path for her to follow. Ever stalwart, Rose was determined to chase her passion for performing, and at a young age, a future career as an actress started to look very promising. But as Rose was just starting to reap the benefits of all that she'd worked for, her parents pulled ...
Paul Sanchez, Filmmaker/Photojournalist
October 22, 2018 12:14 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBPaul Sanchez is a filmmaker, photojournalist, and fellow KTLA colleague. Twenty years ago, Paul was in charge of a small college radio station in St. George, Utah. It was something Paul was very proud of. He was able to share the music he loved and spread his voice in the community. One Monday afternoon, after a terrible incident, the radio station was shut down. Paul and some of his colleagues were left with more questions that answers, and while Paul always wanted to share the stor...
Shane Elizabeth, Writer
October 15, 2018 12:43 - 15 minutes - 14 MBShane Elizabeth is a writer originally from Chicago. What started as a deep love for television eventually led to a pursuit of a career in screenwriting. After studying in Chicago and New York City, Shane made her way to the place she obsessed over since childhood: Hollywood. It was there where she began working in reality television. Later, a feature that Shane had written got some promising attention, and just as the project was looking like it would become a reality, The whole thi...
Tara Bianco, Actress/Dancer
October 08, 2018 12:28 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MBTara Bianco is an actress, singer, and dancer originally from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Tara grew up performing in musical theater, and has always been a natural entertainer. She would later decide to take the leap and move to Hollywood to chase her dreams of stardom, leaving the comforts of South Carolina behind. Tara found a lot of success early on; She signed with an acting manager, booked a role in a national television show, and got into SAG. Behind the scenes, however...
Stephanie Nauli, Actress/Singer
October 01, 2018 12:38 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBStephanie Nauli is an actress, model, singer, and author from Los Angeles, California. As a child, Stephanie did have a desire to be a star, but as she approached adulthood, her life began unfolding in a different way. After high school, she went on to join the Army where she became known among the ranks for her noteworthy performances of the National Anthem. Despite people around Stephanie urging her to pursue a career in Hollywood, she laughed it off, and after being honorably disc...
Keith Gallucci, Actor
September 24, 2018 12:36 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBKeith Gallucci is an actor and singer from Rensselaer Falls, New York. Growing up in the small village, Keith and his brother relied on nothing but movies and their imagination to keep themselves entertained. By the time he reached college, Keith had made the decision that he wanted to be an actor, and he was given the unique opportunity to study his craft at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School. After graduating, Keith knew that if he was really serious about his desire to be a...
Diana Espir, Entertainment Host/Content Creator
September 17, 2018 12:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBDiana Espir is an entertainment host, content creator, and podcaster from Geneva, Switzerland. Her natural ability as an entertainer began to take shape when she began taking piano lessons at 2-years-old. Later, as she began taking music more seriously, she realized that Switzerland was not the best environment to continue developing her talents. Her pursuit of a singing career would eventually land her on France’s version of The Voice, and later, she would explore new opportunities ...
Stephen Carleton, Aspiring Late-Night Host
September 03, 2018 12:28 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBStephen Carleton is an aspiring late-night television host from Grahamsville, New York. While he had an interest in theater and public speaking, Stephen spent most of his teenage years not quite sure what he wanted to do as a career. After a teacher encouraged him to attend Ithaca College to pursue a future in television, Stephen's path became more clear. Several opportunities in school began getting him even more excited about his talk show host goals, but suddenly Stephen's world w...
Jay Jackson, Drag Queen "Laganja Estranja"
August 27, 2018 12:00 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MBJay Jackson is an entertainer, choreographer, and drag queen best known as Laganja Estranja from RuPaul's Drag Race and So You Think You Can Dance. Jay grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has been a performer all his life. In 2007, he was awarded Presidential Scholar in the Arts for his dance choreography. In this episode, Jay opens up about a number of personal topics including his relationship with his parents, his post-Drag Race struggles with substance abuse, and how he hopes his lates...
Andy Cruz, Filmmaker
August 13, 2018 12:00 - 19 minutes - 18.2 MBAndy Cruz is a filmmaker from the Texas town of McAllen. Andy has always loved movies. In this episode, Andy shares filmmaking advice he received from his favorite director, Judd Apatow. He opens up about the joy of making your own projects, and shares a harrowing story regarding a violent attack that changed his life and inspired his latest film "2 Wrongs." This episode also features a return visit from actor (and now executive producer) Jamal Johnson. Full show notes available at h...
Geoff Ashley, Writer
August 06, 2018 12:00 - 18 minutes - 17.3 MBGeoff Ashley is a writer who was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Inspired by science-fiction television shows and movies, Geoff has been writing for as long as he can remember. In this episode of the podcast, Geoff shares how he brought his story and characters to life within the pages of his Frontiers comic books. He recounts how he managed to cast a Star Trek icon for his podcast adaptation, and explains why he believes it's never too late to achieve success. Full show notes ht...
Stoll Vaughan, Musician/Songwriter
July 30, 2018 12:00 - 18 minutes - 16.6 MBStoll Vaughan is a musician, songwriter, and producer originally from Lexington, Kentucky. After realizing formal training didn’t provide him with what he felt he needed, he set out to gain life experiences, and allow the road to be his teacher. He’s toured with musicians like John Mellencamp, John Foggerty, Def Leppard, Journey, Shooter Jennings and more. His songs have been featured in popular television shows like True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Shameless, and The Office. Full sh...
Denise Salcedo, T.V. Host/Entertainment Reporter
July 16, 2018 11:57 - 15 minutes - 13.9 MBDenise Salcedo is a television host and entertainment reporter from Los Angeles. Growing up, Denise dreamed about becoming an actress and began studying theater in college. However, early in her college career, Denise came to realize that a future as a professional actress likely wasn’t in the cards for her. Defeated, she needed to figure out what it was that she would do next. After an ordinary stroll through the campus library, Denise stumbled upon what she discovered would become ...
Jake Cannon, Stand-up Comedian/Podcaster
July 09, 2018 12:00 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBJake Cannon is an aspiring stand-up comedian and podcaster originally from Chino Hills. Growing up, Jake actually hated public speaking, despite having a keen sense of humor. After reading a book by a Hollywood screenwriter that encouraged pursuing the thing that scares you most, Jake determined that he would finally try and perform stand-up comedy. After his first performance, Jake had an emotional experience, and decided to continue performing comedy. Full show notes available at h...
Robin Ayers, Entertainment Reporter/Motivational Speaker
June 25, 2018 12:01 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBRobin Ayers is an entertainment reporter, motivational speaker, and author originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Robin had a troubled childhood, and television provided her with an escape. Throughout her youth, the bright lights and colors she saw on TV programs like Soul Train brought her happiness. At the age of four, Robin was sent off to California, where suddenly she found herself living among the same bright lights she had seen on her television screen. Full show notes availa...
Ronny Pascale, Comedy Writer
June 18, 2018 12:00 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBRonny Pascale is a comedy writer, producer, and improv performer form New Haven Connecticut. Ronny knew he wanted to be a performer at a young age, but he would not begin pursuing it until his mid-20's. He attributes this long delay to the fact that he grew up feeling very insecure and shy. Ronny became interested in improv after seeing a show he heard an advertisement for over the radio. Ronny began studying improv in New York City, and slowly began breaking out of his shell. Full s...
Chris Maslen, Actor
June 04, 2018 12:00 - 19 minutes - 17.5 MBChris Maslen is an actor originally from Kansas City, Missouri. In this episode, Chris shares how acting helped him find his true passion. He opens up about finding acceptance, and why for many years he was resistant to make the move to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ben Worley, Composer/Actor
May 28, 2018 12:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBBen Worley is a film composer and actor from Nashville, Tennessee. He would discover in high school that he could combine his love of movies and music by becoming a film composer, and with the help of his brother, he got his first paying gig. After graduating, Ben continued to working towards his dreams in Nashville, but eventually realized he needed to do something he was originally dead-set against: He needed to move to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/Spok...
Julie Mintz, Singer-songwriter
May 14, 2018 12:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBJulie Mintz is a singer-songwriter and recording artist originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. While Julie loved singing and playing piano, she had a strong aversion to performing in front of an audience. In this episode, Julie opens up about following her true passion. She shares how she ended up playing on The Tonight Show, and how she's allowed herself to be more vulnerable and confident as an artist. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy a...
Che'Nelle, International Recording Artist
May 07, 2018 12:01 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBChe'Nelle is an international recording artist who grew up in Malaysia, and later Perth, Australia. In this episode, Che’Nelle opens up about the many phases of her career as a recording artist. She shares her experiences of making music in foreign countries, and how she now hopes to recreate her success in Japan in the United States and beyond. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...
Bellsaint, Recording Artist/Songwriter
April 30, 2018 12:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBBellsaint is a recording artist and songwriter originally from Tyler, Texas. Perhaps the epitome of a rising star, Bellsaint's music is receiving glowing accolades from publications and media outlets.She has worked with some of the top artists and producers in the industry, and has written music for television, film, commercials and more. Bellsaint's talents a songwriter and performer are undeniable. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at ht...
Nathan Moore, Actor/Director
April 23, 2018 12:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBNathan Moore is an actor, director, and multi-faceted storyteller. He was born in New Hampshire, but spent much of his childhood was spent visiting the home of his grandparents' in Wisconsin. It was there that he cultivated his imagination and developed a sense for creating stories. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Danielle Savre, Actress
April 16, 2018 12:00 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBDanielle Savre is an actress from Simi Valley in the midst of performing one of the biggest roles of her career. She currently stars as Maya Bishop on the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Station 19. Danielle believes she was born to act; a notion that is supported by a long list of notable film and television credits. Entertainment outlets everywhere are raving that Danielle is one of Hollywood's rising stars. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at h...
Parris Rose, Host
April 09, 2018 12:00 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBParris Rose is a host originally from Fairfield, Connecticut. As a young girl, she describes herself as having been very outgoing and always craving the center of attention. She was auditioning for choir and school plays even though, according to Parris, she couldn’t sing and didn’t think she was a very good actress; she just enjoyed doing anything that gave her the chance to be in the spotlight. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https:...
Natalie K, Singer-songwriter
March 26, 2018 12:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBNatalie K is a singer-songwriter from Hollywood, California. An only child, Natalie always enjoyed being the center of attention as she entertained her friends and family. Later, she discovered that she could sing, and it quickly became one of her favorite ways to perform. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Haylee Graham, Author/Screenwriter
March 19, 2018 12:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBHaylee Graham is a writer from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. The daughter of two actors, she came from a background of wealth and opportunity. However, as a teenager, her entire life was turned upside down. It was during this time that she began writing stories. Haylee saw writing as a way to deal with her real-life problems in her own fictional world. During her lowest point in life, Haylee realized how precious life is, and how she could use her writing to make a positive...
Gabriela Duarte, Actress
March 12, 2018 12:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBGabriela Duarte is an actress, originally from the city of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. In this episode, Gabriela shares details of her childhood growing up in Brazil. She recalls the life-changing experience of studying under Vincent D’onofrio, and opens up about her ambitions as an actress. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
B. Dave Walters, Storyteller
March 05, 2018 13:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBB. Dave Walters is a storyteller originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. Throughout his career, he has been a writer, producer, performer, business owner, host, martial artist, life coach, and more. Growing up, he had originally wanted to be an aerospace engineer. In high school, he was introduced to Shakespeare, which he credits with changing his life path. B. Dave went on to earn his degree in English, and sought to use his voice to help others. Full show notes available at http://k...
Trisha Rae Stahl, Actress
February 26, 2018 13:00 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBTrisha Rae Stahl is an actress from the small town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. For Trisha, acting started out simply as a hobby. As she made ready to attend college and really had to think about what she wanted to do with her future, Trisha was encouraged to pursue acting professionally. Trisha opens up about her early relationship with performing. She shares the emotional story of finding fulfillment outside of acting, and recalls the nerve-wracking experience of auditioning for ...
Derek Wayne Johnson, Filmmaker
February 19, 2018 13:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBDerek Wayne Johnson is a filmmaker originally from the countryside of East Texas. As a kid, Derek was a huge fan of movies, and knew that he would some day move to Hollywood to become a professional director. Derek was already writing, shooting, and editing his own movies by the time he was in high school. He continued to develop his skills while attending film school in Texas, but never lost sight of his goal to end up in Los Angeles. The opportunity finally presented itself when, b...
Karen Bankhead, Actor/Inspirational Speaker
February 12, 2018 13:00 - 19 minutes - 17.9 MBKaren Bankhead is an actor, writer, comedian, and inspirational speaker. She was born on Vandenberg Air Force Base. Ever since she was a young child, Karen loved watching television and even received lessons on the fundamentals of acting, but she didn’t originally come to Los Angeles with plans to break into the entertainment industry. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...
Elle Dawson, Artist/Model
February 05, 2018 13:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBElle Dawson is an artist and model originally from Mississippi. A rebel since childhood, Elle began modeling at age 14 based on a recommendation from her sister. She began to turn her life around for the better, leaving an abusive relationship and getting off drugs. Eventually, with only $50 and one suitcase, she made her way to New York City to begin modeling professionally. Unfortunately, the dark side of the modeling industry began to reveal itself, and she began to develop animos...
Jennifer Lynn Warren, Actress/Podcast Host
January 29, 2018 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MBJennifer Lynn Warren is an actress and podcast host originally from Altoona, Pennsylvania. From the moment she knew having a career as a professional performer was a possibility in life, she knew that would be the path she would follow. She graduated with a degree in theater, and her journey as an actress took her from the bright lights of New York City, to the emerging film industry of Texas, to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, and finally to Los Angeles. Full show notes availabl...
Chris Denny, Musician
January 22, 2018 13:00 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MBChris Denny is a musician from West Palm Beach, Florida. He was hooked on music ever since he was 6 years old after watching his uncle play drums at the local church. He loved banging on the floor along to his favorite music, and eventually his grandparents surprised him with his very first drum set, which he would play for hours on end. Over the years, Chris taught himself how to play the drums out of sheer passion, and developed a reputation around his school as a talented musician...
Rachel Radner, Author
January 08, 2018 13:05 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBRachel Radner is an author from Chester County, Pennsylvania. While she always loved writing, Rachel originally had dreams to become a professional actor, but many outside voices led her to believe that a career as an actor or writer were not paths she should follow. Instead, Rachel resigned herself to pursuing a more traditional education and career. Later, however, a life-changing event would help Rachel realize that life is too short to not pursue the things she loves, and for the...
Kelly Tittle, Actress/T.V. Host
January 01, 2018 13:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBKelly Tittle is an actress and television host from Half Moon Bay in Northern California. She comes from a long line of athletes, and grew up in a major sports family. However, Kelly came to learn that playing sports did not seem to be her calling in life and instead found that her talents lied in singing, dancing, and acting. She began to immerse herself in the performing arts, and by the time she was ready to graduate high school, she had made the decision that she would to move to...
Amaris Gagnon, Writer
December 18, 2017 13:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBAmaris Gagnon is a writer from the small town of Agawam, Massachusetts. Writing has been something that Amaris has enjoyed doing since childhood. A young girl of a diverse cultural background, Amaris attended school in a community where diversity was not very common, and wasn’t necessarily celebrated by her peers. Amaris details the many difficulties she faced growing up in a small town, including racism and limited career options. She shares the personal journey that brought her to ...
Michael Padilla, Actor
December 11, 2017 13:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBMichael Padilla is an aspiring actor who recently relocated to Los Angeles from San Jose. In school, Michael was often categorized as “the weird kid,” which is a title that he took great pride in. His desire to become a performer came from watching other teens on television shows on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Michael wondered why he himself was not on television, and what he could do to get there. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy ...
Jamal Johnson, Actor
November 27, 2017 13:00 - 21 minutes - 19.8 MBJamal Johnson is an actor from Los Angeles, California. Jamal originally had dreams of being a professional athlete, but his interest in the arts started to grow as his parents began exposing him to live theatre as a way to escape the vices that pervaded the 1980s. All throughout his young life, Jamal’s parents stayed his biggest supporters, particularly his father, with whom Jamal had a special relationship. Tragically, Jamal’s life would begin to change as his father’s health began...
Mac Quayle, Composer
November 20, 2017 12:59 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBMac Quayle is an Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated composer currently scoring USA Network’s suspense-thriller Mr. Robot. His scoring credits also include hit shows like American Horror Story, Feud: Bette and Joan, American Crime Story, and Scream Queens. While Mac has become an accomplished composer, he didn’t always have the idea that he would be making music for Hollywood. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy an...
Rustom, Former Actor
November 13, 2017 13:07 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBI first met Rustom close to a decade ago while we were both working at the same theme park. We only ever worked one shift together, but he was very friendly and funny, and we got along well. One day, I was at the movie theater and saw Rustom in one of those “silence your cell phone” ads! That was how I first learned Rustom was an actor. After that, I noticed Rustom appearing in countless other nationally aired commercials. I assumed that Rustom was enjoying great success working as a...
Antonette Leonie, Filmmaker/Actress
November 06, 2017 12:54 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBAntonette Leonie is a filmmaker and actress originally from South Plainfield, New Jersey. While she always saw herself as a creative person, Toni came from a family of medical professionals, so a future in the arts was not an idea that was necessarily embraced by the people close to her. In 6th grade, Toni performed in the school musical, and fell in love with the experience. Perhaps her biggest supporter was her mother, who helped her rehearse, memorize lines, and encouraged her new...
Loren LoRosa, T.V. Host/Vlogger
October 30, 2017 12:06 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBLoren LoRosa is a television host, vlogger, and model from Wilmington, Delaware. While she grew up in a place that is consistently ranked among the most dangerous cities in America, Loren’s mother was careful to protect her from the harsh realities of the community they were living in. Loren was exposed to the arts at an early age, and was often taking music lessons or performing in local theater. She snuck out of school one day to head to New York City for a live taping of BET’s 106...
Connor Strader, Independent Filmmaker
October 23, 2017 12:06 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBConnor Strader began his journey into independent filmmaking as a young kid growing up in New York. He and his friends would run around the neighborhood making up stories and shooting films using Connor's parents' camcorder. Eventually, they got him his own video camera with editing software, and his love for cinema and movie-making continued to flourish. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...