Why I‘ll Never Make It
432 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratingsThe actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But it is those few moments of glory on stage or screen that can sustain us through all the setbacks and challenges. On this award-winning podcast, New York actor Patrick Oliver Jones invites fellow creatives to share stories of failure and persistence in their lives and careers. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at the creative life rarely seen in the glitz and glam of this industry that reminds us we’re not alone in this often bumpy and winding journey of the performing arts.
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Episodes
FINAL FIVE with Jack Viertel, Theater Producer and Historian
April 29, 2024 07:00 - 20 minutesIn the previous episode, you heard theater producer and historian Jack Viertel share stories of how his talents and interests weren’t in acting, his interactions with playwrights like Lanford Wilson, and the process of adapting a novel into a musical. Now he’s back to talk about his new book Broadway Melody as well as share more lessons learned by answering the Final Five Questions in this bonus episode of Why I’ll Never Make It. To listen to bonus content like Auditions Stories and get early...
Jack Viertel and the Secret Life of the American Musical
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 45 minutesJack Viertel has the kind of knowledge I wish I had about Broadway history, having studied the various journeys of great shows for his book The Secret Life of the American Musical, but he’s also worked with playwrights like August Wilson and Tony Kushner. He’s even conceived the long running Smokey Joe's Café and the critically acclaimed After Midnight and served as dramaturg as well for Hairspray and Dear Evan Hansen. And through his many colleagues over the years he’s learned the fine art o...
Kerry Sandell & Marci Duncan Explore the Dissonance in Race Relations
April 08, 2024 07:00 - 1 hourTheater can serve as a powerful platform for difficult discussions, especially offering a space for nuanced exploration of racial dynamics. It allows audiences to empathize with characters from diverse backgrounds, challenging preconceptions and fostering dialogue. It provides a visceral experience that can elicit strong emotions and provoke introspection. Kerry Sandell and Marci Duncan wrote such a play that was born from their own backgrounds, preconceptions, and even misunderstandings. The...
Sara Gettelfinger Shares Her Long and Struggling Journey Back to Broadway
March 25, 2024 07:00 - 58 minutesSara Gettelfinger's Broadway debut came in 2000 with the musical Seussical. And she worked steadily on Broadway through the years until she and I met and worked together on The Addams Family national tour in 2011. But then she had to take a break from acting, a break from New York City as well. And except for an Off-Broadway musical in 2014, Sara focused instead on her life and let the career she loved so much take a back seat. She’s now back on Broadway in a new musical, Water for Elephants,...
Gabrielle Ruiz Discusses THE ADDAMS FAMILY National Tour and Female Representation in the Arts (REWIND)
March 18, 2024 07:00 - 42 minutesAs we talked about in Part One, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is what put Gabrielle Ruiz on the map. However, it was her theater training and performance abilities that made it possible for her to be cast in the show. In this rewind episode from 2021, we talk more about her time on the stage and what drives her most as an artist. Subscribe or Donate to WINMI Subscribing helps support this podcast, while also giving early access to extended conversations and other bonus content. Donating can be done on...
FINAL FIVE with Ann Harada, Broadway Actress and Singer
March 11, 2024 07:00 - 26 minutesIn the previous episode, you heard actress and singer Ann Harada share her stories of grinding it out as an Asian actress trying to fit in with what she thought casting directors wanted but then discovered her superpower as an artist, being herself. Now she’s back to share more lessons she’s learned and answer the Final Five Questions in this bonus episode of Why I’ll Never Make It. To get more bonus content like Auditions Stories and get early access to these full conversations ad-free, beco...
Ann Harada Learns That Her Greatest Asset as an Actor Is Being Herself
March 04, 2024 08:00 - 37 minutesAnn Harada will be the first to tell you that finding happiness and satisfaction in the acting business didn’t come quickly or easily for her. In fact, her first Broadway credit came as a production assistant, not as an actor. She followed that up with ensemble roles in M. Butterfly and Suessical. But between those two shows was a ten-year gap, and it wasn’t until her next Broadway show that Ann Harada truly made a name for herself as Christmas Eve in Avenue Q. In our conversation, she talks ...
FINAL FIVE with Lydia-Renee Darling, Actress and Producer
February 26, 2024 08:00 - 15 minutesLast week you heard actress, writer, and entrepreneur Lydia-Renee Darling share her stories of growing up in an immigrant household and then her own experiences of living and working in other countries as an artist. Now she’s back to answer the Final Five Questions in this bonus episode. To get more bonus content like Auditions Stories and listen to these full conversations ad-free, then become a subscriber by going to whyillnevermakeit.com and click Subscribe. Podcast theme music created by ...
Lydia-Renee Darling Embraces Change and Learns to Become a Better Artist
February 19, 2024 08:00 - 42 minutesLydia-Renee Darling is the very definition of a well rounded, multi hyphenate artist. She got her BFA in musical theater from Webster University in St. Louis and a Masters in writing for stage and broadcast media from the Royal Central School in London. She’s a filmmaker and a playwright and founded her own DEI entertainment marketing and virtual production company called Oh! (My Gosh) Creative. Being someone who has both embraced and been challenged by changes throughout her life, Lydia-Rene...
Steve Cuden (Part 2) Discovers His Talent for Animation Writing & The Art of StoryBeats
February 12, 2024 08:00 - 55 minutesAs an actor I fully appreciate and recognize that I couldn’t do what I do without a writer doing what they do. Their words and characters are the basis for any work I’ve had in theater, television, or film. The writer’s strike this past summer highlighted just how important they are, because without them there is no entertainment industry. In part one of my conversation with writer Steve Cuden, we talked about the process of creating the musical Jekyll & Hyde with Frank Wildhorn. For this sec...
Steve Cuden (Part 1) Leaving the Jekyll & Hyde He Helped Create
February 05, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutesFor the first guest of this season, I’m talking with writer Steve Cuden, who was a part of a musical and its beginning stages, but was eventually replaced right before it began to take off and become the hugely iconic Jekyll & Hyde musical we all know. In fact, it was Steve's first foray into writing with another unknown composer and writer at the time, Frank Wildhorn. And in part one of our conversation, Steve opens up about their personal and professional relationship in ways that he has no...
Season 8 Preview
January 29, 2024 08:00 - 16 minutesFor Season 8, we're diving deep into the world of theater once agin with guests from Broadway, West End, and regional theaters near and far. From seasoned veterans to fresh faces on the scene, each episode is packed with candid conversations and inspiring stories about life in the performing arts industry. Join me as I sit down with actors, directors, writers, and more to explore the highs and lows of chasing dreams in the spotlight. Subscribers will continue to get audition room horror stor...
A Moment to Revisit "The Band's Visit" on Broadway (REWIND)
January 16, 2024 17:12 - 25 minutesFive years ago, "The Band's Visit," a musical defying convention, closed on Broadway after a year and a half of acclaim. Composed by David Yazbek and written by Itamar Moses, it emerged as a masterpiece, transcending Broadway norms. At the 2018 Tony Awards, it earned 11 nominations, winning 10, including Best Musical, beating stiff competition like SpongeBob Squarepants and Frozen. Now, in 2024, amidst current Middle East headlines dividing people, let's revisit this Arab-Israeli musical that...
Clifton Duncan (Part 2) Addressing Groupthink in the Theater Community
December 30, 2023 08:00 - 54 minutesWith politics becoming more and more a part of our daily lives, the theater and acting profession are certainly no strangers to it influence and impact. While it can be a force for change and understanding, my guest today talks about the ways in which it can further divide as well. In the first part of my conversation with Clifton Duncan, he shared deeply personal reflections on the complexities of the theater industry's response to the pandemic and the challenges he faced as an individual in...
Clifton Duncan (Part 1) Embracing Authenticity and Its Consequences
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 57 minutesMeryl Streep once said that "acting is not about being someone different. It is about finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.” She is in essence urging us to discover the common threads in our seemingly diverse experiences. And the final guest of the season has had quite a few experiences these past couple of years. Clifton Duncan is a seasoned performer on stage and screen, with appearances in critically-acclaimed productions on and off Broadway ...
Emily Grace on Directing Ourselves and Our Own Careers
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutesWe read and hear a lot these days about how actors need to be their own producers and creating their own work. In my own career about the only thing I’m creating are self-tapes, which are truly productions in and of themselves for sure--based on all the requirements and props and lines and technical aspects that are required to just put together a one-minute audition. But actually writing producing directing starring in our own work is a daunting task, so I wanted to talk to someone who is no...
Luke Yankee Highlights the Mishaps and Misadventures We All Endure as Actors
November 20, 2023 08:00 - 38 minutesGet ready for a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of the acting world with today's guest, Luke Yankee, who is no stranger to the trials and triumphs of the industry. As a versatile artist sporting multiple hats, Luke draws inspiration from the incredible legacy of his mother, the legendary Eileen Heckart—a powerhouse who clinched the Oscar, Drama Desk, Golden Globe, and Emmy Awards with a special Tony Honor as well. In this engaging conversation, Luke unveils the behind-the-scenes...
Sharon Catherine Brown Live at BroadwayCon 2023!
November 06, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutesIn an enjoyable BroadwayCon encounter this past summer, I found myself in the heart of all things Broadway, rubbing shoulders with the stars and hosting live interviews for the Broadway Podcast Network. While my conversation with Jelani Alladin about Frozen and Hercules was already shared in a previous episode, today we delve into my interview with the talented Broadway actress Sharon Catherine Brown. I had the pleasure of working with her on a new musical last year, and we dive into some of ...
Tjasa Ferme Engages Audiences by Blending Science and Theater
October 23, 2023 07:00 - 43 minutesTjasa Ferme is more than an actress; she's a dynamic creator who writes, produces, and stars in her own work. Her artistic vision revolves around transformation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and challenging traditional relationships between actors and audiences. Tjasa shares her journey from Europe as a rock star's daughter and early experiences on the Slovenia stage, to becoming a fearless actress and artistic director in the heart of New York City. We'll dive into three storie...
John Rubinstein, a Man of Many Talents
October 09, 2023 07:00 - 1 hourJohn Rubinstein was born the son of renowned pianist Arthur Rubinstein, and his early exposure to theater in the 8th grade ignited a passion that would shape the trajectory of extraordinary career. He catapulted to Broadway stardom originating the title role in Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse, and won a Tony Award for his compelling performance in Children of a Lesser God. A true renaissance man, John's artistic pursuits extend beyond the stage into television and film as well, both as an actor...
Richard Maltby Jr. and the Curious Case of Nick & Nora's Failure on Broadway
September 25, 2023 07:00 - 44 minutesThis summer marked the beginning of my new podcast venture, Closing Night, where I delve deep into the captivating world of Broadway history. Our journey takes us through the tales of shows that have graced the Marquis Theater in the heart of Times Square. Among the unforgettable productions is the notorious musical Nick & Nora, boasting a creative team brimming with legendary figures of musical theater: director Arthur Laurents, composer Charles Strouse, and lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. Sever...
Jocelyn Panton Finds Freedom After Failure in the Pageant World and Being $50K in Debt
September 11, 2023 05:00 - 52 minutesAs a child, Jocelyn Panton attended a musical theater production that came to her hometown in Canada, and she just knew that’s what she wanted to do one day. Well, she stuck to that dream and has gone on to do television and film, including Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and the CW’s DC‘s Legends of Tomorrow, among others. But as any actor will tell you, money becomes an important part of our career, whether you actually have it or not. It can inform the decisions we make and the oppo...
Dan Knechtges Goes from Broadway Director to Artistic Director
August 28, 2023 07:00 - 1 hourRegional theater is really the lifeblood of the performing arts in America. It’s the place where we get that first spark and inspiration to become lifelong theatergoers or decide to become actors ourselves. But in recent years regional theaters have been struggling to find audiences and to just stay open. The pandemic caused some to close their doors for good, and the ones that remain suffered through uncertain futures. Theatre Under the Stars in Houston, Texas was one such theater that cance...
Jelani Alladin Live at BroadwayCon!
August 14, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutesIn July of this summer, I did my very first BroadwayCon, which is an annual conference here in New York City about all things Broadway and theater, and while I was there, I got to be a part of events hosted by the Broadway Podcast Network. I conducted live interviews with two actors that I’ve had the pleasure of working with before: Jelani Alladin and Sharon Catherine Brown. Sharon’s interview will actually be featured in a few weeks on my other podcast Closing Night, so follow that theater h...
Noah Crandell Finds a Silver Lining in the Struggles of Being an Actor
July 31, 2023 07:00 - 55 minutesIn the midst of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the arts, there's a unique perspective rarely explored--that of artists just entering the performing arts world when Covid struck. In this episode, Noah Crandell shares how he not only survived these challenges but also experienced a profound personal and artistic transformation. Noah's visionary approach to theater sets him apart, and we delve into how college programs prepare actors (or fall short) for the real world of acting. Inter...
Welcome to Closing Night at the Marquis Theatre!
July 17, 2023 07:00 - 39 minutesLast year, the idea for a new theater history podcast came up as Dan Delgado and I were working on The Little Prince episodes. Well, it took me awhile to get the ball rolling, but the first season of Closing Night is finally here with a focus on Broadway's Marquis Theater. This first episode preview covers the contentious history of this theater and the protests that surrounded its construction. Future episodes will chronicle the many troubled productions that have come and gone in this theat...
Lisa Lampanelli, The Queen of Mean Makes Nice and Gets Personal About Life on the Stage
July 03, 2023 07:00 - 53 minutesI was in college when I first discovered Lisa Lampanelli, a stand-up comedian, insult comic, actress, and writer who is known for her sharp wit, fearless humor, and ability to push the boundaries of comedy. She has legions of fans around the country and has performed on countless stages across the country, released numerous albums and appeared on various TV specials. So it is an honor to have Lisa on the podcast as we explore her unique style of comedy that made her a staple in the entertainm...
E. Clayton Cornelious on Persistence and Opportunity as a Broadway Actor and Producer
June 19, 2023 16:39 - 45 minutesE Clayton Cornelious has been a part of 10 Broadway shows: in the ensemble, as an understudy and swing, as well as in starring roles, and even as a producer. And in one of those he made an appearance in voiceover. And it is this diversity of work that we will be talking about today. It will shed light on the fact that things haven’t been as easy for him as it may seem. He’s had to overcome some definite obstacles, and gather a bit of persistence along the way. So from the bright lights of Bro...
Tony Award Nominees Talk About RAGTIME and XANADU on Broadway
June 07, 2023 21:11 - 44 minutesMy first conversation is with Marcia Milgrom Dodge, who I am so grateful to have met for the first time in this interview. We had a wonderful discussion about her 2009 production of Ragtime that started at the Kennedy Center in D.C. and then transferred to Broadway later that year. Though that revival had a short run, she did receive a Tony nomination for best direction. The second conversation is with Dan Knetgches, and we have worked together on a couple of shows. The first was Seussical at...
Sidney Myer Found a Home and Family in New York Cabarets
May 22, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourCabarets have been an integral part of New York City's cultural fabric for over a century, offering a unique blend of entertainment, social commentary, and artistic expression. From the early 1900s to the present day, cabarets have served as a hub for artistic experimentation and innovation. They have also served as a launching pad for many Broadway stars, including Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Audra McDonald, and others who got their start honing skills and building a loyal fan base befo...
Why I’ll Never Make It Joins the Broadway Podcast Network!
May 08, 2023 16:00 - 1 minuteWell, after more than five years, Why I’ll Never Make It is taking a big leap forward as a Podcast, joining the highly respected and expansive Broadway Podcast Network. So over the coming weeks, you’ll notice some changes to the podcast format. You’ll hear that short ID tag before every episode, and there will also be something that this podcast has never had: advertisements. For years I have remained a tried and true independent podcaster, but with the ever-increasing costs of producing a p...
Corrie Legge Shares How Choices Have Shaped Her Acting Career
May 08, 2023 10:00 - 52 minutesPrevious guest Michael Kushner loves to use the term multi-hyphenate to illustrate the many ways we can express our creative selves. Well, Corrie Legge describes herself as a multi-passionate actor, having performed in television, film, theater, commercials, video games, audiobooks, and more. She's also a filmmaker and a coach, helping others to build thriving creative careers without having to sacrifice a fulfilling personal life in the process. Corrie and I spoke earlier this year about a p...
Jack Canfora Continues to Learn as a Playwright, Even From His Critics
April 24, 2023 10:00 - 44 minutesWriting is by its very nature, a solitary practice. Whether with pen and paper or in front of a computer screen, it is generally time spent alone, creating a world of characters and stories. Acting, on the other hand is generally a collaborative and shared effort in bringing those characters and stories to life. Psychologist Marti Olsen Laney says that writing and speaking use different pathways in the brain. Extroverts tend to speak more easily in front of others, while the writing pathways ...
Remembering Phantom of the Opera with Cast Member Jeremy Stolle (REWIND)
April 17, 2023 10:00 - 38 minutesIt took 35 years, but Phantom of the Opera has finally left Broadway. It was a show that I first discovered in high school, and I went on to perform “Music of the Night” several times in high school and college. So when I moved to New York in 2008, Phantom was certainly at the top of my list of musicals that I wanted to audition for. I did actually get to audition for Raoul as well as Monsieurs Fermin and Andre, with multiple packets of music and sides, but it just wasn’t meant to be. #whyill...
Michael Kushner Embraces and Defends the Multi-Hyphenate Performing Artist
April 10, 2023 10:00 - 1 hourThere was a study that came out the year before the pandemic called “Quantifying and Predicting Success in Show Business.” It starts off by saying that the unemployment rate for actors hovers around 90% —now, this was before Covid, when unemployment shot up to 100% for all actors. More recent statistics, however, show us bouncing back with about 85% of actors unemployed at any given time, while only 12.08% earn more than $1000 a year. Now, any actor who’s been around for a while has probably ...
Jocelyn Jones Helps Actors and Individuals Awaken Their Artistry and Creativity
March 27, 2023 05:00 - 59 minutesRecently, I went googling for articles about downsizing and simplifying my life, and I found this one called Simple Living Manifesto, which sounded great. But then the title of the blog post was “72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life“ — who has time for 72 ideas?? That doesn’t sound simple to me, but in all fairness, the writer did give a short list before going into that very long list of ideas. And on the shortlist, they were only two steps: 1) identify what’s most important to you and 2) eliminat...
Maestra and Their Efforts to AMPLIFY Women & Non-binary People in the Musical Theater
March 20, 2023 10:00 - 55 minutesMusic director Julianne Merrill and broadcast technology director Jessica Ryan join the podcast for Women's History Month, to talk about Maestra and their annual Amplify concert. Maestra was founded by composer Georgia Stitt (who has been on this podcast before), and Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (also a former guest) hosts the third annual evening of music by Maestras like Cyndi Lauper, Debra Monk, Brenda Russell, and Lucy Simon. Their music performed by some of Broadway’s brightest star...
Lisa Howard on Originating Roles on Broadway and the Unjust Stigma Associated with Plus-Sized Actors
March 13, 2023 13:00 - 51 minutesAs collaborative as theater can be, there are sometimes when the creative process can be more like herding cats—with no clear direction as everyone tries to get on the same page…hopefully. And that’s Broadway or community theater, a web series or major motion picture. I’ve certainly been in shows that started off a bit chaotic but got better as the cast and creative team could unify around a singular vision for the show. But today’s guest has a few stories about the various ways shows come to...
Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 2) - Performing in Milestone TV Shows & Knowing Our Worth as Actors
February 27, 2023 11:00 - 56 minutesOne of the important aspects of Black History Month is that it’s not just about what happened 50, 100, 200 years ago. It’s also about the present, the world around us and what’s happening now to bring greater representation and celebration of African-American accomplishments and contributions. Of course, we should recognize and respect what has come before us. Black history is an integral part of American history and culture. But it’s also important to recognize the lives and experiences of t...
Sharon Catherine Brown (Part 1) - Born to Be a Drama Queen in Her Broadway Family
February 13, 2023 11:00 - 57 minutesOne essential ingredient to any actors career is experience. It allows us to develop our craft and hone our skills over time. With each performance, we refine techniques, learn from mistakes, and develop greater emotional and psychological depth in our performances. But this growth in credibility and authenticity in acting comes as much from our offstage lives as it does from our onstage experiences. And today’s guest shares both personal and professional challenges that have shaped her not o...
Blake Stadnik from ”This Is Us” Doesn’t Let His Disability Stop Him Onstage or in Life
January 30, 2023 05:06 - 1 hourOne of the joys that can come from being an actor, besides getting to perform on stage and feeling the energy of a live audience, is that of working and collaborating with other wonderful actors onstage as well as building friendships off stage. Throughout the past six seasons, I’ve had the pleasure of bringing on some of these wonderful castmates, and not only share their stories, but get to learn a little more about them as well. This past year I was cast in my second production of 42nd Str...
Welcome to Season Seven!
January 23, 2023 17:00 - 3 minutesWelcome to Season Seven of Why I’ll Never Make It, an award-winning theater podcast. After a few weeks off, I’m so excited to be back for another year of great guests and wonderful discussions. Some of these artists are just getting started in the business, while others are Tony-nominated actors and directors. I’m your host and producer, Patrick Oliver Jones, an actor and singer living in New York City with more than 30 years of experience. This season I’ll be talking with guests every other...
Bettering Our Mindset with ”Dr. Drama” Alisa Hurwtiz, PsyD (REWIND)
January 16, 2023 11:00 - 45 minutesAs we start off this new year, I’m continuing where we left off last week with Brooke McNamara by talking with another psychologist, Alisa Hurwitz. In this episode from 2020, we dive into why mindset is so important and how we as actors can better handle rejection and the challenges we face in this business. Each of us has an inner voice that can be very loud and persuasive. Hopefully, it’s pushing us to do better and reminding us of all we can accomplish, but sometimes it leads us to believe...
Bettering our Acting Training and Practice with Brooke Macnamara (REWIND)
January 10, 2023 00:32 - 57 minutesHappy New Year! Thank you for listening to Why I’ll Never Make It! The next season is just a few weeks away and I wanted to start off the year by going back to conversations I had to with two psychologists in 2020. I think their insights are a good reminder for us as we continue to grow and better ourselves as artists. In this episode you’ll hear from Brooke MacNamara, Ph.D. We talk about the amount of training, coaching, and practice it takes to continually hone our craft as performers. One ...
A Look Back at 2022
December 28, 2022 22:26 - 33 minutesHappy birthday and thank you for joining me as Why I’ll Never Make It turns 5 years old today! It was on December 28, 2017 that this theater podcast began from very humble beginnings and has slowly gained attention and even some accolades in the past five years of talking with actors and creative professionals. There’s a certain kind of magic in the art of theatre, as the Tony award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell once said, ”It has the power to transform an audience, an individual, or en...
Angela Lansbury and Her Bumpy Road to MAME on Broadway
December 21, 2022 13:00 - 20 minutesBack in October of this year we lost a beloved star of the stage and screen, Angela Lansbury. Her performing career spanned 80 years in which she received six Tony Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, and one Laurence Olivier Award. Despite her years in television and movies (her last film role was Glass Onion in 2022), theater was always her first love, having appeared in 14 Broadway productions and four national tours. As you’ll hear in this special episode (with a big help from fellow podcaste...
Jeremy Stolle Shares 15 Years at Phantom of the Opera and the Struggles He Faced Getting There
December 12, 2022 23:37 - 1 hourBack in September of this year, news came out that both shook and shocked the Broadway theater world: Phantom of the Opera will be closing and have its final performance in February 2023. After 35 years, the longest running Broadway show in history, this iconic show was going to be leaving the Majestic Theater for good. That closing date has since been updated to April 16th, no doubt due to the increase in ticket sales after that initial closing announcement, nonetheless the end of an era is ...
Simon Tam and The Slants Battle Asian Stereotypes and the Supreme Court
December 05, 2022 11:00 - 54 minutesDuring the past 30 years there’s been a growing list of pop and rock musicians trying their hand at musical theater. And they range in style and scope from artists like Cindy Lauper, Dolly Parton, and Elton John to rock bands like The Who, Green Day, and The Go-Go’s. Well, today’s guest has been venturing into musical theater and is from a band you may not have heard of, but their name is certainly one you’re not likely to forget: The Slants. Simon Tam, founder and bassist of the all-Asian ro...
Ben Curtis Found Fame as the Dell Dude But Found Himself as the Wellness Dude
November 28, 2022 13:00 - 52 minutesDo you want to be famous or do you want to be an actor? Very few truly achieve both. For most of us it’s a choice, and the direction we choose impacts the roles and opportunities that we pursue going forward. Today’s guest has been presented with both during his career and came to discover which one mattered more to him. Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers (Part 3) In the early 2000s, Ben Curtis was training to be a serious actor at NYU, but one commercial audition for Dell computers ...
Elaine Romanelli Battles Criticism and Self-Doubt as a Singer and Songwriter
November 21, 2022 15:00 - 1 hourOne of the greatest obstacles to becoming a better performer is thinking you aren’t good enough, that the dreams and aspirations you have for yourself are just too far out of reach and beyond your capability. So in today’s episode we explore that feeling with someone who knows all too well the crippling effect of self-doubt and self-criticism. Elaine Romanelli is a singer, songwriter, and actress who has performed off Broadway and on radio as well as hosted an improvised streaming show and re...