We talk about his decision to quit his marketing job to become a full time magician, unlocking the awe and wonder of magic, enjoying the pressure to push himself creatively, the importance of reading groups of people while doing street magic, now being able to call himself a magician, the best reactions, making magic more personable, the reason behind tricks, crafting a show, the life cycle of a magician, the experience of those first few days post quitting, embarrassing commercials, acting, pitching himself, Sooshi Mango, blowing Tom Gleeson's mind, the unwavering support of his wife, magicians that inspire him, originality, the nerves he had before his TED talk, having your weekdays free, and a whole lot more!

Tristan absolutely blew my mind!

Go check out Tristan's show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival!

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/great-question/

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Harman are joined by a former soldier, former chef, and now one of the best comedians out there, Jarryd Goundrey!

We chat about making content for a living, the freedom of the podcast format, calendar pressure, the sustainable amount of content, comparison. being computer illiterate, teaser clips, sitting in the sweet spot zone of "I must", hitting the burnout but gaining the lessons, quality of quantity, adding value, staying in the game, free energy, showing up for someone, passionate procrastination, business coaches, all of us having a 'secret' thing, playing by yourself in the backyard, a shame of being yourself, going all in socially, only knowing after it works, being careful of the crabs in a bucket, living your shadow self, a validation shift, peace, being famous for something, knowing what is enough, chaos, sleeping out of his tent and car, going viral, wanting adventure, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about filming his special, timestamping certain moments as a comedian, not looking back, getting humbled by bad gigs, choosing an opening act, connecting with fans through illness, taking the time to write a new show, kicking into a new gear this year, working on the second season of Deadloch, the TikTok awards, putting out the first video, impersonating his Dad, blowing up online by accident, getting good advice from other comedians, the first stand up gig, getting over the embarrassment of bad gigs, being open about CF, the mindset of knowing anything could happen, trying out new material on the tour, social media, lessons learnt from his first solo show, being less nervous about driving, going overtime, vibe checking the audience, a Cairns RSL gig, performing overseas, Aussies liking the familiar, crowd work, wanting to do more acting, meeting John Cena, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the thousands of strangers he performs to each week, not being afraid of failure, the love of close up magic, having an out for everything, discovering magic on YouTube at 14, people's spectrum of knowing how tricks work, giving people a lasting sense of wonder, getting the nickname of "the magician" at school, the snowballing effect of becoming a magician, the imposter syndrome of being a magician, the blend of card tricks & mentalism, staying original, needing to do the same trick a million times to perfect it, initially being too obsessed with magic, the best reactions, forming a stage show, performing at hens parties, having self respect as a performer, the nuances of mentalism, wanting to do his own TV show, doing magic on nights out, the most rewarding gigs, not scripting out material, unwavering self belief, magic happening naturally, having discussions about the larger things in life, business cards, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the birth of Keg Touring, admin, the thought behind the "You Don't Own Me" video, getting weirdly big in the Philippines, performing internationally, most things being universal, the barrier between Australia and New Zealand, preparing for tours, saying yes, the love of performing, finding the love for stand up, the first gig, the soul crushing game of comedy, seeing material through, posting to the socials, overseeing everything, editing, getting better at talking to people, forming an hour show, following tangents, watching comedy, reviews, knowing his fans names, being a fun vibe comedian, crowd work, the first instance in which he called himself a comedian, performing at Hamer Hall, swearing, procrastinating, replying to emails, working with his brother, hiring his Mum to handle merch, loving the variety of his job, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by the incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and musician, Michael Paynter!

We chat about the busy year he has had, multitasking, the Great Australian Songbook tour, taking risks, the profile lift of Jesus Christ Superstar, the naivety going into music theatre, leading a company, the viral video moment of Jesus Christ Superstar, planning and organization, being a failed lawyer, getting a record deal at a young age, having a passion and following it, finding the balance, meeting and performing with Jimmy Barnes, not taking anything for granted, staying in the moment, having a good instinct of what's good, being a man of faith, getting lost in moments, when he's at his worst, working with Reuben Kaye, the connections he made on JCS, compartmentalizing his energy, giving yourself grace, being a bit better than yesterday, being confident with the gifts you share with the world, bringing your best, a bicep injury, giving it everything, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Catch Michael on tour! Michael is a performer you HAVE to see live! All the relevant links to find Michael below.

https://michaelpaynter.com/

https://www.instagram.com/michaelpaynter

https://www.facebook.com/michaelpayntermusic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mCK5i2RVWTwvL9ZXbzUP0?si=-aZDNUnvQoWaw-BzFuO4kQ&nd=1&dlsi=3e9d771baedf414e

https://www.youtube.com/MichaelPaynterTV

https://music.apple.com/au/artist/michael-paynter/204866000

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the move back to Australia, Ryan being a secret Australian, Hilary's culture shock moving to the US, standing up for the tipping culture, living in the epicenter of the pandemic, the origin story of Casino People, learning how to collaborate, the moment they decided to perform and release the music, recording the album, the unreal experience working with a band, the fun of singing with each other, being vulnerable at a Speakeasy, making inspiring connections, their first Australian open mic, learning curves, the process behind writing their songs, the long wait of getting Ryan's guitar across the ocean, the purge of material goods in preparing the move to another country, breakfast baseball, coming up with the name of Casino People, vintage costuming, the streaming & social media world, having a body of work, merch, not taking themselves too seriously, being a little less hungry for approval, finding the hunger for theatre again, the shift of perspective once they had their son Otis, having an inner circle, the difficulty of leaving behind close friends in America, hard resets, building great communities, the songs that mean the most to them, and a whole lot more!

Ryan and Hilary were even kind enough to take the episode out on one of their songs! A podcast first!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Go check out Casino People! Links below.

https://casinopeoplemusic.com/

https://www.instagram.com/casinopeople_/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3APOs2MKt7ZAO4uEhQHtoJ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about how NTH RD's Asian tour came about, the ever expanding fan base, being in control of your own fate, the importance of getting just one yes, taking appreciation at face value, the non gig related highlights of the Asian tour, putting faith in people you've never met, realising the band could achieve anything, persistence, needing to go through the challenges to find success, letting go of your ego, starting as a high school band, the origin story of NTH RD's name, the gradual process of figuring it all out, sacrifices, working out what you can bring to the table, upskilling, embracing your character, future planning, reminding yourself that the industry is non-linear, focusing on the now, taking breaks, not taking anything for free, teaching guitar, being good at getting things done, understanding yourself better starting from scratch, relaying knowledge, valuing the impact of what it means to have a mentor, sustaining a fanbase, the merchandise, taking risks, the upcoming tour, capturing how you've changed as an artist, the song that means the most to him, his dream tour lineup, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Get tickets for NTH RD's 3 cities in 3 days tour, supporting The Rasmus. Link below.

https://thephoenix.au/rasmus-2026/

Follow Lucas and NTH RD on all the socials! Links below.

https://www.instagram.com/lucasbanim/

https://guitarandbasslessons.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd/

https://nthrd.band/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/73UZc0Keik8oWph7AvLIQD

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what it's like being a comedy legend, keeping a journal, writing something down everyday, comedy being all around us, his unused podcasting van, the first instances in which fame started to hit, putting Centrelink on the map, the cathartic experience of sharing embarrassing stories, failure becoming success, knowing he made the right call to become a comedian at a young age, being in the moment on stage, not getting nervous anymore, presenting at the Logies, overseas work, meeting fans after shows, meeting Brad Pitt, the injury that went viral, documenting his life to the end, converting the haters, not caring what people think, reviewers, sensitivity, ego, working in radio, loving the crowd, not needing an audience to go through your material, never cancelling shows, not holding grudges, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, Spencer Garrett!

We chat about what people recongnise him for as a character actor, his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, keeping it simple, not being able to sleep the night before a job, the anxiety of the drive home, being a third generation actor, not having a plan to be an actor, teaching, the lightbulb moment he fell in love with acting, the no brainer of becoming an actor, the drive to create, moments of doubt, loving the 'act' of it, going all in with your passion and heart, thinking about how lucky he is every time he arrives on a set, the sting of rejection never going away, not taking anything for granted, taking what works for you, starting the infamous character actor dining society, constantly teaching yourself, playing real life people, surrounding himself with wise people, no shame in good honest work, the current state of the industry, working on Air Force One, creating fleeting families, priding himself on his work ethic, the cancellation of The Residence, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedian, Luke Heggie!

We chat about organization, having regular jobs before comedy, starting comedy later in life, becoming comfortable in stand up comedy, not wanting to conquer the world, connecting with other comedians, admin, being accountable to deadlines, not having a choice, remaining busy, never being perfect, finding new things, the first gig, progressing as a comedian, bits that don't work, ditching material, not knowing he could repeat material, relevance, reviewing comedy, working with other comedians, being hesitant taking on other creative work, the upside of having mindless jobs, corporate gigs, the science behind putting on a good comedy gig, not wanting to do radio, the difficulty of generating new hours each year, flyering, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James answers questions left behind by former guest of the show, Dan Charlton from NTH RD!

We then go on to chat about refining skills, planning ahead, the decision to become a band booker, the logistics of being a booking agent, putting money back into band's pockets, blowing people's minds, budgets, the importance of being on your own as an independent band for a while, being the guy with the outside perspective, managing bands, cutting hours in his day job to focus more on Bright Eyed Bookings, becoming more clear-eyed, the development of Cordiform, the process of finding members of a band, the first Cordiform performance, the growth as a performer, band meetings, the songwriting process for Cordiform, unreleased songs, the near death experience, not looking back with regret, the untrodden path of musical theatre, walking on stilts, following the dream, enjoying a spreadsheet, travelling, when things go wrong, acting on your feet, being more grounded, bands to look out for, the reward of helping out, and a whole lot more!

Go and follow James on all the socials. Links below.

https://www.instagram.com/jameshibblehimself/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/brighteyedbookings/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/cordiformband/?hl=en

https://cordiform-band.square.site/

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the ever diluting Irish accent, the decision to move to Australia, the different facets of singing, being a great mimic, getting into the musical theatre world, Mamma Mia!, growing as an actor, being allowed to dream, settling into the natural rhythm of a day working in a musical theatre show, doing the best job he can that matches his personality, needing to be fantastic for the audience, opening night parties, Jersey Boys, the sheer fun of Spamalot, competency, reviews, getting back to zero quicker, creating futures for yourself during the audition process, working with Rob Mills, being highly logical, having fun first, reminding himself to feel things, Riverdance, having grace for other people, learning lessons the hard way, performing on the Sydney Harbour for Guys and Dolls, growing with variety as a performer, managing risk, bringing Jersey Forever to life, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Sam's injury he sustained while working on Grease, the initial intention of wanting to step away from musical theatre before the injury, setting up a corporate band, performing and working with his best mate, going onto The Voice, the hesitation stepping into a reality television show, not getting along with Seal, the support felt by the music theatre industry, the nerve-wracking experience performing for live television, getting a branding 'look' after The Voice, still getting recognised from The Voice, putting out the first original song, writing about friendship, livestreaming during COVID, not having a chance to stop and smell the roses, gigging between musical theatre breaks, balancing a friendship with a collaborative working relationship, getting the fighting out of the way, working better with a deadline, getting back to the side hustle, thoughts of going back into musical theatre, being obsessed with Rage, always wanting to perform, self sabotage, presentence, and a whole lot more!

Really one of my favourite chats!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the crazy run of Beetlejuice in Melbourne, covering the role of Beetlejuice, the support provided by the creative team and fellow cast members, the out of the body experience playing Adam for the first time, covering six tracks, keeping fit in between shows, working with Andy Karl, finding a work/life balance becoming a new dad, knowing he wanted to be in the theatre, committing to drama school, needing to find his love for acting again after drama school, resenting the training, playing angry dads, going overseas to the UK, the absurdity of going back to Australia as an overseas touring actor, having an instinct, feeling like an outsider, starting musical theatre in his mid 30's, dancing, being blind on one side, the voice of Beetlejuice, working with Eddie Perfect, playing Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, advice he'd give to his younger self, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The open the episode with Rosalind answering a question from former guest of the show, Elizabeth Dennehy!

We chat about the studio lying about your age, forming friendships in the business, finding confidence as an actress, perfectionism, working with people you trust, facing fears, your mind having a tendency going to a 'what can go wrong' place, flow, the universe having a better plan, trying to control the uncontrollable, doing a play at The National Theatre in London, getting into an accident that shifted her perspective, good coming out of bad, being on the last episode of M*A*S*H, playing Keiko O'Brien on Star Trek, Colm Meaney, effecting change in people, life getting better as you get older, working on Better Things, living life to be an artist, having kids, building up a thick skin, Ronny Chieng, her appearance on MONK, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his directorial debut film Dust Bunny, kids being their own heroes, surrounding yourself with dedicated and likeminded people on a film set, getting his film distributed, his satisfaction with the end result of Dust Bunny, going to film school wanting to direct, initially resisting writing, being a good communicator with department heads as a showrunner, dealing with executives, being too direct, getting his start on Star Trek, writing his first Trek episode, the priceless lessons he learned on Star Trek: Voyager, the open submission policy, the confidence he found as a writer, needing angels, loving the character of Beverly Crusher, his frustration with the creative direction of Star Trek: Voyager, writing Dead Like Me, internalized stress, allowing himself to give people grace, being able to take a step back from his own emotion, shrugging it off, the great relief in modulating expectation, the elegance of the TV series Hannibal, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about her work on the TV series Suits, her Tasha Yar action figure, the overwhelming nature of going to conventions, being educated on Trek fandom by Gene Roddenberry, inspiring young women, coming from a famous showbiz family, initially thinking she'd go into journalism, the magic of theatre, the natural fit of acting, finding the perfect acting teacher, the thrills of walking onto a soundstage, the battle for our failing attention spans, making her documentary Trekkies, finding a newfound love for writing, writing like you talk, poetry, doing a reading of her writing work on the Star Trek cruise, the importance of encouraging environments, enjoying the creative process, getting anxious before something starts, asking herself if she's good enough, her decision to leave Star Trek: The Next Generation during the first season, her character Sela, losing her house in the California fires, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about creating a self fulfilling prophecy with his previous podcast, being ignored by the conventional industry, making a living from podcasting, the end of the last podcast, podcasting in a vacuum, memories of doing the very fist live podcast, getting in on the ground floor of podcasting, starting How To Do Everything, contending with all the new requirements for podcasting, not being resistant to new things, overseeing the development for a video game, making his comedy special stand out from the rest, seeing the reaction after releasing Scam Artist, the positive in seeking negative feedback, the thought of doing over previous solo shows, cartooning, the possibility of working on an animated show, quitting his job at the first Grill'd, getting a writing gig on Rove, being in a writers room, being a bit disorganised, burn out to the finish line, the final boss for podcast guests, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Go and follow Tommy and watch his stand up special, Scam Artist! Links below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQa5xeak_Y0&t=345s

https://www.instagram.com/dassalo/

https://www.tommydassalo.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his striking resemblance to Alexander Siddig, moving on from Battlestar Galactica, the privilege of having the career he has, finding the energy of a set, the unglamourous nature of the business, wanting to be surprised, impatience, the need of having to be the most critical of your own work, accepting responsibility, constructive feedback, the importance of surrounding yourself with a creative partner, the difficulty of rallying yourself, seeking action and adventure, creating his own music, finding other creative projects with his fellow Battlestar cast members, ideas not leaving you alone, the importance of resistance, not learning anything on the good days, the inner voice, working with some of your inspirations, not wanting to be anyone else, maturing into yourself, putting life into perspective, the trial of Gaius Baltar, what Battlestar Galactica means to him, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the story behind Ray's comedy outfit, becoming the face of Vanuatu tourism, the values of the modern age, the thought of acting, desires to write a sitcom. the collaborative nature of writing and sharing his stand up material with peers, the moment he realised stand up comedy could be a job, initially writing material down on his hand, making excuses not to do stand up, getting stuck in an office job, the Ray O'Leary "character", struggling to look at the audience, the goal of making comedy the day job, quitting his job, becoming a full time comedian, the crisis of confidence, feeling gratitude, the television appearances, the conducive environment on a Working Dog show, performing internationally, the stage name, filming his stand up special, persevering through bits, dealing with silences, nerves. and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We recorded this chat while Christopher was in Boston preparing for a 70 city tour of The Naked Magicians!

We chat about being able to meet legends in the magic world, Carrot Top being the nicest guy you'll ever meet, preparing for a seventy city tour of The Naked Magicians, the nitty gritty of putting on a show, curbing the ego, having a wake up call while touring, finding pure joy in entertaining people, moving to Boston, opening a residency in Boston, falling in love, the weirdness of introducing new cast members into The Naked Magicians, not putting his name on the poster, knowing the show was always going to be bigger than him, the times he and Mike Tyler argued while they were on tour, looking after each other, losing a knuckle, creating The Naked Magicians, the audience being an important component in helping to form the show, getting advice from Teller, staying original as a magician, presentation, making shows about the audience's experience, wanting everyone to win, leaning into comedy, failing drama & comedy in school, trying and failing, risk taking, hitting rock bottom, finding sobriety, working with Christian Hull, reshaping how we look at our relationship with alcohol, feeling creatively crisp, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the first time they met, being in entirely separate worlds at work, working with kids, carrying the lessons you learn from job to job, the responsibilities of conducting, being hyper aware of the conductor on stage as a performer, having the space to create their own work, not forcing creativity, collaborating with Rubin Matters, releasing the music, dealing with creative blocks, challenging each other, One Day in September, the difficulty of getting new Aussie musicals off the ground, shedding light on an important topic, the wild time when One Day in September finally opened, the incompleteness of art, coming from a show business family, working with your mum, willing to put in the hard yards, finding routine on a commercial contract, being in a career that requires people to like you, Mackenzie's friendship with Javon King, future projects, working with a Wiggle, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the process and move over to London, the difficulty of setting up your life in a different country, being a fresh face in the audition room, the stressful part of having to prove yourself again, the group of Australian performers that congregate in London, getting the job on Matilda, stepping into the machine of Matilda, the exciting and nerve wracking life of a swing, the process of becoming comfortable working on Matilda, digging into the work, the similarities and differences between working in Australia and the UK, the never ending run of The West End, learning to space out holidays, remembering to have a day before he starts his day, stepping into a London theatre for the first time, the reaction he received from people back in Australia after getting Matilda in London, initially being a BMX rider, realising he could make a career as a performer, his schooling experience, getting thrown into the deep end early, the cruise ship experience, being able to invest in your career, getting Moulin Rouge, Sam's advice to people thinking about moving overseas, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about feeling the best when he's able to combine singing, acting, and dancing, finishing off his long run on Beauty and the Beast, readjusting to the routine of life, being a workaholic, the need to create, the difficulty of splitting focus, the challenges of releasing music, the reception to his first song I Can Walk Away, collaborating with Mackenzie Dunn, Kohan Van Sambeeck, and Oscar Sharah, becoming addicted to creating his own music, reaching the conclusion that he should share his work, having a lot of ideas for new music, the ways his music resonates with him differently now, his songs being played during warmups, the proudest song, fighting for ideas, the chance to perform his own work in front of an audience, embracing uncertainty, backing yourself, the experiences of getting his first job, going on as Gaston for the Melbourne opening night of Beauty and the Beast, getting lost in scenes, learning to expect whatever you don't expect as a swing, letting go of perfectionism, developing backstage superstitions, trusting himself more, and a whole lot more!

Check out Rubin's music! Links below.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/5EZdA8qZtvCmHcrv9H1mUX

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoqZyvmDszOTzoD1doErNQ

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the initial plan of moving to London, forcing himself to move outside of Australia, the mental game of moving to Europe, experiencing yourself in a different context, settling into everyday life, the sensory overload, communication barriers, being taught Dutch, the lack of mainstream theatre shows in The Netherlands, thinking about life after his current contract, feeling the shock of the Dutch winter, having a good time, being obsessed with theatre, the fluidity of confidence, healthy competition, the first audition, working in hospitality, the carnage like experience of Cats, Book of Mormon, the thought of doing the same show again, the love of travelling, the sacrificial life of a performer, doing a psychology degree, the leave policy in The Netherlands, the thought of forgetting lyrics, the skill of asking yourself why, observing the leads of a show, screenwriting, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I caught up with Keanu while he was doing the Melbourne run of Annie!

We chat about a question left behind from Jason Arrow about his most done flip, the most inappropriate show to do a flip, the viral explosion of the Easy Street dance number, filming the Melbourne Annie promo video, the change of pace of getting out of the theatre, the first love of tennis, martial arts, booking his first musical with Baz Luhrmann, becoming comfortable as an actor, finding truth in playing the bombastic comedy relief, muscle memory, the dislike of opening nights, not looking at reviews, comparing yourself to others, seeking advice from others, being a hard worker, keeping hobbies outside of work, the art of video games, not finishing school, the Cats experience, showing up, the emotional moment when his Dad saw him perform, living a whole lifetime on a show, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about saying yes pretty quickly to the world tour of Moulin Rogue, valuing the craft, the difficulty of taking on the character in Sister Act, feeling miscast, culture shock, finding a dead body his first night in London, seeing the differences in the way people approach work, the process of working with many different creative teams, the feeling of receiving a genuine standing ovation, initially wanting to wear a suit and carry a briefcase, being introverted, a life changing brunch, the bitter experience he had during UNI, being cast as a swing in Jersey Boys, a King Kong audition experience, enjoying the journey, experiences we have that lead us to certain opportunities, learning to be the best version of who you are, putting yourself out there, challenging yourself more, finding content and happiness, trying to enjoy being in the moment, seeing more seen in Australia, advice from Colette Mann, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about living and working in the UK filming The Witcher, paying more attention to accessibility, the differences in a European and American film crew, working 23 hours straight, mentoring, the business changing so dramatically since he started, sneaking into studio lots, keeping up with the modern age of social media, influencers, writing with his wife, Danny's thoughts on AI, questioning ethics as an artist, studying science, spending time in a body cast, using his humour as a defence mechanism, finding and crafting a character, having an audition ritual, the vacation of work, not liking musicals, working with Robin Williams, appreciating the audience response, only writing what you can see and film, growing up in his package, grappling with saying no to stereotypical roles, his activism, sticking to it, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie really set the tone early on for what I really wanted to podcast to be going forward, so it was such a pleasure having him back on the show to reconnect!

We chat about instances in which he hasn't been a good communicator, fighting for ideas, mitigating damage, practicing diplomacy, helping people's creative projects to the finish line, projects going away, his connection to the Saw franchise, the prospect of someone else composing the iconic Hello Zepp theme, the current state of entertainment, going off on tangents, overpromising, always giving people an out, not being precious about your own work, under delivering, no truly objective view, working on early projects with various limitations, noticing consequential conversations in the moment, enjoying the process, doing something outside the familiar, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the road of getting a job on Back to the Future, always being someone that's had a blind competence, preparing for the show, being in the child's cast of Matilda, realising the tangible career as a performer, his experience working on Dusty, lessons learned from previous work, holding your own, staying show fit, being in the process of finding a routine, hyper fixating, going back to high school life after Matilda, taking things as they come, the weirdness of missing school to do a commercial musical, falling in love with performing and touring life, the natural progression to becoming a performer, going to WAAPA, needing to know who you are, not being competitive, not being attached to any audition, the process of getting an agent, thinking about the future, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This catch up was long overdue! Very chill and fascinating chat!

We chat about his move to America, falling in love with LA, the ease of the move, not believing anything until you experience it, not having the right to complain, self tapes auditions, reminding yourself that the audition is a gift, being exposed to rejection more, adapting to the American culture, the longer filming days, the importance of having the positive force of Declan in his life, the importance of relationships, working on vertical soap operas, the snowball effect of making new connections, phones in cinemas, Saw: The Musical, working on one thing at a time, the possibility of performing his solo shows in America, faking it, Strange Creatures, the difficulty of making an Australian film, our thoughts making our reality, reframing failure, there's only ever today, arbitrary boundaries, only ever being happy when we look back, always guessing, healthy detachment, forming momentum, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about auditioning for Back to the Future, finding out he got the job, dealing with the public hype, the responsibilities of being in the lead, being your harshest critic, finding the balance of chasing better, playing comedic roles, the nerves of starting a new job, facing the unknowns, the vulnerability of sharing stories, watching Michael J. Fox's performance as Marty McFly, unfiltered joy, initially having plans to be in aerospace engineering, leaning into imposter syndrome, forever playing seventeen, the first big job, being fortunate to look back and cringe, learning from your mistakes, working on Harry Potter, stubbornness, the preciousness of being in a flow state, the goal of getting a scathing review, working on original Australian musicals, no small parts, recording the soundtrack for Beep Test: The Musical, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his Australian and New Zealand convention visit, the fans resonating with Captain Shaw in Picard Season 3, working with James Spader, experiencing things as they're happening, being triggered into old responses, fulfilling childhood dreams, the effect of seeing the finished product, childlike wonder, feeling like a needle in a haystack, not having complete control, editing being your friend, being in the business of no guarantees, a failed pilot, having infinite 'big breaks', realising that you never know, the ongoing collaboration with Terry Matalas, doing more of what you're doing, auditioning for Saturday Night Live, not tempering your joy, joining the MCU, being fortunate, getting back in line, life being playful, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A lot of Resident Alien love in this episode!

We chat about the end of Resident Alien, the importance of their friendship, true love & artistry at first sight, finding ways to work together again, going to more conventions, working with Robert Duncan McNeill, and Alan Tudyk, breaking on set, episodes and moments from the show they could do over, being proud of the work and the characters, the love story between D'arcy and Asta, post show life, saying goodbye many times, bad habits, ego management, being honest at work, not holding the job on a pedestal, stand up, how to compliment someone when they perform, impactful fan letters, life changing moments, and a whole lot more!

This was such a fun episode!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about acting no longer being the driving force in his life, passing the baton in his charity work, getting older, embracing disciplines, engaging in the process of always looking in the mirror, openness to change and fluidity, listening skills, his experiences of carrying an episode of television, using judgmental language, determining the reason why you feel a certain way, the constant conversations we have with ourselves, initially wanting to be a writer, the joys of reading, not needing the money, always being a rebel, the imposition of school, the idea of introducing a hand puppet as a co-host, gently returning your focus to your partner, being self involved, teaching, limitations imposed by his physicality, becoming more grounded, not taking things seriously, Star Trek: United, the JonBenét Ramsey series, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his time on the TV series Dark Matter and his departure from the show, the newfound confidence he found as the lead of a show, the secret dream of being a writer, the deeper side of himself he finds as a writer, the isolation in writing, the terror he felt when sharing his writing for the first time, not doing enough as a writer, the story behind working on his book The Sapling, finding a publisher, honest feedback, imposter syndrome, always just going onto the next step, the absurdity when he started to get paid to act, accepting there's very little within your control, the enjoyment of acting, playing Romeo, the possibility of collaborating with another writer, carrying a notebook, when he's at his most happiest, working on Reacher, and a whole lot more!

Check out Marc's book, The Sapling! Links below.

https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/The-Sapling/Marc-Bendavid/9781668093962

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about her experience of the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, fan encounters, filming the infamous two part episode of Best of Both Worlds, always wanting to perform from a young age before she was aware her father was an actor, the compulsion of performing, making sure she couldn't do anything else, writings plays, processing knowledge in your own way, what audiences need to know first, looking at her son's career as an actor, not auditioning for the job after you've got the job, the difficulty of owning your part, working with a young Hilary Duff on Chicago Hope, watching younger people figuring it out, teaching style, needing to think on multiple levels as an actor, working on Kevin Costner's Horizon, her husband's job playing Father Byles in Titanic, being filled with gratitude, nerves, being a woman of a certain age, the invisible work, people pleasing, memories of her father Brian Dennehy, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being a recovering actor and practicing director, working on Picard Season 3, having trust in his acting partners, open conversations, communicating ideas, preparation, enjoying both sides of the camera, running a happy set, turning shows in on time, making sure everyone is happy, the Star Trek Lower Decks/Strange New Worlds crossover episode, the fun of improvising, having writers on set, laziness, the creative ladder you have to climb, being bitten by the bug, accepting your success, resisting the idea that your experience has value, experience being a burden, envy, becoming a director, ageing, meditating, the current state of Star Trek, being an optimist, the importance of the editing room, a potential reboot of Beyond Belief, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his recent overseas trip, the point where he was able to call himself a photographer, his first job working at a car dealership, being encouraged to be creative, the importance of social media marketing, taking initiative, creating an unintentional network, taking off on YouTube with other friends and creators, looking weird in public, staying consistent, gaining inspiration from different types of industries, the craziest shoot he's ever been on, inspiring others, standing out, reading comments, constructive critiques, time capsules, taking photos on your phone, mood boards, having no expectations, always raising the bar, being paid to be creative, pushing yourself against yourself, taking action, and a whole lot more!

Keep up to date with all of Mike's work! Links below.

https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthBorders

https://www.instagram.com/northborders/?hl=en

https://www.northborders.co/

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the end of Hadestown, seeing posters of yourself everywhere, taking on the lead in a show, weeping, stepping into the shoes of Orpheus, walking to hell and back, the thoughtful performance that comes with portraying the character of Orpheus, the honour of being in Hadestown, being familiar and comfortable with the rehearsal space, auditioning for the role, letting go, being in the 'set up' phase of the career, proving yourself, time off, rediscovering yourself after a show, being in the headspace of creativity, dyslexia, holistic learning, hyper fixating, the neurodiverse brain, moving around a lot, learning how to detach easier, becoming humbled very quickly, the team effort of musical theatre, learning on every job, the stacked cast of Hadestown, keeping the show fresh, the process of finding a character, doing life better, not being precious, the love of climbing the mountain, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about ending his long run in Hamilton, learning about longevity, managing a show, not doubting yourself or your ability, taking on feedback, the irony of delivering a solid performance while feeling tired, the mundaneness, feeling psyched to go into work, the importance of physical and mental clarity, being absolutely fine with taking a show off, the scheduled day off standard, the crazy requirements needed for shows, crying when Hamilton came to an end, the beauty found from Hamilton, the loss of having a life during the course of Hamilton, going straight into Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, performing in the rain, diversifying the tool set, auditions, respect, The Lovers, cascading events, a question for Keanu Gonzalez, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (Background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about going from Ironstone to NTH RD, time signatures, learning drums and guitar, singing lessons, originally wanting to be the next Ed Sheeran, impostor syndrome, faking it until you make it, receiving compliments, falling into the bad habit of comparison, collaboration, the excitement for the release of Endlessly, the feeling of knowing a piece of music is going be good, the admin involved of being in a band, getting messages from fans around the world, touring, the fear of flying, balancing life and being in a band, building trust, the fanbase, the ins and outs of band meetings, being more organised, filming the Endlessly music video, not being able to perform without a red and blue powerade, weird gigs, mosh pits, the heavy metal community, the prospect of international tours, being a little bit of a diva, becoming more comfortable, performing for an all ages show, and a whole lot more!

Follow Dan and NTH RD on all the socials below.

https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd

https://www.instagram.com/dancharltonxx/

https://www.facebook.com/Nthrdband

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdifor7jzDjMkNOsf2jRs3A

Also, go and follow the band for updated tour information and new song releases through their website.

https://nthrd.band/

Cover Photo: Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting the job on the Australian production of Back to the Future: The Musical, being on the tail end of Jesus Christ Superstar, taking a break, learning to say no, not comparing your journey to other people, growing up an athlete, looking up to Billy Porter, waiting for what is right for you, playing Angel in Rent twice, having a thick skin, the enjoyment of auditioning, the chance of doing things differently the second time round, history repeating itself, the jump to Australia, his friendship with MacKenzie Dunn, not taking anything too seriously, embracing some imperfections in a performance, becoming comfortable within a new cast, not wanting to get put into a box with stereotypical roles, the inner voice saboteurs, Roger Bart, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being on medical leave from Jesus Christ Superstar, being on her first commercial musical, working as an onstage swing, her experience working on a cruise ship, figuring out the eight show a week schedule, wishing she gave herself more time to chill out, dealing with the high pressure and nerves of the show, placing certain expectations on herself, pushing yourself, being the superhero of the cast, knowing you can take a break, being a people pleaser, auditioning for the show, celebrating the job offer, the anticipation before working on the show, considering herself a dancer first, learning how to sing, not being shy, growing up with verbal dyspraxia, being able to express herself through dance, the challenges of getting a visa for America, looking to others for inspiration, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part II

We chat about taking moments to stop and appreciating being the lead in a show, an unspoken mentorship, the prospect of A Knight's Tale going to The West End and elsewhere, establishing the 'bible' for a new show, the in between period of acting job, playing a role with a temp agency, easing the financial pressure of living in the UK, auditioning for The Greatest Showman, the pros and cons of knowing and not knowing where you sit when auditioning, riding the wave of success, the first time the career became stagnant, the changing of the goal posts, staying humbled, the dream of doing the job, working with the best in the world, the excitement and opportunity of being able to be part of brand new productions in the UK, stand up comedy, being aware of the best and worst case scenario, complacency, balancing side hustle jobs, living for today, the goal of being rejected, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting close to the role of Joe in Sunset Boulevard, making the decision committing to London, securing the first job in A Face in the Crowd, having a good understanding of where you stand within the Australian theatre industry, starting from the ground up, the perception of it being harder in London than Australia, the brighter mood in the Australian theatre industry, navigating higher expenses, hubris, the difficulty of getting an agent, the audition for A Knight's Tale, being in the pocket vocally, originating a role, being able to shadow and study Andy Karl, playing the lead, getting in and out of a horse puppet, the incredible opportunity of doing an out of town tryout show, filming THAT promo for A Knight's Tale in front of a real castle, contending with a rolled ankle, and a whole lot more!

Chat continued in Part Two!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by a legend in the business and horror icon, John Jarratt!

We chat about his new film What About Sal, the current crisis of Australian film, funding a film, the movie going experience, the enjoyment of what he does, writing, wearing many different hats, gaining inspiration from others, finding the character of Mick Taylor for Wolf Creek, never giving up, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan and Harman are joined by a former soldier, former chef, and now one of the best comedians out there, Jarryd Goundrey!

We chat about making content for a living, the freedom of the podcast format, calendar pressure, the sustainable amount of content, comparison. being computer illiterate, teaser clips, sitting in the sweet spot zone of "I must", hitting the burnout but gaining the lessons, quality of quantity, adding value, staying in the game, free energy, showing up for someone, passionate procrastination, business coaches, all of us having a 'secret' thing, playing by yourself in the backyard, a shame of being yourself, going all in socially, only knowing after it works, being careful of the crabs in a bucket, living your shadow self, a validation shift, peace, being famous for something, knowing what is enough, chaos, sleeping out of his tent and car, going viral, wanting adventure, and a whole lot more!

This one was quite the ride!

This will be the last episode for a while...

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David's been a dream guest for ages!

We chat about working on How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying with Daniel Radcliffe, performing for David Letterman, replacing and understudying people on Broadway shows, originating roles, a dreams of designing roller coasters, performing in a theme park, a career in show business feeling out of reach, the odds being stacked against you, wishing he were more impassioned at a younger age, realising law wasn't for him, being able to form an opinion, getting a lucky break with the touring production of Wicked, grinding as an ensemble cast member, insurance, the eight show week brain, a very particular monotony with musical theatre, bonding, self doubt, transitioning to TV work, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, perfectionism, reminding yourself the stakes are low, taking a moment to zoom out, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his visit at Monash Primary School, having an impact on young people, knowing there was something else outside of rugby, the cosmic purse, always being a hustler from the get go, allowing yourself to be saved, not isolating yourself, embracing failure, looking like a genius, asking until you understand, changing the approach, taking the time to control your own fate, the real purpose of auditioning, sowing seeds, the space in between the question, interviewing Harrison Ford, playing The Pirate King in an adaption of Pirates of Penzance, back to back gigs, ending shows, theatre not loving you, teaching, people not walking far enough down the corridor, being comfortable in the uncomfortable, his children, the state of modern day entertainment, raging against the machine, Star Wars, and a whole lot more!

This one is quite insightful!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working fifteen years in the music theatre industry, the difficulty and strict protocols of Moulin Rouge, shutting down mid show, delayed starts for other shows, loosing all power to QPAC, performing Wicked without lighting, becoming more resilient as a performer, being a little bit more measured while studying, starting to be seen as a peer, trust, Spring Awakening, getting an agent, going into auditions knowing you're not right for the part, forcing naivety on yourself, confidence, the consistency of work, throwing yourself into other aspects of life, pottery classes, finding focus, the high stakes of musical theatre, not being too insatiable, trying not to be too focused on yourself, exercises in trust, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his experience working on Victorian Opera's Follies, being surrounded by legends of the industry, doing a scene with Marina Prior, thriving in the deep end, being inspired by Jack Chambers, telling stories through his addiction to Newsies, working for the first time overseas, back in the grind, corporate gigs, expressing creativity through teaching, asking for work, the Elvis tour, finding balance during a show, resisting the need to call off sick, becoming more compassionate on yourself, realising that the sign posts were there all along, knowing exactly where you're meant to be, finding what makes you happy outside performing, dealing with the demise of Elvis, lessons learnt, unfinished business, not taking yourself so seriously, going with the flow, the love of tour life, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was recorded when Tana and Daniel were both in Jesus Christ Superstar, and a few days before Daniel was about to start rehearsals for Beetlejuice.

We chat about the experience of working on Jesus Christ Superstar, the work of the ensemble, Michael Paynter, no substitute for hard work, knowing where to belong in the 'mob', being the fight captain, building up the cast camaraderie, trauma bonding, celebrating outgoing cast members, the team aspect of performing, positivity, diversifying your skillset, family advice, Spelling Bee, being relaxed, not comparing yourself, learning to trust yourself, dealing with mistakes, sharing stories, having awareness of the negative, the inner anxiety, always thinking you can do better, allowing for change, getting the gig on Beetlejuice, progressing through the auditioning process, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brannon has been a dream guest since the podcast began, so this was an absolute thrill to finally be able to have him on the show!

We chat about the importance of communication, the joys of collaboration, the solitary mystique of writing, working in solitude, initially wanting to be an actor, trading the headshots in for a typewriter, getting the bug to write for the masses, the profound impact of his school teacher, connecting writing with shows like The Twilight Zone, getting an internship on Star Trek, the open submission policy, being on a week to week contract, the chaos of writing for television, looking back on perceived bad episodes, fame, compliments, becoming burnout, stepping away, the end of Trek, jumping onto 24, the fear of directing, always questioning your ability, trusting your brain, finding focus with others, the talent of others, Bob Trevino Likes It, taking an interest, success not happening in a vacuum, The Orville, the shared history of Star Trek, and a whole lot more!

Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by photographer, Matty Parker!

We chat about the long apprenticeship one has to take before calling themselves a photographer, growing up in the country, the country work ethic, leaving Sydney, figuring out what you actually want to do, spending too long researching and procrastinating, having nothing to lose, filming and documenting the process of learning to be a photographer, buying the first camera, growing into something, finding interesting people, looking at the world differently, the distraction of phones, taking a photo that matters, telling a story, burn out, having to tend to life, getting honest feedback from the places you least expect, realising what a good photo can be, the grunge and grit of Melbourne, being the guy with the camera, resetting, perfectionism, taking people's photos, connecting the love of cars and photography, the brief time of owning a keyboard, pushing through the frustration, surprising yourself, enjoying what you do, affecting others, gear, video games, putting yourself out there, just needing to start, entering the lonely stage, collaboration, and a whole lot more!

Follow Matty's work! Links below.

https://www.youtube.com/@Matty_p115

https://www.instagram.com/matty_p115

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We start off the podcast with Sean responding to a message left from Australia's first Elder Price, Ryan Bondy. Sean then answers a couple of questions left by Nick Cox, his soon to be Elder Cunningham!

We then go on to chat about the audition process of The Book of Mormon, finding out he got the role, preparing for the show, leading the company, the anticipation of working alongside Nick Cox, chemistry reads, the upcoming rehearsals, removing the obstacles of learning how to dance, teaching yourself how to sing and act, the shock and specialness of receiving compliments, the no clear cut path, working on Hairspray, objectivity, being a little bit more reserved, learning from others, not loosing the love and the passion, allowing for things to go wrong, fighting the urge to compare yourself to others, working at Her Majesty's, watching Nick Cox in Beauty and the Beast, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the overused word of legend, living and working in London, raising the roof off a tent, being on Neighbours for ten years, reinvigorating a career, staying sane while working on a soap opera, being able to go back to your roots over the course of Neighbours, Godspell, becoming a dance captain, a roleplaying gig for the medical profession, working as an assistant stage manager, asking for work, being told no, Tiki and John's, always learning, changing your style of acting & teaching, giving back, championing other people's success, Follies, younger talent, singing, auditions, having a lack of feedback, being in the industry of communication, Prisoner, staying engaged, embracing change, Anthony Warlow, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Matt's time working on Tina, Black Out Night, wrapping up a show, the lifestyle of freelance work, having a show cut short, investing yourself in a show, wanting to be an architect, music theatre camp, not associating fun with jobs, quitting commerce, the VCA foundation course, putting yourself on show everyday, the tangible career path, booking Jersey Boys, serendipity, the fear of singing, the love of duets, nerves, being part of new works, having flexibility, pursuing film and TV work, giving it a crack, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the Groundhog Day group chat, the talent within the cast, the end of the show, the fanbase, wanting to be Bob Hawke growing up, juggling two careers, clinging to security and stability, Rachel's financial advice within the music theatre community, the tangible career path, not thinking long term, approaching what you love with realism, passion not being limited, not knowing your future self, going for everything, building the resilience, lift classes, covering, soprano one, getting outside your comfort zone, transforming your voice, always being ready, the ski gear, removing anxiety with preparation, commiserating & celebrating yourself, rechanneling your energy, what they enjoy about each other's performance, seeing Matthew Hamilton as Phil Connors, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by Matt Hourigan (Swing) & Connor Sweeney (Ralph) as Groundhog Day Week continues onto Day 13 after an extended hiatus!

We chat about missing the show and the people, appreciating the casting process, the fast paced audition turnaround, an acting job for management training in the construction industry, looking at the rehearsal process from a swing's perspective, meeting Tim Minchin, learning new lessons about life through the show, saying goodbye, celebrating the show, listening to the soundtrack, feeling fulfilled by the show, watching Matthew Hamilton as Phil Connors, stage mishaps, visual art & architecture, set design, gymnastics, clowning, affirming moments, changes in environment, seeing that there's more work to be done, objectivity, having warped views of yourself, communication, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting back into stand up comedy, the first time I saw Sammy perform in Canberra, talking to your younger self, ambition outweighing talent, not being afraid to be on your own, the complex relationship with nerves, the underrated skill of communication, not straying far from the dream, musical comedy, Tom Lehrer, his album, the fear of looking unoriginal, putting yourself out there, weird gigs, self awareness, rediscovering the world again after working in radio, being in control of your day, letting things rest, muscle memory, being compassionate to your younger self, providing company, the pros and cons of radio, feedback, working with Randy, collaboration, The Kangaroo Effect, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the intensity of working on Jesus Christ Superstar, feeling more connected as a member of the ensemble, not feeling static, knowing there's always more in the tank, the rehearsal period, the importance of previews, starting out in the industry at nine years old, the emotion behind having to leave a safe creative space, a Hugh Jackman story, expanding your brain, being an all or nothing type of person, changing as a performer, collaboration as an artist, knowing what jobs you want, anxiety, journaling, writing, being all about the feeling, the risk of loosing nuance in the moment, having a 'you made it' moment, saving your money, burnout, introspection, knowing you get better with time, shrinking yourself, working with incredible narrator's in Rocky Horror, and a whole lot more!

I had the best time with Josh! This was a very open and candid chat!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about swinging on Guys and Dolls, the immersive show experience, starting out with the Miss Saigon tour, life in London, working for Disneyland in Hong Kong, being in a supportive environment, wanting to be a priest, studying, finding inspiration from friends and family, having to go on stage at a moments notice, still getting use to swing life, maintaining the discipline, realising there's always another show, auditioning, good preparation, luck, moving away from the Philippines, the massive pool of talent in London, knowing what you can and can't do, exploring other things, work and play, not having the education to back you up, pursuing research in Indigenous culture, enjoying the moment, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the initial ignorance of the business while working on Raising Hope, being the number one on the call sheet, taking a minute with things, learning on the job, working with the more experienced cast members, approaching constructive criticism with the right mindset, being overweight and insufferable as a kid, the benefit of time, developing an internal process, not identifying with any one thing, moving on, life being a big adventure, getting recognised, the joys of establishing a unique relationship with the people you meet, the circus and clown school, loving when people laugh, absurdity in comedy, holding paper while nervous, irrational confidence, the chaotic side of the industry, being surrounded by strange people, bringing more of yourself to the work, sharing our insecurities out loud, just saying yes, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his time working on Grimm and Prison Break, the pressure of being a guest star and shooting a pilot, being witness to the evolution of a series, figuring out what you're doing, the machine of making television, moving on from Grimm, taking to acting young, wanting to be good, going through a major reassessment of the 'why', getting a manager, being offered a role while in a funk, not working for two years, the current state of the industry, coaching, humanity, how we relate to the world, circumstances beyond our control, loss of connection, meditation, disidentifying with the thoughts, the power to choose, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about coming back to Australia after living and working in the UK, being in a thrash heavy metal band, not being a fan of the comedy scene, hate speech, thought crime, destroying sovereignty, borders, consumerism, city rangers, being and outlier, sport, good timing, just making the thing, nature needing action, taking away gratitude, the internet, conspiracy theories being mainstream, watering down comedy, having a nervous breakdown, working out, starting comedy, learning to be deadpan, being dumped by agents after doing a sold out tour, why we work, health and safety, and a whole lot more!

This was quite the episode! A little different...

If you have frustrations about the world we live in, then have a listen to Steve's thoughts! 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Kelsey's own podcast he had during lockdown, showing you're interested, always anticipating the awkward silence, how he ended up Australia, the gentle rivalry between Australia and the Brits, finding success in Australia, The Comic's Lounge, discovering stand up, entering into a comedy competition, retaining new material, the law of averages, doing support for Stephen K. Amos, noy bring a naturally outgoing person, death or glory, the pay off of doing comedy, a horrible corporate gig, remembering the good gigs, working at a theatre, the importance of having an understanding boss, trying, finding a creative outlet, the immediateness of comedy, not changing for other people, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the making of Review with Myles Barlow, the US version of Review, dealing with the pressure of being a lead in a show, putting things in a box, initially wanting to be a pilot, making short films, the intensity of working in the writer's room of Home and Away, the collaboration and partnership with Trent O'Donnell, shared responsibilities, the thought of doing stand up comedy, being a writer at heart, gaining experience, having a trust in your own voice, self reflection, turning off the harsh critic, playing the put upon guy, Population 11, making things just for yourself, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his turn on Star Trek: Voyager, working with William Shatner, allowing yourself to relax in front of a camera, relinquishing control, surprising yourself, servicing the script, the joys of physics, knowing what you want to do, the New York Shakespeare festival, working steadily, scheduling your day around an acting task, knowing you can make people laugh, a racing injury, missing a spotlight cue, objectivity, not catching yourself acting, being part of the fabric of the culture, failed pilots, not keeping a list of things to accomplish, attempting stand up comedy, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many good stories in this one!

We chat about the pronunciation of his surname, his run on Star Trek: Enterprise as Degra, the makeup process working in Deep Space Nine, doing 40 plays in 7 years, showing up with your lines ready to go, not being a quick study, the pressure of working in film and TV, the importance of focus, being too much in your own head, finding inspiration in dance and stand up, unusual jobs, living through the Vietnam war, verbal gymnastics, The Rolling Stones, being a product of the time, the connection with religion and the church, live performance, dancing in front of the tribe, riding horses, the reluctance of initially calling yourself an actor, an incredible waking vision, needing tools for the toolbox, working on For All Mankind, not being ashamed to make money, making things, serving other people, suffering, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his work playing Silik on Star Trek: Enterprise alongside Scott Bakula, the prosthetic makeup, a Tarot reading, first days, becoming more grounded in a recurring role, actors not reading with you on your closeup, moving around a lot as a kid, wanting to be invisible, inventing an imaginary character, never feeling apart of the gang, going for walks, having a crisis of confidence, taking a break from self tapes, exploring other options, lowering the bar of what success means, comparing, feeling like a fraud, having faith of acting again, pride and perfection, finding meditation, past performances, working on The Orville and Seth MacFarlane, getting a stalker, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about wanting to a sitcom writer, the moment Mark needed a change in his life, living in France, acting in French telemovies, snapping at a customer while working a retail job, getting an internship on a comedy show, Charles Firth, needing to make mistakes first, doing stand up exactly twelve times, having to prove yourself, working on 7:30, the joys of collaboration, when a sketch doesn't go well, touring, not letting people down, hosting an event at Parliament House, the TV show Nemesis, favourite political scandal, the exhaustion of doing satire, the housing/rental crisis documentary, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat abut his surname, hitting a million downloads with A Rational Fear, witnessing Dave Anthony clash with Anthony Scaramucci, a play about Christopher Columbus, always working on backup careers, not knowing the hard work would eventually pay off, Beaconsfield: The Musical, sticking to a schedule, deadlines, having the fortune of meeting great people, winning not being the endgame, being shackled to other people's fantasy, always being on the lookout for new talent, making yourself uncomfortable, the gift of giving yourself permission to do something, working with Andrew Denton on Hungry Beast, discovering how hard it was to make TV, just start making the thing, having great mentors, absorbing the fear as an executive producer, working on Tonightly with Tom Ballard, VHS nostalgia, childhood memories, seeing shows at the comedy festival, Wil Anderson's work ethic, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about whether or not Veep would be as ridiculous now compared to today's politics, the process of putting together an episode of Veep, working with Jim Jefferies on Legit, being six years behind everyone, the first big break on The Daily Show, the frustration of why it took so long to get a break, walking out of a job, moving on from acting job to acting job, the importance of camaraderie, the procedural nature of some comedies, gaining respect from your peer group, improv class, making a podcast, always needing to perform, making sure you're always in the building, learning by watching, being intimidated by Jon Stewart, going for it with Roger Furlong, being a recovering alcoholic, meditation, working with Helen Mirren, auditioning, wanting to be the Ozzy Osbourne of acting, needing new dreams, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This was a really fun one!

We chat about working on Boys in the Band, loving the idea of being someone else, ideas of being an athlete, stubbornness, moving to the Gold Coast, getting a job on the Angelina Jolie film Unbroken in the art department, being hesitant of the environment as a kid, seeking out the most annoying person in the room, collaboration, picture doubling for Tom Hiddleston on Kong: Skull Island, leaving the ego at the door, jumping into a rehearsal scene with Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, and Brie Larson, being present, making people feel something, Kerry Armstrong, being aware of your limits, making choices, jumping through the hoops, meeting challenges, playing John in Holding the Man, loving a side hustle, directing, being expected you do well, self worth, social media, competition, potentially doing a musical, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about finishing off with Tina after two years, the shock felt after a contract ends, losing routine and discipline, stepping into the world of unemployment, shifting back into the world of film, TV, and straight theatre, finding the time for yourself, letting go of ego, creating nuance, less is more, the live theatre experience, falling into the world of Shakespeare, having hope while studying, Cruel Intentions, the fear of being known as a music theatre performer, being sold on Tina, the incredible opportunity of covering Ike, becoming reclusive in the world of musical theatre, being a more versatile actor, getting his head around singing and dancing, letting go of what you know, falling into a false sense of confidence, scoring a job on Shakespeare's Henry V, maximizing time, working on your craft in anyway possible, consistently on a clock, building a foundation, and a whole lot more!

This was such an honest chat!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat abut working on Beauty and the Beast, keeping things fresh, loving a routine, saying goodbye to fellow cast members, living up to playing an iconic Disney character, believing you're terrifying, always having something to work on, stage door encounters, the relationship with the conductor, the makeup, dodging the big numbers, the love of sport, singing, leaving a music school, social anxiety, learning to dance on Frozen, being in an environment of growth, receiving some great advice from Jemma Rix, being proactive, auditioning, being the best version of yourself, the emotional moment finding out he got The Beast, having support outside of work, not limiting yourself, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting the job on Sister Act, the learning curve of commercial musical theatre, quick changes and set moves, working on a very busy show, reflecting on Carols by Candlelight, not taking things for granted, Choir Boy, having your face used for publicity on flags in Parramatta, imposter syndrome, the thriving theatre scene in Newcastle, having an advantage of a certain skillset once stepping into the world of professional theatre, the spectacle of Sister Act, being difficult to intimidate, knowing you're in the room for a reason, getting a gauge for the room, knowing when to lower the professional boundaries, the eight show week, separating your job from your life, recording your own music, listening back to your own work, having few role models growing up that looked like you, stage door, telling stories that mean something to people, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting the job on Avenue Q, rehearsing the show, puppet workshops, the initial challenge of working with puppets, two shows in one, getting the hang of working with his puppet, the liberation of being able to use a heightened voice, being in a rock band, doing one day of Law at Uni, seeing his first musicals, the university experience, humbling moments, using humility as an excuse to bring you down, always trying to impress, finding a circle of friends, being stuck in the Uni bubble, continually building on skills after University, rude awakenings, the first audition for a commercial musical, recapping auditions with friends, always maintaining the training in between jobs, doing it for the love of it, finding the balance with casual jobs, needing a second career path, working in children's theatre, the reaction from others after being cast in a show, appreciating theatre in a new light, wanting to do a bit of everything, surprises, going to the limit, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working on Round the Twist, the excitement of new Australian works, the high tension level of tech and previews, the limited run of the show, being positive and self taught, the prospect of seeing the show in other states, getting a job on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat right out of Uni on the very first audition, teaching, gradually letting go of auditioning, the importance of networking, the responsibility of a musical director, getting that second job, being kind, asking for work, getting thrown into the deep end, having a business like mindset, covering Joseph, not taking yourself too seriously, pushing for yourself, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about being a graffiti artist, a love for graphic design enjoying all types of artforms, starting out as a production designer, coming from a creative family, painting all over Australia, regulating street art, being inspired by the movie Goonies, going into Parker Lewis Can't Loose after high school, withstanding the down times, not bringing ego into the equation, having comfortable enthusiasm, not being afraid of emotions, being private in public, working on creature features, the importance of creative freedom, being a balanced producer, keeping busy with a million projects, getting too fixated on our own personalities, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Paul's audition for Scotty in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 film, transitioning from Stargate to Star Trek, the joys of playing Carson Beckett, reuniting with cast members, the gift that keeps on giving, being the first character in Stargate history to go through the gate, becoming comfortable at conventions, speaking with the Scottish accent, teaching, getting a job on The X-Files, mentoring young actors, being in a business based on rejection, not taking things personally, everything evening out eventually, the enjoyment of variety in performances, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about what it means being a part of the Stargate franchise, conventions, leaving the series, telling everyone she'd be a movie star, being shy, teaching, insecurities, validation, collaboration, the movie IF, the importance of connection with others, finding moments of freshness, pushing through injuries, not having a fallback, being driven, the constant state of having to find work, always wanting to be challenged, realising you can't control what other people think, knowing when you need to regroup, feeling content, memories of working with Dom DeLuise & Don S. Davis, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about processing the ending of Star Trek: Discovery, the show being an uphill climb, playing multiple characters, getting the role of Linus, prosthetic makeup, getting on top of your own discomfort, lessons learned from working on the show, finding the 'what else', not being afraid to drive the prosthetic, knowing he always had to be creative, writing being the silent passenger, growing up closeted, taking an improv course, nerves, the work that goes into a creative lifestyle, rejection, comedy, being compelled to write, active relationship with creativity, working on a TV pitch, initially feeling unprepared doing non prosthetic makeup work, getting advice from Doug Jones, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting the gig on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, being a massive Trekkie, the surprise of seeing his name in the opening credits, the unexpected impact of his character, overwhelming emotions colliding together, the intriguing title of "Game of Life", discovering the creative side, a transformative year, busking, the love of live theatre, a career of desperation, failing quickly, being confident when the rug gets pulled out underneath you, improv shows, being an adrenaline junkie, self criticism, always moving forward, working a temp job, trying to practice everyday, painting, being legally blind, hiding the fact that he was blind on acting jobs, getting through the hard times, filling up your days with creativity, meeting LeVar Burton, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Alan's Star Trek experience, watching Star Wars stoned, hobbies, growing up in a theatre family, getting a laugh from an audience, working as a milkman, starting a job at the radio station, coming to Australia, accomplishing a great deal in a short period of time, scoring an 8 year gig on Neighbours, being bold and fearless, finding a teacher at 52, starting over in America, only having one audition in nine months, auditioning for ER with a Hawaii shirt and South African accent, a lonely comic con experience, the journey to getting the big break in America, not nominating yourself for an Emmy, nerves, selling cars and knocking on doors, asking for what you want, going to the West End to be in Spamalot, screwing up a Mad Men audition, and so much more!

Lots of great stories in this one from a legendary actor!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Nick's experience working on Australian Epic, covering The Engineer on Miss Saigon, the ease of saying goodbye to Miss Saigon, freezing up with the thought of dance calls, understanding your place, not burdening your emotions with a sense of failure, the love of teaching, being proud of forging a career in theatre without the training, becoming confident with performing as The Engineer, being open to change, the supportive environment of Miss Saigon, performing at the Sydney Opera House, touring in Asia, proudest career moment, the difficulty of getting the second job, more nerding out on Australian Epic, the Asian MT community, representation in casting, legacy, a vocal injury, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his involvement working on One Day in September, stepping into the world of the Book of Mormon, holding your own on stage, being presented with new challenges for each show, managing injuries, being OK with taking a show off, running into set pieces, being a sci-fi lover, the actor's playground of Dungeons and Dragons, Riverdance, wanting to join the army, the importance of family support, putting in the work, dealing with nerves, confronting the eight show week, finding balance, the opportunity working in a creative space with his wife, staying creatively fulfilled, streaming, wanting to make a movie, putting yourself out there, meeting Hugh Jackman, Moulin Rogue, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the love of living and working in America, trapped between two cultures, Americanisms, mastering the cadence in delivering the news, voice lessons, failing Year 12 English, working as a Bank Teller, getting a cadetship, the magical way in which he fell in love with journalism, being inquisitive, embarking in TV journalism, being front and centre, gaining confidence in dealing with people, letting people tell their stories, the collaborative effort of journalism, taking a leap of faith, the importance of growth, freezing up while covering the Port Arthur massacre, live crosses, getting the job at the US news bureau, 9/11, having different views, hearing other ideas, Donald Trump, right and left leaning opinion and commentary shows, understanding what you're watching, coming back to Australia, glaucoma and nearly loosing his eyesight, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working in the comedy industry for thirty years, always looking forward and not looking back, never not thinking, self reflection, feeling better with a high volume of work and pressure, meeting deadlines, getting work done before it's required, always having a fully formed show ready to go, striving in chaos, commercial radio, the transformative experience of SAS Australia, being obsessed with Hollywood comedy films and the military, starting out in stand up, Idiots Guide to Wine, not having time to get bored, the variety and movement of comedy, prepared to endure, always doing things your own way, starting the journey without caring what others think, having long term plans, writing down your goals & ambitions every day, hyperfocus, switching lanes very easily, thoughts becoming your reality, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about playing Sloane in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Section 31, conventions, fan response, working as a stand up comedian, discovering acting, doing the first movie, the challenge of transitioning from theatre to film, the intimacy of the camera, injuries in the theatre, an embarrassing on stage incident, being scared to death of New York, finding work, getting an agent, giving it away so they can see who you are, growing up on a farm, being torn apart as an actor, finding the fun in characters, acting with Al Pacino, feeling nervous, putting people at ease, A Stage of Twilight, playing the villain, being the plumber, respecting the crew, becoming the student he always should have been, and a whole lot more!

So many great stories in this one!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the opening night experience of Dear Evan Hansen, getting the job, life as a standby, the first professional bow, feeling at home on stage, learning to be yourself on stage, figuring out the show, the eight show week, high stakes learning experiences, a play with music, being truthful, a love for radio, finding a love for performing, the first week of university, hard work paying off, first professional jobs, cultivating professional relationships naturally, learning from others, watching bad theatre, treats as an actor, finding freedom in rehearsals, confronting the fears of stand up comedy, doing things scared, failing proudly, having good timing, becoming your biggest fan, not conforming, going with the unpredictable, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about covering two major roles in Sister Act, the show always going on, being present, the second show always being the hardest show, finding out they got the show, working between two countries, making a livable wage, playing the lead, the temperamental career, knowing things will be OK, coming from a classical background, not overstepping, keeping things fun and fresh, Australian comedy, dancing through the audience in intermission, playing piano, knowing you could sing, the importance of teachers, stage door, confusing each other backstage, cherishing fan art, self doubt, arbitrary rules, breaking out of the mindset of living within other people's judgment, learning on the job, being a professional auditioner, pinch yourself moments, ending a tour in your hometown, building community, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is probably the funniest and craziest episode I've ever recorded, so strap in! No cuts!

We chat about the international tour of Miss Saigon, having a working holiday, saying goodbye to the show, being together for a really long time, getting sick towards the end of the show's run, giving yourself something to look forward to, the breaks in between, the importance of morale within a company, what they enjoy about the other's performances, covering, Jack's blue eyes, the positive with not being noticed as a swing, the non cannon character of Miss Saigon, making mistakes on stage, the excitement of live theatre, entering the white room, One Day in September, developing a healthy relationship with auditioning, reframing bravery, being delusional, Harry Potter houses, the difficulty of getting your first yes, shaking the dancer title, stunt casting, saying you're an actor, riding a motorcycle, getting the job of a movement captain, dreams of working together again, working on Utopia, trusting yourself, buying your lottery ticket, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about sitting down for the first time talking about himself, leaving Wicked, learning a show from scratch, playing an isolated character, working out a routine, being the 'older' experienced member of the cast, finding longevity in the industry, the unknowns of auditioning, not dwelling on jobs he didn't get, falling into musicals, the difficulty of finding balance being a parent and a husband while doing a show, the great feeling of saying no, an emotional performance in Mary Poppins, a Groucho Marx act, moving to New Zealand, selling vacuum cleaners, the not so straight forward path to becoming an actor, having a quiet confidence, the upcoming Follies production with VIC Opera, performing in front of Stephen Sondheim, meeting Matt Damon, being laid back, not getting hung up on perfection, feeling like something was missing, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about AJ's mockumentary, the accessibility of creating content, the pressure of putting out content, social media, wanting to be a zookeeper, go to British comedies, an accidental step into the arts, moving to Australia from the UK, the difficulty of integrating in Australia, always being able to entertain, doing the best you can do, building an inner vocabulary, improv, Dungeons and Drag Queens, translating skills from performing in drag to stand up comedy, appealing to the people who will like you, promises to yourself, creatively on demand, chatting and bantering for ideas, cultural differences, leveraging connections, identity, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the endurance of podcasting, putting out a podcast with his Mum, wanting to be a puppeteer, producing, getting swept up in emotion while producing, being familiar in unfamiliar territory, bringing out the best when things go wrong, forming allies, being more forgiving of yourself, working on Home and Away, spending most of your time creating, hitting brick walls, writing technique, pitching, withstanding rejection, input, holding onto the identity of your project, going to America for pilot season, not being exceptional on just who you are, the frustration of recording your own audition, sustaining an energy on Blue Heelers, defense mechanisms, being raised Catholic, not talking yourself up, putting it into action, behind the scenes of TOFOP, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being hypnotized by Peter Powers, missing the Melbourne Comedy Festival, gigging overseas, filming the second series of Last King of the Cross, exploring different things other than stand up, the repetition of stand up comedy in Australia, the pressures and potential burnout of turning your life into content, being comfortable with saying no more often, finding escape in watching films, a love for musicals, moving to Melbourne, wanting to be an actor then getting pushed into stand up comedy, working on Foxtel, humbling yourself, validation, imposter syndrome, proving imaginary people wrong, having a career based on spite, being told you've already won, sobriety, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Mark's Star Trek experience, prosthetic makeup, getting an agent, the first paid gig, the initial resentment of going to Los Angeles, the love of film and television, being born with a thick skin, rolling with the punches, validation, brunt of emotions as a guest star, working as a series regular, doing the research before a job, sitting through bad theatre to see good theatre, the mind playing terrible tricks, being careful what you walk into, consistency & pursuit, confronting the fear, thinking you'll never work again, reinventing yourself, finding work you can be involved in, auditioning, working on Mad Men, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being in the moment, not judging your character, self criticism, filming his death scene in The Departed, the wonders of film editing, getting told you'll be busy after being in big films, The Shawshank Redemption, turning down The Green Mile, advice from Morgan Freeman, always being satisfied in what you do, how ballet helped with carrying himself on stage, serendipity, dubbing Jackie Chan, the love of transformation, working door to door sales, keeping busy, a career as carpenter, not slowing down, his experience working on the Star Trek and Saw franchises, an on set incidents, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about early childhood memories, growing up in a refugee camp in Germany, Saul's parents surviving the Holocaust, an early recurring nightmare, intergenerational trauma, asking the right questions, inspiring people to explore their own family history, sharing a common humanity, always being involved in storytelling, being a violent kid, the nomadic lifestyle of an actor, working on Warehouse 13, the courage & genetic makeup to get back up once you've been knocked down, approaching work uncynically, the solitary nature of your own imagination, staying creative, tricking your mind, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about script writing, getting a start in animation, being more articulate with the written word, breaking a story for an episode of television, working to a deadline, the down time, forming a writing partnership with Paul Mullie, coming into the world of Stargate, the role of a producer and showrunner, itching to break out of Stargate to launch his own show, the creative freedom of working in science fiction, creating fun characters, being an avid reader, frustrating script contrivances, finding inspiration in other works, the cancellation of Dark Matter, the improv with the script from Richard Dean Anderson, selling Stargate, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the Barbie and Oppenheimer phenonium, a day in the life of Camey O'Keefe, working as a suit, managing expectations, finding the balance of working with creatives, bringing people out of their bubble, asking the question of why you are doing something, having to play the game that may quash creativity, defining advertising, commercial storytelling, working with Kmart & Ford, how brands get it wrong, being a macro/micro thinker, important of investment, the prospect of A.I., the messy beauty of humanity, broad spectrum of creative thinking, and a whole lot more!

Read more about Camey! Link below.

https://gambol.com.au/about-camey/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what kind of person Ben was in high school, graffiti, gaining an attraction for art, what goes on in Ben's head while painting, the immersive experience of painting, the process, finding purpose in painting, knowing when to stop, the pressure on producing work, the Archibald, prison affecting the art, dealing with life coming out of prison, the slow pace of time in prison, honesty, thoughts on religion, reflecting on COVID, drugs, social anxiety, putting on art shows, mental health, therapy, Ben's love for Fanta, and a whole lot more!

Check out Ben's website and his artwork below.

https://www.benjaminaitken.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan's guest for the 200th episode is someone who has performed in musical theatre, concerts, and cabaret, and is also a member of The Fabulous Singlettes!

Melissa Langton is someone I grew up watching through my formative years as a young person, most notably in the G&S Essgee productions of Pirates of Penzance, The Mikado, and HMS Pinafore alongside Jon English and Simon Gallaher. We're bringing things full circle for this special 200th episode of the podcast!

We chat about her memories of working on the Essgee productions, not being in a traditional musical, becoming a Fabulous Singlette, Toni Lamond, German cabaret, learning to react and be yourself on stage, the rocky road on HMS Pinafore, not being good with long shows, the megamix, remembering Jon English, Michael Falzon & Kevin Hocking, coming from a non musical household, finding your people, moving around a lot, her parents reaction to performing, getting her first job in Jesus Christ Superstar with John Farnham, auditioning in the 80's, luck, the love of concert work, breaking the fourth wall, working in cabaret, being relatable, Curtains, never being interested in the lead role, understudying, communicating with the audience, mistakes, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the character of Joxer in Xena, the creative freedom on Xena, whether the show would hold up to modern standards, not wanting to be an actor initially, rough beginnings in Manhattan, growing to love acting, performing for a deaf school, feeling like an enormous imposter, having a better sense of who you are, an early gravitation towards comedic acting, breaking out of comedy, Bruce Campbell, knowing your value, trying to desperately not to read reviews, going to museums and graveyards, Dungeons & Dragons, understanding it can take a lifetime to figure things out, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt is a lot of fun so strap in!

We chat about living and working in America, coming from working class routes, acting 'as if', having a great gift of naivety, getting an education in how American television operates, how to make the story better, knowing the landscape of what you're dealing with, respecting and understanding everybody's role, becoming the leader of a TV set, dealing with the end of The Glades, learning from falling flat on your face, always being attracted to an ensemble, working with Tobin Bell on Jigsaw, being a firefighter, thriving on uncertainty, thinking that you're possibly mundane, finding freedom from self, quitting drinking, doing a game show, expecting the worst, finding additional purpose, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working on Future Man, ending the show, being an anxious person, getting reassurance you're on the right path, making a big swing & bold choices in performances, feeling the pressure as a guest star, working crazy hours, starting out as a series regular, the quick turnaround time from finishing with Preacher to commencing work on Future Man, the freedom of creating the character of Wolf, wanting to be an optometrist, being cast as a dog, facing the fight or flight moment before performing, the thought of doing stand up comedy, worrying about loosing the talent, needing to more active of self producing, fighting the guilt of not creating, finding balance, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working in genre television, conventions, working on The Mandalorian, meeting Jon Favreau, keeping secrets, the pressure of carrying an episode of The Mandalorian, having a love of soccer, finding acting therapeutic, bleak world circumstances leading for career opportunity, external validation, having a steady flow of work, finding a home as an actor, everything being temporary, having a sound foundation of doing your best work, allowing for failure, always pushing yourself, working in casting, being curious about people, appearing on 24 twice, not knowing what you want, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about creating Men of a Certain Age with Ray Romano, the devastation of the show's cancellation, casting Scott Bakula, cast chemistry, the potential movie idea falling apart, moving on from Men of a Certain Age, working as a comedian prior to branching out as a television writer, opportunities coming from being a comedian, doing warm up for Spin City, being limited by persona while performing stand up, transitioning to a writer's room, having a mediocre taping for his first episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, sitcom tapings, getting a head start with breaking stories, the gigantic episode order, not always being the guy with the answers, using nervous energy as fuel, getting creatively heartbroken, keeping irons in the fire, Norman Lear, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about bringing Sister Act to Melbourne, the joy of the show, the fun Eddie song, the intensity of the rehearsal period, the fast turnaround of putting the show together, illness and injuries, pre-scene routines, each nun telling a different story in the show, stage door reactions, theatre etiquette, becoming accustomed to routine, social life, aspirations to work with animals, having the fallback of teaching, a brief stint at an advertising agency, standing side by side with Julie Andrews, the highs and lows, the survivor's game, one woman shows, flubbing lines, anxieties being part of the job, tech week, imposter syndrome, always thinking there's more work to do, forever restarting your career, constantly learning no matter how long you've been in the industry, working in the opera world, imparting something to the next generation of performers, last minute performances, walking the streets of Melbourne pretending to be Shane Warne's Mum, life changing roles, picking up where you left off, falling asleep on stage, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the moment they found out they got the job on Sister Act, the surreal experience working with legends of the theatre world, learning on the show, Monty's first performance, Cara's professional debut in Mary Poppins, settling into a show, being an onstage swing, discovering new things in the show, the importance of a supportive environment, dancing down the aisles as the nuns during the intermission, audiences filming on their phones, the technicality of working on Mary Poppins, growing up in Canberra, finding guidance from teachers, dance & movement calls, knowing your abilities, mental health being the most important thing, body diversity, emotionally touching reactions from audiences, not dwelling on auditions, stage fright, the eight show week, finding what makes you happy, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opera fans and up and coming conductors will love this one!

We remember Brian's friend Robert Andrew Greene, and then we go and chat about putting his own spin on The Mikado overture, the emotive artform of conducting, the role of a conductor, the types of conductors, clicking his fingers at the performers, taking charge of a production, the importance of eye contact, inner workings of leading an orchestra, working on Sydney Harbour productions, building trust with performers, getting along with people, visiting Italian conductors, being told he was not good enough to be a conductor, the cut throat opera world, always having the drive, being responsible for Heather Begg getting her Damehood, writing his book, aiming for excellence, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his work on the Star Trek franchise, auditioning for Godspell, being a single threat, not having a backup, chasing balance, teaching a professional acting class, doing theatre for no money, a career being a series of forward steps, sustaining the love for what you love to do, believing we can all get there, things always getting better and better, being informed by failure, the idea of success, no impulse being wrong, the stupidity of criticism, reframing the negative story as our super power, meeting whatever comes at the door, the Stargate experience, gratitude, things not being perfect right away, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the process of filming 24, the benefit of settling into a character for a long period of time, learning from every experience, having one acting teacher for forty years, playing a child's game as an actor, having a supportive family, driving trucks, finding focus with acting, in search of an alternate reality, piecing everything together in finding a career as an actor, getting little breaks along the way, being plagued by performance anxiety, getting reminded to have fun, the difficulty of easing into jobs, not having any control over the end product, knowing when you need to recharge, not having room for doubt, constantly being triggered as actor, creating opportunity for yourself, writing a very personal solo show about his son and making it universal, yoga, exchanging ideas being the greatest form of meditation, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat Alexandre's biggest takeaway lesson about life from William Shatner, working on You Can Call Me Bill, practicing mindfulness and gratefulness, longevity, being inspired to create, getting to the true essence of someone, simplicity, accepting you'll never please everybody, nerd rage with The People vs. George Lucas, getting better with every project, perception being a funny thing, collaboration, having clarity, reviews, having no shortage of stories to tell, not waiting for the money, always finishing a film, doing a TED talk, giving yourself one opportunity per day, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the moniker of Doctor Trek, the journey of getting involved on a professional level with the Star Trek franchise, gaining insider access into the world of Star Trek, meeting Gene Roddenberry, earning people's trust, lessons learned, shining a light on the behind the scenes people, working on The Communicator magazine, becoming the go to person, giving Trek fans the internet before the internet was the internet, interviewing people who don't often feel like they should be interviewed, having his name on the Voyager credits, everything imploding at the conclusion of Enterprise and the Berman era Trek, physical media, streaming, the current state of Star Trek, the genius of Prodigy, doubts, getting out of your own way, never forgetting your first, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the art of tap dancing, becoming a member of The Tap Pack, maintaining the different facets of performing, loving a schedule, having a tour cut short unexpectedly, the emotional experience working on Frozen, meeting his future wife on Frozen, the rat race of auditioning, missed opportunities, finding where you fit, insecurity of belonging, improving behind the curtain, leading a company, always being a good person first, having a Dad who performs in amateur theatre, initially thinking of playing footy for a living, embracing vulnerability, finding the why without the pressure in community theatre, being prepared, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the fulfilling experience working on such an iconic show like Chicago, surrealness of post show life, preparation before starting up on a new show, staying ready, putting your best foot forward, getting into the rhythm of a show, gaining a sense of humour when mistakes happen, opening nights, a love for space and science fiction, moving back to Australia permanently, getting the job on Moulin Rouge, working on Moulin Rogue during the height of COVID, always being drawn to dancing, applying for schools, forgiving your younger self, finding confidence to sing in front of people, knowing what's in your wheelhouse, needing to be better than just fine, the Australian work ethic, thriving in discomfort, stage door, the way you conduct yourself, balancing a social life, behind the scenes of a tech day, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about her recent run playing Roxie in Chicago, touring for four years straight, having time to herself, the tears that came from finishing Chicago, the love of live theatre and performing, keeping up with the wellness during a show's run, making the decision to take a show off, the most exhausting point of a show, always being surrounded by music, going to WAAPA, being a perfectionist, constructive criticism, not having enough time to mourn a show's end, balancing the social life outside a show, auditioning, feeling the pressure when loved when see you, seeing Jack Chambers & Stefanie Jones perform Mary Poppins in the UK & Ireland, the craziness of working through the height of COVID, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This one is a lot of fun!

We chat about the first leg of the Sister Act tour in Sydney, figuring out the eight show week, taking in the first performances, having their first bow filmed, performing musicals in high school together, what people back home think, the incredible lighting, music and pace of Sister Act, being inspired by working with legends, learning on the job, finding out they booked the job on Sister Act, the pains of having to keep the job secret, working regular jobs in between auditions, expecting the unexpected, speaking Spanish, the collaborative nature of working on the show, trying not to corpse on stage, what they appreciate about each other's performances, the moment they fell in love with performing, finding a side hustle, receiving praise, looking at musicals in a new light, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being part of & Juliet, the creative process of working on the show, positive fan encounters, the humbling experience of going back to regular jobs, the difficulties of tour life, post show blues, becoming a Pilates instructor, shining in auditions, not looking at the audience, anxiety sometimes getting in the way, growing up wanting to be a VET, auditioning for Neighbours, always being a sensitive kid, working on Aladdin, having a break, getting in your own head, Inside Out 2, struggles to connect with others, the hard moment of saying goodbye to & Juliet, resetting your body during a show, the spontaneity of becoming a dancer, playing rugby league, family, West Side Story, sustaining a serious injury, having too many emotions, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about her work on Boston Legal, playing a character struggling with drug addiction, working with Mark Valley & René Auberjonois, always wanting to write a book, dreams fading away, the rhythm of life, giving back, the self employed creative life, the not so straight forward creative path at forging a career, the humbling experience of becoming a model, accepting that she didn't like auditioning, feeling isolated in doubt, being satisfied artistically, segueing into writing & directing, creating a regular time where nothing happens, sometimes feeling ill at ease on guest starring jobs, a nice moment creating a scene with Anthony LaPaglia, the need for community, entering into the world of Star Trek, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working on Boston Legal, asking to leave Boston Legal, being a series regular on multiple shows, taking precautions for Human Target, taking advice from Lee Majors, the time spent waiting around on set as an actor, being fully engaged with Human Target, wanting to be a pro football player, coming from a military family, serving in the military as an engineer, leading small unit troops, finding acting through extra work on a film in Berlin, going to German night acting classes, working in the wild west of coffee shops, developing a tolerance to rejection, receiving hate mail while he was on Days of Our Lives, working as a location assistant, holding your ground, learning to be sure of yourself, getting grief with Denzel Washington, retiring from acting, and a whole lot more!

*Apologies for the audio quality. I only realised afterwards that the mic was not turned on*

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working on The Walking Dead, getting an action figure, the pressure of working on TV pilots, learning from failed pilots, moving out to LA with no plan, putting yourself out there, getting the first co-star job on a TV show, knowing everything would work out, the humbling experience of waiting tables, not thinking success would come quickly, the non-linear career in the arts, a love of painting, learning to live a self directed life, being comfortable knowing you're not right for certain roles, working with Jim O'Heir on Middle Man, not winning over everyone, being a shy kid, not drifting along in life, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working on Better Call Saul, the responsibility he took in the series finale of Better Call Saul, initially auditioning for Breaking Bad, having good work environments, struggling with self confidence, servicing the story, the love of auditioning, not being able to watch back every self tape, wanting to be the people in the movies, the Albuquerque acting scene, getting the first TV gig, being well prepared to stay comfortable, having a sense of ownership over a moment, getting to the point where you can't turn back, box breathing to overcome stage fright, getting his nose broken half way through a show, the incredible experienced gained from teaching, pushing through social anxiety, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about not being a pure blood musical theatre person, working on Rocky Horror, exploring body type, hiding where you naturally fit, self awareness being a powerful weapon, getting the creative freedom in independent theatre, winning a walk on role in Wicked as a kid, meeting Bert Newton, working hospitality with the Marriner Group, not being ashamed of the work you're doing, getting a lead role in a show at The Hayes, loosing who you are as a performer, not currently having an agent, trying to meet your own standards eight shows a week, respecting and taking time with fans at stage door, working with comedians, dealing with the heckles on Rocky Horror, loosing control on stage, mapping things out, getting Jagged Little Pill, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Maverick's name, working on Murder for Two, playing twelve characters, being spontaneous on stage, Gabbi Bolt, preparing for shows, knee and neck injuries, the pride of having done Murder for Two, coming from a sporty family, being cast in The King and I for The Production Company at a young age, the shock of being able to work in the industry, writing for yourself, Maverick's favourite piece of work, the initial trepidation of putting on solo shows for the first time, comedy, collaborating with others, being on the other side of the casting table, thinking about longevity, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the craziness of reaching five hundred performances of Beauty and the Beast, getting the call saying he got the show, keeping up with the show, the passion of expressing yourself artistically, the elaborate and aesthetically pleasing set, covering LeFou, translating nerves into excitement, playing the comedic role, getting hired for the best version of you, table tennis, dreams of becoming a mailman, being expelled in primary school, performing in professional productions as a kid, the art of tap dancing, the importance of going to class, finding balance, ups and downs of touring life, being proud of your university mates, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Michael's love for Australia, the rarity of playing the same character in the theatre world for ten years, maintaining the energy, breaking the fourth wall, working with so many different cast members that come and go, the richness of Aladdin, the talent in Australia, working with and performing for Aussies, Aladdin being a universal show, watching a cover or swing having their moment to shine, taking in the moment, being your authentic self as the Genie, always wanting to be a performer, kindness, being joyful, loving to laugh, not having anything to prove to anyone, having a life outside the theatre, what would draw Michael back to Australia, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about not wanting to do any one thing forever, variety, young people being overwhelmed with choice, asking the question of what you want to do next, not being happy in law, overriding fears of performing, finding thought provoking conversations with fellow artists, the fear of what came with success, loss of privacy, taking time off to rediscover yourself, not relying on external validation, learning from valid criticism, not acting like you're so special, the luxury of being older, facing burnout, adjusting to change, being the narrator in Rocky Horror and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being a jack of all trades, taking on new challenges, War on Waste, the impact of War on Waste, collaboration, the brutal writing room of The Chaser, the Trojan Horse stunt, the attention that came along with The Chaser's War on Everything, meeting the initial team of The Chaser through debating, getting advice from lawyers, working with Andrew Denton, performing to a live audience, learning to be serious, work ethic, working with new people, moving from South Africa to Australia, trying many different things, deadlines, Mark Latham, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Planet America, recording long podcasts, a week in the life of Chas Licciardello, having a sense of your own fortune & privilege, the few jobs in TV, being more comfortable behind the camera, being scared of people during the controversies of The Chaser's War on Everything, the love of television, pure determination on getting yourself out there, joining The Chaser, initially not being good enough for TV, meeting the standard, Andrew Denton, the exhaustion of working The Chaser's War on Everything, being detained by Today Tonight, The Hamster Wheel, members of the group peeling off into different directions, American politics, creating a calmer space for politics, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being fired as a team captain on Would I Lie To You?, not intending to be a comedy performer, always being comfortable with writing, studying the rhythm of writing, turning a hobby into a career, working in a newsroom, the support of Charles Firth, rolling the dice, not wanting to die wondering, the frustration of being defined by your work, things not being so far out of reach, having an innate confidence in craft, working on Australian Epic with Andrew Hansen, feeling out of place in a room of comedians, not touring with The Chaser's Age of Terror Variety Hour, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his podcast The Delta Flyers, the cathartic experience of watching Star Trek: Voyager, the struggles of anxiety, taking responsibility, the dream of directing, feeling like a fraud as an actor, moving around a lot, being painfully shy, stumbling into acting, saying yes, hitting it off with Wil Wheaton, a love for the rehearsal room, gratitude, retiring the acting, turning down a Broadway musical opportunity, taking on a leadership role, creative freedom of producing shows, wanting Scott Bakula to laugh, working on Chuck, writing an episode of Resident Alien, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about reuniting with René Auberjonois for a scene in Boston Legal, entering the world of podcasting, admiring his fellow actors in a new light, not giving the same performance more than once, the first compliment, being a good collaborator, moving to New York, hitting a brick wall with work, learning to work on a TV set, the Quark makeup, creating your own work, being a union official, writing, keeping motivated, making a difference, finding things we like to do, the third eye, directing Shakespeare plays, Pan Can, and a whole lot more!

Please educate yourself on pancreatic cancer and visit the Pan Can website below.

https://pancan.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what it's like to be an icon, getting jealous, wanting to play baseball, a love of music, being prepared, figuring out show business, people giving him a shot, having too much confidence, realising things aren't personal, being told you weren't going to make it, metric for success, conventions helping with public speaking, being cast in Star Trek: The Next Generation, joining Deep Space Nine, becoming a pilot, writing comics, westerns, frustration with formulaic modern day movies, coming back for Picard and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the Parks and Recollection podcast, watching yourself, the relevance of Parks & Recreation, self criticism, assuming you're always going to be fired, the finale of Parks and Recreation, Jerry becoming the Mayor of Pawnee, being terrible with goodbyes, doors being open thanks to Parks & Rec, learning to be a disc jockey, going to Second City, the initial fear of doing dramatic work, affecting Dick Van Dyke, being a good observer, dance parties at lunch & fun runs on Parks & Rec, nerves, the mockumentary format, the loss of sitcoms, the dream of being in a Broadway musical, James Spader sitting on Jim's lap in Boston Legal, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about being in two shows at the same time, coming back into Wicked, the story of Wicked, going back into life as a swing, mid show swaps, people on phones at the theatre, holding the record of performing in Book of Mormon more than anyone else, playing Elder Cunningham, favourite musicals, professional skateboarding, changing lives, receiving the legacy robe, being careful on where you receive validation, a Parks and Recreation quote, theatre not being a place of fear, the relay race of musical theatre, time off, learning your limits, the premature end of Book of Mormon, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what they enjoy in each other's performances, the high intensity of the show, getting the call saying they got Beauty and the Beast, sitting on the casting information, easing into the show, working on a Disney production, the opening night, checking in with each other, the unsung heroes of the backstage crew, the reactions from audiences, blind faith of chasing dreams, taking things one step at a time, life changing moments, camps, liberating moments, the other side of fear, finding routine, playing comedic characters, finding peace, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about working with The Production Company, the freedom to play on A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the common ground of the rehearsal floor, discovery of dance at the age of four, expression of personality with jazz, not resting on your laurels, pushing yourself to do better, finding your people, becoming comfortable to talk on stage, always having something to work on, finding new magic in a script, hindsight, the shared experience with performers & audiences, being cast as Lumière in Beauty and the Beast, working with covers, fan art, the costume of Lumière, doing the right thing for the collective, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the injury that took him out of Wicked for a while, Ainsley Melham, saying goodbye to shows, being in panic mode, enjoying the rollercoaster, the world being so much bigger, working in a cafe, Jagged Little Pill, working with like-minded people, the love and need of creating, stage anxiety, interactions with fans, dancing, having the tools to tell a good story, having a thick skin, the grand scale of Wicked, teaching, working in film, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about how they know each other, first professional gig, clowning, finding a love for performing, pulling your socks up, being each other's advocates, collective trauma, the stops and starts of Moulin Rouge, the love of rigid schedules, satisfying the soul with other things in between gigs, teaching, leading by example, pottery, a passionate loose grip, not thinking you're ready for a role, throwing food to the audience in A Christmas Carol, belonging, the negative chat, what they admire when they see each other perform, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the fun of working on Sunset Boulevard, scripted and unscripted mayhem, life of the character actor, lessons learned when starting out, unplanned mentoring of others, putting ego aside, Nathan Stafford, figuring out you're good at what you do, initial frustration of not receiving notes, covering Jafar & the Genie in Aladdin, the stage being a briar patch, the 'cross' on the floor, knowing what you're right for, playing villains, difficult roles and shows, the aftermath of performances and auditions that don't go well, the importance of being a storyteller, finding places to breathe, the technical artform of comedy, being careful not to be too indulgent, work ethic, emotional moments, the legacy cloak, Thirsty Thursday's, and SO much more!

This was an epic chat with Dean and Troy!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

,

We discuss dance captain & resident choreographer responsibilities, keeping up with a high energy show, the concert like style of SIX, breaking the fourth wall, breaking boundaries of musical theatre, big year of musical theatre roles, not taking being in a show for granted, swinging all six queens, learning on the job, knowing who you want to be, being a proud sister, K-pop dance school, the moments when family watch you perform professionally for the first time, audience members dressing up in costumes to see SIX, gifts, peak of mount stupid, backing yourself as a performer, every job in the industry being important, work/life balance, writing a show with a sibling, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Wicked being the hardest and most rewarding working experience in her life, shifting the way you live to perform the role of Elphaba, seeing cast changes throughout the show, working as an usher, the special and unique experience of going to the theatre, not getting bored, Jemma Rix and other emergency standby Elphaba's, thinking about the prospect of the show ending, the joy of performing, being an all or nothing type of person, covering on Cruel Intentions, anxiety, positive reinforcement, expectations, working on Tick, Tick... Boom!, receiving gifts from fans, perfectionism, patience, finding a balance, Sheridan's makeup artist, Jake, the anticipation of the Wicked movie, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the excitement of stage door, working on a cruise ship, Todd's love of working on Book of Mormon, missing out on the theatrical experience as an audience member once you're in it, building confidence, understudying Elder Price, seeing the industry become more and more talented, seeing friends succeed, the moment Todd realised people worked in musical theatre for a living, being fully prepared, the luck involved working on Frozen, finding your tribe of people, auditioning for other shows whilst being in a musical, pushing yourself creatively, having well rounded experiences, the moment Jemma Rix came back to reprise the role of Elphaba in Wicked, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We open up the conversation by chatting about Taylor's work on The Dive, helping performers navigate their way through the industry, giving back, the responsibilities of being an interviewer, taking imperfect action, being a curious person, trying it all, getting into a rehearsal room for the first time, gaining inspiration from others, bringing the fun to work, working internationally on a production of Cats, showing up, being a dance captain, having good people skills, knowing when you need to look after yourself, favourite part working on Sunset Boulevard, covering 18 different roles in Mary Poppins, just getting to interval as a swing, seeing the theatre industry grow, and a whole lot more!

Taylor's work on The Dive helping fellow artists see their way through industry, and igniting these important conversations is truly wonderful and inspirational.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Tom's family attachment to Sunset Boulevard, the massive scale production of the show, working with alternate leading ladies, the outer body experience of watching Sarah Brightman stepping into the role of Norma Desmond, the masterful performance of Silvie Paladino, creating the show from the ground up, performing at the Sydney Opera House, absorbing the moment, unbreakable bonds, bringing back the drama in musicals, not dropping the ball, the muscularity of singing, not being on the back foot at work, nerves, taking a breath to reassess. not limiting yourself, riding the wave, the importance of the stage crew, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the rare opportunity to work on a show like Sunset Boulevard, racking up hundreds of performances in shows, having role models, stepping into established shows, putting your best foot forward, the thought of performing in front of a couple of thousand of people, each audience being unique, the importance of the backstage crew, working at the Sydney Opera House, fulfilling childhood dreams, fan art, making an impact, Moulin Rogue, Miss Saigon, Book of Mormon, breaks, not taking a single show for granted, fears, knowing where you fit in the musical theatre world, performing for friends & family, and a whole lot more! Very fun chat.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the whopping 15 month tour of Miss Saigon, vocal challenges, the overwhelming experience in Taiwan, the epic force of Miss Saigon, the distinct love of the show in the Philippines, the attention of fans, the show's pending end point, the anticipation of pride & relief, making friends for life, going back to the world of auditioning, embracing uncertainty, putting on a concert, finding creatively fulfilling work in between jobs, singing Whitney Houston around the house as a kid, working on the Obama campaign, embracing your unique qualities, championing other people's success, managing self doubt, reminding yourself that perfect is boring, finding a sense of stillness, being robotically consistent in every performance of a show, stage mishaps, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about touring internationally with Miss Saigon, adapting to life on tour, missing home, settling into new cities & countries, being in his longest running contract, the audience reactions to the show in Asia, not knowing much about Miss Saigon before getting the show, taking a step back to prepare for what's next, quoting movies, having fallbacks if he wasn't performing, striving for your dream, hustling & keeping the creative flow going, shifting your thinking, first job working on Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour, contending with the elements on Sydney Harbour, covering at a moment's notice in Joseph and Technicolor Dreamcoat, importance of preparation, maintaining the discipline to stay fit & healthy during a show's run, getting sick in Taiwan, a collision with Nigel Huckle on stage, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss touring internationally with School of Rock, the audience responses from the Asian countries, the gaps between shows, settling into new cities & countries, getting homesick, balancing the social life, finding the fuel to give the best in a performance, sustaining a vocal hemorrhage, feeling the guilt, being an athlete at heart, the hype around Matilda, families dressing up as his character Michael Wormwood, imposter syndrome, wanting to be a professional tennis player, having all your eggs in one basket, finding a drive being around other people that are better than you, Australian Idol, getting the first gig on High School Musical & it's unexpectedly short run, shopping mall shows, being built like a wombat, learning on the job, taking a moment to admire the hard work of a swing, the turning points in changing the mentality to withstand rejection, giving yourself 24 hours to be upset, teaching, a job working with Barney the Dinosaur, and we also dig into how perfect Daniel would be in the upcoming Australian production of Beetlejuice. Big episode. Great chat.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about working on Aladdin, covering the role of Aladdin, tricks in dealing with nerves, the occasional blur after having done a show, the initial overwhelming experience at stage door, thinking about the next job, audition season, the mental gymnastics of covering multiple tracks, maintaining the discipline on tour, adjusting to a new theatre, balancing a social life, dance academy, friendships & support systems, stepping into a rehearsal room for the first time, compliments, the strange world of working on Cats, the lesson of listening to your body, the guilt of calling in sick, swings, switching off the performer brain seeing a show, the art of the quick changes, suffering mental blocks in auditions, family audience members, opening nights, seeing shows on the West End, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We catch up on life, work, politics, and an engagement! An episode filled with a lot of edit points!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about about what it's like carrying Brad Sherwood on his back, maintaining energy levels, when shows go off the rails, getting multiple episodes from a single taping, the shallow place of Hollywood, coming to Australia, the rush of not knowing where a show is going, discovering improv, getting the first laugh, getting in your own way, freedom to fail, not being able to teach improv, performing with a hypnotist, stepping outside your comfort zone, getting the job on the UK Whose Line & screwing it up, forming friendships, being shy, working with Richard SImmons & Robin Williams, the incredible feat that a show like Whose Line exists, Aisha Tyler & Drew Carey participating in the games, being intimidated by the first professional acting gig, having nothing to lose, the hoedowns, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Nick's work in Andor, getting out of the habit of watching yourself, the spinoff pilot from Agents of SHIELD that didn't get picked up to series, getting used to working in an American series as a regular, the process of getting the job on Agents of SHIELD, waiting for someone to give you the thumbs up, the cost it took to digitally remove an earring, dealing with pressure, not taking yourself too seriously, being self conscious, coming from a humble upbringing, being no better than anyone else, a career as an actor being the only reality that could be imagined, not attaching your self worth to what you do, accepting the fact that you have to build a career, playing a trick on yourself to say you don't care, realising nobody is out to get you, the periods of time not working, writing, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Danny's IMDB credit on our Australian soap opera Neighbours, knowing Rachel Bloom since college, his time on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Hollywood being filled with lies, taking in Radio City Music Hall, wanting to be a dramatic actor, the impossibility of getting auditions, improving as a stand up, heckling, audiences ruining shows, abandoning bits, maintaining the discipline, ticket sales, having multiple revenue streams, making your own content, A.I., having your eyes on your own paper, a lesson Danny learnt while wasting time developing a potential TV show, working on Ted and with Seth MacFarlane, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about missing her time on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the transfer to network television, taking some time to figure out the world of the show, the initial hesitancy of the female anti-hero, standards & practices, settling into television, Broadway, interactions with fans, breaking bones on Billy Elliot, the frustrations of falling in between boxes, a harsh lesson that sent Donna into a tailspin, the joys of having a structured life in the world of theatre, becoming happy with other people's success, being fine with the downtime, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Dillon's work on Torchwood, signing a nudity waiver, being a tennis player, putting too much pressure on yourself, freezing up, self doubt, not believing the positive, actively looking for the negative, self doubt, being underutilized on Nikita, becoming addicted to oxycontin, withdrawals, hiding in plain sight on the TV show Remedy, getting fired from Agents of SHIELD, feeling like you let people down, being a harder person, getting advice from Xander Berkeley, writing with his brother, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Mark's journey of becoming a painter, finding new creative answers, jumping in the deep end with an exhibition of his art, being accountable only to yourself as a painter, vulnerability in painting, being honest with yourself, chasing tornadoes, acting not being the be all end all, not pigeonholing yourself as an artist, bringing joy to yourself, drawing upon puppetry when playing Isaac in The Orville, working on a potential fourth season of The Orville, facing nerves, falling into acting, learning to take compliments, positive reinforcement, America inspiring Mark to diversify in his art, painting being all about mistakes, training to be brave, creating chaos on a canvas then bringing it to order, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about her work as Raffi on Star Trek: Picard, the importance of the world of Star Trek, finding inspiration in Uhura and Nichelle Nichols, the joys of working with Evan Evagora & Isa Briones, saying goodbye to the Season 1 & 2 cast members, being part of the negotiating committee during the actors strike, shining a light on the realities of being an actor in the business, standing up for your neighbour, where she sees the business going, being the daughter of civil rights activists, having hope, finding a place to learn who you are, having a family in the arts, earning a living solely through acting, being your biggest fan, procrastinating, singing in Anyone But You, Korean Dramas, working with Australians, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Reed's work on 24 and being the last character to die on the series, randomness & luck, working with Gregory Itzin, joining Screen Actor's Guild at 17 years old, being surrounded by show people, positive reinforcement, having a degree of naivety, the downs being essential, failing quickly & publicly, the shame of admitting you're afraid, never having the same day twice, not being in control, the power of saying yes, not making yourself less, virtue in auditioning for the roles you don't think you'll get, interference, never showing up as a guest, having an after action report, Better Call Saul, Homicide: Life on the Street, and a whole lot more!

So many words of wisdom in this one!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Rick's appearances in Star Trek, wanting to be a comic book artist, competing in a dance competition on TV, having a great mentor, being free as an actor, seeing others not getting the same opportunities, switching off the acting brain to enjoy entertainment, the pains of the self tape, making an impression, having supportive parents, feeling like the old man on set in The Magicians, finding where you belong again in the world when on a film or TV set, keeping busy, looking at your own work, time making all the difference, doing the best you could do, the importance of having a dog in your life, working on Battlestar Galactica & Stargate, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about working on Guys & Dolls, the immersive experience of Guys & Dolls, the lengthy rehearsal process of Guys & Dolls, opening nights, being a determined kid, getting his first job on the Disney movie Disenchanted, working hard on singing, being a last minute emergency replacement cover on Priscilla, taking compliments, the theatre industry in the UK, seeing friends in shows, moving on from shows, going for auditions while still being in a big show, being mixed race, catching yourself going through self doubt, finding something positive in every job, wanting to be a swing, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the line of people that bought tickets for the opening nights, the life changing experience coming to Australia with Book of Mormon, plans to move back to Australia, meeting his wife, working with Australians, the audiences, adapting to the Australian culture, the physical demand that goes along playing Elder Price, stage anxiety, saying goodbye to the show, hair loss, panic attacks, wanting to be a baseball player, a Jim Carrey impression, being vocal about your emotions, a carrot cake metaphor, playing a dancing butler, having a kid, not having an ego, writing an album with his wife, Casino People, fake it until you make it, a Bondy fan page, Broadway, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Gabbi's theatre debut at The Hayes, Murder for Two, venting about the score, not originally considering professional theatre as an option, realising that you're not just one thing, selling your show & self promotion, wanting to be a baker, becoming a muso, the love for stories, crafting memories, just getting through the week, the importance of having someone saying "you can do it", working with The Chaser, the love/hate relationship with satire, working regular jobs, an incredible introduction to the comedy scene, Spicks and Specks, therapy, bracing yourself for rejection, touring with Charles Firth, James Schloeffel & Mark Humphries, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what it's like being an improv king, precociousness, Whose Line being slightly frowned upon, the traps people fall into in improv, openness to seeing where a scene takes you, all life being improvised, working on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, touring with Colin Mochrie, a compulsion of making people laugh, moving around a lot, knowing things won't last, ADHD, being an only child, paying your dues, the Whose Line group, paying attention, cracking the code for a ZOOM show, scripted material, the joy of not knowing what's going to happen, Baby Reindeer, answering a question from Greg Proops, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the success of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, the fun group nature of improv, the cross network promotion on the modern day CW version of Whose Line, the hoedowns, performing improv on television vs. performing improv live, the making of the Whose Line TV show, accumulating episodes, the failed American version of Thank God You're Here, the magic formula of shooting improv games, a love for performing, self imposed poverty, working in a law office, making things funny, surprises, putting together comedy albums, not going by your own reaction, selling yourself on stage, being on the road, a question for Brad Sherwood, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about Carlo's work on Play School, writing content for kids, getting the gig on Thank God You're Here, dealing with pressure, a love for rocks, the improv Jazz scene, working at a brewery, paying rent in coins, the moment The Bear Pack exploded into success, being seen multiple times by Joffrey from Game of Thrones, going all in on comedy, teaching improv, feeling good about failing, doubting your abilities, family, craving the mundanity, the Canberra comedy scene, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete answers questions left behind from Vinnie & Michael. We discuss wanting to be close to funny, putting the focus on your scene partner, becoming the dance captain on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the initial intimidation of singing & dancing, realising what you bring to a project, getting the role of Daryl on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, working with Rachel Bloom, the process of filming the show, sharing scenes with David Hull, the enjoyment of being a little bit scared, improvising on set, finding inspiration in watching Jim Carrey in the movie Liar Liar, doubling down on acting, discomfort with emotion, sharing who you are, being grateful of figuring it out, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about missing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the cast text chain, perfect timing for the final season, the seriousness of the show, the supporting cast, the difficulty of filming the "Group Mind" number, feeling nervous about dancing, not wanting a talent for drawing go to waste, being the school cartoonist, performing at Radio City Music Hall, working in supportive environments, True Blood, the first job, mellowing out, doing better work by caring less, knowing what good times felt like, the current state of the industry, the duration of the strikes, getting through periods of no work, loosing the audition waiting room culture, being hopeful for the future, not being asked to be part of an image campaign, another question for Pete Gardner, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting the gig on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the positive impact of the show, magic reminding us of the wonder in the world, seeing yourself in the characters, self-improvement, getting an acting coach during the show, being neurodivergent, running lines with Michael Hitchcock, ending the series with a concert & a tour, mental health struggles, using musicals as a shield & security blanket, being an educator, healing nature of musicals, finding your why, keeping your heart open, facing yourself, creating offerings with your art. exploration & redirection, telling your own story, how you start is not how you finish, enjoying musicals in a different way, meeting of the minds, willing to be curious, a question for Pete Gardner, and a WHOLE lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about appearing in the series finale of Better Call Saul, getting some closure for Marie, the authentic relationship between Hank & Marie in Breaking Bad, finding new families after Breaking Bad ended, watching & learning, admiring others, holding your own, becoming the actor on set with experience, having no guarantees, doing comedy for the first time, working with Michael J. Fox, the difficulty of keeping in contact with people, being the youngest sibling, earning a seat at the table, figuring it out, Australians being able to use the C-word, working on a pilot with Jim Jefferies, the importance of hustling, having the right amount of fear, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about getting a job as a dancer on the Wonka movie, breaking the film set, feeling pigeonholed, flying to the UK with only $1000 in the bank to audition for Book of Mormon, making the decision to move to London, the differences between working in Australia & the UK, touring internationally, the importance of live theatre for audiences, always knowing he wanted to be a performer, not being a shy kid, confidence being the key to performing, an ayahuasca retreat, not exactly knowing what's next, developing arthritis, savings, first jobs, going through the highs & lows, taking away restrictions, Guys & Dolls, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about the day in the life of Rod, having means & opportunity, Rod's journey of discovery as it relates to Star Trek, not loving the industry, the whole point of Star Trek, the human race & life, falling in love & finding a passion for Star Trek, the importance of keeping the Star Trek vision alive during the current world climate, tapping into forms of creativity, Rod's view on the modern Trek era, aspiring to be better, inspiring characters in the Trek universe, learning to forgive ourselves, getting up on stage at conventions, the development of a Gene Roddenberry biopic movie, memories of Mum (Majel Barrett Roddenberry) & Dad (Gene), and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tahmoh answers a question from Aaron Douglas. We go on to discuss Tahmoh's love for science fiction, the initial discomfort at conventions, the momentum & longevity of Battlestar Galactica, moving on from Battlestar, forging bonds, passion & commitment to his BSG character Helo, fearlessness, writing an email to the showrunner, chasing the dragon, holding your own surrounded by veteran actors, doing the preparation to deliver, acknowledgment from others, being kinder to yourself, focusing on your breathing, reinvesting, questioning your work, the depths of depression & self doubt, choosing what you focus on, knowing you're enough, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron answers a question from Jamie Bamber. We also talk about conventions, finding moments of humour, the initial confusion of the fan response, wanting to be a lawyer in high school, getting into acting late, getting the Battlestar Galactica gig, saying your lines as simply as you can, making it up as you go, compliments, the importance of portraying a military officer, going from job to job, becoming accustomed to rejection, collaboration, settling into what you do well, working with Amanda Tapping, first gig on Stargate, everything happening for a reason, pushing through injuries on set, Murder in a Small Town, a question for Tahmoh Penikett, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about his outstanding short lived TV show Monday Mornings, withstanding the disappointments, the pressure that goes along with being a lead in a television series, hoops of judgment, taking on a leadership role, working with Edward James Olmos & Mary McDonnell, the impact of Battlestar Galactica, taking some time to settle into Battlestar Galactica, the fan response, falling in love with literature, quiet determination, biggest regrets, the ongoing challenge of combating defeatism & perfectionism, writing, the importance of affirmation, constructive creative relationships, self belief, going back to your own work, discipline, a question for Aaron Douglas, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about living life in New York, filming Aladdin in the UK, first job performing with Hi-5, the moment Ainsley was able to step up as a young adult, the evolution of confidence, being trusted by a big brand to play Aladdin, the enjoyment of seeing a swing have a chance to shine, the sadness felt when a show ends, working on Pippin, touring overseas to huge crowds, stage door, adapting to new theatres, being proud of your work, originating a role, the hardest show Ainsley has ever done, giving yourself grace, what would bring Ainsley back to Australia, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss living in Hawaii, missing Australia, the initial nerves of working on Star Trek: Picard acting opposite Patrick Stewart, fan response, finding out Elnor wouldn't return for a third season, a potential Elnor Anime-like spinoff, the biggest takeaway from Star Trek: Picard, not feeling anything is out of reach, modelling, working regular jobs, the quiet times in between acting work, giving it a go, being an introvert at heart, pulling yourself out of self doubt, anxiety & panic attacks, failure not being an option, not putting a time limit on yourself, stubbornness, using acting as an escape, being a daydreamer, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the Penn & Teller: Fool Us appearance, realising that styrofoam peanuts aren't easy to clean, messing up tricks, the work it takes to create a new trick, mentoring younger magicians, the moment Eric fell in love with magic, the chaotic magic room, having a steady stream of work, the magic community, ego, finding the patter, a Cannabis themed magic show, the difficulty of staying original, law of attraction, writing down a list of accomplishments, sobriety, Brain Games, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about about Jason's work on Stargate, working with Amanda Tapping again, the making of the MONK movie, slipping back into the character of Randy Disher, everyone being a little bit OCD, the success of MONK, reasoning behind Jason starting up his own podcast, giving yourself no other option, working in group environments, rejection fueling the fire, being stubborn, the greatest warriors of time & patience, the encouragement & encouraging others, reading the reviews, first paid gig, the right parts finding their way to you, nerves, being OK with falling on your face, getting a heart transplant, finding reason to be stronger, the growth of Jason's capacity for kindness, generosity, compassion & empathy since heart surgery, surrounding yourself with like-minded people, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the end of Star Trek: Discovery, the response from the Trek fanbase, the cinematic feel of Discovery, thriving on pressure & anxiety, giving everything you have, being drawn by the act of creating, starting as a musician, knowing yourself so you become capable, being teased, getting an agent at 16 years old, learning on the job, asking questions, creating impact in a B storyline, treating auditions as work, not waving away validation, sustaining an injury on Rent, making commitments, not letting your audiences down, out of body experience on Broadway, training yourself out of beating yourself up, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about his appearance in Star Trek: Picard Season 3, memories of working on films as a kid, working with John Carpenter, wanting to become a director, not having pushy stage parents, the moment he thought he was done with acting, the need to always be making something, pleasure being less of an interest than creating, becoming comfortable as an actor on The Sarah Connor Chronicles, creating music as a personal journal, coming from a punk place, concealing who you are, becoming free in his writing, directing, & music, the stress of doing press, putting all the cards on the table, throwing himself into other work, developing a thick skin, working more on his own creative projects, getting older, seeing creative works to completion, Seinfeld, working on his first musical in Reefer Madness, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about whether or not Stephen has seen the musical, being asked to be in Groundhog Day (again) in London, Stephen's thoughts on the film being made into a musical, Stephen's inspiration for Ned Ryerson, filming the movie, how long the time loop really lasted for, repetition, playing "making movies" as a kid, having adventure in his life, dancing with regret and hope, sticking with the truth, celebrating what is gone, learning lessons in flexibility, getting rained on playing a judge on TV, a strange experience working with Steven Seagal, being a strong advocate for your character, the last time Stephen saw Tim Minchin, and a whole lot more!

Some great stories in this one! This episode also marks the end of this first batch of Groundhog Day themed episodes. There will be more to come as I still have 7 cast members yet to be on the podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Tim's comedy rock star status, the impact of Groundhog Day, delivering meaning and theme in art, seeing the good in the bad, learning to be present in the beauty of now, curating your circle of pain, the limited Groundhog Day runs, digging deep into the text, the Australian cast, Tim's thoughts on Matthew Hamilton taking on Phil Connors for Andy Karl, being a theatre kid, altering the way he saw himself as a lyricist, performing with an orchestra, telling stories to yourself, thoughts on imposter syndrome, letting yourself off the hook, taking breaks, the first acting gig on Californication, and so much more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about why I'm collecting the cast members from Groundhog Day, the life lessons from the show, relief after getting the job on Groundhog Day, self worth, loosing confidence in auditions, strength in vulnerability, the learning pit, the idea behind Michael starting his own podcast, the healing experience of the show and the podcast, getting outside of your comfort zone, a recent audition experience, learning from others through the podcast, handing yourself over to authenticity, being a perfectionist, working as a teacher, former issues with validation, overcoming the negative voices, awkward moments not defining us, becoming a different person after Groundhog Day, meeting his husband, getting lost in Berlin, wanting to be a VET, being a empathetic person, hating injustice, surprising yourself, the day of the pepitas, and so much more!

Go and have a listen to Michael's own incredible podcast, And I Know Things Now.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Grant's character name, life after the show, fans flying in to see the show, savouring every second of the last few shows, being in a in-between stage in his career, the road getting to Australia, a love for animation, playing the saxophone, following the flow of things, studying in South Africa, incorporating more drawing into his life, balancing life as a performer, first job on Cats, working on Singing in the Rain in Australia, touring shows, contending with self criticism. struggling to make decisions, starting over in Australia, figuring out where you fit in, the differences working in South Africa vs. Australia, workplace traditions, the advantages of living with another musical theatre performer, rating Grant's dance abilities up against Jack Chambers, watching Matthew Hamilton perform Phil Connors, timing in shows, making long term friendships, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about life after the show, the Groundhog Day group chat, the opportunity to watch the show, the joys of working with this cast, Andy & Elise's leadership, closing night, Andy's cry on stage in the last show, stage mishaps, the costume changes, Kate's move from Ballarat to Sydney to be in 42nd Street, Madison's eye opening experience seeing Rent, the influence of the movie Tootsie, knowing you're good, unbridled confidence, the importance of having supportive parents, a crisis of confidence, realising and acknowledging things are out of your control, a helpful lesson with a singing teacher, combating negative self talk, being open to change, teaching jobs in between performing jobs, Madison's tattoo, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about what it was like running into Kaya, getting straight back into life after Groundhog Day, the specialness of the show, rehearsing the show, covering for Phil Connors, stepping in for Phil unexpectedly when Andy Karl was off, being in the moment, wanting to be a pilot, getting the creative bug, first professional job at a theme park, getting a Disney cruise ship contract, band life, Channing Tatum, meeting his soon to be Aussie wife in Tokyo, the moment Matthew decided to move from America to Australia, crashing the Wicked auditions, being quietly self assured, becoming versatile to stay employed, doing the work, the difficulty of breaking people's perceptions, creating your own work, writing, making a dance video with Andy Karl, and a whole lot more!

Matthew is such a wonderful storyteller!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss being OK with the show ending, the first Tuesday without the show, exploring other opportunities with your own work, working on Gilligan's Island with former guest of the show, Riley Nottingham, being hit in the face on stage, surprises on stage, forgetting his camera on Groundhog Day, the power of Groundhog Day, the craziness of backstage, busking, being in a band, going to VCA, Kaya's dancing abilities, working on Come From Away, realising what you have to offer, writing music, recording his EP, healthy critiques, missing the opportunity to play his own music, running the entertainment industry race, putting theatre jobs on pause, toxic productivity, craving a mild level of stress, being laid back, not feeling guilty while not working creatively, admin, performing his EP on the stage of the Princess Theatre, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We open with Tim & Etuate's thoughts on being only a few shows away from closing night, the unexpected love for Groundhog Day, the life changing experience from Groundhog Day, being grateful for the show, living your best life, Tim's Ned Ryerson, Etuate's Hamilton gig, enjoying the show while they still can, going from Mamma Mia to Groundhog Day, the emotionally taxing experience on the last week of a show, raving about the incredible cast, Andy Karl being the captain of the ship, Tim's commute from Geelong, Etuate trying a lot of different things and being easily influenced, the rough move from New Zealand to Australia, Tim's nursing background, giving things a crack, keeping the flame on, the sadness felt from the show ending, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the idea behind Jacob wanting to bring his Mum onto the podcast, getting Hope's thoughts on being asked to come onto a podcast, watching Jacob's career journey up to this point, pulling off the repetition in Groundhog Day, the craziness of being in a Tim Minchin show, the spontaneity of being cast in Groundhog Day, feeling secure in your abilities, shaking on stage in Mary Poppins, whether or not Mum gets nervous for Jacob before a performance, reading old primary school reports, being from an all or nothing type of family, doing drama at school, Jacob's plan to get out of Year 12, the first big audition, taking kids along to the theatre, being transformed by theatre, the strange story of being cast in Mary Poppins, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the fast turnaround time getting Groundhog Day, the overlap period of working on A Christmas Carol to rehearsing for Groundhog Day, the importance of ensemble, a sense of community within the Groundhog Day company, the theatre fan culture in Australia, getting gifts, treating performing as just a job, not wanting to be put on a pedestal, remembering where you've come from, the quick progression through life, going from contract to contract, finding good mentors, relying on your rational brain, knowing you're good enough, realising that other's aren't fixating on the same thing you are, working as an usher for the Marriner Group, the weirdness of working on Cats, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about performing during a heatwave, the quick changes in Groundhog Day, the rapid pace casting experience, the complexities of learning the show, what makes the show special, trying to rise to Andy's level, Australian's loving the darkness & subtlety of the show, the bittersweet nature of moving on from a show, never feeling like you've actually "made it", being available to opportunity, Conor's pursuit of his own work including the award winning musical Beep Test, the importance of creating your own work, not being apologetic of the way you you've tried, being on the journey of confidence, Coshan's thoughts on trying stand up comedy, having multiple pathways, resilience, failing bravely, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the plans to do a podcast within a podcast, the surprising reactions to Groundhog Day, Andy Karl's embrace of the Australian company, performing Groundhog Day by night and rehearsing Sunset Boulevard by day, an unwavering trust in knowing what to do for a living, a tap audition that led to Ashleigh's first job in Anything Goes, exploring the possibilities of screen acting, the vulnerability experienced while performing the self contained number of 'Playing Nancy', the first time Ashleigh felt like she was stepping into her own, the opportunity to create a character from scratch in Cry Baby, not knowing when your luck will change, having a super suit on while on stage, realising you add value, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Simon's dresser Lorraine, the audience responses for Wicked, taking on the role of the Wizard, finding a profession in acting early, learning on the job, seeing acting as a trade, the best things about getting older, objectively seeing what your function is in a play, moving to London, pushing outside your comfort zone, testing yourself, dealing with the No's, Simon's approach to dancing in a show, getting Play School over Anthony Warlow, ambition, the unexpectedly lean period in Simon's career, the sadness when a show ends, the ease of being kind and generous, and a whole lot more!

A truly WONDERFUL conversation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the ongoing rehearsals for Sunset Boulevard, the lucky break in between Moulin Rogue and Sunset Boulevard, upcoming performances at the Sydney Opera House, letting go of the fear of worrying about the next job, longevity in shows, opportunity to be available, wanting to originally be a priest, finding a love for dancing, overcoming an arthritis condition, seeing Phantom of the Opera for the first time, taking off the humility hat, being inspired by others, formative Book of Mormon experience, finding a sense of flow on a long running show, the stage door, the importance of the audience, nerves, a fear of talking to strangers, no matter what it's going to happen, a question for Simon Burke, exploring writing, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about about Daniel's adventure of starting over on Broadway, the first week in New York, an emotional moment knowing exactly where he should be, the complexities of moving from Australia to New York, settling into a new life, the worthy risk of pursuing the dream, taking time to process the fact that he now works in a Broadway theatre, playing William Shakespeare in & Juliet, overwhelming audience reactions in America, pushing through injuries, continuing to learn, redefining what you want, quieting down the doubt, Book of Mormon, dealing with pressure, being a proud husband, performing on TV for Drew Barrymore, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about returning to the West End, Phantom of the Opera, singing on live television, fear of failing in public, a transformative performance, experiencing waves of bliss, taking time off, anxiety in performing, leaning into imperfections, desires to do the unthinkable, the need for validation, telling stories, spiritual growth, looking inward, diligence & discipline, putting yourself out there, acting confident, the way we talk to ourselves, daily journals, being hypercritical, applauding our own successes, deadlines, writing a book, working on Cats, forming friendships, and a whole lot more!

This was an incredible conversation!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Stefanie's return to Mary Poppins in an upcoming UK & Ireland tour, getting the role of Mary, working with former guest of the show, Jack Chambers, the demands of Mary Poppins, travelling with a show, publicity, recovery after a show's run, Zombie! The Musical, first job on Les Misérables, working at Village Cinemas Gold Class, the balance of hard work, settling into a production, taking moments to be proud of your work, stage door, not living with any regrets, and so much more!

This was such a fun chat!

If you have the opportunity, be sure to catch Stefanie & Jack Chambers return in Mary Poppins for their UK & Ireland tour!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Debra's work in Please Like Me, the importance of storytelling, authenticity in mental health portrayal, wanting to be a doctor, discovering where she wanted to be, NIDA's vintage year, a Mad Max story, exploring the fear of performing, the power of women's voices, being affirmed by John Clarke, collaboration, working on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, becoming sick, being a good planner, working with John Cena & Zac Efron on Ricky Stanicky, reading reviews, the ridiculousness of politics, and a whole lot more!

So many great stories in this one!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We chat about life in New York, coming back to Australia, navigating the performer lifestyle, aging in the performing industry, chasing happiness, taking a leap from performing to becoming an author, finding a new creative voice, the first book, early rejection, the hard work of getting published, the power of connecting with readers, representation, making time to write, staying active, writing young adult fiction, overcoming isolation, the book launch, hearing your words turned into an audiobook, and a whole lot more!

Go and have a read of all of all of the books including Anything But Fine, Take A Bow, Noah Mitchell, and of course, Wrong Answers Only! Link to Tobias' website below.

https://www.tobiasmadden.net/

The podcast also has a Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/GameofLifewithDanandHarman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about literally being crucified, audience expectations, the impact of digital overload on creativity, embracing ambiguity, exploring pranks, breaking into Disneyland, social commentary, working with Father Bob on Triple J, controversy, personal storytelling, challenging audiences, the agony of writing fiction, the complexities of creativity, turning obstacles into opportunities, the deceptive tactics of Phillip Morris, and a whole lot more!

Here's to another 100!

Link to John's website below.

https://johnsafran.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the role of a dance captain in a musical theatre production, getting the Rocky Horror gig, working with a comedian, the hard work that goes into warming up before a show, coming from Toowoomba, the beauty of the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba, the power of nerves, riding the wave & keeping the spark, having the opportunities to perform, the unique engagement between the audience and performers in Rocky Horror, honing in on skills at Uni, collaboration, creating the art for the art, graduating from Uni with a professional 18 month gig not long after, and a whole lot more!

You can see Daniel as Rocky in The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Sydney. Link below.

https://rockyhorror.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Dane being positive, starting up a comedy club in Wagga Wagga, getting a call from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival right after he quit his job, hanging out with some of the biggest stars of comedy, having pinch yourself moments, getting a late start into comedy, performing with his Dad, tales of competing on The Amazing Race, moments that didn't quite make the cut from The Amazing Race, running the race with his Dad, surviving India, the power of words, and a whole lot more!

You can catch Dane and his Dad at The Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/the-king-and-i

Keep up to date with all of Dane's other work. Link to his website below.

https://www.danesimpson.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss the job Lewis has as a teacher's aide, exploring the idea of becoming a full fledged teacher, working with kids, balancing teaching & comedy, self doubt, arrogance, trusting in the material, changing the narrative in your head to create a better show, the early day nerves, accountability, waves of confidence, authenticity, being booed, getting frustrated at yourself, filming a special, and a whole lot more!

Go see Lewis at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/choosing-the-wrong-story-to-tell

Also, keep up to date with all of his other gigs happening around Australia!

https://comedy.com.au/tour/lewis-garnham-choosing-the-wrong-story-to-tell/

AND go watch his special on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/user/lewyg29

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Claire's podcast I'm the Worst, the freedom of having your own podcast, the turmoil of having to listen back to yourself, her quick rise to success in the comedy world, being in the industry for 20 years, the legacy of Good News Week, her early years on Sideshow, finding a guide in Xavier Michelides, going from Perth to Melbourne, emotional torment, the dread of working in radio, the importance of art, dreaming of a career in entertainment, and a whole lot more!

Go see Claire's show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/so-proud

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about depression, overcoming self-doubt & embracing growth, shooting comedy specials, the challenge & pressure of keeping up with social media, pursuing a law degree, getting caught out for collusion, working in insolvency, the rewards of hard work, the transformative power of anti-depressants, going to dark places, bringing out the community to see him perform stand up comedy, choosing love, Anthony's new show dedicated to his grandfather, some beef with Harman, and a whole lot more!

Keep up to date with all of Anthony's tour dates. Link to his website below.

https://www.anthonylocascio.me/events

He'll be in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane with his new show, Pappou.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover the power of poetry & words, undercover poets, the poet community, using comedy to shed light on injustices, the dark side of teaching, getting caught up in a terrorist attack, financial pressure, the spectrum of creativity, the gender scam, working for others, travel, the flaws in the education system, the best time for comedy shows, analyzing work, and a whole lot more!

Go see Josh's Melbourne Comedy Festival show. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/gender-is-a-scam-and-i-am-winning

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about overcoming language barriers, William's first time doing comedy, Raw Comedy, getting use to the Australian accent, moving to Australia from China, Australian vs. American senses of humour, spilling secrets of being a magician, the joys of performing, balancing work and comedy, time management, hustling for work, helpful advice from other comedians, doing the work, and a whole lot more!

Go see William in The Comedy Zone at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/comedy-zone

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about wanting to be a big Hollywood star, working in the cinema, living in Albury, the early frustrations of pursuing comedy, not having the opportunity to grow, moving to comedy full time, spewing before a comedy gig, the struggle of giving up alcohol, the importance of encouragement, dealing with reviews, being open and honest on stage, making happy shows, grief, keeping experiences & stories to herself, living in the moment, and a whole lot more!

Go see Geraldine at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/dont-tease-me-about-my-gloves

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about people talking nonsense, the hatred of working, failing high school, ADHD, moving to Australia from Egypt, driving cabs, discovering comedy, dodgy family members, speaking a second language, being able to pick a comedian anywhere in the world, observing, the dread of talking to people after performing, working in radio, free will, not getting upset with people, consciousness, the government keeping people dumb, The Matrix, and a whole lot more!

Go see Akmal's Melbourne Comedy Festival show. Link below

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/akmal-red-flags

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Lehmo's Triple M days with Wil Anderson, roasting John Cleese, anxiety of performing, drinking alcohol to get through gigs, the regret of not pursuing a career in sport, not being much of a planner, becoming an accountant, navigating social media, whether he'd be able to start out doing comedy today, the freedom of pursuing creativity, getting mistaken for Lawrence Mooney, the power of positive thinking, comedy validation, reviews, the analytical mind of a comedian, and a whole lot more!

You can catch Lehmo's show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/lehmo-camper-van-go

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We cover Osher's newfound work in the comedy arena, facing fears, the art of conducting, taking creative risks, the importance of trying everything, going from working as a roadie to working in radio, self belief, being ready for the scary thing, working in television, turning a passion for music into a career, why you should try as many things as you can, the journey of creating a comedy show, how our brains & bodies work, turning 50, and a whole lot more!

Catch Osher's show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival while you can! Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/osher-guensberg-ntnnnn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about Declan's work in Holding the Man, being bullied, self criticism, overcoming self doubt, making the dramatic life change to chase an acting career, meeting former guest of the show, Riley, regrets, escaping into characters, finding strength, what makes up a good life, auditioning, the acting pool in Australia, the power of accountability, the close-knit acting community, exploring America, Declan's Melbourne Comedy Festival Show, Necrophilia, and a whole lot more!

Go see Declan's Melbourne Comedy Festival show. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/necrophilia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about an encounter in Petbarn, why Arj doesn't do too many podcasts, America, meditation, work, drinking, consciousness, drugs, Akmal, philosophy, life's big questions, what makes his new show different from the others, and a whole lot more! This was a weird one in the best way possible!

Go see Arj's new Melbourne Comedy Festival show. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/arj-barker-the-mind-field

Keep up to date with Arj's work and other tour dates. Link to his website below.

https://www.arjbarker.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about her podcast Workhates with Brett Blake, what she's learnt working with Brett, unloading some frustrations with previous forms of employment, Brett Blake's ADHD, how many jobs she's worked, living in Canberra, the highs and lows of Bron's teaching career, being a drama teacher, the depressing reality of teaching, the moment she was done with teaching, finding comedy, the nerves and anxiety of doing comedy, not trusting jokes, the power of consistency, and a whole lot more!

Check out Bron's Melbourne Comedy Festival show. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/obviously

Also, keep up to date with all of Bron's other work/tour dates. Link below.

https://linktr.ee/bronlewis

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss Damian's film The Merger, uncovering his Mum & Dad's diaries, throwing a footy with other creatives, the importance of connection within a community, writing silly fictional historical stories around country town community sport, Damian's fascination with the fabric of country town sporting teams, not wanting to give up playing sport, the moment he knew he wanted to perform, Damian's earliest memory, the power of his sense of humour, trauma, realising he had access to new memories of his Mum & Dad through their diary entries, the tragic passing of his Mum, telling the beautiful story of his parents' life, adapting Double Feature into a film, the moment Damian's Mum & Dad first met, the idea of Damian's Mum & Dad talking to him from the past, and a whole lot more!

We were so grateful for Damian sharing beautiful stories he unearthed from his Mum & Dad's diaries. This episode is a dedication to the way Damian's Mum & Dad lived their lives and we loved it!

You can catch Damian at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. Ticket link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/damian-callinan-unlikely-friends

You can also keep up with Damian's work on his website below.

https://damiancallinan.com.au/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It goes without saying that we talk about Groundhog Day. We also talk about Elise's work on Matilda, shifting perspective through anxiety, being an active participant in life, the love of telling stories, questioning her capabilities, being consumed in what other people thought, rebuilding resilience, stuff ups on stage, becoming calmer, building a community in the theatre world, being able to separate identify from the show, becoming better at saying goodbye, Hey Lemonade, Tim Minchin's amazing lyrics, just having yourself to look after, saying yes to every opportunity, redefining failure, struggling with perfection, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about why some people need to quit, the importance of self awareness, standing out in the crowd, flyering, writing, drinking at gigs, the challenging landscape of work, working on Thank God You're Here, an audience encounter with former guests of the show Riley & Declan, working regular jobs, being more than just a comedian, how to get people to a show, bombing at a gig then going to a regular job the next day, the hard realities of having a career in comedy, crowd work, freeing up your time, and a whole lot more!

Check out Firdi's Melbourne Comedy Festival. Link below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/a-little-firdi-told-me

And Sydney!

https://www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/event/firdi-billimoria-a-little-firdi-told-me/

Firdi also runs a comedy room every Tuesday night! Link below

https://www.lidocinemas.com.au/events/lido-comedy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is a little different.... I indulge in my love for all things Star Trek, so I invited two people on the podcast I know love the franchise. We talk about the first time we discovered Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise, Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, favourite episodes, conventions, some of the issues we have with the new iterations, what we love, what we hate, the movies, characters we love, and Davey even gives us a quiz. Such a fun episode!

You can find out more about Treksperts Quiz, the first and only Star Trek inspired game show below.

https://trekspertsquiz.com/

Link to Davey's creative writing website below.

https://daveywrites.com/

Link to Ben's work and upcoming comedy festival show below.

https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/ben-russell

https://linktr.ee/benrussells

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We talk about the Rocky Horror Picture Show, alternating between Brad & Frank N Furter, taking on new challenges, working with a comedian, singing lessons, the moment Blake realised he became a better singer, being introverted, networking, the importance of family, being highly aware of what he is doing, appreciating life beyond career, becoming the first Australian to take over the lead role in Book of Mormon full time, and a whole lot more!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.