Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder

Eugenia Kuzmina is a Russian-American actress, comedian, and model. Her father was a renowned nuclear physicist, who was one of the first responders to the Chernobyl disaster.  At age 15 she was noticed by a scout at Nathalie Models Europe. She signed a contract and moved to Paris at 15 to work with such brands as Cartier, Dior, Armani, Hermes, Loreal, Vogue among many others... After Ford Models, then IMG resigned her contract and moved her to the US, she was noticed by Rodrigo Prieto (cinematographer "Wolf Of Wall Street," "Babel") to appear in his directorial debut opposite Elle Fanning "Likeness." The movie was screened at Tribeca Film Festival and received excellent reviews. John Turturro cast Eugenia to play opposite him in a film with Woody Allen "Fading Gigolo." Recently Eugenia worked opposite Bill Murray in "Rock The Kasbah", Milla Kunis and Christina Applegate in "Bad Moms ", Guy Ritchie's " The Gentlemen ". Eugenia's Tv credits include " Spy City ", "True Blood," "New Girl," "Castle," "The Comeback," "Lady Dynamite"," Tour De Pharmacy ", etc Eugenia is very passionate about comedy and writes and performs Stand Up regularly at The Comedy Store and The Laugh Factory. Her other hobbies include motorcycles, doing her own stunts, languages (French, Portuguese) , and supporting environmental causes around the world.

In this episode, we chat with James Harmon Brown, a Daytime  Emmy-Award-winning writer for his work on the soap opera "Guiding Light". He began his career as a columnist for the Los Angeles Times before transitioning to television writing and has since worked as a head writer for several soaps, among his personal favorites, “Port Charles”. He also co-created the ABC-TV daytime drama "The City". Aspiring writers will find his wisdom and guidance both easily applicable and inspiring!

Felicia Madison is the Talent Booker and New Talent Director at West Side Comedy Club. She also performs on stages throughout NYC and you can tune in weekly to her podcast "MT Nesters.” Felicia’s comedy draws from her experiences as a stay-at-home mom in an affluent part of the world to poke fun at marriage, parenthood, and life in general. Her charming yet vulnerable wit makes this episode feel like a conversation with that best friend that knows just how to get you to giggle. 

In this episode, we chat with renowned voice Casting Director, Director, and Producer, Ned Lott. Not least among the thoughtful and sparkling anecdotes in this interview, is the incredible story about how he found the voice for the iconic lion Aslan in motion picture sensation, The Chronicles of Narnia. Over the course of his prolific career, Lott has Voice-Directed and cast the likes of Samuel L. Jackson, AnnaSophia Robb, Forrest Whitaker, and Paul Giamatti.

In this episode, we chat with Award-winning actor, and Co-Founder of Never Not Ready productions, Jared Boghosian. He shares with us what it's like to work on hit shows like SWAT and the inspired methodology behind Never Not Ready. 

In this episode of Distance Makes the Heart Grow Founder I chat with wildly successful musician and member of the Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn. We discuss everything from his love of bike riding throughout quarantine to his experiences working with the beloved, Lou Reed. You don't want to miss this conversation with the inspiring and humble soul that is Kevin Hearn! 

In this episode of Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder I chat with professional Dancer, actress, fitness instructor, and former Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Amber Strauser. Among her many accolades, Amber created her own Dance scholarship for up-and-coming talent and is currently operating two successful businesses in both the fashion and fitness communities. Amber's innovative and enthusiastic spirit will have you inspired to get up and follow your own creative instincts!

Mike Manning is an award-winning actor and Emmy-winning producer. Hitting the ground running when he first appeared on the scene in 2010, Manning has forged an enviable career with a wide variety of characters on screen and stage. As an actor, Manning is most known for his role in Disney's popular snowboarding movie "Cloud 9," and MTV's "Teen Wolf." Manning's other TV credits include "Hawaii Five-0" on CBS, "Major Crimes" on TNT, a recurring role on multiple Emmy-winning series "The Bay" on Amazon Prime and Popstar! TV, "Crash & Bernstein" on Disney XD, Hallmark's "Operation Cupcake" and the series regular role of Charlie on NBC's "Days of Our Lives."

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with rising British figure skating star Romy! We chat all about how she is keeping her passion and love for skating alive during the quarantine, Ice The Movie, and of course both of our favorite foods... Pancakes! You don't want to miss this episode with this wonderful, eloquent young lady! About my guest:  Romy is a member of the British Ice Skating Squad. She competed at the British Ice Dance championships 2019 and is also a Brand Ambassador for skatewear company Frozen couture and Britan's Ambassador for Ice the movie. 

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Founder I chat with award-winning Producer and Director, Timothy Woodward Jr. Timothy talks about his experiences working with movie star Kris Kristofferson, his multi Emmy nominated Digital Drama Series, Studio City, and what preparation meeting opportunity means for him as a filmmaker. His latest film, 'The Call' staring horror icons Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell is the perfect Halloween treat for fans of the genre check it out at a theater or drive-in near you!  

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with model, dancer, actress and storyteller Kalena Ranoa! Kalena talks about her incredible 13 year journey with Young Storytellers, her passion for seeing the female voice continue to rise in all its vibrancy in hollywood, and what it's like to work on her original 1/2 hour scripted comedy series Giraffe The Series! Kalena's passion for helping others realize their dreams is truly inspired you don't want to miss this episode! Link to listen in my bio! About my guest: Kalena Ranoa knew as a child that she was to move to Tinseltown from San Jose, CA to pursue her dreams of acting. With Hawaiian family roots, she received a BA in Communication from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Measuring in at 6’ tall, she opted to model, dance Hula, ballet and jazz instead of playing volleyball and basketball. Although, she did play a basketball player on TV when she co-starred with David Spade on Rules of Engagement. She recently appeared in Lena Waithe’s new show Twenties on BET! Most notably, she and her bestie, Victoria Blow, created and starred in their own series, GIRAFFES, a comical tv show featuring tall gals. Kalena has studied acting at The Imagined Life, The Groundlings, Second City and The Beverly Hills Playhouse. She has been a proud volunteer head mentor & actress for 13 years with the Young Storytellers, leading children in developing literacy through the art of storytelling. And was recently awarded with the Mentor of the Year award! She directed two episodes of Razor Tongue with Now>Ever Artists. She proudly represents tall, strong Supersheroes in Hollywood--#timesup!

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Professional NFL Cheerleader and NHL Ice girl Nicolina Claire. Nicolina shares wonderful insights on how to bring your best self to team experiences and how she is keeping the dreams of young dancers alive and well during quarantine through her zoom classes! Nicolina's energy and enthusiasm is truly infectious you don't want to miss this episode!    About my guest:  Nicolina Claire is an former NFL Cheerleader and NHL Ice Girl. She began figure skating at the age of 4 and credits her work ethic and passion to the lessons she learned in the ice rink from a young age. After an injury ended her skating journey, she became a competitive dancer and even represented the United States at Dance Worlds in Orlando, Florida. In 2015, she took to the ice again as an Ice Girl in the American Hockey League for the Ontario Reign. Then Nicolina spent 2 years as an Ice Girl in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings. Following her time with the Kings, she cheered for the National Football League with the Los Angeles Charger Girls. While working in the AHL, NHL and NFL, Nicolina completed her Bachelors Degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. She is currently giving back to the dance community by teaching children’s ballet, jazz and cheerleading classes. 

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with business manager to some of the most accomplished athletes on and off the ice and former president of DARE Canada, Ken Hadall. Ken and I discuss the importance of maintaining a circle of friends and colleague that have the same heart and what it means to truly give back to communities you love. This episode is chalked full of delightful anecdotes for athletes and entrepreneurs alike!   

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with award-winning writer and director, Nicole Jones-Dion. Nicole shares inspiration for aspiring writers and directors alike and offers some fabulous tips on how to keep the creative juices flowing during quarantine!  About my guest:  An Army brat, Nicole Jones-Dion was born on an Army base at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and grew up traveling the globe, living in places as diverse as Hawaii and Germany before her family finally settled down in Wilmington, NC.   In school, Nicole excelled at creative writing and won the North Carolina Writer's Award for a full scholarship to Duke University, where she continued to study writing, along with History and Theology.   After graduation, she did her own brief stint in the military before relocating to Los Angeles. Her passion for genre storytelling first led her to video games, then comic books, and eventually films.   Her credits include the YA sci-fi film STASIS (from the executive producer of CLOUD ATLAS); THEY FOUND HELL for the SyFy Channel, DRACULA: THE DARK PRINCE (starring Academy Award-winner Jon Voight) and TEKKEN 2: KAZUYA'S REVENGE (based on the best-selling video game series).   She currently has projects in development with Randy Greenberg (THE MEG), Alice Neuhauser (LIMITLESS), and Sean Cunningham (creator of FRIDAY THE 13TH), among others.

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with WGA | DGA | PGA | VES | ASCAP Award-Winning filmmaker Brian A. Metcalf. We discuss the importance of consistent study, networking, and what it means to truly commit to your craft! Brian's latest film, Adverse was recently acquired by Grindstone Entertainment and features Lou Diamond Phillips, Mickey Rourke, Penelope Ann Miller, Thomas Nicolas, Kelly Arjen, and Sean Astin. Coming to a theater near you soon!  About my guest:  Born in Seoul, South Korea, Brian A. Metcalf (WGA, PGA, DGA, VES, ASCAP) is an Asian-American award-winning filmmaker (writer, director, producer and actor). His most recent film, Adverse, is a drama/thriller that he produced, directed, wrote and acted in and stars a large ensemble cast with Academy Award® Nominee Mickey Rourke, Academy Award® Nominee Sean Astin, Golden Globe® Nominee Lou Diamond Phillips, Golden Globe® Nominee Penelope Ann Miller, Matt Ryan, Jake T. Austin, Andrew Keegan, Luke Edwards, Shelley Regner, Thomas Ian Nicholas and more. The film premiered as the opening film at the prestigious Fantasporto Film Festival and went on to win several awards, including a Platinum Remi Award from Worldfest. Previously, Metcalf worked as a creative director, writer, photographer, visual effects artist and supervisor working on games, DVDs, web, EPKs, music videos, film and documentaries for studios such as Warner Bros., Sony, Disney, FOX, Paramount, Lionsgate and more, including the award-winning music video, "Money Shot" by the band Helmet and Fox's 24: The DVD Board Game, starring Kiefer Sutherland. His directorial debut was the award-winning short film "Sorrows Lost." Metcalf moved on to write, produce and direct The Lost Tree, starring Thomas Ian Nicholas, Lacey Chabert, Scott Grimes, Clare Kramer and Michael Madsen and was screened at The Director's Guild of America. The premiere was held at the TCL Chinese Theatres and released theatrically on Friday the 13th. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences placed this script and two other scripts Brian wrote into their permanent core collection at the Margaret Herrick Library. Metcalf's next film which he wrote, directed, produced and acted was "Living Among Us," starring William Sadler, Primetime Emmy® Nominee John Heard, James Russo, Andrew Keegan, Esme Bianco and Thomas Ian Nicholas. The film was released in theaters and distributed through Vision Films/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and FOX International. Metcalf also helped to produce the documentary, Little Gandhi, which was announced for Oscar Consideration on October 6th, 2017 , the first ever nomination from Syria. Metcalf also won the 2017 Murray Weissman Movie Poster award for designing the movie poster for Little Gandhi. Upcoming projects include a film written by "Sideways" writer, Rex Pickett. Metcalf continues to develop numerous projects for film, television, multimedia. He is living in Los Angeles. Metcalf continues to develop numerous projects for film, television, multimedia. He is living in Los Angeles.

In this episode of Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder I chat with power house voice over artist and director, Dana Power. We discuss her brand new Fantasy Audio Series, Carcerem (which drops 9/22!) The surprising and beautiful way her career evolved from the stage to the microphone, and what self-care means to her during the quarantine. This is an uber special episode you do not want to miss! Link to listen in my bio! About my guest: Dana Powers, a voice actress and director located in Los Angeles, began her love of the Performing Arts at the age of 8, doing Community theatre in Marin County. She was later accepted into the Marin School of the Arts for theatre, where she took her training and interest to a new level, experiencing Shakespeare and Commedia dell'arte for her first time; winning theater competitions, and stretching her knowledge of performance. A proud member of the Independent Shakespeare Co. for 6 years, Dana performed outdoor Shakespeare in Griffith Park during the summers to audiences filled with thousands of Angelenos. She also spent her years after college performing with other SoCal traveling Shakespeare companies, enjoyed new works in black box theaters in Hollywood, and classics at the Glendale Centre Theatre. She began working as a full time voice actress 8 years ago, and has since booked countless commercials, along with a variety of animated projects, video games, promos, narrations, dubbing, and more! You can currently hear her voice on TV commercials such as, Kit Kat Duos 'Mint and Dark Chocolate', Robinhood, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cox Communications, and Purina pet food. She has most notably voiced various characters on Cartoon Network's popular animated TV show 'We Bare Bears' (Season 1 & 2), and the video game 'State of Decay 2'

In this episode of Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder I chat with singer/songwriter Taylor Hurst. We discuss his incredible journey overcoming his speech block to singing in front of thousands and performing original songs for big-screen movies! This episode is sure to inspire the dreamer in all of us to remember the power of our passion when facing any obstacle. Don't miss this one! 

In this episode of Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder I chat with world-famous comedian, Mike Marino. We discuss some of his most magical, Hollywood moments, how invaluable the support of family is, and how laughter is such a necessary ingredient to keeping our friends and colleagues' spirits up during the quarantine. 

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Stanley Cup Winner, coach, sports analyst, and published children's author Jamal Mayers. We talk about the team component of hockey, inclusion in the sport, and how he is sharing his passion for the sport with young people with his book Hockey Is For Me. You don't want to miss this episode!      About my guest:  Jamal Mayers began his hockey career in 1996-97 with the St. Louis Blues for ten seasons before moving on to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, and finally winning a Stanley Cup in 2013 with the Chicago Blackhawks. Mayers represented Canada three times at the World Championship (2000, 2007, 2008), which included helping Canada win the gold medal in 2007 and the silver medal in 2008. Mayers played college hockey at Western Michigan University from 1992-1996 and graduated with a Business degree. His new children's book, ''Hockey Is For Me,'' in which he encourages other kids to fall in love with the sport that helped him achieve so much throughout his life is now available on NHL.com

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Academy Award Winning producers Karen and Howard Baldwin. We discuss the special combination of passion, follow-thru, and commitment filmmakers must have to see their project through to the end and how vital it is to never give up! This episode is full of wonderful anecdotes about their unique history in hockey and Hollywood and will surely serve as an inspiration to all!  We also discuss their latest film 'Odd Man Rush' which is available today 9/1 on all VOD platforms.      About my guests:  Howard and Karen Baldwin. They are best known for producing with Stuart Benjamin the Academy Award nominated motion picture “Ray” (starring Jaime Foxx) which was nominated for two Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture and won for Best Performance by an Actor – Comedy or musical) and six Academy Awards (Won for Best Actor in Leading Role, Won for Best Sound Mixing, Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Film Editing, and Best Costume Design). The Baldwins have also produced films such as “Mystery Alaska” (starring Russell Crowe), “Sahara” (starring Matthew McConaughey) and “The Game of Their Lives” (starring Gerard Butler).

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with indie writer/director and published Young Adult Author, Natalie Rodriguez. I had the pleasure of acting in Natalie's directorial debut, The Extraordinary Ordinary. Nat and I talk about the importance of self-care during the quarantine and the many ways that we can all stay connected creatively during this difficult time!  You can watch our film The Extraordinary Ordinary on Amazon and Google Play 8/28! 

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with career working actor and screenwriter, John Posey. I had the pleasure of co-starring with John in Natalie Rodriguez's The Extraordinary Ordinary. John has been in hundreds of film and television shows and is the father to two working actor sons (Tyler Posey - Star of MTV's Teen Wolf, and Jesse Posey - Star of Netflix's Selena). John lends our listeners some truly excellent advice about what it takes to cultivate a long term career in entertainment.   

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with career working actor/voice artist and, stage director Joe Ochman. We discuss his work on Kingdom of Hearts, Seinfeld, and how important it is for artists to be adaptable especially when it comes to cultivating spaces for success during the quarantine. (My VO artist listeners... get ready for some epic home studio hacks! He's booked over 20 jobs with his low budget home studio setup!) Tune in for lots of encouragement, good cheer and more!  About my guest: Connecticut native Joe Ochman has acted professionally in films, television, stage, commercials, video games, animation, anime, and has recorded audiobooks for over forty years. For a TV-addicted, movie-cartoon-avid-reading-comic-book-sci-fi freak, it's been the perfect way to make a living. You may have heard his voice recently as the demon in Blumhouse's Truth or Dare. Or you may have seen in him such beloved pictures as Never Been Kissed and Space Jam. Joe also works as an on-camera and voice coach to an eclectic celebrity clientele, including Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista and rock legend Alan Parsons.  Instagram/Twitter @joeochman www.joeochman.com

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Terri Ewert, founder and head designer of the lifestyle brand, Pink Skate. Terrie and I chat about her passion for fashion as it pertains to hockey, figure skating, and how her brand is positively influencing these communities of athletes!    About my guest:  Terri Ewert is the Wife of Leonard Ewert and the Mom of three young adult children. She has two Son’s and a Daughter, their names are Blake, Brandon and Bethany.  In 2006, Terri earned her bachelor’s degree in Workforce Education from Southern Illinois University, via their online and off-campus program for working adults. Terri has always been grateful for the ability to maintain a healthy balance between work and family, as well as her kid's athletics and extracurricular activities. Prior to pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams, Terri worked in Corporate America for over twenty plus years in the non-clinical side of Health Care Administration. In 2011 Terri left her corporate career to work in the non-profit sector and to pursue her lifelong dream of business ownership. Terri is now the proud owner and operator of Pinkskate LLC. Inspired by Figure Skating and Hockey, Terri chose to be more than just the Mom of a Figure skater and She developed the concept of Pinkskate.com, a lifestyle brand representing the athletic passions of cold sport people through fashion. Terri’s goal for the Pinkskate brand is to truly embody the values of these hardworking athletes and to motivate people to push beyond their limits. Her brand signifies this goal with the hashtag pinksk8strong. In addition to owning and operating a successful brand, Terri’s ultimate desire is to partner with an appropriate non-profit that works with disadvantaged women. She hopes to help empower young women who have experienced profound life challenges by giving them the necessary support to gain independence and thrive in work and in life. With support from family and friends, she hopes to continue pursuing this passion and building her brand. Terri is a small business owner who can use your support to help get the word out about the Pinkskate Brand. One way you can do that is by following her social media on Instagram @PNKSK8 

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Cali based country music star, Todd Stanford. Tune in to learn how he is connecting with fans during the quarantine through his new songwriter interview series.  In the series, listeners learn the stories behind some of Todd Stanford Country's most beloved songs!   About my guest: Todd Stanford is a California based contemporary country artist. His recent rests include the NASCAR AC 400 in Fontana and the Double Trouble Wine Room in Santa Clarita. Todd's performances are fun and entertaining for both lovers of country music and newcomers to the country music scene. Every member of the band is a tried-and-true professional dedicated to making sure that everyone in the house has a good time. Sets include up-tempo foot- tappin' tunes and heart-felt romantic ballads that audiences love. Todd's down-to-earth character can be heard on each of the tracks of his albums and in his live performances. As Todd puts it: "Growin’ up in Small Town USA laid the foundation for who I am today - I wouldn’t trade it for anything." Todd Stanford’s latest album Can’t Blame Me For Tryin’ is available now on all major streamers including Apple Music, Google Play and Amazon Music. www.toddstanford.com  IG and Facebook @Toddstanfordcountry

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with award-winning filmmaker, actress, fitness influencer, and creator of Body By Bina, Albina Katsman. We discuss her killer FREE 30-minute workout on IG Live that is going viral. Learn how you can break up your own quarantine blues and join in the fun!       

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with career working actor, Gregg Binkley.  We discuss the importance of loving your craft, committing to the long game, and what it means to be ready for those career-making moments even during the quarantine. You can watch Gregg today as a a series regular on the Disney Plus show 'Diary of a Future President'    About my guest:  Gregg is a native of Topeka, Kansas, and a graduate of the University of Kansas. He has worked in films with many directors including Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood, and the Coen Brothers. Gregg has worked in television for over 25 years. Gregg is best known for his 71 episode run as "Barney Hughes" in "Raising Hope" and  "Kenny James" in the pilot episode of the NBC hit show "My Name is Earl". Kenny was the first person Earl crossed off his list. He went on to play Kenny in 20 episodes. You can catch him now on Disney plus Gregg teaches workshops for actors looking to turn their acting dreams into a full-time job in Los Angeles.  

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with South East Powerhouse CSA Casting Director Lori S. Wyman. Lori has worked on such hit shows as Miami Vice and Bloodline. She has also cast blockbuster films like Marley and Me. Lori is one of the most accessible and inspiring CD's I've had the pleasure of meeting during the quarantine.  We discuss her weekly public office-hours, how she values the spiritual health of the artist, and MORE! You don't want to miss this episode!   About my guest:  Lori S. Wyman, CSA, an accomplished Florida casting director, has cast some of the largest blockbuster movies, commercials and popular television series for the past 30 years. Her career began in the 1980's when she cast the Miami Vice television series starring Don Johnson. Since then, her roster of credits has steadily increased and the industry relies on her for casting for the largest film & TV projects in Florida, along with commercials and cutting edge independent films. Lori and her team continuously deliver above expectations with courtesy, communication and a love for the profession. Lori Wyman Casting filled roles in the feature film entitled, War Dogs, starring Jonah Hill. Some of her other Florida movie projects include Dolphin Tale, Dolphin Tale 2, Marley and Me, Striptease, Rosewood and a host of other feature films, television series and award winning commercials. Lori Wyman Casting has cast for all of the major studios and networks including, Fox, Sony, Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount, Nickelodeon, HBO, Univision, Netflix, Starz, USA, ABC, NBC, CBS, Showtime, Universal and MGM. Lori Wyman is a 2 time Artios Award winner for the popular television thriller Bloodline and the critically acclaimed HBO movie, Recount. She is also an Emmy Nominee for Recount. Presently, we are casting The Right Stuff" for Nat Geo.

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Stanley Cup Winner and Dyslexia Awareness Advocate Brent Sopel. Known for selflessly sacrificing his body on the ice for the greater good of the team, Former Chicago Blackhawk Stanley Cup Champion Brent Sopel is a fearless defender. Brent's personal journey in hockey has directed him towards a path of advocating for others who are struggling with similar obstacles. As a result, Brent started the Brent Sopel Foundation with the mission to champion Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Awareness. ​His documentary Here to Change the World is now available on Youtube. About my guest:  Brent Sopel is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey Leauge (NHL). Sopel was originally selected 144th overall at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, the organization he began his NHL career with. He has also played for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks.   Check out his documentary on Youtube: 'Brent Sopel: Here to Change The World' www.brentsopelfoundation.org

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with multi-Emmy Award-Winning CSA Casting Director Dorian Frankel. Dorian has worked on such hit comedy shows as Parks and Recreation, Veep, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. We discuss Dorian's brand new youtube cooking show and how she is making the most of the quarantine!    About my guest:  Dorian Frankel grew up in Teaneck, N.J., and majored in theater at Mount Holyoke College. Dorian Frankel grew up in Teaneck, NJ and majored in theatre at Mount Holyoke College.  Her love of comedy was nurtured during many years as an improviser.  Casting director credits include Veep (for which she won an Emmy), Baskets, Future Man, Alex, Inc., One, Mississippi, Idiotsitter, Maron, Parks and Recreation, Eagleheart, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as a boatload of pilots and a canoe-load of independent features.  She’s also directed a bit and written some songs along the way.

In this episode of Distance Makes the HeART Grow Fonder I chat with Day Time Emmy Award-Winning CSA Casting Director Paul Ruddy. Paul gives us the inside scoop on what actors can expect from the auditioning process during the quarantine. He provides valuable advice on how actors might better maximize their talents in the new and uncharted arena of "the self-tape" and lends an important and encouraging message of hope to new and undiscovered actors.  About my guest: Paul is the head casting director at Paul Ruddy Casting, a CSA member, and recent recipient of a 2020 Day Time Emmy for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series or Digital Drama Series for Eastsiders which is now available to stream on Netflix. He has cast hundreds of film, television, and new media projects. He currently teaches online classes for actors all over the world. 

In this episode, I chat with professional figure skater and Dancing On Ice superstar, Brendyn Hatfield. We discuss his career in skating seeing the world, what it's like performing in front of a live studio audience with blades, and how his passion for photography has taken center stage since the quarantine.    About my guest: Brendyn has performed with Disney On Ice, Holiday On Ice, and most recently on ITV's Dancing On Ice. Follow him on instagram and twitter @brendynhatfield  

I chat with actress Ana Marte about her rise to fame in Need For Speed Heat and how she is keeping her artistic flames burning during the quarantine. Ana and I can be seen acting out our real-life friendship on Amazon 8/28 in our feature film, The Extraordinary Ordinary!    Ana Marte is a Dominican-American actor. She stars in Need For Speed Heat, Arabian Alien - a Sundance 2020 selected film and the popular Youtube web series Amigos (65+ Million Views). She is also the star and creator of the comedic series, Figuring It Out. Ana also hosted two national tv shows. She works out of Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta.