Foot in the Door

Everything really IS awesome in this conversation with BrickinNick! You can catch him on Season 3 of LEGO Masters and we chat with him not only about being on the show (or as much as we can reveal before the debut in September) but also about where Nick is from, how LEGO has been with him since a child, and how it drove him to chase his dreams.  Check out this encouraging and inspiring conversation!! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

You may know Cherise Boothe from a number of credits spanning stage, screen, video games, and voice over. After this conversation, however, you'll know Cherise not for the credits she's accrued, but for who she is. Sit back and enjoy this uplifting conversation (with additional bonus footage!).  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed couldn't be happier to chat with Inel Tomlinson, truly one of the most joyful people he's encountered. From Twitch to stand-up to television and film to voice over, Inel has had his share of industry ups and downs but has navigated them all with a smile and a positive outlook. You may come for the laughs and positive vibes but you'll be leaving feeling encouraged, inspired, and more than slightly interested in a return of the string vest. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

In this episode, Ed sits down to chat with his dear friend, Carla Peluso. Carla has come a long way  - and been through a lot - since the last time the two have chatted and she shares with us her story of perseverance and faith - as well as a few good cooking tips. Find out more at www.withchefcarla.com This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

In this episode, Ed gets to connect with Jimmy Cosentino of Artisan FX. Jimmy shares with us the path that led him to creating truly wonderful prop replicas and lets us glimpse the passion, attention to detail, and creative motivations that go into each piece. Pop culture fans, this one's for you!  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Voice acting seems like a lot of fun - and it is! - but many people don't realize how much work goes into it. Fortunately Shelby Young is here to answer all of Ed's questions about the craft of performing behind the mic. Shelby shares how she went from winning the crown as an on-a-whim beauty pageant contestant to voicing one of the most famous princesses in the world in Disney's Star Wars:Forces of Destiny. Pulling back the curtain of the recording booth and peering inside has never been so much fun! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed gets to sit down with one of his favorite Twitch streamers, Owl AKA TheOwlPlays AKA Mel Smith. Yes, they get a chance to nerd out about what it takes to be a Twitch streamer and dive deep into their favorite game (Overwatch) but that's just scratching the surface of the conversation. The story of what brought her to where she is today is full of unexepected branches, including linguistics, retail, and Billy Joel.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

The amount of work that goes into making a video game is incredible. The amount of work that goes into making a video game by yourself is... well... Philip Buchanan can tell you all about it. Ed sits down with Philip to chat about "39 Days to Mars" and all that went into making it. Grab yourself a cuppa, a scone, and enjoy the conversation!   This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

One of the nice things about living in the area where you grew up is having the chance to re-connect with old friends. That's just what Ed does in this episode where he sits down over a cup of coffee with his former high school band classmate Doug Ahr. From Strongman Competitions to bouncing at clubs to teaching high school English, Doug has not only done it all but he's done it with integrity. It's a great visit that will leave you inspired!  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

If you listen to this episode and your cheeks don't hurt from smiling, you may need to get your cheeks examined. It's all good times and nice hangs when Lem Fillyaw is around and this conversation is no different. Clown college? Laundry mat meet-cutes? Gametography? Lem's got some great stories and he was kind enough to share more than a few of them with us. It's a wonderful hang! Enjoy! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Regardless of whether or not you're a gamer, you'll be made to feel welcome during this conversation with Tom Marett. That's just what Tom does. He's warm, inviting, and wants to make sure everyone is enjoying themselves whether he's hosting a gaming session on his Twitch channel or hanging with friends - new and old -  in the real world. Settle in and sit back. We're all friends here! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

What better way to kick off the new year than a conversation with the one and only LyanGamer, one of the nicest guys you'll find on Twitch. Whether you're a hardcore gamer or have no idea what in the world Twitch is, you're sure to find valuable takeaways that will inspire you and encourage you to keep dreaming.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Whether you know him from podcasting (We the Gamercast, If We Ran Nintendo, The Xbox Drive), his Twitch streaming (seancapri), or his appearance on every other podcast and Twitch stream, one thing you know about Sean Capri is he's a good guy who knows how to stay busy. Ed was able to chat with Sean during some rare downtime to find out where this drive comes from (no one ever suspects the Baby Godfather), where it's leading, and - of course - discover the natural progression of drawing Mega Man cartoons. Great conversation!

You may know Dylan Taylor from a wide number of different projects: his stellar work in the theater, his various roles in TV and movies that make you say, "Wait, that's all the same guy?" or perhaps his scene-stealing VO work in one of the most popular video game franchises in recent history. After listening to this conversation, however, you'll find that behind all of the roles, accents, and incredible work is a down-to-earth, really good guy. Enjoy! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

As is made obvious in the rambling intro, Ed is super-excited to sit down with Tim Sniffen: writer, animator, actor, and a genuinely nice guy. From flip cartoons in the corner of book pages to bringing to life a Mysterious Man in the hilarious podcast Hello From the Magic Tavern, Ed and Tim cover it all... or as much as they can in an hour. This is a fun one! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Rarely has Ed left a conversation as inspired as he was when he finished chatting with Cory Drake. This chat pretty much covers it all, from improv to professional wrestling, brokenness to optimism, having to step down from a passion and standing up for what you believe in. If you don't find yourself inspired at the end of the hour... well... I got nothin' for ya. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Is it possible to find peace through comedy? If so, Jason Salmon has cracked the code. Fresh off the recording of his debut comedy album, Jason chats with Ed about his craft, what goes into recording an album, and the impetus behind a cowboy who explains... everything. It's a great chat with a brilliant comic mind! You just may walk away with the best advice you've ever gotten from the dumbest guy you know.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

If you haven't experienced what Ed refers to as "The Steve Byers High," prepare yourself. It's what happens to the room after you've spent some time with a really good person; an actor who's super-talented yet also has both feet planted firmly on the ground. A guy who may or may not have neglected to tell his wife about why their new apartment was vacant in the first place. A guy like...well... Steve Byers. Enjoy! It's a good one! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed sits down with animator Jason Stansell to chat about how you (or, more accurately, how HE) went from a kid in Tennessee with a dream to actually chasing the dream down and bringing it to life. Great conversation with a lot of takeaways! Check it out!  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Fresh off of "What Remains of Edith Finch" winning the BAFTA for Best Game, Ed chats with actor Valerie Rose Lohman about her experience working on the game, the impact it's had on her, and why Kenny Ortega reallllly needs to chat with her about Descendants 4. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed welcomes comedian/podcaster/DJ/heckuva good guy Dan Smith to the proceedings. What happens when two guys who don't have the answers to life's big questions decide to tackle life's big questions anyhow? This episode. This is what happens. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed welcomes photographer and all-around good guy Ralph Nardell to the program to talk about photography, friends, and family. Lots of great info, lots of nice laughs. It's a good one!  The episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

You may know Carolina Ravassa as the voice of Sombra on Overwatch. Or, you may know Carolina Ravassa from her work on various TV shows and movies. Or perhaps you know Carolina Ravassa for her YouTube series Hispanglosaxon. After this conversation, however, you'll know Carolina Ravassa for the driven, passionate, Coluombian coffee-loving person she is behind those performances. The episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

J.T. Arbogast is a lot of things. He's a great guy, a great improviser, and a great storyteller. He's also a writer, a filmmaker, an encourager, a role model, and a man with a big heart for home. Basically, he's everything I want to be when I grow up. Fun chat with a lot of laughs!  The episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

When Ed sat down to chat with Juan Vaca, game designer at Telltale Games, he thought he knew where the conversation would lead. He did not. Check out Juans' compelling story about determination, digging in, and what happens when someone forgets their boot in the woods.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. https://www.squareonecoffee.com/

Ed has the pleasure of sitting down with Ed Fowler, writer and all-around good guy to chat about the writing process, how it changes from format to format, and what brought him from Ohio to California. It's a great conversation and not at all sponsored by Cedar Point. In fact... This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Ed sits down to chat with his good friend and fellow Married to the Gamer Chris McCrackin. Enjoy this conversation about screen vs stage acting, cars, and that feeling you get when you just KNOW something is gonna happen. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffe.com

Ed gets a chance to re-connect with another friend from his NYC improv days when he chats with The Engaging Educator Jen Oleniczak Brown!

What better way to ring in the new year than sit down with your wife and have her tell you her life story? That's what happens this time around when Ed sits down with the one and only fitness enthusiast extraordinaire Sarah Placencia! This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Voiceover month continues as Ed chats with the talented, enigmatic, and fashion forward actor that is Jen Cohn! Listen to this episode and see if you don't walk away inspired - while sharing a few hearty laughs along the way!  This episode sponsored by Modern Recreation https://modrec.cc/

Ed welcomes one of the most talented voiceover actors working today to the podcast to talk about her craft and experience behind the mic. Give it a listen and find out why Erin Yvette is among the nicest people in the industry. It's a good one! This episode sponsored by Modern Recreation https://modrec.cc/

There's a reason Ed raves about Square One Coffee. In this episode, he chats with owner Jess Steffy to find out what exactly goes into making the perfect cup. WARNING: Listening to this episode will cause you to crave coffee.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Ed welcomes his dad, Ed Placencia, to talk about his time in Vietnam, Dak To, and the infamous Hill 875. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Video games and comic books are all around us, but how exactly do they get made? That's what Ed sets out to discover and is fortunate enough to have esteemed writer William Harms along to answer his questions. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Not only is puppeteer/actor/writer/director/artist/dreamer Chris Heady super-talented in a number of fields, he's doing what he can to keep each of those creative passions alive.  This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

You may know Chris O'Neill from his role on Broadway as Elder Cunningham in "Book of Mormon," as 1/2 of "The Chris and Paul Show," or as a hilarious improviser. Ed knows Chris not only as all of the above, but also as a really good guy with some valuable lessons to pass along. This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Comedy fans, prepare yourselves. Comedy professionals, REALLY prepare yourselves. Jasper Redd has a few things to say.    This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

Ed chats with artist and gamer Jody Nilsen! Find out more about Jody at www.jodydraws.com   This episode sponsored by Square One Coffee. www.squareonecoffee.com

On location in Mt Juliet TN, Ed sits down to chat with Dean and Wendy Uyeno.

Lane is the epitome of a working actor and I was fortunate enough to spend some time talking with him about what that involves. His ambition is infectious and this is a conversation that left me encouraged and motivated. I'm sure it'll have the same effect on you. Give it a listen and see if you don't walk away instilled with a new enthusiasm to hanker down and chase a few dreams of your own.  

What do you do when you're used to spending every waking - and sleeping - hour on the road? How do you go from a fast-paced, planned-out schedule to... not? How do you adjust to that? It has to be weird going from radio tours, live performances, and craft services to being at home with just your thoughts; aspirations you assumed were long-gone yet begin to whisper into your ear from beyond the Dream Grave. That's where Emily was on the day we chatted. With their final farewell performance just a few weeks away, she's on the verge of change and she knows it. What kind of change will it be? Considering the butt-kicking she's gotten so far in 2016, it's understandable why she's trusting for a good one.

I had a conversation with Dan Cummins, a comedian whose work I've really admired for a few years now, and I walked away with an even greater admiration for the guy. He's a super-hard worker who has more than one pot cooking on the stovetop. Dan has a new album out this weekend, Don't Wake the Bear, and I fully expected our conversation to mostly cover comedy and the aforementioned project. Although we do get treated to a few behind-the-bits anecdotes (I'm still shocked at how much of his material is actually true and not just generated for the laugh), I had no idea what else Dan had going (perhaps a result of my minimal research). Dan pulls back the curtain and lets us know what it's like to work as a host for a show on the Playboy Channel, being a writer (yes, a writer) for reality TV, and his comedian-bingo confession at a now-defunct Indiana comedy club. It's a great conversation with a really good guy that I think you'll enjoy. .     

As talented as they are genial, Cissy and Gavin have each amassed quite an impressive resume and I was genuinely humbled to be able to chat with them about their lives, their craft, and how they juggle the two. If you've played a video game in the last few years, you're probably familiar with their work. They've both given impressive performances in such acclaimed projects as The Walking Dead series, Firewatch, Oxenfree, Life is Strange, and so much more.

Joel Quinones has been through a lot and I'd totally understand if he was a mean, bitter, angry guy. After hearing what he's experienced, I'd give him a free pass if that was the case. But that's what makes Joel's story so inspiring. He's not mean. He's not bitter. He's not angry. He's encouraging, understanding, and just wants people to be nice. His experience in the world of music and coffee - oh you knew I'd return to coffee again soon, didn't you? - has given him a solid foundation in business, yet the other hemisphere of his brain also gets to express itself through his love of the art of both worlds. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and enjoy this conversation.  

There are so many adjectives that describe Roger Okewole and his story: Inspiring, Motivating, and Encouraging are some of the first ones that spring to mind. He's a man who has walked through the darkness (AKA had his nuts kicked) and came out the other side stronger. Born in Scotland, raised in Nigeria, and currently living in - wait for it - New Jersey, Roger's story is one that you won't soon forget and the lessons he's learned are ones we can - and should - all carry with us.  

To be totally honest with you, I'm not 100% convinced that Mike Bauer isn't a super hero. He's a Los Angeles District Attorney by day with a genuine heart for justice and doing what's right. With a moral code firmly rooted in being honest and standing up for those who may not be able to defend themselves, it's people like Mike who restore your faith in the legal system. After hours, Mike is one of the most talented singer/songwriters I've had the pleasure to stumble upon. It was at a Storyteller Night at the iO West on Hollywood Boulevard in late 2014 when I first encountered Mike's talent and I haven't taken his music out of rotation since (Yep. I immediately came home and bought all of his stuff I could get my hands on over at Amazon). His story sounds like the description of the latest Netflix superhero series, but this is real life and that's what makes it all even better. Knowing there are still good guys like Mike in real life, fighting the fight and making music that transcends a bad day...the citizens of Metropolis can all sleep a little better.

Ten years ago, if you would have asked someone who knew anything about the CCM Industry if they'd heard of Milam Byers, their answer would probably have been something along the lines of, "Yeah. He's in the band Bleach." And they would have been correct. But something has shifted in the last ten years and I love what's happened. As people would ask me who I have coming up on the podcast and I would tell them that Milam's episode is on the way, I would see their faces light up. "I love that guy!" "He's so nice!" and "He's great to be around!" were all responses I got on more than one occasion. Stop and think about that. In a time when everyone is identified by their career or what they do (John? He's a painter. Mary? She's a bank teller. Steve? Oh yeah, the guy at the hardware store), Milam is identified by who he is. That's pretty incredible, if you ask me. Listen to this conversation with Milam and you'll start to understand why his rep is something we should all strive to have.

I have a sentiment about good things happening to good people, and that sentiment is: I like when that happens. Such is the case with my latest guest, John Tibbs. I sat down at the offices of Fair Trade Services in Nashville with John a couple of months ago and to say he was excited about his future would be putting it lightly. He was excited about his new upcoming music and was really eager for people to hear it. I can't blame him. I was given a sneak peek at his new single, "Dead Man Walking" (available now!) and I knew he had accomplished exactly what he set out to do. But what brought him to that point? Where did this guy come from? And did he really get to hold Punxsutawney Phil? Found out in this episode!

David Dunn is the kind of musician who writes songs that punch you in the gut. Not in a bad way where you walk away with bruises, mumbling about an assault charge, but in the kind of way you want songs to hit you. His lyrics are honest and transparent and are written from the point of view of someone who doesn't have all of the answers all of the time, but knows there's no shame in admitting it.   

It's been a while since Ed's had the chance to sit down and interview someone and you couldn't ask for a better way to break the silence than to sit down and catch up with Among the Thirsty's Ryan Daniels. 

Yes, Ben Kristijanto is the frontman for the band Bread of Stone, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Born in America, raised in Indonesia for the first nine years of his life, and then transplanted back to the States, Ben's unique upbringing has given him an infectious passion for life, helping others, and serving God.