Podcasts about The Groundlings

Kevin Sullivan has been performing stand-up ever since he roasted his teacher at Groundlings after doing a monologue and realized it was fun to be the one with the microphone. His recent astrology content on social media has really push his comedy forward. He's now selling out all over the country. Kev was nice enough to stop by the show and talk about his career up to this point! Doc and Kev talk about growing up, about Kev working with his grandma at Dunkin' Donuts, diving in college, modeling, striving to be a commercial actor, starting stand-up, sharing the stage with big names, astrology content and so much more! Meanwhile on the rest of the show, Mike and Doc are in the same room for the first time in a year and sense there is no audio engineer on this show, Mike's audio is a quite whisper....our bad. But make sure to listen! Introduction: 00:00:24 Birthday Suit: 18:18 Ripped from the Headlines: 22:06 Shoutouts: 30:01 Kevin Sullivan Interview: 35:21 Mike C Top 3: 1:37:03 Birthday Suit 2: 1:52:03 Birthday Suit 3: 1:55:11

BOSSes Anne Ganguzza and Jennifer Sims, a voice actor, coach, and self-proclaimed "100% certified smarty pants," connect to explore the intricate layers of the voiceover industry. Listen in as we unpack Jennifer's unique journey, shaped by diverse experiences in acting, producing, and voiceover, offering a candid look into the crucial insights needed to navigate challenges and build a truly thriving business in today's landscape. Listeners will discover the essential role of professionalism and adaptability in connecting with clients, gain understanding of the industry's evolving demands, and appreciate the power of a well-rounded skill set.    00:01 - Anne (Host) Hey, guys, it's Anne from VO BOSS here. 00:04 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) And it's George the Tech. We're excited to tell you about the VO BOSS VIP membership, now with even more benefits. 00:10 - Anne (Host) So, not only do you get access to exclusive workshops and industry insights, but with our VIP Plus Tech tier, you'll enjoy specialized tech support from none other than George himself. 00:21 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) You got it. I'll help you tackle all those tricky tech issues so you can focus on what you do best: voice acting. It's tech support tailored for voiceover professionals like you. 00:32 - Anne (Host) Join us, guys, at VO BOSS and let's make your voiceover career soar. Visit voboss.com/vip-membership to sign up today. 00:45 - Speaker 3 (Announcement) It's time to take your business to the next level, the boss level. These are the premier business owner strategies and successes being utilized by the industry's top talent today. Rock your business like a boss, a VO BOSS. Now let's welcome your host, Anne Ganguzza. Hey everyone, welcome to the VO Boss Podcast. 01:04 - Anne (Host) I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza. Hey everyone, welcome to the VO Boss Podcast. I'm your host, Anne Ganguzza, and today I have the pleasure and honor of being with a very special guest, Jennifer Sims. Jennifer, yay! Hi, hi. 01:17 For those bosses who do not know Jennifer, she is a voice actor coach and 100% certified smarty pants. I'm so jealous, so jealous of that branding. She's known for her authentic, conversational, confident, and playful delivery and has a unique perspective from both sides of the glass, and works for clients such as Hyundai, Wells Fargo, CVS, Vons—the list goes on and on and on. She honed her quirky sense of humor studying comedy and improv, which is always so important, I think, for us as voice actors, at the Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings, and that helped her to land on-camera commercials for Uber, Snapchat, and WebMD. She began her acting career out of high school and basically was on her own for a short period of time in LA as a very young girl, which is great, and also as a producer, has had the pleasure of collaborating on hundreds of radio, television, and promo spots and has worked with some amazing talent along the way. And what haven't you done, Jennifer Sims? 02:18 - Jennifer (Host) I'm telling you, so much, so much. Thank you, Anne. That was lovely. Not as much as I'd like, and hopefully more. Yeah, thank you. It's great to be here. Thanks for having me. 02:28 - Anne (Host) Yeah, absolutely. Well, I met you—well, I met you not like physically, but I met you through our VIP room and I was so, so impressed with your background and your wisdom and everything. So I wanted to make sure that I had an opportunity to have you on the show and so our bosses could also get to know you. So let's talk a little bit about your varied career, because I think it's super important in terms of why you're so successful now and how you started off with acting and then as a producer. Talk about that for a little bit and tell us how it's helped you become successful in your voiceover career. 03:06 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, that's been very, like, it informs most of my career, certainly in the beginning, because when I decided to leave my director of broadcast job, I was working for an ad agency here in Los Angeles as the director of broadcast and I was bringing in a lot of voice actors for promo and commercials, etc. You know how it is when you see somebody and you're like, "Boo, why do they get to do it? I want to do it too!" But as I started my career, realizing that we're a part of the process, voice actors are part of a process, particularly in commercial, since that was my area, and when I was bringing in voice actors to record them, it comes very late in the process. Recording the voice actor for a commercial is one of the last things we do as a process in creating a commercial. 03:52 So, knowing that we're just—not just, I shouldn't say this, but we're part of a collaborative team, we're now brought into the team. We're problem solvers, we're creatives, along with the creative director, copywriter, and understanding why the copy is the way it is. I know a lot of us will—problem solvers, we're creatives, along with the creative director, copywriter, and understanding why the copy is the way it is. I know a lot of us will go, "Oh, this copy is terrible. It's poorly written," and, like, you don't know where that copy has gone. 04:12 - Anne (Host) Isn't that the truth? I love that you just opened up with that perspective because, honestly, like the nuggets of wisdom that people get out of listening—you brought them right at the front when people get for listening to a podcast or being educated. I love the fact that we are part of a process and you brought that to our attention because I think a lot of times we're in our bubble in our studios here and we forget that it's not just all about our voice, but it's part of a process and there's reasons for so many things. Right? There's reasons, and you're so absolutely right. 04:46 How many times have you gotten a piece of copy and I've heard my students, "Oh my God, this copy sucks!" Or I've read on some forum where people are like, "Oh my God, the copy sucks," and "Why does the copy suck?" But I think it's important to know that, yeah, we are part of a collaborative process and it doesn't begin and end with us, and that's an important part to understand so that we know where we fit in. And the more that I think we can predict how we can fit in best to complete the process, I think will really help us as actors. 05:13 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, exactly, really well said and so true. It's like, how do we fit into this process? Because we do, and even now, as an actor working on my, I will sort of forget that there's a lot going on and that when I get copy and I'm like, "Oh, well, I don't know how many R&D, research and development meetings they had on this copy. I don't know what focus groups might have said about this copy." Like, big companies spend a lot of time and money making sure that their copy is delivering a message that they want, money making sure that their copy is delivering a message that they want, and a lot of things. On the ad agency side, we're looking at things—that copy, and I'm like, "Well, legal says we can't say that." 05:51 Right, or legal says we have to say this. So, you know, when we're sort of like, "Boo, the copy couldn't be you," it's like, "Well, you don't know why." Yeah, it may be a legal thing. 06:06 - Anne (Host) It may be a client directive, it may be, who knows. I always try to remember that because, like somebody, somewhere was paid money to write this copy, and they know that product, or there's an intent with that product, or there's an intent with that copy that we are not necessarily aware of, nor do they tell us, but it's something that I think that we, as actors, we need to create that story, even if they're not telling us what it is. We need to create that story so that we can connect as much as possible to that copy and fit into like what they hear in their head. Right? We need to fit that spec there. 06:34 - Jennifer (Host) Exactly, and I think it also goes to the idea of given a level playing field of extremely talented actors. Most often, I only needed one person to do the job to solve the problem of whatever problem we were trying to solve creatively. And so I think it's easy to start to feel like, "Oh, I got rejected. I don't book this kind of work." It's like, given a level playing field, just assume that somebody got selected. But it—a level playing field, just assume that somebody got selected, but it doesn't mean that everyone else was rejected. Honestly, as I was listening to actors, I'm like, I wouldn't get in all my auditions for, say, a television commercial voiceover, and I would maybe listen to 50, a hundred, and then call it down to present to my boss, my creative director and client, maybe 10. And any one of those people could have booked it. Somebody got selected, that's all. 07:27 - Anne (Host) It's just a matter of selection, and the thing of it is is that you're at the beginning of that process, listening to all of those auditions. You would narrow it down to a particular amount of people, but then, ultimately, the decision is not necessarily yours. So I think, voice actors, we forget that, that it can go to your boss and your boss is not. Maybe a casting director doesn't have an ear for it, or just this is what he had—he or she had in mind. And so the pick from then. I don't think it's always necessarily based on your acting skills. It's just like a feeling, maybe, that they have. "Oh, yeah, this sounds right." 08:02 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, it's very subjective. Yeah, it's very subjective. 08:05 - Anne (Host) And I think we forget that. 08:07 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, and I know that, being that it's so subjective, if you sound just not quite what they want. I had a creative director. I was presenting talent. This woman was extremely talented. I was advocating for her. He's like, "Eh, she sounds a lot like..." I forget if it was his cousin or his ex-wife or somebody. He's like, "And I don't like that person." So she just reminded him vocally of somebody in his world that he's like, "Don't like." She was very good, like perfect for the role, and, subjectively, my creative director was like, "Nope, reminds me of someone, and I don't like that person. Bye." And I'm like, "All right. Well, that's how that's going to go." Or we get replaced. I was the voice of a promo for a really, really long time. It was a great recurring gig and somebody new came in at the top. The client switched positions, new client, and they're like, "No, I want to pick the voiceover," and so, like, I was out. They felt like that was the prior stamp. 09:06 And now they wanted to stamp it with their own. 09:09 - Anne (Host) That's such a good point because a lot of times, like companies change directors, companies change in departments, and a lot of times you may be the indirect result of that or not like being let go because of things like that that you have absolutely no control over. And so that is also a big part of the process in our heads as actors. We need to remember that on any given day, that it's not always—I think that if you can come into your audition with the skills that you need—the actor skills. Everybody says, "What's trending? What's trending these days? What's the sound these days?" And I'm like, "I think just be an actor, have good acting skills." 09:48 Maybe have good acting skills, because I feel like if you have good acting skills and the person, like say you, right, that is at the initial level of listening to all of the auditions, right, you're going to be able to hear that from the get-go, from the first few words. You're going to hear, "Okay, here's an actor. Now, what I like about this actor is that I can work with this actor." So maybe they didn't give the precise read that you were looking for at the time, but you know that they're an actor and that they'll be able to be directed. Exactly. And I think that's so important—best that you can come in with in your audition, to be armed with your acting skills, to showcase those acting skills, because all the other stuff we just have no control over. 10:25 - Jennifer (Host) Exactly. Control what you can. You know, getting auditions in a timely—Anne, naming them properly, file naming. I always talk about like naming those. 10:34 - Anne (Host) Like, why is that so difficult? I don't know. I come from a technology background. It always amazes me how many times people like don't understand how to name files when here's the convention and yet somehow. Right, just copy and paste it and then write your name. 10:50 - Jennifer (Host) I don't know why, but I don't think actors realize that if they mislabel a file, it's going in the trash. That'll piss off somebody. 10:57 - Anne (Host) I mean, like me, especially somebody that I'm handling a lot of files, right, and especially like if I have control over it, like you're not hired, and if you're going to argue with me about the name of that file, or if I gave you a confusing—no. I mean, sorry, just follow the following instructions. 11:12 - Jennifer (Host) But yeah, I think that actors may not realize that if you are missing those little details, like not following the spec, or because you're just like running and gunning and just like, "I'm in a hurry, I'll just read the copy," or not connecting to the copy, or mislabeling the file, it's like that's going to get you booted out of the mix because there's just not enough time and people don't understand. "Oh, so I put my name before the client's name." It's like if you're in casting or you're producing, you're not just casting one thing. So if you put your name first before the client's name, I don't know what to do with this file. Or usually it goes into a database and so the database is just going to go, "I don't know what to do with this. Garbage." I think people just realizing like why it's so important could be helpful. So people just slow down a little bit and go, "Oh, what's the file convention?" That's it. That's my TED Talk on file name. 12:03 - Anne (Host) There you go. I like that. Well, I'm right there with you on the file—I'm on the file name, I know, because you're dealing with hundreds of files, I know, right? I mean. So I touched upon this a little bit in your bio, which I think is so interesting, is that you studied comedy. Talk to us. And improv, of course, everybody always says, "Yes, improv, improv," yes, and improv, of course, is so important. But I also think comedy, too, is important, because this is just my outside looking in perspective, right? When we're listening, right, we need to command the attention of the audience. Right? Whether we're voicing a commercial or a corporate narration or whatever it is, we need to engage the attention of the listener and that is important. And I feel like comedy is absolutely one of those techniques that can be used to get people's attention and keep it, and I think it's important that if you have comedy in your script, that you can find it and you can execute it. So talk to us a little bit about that and the importance of comedy and improv. 12:58 - Jennifer (Host) Definitely. Have you been seeing a lot of scripts or a lot of castings where it's like we want people with comedy and improv, even though they may not ask you to necessarily be super hilarious or improv, they're listening for a nuance? A nuance, exactly. Comedy is like very subtle, I think, in voiceover, because when I was producing on the agency side back in the day, comedy in commercials was a lot more prevalent. We had double copy. We very rarely have two characters talking anymore, so it was a little more like in your face kind of comedy. 13:33 Yeah, back and forth kind of. Yeah, back and forth, you could riff off the other person. Now we're pretty much just doing one person voiceover, so that comedy has to be layered in, but never steal from the actual hero—our product or our client. And I think a lot of times when we're newer as voice actors, we're going for the "yucks" like, and it's like, "No, that's going to get you also noticed for all the wrong reasons." So I think I agree with you entirely. It's got to be layered, it's got to be nuanced, and you have to be able to find it. Sometimes people when I'm coaching, they miss the joke. I'm like, "Do you see that there's like a little pithy wit here?" 14:10 - Anne (Host) They're like, "No." I'm like, "Great." Or a play on words. And here's the thing too, you know, in writing scripts for demos and for my students, comedy is tough to execute in a certain time, like comedy is tough, especially if you're doing comedy writing in a demo. It's very tough to execute without sounding like a one-liner dad joke, right? Yeah, oh gosh, so true. And especially if you need to execute that time and just in a 30-second, 15-second commercial, to execute comedy and a sale at the same time is tough. 14:38 It's tough to do, it's really tough and so it does become very nuanced, right? And corporate, like when you get into like something longer, like corporate narration, you're not going to necessarily find too much humor, unless the brand itself doesn't mind making fun of itself, right? There's not many corporate—not many companies, I know, that make fun of themselves unless they have quirky products, right? If that's our corporate culture, great, but a lot of corporate is like, "No, very straightforward." 15:02 But they might have a nuance, right, and so I love the fact that, yes, if they're looking for that nuance and that is something that is it's maybe a nuance, right, and so I love the fact that, yes, if they're looking for that nuance and that is something that is it's maybe a note, it's a wink, it's a point of view that I think if you can execute and it only needs to happen like a little instant, then that to me, I can hear it right away and people can hear it right away. 15:23 They might not put their finger on it and say, "Oh, that was funny, like ha ha, knee slapping funny," yeah, but the execution of it is really it's key, and I think that comedy and improv is wonderful for people to have as a background in their acting skills. Yeah, I agree, comedy's tough. Did you perform like stand-up comedy? 15:42 - Jennifer (Host) No, I actually took a couple. I'm like, "No, I'm a smart-ass," but that was tough. So I took—a friend of mine was teaching. She is a comic and she taught classes and I did two of her classes, and after the first class, she's like, "Okay, and you know, as you know, we're going to an open mic," and it was torture. It was brutal. Just a bar room full of people going, "Make me laugh," and I'm like, "This is hard." 16:11 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I can't imagine. I have a friend who did stand-up in Burbank. Right? Everybody's at Flappers. Everybody's at Flappers and, "Come see my show at Flappers," and if you want to feel challenged, I mean stand-up at a mic in front of an audience. That's like, "All right." 16:26 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, like just staring at you and you're sitting with the mic going. 16:29 - Anne (Host) Make me laugh. But there's where I think, like the thinking fast on your feet is going to help you, and I think it's going to help you no matter what. I mean those of us who aren't necessarily doing comedy like stand-up comedy, but here we are in our booths and we're doing auditions, right? I think, if you have the time to evaluate and analyze your script and find the humor—I mean we have the luxury of some time of finding that humor and being able to execute upon that. I think if you can do that, if it's there in the copy, that's what you try to put up front and showcase. 17:02 - Jennifer (Host) I always say I'm going to zag. If everyone else is going to zig, I'm at least going to zag appropriately, because they also don't want to be the actors like. "Well, I remember her for the reason that she went off the rails." It has to make sense. 17:15 - Anne (Host) It has to make sense for the copy, right? And so I feel like that improv also, when I ask my students to create the scene, right? Be actors for a corporate narration that might be talking about investments or something that might sound dry. What is that story? Who are you talking to? Why does it matter? 17:31 You've got to be able to have that quick, like, let me create the scene and let me respond to it, right, and that just helps to enhance your script analysis, the speed at which you do that, and also if you're being asked live, like, "Give me an AB of that," or an "ABC of that." 17:45 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, how are we going to do that if you haven't created exactly scenario? I always think about how, in scene work and acting, we think about the moment before. Yes, and it's always because you'll hear actors, or I've heard this in auditions lots, where I'm listening to an audition, particularly when I was producing, it's like, "I don't even know why." I hear them saying the script. Why are they saying those words? Why are you even talking? It feels like you just sort of like dropped in cold and started talking, but I don't know why. Yeah, and I always can hear an actor who's a little bit more connected to the copy. Yeah, absolutely, and that's because they created some reason for talking in the first place. 18:21 - Anne (Host) Yeah, they created a reason to say those first words. There's got to be a response or a reaction. I say that even for corporate copy, definitely. 18:29 - Jennifer (Host) Even for e-learning. 18:30 - Anne (Host) You know what I mean. Like you've got a student that just asked you a question and so otherwise, it sounds like to me, I'm always telling my students, it sounds like once upon a time I started a monologue. 18:39 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) Yeah. 18:40 - Anne (Host) And it just became like, "Oh, I picked this thought out of the air and I just started saying it." 18:44 - Jennifer (Host) And there's no reason for it, and so it's weird how we can hear that, isn't that weird? It's like the microphone, sort of like picking up your thoughts, sort of like the camera records thought. That's why you've got to have something going on behind your eyes. 18:55 - Anne (Host) I think it's like you can hear somebody reading, right, because there's a certain melody and—and I know there's got to be scientific evidence, right? There's a melody that we have when we read words and I know it very well because I'm always telling people to stop reading. Start talking. 19:08 - Jennifer (Host) Stop reading. You sound like you're reading. 19:11 - Anne (Host) And so there's a melody to just reading the words, and it seems to start at the same pitch, like, "Hi, I'm Anne, I started here once upon a time." I've heard casting talk about this. 19:21 - Jennifer (Host) Voice casting agents will talk about this all the time. It's like, again, given a level playing field, the first people we're going to boot out of the running are people who sound like they're reading as opposed to talking, and it's a challenging skill set because we are literally reading scripts, but we're interpreting written speech into spoken speech, and it's a skill set. So it takes time. And I was thinking about how, whenever I'm auditioning for something, I think, well, I'd love to book it, of course, but I always think I'm not auditioning for this one, I'm auditioning for the next one, because, let's say, you know, I don't get selected for this one. I want you to remember me for the next one. So, something I do in this audition, I want to spark a little like, "Well, let's keep her in mind for something else down the road," because that's all I can control, absolutely, absolutely. 20:13 - Anne (Host) Speaking of auditioning and being an active voice actor and a woman of a certain age, and I say that, you look amazing. 20:19 - Jennifer (Host) Well, thank you, but let's face it. We've been in the business for a while, not a teenager. 20:25 - Anne (Host) Yeah, I cannot sound millennial, no matter what. 20:27 - Speaker 2 (Announcement) I do, even though I have a younger sounding voice. 20:29 - Anne (Host) No, it's mostly in the attitude. But let's talk a little bit about having been in the community and been in the industry for a while. What's it like these days being a little bit older in this industry? How are you finding work? Is it plentiful? Are you finding? 20:42 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, I mean it's plentiful, but I still think that in general we're youth-oriented. 20:49 So if you're over a certain age, 40 or beyond. Oh, let's face it, I haven't seen 40 in a minute. Yeah, me either. And look at us, we're thriving. There we go. The voiceover industry is definitely very inclusive. It's getting more diverse all the time. Like when I was producing commercials, you most definitely had to sound a certain way, be of a certain demographic, and now we're hearing all sorts of wonderful, diverse voices. I still think there's room for us to include more voices that are definitely over 40. I'm still hearing people on the air where I'm like, "You don't sound old enough to tell me about retirement or having a baby." 21:27 - Anne (Host) You sound like a kid. I always try to tell people I start with the product, because I feel like companies are going to promote their products to the demographic they can sell to. 21:38 So it starts there, right? So what sort of a product would you sell to a demographic of females over 40 or females over 50? And I feel like that's where it starts. I feel like the younger sounding. I think it's because the company is trying to expand their demographic to make more sales. I think that's where it starts anyways, because I'm always saying, "Well, the trend right now is a little bit towards more millennial, and that's just the way it is." But I feel like there are certain products that a millennial does not sound realistic. 22:04 - Jennifer (Host) Talking about like Depends, right, or retirement or certain financial instruments or mortgages or things where it's like wouldn't you have to be a little older to be getting? An elder millennial, at least to talk about that. 22:17 - Anne (Host) Go you elder millennials. It's hard to believe. I know that in automotive that was a big thing because with Uber and bosses out there, if you study like it's not hard to study, like demographics and marketing, right? I mean during the pandemic nobody was buying cars and younger people were not buying cars because they were really reliant on Uber and Lyft and the rideshare stuff. 22:38 And so car companies started really marketing hard towards younger people and that changes who they hire right to do their voiceovers, and so I think it's something, bosses, that you need to really like spend a few minutes every day studying the market that you want to sell into. Really, it's not hard, it's Google. 22:57 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, it's iSpot, Google. And. 23:00 - Anne (Host) Google says that honestly, like you can just type in, like, you know, demographic, automotive demographics or, you know, trends, it's easy to find that out and that can help inform you educationally what you might be auditioning for, how you would respond to an audition, right? What is the company? 23:18 - Jennifer (Host) Who are they targeting their sales to, or who you're, if you're doing direct marketing, which I think every voice actor should be doing, if you're directly marketing yourself to a client. It's like, do you vibe with that client? Are you appropriate for that client? So that's basically how I'm represented. I have talent agents across the country and it's very clear to me that my reps are very good about knowing what my wheelhouse is. So I do get a lot of healthcare, insurance, tech, things like that—healthcare, insurance, tech, things like that, because that's who I vocally appeal to. 23:53 It makes sense, and women have an enormous buying power because we make most of the household buying decisions in most households, and so, even though I still think the guys are doing about 60% of the commercial voiceover work, we're at 40%, so we're catching up, but I think companies are starting to realize that women's voices are appropriate for their products and they want to market to us. So I think we're doing better all the time. So, yeah, there's a lot of content out there. 24:22 - Anne (Host) So I would say that, with all our wisdom, with all your wisdom—with our collective wisdom, with all our—no, with your wisdom. What would be your best tip for people that are just starting out today? Because the industry has evolved over the years and it has definitely changed. So today, if somebody's interested in pursuing voice acting, what do you say to? 24:41 - Jennifer (Host) Them? Brand spanking new, I'd say, and I know people are like, "But you all are coaches, so of course you're going to say this," but I would say this even if I didn't coach it: it is a skill set. And so I think you've got to start with good training, and I tell my students this all the time: Get involved in the voiceover community, get your squad together, get an accountability group, a voiceover workout group. You and I were just at the Nava Gala. Is it Gala or Gala? 25:07 - Anne (Host) Gala. 25:09 - Jennifer (Host) I think Gala. 25:09 - Anne (Host) Gala sounds more elegant. 25:11 - Jennifer (Host) Nava Gala. 25:12 - Anne (Host) We're the Nava Gala. 25:13 - Jennifer (Host) And it's just, it's a constant reminder that when we're so isolated and working on our own, if we don't have community around us, this job is hard. It is. I love the voiceover community so much, and so we have a community around us. We're learning things, we're sharing things, and so I always suggest to people, they're like, "Oh, I don't know what to do. How do I help myself in this career?" I'm like, "Well, get good training and get involved in the community so that you're constantly learning from your peers." Or at least, because we're working by ourselves, it can feel a little lonely and isolating. 25:47 - Anne (Host) Get some VO pals and get lifted up and listen to podcasts like the VO Boss podcast. 25:52 - Jennifer (Host) Yes, please. Listen to VO Boss, listen to VO Boss, guys. I've been doing this for eight years now. 25:59 - Anne (Host) Oh my gosh, it seems so forever. Eight years, amazing, every week. 26:03 - Jennifer (Host) I love it. Oh, my goodness. 26:04 - Anne (Host) Wow. 26:16 - Jennifer (Host) So if bosses want to find out more about you, where can they find out more about you? 26:18 - Anne (Host) I'm a busy kitty on the Instagram at Sims, my website, Sims. I'm busy there too, so, yeah, awesome, come see me. Well, Jennifer, it has been so much fun. I think we could probably talk for another hour or hours. 26:27 - Jennifer (Host) It would be a delight, but I know you're booked and busy, so we'll get on to other things. 26:31 - Anne (Host) But I thank you so much for spending your morning with me and bosses, make sure you look up Jen. Can I call you Jen? Jen? 26:40 - Jennifer (Host) Yeah, go by Jen. Look up Jen. I want to say Jennifer. Jen. 26:42 - Anne (Host) Check out Jen's website and check her out on her socials. Jen, check out Jen's website and check her out on her socials. Yes, please, bosses. 26:49 - Jennifer (Host) Yes, absolutely. 26:56 - Anne (Host) Thanks again, I'm going to give a great big shout out to our sponsor, IPDTL. You too can connect and network like bosses. Find out more at IPDTL.com. You guys have an amazing week and we will see you next week. Bye, bosses, you're the best. 27:06 - Speaker 3 (Announcement) Join us next week for another edition of VO Boss with your host, Anne Ganguzza, and take your business to the next level. Sign up for our mailing list at voboss.com and receive exclusive content, industry revolutionizing tips and strategies, and new ways to rock your business like a boss. Redistribution with permission. Coast to coast connectivity via IPDTL.

Justinereneefla instagram Spilled paint. WATCH SERIES HERE Inclinenation Instagram BioJustine Renee is an actor and improviser driven by a deep passion for storytelling and creativeexpression. A graduate of Suffolk University with a degree in Theatre, she has performed in numerous stage productions, including Crimes of the Heart and Hair.Her training includes Improv Performance and Stand-Up at Sak Comedy Lab, as well as improv studies at The Groundlings in Los Angeles. She is also a cast member of the MallRatz Improv Troupe. Justine's on-screen career continues to grow, with recent credits including Spilled Paint (now streaming on Tubi) and a Lifetime movie set to premiere in late 2025. She is a proud recipient of a Golden Telly Award for Social Change, honoring her work in the arts and beyond.An advocate for embracing authentic creative voices, Justine believes that the power of art lies in ourability to connect with our true selves and express that uniqueness in everything we do.BioThe “extraordinarily mundane” Jamie B. Cline (as no one calls him) likes to liven up life through art, so he decided to get an MFA from USC for (performing) and then stick around Los Angeles because why not. Portraying the role of Patrick Walsh has been an amazing journey amongst some amazingly talented creative artists and hopefully this is just the beginning of everyone's journey with Spilled Paint. Other recent credits include performing in an online short play by Douglas Stark with Playzoomers, as the Jackalope in Easter Bloody Easter, and as Charles Goodnight in the documentary short Freedom on the Range.  Whether he's acting, writing, improvising, doing creature work or stunts, Jamie holds to the belief that art should be an experiential journey for everyone and the best part of the collaboration is sharing it with an audience.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/creator-to-creators-with-meosha-bean--4460322/support.

Legendary comedian Steve Bleustein joined me and discussed his autobiography Memoir of a Nobody; watching Howdy Doody & Peter Pan; going to Emerson College w/ Henry Winkler; Dave Madden & Albert Hammond taking him to try out stand up at the Comedy Store; Sammy Shore saying he has the sound; his work at The Groundlings with Tracy & Laraine Newman and Jack Soo; Tom Dreeson; being on The Merv Griffin Show with Laraine and getting ribbed about a nose job; Liz Torres; Brady Bunch Variety Hour; working with Rip Taylor and Ronnie Graham; writing for Loman & Barkley; a bit making a stick a star; Fred & Mary Willard and their holiday parties; being the last surviving member of the Ace Trucking Company; Fred hating elevators; Cracking Up; meeting Farrah Fawcett; Florence Henderson; Comedy Central ruins comedy boom; how to become a proficient comedian; comics get on TV too early; new comics are too filthy; he likes John Mulaney & Wanda Sykes; working on A Year at the Top with Mickey Rooney & Gabe Dell; Gabe can't remember lines; The Rabbit Test; opening in Vegas; doing a pilot with Tina Turner; Gabe Kaplan presents him as a new comic to watch; the Playboy Pajama Party nightmare; having dogs; becoming famous for Make Me Laugh; Gallagher; Bob Saget; Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop

We get deep into the Pee Wee documentary and tell stories of what we heard about Paul's Groundlings days. Plus many other crazy tales are told!

With Ben Rogers out on vacation, Jeff “Skin” Wade, Kevin “KT” Turner, and Krystina take the mic and dive into everything from magician movies to the legacy of Pee-wee Herman. Krystina kicks things off with a surprising revelation: she finally watched The Prestige—and it blew her mind. That sparks a hilarious back-and-forth about The Illusionist, why 2006 was the year of dueling magic movies, and how her magician-loving boyfriend roped her into a Memorial Day movie marathon.But the real magic comes when Skin passionately breaks down the new HBO documentary Pee-wee Herman as Himself. What starts as a nostalgic trip turns into a heartfelt exploration of Paul Reubens' life, his creative genius, and the surprising influence Pee-wee had on SpongeBob SquarePants. From his early days in The Groundlings with Phil Hartman to the character that thankfully didn't age well (a lounge-singing Native American), the doc reveals a side of Pee-wee most never knew.

In this episode, Marisa interviews writer, comedian, and screen and voice actor, Ryan McCabe. Ryan's commitment to character and comedy was established at a young age when he called himself The Riddler after watching Jim Carrey in Batman Forever. Now in LA, Ryan works in the dubbing industry and trains with The Groundlings, performing improv and stand-up comedy. He has also written seven poetry books and is currently producing a new comic called Henry Fowl in Black Sheep. Full of laughs and experience, Ryan creates work that is authentic to him, reminding artists to enjoy the creative process and to not be afraid to fail.Follow Ryan @hurricabePurchase his poetry books at Sabor y Cultural in LA or on Amazon

"Send in the FemBOTS!" Mindy Sterling is a Emmy-nominated comedic and character actress with a vast career in television and film spanning four decades. One of her most beloved roles is that of Frau Farbissina, the hilariously loud sidekick to Dr. Evil, in the Austin Powers franchise. She has also known for roles in iCarly, The Legend of Korra, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Goldbergs, just to name a few. Chris and Taylor talk with Mindy about her improv beginnings in The Groundlings, her character process, some of her most famous roles, and the joys of motherhood. IG: @mindysterFollow us on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepotential_podcast/X: https://x.com/thepotentialpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotentialpodcastSupport us on Patreon:patreon.com/thepotentialpodcastThanks to our sponsors: AURA and Let's Get CheckedAURA - Get a 14-day free trial of Aura for individuals, couples and or their family by going to aura.com/potential Let's Get Checked - Get 25% off your health test at trylgc.com/potential and enter promo code POTENTIAL25

Actor, writer, comedian, and filmmaker Jillian Bell (Workaholics, Saturday Night Live, 22 Jump Street) joins Andy Richter to discuss her feature directorial debut, “Summer of 69,” starring Chloe Fineman, her experience with The Groundlings, working with her sister, and much more.In Southern California? Come see the Andy Richter Call-In Show live for free at SiriusXM Studios in Hollywood. Visit http://siriusxm.com/andyrichterla for your chance at free tickets.Do you want to talk to Andy live on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Radio? Tell us your favorite dinner party story - leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Listen to "The Andy Richter Call-In Show" every Wednesday at 1pm Pacific on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Channel.

“Leave it in the room.”   As the family rascal, Kimberly Condict always stood out from her siblings with boundless energy. With a University of Oklahoma degree in hand, she leaped around theatrical communities in Denver and Dallas - before finally landing in Los Angeles. Her artistic roots began to grow over the next fifteen years as she found community in The Groundlings, dove into writing, and began booking numerous television roles. Oh, and she spots Jeff Goldblum at her local gym from time to time!   SHOUTOUTS & PROMOTIONS Help donate what you can to the victims of the L.A. Fires.

Adam and Jason “Mayhem” Miller open up the show with Adam recounting a Real ID Fiasco at a Florida airport, Variety's strange way of phrasing the headlines concerning Robert DeNiro's daughter coming out as Trans and local news in Santa Monica talking about WAYMO back up beepers.Ben Gleib then comes on the show to talk about his upcoming GLEIB OFF THE TOP! Live Zoom Comedy Show, Vaping and fat kids, Rupert Holmes vs. Jimmy Buffett, Mike August not booking Ben Gleib and sneezing violently, Adam's journey at the Groundlings, shitty improv partners and a possible moratorium on new comedians. Adam and Jason then talk about today's top news stories including Mayor Eric Adams spending 1.6 million on panic buttons to curb crimes, Jussie Smollett, and defunding of PBS and NPR. Get it on. FOR MORE WITH BEN GLEIB: WEBSITE: https://www.bengleib.com/TWITTER: @BenGleibINSTAGRAM: @bengleibFOR MORE WITH JASON “MAYHEM” MILLER:INSTAGRAM: @mayhemmillerTWITTER: @mayhemmillerThank you for supporting our sponsors:AuraFrames.com - Promo Code CAROLLABetOnlineCalderaLab.com/ADAMhttps://hometitlelock.com/adamcarollahttps://OmahaSteaks.comPluto.TvSIMPLISAFE.COM/ADAM-Go to https://hometitlelock.com/adamcarolla and use promo code ADAM to get a FREE title history report so you can find out if you're already a victim AND 14 days of protection for FREE! And make sure to check out the Million Dollar TripleLock protection details when you get there! Exclusions apply. For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty-Link in Description & Pinned Comment: Go to https://OmahaSteaks.com and order the Built for the Grill Pack with 16 FREE smash burgers. Minimum purchasemay apply. See site for details. A big thanks to our advertiser, Omaha Steaks!LIVE SHOWS: May 24 - Bellflower, CAMay 30 - Tacoma, WA (2 shows)May 31 - Tacoma, WA (2 shows)June 1 - Spokane, WA (2 shows)June 13 - Salt Lake City, UT (2 shows)June 14 - Salt Lake City, UT (2 shows)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dylan and Connor are joined by Ana Gasteyer (Once Upon a Mattress, “Saturday Night Live”). The Queen is coming. Actually, the Queen has ARRIVED. The twins are absolutely gagged to be joined by icon, legend, mother Ana Gasteyer. Fresh off of singing into a bullhorn in Times Square (IYKYK), Ana dives right into discussing the hot-off-the-presses cast album for Once Upon a Mattress, how it felt returning to Broadway with such a beloved show and cast, and what it was like playing alongside Michael Urie. Listen as she spills on her 6 seasons on “Saturday Night Live,” including the recent SNL50 celebration. Ana speaks on when she realized she was ready to leave SNL, followed by becoming one of the very first women to play Elphaba in the original company of Wicked in Chicago. Ana speaks about her Quaker upbringing leading to a life of performing, whether it be with The Groundlings, on television, or even the Broadway stage. She shares tidbits about working with Rachel Dratch, Kate Reinders, and appearing on early demos of Hairspray. We gush over the new film Sinners, Floyd Collins and its extraordinary cast, and happily celebrate Drag: The Musical's award nominations. We only love Ana more after some DRAMA!Follow Ana on InstagramFollow DRAMA. on Twitter & Instagram & TiktokFollow Connor MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramFollow Dylan MacDowell on Twitter & InstagramSubscribe to our show on iHeartRadio Broadway!Support the podcast by subscribing to DRAMA+, which also includes bonus episodes, Instagram Close Friends content, and more!

This episode's guest is actor, writer, voiceover artist, and unapologetic improv nerd, Roxana Ortega.Roxana is one of those rare artists whose vulnerability, honesty, and humor hit you all at once – and leave a lasting impression. If her voice sounds familiar, it might be because she's voiced everything from the passionate Frida Casagrande on The Casagrandes to characters in Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, and Monsters at Work. She's narrated Pulitzer Prize-winning novels, voiced countless animated characters, and is a master of voice matching (yes, she's dubbed for Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek).In our conversation, Roxana takes us through the unexpected path that led her to acting – from growing up in an academic household where creativity wasn't considered a “real” career, to having a life-changing epiphany while teaching English in Spain. We talk about the internal battle between playing it safe and going after what you truly want—and what it really means to decide to be an artist.We go deep into the power of improv as both a performance tool and a life philosophy, how failure can be a gift, and why community-building and representation matter now more than ever. Roxana shares how she uses her voice – literally and figuratively – to make space for underrepresented stories, and how she's continued to evolve as a writer, performer, and director.Whether you're someone who thrives on stage or someone working up the courage to take the leap, Roxana's journey will remind you that embracing risk, staying curious, and being fiercely yourself is always worth it.Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome + Introduction02:00 – Names, Language, and Laughter04:00 – Academic Roots & Artistic Restlessness07:55 – The Epiphany in Spain13:49 – “I Decided to Be an Actor”16:00 – Improv, Joy, and Redefining Failure21:45 – Performing, Directing, and Creating Her Own Work32:00 – Representation, Identity, and Making Space40:00 – The Tapestry of Humanity49:30 – Amazing Race Nerd Out50:50 – Blissful Spinster & Making Art on Your Own Terms54:35 – Final Words of Wisdom55:14 – What's Next for Roxana58:00 – Wrap-Up & Thank YouRoxana's Bio:Roxana Ortega is an American actor, writer, and voiceover artist who is known for voicing the ever-emotional Frida Casagrande on Nickelodeon's Emmy award-winning and Imagen award-winning cartoon The Casagrandes, a spinoff of the acclaimed series The Loud House.On-camera, she recently starred opposite Danny Trejo, Reno Wilson, and a cast of legends including Garrett Morris, Barry Bostwick, and James Hong in the Universal feature Grand-Daddy Day Care. Other film credits include The Flight Before Christmas opposite Mayim Bialik, Miss Congeniality 2 opposite Sandra Bullock, and Larry Crowne opposite Tom Hanks. Her TV guest-star credits include New Girl, Shonda Rhimes' For The People, The League, Rules of Engagement, NCIS, and the Peabody award-winning satire American Vandal.Behind the mic, she has voiced countless characters in TV, films, trailers, commercials, and some of the biggest video game franchises around, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Final Fantasy, Halo, and Ghost Recon: Wildlands. A two-time AudioFile Earphones Award winner, she has narrated the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Visit from the Goon Squad, the National Book Award finalist Sabrina & Corina, and the New York Times's non-fiction best seller Random Family to name just a few. In addition, her mimicking skills have led her to voice-match the likes of Penelope Cruz, Salma Hayek, and Jennifer Tilly.Born in Los Angeles and raised in Fullerton, CA, Roxana is of mixed Peruvian and Mexican descent. She graduated from U.C. Berkeley Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, then spent a year teaching English in Madrid, Spain. It was there, while she was elaborately acting out English vocabulary to her students, that she realized she wanted to pursue a career in acting. She returned to the Bay Area and immersed herself in theatre and improvisation, then made her way to Los Angeles where she continued her improv and acting training and began writing and performing sketch comedy.Roxana is an alumna of the CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase, Upright Citizen's Brigade, and the Groundlings Sunday Company. She has written and produced her own shorts and performed storytelling all over Los Angeles, including at The Moth GrandSLAM.She is also the creator and co-host of the live storytelling show Minority Retorts, which spotlights stories from the under-represented, and The Risking Space, a podcast about art and risk. Connect with Roxana on: InstagramLearn more about Latina's Act Up on: InstagramCheck out The Groundlings on: Instagram Links & LoveIf your ears like what they're snacking on, follow, rate, and drop a review—it helps others find the show too.Want to support the show or get access to extra content—like behind-the-scenes journals, guest deep dives, and updates on getting Alone Girl made? Check out my Substack: The Blissful Spinster. Just $5/month supports this DIY labor of love and gets you a peek behind the scenes (when I find the time to write, lol). Find me and the pod on Instagram, Pinterest, and at blissfulspinster.com—where you can also find some pretty cool merch, if you're into that sort of thing. Thanks for being on this journey with me—and until next time, go find your happy.

Fortune Feimster joins Chris and Amy to discuss her Takin' Care of Biscuits Tour, making a stop in St. Louis on June 5-6 at The Factory (with June 6 already sold out!). She shares stories from her latest Netflix special, Crushing It, touching on her marriage, family, and hilarious life experiences. Fortune also reflects on her career journey from improv at The Groundlings to stand-up success and her roles in Fubar with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Office Christmas Party with Jennifer Aniston.

There's a stunning transformation that happens to Edi Patterson when she puts on the aggressively curly haired wig for her character on ‘The Righteous Gemstones.' “Something different happens to the makeup of my atoms, once I get Judy's hair on,” Patterson says in this week's episode. “Because I do really feel like she's a living person who's inside of me, and I just get to unleash her and turn it up.” Without the wig, the Groundlings alum is nearly unrecognizable—and her real-life persona is far less unhinged than the sex-crazed evangelical Christian she plays on ‘The Righteous Gemstones,' which just began its fourth and final season on HBO. Patterson, who also writes for ‘Righteous Gemstones,' discusses keeping the season premiere's massive cameo a secret, her alternative casting idea for that episode, getting “weird” with guest star Megan Mullally later in the season, and how Judy and her on-screen siblings—series creator Danny McBride and Adam Devine—have evolved over time. She also looks back on her very brief experience as a writer on ‘Saturday Night Live,' the shocking line she ad-libbed during her original audition with McBride for their previous show ‘Vice Principals,' and what it's really like to improvise opposite Larry David on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.' Follow Edi Patterson on Instagram @edipattersonhiFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

53 minutes of sheer interview joy!Today's episode is an absolute treat as I welcome the marvellous Amy Margolis, LCSW. Amy is a licensed therapist, co-clinical director of Santa Monica Counseling, and an expert in eating disorder recovery. She's also a seasoned voice actor with credits from Nickelodeon, Netflix, and Disney, but more than anything, she's a passionate advocate for healing and self-worth.This episode is extra special because Amy and I recorded an incredible conversation previously… only to find out it never saved! Luckily, Amy graciously agreed to return, and honestly, I think this conversation is even better.We cover everything from the anorexic mindset and societal conditioning to the power of vulnerability, the illusion of happiness, and how starvation impacts mental health. Whether you're in recovery, supporting someone, or just curious about breaking free from deprivation thinking, this episode is packed with insight, wisdom, and practical advice.

Andy Buckley, who played David Wallace on The Office, joins us! Andy talks to us about being cast on one of the most popular television shows ever, taking an acting class with Channing Tatum, performing in The Groundlings and what it's like working a full-time job for Merrill-Lynch while being a recognizable actor. We also talk about Andy's current role on the Netflix series FUBAR and what it's like to act with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Improv is not just for actors! Find out how improvisation skills can elevate your ability to land on your feet in any situation as Phil Cooke https://philcooke.com interviews Kelsey Cooke and Chris Guerra of thisishardtoread Productions and Oddity Improv. Together, they break down the values of improv classes for spontaneity, team collaboration, self-confidence, speaking skllls and for boosting creativity in any environment.  Join Chris and Kelsey as they share how improv can change the way you communicate, build teams, and approach creative challenges. 

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, actor Michaela Watkins joins us to talk about her latest film, Suze, a Canadian indie gem screening at the Ojai Playhouse on March 9. She'll be on hand for a post-film discussion, but first, we dig into the heart of the movie, the revival of the "New Sincerity Movement," and why audiences are craving stories about broken people finding connection.Michaela also reflects on her incredible career including a stint of Saturday Night Live, the LA-based Groundlings, working with the husband-wife duo Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart behind Suze to her collaborations with the late, great Lynn Shelton and acclaimed director Nicole Holofcener (You Hurt My Feelings). We swap stories about mutual Ojai friends, share what this town means to us, and much more.Note: We did not talk about the Ventura River estuary, proposed NFL rule changes or the ill-fated El Dorado expedition of 1559 led by "Wrath of God" Aguirre.Tune in for a conversation that's as heartfelt, funny, and sharp as Michaela herself.

Andy Goldberg & Wendy Cutler of the improv group Off the Wall joined me to discuss the founder, Dee Marcus; how they met her; the original members, Chris Thompson, Judy Pioli, and Joie Madigow; having four women and two men; Marc Sotkin and Robin Williams join; improv games; characters; Paul Willson, David Ruprecht, Phil Lamar, and John Ritter join and leave; Maryedith Burrell; Completely Off the Wall pilot loses to Fridays; appearances on The Dating Game, The Goodbye Girl, and Fernwood Tonight; Norman Lear's compliment; voiceover acting and looping; Super Loopers; Diary of a Young Comic with Richard Lewis; hanging out at Cantor's Deli; Garry Shandling, Bernadette Birkett, Archie Hahn, Tom Tully, and Harry Murphy join and leave; Ken Levine takes classes; 1985-1986 sketch comedy Off the Wall not affiliated even though Susan Elliot was a cast member; George Wendt; Laverne & Shirley; Dance Night; celebrity fans Bruce Willis, Sam Shepard, and Gene Hackman; appearing on An Evening at the Improv; having a monthly guest, including Chevy Chase; Wendy & Bob Perlow due gags on People Do the Craziest Things; Candid Camera; Edinburgh Festival; Puppetry of the Penis; Groundlings cross-pollination; his book, Improv Comedy and teaching Bryan Cranston

Jess is joined by SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE character queen CHERI OTERI! Cheri recounts being discovered at The Groundlings alongside Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Griffin and fellow SNL hopefuls Will Ferrell, Chris Kattan and Jennifer Coolidge. Topics: origins of her Barbara Walters impression, the cutthroat pressure between cast & writers for airtime, Jim Carrey's iconic episode and working w/ Betty White (Hot in Cleveland) & Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm).  IG: @jessxnyc Watch this interview on YouTube

Meet Heidi Gardner, a comedian and actress best known for her work on Saturday Night Live. After 9 years working at a hair salon in LA, Heidi decided to pursue comedy and worked her way up through the Groundlings. She joined the cast of SNL in 2017 and has brought us many, many laughs since then. I had an amazing time chatting with her and I hope you enJOY!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GGACP joins "Saturday Night Live"s 50th anniversary celebration with this ENCORE of a 2021 interview with comedian, Emmy-nominated writer, "Amazing Colossal Podcast" fan and original "SNL" cast member Laraine Newman. In this episode, Laraine talks about descending from Jewish cowboys, co-founding The Groundlings, auditioning for Bob Hope (and Robert De Niro) and penning her engrossing memoir, “May You Live in Interesting Times.” Also, Don Ameche mounts a comeback, Chevy Chase tells the “Aristocrats” joke, Laraine crushes on Illya Kuryakin and Walter Matthau turns down the Julia Child sketch. PLUS: Autumn Fizz! “American Hot Wax”! Buck Henry gets kinky! “That's Not Funny, That's Sick!” And Laraine recalls working with Bob & Ray, Dudley Moore and Rodney Dangerfield! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wherein Danny and Darren dive deeper into Beth's relationship with Richard, which includes a shocking revelation that Danny's dad had been operating dating profiles on his sons' behalf. Additionally, Sandy discusses her dating life beyond Richard, and Darren checks in with Danny about his anger. For tickets to Danny's improv show at the Groundlings, head to www.groundlings.com/shows/theunderstudies. And if you would like to support this podcast, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/HowToDestroyEverything. Listen to HTDE on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Screenwriter and actor Jim Rash and I talk about what makes him an empathetic and responsive friend, growing up in Charlotte, NC, being adopted, the Groundlings, winning an Oscar, Allison Janney, his dream of being on Friends coming true, Community, turning off your cell phone, directing his new movie,  playing Snoopy, and singing and dancing in the kitchen to feel good. Bio:  JIM RASH is best known for playing “Dean Pelton” on NBC's Community. Most recently, he starred opposite Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Fly Me To The Moon. He won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Descendants alongside Nat Faxon & Alexander Payne. Rash and Faxon also co-wrote and co-directed The Way, Way Back. Rash recently finished post-production on Miss You, Love You, an independent movie that he wrote and will mark his solo directing debut. It stars Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells. Rash hopes to take it to film festivals next year.

Wherein Danny and Darren bring the podcast full circle by exploring the moment that started it all from a different persepective: Danny's wife. As she illuminates her side of the disaster that led to the termination of Danny's relationship with his dad, our intrepid hosts then speak to the other wife, that of Danny's brother. How does a narcissist affect his kids when they grow up, get married, and have families of their own? What better way is there to find out than by talking to the wives. Listen to HTDE on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. For tickets to Danny's improv show at the Groundlings, head to www.groundlings.com/shows/theunderstudies. If you would like to support this podcast, please consider becoming a patron at: www.patreon.com/HowToDestroyEverything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annie and Mindy talk about what it takes to have a deep and lasting friendship. They discuss what brought them together, how they are alike and how they are not. They also talk about a divorce workbook, pets, kids, the trauma of ex-husbands, the difference between growing up in Detroit vs Miami, having parents who asked you to perform and parents who didn't, asking your teacher to “hang out”, Groundlings, tums, having no emergency contact, boundaries, and how Jim Rash is the center of the universe.  Bios:  Annie Sertich wanted to be a lawyer - instead ended up playing one opposite Denzel Washington. She wanted to be in the Super Bowl -instead she has sold tires, accepted M&M's, and recently appeared as Tina, the Geico caveman's wife during the commercial breaks. She is an actor, writer, and alumni of the famed Groundings Theatre where she also performs a one woman show called ‘How To Not Kill Yourself for 30 days…and the next 330.'  You'll hear her voice on various animated shows and see her on shows such as: “Grey's Anatomy/Station 19,” “Superstore,” “Silicon Valley,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Roar,” to name a few. Mindy Sterling is a 2017 two time Emmy Nominee for Best Actress in Short Form Comedy or Drama for her work on Con Man and Secs and Execs. She is probably best known for her character portrayal of Frau Farbissina, Dr. Evil's German henchwoman and lover in all three Austin Powers Films. Other films are The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Drop Dead Gorgeous. She currently recurs as Linda Schwartz on The Goldbergs and has guest starred on Grace and Frankie, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Legit, iCarly. Her voice over career consists of Legend of Korra, The Great North , American Dad, Family Guy, Loud House, Scooby Doo, Chowder to name a few. She is an alumni of The Groundlings and occasionally still directs and performs there.

Wherein Danny and Darren interview Stephen Kearin, a mentor to Danny over the last several decades (and Danny's self-described "Irish Rabbi"). Stephen shares his own incredible family story and the boys try to glean some lessons that Danny can apply to his own relationship with Richard.  For tickets to Danny's improv show at the Groundlings on Thursday, March 6th at 10 PM, head here: https://groundlings.com/shows/theunderstudies HTDE Live Show: https://www.stl-style.com/event-details/how-to-destroy-a-live-show-q-a Listen to HTDE on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and please remember to subscribe, rate, and review!  If you would like to support this podcast, please consider becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/HowToDestroyEverything Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mel Stephens! Writer! Director! Comedian! More! FROM HER WEBSITE: Melissa Stephens (@melmstephens on social media) is a comedian, writer, and director from the Peach State, and has dual citizenship in the UK. Melissa wrote on staff of Brett Goldstein & William Bridges' AMC anthology series SOULMATES, now streaming on Amazon Prime (Mel wrote ep 5). She is currently developing a dark comedy series with AMC Studios and UK based Two Brothers Productions, as well as penning a pilot for eOne and Mark Gordon based on her one-hour comedy special “Homebrew.” She is a founding member of IAMA Theatre Company, has been a member of Groundlings' Sunday Company, and regularly performs stand-up around Los Angeles. Her directorial debut, PEEN, was a Vimeo Staff Pick, and the short series she wrote and directed, FINDING THE ASSHOLE, was chosen to show at Slamdance and is currently in development on multiple TV and Film projects.  We had a great chat! You can have a great listen! And this is only the first HALF of our chat! For the second half, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts or just click on over here to Patreon!

Original cast member of "Saturday Night Live" and founding member of the Groundlings, Laraine Newman, joins Andy Richter to discuss the 50th anniversary of "SNL," her love for voice acting, the origins of the legendary Groundlings comedy theater, her daughter Hannah Einbinder's journey to "Hacks," and much more. The Andy Richter Call-In Show is back from holiday break this week! Leave a voicemail at 855-266-2604 or fill out our Google Form at BIT.LY/CALLANDYRICHTER. Listen and call in to the "The Andy Richter Call-In Show" live this Wednesday at 1pm Pacific on SiriusXM's Conan O'Brien Channel. 

Brad & Diego are lucky to have this brilliant Teacher, Actor and a well known Groundlings Alum David Jahn in the booth.From the sketch comedy to the scripted, David spills all the beans!Like our Podcast? Wanna Support with a Donation of any size?venmo - @BradAshtenWe thank you for your patronage & Keeping the arts alive!#actor #actress #director #producer #sound #lights #camera #action #directorofphotography #artists #musicians #hair #makeup #wardrobe #casting #castingdirector #models #stars #celebrities #music #performers #tv #film #radio #television #indiefilms #scripts #deadcelebs #toys #art #awards #sag #aftra #aea #unions #movies #theatre #arts #politics #mystery #thriller #drama #suspense #comedy #fightchoreography #stunts #universalstudios #warnerbros #dc #dccomics #comicbooks #writers #screenplay #hollywood #losangeles #california #newyork #industry #castingcouch #auditions #selftape #redcarpet #oscars #emmys #mtv #abc #nbc #sony #talk #chat #discuss #fun #energetic #unique #standup #comedians #dancer #soundmixer #nashville #europe #unitedstates #books #magazines #sports #athletes #magicians #poets #singer #famous 

In this classic Industry Standard interview, and final episode of 2024, Barry sits down with legendary radio personality, comedian, and podcasting trailblazer Adam Carolla. Adam opens up about his remarkable journey, starting with his humble beginnings as a carpenter by day while honing his comedy chops at The Groundlings by night. He shares how unconventional gigs—like teaching comedy-infused traffic school—shaped his early career. Adam reflects on pivotal moments, and the perseverance that ultimately landed him his first big break at Los Angeles radio station KROQ, training Jimmy Kimmel for a comedic boxing match, a move that led to him creating his breakout character, Mr. Birchum for The Kevin and Bean Show, and then to becoming co-host of Loveline with Dr. Drew. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with grit, humor, and inspiring insights on how Adam transformed unique opportunities into a thriving entertainment empire. You won't want to miss this hilarious and motivating story! #AdamCarolla #AdamCarollaShow #Podcasting #RadioHost www.blueprint-for-success.com Are you a comedian, actor, writer, director, producer, manager, host, podcaster or agent? Would you like personalized help to reach all of your goals in the entertainment business? Click the link to learn more & join our FREE industry networking group full of decades of experience! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/industry-standard-w-barry-katz/support

Lisa Kudrow (No Good Deed, Friends, The Comeback) is an award-winning actor and producer. Lisa joins the Armchair Expert to discuss her background as a pre-med biology student at Vassar, not being a people pleaser in the Groundlings, and how Jon Lovitz became her bridge to comedy. Lisa and Dax talk about why Conan O'Brien is the best person to bring to a dinner party, listening to the internal voice that told her to be an actress, and how pan au chocolate and a walk in the sun can be a cure for rejection. Lisa explains how home is the people you're with, the fallacy of the healing power of fame, and why she'll never be tired of talking about Friends.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textEpisode 506"Cobra Kai"Actor: Patrick Luwis (Axel Kovačević)Patrick Luwis is an immensley talented actor who made his debut as Axel Kovačević in part 2 of season 6 in Cobra Kai. He is terrfying, believable and a down right force on and off the mat.This is a really fun interview, sprinkled with interesting tidbits about Patrick, Cobra Kai and his character Axel Kovačević.Patrick Luwis is an actor from Washington, DC. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Rhetoric from Hampden-Sydney College, where he performed as a lead in six plays. He also studied at the University of Oxford in England and in New Zealand at the University of Auckland, which he regards as one of the best times of his life because, for once, his American accent was considered cool. In Los Angeles, he has trained at studios and with coaches such as Margie Haber, Howard Fine, Lesly Kahn, Stan Kirsch, Sara Mornell, and The Groundlings.www.mmcpodast.comhttps://linktr.ee/mondaymorningcritic#cobrakai #cobrakai6 #thekaratekid #karatekid #cobrakaiedits

The great Jon Lovitz talks about comedy, acting, stand-up comedy, dogs, The Groundlings, Managers, A league of Their Own, The Simpsons, The Critic, and the serendipity of show business.  Bio: Jon Lovitz has been one of the best known comedians for the last thirty years. He got his start acting in High School plays and developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. He began taking classes with the famous improv comedy group, “The Groundlings” in 1982. One year later, after being accepted into “The Sunday Company”, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year”. Thinking he was on his way, he promptly quit his job at a clothing store…and became a messenger. The next three years – nothing!!! Then, in September of 1984, he was accepted into the main company at “The Groundlings”.On March 28, 1985, “The Groundlings” appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous”. Following the introduction of this persona, Jon got an agent, and booked a movie, a series, a voice over for a cartoon, and “Saturday Night Live”. Jon has been working non-stop since. He was nominated for an Emmy his first two years on “Saturday Night Live”. While on SNL, he became known for his characters “Tommy Flanagan of the Pathological Liars Anonymous” (“Year, that's the ticket”), “Master Thespian”, “Hanukkah Harry”, and “the Devil”. He has appeared in over 40 films, including “Big”, “A League of Their Own”, “The Wedding Singer”, “High School High”, “Small Time Crooks”, “Rat Race”, “The Producers”, “Eight Crazy Nights”, “The Benchwarmers”, “Grown Ups 2”, “The Ridiculous 6”,  among many others. He has also worked with acclaimed directors such as Penny Marshall, Rob Reiner, Jerry Zucker, and Woody Allen.  He one of a handful of actors used regularly in almost all his movies by Adam Sandler.This year, in 2024, he just completed the lead character in the film “The Toast” and will be appearing in “Happy Gilmore 2” starring Adam Sandler.Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. He was the lead voice for the character “Jay Sherman” in the acclaimed cult cartoon series, “The Critic”. He has also appeared in twelve episodes of “The Simpsons”, even creating the character of Marge Simpson's boyfriend, “Artie Ziff” (who sounds suspiciously like Jay Sherman). Jon has also appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon's play “The Dinner Party”,  taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He has sung (yes, he can sing!) at Carnegie Hall three times (including “Great Performances: Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall) and sung the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open. He also sang with English rock star, Robbie Williams at the Royal Alpert Hall and appears on his album, “Swing While You're Winning!”He currently is performing his new musical comedy show, “From the Shower to the Stage” with celebrated musical conductor and arranger, Randy Waldman. Randy has been Barbra Streisand's personal pianist for the last 36 years and is her current musical conductor as well.Jon has also had an illustrious television career. He was the first famous guest star on the hit show “Friends”. In the same week, he appeared on an episode of Seinfeld. Jon also has had recurring roles on “Hot in Cleveland”, “Las Vegas”, “Two and a Half Men”, “Hawaii Five-O”, and “New Girl”.Editing Notes: Jon Lovitz episode seem to go on and on. Jon won't stop talking. Interested in how you think it is. I think I talk too much about wanting to have sex with Kate Upton. I do it TWICE.  (Kate Upton might not be famous anymore) Funny?  If not,  feel free to cut it.

Chris Parnell has a voice made of liquid gold and comedy timing you can set your watch to... which has earned him legendary status at two comedy institutions - The Groundlings and 'Saturday Night Live' - both celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Known as "The Iceman" during his eight seasons on SNL (because he never broke character, not even during the classic Christopher Walken “More Cowbell” sketch), Chris reminisces about his comedy career with Dan-- the amazing early Groundlings moments, the wild world of SNL afterparties, working with fellow greats Will Ferrell, Tim Meadows, and he reveals a few regrets from his time on comedy's biggest stage. Chris also opens up to Dan about how his religious upbringing shaped him, his family legacy of speaking in front of a microphone, and the weight of wrestling for years with the idea of contacting his biological parents for the first time. SNL's three-hour live 50th anniversary primetime special airs Sunday, February 16th, on NBC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Parnell has a voice made of liquid gold and comedy timing you can set your watch to... which has earned him legendary status at two comedy institutions - The Groundlings and 'Saturday Night Live' - both celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Known as "The Iceman" during his eight seasons on SNL (because he never broke character, not even during the classic Christopher Walken “More Cowbell” sketch), Chris reminisces about his comedy career with Dan-- the amazing early Groundlings moments, the wild world of SNL afterparties, working with fellow greats Will Ferrell, Tim Meadows, and he reveals a few regrets from his time on comedy's biggest stage. Chris also opens up to Dan about how his religious upbringing shaped him, his family legacy of speaking in front of a microphone, and the weight of wrestling for years with the idea of contacting his biological parents for the first time. SNL's three-hour live 50th anniversary primetime special airs Sunday, February 16th, on NBC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to today's episode! I'm joined by the incredible Amy Margolis, LCSW, a licensed therapist and co-clinical director at Santa Monica Counseling, where she specializes in guiding individuals, couples, and groups through healing from eating disorders, addictions, anxiety, and more. Amy is also a talented Meisner and Groundlings-trained voice actor, lending her voice to projects with Nickelodeon, Netflix, and Disney. Beyond her professional life, Amy is a proud mom of three and wife to her husband, Hank. In our conversation today, we dive deep into Amy's journey, from her personal recovery story to why she became a therapist. We discuss her perspectives on the roots of eating disorders, her advice for those on the path to recovery, and the concept of a “deprivation mindset” in women—a topic she explores in her book. This episode is packed with insights for anyone on a journey to healing and self-discovery. Let's jump right in! Connect with Amy https://www.instagram.com/heres_the_memo/ https://amymargolislcsw.com Connect with me Join my free support group: https://victoria-kleinsman.circle.so/c/free-support-group/  Free masterclass “How To Stop Bingeing” https://victoriakleinsman.com/how-to-stop-binge-eating-without-the-need-for-willpower/  Work with me: https://victoriakleinsman.com/work-with-me/

Acclaimed writer, director, and executive producer Ericka Nicole Malone joins Lesley to share her journey of reigniting old dreams and exploring new ones. In this candid conversation, Ericka dives into her latest documentary, The Bucket Wish, and reflects on how embracing life's challenges has deepened her purpose and strengthened her confidence. Through her insights, Ericka encourages others to pursue their passions, overcome perfectionism, and live authentically.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:The making of The Bucket Wish and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story.Ericka's “Bucket Wish” framework for uncovering new possibilities.How new experiences can build confidence and resilience.Conquering self-doubt and overcoming perfectionism.Embracing failure as part of the creative and learning journey.The importance of protecting your dreams from negative influences.Episode References/Links:Ericka Nicole Malone Website - https://erickanicolemalone.comEricka Nicole Malone Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/erickanicolemaloneEricka Nicole Malone TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@erickanicolemaloneEricka Nicole Malone Twitter - https://x.com/ErickaNMaloneThe Bucket Wish Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bucketwishofficialThe Mahalia Jackson Story on Hulu - https://www.hulu.com/movie/remember-me-the-mahalia-jackson-storyBackward Wish Documentary - https://erickanicolemalone.com/the-bucketwish/Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert - https://a.co/d/6TGbonVGuest Bio:Ericka Nicole Malone is indeed a multifaceted entrepreneur in the entertainment industry. Her roles span from being a playwright, a producer, to a lifestyle expert, each showcasing her diverse skills and expertise. As a playwright, Malone crafts compelling stories, dialogues, and characters for theatrical productions, demonstrating her creativity, storytelling prowess, and understanding of dramatic structure and audience engagement. In her role as a producer, Malone oversees various aspects of bringing a creative project to fruition, whether it's a play, film, or television show. This includes securing funding, assembling talent and crew, managing budgets and schedules, and ensuring the production's overall success. Beyond theater and production, Malone also shines as a lifestyle expert, offering advice and insights into various aspects of living well. This could encompass fashion, beauty, health, wellness, and personal development, leveraging her experience and knowledge to help others enhance their lifestyles. One of her latest and most exciting projects is "The Bucket Wish. This documentary follows her personal quest to live the life she always imagined. It captures her journey and is meant to inspire others to chase their dreams. This project is a testament to her versatility, adaptability, and comprehensive understanding of the entertainment industry. Her multidisciplinary approach allows her to pursue her creative passions and leverage her skills and expertise across various domains, maximizing her impact and success as an entrepreneur in the entertainment field. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS!Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramThe Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channelFacebookLinkedInThe OPC YouTube Channel Episode Transcript:Ericka Nicole Malone 0:00  It's just jumping into it, right? Sometimes you don't know that if you just jump into something new what will be on the other side? And how many people have died never tapping, never looking behind the curtain. At the end of it, you may not hold the trophy, you may not get the Oscar, but you tried and there's beauty in it.Lesley Logan 0:24  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.  Lesley Logan 1:05  All right, Be It babe. I am so excited for this episode to be in your ears today, and if you're watching on YouTube, you're gonna see that I'm in a different place in the pod room, because our guest is in my seat. Ericka Nicole Malone is our guest today. She is multifaceted. We can add so many different titles to her, but she's a writer, director, producer, executive producer. She is also a singer songwriter. She's doing a lot of amazing things. She's got incredible series out on Hulu right now, and then she's also going to be releasing an incredible documentary called The Bucket Wish. And we talked about confidence and negative people and getting your ideas out in the world and doing things for you. It was just really beautiful and authentic and really fun. I'm excited for you, not only to hear this amazing interview, I'm also excited to watch her girl documentary, which will be out this fall. I hope that you write down your own quotables. You know, we put them on the podcast interview Instagram, and hopefully you save those and share those. But seriously, grab a stack of Post-Its, and every time she says something you want to remember write it down, because you're going to have a bunch of little Post-Its you can put around your room to remind you that you're doing beautiful things in this world and the world needs to see your beautiful things. And that is what Ericka Nicole Malone is here to tell you. Lesley Logan 2:18  All right, Be It babe, I'm really excited. I have a guest in the house today. This is so fun. It's so fun when there's a guest that's local. And I can't believe our paths haven't crossed before. But thank goodness for our dear friend Allison, who made sure I heard all about Ericka Nicole Malone and what she is up to does nothing short of kind of amazing. She is a multifaceted human, singer, writer, director. Forgive me if I put a title in there, you're not doing but I'm sure youre gonna do it soon. Ericka Nicole Malone, will you tell everyone who you are and what you're rocking at?Ericka Nicole Malone 2:48  Yeah. My name is Ericka Nicole Malone. I am a writer, a playwright, a screenwriter, author. I am a woman who is always about reinventing herself and inspiring others to reinvent themselves. And I am also an executive director, executive producer, and just full of life and wanting to live life and wanting other people to live theirs.Lesley Logan 3:12  Yeah. Okay, so you said I want to inspire people to live their life, and we're helping people with that. Where did that kind of come from? Is that something you want to do always? Is that, was there something that happened in your life, and then you're like, I've got to help other people. What's that impetus? What was that beginning? Ericka Nicole Malone 3:27  I feel like it's kind of innate. I remember being little and just really caring about other people. It was. I remember being six or seven and going to the bank with my mother, and they'd hand out these suckers, which I think they still do. So this has been going on a minute, and I just remember they say here honey, here's a sucker, you're so cute. And I was like, but can I have a sucker for my brother? And they were like they give me a sucker. I was like, but I have two brothers. They give me, you know, two suckers. They're like, oh my gosh. You just, you don't care about just getting a sucker for yourself. You care about your brother getting a sucker. And I've always been concerned about other people making it too. And the world and people hurting and just people in bathrooms. Whenever there's a housekeeper or maid in the bathroom, I'm always tipping them. I always, I'm always concerned about people being looked over and forgotten and it's just so important to me that people find I get so shocked when people don't realize when they don't see people, they don't see homeless people, or they don't see people who are around them, or shoe shine man, that I'm always wondering how he's feeling throughout his day. And so yeah, it's always a big part of who I am.Lesley Logan 4:42  Yeah, I understand that we were talking about before we hit record, and it's like, it's really easy for people to put themselves in places where they don't have to see anybody. Yeah, I'm so used to having all the different types of people around that it would make me uncomfortable to not see them. I have this funny story. My dad is really funny. He'll say, I don't want to talk to anybody. I don't wanna go there. I have to talk to people. And the first thing we do when we're out of the car, he talks to everybody. He talks to every, we go to the gym at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, and we park in VIP, and he talks to every security guard always, even if he just said hello to them, because they let us through the gate, he still makes sure to talk to them. And I just laugh so hard because he's always like, I don't want to talk to people. But then he talks to everybody, to everyone, and I but I love it, because he sees everybody. And I think that that's something that like it's hard, it's not hard to do. It's actually quite something we could all do. But we get so busy in our phones and things like that, we don't see every people. And we also get really concerned with what's going on with ourselves that we forget to be concerned with others. You have been, you mentioned all these different amazing things. I also saw that you are learning to play the flute. So I guess what I think a lot of people will wonder when they heard all these things that you do is, how do you have, how did you have the time? Are you doing or are you learning different things at the same time? How did you go from producer, director, executive director, like, what was that line? What was that journey? Ericka Nicole Malone 6:01  Well, when I wrote Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, my business partner and I, I'm the executive producer of that, along with my business partner, we wanted to finance it ourselves, and so that people could see the story. It's now on Hulu, but at the time, we worked with amazing director her name is Denise Dowse, but at the time we produced it and it was done, it was an amazing feat to see something that you created come to life, but it was like, now, after I did that, before I wrote another script, I've kind of felt in my spirit I needed to create something else, and it was to push the limits within myself. What are some of the things that I could have done that I didn't finish, or things that I did try and I failed at? What are some of the things and as I started writing the documentary for The Bucket Wish and creating the documentary, I realized that even though I have these huge feats that I have accomplished, there were things in my past that I quit on, like playing the flute, and when I was 10, or swimming, when I was around, I think it was eight or nine. What are some of the things that I didn't succeed? And something I realized that when I failed at something, I just pushed it to the side. And I really wanted to explore that. Writing is something I excel in, right? So, of course, I'm not going to push that to the side, because I can do that in my sleep, right? So I'm gonna, I can write something, you know? What do you want? I can get that done tomorrow, but something that you don't do well, you know what I mean, and part of that is where your confidence is, things that you, I'm saying, not everyone's meant to be a botanist. That's not what I'm saying. But I'm saying, if it's something that you yearn to do, say, you yearn to play the guitar, or you yearn to play drums or something, right? It's in your spirit, and it's calling out to you, and maybe you just don't do it as well, it doesn't mean you should stop doing it all together. Right? And I would just stop doing it all together and just focus on what I was good at. And that's not necessarily what builds your confidence. I think what builds your confidence is you have a yearning and a sense of wonder, and you're thinking, I want to try this or that, but maybe you fail, but you get back up and you keep trying. That is what builds your confidence. Doesn't mean you're going to do it as a career. It just means that you're living.Lesley Logan 8:20  Yeah. I think this is really beautiful, because one of the things this podcast is about is ditching perfection. And I think we expect ourselves, we have to be good at the thing we said we're gonna do. We don't allow us to be beginners anymore. Ericka Nicole Malone 8:32  Exactly.Lesley Logan 8:34  And so people. Ericka Nicole Malone 8:35  Or look silly. Lesley Logan 8:36  Look silly. Exactly. So we were, we weren't good at something. And I also think even kids today, they're like, in one sport their whole lives, and I remember playing seven sports, and my dad's like, it's okay that you're not good. You're gonna keep going to practice, and you don't quit until the end of the season, and if you don't like it, (inaudible) you don't have to do it again. So I love what you're talking about, because confidence really is kind of it's about following through. It's not necessarily doing it for your work. And also, since when do we have to make everything we do make money, right? We could just go swimming.Ericka Nicole Malone 9:06  You can just go swimming. And, you know, I use this as a, I don't know if you saw Willy Wonka when it came out. I'm a big Willy Wonka fan from the very first inception, but also the new Wonka. But what I love about Wonka is it's just jumping into it, right? Sometimes you don't know that if you just jump into something new, what will be on the other side. And how many people have died never tapping, never looking behind the curtain. At the end of it, you may not hold the trophy, you may not get the Oscar, but you tried and there's beauty in it.Lesley Logan 9:44  Yeah. Okay, so Bucket Wish is this, is the documentary of you trying things out? Ericka Nicole Malone 9:48  Trying things, you know, the flute, I don't know. And so funny is there's different nuances of flute I don't like, specifically spitting. But, I hate germs and so it's a lot for me, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna finish the lessons, right? Because that's the whole point. But I don't know if I'll do it, but I'm going to finish the lessons, but I might be a drummer. Doesn't seem like there's as much spitting with drums. I'm not sure. There's that and there's swimming. I need to learn to swim, all those kinds of things, photography, I'm really attracted to taking pictures, and so I bought the camera. And so it's just different things. I'm gonna try and hopefully inspire people who have thought about giving up on their life, taking their life, that there's more out there. Don't quit. There's more. Keep walking.Lesley Logan 10:39  Yeah. What is it like to kind of put yourself to be a beginner over and over again, though, because I think that's a special I mean, it does build confidence. But also it's like to be a beginner at swimming, to be a beginner at playing the flute, to do these different things that are in your Bucket Wish. What was that like?Ericka Nicole Malone 10:55  You know, it was, it was scary. That's the best word I can say. I had gotten into The Groundlings in Los Angeles when I auditioned, and I didn't finish. This was about six years ago, but I was, I was like, this is gonna be hard. I'm gonna have to come to class every day and they do these little projects and they, they do experiments. I'm like, this sounds like forever. I just don't have it. And so I did, but I, so I did comedy in the The Bucket Wish because I was like, there was obviously a yearning for me. I graduated from youth performing arts high school in theater. So theater has always been a huge talent of me. So to do the comedy and do stand up was pretty scary to say the least, but because I'm a huge comedy fan. I love Tina Fey, I love all of those people, but I can tell you, it grew my confidence. And again, I thought I was confident because I'm a writer. I have a movie on Hulu. But I wasn't as confident as I thought I was. And that was shocking, because I'm like, I did modeling. What do you mean? I've some passions. What? But I wasn't and it wasn't until I did The Bucket Wish that I really became as confident as I know I could be. And now I'm shooting a new series. It's a lifestyle series I'm the host of, and I don't think I would have been as confident to do this had I not did The Bucket Wish.Lesley Logan 12:18  It's really funny. You may remember that I didn't finish a comedy class. I signed up for one in LA called Pretty Funny Women. Ericka Nicole Malone 12:25  Didn't know that. Lesley Logan 12:26  Uh huh, yeah. So Pretty Funny Women, if you, I mean, you're back and forth in LA, that woman, you have to know her, like, I will find her email and connect to she is amazing. And I went to the comedy class. I was on Monday nights, and I was late. It was, like, at eight something at night, which means, and I was in the valley, so I had to drive. But you know what I mean? Ericka Nicole Malone 12:42  It's such a track. Lesley Logan 12:43  Such a track, right? Which is the thing about trying new things, it's getting the routine around it. Anyways, she was like, yeah, you guys have to go to open mics. And I was like, that's fine. I'm okay because they won't know who I am anyway, so it doesn't really matter to me, but open mics are like, one in the morning, guys, 11 o'clock at night. I'm like, I'm in bed. (inaudible) Yeah. So then I was just like, are there lunchtime comedians? Is this like a thing?Ericka Nicole Malone 13:07  Cafe comedian? It's like, we're drinking morning coffee. Lesley Logan 13:11  Yeah, yeah. I think that maybe this is not the vocation for me. I know because I was just like, I can't even do the homework. And she really, bless her soul, she really, really, really tried to get me come back. She's like, you're really funny, I think you've got some great experiences to share. And I was like, I agree with you, and I'm grateful that you saw that in me. Is there like an 8pm open mic?Ericka Nicole Malone 13:33  I totally, I totally need an 8 pm.Lesley Logan 13:35  I don't care if there's one person in that room, I just can't do two in the morning. I'm not that person. Ericka Nicole Malone 13:42  Yeah, like, what are we doing up? Let's laugh about that. Why are you still up at one in the morning? So it's, you know, but comedy was fun. I mean, I always knew I was funny, but I'm like, bougie funny, you know? Like, I'll be funny depending on how I feel or something. But it was great. That was the hardest thing. Swimming was actually the hardest, but comedy was pretty amazing. Yes, please keep me in contact with that lady. I'll try, I'll try it and finish it. Maybe, maybe.Lesley Logan 14:08  I mean, sounds like you already did, but swimming, I think swimming is really hard, depending on how you were your experience was, if I remember you had a kind of a traumatic swimming experience. Ericka Nicole Malone 14:18  Yeah, it was someone who pushed me in the water, and you just find (inaudible). I gotta tell you, when I was shot at the swimming, it's still hard. You're immersing yourself and it's what it says I have a huge pool in my backyard. I just look at like, I look at it like it's a lake. I enjoy it like a resort, but I don't get in it. It's just like the water is just like you feel like you're, you have no control. I feel like I'm drowning even though I'm not. So it's so definitely psychosomatic. But I am going to keep doing swimming because it's life or death. You know, you have to learn how to swim. Lesley Logan 14:52  Yeah, it's a good skill to have. Okay, so I mentioned a few times, but can you tell everyone a little bit more about Bucket Wish? I mean, it's you trying out new things. What can people expect from it? Are you hoping they try like they start their own Bucket Wish? How do we write a Bucket Wish?Ericka Nicole Malone 15:07  I'm just basically using myself, you know? Because when you think of the bucket list, it's like, here's my last list before God takes me out of here. I'm gonna do all these things, God, I'm gonna jump. But this is not, this is what are your wishes? What are the wishes for your life while you're living? These are wishes for you to complete while you're living. It's a whole other dynamic, because you're gonna live say, I want you to be 20 and do a bucket wish. What are some of the things that you've always imagined you could do? Maybe it's animation. Maybe you want to write a children's book, I don't know, but I want you to believe that you can do it, and I want you to try, yeah, I want you to try, even if you have to put a little pin it, put a little note card in and say okay, I'm gonna need a little break. I'm gonna come back here. Follow through. Follow through on your wishes for you.Lesley Logan 15:59  Okay I really love the way you describe that, because I think it's true. There's the bucket list, which is, like, I want to do this before I die, which means you can kind of postpone it till forever (inaudible).Ericka Nicole Malone 16:08  Yeah. I will be 80, like, I must do my bucket wish. Lesley Logan 16:11  I know people are always people are surprised, because I haven't been to a lot of places in Europe, and I'm like, guys, I've not been to Paris, it looks beautiful. It's on my list. Ericka Nicole Malone 16:19  It's on my list. It's our bucket wish. Lesley Logan 16:22  Yeah. But we, I think if I put it on a bucket wish, it becomes something that's a little bit more like, it's not gonna happen now and I gotta be thinking about it.Ericka Nicole Malone 16:29  Yeah and it's shocking, because when I had those in front of me, by the way, that I was fresh off, I mean, I had no idea what my wishes were. It's like, oh, my God, do I have to do these things? And you're gonna tape them.Lesley Logan 16:43  Yeah. So, okay, so you had people. So here's the thing, because everyone listening here is like, okay, I wanna write my Bucket Wish. You not only wrote The Bucket Wish, you actually then did it, but you had to let people watch you do it, which means you had to do, you couldn't back out. Ericka Nicole Malone 16:56  It was like, it was trauma. And I'm telling you when I was gonna do the comedy in front of that microphone or in the back, I'm in the back dressing room with hair and makeup, and I'm like, I just hope this inspires people. You know, I had no idea how emotional I was because I was so afraid of being you have no idea how private I am. I am so private. So for me to do this, it's my love of humanity that wants to inspire people to jump. I mean, as just so many people, they were like, I feel like taking my life during COVID. I don't know what to do and I didn't recognize people really just don't know what to do. And even now, after the strikes, you had COVID in the strikes in LA, a lot of people are just trying to recapitulate. A lot of crew people trying to recapitulate. It's not the easiest thing to do is to, you know, so make some wishes, and you might not know that in that wish is a career or a path. Yeah, you know the way it is. You never and for me, it's God. For someone else, it might be something else, but for me, it's like you won't know until you take the step, as Dr. King said, take the step and the staircase will appear. Lesley Logan 18:06  Yeah, yeah. I think you're, I think that's true. So many people just do what they did before and then it's scary when there's time on our hands. We don't know what to do with time on our hands, you know. And so. Ericka Nicole Malone 18:17  What do we do? Lesley Logan 18:18  But if you had tried out different things, even if you weren't good at them, even the act of the connections, like my husband, I, everyone's like, how did you raise me? And I'm like, we're in just by a mutual friend, and that friend is not even in our lives now. And she's like, and it wasn't even a bad thing. Nothing bad happened. She was kind of just like in for the season of one summer.  Ericka Nicole Malone 18:38  And then, and then she drifted away. Lesley Logan 18:39  And she drifted away, and I still see what she's doing on Instagram. She got married. Congratulations. It's really funny, but I put myself in a different position, and that year to meet a new friend, and I was trying out new things with her, and that's how I met him. It's just you never not saying you're all gonna meet your husband, but you might meet a future business partner or a best friend, or no. You just don't know. But you have to try out things that are a little scary and a little bit like, what am I doing this for? What's the purpose behind this? Because it helps you find more purpose. Ericka Nicole Malone 19:07  It really does. And so much of my life, I tell people all the time, everybody's like when am I gonna make it? I'm gonna, I just don't know. I don't know if it's gonna happen for me. And no big signs are coming, big movements, but all of my biggest blessings have come in small things. It's the small things that you're like, I don't know, just something like, it's worth my time. I don't know if I'm gonna do this. And you turn things, you turn your nose up, and then wrapped up in that is this big, precious jewel that you'd never see had you not taken a step so just be open to the small things. Don't always think hmm, this, I'm too good for this, because maybe it's not the person, but maybe it's two degrees of separation from this person and the next. Lesley Logan 19:55  Yeah, yeah. So okay, I kind of want to go back to before the Sun Dance before the Hulu story that you wrote, what was it like to try to get your dreams that you had on paper out into the world? Because I think I know from living in LA it is not. There are so many scripts that so many people are going to say, oh, I want to do that. I want to do that, and it can get shelved. All these things would happen. How did you keep going? What was that journey like? And what was, what were you telling yourself to just keep putting one step in front of the other, like you were saying? Ericka Nicole Malone 20:26  I feel like I'm a great manifester. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm from Louisville, Kentucky, originally, and I lived in Los Angeles for a little bit, in Burbank in Glendale when I was selling the sitcom pilot. But I always get my house in Kentucky up till about five years ago. But when you're a black woman writer in Kentucky, so it does kind of help you to be really mentally tough and definitely, when I grew up, there weren't, you know, it's a sports town, and I'm like, yeah, I'm a writer. And they're like, okay, she's strange. Yeah, I mean, that's good, you know, I went to performing arts high school, but I think everyone kind of just thought I had a lot of lofty goals, and they thought I was delusional, I would say, but I just believed it was going to happen. So, you know, after I wrote Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, my business partner and I, you know, I shopped around Hollywood honestly, and another movie came out. It was in similar vein, but we just believed that it was going to happen, and we would put it in film festivals. It just took off and we ended up winning 40 film festivals, 58, 60 nominations. And from that, then I was able, we were able to get it licensed on Hulu, because it had already gained traction for itself. So I think it's just the belief in your own project and belief in your vision and film festivals are always a plus, especially if you're a new writer, burgeoning writer. For me, I wasn't new, but a lot of people hadn't heard of me. But, you know, I wrote plays to pay for tuition in college, and I believe that people would show up. And they did. I'd have 800 students in college when I was, like, 17 years old, $2 a ticket, and in my 20s, thousands of people would come to the plays. I just believe they would. I guess I just always believe it's gonna happen. And I believe that if I create a project, someone's going to buy it. It just depends on your perspective. I think if you're like, oh God, this is I'm gonna create this I wrote this magazine, or I did this animation, nobody's gonna buy this comic book you know, I'm just wasting my time. I should. Nobody's gonna buy it. Why should I buy your comic book? If you don't like your comic book or your animation or your children's book, you have to believe oh, my God, I wrote something. You just did not understand how amazing this is going to be. It's going to be really earth shattering. It is, and you're gonna love it. And they're like, Well, I mean, I don't know I wish I was gonna be if it's really good. Now, here's the thing, you have to have the quality. You can't over promote and under produce. I'll say that. But if it's really good, you have to believe that what is meant to be will happen for you because it will happen. It is possible. And so I tell people who don't have the money, they're like, I don't have the money. I want to, I'm a writer. I don't have the money. How do I do it? But do you have a phone? Do you have people that are actors that you can produce something on your phone? People have won awards for their phone movies. Then you put it in festivals, and then it'd be all of a sudden, next thing you know, this happens and that happens. Believe it's possible. So my next thing was, like, The Bucket Wish. I'm just gonna do a documentary. Never done one. Let's do it. I want to do it. I want to have this idea about wishes. If it comes to me, I believe it's supposed to manifest. I just believe it. I don't ever not believe it. And something else I don't do is talk to naysayers. If you know your cousin Trudy is always negative. Why are you calling Trudy? Trudy is gonna say the same negative thing no matter how good the idea is. It's okay to believe in your own vision and talk to people who will get behind you because they believe in you. And a lot of times, if those one people who say something negative that are stopping that seed from growing that could be the one they say in everyone's life you come up with 15 million, a million dollar ideas in every single person's life. But what happens to them? And you say, I have had your videos, and nobody's gonna buy that. Nobody's gonna buy that. Lesley Logan 24:44  I mean, everyone needs to rewind that and hear that twice, because it's so true. First of all, the idea came to you because it wants to be born, and, it wants to be born, so in Big Magic, which I've read several times, she, Olivia Gilbert, talks about how ideas come to you because they want to be born, and she shares a story about how an idea came to her, and she did all the research, all the things, and she put it aside. You're a writer, you know, like you can talk about some of the stuff you do, but you keep a lot of the parts that you're writing close to your vest, because you're still writing it, and you're figuring it out. She met this other writer, and she didn't tell her what she was writing on, and the other writer didn't tell her what she was working on. And then eventually, months, months go down the road, and she finally says what are you working on? Just tell me, I'm, you know, whatever it is. And the woman tells her what she's working on. And it's the exact book that Elizabeth Gilbert was writing and had stopped writing because she had other stuff going on. It was to the T every single thing, and she's like do you want my research? Because she didn't steal my idea. The idea was like, I'm jumping from you to her because I want to be born. And so I just want to highlight that, because I fully believe that you're 100% correct. If an idea comes to you, you are meant to make it happen. And also, there was a podcaster who said 98% of people will not act on any idea. So you can actually even tell people your ideas, because only 2% of them will have, people will take action on that, which is so small.Ericka Nicole Malone 26:02  Really, I mean, and, you know, and also, an idea can't be copyright and only the expression of the idea, and they do that because of exactly what you said. A lot of times where you're thinking that someone's took your idea, it's really, is coincidental, believe it or not. But I have had things that I'm like, okay, this is too much like what I created, because it was so new. But you know, the best thing to do is it's okay to not tell everyone your idea, too. But it is okay, like you said, if you don't tell anybody, then at least do yours. Because if you don't gotta give the seed to somebody else, somebody else will think of that idea. So it's really important to, to that's what the Bucket Wish is about, like you said, it's very immediate. I have went ahead and forward and put down payment on all of these things. I've done 12 things in this movie, and I've put a down payment on all these things. Still making payments, still making payments.Lesley Logan 26:06  The documentary is going to be out, y'all can watch it this fall and she's still finishing out these. Ericka Nicole Malone 26:57  I'm still finishing out, because people are holding me to it. What's going on with the flute? I'm like, I'm still doing the flute. What's going on with the photography? Did you finish swimming? I mean, now you got people wanting receipts on things, you know, so it's forcing you. I have people inviting me to comedy clubs now. I mean, I'm like, okay, I said I have a single that's out now. And they're like, so we keep performing. Like, wait a minute. Hold on. Let me just put that (inaudible). It's grew my confidence because I honestly didn't think I was as multi-talented as I think I am. Lesley Logan 27:29  Oh, we, I think we are all creatives. And you got, you get to, you got to test all those different craze and see what you could do. I watched your music video. It's amazing. I was like, she sings too. I remember Alvin telling me she's got a music video. I'm like, as you've done films and shows you already have filmed things before, but filming a music video is a whole different experience.Ericka Nicole Malone 27:49  It's a whole different dynamic. And I honestly it's dope. And it's just, it's performance driven. And there's so many singers I've talked to, and they sound like, Midler and Celine Dion, and they sound amazing. And they're like, yeah, I'm just gonna get out and just sing at home. I'm like, if you don't put this album out so the world can be blessed by your voice. I was like, kind of using myself as a way to inspire all these amazing people to get out there and get back up and sing.Lesley Logan 28:16  Yeah. I want to highlight one more thing that you said. You said you have to believe in your idea, and you can't do that. So it's gonna it's this little thing. It's like, not this big deal, because it is true. We have to believe in our own ideas, because we are the ones. We're gonna fight for them the most. The best. And if you do, then there are other people who will spearhead and make connections because of your excitement. You're so excited about it. People are like, oh my God, so and so has to do that thing. If you keep it to yourself, you're just like, oh, it's this, this little thing I'm working on on the side, no one's gonna take you seriously. So no one's going to tell their friend about it, because why would they make that connection or talk about a thing that you're not excited about?Ericka Nicole Malone 28:57  Yeah, and I honestly, I'm not arrogant or anything, but I always knew I was special, and I think that's okay. I always knew I was different. I wasn't like everyone else in my class. I think people had that. They're like, I'm just like everybody. I don't think I am just like everybody else. I think I'm different. I think everyone's special in their own way, but I think I'm definitely special my way. So I think having the confidence to believe that you have something special, and I want to also say this, because a lot of people deal with depression, you have to stop talking to negative people. If, if you don't stop talking to negative people, you might as well just tell your dreams, just be honest with your dreams, and just tell them, look, we're not going to, we're not going to do anything, because I got to talk to Trudy, and Trudy has gossip, so I got to hear gossip. So I mean, it's more important than my dreams. And also fall to the middle. Don't fall all the way down, because in that it's time, if you are dealing with depression, try to fall to the middle. And tell people fall to the middle. That means it's okay. You're gonna have bad days, but just fall only so much. Don't go all the way down where it takes you don't get out of bed for two weeks and crying for three and. Don't do that because time is our most valuable asset. It wouldn't, money, you can let somebody have every bit of money you have, but just really time and your health. You have those two things you're all right.Lesley Logan 30:12  Oh my gosh. Ericka Nicole Malone, you have so many gems. You have these little quoting moments that I want to like just put on Post-Its to remind myself, because we all will have some bad days, but just fall in the middle.Ericka Nicole Malone 30:23  Fall to the middle. That's it. Don't fall all the way down. You don't belong there. There's nothing down there. Lesley Logan 30:28  Yeah. And I know you're all listening and saying, oh, but it's my mom who's a negative one. I can just not talk to my mom. You can. You can also just not tell her the dream you're working on. Dreams are precious. Tell it to the people who get excited for you and let mom talk to you about the weather.Ericka Nicole Malone 30:42  It's okay to have conversations that you're not giving all of yourself into. Yes, we have to check on our parents and everything, but you don't have to go so deep and tell every emotion just like, good morning, okay, have a good day. All right. Well, I'll talk to you later. Okay. Save the people for the safe space. Be careful on those. Don't tell safe dreams to unsafe people. Be very, very careful. You are your most valued treasure you have. Protect yourself. Protect your heart. Lesley Logan 31:12  Yeah, okay, we are gonna take a brief break, and we're going to come back and find out where people can find you, follow you, watch The Bucket Wish, and your Be It Action Items. Lesley Logan 31:21  All right, Ericka Nicole Malone, where can people follow what you're working on, watch your stuff, where can we send them?Ericka Nicole Malone 31:28  Please follow me in all my grandmother's wisdom, @ErickaNicoleMalone on Instagram and @ErickaNicoleMalone on Facebook, @ErickaNicoleMalone on TikTok, ErickaNicoleMalone on Twitter. You can follow me @ErickaNicoleMalone, that's E-R-I-C-K-A Nicole Malone.Lesley Logan 31:46  I love it. We'll have all those links in the show notes. You can follow her on your favorite social platform. You can watch The Bucket Wish this fall, yes? Ericka Nicole Malone 31:54  Yes. Lesley Logan 31:55  Awesome.Ericka Nicole Malone 31:55  I'm very excited. Lesley Logan 31:56  And do you know which platform it's on yet? Ericka Nicole Malone 31:57  I do not know yet, but it's going to be starting out in film festivals around the world. Lesley Logan 32:01  Perfect. You guys. Go see a film festival. They look so fun, like.Ericka Nicole Malone 32:05  They are amazing. They are blessings. Blessings to creatives. Thank you. Thank you, Film Festival. Lesley Logan 32:10  Go see a film festival. Put that on your Bucket Wish. Ericka Nicole Malone 32:13  That's right. Lesley Logan 32:13  Well, so okay, we always like to tell the listeners, because you gave us so many gems. But just in case they're like the overachiever, perfectionist, they need the action item, bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps they can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?Ericka Nicole Malone 32:26  Number one, I'm gonna say, be kind to yourself. Start with that. Stop beating yourself up. You are a good person, and you are trying, and you woke up this morning. So start with that. Make clear goals for your life, and don't give up. Don't give up. You do those three things and you'll be on your way. Lesley Logan 32:47  Yeah, yeah. And then they should make a Bucket Wish. Ericka Nicole Malone 32:50  Make a bucket wish. Make a bucket wish today. Lesley Logan 32:53  And tag Ericka Nicole Malone in when you're doing your Bucket Wish, so she can celebrate you. We can celebrate you. Tag the Be It Pod. You guys, share this with a friend who needs it. Share it with a friend who's been saying they want to do something and like, oh, I wish I'm gonna do that thing. Get this to them, because maybe this is a reminder that they need, that they can go try new things, and that's where their confidence is gonna come from. And leave us a review. Of course, we always live off of those. That is currency for us, just so you know. So we'd love that. Share this with a friend or leave a review, or do both, because that would be really helpful, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 33:26  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 34:08  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 34:13  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 34:18  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 34:25  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 34:28  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today, comedian Erica Rhodes continues with the guys sharing how she splits her time between comedy & acting, they figure out who are the gatekeepers of entertainment, and Adam shares his walk down memory lane with Susan Olsen & the Groundlings. Plus, a couple of stories on a travel guru's root rooter, and are we facing the extinction of the male species? Leave us a voicemail: SpeakPipe.com/AdamandDrDrew OR Click the microphone at top of the homepage, AdamandDrDrew.com

Bridesmaids, Groundlings, and the Five-Timers Club with Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Tripoli returns to the show and they open by talking about the sad news of Adam's father passing away, his father's interests (or lack thereof), what parts of Adam came from his dad, his parents “greatest hits”, and how Adam wants to be remembered when his time comes. Next, Adam introduces his idea of the “Replay Gimp” and Mayhem Miller reads the news including stories about Gisele Bundchen announcing she's pregnant, Jeff Bezos defending Washington Post's decision to stop presidential endorsements, and Carlos Mencia mooning a rude couple at a stand-up show. Then, Susan Olsen, who played Cindy on The Brady Bunch, joins the show to talk about what it's like being a part of a cultural phenomenon, when she found out that Robert Reed was gay, and why Eve Plumb was “the bitterest Brady.” For more with Sam Tripoli: ● NEW SPECIAL: Why is Everybody Gettin Quiet? - available on his website ● INSTAGRAM: @samtripoli ● TWITTER/X: @samtripoli ● WEBSITE: samtripoli.com For more with Susan Olsen: ● PODCAST: The Crusher Podcast ● INSTAGRAM: @thesusanolsen ● TWITTER/X: @RealSusanOlsen Thank you for supporting our sponsors: ● http://SimpliSafe.com/Adam ● https://Bioptimizers.com/adam and use promo code Adam ● http://Sendthevote.org/Adam or text ADAM to 33022 ● http://OReillyAuto.com/Adam

Kate met Laraine Newman, one of her childhood heroes, at a Kathy Griffin salon lunch. Laraine is an American actress, comedian, and writer. She was part of the original cast of NBC's sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from its inception in 1975, and a founding member The Groundlings, an improvisational and sketch comedy troupe and school based in Los Angeles, California. They discuss Laraine's career and inspiration. Reality Life with Kate Casey What to Watch List: https://katecasey.substack.com Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/katecasey Twitter: https://twitter.com/katecasey Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/katecaseyca Tik Tok: http://www.tiktok.com/itskatecasey Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/113157919338245 Amazon.com: www.amazon.com/shop/katecaseySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

WE MADE IT TO 100 EPISODES!! To show our gratitude to you little bugs, we're giving you a 3 hour long drinking extravaganza in our new studio cohosted by Luke Null. We are also joined by Eilise Patton, Billy Langdon, and Chester Collins. SUPPORT BLANDINO'S PIZZA: https://fridaybeers.shop/collections/af-pod FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS: https://www.flowcode.com/page/almostfridaypod SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS: FIND OUT WHERE TO GET FIREBALL NEAR YOU, THE PERFECT SHOT FOR GAME DAY! https://www.fireballwhisky.com/shop-fireball-online.html USE PROMO CODE “FRIDAY” FOR 30% OFF + FREE SHIPPING AT https://www.cbdmd.com/ Use code ‘FRIDAY' at checkout at https://www.ekster.com/ to get up to 30% off your next Ekster wallet! GET PREMIUM WIRELESS PLANS STARTING AT $15 A MONTH AT https://www.mintmobile.com/almostfriday (00:00) Intro (01:49) Mader Made It (07:41) Liam's Drunk Uber Driver (15:25) How Would You K*ll Harry Potter? (25:39) Animorph Series (28:39) What The Guys Are Reading (30:50) Nerf Wars (38:02) Eilise Patton Joins (45:28) Jay Cutler (51:48) Caleb Robertson (55:25) Stuffing (56:30) Groundlings (1:10:25) Amy Winehouse Impression PT1 (1:23:06) Eilise's Character (1:32:45) Billy Joins (1:41:18) 60 For 60 (1:52:11) Jim Can't Swim Interrogations (1:55:21) A Gift From Luke To Will (1:58:10) Will's Cracker of the Week (2:14:49) Chet Joins (2:24:25) Liam's Cracker of the Week (2:28:23) Lukey Lukey Lukey (2:34:01) Chet's Character (2:44:11) Luke's Character (2:54:09) Emily Thought Liam Died (3:02:46) Glory Daze

Welcome to That One Audition! Today's guest is the multi-talented Stephanie Koenig, a Michigan native who got her start in performance through dance competitions before earning an acting degree from Michigan State University. A comedy veteran, she sharpened her skills at Upright Citizens Brigade and Groundlings, frequently collaborating with some of their biggest names. Koenig's acting credits span from starring roles in English Teacher and Lessons in Chemistry to notable appearances in The Flight Attendant and The Offer, where she portrayed casting executive Andrea Eastman, helping to assemble the iconic cast of The Godfather. Behind the camera, Koenig has made waves by writing, directing, and starring in projects like A Spy Movie alongside frequent collaborator Brian Jordan Alvarez, as well as her hit short-form series Stupid Idiots, which was in development at Paramount TV. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Stephanie Koenig right here. CREDITS: English Teacher Lessons in Chemistry The Offer The Flight Attendant Modern Family Swedish Dicks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Stupid Idiots Sick Girl GUEST LINKS: IMDB: Stephanie Koenig, Actress, Producer, Writer INSTAGRAM: @stephaniekoenig THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

Michael Hitchcock joins The Steebee Weebee Show for the 1st time!!! We talk about: him being on the Netflix show-Nobody Wants This, the Amazon film-"Jackpot", him working with Ethan Hawke on a new FX pilot, him being a writer on Mad TV-and Bobby "pooing" in Ike Barinholtz's dressing room, Michael's involvement in Christopher Guest's movies like- Waiting for Guffman and Best In Show, his "improvisation" background from The Groundlings, Jordan Peele's trajectory after Mad TV, his auditioning process & tips for upcoming comedic actors/actresses, Bruce Springsteen, and much much more. Go this week to: www.youtube.com/steebeeweebee to watch. More Michael: https://www.instagram.com/hitchmichael ** Now on iTunes:  https://goo.gl/CdSwyV ** Subscribe: https://goo.gl/d239PO Little Ray promises a Karma Boost if you join our Patreon: https://goo.gl/aiOi7J Or, click here for a one time Karma Boost. https://www.paypal.me/steebeeweebeeshow/2 More Steven: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quangou Bandcamp: https://steebeeweebee.bandcamp.com/ Itunes: https://goo.gl/PSooa0 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/steebeeweebee Send stuff to: 1425 N. Cherokee Ave P.O. Box 1391 Los Angeles, CA 90093 

Tim & Jay talk about connecting, being in the moment, getting fired from “Friends”, the Groundlings, being brave enough for relationships, laughing during improv, Frosted Mini Wheats, auditions, serious acting vs not, The Playboy Mansion, being gay, coming from the middle of the country to Los Angeles, good pizza, and angels.Bio:Tim Bagley is currently on the 2nd season of Peabody Award winning "Somebody Somewhere" for HBO, streaming on MAX, with the 3rd season coming out soon!

Being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds.We all want to lead lives and careers full of joy and fulfillment. Maggie Baird certainly has, and the key, she says, is to stay open to new possibilities and “let your passion lead.”Baird is an accomplished actress, improv teacher at the Groundlings Theater, mother to music sensations Billie Eilish and Phineas, and founder of Support and Feed, a nonprofit addressing food equity and the climate crisis. Through it all, she has embodied the improv principle of "Yes, and..." — being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds. “I have done many things,” she says, “but I never approached any of them as a career change. They all came out of new interests and new experiences.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Baird joins host Matt Abrahams to explore the critical role of communication in developing a career, and how improv principles can help us engage, as Baird says, “From a place of open-heartedness, appreciation, [and] collaboration.”Episode Reference Links:Support And FeedEp.118 Maximizing your Personal Brand: Communicating Who You Are to Help Get What You WantEp.1 Speaking Without a Net: How to Master Impromptu CommunicationEp.9 Quick Think: How Being Present-Oriented Improves Communication Connect:Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00:00) IntroductionHost Matt Abrahams introduces guest Maggie Baird, actor and founder of Support and Feed.(00:00:53) Career Transitions Advice on embracing new opportunities without rigid planning.(00:01:45) Teaching and Confidence Through Improv Discovering improv and how teaching led to a new sense of confidence and creativity.(00:04:03) Improv as a Communication Tool The principles of improv and how they can enhance communication and collaboration.(00:05:45) Structure and Freedom in Improv How improv provides structure that frees individuals to speak spontaneously.(00:07:37) Teaching with Empathy Empathy in teaching, remembering what it's like to be a beginner, and avoiding jargon.(00:10:34) Advocacy in the Music Industry Using questions and collaboration to drive change in the music industry and other sectors.(00:13:18) Collaboration and Positive Change The importance of collaboration, positivity, and meeting people where they are to create change.(00:16:07) The Final Three QuestionsMaggie shares her next career change, a communicator she admires, and her ingredients for successful communication.(00:17:46) Conclusion (00:00) - Introduction (01:36) - Career Transitions (02:28) - Teaching and Confidence Through Improv (04:46) - Improv as a Communication Tool (06:28) - Structure and Freedom in Improv (08:20) - Teaching with Empathy (11:17) - Advocacy in the Music Industry (14:01) - Collaboration and Positive Change (16:50) - The Final Three Questions (18:29) - Conclusion

Chris Kattan steps Behind The Rope. Mr. Saturday Night Live himself is here to talk about it all from early days at The Groundlings with Will Ferrell and Cheri Oteri. Chris chats going from the master class, The Groundlings, to the big league, SNL. Chris breaks down many of his iconic SNL characters - Mr. Peepers, Mango, and one half of the Butabi Brothers, which ultimately led to the iconic film, “A Night at the Roxbury”. Chris chats sequels and reboots with Will and Jim Carey, working with guest stars such as Jennifer Lopez and Ariana Grande and his many impressions throughout the years. Of course, we deep dive into Chris' time in the Celebrity Big Brother House - roommates in the form of Cynthia Bailey, Carson Kressley and Lamar Odom as well as his decision to leave the game early. Finally, Chris discusses cancel culture, Roseanne Barr and his new podcast “Idiotically Speaking” which you can check out wherever podcasts are found. Warning: this episode will make you laugh! @chriskattanofficial @behindvelvetrope @davidyontef BONUS & AD FREE EPISODES Available at - www.patreon.com/behindthevelvetrope  BROUGHT TO YOU BY: TASKRABBIT - taskrabbit.com (Use Code Velvet For 15% Off Any Tasker For Any Task) ONESKIN- oneskin.co (Use Code Velvet For 15% Off The Skin Care Which Targets The Root Causes Of Aging)  LOLAVIE - lolavie.com/VELVET (Use Code Velvet For 15% Off Jennifer Aniston's Award Winning Hair Care) GOBBLE gobble.com/velvet (Use Code Velvet For $120 Off Across 4 Boxes, Plus Free Shipping and Free Cookies on Gobble's Lean and Clean Dinner Subscription) BYHEART - ByHeart.com/Podcast (Use Code VELVET To Redeem Your Welcome Offer On Their Clinically Proven Easy-to-digest Infant Formula) ROSETTA STONE - rosettastone.com/today (50% Off Unlimited Access to 25 Language Courses For The Rest of Your Life) HAPPY MAMMOTH - happymammoth.com (Get 15% Off With Code Velvet the Best Products For Menopause or Perimenopause) FIJI WATER - www.fijiwater.com (Pick Up The #1 Premium Imported Bottled Water Brand In The US At a Store Near You or Order Online) INDEED - indeed.com/velvet (Seventy Five Dollar $75 Sponsored Job Credit To Get Your Jobs More Visibility)  WOOGA (Download June's Journey Now on your iOS or Android Device) ADVERTISING INQUIRIES - Please contact David@advertising-execs.com MERCH Available at - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/behind-the-velvet-rope?ref_id=13198 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Erica Rhodes returns to the show and is joined by Jason “Mayhem” Miller on the news. They open the show with Adam explaining how he turned introducing Kevin Costner's band into spending Christmas at the Costner ranch. Next, they discuss how each of the different races has a different preferred type of motorcycle. Then, they take a look at how NY Congressman Jamaal Bowman is quickly becoming the president from ‘Idiocracy.' Next, they talk about the upcoming trip to Japan for Adam's son, how Adam decided to pursue a career in comedy, and everyone bonds over the fact that they're all Groundlings alumni. Lastly, Mayhem Miller reads the news including stories about Trump's idea of a Migrants vs. Americans cage fight, NYC's planned Fat Beach Day, a deadly shark attack in Hawaii and the viral sensation that is Huak Tuah Girl. For more with Erica Rhodes: ● Jukebox Comedy Club - Peoria, IL July 12-13 ● Acme Comedy Club - Minneapolis, MN July 17-20 ● More dates: http://ericarhodescomedy.com ● TWITTER & INSTAGRAM: @EricaRhodes For more with Mayhem Miller: ● TWITTER & INSTAGRAM: @MayhemMiller Thank you for supporting our sponsors: ● http://Simplisafe.com/Adam ● https://DrinkTrade.com/Carolla ● http://OReillyAuto.com/Adam