off the record

PJ Byrne is one of those actors where you look at his filmography and realize...he's been EVERYWHERE. From The Wolf of Wall Street and Babylon to The Boys , The Rainmaker , and the highly anticipated I Play Rocky , PJ has built an incredibly diverse career spanning film, television, animation, comedy, drama and everything in between. In this episode of Off the Record , PJ and Bella Michaels go...

Samuel Nelson III is making Broadway history as the youngest actor to perform the iconic role of Michael Jackson in MJ The Musical —and in this episode of Off the Record, we go far beyond the spotlight. Samuel takes us inside his journey from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York, his audition for MJ, working with Rich and Tone, and the challenges of transforming into one of the most recognizable per...

Vanessa Benavente is an actress best known for her iconic role as "Mary Mother" in The Chosen . She was recently named one of Forbes Peru's 50 Most Powerful Women of 2026. But Vanessa's journey to success is much more than what millions of people know her for. In this episode, Vanessa opens up to Bella about her early life growing up in Peru, during a time of terrorism and violen...

Tim Johnson Jr. is an actor, singer, and dancer who grew up as a child actor on Nickelodeon and Disney Channel and has continued to evolve as a triple-threat artist. Most recently, he voiced young Chris Rock in the Comedy Central animated series Everybody Still Hates Chris . In this fun and candid conversation, Tim joins Bella Michaels to talk about his new album, Homegrown , his journey as an art...

Jason Earles is an actor, comedian and director best known for playing Jackson Stewart on Disney’s Hannah Montana.  If you grew up watching Disney Channel in the 2000s, chances are Jason was a huge part of your childhood. In this episode, Jason takes us behind the scenes of one of Disney Channel’s most iconic shows as we celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. He opens up about the surprising st...

Isaiah Bailey stars as one of musical theatre’s most iconic roles as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. Isaiah takes me behind his journey to the stage, including the moment he nearly stepped away from performing altogether before landing the role that would change everything. We talk about his classical and opera training, the discipline and preparation that goes into performing as The Phan...

Jaylen Lyndon Hunter is an actor, singer and dancer best known for his role as Young Marlon in the $1 billion global box office success Michael . Born in Granada, Spain and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Jaylen began acting at 7 years old before taking the stage as Young Simba in Disney's The Lion King Rafiki National Tour. He later joined the cast of MJ The Musical, where he portrayed Young Ma...

Matthew Schwab is an actor, disability advocate and TEDx speaker who has Down syndrome. Matthew discusses his latest film, Horsegirls , which premiered at the Tribeca Festival, and shares what drew him to a story centered around autism, his experience bringing the film to life and what he hopes audiences take away from it. He also opens up about his journey into acting, the importance of authentic...

As Michael crosses $1 billion at the global box office, actor and artist Tre' Horton (who played Marlon Jackson) opens up for an exclusive conversation covering everything from behind-the-scenes moments on the set of Michael to his journey as an actor and musician. Tre' shares hilarious stories from filming, including the unforgettable pranks Jaafar Jackson pulled on set, what it was like working...

Love on the Spectrum's Adan Correa and Melissa Ramirez join me for an exclusive conversation as they publicly share their relationship for the very first time, on Off the Record ! After millions watched Adan's journey on Love on the Spectrum , this next chapter happened away from the cameras. In this heartfelt conversation, Adan and Melissa open up about how their friendship naturally blos...

Eric Casper from Love on the Spectrum joins Off the Record for an authentic and heartwarming episode. Recorded in Utah, Eric and Bella sit on the couch together and discuss Eric's journey on the beloved Netflix series, navigating life in the spotlight, relationships, friendship and the importance of staying true to yourself. Eric also opens up about whether or not he's ready to start dating again...

Melissa Ramirez opens up about her experience on the hit Netflix series Love on the Spectrum , what life has been like since being on the latest season and the impact her story had on viewers around the world. We talk about relationships, overcoming challenges and opening up more and finding joy in being unapologetically yourself. Melissa also opens up about childhood experiences that shaped her s...

Actor and dancer Rhyan Hill opens up about his role in Michael – the global box office phenomenon that has grossed more than $911 million worldwide – and the remarkable journey that brought him there. Rhyan shares the unforgettable moment he learned he had landed the role—in person with director Antoine Fuqua, producer Graham King and Prince Jackson. He also takes us behind the scenes of Michael,...

What does it take to step into the shoes of a Jackson? Actor Judah Edwards opens up about his role as young Tito Jackson in the record-breaking blockbuster biopic Michael . From the audition process and character preparation -- to the pressure of portraying a real-life figure connected to one of the most legendary families in music history -- Judah shares the story behind the performance. We also...

From Nickelodeon child actor to playing Mark on The Chosen TV Series, Nick Alvarez shares the highs, struggles and faith journey that shaped who he is today. Recorded together on set, this conversation dives into Hollywood, identity, redemption and the moments that changed everything. Nick is also known for his roles in Young Sheldon, S.W.A.T., General Hospital, NCIS, The Goldbergs and Bella &...

Comedy. Hollywood. Neurodiversity. Culture. Five-time Emmy-winning writer Rob Kutner and Marlene Sharp join Off the Record to talk about the evolving conversation around representation in entertainment. From Laughs on the Spectrum and Netflix Is A Joke to Night of Too Many Stars at the Hollywood Bowl, we dive into creating spaces where neurodivergent voices are not only included — but celebrated....

Grammy Award-winning opera singer Zachary James returns to Off the Record for a fascinating conversation about opera, artistry, villain psychology and some of the biggest performances of his career. Since his first appearance on the podcast, Zachary has taken the stage in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl alongside Cynthia Erivo, reprised his Grammy-winning work in Akhnaten and brought...

Artemis II recently made history, sending humans around the Moon and bringing them safely back home -- for the first time in 50 years. So Off the Record brings on Steven Smith -- from Space Center Houston (affiliated with NASA) to break down what this means for us and why it's such an important mission. Steven is the Leadership Programs Facilitation Specialist at Space Center Houston’s Human P...

You've seen him on the Netflix hit series Love on the Spectrum. In Part 2 of this special conversation, Bella sits down one-on-one with Adan Correa for a deeper, more personal look at him beyond the screen. Adan opens up about the role his faith plays in his life, the challenges that have shaped him and the defining moments that tested his strength—including a powerful story about overcoming b...

You've seen them on the hit Netflix series Love on the Spectrum, now what's next? In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, Bella sits down with Adan Correa and Caroline Corry from Love on the Spectrum, alongside Marlene Sharp and Rob Kutner, the team behind Laughs on the Spectrum —a one-of-a-kind comedy show featured in the Netflix Is A Joke Fest, taking place at the Laugh Factory...

Jordan Ross is an actor known for his work on the globally acclaimed series The Chosen , where he brings depth and authenticity to every role he steps into. Coming from a family with deep roots in storytelling—his grandfather being beloved actor Barry Corbin, known to many as Coach Whitey on One Tree Hill—Jordan has carved out a path that is uniquely his own. Born with a physical condition that ha...

Noah James is an actor best known for his role as “Andrew” in The Chosen TV Series on Amazon Prime, a globally impactful series that continues to resonate with audiences around the world. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of Arts, Noah's also appeared in Shameless, Gameshakers and Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, S.W.A.T. and iCarly. With a passion for storytelling and a commitment to his...

Michael Iskander is an actor who stars in House of David, an Amazon original series that continues to captivate audiences to tell the powerful story of a shepherd’s rise to a warrior and king. Beyond acting, Michael is also a passionate musician, bringing the same level of heart and authenticity to his music as he does to his on-screen work. In this episode, Michael opens up about his journey from...

Nadia Colón is a defender for the Dominican Republic Women’s National Team, where she has earned multiple international caps and competed in CONCACAF tournaments against top regional competition. In this episode, Bella catches up with Nadia ahead of a high stakes match coming up against Haiti -- the match will act as a qualifier for the 2027 Women's World Cup and the 2028 LA Summer Olympics. N...

I sit down with filmmaker Andrew Erwin, known for bringing powerful faith-based stories to the screen, including the global hit I Can Only Imagine and the new sequel film I Can Only Imagine 2 now in theatres! Andrew takes us behind the scenes of creating the highly anticipated sequel and shares the story that convinced him it was a film that needed to be made. We talk about the emotional moment on...