Beyond Reel Talk

Rashaana Shah is an actor and producer with experience in Hollywood and Bollywood. In this episode, we discuss her exciting but also challenging journey, from the moment she ran away from her traditional Indian home to pursue a career in cinema. We talk about the differences between Hollywood and Bollywood, the struggles of independent filmmaking, and Rashaana’s desire to tell real and complicated...

Elliot James Langridge is a British actor known for Northern Soul, Hollyoaks, The War Below and his podcast LIFE IN FILM. In this episode, he talks about the highs and lows of an acting career, turning down another year on Hollyoaks to pursue a film that took two and a half years to happen, spending years out of work, dealing with rejection and imposter syndrome, and why resilience matters in an i...

Elijah Rowen is an Irish actor and producer known for playing Asbjorn in History's Vikings and starring opposite Sean Bean and Billy Zane in Sky One's Curfew. The son of artist Guggi, Bono's closest friend, he explains why growing up in a creative family never actually opened any doors for him. We talk about landing Vikings through cold-emailed self-tapes, learning stunt driving in under two month...

In this episode, I'm joined by casting director Nicole Ricciardi from Ricciardi Casting for a long and practical conversation about how casting really works and what every actor should know. We talk about what happens behind the scenes after an audition, how casting decisions are made, who really has the final say, why actors hear nothing after auditions, whether social media affects castability,...

Daniel Everitt-Lock is a cinematographer and the director of the documentary Our Planet, The People, My Blood. We talk about the lasting impact of nuclear weapons testing and the people whose lives were affected by it. Daniel shares the stories behind his documentary, which looks at the experiences of nuclear test veterans, downwind communities, Indigenous people, and families across the USA, the...

Sofia Priolo is an American actor, classically trained ballet dancer, classical singer and choreographer based in London. In this episode we talk about her childhood in Alabama, discovering dance at a young age, and the discipline and toughness that came with ballet training. We also discuss storytelling through movement, the connection between dance and acting, choreographing “A Time for Everythi...

Tino Orsini is an actor working across theatre and screen. In this episode, he talks about playing Banksy in Ted Lasso, his early life, and how he got into acting. He also shares his time in Los Angeles, why he left, and what it was like coming back to London and continuing his career. We get into the difference between theatre and screen, dealing with rejection, and why making your own work can m...

Akie Kotabe is a Japanese-American actor known for The Batman, Andor, Silo, Gran Turismo and Mad Men. In this episode, we talk about growing up in America with Japanese roots, how he got into acting, and what it takes to build a long career in the industry. Akie shares his experience of living in Los Angeles as a working actor, dealing with rejection, casting, and how an acting career often means...

Áine Rose Daly is an actress and musician known for her roles in Boiling Point, Amazon's Hanna and The Physician 2. In this episode, we talk about her last couple of years of self-work, including OCD, therapy, and coming off medication, and why mental health is an ongoing process. We also get into hers (and any actor's) struggles. Áine shares stories from working on The Physician 2, what it was li...

Best moments of season 2 of Beyond Reel Talk podcast. Andrey Rogozin and his guest discuss life, mental health, acting industry, struggles of actors, life of creatives, AI and more. CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Intro 01:58 - Tom Basden about “The Ballad of Wallis island” 08:34 - Kirsty Averton and Andrey on struggles of actors 26:43 - Kayne Lee Harrison about hustling his way into the industry 31:23 - Natali...

Natalia Kostrzewa is a Polish-born actress who moved to Ireland before building her career in the UK. In this episode, she talks about her early life, training, and the realities Eastern European actors face in the UK. We also discuss self-tapes, casting pressure, social media, and staying grounded through rejection. She talks about her work at Owning It Acting Studio, her experiences on Black Mir...

Kayne Lee Harrison is a British-American actor best known for his role as Cre in Netflix’s Resort to Love. In this episode he talks about breaking into acting from a working-class background, the class barriers that still shape the industry, and what it took to push through them. He reflects on Resort to Love, his writing on Heterogeneity, and the importance of honest conversations around faith an...

Tom Basden is an English actor, writer, and comedian, best known as the creator of Here We Go and for his work on Plebs, Cowards, After Life, and The Ballad of Wallis Island. In this episode he talks about his childhood, Cambridge Footlights, and the early days of comedy. We go in depth on why he chose comedy, the challenges of sketch group Cowards, and how he approaches writing and performing sit...

Jim Shields is a filmmaker and the director of The Inside Man series. In this episode he shares his complicated childhood and family story, including how theatre saved him and how he first stepped on stage. We follow his path from acting into corporate filmmaking, and how he turns boring material into something engaging through story and humour. He explains his work with Rob McCollum and how The I...

Kirsty Averton is an actor known for roles in Our Girl, The Inside Man, Killing Eve, and Sardar Udham. In this episode, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her—both personally and professionally. We talk about her childhood, what formed her as a person and a performer, and the realities of life as an actor: from navigating rejection to staying grounded in a tough industry. Instagram: @kirs...

Micah Abna is a British actor and writer from Croydon. In this episode, we talk about his short film One Brother — how he wrote it, acted in it, and where the idea came from. We discuss mental health, knife crime, the ups and downs of acting, and dealing with rejection. He also shares what it was like working on a play with Wil Johnson, writing, casting, crowdfunding, and more. Instagram: @micahab...

Tara Hoyos-Martinez is a Colombian-British actress, Miss Universe GB 2010, and a rising creative voice of Latin American culture in the UK.In this episode, Tara talks about growing up as the daughter of immigrants and how that affected her mental health and sense of identity. We talk about growing up between cultures — Colombian warmth and London resilience — and how that shaped her identity. What...

In this episode, I chat with Fiona Hampton about her journey into acting, her childhood, and what led her to follow her passion. We chat about her time working on Kingsman: The Secret Service and her experience stepping into directing with her short film HAM. We also explore the realities of auditions, handling rejection, the contrasts between theatre, screen, and voice acting, and the challenges...

Sevket Cerkez is a professional Muay Thai fighter and former UK No.1, RFC World Champion, 5x RFC European Champion, and MTGP British Champion. Known as The Turkish Assassin, Sevket has built a reputation as a fierce competitor inside the ring. But his journey hasn’t been easy. Sevket’s childhood was full of tragedy and hardship, and at one point, he was on a path of self-destruction. Muay Thai did...

The best moments from all 27 available episodes of season one. Relive unforgettable highlights from 2024, including conversations with amazing guests like “The Brothers Sun” actor Jon Xue Zhang, magician Max Rendall, Jordan Alexandra from “The Winter King”, Wil Johnson from “House of the Dragon”, Elliott Eason from “The Mafia's Obsession”, and Áine Rose Daly from “Hanna” and “Boiling Point” and Br...

In this special end-of-year episode, I reflect on the journey of launching my podcast and wrapping up season one. I talk about how and why it all started, the mistakes I made along the way, YouTube promotions, and the lessons I’ve learned. Was it all worth it? Tune in to hear the highs, the lows, and everything in between as I share my thoughts on an incredible first season. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro...

Max Rendall is a magician with more than 14 years of experience. In this episode we discuss how he made The Magic Circle angry. He will tell you about his journey into magic, performing for the Royal Family, and the story of a lion named Christian, bought by his father from Harrods. Max shares insights on reading the crowd, memorable performances, and whether magic can impress. And in the end he w...

In this episode, I chat with Jon Xue Zhang about playing Blood Boots in The Brothers Sun and working with his hero, Michelle Yeoh. We also discuss his book, Martial Arts: The Way of Life, and how martial arts has shaped his philosophy. Jon shares stories from his time as a stunt double for Don Lee in Eternals, meeting Keanu Reeves on 47 Ronin, and even being a paranormal investigator. Instagram: @...

In this episode, we talk with actor Jordan Alexandra about their roles in The Winter King and Boiling Point, including their experience working on intimate scenes and collaborating with intimacy coordinators. Jordan shares insights into their journey in acting and modeling, training at IDSA, and their approach to preparing for roles and auditions. We also discuss their heritage, passion for writin...

In this episode, Wil Johnson shares his experience working on "House of the Dragon" as Vaemond Velaryon, and how being part of a large-scale production shifted his perspective on filmmaking. We dive into his nearly 40-year career, including his time on "Emmerdale", and his thoughts on managing an actor's ego and motivation. Wil also opens up about his journey into directing...