Game of Life Podcast

Dan is joined by actor John Fleck. John has played a whopping six characters on various Star Trek series over the years! He has also appeared in films and TV shows, including Carnivàle, True Blood, The Orville, and Falling Down, to name a few. We chat about his work playing Silik on Star Trek: Enterprise alongside Scott Bakula, the prosthetic makeup, a Tarot reading, first days, becoming more grou...

Dan is joined by writer, presenter, and perhaps the best satirist on the planet, Mark Humphries! We chat about wanting to a sitcom writer, the moment Mark needed a change in his life, living in France, acting in French telemovies, snapping at a customer while working a retail job, getting an internship on a comedy show, Charles Firth, needing to make mistakes first, doing stand up exactly twelve t...

Dan is joined by comedian, presenter, producer, satirist, and filmmaker, Dan Ilic! Mr. Ilic recorded this one just 'slightly' hungover.... We chat abut his surname, hitting a million downloads with A Rational Fear, witnessing Dave Anthony clash with Anthony Scaramucci, a play about Christopher Columbus, always working on backup careers, not knowing the hard work would eventually pay off, Beaconsfi...

Dan is joined by actor and improv extraordinaire, Dan Bakkedahl, who has appeared in many films and television series over the years, including Veep, Legit, Life in Pieces, Made for Love, Space Force, Curb your Enthusiasm, Community, Barry, Trumbo, Buddy Games, Observe and Report, and Horrible Bosses, to name a few. We chat about whether or not Veep would be as ridiculous now compared to today's p...

Dan is joined by one of the best actor's in the business, Jack Stratton-Smith! This was a really fun one! We chat about working on Boys in the Band, loving the idea of being someone else, ideas of being an athlete, stubbornness, moving to the Gold Coast, getting a job on the Angelina Jolie film Unbroken in the art department, being hesitant of the environment as a kid, seeking out the most annoyin...

Dan is joined by m̶u̶s̶i̶c̶a̶l̶ t̶h̶e̶a̶t̶r̶e̶ s̶u̶p̶e̶r̶s̶t̶a̶r̶ one of the best actors in the business, Rishab Kern! We chat about finishing off with Tina after two years, the shock felt after a contract ends, losing routine and discipline, stepping into the world of unemployment, shifting back into the world of film, TV, and straight theatre, finding the time for yourself, letting go of ego, cr...

Dan is joined by musical theatre superstar Brendan Xavier, who is currently playing The Beast in the Australian production of Beauty and the Beast! We chat abut working on Beauty and the Beast, keeping things fresh, loving a routine, saying goodbye to fellow cast members, living up to playing an iconic Disney character, believing you're terrifying, always having something to work on, stage door en...

Dan is joined by actor, singer, and musician Theo Williams, currently in the Australian production of Sister Act!  We chat about getting the job on Sister Act, the learning curve of commercial musical theatre, quick changes and set moves, working on a very busy show, reflecting on Carols by Candlelight, not taking things for granted, Choir Boy, having your face used for publicity on flags in...

Dan is joined by actor, Harley Dasey soon to be taking on the role of Princeton in AG Theatre's Avenue Q at The National Theatre in St Kilda! We chat about getting the job on Avenue Q, rehearsing the show, puppet workshops, the initial challenge of working with puppets, two shows in one, getting the hang of working with his puppet, the liberation of being able to use a heightened voice, being in a...

Dan is joined by actor, singer, and dancer Nic Van Lits & musician, musical director, and performer Jack Hollander, who both recently worked together on Round the Twist: The Musical at QPAC! We chat about working on Round the Twist, the excitement of new Australian works, the high tension level of tech and previews, the limited run of the show, being positive and self taught, the prospect of s...

Dan is joined by Stargate alumni, Corin Nemec otherwise known as Jonas Quinn from Stargate SG1. We actually didn't touch on Stargate at all in this chat. I completely forgot to bring up Stargate BUT we talked about a hell of a lot of other fascinating topics! Corin's passion for what he does is truly infectious.   We talk about being a graffiti artist, a love for graphic design enjoying all t...

Dan is joined by actor, Paul McGillion, who most notably played Dr. Carson Beckett on Stargate Atlantis. We talk about Paul's audition for Scotty in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek 2009 film, transitioning from Stargate to Star Trek, the joys of playing Carson Beckett, reuniting with cast members, the gift that keeps on giving, being the first character in Stargate history to go through the gate, becoming...

Dan is joined by actress, Teryl Rothery. Teryl played Dr. Janet Fraiser in Stargate SG1 over the course of seven seasons. We talk about what it means being a part of the Stargate franchise, conventions, leaving the series, telling everyone she'd be a movie star, being shy, teaching, insecurities, validation, collaboration, the movie IF, the importance of connection with others, finding moments of...

Dan is joined by actor, writer, and very talented individual, David Benjamin Tomlinson best known for playing Linus on Star Trek: Discovery! We chat about processing the ending of Star Trek: Discovery, the show being an uphill climb, playing multiple characters, getting the role of Linus, prosthetic makeup, getting on top of your own discomfort, lessons learned from working on the show, finding th...

Dan is joined by Canadian artist and actor, Bruce Horak also known for his role as Hemmer in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds! We chat about getting the gig on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, being a massive Trekkie, the surprise of seeing his name in the opening credits, the unexpected impact of his character, overwhelming emotions colliding together, the intriguing title of "Game of Life", discoveri...

Dan is joined by legendary character actor, Alan Dale! Alan has appeared in a LOT of movies and television series over the years including Star Trek: Nemesis, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Neighbours, ER, The OC, The X-Files, The West Wing, 24, NCIS, Lost, Torchwood, Entourage, Once Upon A Time and Ugly Betty to name a few. We chat about A...

Dan is joined by actor, singer, teacher, and musical theatre superstar, Nicholas Kong! Nick has been in one of my favourite shows of all time, Australian Epic! We chat about Nick's experience working on Australian Epic, covering The Engineer on Miss Saigon, the ease of saying goodbye to Miss Saigon, freezing up with the thought of dance calls, understanding your place, not burdening your emotions...

Dan is joined by actor, sci-fi nerd, streamer, gamer, and musical theatre superstar, Joshua Russell in his very first podcast! We chat about his involvement working on One Day in September, stepping into the world of the Book of Mormon, holding your own on stage, being presented with new challenges for each show, managing injuries, being OK with taking a show off, running into set pieces, being a...

Dan is joined by journalist and Channel 7 News anchor, Mike Amor! We chat about the love of living and working in America, trapped between two cultures, Americanisms, mastering the cadence in delivering the news, voice lessons, failing Year 12 English, working as a Bank Teller, getting a cadetship, the magical way in which he fell in love with journalism, being inquisitive, embarking in TV journal...

Dan is joined by comedian, Merrick Watts! We chat about working in the comedy industry for thirty years, always looking forward and not looking back, never not thinking, self reflection, feeling better with a high volume of work and pressure, meeting deadlines, getting work done before it's required, always having a fully formed show ready to go, striving in chaos, commercial radio, the transforma...

Dan is joined by prolific character actor, William Sadler who you may have seen in various films and television over the years including Die Hard 2, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist, The Pacific, The Blacklist, Damages, Iron Man 3, Bill & Ted Face the Music, and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to name a few. We chat about playing Sloane in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Section 31, c...

Dan is joined by two musical theatre superstars currently in the Australian production of Dear Evan Hansen with the Michael Cassel Group, Harry Targett & Ariyan Sharma! We chat about the opening night experience of Dear Evan Hansen, getting the job, life as a standby, the first professional bow, feeling at home on stage, learning to be yourself on stage, figuring out the show, the eight show w...

Dan is joined by two musical theatre superstars who are currently killing it in habits on Sister Act, Mel Bird & Gabriyel Thomas! We chat about covering two major roles in Sister Act, the show always going on, being present, the second show always being the hardest show, finding out they got the show, working between two countries, making a livable wage, playing the lead, the temperamental car...

Dan is joined by two musical theatre superstars and best of friends, Hamish Johnston & Jack Connor Rowan, who were recently in Miss Saigon together! This is probably the funniest and craziest episode I've ever recorded, so strap in! No cuts! We chat about the international tour of Miss Saigon, having a working holiday, saying goodbye to the show, being together for a really long time, getting...

Dan is joined by actor Adam Murphy, a legend in the industry, who at the time of this recording just came off the Australian production of Wicked, playing Dr. Dillamond and covering The Wizard! This is Adam's first podcast! We chat about sitting down for the first time talking about himself, leaving Wicked, learning a show from scratch, playing an isolated character, working out a routine, being t...