Nopes and Dreams

In this episode, Jess talks to her Go-Solo teacher, mentor, and friend, Matt Hoverman. Matt is a TV writer/producer and playwright whose groundbreaking work in kids' animation ( Arthur, Curious George, Fancy Nancy, Sofia the First, Firebuds, Batwheels, RoboGobo ) has been recognized with an Emmy. Matt co-wrote the book for  The Audience  (Drama Desk Award nom. for Outstanding New Musical) – and he...

In this episode, Jess talks to Sean Conroy. He is a writer, stand-up, improviser, actor, and podcaster. Sean has written for  Adult Swim ,  Comedy Central ,  Seeso ,  NBC , and  ABC , and served as Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer on the cult favorite  Mr. Pickles . He's performed stand-up on  Conan , improvises weekly with UCB's  ASSSSCAT , and is a founding member of  The Swarm , UCB's orig...

In this episode, Jess talks to hilarious Los Angeles-based actor, writer, and content creator Clayton Farris. His recent acting credits include Weapons, MaXXXine, Tul sa King, The Pitt, and Cape Fear. Alongside his on-screen work, Clayton has built a highly engaged digital audience of over 900,000 followers across platforms through original comedic characters and sharply observed sketches about mo...

In this episode, Jess talks to director, actor, screenwriter, and producer Ken Arquelio. Jess and Ken met in the Howard Fine Masterclass in Los Angeles. Ken founded Vincero Pictures, a production company based in Miami and Palm Springs. He recently wrote and directed the short film called Disco Beats opposite Pepe Serna, which won best narrative short at the Arizona International Film Fest. As an...

In this episode, Jess talks to Paul Lubicz. Paul is a coach for high-performing leaders, artists, and athletes. For more than 25 years, he has helped extraordinary individuals regain clarity, direction, and internal coherence—so they can lead, create, and perform at the level their true potential demands. His work and wisdom have been featured in The Sunday Times, Men's Health, and GQ.   Guest: Pa...

In this episode, Jess talks to YOU… the listeners. She breaks down her motivation for starting this podcast, her personal journey with rejection, how it's been challenging getting new guests on the show, and her experience with repeated rejections when she wrote her first spec script and pitched a TV show in LA.  Host: Jess Kaplan  @nopesanddreamspod Original Music: Ariana and the Rose @Arianaandt...

In this episode, Jess talks to Miami native Rochelle Weinstein. Rochelle is the USA Today bestselling author of eight contemporary fiction novels. She is the book columnist for AQUA Magazine and a frequent speaker and workshop instructor. LIttle Fishy has recently optioned her book "What You Do To Me" for feature adaptation, and her ninth novel, The Outbox, releases April 2027. Host: Jess Kaplan  ...

In this episode, Jess talks to LA-based and New York-born comedian, Max Meisel.  Over the last twelve months, Max has been featuring for Tom Arnold on his sixty-city stand-up tour around the United States and Canada. He is also on his first headlining tour titled "The L.A. Sober Tour" and the host and producer of BackDoor Comedy, a monthly comedy party combining music, a dance party, and a great c...

In this episode, Jess talks to New York actor, comedian, and writer Ashley Austin Morris. Ashley currently plays Roxanne Hertz opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Claire Danes in FX's Fleishman Is In Trouble, Nicole in Shonda Rhimes series Inventing Anna and as Debbie in Peacock's Poker Face opposite Natasha Lyonne. Go watch Ashley perform at the infamous Comedy Cellar in NYC and check out her comedy alb...

In this episode, Jess talks to Los Angeles actor, writer, producer, and director David Goryl. Jess and David met almost twenty years ago at the Howard Fine Studio in a master class. David's first acting job was in There's Something About Mary. Other TV credits include: Grey's Anatomy, NYPD Blue, and The Neighborhood. He's also been in commercials for McDonald's, DirecTV, and Chevy. And ladies, you...

In this episode, Jess talks to Los Angeles actor, voiceover artist, and teacher Rachel Rosenbloom. She currently plays "Jenna"  on AppleTV's Platonic, opposite Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. Other credits include Silicon Valley and Freeform's Good Trouble. She both trains and teaches at John Rosenfeld Studios in West Hollywood.  Host: Jess Kaplan  @nopesanddreamspod Guest: Rachel Rosenbloom IG: @Rache...

In this episode, Jess talks to Katie Horwitch. Katie is a nationally recognized author, speaker, mindset coach, and self-talk activist. During their conversation, Katie talks about growing up in Los Angeles, acting at a young age, cringe auditions, pausing her acting career and restarting again. She is the founder of WANT: Women Against Negative Talk, a global platform helping people shift negativ...

In this episode, Jess talks to Jessica Ortner. She is a New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of The Tapping Solution, which is a global movement that has helped millions transform their lives through EFT tapping. She is also the founder of The Tapping Solution App. They discuss how tapping helps with anxiety, rejection, parenting, relationships, and emotional change.  Host: Jess Kaplan...

In this episode, Jess talks to New York City author Nicola Kraus. They discuss all types of creative rejection: acting, writing, motherhood, and making a movie. Nicola co-authored The Nanny Diaries, which is an international #1 bestseller and movie starring Scarlett Johansson. Nicola has contributed to The London Times, The New York Times, and every woman's magazine you can think of. Her first sol...

In this episode, Jess talks to her Canadian friend, Julia Lederer. Julia is an internationally acclaimed writer living in LA. Julia talks about how she took her hit play With Love and a Major Organ and adapted it into a feature film that premiered at SXSW and won "Best screenplay" at the Berlin Female Filmmaker's Festival. Her films have screened at over 40 festivals worldwide including TIFF, Palm...

In this episode, Jess talks to her old pal Matt Gehring. He is an actor, writer, director, and currently the Comedy Division Director at Stella Adler Studio. Matt talks about his experience at NYU, auditioning for Hammerkatz, interning at SNL, getting rejected from Just For Laughs, the power of saying yes, getting his MFA, and becoming a theater director. This is an amazing insider baseball episod...

In this episode, Jess talks to New York Comedian Ariel Elias. Her debut special, "A Jewish Star," is now streaming. Ariel talks about growing up in Kentucky, her journey as a standup, bombing on stage, rejection hacks, and what it's like to perform in different cities. After catching Jimmy Kimmel's attention with a viral stand-up clip (You know, the one where she drinks the heckler's beer), he inv...

In this episode, Jess talks to comedian, writer, and content creator Matt Hyams. Matt discusses pursuing standup and comedy writing in California, New York, and now Philly. We talk about his childhood influences, bombing on stage, using his marriage for inspiration for his comedy videos, facing rejection in writing classes, and the ups and downs of pursuing a career in comedy. He has recently gain...

In this episode, Jess talks to Edward Drake, who is an award-winning Irish-Australian filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Ed discusses his journey from getting rejected four times from film school to directing music videos, hitting rock bottom, and then moving on to directing feature films with huge stars like Bruce Willis, Kevin James, and Christina Ricci. His films have topped the charts on Netflix,...

In this episode, Jess talks to her old pal, Genevieve Angelson. They met when they were 17 years old at the Northwestern University summer theater program Cherubs where, of course, Genevieve played the lead and Jess played a 50 year old man (Type cast!). Genevieve is a New York City born actress. She is best known for playing Alanis Wheeler on  The Handmaid's Tale , Indigo on  The Afterparty , Pat...

In this episode, Jess talks to Los Angeles based filmmaker, Blaise Miller. Jess and Blaise talk about when they first met in Chicago, taking improv at The Second City, Blaise's comedy group The Vacationeers, his first viral video on YouTube, starring in the ensemble movie "It's a Disaster", and his directorial debut "Hi, Blaise Miller". His most recent TV credits include HBO's Winning Time and a r...

In this episode, Jess chats with filmmaker, writer, and performer Katie Hyde. They talk about how they met on Zoom in a solo show class, the cringe of asking for money with a Kickstarter, motherhood, rejection hacks, their love of voice notes, and the creative process of writing and performing a one-woman show. Currently, she makes documentary content for big-name clients while also working on her...

In this episode, Jess chats with actress, director, and storyteller Noel Elie.  Jess and Noel go on a journey through discussions about modeling, living in New York City, bad auditions, health issues, attachment styles, and being a meme queen. Alongside her work as an artist, Noel is also an embodiment guide and the creator of Alchemizing Anger, a visceral experience that moves women out of their...

In this episode, Jess chats with certified coach Erika Shannon. Erika started as a dancer and musical theater actress and took many pivots throughout her life. Erika discusses her dream of being on Broadway, the role of a swing, what it's like to tour with a show,  her worst audition stories, and her experience at A Chorus Line boot camp. She currently coaches women helping them to get stronger, h...

In this episode, Jess chats with actor, writer, and producer Bryan Fitzgerald. Bryan talks about what it's like to work with an intimacy coordinator, how one-line auditions are the most difficult, New York City rejection, and the highs and lows of being on set. Bryan has a production company, Sow the Seeds Productions, with his wife and fellow actor Valery Lessard. Bryan plays Terrance Joseph in E...