Offstage Acting

Elsie Escobar is a trailblazer in the podcasting world — a powerhouse of presence, purpose, and persistence. As the co-host of Libsyn's The Feed and the first Latina inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame , Elsie has spent over a decade shaping the podcasting industry from the inside out. She's not just a voice behind the mic — she's a mentor, advocate, coach, yogi, and a fierce champion for women...

Will Tizard is the kind of creative most people only read about — but Todd and Jay actually know the guy. Originally from Arizona, Will now calls Prague home after more than 25 years living and working across Central Europe. His eclectic career has taken him from stage acting in Scottsdale to covering murders as a local crime reporter in LA… and eventually to becoming a trusted voice in internatio...

Episode 32 is something special — Todd and Jay welcome the incomparable Bart Shatto , a performer whose voice could fill a stadium… and then some. Known for iconic roles like Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and powerhouse performances in The Civil War and Hands on a Hardbody , Bart is a Broadway veteran with a resume that sings . But that's just the start. Bart is also known for touring with the Tr...

This week, Todd sits down with the multilingual and multi-talented Alexander Marchi , an Italian actor whose journey into the performing arts didn't begin in a drama school — but in a pharmacy. Fluent in English , German , and Italian , Alex shares the fascinating story of how he pivoted from life as a licensed pharmacist in Italy to a growing acting career in London, after an unexpected leap of f...

This week, Jay Reum and Todd Kramer head out to the fringe—literally—to chat with Helena Bunker , the dynamic force behind the Stockholm Fringe Festival (STOFF) and a key figure in developing fringe festivals across the Nordic and Baltic regions . Over 15 years ago, Helena set out to create something bold and experimental in a cultural landscape that didn't even understand what a "fringe festival"...

Being a parent is a challenge for anyone — but try doing it while juggling auditions, rehearsals, late-night gigs, and a freelance income. In this episode, Todd Kramer speaks with Cassie Raine , actor, advocate, and co-founder of Parents and Carers in Performing Arts ( PiPA ), a UK-based charity that's reshaping the conversation around caregiving in the entertainment industry. Cassie shares the or...

For actors, privacy is often the first thing sacrificed on the path to success. In this follow-up to Episode 026, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum dive deep into the tension between visibility and vulnerability in the age of online branding. Some actors overshare, others hide away — but most don't have a real strategy for managing their digital presence. This episode is all about finding that balance. Tod...

Jeannette Robinson has lived a life most couldn't dream up — and she's just getting started. From a wild childhood in Jamaica, Queens, to Olympic aspirations in Michigan, to becoming a ward of the state as a teenager… Jeannette's journey has been one of resilience, reinvention, and raw talent. Now living in London for over 25 years, Jeannette is an actor, writer, director, producer, and voice arti...

Actors are a rare breed. Most people hate work and have too much of it — we love work, but can't find enough of it. In this episode, Todd & Jay dive into the digital storefront of every working actor: your online casting profile . Whether it's Spotlight, Casting Networks, Mandy, or Actors Access, this is where your headshots, reels, clips, and credits live — and it's how you get booked. They break...

Some actors dabble. Aimee Miles dove in — and never looked back. From her childhood in Northern California to graduating from the elite Wesleyan University , Aimee has pursued her acting dreams with relentless passion. A bilingual Spanish speaker with a thesis on Latin American theatre under military dictatorships , her journey is anything but ordinary. Now raising a family in California's Gold Co...

In this episode, Todd & Jay talk with the brilliant and fast-rising Anna Brindle , a London-based actor and proud alum of ArtsEd — one of the UK's top performing arts schools. At just 28, Anna is carving her own space in the industry with a powerful mix of talent, grit, and glowing optimism. We talk about the rollercoaster of being a young actor, navigating the grind of auditions, finding your typ...

After 15 years on the comedy circuit, Matthew Bayliss is flipping the script — from mic to monologue. In this episode, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with the Birmingham-based stand-up comedian who's recently begun transitioning into acting. With sharp timing, loads of stage experience, and a self-deprecating wit, Matthew brings a unique perspective to the craft of performance. We chat about ev...

This week, Todd & Jay sit down with a powerhouse of performance: Gideon Emery — an actor, voice artist, singer, and full-blown chameleon when it comes to the craft. Born in Windsor, England , raised in South Africa , and now working globally across stage, screen, and console, Gideon has built a dynamic career that spans theatre, television, film, animation, and AAA video games. You might know him...

In this episode, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum talk with actor, theatre director, and podcast producer Jessica Beck , whose diverse background in stagecraft has profoundly shaped her approach to storytelling through sound. Jessica has produced podcasts for The BBC , The Guardian , and Bloomberg , and recently worked with none other than Sir Michael Caine . Her foundation in theatre not only informs her...

Celebrating their 20th episode , Todd Kramer and Jay Reum are tickled purple to welcome Lynda Rooke — President of Actors' Equity UK and a seasoned, highly respected actor with a rich and varied career across British theatre, television, and film. Lynda isn't only a union leader. She's a working actor with decades of experience on stage and screen, admired for both her craft and her commitment to...

Curious what Offstage Acting is all about? In this short trailer, hosts Todd Kramer and Jay Reum introduce the podcast for actors who want real conversations , real insight , and real-world perspective on the craft and the business of acting. From working actors and industry professionals to honest discussions about training, career longevity, and life offstage — this show is about what actually h...

In Episode 19 , Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with intimacy coordinator Rebecca Johannsen for an open, grounded, and surprisingly revealing conversation about one of the most important new roles in modern filmmaking . Intimacy coordination has emerged only recently as a crucial practice within film and television — designed to ensure safety, consent, respect, and artistic integrity in producti...

You're about to meet Yaron Mesika — an Israeli-Dutch actor with Tunisian roots, born and raised in the Netherlands and now fully in the thick of the acting hustle. Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with Yaron to talk about what it really takes to build a career from the ground up: focus, consistency, discipline, and attitude . This is a conversation about work ethic, mindset, and showing up — agai...

Have you ever watched a TV commercial and thought, "I could do that…" — but had absolutely no idea what actually goes into booking one? In this Todd & Jay bonusode , the boys turn the spotlight inward as Jay digs deep into Todd's commercial acting history to unpack what the world of television advertising really demands from actors. From auditions and callbacks to contracts, clients, and the reali...

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with JB Blanc — the prolific, proficient, passionate, professional (and probably a plethora of other P's) actor whose career spans over 30 years across film, television, and voiceover. JB has voiced over 400 video game characters — yes, four hundred — making him one of the most recognisable (and unrecognised) voices in modern entertainment. From gritty dramas to a...

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with John Guerrasio , a veteran actor with nearly 50 years of experience working, training, and teaching the craft. Born and bred in New York, John followed a job to England and ended up staying for over 30 years , where he more or less cornered the market on playing wiseguys — bringing grit, specificity, and authenticity to stage and screen. These days, he calls...

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with Amanda Perryment — a former professional child actor turned agent, whose lived experience on both sides of the industry gives her a rare and invaluable perspective. Amanda began her journey at stage school , working professionally as a child actor before going on to build an extensive career across theatre, television, and well over 100 commercials as an adul...

In this episode, Todd Kramer and Jay Reum dig into the foundations of acting training — where it came from, how it developed, and why it still matters today. The boys trace the roots of modern acting methods back to Eastern Europe and Russia , unpacking the ideas of the early methodologists, creators, practitioners, and students who shaped how actors train, rehearse, and perform. From structured s...

loha! Todd Kramer and Jay Reum welcome Mark Beltzman , an OG improviser with over 40 years of experience on stage and screen, joining the boys from his sofa in paradise — Hawaii . Mark's career has been shaped by a deep commitment to improvisation, presence, and what he calls the art of "allowing" — not just in acting, but in life. In this wide-ranging and reflective conversation, he shares storie...

Todd Kramer and Jay Reum sit down with Joseph Balderrama — also known as Pepe — a versatile, Americanized Mexican actor who grew up in Mexico City, Boston, and England , and whose global upbringing shaped both his identity and his approach to the craft. In this wide-ranging conversation, Pepe talks candidly about navigating early casting hurdles (including a funny and revealing name-change moment)...