Reading the Room with Michael Frontier

We spent the season Reading The Room, but the real work began when we finally had the courage to look in the mirror. In this Season One bonus episode, Bente and I are dropping the "expert" mask to get raw about the parts of this journey we didn’t see coming—like the subtle pressure to perform for the mic and the trap of sprinting toward forgiveness before the heart has even had a chance to catch i...

In this episode of Reading the Room, Michael and Bente sit down with singer, songwriter, and musician Elise Burchard. In her early twenties, Elise was struck in the throat by a hockey puck during a charity tournament — an accident that damaged her vocal cords and silenced her overnight. What followed was a years-long journey to reclaim not just her voice, but her truth. She's now turning that stor...

In this episode of Reading the Room, Michael and Bente sit down with LA-based actress, writer, and clown Nalini Sharma — co-creator of the dark comedy Garbage and the international hit Until Death . Nalini has toured her solo work from LA to the Edinburgh Fringe, but it's her work with clowning that truly hits home — choosing the flawless absurdity of being human over the constant audition for per...

You asked, and we’re answering! In this episode of Reading The Room , co-host Bente Engelstoft is taking over the moderator seat. She’s curated the best, weirdest, and most relatable questions from our listeners and is putting Michael Frontier in the hot seat. Think of this as a "group reading" for our entire community. Bente brings the questions, and Michael brings the intuitive hits. Whether you...

In this episode of Reading the Room, Michael conducts his first ever on-air reading — and writer, director, and performer Jason Avezzano is in the chair. Jason is the co-creator of Susan Bones: The Untold Story of a Horsegirl Who Went to Hogwarts — a musical comedy that, as it turns out, may be perfectly timed for the Year of the Horse. In this episode, we discuss: The Reading: What the kidneys re...

Color, Kindness & Connection w/ Todd Parr In this episode of Reading the Room, Michael and Bente welcome world-renowned author and illustrator Todd Parr — and a dear friend of 37 years. With over 60 books and an Emmy-nominated series, ToddWorld, Todd has spent his career reminding the world that it's okay to be different. Today, we look past the signature bright colors to explore the heart and...

In this episode of Reading the Room, Michael and Bente turn the lens inward. Moving away from the guest chair, they dive deep into the mechanics of their own intuitive journeys — the signals they've learned to trust, the moments that tested them, and the stories that shaped how they see the world. In this episode, we discuss: The Internal Signal: How to distinguish the voice of the gut from the no...

In this episode of Reading the Room , Michael and Bente sit down with the lightning-fast mind of Ryan Asher . A powerhouse alumna of The Second City Mainstage , iO , and The Annoyance Theater , Ryan has carved a singular path from the stages of Chicago to the heart of Los Angeles. While she is known for her acclaimed work and viral characters on The Bert Show , today we go behind the performance t...

In this episode of Reading the Room , Michael and Bente welcome a man who has mastered the art of transformation: Terry Opalek . Many know Terry as the visionary co-founder of the award-winning Terry’s Toffee , but his journey is a masterclass in shifting from the "architecture of business" to the "anatomy of the soul." As an Intuitive Coach, Published Author, Workshop Developer/Facilitator and Ce...

In our second episode of Reading the Room , the tables turn as Michael Frontier sits down to "read" the internal framework of his co-host, Emmy Award-winning writer and director Bente Engelstoft . How does a world-class creator maintain a clear "signal" in an industry built on external noise and constant auditioning? Michael and Bente pull back the curtain on the spiritual anatomy of a creative ca...

Welcome to the debut of Reading the Room . In this inaugural episode, hosts Michael Frontier and Bente Engelstoft open the door to a conversation about the courage it takes to listen—to yourself, to your craft, and to the world around you. Michael shares the unfolding story of his journey as a clairvoyant, offering insight into how he learned to trust his own energy and move beyond the static of s...