The Interesting Podcast (with Brian Ballance)

This episode is with musician and sound designer Louis Berdasco! We talk about starting in music, how he got into on-set audio recording, his relationship with his work, what equipment he uses, projects we’ve made together, common misconceptions about audio work, advice for people who want to do what he does and SO MUCH MORE!  Follow Louis! Instagram: @berdasque Follow Brian! Instagram/Twitter: @J...

This episode is with Jake Alexander Williams! We talk about him going to college for film, how he approaches his writing, the different projects he’s made, developing your style as an artist, the making of The Depths, shooting a scene in live action, things he’s learned along the way and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Jake! Instagram: @jakealexwill IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9216413/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk...

This episode is the return of my friend and the QUEEN OF VO herself, Jennifer Hale! We open this one up with a little story time, we talk about how SkillsHub has evolved over the years, our mutual love of Ted Lasso, approaching our work as actors, how she feels about being an ICON now and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Jennifer! Instagram: @jhalegram Twitter: @jhaletweets www.jenniferhale.com Check out Skil...

Welcome to 2026! This episode is with my friend and fellow actor, Sam Retic! We talk about his life-long love of animals, how that love eventually led him to work at a zoo for 7 years, him moving to LA to become an actor, getting a job at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, working red carpets and The Oscars, being there for the infamous Slap and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Sam! Instagram/TikTok: @SamRetic Fo...

To celebrate 10 YEARS of The Interesting Podcast, today's guest is the legendary stunt coordinator Ryan Watson! We talk about him winning his first martial arts tournament at 6 years old, the different styles he’s trained, how he approaches fight scenes, working with Zack Snyder, the importance of passion, how he got the job on The Mandalorian and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Ryan! Instagram: @ryan_watson...

This episode is with the wonderful Nanette Orellana! We talk about her moving to Argentina as a kid, growing up doing gymnastics, moving back to the states to coach, going to New York to model, what it’s like working on commercials, making her own clothing line, the importance of trusting the process and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Nanette! Instagram/Youtube/TikTok: @nanetteorellana Follow Brian! Instagr...

This episode is with my friend Amanda Gallace! She is an actor, a nurse, an artist, and an all around wonderful person. We talk about her time as a nurse, backpacking across Europe and Ireland, camping in the Serengeti National Park, working in the Covid ICU at the start of the pandemic, volunteering to lend medical help in Ukraine, how nursing has helped her acting and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Amanda...

This episode is with my very good friend, phenomenal makeup artist and one of the best actors I have ever worked with, Tatum Bates. We talk about her recent experience at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, her first film audition, how she got into makeup, how we met, working together on our different projects and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Tatum: https://www.tatumbates.com/ Instagram: @tatum.bates You...

This episode is with martial artist and stunt performer, Phi-Long Nguyen! We talk about him coming to the states as a refugee, a crazy black market tattoo story, different martial arts he’s done, working at theme parks, how he got into stunts, skills every stunt performer should have and so much more! Follow Phi! Instagram: @phistunts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhiStunt Follow Brian! Twitt...

This episode is with the wonderful Sara Secora! We talk about the importance of a work-life balance, dealing with her disabilities since childhood, writing The Amethysta trilogy, her time as a YouTuber, playing Avi the Space Cat in Boonie Bears, being nominated for a SOVAS award, writing The Anywhere Voice Actor and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Sara! Twitter: @SaraSecoraVO Instagram: @sara.secora www.sara...

This episode is with my acting coach, Jeremy Hall! We talk about him growing up playing guitar, starting in the games industry as a game tester, moving to NY for a year, how he got into casting, what it’s like directing as a freelancer, his love of teaching actors and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Jeremy! Instagram: @instajhall Twitter: @JeremyHall_Twit www.jeremyhallvo.com Follow Brian! Instagram/Twitter:...

This episode is with actor, stunt performer, world-champion martial artist and my friend, David Anthony Buglione! We talk about his grandfather putting him in martial arts at 7 years old, going pro at 18, becoming a world champion, how he got into stunts, the key to crashing a car into a tree safely, Playing Agent Johnson in Daredevil, getting lit on fire in Gotham, his journey with Gaslight Cafe...

This episode is with the DELIGHTFUL Julia Bianco Schoeffling! We talk about her recent trip to Costa Rica, her growing up in New York City, moving to LA for college, starting out at Treyarch, learning on the job, how she got into casting, venturing out with her own company The Halp Network, not being afraid of failure, the process of writing her book and SO MUCH MORE!  Follow Julia! Instagram/Twit...

This episode is the 3RD APPEARANCE of the LEGENDARY Randall Duk Kim! We talk about what’s happened since his last appearance, reflecting on his past, dealing with AI, why art is so important, his feelings on his latest production of Tartuffe, things he’s proud of from his life and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www.brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Podcast! Twitte...

This episode is with the fantastic Hawk Walts! We talk about him watching the solar eclipse with his family in Texas, moving around as a kid, working for a news station, doing stunt shows at Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studio AND Disneyland ALL AT THE SAME TIME, Moving to Georgia from LA, booking The Hulk on Marvel’s Avengers without knowing what the job was, throwing around Tom Hiddleston in Lo...

This episode is with Sifu Tracy Fleming! We talk about him training in martial arts from the time he was 6, being inspired by Bruce Lee, Learning different styles of Kung Fu, competing and winning gold in China, how he got into fight choreography, the spiritual side of martial arts and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Tracy! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracy.fleming.370 Instagram: @tmfwu360 Try Tracy's...

This episode is with the FIRST friend I ever made IN MY LIFE, JD Raub! We talk about how we met, how he became a Manchester United fan, what it’s like working in a marina, starting his own woodworking business, the process behind the different things he makes and SO MUCH MORE! Go to cedarbaywoodworks.com and let him know I sent you for a 10% discount! Follow JD! Instagram: @CedarBayWoodworks Tikto...

This episode is with the wonderful and hilarious Sara Cravens! We talk about her growing up playing basketball, her musical comedy duo Sara and Andrew, working on The Young and the Restless, booking her first game, singing in a Slaughter cover band, her love of Lionel Ritchie and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Sara! Instagram/Twitter: @ThatsSoCravens www.saracravens.com Follow Brian! Instagram/Twitter: @Jed...

This episode is with the delightful Myrna Velasco! We talk about her recent trip to India, her deep love of Yoga, how she got into acting, working on Elena of Avalor, Star Wars Resistance, DC Super Hero Girls, the importance of cultural representation and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Myrna! Instagram: @myrnzilla Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www.brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Podca...

This episode is with the super-talented artist behind Pugnacious Pins, Peter Ngaou! We talk about how he got into art, balancing art and commerce, what goes into making his enamel pins, working with Pug Nation Rescue of LA and Pug Rescue of Korea, how he recently started fostering, coming into your own as an artist and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Peter! Instagram: @pugnacious.pins www.pugnaciouspins.com...

Happy 8 years of The Interesting Podcast! Today's guest is the WONDERFUL Max Randolph. We talk about him growing up on a cattle ranch, how he got started working with metal, the importance of passion, the piece he’s more proud of, creating his character Biri for The Unpredicted Party and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Max! Instagram/TikTok: @max_randolph_studios Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/maxrandolphs...

Today's guest is the incredible Darragh O’Farrell! We talk about him originally being from Ireland, moving to LA, starting as a runner at an animation company, his first time directing, bluffing his way into a job at Lucasarts, working on Knights of the Old Republic, advice for upcoming directors and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Darragh! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darragh-o-farrell-32946/ Follo...

This episode is with my friend Kevin Yost! We talk about working through the pandemic, originally wanting to be a herpetologist, how he got into editing, working at a trailer house, how technology has changed over the years, getting his job at Lucasfilm and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Kevin! Instagram: @trailer__dude Follow Brian! Instagram/Twitter: @JediBrian brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Pod...

This episode is with the AWESOME Seth Allyn Austin! We talk about him living in Hawaii as a kid, getting into martial arts at 9 years old, juggling being an actor and a stunt performer, training with Arthur Mendoza, creating his own stuff with his wife and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Seth! Instagram @SethAllynAustin https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUNDqcV482BII60RSTw1P_Q Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram:...

This episode is with the incredible America Young! We talk about her moving around a bunch as a kid, starting out in stunts, directing her first feature, taking on the role of Barbie, playing Batgirl in Gotham Knights and SO MUCH MORE! Follow America! Instagram/Twitter: @America_Young americayoung.com Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Podcast! Twi...