The Interesting Podcast (with Brian Ballance)

This episode is with the fantastic Elias Toufexis! We talk about him growing up in Montréal, taking a chair to the head while wrestling, his love of theatre, combatting imposter syndrome, signing the Golden Book with William Shatner, how to make a living as an actor and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Elias! Twitter: @EliasToufexis Instagram: @RealEliasToufexis Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www...

This episode is with world-renowned acting coach, Bernard Hiller! We talk about why traveling is so good for you, his training at Summer Stock, moving from New York to LA, Developing his teaching technique, how he started working with Emilio Rivera, the importance of asking for help and SO MUCH MORE! Be sure to check out his classes at bernardhiller.com, his first book Stop Acting, Start Living on...

This episode is with award-winning producer, Caroline Kermel. We talk about her moving a lot as a kid, working her way from executive assistant to producer, what it means to work in production, winning a Saturn award for Star Wars Rebels, what it was like attending the Emmys, what makes a good producer and MUCH MORE! Follow Caroline! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-robinson-kermel-6...

This episode is with the fantastic Brant Russell! We talk about him growing up singing in Texas, touring the western US in college with an a-cappella group, traveling to South Africa, going to grad school in Boston, the process of writing his capstone, why the words we use are so important and so much more! Follow Brant! Instagram/Twitter: @BrantRussell Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian...

This episode is with tv writer, short story author and one of my favorite novelists, Jordan! We talk about him being from the Ozarks, how Midnight Rider came to be, trying to balance art and commerce, how the pandemic may have changed the entertainment industry, his take on writer’s block, the importance of cultivating the artist, getting inspiration from multiple places, his writing process acros...

Happy 2022! This episode is with my good friend Alexandra Pica! We talk about our first movie together, moving to Atlanta, getting into Yoga, traveling by herself, the importance of being present, playing multiple characters in her new movie and MUCH MORE! Follow Alex on Instagram: @alexpica/@healthybeingwpica www.alexandrapica.com Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www.brianballance.co...

This episode is with martial artist/stunt performer Ross Kohnstam! We talk about starting martial arts at 7 years old, teaching himself tricking, being the 7th person EVER to land a Triple Corkscrew, doubling Spider-man for the Insomniac game, playing multiple characters on The Mandalorian and MUCH MORE! Follow Ross! Instagram: @rosskohnstam Follow Brian! Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www.brianbal...

This episode is with the fantastic Kola Bokinni! We talk about creating his character in his first play, learning different accents, having emergency dental surgery AND handling a hawk on Black Mirror, auditioning for Ted Lasso, learning the NSYNC dance, what it was like shooting the Isaac-central episode and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Kola! Twitter: @KolaBokinni Instagram: @kolabokinni Facebook: https:...

This episode is with the multi-talented B. Dave Walters! We talk about always doing multiple things at once, being a black belt in more than one martial art, touring with Evanescence as a bodyguard, being inspired by Shakespeare to become a writer, why he moved to LA, the process of writing D&D: A Darkened Wish, his upcoming documentary Dear America: From a Black Guy and so much more! Be sure to c...

This episode is with animator Lindsay Thompson! We talk about her growing up in LA, randomly getting into animation, moving to New Zealand on a whim for work, the differences between animating for movies and games, the joys of creative freedom and MUCH MORE! Follow Lindsay on Twitter: @Binzimation Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian and at www.brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Pod...

This episode with writer/director Benjamin Lancaster! We talk about him putting on Christmas pageants with his family, directing a live audio drama for IPR, the intricacies of getting your eyebrow pierced, behind the scenes of Walt’s Frozen Head, his inspiration for World of Tomorrow SO MUCH MORE! Follow Ben! Twitter: @WaltsFrzenHead www.waltsfrozenhead.com Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel...

This episode is with the fantastic, award-winning costume designer Ann Closs-Farley! We talk about her being one of 14 kids, her greatest talent show performance, switching from acting to costume designing, working on Toy Story: The Musical, being ok with failure and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Ann! Instagram: @clossfarley www.annclossfarley.com Follow Brian! Instagram/Twitter: @JediBrian www.brianballan...

This episode is with the gem-of-a-human-being, Jennifer Hale! We talk about how we see the world, growing from trauma, finding your truth in your art, how she came up with her new coaching platform SkillsHub, being a World Record holder and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Jennifer! Instagram: @jhalegram Twitter: @jhaletweets Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jenniferhale Check out SkillsHub: https://acting.sk...

This episode is with Keythe Farley! We talk about playing trombone growing up, where his interest in entertainment started, why talent outweighs who you know, our favorite nuggets of wisdom, his FANTASTIC podcast and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Keythe! Instagram: @keythefarley Twitter: @faronear www.keythefarley.com Check out LIVE FROM THE LOUNGE with Keythe Farley: https://open.spotify.com/show/1tMpjVHd...

This episode is with one of my closest friends and ROCKSTAR Slim Gillian! We talk about how we met in a gas station, moving around as a kid, learning music at a young age, celebrating your wins, forgiving your failures, his upcoming tour and so much more! Follow Slim on Instagram/Twitter: @Slimtronic5k Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/slimtronic5k www.slimtronic5000.com Help support his upcoming...

This episode is the return of Danica Rockwood! We talk about how she chooses her characters, navigating how to be creative and still pay your bills, the ins-and-outs of her multiple platforms, how fast "sudden" really is and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Danica on Twitter: @ODanicaRockwood Instagram: @Danica_Rockwood Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaRockwoodOfficial Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/da...

This episode is with the incredibly talented Tara Platt! We talk about her going to 14 schools growing up, how she wanted to be a neurosurgeon, working on soap operas, her first VO gig, getting to work with her husband, the importance of finishing your projects and MUCH more! Follow Tara on Twitter/Instagram: @taraplatt and at www.taraplatt.com Keep up with her latest projects at https://monkeymay...

This episode is with Marcello Haynes! We talk about driving from Florida to Rhode Island, how he became a gondolier, the technique of rowing a gondola, what it's like being a small business owner, how he was once a high school physics teacher, what brought him to Naples and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Marcello on Instagram: @matthewmarcello / @LaGondolaNaples / @LaGondolaProv Follow Brian on Twitter/Inst...

This episode is with Bob Bergen! We talk about having a dream of playing Porky Pig since he was 5, getting to see Mel Blanc work, being a tour guide at Universal, getting help from a squirrel, opening for Kenny Rogers, playing No-Face and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Bob on Twitter: @BobBergen Instagram: @bergen.bob www.bobbergen.com Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram: @JediBrian www.brianballance.com

This episode is with the POWERFUL Alex McKenna! We talk about her being from LA, studying neuroscience, getting a scar from a kangaroo, being starstruck on Legend of Korra, what it means to go "full Sadie" and MUCH more! Follow Alex on: Instagram: @maxmagpie Twitter: @MsAlexMcKenna Follow Brian on: Instagram/Twitter: @JediBrian and at www.brianballance.com Follow The Interesting Podcast on Twitter...

This episode is with the delightful Earl T. Kim! We talk about his history with glitter, how an instructor changed his life, auditioning for a teacher in Russia, his beautiful short film Han, playing Norio in Ghost of Tsushima and so much more! Follow Earl on Twitter: @earlofsammich Instagram: @fyrestorm Twitch.tv/earlofsammitch Watch Han on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Han-Earl-T-Kim/dp/B08CZ4J...

This episode is with one of my new favorite people, the incredibly talented and hilarious, Yuri Lowenthal! We talk about traveling the world, knowing multiple languages, living in Japan, how D&D made him a better person, how he got into voiceover, his new show Orbital Redux and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Yuri on Instagram/Twitter: @YuriLowenthal Check out the trailer for his new show, Orbital Redux: vim...

This episode is with event coordinator and MASTER LIBRARIAN Daniel Kennedy! We talk about him going to school for history, how he got into art, what goes into planning big events, designing the Ahsoka jersey, his love of the LFC, his frenchie Miles and SO MUCH MORE! Follow Daniel on Twitter: @DanielKennedyDK Instagram: @danielkennedy Twitch: Twitch.tv/TL_DK Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram: @Jedi...

This episode is with actor/writer/director Justin Taite! We talk about how martial arts helped his acting, learning Stella Adler's technique, how he makes his TikTok videos, the research that goes into his projects, making The Awful Kind and so much more! Follow Justin on TikTok/Instagram/Twitter: @JustinTaite Check out The Awful Kind: https://vimeo.com/364185590 Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram:...

This episode is with Jeffrey Pierce! We talk about rebuilding motorcycles, learning things the hard way, being nominated for a BAFTA, his writing process for The Reckoning series, breaking down Tommy from The Last of Us and MUCH more! Follow Jeffrey on Twitter: @pierce_jeffrey Instagram: @jeffreypierce71 Learn more about his books at www.thereckoningseries.com Follow Brian on Twitter/Instagram/Eve...