The Vermilion Podcast

In this episode, Misha sits down with actor and social media creator Haley Dixon on how she achieved her overnight TikTok stardom. Haley opens up about the discipline required to manage a platform of half a million followers, ignoring hate comments, monetizing her work, and how she used social media to book her first short film and sign with a manager. This conversation is a masterclass for any ar...

Misha breaks down some of the hidden mechanism of decision-making, specifically how to use it to activate your creative potential as you head into a new season of life. She discusses the root of the word “decide” as latin for “to cut off.” From this framework, Misha invites you to recognize that indecision is itself a choice and can lead to more more loss and discomfort than the actual decision. A...

In this episode, we have actor-singer-songwriter Kate Eberstadt in a truly inspiring interview as she celebrates her new album, Heaven on Earth. Kate and Misha, who became friends after shooting a film together for the album, explore how Kate’s background in theater and acting informs the storytelling of her music. Kate shares the raw emotional journey behind her work, from the experience of a flo...

Misha and Brett Epstein sit down with veteran casting director Harley Kaplan, whose credits include Sex and the City, dozens of feature films, and Misha’s own digital series All Hail Beth. Kaplan shares that his casting process is guided by intuition and an actor's "energy" or "aura," noting that a compelling essence often outweighs rigid adherence to character breakdowns. He offers blunt, actiona...

This week's episode takes you behind the scenes of the making of Misha’s hit web series, All Hail Beth. After Misha pitched BRIC TV at the Tribeca creator’s market, they brought her on as writer, director, and show runner of this original short-form series All Hail Beth. It went on to win awards and become of the more successful narrative series BRIC TV has greenlit. Check out Misha’s director’s c...

What if money was all around you, just waiting for you to grab it? Spoiler alert: it is! If you crave more money but have trouble understanding how it works and how to generate it, this episode is a must-listen. Misha works with the idea of money as energy, and expands the term "currency" far beyond just cash. She also breaks down one framework of wealth mentality and how you can prevent scarcity...

We live in conflicted times, and the strain of that can hit extra hard for artists. In this episode, we cover conflict management and how to take responsibility for a situation to transform disagreement into deep healing. Drawing from conflict resolution experts, Misha shares actionable strategies for creating a safe space, understanding the difference between emotion and analysis, and ultimately...

Actor Cassidy Layton joins the Vermillion podcast to share her unique journey, from her work on critically-acclaimed series like Severance and Hunters to her very first TV acting gig playing Donald Trump on ice. She reveals how she was able to secure early roles through Actors Access without representation, and how she caught the attention of her current agent. The conversation delves into the hig...

Want an agent or manager? Unsure of how to get one? The entertainment industry has been on a wild ride the past few years, and the right rep can help you sink or swim right now. In this Q&A session, Misha tackles audience questions about agents and managers. She cut through the confusion: Do you need an agent AND a manager? Should you still be self-submitting? And how do you know if it’s time...

Welcome to our first best-of episode! We've compiled some of our best tips and hacks from the archives on one of our most requested topics: auditions. Misha gives you some of her strategies to build  confidence and advises actors to treat self-submissions as a vital marketing tool, even if you're repped by an agent or manager. Most importantly: never apologize in an a...

If you've ever wanted to sit down with an actual network exec, this is your chance. Kuye Youngblood, the General Manager at New York's BRIC TV,  has dedicated much of her life to being a champion of community and accessible storytelling. In this episode, she shares the secrets to pitching film and television from years of sitting on the other side of the table gr...

This week's podcast features an unforgettable conversation with groundbreaking writer, producer, and TV showrunner Tom Fontana—the visionary behind some of television's most influential shows and one of the creators of “prestige drama.” Fontana walks us through his career, from getting up at 5am to write every day of his life to a lifetime of creating shows that fundamentally changed the landscape...

It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed right now. The anger, fear, and panic are real and justified, and if you're an artist you probably have been feeling it for years. In this episode, Misha shares some essential tools for mental and emotional support to help you stay healthy and happy. She reveals how she built a strong foundation after she hit a low point a few years ago, leading to her cu...

Your brand is your art! Time to start acting like it. If you want a successful brand, you must create an emotional connection with your audience through story. For artists and performers, proactively managing that story is the critical difference between getting paid and being left behind. In this episode, Misha breaks down the five basic pillars for every successful artist using the B.R.A.N....

Sex isn’t just a physical and emotional event; there are also powerful chemicals released that can have a huge impact on what happens next! In Part 2 of this “Life as an Artist” series, we dive into the science of dating, the power of saying no (especially for women), why “mixed signals” are a myth, and the vital concept of "The Opposite is the Medicine." Misha explains some of the actual “chemist...

Due to popular demand, we finally created a two-part special on love and dating that’s part of our larger “Life As An Artist” series. This episode walks you through some of the unique challenges of romantic love as an artist including: how to discern their chemistry from your own, dating with an unpredictable career, cultivating masculine-feminine polarity while still maintaining equality, and mai...

You’ve figured out your goal for this legendary email campaign, and you’ve gathered your contacts…now it’s time to finalize your pitch and send it! In part two of “Secrets of Email Marketing,” we cover the mindset needed to survive one of the most stressful parts of the whole process: actually hitting send on hundreds if not thousands of emails at once. Misha also covers what to do with unsubscrib...

“If only someone would hire me,” you cry out to the heavens as you wait for the phone to ring. But in this digital age, anyone can reach anyone! The people who are most excited to hire you probably don’t know you exist yet. That’s where email comes in. This two-part series gives you detailed, step-by-step instructions to help you master email marketing and get your name out there. From crafti...

One from the vaults! This week, Misha and Brett Epstein interview movie star Ser'Darius Blain (JUMANJI, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS) in a fascinating and, at times, shocking conversation about the reality of being a professional actor. Ser'Darius reveals some of his secrets to preparing for a role and staying sane in Hollywood, and was incredibly honest in a way that is rare for an actor at his...

In the age of "nepo babies," entering the film and TV industry with no connections and no money can actually be one of your greatest assets. Why? Because privilege destroys willpower, and willpower is one of the single most important factors in longterm success. Did you know that scientists have isolated the part of the brain responsible for will power, and that you can actuall...

In this unprecedented moment for Hollywood, self-submitting is an essential form of marketing. Just five minutes a day, five days a week can change the entire game for you. Misha explains how to strategically use key platforms—Actors Access, Backstage, and Casting Networks — in order to get more auditions. Booking work is still entirely possible, but when the industry...

Don't miss this standout episode where Misha offers a compassionate and inspiring guide to get what you truly want in life. She reminds us that while the journey may not always be easy, the path to a better life begins by taking responsibility and changing your behavior. Through a series of powerful, self-reflective questions, she encourages you to honestly identify your deepest amb...

Ever wondered what it takes to get called in for big-budget film and television projects? This episode is a masterclass in confidence, offering a detailed breakdown of how to ascend to the level of “blockbuster” acting. Misha explains "star" mentality, which is wholly different from being “just an actor.” A massive reach starts with taking massive responsibility for both yourself and the people ar...

This special interview episode, “Director on Director” features host Misha Calvert in an interview with theater director AMT Tobin. You’ll discover how Misha's childhood passion for creating plays and movies evolved into a professional career, driven by a desire to craft her own opportunities. She shares how Steven Spielberg's epic storytelling influenced her work and dives deep into the fascinati...

Confidence is one of the single biggest predictors in your career as an artist. In this episode, Misha shares her fifteen-year journey from chronically shy to achieving major visibility in her market. You’ll work through four of the essential stages for building confidence, including your health, optimizing your environment, living in your truth, and creating evidence of success. Time to unlock yo...