Where Working Actors Talk

Brock and Natalie Lander (The Middle, 9-1-1: Lone Star, 13 Reasons Why, Hannah Montana, Grey’s Anatomy, Goldie and Bear, Legally Brunette, and MTV’s Search for the Next Elle Woods) get into the nitty gritty about being a modern day actor. Natalie shares how Stan Kirsch Studios helped her transition from theater to TV with script breakdown skills, multicam vs. single-cam knowledge, and the value of...

Angela Fornero sits down with Melissa Blue, owner of Rock Your Reel and Bluelit Studios, to talk through actor branding. From demo reels to headshots, they dive into the pros and cons of using self-tapes versus creating footage and how actors can “level up” their packages depending on where they are in their careers. Melissa shares her path from musical theater to on-camera acting, headshot photog...

We are thrilled to welcome long time SKS'er Laura Niemi. With over 60 IMDB credits, and an extensive background in theatre (The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Rep, The Taper just to name a few) - she knows what it takes to put in the work and navigate this wild industry. From Laura’s theater roots where she created her own theater company to her recurring role on NBC’s This is Us, they dive into ev...

In this episode, award-winning Afro-Latina actress and filmmaker Loren Escandón shares her inspiring journey from Cali, Colombia, to Hollywood. Growing up surrounded by cartel violence, Loren’s mother enrolled her in ballet to keep her safe, which sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling. She shares how her early training in ballet, tango, and jazz eventually led her to theater and television,...

A.J. Castro was born in Costa Rica and raised in Miami, where he quickly found his love of acting. He sits down with host Colleen Foy to talk about his journey in the industry and finding his place as a Latino in Hollywood. From studying at CSULA to booking Will & Grace and 9-1-1, A.J.’s journey has now led him to becoming a coach at SKS. He shares his early career struggles, his entry into Ho...

Allen Rowe (FBI Most Wanted, The Last Ship, Hawaii Five-0, ) has been a long time student of Stan Kirsch Studios. In this episode, he joins his mentor Colleen Foy to look back on his unique journey as an actor. Allen shares his early struggles, including flying between San Francisco and Los Angeles for auditions and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. Born in Taipei, Taiwan and being of Ch...

Audrey Helps Actors meets the Working Actor Podcast. This week actress Audrey Moore takes a look back on her career, how she navigates acting as a lifestyle, and the magical thinking to burnout loop that every actor faces. As she and host Colleen Foy  dive into the intricacies of Audrey's career and her experiences in the acting industry, they discuss what it was like to being Emmy-nominated t...

In this episode, host Colleen Foy interviews television director April Winney, discussing her career trajectory from theater to becoming a sought-after director known for her rapport with actors. They delve into April's isolated upbringing in the Sequoia National Forest, her shift from acting to directing in college, and her pivotal years in Chicago's theater scene. April shares her journe...

Host Colleen Foy speaks with her talent manager Paulo Andres about his 23-year career in the industry. They delve into Paulo's journey from aspiring actor to successful manager, highlighting the transition and his dedication to his clients. Paulo shares why he signed Colleen, what stands out in submissions, how to find joy in the industry, and why he believes all actors need to pursue their ca...

Rigging the System in Your Favor: An Actor's Journey with DaJuan Johnson Host Colleen Foy and guest DaJuan Johnson reconnect on this episode, taking us through DeJuan’s journey as an actor in Los Angeles. Together, they reflect on his 15-year career from his humble beginnings in theater to notable TV roles on Bosch, Grey’s Anatomy, and NCIS. DaJuan gets candid about his struggles in the indust...

Actress, producer, and overall superstar Britney Young shares her journey from Tokyo to America, graduating from USC's School of Cinematic Arts, and establishing herself in Hollywood. Britney candidly discusses her behind-the-scenes roles on TV shows like 'The Mentalist' and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,' and her big break as Carmen Wade on Netflix's ‘GLOW.' She highlights the...

You may know Brock Ciarlelli from his work on iconic projects like ABC’s The Middle ,  Universal Pictures’ BROS , Netflix’s Glamorous , and Hulu’s Dr. Odyssey or from working with him in class. Whether he’s mentoring, acting, writing, or producing, Brock has had quite the journey in Hollywood. In this episode, host Colleen Foy gets into all of the twists and turns in Brock’s journey. They delve in...

Unlocking Social Media Success for Actors with Heidi Dean In this episode, we sit down with Heidi Dean , a social media strategist for actors and the author of 'Social Media for Actors: 100 Essential Tips to Grow, Thrive, and Survive Online.' Heidi shares her journey from a 20-year acting career to becoming the go-to expert for actors navigating social media. She offers invaluable insights...

SKS Faculty Real Talk Roundtable, the entire faculty comes together to talk about all things industry. CEO Kristyn, Studio Director Colleen, and actors and coaches Aleks, Angela, and Brock come together to discuss their experiences and offer guidance to the SKS community. They talk about the challenging start to the year with the LA wildfires, strikes, and how to navigate life when you still need...

When your world crashes down around you, how do you continue moving on? In 2015, Maryam Myika Day welcomed her daughter Ayodélé Olayinka into the world and said goodbye to her husband. Through that joy and grief came a reckoning and realization of who she wanted to be as an artist going forward in her life, and she reexamined the ways her art could reach others. Maryam shares her inspiring journey...

Today we have on acting coach extraordinaire, the woman you want to be in a Career Corner with, and accomplished actor/writer/producer/ray of sunshine Angela Fornero. A seasoned actress and business-minded coach, we dive into her journey in the acting industry. Angela shares her extensive experience, from growing up in Los Angeles to becoming an integral part of Stan Kirsch Studios. She explains h...

How do you enjoy the journey of being an actor? How do you stand up for yourself on set? How do you find your actor niche? Leonard Wu comes on the podcast to reunite with his former acting classmate Colleen Foy to talk about his journey and everything that he has experienced. From ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to ‘Ghost of Tsushima’ and ‘American Born Chinese’, Leonard shares his journey from growing up in Was...

We’ve all felt how the acting industry has changed over the last few years. Even more than before, our individual journeys as actors show how there is no right path. This week, we are joined by ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ star Chelsey Crisp. Chelsey shares how a co-star role that she almost turned down, led her to her first series regular role on a hit show that lasted 6 seasons. She shows us a peek into...

Tiffany Daniels discusses her multifaceted career in the entertainment industry with host Colleen. Known for her role in 'That Girl Lele,' Tiffany shares insights on her early career, including her prestigious year-long scholarship at the Edge Performing Arts Center and the challenges she faced balancing rigorous training with a full-time job. She takes us through her transition from dancing to be...

There is no “one path” to becoming a working actor. No one knows that better than Kate Mansi,  who transitioned from having a dance scholarship to pursuing acting at Pepperdine University. She walks us through how her life changed when she found her passion and what she did to take care of herself as she pursued her dream. From the ups and downs that came with auditioning, to finding a mentor in S...

Who knew that wanting to f*** Ray Bradbury would get you into Hollywood’s most coveted rooms? A Tisch graduate, actor and writer Rachel Bloom shares her journey in the entertainment industry, reflecting on her early career milestones, including how she got her SAG card through various voiceover and commercial gigs. She and Colleen talk about  transitioning from a musical theater program to on-came...

In this episode, Gabe Gibbs discusses his path from Detroit to Los Angeles, starting with a successful end to his college career at Emerson. We talk about how Gabe booked a Subway commercial and a small movie role in the same week, which motivated him to move to LA. He shares experiences from his three years performing in 'The Book of Mormon,' the challenges of transitioning to LA after the Broadw...

This week we sit down with SKS alum, actor Christine Ko. She walks us through her entire career. From moving to LA not even knowing what an audition is, to booking her first series regular role on a multi-cam sitcom. She tells us how SKS changed her life and set her career in motion, how drawing penises helped her book a lead role on the FX hit series DAVE, the importance of preparation and NEVER...

The first episode of season 2 is here!! This week we talk to actor and SKS alum Raymond Lee. He walks us through his entire career, from moving to LA, getting his SAG card, the importance of a strong actor community (which he found at SKS!), booking his first series regular role, working with Tom Cruise on Top Gun, and his incredible experience as the lead on Quantum Leap. There is so much amazing...

This week we talk with Hollywood power couple and writing team, Kimberly and Brant Daugherty.  Just in time for the holiday season, we chat all about how they went from dating, to writing partners, how they sold and starred in their first Christmas movie (A Christmas Movie Christmas), what inspired their latest Hallmark Christmas hit (Joyeux Noel), how writing and directing has helped them grow as...