Best BGB Studio Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 55: What are You Waiting For? You Are The Industry. 1:11:19

30d ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Risa sat down with some of our amazing BGB teachers (Cate Cohen, Sydney Walsh, Corey Parker, and David DeSantos) for an inspiring conversation about redefining your relationship with the Industry. About how to successfully step into your power in your work, your art, and your career. What leadership looks like so that you're in the driver’s seat, n…

1
Ep. 54: What Does It Take to Make it Now? 1:02:40

2M ago1:02:40

1:02:40

Change is the only constant and the changes have come fast and hard. So what is the Industry now? What does it mean to be an Actor right now? What does it take to make it today? Risa and Steve discuss the current state of Industry, what actors can expect from the Industry and the essential shifts actors need to make right now to position themselves…

1
Episode 38: Episode 38: From Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones: A Conversation with Heidi Dean About the Power of Social Media 52:02

4M ago52:02

52:02

Before I talk about the amazing conversation that Heidi Dean was gracious enough to have with me, I need to add a quick note that this conversation was recorded before Twitter changed its name to X. Now most of you probably know that Heidi Dean is known in the industry as the top social media strategist for actors. She has also recently published a…

1
Ep. 53: Finding Freedom & Power in Script Analysis 1:19:39

5M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

“Script Analysis” is an often misunderstood term that can result in an actor robbing a scene of its art by reducing it to mathematical calculations. Some actors love the idea of script analysis so they can “solve” the scene and control it. Other actors abandon the idea of script analysis altogether because they are afraid of adding any structure to…

1
Ep. 52: How to Stand Out from Hundreds of Other Actors 58:41

6M ago58:41

58:41

An actor who books work consistently is an actor who has the capacity to remain vulnerable in the face of intense rejection, to stay focused in a world full of distractions, and to stay sharp in one of the most competitive Industries around. The actor who books work consistently has found a way to stand out from hundreds of others. They have expres…

1
Episode 37: The Power of Playing With the Form: A Conversation with Film Festival Curators, Angie Reza Tures and Mary Dossinger 50:31

7M ago50:31

50:31

When I think of curators of film festivals, I often think of them the same way I used to think of casting directors: as the gatekeepers to our success. But during my conversation with Angie Reza Tures from the Femme Frontera Showcase and Mary Dossinger from the RiverRun International Film Festival it became very apparent that the curators, just lik…

1
Ep. 51: 3 Powerful Lessons of 2023 58:10

7M ago58:10

58:10

2023 was a really intense year. Two strikes, wars, a contracting Industry, inflation, lingering effects of the pandemic, etc. And that intensity revealed some powerful lessons that every actor must hear and understand in order to be a working actor in 2024. Risa and Steve delve into the lessons of 2023 that point to the new reality for actors and l…

1
Ep. 50: The Strike is Over. Here’s What to Do Now. 57:30

8M ago57:30

57:30

Ok, so the Industry is back. But it won't be business as usual. It can't be. Too much has changed. And if you want to book work in this new reality, you're going to have to change too. So listen in and let us know what speaks to you! You can meet this moment, but it won't be easy. Risa and Steve discuss where the Industry is at right now and the im…

1
Ep. 49: How to Redefine Your Career For This Moment 1:10:41

10M ago1:10:41

1:10:41

This is a new world for actors. And the Industry that emerges on the other side of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes will be different than anything we've ever seen. The ways in which Actors have thought about their careers for over a century are, in many ways, no longer relevant. So, what's an Actor to do? Risa and Steve shed light on this strange new…

1
Ep. 48: John Frank Levey, Casting Director: Finding His Role 1:08:57

1y ago1:08:57

1:08:57

John Levey loves his job. He loves actors. He loves storytelling. He loves diving into the worlds each character inhabits. He’s been loving it for 40 years and is one of the masters of this passion profession, having won multiple Emmys and Artios awards, putting actors into groundbreaking roles on some of the most popular television shows of all ti…

1
Ep. 47: A.I. is coming for your jobs. Here's what to do. 44:28

1y ago44:28

44:28

Generative A.I. is not the future. It is here. Now. And as the technology gets better and better, and audiences become less able to discern whether or not the actor on their favorite TV show or movie is human or A.I., the Industry will choose A.I. generated actors over human actors. A.I. actors are cheaper, less demanding, don’t have a union, and d…

1
Ep. 46: What to do when The Industry Stops 35:27

1y ago35:27

35:27

We wholeheartedly support the writers as they fight for what they rightly deserve. And also, a strike means that the Industry is slowing/shutting down. For actors, that can mean fewer auditions and less hope of booking jobs. It can bring up fear and disappointment, especially after three years of pandemic-related uncertainty. In this episode, Risa …

1
Ep. 45: The Healing Required to Be an Actor 1:05:41

1+ y ago1:05:41

1:05:41

As an actor, your vulnerability and emotional sensitivity are not only tools of your art. They are your products. But being a sensitive person in an often cold, emotionally violent industry can be a train wreck waiting to happen. Risa and Steve explore the kind of consistent healing necessary to stay open enough to bring the fullness of your talent…

1
Episode 36: The Dramatic Potential in Aging: A Conversation with Film Expert, Dale Pollock 50:59

1+ y ago50:59

50:59

I recently attended a film appreciation class with Dale Pollock, called Senior Moments. And yes, as the name suggests, it was a look into how the film industry, Hollywood in particular, has treated aging. Not surprisingly it has not done a stellar job. When I asked Dale to tell me more about how the industry has changed, he said we’ve come a long w…

1
Ep. 44: A Recovering Casting Director: Why CD Michelle Allen Walked Away From Casting 56:01

1+ y ago56:01

56:01

Actors can often see CDs as faceless, soulless gate-keepers with the potential to grant wishes or kill dreams. This perception is not only wrong, but it’s bad for an actor’s business. Casting directors are human beings who, like you, often struggle to do good work in an emotionally violent industry. In fact, the humanity of casting directors- their…

1
Ep. 43: How To Be A Happy Actor 1:04:40

1+ y ago1:04:40

1:04:40

In a business this competitive, navigating the slings and arrows to find happiness is a revolutionary act. Pursuing an acting career is hard. Heck, just being an actor, an artist in a violent world, is hard. You can feel unseen, discouraged and lost. There are challenges at every turn. And yet, amidst all the challenges, there is a way to be an act…

1
Episode 35: The Art of Choosing Yourself: A Conversation with Acting Coach Anthony Meindl 57:46

1+ y ago57:46

57:46

Anthony Meindl is an acting coach and has published several books about acting, such as Book The F*cking Job and his latest, Unstuck. Anthony is also the host of a podcast for actors, “In The Moment”, and there is a reason he calls it that. Throughout our conversation that was a phrase that came up again and again: actors have to be in the moment, …

1
Ep. 42: That Next Level Shit 1:08:39

1+ y ago1:08:39

1:08:39

Beyond the BS- mastering the latest audition/self-tape “trends,” getting the hottest agent or hiring the best personal trainer- there exist the real, less-talked about elements of success. After many decades in the business and a decade of guiding some of the best and most successful actors on the planet at the BGB Studio, Risa and Steve reveal the…

1
Ep. 41: Fighting Isolation: Why You Need an Artistic Community 51:51

1+ y ago51:51

51:51

An artistic community is an essential part of your success. In order to do amazing audition/self-tape work consistently, you'll have to combat the isolation and inhumanity of the Industry with the collaboration, connection, and care that you only find from community. The right artistic community lifts you up, challenges you to be better, keeps you …

1
Ep. 40: Opening the Door to Commercial Casting: with Danielle Eskinazi & Renita Gale 1:13:36

1+ y ago1:13:36

1:13:36

Risa sat down to talk about the Commercial Casting world with not one- but two incredibly talented commercial casting directors. Danielle Eskinazi (to whom Risa gave her first job decades ago!) and Renita Gale (see bios below) are both long standing CDs who are passionate and talented artists and truly care about actors. We are excited to have you …

1
Ep. 39: The Self-Tape Crisis 1:00:40

2y ago1:00:40

1:00:40

Risa and Steve sat down to talk about the Self-Tape crisis- an actual creative and professional crisis that actors, casting directors, agents, managers, and others in our business are experiencing right now. Self-tapes are here to stay. But at this point in their evolution, they have the potential to consume you; to pull the entire focus of time an…

1
Richard Hicks, CD: We’re All In This Together 1:02:06

2y ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Richard Hicks is a Casting Director for film, television and theatre (see bio below). He’s done it all, he loves it all, and his work is beautiful. We’re excited to have you listen to our conversation with Richard, and we hope that it humanizes casting directors even more, which is one of our missions- to remind each other and our community always …

1
Jason Clodfelter: A Journey from Actor to Writer to Co-Prez Sony Pictures Television 1:05:42

2y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Jason Clodfelter is hardly whom you might think of when you imagine a big Hollywood Studio TV (Co) President. He’s sensitive, caring, personable, charming, thoughtful, and an artist - a fantastic writer, director, actor, and collaborator. Risa got to know Jason in class every week where the work was intimate and intense, and he went all in. And, as…

1
Episode 34: Casting Directors as Cheerleaders: A Conversation with Casting Director, Erica S. Bream 1:09:57

2y ago1:09:57

1:09:57

If you have ever seen any of Erica S. Bream’s posts on Instagram or Twitter, you know that she is an actor’s casting director. She says herself she uses social media as a way to, “dispel myths and provide some transparency” for actors. She also says that we, as actors, often feel casting directors are the gatekeepers of our careers. Erica goes on t…

1
The Pursuit of Happiness - with Caroline Lindy, Dominic Burgess, Ellyn Jameson & Johnathan McClain 1:23:15

2y ago1:23:15

1:23:15

Nothing makes Risa and Steve happier than creating space and facilitating a path for actors to find their voices as creators: filmmakers, writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, etc. When they started BGB, Risa and Steve brought their love of the process of creating from theatre, film, and television into the work that they- and a…

1
Ep. 35: Is It Time To Give Up Acting? 59:19

2y ago59:19

59:19

Every actor will inevitably find themselves in the desert, struggling to make it all work. At many points along the way, you will look at yourself in the mirror and wonder if it's time to step away from your passion, your pursuit. Is it time to give up acting? Risa and Steve discuss this important… and scary question. Listen in- we invite you to as…

1
April Webster: Galactic Casting Director 1:25:54

2y ago1:25:54

1:25:54

Often we think of successful Industry folks as out of reach and fancy and intimidating- especially after decades of huge success. And here at BGB and on the Acting Podcast we try to dispel that belief and remind ourselves that we are ALL human in this, we all face challenges, we are all figuring it out day to day. Steve and Risa had great privilege…

1
Why Acting Teachers Suck 1:13:58

2y ago1:13:58

1:13:58

At their best, acting teachers have the ability to create a healthy space in which actors can engage in the consistent practice of their art, deepening their awareness and understanding of themselves and the world. And also, acting teachers have a legacy of falling short. There are amazing teachers doing the hard work of examining ego in the intere…

1
Episode 33: No Is a Complete Sentence: A conversation with Kristina Arjona about the role of an intimacy coordinator 1:43:29

2y ago1:43:29

1:43:29

Towards the end of my conversation with Kristina Arjona, she said, “Nothing has hit me on the spiritual level that intimacy coordinating has.” And I believed her because I had just spent the last hour and 45 minutes talking to her about her role in the industry. It quickly became clear that she is so very passionate about what she does. She is on a…

1
Owning the BROKE in One Broke Actress: A Conversation with Sam Valentine 1:14:13

2y ago1:14:13

1:14:13

Risa and Steve sit down in-person with Sam Valentine aka One Broke Actress. Sam is a working actor, a content creator, a coach, a podcaster, an actor’s advocate, the poster actor for the side hustle, with a significant social media presence and a foray into youtube, and the creator of One Broke Actress. Together they talk about what BROKE really me…

1
Episode 33: Episode 32: The Essentials of Headshots: A conversation with actor and headshot photographer, Tara Gulledge 52:27

2y ago52:27

52:27

When I was talking to headshot photographer and actor, Tara Gulledge, the word “essence” came up a lot. The whole point of a headshot is to capture our essence in the shot. Tara and I talked about how that can be difficult because headshot sessions are stressful. She is the one who took my first official headshots, so she knows how I get. We, as ac…

1
How to Have a Post-Covid Acting Career 56:49

2+ y ago56:49

56:49

In this first episode of Season 3, Risa and Steve talk about how to navigate this new and challenging time in order to find your way in an Industry that’s also redefining itself. We’ve all changed in the past 2 years, and now, Risa and Steve invite you to start with the following: Stop, look inside, create space, and figure out who you are right no…

1
Self-Tapes Don't Have to Hurt 1:07:29

2+ y ago1:07:29

1:07:29

In this conversation about that big topic: Self-Tapes- taking up most of the audition real estate- Risa and Steve offer ways in which you can move past all the (real, tangible) challenges of self-taping, even the trauma around it, and discover the freedom, joy, and deep curiosity you need to get the attention of any Casting Director and book work r…

1
Episode 31: Episode 31 The Beauty of Repetition: A conversation with Ashley Rideaux of BGB Studios, Ellie Clark and Evan Bergman of Arvold Warner Studios in Atlanta 58:44

2+ y ago58:44

58:44

Please note there is some language in this episode. The one good thing that has come out of the pandemic (for me) is that I have been given the opportunity to expand my acting community outside of my physical location. I have taken classes at the BGB Studios in LA and have joined the Arvold Warner Studios membership in Atlanta. This means I get to …

1
Episode 30: The Business, The Scope, and The Joy of Being a Voiceover Artist: A conversation with Heidi Rew and Mike Stoudt of The Atlanta Voiceover Studio. 52:48

2+ y ago52:48

52:48

Every time I interview somebody in the industry, I learn something new. My conversation with Heidi Rew and Mike Stoudt was no exception. Heidi and Mike are the co-founders/co-owners of Atlanta Voiceover Studio, which they opened in 2016. Not only do they run the studio, they are themselves full-time voiceover actors, podcast hosts, and on-camera ac…

1
Episode 29: Episode 29 Writers as Vaults of Information: A conversation with writer and producer Vera Herbert. 48:06

2+ y ago48:06

48:06

One of the things I love about doing this podcast is the opportunity it gives me to talk to experts in the field. This episode, again, did not disappoint. It was such a pleasure to talk to four-time Emmy nominated writer, Vera Herbert, who is best known for her work on THIS IS US. Vera had advice for both writers who want to break into the field an…

1
Episode 28: Spontaneity, Creative Impulses, and Being Invited to the Party: A Conversation with casting director, Erica Arvold. 59:50

3y ago59:50

59:50

To say that Erica Arvold is passionate about what she does is an understatement. Most actors know her as a casting director but, as she likes to point out, she is so much more than that. She is a producer, a director, and a committed educator. But one of the things that I most appreciate about Erica is how she loves learning about other people. If …

1
Cooking Your Self-Tape 56:03

3y ago56:03

56:03

BGB Master Teacher Sydney Walsh teaches Risa how she makes steak, shares insight on mushrooms as she cooks them LIVE, and connects it all to your audition + self-tape practice. “You can follow the recipe and still be deeply creative.” Just like cooking… as an actor, you must create space and time to prepare a meal and allow it to simmer and grow in…

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The Practice That Leads to Success 1:02:36

3y ago1:02:36

1:02:36

We’re sharing a special conversation Risa + Steve had on a recent IG LIVE that has become a fantastic podcast episode about Practice! Here we go deep into what kind of practice you need to cultivate in order to book jobs, to rekindle the joy your work, and to have the confidence you’re looking for to meet this amazing and challenging career path yo…

1
Episode 27: Episode 27 The Importance of Empowerment, Expanding Stories, and Being Ready All The Time: A Conversation with Risa Bramon Garcia of The BGB Studio 50:10

3y ago50:10

50:10

I was so excited to have the opportunity to talk to Risa Bramon Garcia, co-founder and master teacher of The BGB Studio in LA. I wanted to know why it was so important to her to empower the actors in her studio and around the world. "There is a big difference between the actor who takes ownership of their talent and the actor who does not," she say…

1
Episode 26: Episode 26: Don't Be Hotel Lobby Art: A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about allowing yourself to explore the possibilities in the script 31:26

3+ y ago31:26

31:26

Not letting the script push you around is something that Burgess Jenkins says in class a lot. But, as actors, we are also told to honor the writing. So, what exactly does Burgess mean? Do we not stick to the writing and the stage directions? For him it’s more about opening up the possibilities that are inherently in the script. He says, too often, …

1
Episode 25: Episode 25: The Power of Community: A Conversation with the Atlanta Actors Collective 35:39

3+ y ago35:39

35:39

When I asked the founders of the Atlanta Actors Collective what they hoped the future of their organization would be, Kevon Pryce didn’t hesitate, “I want to take over the world. I want us to be THE Actors Collective.” It is clear throughout our conversation that it isn’t for any kind of self-aggrandizement purposes that he says this. He, along wit…

1
Episode 24: Episode 24 Don't Wait For Me: A Conversation With Rhavynn Drummer 41:11

3+ y ago41:11

41:11

Passionate is one of the first descriptors that comes to mind when talking about casting director, Rhavynn Drummer. She is passionate about her job and about working with actors. Our conversation covered topics ranging from auditioning, taking risks, to advice she has for actors of color. To actors and creatives of color she says, “Don’t wait for m…

1
Episode 23: It's Not All About You. A conversation with Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in your scene partner. 32:23

3+ y ago32:23

32:23

In this episode I talk to Burgess Jenkins about the importance of investing in the other person in your scene. Even if you have good ideas that you want to put on "display", you can never leave the other person out because that is when “the ride begins.” Actors have to overcome the fear or anxiety of not knowing what is coming next. Burgess says th…

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Not Just An Actor: Making Your Own Box 1:16:27

4y ago1:16:27

1:16:27

Risa and Steve sit down with an incredible group of successful multi-hyphenates- Milena Govich, Will McCormack, Grasie Mercedes, and Brea Grant- all of whom started their journeys as actors and have since grown into other roles in the Industry, making names for themselves as writers, directors, producers, and showrunners. Together they discuss thei…

1
Episode 22: The Power of Preparation 35:15

4y ago35:15

35:15

For Burgess Jenkins, the work of an actor is mostly in the preparation. Your prep is what launches you into any scene and enables you to live the experience. He says once you’ve done the work in your preparation and created your “bridge” to the character fully, then it’s time to play.” All too often Burgess says he sees actors try to control the sc…

1
Doing It All: Career, Art & Parenthood 1:09:34

4y ago1:09:34

1:09:34

Risa and Steve sit down with a dynamic group of actor-parents- Heather Brooker, Eddie Cahill, Anna Silk, and Cate Cohen- all with extensive and varied careers – to talk about what it means to be a parent while navigating their artistic careers & the Industry. They discuss their journeys, their challenges, their joys, their big realizations- and how…

1
Re-opening the Industry w/ Gabrielle + Duncan of SAG-AFTRA 1:11:13

4y ago1:11:13

1:11:13

In the midst of this time of great uncertainty and upheaval for actors across the globe, and as the Industry slowly reopens, it is paramount for actors to be aware of new on-set protocols, how to advocate for yourselves in every area of your work and careers- including having a voice in your union- and how to keep your creative spirit alive. In tha…

1
Getting Intimate w/ Mia Schachter: Sex, Consent, & Nudity On Set 1:22:42

4y ago1:22:42

1:22:42

In this episode, Risa and Steve talk with Mia Schachter- one of Hollywood’s top intimacy coordinators- about their role in the Industry + how actors can advocate for themselves in any situation with regards to intimacy, sex, nudity, and consent of all kinds. Whether choreographing sex scenes, negotiating nudity riders, or simply having the backs of…

1
Episode 21: Creativity in the time of COVID, Part III 17:41

4y ago17:41

17:41

In the final installment of my conversations on how people stayed creative during the time of COVID, I spoke to Dr. Joseph Mills, Charis Jeffers, and Noelle Mills-Tarmey. Joe Mills stated creativity looks a lot like wandering, but what he’s really doing is collecting material. He says the creative person has to, “be willing to let yourself have lei…

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