Best Risa Bramon Garcia Podcasts (2024)

1
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…

1
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
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
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
Mary Queen of Casting: A Candid Conversation w/ Mary Vernieu 1:17:58

4y ago1:17:58

1:17:58

Casting titan Mary Vernieu, whose company Betty Mae Casting is known for working with prestige directors and indie talent alike, joins Risa and Steve in this episode for an in-depth discussion of the casting process, the importance of preparation, championing and nurturing actors and filmmakers, and always approaching the work of acting, auditionin…

1
The Booking Mindset 44:48

4y ago44:48

44:48

Booking work starts with a booking mindset. In this episode, Risa and Steve break down the ways in which to shift your approach to booking work and cultivate a consistent practice in order to do amazing work all the time, whether in a high-pressure audition setting, self-tape, on set, in rehearsal, or in your approach to your career. Listen in and …

1
The Audrey Moore Hustle 1:13:58

4y ago1:13:58

1:13:58

Risa and Steve sat down with Audrey Moore, a passionate artist, popular podcast host, and actor’s advocate. She has an incredible focus and discipline in how she engages in the business of acting, as well as her craft, and she’s here to share her journey. Listen in to this juicy talk about what it means to be a story ninja, how to normalize the aud…

1
Sarah Finn: Superhero of Casting 1:11:22

4y ago1:11:22

1:11:22

Sarah Finn is the award-winning casting director of Oscar winners and blockbusters alike. Best known for her work casting the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, she has also cast a huge range of films and TV shows [full bio below]. In this episode Sarah talks with Risa and Steve about her casting journey- its joys and challenges, about her unique pr…

1
WTF Just Happened?! Meeting the Moment w/ Risa & Steve 51:31

4y ago51:31

51:31

No matter how bad things get, art brings hope. In this first episode of Season 2, Risa and Steve speak to being an artist in 2020 in the face of a worldwide pandemic, systemic racism, and an election; where the Industry is headed, and whatever uncertainty and distress result from it all. And how keeping hope- and your art- alive is both a soul-serv…

1
Talking Shop with Our BGB Casting Family: Risa Bramon Garcia, Leah Daniels-Butler, & Billy Hopkins 1:03:30

4y ago1:03:30

1:03:30

Risa, Billy, and Leah (whose history together runs deep) sat down together (over Zoom) to talk about how actors and CDs are breaking down barriers and connecting in this “new normal” via social media challenges, IG LIVES, and open calls, including the massively popular monologue challenge that Leah ran and took boldly into a daily Instagram LIVE. T…

1
Championing Actors: A Casting Director Roundtable on Zoom! 1:16:40

4y ago1:16:40

1:16:40

In this special bonus episode of The Acting Podcast, Risa and Steve spoke with an incredible group of Casting Directors (in a Zoom roundtable) who are sharing challenges, open calls, and calls for reels on social media, and doing Instagram Lives, all with the intention of being in collaboration with actors and to keep their own artistry alive durin…

1
Creating a Path to Mind-blowing Work during Quarantine - a conversation with our brilliant BGB Teachers 1:14:15

4+ y ago1:14:15

1:14:15

For today’s special bonus episode of THE ACTING PODCAST, we gathered together our brilliant BGB Master Teachers for an important, frank discussion about coping during the time of the coronavirus, the necessity of creating space for community and artistry to happen, and how the Industry is already starting to shift throughout this as a result — and …

1
Art & Healing in the Time of Corona 23:19

4+ y ago23:19

23:19

Risa and Steve sat down together via Zoom for a special bonus episode of The Acting Podcast to speak to our community of artists all over the world about life, art, and healing in the time of Corona. Listen in to what they’ve been discovering about our collective need for artistic expression as we all move through this challenging time. In this, th…

1
It's Not You, It's Pilot Season 1:04:18

4+ y ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Pilot Season. Whether you’re going out for series regulars non-stop or dreaming of your first co-star, this time of year is fraught. In this episode, Risa, Steve, and a special guest- Casting Director Becky Silverman- break down the idea of Pilot Season (what it means + what’s really going on behind the scenes) and what you can do to have an active…

1
Take Action in 2020 31:36

4+ y ago31:36

31:36

Welcome to 2020. It’s a New Year. A new decade. Now is the time to take stock, to refocus, and to move forward from this moment on with a clarity of vision and purposeful, practical action. What does that look like for you? How do you start? In this special bonus episode, listen in as Risa and Steve guide and encourage you to step into this new beg…

1
Bernie Telsey: The King of Casting 1:12:45

4+ y ago1:12:45

1:12:45

Bernie Telsey started his casting career back in the day alongside Risa, and popped into BGB to sit down with Risa + Steve to talk about it all. As head of the massive- and massively successful- Telsey + Company in New York (and LA), Bernie Telsey is a true titan in the casting industry. In this episode, listen in as he talks to Risa and Steve abou…

1
How To Talk To Your Family About Your Career 58:05

4+ y ago58:05

58:05

Knowing how to talk to your family about your career can be a landmine filled with all kinds of emotional pitfalls: shame, insecurity, trying to impress them, a need for validation, and a lack of transparency about where you’re actually at and why you keep doing what you’re doing. In this episode, Risa and Steve break down how you can approach and …

1
Saying Yes to the No: Managing Rejection 1:12:52

4+ y ago1:12:52

1:12:52

Listen in as Risa and Steve explore every angle of rejection – from the feelings triggered when it happens – to the perspective from the creative team (behind the camera) – and, most importantly, what you can do to take care of yourself, stay focused, and even thrive on your artistic journey in the face of rejection. Learn how you can bounce back a…

1
An Actor’s Consent: Navigating Vulnerable Spaces 1:06:22

4+ y ago1:06:22

1:06:22

In the wake of the ongoing #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, conversations surrounding consent as an actor in this Industry are more vital than ever. In this panel, Risa talks with powerhouse advocates in our Industry: television director and actor Laura Innes, TV producer Laurie Zaks, actor and advocate Esmé Bianco, actor and journalist Margaret Juds…

1
Josiah Akinyele- The Hardest Working Agent in Show Business 54:19

4+ y ago54:19

54:19

In our recent BGB class, “The Business of Acting,” Risa had the opportunity to sit down with Josiah Akinyele, an agent at Innovative Artists. Listen in as they discuss the agent/client relationship, how to “make it,”along with Josiah’s unique journey from a challenging upbringing in Africa and the U.S.- to working at Banana Republic- to discovering…

1
How To Get An Agent 1:12:27

5y ago1:12:27

1:12:27

In this episode of The Acting Podcast, Risa and Steve tackle the most frequently asked question of all: “How do I get an agent?” They break it all down, covering everything from cultivating industry relationships and the practical, business side of communicating to advocating for yourself in your work and in the Industry so that you’re ready to eng…

1
The Secret To Successful Preparation 46:35

5y ago46:35

46:35

What do you do to prepare for an audition? How can you bring your full, authentic self to the work- while remaining flexible and relaxed in the room? In this episode, Risa and Steve break down audition preparation in the simplest, clearest terms, in order for you to start to transform your audition process… and book more work! Subscribe! And if you…

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Risa Bramon Garcia Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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