Why I‘ll Never Make It - An Actor‘s Journey

In this day and age of everything going digital, and especially with zoom becoming an important part of both personal and professional connections, it’s a very rare moment when I have to have a phone interview. But back in August of 2021 I had the privilege of calling up a wonderfully talented actress both on stage and on screen, four-time Emmy winner Michael Learned. Though she is best known for playing Olivia Walton, on the long-running 70's TV show The Waltons, it’s important to point out that she has had a stellar Broadway career as well, which began in 1969 with a production of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters, produced in association with the San Francisco-based American Conservatory Theater. Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  But as you’ll hear in this intimate and revealing Interview, she’s also had to face her own struggles and disappointments. She opens up about divorce, alcoholism, and regret. We also discuss the evolution of women’s roles on television and the stage, and Michael confesses her true feelings of playing Olivia all those years on The Waltons. She has such depth of knowledge and experience so we start off talking about her about longevity as an actress and what has kept her going for 60 years.  Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.com  Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Music in this episode by John Bartmann is Public Domain.

Bettering Ourselves and Bettering Our Careers (Part Four) The main focus and message of this series has been on storytelling. From Kate who talked about how to use our voices and acting skills to connect with casting directors as well audiences, to Max who broke down the elements of a good story and how to craft that for print, the stage, or the screen. Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  For today’s episode I’m talking with composer and audio producer Matt Sav about musical storytelling and as you’re here in our conversation, to go from that initial idea to an actual finished product can be a long and sometimes stumbling journey. But Matt and I also talk in broader terms of production, composition, and writing as well as the future of podcasting as it provides a new way for artists to create and tell their musical stories.  Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.com  Follow Matt - Podcast / Musicals / Instagram Learn more about Storytelling Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Kai Engel and Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Though the theater is my main focus as both an actor and a podcaster, it is often interesting and educating to talk with those outside the theater world. And while today’s guest has performed on many stages, he is the last person who would consider himself to be an actor of any sorts. Nonetheless, Max Stossel has a lot to teach us actors about how we present and perform stories (and how we can even write our own). Max is an award-winning poet, filmmaker, speaker and former media strategist, and was named one of the best storytellers of 2016 by Forbes.  Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  Max has traveled around the world, and his performances have been described as mind-expanding, profound, and hilarious all at once. And in this episode we talk about his one-man show Words That Move, which was selling out theaters all over the country before Covid, and is currently being developed into a digital special.  And if that last name Stossel sounds familiar to you, you know of his father, journalist and sometimes contrarian John Stossel. While I do my best to keep this podcast free from political themes and discourse, I did ask Max about his father and what he has taught him about telling stories and using video as a medium. Max goes on to discuss the importance of staying authentic and true to yourself, especially on social media. But we start our conversation with the basics of storytelling and how to get our thoughts and ideas down onto the page.  Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.com Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Follow Max - Website / Instagram / Twitter  Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.  

Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers (Part Two) This is a continuation of part one’s look at voiceover work and acting behind the mic. You will hear from a group of actors, directors, and producers applying voiceover and acting techniques into their radio play podcast called Standby for Places. As the pandemic was shutting down most opportunities for actors, this group of artists found a way to keep acting and producing throughout the pandemic. Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  Standby for Places was co-created by Freda Mattea, Margie Zarcone, and Graydon Gund. They then brought on Dunya Karam and others to make it a full audio drama production team. And I’ll be talking with three of them today. They’ll give us a bird’s eye view as well as hands-on experience of the art and craft of producing audio dramas, which gives us actors a new way to both exercise and explore our creativity. To be a part of their audio drama productions, contact them via email: info@standbyforplaces.org Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.com  Follow Standby For Places - Instagram / Facebook  Learn more about Storytelling and Communication Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.    

Bettering Ourselves, Bettering Our Careers (Part One) Today begins the second annual presentation of this month-long series with actress and voiceover coach Kate McClanaghan. We will be touching on the various aspects of voice work and technique but also addressing some fundamental struggles every actor faces. Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  About 30 years ago Kate founded Actors’ SOUND ADVICE with fellow producer and coach Jeff Finney. Together they sought to provide an honest and personalized approach to career consulting, voiceover coaching, and demo production. And as both an actress and casting director, Kate has a unique dual perspective of what is expected of us as actors, both in the audition room as well as in performance. So while this episode may be focusing on the art and craft of voiceovers, these lessons and insights are useful to most any actor on stage or on screen as well. Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.com  Follow Sound Advice - Website / Backstage / Twitter  Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by John Bartman is in the Public Domain.

One of the themes of this podcast is how we as actors are constantly changing, adjusting, tweaking our careers as we transition from stage or screen or commercials or voiceover. But that same kind of transition happens for those behind the table as well. Patrick Millsaps has had a unique journey of being an attorney turned political adviser and pundit to then becoming a talent manager and ultimately movie producer and studio head, taking the skills from one job to the next. Patrick’s story is not only one of diverse experiences and opportunities but also one of persistence and a constant drive to learn and improve. He was often a fish out of water, but that didn’t stop him from constantly diving into the deep end…headfirst. Watch this full episode or Final Five on YouTube Podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones - https://www.pojones.comSupport WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes like the Final Five on Supercast. ---------- I'll See You in My Dreams (2015) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1VbBOTXzfIFinding Noah (2017) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvLe1q3Wkdk Kane Studios - https://kanestudio.com/production There Are Better Ways to Protest Georgia’s Abortion Law Than a Boycott (2019) - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/georgia-s-abortion-law-are-better-ways-protest-a-boycott-guest-column-1210096  ---------- Sign up for the Monthly WINMI Newsletter - https://eepurl.com/hpULdb Check out Artist Resources - https://www.pojones.com/resources WINMI on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/winmipodcast WINMI on Twitter - https://twitter.com/winmipodcast  

As an actor, one of the more difficult attitudes for me to manage is that of jealousy, and an elevated sense of competition for roles and even status in this industry. I’ve particularly noticed this as theater is opening up again after the long pandemic shutdown and other actors, not me, are back onstage again. My guest today, Peter Allen Vogt, is a talented actor in his own right but has struggled with this as well from time to time, especially considering he has a well-known identical twin who is also an actor and comedian.  Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter on the WINMI website - http://whyillnevermakeit.com  I first got to know Peter Allen Vogt working for Disney. Both he and I worked at Tokyo Disney as well as the theme park in Orlando. He has since moved on to Universal out in Los Angeles, and he is also appeared in such TV shows as Hannah Montana, Parks and Recreation, and American Horror Story. But our first love is still theater. Whether it’s classic shows or new musicals, Peter brings a larger than life quality to all of his roles. In fact, his size has been one of Peter‘s notable characteristics for many years. In our conversation today he shares his weight loss journey and what that has meant for his career. But first we talk about what keeps Peter going and the longevity of his career as well as the importance of surrounding yourself with those who support and nurture you as an artist. Final Five episode - https://youtu.be/HwiOlNZQVC0 Topics and people covered in this episode: Streetmosphere - street performers in the various Disney theme parks who don’t have a theater or a home, but rather perform in the street for guests as they pass by. 1776 - a Broadway musical from 1969 with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Grumpy Old Men - a new musical with book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, and lyrics by Nick Meglin (adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson). Cathy Rigby - Olympic gymnast, theater actress and producer Glenn Casale - director, actor, and writer; former Artistic Director of Sacramento Music Circus Mark Jacoby - Broadway and TV/film actor Blake Hammond - stage and screen actor Ken Page - longtime musical theater performer on stage and screen Michael Kostroff - stage and screen actor who was a WINMI podcast guest back in Season One Actors' Co-Op Theater - began in 1987 with a dozen actors and operates two 99-seat Equity-approved theatres on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. Chicago City Limits - New York's long running award-winning and critically-acclaimed comedy revue that started in 1977 and relocated from Chicago to New York in 1979.  Fellowship! - a musical parody stage play based on The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien's, with book by Kelly Holden-Bashar & Joel McCrary and music by Allen Simpson ---------- Follow Peter - Instagram / Twitter  Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Blue Dot Sessions is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Every year more and more artists come to this country and face the challenges of the language and the culture as well as the nuances of auditioning and performing in America.  Sign up for the monthly WINMI Newsletter.  Born in Italy with a Vietnamese background, Alessandra Mai Vinh began dancing at the age of 13. In Italy, she became known for working on national TV shows, commercials, and tours, as well as choreographing and dancing for several popular artists. In 2012, on a mission to pursue her dreams, she decided to move to New York City, where she attended Broadway Dance Center. Years later she moved to her current home in Los Angeles. In this episode, she talks about the unique obstacles of immigrating to the US as a performer, and she shares her thoughts on greater representation for Asians on stage and on screen. But we also get into the challenges common among all performers -- the self-doubts and judgments that can come from comparing our accomplishments to others. Watch Alessandra answer the Final Five questions - https://youtu.be/G0Vc1xw5IkE Follow Alessandra - Instagram  Support WINMI and get access to Members-Only Episodes on Supercast. Check out Artist Resources and follow WINMI on Instagram or Twitter. ---------- Why I’ll Never Make It is a Top 25 Theater Podcast on Feedspot, and is also a part of Helium Radio Network and a member of the Broadway Makers Alliance.  Music in the episode by Kai Engel is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.