Game of Life Podcast

Dan is joined by stage manager, performer, and now disability support worker, Will Barker!We chat about putting on shows for his siblings, being obsessed with the Olympic Games, being at the centre of everything as a stage manager, calling a show, being the voice backstage everyone hears, locking in, safety, calling a show stop on Miss Saigon, effective communication, internships, faking it until you make it, switching gears to the performing side, reading creatives minds, finding a show as a stage manager, fulfilling his creative urges, working internationally, hearing all the interesting conversations, working on Sydney Harbour for Guys and Dolls, calling the cue for fireworks, dealing well under pressure, building set models, dance troupes waiters, needing a break, getting to know yourself, not being boxed in, pulling triple duty on The Ring Cycle, working on Operas, becoming a disability support worker, and a whole lot more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Re-releasing one of my favourite chats from last year!Dan is joined by writer, producer, and director Brannon Braga!Brannon has been a dream guest since the podcast began, so this was an absolute thrill to finally be able to have him on the show!We chat about the importance of communication, the joys of collaboration, the solitary mystique of writing, working in solitude, initially wanting to be an actor, trading the headshots in for a typewriter, getting the bug to write for the masses, the profound impact of his school teacher, connecting writing with shows like The Twilight Zone, getting an internship on Star Trek, the open submission policy, being on a week to week contract, the chaos of writing for television, looking back on perceived bad episodes, fame, compliments, becoming burnout, stepping away, the end of Trek, jumping onto 24, the fear of directing, always questioning your ability, trusting your brain, finding focus with others, the talent of others, Bob Trevino Likes It, taking an interest, success not happening in a vacuum, The Orville, the shared history of Star Trek, and a whole lot more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedy icon, Frank Woodley! Now, over the course of this podcast, both Lano AND Woodley have been on the show!Frank responds to a question left by former guest of the show, Dan Charlton and then we go on and chat about finding his own way after Lano & Woodley broke up, his role of sabotaging Colin, going off on tangents, appreciating how intense stand up comedy can be, learning how to find his real personality performing solo, building a show, refining a show through an audience, using up the audience, not taking things for granted, the delicate way in making comedy, withstanding the test of time, friendship, clowning, drawn to being the fool, the freedom of playing the fool, physical comedy, the roll of tape gag, getting back together with Colin, having a high standard, the TV series, the unmade movie, the quality life experience, how to appreciate art, tattoos, and whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by returning guests Dan Charlton, Liam Head, and Dilruk Jayasinha in a huge and fun chat!Comedy! Musical Theatre! Heavy Metal! Worlds collide! We talk about the connective tissue between all of their very different creative industries and backgrounds, we catch up with what each of them are up to, staying engaged with material, first musicals, razzle and dazzle, performing in front of friends and family, handling technical issues during a show, breaking down the use of music cues, the living organism of live music performances, the process of finding a new hour of comedy, pushing through to find the quality material, taking time off, the current state of musical theatre, moving sets, the shift in audiences seeing shows, having optimism for the future of the industry, filming music videos, investing in yourself, touring in a RV, the tight knit team of NTH RD, the dynamics within the band, the Comedy Festival Roadshow, the "quiet car" on tour, communication, intricate relationships within a theatre cast, vocal health, audience members singing along at shows, the things they can't do without, meeting Robbie Williams on Better Man, and a ton more!Go follow Dan, Liam, and Dilruk on all the socials below to keep up with all their work!https://www.instagram.com/dancharltonxx/https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd/https://www.instagram.com/liam_head/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/mysttro.os/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/dilrukj/?hl=enCover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by all-round entertainer, storyteller, and even influencer, Bailey Nathan-Park!We chat about his experience working with Snoop Dogg for the Grand Final, odd jobs, the love of touring, being connected to work that has a purpose, telling stories, working in a finance firm, the initial weak spot of singing, sung through shows, the first audition, burning to learn, cruise ship work, getting the job on Harry Potter, working as a flight AND fight captain, touring internationally, the craziness of stage door in the Philippines, the bonding experience on Miss Saigon, what it's like being on a show from day one, cast changes, mourning the end of Miss Saigon, building a show from the ground up, checking your notes, techniques of learning your tracks as a swing, becoming a brand ambassador, creating content for companies, the importance of fitness, goals, New York theatres, his pet snake, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by photographer and videographer, Kyle Head!We chat about not going down the performing path, being a shy and introverted kid, the love of creating, feeling safer behind something, creating a showreel with his brother Liam, finding a tangible career in film, turning his passion into an ever evolving business, the importance of word of mouth, being available Australia wide, helping to guide actors in the creative process, finding freedom in structure, the process of building a showreel, not making anything too big, discovery sessions, what he enjoys more, doing something just for himself, work ethic, self-imposed deadlines, answering to yourself, finding the energy to do admin, talking himself off the metaphorical ledge, knowing the process is there, validation in repeat business, being the guy with the camera, the human imperfections that you don't get in A.I., seeing his brothers perform, wedding photography, the love of people, wanting to use CGI, needing to go through the steps, decision paralysis, dreams of having his own studio, the possibilities of a Head Brother film, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by Steven Cannatelli AKA "The Coach" and owner of Future Artist Music!We chat about his start at Roadrunner Records, getting a feel for how things work on a Slipknot tour, starting and being in many different bands, becoming a vocalist, the impact that drugs & alcohol played in Steven's early days, getting many chances, the blows felt of band breakups, getting signed to a record deal, transactional gigs, collaboration, finding your musical soulmate, sharing personal stories, an overdose experience, the process of writing songs, getting advice from Johnny Rzeznik on how to deal with writer's block, the transition into coaching bands, having a break in Malta, launching Future Artist Music, bad habits young bands fall into, burnout, knowing your limitations, being the voice of reason, understanding risk, rejection, giving bands the skillset to level up, remembering to have fun, the subjectiveness of art, not writing for an audience, the importance of authenticity, money, having a good team, content creation, the love of working merch, Playlunch, sacrifices, buying pre-sale tickets, ticket prices, the future of the industry, age, the next generation, answering questions from former guests James Hibble and Lucas Banim, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by musical theatre superstar, Hayden Baum!We chat about why Hayden reached out to be on the podcast over a year ago, finding his love for performing, growing up on movie musicals, playing piano, a full circle moment closing the Chicago tour in Canberra, the WAAPA experience, singing always being a big thing, surrounding himself with inspirational people, first auditions, being in the now, learning more on the job, working on Cats, pacing himself during a show, checking in, international audiences, getting the call to be an emergency swing in American Psycho at the Sydney Opera House, the realities of working as a swing, using emoji's to help with memory, the non structured life outside of theatre, taking a break, struggles with confidence, imposter syndrome, working with industry legends on Chicago, getting a gift from Pete Rowsthorn, gaining wisdom from others, lifting each other up, backstage superstitions, quick changes, mindfulness, community, covering a lead character, the soul-enriching experience doing a show with Trevor Ashley, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by mentalist/magician, actor, and speaker Tristan McLindon in an often mind bending chat!We talk about his decision to quit his marketing job to become a full time magician, unlocking the awe and wonder of magic, enjoying the pressure to push himself creatively, the importance of reading groups of people while doing street magic, now being able to call himself a magician, the best reactions, making magic more personable, the reason behind tricks, crafting a show, the life cycle of a magician, the experience of those first few days post quitting, embarrassing commercials, acting, pitching himself, Sooshi Mango, blowing Tom Gleeson's mind, the unwavering support of his wife, magicians that inspire him, originality, the nerves he had before his TED talk, having your weekdays free, and a whole lot more!Tristan absolutely blew my mind!Go check out Tristan's show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival!https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/great-question/Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Re-Release! Dan and Harman are joined by a former soldier, former chef, and now one of the best comedians out there, Jarryd Goundrey!We chat about making content for a living, the freedom of the podcast format, calendar pressure, the sustainable amount of content, comparison. being computer illiterate, teaser clips, sitting in the sweet spot zone of "I must", hitting the burnout but gaining the lessons, quality of quantity, adding value, staying in the game, free energy, showing up for someone, passionate procrastination, business coaches, all of us having a 'secret' thing, playing by yourself in the backyard, a shame of being yourself, going all in socially, only knowing after it works, being careful of the crabs in a bucket, living your shadow self, a validation shift, peace, being famous for something, knowing what is enough, chaos, sleeping out of his tent and car, going viral, wanting adventure, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedian and actor, Blake Pavey!We chat about filming his special, timestamping certain moments as a comedian, not looking back, getting humbled by bad gigs, choosing an opening act, connecting with fans through illness, taking the time to write a new show, kicking into a new gear this year, working on the second season of Deadloch, the TikTok awards, putting out the first video, impersonating his Dad, blowing up online by accident, getting good advice from other comedians, the first stand up gig, getting over the embarrassment of bad gigs, being open about CF, the mindset of knowing anything could happen, trying out new material on the tour, social media, lessons learnt from his first solo show, being less nervous about driving, going overtime, vibe checking the audience, a Cairns RSL gig, performing overseas, Aussies liking the familiar, crowd work, wanting to do more acting, meeting John Cena, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by magician, Lucas Kogaki, and he performs a trick on the show, a podcast first!We chat about the thousands of strangers he performs to each week, not being afraid of failure, the love of close up magic, having an out for everything, discovering magic on YouTube at 14, people's spectrum of knowing how tricks work, giving people a lasting sense of wonder, getting the nickname of "the magician" at school, the snowballing effect of becoming a magician, the imposter syndrome of being a magician, the blend of card tricks & mentalism, staying original, needing to do the same trick a million times to perfect it, initially being too obsessed with magic, the best reactions, forming a stage show, performing at hens parties, having self respect as a performer, the nuances of mentalism, wanting to do his own TV show, doing magic on nights out, the most rewarding gigs, not scripting out material, unwavering self belief, magic happening naturally, having discussions about the larger things in life, business cards, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedian, Luke Kidgell!We chat about the birth of Keg Touring, admin, the thought behind the "You Don't Own Me" video, getting weirdly big in the Philippines, performing internationally, most things being universal, the barrier between Australia and New Zealand, preparing for tours, saying yes, the love of performing, finding the love for stand up, the first gig, the soul crushing game of comedy, seeing material through, posting to the socials, overseeing everything, editing, getting better at talking to people, forming an hour show, following tangents, watching comedy, reviews, knowing his fans names, being a fun vibe comedian, crowd work, the first instance in which he called himself a comedian, performing at Hamer Hall, swearing, procrastinating, replying to emails, working with his brother, hiring his Mum to handle merch, loving the variety of his job, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 300th episode is here! Dan is joined by the incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and musician, Michael Paynter! We chat about the busy year he has had, multitasking, the Great Australian Songbook tour, taking risks, the profile lift of Jesus Christ Superstar, the naivety going into music theatre, leading a company, the viral video moment of Jesus Christ Superstar, planning and organization, being a failed lawyer, getting a record deal at a young age, having a passion and following it, finding the balance, meeting and performing with Jimmy Barnes, not taking anything for granted, staying in the moment, having a good instinct of what's good, being a man of faith, getting lost in moments, when he's at his worst, working with Reuben Kaye, the connections he made on JCS, compartmentalizing his energy, giving yourself grace, being a bit better than yesterday, being confident with the gifts you share with the world, bringing your best, a bicep injury, giving it everything, and a whole lot more! Cover Photo (background): Matty ParkerCatch Michael on tour! Michael is a performer you HAVE to see live! All the relevant links to find Michael below.https://michaelpaynter.com/https://www.instagram.com/michaelpaynterhttps://www.facebook.com/michaelpayntermusichttps://open.spotify.com/artist/0mCK5i2RVWTwvL9ZXbzUP0?si=-aZDNUnvQoWaw-BzFuO4kQ&nd=1&dlsi=3e9d771baedf414ehttps://www.youtube.com/MichaelPaynterTVhttps://music.apple.com/au/artist/michael-paynter/204866000 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by husband and wife music duo Ryan Bondy (in person this time) AND Hilary Cole AKA Casino People!We chat about the move back to Australia, Ryan being a secret Australian, Hilary's culture shock moving to the US, standing up for the tipping culture, living in the epicenter of the pandemic, the origin story of Casino People, learning how to collaborate, the moment they decided to perform and release the music, recording the album, the unreal experience working with a band, the fun of singing with each other, being vulnerable at a Speakeasy, making inspiring connections, their first Australian open mic, learning curves, the process behind writing their songs, the long wait of getting Ryan's guitar across the ocean, the purge of material goods in preparing the move to another country, breakfast baseball, coming up with the name of Casino People, vintage costuming, the streaming & social media world, having a body of work, merch, not taking themselves too seriously, being a little less hungry for approval, finding the hunger for theatre again, the shift of perspective once they had their son Otis, having an inner circle, the difficulty of leaving behind close friends in America, hard resets, building great communities, the songs that mean the most to them, and a whole lot more!Ryan and Hilary were even kind enough to take the episode out on one of their songs! A podcast first!Cover Photo: Matty ParkerGo check out Casino People! Links below.https://casinopeoplemusic.com/https://www.instagram.com/casinopeople_/https://open.spotify.com/artist/3APOs2MKt7ZAO4uEhQHtoJ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by Lucas Banim from NTH RD!! This chat really set the tone and raised the bar for the rest of the year!We chat about how NTH RD's Asian tour came about, the ever expanding fan base, being in control of your own fate, the importance of getting just one yes, taking appreciation at face value, the non gig related highlights of the Asian tour, putting faith in people you've never met, realising the band could achieve anything, persistence, needing to go through the challenges to find success, letting go of your ego, starting as a high school band, the origin story of NTH RD's name, the gradual process of figuring it all out, sacrifices, working out what you can bring to the table, upskilling, embracing your character, future planning, reminding yourself that the industry is non-linear, focusing on the now, taking breaks, not taking anything for free, teaching guitar, being good at getting things done, understanding yourself better starting from scratch, relaying knowledge, valuing the impact of what it means to have a mentor, sustaining a fanbase, the merchandise, taking risks, the upcoming tour, capturing how you've changed as an artist, the song that means the most to him, his dream tour lineup, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty ParkerGet tickets for NTH RD's 3 cities in 3 days tour, supporting The Rasmus. Link below.https://thephoenix.au/rasmus-2026/Follow Lucas and NTH RD on all the socials! Links below.https://www.instagram.com/lucasbanim/https://guitarandbasslessons.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd/https://nthrd.band/https://open.spotify.com/artist/73UZc0Keik8oWph7AvLIQD Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedy legend, Dave Hughes!We chat about what it's like being a comedy legend, keeping a journal, writing something down everyday, comedy being all around us, his unused podcasting van, the first instances in which fame started to hit, putting Centrelink on the map, the cathartic experience of sharing embarrassing stories, failure becoming success, knowing he made the right call to become a comedian at a young age, being in the moment on stage, not getting nervous anymore, presenting at the Logies, overseas work, meeting fans after shows, meeting Brad Pitt, the injury that went viral, documenting his life to the end, converting the haters, not caring what people think, reviewers, sensitivity, ego, working in radio, loving the crowd, not needing an audience to go through your material, never cancelling shows, not holding grudges, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off 2026!Dan is joined by actor, Spencer Garrett!We chat about what people recongnise him for as a character actor, his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, keeping it simple, not being able to sleep the night before a job, the anxiety of the drive home, being a third generation actor, not having a plan to be an actor, teaching, the lightbulb moment he fell in love with acting, the no brainer of becoming an actor, the drive to create, moments of doubt, loving the 'act' of it, going all in with your passion and heart, thinking about how lucky he is every time he arrives on a set, the sting of rejection never going away, not taking anything for granted, taking what works for you, starting the infamous character actor dining society, constantly teaching yourself, playing real life people, surrounding himself with wise people, no shame in good honest work, the current state of the industry, working on Air Force One, creating fleeting families, priding himself on his work ethic, the cancellation of The Residence, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off 2026!Dan is joined by comedian, Luke Heggie!We chat about organization, having regular jobs before comedy, starting comedy later in life, becoming comfortable in stand up comedy, not wanting to conquer the world, connecting with other comedians, admin, being accountable to deadlines, not having a choice, remaining busy, never being perfect, finding new things, the first gig, progressing as a comedian, bits that don't work, ditching material, not knowing he could repeat material, relevance, reviewing comedy, working with other comedians, being hesitant taking on other creative work, the upside of having mindless jobs, corporate gigs, the science behind putting on a good comedy gig, not wanting to do radio, the difficulty of generating new hours each year, flyering, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by vocalist of Cordiform and the man behind Bright Eyed Bookings, James Hibble!James answers questions left behind by former guest of the show, Dan Charlton from NTH RD!We then go on to chat about refining skills, planning ahead, the decision to become a band booker, the logistics of being a booking agent, putting money back into band's pockets, blowing people's minds, budgets, the importance of being on your own as an independent band for a while, being the guy with the outside perspective, managing bands, cutting hours in his day job to focus more on Bright Eyed Bookings, becoming more clear-eyed, the development of Cordiform, the process of finding members of a band, the first Cordiform performance, the growth as a performer, band meetings, the songwriting process for Cordiform, unreleased songs, the near death experience, not looking back with regret, the untrodden path of musical theatre, walking on stilts, following the dream, enjoying a spreadsheet, travelling, when things go wrong, acting on your feet, being more grounded, bands to look out for, the reward of helping out, and a whole lot more!Go and follow James on all the socials. Links below.https://www.instagram.com/jameshibblehimself/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/brighteyedbookings/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/cordiformband/?hl=enhttps://cordiform-band.square.site/Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer, dancer, and the OG Franki Valli in the Australian production of Jersey Boys, Bobby Fox!We chat about the ever diluting Irish accent, the decision to move to Australia, the different facets of singing, being a great mimic, getting into the musical theatre world, Mamma Mia!, growing as an actor, being allowed to dream, settling into the natural rhythm of a day working in a musical theatre show, doing the best job he can that matches his personality, needing to be fantastic for the audience, opening night parties, Jersey Boys, the sheer fun of Spamalot, competency, reviews, getting back to zero quicker, creating futures for yourself during the audition process, working with Rob Mills, being highly logical, having fun first, reminding himself to feel things, Riverdance, having grace for other people, learning lessons the hard way, performing on the Sydney Harbour for Guys and Dolls, growing with variety as a performer, managing risk, bringing Jersey Forever to life, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer, songwriter and all round one of the best entertainers in Australia, Sam Ludeman! We chat about Sam's injury he sustained while working on Grease, the initial intention of wanting to step away from musical theatre before the injury, setting up a corporate band, performing and working with his best mate, going onto The Voice, the hesitation stepping into a reality television show, not getting along with Seal, the support felt by the music theatre industry, the nerve-wracking experience performing for live television, getting a branding 'look' after The Voice, still getting recognised from The Voice, putting out the first original song, writing about friendship, livestreaming during COVID, not having a chance to stop and smell the roses, gigging between musical theatre breaks, balancing a friendship with a collaborative working relationship, getting the fighting out of the way, working better with a deadline, getting back to the side hustle, thoughts of going back into musical theatre, being obsessed with Rage, always wanting to perform, self sabotage, presentence, and a whole lot more!Really one of my favourite chats!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, James Haxby! James has recently been killing it playing various roles in Beetlejuice! We chat about the crazy run of Beetlejuice in Melbourne, covering the role of Beetlejuice, the support provided by the creative team and fellow cast members, the out of the body experience playing Adam for the first time, covering six tracks, keeping fit in between shows, working with Andy Karl, finding a work/life balance becoming a new dad, knowing he wanted to be in the theatre, committing to drama school, needing to find his love for acting again after drama school, resenting the training, playing angry dads, going overseas to the UK, the absurdity of going back to Australia as an overseas touring actor, having an instinct, feeling like an outsider, starting musical theatre in his mid 30's, dancing, being blind on one side, the voice of Beetlejuice, working with Eddie Perfect, playing Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, advice he'd give to his younger self, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actress, Rosalind Chao!The open the episode with Rosalind answering a question from former guest of the show, Elizabeth Dennehy!We chat about the studio lying about your age, forming friendships in the business, finding confidence as an actress, perfectionism, working with people you trust, facing fears, your mind having a tendency going to a 'what can go wrong' place, flow, the universe having a better plan, trying to control the uncontrollable, doing a play at The National Theatre in London, getting into an accident that shifted her perspective, good coming out of bad, being on the last episode of M*A*S*H, playing Keiko O'Brien on Star Trek, Colm Meaney, effecting change in people, life getting better as you get older, working on Better Things, living life to be an artist, having kids, building up a thick skin, Ronny Chieng, her appearance on MONK, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by writer and director, Bryan Fuller!We chat about his directorial debut film Dust Bunny, kids being their own heroes, surrounding yourself with dedicated and likeminded people on a film set, getting his film distributed, his satisfaction with the end result of Dust Bunny, going to film school wanting to direct, initially resisting writing, being a good communicator with department heads as a showrunner, dealing with executives, being too direct, getting his start on Star Trek, writing his first Trek episode, the priceless lessons he learned on Star Trek: Voyager, the open submission policy, the confidence he found as a writer, needing angels, loving the character of Beverly Crusher, his frustration with the creative direction of Star Trek: Voyager, writing Dead Like Me, internalized stress, allowing himself to give people grace, being able to take a step back from his own emotion, shrugging it off, the great relief in modulating expectation, the elegance of the TV series Hannibal, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actress, writer, and filmmaker, Denise Crosby AKA Tasha Yar AND Sela from Star Trek!We chat about her work on the TV series Suits, her Tasha Yar action figure, the overwhelming nature of going to conventions, being educated on Trek fandom by Gene Roddenberry, inspiring young women, coming from a famous showbiz family, initially thinking she'd go into journalism, the magic of theatre, the natural fit of acting, finding the perfect acting teacher, the thrills of walking onto a soundstage, the battle for our failing attention spans, making her documentary Trekkies, finding a newfound love for writing, writing like you talk, poetry, doing a reading of her writing work on the Star Trek cruise, the importance of encouraging environments, enjoying the creative process, getting anxious before something starts, asking herself if she's good enough, her decision to leave Star Trek: The Next Generation during the first season, her character Sela, losing her house in the California fires, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedian, podcaster, writer, and cartoonist, Tommy Dassalo!We chat about creating a self fulfilling prophecy with his previous podcast, being ignored by the conventional industry, making a living from podcasting, the end of the last podcast, podcasting in a vacuum, memories of doing the very fist live podcast, getting in on the ground floor of podcasting, starting How To Do Everything, contending with all the new requirements for podcasting, not being resistant to new things, overseeing the development for a video game, making his comedy special stand out from the rest, seeing the reaction after releasing Scam Artist, the positive in seeking negative feedback, the thought of doing over previous solo shows, cartooning, the possibility of working on an animated show, quitting his job at the first Grill'd, getting a writing gig on Rove, being in a writers room, being a bit disorganised, burn out to the finish line, the final boss for podcast guests, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty ParkerGo and follow Tommy and watch his stand up special, Scam Artist! Links below.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQa5xeak_Y0&t=345shttps://www.instagram.com/dassalo/https://www.tommydassalo.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by a Battlestar Galactica alumni, James Callis! It's been over a year since having a Battlestar Galactica cast member on the show!We chat about his striking resemblance to Alexander Siddig, moving on from Battlestar Galactica, the privilege of having the career he has, finding the energy of a set, the unglamourous nature of the business, wanting to be surprised, impatience, the need of having to be the most critical of your own work, accepting responsibility, constructive feedback, the importance of surrounding yourself with a creative partner, the difficulty of rallying yourself, seeking action and adventure, creating his own music, finding other creative projects with his fellow Battlestar cast members, ideas not leaving you alone, the importance of resistance, not learning anything on the good days, the inner voice, working with some of your inspirations, not wanting to be anyone else, maturing into yourself, putting life into perspective, the trial of Gaius Baltar, what Battlestar Galactica means to him, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by comedian and the face of Vanuatu tourism, Ray O'Leary in a really fun conversation! The most fun I've had on the show!We chat about the story behind Ray's comedy outfit, becoming the face of Vanuatu tourism, the values of the modern age, the thought of acting, desires to write a sitcom. the collaborative nature of writing and sharing his stand up material with peers, the moment he realised stand up comedy could be a job, initially writing material down on his hand, making excuses not to do stand up, getting stuck in an office job, the Ray O'Leary "character", struggling to look at the audience, the goal of making comedy the day job, quitting his job, becoming a full time comedian, the crisis of confidence, feeling gratitude, the television appearances, the conducive environment on a Working Dog show, performing internationally, the stage name, filming his stand up special, persevering through bits, dealing with silences, nerves. and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by magician, Christopher Wayne in the final "Going Abroad" themed episode!We recorded this chat while Christopher was in Boston preparing for a 70 city tour of The Naked Magicians!We chat about being able to meet legends in the magic world, Carrot Top being the nicest guy you'll ever meet, preparing for a seventy city tour of The Naked Magicians, the nitty gritty of putting on a show, curbing the ego, having a wake up call while touring, finding pure joy in entertaining people, moving to Boston, opening a residency in Boston, falling in love, the weirdness of introducing new cast members into The Naked Magicians, not putting his name on the poster, knowing the show was always going to be bigger than him, the times he and Mike Tyler argued while they were on tour, looking after each other, losing a knuckle, creating The Naked Magicians, the audience being an important component in helping to form the show, getting advice from Teller, staying original as a magician, presentation, making shows about the audience's experience, wanting everyone to win, leaning into comedy, failing drama & comedy in school, trying and failing, risk taking, hitting rock bottom, finding sobriety, working with Christian Hull, reshaping how we look at our relationship with alcohol, feeling creatively crisp, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by Mackenzie Dunn & Kohan Van Sambeeck, the first couple on the podcast! Mackenzie and Kohan frequently work on the same musical theatre shows, including the most recent Australian production of Annie! MacKenzie is the singer, actor, and dancer while Kohan is on the other side of things, often taking on MD responsibilities or seen working in the orchestra pit! We chat about the first time they met, being in entirely separate worlds at work, working with kids, carrying the lessons you learn from job to job, the responsibilities of conducting, being hyper aware of the conductor on stage as a performer, having the space to create their own work, not forcing creativity, collaborating with Rubin Matters, releasing the music, dealing with creative blocks, challenging each other, One Day in September, the difficulty of getting new Aussie musicals off the ground, shedding light on an important topic, the wild time when One Day in September finally opened, the incompleteness of art, coming from a show business family, working with your mum, willing to put in the hard yards, finding routine on a commercial contract, being in a career that requires people to like you, Mackenzie's friendship with Javon King, future projects, working with a Wiggle, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer, and dancer now based in the UK, Sam Parkes in the third "Going Abroad" themed episode!We chat about the process and move over to London, the difficulty of setting up your life in a different country, being a fresh face in the audition room, the stressful part of having to prove yourself again, the group of Australian performers that congregate in London, getting the job on Matilda, stepping into the machine of Matilda, the exciting and nerve wracking life of a swing, the process of becoming comfortable working on Matilda, digging into the work, the similarities and differences between working in Australia and the UK, the never ending run of The West End, learning to space out holidays, remembering to have a day before he starts his day, stepping into a London theatre for the first time, the reaction he received from people back in Australia after getting Matilda in London, initially being a BMX rider, realising he could make a career as a performer, his schooling experience, getting thrown into the deep end early, the cruise ship experience, being able to invest in your career, getting Moulin Rouge, Sam's advice to people thinking about moving overseas, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer and songwriter, Rubin Matters!We chat about feeling the best when he's able to combine singing, acting, and dancing, finishing off his long run on Beauty and the Beast, readjusting to the routine of life, being a workaholic, the need to create, the difficulty of splitting focus, the challenges of releasing music, the reception to his first song I Can Walk Away, collaborating with Mackenzie Dunn, Kohan Van Sambeeck, and Oscar Sharah, becoming addicted to creating his own music, reaching the conclusion that he should share his work, having a lot of ideas for new music, the ways his music resonates with him differently now, his songs being played during warmups, the proudest song, fighting for ideas, the chance to perform his own work in front of an audience, embracing uncertainty, backing yourself, the experiences of getting his first job, going on as Gaston for the Melbourne opening night of Beauty and the Beast, getting lost in scenes, learning to expect whatever you don't expect as a swing, letting go of perfectionism, developing backstage superstitions, trusting himself more, and a whole lot more!Check out Rubin's music! Links below. https://open.spotify.com/artist/5EZdA8qZtvCmHcrv9H1mUXhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoqZyvmDszOTzoD1doErNQCover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second "Going Abroad" episode, Dan is joined by actor, singer, dancer and currently a part of the ensemble for Moulin Rouge in The Netherlands, Patrick Whitbread!We chat about the initial plan of moving to London, forcing himself to move outside of Australia, the mental game of moving to Europe, experiencing yourself in a different context, settling into everyday life, the sensory overload, communication barriers, being taught Dutch, the lack of mainstream theatre shows in The Netherlands, thinking about life after his current contract, feeling the shock of the Dutch winter, having a good time, being obsessed with theatre, the fluidity of confidence, healthy competition, the first audition, working in hospitality, the carnage like experience of Cats, Book of Mormon, the thought of doing the same show again, the love of travelling, the sacrificial life of a performer, doing a psychology degree, the leave policy in The Netherlands, the thought of forgetting lyrics, the skill of asking yourself why, observing the leads of a show, screenwriting, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer, and one of the best dancers and flippers of all time, Keanu Gonzalez!I caught up with Keanu while he was doing the Melbourne run of Annie!We chat about a question left behind from Jason Arrow about his most done flip, the most inappropriate show to do a flip, the viral explosion of the Easy Street dance number, filming the Melbourne Annie promo video, the change of pace of getting out of the theatre, the first love of tennis, martial arts, booking his first musical with Baz Luhrmann, becoming comfortable as an actor, finding truth in playing the bombastic comedy relief, muscle memory, the dislike of opening nights, not looking at reviews, comparing yourself to others, seeking advice from others, being a hard worker, keeping hobbies outside of work, the art of video games, not finishing school, the Cats experience, showing up, the emotional moment when his Dad saw him perform, living a whole lifetime on a show, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a new series of episodes focusing on Aussies living and working abroad, Dan welcomes actor, singer, and currently playing The Duke in the world tour of Moulin Rogue, James Bryers!We chat about saying yes pretty quickly to the world tour of Moulin Rogue, valuing the craft, the difficulty of taking on the character in Sister Act, feeling miscast, culture shock, finding a dead body his first night in London, seeing the differences in the way people approach work, the process of working with many different creative teams, the feeling of receiving a genuine standing ovation, initially wanting to wear a suit and carry a briefcase, being introverted, a life changing brunch, the bitter experience he had during UNI, being cast as a swing in Jersey Boys, a King Kong audition experience, enjoying the journey, experiences we have that lead us to certain opportunities, learning to be the best version of who you are, putting yourself out there, challenging yourself more, finding content and happiness, trying to enjoy being in the moment, seeing more seen in Australia, advice from Colette Mann, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, comedian, and writer Danny Woodburn who is best known for television shows and movies including Seinfeld, Monk, Jingle All the Way, Death to Smoochy, Billions, and The Witcher to name a few.We chat about living and working in the UK filming The Witcher, paying more attention to accessibility, the differences in a European and American film crew, working 23 hours straight, mentoring, the business changing so dramatically since he started, sneaking into studio lots, keeping up with the modern age of social media, influencers, writing with his wife, Danny's thoughts on AI, questioning ethics as an artist, studying science, spending time in a body cast, using his humour as a defence mechanism, finding and crafting a character, having an audition ritual, the vacation of work, not liking musicals, working with Robin Williams, appreciating the audience response, only writing what you can see and film, growing up in his package, grappling with saying no to stereotypical roles, his activism, sticking to it, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan welcomes back returning guest, Charlie Clouser!Charlie really set the tone early on for what I really wanted to podcast to be going forward, so it was such a pleasure having him back on the show to reconnect!We chat about instances in which he hasn't been a good communicator, fighting for ideas, mitigating damage, practicing diplomacy, helping people's creative projects to the finish line, projects going away, his connection to the Saw franchise, the prospect of someone else composing the iconic Hello Zepp theme, the current state of entertainment, going off on tangents, overpromising, always giving people an out, not being precious about your own work, under delivering, no truly objective view, working on early projects with various limitations, noticing consequential conversations in the moment, enjoying the process, doing something outside the familiar, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, singer, and dancer Taye Grant! Taye is currently in the ensemble for the Australian production of Back to the Future: The Musical. This was recorded only a month or so before Taye started rehearsals!We chat about the road of getting a job on Back to the Future, always being someone that's had a blind competence, preparing for the show, being in the child's cast of Matilda, realising the tangible career as a performer, his experience working on Dusty, lessons learned from previous work, holding your own, staying show fit, being in the process of finding a routine, hyper fixating, going back to high school life after Matilda, taking things as they come, the weirdness of missing school to do a commercial musical, falling in love with performing and touring life, the natural progression to becoming a performer, going to WAAPA, needing to know who you are, not being competitive, not being attached to any audition, the process of getting an agent, thinking about the future, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by returning guest, Riley Nottingham!This catch up was long overdue! Very chill and fascinating chat!We chat about his move to America, falling in love with LA, the ease of the move, not believing anything until you experience it, not having the right to complain, self tapes auditions, reminding yourself that the audition is a gift, being exposed to rejection more, adapting to the American culture, the longer filming days, the importance of having the positive force of Declan in his life, the importance of relationships, working on vertical soap operas, the snowball effect of making new connections, phones in cinemas, Saw: The Musical, working on one thing at a time, the possibility of performing his solo shows in America, faking it, Strange Creatures, the difficulty of making an Australian film, our thoughts making our reality, reframing failure, there's only ever today, arbitrary boundaries, only ever being happy when we look back, always guessing, healthy detachment, forming momentum, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by Axel Duffy, now currently playing Marty McFly in the Australian production of Back to the Future! This one was recorded only days before Axel flew out to start rehearsals in Sydney.We chat about auditioning for Back to the Future, finding out he got the job, dealing with the public hype, the responsibilities of being in the lead, being your harshest critic, finding the balance of chasing better, playing comedic roles, the nerves of starting a new job, facing the unknowns, the vulnerability of sharing stories, watching Michael J. Fox's performance as Marty McFly, unfiltered joy, initially having plans to be in aerospace engineering, leaning into imposter syndrome, forever playing seventeen, the first big job, being fortunate to look back and cringe, learning from your mistakes, working on Harry Potter, stubbornness, the preciousness of being in a flow state, the goal of getting a scathing review, working on original Australian musicals, no small parts, recording the soundtrack for Beep Test: The Musical, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by returning guest, Todd Stashwick!We chat about his Australian and New Zealand convention visit, the fans resonating with Captain Shaw in Picard Season 3, working with James Spader, experiencing things as they're happening, being triggered into old responses, fulfilling childhood dreams, the effect of seeing the finished product, childlike wonder, feeling like a needle in a haystack, not having complete control, editing being your friend, being in the business of no guarantees, a failed pilot, having infinite 'big breaks', realising that you never know, the ongoing collaboration with Terry Matalas, doing more of what you're doing, auditioning for Saturday Night Live, not tempering your joy, joining the MCU, being fortunate, getting back in line, life being playful, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a very special episode of the podcast, Dan is joined by Sara Tomko AND Alice Wetterlund who played Asta and D'arcy respectively in one of the best sci-fi/comedy series of all time, Resident Alien!A lot of Resident Alien love in this episode!We chat about the end of Resident Alien, the importance of their friendship, true love & artistry at first sight, finding ways to work together again, going to more conventions, working with Robert Duncan McNeill, and Alan Tudyk, breaking on set, episodes and moments from the show they could do over, being proud of the work and the characters, the love story between D'arcy and Asta, post show life, saying goodbye many times, bad habits, ego management, being honest at work, not holding the job on a pedestal, stand up, how to compliment someone when they perform, impactful fan letters, life changing moments, and a whole lot more! This was such a fun episode!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by returning guest, John Billingsley!We chat about acting no longer being the driving force in his life, passing the baton in his charity work, getting older, embracing disciplines, engaging in the process of always looking in the mirror, openness to change and fluidity, listening skills, his experiences of carrying an episode of television, using judgmental language, determining the reason why you feel a certain way, the constant conversations we have with ourselves, initially wanting to be a writer, the joys of reading, not needing the money, always being a rebel, the imposition of school, the idea of introducing a hand puppet as a co-host, gently returning your focus to your partner, being self involved, teaching, limitations imposed by his physicality, becoming more grounded, not taking things seriously, Star Trek: United, the JonBenét Ramsey series, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, writer, and now published author, Marc Bendavid! We chat about his time on the TV series Dark Matter and his departure from the show, the newfound confidence he found as the lead of a show, the secret dream of being a writer, the deeper side of himself he finds as a writer, the isolation in writing, the terror he felt when sharing his writing for the first time, not doing enough as a writer, the story behind working on his book The Sapling, finding a publisher, honest feedback, imposter syndrome, always just going onto the next step, the absurdity when he started to get paid to act, accepting there's very little within your control, the enjoyment of acting, playing Romeo, the possibility of collaborating with another writer, carrying a notebook, when he's at his most happiest, working on Reacher, and a whole lot more! Check out Marc's book, The Sapling! Links below. https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/The-Sapling/Marc-Bendavid/9781668093962Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actress Elizabeth Dennehy otherwise known as Lt. Cmdr. Shelby from Star Trek: The Next Generation and more recently ADMIRAL Shelby from Star Trek: Picard!We chat about her experience of the Star Trek Las Vegas convention, fan encounters, filming the infamous two part episode of Best of Both Worlds, always wanting to perform from a young age before she was aware her father was an actor, the compulsion of performing, making sure she couldn't do anything else, writings plays, processing knowledge in your own way, what audiences need to know first, looking at her son's career as an actor, not auditioning for the job after you've got the job, the difficulty of owning your part, working with a young Hilary Duff on Chicago Hope, watching younger people figuring it out, teaching style, needing to think on multiple levels as an actor, working on Kevin Costner's Horizon, her husband's job playing Father Byles in Titanic, being filled with gratitude, nerves, being a woman of a certain age, the invisible work, people pleasing, memories of her father Brian Dennehy, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by actor, director, and true legend, Jonathan Frakes!We chat about being a recovering actor and practicing director, working on Picard Season 3, having trust in his acting partners, open conversations, communicating ideas, preparation, enjoying both sides of the camera, running a happy set, turning shows in on time, making sure everyone is happy, the Star Trek Lower Decks/Strange New Worlds crossover episode, the fun of improvising, having writers on set, laziness, the creative ladder you have to climb, being bitten by the bug, accepting your success, resisting the idea that your experience has value, experience being a burden, envy, becoming a director, ageing, meditating, the current state of Star Trek, being an optimist, the importance of the editing room, a potential reboot of Beyond Belief, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by photographer, YouTuber, and car lover Mike Amarico, otherwise known online as North Borders!We chat about his recent overseas trip, the point where he was able to call himself a photographer, his first job working at a car dealership, being encouraged to be creative, the importance of social media marketing, taking initiative, creating an unintentional network, taking off on YouTube with other friends and creators, looking weird in public, staying consistent, gaining inspiration from different types of industries, the craziest shoot he's ever been on, inspiring others, standing out, reading comments, constructive critiques, time capsules, taking photos on your phone, mood boards, having no expectations, always raising the bar, being paid to be creative, pushing yourself against yourself, taking action, and a whole lot more!Keep up to date with all of Mike's work! Links below.https://www.youtube.com/c/NorthBordershttps://www.instagram.com/northborders/?hl=enhttps://www.northborders.co/Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by a music theatre superstar, Noah Gill Mullins! This one was recorded when Noah was in the last week of performances for Hadestown!We chat about the end of Hadestown, seeing posters of yourself everywhere, taking on the lead in a show, weeping, stepping into the shoes of Orpheus, walking to hell and back, the thoughtful performance that comes with portraying the character of Orpheus, the honour of being in Hadestown, being familiar and comfortable with the rehearsal space, auditioning for the role, letting go, being in the 'set up' phase of the career, proving yourself, time off, rediscovering yourself after a show, being in the headspace of creativity, dyslexia, holistic learning, hyper fixating, the neurodiverse brain, moving around a lot, learning how to detach easier, becoming humbled very quickly, the team effort of musical theatre, learning on every job, the stacked cast of Hadestown, keeping the show fresh, the process of finding a character, doing life better, not being precious, the love of climbing the mountain, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo: Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan is joined by the multi-talented, Jason Arrow, relatively fresh off a 4-year run, playing Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton and a production of Guys and Dolls on Sydney Harbour!We chat about ending his long run in Hamilton, learning about longevity, managing a show, not doubting yourself or your ability, taking on feedback, the irony of delivering a solid performance while feeling tired, the mundaneness, feeling psyched to go into work, the importance of physical and mental clarity, being absolutely fine with taking a show off, the scheduled day off standard, the crazy requirements needed for shows, crying when Hamilton came to an end, the beauty found from Hamilton, the loss of having a life during the course of Hamilton, going straight into Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, performing in the rain, diversifying the tool set, auditions, respect, The Lovers, cascading events, a question for Keanu Gonzalez, and a whole lot more!Cover Photo (Background): Matty Parker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.