It's Not NOT A Meisner Podcast

Send us Fan MailIn the final episode of Season 2, Kevin & Carson invite young actors Will Ehren, Charlotte Fountain-Jardim, Justin Hofstad, Ryann Meyers, & Justin Withers to answer YOUR questions about Meisner, auditioning, creating character, and what they have learned along the way.Is there something you want us to cover in Season 3? Let us know! Email or DM us, info below.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn the penultimate episode of Season 2, Kevin and Carson are joined by incredible actor Petey McGee (known for his recurring role as Salim Ashe Freeman on Power Book II: Ghost) for an inspiring and insightful conversation you won’t want to miss. 🔥Petey opens up about his upbringing in Kansas City, Missouri and the journey that led him to the screen. A classically trained actor with a BA and an MFA under his belt, he’s worked in theatre across the U.S. before breaking into film and TV. He’s appeared in the short U Shoot Videos? (which premiered at Tribeca), Skin Deep (which he wrote and directed), and has made guest appearances on Chicago P.D. as well. In this episode, Petey discusses what it’s like working on high-level TV sets like POWER, how he balances those experiences with producing and creating his own work, and how Meisner training has shaped his artistry, approach to craft, and career mindset.From navigating the industry to staying creatively grounded, Petey offers honest reflections on discipline, identity, and building a sustainable acting life. Whether you’re an actor, artist, or creative chasing your next level, this episode is packed with gems 💎🎧LINK TO PETEY'S WORK: https://www.peteymcgee.com/Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 08 of Season Two, Kevin and Carson welcome the ever-talented Danielle Liccardo to the podcast! 🎭An actress, movement specialist, intimacy coordinator, and teacher, Danielle shares her journey into the world of performance and pedagogy, including her path to becoming a Williamson Technique certified Master teacher.The conversation dives deep into how Loyd Williamson’s Movement Training reshaped her life and craft; and why this powerful technique remains a formative, transformative tool for actors at every stage of their careers. From embodiment to presence to personal growth, this episode is packed with insight, heart, and inspiration. ✨DANIELLE LICCARDO is a designated Master teacher of the Williamson Technique Certified by mentor Loyd Williamson. Ms. Liccardo has been teaching physical technique to actors for over twenty-five years and one of few appointed by Mr. Williamson to train teachers in his technique. Ms. Liccardo studied towards a BA degree in English/Literature and Drama as a double major from Caldwell University - Summa Cum Laude. As an actress she studied under the direction of Kathryn Gately in New York City, in the classical conservatory at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in London, master classes with the SITI company, the American Globe and with The Original Shakespeare Company in the UK. She has worked abroad, off-broadway, regionally, in voice-overs and in film. Ms. Liccardo has been the core movement specialist in the professional acting conservatory at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where she is an Asst. Professor, teaching physical technique as well as advanced movement and period style work to the BFA and MFA acting candidates since 1997; and is the resident movement coach for the Rutgers Theater Company. She has designed a unique physical training component for the actor that envelopes the teachings of mentor Loyd Williamson, Tadashi Suzuki, experimental theatre and composition, and ensemble creation. Ms. Liccardo directs and creates original physical performances annually at both Mason Gross School of the Arts and in New York. She is an Intimacy Director and strong advocate for actors, coaching and teaching workshops in this realm to actors, directors, stage managers and designers in the theater world, film and television. She is an active movement coach and consultant in NYC, regionally and abroad; and has been the co-founder of Inertia Productions, Inc. a not-for-profit theatre company in New York City where she has served as Artistic Director for over twenty years. Ms. Liccardo has also been on faculty at Drew University, New York University - Tisch School of the Arts, at Actors Movement Studio/NYC, at Maggie Flanigan Acting Studio, has been a member of the Association of Theater Movement Educators and has proudly sat on numerous artistic and educational panels and committees collaborating with interdisciplinary studies across the arts and sciences.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 7 of Season 2, Kevin and Carson welcome the brilliant Meisner teacher Barbara Marchant to It's Not (NOT) A #MeisnerPodcast.Together, they dive deep into the legendary Second Year of Meisner training: breaking down the progression from impediments and nursery rhymes, through actions, character work, and all the way to Spoon River. 📖A rich, practical conversation about craft, structure, and why Meisner’s sequencing still hits so hard in an actor’s development. 🎯🧠BARBARA MARCHANT was the Associate Chair of the Theater Department, Head of the BFA/ MFA Acting program, and Director of the Rutgers Conservatory Training Program at Shakespeare’s Globe at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. She was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award by Rutgers University and is the co-founder of the Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe in London England. Barbara was trained by William Esper and, for the past thirty years, has taught at the William Esper Studio in NYC. Her acting credits include numerous productions in New York, both on Broadway and Off Broadway, US regional theatres and network daytime television. She is a professional coach with experience in theater, film, and prime time television both in the U.S and the U.K. Her work with Black and Blue resulted in a coveted Tony Award in New York and internationally, France’s prestigious Moliere Award as well as a nomination for England’s Olivier Award. Barbara is the author of “A Young Actors Scenebook: A Training Tool,” published by Rowan and Littlefield, is profiled in “Who’s Who of American Women” and is the recipient of the Rutgers University 2017 Warren I. Sussman award for Excellence in Teaching.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan Mail💡In this week’s episode, Kevin and Carson (joined by our brilliant sound engineer Will Ehren) dive deep into Meisner’s concept of Implanted Meanings: what they are, how they work, and how actors can actually use them in their craft. We build directly off last week’s breakdown of Crafting, pulling it apart and connecting theory to usable, on-your-feet technique.Along the way:☕ Kevin explains his strong feelings about Throat Coat tea😂 We unpack inside jokes that evolve with each new generation (yes... Kevin does know about 6-7)🎬 & Plenty of practical, actor-facing application, not just academic theoryAnd hey!! 📩 Send us your questions to the email below for the Season 2 finale coming up in a few weeks. We want to hear from YOU! (yes, YOU - the one reading this right now)Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailAfter a month-long holiday hiatus, Kevin and Carson are back with Episode 5 of Season Two of It’s Not (NOT) A Meisner Podcast.In this episode, “Eliminate What It Isn’t!” they dig into Sanford Meisner’s true meaning of “crafting,” unpack Kristen Stewart’s recent New York Times interview on Method Acting, and challenge one of the most persistent misconceptions in actor training: that (for an actor) there is such a thing as a “scene.”What is technique actually for? Where does preparation end and living begin? And what happens when you strip away everything that isn’t acting?🎭 Honest. Practical. Occasionally heretical.Welcome back.🚨Email us questions and they will be answered in the Season Two Finale! [email protected] & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan Mail🎙️ In EP04 of Season 2, acting teacher & director Kevin Kittle and his student Carson S. Davis dig into Meisner’s Opened-Up Activity; and why it can explode your spontaneity and specificity when you stop “performing” and start doing. 🧱 Then we talk about a deceptively powerful trick: making it harder on your character (aka adding obstacles that raise the stakes)—because when the situation gets tougher, the scene gets more alive. 🔥☕️ And yes… Kevin recently discovered the phrase “spill the tea," so we unpack that too, in the most actor-brain way possible. 😂STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES! Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn EP03 of Season 2, Kevin and Carson dive into Sanford Meisner’s sometimes elusive, always electric ⚡️ concept of Emotional Preparation. What is it really? Why does it matter? And why do so many actors twist themselves into knots 🤯 trying to “get it right”?  They break down Meisner’s idea as both a skill and a tool—every bit as essential to an actor as a hammer is to a carpenter 🔨. With stories, clarity, and a few laughs along the way 😂, they remind you of the simplest truth: don’t overthink it.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn the second episode of Season 2, Kevin & Carson kick off a multi-episode arc exploring the value of emotion for the actor — and why Acting is DOING, not EMOTING. 💥They dive deep into a powerful quote from Konstantin Stanislavski, unpacking what it means to bring your own truth to every role — from Shakespeare to Soap Operas. 🎬✨Have a topic you’d love to hear on a future episode? 🎙️DM us on Instagram or drop an email — links below! 📩Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn our premiere episode of SEASON 2, Kevin & Carson welcome the great Brandon Flynn to It's Not (NOT) A Meisner Podcast, where they discuss Brandon's career, being a young actor in the digital age, and Greek mythology.BRANDON FLYNN is an actor best known for his breakout role as Justin Foley in Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. A graduate of Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, Flynn has built a versatile career across television, film, and theatre.  His recent screen work includes Manhunt on Apple TV+, the horror-comedy The Parenting, Ratched, True Detective, and Looks That Kill. On stage, he’s appeared in the world premiere of Kowalski and at the prestigious Williamstown Theatre Festival in Jeremy O. Harris' new play Spirit of the People.  Flynn is set to appear as the legendary James Dean in an upcoming biopic.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan Mail🎉 After 15 installments of diving deep into Sanford Meisner’s technique, Kevin Kittle & Carson S. Davis sit down to reflect on the first season of It’s Not NOT a Meisner Podcast and answer YOUR questions & comments sent in over the past few months. 💌From debates on whether “talent is something you either have or you don’t” 🤔, to the role of training vs. raw creativity 🎨, to how actors of the past approached their craft before formal techniques... we’re covering it all. Kevin also speaks on teaching today’s generation of actors, the challenges he’s seen over decades in the classroom, and what he wishes he could wave away from contemporary culture. 🪄It’s a heartfelt, challenging, and celebratory episode as we close out Season One. 🌟 Whether you’ve been with us since Episode 1 or you’re just joining in, this finale is a chance to pause, reflect, and lean deeper into the work. Don't worry... we'll be back in a few (short) weeks. 🎭Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn EP09, PT2, the Golden Globe & Emmy-nominee, Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory, The Flight Attendant), joins Kevin & Carson for a conversation that’s funny, candid, and full of heart. ⭐Actors won’t want to miss this one — Kaley may hate talking about acting, but what she reveals is gold:✨ Why not overthinking can make you more present and truthful💡 The power of joy, play, and generosity on set — and why kindness matters as much as talent🐶 How building balance through her dog wellness company Oh Norman!, motherhood, and production company makes her stronger as an actor😂 Lessons from John Ritter, Chris Messina, and her own journey through TV, film, and stageKaley’s humor, honesty, and kindness shine through every moment — reminding actors that the best “technique” is often simple: show up, be present, and bring yourself fully. 💖Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailKevin & Carson unpack what it really means for actors to make positive choices—not “good” in the moral sense, but choices that keep you open, available, and fully alive in the moment. 💡 Whether it’s in a scene, an exercise, or life, the duo digs into why leaning into these expansive choices fuels richer experiences and deeper truth in your work. 👂In this episode:🛠 How to recognize and craft positive choices in acting🤔 Why some choices shut you down instead of opening you up😂 Romper Room nostalgia, and the art of feeling truly “seen”It’s a warm, funny, and eye-opening conversation that reminds us: the best acting lives where you’re most available to the experience. 🎬✨Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn this visual follow-up to our Meisner "Independent Activity" breakdown, Kevin & Carson get out of the chairs and into the doing. Joined by actors Will Ehren, Camila Canó-Flaviá, and Ryann Meyers, we put theory into practice — showing how the exercise actually looks, feels, and evolves in real time. 🎭🛠️🧠 What are the rules?👀 Why are you doing what you are doing?🔥 And what happens when the repetition collides with the doing?Whether you're listening 🎧 or watching 📺 (yes, there’s a YouTube demo!), this one brings the Meisner technique to life.LINK HEREInstagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan Mail🎭🛠️ In Part 1 of EP08, Kevin and Carson unpack Sanford Meisner's Activity Exercise: what it is, why it matters, and how it's often misunderstood. This exercise isn’t about sitting around waiting to feel something — it’s about doing, truthfully and fully. After all, it’s not called FEELer — it’s called ACTor. 🎬 To act is to DO. ✅ Whether you’re just starting out or deepening your craft, this conversation dives into what it really means to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances — by doing the work. 🧰⏰ Stay tuned next week for an exciting Activity DEMO with some professional, Meisner-trained actors! 🎥Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan Mail🎭 In EP07, Kevin & Carson sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright & actor Stephen Adly Guirgis. They talk about his rise with LAByrinth Theater Company, his legendary playwright/director collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman, and his deep connection to the Meisner Acting Technique. 🏆STEPHEN ADLY GUIRGIS is a member and former co-artistic director of LAByrinth Theater Company. His upcoming stage adaptation of Dog Day Afternoon, starring Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, will bow on Broadway next year. He won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Between Riverside and Crazy, which was revived on Broadway in 2023. His plays include Our Lady of 121st Street (Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train (Fringe First Award, Barrymore Award, Olivier nomination), In Arabia We’d All Be Kings, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (with Sam Rockwell), and The Little Flower of East Orange (with Ellen Burstyn and Michael Shannon). All five were directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and originally produced by LAByrinth. His Broadway play The Motherf**ker with the Hat (six Tony nominations, including Best Play) was directed by Anna D. Shapiro and starred Chris Rock and Bobby Cannavale. In London, his work has premiered at the National Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse, and the Almeida (directed by Rupert Goold). Guirgis co-created Netflix’s The Get Down with Baz Luhrmann. As an actor, he has appeared in theater, film, and television, including roles in HBO Max’s Winning Time (opposite John C. Reilly), Owen Kline’s Funny Pages, Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret, Todd Solondz’s Palindromes, and Brett C. Leonard’s Jailbait (opposite Michael Pitt). A former violence prevention specialist and HIV educator, he lives in New York City.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailCLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE!In EP06 PT2, Kevin & Carson hold a visual demo 🎭 of Meisner's famous (or infamous) Repetition Exercise. 🎉 They invite actors CHARLOTTE FOUNTAIN-JARDIM (DOC on Fox) & LAURA SOHN (Agent Alina Park on NBC's The Blacklist) to participate, while Kevin coaches them through the moment-to-moment work 🔁. This episode gives viewers a real-time look at an exercise that’s often misunderstood — and shows how powerful it can be when done truthfully 💥👀.Check it out at the YouTube link above!LAURA SOHN was born and raised in New Jersey.  She has appeared on Instinct, NCIS: New Orleans, God Friended Me and is most notably known for her role as Agent Alina Park on NBC's The Blacklist. Laura received her BFA in Acting from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.CHARLOTTE FOUNTAIN-JARDIM has appeared in Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Natty Knocks, and most recently as Molly Parker's daughter in DOC on Fox. BFA, Acting, Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn EP06 PT1, Kevin and Carson dive into the origin and theory behind Sanford Meisner’s landmark repetition exercise. 🔁 They explore how and why Meisner developed it, what sets it apart from other acting techniques, and how it trains actors to respond truthfully in the moment. 🎬✨ Whether you're new to Meisner or revisiting the work, this conversation lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of the craft.  🎭🧠👀 Stay tuned for Part 2 next week! We’ll move from theory to practice with two amazing Meisner-trained actors walking us through the exercise in action. 🎤🎭Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn EP05 of It's Not NOT A Meisner Podcast, Kevin & Carson open up the inbox and tackle your listener questions! 💌💭 From Suzuki 🦶 to Actioning techniques 🧠, those magical “aha” moments ✨, and what it really means to be an actor in the digital age 📱🎬 — we’re covering it all.Got a Theatre/Acting question for next time?📧 Email us at [email protected] & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn this follow-up to last week’s episode on The Three C's, the wonderful Jasmine Carmichael joins Kevin & Carson for a deeper dive into what it really takes to become the artist you want to be in the modern age.In Part 2 of Episode 04, we explore:✨ What commitment looks like in the modern age🧠 The role of self-care in sustaining focus and energy🎭 How to always bring your A-game — whether you're taping at home, auditioning live, or stepping onto set.JASMINE CARMICHAEL is a NJ based actress, director and arts educator with over a decade of experience as a professional artist. Jasmine is also the Education Associate for coLAB Arts, where she has facilitated the production of socially engaged art in classrooms, community spaces and corporate entities. Jasmine is motivated by her desire to foster empathy, collaboration, and understanding through dramatic and fine art and help young artists pursue their dreams with confidence. Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailThis week, Kevin and Carson break down the three essentials every young actor should have in their toolkit:Commitment 🎯 – Showing up fully, even when it’s hardConcentration 🧠 – Staying present in the momentCollaboration 🤝 – Because acting is NOT a solo sportKevin also invites a live classroom of students to join the conversation and ask their own questions — bringing real voices and real curiosity to the mic.Stayed tuned next week for EP04, PT2 featuring a very special guest. Don't forget to send your questions into us via the email below!Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailThis week, Kevin and Carson dive even deeper with the radiant Eli Pauley 🌟—teacher, actor, director, and lifelong student of the craft.  Eli opens up about chasing this art form with hunger, heart, and humor. In this interview you will hear about:🎓 What it really means to pursue training—and keep pursuing it ❤️ Navigating the industry with integrity, humor, and heart 💡 The importance of mentorship, curiosity, and showing up 🔁 Teaching Theatre vs. Teaching Through Theatre ELI PAULEY is a NYC based theatre artist who teaches a lot, directs often, and acts occasionally. She currently teaches at the Yale Summer Conservatory, and the Interlochen Arts Camp and is newly on the Acting faculty at Rutgers/Mason Gross School of the Arts. Eli did a post-graduate teaching fellowship at The Juilliard School under the mentorship of Evan Yionoulis and Richard Feldman. She received her BFA in Acting from Rutgers and her MFA in Acting from the Yale School of Drama. To keep up with Eli or study with her, go to: www.elipauley.comInstagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailDive deep into the value of performance with Kevin Kittle and Carson S. Davis as they explore why theater is (arguably) humanity's most powerful art form:From cave paintings to modern stages, discover theater's ancient roots 🌟Unpack how performances challenge societal & political norms, sparking personal growth 🔍Hear hilarious & profound stories about the transformative power of storytelling 🤡Stay tuned next week for EP03, PT2 with our very special guest, Eli Pauley! A must-listen for actors, artists, and anyone curious about the magic of human expression! 🎭Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailTOM PELPHREY (@tommypelphrey) is a powerhouse actor known for OZARK (Emmy nomination), BANSHEE, LOVE & DEATH, OUTER RANGE, A MAN IN FULL, and MANK. An @mgsarutgers alumnus trained in the Meisner technique, Tom’s stage credits include Broadway’s “Fool for Love” and “End of the Rainbow.” Catch him next in HBO’s TASK, starring alongside Mark Ruffalo in a gritty Philly-set crime drama from the creator of “Mare of Easttown.”Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of It’s Not NOT a Meisner Podcast, hosts Kevin Kittle and Carson S. Davis unpack the mind of acting legend Konstantin Stanislavski and his powerful writings on Artistic Truth and Natural Beauty.What does it mean to make fiction feel real? Why is emotional honesty more important than surface-level realism? Kevin and Carson explore how actors can access truth, return to a childlike sense of presence, and bring authenticity to every moment on stage.You’ll hear about:🎭 The difference between external beauty and internal truth🌀 Making an “untruth” feel completely truthful🌱 Why nature and artistic truth are inseparable🧠 How to stay present, undefended, and emotionally availableWhether you're an actor, teacher, or theater nerd, this episode is your invitation to dig deeper into the why of acting—not just the how.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]

Send us Fan MailIn the inaugural episode of It’s Not NOT A Meisner Podcast, acting teacher & director Kevin Kittle teams up with his student, Carson S. Davis, to kick things off with a candid, teacher-to-student conversation about Sanford Meisner's legendary acting technique.Kevin & Carson introduce themselves, talk about their shared history, and dive into the heart of the Meisner Technique — starting with Sanford’s genius definition of Acting.  What does it really mean to “live truthfully under imaginary circumstances”?  And why is that definition so often misunderstood?Let's get to work.Instagram & TikTok: @meisnerpodcast | Want your question answered in a future episode? Email us at [[email protected]]