That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse
by Alyshia Ochse
Film/Television Actress, Producer, Best-Selling Author and Entrepreneur Alyshia Ochse hosts an honest, humorous and inspirational podcast with your favorite on-screen storytellers and Hollywood influencers who reveal their most life changing audition tales as well as the survival skills they've collected along the way.
Episodes
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WENDY BRAUN: From Nervous Wreck to Emmy-Nominated Show
Wendy Braun is a working actor, mindset coach, and creator of the Success Breakthrough workshop featured in Forbes — but this episode is really about the moment she sat in her car outside a preschool, ready to quit the business, and chose to stay. Working since 1995 with credits on Grey's…
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: This Is Not a Co-Star
In this episode, 23 years as a SAG-AFTRA member, and I'm watching eight-page, plot-driving roles get labeled "Large Co-star" by CBS, ABC, HBO, Netflix, and Apple — a mislabel that's the difference between needing 23 TV bookings a year to qualify for health and pension versus needing 3. This week,...
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LUKE TENNIE: Don't Outsource Your Artistic Soul
Today we sit down with Luke Tennie — the Shrinking, Abbott Elementary, and Nickel Boys actor whose path to Hollywood began not in an acting class but on a football field, where being "too small" for the O-line turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him. Luke takes us inside his...
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NATALIE MARTINEZ: The Tape They Never Saw
Today we're sitting down with the luminous Natalie Martinez, whose path to Hollywood started not in a classroom or on a stage — but at a mall in Miami, wearing a tank top and no bra, auditioning for Jennifer Lopez on a $100 bet from her mom. From winning J.Lo's national model search to becoming…
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CHRISTOPHER THORNTON: The Actor Who Stayed
Christopher Thornton — actor, writer, teacher, and one of the most quietly extraordinary storytellers working in Hollywood today. His journey is not a straight line. It is a rock climbing accident that fractured two vertebrae and left him in a wheelchair — and an agency that dropped him in a…
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: You're the Actor - Figure It Out!
Cara Jade Myers asked Martin Scorsese how he wanted her to play Anna in Killers of the Flower Moon. He said — "You're the actor. Figure it out." And that single sentence gave her permission to know exactly what to do. This week we unpack why the permission you've been waiting for has always been...
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CARA JADE MYERS: From Craft Services to Scorsese
Today we are sitting down with Cara Jade Myers — the Native American actress who spent ten years grinding through background work, PA gigs, and craft services before booking one of the most coveted roles in recent Hollywood history: Anna in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Cara takes...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Misdirection on Tapes
Okay. A LAMDA trained British actor who is also a fully practicing member of The Magic Circle walked into this week's episode and completely changed how I think about self tapes. Brendan Patricks — Downton Abbey, Rivals, Gentleman Jack — figured out that the same techniques magicians use to…
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BRENDAN PATRICKS: Sleight of Hand in Self Tapes
Today, we're joined by Brendan Patricks, the British actor and close-up magician whose 20-plus-year career has taken him from the West End to acclaimed series like Downton Abbey, Rivals, and Gentleman Jack. Brendan shares how picking up his first deck of cards at 21, after his father gave him a...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Chop Wood, Carry Water
Cindy Busby spent two years in a career slump that almost broke her — and came back with a philosophy that changed everything. This week we get honest about the part nobody talks about: the hurt that lands in your body even when your head knows casting is selection not rejection. We break down…
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CINDY BUSBY: Hold a Vision For Yourself
Today, we're stepping inside the audition room with Cindy Busby, an actress who has built an incredible two-decade career with more than 20 leading roles across film and television. From her breakout role as Ashley Stanton on the beloved series Heartland, to starring in fan favorites like...
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BILL GLASS: Behind Progressive's Famous Mustache
Get ready for an incredibly fun and insightful episode as we sit down with the hilariously talented Bill Glass, the actor behind one of the most recognizable faces, and fake mustaches, on television as Progressive's legendary "Dr. Rick"! In this conversation, Bill takes us back to his Chicago…
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Review the Game Tape
Inspired by Michelle Lang's jaw-dropping creative renaissance — 80 million views, a Netflix directing credit, and a full career reinvention at 43 — this week we tackle the one practice every great athlete, musician, and director swears by that most actors completely avoid. Watching their own…
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MICHELLE LANG: Cheat Codes for Actors
Today, we are joined by the phenomenal multi-hyphenate Michelle Lang, who bypassed the traditional studio system to carve out an extraordinary career as an actress, stunt performer, producer, and director. In this episode, Michelle shares her invaluable "cheat codes" for navigating the industry,...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Stop Performing For The Camera
Logan Marshall-Green said it took him over a decade to truly own himself in front of a camera — and he also said something that reframes why it takes so long for all of us: "You don't make art to impress. You make art to unveil something about yourself." This week we break down the difference...
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LOGAN MARSHALL-GREEN: The Walkaway Philosophy
Today, we're sitting down with powerhouse actor Logan Marshall-Green, who has spent decades carving out an extraordinary career from the stage to the screen. His story begins with famously turning down a role in Terminator 3 in order to finish his MFA. In this episode, Logan takes us through his...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Slaying Your Tapes
In this episode, what does casting look for when you are self-taping? This week's Wednesday Wisdom is a look inside Slaytember 2026, a three-week live casting class from Anna LaMadrid (HBO's The Rehearsal) and Alyshia Ochse (HBO's True Detective) that walks actors through a full TV pilot audition...
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ALEX BONIFER: Yes And-ing Yourself
Today's guest, Alex Bonifer, has taken a decidedly unconventional route to becoming a standout in some of television's most unique comedies. A summer improv class, forced upon him by his father, set him on a twelve-year journey through legendary comedy institutions including iO West, UCB, and The...
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RERUN | Jason Momoa: A Man That Does It All
Jason Momoa was the FIRST one to audition for GAME OF THRONES and the LAST one cast a year later. His cousin's impact on his life helped him make a strong choice that ultimately landed him the role. But it took him a few years and a couple of classes to trust his instinctive strong choices and...
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RERUN | Michelle Monaghan: From a Town of 700 to America's IT Girl
With thick skin, an optimist's heart and a realist's mind, the incomparable Michelle Monaghan tells us how being championed by her parents in a town of 700, mentored by Frances McDormand in North Country, and ending up on Constantine's cutting room floor gave her the courage, confidence and...
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RERUN | Steve Howey: He Shocks Himself Into Booking Roles — Literally 😱
From High Potential and The Lincoln Lawyer to nuanced and honest portrayals of fatherhood-gone-wild across Showtime's EMMY® Award-nominated series SHAMELESS and palpable intensity on the likes of SONS OF ANARCHY, Steve Howey reflects a classic masculinity on-screen equally steeped in humor and...
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RERUN | Michael Urie: Before SHRINKING
Before his role on Apple TV+'s hit comedy "Shrinking," Michael Urie was a native Texan active in Speech & Drama all through high school. He trained in theatre studies at Collin County Community College before being accepted at the Juilliard School, where he was the recipient of the John Houseman...
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RERUN | Sarah Drew: Champagne Celebrations
Multi-hyphenate actor, producer, writer, and director, Sarah Drew is best known for playing 'Dr. April Kepner' for nine seasons on the hit ABC series "Grey's Anatomy" and Hannah Rogers in Warner Bros' "Everwood". Her recent TV credits include Freeform's hit series "Cruel Summer" which was the...
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RERUN | Tom Pelphrey: Master Work at PLAY
Tom was born and raised in New Jersey. He grew up in the town of Howell, where he attended the Fine and Performing Arts Center at Howell High School. Upon graduation, he attended Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (obtaining a BFA in acting), where he also had the opportunity to...
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RERUN | Monica Barbaro: Never Stop Being A Student
Monica Barbaro can soon be seen starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Netflix's global spy-adventure/comedy series, FUBAR, out May 25th. The duo play a father and daughter who, after learning the other has secretly been working as a CIA operative for years, are forced to team up and tackle...
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RERUN | Patrick Adams: Navigating the Changing Waves of Your Career
For seven seasons Patrick J. Adams has charmed audiences worldwide, as Mike Ross in USA's hit drama, "Suits," a role which garnered him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series. Adams took on the role of Major John Glenn…
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ABUBAKAR SALIM: Trusting His Instinct Booked Ridley Scott
Today, we're diving into the incredible journey of Abubakar Salim, an actor who at just 16, gave himself a life-altering ultimatum: break into the National Youth Theatre or join the Army. From that high-stakes beginning, Abubakar has navigated the industry by constantly chasing the raw…
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JONNY COYNE: The Resilience Behind Hollywood's Favorite Villain
Today we're diving into the incredible journey of Johnny Coyne, an actor who traveled from the rugged mountains of Cyprus to the legendary sets of the Star Wars universe. Known for his "great face" and iconic turns as authoritarian villains in The Blacklist, Preacher, and Alcatraz, Johnny pulls...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Write Your Way In — Why Creating Your Own Content Is the New Audition
Dan Perrault was sharing a bedroom with four other guys in Los Angeles when he decided to stop waiting for the industry to hand him an invitation — and start writing his own. This week, inspired by the co-creator of American Vandal and Peabody Award winner, we're breaking down why creating your…
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DAN PERRAULT: Writing Your Way In
How do you go from sharing a cramped Los Angeles bedroom with four other guys to landing a full series order from Netflix off a single pitch? In today's episode, we sit down with Dan Perrault, the visionary co-creator of the hit mockumentary American Vandal and the series Players, to explore his...
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MARGOT BINGHAM: Befriending the Jitters
From the streets of Pittsburgh to the high-stakes stages of Broadway and HBO, join us for an electrifying look into the career of Margot Bingham. Margot shares the raw story of moving to New York City with a 12-month ultimatum from her parents, only to beat the odds by becoming the only person...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The Bold Swing That Books the Room
Devan Chandler Long said it plainly — "It's embarrassing not to go for it. Because if you don't commit 100%, you fail 100%." This week we get brutally honest about the subtle ways actors hold back without even realizing it — the bold choice quietly walked back mid-scene, the perfectly safe take...
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DEVAN CHANDLER LONG: Not Playing It Safe Landed Him on Ghosts
Get ready for a wild ride with today's guest, Devan Chandler Long, the hilarious heart behind the Viking "Thorfinn" on CBS's Ghosts. In this episode, Devan shares the eerie psychic prediction that saw him playing a Viking weeks before the audition for Ghosts even existed, plus the manifestation...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Borrow Brilliance... Again
Tonatiuh said it plainly, "My naturalism comes because I rehearse the shit out of it so that every movement feels a little bit freer." This week, inspired by his raw and unfiltered journey from years of valley moments to starring opposite Jennifer Lopez and landing Netflix's second most-watched...
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TONATIUH: Choreographing the Camera
Today, we are joined by the incredibly candid Tonatiuh, whose journey from years of uncertainty and hard-fought perseverance to starring opposite Jennifer Lopez is a testament to resilience, belief, and radical persistence. We dive into the "artistic altitude" of a career that spans from a…
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JOHN MAGARO: The Voyeuristic Actor
Welcome to an unforgettable episode where we dive deep into the "lottery" of the acting world with the remarkably talented John Magaro. Join us as John reveals how he transitioned from the "analytical bullshit" of conservatory training to a career defined by honesty and discovery, sharing the…
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The Audition IS The Job
In this episode, Conor Leslie said it simply — "I don't know who they're gonna hire. I'm just going to do what I feel I want do." This week we combine her hard-won wisdom with Richie Moriarty's game-changing mindset shift to break down what it really means to walk in already decided — and why…
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CONOR LESLIE: Dance for You, Not for Them
Today, we are joined by the incredibly versatile Conor Leslie, an actress with two decades of experience who is pulling back the curtain on the high-stakes reality of the film industry. In this episode, we dive deep into the ultimate "actor's nightmare"—stepping into the lead role of a...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The Bridge for Actors
In this episode, actress and intimacy coordinator Sarah Scott joins Alyshia and Anna La Madrid to talk returning to acting, rebuilding confidence, and the self-tape shifts that landed her first callback in years. Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical…
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WILSON BETHEL: Act Like It's Yours
Join us today for an incredible look at Wilson Bethel and one of the most fascinating "humble pie" journeys in Hollywood. From his early days as a competitive tennis player to performing spoken word poetry to land his first agent at just 19, Wilson's path has been anything but traditional. You...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Trust Yourself
In this episode, we explore two guests this week. Two completely different paths. One lesson that ran through both conversations — do you actually trust yourself? Inspired by Christina Chang's powerful question "do I trust me?" and Julee Cerda's story of running late to her first major TV…
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JULEE CERDA: Balancing Motherhood and Broadway's Othello
Today we're diving into the incredible, globe-spanning journey of Julee Cerda, who traded the high-energy grind of New York City's Broadway stages for a new life in London. From booking a major nine-episode arc on Blindspot after taping an audition in a camping cabin, to landing a coveted role in...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Active Listening
Six words from Dylan Walsh stopped us cold this week — "Where I learned to listen is off camera." So what does that mean when it's just you, a few lights, and a reader on the phone? We break down why we spend four times as much time on the other person's lines, why slowing down in the world of...
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COLIN LAWRENCE: The Cinderella Shoe — Finding the Perfect Fit on Virgin River
Get ready for an inspiring deep dive into the 30-year journey of Colin Lawrence, the man behind the beloved character "Preacher" on Netflix's global hit Virgin River. We explore the incredible hustle that took Colin from working in a Vancouver office supply store to carrying a "duffle bag of...
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Frame the Story, Own the Scene
In this episode, we're diving into the art of compression — how to walk into any audition, hit record on any self tape, and tell a complete, committed story in the small window you're given. We're also pulling back the curtain on week one of Self Tape May: Action & Horror. Using a real horror...
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KAHYUN KIM: Auditioning Her Way Landed St. Denis Medical
Get ready for an incredible journey from Korea to Hollywood with actress Kahyun Kim, whose path to success is defined by grit and vision. From navigating Juilliard to overcoming visa hurdles and building a career in her second language, her story is one of resilience and determination. She shares...
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RICHIE MORIARTY: The Improv Hustle Behind His GHOSTS Breakout
Today we're joined by the multi-talented Richie Moriarty, whose comedic journey began with impressions and the stages of UCB and continues today on the hit series Ghosts. From trolling Craigslist for photography gigs to support his early acting days to landing a surreal meeting in Lorne Michaels'...
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DYLAN WALSH: Preparing the Cottage on Heated Rivalry
Today we dive into the incredible 40-year journey of Dylan Walsh, a true veteran who embodies persistence in Hollywood. Dylan has worked with some of the industry's biggest legends and has the stories to prove it. He shares how a chance encounter with a then-unknown Julia Roberts helped launch…
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CHRISTINA CHANG: 'Mom of the Century' in Heated Rivalry
In today's episode, we dive deep into Christina Chang's artistic evolution—from the "mental gymnastics" of navigating a year-and-a-half between projects to the bold decision to turn down a lucrative travel hosting contract to stay true to her acting roots. You'll hear the riveting…
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WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Don't Cut On Yourself
Your best take might be the one you think you ruined. In this episode, a coaching session with a brilliant actress reveals one of the most common and costly habits actors carry into the room, the self-tape, and onto Zoom — cutting on themselves the moment something real and unexpected starts to...
About this show
Film/Television Actress, Producer, Best-Selling Author and Entrepreneur Alyshia Ochse hosts an honest, humorous and inspirational podcast with your favorite on-screen storytellers and Hollywood influencers who reveal their most life changing audition tales as well as the survival skills they've collected along the way.
Hosted by
Alyshia Ochse
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