THE HOLLYWOOD PODCAST

Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor Bruce Davison is best known for his work in past films such as Longtime Companion, The Crucible, Short Cuts and X-Men as well as series like Harry and the Hendersons and more recently Ozark, Bosch, and 1923. He’s now out with his latest film CASA GRANDE which is about a prodigal daughter who rejoins her family at their farm during a difficult time, as her ailing father faces both a terminal diagnosis and mounting pressure from competitors.

Terrance Dwyer is an Emmy-winning re-recording mixer who’s helped define how some of the most iconic reality shows actually feel to watch. He’s been with Survivor since day one, mixing over 750 consecutive episodes and shaping the sound of everything from intense challenges to remote, cinematic environments. We’re now currently in the midst of the latest season of Survivor, the milestone 50th, which is releasing episodes weekly on CBS/Paramount+.Beyond Survivor, his work spans major shows like Fear Factor and Wipeout—all places where sound plays a huge role in building tension, drama, and immersion.

John Magaro is an actor who’s built a really compelling career playing complex, deeply grounded characters across films and shows such as Past Lives, September 5, First Cow, The Umbrella Academy and The Agency.He stars in the new film Omaha, which is a quietly powerful, incredibly restrained piece that tells the story of a father who takes his two children on a road trip across the US after their home is foreclosed. It is set to open in theaters this Friday, April 24.

Ava Lalezarzadeh is an actor who is part of the Tony-nominated play English. The play, written by Sanaz Toossi, is about four adult students in 2008 Iran studying for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam. The students struggle with the loss of their native language and identity, navigating the tension between their authentic selves and the identities they adopt while speaking English. After a critically applauded run on Broadway, the show is now enjoying a limited run in Los Angeles at The Wallis, sharing this story with West Coast audiences for the first time.

For decades, Amy Goodman has been the one asking the questions—challenging presidents, reporting from conflict zones, and building Democracy Now! into one of the most prominent independent news platforms in the world.Now, in Steal This Story, Please!, she’s the subject.The film comes from Oscar-nominated directors Carl Deal and Tia Lessin, who go behind the scenes of Goodman’s work and the broader fight over who controls the narrative in American media—at a moment when trust in journalism, and the idea of truth itself, feels increasingly unstable.

I’m joined by filmmaker Marcie Hume, director of the new documentary Corey Feldman vs The World — a film more than a decade in the making.With unusually intimate access to Corey Feldman, Marcie doesn’t set out to defend or prosecute him. Instead, she drops us inside his world — at home, on tour, in moments that are hilarious, surreal, uncomfortable, and sometimes unexpectedly serious.

Today, I’m joined by director Ricard Cusso and writer Elise Allen to talk about their upcoming animated feature The Pout-Pout Fish, based on the beloved children’s book series. The film follows an unlikely undersea duo — a prickly recluse named Mr. Fish and an exuberant sea dragon called Pip — who set off on an ocean-spanning quest to save their homes by finding a mythical wish-granting fish.Ricard is one of Australia’s leading animation directors, known for films like Scarygirl and the Tales From Sanctuary City franchise, while Elise is an Emmy-nominated writer and bestselling author whose work spans everything from Princess Power to more than fifteen Barbie films.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by the electrifying Aura Mayari — drag artist, actor, and breakout star from RuPaul's Drag Race. She’s currently lighting up the stage in Here Lies Love, the high-energy, disco-driven musical about the rise and fall of Imelda Marcos, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles after its' celebrated Broadway run.

For our pre-Oscars episode, former Variety editor Jenelle Riley joins me to discuss our final predictions for Hollywood's biggest night.

Today’s guests took one of the most universal human gestures — a kiss — and made it feel entirely new.Their Oscar-nominated live action short Two People Exchanging Saliva takes place in a dystopian world where kissing is punishable by death.I’m joined by the filmmakers behind it, Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata.

Oscar-nominated film editor Olivier Bugge Coutté is a filmmaker whose work has quietly shaped some of the most emotionally resonant European films of the past decade. His previous films include Beginners, Oslo August 31st, The Worst Person in the World, and The Apprentice. His latest project, Sentimental Value, is what has earned him his first Oscar nomination in addition to 8 other nominations including Best Picture.

Today's episode features the Oscar-nominated visual effects team behind Jurassic World: Rebirth — four artists whose work has helped define modern blockbuster spectacle.Charmaine Chan is a veteran VFX supervisor whose past credits include A Quiet Place Day One, The Acolyte and The Creator. Jurassic World: Rebirth is her first Oscar nomination.David Vickery is a VFX supervisor at Industrial Light & Magic. He has overseen groundbreaking work on films such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 for which he was previously nominated as well as films such as Avatar: The Way of Water and Jurassic World: Dominion. Steve Aplin’s previous credits also include Gladiator 2 and Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker as well as Aladdin, Jupiter Ascending and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This is also Steve’s first nomination2-time Oscar winner Neil Corbould, one of the industry’s leading special effects supervisors, has worked on films such as Gravity & Gladiator (both of which he won for), as well as Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawn Down and so many other Blockbuster spectacles. He’s been nominated 9 times.Together, this team brings a rare fusion of cutting-edge digital artistry and practical effects expertise to Jurassic World: Rebirth, continuing the legacy of cinematic innovation that audiences have come to expect from the franchise.

Writer and director Lee Knight, whose latest film A Friend of Dorothy has quietly become one of the most powerful and personal films of the year, culminated in an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short. The film stars acclaimed BAFTA winning actress Miriam Margolyes as a lonely widow who befriends her teenage neighbour, depicting an unlikely, poignant bond over shared loneliness. The film also stars the legendary Stephen Fry.

Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski are an Oscar-nominated directing duo known for their hauntingly tactile approach to stop-motion animation. Their latest short, The Girl Who Cried Pearls—now nominated for Best Animated Short—continues their fascination with inner psychological worlds, blending surreal imagery with deeply human emotion. The film is about a poor boy living in Montreal at the dawn of the 20th century who falls in love with a girl whose sorrow turns into pearls. He sells them to a ruthless pawnbroker, who hungers for more. Tempted by greed, the boy must choose between love and fortune. The choice could damn his soul.

Director John Kelly and producer Andrew Freedman are the filmmakers behind the short film Retirement Plan has just earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film. The film is about a middle-aged man fantasizing about his future retirement. The 7-minute film has won numerous awards at festivals like SXSW and Palm Springs in addition to its' Oscar nomination.

Tony-nominated actress Lauren Worsham has built a dynamic career across Broadway, regional theater, and television. She was Tony nominated & won the Drama Desk Award for her performance in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, and has previously appeared in shows such as Sunday in the Park, Call Me Madam, Big River, and Where’s Charley (NY City Center Encores); Turn of the Screw  (NYC Opera), Showboat (NY Philharmonic), and Candide  (NYC Opera). She now stars in Amadeus at the Pasadena Playhouse.For more information on Clementine Hotel & Suites in Anaheim, check out the links below:20% Studio Suites Spring Sale https://reservations.clementinehotel.com/107731?accesscode=Spring&RatePlanId=10943244#/accommodation/room

Byron Howard, one of the key creative forces behind modern Disney animation, is nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film Oscar for ZOOTOPIA 2, which he directed alongside Jared Bush. He’s been at Walt Disney Animation Studios for decades and has directed or co-directed films like BOLT, TANGLED, ZOOTOPIA, and ENCANTO.His work has earned multiple Academy Award nominations and wins, including Oscars for ZOOTOPIA and ENCANTO.

Oscar-winning producer Ron Dyens is nominated at this year's Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film for BUTTERFLY - a beautiful film from director and acclaimed French animator Florence Miailhe which tells the story of Jewish French swimmer Alfred Nakache, who competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics in Nazi Germany. Dyens won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature last year for FLOW.

Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn Hampton are the directing duo behind the Oscar-nominated short documentary The Devil Is Busy, now streaming on HBO Max. The film chronicles a day on the frontlines in the battle for reproductive rights at a women's healthcare clinic in Atlanta.

Domee Shi and Madeline Sharafian are the directors of the Oscar-nominated animated film, Pixar's Elio.Shi is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker who directed Pixar’s Oscar-winning short Bao and the feature Turning Red.Sharafian is a director and longtime Pixar storyboard artist who worked on films such as Coco, Onward, and Turning Red. She directed the acclaimed Oscar-nominated SparkShort Burrow, and Elio marks her feature co-directing debut.

Today’s guest is cinematographer Ashley Barron who shot Episodes 1–3 of How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, now streaming on Netflix. The series is about three lifelong friends who  reunite after the death of an old classmate and turns a wake into a dark mystery. They embark on a thrilling adventure across Ireland, piecing together enigmatic truths amid complicated lives. Ashley helped establish the visual language of the series — balancing grief, mystery, and dark comedy while grounding the story in a richly atmospheric take on Ireland.

Co-writer John Kinnane and executive producer Jeffrey Azize discuss their work on their latest film SOLO MIO starring Kevin James and Alyson Hannigan.Left heartbroken in Rome after a wedding disaster, Kevin James plays a stranded groom who finds his ruined honeymoon transformed by a determined local and a few meddling travelers-proving that sometimes heartbreak is only the beginning.

Erica Dasher is an actor, writer, and director you know from Jane by Design. She’s back on TV in Peacock’s new series The Burbs, premiering February 8. Starring Keke Palmer and Jack Whitehall, the show is inspired by the cult-classic film — and Erica’s character sits at the center of the mystery driving the entire season. She’s fresh off a year on Broadway in the Tony Award–winning Leopoldstadt.

Ric Roman Waugh, a director and producer known for grounded, high-stakes storytelling, returns to the Greenland world with its' sequel Greenland 2: Migration, now being released on digital. His past directing credits include Angel Has Fallen, Shot Caller, Snitch, and Felon — films that combine large-scale action with deeply human stakes.

In celebration of the Blu Ray re-release of the 2009 modern indie cult comedy classic MYSTERY TEAM, the film's co-writer/director Dan Eckman and co-writer/actor DC Pierson are joining the show today. In this episode, they share how their viral online sketch comedy led to the making of the film.

Emmy–winning visual effects supervisor Eran Dinur has shaped unforgettable effects work across film and television, contributing to major titles like The Trial of the Chicago 7, Uncut Gems, Hereditary, The Greatest Showman, The Lost City of Z and The Wolf of Wall Street, as well as acclaimed TV such as Boardwalk Empire—for which he earned a Primetime Emmy and two Visual Effects Society awards. He’s joining us to talk about his latest film, the nine-time Oscar nominated film MARTY SUPREME directed by Josh Safdie and starring Timothee Chalamet, and the ambitious VFX work behind its stylized table-tennis action, massive period environments, and large-scale crowd sequences.

Costume designer Malgosia Turzanska, whose credits include The Green Knight, Hell or High Water, Stranger Things, X, Pearl, Expats, brings deeply emotional storytelling to her costuming work. She’s had two incredible films come out this year, Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar’s Train Dreams with Joel Edgerton and the other film, which is what we’re discussing, Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet with Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal.  Her work uses natural textures and subtle Elizabethan references to reflect grief, memory, and the inner lives of Agnes and William Shakespeare—earning her major awards attention this season.

Michael Ralla and James Alexander are part of the VFX team from Ryan Coogler’s SINNERS starring Michael B Jordan - which became a cultural phenomenon of a film this past year and now an awards juggernaut. Michael’s past credits include John Wick Chapter 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. James’s previous credits include The Marvels and the Disney+ series WandaVision.

Joachim Trier is an acclaimed Oscar-nominated writer-director known for emotionally precise films like Reprise, Oslo, August 31st, and The Worst Person in the World, which premiered at Cannes, and went on to receive two Academy Award nominations. He now returns with Sentimental Value, a deeply personal exploration of family, memory, and art - and the complicated ways art and life overlap. The film stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, and Elle Fanning.Additionally, as mentioned in today's episode, I had the chance to attend the Golden Globes Gifting Suite hosted by Dubois Pelin and Associates, also known as DPA Group—and it was such a cool experience.DPA is known for producing these incredibly elevated luxury gifting lounges around some of the biggest awards weekends of the year—like the Golden Globes, the Oscars, the Grammys, Cannes, and more. And over the years, their lounges have been attended by major names in entertainment, which really speaks to how respected and established they are in this space.This suite had such an amazing mix of brands. Please find below links to a few of the businesses featured at this year's gifting suite.https://lamourmere.com/https://stingrayclean.com/https://vielorie.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqPRe0IN35tdxsBmpeEqZ-er27SMAgE6DSHJWgwMRpre7mvz6YNFor more information on the DPA Group, visit https://dpagroup.org/.

Director Shea Wageman is the filmmaker behind the upcoming animated feature Charlie the Wonderdog. The film is about a family dog named Charlie who gets abducted by aliens & comes back with superpowers who then needs to save the world with his best friend, Danny. Shea’s bringing years of animation experience to his first feature film, which hits theaters January 16th.

Fiona Crombie is an Oscar-nominated & BAFTA-winning production designer whose previous credits include Top of the Lake, MacBeth, The Favourite, The King, Cruella, Beau is Afraid, and Mickey 17. With her latest film - in Chloe Zhao’s HAMNET - she brings a quiet but deeply expressive design sensibility to a story about love, loss, and the spaces we inhabit during a period of grief.

Brittany Hites is a production designer whose recent film Regretting You - starring McKenna Grace, Mason Thames, Dave Franco, and Allison Williams - is now streaming on Paramount+. Brittany has built an impressive body of work in feature film and TV - with her previous credits including The Suicide Squad, Shazam Fury of the Gods, Megalopolis, Thunderbolts and Peacemaker. On Regretting You, a novel-adapted drama about a mother-daughter relationship upended by tragedy, Brittany was tasked with creating the physical world that supports the emotional journey of the characters.

Director Valerie Weiss has built an impressive career across both film and television, with credits ranging from the Netflix feature Mixtape and the indie film A Light Beneath Their Feet to major TV franchises like Chicago Med, How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, Outer Banks and more recently - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and NCIS: Tony and Ziva.What makes her path especially interesting is that she came to filmmaking from a completely different world — she earned a Ph.D. and was on a medical career track before making the leap into directing.In this episode, we discuss her background in science, why she made the leap toward storytelling & her latest directorial projects with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and NCIS: Tony and Ziva.

Emmy- and Critics' Choice-nominated nominated makeup designer Siân Richards has had a long, impressive career — starting in London in fashion and beauty, then going on to lead makeup departments for film and TV. Over the years she’s worked on big-name projects like Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War as well as Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Da 5 Bloods, and Judas and the Black Messiah.Now she brings that experience to Ryan Coogler's Sinners — a critical and cultural phenomenon that's become a major Oscar contender this awards season.

Actor Jefferson White and director Adam Volerich discuss their new film DRINK AND BE MERRY. Jefferson is best known for playing Jimmy Hurdstrom from YELLOWSTONE — but his resume goes way beyond that. He’s popped up in shows like HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, HOUSE OF CARDS, BLINDSPOT, THE ALIENIST and even had a stint on CHICAGO PD as Sean O’Neil. On the film side, he’s shown up in projects like GOD'S COUNTRY, EILEEN, and the 2024 movie CIVIL WAR.With this film, Adam is making his feature film directorial debut after directing several shorts over the years as well as being a writer and cinematographer. Adam's previous credits include producing and developing the Signal Award Winning and Ambie and Webby Nominated narrative fiction podcasts AMERICAN HOSTAGE (Amazon Originals), starring Jon Hamm (soon to be a TV Show from Shawn Ryan and MGM+), and THE FOXES OF HYDESVILLE (QCODE), starring Carey Mulligan, for Criminal Content. Adam is the host of Wondery film podcast Eye of the Duck.

Today on the podcast, we’re clicking our heels and heading straight to Oz. I’m joined by actor John O’Hurley, known for Seinfeld, Broadway’s Chicago, his memorable run as host of Family Feud, and his past Lythgoe Panto appearance in Peter Pan and Tinker Bell. Also with us is director Becky Lythgoe, who has helmed favorites like Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish and helped shape the modern American panto tradition. Together they’re bringing a festive new twist to a classic story in The Wonderful Winter of Oz, opening this December in Thousand Oaks.

Andrew Polec stars as the titular character in 'Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical', now playing at The Old Globe in San Diego. In this episode, we dive into his process, his experience bringing this beloved story to life, and what it’s like performing in a show that spreads holiday cheer to audiences of all ages.Polec previously starred in Bat Out of Hell: The Musical.

Emmy-winning composer Mac Quayle is known for his music from Mr. Robot, American Horror Story, Feud, 9-1-1, Pose, The Politician, Ratched, and so many other unforgettable scores. Now he’s brought his unique musical voice to Netflix’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story — a series that dives into one of the most unsettling chapters in American true-crime history.

Thomas Sadoski is one of those actors who you recognise from so many different corners of entertainment — from playing Don Keefer on the HBO drama The Newsroom, to playing the affably flawed Matt Short on the long-running sitcom Life in Pieces, as well as his stage work in Broadway productions such as his Tony-nominated performance in Reasons to be PrettyIn his latest project, Adult Children, he takes on the role of Josh — one of the older half-siblings in a family pulled together when a crisis hits, only to discover that the lift they expected from each other is maybe more fragile than it looks.

Today’s episode is for the dreamers, the collectors, the annual passholders, the snack-ranking experts, the popcorn bucket resellers — yes, we’re talking about Disney Adults.My guest is AJ Wolfe, founder of the massively popular Disney Food Blog and now author of the new NY-times bestselling book Disney Adults — a smart, empathetic, and often hilarious deep dive into one of the most passionate—and misunderstood—fandoms out there.We’re going to talk about what it really means to be a Disney Adult, the emotional pull of nostalgia, the fine line between joy and overindulgence, and why some people spend thousands chasing the magic... while others just don’t get it at all.Whether you're a lifelong park-goer or a curious skeptic, this conversation just might reframe how you think about fandom, fantasy, and what it means to grow up in a chaotic world.

Tony-nominated actress Starletta DuPois discusses her captivating role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest film, ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. She explores her journey working with one of cinema’s most visionary directors, the challenges and triumphs of her character, and what it was like bringing this intense story to life.

Ellen Greene, best known for her unforgettable voice and luminous presence from Little Shop of Horrors, Pushing Daisies, Broadway, and beyond—discusses her powerful new role in the short film Beatrix Is Invisible. It's a haunting, intimate piece that explores themes of invisibility, identity, and resilience—and Ellen’s performance is, unsurprisingly, mesmerizing.

My guest today is Eskil Vogt — the acclaimed Norwegian screenwriter and filmmaker behind Oslo, August 31st, the Oscar-nominated The Worst Person in the World, and Blind. His latest film, Sentimental Value, co-written with Joachim Trier, is a beautifully layered story about family, memory, and the ways art reshapes our lives. The film is now playing in theaters.

Jenny Gering is an acclaimed costume designer whose sharp eye for character-driven style has elevated some of television’s most compelling dramas. Known for her work on The Americans, American Made, The Looming Tower, The Equalizer 2, and The Deuce, Gering brings a sophisticated understanding of how clothing can reflect power, vulnerability, and transformation. In Netflix’s political thriller The Diplomat, starring Keri Russell, Gering’s costume design plays a pivotal role in establishing the show’s tense, high-stakes atmosphere—blending diplomacy, politics, and personal identity through wardrobe.

Today on the show, I’m joined by one of cinema’s most distinctive and uncompromising performers — Crispin Glover. From his unforgettable turns in Back to the Future, River’s Edge, The People vs Larry Flynt, & Alice in Wonderland to his own groundbreaking directorial projects like What Is It? and It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine., Crispin has built a career exploring the outer edges of character, performance, and storytelling.His latest role — in Tallulah H. Schwab’s surreal new film Mr. K — places him in a strange, Kafkaesque hotel where nothing is as it seems. Glover plays a traveling magician whose attempt to check in becomes a descent through bureaucratic absurdity, dream logic, and existential unease. The film has been described as eerie, hypnotic, and visually stunning — and at its center, Glover delivers a performance that’s both hauntingly restrained and deeply human.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Emmy-winning composer Trevor Morris — a creative force behind some of television’s most powerful scores, including The Tudors, Vikings, and The Borgias. Over the years, Trevor has built a reputation for crafting music that elevates emotion and tension in every frame. Now, he’s stepping behind the camera for the first time as a director with his feature debut, Butterfly on a Wheel.

Hello everyone, thanks so much for tuning in. Today’s I’m so excited to be joined by musical theater legends Norm Lewis and Sandy Bainum who are lending their talents for a great cause for a one-night only concert of the Tony Award–winning musical comedy Woman of the Year, at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. It’s all to benefit FNAM’s ShowSearch program, which mentors high school and college writers as they develop new original musicals.Norm Lewis is a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and SAG Award nominee whose career has spanned the very best of Broadway and beyond. He’s been seen in The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, and Chicken and Biscuits. He’s now taking on the role of Sam Craig — the quick-witted cartoonist whose life collides with a TV news anchor in Woman of the Year.Sandy Bainum is an accomplished Broadway performer, cabaret artist, and recording star who made her debut in 42nd Street and has since appeared in Mame, The Music Man, Mamma Mia!, and more. On screen, you’ve seen her in Game Change, Criminal Minds, and The 12 Days of Christmas Eve with Kelsey Grammer. In Woman of the Year, she’s stepping into the role of Tess Harding — famously played by Lauren Bacall on Broadway.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by two of the most fearless voices in documentary filmmaking: Billy Corben and Jen Gatien. Billy is the director behind cult-classic docs like Cocaine Cowboys, The U, and Screwball. Jen Gatien is a veteran producer and director whose work spans narrative and nonfiction, such as Holy Rollers, For Ellen, Limelight, Jack & Diane, and Midnight Sun. Together, they’ve teamed up on a gripping new film called Men of War, which chronicles the astonishing true story of Operation Gideon—the failed 2020 coup attempt in Venezuela—and the covert network of ex-generals, mercenaries, and political operatives behind it.

I'm joined today by Emmy nominees Hilary Winston and Rob Letterman, the showrunners behind Goosebumps: The Vanishing, the newest season of the Disney+ series inspired by R.L. Stine’s iconic books. Hilary brings her sharp storytelling background from shows like Community and My Name Is Earl, while Rob, known for directing the film Goosebumps (2015) and Detective Pikachu, brings his signature mix of humor and heart. Together, they’ve crafted a darker, more emotional chapter in the Goosebumps universe.

First-time filmmaker Jordan Murphy Doige and actor Archie Yates, known from the Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit, discuss their work on the Oscar-qualified short film CLOUT. The film is a timely, darkly comedic look at the dangers of online fame and the lengths people will go to for attention.