Welcome to Game of Life with Dan and Harman! This podcast is all about understanding the ups and downs of life and career from a creative lens. Your hosts Dan and Harman come from a writing, comedy, and photography background so our guests have ranged from comedians to photographers.
We love delving into the success, failures, and struggles that other creatives endure when making their way through life in the industry. What is their why? What makes them unique? Why do they have a passion for what they do? We delve into the philosophical and try to ask as many questions as we can from a creative's point of view in hopes we can apply some words of wisdom to our own creative trajectory.
Above all else, we keep our conversations light, fun, and relaxed! Our guests have included comedians, photographers, actors, writers, documentarians, podcasters, opera singers, DJ's, journalists, clowns, dancers, musical theatre performers, directors, producers, and a whole lot more!
Please enjoy, rate, and subscribe! Visit our patreon! patreon.com/GameofLifewithDanandHarman
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Game of Life with Dan and Harman! This podcast is all about understanding the ups and downs of life and career from a creative lens. Your hosts Dan and Harman come from a writing, comedy, and photography background so our guests have ranged from comedians to photographers.
We love delving into the success, failures, and struggles that other creatives endure when making their way through life in the industry. What is their why? What makes them unique? Why do they have a passion for what they do? We delve into the philosophical and try to ask as many questions as we can from a creative's point of view in hopes we can apply some words of wisdom to our own creative trajectory.
Above all else, we keep our conversations light, fun, and relaxed! Our guests have included comedians, photographers, actors, writers, documentarians, podcasters, opera singers, DJ's, journalists, clowns, dancers, musical theatre performers, directors, producers, and a whole lot more!
Please enjoy, rate, and subscribe! Visit our patreon! patreon.com/GameofLifewithDanandHarman
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/5EZdA8qZtvCmHcrv9H1mUX
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoqZyvmDszOTzoD1doErNQ
Cover Photo: Matty Parker
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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/9781668093962
Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker
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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
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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
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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/NorthBorders
https://www.instagram.com/northborders/?hl=en
https://www.northborders.co/
Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker
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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
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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
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Dan is joined by another Dan, the vocalist from heavy metal band, NTH RD, Dan Charlton!
We chat about going from Ironstone to NTH RD, time signatures, learning drums and guitar, singing lessons, originally wanting to be the next Ed Sheeran, impostor syndrome, faking it until you make it, receiving compliments, falling into the bad habit of comparison, collaboration, the excitement for the release of Endlessly, the feeling of knowing a piece of music is going be good, the admin involved of being in a band, getting messages from fans around the world, touring, the fear of flying, balancing life and being in a band, building trust, the fanbase, the ins and outs of band meetings, being more organised, filming the Endlessly music video, not being able to perform without a red and blue powerade, weird gigs, mosh pits, the heavy metal community, the prospect of international tours, being a little bit of a diva, becoming more comfortable, performing for an all ages show, and a whole lot more!
Follow Dan and NTH RD on all the socials below.
https://www.instagram.com/nth_rd
https://www.instagram.com/dancharltonxx/
https://www.facebook.com/Nthrdband
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdifor7jzDjMkNOsf2jRs3A
Also, go and follow the band for updated tour information and new song releases through their website.
https://nthrd.band/
Cover Photo: Matty Parker
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Dan is joined by actor, singer, dancer and adoptive Australian, Javon King!
We chat about getting the job on the Australian production of Back to the Future: The Musical, being on the tail end of Jesus Christ Superstar, taking a break, learning to say no, not comparing your journey to other people, growing up an athlete, looking up to Billy Porter, waiting for what is right for you, playing Angel in Rent twice, having a thick skin, the enjoyment of auditioning, the chance of doing things differently the second time round, history repeating itself, the jump to Australia, his friendship with MacKenzie Dunn, not taking anything too seriously, embracing some imperfections in a performance, becoming comfortable within a new cast, not wanting to get put into a box with stereotypical roles, the inner voice saboteurs, Roger Bart, and a whole lot more!
Cover Photo (background): Matty Parker
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