Christian Telesmar is an educator, entrepreneur and actor on stage and screen, best known for his work in NCIS: LA, the Young and the Restless, and Animal Kingdom on TNT. In theatre, his work has included On the Other Hand, We're Happy by Daf James at Rogue Machine Theatre (named Best Production of 2022 by both the L.A. Times and the L.A. Drama Critics Circle) and the lead role in Radio Golf by August Wilson at A Noise Within theatre (for which he received a 2024 NAACP theatre award nomination). He lives in Sherman Oaks, California and is an LA Local Board member of SAG-AFTRA actors union. We had an amazing conversation with Christian, who shared his inspiring journey from pre-med to pursuing a career in acting. As a dedicated volunteer with the organization 'Auditions Are Work,' Christian offered invaluable insights that every actor should hear. His warmth and wealth of knowledge make this episode a must-listen. We’re sure you’ll enjoy his stories and gain insights from his experiences.

Adi Eshman is a playwright, screenwriter and producer based in Brooklyn, NY. Originally from Venice Beach, CA, his plays have been produced or workshopped at USC, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, The Braid, Cherry Lane Theatre, The Tank and more. In May 2023, he earned his MFA in Dramatic Writing from the USC School for Dramatic Arts. The short film he wrote, ANNE, is an official selection at more than thirty festivals throughout the US and Canada, and won five Audience Choice Awards. ANNE was in consideration for Best Live Action Short Film for the 2023 Academy Awards. We had such a blast chatting with Adi! Hearing his story, perspective, and all those cool historical tidbits was a real treat. And truly, we were blown away by the chutzpah he's shown throughout his career. Adi is a skilled storyteller who loves to engage his audience with thought-provoking questions. Enjoy our conversation with him!

Leah Hamos is a Theatre Agent at The Gersh Agency where she works with writers, composers, directors, and designers, among others. She previously worked at Abrams Artists Agency, and with New York Theatre Workshop in development and the Lark Play Development Center in dramaturgy. We absolutely loved chatting with Leah, and hearing her story of become a literary agent. Her love of the theater is so evident, and it is so clear in speaking to her that she is such a strong advocate for her clients. We thoroughly enjoyed recording this interesting conversation, and we were also super inspired by her positive and nuanced perspective on the theatre industry. Happy listening!

Will Steinberger is a Drama League Award nominated director and producer. He has directed and developed new plays at New York Theatre Workshop, New York Stage and Film, Clubbed Thumb, New Dramatists, Hartford Stage, the Drama League, and Berkshire Theatre Group. Recently, he directed Andrea Stolowitz’s The Berlin Diaries featuring David Greenspan, produced in association with The New Group. We absolutely loved speaking with Will, and hearing his story of becoming a theatre director, producer and writer. His genuineness was so refreshing, and we enjoyed hearing his perspective on all things theater. Will is super warm and has a great sense of humor. We know you’ll have as much fun listening to this episode as we enjoyed chatting with him. Happy listening!

Talisa is an actor, singer, writer, producer, and costume designer. Her play WHO BY FIRE won the 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Competition. She’s appeared on TV and film, and her theater credits include The Old Globe, Arena Stage, and A.R.T. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two sons. In this conversation we talked about Tali’s unique journey of becoming a multi-hyphenate and how she finds inspiration for her projects. We also appreciated her honesty about sharing what it’s like balancing her career and parenthood. Talisa is so smart, driven, and talented, and she manages to do it all with warmth and a sense of ease and calm. We know you’ll love hearing her story and insights!

Jeremy Aluma is an award-winning, Jewish-American theatre director and producer of Iraqi descent. He founded the internationally touring company Four Clowns, and served as artistic director for 7 years. His directing credits are numerous and include:  Pinocchio and Robin Hood (both at South Coast Repertory, CA); Sublimity(Theatre Row, NYC); and Chad Deity (Chance Theater). Aluma has an MFA in Directing from DePaul University and is an SDC member. In this episode we dived into some deep and honest conversations about what it’s like to be a Jewish theatre maker in this moment, and ways Jeremy taps into his creativity outside of the industry. His enthusiasm and passion for collaboration and making art is abundant and inspiring ,and we can't wait for you to listen!

David Winitsky is the founder and executive artistic director of the Jewish Plays Project, the nations leading development house for contemporary Jewish theater. With the JPP, David has developed 49 plays, 27 of which have gone on to production and further development in New York, London, Tel Aviv and around the U.S. As a director, he’s worked on and off Broadway in projects including The Lehman Trilogy, new musicals Vilna: A Resistance Story and Bordello; new play Settlements at Interact (Philadelphia). In this convo, we delve into exciting upcoming events at the JPP and discuss what it’s like telling Jewish stories post October 7th. David’s warmth and honesty shine through in this episode, and we’re so excited to have him as our first guest of Season 6!

Chelsea is a writer, director, and actor living in Los Angeles. She has made 8 short films and web series with screenings at over 100 film festivals worldwide. She is one of 8 fellows chosen for the Inaugural Blumhouse and K Period Media Horror Screamwriting Fellowship, formally supported by Sundance. There, she is developing her feature film WOMEN IN JEOPARDY. As an actor Chelsea can be seen on TV in THE MINDY PROJECT, CRIMINAL MINDS, CASTLE and THE JINX. We loved chatting with Chelsea about her recent artist dates and ways to stay inspired as an artist within the ups and downs. It was also amazing to hear about her journey from being only an actor to such an impressive multi hyphenate- actor, writer, director, and filmmaker. We appreciated her honesty opening up about the effects of the strike on her career and ways she has pivoted in this time to stay creative and focused on her own projects. Chelsea has so many insights for beginning filmmakers, she is truly collaborative, smart, and generous and we know you’ll enjoy listening to this conversation.

Caytha Jentis is a writer, director, and producer. Her film/tv credits include And Then Came Love, The Other F Word, Bad Parents, and Pooling to Paradise. Her stories challenge the old tropes of motherhood with heightened reality humor. In this conversation, we chatted about Caytha’s play called Sex Work, Sex Play which will have its off broadway world premiere at the TADA Theatre on September 13th. We also talked about the inspiration for the piece and the idea of de-stigmatizing sex work. We also loved hearing Caytha’s story of how she became an an independent filmmaker and its challenges. She has some great advice for artists including “you’e a producer until someone takes that job away from you- you have to do the hustle.” We know you’ll be inspired hearing Caytha’s stories and insights.

John Frank Levey is the 4 time Emmy Award-Winning Casting Director of iconic television shows ER and The West Wing. He has also cast China Beach,  Southland, Animal Kingdom and Shameless during a nearly 40 year career. He is the author of Right For The Role, a professional memoir. He is also a director in the theatre. John has had such a prolific career in casting and directing, and we loved hearing his story, insights, and experiences. It was especially cool to hear about his new book Right for the Role, which chronicles his personal and professional career. As a heads up, we had some technical difficulties in this episode. We thank you in advance for your understanding and hope you enjoy the episode!

Emily Nash is a proud SAG-AFTRA and AEA actor, singer, writer, and producer living in Los Angeles. Her debut proof of concept short film Judy-ism premiered this summer at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts International Film Festival and will screen next at the Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival.  We loved speaking with Emily, and appreciated her joyful nature and positive outlook. She’s an incredibly talented actor, writer, and producer, and we really enjoyed hearing her unique story. Her bravery and ambition in moving across the country and creating her film, Judy-Ism was also super inspiring. It was so cool to hear about that project, and to have a greater conversation about Jewish stories and representation. Emily’s genuineness is so refreshing, and we are certain you will enjoy this episode. Happy listening!

Christina Shea-Wright is an acting coach, actor, director, writer, podcast host, producer, and gluten free baker. She lives in New York City with her husband and 2 perfect cats. Christina is a true multi-hyphenate, and we loved hearing her journey into these different roles, which allow her to explore all parts of her artistry. It was especially exciting to hear about her passion for coaching and being a cheerleader for her clients and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in you. We also loved what she had to say about how to bring more humanity to the process of being an artist, especially in this challenging time of actors and writers being on strike. It’s clear that collaboration with other artists is essential to Christina and we know you’ll be inspired listening to her stories and perspectives.

Rebecca is a writer, actor, story doula and culture worker skilled in the Blewish arts. She creates and facilitates as a Black, Jewish, Swazi, American woman. She holds a BA from Mills College in creative writing, and an MFA from NYU's graduate acting program. Her monologues, psalms, essays, comedy, poetry, and plays have been featured in Lilith Magazine, Hadassah Magazine, Hillel International, Reboot, as well as other theaters, educational centers, and Jewish arts and culture spaces. Most recently she performed in the world premiere of “Love All,” written by Anna Deavere Smith at La Jolla Playhouse and in “At the Wedding” at Lincoln Center’s LCT3. We loved chatting with Rebecca and hearing her story of becoming an actor. From new play projects to a novel to documentary theatre pieces to teaching creative writing to participating several fellowships, she has SO many impressive, meaningful projects going on and makes it look so easy. We talked about doing work that is in alignment with Rebecca’s values and her integrity, and how her identity as a Black and Jewish woman informs her artistry.  It was especially fun to talk about her character work in the form of an orange. Rebecca is warm, engaging and inspiring, and we are certain you will enjoy this episode. Happy listening!

Chris Domig was born and raised in Salzburg, Austria. He works as an actor, director, educator and musician in both Europe and the USA. He is the founder of the award-winning Sea Dog Theater in New York City with a mission to tell stories of alienation and reconciliation. We loved hearing his story of becoming a story teller and what inspired him to create his own theater company. He has so many gems of wisdom to share in this conversation, and we especially appreciated the ideas of “finding your people” and bringing those people to the artistic table. Chris is passionate about cultivating gatherings that are immediate and life changing for artists and audiences alike. He believes the necessary antidote for a world hooked to the Internet are embodied stories in intimate settings, where strangers have the possibility of becoming friends. Happy listening!

Michael J. Morgan is a dynamic and versatile creative whose passions encompass music, design, art, clothing, poetry, and more. He is a visionary artist, entrepreneur, and the creative force behind STTTUS, a Consultancy that focuses on helping businesses achieve unimaginable goals. He inspires others to embrace unconventional paths of creativity while fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. We loved chatting with Michael and hearing his unique story and perspective. He’s incredibly smart and insightful, and he has a talent for finding nuance in the intersection of art and business. We really appreciated his big ideas and insights, and there were so many incredible aha moments in our conversation. Michael has such passion for connecting and amplifying the work of artists, and we sure you will find this episode valuable. Happy listening!

Jency Allison Weeks is an actress, producer and children’s book author known for her work in TV shows such as Nashville and Dallas. Jency also hosts a podcast called “Lights, Camera, Rolling…MOM!” focusing on stories from moms in the entertainment industry. We loved hearing her unique story of starting a career in the arts after becoming a mom, and how her background in sports management informs her artistic career. We also discussed her move from Dallas to the Northeast and her involvement in her new community (neighborhood lip synching competitions anyone?) and the importance of having a full life outside of the industry. Jency’s positivity and fearlessness of stepping into the unknown shine through in this conversation and we can’t wait for you to listen. Enjoy!

Nicole Pryor Dernersesian is the founder of Firestarter Entertainment, a talent agency that represents over 1000 actors for television, film, commercials, print, and theatre. Before FSE, Nicole performed in the The Phantom of the Opera for 6 1⁄2 years, becoming the first African American to play the role of The Confidante. Nicole taught vocal lessons for over 14 years, including a two-year stint as an Adjunct Professor at her alma mater, Pepperdine University. In 2019, Nicole launched the non-profit organization, Inclusion Media Group: Striving to make a more inclusive world by creating content that tells diverse stories. Nicole is an extremely impressive woman, and we were so inspired by her ambition and her accomplishments. Her creativity, willingness to do things differently than they’ve always been done, and ability to see possibility is truly incredible. She is such a smart businesswoman, and in this episode, she also provided some really valuable financial advice for entrepreneurs that can definitely be applied to individuals as well. Nicole is amazing, and her positivity radiates throughout our whole conversation. We are certain you will enjoy this episode and find it valuable. Happy listening!

Harold Lewter is a partner and talent manager at CLA Partners. Born and raised in the Bronx, Harold was destined to forever be a fan of all thing’s entertainment. He was exposed to the arts, specifically musical theater, at the ripe old age of 8 years old, when his mom took him to see Cats on Broadway. His start in the business of representation began at Independent Artists Agency, where he met his mentor and now business partner Cyd LeVin. We loved chatting with Harold about his path to working in talent representation, and it’s clear from our conversation how much excitement he has for working with clients. And discovering new talent! It was also so inspiring to hear how he advocates for clients and to learn about how the industry has increased transparency in recent years with equity and inclusion. Harold is warm and passionate, and whether he's cooking, playing tennis or working with clients, he gives his endeavors 110 percent. We know you’ll enjoy hearing his insights and stories!

Lauren Veteri is an executive producer, who has over 200 credits to her name, most notably 10 seasons of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop NY.” In 2018, she & her cousin co-founded Dola Media, a content creation agency that produces everything from commercials and docu-series to internal corporate content for Fortune 500 companies. We had so much fun chatting with Lauren! It was so interesting to hear about the way that reality tv functions as opposed to narrative tv, and we enjoyed hearing her journey of being in the music industry to being a tv producer, to eventually starting her own production company. Lauren is so warm and down to earth, and we are so excited for her in her newest venture, “mom.” We smiled so many times throughout this episode and know you will too. Happy Listening!

Alyssa Haddad-Chin is a playwright, screenwriter, and educator. Most recently, she was a 2022/2023 Writing Fellow at the Playwrights Realm. Fun fact, Lauren met Alyssa at the Road Theater Company’s Under Construction series and had a blast working on Alyssa’s play called Gentlemen and Ladies. We loved hearing Alyssa’s story of becoming a writer and discussing the power of comedy to make people laugh and to speak truth to power. She describes her work as “sitcoms on stage,” and this makes sense as she is very funny (and so are her plays)! We know you’ll enjoy hearing her unique story of creating new work and what it’s like to collaborate with a writer’s group like the Playwrights Realm. And keep your eyes out for her newest play, You Should Be So Lucky, which will have a produced staged reading as part of Moxie Arts Incubator Program on June 9th and 10th at WP Theater in New York.