The Art In Yourself

27/02/2023

If you can answer yes to any of these questions, and even if you can’t, you should be listening to my podcast:

- Bored while walking your dog?
- Sick of listening to your significant other?
- Pretending to work at work?
- Can’t get cast in anything and want to get annoyed listening to actors who can?
- Curious about what it was like working with Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari in Bosom Buddies?
- Wondering what it’s like to be the voice of a video game character known around the world?
- Want to learn about the early years of Steppenwolf?
- Wondering what Patrick Stewart looks like in his underwear?
- Want to know who sent the message of victory in Europe during WWII?
- Want to know the struggles of producing theatre during the time of Covid?
- Curious to hear second and third hand stories of Mickey Rooney?
- Want to know what casting directors are really looking for and thinking during your audition?
- Can’t afford cable?

Listen, wherever you get your podcasts.

I’ve been a working actor for over thirty years and have met some incredible artists along the way. Artists on both sides of the camera as well as on stage, and behind the scenes. In these conversations, I explore how the lives they live shape the...

23/02/2023

There is way more than just my latest episode with the wonderful Mike Nussbaum at theartinyourself.com
Check out my conversations with all of these amazing artists, wherever you get your podcasts.

20/02/2023

NEW EPISODE! My conversation with Mike Nussbaum. At 99 he is the oldest working professional actor. Give a listen to his incredible life and career. Available wherever you get your podcasts, or at theartinyourself.com

24/01/2023

Man’s best friend?

The victims was reportedly sitting in the front passenger seat of his pickup truck when his dog stepped on a rifle in the back seat on Saturday

17/01/2023

Coming soon!

02/12/2022

Screw you Warren Buffet.

18/12/2021

It’s your lucky day. PODCAST DAY! Available now wherever you get your podcasts, my conversation with the wonderful Rae Gray. Rae speaks my language, the language of sarcasm. I’ve known her since she was a kid, she was an amazing kid and she’s an even more amazing adult. Rae’s acted onstage all over including Chicago, LA, and Ireland. She can soon be seen in the upcoming series A League of Their Own on Amazon. Check out our chat at theartinyourself.com

03/12/2021

On this weeks episode of The Art In Yourself, my conversation with actor James Vincent Meredith.

He’s been a Steppenwolf Theater Company ensemble member for 15 years. James is an accomplished stage, film, television, and voiceover artist. He’s also one of the kindest most genuine people I know.

I absolutely loved taking this trip through James Vincent Meredith’s life and career.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

theartinyourself.com

19/11/2021

Available now, wherever you get your podcasts. The latest episode of The Art In Yourself. A hard hitting interview of me by my daughter Mary. Actually it was an interview assignment for her high school journalism class and I poached it for the podcast.

theartinyourself.com

22/10/2021

This week on The Art In Yourself my guest is Joel Zwick.

Joel is best known as Director of the highest grossing romantic comedy of all time My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He has had an amazing career having directed over 650 episodes of television shows including Laverne and Shirley, Mork and Mindy, Bosom Buddies, Perfect Strangers, Full House, Family Matters, Shake It Up, Jessie, just to name a few.

He’s a Brooklyn boy born and bred. He dated someone in high school who became an internationally known hugely successful singer songwriter. I won’t say who, you’ll have to listen to find out.

He started his career in the 1960’s with the groundbreaking experimental theater company La MaMa. His latest project is as producer on the film Tango Shalom.

My conversation with Joel was absolutely fascinating, it’s a walk-through more than 50 years in the heart of the entertainment industry. His career ranges being a part of Tom Hanks first big break, to nurturing the career of Zendaya. Joel is a humble gifted man, who would not agree with that statement.

A huge thank you to Paul Stroili for connecting me with Joel. The episode releases October 22nd.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or at theartinyourself.com

Photo credit - Touchstone Graphic Design

18/10/2021

Patrick Stewart in his underwear, parties at Whoopi Goldberg’s, getting punched by Nathan Lane. These stories and more in the latest episode of The Art In Yourself featuring Ross Lehman. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

08/10/2021

The Art In Yourself podcast is back for season two. Episode one releases on Friday, October 8. Featuring my conversation with actor, singer, dancer, playwright Ross Lehman. We cover everything from his childhood with local celebrity parents, to performing on Broadway with Patrick Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg. Check it out at theartinyourself.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

21/08/2021

Season two of The Art In Yourself is coming soon.

12/06/2021

My theartinyourself.com top five episodes. Jim O'Heir is still on top. With Kate Lipuma making a strong showing. Someone out there needs to get David Dastmalchian over the 100 download mark. Chris Payne only needs three more. Let’s show Harris Lennix some love with at least six more downloads.

11/06/2021

It’s podcast time again. This week on theartinyourself.com part one of my two part conversation with Paul Stroili. Paul is an actor, playwright, director, and producer. He has performed his one man show Straight Up With A Twist all over the country. He is also a Resident Artist at Jeff Daniels Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea, Michigan. Not to mention one of the smartest and funniest people I know. Check out part one this week and come back for part two on June 25th.

28/05/2021

This week episode 11, of theartinyourself.com featuring Costume Designer Jennifer May Nickel. I met Jennifer doing a movie for TLC called The Secret Santa. The photo should give you some idea who I played. She is a gifted designer and a wonderful person. Give our conversation a listen when you get the chance. Thanks.

15/05/2021

I usually release episodes every other Friday about twelve hours ago, but it’s been a hectic week. Now up and running wherever you get your podcasts is part two of my conversation with Steppenwolf ensemble member Alan Wilder. Big thanks to Jessica Wilder for all of her tech help and hydration.

30/04/2021

Available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Alan Wilder has been with Steppenwolf Theatre company since 1976. He is a member of the original ensemble and has appeared in over seventy productions.

In part one of our two part conversation we discuss his career and how Steppenwolf went from a church basement in Highland Park Illinois, to a world renowned artistic institution in Chicago.

17/04/2021

On episode 9 my guest is the extraordinary Tania Richard. Tania is an actor, writer, antiracism educator, and host of the podcast Tania’s Take. We have an honest conversation about racism and white supremacy, specifically in the performing arts. We also discuss her web series Mom In Real Life and her love of storytelling. Even with, or maybe because of, the serious nature of our discussion we also take time to laugh our asses off.

Tania photo by Brandon Dahlquist
John photo by Joe Mazza

19/03/2021

New episode at theartinyourself.com

Check out part one of my two part conversation with actor, singer, dancer, voiceover artist Anjali Bhimani on The Art In Yourself podcast.

She has appeared on stage countless times in Chicago, LA, San Francisco, and on Broadway. Anjali is well known for recurring television roles on shows like Modern Family and The Sopranos. She also has an extensive voiceover career, including voicing characters in the internationally popular video games Overwatch and Apex Legends.

12/03/2021

It’s Friday, that means a new episode of The Art In Yourself. Check out my conversation with Chicago Fire special effects makeup artist Christopher Payne at theartinyourself.com

Please listen. If you don’t, he’s going to break my other leg.

05/03/2021

Here’s a peek at my new podcast conversation with Writers Theatre Executive Director Kate Lipuma. The full episode is available starting today.

04/03/2021

First four episodes still available at theartinyourself.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Nothing else is going on these days, you should spend a few hours listening to behind and in front of the scenes stories of the arts.

Episode five is available starting this Friday, March 5th.

Episode five is my conversation with Writers Theatre Executive Director Kate Lipuma. In it we discuss:

Little Orphan Annie’s autograph.
Bringing apple pie to playwright Arthur Miller.
Edward Albee in a steamer trunk with Bill Irwin.
Successfully raising 32 million dollars.
Planning for the performing arts during and after Covid.

04/03/2021

First four episodes still available at theartinyourself.com or wherever you get you podcasts.

Nothing else is going on these days, you should spend a few hours listening to inside and outside stories of the arts.

Episode five is available starting this Friday, March 5th.

Episode five is my conversation with Writers Theatre Executive Director Kate Lipuma. In it we discuss:

Little Orphan Annie’s autograph.
Bringing apple pie to playwright Arthur Miller.
Edward Albee in a steamer trunk with Bill Irwin.
Successfully raising 32 million dollars.
Planning for the performing arts during and after Covid.

01/03/2021

Next up on The Art In Yourself podcast, one of the top theatre executives in the country, Writers Theatre Executive Director Kate Lipuma. Look for our conversation this Friday March 5th.

In the meantime go to theartinyourself.com or wherever you get your podcasts, and listen to episodes featuring David Dastmalchian, Harris Lennix, Bob Mason, and Jim O'Heir.

Thanks folks.

27/02/2021

Young me wants you to check out old me’s podcast, The Art In Yourself. Wherever you get your podcasts. New episode today!

26/02/2021

Part two of my conversation with Parks and Recreation actor Jim O'Heir is up on The Art In Yourself. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Jim is seen here with the lovely and talented Chase.

25/02/2021

I just suspended the Patreon support page for my The Art In Yourself podcast.

It has only been up about a week, but several people have already been very generous in supporting me. I had no idea just how uncomfortable that support would make me feel. At this point, I really don’t know what my podcast project is or what it will become, but the thought of having others contribute to it feels really awkward.

As soon as you start a podcast you are barraged by emails and advertisements telling you that you must monetize and offering ways to do that. So I set up a Patreon page. Right away I started to think, what should I do for these people? I started to think about changing my content to cater towards who they are. I decided I should push myself and do one episode a week, instead of what I feel more comfortable with and had been planning which is one every other week. People were paying for this now! I felt I owed them something. In a very short time the simple fact that other people had decided to donate to a project that I am doing made me start to change that project. It took the fun and adventure out of a new found joy.

I am all for artists being paid. But at this point, this early in the process, it was a little bit like charging the audience to watch a rehearsal. This is my own hang up. Perhaps, at some point down the road, I will figure out a way to monetize that I feel comfortable with. But at this point, I just want to do it and enjoy it.

So to those people who did see fit to sponsor my podcast through Patreon, THANK YOU. If I did all of the tech stuff right you won’t be charged again, please let me know if you are so I can fix it.

OK, with all of that nonsense out of the way. Please check back tomorrow for part two of my conversation with Jim O’Heir.

24/02/2021

Part two of my conversation with Parks and Recreation star Jim O'Heir will drop (do the kids still say that?) this Friday, February 26th. Get caught up by listening to part one on The Art In Yourself podcast.

In part two we talk about his time on NBC’s Parks and Recreation, how wonderful Amy Poehler is, and how being a producer made him realize he hated being a producer.

theartinyourself.com