Producer Episodes

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Natalie Alyn Lind from "The Goldberg’s" and Paramount+’s "Dutton Ranch" to discuss her new project, career, and personal stories. In this episode, Natalie opens up about what it was like growing up on a TV set and hitting major life milestones while playing Dana Caldwell on the hit sitcom "The Goldberg’s". She shares how those early experiences shaped her approach to acting, giving her the chops to step into her own producing role with the upcoming indie come...

Marc Preston sits down with actor Sofia Rosinsky from Hulu's "Death and Other Details" and Peacock's "The Miniature Wife" to discuss her career and personal stories. Sofia shares the fascinating story of her unconventional path into the industry, revealing that an innocent trip to an acting camp unexpectedly put her in front of casting directors. Growing up in a deeply creative household, she was surrounded by cinema thanks to her independent filmmaker mother and musician father. She also ope...

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Danay Garcia from AMC's "Fear the Walking Dead" and NBC / Peacock's "M.I.A." to discuss her new project, career, and personal stories. We talk about her journey arriving in Los Angeles from Havana, Cuba, and the reality of navigating the industry while tackling a profound language barrier. Danay shares memories from her early days, including the thrill of getting her first major break shooting Super Bowl commercials alongside Snoop Dogg and Guy Ritchie. She a...

Marc Preston sits down with Writer and Director Thom Harp from "The Donor Party" and "Home Delivery" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories. Thom brings a fantastic energy to the conversation, sharing how his background as a cinematographer in Seattle eventually shaped his approach to humane comedy. We talk about the importance of giving actors the space to just play and trust their instincts on set. It’s always fun getting to hear about the process behind creating those incre...

On this episode of “Story and Craft”, Marc sits down with actor and writer Johnny Ray Gill (“Cross” Season 2 on Prime Video) for a wide-ranging conversation about Gill’s Portland roots in an all-Black Northeast community, his working-class family, and early artistic start in spoken-word poetry inspired by the film “Slam.” Gill shares how a rites-of-passage program shaped his cultural awareness, how an internship with writer Mike Rich opened doors, and how his path led from USC film school to Tem...

On this episode of “Story and Craft,” Marc sits down with actor, producer and comedian, Rob Corddry to talk about his new AMC show “The Audacity”. We explore a career that spans projects such as “The Daily Show,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Ballers,” “Top Gear America,” and films like “Old School,” “The Heartbreak Kid,” and “Hot Tub Time Machine.” We learn about Rob’s story, such as moving from moving from Massachusetts to L.A., what it was like acting alongside Ben and Jerry Stiller, the pace of wo...

On this episode of “Story and Craft,” Marc sits down with actor and voiceover veteran DB Sweeney (“The Cutting Edge,” “Eight Men Out,” “Memphis Belle”) to talk career pivots, creative choices, and the long game of working in entertainment. DB shares what it was like training for “Memphis Belle” with retired SAS guys, flying in real B-17s. He opens up about growing up on Long Island, chasing baseball dreams at Tulane, discovering acting through theater, and getting launched by Francis Ford Coppol...

On this episode of “Story and Craft,” Marc sits down with actor and producer Olivia Taylor Dudley to talk sci-fi, horror, and why aliens have been a lifelong fascination — so much so that all three of her rescue dogs are named after extraterrestrial-inspired references, including SETI. Olivia breaks down how she “fell into” producing through early YouTube-era work on “Five Second Films.” She shares her unconventional path into acting, dropping out of school due to anxiety, moving to LA at 17, an...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, Marc Preston goes behind the curtain with producer/writer Joel Church-Cooper (“Going Dutch”, “Brockmire”, “Future Man”, “Undateable”) to talk about how TV comedy really gets made and how the business has changed. Joel shares his Northern California upbringing, film-nerd roots in the video store era, and the comedy influences that shaped him (“Kids in the Hall”, “Mr. Show”). They dig into big studio comedies, as well as how algorithms and “second-scre...

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down with actor/director/writer/producer Kevin Kane. Kevin talks about growing up around Philly (and a stint in Myrtle Beach), catching the acting bug early thanks to a school report on Jimmy Cagney, and eventually moving to New York to chase theater and serious training. He breaks down studying Meisner at the William Esper Studio, how that tight-knit class bond turned into real creative momentum, and how he and Amy Schumer started working together - even...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor,Thomas Jane from the Amazon Prime Video film “Play DIrty”, as well as projects such as The Expanse and Boogie Nights. We cover Jane's impressive body of work, as well as his journey from modest beginnings in Maryland to becoming a notable actor in Hollywood. We discuss Thomas’ passion for storytelling, the joys and challenges of being an actor, and the importance of authentic human experiences in film. Thomas also reveals his g...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with producer,Danny O’Malley. Danny is a Grammy and James Beard award nominee. He just picked up an Emmy nomination for theNetflix series “Chef's Table”. Danny takes us on a culinary journey through his experiences. They also talk about everything from the impact of Anthony Bourdain, Chicago-style pizza preferences, memorable dining experiences, to the global influence of food and its power to bridge cultures. Danny also shares insights i...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with author, writer, producer and director,Larry Charles , who has a new memoir out called “Comedy Samurai: Forty Years of Blood, Guts, and Laughter”. He’s known for a constellation of projects, such as Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Mad About You, Borat, The Dictator and The Comedians. We dive into Larry's journey from Brooklyn to Hollywood, discussing his work on iconic shows, as well as collaborations with the likes of Jerr...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with director,Ash Avildsen who directed the new film “Queen of The Ring!” We discuss the film’s thematic roots in pro wrestling history, particularly the story of Mildred Burke, an influential female wrestler from the 1930s to the 1950s. Ash shares his filmmaking process, including the challenges of casting and the collaborative nature of movie production. The discussion covers aspects of music in film and the evolution of the music indus...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, writer, producer & director,Delaney Buffet & Katie Corwin from thefilm “Adult Best Friends!” We delve into Delaney and Katie’s long-term friendship, creative partnership, and the challenges of shooting a film on a low budget. Additionally, we touch on Delaney's experience growing up as the daughter of the late Jimmy Buffett, the influence of comedy in their work, and their love for creating meaningful stories. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, writer and producer,Katie O'Brien from theTubi series “The Z-Suite!” We explore Katie's career journey from Omaha to L.A., through the world of improv and her successful stint with the comedy group “The Katie Dids.” Katie shares her experiences working on “Teachers”, advice and anecdotes about navigating Hollywood, and her approach to storytelling that bridges generational gaps. Additionally, we dive into comedic inspirations ...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with showrunner, executive producer, writer and director, Stuart Zicherman from theFX Network series “American Sports Story, which is now available on Hulu!” We discuss Stuart’s extensive work in the film and television industry, including his projects like “The Shrink Next Door”, “The Americans”, and his latest project “American Sports Story” about football player, Aaron Hernandez. Stuart shares insights into his career, the creative pro...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, Lucy DeVito from thefilm “The Secret Art of Human Flight!” We chat about growing up with her parents, Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman and her career acting in film and television. We also discuss her latest project, “The Secret Art of Human Flight.” Lucy shares personal anecdotes, including her fondness for theater, her family's influence, and her life as a new mother. This was a fun discussion of craft, career and family with a...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, Dylan Sprouse from the new film The Duel! Dylan is known for his with his twin brother, Cole Sprouse, in Disney Channel shows like “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” and “The Suite Life on Deck.” Dylan discusses his transition from childhood star to successful adult actor, as well as his new film “The Duel”, which is also the first film where he also served as executive producer. We chat about Dylan’s hobbies, his passion for b...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Executive Producer, Ashley Jay Sandberg, who is the Executive Producer for the new summer film, “Twisters” with Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones and Kiernan Shipka. Ashley shares her career path, inspirations, and the challenges. We chat about her growth as a filmmaker while working with the iconic film production company, Kennedy/Marshall. We then touch on her experience developing “Twisters”…from the process of shooting it in Oklahom...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Actor, Tye Sheridan, whose journey from child actor to seasoned professional unfolds in this enlightening discussion. We discuss Ty's diverse career, from his beginnings in "The Tree of Life", to his recent venture into producing with "Asphalt City." Ty offers a behind-the-scenes look at his transition from teen roles to more complex adult characters, the influence of working with legends like Spielberg and Clooney, and his grounded ...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with actor, Garret Dillahunt. In addition to being a seasoned stage actor who has spent some time on Broadway, Garret has also been lending his talents to film and television projects for years. He has appeared in films such as No Country For Old Men, 12 Years a Slave and Ambulance. His extensive television resume includes shows like Raising Hope, Deadwood, Justified, The Mindy Project and Fear The Walking Dead. Most recently, he can be s...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Hollywood legend, George Stevens, Jr. He has enjoyed a seventy year career as a writer, producer and director. He also founded the American Film Institute (AFI) and co-created the Kennedy Center Honors. He has been friends with and consulted presidents from John F. Kennedy, through President Obama, who appointed him as Co-Chairman of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He has received numerous Emmy, Writers Guild an...

On this episode of The Story & Craft Podcast, we sit down with Asha Michelle Wilson. Asha is an actor, screenwriter and showrunner. She’s written for shows such as FX’s Archer and American Horror Story, as well as Netflix’s upcoming series, Agent King. She’s currently developing a project for Paramount+ and will be writing a series based on the movie Soap Dish. What’s it like to develop, write and run a TV show? We’ll talk about that and more, as we sit down to talk story with Asha Michelle Wils...