Actor, comedian, and writer Sydney Battle joins host Dani Loftus to discuss the icks that drive her creative life. Sydney opens up about navigating rejection in Hollywood, where celebrities now take tiny parts that once went to rising actors.

They explore tactful complaining versus toxic positivity, the relatability trap that makes celebrities build airport pillow forts and why people need to just say "excuse me."

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Sydney's Instagram

Dani's newsletter

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00:59 — Don't tell people who they look like (unless it's the hottest person alive)

06:09 — "Honesty without tact is just cruelty"

06:47 — Toxic positivity and the 16-page audition complaint

08:31 — When celebrities get the part you auditioned for

09:20 — Separating career opportunities from talent to stay sane

10:52 — When your happy side quest becomes your main career

12:19 — Post-strike scarcity: celebrities taking two-scene parts

14:34 — Dating ick: low effort and people who don't value you correctly

17:28 — Celebrities need to stop trying to be relatable

18:51 — Jessica Chastain's valid complaint vs. Kristen Bell's airport fort

24:46 — Just say "excuse me"

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Our music, Stamford Brook Style, is by Adrian Michna.