Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You

Saying no to social plans is awkward when the invite is from a friend you actually like. Broadway actor Josh Rivera shares a goofy, no-hard-feelings delivery that lands the message without turning it into a whole thing, including “I’m gonna be honest, not really.” Rivera is currently appearing in Rocky Horror Picture Show now on Broadway.

Josh Rivera is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most compelling rising stars. Most recently he captivated audiences in the titular role in Ryan Murphy’s FX limited series “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,” a performance that secured him coveted spots on Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch and The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Talent Lists for 2024. On the big screen, Rivera made his feature debut as Chino in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. He's also seen in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Susanna Fogel’s feature Cat Person, and the indie thriller Inhabitants, which won Best Genre Feature at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. A graduate of Ithaca College, Rivera began his professional journey as part of the original cast of the first national tour of Hamilton.

Follow Josh on Instagram at @joshandresrivera.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

When email goes missing, the spam folder is often where it ends up. Check spam before deleting anything, because a job offer, a friend’s note, or a catch-up email can get caught by accident. After clearing it out, adjust spam settings so the good stuff stops getting trapped.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

When someone wants a podcast that explains why people do what they do, Arielle has a recommendation. It’s Nudge, hosted by Phill Agnew, with the tagline “Behavioral Science Simplified,” and it’s been leaking into Arielle’s daily life and internet copy. There’s also an episode called “These Two Words, Increase Sales by 18%,” and the two words stay unspoiled here.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

When your boss drops an idea that sounds stupid, the real risk is dragging your feet and getting stuck in "told you so" mode. A radio pro from Latvia shared a mindset shift at a podcast conference: do the thing immediately, and let the results speak. It’s advice for managing up, handling leadership decisions, and moving fast at work without picking a fight.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Text someone the moment they pop into your head, even if it has been two years since working together. This fits old friends, past collaborators, and anyone a freelancer wants to keep warm without making it weird. Great for networking, keeping in touch, and reconnecting with old contacts at the exact right moment.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Oatmeal for cravings: Josh Rivera swaps a sweet treat for oats with water, Truvia, and cinnamon when snacky hits after getting home from Rocky Horror Picture Show on Broadway. The move scratches the sweet treat feeling without turning into a full dessert run, and it fits anyone trying to diet while still wanting something sweet. Also: his food-processor trick that turns regular Quaker oats into a cream-of-rice texture.

Josh Rivera is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most compelling rising stars. Most recently he captivated audiences in the titular role in Ryan Murphy’s FX limited series “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,” a performance that secured him coveted spots on Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch and The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Talent Lists for 2024. On the big screen, Rivera made his feature debut as Chino in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. He's also seen in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Susanna Fogel’s feature Cat Person, and the indie thriller Inhabitants, which won Best Genre Feature at the 2023 Austin Film Festival. A graduate of Ithaca College, Rivera began his professional journey as part of the original cast of the first national tour of Hamilton.

Follow Josh on Instagram at @joshandresrivera.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Remembering museum facts can feel impossible on a walking tour or in a packed gallery. When the wall text is nonstop and the brain starts buffering, aim for one great museum takeaway to write down and tell a friend. This travel tip is for anyone who leaves a museum thinking they learned everything and retained nothing.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Switching rooms to reset focus when spiraling or stuck at a desk works like a quick brain reset. This tip is for anyone distracted while doing email or editing audio while working from home.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Actor and singer Josh Rivera (West Side Story, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) joins Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You for a warm, wide-ranging conversation about performance, identity, and staying connected as life moves fast.

• Josh on getting pulled into choir, leaving football, and finding the performer path
• Ithaca College stories and learning to trust your own voice as an artist
• Hamilton tour life as a standby: learning multiple tracks, handling nerves, and “saving the show”
• West Side Story with Spielberg: stepping into agency and building a character from scratch
• The humbling reality after a big break, and what keeps Josh grounded
• The Hunger Games: booking Sejanus without reading the book first
• Mental health honesty: OCD, health anxiety, and finding support
• Hobby era: drums, knitting, and why “schedule a game” is the best friendship advice
• Nerd corner: D&D, board games, and Josh’s current list of go-to multiplayer games

Find Josh on instagram at @joshandresrivera. Josh is currently appearing in The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway at Studio 54.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.

Used tea bags on rose plants can make roses blossom faster with more vibrant colors. Sprinkle the opened tea leaves over a rosebush as the weather warms up, then watch for faster blooms and brighter petals. Used tea bags, rose care, tea leaves, and garden tip.

Music is by Marcus Thorne Bagala. Find us everywhere at https://dailytipspodcast.com.