Game of Life with Dan and Harman

Dan is joined by actress, writer, and director, Jayne Brook! You may have seen Jayne in various television shows over the years including Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Brothers & Sisters, and Star Trek: Discovery to name a few. Jayne has also directed and written a short film called Flip Side.

We chat about her work on Boston Legal, playing a character struggling with drug addiction, working with Mark Valley & René Auberjonois, always wanting to write a book, dreams fading away, the rhythm of life, giving back, the self employed creative life, the not so straight forward creative path at forging a career, the humbling experience of becoming a model, accepting that she didn't like auditioning, feeling isolated in doubt, being satisfied artistically, segueing into writing & directing, creating a regular time where nothing happens, sometimes feeling ill at ease on guest starring jobs, a nice moment creating a scene with Anthony LaPaglia, the need for community, entering into the world of Star Trek, and so much more!

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Dan is joined by actor and military veteran, Mark Valley! You may have seen Mark in TV shows including Boston Legal, Human Target, Fringe, Harry's Law, Body of Proof, Law and Order: SVU, and The Flash to name a few. Mark was also a platoon leader who saw action in Operation Desert Storm.

We chat about working on Boston Legal, asking to leave Boston Legal, being a series regular on multiple shows, taking precautions for Human Target, taking advice from Lee Majors, the time spent waiting around on set as an actor, being fully engaged with Human Target, wanting to be a pro football player, coming from a military family, serving in the military as an engineer, leading small unit troops, finding acting through extra work on a film in Berlin, going to German night acting classes, working in the wild west of coffee shops, developing a tolerance to rejection, receiving hate mail while he was on Days of Our Lives, working as a location assistant, holding your ground, learning to be sure of yourself, getting grief with Denzel Washington, retiring from acting, and a whole lot more!

*Apologies for the audio quality. I only realised afterwards that the mic was not turned on*

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Dan is joined by actor and artist, Andrew J. West who most notably played Gareth on The Walking Dead!

We chat about working on The Walking Dead, getting an action figure, the pressure of working on TV pilots, learning from failed pilots, moving out to LA with no plan, putting yourself out there, getting the first co-star job on a TV show, knowing everything would work out, the humbling experience of waiting tables, not thinking success would come quickly, the non-linear career in the arts, a love of painting, learning to live a self directed life, being comfortable knowing you're not right for certain roles, working with Jim O'Heir on Middle Man, not winning over everyone, being a shy kid, not drifting along in life, and a whole lot more!

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Dan is joined by actor and Bill Oakley himself from Better Call Saul, Peter Diseth!

We chat about working on Better Call Saul, the responsibility he took in the series finale of Better Call Saul, initially auditioning for Breaking Bad, having good work environments, struggling with self confidence, servicing the story, the love of auditioning, not being able to watch back every self tape, wanting to be the people in the movies, the Albuquerque acting scene, getting the first TV gig, being well prepared to stay comfortable, having a sense of ownership over a moment, getting to the point where you can't turn back, box breathing to overcome stage fright, getting his nose broken half way through a show, the incredible experienced gained from teaching, pushing through social anxiety, and a whole lot more!

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Dan is joined by singer, actor, songwriter who most recently played Riff Raff in the Australian production of Rocky Horror, Henry Rollo!

We chat about not being a pure blood musical theatre person, working on Rocky Horror, exploring body type, hiding where you naturally fit, self awareness being a powerful weapon, getting the creative freedom in independent theatre, winning a walk on role in Wicked as a kid, meeting Bert Newton, working hospitality with the Marriner Group, not being ashamed of the work you're doing, getting a lead role in a show at The Hayes, loosing who you are as a performer, not currently having an agent, trying to meet your own standards eight shows a week, respecting and taking time with fans at stage door, working with comedians, dealing with the heckles on Rocky Horror, loosing control on stage, mapping things out, getting Jagged Little Pill, and a whole lot more!

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Dan is joined by phenomenally talented writer and performer, Maverick Newman who was pretty fresh after finishing a run of Murder for Two a few weeks prior to recording.

We chat about Maverick's name, working on Murder for Two, playing twelve characters, being spontaneous on stage, Gabbi Bolt, preparing for shows, knee and neck injuries, the pride of having done Murder for Two, coming from a sporty family, being cast in The King and I for The Production Company at a young age, the shock of being able to work in the industry, writing for yourself, Maverick's favourite piece of work, the initial trepidation of putting on solo shows for the first time, comedy, collaborating with others, being on the other side of the casting table, thinking about longevity, and a whole lot more!

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Dan is joined by musical theatre superstar, and member of the ensemble from Beauty and the Beast Australia, Anthony Garcia! We recorded this episode just before Beauty and the Beast went into their 500th performance!

We chat about the craziness of reaching five hundred performances of Beauty and the Beast, getting the call saying he got the show, keeping up with the show, the passion of expressing yourself artistically, the elaborate and aesthetically pleasing set, covering LeFou, translating nerves into excitement, playing the comedic role, getting hired for the best version of you, table tennis, dreams of becoming a mailman, being expelled in primary school, performing in professional productions as a kid, the art of tap dancing, the importance of going to class, finding balance, ups and downs of touring life, being proud of your university mates, and so much more!

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Dan is joined by Michael James Scott who has been playing the Genie in Aladdin on and off for ten years!

We chat about Michael's love for Australia, the rarity of playing the same character in the theatre world for ten years, maintaining the energy, breaking the fourth wall, working with so many different cast members that come and go, the richness of Aladdin, the talent in Australia, working with and performing for Aussies, Aladdin being a universal show, watching a cover or swing having their moment to shine, taking in the moment, being your authentic self as the Genie, always wanting to be a performer, kindness, being joyful, loving to laugh, not having anything to prove to anyone, having a life outside the theatre, what would draw Michael back to Australia, and so much more!

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Dan is joined by TV presenter, comedian, writer, painter, performer, social & political commentator, and absolute legend in the Australian industry, Gretel Killeen.

We chat about not wanting to do any one thing forever, variety, young people being overwhelmed with choice, asking the question of what you want to do next, not being happy in law, overriding fears of performing, finding thought provoking conversations with fellow artists, the fear of what came with success, loss of privacy, taking time off to rediscover yourself, not relying on external validation, learning from valid criticism, not acting like you're so special, the luxury of being older, facing burnout, adjusting to change, being the narrator in Rocky Horror and a whole lot more!

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Dan is joined by writer, satirist, presenter, broadcaster, and yet another member of The Chaser, Craig Reucassel.

We chat about being a jack of all trades, taking on new challenges, War on Waste, the impact of War on Waste, collaboration, the brutal writing room of The Chaser, the Trojan Horse stunt, the attention that came along with The Chaser's War on Everything, meeting the initial team of The Chaser through debating, getting advice from lawyers, working with Andrew Denton, performing to a live audience, learning to be serious, work ethic, working with new people, moving from South Africa to Australia, trying many different things, deadlines, Mark Latham, and a whole lot more!

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