Mischief and Mastery

What does it mean to direct with care in an industry that often forgets its people? In this episode, George Ellzey Jr. joins Mishu for an unflinching and heartfelt conversation about navigating burnout, building emotionally safe sets, and resisting the achievement spiral. They explore the quiet rewards of creative leadership, how to protect your joy when the hustle hits hard, and why making room for humanity on set might be the most radical thing you can do.

George is a Chicago-based director and screenwriter known for his award-winning short Cottage Grove (now streaming on AMC+) and his experimental film SWITCHIN’, featured on NBC5 Chicago and Open Television. His work has screened at national and international festivals including Athens International, Black Harvest, Micheaux, and Tallgrass. George recently won Best Student Narrative (Cottage Grove) and Best Screenplay (All Good) at the 2025 Lindsey Film Festival. A graduate of Bowdoin College and DePaul University’s MFA program, he brings a steady, reflective voice to Chicago’s evolving indie film scene.

In this episode, we talk about:
 → Setting boundaries and expectations on indie sets
 → The danger of achievement obsession in creative careers
 → Burnout, depression, and learning to pause
 → Sharing knowledge instead of gatekeeping
 → Leading with care and creating room for vulnerability

Learn more about George’s work and follow his production company on Instagram at @cottagegroveproductions.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What does it mean to chase a joke without losing yourself? In this episode, Rey Tang—a Chicago-based writer, photographer, filmmaker, and performer—joins Mishu for a conversation about finding her comedic voice while navigating feedback, audience expectations, and the realities of making a creative career sustainable. They talk about letting go of perfectionism, writing toward surprise instead of shock, and learning to take risks without chasing edginess.

Rey performed stand-up at the 2024 SNL Showcase at the Annoyance Theater and was a Comedy Gazelle Vouch finalist that same year. She’s performed at Laugh Factory, Zanies, and Hollywood Improv, and is currently represented by Stewart Talent Agency Chicago. Rey also hosts Pizza Mic, a beloved weekly open mic that was featured in the New York Times Travel section.

We chat about:

 → The difference between being surprising and being shocking
 → How stand-up feedback shaped her writing
 → Risk-taking as an engine for creative growth
 → Wrestling with the impulse to be “special”
 → Building a sustainable creative life—on her own terms

Learn more about Rey’s work at reytang.com and follow her on Instagram at @reytangerine.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What if you stopped waiting for permission and started thinking like a studio? In this episode, Remsy Atassi—a Chicago-based Syrian-American filmmaker—joins Mishu for a grounded, no-nonsense talk about the changing landscape of indie film distribution. They unpack why relying on festivals and acquisitions may be a trap, how to budget with an eye toward self-distribution, and what it takes to build—and serve—your own audience from the ground up.

Remsy directed the 2022 award-winning feature Bad Animal, now streaming on Amazon Prime. His latest documentary The Legend of Kingdom Come, about comic book icon Alex Ross, just raised nearly half a million dollars via crowdfunding and will premiere at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre.

This episode is for filmmakers who are tired of hoping the system will come knocking—and want to learn how to get their film out there on their own terms.

🎟️ The Legend of Kingdom Come premieres May 10 at The Music Box Theatre

Learn more about Remsy’s work at remsyatassi.com
Follow him on Instagram at @remsy_atassi

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What happens when you stop writing what’s expected—and start composing like yourself? In this episode, Tim Corpus shares what it means to develop a creative voice you can actually recognize in your own work. We talk about what makes a temp track helpful (and when it’s not), taking creative swings in client work, and how years of writing for others led Tim back to the sound that felt most honest.

Tim is a Filipino-American composer and arts manager whose work spans concert music, film, and interactive media. He’s had performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Bolshoi Theatre, and MoMA, with features on BBC Radio 3, CNN Money, and WFMT. His 2022 GRAMMY-selected album MMXX earned critical acclaim, and his scores have been heard in over 25 films and episodic projects. He currently serves as Executive Director of the 2025 Ear Taxi Festival and the Hyde Park Youth Symphony, and co-leads the Chicago Media Composers & Lyricists collective. Known for his rhythmic instinct and interdisciplinary mindset, Tim brings both heart and rigor to his ever-expanding body of work.

We chat about:
 → Taking big swings instead of writing safe
 → Knowing when a project isn’t really yours
 → Using constraint to fuel invention
 → Letting go of the illusion of perfect
 → Writing for yourself even when no one’s asking

Check out more of Tim’s work at timcorpus.net, follow him on Instagram at @timcorpus, and find his music on YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What happens when you chase the adrenaline of live performance—and find yourself building a whole second life? In this episode, Jorge Salas joins Mishu to talk about getting into acting later than most, navigating the sometimes brutal psychology of auditions, and staying flexible in both life and craft. We dig into how Jorge’s background in tech gave him unexpected tools for acting, why he values emotional range over "hitting the mark," and how he’s preparing for his next big creative leap.

Jorge’s recent credits include stage work with AstonRep (Buried Child, Jeff-nominated), Meat Machine Theatre (La Ronde), and the Athenaeum Theatre (Accidental Election of an Anarchist), along with TV/film appearances on Hulu’s Deli Boys and Prime Video’s BAM (Broke Ass MotherF*ckers). He splits his time between technology consulting and acting, chasing lead roles, training in Shakespeare, and bringing his bilingual range to commercials, indie films, and the Chicago theater scene.

We talk about: 
 → Depersonalizing rejection without losing heart
 → Why emotional variety matters more than "perfect" delivery
 → Building small habits that compound into real growth
 → Balancing career ambition with creative play
 → Learning to embrace mischief and risk—even when the stakes feel high

Follow Jorge on Instagram at @jorgesalaschi and check out his work on YouTube.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What if the most meaningful thing you ever made wasn’t your biggest show—but the space you created for someone else to play? In this episode, Alex Rembold talks about leaving a soul-crushing job to start Catjam, the community-driven open mic series he founded to give others permission to show up, sound weird, and feel welcome. We talk about shifting from competitive to collaborative mindsets, the invisible power of musical vulnerability, and what it means to build something out of kindness rather than branding.

Alex is a songwriter, music director, and producer who works with The Second City, iO, and The Annoyance. He’s the founder of Catjam Chicago, a nonprofit that creates inclusive, improvisational music spaces—currently hosting weekly jams at Insect Asylum and (soon) the floating Wild Mile garden on the Chicago River. He also fronts the band Funky Fünke, produces the cozy and chaotic improv show The Cozy Sweater, and still finds time to write introspective bangers about connection, grief, and joy.

We talk about: 
 → Leaving the practical job (and the existential crisis that followed)
 → The real risk: not taking one
 → Music as empathy in motion
 → Changing the room by being the room
 → Following the butterfly, even if it leads to a weird warehouse on a Tuesday night

Catch Catjam every Tuesday from 7–10pm at the Insect Asylum (and starting June, at the Wild Mile). Follow Alex on IG at @remby_on_the_bone or check out his work at alexremboldmusic.weebly.com.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What does it mean to call yourself an actor before the industry gives you permission? In this episode, Madelynn Wierda talks about navigating the awkward in-between of student and professional, how she chooses roles based on instinct, and why setting your own tone on set can make all the difference. We explore the mental side of auditioning, asking questions before you arrive, and letting go of “aspiring” in favor of actually doing the work.

Madelynn is a Chicago-based actor who’s extensively trained in both theatre and film, currently pursuing her BFA at Columbia College Chicago. She’s played lead roles in award-winning short films, performed in commercials and stage work, and continues to train at studios around the country. Known for her grounded performances and sharp preparation instincts, she brings presence and intentionality into every space—on and off camera.

In this episode:
→ Shifting from “aspiring” to I’m already doing it
→ Booking more once she stopped clinging to auditions
→ How to prep when there's no rehearsal
→ Knowing when to say no, even when you’re early in your career
→ Reframing the idea of professionalism from the inside out

Follow Madelynn on Instagram at @madelynnwierda.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.

You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What if the point of a story wasn’t conflict—but something more subtle, more layered, and more human? In this episode, award-winning director and producer Donald Conley joins Mishu to talk about the evolving shape of story, the language of tension, and how Nonviolent Communication changed the way he writes characters, builds scenes, and approaches collaboration.

Donald Conley is a filmmaker whose work orbits themes of justice, memory, and emotional honesty. He’s produced documentaries distributed by Netflix, PBS, and Max—including Dallas, 2019, a 5-part socio-political series for Independent Lens. His short documentary Matriarch and narrative short About Time have screened at major festivals across the U.S. and Canada, including the 60th Annual Chicago International Film Festival. He’s currently directing a feature doc on the 1970 Syracuse 8 boycott and its legacy in college football.

In this episode, we talk about Tension vs. trauma: how Donald builds story without defaulting to conflict

•  Redefining narrative structure with empathy at the center
•  Recasting the role of the antagonist
•  The cost—and value—of slowing down the creative process
•  Directing intimacy with care, conversation, and consent

Follow Donald on Instagram @meekley for updates on About Time, his current doc project, and more.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

What does it look like to grow into a role you didn’t expect to take on—and do it with someone who trusts you, even before you trust yourself? In this episode, Cassidy Tee and Kristina Mercado talk about their collaboration on the short film First Chair, navigating setbacks, building momentum from scratch, and making decisions in real time with creative instincts as their compass.

Cassidy Tee is a filmmaker and screenwriter whose work blends suspenseful world-building with grounded character drama. Based in Chicago and drawn to the psychological thriller space, she’s directed a variety of indie projects and is currently deep in pre-production on First Chair, a tech-meets-orchestra short film with Black Mirror energy. Kristina Mercado is a producer and teaching artist who co-runs the production company Tide on Topic, and brings a sharp sense of logistics and community to the table—often jumping into roles she never imagined for herself.

We chat about:
 → Reigniting a project after a stall-out
 → Creative trust between director and producer
 → Running a female-led team on an indie budget
 → Letting momentum lead (even if it’s messy)
 → What it means to define success beyond just “finishing”

Check out Cassidy’s fundraiser for First Chair at crowdfundr.com/firstchair and follow her at @cassidytposts.

Learn more about Kristina’s production work at tideontopic.com and on IG at @kristinamvlg14.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.

Emma Palizza has stopped waiting for permission—and she’s not dragging a boulder uphill just to be "seen." In this episode, she talks candidly about leaving the Chicago theater grind, recalibrating her definition of success, and rediscovering joy in creative work. Whether it's saying no to bad plays, launching a podcast with her best friend, or watching her first podcast episode explode in plays despite the chaos—Emma reminds us that joyful process can be better than exhausted polish.

An actor and sometimes writer, Emma trained at the School at Steppenwolf and Second City, performing with companies like The Gift and Steep Theatre before relocating to Connecticut. She now stars in The Ferryman at Hole in the Wall Theatre and co-hosts Go Get Your Girl, a rom-com podcast full of overshares, running bits, and the occasional sexy snowman. Her work is a mash-up of heart, humor, and blunt realism about what it means to make things—and to know when they’re “good enough.”

We dig into:
→ Saying no to hustle-driven theater culture
→ Rewriting your metrics of success
→ Podcasting as performance and permission
→ Going before you’re ready—and letting go lightly

Find Emma at emmapalizza.com or on Instagram @emilympizza. Check out Go Get Your Girl wherever you get your podcasts.

Sign up for the mailing list and listen to more episodes at mischiefpod.com.
You can follow us on Instagram and TikTok @mischiefpod. Produced by @ohhmaybemedia.