What happens when you walk away from one creative path and unexpectedly discover the one that defines your career?

On this episode of Next Act, Jeff Ornstein sits down with Jonathan Geffner, writer, executive producer, lead actor, and creator of The Dummy Detective. Jonathan shares his unconventional journey from studying classical piano to discovering ventriloquism and eventually building a decades-long career as a performer, writer, and filmmaker.

Jonathan discusses the creation of his award-winning Trillo & Suede series, his love of film noir, the challenges of independently producing a feature film, and how he brought The Dummy Detective to life. He also shares the story behind casting Sean Young, why writing and performing remain his favorite parts of the creative process, and what he hopes comes next for the characters he has spent years developing.

It’s a conversation about creative reinvention, persistence, following an unlikely passion, and turning an original idea into something entirely your own.

What happens when the career you were trained for no longer feels like the life you want?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with British-French actor, performance capture artist, and certified Chubbuck coach Eric Geynes to explore his unconventional journey from competitive swimming to an international acting career.

Eric shares why he walked away from the security of a traditional career to pursue acting at 30, how his background as an athlete shaped his discipline as a performer, and what he has learned working across the U.S. and European entertainment industries.

They also dive into the Chubbuck acting technique, Eric's experience on Emily in Paris, the realities of auditions and rejection, maintaining your identity when you're not on set, and why mentoring the next generation of performers has become an important part of his career.

Eric also discusses The Constant Actor, his upcoming practical book designed to help actors continuously develop their craft, mindset, and relationship with the industry through short daily exercises.

For anyone navigating a career transition, pursuing a creative life, or wondering whether it's ever too late to follow the path you've always wanted, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to make the leap.

What does it take to build a creative career without limiting yourself to one lane?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with award-winning producer, writer, host, performer, and storyteller Mary Darcy to explore a career that has stretched across public radio, television, theater, podcasting, voice work, and stand-up comedy.

Mary shares how storytelling has remained the common thread throughout her life, from producing the award-winning PBS documentary No Ordinary Lives to hosting nationally syndicated radio and interviewing legendary composer Stephen Sondheim.

She and Jeff discuss the importance of following creative instincts, why empathy sits at the heart of both comedy and storytelling, and what Mary learned from Sondheim about failure. Mary also reflects on why failure and rejection are unavoidable parts of creating meaningful work and shares one particularly memorable professional mistake that eventually became one of her favorite stories.

The conversation also explores the future of storytelling in the age of AI and why Mary believes that while the platforms we use may change, our fundamental need for human connection through stories will not.

It’s a conversation about creativity, resilience, failure, reinvention, and having the courage to keep telling the stories that matter.

What happens when the roles you’re given don’t fully satisfy the artist you want to become?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with actors, filmmakers, and Dirty Coffee Pictures co-founders Luke Tennie and Noam Shapiro for a conversation about acting, filmmaking, collaboration, and the power of creating your own opportunities.

Luke and Noam share how their friendship at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy evolved into a creative partnership and eventually Dirty Coffee Pictures. They discuss making their award-winning short film Jade, learning filmmaking on the fly, and why surrounding yourself with talented collaborators can be just as important as mastering every part of the process.

They also explore the realities of being typecast, what makes a performance feel authentic, and why actors can’t always depend on someone else to provide artistic fulfillment. For Luke, creating his own work allows him to explore characters outside the roles Hollywood typically offers him. For Noam, writing has become another powerful extension of his passion for storytelling.

From acting and writing to producing and directing, this conversation is a reminder that a creative career doesn’t have to follow one path. Sometimes the next act begins when you stop waiting for permission and start making the work you want to see.

What happens when the career you imagined evolves into something much bigger?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff reconnects with longtime friend and fellow Brandeis alum Walter L. Krochmal, whose creative life has taken him from classical theatre and international performance to voice acting, translation, interpreting, and championing independent cinema.

Walter reflects on the versatility that has allowed him to keep creating through decades of change. He shares why he believes artists need to create their own opportunities, how his experiences at Cannes inspired him to build Bronx World Film, and why preserving independent and international cinema matters far beyond entertainment.

The conversation also explores mentorship, creative resilience, and the importance of human networks. For Walter, mentorship isn't about one generation teaching another - it's a two-way exchange where both sides listen, learn, and evolve.

At the heart of Walter's work is a simple belief about art: you shouldn't leave the same person who walked in.

It’s a conversation about staying flexible, protecting your creative spark, and finding new ways to do the work that matters to you.

What does it take to build a lasting career in an industry where rejection is part of the job?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Michael Strickland, a film and television actor, voice artist, acting coach, and founder of The Winnipeg Actors Academy.

Michael shares the lessons behind more than 30 years in acting, including why honest feedback changed the way he approaches his craft, how he learned to see rejection differently, and why he now celebrates every audition instead of obsessing over whether he booked the role.

They also explore Michael’s love of comedy and improvisation, his experiences working across film, television, Hallmark productions, and video games, and why teaching the next generation of actors has become such an important part of his career.

It’s a conversation about resilience, creativity, staying curious, and finding joy in the work—even when the answer is no.

What does it take to leave a successful corporate career and build a completely different life around creativity?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with award-nominated voice actor Andy Lipshultz to explore his journey from the music industry and corporate leadership to building a career behind the microphone.

Andy shares why he deliberately stepped back professionally to create the time and mental space for his next act, how he tested his way into voiceover before making the full transition, and why career reinvention doesn’t have to mean quitting everything overnight.

They also discuss the importance of authenticity in creative work, the business side of building a creative career, financial preparation before making a major change, and why standing out often means being more yourself—not creating a polished professional persona.

From voicing major brands to finding fulfillment in unexpected creative projects, Andy’s story is a reminder that your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line. Sometimes the next act begins by making room for something you’ve wanted to pursue all along.

What if starting your next act later in life is actually an advantage?

On this episode of Next Act, Jeff Ornstein sits down with producer, SAG-AFTRA actor, entrepreneur, and mindfulness coach Ena Rodriguez O'Rourke to explore a career built on reinvention.

Ena shares her journey from moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, to stepping away to raise a family, building a career in yoga therapy and mindfulness, and ultimately returning to entertainment as a producer. Today, she is helping create women-led vertical productions through Celtic Clover and opening new opportunities for actors and filmmakers.

Ena also opens up about confronting limiting beliefs, learning to "claim the hat" of producer, and why experience, heartbreak, and resilience can become advantages when pursuing something new later in life.

It’s a conversation about trusting yourself, creating your own opportunities, and realizing that your next chapter doesn’t have to start from scratch - it can build on everything that came before.

What happens when you walk away from a career you spent years building to pursue something you can’t ignore?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with actor, producer, screenwriter and director Darwin Shaw to explore his remarkable journey from medicine to the stage and screen.

Darwin shares how discovering acting changed the direction of his life, landing his breakout role in Casino Royale, and building a career that has taken him from major productions to deeply personal independent films.

They also discuss the story behind the Academy Award-nominated short film The Last Ranger, Darwin’s move into writing, producing and directing, and why he believes great storytelling starts with empathy.

Darwin also offers a candid perspective for anyone considering their own next act: success isn’t enough to sustain a creative career. You have to genuinely love the work.

It’s a conversation about taking risks, finding your voice, creating work that matters, and having the courage to follow the path that makes you feel most alive.

What happens when years of creating, experimenting, and hearing “no” suddenly lead to the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?

On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Stephen Butchko, award-winning producer, director, actor, and founding member of Ferryman Collective, to explore his unconventional path from traditional theater and filmmaking into the emerging world of immersive virtual reality storytelling.

Stephen shares how he and his collaborators learned to create their own opportunities, why a lifetime of creative work prepared him for an unexpected breakthrough, and how Ferryman Collective is bringing live theater, film, and interactive gaming together in entirely new ways.

They also discuss the uncertainty that comes with a creative career, the importance of continuing through rejection, and why sometimes an “overnight success” is really the result of years spent preparing for the moment when the right door finally opens.

Stephen is also the co-creator of Uncanny Alley: A New Day, an immersive live VR theatrical production nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Emerging Media Program.