Stage Combat The Podcast

SEASON 3 Episode Ten. "Another Wicked Story: Eddie"
Synopsis:   Another actor from Wicked on Broadway comes forward to tell Sean his story about the toxic work environment he experienced there and how it traumatized him for years.

Special thank you to Eddie Pendergraft.

Hear Wicked actor Brad Bass' account of what he called "witch hunts" backstage at Wicked at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON.
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
It's the companion to Season 3.   Plus "Sean Goes Off Script" to dive deeper into this episode.
And experience at Patreon our all-new chat podcast series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.

Hosted by Sean Hayden
Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.     

SEASON 3 Episode Nine. "The 'F' Word"
Synopsis:   Sean investigates whether there's a problem with using the "family" word in our workplaces.

Special thank you to Bret Shuford, Michael McGurk, Nicole Perry, CorBen Williams, Jeanine Bruen, Michael Passaro, Kirsti Carnahan, Greg Roderick, Juliet Lambert Pratt, Mia Scarpa and Frank Mastrone. 

Stage Combat The Podcast is member supported programming.  If you believe in what we are doing, why not support us by becoming a member at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON?
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
It's the companion to Season 3.  Listen to bonus content from this episode:   Broadway stage manager Michael Passaro talks about how working at McDonald's shaped his entire career in the theatre. Plus "Sean Goes Off Script" to dive deeper into this episode.
And experience at Patreon our all-new chat podcast series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.

Hosted by Sean Hayden
Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Eight. "Putting It Out There: Your Mental Health Story On the Stage"
Synopsis:   Sean meets two very different performers who claimed their mental health stories by creating their own one-person solo shows: Legendary drag queen Varla Jean Merman aka Jeff Roberson and Broadway actor Chryssie Whitehead. 

Content warning:  Content about suicide.
Dial or text 988 24/7 to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are in crisis.

Follow Varla Jean Merman on Instagram at @varlajeanmerman and online at varlajean.com. Follow Chryssie on Instagram at @ChryssieWhitehead and @imolctheshow and online at ChryssieWhitehead.com.

Stage Combat The Podcast is member supported programming.  If you believe in what we are doing, why not support us by becoming a member at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON?
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
It's the companion to Season 3.  Listen to bonus content from this episode:   Jeff Roberson talks about the political attacks on drag from the right and Chryssie recalls being a part of the 2008 A Chorus Line documentary "Every Little Step."  Plus "Sean Goes Off Script" to dive deeper into this episode.
And experience at Patreon our all-new chat podcast series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.

Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Seven. "You're Under Investigation: Laura' Story"
Synopsis:   After hearing Sean's story about the botched workplace investigation at the Goodspeed Opera House, listener Laura shares her own bonkers workplace investigation story that ended with devastating consequences.

Content warning: Content about suicide.
Dial or text 988 24/7 to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are in crisis.

Special thank you to attorney Mark Carey.

Stage Combat The Podcast is member supported programming.  If you believe in what we are doing, support us by becoming a member at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
It's the companion to Season 3. Listen to bonus content from this episode:   Sean and attorney Mark Carey get real about employers and HR departments and "Sean Goes Off Script" to dive deeper into this episode.
PLUS experience our all-new chat podcast series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.

Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Six. "Charlie At the Crossroads"
Synopsis: Sean meets Charlie, a 23-year-old Boston theatre program student.  Two months before his graduation, Charlie has an unfiltered conversation with Sean about his hopes, his dreams, his frustrations and how Stage Combat the Podcast has affected him personally as he sits at the crossroads of his life.  

Strong language.

Thank you to Charlie Zuckerman.

Stage Combat The Podcast is member supported programming.  If you believe in what we are doing, support by becoming a member at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Enjoy our companion content to Season 3: Listen to bonus content of Sean's conversation with the students of Boston Conservatory and Sean's personal post-show wrap up of the episode.
PLUS experience our original series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.
Become part of the Stage Combat at Patreon community today!

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Hosted by Sean Hayden.
Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and sound design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Five. "Somebody's Going to Get Hurt"

Synopsis:   Sean asks whether theatre audiences actually understand the dangers that actors face when it comes to staged combat sequences on stage.  And do the actors themselves fully understand the risk they are taking on with every performance.

Guests:  Actor/fight instructor McKey Carpenter; Broadway actor Kaylin Seckel; Boston Conservatory at Berklee fight instructor Angie Jepson. 

If you're only listening to Stage Combat the Podcast, you're only getting half the Stage Combat experience.  Check out STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Listen to bonus content from this episode:   More of Sean's conversation with the Boston Conservatory fight instructor Angie Jepson and Sean's personal post-show wrap up of the episode.
PLUS experience our companion series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.
Your support at Patreon enables us to continue to do our work at Stage Combat the Podcast. Become part of the Stage Combat at Patreon community today!

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Hosted by Sean Hayden.
Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and sound design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

Bonus Episode: "Why Actors Bully Other Actors"
Hey Stage Combat listeners! We're sharing with you a special full episode sneak preview of one of our companion series from Stage Combat at Patreon:  THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.  In this episode of THE MENTAL HEALTH POD, Sean and Broadway actor Michael McGurk ask the question "Why Actors Bully Each Other."  And Michael shares his own experience of bullying while working on Broadway in The Wedding Singer.

If you're only listening to Stage Combat the Podcast, you're only getting half the Stage Combat experience.  Check out STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Listen to Bonus Content from Stage Combat the Podcast episodes with extended conversations and Sean's personal post-show wrap up.  Plus you can experience our companion series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.
We are member supported programming.  We simply can't bring you Stage Combat the Podcast without your support at Patreon.  So consider becoming part of the Stage Combat at Patreon community today!

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is an attorney/actor/advocate and is the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC.  As a professional actor, Sean has appeared in Broadway national tours and in plays and musicals in theaters across the country.    He is a proud union member of Actors' Equity Association.  As a mental health advocate, Sean has provided thought leadership on how employers can better support the mental health of their employees and how theatre programs can support their students.  He serves on the advisory board for HR.com for Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace.  Sean resides in New York City and upstate New York with his husband, a screenwriter.   

SEASON 3 Episode Four. "It's All In Your Mind(fulness)"

Synopsis:   Almost five years after his collapse from a panic attack on the Goodspeed Opera House stage, Sean looks back at his own search for mindfulness and checks in with a few friends along the way to see how their doing it.

Special thanks to somatic psychologist Dr. Brian Tierney @thesomaticdoctor; actor and yoga instructor MaryJayne Waddell @maryjaynewaddell; West End actor Alexander Evans @thepilatestenor; Coloring Broadway CEO Andrea Koehler @coloringbroadway and Joschi.

Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and sound design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

If you're only listening to Stage Combat the Podcast, you're only getting half the Stage Combat experience.  Check out STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Listen to bonus content from this episode:   More of Sean's conversation with the Yogi Master and Sean's personal post-show wrap up of the episode.
PLUS experience our companion series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.
Your support at Patreon enables us to continue to do our work at Stage Combat the Podcast. Become part of the Stage Combat at Patreon community today!

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Three. "Looking for Jeff"
Special Double Length Episode.
Synopsis:   Sean undertakes a compassionate investigation into the tragic 2018 suicide death of Chicago The Musical actor Jeff Loeffelholz.

Content warning: strong language; content and conversations about suicide.
Dial or text 988 24/7 to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are in crisis.

Special thank you to David Sabella, Brian Rardin, Willem Bart Ebbink, Brian Martin, Brien O'Brien, William Harrison and Bridget McCarthy.

Editing by Alex Griffitt.  Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

For more Stage Combat the Podcast, check out STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Listen to bonus content from this episode:   More of our conversation with Chicago actor David Sabella and Sean's post-show wrap up on the episode.
PLUS experience our all-new chat podcast series:  JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.

Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

SEASON 3 Episode Two. "How Are We All OK With This?" Part 2.
Synopsis:  Synopsis:   Sean continues to explore the problem with toxic stage managers and investigates whether our jobs can physically make us sick.

Content warning: strong language.

Editing by Alex Griffitt. Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.

Special thank you to Pamela Bob, Bret Shuford and Brad Bass for CLAIMING THEIR STORIES and for special contributions from Dr. Alisa Hurwitz, Dr. Brian Tierney, and Taylor Meszaros.

Want more Stage Combat community?  Check out STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON!
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
Listen to bonus content from this episode PLUS experience our all-new chat podcast series:
JUST ACTING:  It's like getting an acting lesson in your earpods!
THE MENTAL HEALTH POD: Provocative mental health conversations all artists, and the people who love them, need to hear.


Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)

Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at [email protected]

Sean Hayden is New York City based attorney, actor and advocate for workplaces that are safe, respectful and dignified.  As the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC, he produces Stage Combat the Podcast which exposes harmful practices in the entertainment industry and fosters conversations of how to make the workplace better for everyone.   

Dr. Alisa Hurwitz is a clinical psychologist in group private practice in New Hampshire, specializing in the Autism spectrum and gender identity. Dr. Hurwitz also applies her professional knowledge to consult with theater companies, conduct post-show talkbacks and interview Broadway actors. You can follow her at drdrama.com and on Instagram @thedrdrama.

Dr. Brian Tierney, Ph.D., brings a wealth of expertise to the field of psychology. He's internationally recognized as a practitioner and educator in neuroscience and trauma resolution therapy. Based in California, Dr. Tierney operates a private practice where he offers compassionate care to individuals, couples, and families.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Tierney serves as a professor of clinical neuroscience and Psychological Assessment at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.