In this episode, Yellowjackets and The Originals actor Steven Krueger takes us on the unexpected journey from aspiring lawyer to full-time actor and, more recently, director. He opens up about the turning point when he realized he didn't want to be a lawyer — he wanted to be James Spader on Boston Legal — and how a brutally honest producer's advice shifted his mindset from "dabbling" in acting to making it a serious pursuit. Krueger gets candid about the value of life experience and education in shaping his craft, and how he built his career brick by brick — including the multiple rounds of auditions it took to land his breakout role on The Originals.

Steven shares hilarious and humbling audition stories, like bombing a Percy Jackson read with a full-blown Cyclops voice, and lessons learned about navigating an industry that's equal parts craft, luck, and timing. He also dives into his evolution as an artist, from feeling creatively stagnant on long-running shows to pushing himself into directing his first short film.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Steven Krueger right here.

CREDITS:

• Yellowjackets
• Goosebumps
• Good Trouble
• The Originals
• Pretty Little Liars
• Roswell, New Mexico
• NCIS
• Hawaii Five-O

GUEST LINKS:

• IMDB: Steven Krueger, Actor

THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:

For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition

• SELF-TAPE MAY: Starting May 1st, 2025: Sign Up HERE ($88)
• THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
• THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
• PATREON: @thatoneaudition
• CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
• COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
• INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
• INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
• WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
• ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
• SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
• STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

EPISODE CREDITS:

• WRITER: Erin McCluskey
• WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
• ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
• SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri