Stop Drop and Rawle

This podcast episode was recorded live from Indonesia. I was lucky enough to be one of the millions of people to visit the “Island of the Gods”, a nickname given to the island of Bali in Indonesia. I was in lockstep with the multitude of individuals who have become inspired by the beauty of this Island and transformed by the magic of its people. A people who’s home page setting seems to be that of kindness and joy. My guest Ernawati Nasiham is a local resident of Bali and was gracious enough to be my cultural tour guide throughout this episode. Ernawati holds several positions within the Balinese cultures, she’s economically as well spiritually entrenched within the lifestyle of this island. I found her to be the most perfect guest to assist in dissecting the beauty of this amazingly nuanced Balinese society.

Stroke survivor Sekou Writes gives a compelling inspirational interview. His situation unfortunately has a hint of familiarity to many, and yet his attitude and reaction to his pain is transformational to say the least. Sekou started a Health kick in order to change his life when a sudden stroke uprooted all his plans. He was an avid runner who did not drink, smoke and stayed relatively healthy. This health crisis came as a surprise to all, and needless to say it completely threw his life out of whack. I have no doubt that Sekou’s warrior like attitude had everything to do with his boarder line miracles recovery process. Though he is currently still on the mend, he has completely superseded doctors expectations on a rapid path to recovery. At the time of this interview Sekou had already started running marathons. His inspirational journey is packed with multi layered messages of hope to so many of us. Enjoy.

In this compelling episode, join the conversation with Jacqueline Wolfson, a Jewish American woman residing in the heart of New York. As we delve into the aftermath of the recent Hamas attacks on October 7th, Jacqueline offers a profound and personal insight into the crisis from a unique vantage point.

Jacqueline's narrative transcends the news headlines, providing listeners with an intimate understanding of what it truly feels like to be Jewish during times of heightened tension. Her experiences and emotions paint a vivid picture of the challenges faced by the Jewish community, adding a human touch to the geopolitical events that often seem distant and abstract.

Sarah Alami is an amazingly accomplished actress, model and voice actor. Unfortunately we were not able to talk about Sarah’s great artistic achievements. No time to brag about her recent role in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3”. The recent Israel-Hamas conflict has got the world on edge. This is even tenfold for Sarah. Being a Palestinian American brings this conflict even closer to Sarah’s heart and trembles her soul. Fearing for family members safety is utmost on her mind and rightfully so. Her passion for peace in that region has magnified, so much that, her attention is fully occupied with using her voice towards enlightening all within her reach.

This conversation was incredibly candid yet elevating. Sarah’s level of empathy is heartwarming. She wasted no energy picking sides or casting blame. What she does do however, is spend time advocating for human beings safety and care. She takes the humanitarian road. Sarah speaks in-depth of her concerns for the people in Gaza, family members included. These are polarizing times and this is a volatile topic. My hope is that we all can listen without prejudice.

In this episode, I am extremely excited to spotlight actor Shaan Sharma, renowned for his impactful contributions as a SAG/AFTRA board member.

Those accomplishments are often overshadowed by his talented portrayal of Shmuel in "The Chosen". Shaan Sharma has a remarkable ability to bring depth and authenticity to his characters, Shaan has captivated audiences with his emotional range and dedication to his craft for nearly 20yrs. Hailing from a diverse background in the Minneapolis area, he seamlessly merges his own experiences into his roles, creating a profound connection with viewers.

Beyond the screen, Shaan's commitment to the entertainment industry is evident through his role as a board member, advocating for fellow actors and shaping the industry's future. Shaan and I spoke in-depth about the current SAG/AFTRA & WGA strike. During our conversation, Shaan’s passion and dedication towards his fellow performers was self evident. His ability to speak with clarity and precision was helpful and gave us crystal clear insights to an otherwise complex negotiation process.

My guest is Annie Sertich, is an improv goddess and actress who has delighted audiences with her wit, humor, and broad range of styles. She has been seen on stages all over the world, as a performer, improviser and teacher. Annie is a longtime member of The Groundlings, an iconic improv comedy school in Los Angeles. We talked to Annie about how she got her start in the improv world, how she has grown as an artist over the years, and why her work is so important to her.

Annie's one woman show "How to not Kill Yourself for 30 Days... And the Next 330" has consistently won praises from critics. Her show was also a standout at “Edinburg Fringe Festival.

- “As breezily funny as she is frank” - Fest Magazine

- “Sertich shines as an excellent character actor” - Short Com

- “Audience members were moved to tears from each end of the emotional spectrum, laughing and crying simultaneously. Despite the dark subject matter, this one-woman show will leave you feeling uplifted with the light that is Annie Sertich.” - Glasgow Living 

We also talked about how Annie brings her personal experiences to life on stage, and why improvisation in particular helps her to process her thoughts and feelings.

Conversing with Mark Sanderson is a complete joy. Mr. Sanderson is a very accomplished screenwriter. He is part of the over 40 club, meaning he has written over 40 screenplays throughout his accomplished career. Mark has been enamored with Hollywood from The early age of 11 years old, when he was making movies on the streets of LA with his super 8 film camera. These early experiences is were Mark gained his well-versed insights on screenwriting and the the entire film making and storytelling. Mark candidly lays it all out during our chats and provides a myriad of keen insightful tips and tidbits on what being a Hollywood screenwriter is all about. I feel a tiny bit smarter after having this wonderful conversation.

You may have seen actor Sherman Augustus on the Netflix series hit, “Stranger Things“. He plays Lt. Col. Jack Sullivan on season 4 of the hit streaming series. But this actor is by no means a newcomer. This athlete turned actor is an energetic tour-de-force when it comes to his thespian skills. Mr. Augustus is a joy to converse with. He comes equipped with a myriad of anecdotes and stories taken directly from the vast well of his life experiences. Sherman Augustus has been in the acting game for almost 40 years. He has been known to consistently work with Hollywood A-Listers and celebrity types, going toe to toe with these juggernauts in scenes on the big screen and on television. Mr. Augustus’ theatrical skills are well respected by Hollywood insiders and creative types. Due to the popularity of his more recent projects, now fans around the world are becoming more and more familiarized with his face and abilities. Sherman talks to us about his attitude of gratitude and his philosophy on staying sane whilst trying to navigate his long career.

Kathy Knowles and Kate Enngren are juggernauts in the commercial casting world. Both are casting superstars in their own right. So when these two decided to join forces and form KK Casting, a casting Dream-team was formed. KK Casting have casted thousands of commercials that has been seen worldwide. They have also been responsible for placing talent in over 100 Super Bowl commercials. Many of these ads had us quoting catchphrases while giggling around the water cooler at our workplace. I could do celebrity name drops of all the professionals they’ve worked with, from the late “Betty White” to “The Rock” but what is more impressive to me is how many up-and-comers they’ve worked with throughout the years. Young Bryan Cranston and little Leo DiCaprio would not have been where they are today without commercials giving them their jump-start.

Now I know Kathy and Kate personally, so I may be a little bias but I find them to be charming down-to-earth goddesses of the commercial casting world. That being said, our conversation flowed with insightful juicy tidbits on the commercial casting process. They do not shy away from revealing how the sausages are made… or advertised for that matter. These women are a joy to talk to because one gets the sense that they thoroughly enjoy talent and what they do for a living.

Daryl Davis, is known as a “Klan Whisperer”. Mr. Davis is a fascinating man with a uniquely refreshing approach to solving racial issues. Seconds into a conversation with Mr. Davis and you become extremely aware that he is quite the polymath. Daryl is an amazing musician with a philosopher’s tongue. This professional thinker conveys many strategies on bringing humans together. He is a tuning fork for tolerance. Daryl’s commanding voice is a perfect tool for relaying his real life, edge of your seat style stories of dealing with the Ku Klux Klan and neo Nazi hate groups. Daryl Davis’ amazing life experience combined with a sage like wisdom toppled with his enormous musical talent, created a trifecta of perfection. This conversation felt as though I was speaking with a man who is born to lead. Daryl’s passion and concern for this human family boarders on saintly.

Daryl’s relentless efforts towards racial healing and exposing mankind’s humanity, should be commended with a Nobel peace prize.