Story and Craft with Marc Preston

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with actor Katee Sackhoff from "Battlestar Galactica" and Prime Video's "Carrie" to discuss her career and personal stories.

Katee talks about growing up in Portland as a competitive swimmer, how she landed her first acting job, and what it was like to move to LA at 18. We get into her time on "Battlestar Galactica", why she's only now watching it, and how she went from voicing Bo-Katan in animation to "The Mandalorian".

She also discusses her new series "Carrie", her podcasts, and raising two kids back in Portland.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

03:33 | Building a dream home in Los Angeles, then deciding it was time to leave for Portland

12:20 | The newspaper ad for a body double that changed everything

15:36 | Teaching herself to cry on camera in front of a mirror

20:42 | Reading the Starbuck script and knowing it could change how people saw her

23:08 | Cutting her hair and walking away from bigger offers to fight for one role

26:31 | Watching "Battlestar Galactica" for the first time, 25 years later, with her husband

29:33 | Walking out of an acting class and never going back

35:36 | How a "Robot Chicken" recommendation led to Bo-Katan

38:46 | Bringing the dad who showed her sci-fi as a kid onto a "Star Wars" set

46:31 | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

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CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with actor Tyler Mane and comic book editor and writer Renae Geerlings from "X-Men" and their new podcast, "Mane AF," to discuss their career and personal stories.

Tyler spent over a decade as a professional wrestler, training with the Hart family in Calgary and wrestling all over the world, before a stunt casting call meant for someone else turned into the role of Sabretooth and a full pivot into acting — a path that later led to playing Michael Myers in the "Halloween" reboot. Renae came up on the other side of the business, landing a temp job answering phones for a comics company in Los Angeles and working her way up to a ten-year run as an editor. Eventually the two combined those worlds under their own production banner, building out the graphic novel "The Last Spartan" together, a project Tyler had actually been carrying around for fifteen years before Renae came on to help shape it.

The conversation turns candid when they get into the year they've just had. In March, Tyler's brother died suddenly of a heart attack. Weeks later, Tyler found a lump during a workout and was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma — male breast cancer. Not long after that, Renae's father died in a car accident. Tyler talks openly about finishing chemo, heading into radiation, and a second scare from a blood clot along the way, and he's direct about why he's chosen to talk about all of it publicly: he wants other men to get checked rather than dismiss what they're feeling, the way he almost did.

That's also the thinking behind "Mane AF," the podcast they just launched about midlife, marriage, and — as Tyler puts it — the mayhem he brings to it. Along the way, we get into how two people who are both used to being in charge divide the creative work in one house, why Renae calls herself the steering wheel and brakes to Tyler's engine, and the usual mix of rescue dogs, comfort food, and childhood celebrity crushes that round out the hour.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:03:37] | Renae compares keeping up with Tyler to being a water skier who lost her skis five miles back

[00:07:03] | Tyler lays out the year in one breath: his brother's sudden death, his own cancer diagnosis, and Renae's father's fatal accident

[00:14:01] | Tyler was one of the last people to wrestle Andre the Giant, months before Andre passed away

[00:15:04] | The stunt casting call that was meant for someone else, and how it became Tyler's ticket to the role of Sabretooth

[00:25:53] | Renae's rule for not being interrupted while she works, and the loophole Tyler found almost immediately

[00:31:00] | The chest lump Tyler almost brushed off, and the conversation that changed his mind

[00:35:58] | What Tyler's tumor oncotype score meant for his treatment, and losing (then slowly regrowing) his beard

[00:47:39] | Tyler's core advice for other men, shaped by not knowing his own brother was struggling

[00:48:47] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Actor and Director Adam Arkin from "Sons of Anarchy" and MGM+'s "American Hostage" to discuss his career and personal stories.

Adam opens up about his seamless transition from acting to becoming one of television’s most sought-after directors. He shares behind-the-scenes stories of shifting gears between massive modern projects like "The Night Agent," "The Offer," and his newest true-crime thriller, "American Hostage." We explore the awkward challenge of directing himself in scenes, the immediate relief of admitting to a crew when a shot just isn't working, and the secret to building absolute trust on set by letting actors do their work.

We also dive into his personal side, discussing the influence of his legendary father Alan Arkin and how he taught Adam to master multiple performance styles. From an early celebrity crush on Ursula Andress, to his deep appreciation for a perfectly simple summer tomato sandwich, it's a great look at the man behind the camera.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:43] | Why releasing a new project brings out a mix of anxiety and excitement

[00:05:08] | Capturing the true 1970s reality without talking down to a modern audience

[00:07:49] | How his father Alan Arkin taught him to be conversant in many performance styles

[00:10:09] | Helping an actor embrace the intimidating legend of playing Marlon Brando

[00:13:30] | The awkward challenge of acting in a project you are also actively directing

[00:15:34] | Why immersing yourself in the story is more important than having a recognizable visual style

[00:18:21] | Finding immediate relief in admitting to the cast when a scene just isn't working

[00:20:02] | Recognizing the exact moment on set when you capture pure on-screen magic

[00:22:51] | Earning absolute trust by letting the actors do their work without interference

[00:23:46] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Journalist and Author Sara Kehaulani Goo from the Washington Post to discuss her career, personal stories, and her new memoir, "Kuleana."

Sara shares how her early days in a print newsroom sparked a lifelong passion for storytelling, eventually leading her to cover major national events like the aftermath of 9/11. We chat about her approach to learning the ropes, intentionally moving to unfamiliar cities to broaden her perspective, and the thick skin required to maintain integrity in a fast-paced media landscape. Sara also opens up about the massive digital shift facing the news industry and the ways legacy media is now partnering with independent online creators to reach modern audiences.

Beyond the news desk, Sara talks about the inspiration behind her memoir, "Kuleana," which looks at her Hawaiian heritage and her family's fight to hold on to their ancestral land. We discuss the complex realities of life in Hawaii today, the impact of outside real estate investments on the local culture, and, naturally, our shared appreciation for a perfectly made plate of Spam musubi. It is a grounded, eye-opening conversation about history, responsibility, and the importance of knowing where you come from.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:14:00] | The thrill of stepping into a newsroom and the daily pressure to deliver

[00:16:37] | Why immersing yourself in unfamiliar cities is the ultimate training ground for storytellers

[00:20:19] | How covering the aftermath of 9/11 shaped her understanding of a changing nation

[00:22:42] | Recognizing the impending digital disruption of the news industry

[00:25:25] | The challenge of funding trusted journalism in a digitally fractured world

[00:30:00] | Why traditional legacy media must partner with independent online creators

[00:35:32] | The rising trend of journalists cutting out the middleman to build direct audiences

[00:40:45] | The thick skin and unwavering principles required to be a reporter today

[00:46:45] | The cultural and economic toll of treating Hawaiian real estate strictly as an investment

[00:53:00] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with actor Rosslyn Luke from "Paper Tiger" to discuss her career and personal stories.

Before sharing scenes with Adam Driver and Miles Teller, Rosslyn took a decidedly non-traditional path into the industry. We talk about her upbringing in Eastern Washington—near the Hanford nuclear site—and why she initially earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering before committing to acting.

Her background in competitive cheerleading eventually opened an unexpected door into stunt performance, leading to early gigs that included handling a shotgun on a moving semi-truck. Rosslyn breaks down how that physical discipline prepared her for director James Gray’s period mob film, "Paper Tiger", where she had to navigate high-stakes, unscripted 1980s dialogue opposite seasoned performers.

Wrapping up, we get into why she gravitates toward intense, dark dramas over comedy, what goes into her ideal day, and the advice she would offer her younger self about trusting her own voice earlier.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:37] | Watching Seattle shift from grunge culture to a tech-dominated city

[00:05:18] | What it's like growing up with a father who cleaned up nuclear waste sites

[00:08:18] | Walking away from a stable career in engineering to pursue the arts

[00:11:11] | The hidden physical danger and severe injuries behind competitive cheerleading

[00:15:29] | Wielding a shotgun on the back of a moving flatbed truck for a zombie show

[00:17:38] | Why she decided to train as a stunt performer instead of using a double

[00:21:55] | Growing up in an Eastern Washington town where locals joke they "glow in the dark"

[00:24:31] | Why she's drawn to gritty, dark dramas while living with a comedy writer

[00:36:18] | The high-wire act of improvising 1980s mob dialogue with Adam Driver and Miles Teller

[00:37:45] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Actor Tracy Spiridakos from "Chicago PD" and USA Network's "Anna Pigeon" to discuss her career and personal stories.

Tracy talks about growing up between Canada and Greece, sharing what it was like working at her family’s Greek restaurant and the connection she still has with her parents' homeland. She also explains what it took to get her start in acting, like balancing three jobs in Vancouver before heading to Los Angeles for her first major round of auditions.

We also discuss her decision to leave a successful seven-year run on a popular TV show to try something new. Tracy explains what it is like playing a sarcastic new character and the realities of filming outdoors on location. It’s a grounded conversation that covers everything from her love of travel and her dogs to the ongoing debate over how to make the best pastitsio.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:03:10] | Introducing all the "cousins" to her friend

[00:05:27] | Moving back to Greece and her dad's hair salon

[00:11:13] | Working at a bank and restaurants while pursuing acting

[00:15:38] | Landing her role on Revolution during her first trip to LA

[00:18:47] | The decision to step away from Chicago PD after seven seasons

[00:23:45] | Connecting with her sarcastic, bad-ass character on Anna Pigeon

[00:29:14] | The feeling of stepping off the plane in Athens

[00:32:52] | Why her initial goal was simply to act full time without side jobs

[00:37:17] | The creative difference between acting in a film versus television

[00:39:31] | The Seven Questions
 

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with writer and director Lee Kirk from "The Giant Mechanical Man" and "Nimrod" to discuss his career and personal stories.

The conversation explores Lee's nomadic childhood moving to a new school every single year, and how that constant search for footing shaped the emotionally grounded, slightly melancholic characters he creates today. Host Marc Preston and Lee also reflect on three decades in the entertainment industry, tracing the path from their Texas beginnings to the gritty realities of building a creative life in Los Angeles.

Lee shares the personal stories behind his biggest milestones, including the random text message from Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong that launched his new film, "Nimrod". He opens up about the experience of falling in love with his wife, Jenna Fischer, on a movie set, stepping behind the camera on "The Office," and the incredible experience of directing both of his kids in his new movie.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:02:42] | Reconnecting after 36 years and reflecting on three decades in entertainment

[00:04:28] | The random text from Billie Joe Armstrong that sparked a Green Day movie

[00:05:32] | Turning Green Day's real-life tour stories into movie plot points

[00:09:20] | How constantly moving across the country as a kid left him feeling adrift

[00:16:43] | The 3 AM panic and terrified career doubts of his early 30s

[00:18:47] | Getting tapped to direct "The Office" after Ron Howard dropped out

[00:19:47] | Falling in love with his wife, Jenna Fischer, on a movie set

[00:29:29] | Working one-on-one with Billie Joe Armstrong to build his acting confidence

[00:33:46] | Directing both of his kids on set alongside his wife, Jenna Fischer

[00:40:09] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with actor Chris Marquette from "The Girl Next Door", "Barry", and Prime Video's "Reacher" to discuss his career and personal stories.

Chris joined the industry early, navigating the unique landscape of child acting with roles spanning from commercial voiceovers to television sets. We discuss the transition from those foundational years to understanding the practical realities of the entertainment business as a young adult. It is a candid conversation about the resilience required to build a sustainable career in Hollywood.

We also cover his recent move to the west coast of Ireland, where he is raising his daughter and developing new writing projects. Chris shares insights into his new role on Prime Video's "Reacher," breaking down the physical demands of playing a small-town cop alongside Alan Ritchson. From the delayed cult success of "The Girl Next Door" to his approach to staying grounded off-camera, this episode offers a practical look at the life of a working actor.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[02:00] | Moving to the west coast of Ireland to raise his daughter

[08:35] | Starting his career early with commercial voiceovers and Barney

[13:10] | The sketchy seminar that landed him his first headshots and acting jobs

[17:11] | Crossing paths with Jennifer Aniston during pilot season

[21:00] | Getting a harsh crash course on the business side of acting in his twenties

[25:33] | Navigating the shadow of past roles

[36:54] | How The Girl Next Door bombed in theaters before finding massive cult success on DVD

[42:59] | Entering the Reacher universe

[44:53] | Dealing with the Alan Ritchson’s physical presence on set

[46:55] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Writer, Director and Producer Owen Dennis from "Infinity Train" and Paramount+'s "Among Us" to discuss his career and personal stories.

Owen discusses his unexpected path to animation, detailing his time teaching English in China and the early motivation that pushed him to pursue art outside his hometown. He shares the hands-on process of creating a fully hand-drawn, 2D animated series and the practical challenges of pitching adult animation in an industry that relies heavily on genre stereotypes.

He also explains the unique dynamics of directing voice actors, noting why comedy actors naturally excel with timing in the booth. Owen talks about navigating production hurdles – such as animating before recording voices during the actors' strike – and shares how taking solo road trips helps him recharge creatively.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:08:29] | Escaping the Great Recession by moving to China

[00:13:27] | Losing a one-person art contest

[00:15:20] | Why 2D animation is making a massive comeback

[00:18:09] | Animating "Among Us" during the actors' strike

[00:24:36] | The biggest hurdle when pitching adult animation

[00:28:34] | Turning a notebook doodle into a hit character

[00:34:00] | Unplugging on solo road trips to find new ideas

[00:40:13] | Why comedy actors dominate the voice booth

[00:44:16] | Why Robert Pattinson was born to do voiceover

[00:45:48] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Actor & Singer Tommi Rose from "Sweet Magnolias" and Prime Video's "The Devil's Mouth" to discuss her career and personal stories.

Tommi shares her experiences going from a theater kid in Florida to making the leap to Los Angeles at seventeen after working on Nickelodeon's "I Am Frankie". We talk about the importance of keeping your imagination alive as an artist, and how her "double Pisces" daydreaming habit is actually a superpower. She also shares some incredibly grounding advice she received early on from working alongside Burt Reynolds.

We also get into her experience filming Prime Video's "The Devil's Mouth". Tommi talks about the grueling physical challenge of shooting in massive water tanks in Thailand, and how she managed the stress by buying a tiny local oven to bake her famous dirt pies and chocolate chip cookies for the cast. From managing a tricky gluten allergy abroad to her go-to morning playlist, Tommi gives us a great look at how she stays centered and positive.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

[00:04:48] | The Jelly Bean Camp and falling in love with musical theater

[00:06:49] | Why excitement outweighed the intimidation of moving to LA at seventeen

[00:12:00] | Defending the importance of daydreaming for artists

[00:15:47] | Refusing to limit her ambitions to just one career path

[00:22:54] | Burt Reynolds' advice on listening to your scene partner

[00:26:44] | How her close-knit family keeps her sane in Hollywood

[00:32:00] | Realizing she was stress-baking and bringing the joy back to the holidays

[00:33:22] | Buying a mini oven in Thailand to bake for the cast

[00:46:27] | The physical exhaustion of shooting survival scenes in water tanks

[00:51:00] | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

• Website: https://www.storyandcraftpod.com

FOLLOW THE SHOW

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyandcraftpod
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storyandcraftpod

CONNECT WITH MARC

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/airpreston
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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