Story & Craft with Marc Preston

Actor Tracy Spiridakos from “Chicago P.D.” and USA Network’s “Anna Pigeon” joins us on Story & Craft.

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

00:00 | Tracy Spiridakos joins Story & Craft

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

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CONNECT WITH MARC

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Director Lee Kirk from “The Giant Mechanical Man” and “Nimrods,” the Green Day comedy, joins us on Story & Craft.

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, “Nimrods”. 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

00:00 | Lee Kirk joins Story & Craft

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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Actor Chris Marquette from “The Girl Next Door” and Prime Video’s “Reacher” joins us on Story & Craft.

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

00:00 | Chris Marquette joins Story & Craft

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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Writer and director Owen Dennis from “Infinity Train” and Paramount+’s “Among Us” joins us on Story & Craft.

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

00:00 | Owen Dennis joins Story & Craft

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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Actor Tommi Rose, from Nickelodeon to Prime Video’s “The Devil’s Mouth,” joins us on Story & Craft.

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

00:00 | Tommi Rose joins Story & Craft

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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Actor Jamie Hector from “The Wire” and Apple TV’s “Cape Fear” joins us on Story & Craft.

We discuss Jamie’s roots, having grown up in Brooklyn as the youngest of seven and how his older sister sparked his early love for the arts. Jamie shares the exact moment he knew he belonged in the creative world – walking into a community theater space when he was 16 and feeling an instant connection to the energy in the room. It wasn't long before he shifted his focus away from college chemistry classes and fully committed to acting at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute.

We also talk about his dedication to giving back through his youth program, Moving Mountains, which has mentored thousands of kids in Brooklyn over the last two decades. To cap it off, Jamie talks about the unique validation of being handpicked by Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg for his current role.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 | Jamie Hector joins Story & Craft

00:03:38 | Anthony Bourdain's surprise interview with Michael K. Williams in Brooklyn

00:07:33 | Learning tough lessons from a neighborhood firecracker incident

00:09:10 | How his late sister Lisa became his creative North Star

00:13:07 | Waking up at 6 AM to write hip hop with childhood friends

00:14:36 | Discovering his true calling at a local community theater

00:16:55 | Ditching college chemistry to pursue an acting career

00:18:43 | Founding Moving Mountains to empower the next generation of actors

00:20:29 | Committing to his craft at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute

00:22:04 | Why Denzel Washington is his ultimate acting template

00:26:00 | 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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Actor Chin Han from “Mortal Kombat” and Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” joins us on Story & Craft.

We chat about his unique childhood growing up in Singapore, blending local theater and film with a steady diet of American blockbusters, British television, and Hong Kong martial arts epics. Chin talks about his early days deciding whether to fully commit to acting, balancing his parents' hopes for a traditional profession with his genuine love for the arts, and the ultimate push he gave himself after finishing his degree.

Chin also shares some incredible stories from the sets of films, including his overwhelming first day shooting “The Dark Knight” with Christopher Nolan, Gary Oldman, and Aaron Eckhart. We wrap up by talking about his favorite comfort foods – specifically his love for a perfect bowl of rice – and his appreciation for the quiet moments in used bookstores.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 | Chin Han joins Story & Craft

03:12 | Watching Singapore rapidly evolve through the 1970s and 80s

05:52 | How having parents as educators influenced his early cinematic tastes

08:00 | The unique mix of global television that fueled his love for storytelling

15:59 | Discovering heavy, visceral cinema like “The Godfather” at a young age

20:00 | The fast-paced, guerrilla-style filmmaking of Steven Soderbergh's “Contagion”

25:52 | Pushing for volume and authenticity in Asian-American on-screen representation

29:32 | The massive global reach of the American film industry

33:17 | Working with his cinematic heroes on the set of “The Dark Knight”

38:45 | Building a performance from the outside in using wardrobe and armor

42:25 | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

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

FOLLOW THE SHOW

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

CONNECT WITH MARC

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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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Actor Aaron Moten from “Disjointed” and Prime Video’s “Fallout” joins us on Story & Craft.

We catch up with Aaron as he settles into life in Los Angeles after spending five years in Iceland with his family. We chat about his Texas roots growing up in Austin, his pivot from an aspiring lawyer to a Juilliard-trained actor, and the realities of translating stage acting to working on camera.

He also shares some behind-the-scenes moments from his recent work. From having Kathy Bates advocate for him early in his television career to a hilarious “baptism by fire” stunt sequence on his very first day shooting Fallout, Aaron brings a ton of heart and insight to the table.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 | Aaron Moten joins Story & Craft

00:03:24 | The beauty of Iceland's audible blank canvas

00:10:12 | Dealing with late growth spurts and the pressure of playing point guard

00:12:43 | Why pretending to be a lawyer is much more fun than actually being one

00:15:24 | Developing technical tools and a fallback plan at Juilliard

00:18:32 | The hard lesson of saving your tears for the close-up shot

00:21:03 | Understanding focal lengths and camera coverage on a multi-cam set

00:24:59 | Kathy Bates' unbelievable work ethic and on-set advocacy

00:29:00 | Jonah Nolan's baptism by fire and a terrifying missing harness

00:32:13 | Transforming the Namibian desert into a post-apocalyptic Santa Monica

00:35:50 | The Seven Questions

STAY IN THE KNOW

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

FOLLOW THE SHOW

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CONNECT WITH MARC

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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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Actor and comedian Rosalee Mayeux from “Magnum, P.I.” and “Model Mom” joins us on Story & Craft.

Rosalee opens up about her unconventional path, starting as a teenager from a small town in Louisiana who found herself working as a high-fashion model for Eileen Ford in Paris and New York. She shares vivid memories of the modeling world in the 1980s, the stark reality behind the glamour, and how a chance opportunity led her to acting. Her natural knack for comedy eventually pushed her into commercials and television, bringing her face-to-face with legends like Carol Burnett, Lee Grant, and Tom Selleck.

After a sudden and life-altering cancer diagnosis forced her to pivot from a promising directing career with Quentin Tarantino’s production house, Rosalee leaned on her resilient spirit and close circle of friends to survive. That journey ultimately steered her toward stand-up comedy, where she found her truest voice. We talk about the grueling but rewarding realities of the comedy stage, the nuances of crowd work, and why being unapologetically yourself is the ultimate punchline.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 | Rosalee Mayeux joins Story & Craft

00:11:48 | Parallel parking a 22-foot Cadillac and getting a standing ovation in Beverly Hills

00:17:45 | Navigating the wild, rarefied world of high-fashion modeling in 1980s Europe

00:19:00 | Listening to the news of Ronald Reagan being shot from the bowels of a Parisian restaurant

00:20:18 | Eileen Ford's blunt advice on marriage and what it meant for a modeling career

00:29:26 | The power of an unscripted moment and earning a standing ovation from Lee Grant

00:30:53 | Flubbing a line with Tom Selleck and Carol Burnett on the set of Magnum, P.I.

00:36:22 | Pitching a blind commercial script to Quentin Tarantino's A Band Apart

00:37:35 | Surviving a terminal cancer diagnosis with the help of a kickass support system

00:41:13 | Why improvisational comedy requires immense education and real-world intelligence

00:55:03 | The Seven Questions: Southern comfort food, jazz legends, and advice to her younger self

STAY IN THE KNOW

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

FOLLOW THE SHOW

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

CONNECT WITH MARC

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• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcpreston

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Actor Olivia Rose Keegan from “Days of Our Lives,” Paramount+'s “Dutton Ranch” and “Scary Movie” joins us on Story & Craft.

We chat about her transition from being an eager 11-year-old writing letters to talent agents in San Francisco to landing major roles. Olivia shares the incredible support from her family, who entirely uprooted their lives in Northern California so she could pursue acting in Los Angeles. She reflects on her early heartbreak of being replaced on a major Nickelodeon show and the immense work ethic she built during her four-and-a-half-year run on “Days of Our Lives.”

We also get into the exciting new chapters of her career, contrasting the intense, slow-burn drama of playing a mother in Paramount+'s “Dutton Ranch” with the absolute, unhinged physical comedy of the summer sequel to “Scary Movie.” Olivia reveals what it was like playing Anna Faris' daughter, conquering her fears of improv comedy, and how working with the Wayans brothers pushed her completely out of her comfort zone.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 | Olivia Rose Keegan joins Story & Craft

00:08:00 | The intimidating yet rewarding process of network testing for Taylor Sheridan shows

00:13:46 | Drafting a handwritten letter to talent agencies at just eleven years old

00:23:20 | Targeting the Disney and Nickelodeon pipeline as a pragmatic young actor

00:24:34 | Faking an Australian accent to land a breakthrough role on Ant Farm

00:25:42 | Navigating the earth-shattering heartbreak of being recast on a major sitcom

00:27:37 | Why acting on a soap opera is the ultimate industry boot camp

00:30:02 | Channeling inner Anna Faris-isms to play her daughter in Scary Movie

00:37:00 | Working with a dialect coach and stepping into the emotional shoes of a mother

00:39:11 | Embracing the terrifying and thrilling challenge of Wayans brothers-style improv

00:43:12 | 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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