That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Get ready for an electrifying conversation with LaMonica Garrett, whose unconventional road to stardom took him from the trampoline-fueled chaos of SlamBall to a breakout role on One Tree Hill. In this episode, LaMonica unpacks the "athletic mentality" that fuels his craft, tracing his evolution from a self-described "green" actor relying on raw charisma to discovering the quiet power of stillness under the guidance of veteran coaches and legends like Billy Bob Thornton.

He recounts the "worst audition in history" and shares behind-the-scenes stories from the grueling, documentary-style shoots of Taylor Sheridan's 1883, where he learned how to "fly the plane while it's in the air." Whether you know him as the Monitor in the DC Universe or the steely Tucker in Lioness, LaMonica delivers hard-earned insights on surviving failure, the wisdom he picked up from Morgan Freeman, and why he keeps his foot on the gas by returning to acting class year-round.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed LaMonica Garrett right here.

THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:

• PRACTICE TRACK AUDITION: $25 AUDITION WORKOUT
• THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
• THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
• 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
• APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts
• SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
• STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

CREDITS:

• Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse
• Writer: Maddie McCormick
• WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
• SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Get ready for an electrifying conversation with actress Tiana Okoye, whose performance journey spans from the UCLA musical theater program to Broadway, to the high-octane world of Peacock's Twisted Metal. In this episode, we explore Tiana's incredible resilience, including the "humbling" moment her first major tour contract for Sister Act was terminated due to vocal nodules and how she pivoted to find success at Tokyo Disney and on Broadway in The Cher Show. You'll hear the "nitty gritty" of her audition process, from meticulously writing subtext in notebooks to manifesting a series regular role with a simple sticky note. From her intensive Broadway training to bringing the iconic video game character "Dollface" to life, Tiana shares what it truly means to "fail big" and find self-confidence in an industry that rarely offers handholding.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Tiana Okoye right here.

• Twisted Metal
• Barbershop
• The Good Place
• Panhandle
• Mrs. Davis
• Nancy Drew
• Silicon Valley
• Awkwafina is Nora from Queens
• The Valet
• Hairspray Live!
• Grease Live!

• IMDB: Tiana Oyoke, Actress

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

• 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

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

Our guest today, Saagar Shaikh, went from losing his corporate job to starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, breaking out as Aamir Khan in Ms. Marvel and reprising the role in The Marvels. Saagar shares the incredible story of his three-year pursuit of the legendary ABC Showcase—a grueling, all-consuming "boot camp" that ultimately landed him top-tier representation. You'll hear the wild, behind-the-scenes rollercoaster of how he landed the lead role in Hulu's Deli Boys: including enduring a crushing initial rejection for a different role and then being asked to audition for the series lead just hours later. From mastering "dummy sides" for top-secret Marvel auditions to discovering unexpected magic in on-camera mistakes, Saagar delivers a masterclass on creative freedom, resilience, and what it truly feels like to finally be number one on the call sheet.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Saagar Shaikh right here.

• Ms. Marvel
• The Marvels
• Deli Boys
• Liza on Demand
• Unfair & Ugly

• IMDB: Saagar Shaikh, Actor, Writer, Production Department

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

• MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20
• 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

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

We're kicking off Season 7 of That One Audition with Guy Burnet, an actor industry friends have nicknamed a "masterful auditioner." From his early days on the UK soap Hollyoaks to the heights of Hollywood, Guy lets us in on the journey and work ethic behind the scenes. He describes his self-tape "torture chamber," a room devoted to the grueling, multi-day pursuit of audition perfection, where he's built a career defined by precision, discipline, and soul.

His credits span Ray Donovan, Hand of God, and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, sharing the screen with icons like Johnny Depp and Billy Bob Thornton. But the path hasn't been linear. Guy opens up about the moment he nearly walked away from acting altogether — until a chance encounter in a boxing gym with Taylor Sheridan led to a role in the upcoming series Landman. Raw, humble, and famously without a social media presence, Guy joins us to talk about the cost of chasing excellence and why the most powerful thing an actor can bring into the room is their own unpolished soul.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Guy Burnet right here.

• Landman
• Oppenheimer
• FUBAR
• The Beast
• American Horror Stories
• Ray Donovan
• Mortdecai
• 3 Body Problem
• Hand of God
• Minx
• The Affair
• Counterpart
• Electric Dreams
• A Beautiful Now

• IMDB: Guy Burnet, Actor

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

• PUBLIC SELF-TAPE CLASS: $25 - JANUARY 23RD
• 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

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

In this episode, If you need 20 takes to "warm up," you're still rehearsing. In this solo episode, Alyshia explains why rehearsal and camera time require two very different mindsets—and how confusing them is costing actors confidence, time, and bookings. Learn why story choices beat character choices in auditions, how to train for 24-hour turnarounds, and what it really means to practice how you play in today's self-tape world.

💪 Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical advice to enhance your career longevity and satisfaction.

🔗 Connect with That One Audition:

• PUBLIC SELF-TAPE CLASS: $25 - JANUARY 23RD
• THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR - 50% OFF
• THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
• 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
• APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts
• SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
• STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher

🌈 Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! 🎙️ #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney

CREDITS:

• Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse
• WRITER: Alyshia Ochse
• WE BSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
• SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

In today's episode, we dive into the extraordinary career of Mustafa Shakir, the self-described "accidental actor" who originally pursued international banking and law at Cornell before discovering acting after reading a poem in a workshop. He breaks down the nitty-gritty of auditioning, including the high-stakes journey to landing the Marvel villain "Bushmaster" on Luke Cage. We also talk about why he loves the "little movie" process of self-taping, and how trusting intuition and learning to let go after preparation has helped him uncover new dimensions in his work. Mustafa generously shares his philosophy on how the inner world shapes outer reality, along with a peek behind the curtain at his process and work ethic.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Mustafa Shakir right here.

• Song Sung Blue
• Marvel's Luke Cage
• Cowboy Bebop
• The Deuce
• Emancipation
• Love Hurts
• Ghosted
• The Night Of
• American Gods
• Shameless
• House
• Timeless
• Quarry

• IMDB: Mustafa Shakir, Actor, Writer, Director

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

• 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

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

A casting director's Instagram post stopped me mid-scroll: "We don't pick the most talented—we pick the ones who survived without losing their soul." In this episode, we're talking about why artists don't burn out from rejection but from performing versions of themselves that never existed, and how building a sustainable practice is the only way to stay authentic in an industry that demands everything. Plus, details on how to join the Practice Track community when we open enrollment at the end of January.

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

• 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

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

Get ready for a masterclass in hustle, heart, and hilarious setbacks as we dive into Milan Carter's unbelievable journey to landing "Barry" on Netflix's hit action-comedy FUBAR. Milan reveals how he delivered a self-tape so strong it could have been "dropped right into the episode"—complete with an improvised Slurpee cup and inventive tricks to handle the dense dialogue. He walks us through the intense, months-long battle to even audition for the role while under contract at Nickelodeon. The conversation also explores Carter's philosophical approach to acting, being your own biggest fan, and focusing on supporting fellow actors, even during chemistry reads with major stars like Schwarzenegger.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Milan Carter right here.

• FUBAR
• Dolemite Is My Name
• Warped!
• The Neighborhood
• It's Florida, Man
• Runaways

• IMDB: Milan Carter, Actor

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

• 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

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

Our guest this week, Jacob Scipio, began his acting journey practically straight out of the womb, signed by his aunt's boutique agency at birth and appearing on BBC television throughout his childhood. His path to becoming a working adult actor was far from easy, though; after auditioning for ten drama schools and getting into none, he found himself a broke student working odd jobs like landscape gardening. Tune in to hear the unbelievable sequence of events that followed, starting with a surprise call from the director of the American war film The Outpost and the white lie Jacob told to secure the job. He also shares the risky move he made by walking back into producer Jerry Bruckheimer's office and the hilarious, impromptu chemistry read with Will Smith that ultimately earned him the life-changing role of Smith's son in the Bad Boys franchise.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Jacob Scipio right here.

• Bad Boys: Ride or Die
• Bad Boys for Life
• Expendables 4
• The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
• Maintenance Required
• Passenger
• Pieces of Her
• Damned
• The Outpost

• IMDB: Jacob Scipio, Actor, Writer

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

• 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

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

Get ready for an electrifying deep dive with Michelle Hurd, an actress, activist, and industry powerhouse whose career has spanned Shakespeare, sitcoms, sci-fi universes, and everything in between. Born into a legendary artistic lineage and raised to treat acting as both a sacred craft and a true business, Michelle opens up about the relentless training and unwavering discipline that have fueled her ability to work only as an actor since college. She reveals the strategy that won her the fiercely complex role of Raffi on Star Trek: Picard in just two takes. Michelle also pulls back the curtain on her crucial work within SAG-AFTRA, sharing why boundaries matter, why actors should never be asked to tape themselves unclothed, and how she's fighting to make sets safer for everyone. With recent projects alongside Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein and several new films on the way, Michelle Hurd is as unstoppable as ever.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Michelle Hurd right here.

• Star Trek: Picard
• Ash vs Evil Dead
• Anyone But You
• You
• Blindspot
• Law & Order: SVU
• Office Romance
• The Glades
• Hawaii: Five-0
• Younger
• Daredevil
• Jessica Jones
• How to Get Away with Murder
• 90210
• Where The Wind Blows

• IMDB: Michelle Hurd, Actress, Producer

Connect with That One Audition:

• MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20
• 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

Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! 🎙️ #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney

CREDITS:

• Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse
• WRITER: Alyshia Ochse
• WE BSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
• SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu