Acclaimed actor Harry Lennix (The Matrix, Ray, Purpose) joins host Hassiem Muhammad for a wide-ranging conversation on classical training, artistic responsibility, and career longevity.

Fresh off Broadway’s Tony Award–winning Purpose, Harry reflects on craft, Black cultural legacy, and why fundamentals still matter in a self-tape era. He also shares his vision for the Bronzeville Renaissance Project, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving Black performance history.

A must-listen for actors focused on craft, history, and the long game.

🎭 Follow Harry Lennix: @harrylennix

🎙 Follow The Actor’s Instrument: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

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🎧 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter PodcastsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit:https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

📩 Inquiries: [email protected]

Barbara Davis, Chief Operating Officer of the Entertainment Community Fund, joins host Hassiem Muhammad to unpack the wide range of resources available to actors, artists, and entertainment professionals—many of which remain underutilized.

From financial assistance and housing support to healthcare, mental health services, and career counseling, this conversation reframes the Fund as not just a crisis resource but a long-term partner in building a sustainable creative career. This is a must-listen for actors, freelancers, and crew members navigating the realities of life in the industry.

Follow The Actor’s Instrument: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

Follow Hassiem: @HassiemMuhammad

🎧 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter PodcastsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit:https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

📩 Inquiries: [email protected]

Actor, writer, director, and producer Andrew Pastides joins host Hassiem Muhammad to break down the realities of producing an independent feature film. Andrew shares the inspiration behind his upcoming film St. George, the challenges of fundraising, and what it means to be a collaborative, values-driven presence on set. A must-listen for actors and creatives navigating the indie film world.

Follow Andrew: @ajpastFollow the podcast: @actorsinstrumentpodcastFollow Hassiem: @HassiemMuhammad

🎧 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter PodcastsSubscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit:https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

📩 Inquiries: [email protected]

In this episode of The Actor’s Instrument, host Hassiem Muhammad sits down with career consultant Annie Chadwick, founder and co-owner of Up To Date Theatricals, for a practical conversation about treating your acting career like a real business. Annie challenges the outdated idea of “waiting to be chosen”, and explains why every actor must see themselves as the CEO of their own company.

Career coach Stuart Hyslop joins host Hassiem Muhammad for a candid conversation about goal setting for actors and creatives navigating nonlinear careers.

After four months of coaching, Hassiem shares how shifting away from outcome-based goals helped him gain clarity, improve productivity, and feel more empowered in his acting career. Stuart—an experienced productivity coach and certified One Thing coach—offers a practical framework focused on systems, priorities, and actions actors can actually control.

This episode is a must-listen for artists looking to set smarter goals, avoid burnout, and build sustainable momentum—especially at the start of a new year.

🎧 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow Stuart on Instagram @theonethingguy

Follow The Actor’s Instrument: @actorsinstrumentpodcast 

Follow Hassiem: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit: ⁠https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument⁠

📩 Inquiries: ⁠[email protected]⁠

In this solo episode of The Actor’s Instrument, host Hassiem Muhammad pulls back the curtain on his acting career with a transparent 2025 year-in-review, sharing real numbers, income percentages, wins, disappointments, and hard-earned perspective.

Hassiem breaks down his audition count, callback rate, booking rate, and exactly how his income was divided between various jobs. He also details what he invested financially in his career—and what those investments looked like in real, practical terms. Hassiem also outlines how he’s using this data to inform a clearer, more intentional 2026 career strategy.

This episode is for actors who want real data—not hype.

🎧 Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow The Actor’s Instrument: @actorsinstrumentpodcast
Follow Hassiem: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit:
https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

📩 Inquiries: [email protected]

#TheActorsInstrument #HassiemMuhammad #ActorPodcast #ActingCareer #ActorLife #CreativeCareers #ActorGoals #YearInReview #ActingBusiness #ActorsInstrument #careerstrategy #newyearsresolution #goals

This week on The Actor's Instrument, Hassiem Muhammad sits down with actor, creator, and viral sensation Dexter McKinney — a performer whose journey is anything but ordinary. From growing up in Syracuse, to earning dual master’s degrees, to working in Congress, to making his Broadway debut in Skeleton Crew, to appearing in hit series like When They See Us, Mrs. America, Dr. Death, City on a Hill, and most recently Law & Order, Dexter opens up about the winding path that brought him to where he is today.

In this conversation, Dexter shares how he pushed through a three-year TV dry spell, how he built an audience of nearly 400,000 followers across TikTok/Instagram/Facebook, and how his viral Judge Judy mob-boss series transformed his career.

Follow Dexter on Instagram: @dmtv_19

Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow The Actor's Instrument on Instagram: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

Follow Hassiem on Instagram: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

Inquiries: [email protected]

#TheActorsInstrument #HassiemMuhammad #DerrekMcKinney #DexterMcKinney #ActorInterview #ActingPodcast #ActingCareer #JudgeJudyParody #LawAndOrder #ContentCreatorLife

 In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Hassiem Muhammad continues his in-depth discussion with Dr. Elaine Grogan Luttrull, founder of Minerva Financial Arts, as they break down the real financial decisions artists and freelancers face every day. Using a Red Light / Green Light framework, Elaine tackles common money myths and gray areas — from disability insurance and high-yield savings to investing, retirement accounts, and tax planning. This episode goes deep into IRAs, SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, and how taxes truly work for self-employed creatives.

They also unpack new tax laws impacting tipped income, the importance of reporting income accurately, and how artists can legally reduce tax stress while planning for long-term stability. 

Link to "tipped occupations" from the Treasury Department: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Tipped-Occupations-Detailed-8-27-2025.pdf

IRS guidance on retirement plans for self-employed folks:   https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-for-small-entities-and-self-employed

🎧 Be sure to check out Part 1 of this conversation for foundational financial guidance before diving into this episode.

🔗 Connect with Minerva Financial Arts: Visit MinervaFinancialArts.com to book a session or explore Elaine’s courses for creatives.

Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow The Actor's Instrument on Instagram: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

Follow Hassiem on Instagram: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

Inquiries: [email protected]

Today on The Actors Instrument, Hassiem Muhammad sits down with Dr. Elaine Grogan Luttrull — CPA, accredited financial counselor, founder of Minerva Financial Arts, and nationally recognized educator helping creatives take control of their financial lives. From inflation to budgeting, 1099s to Netflix write-offs, Elaine breaks down the REAL financial challenges facing artists today — and how you can navigate them with clarity, confidence, and strategy.

🔗 Connect with Minerva Financial Arts: Visit MinervaFinancialArts.com to book a session or explore Elaine’s courses for creatives.

Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow The Actor's Instrument on Instagram: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

Follow Hassiem on Instagram: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

Inquiries: [email protected]

#TheActorsInstrument #HassiemMuhammad #ActorLife #ActingPodcast #WorkingActor #FreelancerTips #FinancialAdviceForActors

On this week’s episode of The Actors Instrument, Hassiem Muhammad sits down with actor and writer Steve Coulter, whose career spans more than three decades across film, television, and theatre. With over 130 IMDb credits—including She-Hulk, Yellowstone, The Conjuring films, The Walking Dead, House of Cards, Paterno, and First Man—Steve shares the hard-won lessons that shaped his long-term success.

Follow Steve on Instagram: @coulter28

Produced in partnership with Next Chapter Podcasts

Follow The Actor's Instrument on Instagram: @actorsinstrumentpodcast

Follow Hassiem on Instagram: @HassiemMuhammad

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or visit https://www.nextchapterpodcasts.com/the-actors-instrument

Inquiries: [email protected]

#TheActorsInstrument #HassiemMuhammad #ActorLife #ActingPodcast #WorkingActor #SteveCoulter #MeetTheBrowns #TylerPerry