The Ryan Pyle Podcast

Actor and chef Corey Renfree on growing up on a Montana cattle ranch, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and acting in LA.

Corey Renfree is an American actor who was raised on a cattle ranch in the small, rural town of Dillon, Montana. He began acting at a young age in theater productions run by the Missoula Children's Theater. In high school, Corey was a founding member and frontman/guitarist of the rock band Climax Community. Corey's education included attendance at Montana State University and Southern Oregon University's Oregon Center for the Arts where he earned a B.F.A. in Performance/Acting, while finishing his B.S in Psychology. The beginning of his film acting career began at MSU when he was cast in various senior thesis films in addition to independent productions. Corey left Montana prior to graduating to study acting in Oregon.

While acting in college, he was nominated for the Kennedy Center's Irene Ryan award three times for his performances. Upon graduation from SOU in 2019, Corey began his professional acting career at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, however the season was cut short due to the COVID Pandemic, causing a career pivot into working at residential mental health treatment centers.

Throughout his college education, Corey worked as a chef in various restaurants in Montana and Oregon leading to multiple executive chef positions. He currently works as a private chef in Los Angeles while studying acting with Daniel Travis at Nancy Banks Studio.

To learn more about Corey just email him: [email protected]

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Corey Renfree
2:33 Montana and the Yellowstone effect
5:10 A town stuck in the 90s
10:14 School plays
12:51 Why he acts keeps changing
17:58 Does ranch life help the acting?
22:59 Changing your look for a role
25:31 Leaving a psychology degree
30:36 Finishing the psych degree and a BFA
35:43 Making a living from the craft
40:51 A wholesome path to acting
43:26 What matters more than success
46:01 Anyone who says they know how is lying
51:04 Shakespeare's invented words
56:08 Ryan's crew stuck abroad in 2020
58:42 Lockdown in a hotel
1:03:45 Private donors keeping theatre alive
1:08:53 The Guthrie Theater's artistic director
1:11:30 Short-form content
1:16:32 Hostile attribution bias
1:21:37 Homelessness in LA and Toronto
1:24:09 An agent in Montana
1:26:46 Celebrities in Big Sky
1:29:20 Back to Montana for a series
1:31:55 Ryan's first show, Tough Rides China
1:36:57 Working as a chef
1:39:28 Food brings people together
1:42:05 Gruelling kitchen culture
1:47:07 Why Ryan podcasts face to face
1:49:44 Life without social media
1:52:18 A parable about the water supply
1:54:54 Stars with no social media
1:57:32 Long-form content
2:02:36 Make a short film with friends
2:07:43 Making his own work
2:12:43 Ryan 2.0
2:17:50 An actor who wants to act every day
2:20:26 Marriage, children and acting
2:23:01 Finding inspiring people
2:25:38 Opportunities in the English-speaking world
2:28:15 A networking event gone wrong
2:30:47 Training alongside the team
2:35:48 Theatre artists in LA
2:38:25 Stay true to your art

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Chiropractor Dr. Laila Nayab-Murshidi on the foot injury that changed her career, and treating the body without medication.

Dr. Laila Nayab-Murshidi is a leading chiropractor and wellness expert based in Orange County, California. As the Founder and CEO of Vitality Motion Center, her mission is to help people regain their health, mobility, and vitality, without prescription medications or invasive procedures. Her clinic offers evidence-based chiropractic care, spinal decompression, cupping therapy, and other natural, non-pharmaceutical solutions.

Dr. Laila's journey into holistic care began after a personal health crisis: during her pre-dental studies, a severe and undiagnosed foot injury left her unable to walk. After exhausting conventional treatments, she found life-changing relief through chiropractic care, walking pain-free in just two days. That pivotal experience led her to change career paths and graduate at the top of her class from Cleveland Chiropractic College.

With over a decade of experience in both private practice and multidisciplinary medical settings, Dr. Laila has become known for treating not just physical injuries but also the hidden toll chronic stress and burnout take on the body. Her work supports high-functioning professionals, athletes, and everyday individuals in restoring balance and long-term health, by addressing the root cause, not just the symptoms.

To learn more about Dr. Laila: https://tustinvmc.com/about-us/about-dr-laila/

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Dr. Laila Nayab-Murshidi
2:31 Leaving Afghanistan as a child
5:04 Smugglers who wanted money
7:39 Nine months of waiting
10:13 Growing up in Southern California
12:46 Hardship makes you stronger
15:18 Rejected by dental schools
17:52 Finding chiropractic
20:27 Ryan's fascination with Afghanistan
23:03 Medical doctors and chiropractors
25:34 Respect for medicine
28:04 Correcting the root causes
30:39 The upper cervical spine
33:12 A patient who found her on YouTube
35:49 A chance meeting at Costco
38:22 Keeping people unaware
40:54 How to choose a chiropractor
43:26 Knee pain and flat feet
45:57 A patient with constant spasms
48:27 Understanding the nervous system
51:04 Younger generations drinking less
53:41 Teaching children about health
56:11 Food standards in Europe
58:46 Food chemicals and pregnancy
1:01:17 Birth as a natural process
1:03:47 How TV portrays childbirth
1:06:17 Saying no to unneeded tests
1:08:55 What YouTube won't show
1:11:32 From chasing patients to patients finding her
1:14:11 Lifestyle changes
1:16:47 Practise what you preach
1:19:20 Just walk
1:21:53 The marketing of walking
1:24:29 Diet and children's behaviour
1:27:05 Bread that never goes mouldy
1:29:39 A healthier United States
1:32:12 How medicine is sold
1:34:45 Inflammation is the body healing
1:37:15 Kids eat what we eat
1:39:50 A new practice
1:42:23 All the people she has helped
1:44:57 Fitness at any age
1:47:27 Long hours and family life
1:50:03 Working alongside MDs
1:52:37 What immigrants contribute

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

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Actress and narrator Marissa Chanel Hampton on It's Not Like That with Scott Foley, and narrating more than 20 audiobooks.

Marissa Chanel Hampton is a dynamic actress making her mark across film and television. She stars as "Gail" in the upcoming family drama romance series It's Not Like That, opposite Scott Foley (premiering January 25th on Amazon Prime and Wonder Project), continuing to captivate audiences with her range and presence on screen.

She's also a prolific audiobook narrator with more than 20 titles for major publishers including HarperCollins, Hachette, Audible, and Brilliance Audio. Her standout performances include The Hookup Plan (Farrah Rochon), The Close-Up (Kennedy Ryan), Deja Brew, and A Forever Kind of Love by NYT & USA Today bestselling author Farrah Rochon.

In addition to her creative work, Marissa is passionate about social justice and education. She lends her voice and support to organizations including the ACLU, The Innocence Project, and Doctors Without Borders, and she curates Ink and Paper Soul, a platform dedicated to books, culture, and community.

To learn more about Marissa: https://www.instagram.com/marissachanelhampton

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Marissa Chanel Hampton
2:35 Parents as coach, cheerleader and videographer
5:07 Theatre in Indiana and Chicago
7:39 Atlanta embraced her, LA made her
10:14 An explorer and a nerd
12:46 Being a fully rounded artist
15:17 Doctor, lawyer or actor?
17:50 Working at a living history museum
20:25 Two internships at once
23:01 Dreams of being a polyglot
25:34 Acting is a business
28:06 Second City and sketch comedy
30:36 Growing up on SNL
33:12 Writing for late night
35:45 Event television
38:20 Surviving an expensive city
40:50 Video calls before Zoom
43:28 Booking a job is like winning the Super Bowl
46:03 It's not personal
48:34 Can't watch herself
51:06 Booing herself while narrating
53:36 AI as an equaliser?
56:12 AI slop
58:44 Scripts written while filming
1:01:18 Train Dreams
1:03:48 Interesting roles for women
1:06:25 Vince Vaughn as Ryan's basketball coach
1:08:55 You don't have to punch down to be funny
1:11:29 When being mean was in fashion
1:14:04 A surprising show
1:16:36 Sports in the family
1:19:09 Actors on self-tapes
1:21:43 The cost of self-taping
1:24:19 The audition room from the other side
1:26:55 Nerves hide you
1:29:25 Nepotism in Hollywood
1:32:02 Actors who step back
1:34:32 Living forever?
1:37:03 Face-to-face podcasts
1:39:38 Be kinder, be curious, keep moving

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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PR agency founder Rachel Dares on two decades in public relations, journalism and media.

Rachel Dares is the founder of Rachel Dares PR, an award-winning boutique agency recognized for delivering meaningful visibility and measurable results. With two decades of experience in public relations, media, journalism, marketing, events, and sponsorships, Rachel is known for her strategic approach and hands-on dedication to every project. She has led major publicity campaigns, coordinated sponsored events, and developed brand partnerships that strengthen awareness and connection.

From national press placements to community-driven events, Rachel brings an authentic, results-focused approach to every campaign. She has represented a diverse range of changemakers, entrepreneurs, health and wellness advocates, medical and political figures, nonprofits, and consumer brands, helping them share their message with clarity and impact. Whether securing media coverage, building partnerships, or guiding high-impact campaigns, her work consistently drives engagement and measurable ROI.

A former newscaster with degrees in Radio Broadcasting and Education (English major), Rachel blends her background in storytelling with deep expertise in communication and media. She continues to sharpen her skills through ongoing professional development, including recent certifications in Media Relations, Public Affairs, Grant Writing, and Mastering Communications and Public Speaking Skills. She has written for Medium, Kivo Daily, NewsBreak, USA Wire, and Fierce & Fearless Magazine, and previously served as Content Coordinator for Talega Life Magazine. Known for her editorial insight and strategic execution, Rachel is a trusted partner to clients seeking to grow their influence and make a lasting impact.

In addition to leading client campaigns, Rachel mentors emerging publicists through her internship program in partnership with California State University, Long Beach, offering hands-on experience in real-world public relations.

To learn more about Rachel: https://www.racheldarespr.com

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Rachel Dares
5:03 Theatre, speeches and school
7:35 Taiwan's Filipino roots
10:07 Arriving in the US with $100
12:40 The OJ Simpson verdict
15:13 The packaging business
20:16 How fast time passes
22:48 Learning before the internet
25:22 Pitching Passion-Driven TV
27:55 Co-hosting with her professor
30:30 When the red light goes on
33:03 Early mornings in radio
35:37 Learning to read a prompter
38:09 Her first big-name clients
40:43 Finding a direction
43:16 Loving Southern California
45:46 AI and public relations
48:22 A two-day workshop
50:53 Showing clients in the best light
53:25 Audits and media packs
55:57 Bringing personalities together
58:28 Going beyond expectations
1:01:00 Pitching every day
1:03:36 Getting comfortable with media
1:06:08 Businesses with no social media
1:08:40 Filmmakers and healthcare clients
1:11:15 Holding an audience for two hours
1:13:46 The rise of the influencer
1:16:22 Support after the workshop
1:18:52 Knowing when something isn't working
1:21:27 AI helping medical technicians

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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Actor Aleks Paunovic on Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Continuum, and gaining 65 pounds for Personal Effects.

Aleks Paunovic currently stars in Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians which premiers on December 10th 2025, but that is not his whole story. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to a Croatian mother and Serbian father. The result of this remarkable blend of bloodlines is the 6'5" ruggedly handsome actor appearing on screens around the world at a rapidly escalating rate. Since coming to Vancouver Aleks has built an amazing resume with over 100 credits, most of which are lead and recurring roles like the one that he has on this hugely anticipated 4th season of 'Continuum'.

But the biggest catalyst in Aleks's career was when he fought three rounds of casting throughout all of Los Angeles and Vancouver to win the role of 'Tom', a developmentally disabled man accused of murder in 'Personal Effects' starring Ashton Kutcher, Michelle Pfieffer, and Kathy Bates. Aleks put on 65 pounds to perform the role, which was one of the most challenging and rewarding roles of his career so far. When you meet Aleks, or you watch him perform these difficult roles, you just know that with all of that leading man charisma there's star power in this man, and that you will be seeing a lot more of Aleks Paunovic.

To learn more about Aleks: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006820

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Aleks Paunovic
2:36 Block heaters and Canadian winters
5:11 Playing bass at 14
7:44 Boxing to get closer to his father
10:18 Competing and cover bands
12:50 Acting for the food table
15:21 Self-tapes versus the room
17:52 Loving the live audience
20:28 Getting called into the room
23:03 Collaboration you can't do remotely
25:35 Stunts versus acting
28:09 A comedy travel show
30:41 Acting school in Vancouver
33:16 Finding the language that speaks to him
35:52 People want to feel something
38:27 Putting it out into the world
40:59 Relax and the lines stick
43:36 Train like a fighter
46:08 Every role on set matters
48:44 Work keeps coming
51:18 Why Ryan started the podcast
53:52 A Cyclops in the first Percy Jackson
56:25 The kids' acting coach
58:55 Makeup tests and facial mechanics
1:01:30 Acting through prosthetics
1:04:02 The itch for live theatre
1:06:35 Sixty-five pounds in summer heat
1:09:09 Going through fire for the crew
1:11:39 Knowing your place on set
1:14:10 A dream character
1:16:41 A brother who believed in him
1:19:11 Mentoring young actors
1:21:45 Representing a project well
1:24:18 Everyone goes further together
1:26:49 Trusting your first AD
1:29:20 Let's go
1:31:56 Blocking a one-shot scene
1:34:27 Jumping at the opportunity
1:37:02 Good karma comes back

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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Austrian actress and dancer Dilara Foscht on dance championships, theatre, and making Day Of A Lion with her twin sister Bianca.

Dilara Foscht is an internationally working multi-hyphenate actress, dancer, and filmmaker. Dilara was born and raised, one out of five kids, in Austria, Europe. Her ancestry, however, leads back to Italy and Slovenia and Dilara spent parts of her life living in Germany as well. As an actress, Dilara started her creative journey with dancing, competing successfully at both, national and international championships in the dance categories ballet, modern, jazz, acrobatic, and musical dance. After dancing had tickled her fancy, she hopped on the acting train, performing on stage, as well as on set in Austria and Germany. Foscht started acting at the TaO youth-theater company in Graz, which led her to being cast, as the lead, in her first theater production. Later, Foscht studied the Performing Arts in Germany until she relocated to Vancouver.

One of Foscht's most acclaimed theater productions, so far, has been Dorian Gray-Pictures of Beauty, which premiered in her hometown Graz. She was also cast for the German TV pilot I'm Awake, a leading role in the 13th season of the German TV show Das Supertalent, as well as appearing in several independent films. In 2024, Dilara was also invited to join Disney's prestigious "TV directors workshop" as an actress!

Apart from acting, Foscht loves to write and produce her own stories, most commonly together with her identical twin sister Bianca Foscht, who she often describes as "her better half". In 2023, alongside her twin sister, she wrote, directed, produced and starred in their first feature film production "Day Of A Lion". The production won them many nominations and awards, from "Best feature film" to "Best actress".

Foscht also is an experienced horseback rider with proper equestrian training and she enjoys singing, dancing and educating herself in multiple fields, in her spare time.

To learn more about Dilara: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11259677

Chapters
0:00 Welcome back Dilara Foscht
2:31 Austria's Alps and Mission: Impossible
5:04 The magic of LA
7:38 Falling for acting and filmmaking
12:40 The happiness advantage
15:12 Two sisters, two visas
20:13 Friends who love their union jobs
25:15 A film that grew bigger than planned
27:46 Taking active steps
30:18 Controlling your own schedule
32:55 How travel budgets changed
35:26 Respecting people's time
37:58 Building in time to create
40:30 Balancing PA work and the film
43:05 Walking as meditation
45:42 Balancing side jobs
48:20 A period piece and a proof of concept
50:53 Deciding to do it themselves
53:26 Acting while directing
55:59 Everyone is there for the same reason
58:35 Departments going the extra step
1:01:06 From economics school to pre-production
1:03:41 Colour grading for free
1:06:17 One step leads to the next
1:08:53 Easy conversations in the industry
1:11:26 Doors that opened
1:13:57 Opportunity meets preparation
1:16:32 Movie nights with mentors
1:19:07 Lessons from Vancouver
1:21:42 Advice for filmmakers
1:24:16 Where to watch and follow

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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Dr. Sherry McAllister on chiropractic care, her Adjusted Reality podcast, and her Forbes book on whole-being health.

Dr. Sherry McAllister stands at the forefront of the modern health and whole-being movement. As a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic for over two decades and the dynamic President of the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, she has tirelessly advocated for drug-free, evidence-based approaches to health. Dr. McAllister is the engaging host of the Adjusted Reality podcast, a Gold Stevie award-winning series that brings listeners into conversations with top athletes, celebrities and health experts who share their personal health transformations and insights. Her expertise extends beyond the clinic and airwaves, culminating in her new Forbes book, "Adjusted Reality: Supercharge Your Whole-Being for Optimal Living and Longevity". This groundbreaking work challenges conventional thinking about health, offering a comprehensive vision for integrating physical, mental, and emotion well-being to achieve optimal vitality and purpose-driven life. Dr. McAllister's passion is to empower individuals to ask "how can we open ourselves up to do better and be better?" and guide towards sustained health and fulfillment.

To learn more about Dr. Sherry McAllister: https://drsherrymcallister.com

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Dr. Sherry McAllister
2:32 An injury dismissed as a sprain
5:05 Depression and sleepless nights
7:38 Living with lasting damage
10:13 Never told the potential problem
12:45 Why Adjusted Reality was born
17:46 Gatekeepers and diagnosis codes
20:18 Health is the environment we create
22:50 Ryan cleaning up his diet
25:21 A scan for spinal injury
27:57 Feeling her feet again
30:29 Following the money
33:04 Chiropractors and the law
38:05 Causation versus association
40:37 Fear is false evidence appearing real
43:10 Change one generation at a time
45:43 A nine-headed hydra
50:43 Hospital referrals that snowball
53:17 Mothers who lost their babies
55:52 People who love their chiropractor
58:26 A trusted practitioner
1:00:56 When a specialist is needed
1:03:32 How medical doctors are trained to treat
1:06:04 Veterans, PTSD and depression
1:08:39 Time off the grid
1:11:12 Children need the outdoors
1:13:48 Overworked America
1:16:19 Chiropractic is a lifestyle
1:18:53 Sleep is cumulative
1:21:27 Desk posture and your health bank account
1:23:59 Daily habits and trauma
1:26:32 Endless refills
1:29:03 Whole-being care versus disease care
1:31:38 Every day is an adventure
1:34:09 Children and dopamine
1:36:42 Volunteering as a cuddler
1:39:14 Brain chips and innovation
1:41:47 Who profits from healthcare
1:44:21 Wasted resources
1:46:52 Nature needs no nurturing
1:49:24 Hand-to-hand combat for health
1:51:58 Our connected ancestors
1:54:30 The social prescription
1:57:02 What Covid awakened
2:02:04 Canadian politics
2:04:38 Security and peace
2:07:14 Teaching children preventive health
2:09:45 Presence, then the why
2:12:17 Parents and schools
2:14:48 Distracted driving
2:19:49 Adjusted reality moments
2:22:21 Thank you

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

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Playwright Ryan M. Luévano on his musical 57 Bus, La Lavadora, and life as a writer and theatre critic in LA.

Ryan is a Latinx award-winning playwright, screenwriter, talent manager, and theatre critic in Los Angeles. Recently, Ryan's musical "57 Bus" was selected for the Latine Musical Theatre Lab's Table Reading Series 2023, where he collaborated closely with dramaturg Amauta M. Firmino (SLAVE PLAY). In 2021, he was awarded the prestigious Artists-in-Residence title at Chateau d'Orquevaux in France and received the Denis Diderot Grant for his contributions to "57 Bus." Additionally, his play "La Lavadora" won the Full Circle Players' New Works Play Festival in 2021, and his new play "Dance Plague" had a NorCal premiere at Contra Costa School of Performing Arts in Walnut Creek, CA, in 2023. Notably, "La Lavadora" was a finalist in the 2023 New Works Festival at the Santa Monica Theatre Guild, held at the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, and a semi-finalist in the Screencraft Stage Play Competition. Most recently his musical 57 Bus was selected to participate in the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival in NYC.

To learn more about Ryan: http://www.ryanmluevano.com

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Ryan M. Luévano
2:36 Growing up around Pasadena
5:06 Beginning band
7:40 Why music is primal
10:11 Watching the stage from the orchestra pit
12:41 A musician living in his car
15:17 Great composers struggled too
17:52 A master's in musicology
20:25 Teaching without training
23:02 Music directing big orchestras
25:40 Everyone loves a tap number
28:14 The seed of directing
30:44 A developmental workshop
33:16 Structuring a story
35:47 Seeing shows he couldn't afford
38:23 A collection of plays
40:56 A writers' group
43:30 Playwriting competitions
46:01 When a production elevates your writing
48:37 Big casts and funding
51:12 Reading 100 screenplays
53:48 Research is his best friend
56:23 A first horror screenplay
58:59 Funding the artistic soul
1:01:34 What gets funded in theatre
1:04:05 Nonprofit theatre
1:06:39 Shrinking attention spans
1:09:17 $300 million movies
1:11:54 Writing without chasing deadlines
1:14:30 Nobody reads anything
1:17:02 More than words on a page
1:19:38 Watching an audience enjoy your work
1:22:09 Staying open to opportunity
1:24:44 Supporting others creatively
1:27:22 Shutting out the world to write
1:29:59 A short film
1:32:35 A star on the way out
1:35:06 Open to assignments
1:37:36 Good energy attracts
1:40:12 A booking streak
1:42:47 A magician's personality
1:45:18 Becoming a manager
1:47:54 The ideal client
1:50:26 Why some actors always work
1:53:03 Until next time

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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Peter Crosby on cycling Beijing to Hong Kong twice, decades as a photojournalist, and a van journey across America.

Peter's photojournalism, video adventures, and radio reporting have been broadcast on National Geographic TV, NPR's Radio Expeditions, and Christian Science Monitor Radio, as well as published in Asian Wall Street Journal, Asia Week, Los Angeles Times, Intersect, Tokyo Journal, National Geographic Traveler, and the in-flight magazines of ANA, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, American and United airlines.

In 2021, Peter bicycled from Beijing to Hong Kong – again – following the same route as his original 1994 cycling journey for NGTV's program Explorer. Now his new 4-part documentary TV series "Cycling Across China with Peter Crosby" is airing on China Global Television Network (CGTN), Bytedance Videos, and broadcast on National Geographic TV/Asia, for which he was Exec. Producer, Co-Director, Photographer, and Host. Watching America from afar, Peter was again struck by the Chinese name for the USA: 美国 (měi guó) meaning 'beautiful country.' Peter found his 2021 return to America alarming and sad; Covid's toll, mass shootings, ongoing racism, fear of China, even an insurrection. The USA no longer felt like home. So in 2022, he bought a van and traveled through the heartland of America reacquainting himself with his homeland and recording local life. From our nation's East Coast founding to our Civil War, from 9/11 memorials to the transcontinental railroad, he filmed heated arguments, protesting 18-wheel drivers, motorcycle rallies, and the singing of 'Amazing Grace' with evangelicals in Georgia. Dragon boating with Chinese-Americans, filming Native America rodeos, even biking through forest-fire smog, Peter strove to create dialogue and empathy with those he didn't quite understand. He found commonality in wanting to belong to communities with some kind of mission, whether spiritual, political, sporting, our families or friends. We all just want our tribe.
Born in the USA, Peter has visited 70+ countries and lived/worked in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Southern Africa. So he can make people laugh in several languages. He's also led for-profit, nonprofit, and social benefit organizations as a CEO/COO/CTO in media, translations, women's empowerment, and international refugee aid. Peter considers himself a Man of Mission: global vision, local lifestyles, universal heart.

To learn more about Peter: https://www.youtube.com/@pscrosby

Chapters
0:00 Welcome Peter Crosby
5:11 Learning other people's stories
12:51 The Michael J. Fox lookalike in The Power of Love
23:03 Teaching English in Tokyo
28:13 Riding from Beijing to Hong Kong
38:24 A Day in the Life photo book
43:35 Orange Fanta and food deserts
51:14 A banquet in the mountains
56:24 Ten weeks at 13,000 feet
1:01:41 Coming home to small talk
1:09:21 A year of volunteer work in Africa
1:14:26 Why China and America must understand each other
1:22:04 Becoming a host
1:27:13 Inviting the viewer along
1:37:14 Covid rules and common sense
1:47:27 Documentary festivals
1:57:45 Climbing again
2:05:21 One day at a time
2:10:33 One of ten creators
2:18:15 Until next time

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

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https://www.ryanpyle.com

Paul Kitson returns to talk about playing Johnny Castle in Dirty Dancing in the West End, producing, and his screenplays.

Paul Kitson is a London-trained actor turned writer, creator, and producer. He originated the lead role of Johnny Castle in the record-breaking West End premiere of Dirty Dancing. He began producing at London's Savoy Club, curating a late-night supper show that revived the Goodfellas Copacabana energy, momentum that led to directing BBC's Strictly Come Dancing tour and VIP events, including Simon Cowell's 50th birthday. As co-founder of Creative Sunshine Productions (2010–2014), Paul produced and directed music videos, commercials, and national live tours, and served as creative director for The Prince's Trust. As a screenwriter, Paul's feature Marathon was acquired by Oscar-nominated studio Distant Horizon (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) and is in development toward a 2028 theatrical release. His indie drama The Price of Applause, a darkly comic "love letter to Broadway", was a 2025 finalist at the Cambridge Script Festival. His newest dystopian TV series was optioned by a London production company in June 2025.

To learn more about Paul: https://paullawrencekitson.com

Chapters
0:00 Welcome back Paul Kitson
2:36 Why Ryan worked out of Asia
5:13 Sensing the mood across cultures
7:44 Is coding still worth learning?
10:20 The Palisades fire
12:53 Paul Greengrass and real-feeling cinema
17:53 Rebuilding after the fires
22:55 Protests across Europe and America
27:59 How far ahead productions plan
33:03 From Russell Crowe to student films
35:36 A conversation with his grandfather
38:09 Elon Musk and DOGE
43:12 Money in politics
45:50 Everyone playing by the same rules
48:21 A visiting worker with no vote
50:56 Travels in Latin America
53:31 What lies under Antarctica?
56:10 UFOs go mainstream
58:47 We're not alone
1:01:24 Theories about the moon
1:06:27 Technology wiping out careers
1:09:01 Trading services on social platforms
1:14:03 Ryan's move to Dubai
1:16:39 A ranch in Montana
1:19:14 Getting back to the dirt
1:21:51 Starlink and drone medicine
1:24:24 When the engineers sound the alarm
1:26:56 Pensions and older generations
1:29:29 Stablecoins and Bitcoin
1:32:06 Travel builds strength
1:34:39 Better than a degree
1:39:41 Independent reporters doing better
1:42:18 Punishing corruption
1:44:52 Tradition that isn't working
1:47:29 Paul's last two years
1:50:06 A series about hidden history
1:55:09 The unexplored oceans
1:57:40 Animals sense disaster first
2:00:17 Prolonged hardship ahead?
2:02:55 Countries that rise together
2:07:58 Former dancers who act
2:10:32 Taking a big swing
2:13:04 Written with you in mind
2:15:39 Directors with open doors
2:20:42 The magic is in the grind
2:23:16 Writing a movie for yourself
2:25:52 Getting people to read your script
2:28:26 Four jobs to get one project made
2:30:58 Franchises on repeat
2:33:30 A-listers chasing Oscars
2:36:07 Losing money on huge budgets
2:38:39 $10 million films and first-time directors
2:41:16 Way past dinner time

The Ryan Pyle Podcast is ad-free by choice. If you enjoy these conversations, you can buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/ryanpyle

Ryan's TV series are streaming around the world.

Follow the Podcast
X: https://x.com/RyanPylePodcast
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Follow Ryan Pyle
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@ryanjpyle
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ryanpyle
X: https://x.com/RyanPyle
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ryanpyle

https://www.ryanpyle.com