Too Opinionated

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⛏️👹 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, we head deep into Appalachia with J. Stephen Brantley, Sharon Murray Harrah and newcomer Ian Deighan for a special cast panel celebrating the new West Virginia-rooted horror film Dark Hollow!

Written and directed by Daniel Byers, Dark Hollow is a Southern Gothic creature feature about a nightmarish monster unleashed from an Appalachian coal mine and the young mother forced to hunt it down to protect her family.

🎬 The screenplay won the 2023 Austin Film Festival Screenplay Competition, and the production went underground to shoot portions of the movie inside a real Appalachian coal mine.

Our panel brings together three very different acting journeys.

📺 J. Stephen Brantley has appeared in American Horror Story, Succession, Poker Face, Gotham, The Blacklist, FBI: Most Wanted, Animal Kingdom and Law & Order and is also an award-winning playwright.

🎭 Broadway veteran Sharon Murray Harrah has performed in 100+ productions, directed 40+ and costumed 90+, before returning to film after her 2023 retirement.

🌟 And we meet Ian Deighan, a newcomer beginning his screen journey with Dark Hollow.

We talk Appalachian horror, practical creature effects, filming in coal country, creating Dark Hollow and bringing a distinctly West Virginia story to audiences.

📲 WATCH AT HOME: Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0G8ZCULZ45P9LKL0D0NJZDYGNR Other platforms: https://brainmedia.com/catalog/films/item/dark-hollow

🎟️ WEST VIRGINIA SCREENINGS: 📍 Charleston – Oct. 7 & 14 | Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema https://wviff.org/movies/dark-hollow/

📍 Buckhannon – Oct. 13 | Colonial Arts Center, 📍 Pendleton County – Oct. 16 | Warner's Drive-In 📍 Beckley – Oct. 17 | Marquee 📍 Huntington – Oct. 18, 7 PM | Foundry Theater + Daniel Byers Q&A https://www.foundrytheater.org/event-details/dark-hollow-film-screening

Roadshow updates: https://darktowerfilms.com/darkhollow

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#DarkHollow #Horror #WestVirginia #AppalachianHorror #WVFilm #TooOpinionated #Meisterkhan

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🏥📢 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, award-winning filmmaker and caregiver advocate Susie Singer Carter joins us to discuss her documentary No Country for Old People: A Nursing Home Exposé and the movement it inspired—ROAR 4 LTC.

On September 27, 2026, ROAR 4 LTC launches its first National Long-Term Care Reform Walk, with events across 31 states bringing together families, caregivers, healthcare professionals and advocates.

🪑 The events will include The Empty Chair Experience, honoring people harmed, neglected or lost in long-term care and giving families an opportunity to share their loved ones' names, photographs and stories.

ROAR stands for Respect, Oversight, Advocacy and Reform for Long-Term Care. The nonprofit grew from Susie's No Country for Old People, an Anthem Award-winning documentary examining nursing home neglect, abuse, understaffing, oversight and the experiences of residents and families.

We talk:

🎬 Making No Country for Old People 🏥 What Susie learned investigating long-term care 📢 Turning a documentary into the ROAR 4 LTC movement 🚶 The September 27 nationwide walks 🪑 The powerful Empty Chair Experience ❤️ Susie's personal journey as a caregiver advocate 🎥 My Mom and The Girl, Bratz: The Movie and Soul Surfer 🎙️ Her award-winning Love Conquers Alz podcast

This isn't just a walk. It's about making residents and families visible and bringing the long-term care conversation into the public square.

🚶 Find a walk, sign up, volunteer or learn more: 👉 https://www.roar4ltc.org/

🎬 Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1097399645/4baf4cc693

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#SusieSingerCarter #NoCountryForOldPeople #ROAR4LTC #LongTermCare #NursingHomes

🎬🎤 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome actor, writer, producer and entrepreneur David W. Ross, whose career has taken him from 90s boy-band heartthrob to award-winning independent film and creating tools that help actors audition from anywhere.

📱 David is the founder and CEO of Slatable, now celebrating its 10th anniversary. Created after David found himself with a self-tape deadline and nobody available to read opposite him, Slatable was designed by an actor who understood the problem firsthand.

The app allows performers to record another character's lines, play them back during their performance, film takes and edit everything into a submission-ready audition—without a reader, separate editing software or expensive self-tape studio.

Slatable has since been used by tens of thousands of actors across more than 40 countries.

🎭 David is also an accomplished actor. He starred in Sundance sensation Quinceañera and wrote, produced and starred in I Do, which earned numerous festival honors.

But before Hollywood came pop stardom!

🎤 David first entered the spotlight as a member of the 1990s British boy band Bad Boys Inc., whose debut album produced five Top 20 hits, including the Top 10 "More to This World."

We talk:

📱 10 years of Slatable 🎭 How technology has transformed self-tape auditions 🎬 Quinceañera and I Do 🎤 His wild Bad Boys Inc. years 💡 Going from actor to tech entrepreneur 📲 The upcoming AuditionDrop v3 🎥 Giving actors more control over their auditions 🚀 What's next for David

Boy band star. Actor. Filmmaker. Entrepreneur. David W. Ross has reinvented himself more than once.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#DavidWRoss #Slatable #SelfTape #Actors #ActingTips #Auditions #BadBoysInc

📚🔥 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome author, speaker and podcast host Audley Stephenson to discuss his new book, Living Your Best Audacious Life Ever: How Unleashing Your Inner Greatness Can Change the World, arriving December 1, 2026.

What if living boldly isn't about being fearless, taking reckless chances or waiting for one life-changing moment?

Audley challenges the idea that audacity belongs only to a fearless few. Instead, his book explores how small, intentional acts of courage practiced consistently can transform our confidence, resilience, careers, relationships and the legacy we leave behind.

🔥 It's not a call to be louder. It's a call to be braver on purpose.

Audley draws from his own experiences and lessons gathered through 700+ episodes of The Audacious Living Podcast, featuring conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers about courage, resilience and purposeful living.

We talk:

📖 Living Your Best Audacious Life Ever 💪 Making courage a daily practice 🧠 Why audacity doesn't require fearlessness 🔥 Breaking through beliefs that keep us playing small 🚀 Unleashing your inner greatness 🎯 Building confidence and resilience 🌎 Turning ordinary choices into extraordinary impact 🏆 Creating a meaningful legacy 🎙️ Lessons from 700+ podcast conversations

At the heart of Audley's message is a powerful question: What could happen if you chose courage—not just once, but every day?

📚 Living Your Best Audacious Life Ever is available for pre-order now on Amazon.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#AudleyStephenson #AudaciousLiving #NewBook #PersonalGrowth #Courage

🏕️🔥 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome actress, athlete, boxer and Outlast: The Jungle champion Nikki Hru!

Nikki and Maddy Jones survived the brutal Panamanian jungle to become the first female duo to win Netflix's Outlast, ultimately claiming the $1 million prize.

Their journey was anything but easy.

From hunger, exhaustion, relentless rain and an early decision that left them without fire-making equipment to the controversial endgame decision involving teammate Leiya, Nikki and Maddy had to balance survival, loyalty and strategy with a million dollars on the line.

We get Nikki's perspective on what viewers DIDN'T see, her partnership with Maddy, the pressure of the final trek, the reaction to their last major strategic decision and what it actually feels like to realize you just won Outlast.

🎬 But there's much more to Nikki than reality television.

Before the jungle and the boxing ring, acting was her passion. Nikki began in musical theater, studying Shakespeare, vocal performance, circus arts and stunt work, before moving to Los Angeles to study Behavioral Neuroscience and ultimately committing herself to acting.

🥊 She's also a formidable competitive athlete and crossover boxer, bringing the same physical and mental toughness seen on Outlast into the ring.

We talk:

🏆 Winning Outlast: The Jungle with Maddy 💰 The million-dollar finale 🔥 Survival, strategy and controversy 🎬 Nikki's acting career and Hollywood ambitions 🎭 Her musical theater and Shakespeare background 🥊 Boxing, stunt work and athletic competition 🧠 Studying Behavioral Neuroscience

Actress. Fighter. Survivor. Outlast Champion. Nikki Hru is just getting started.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#NikkiHru #Outlast #OutlastTheJungle #Netflix #NetflixOutlast

🎬 NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, actor-turned-filmmaker Marcus Rosner joins us alongside young actress Anaram Haddadzadeh to discuss the powerful new short film EMERGENCY, written and directed by Marcus and currently making its way through the film festival circuit.

EMERGENCY follows two children who form an unexpected connection during a quiet night in an almost deserted emergency room. As their innocent conversation unfolds, signs of a troubling secret begin emerging beneath a young boy's guarded silence. What follows is an intimate story about childhood, hidden suffering and how one small act of compassion can potentially change everything.

Marcus takes us behind the camera to discuss the personal and autobiographical inspiration behind EMERGENCY, transforming that experience into a screenplay, directing young performers and bringing such sensitive subject matter to the screen.

🎥 Audiences know Marcus from Sullivan's Crossing as well as Arrow, Supernatural, Once Upon a Time, When Calls the Heart and UnREAL—part of a television career stretching back to 2012.

But his career increasingly extends behind the camera. Marcus is a writer, director, producer, Writers Guild of Canada member and producing partner at Northern Gateway Films, where he has helped produce feature films in Alberta.

🌟 We also meet Anaram Haddadzadeh, who makes an impressive entrance into film as The Girl in her first movie, taking on an emotionally important role at the heart of EMERGENCY.

We talk filmmaking, acting, directing, working with young performers, the responsibility of telling deeply personal stories, Marcus' evolution behind the camera and what comes next for both Marcus and Anaram.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#MarcusRosner #Emergency #AnaramHaddadzadeh #SullivansCrossing #ShortFilm

✨ NEW EPISODE!

Today on Too Opinionated, we're exploring the connection between the physical, emotional and energetic self with Dr. Mary Sanders, host of the Energy Medicine podcast.

Dr. Mary is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Medical Intuitive and energy medicine practitioner whose approach combines energy work with tools from positive psychology. Her mission is to help people move beyond what she describes as "spiritual bypassing" and instead develop a more grounded relationship with their physical and emotional well-being.

🎙️ On her podcast, Energy Medicine: Align Your Mind, Body, and Spirit, Dr. Mary explores intuition, consciousness, energy and spiritual growth while sharing tools designed to help listeners deepen their own healing journeys.

Her perspective comes from decades of study and personal experience. She received her Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1994, earned a Master's Degree in Intuition Medicine®, and holds a Certification in Positive Psychology from the Whole Being Institute, where she studied under Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar.

Dr. Mary also shares her own fascinating journey. Born with significant hearing loss, she says she developed an awareness of subtle energy at an early age and has spent more than 35 years exploring healing and transformation.

We talk:

⚡ Energy medicine and how she approaches it 🔮 What it means to be a medical intuitive 🧠 Energy work and positive psychology ❤️ Trauma, self-compassion and emotional healing 🧘 Meditation, yoga and nervous-system regulation 🚫 The dangers of "spiritual bypassing" 🎙️ Her Energy Medicine podcast ✨ Learning to listen to what your body may be telling you

Whether you're already interested in energy healing or simply curious about this approach to mind-body wellness, this is a fascinating conversation about intuition, self-awareness and finding greater balance.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#DrMarySanders #EnergyMedicine #EnergyHealing #MedicalIntuitive #EnergyMedicinePodcast

Today on Too Opinionated, we enter the wonderfully twisted mind of horror author Alex Grass to discuss his new book, Infernal Tramps: Tales of Weird Terror.

Described as "Twilight Zone meets Hostel," Infernal Tramps is a collection of bizarre, disturbing and darkly imaginative stories filled with body horror, strange creatures, brutal transformations and characters facing situations that go very, very wrong. Critics have called the stories "potent," "visceral," "elegant, gripping, and seriously strange."

Behind the horror are surprisingly recognizable human fears. The collection tackles loneliness, abuse, medical debt, policing, cosmetic surgery, toxic relationships, grief, addiction, guilt and class resentment—then twists them into nightmares.

And Alex's own journey may be nearly as unconventional as his fiction.

Before becoming a published author, he attended Cardozo Law School, worked with the New York County Defenders, attended mortuary school, worked construction in South Philadelphia and Israel's Negev desert, competed in powerlifting and strongman, and ultimately went through rehab. He's also an experienced performer who's acted on television and appeared on stages throughout New York and Philadelphia.

We talk Infernal Tramps, weird fiction, body horror, finding inspiration in real-world anxieties, pushing boundaries, writing truly unsettling stories and Alex's extraordinary road to becoming an author.

Stephen Gallagher calls the collection "Elegant, gripping, and seriously strange," while Richard Thomas describes it as "disturbing and unsettling in the best possible ways."

⚠️ Enter at your own risk.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#AlexGrass #InfernalTramps #HorrorBooks #HorrorAuthor #bodyhorror

🐾 A NEW GENERATION OF PAW PATROL IS READY FOR ACTION!

Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome rising Canadian actor and voice performer Nylan Parthipan, who returns to the world of Adventure Bay as the voice of fan-favorite pup Zuma in the newest PAW Patrol movie, The Dino Movie!

At just 14, Nylan has already built an impressive voice-acting résumé. He previously voiced Zuma in PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie and continues expanding his place in the franchise with The Dino Movie. He can also be heard as Wheeler in Rubble & Crew and Al in PAW Patrol.

🎙️ A two-time ACTRA Award nominee for Best Voice Performance, Nylan's growing animation career also includes PJ Masks: Power Heroes, Vida the Vet, SuperKitties, Firebuds, Work It Out Wombats! and the upcoming Super Why's Comic Book Adventures.

But Nylan's story goes far beyond the recording booth.

Diagnosed with a neuromuscular condition at age two, Nylan has made encouraging other young people with disabilities to pursue their dreams an important part of his journey. He has spoken at events as a keynote and motivational speaker, using his growing platform to help demonstrate that disability should not prevent talented performers from pursuing careers in entertainment.

We talk about:

🐶 Becoming Zuma and joining the PAW Patrol phenomenon 🦖 Returning for PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie 🎙️ Creating distinctive characters through voice acting 🏆 Becoming a two-time ACTRA Award nominee 🎬 His role as Carl in Disney's Out of My Mind 💪 Representation and opportunities for actors with disabilities 🌟 Inspiring other kids to pursue their dreams 🎭 What Nylan hopes to accomplish next

From Zuma to Wheeler, Super Why and beyond, Nylan Parthipan is building an exciting career while helping open doors for the next generation.

👉 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#NylanParthipan #PawPatrol #PawPatrolTheDinoMovie #Zuma #PawPatrolMovie

🔥 WHAT IF EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN TAUGHT ABOUT LEADERSHIP IS WRONG?

Today on Too Opinionated, we welcome author, speaker and leadership advisor Michael Dowling to discuss his new book, The Unlikely Leader: Breaking the Bias that Keeps Great Leaders Invisible.

Drawing from his own unconventional journey as a Hollywood talent agent, serial startup founder, CEO and executive coach, Michael challenges the traditional image of what a leader is supposed to look and sound like.

For years, Michael believed he didn't fit that mold. The Unlikely Leader explores how qualities often underestimated in the workplace—being thoughtful, reserved, empathetic or simply unconventional—can actually become powerful leadership advantages.

🧠 We dive into Michael's MBOS Model (Mindset–Behavior–Outcome–Shift), adapted from evidence-based CBT principles, and how changing the way we understand ourselves can transform the way we lead.

We also discuss:

✨ Why great leaders can remain invisible 💼 How leadership bias affects who gets promoted and heard 🤔 Imposter syndrome and the danger of disqualifying yourself 🤖 Why AI and disruption may make human-centered leadership more important than ever 💪 Turning perceived weaknesses into competitive advantages 🧠 Self-awareness, resilience and character 🚪 How organizations can recognize overlooked talent 🔥 Why leadership doesn't belong exclusively to the loudest person in the room

As Michael writes: "Leadership isn't reserved for the loudest voice in the room—it lives in the quiet strength of those who rarely see themselves as leaders at all."

📖 The Unlikely Leader is available now for pre-order: https://a.co/d/0cmPMy0n

👉 Subscribe to Too Opinionated: https://www.youtube.com/@MeisterkhanPod

#MichaelDowling #TheUnlikelyLeader #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipBooks #BusinessBooks