In this vulnerable Episode 9 of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors, casting director and journalist, and Mike Sick, creative producer and brand strategist, open up about what it really means to create in the fog.

Not the curated version. Not the highlight reel. The real one.

When the wins go quiet. When the phone stops ringing.When you start questioning yourself.

This is a conversation about what happens when a challenging season forces you back to basics. About separating identity from industry. About refusing to perform strength when you’re actually being refined by the fight.

Evan speaks candidly about questioning whether he still has a career in casting during a slow season, and what it takes to rebuild belief without applause. Mike reflects on faith, reinvention, and why the fog is not a detour — it’s part of the journey.

Together, they unpack:

* Why is uncertainty part of the assignment

* How discipline creates stability when emotions fluctuate

* The danger of comparing your real life to someone else’s highlight reel

* Reinvention as a requirement for longevity

* Why action creates clarity, not the other way around

* And why waiting for perfect conditions is how you lose the fight

This episode is for anyone in a quiet season. Anyone who feels behind. Anyone rebuilding in real time.

The fog doesn’t mean you’re finished. It means your journey just got real.

🎧 Listen now

If this conversation resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating their own fog.

In episode 8 of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors & Mike Sick break down how it gets recognized, weighed, and tested in real time. We talk about what it really is, what it isn’t, and why having “it” alone doesn’t guarantee anything. From casting rooms to competition shows, from visibility to readiness, this conversation breaks down how talent gets evaluated when the stakes are real.

We unpack the differences between charisma and character, confidence and overcompensation, and being seen and being prepared. We talk about why casting is fundamentally about risk, not certainty, and why some people rise to the occasion while others fold, even when the talent is there.

This episode is about awareness, preparation, and the uncomfortable truth that visibility can be loud while readiness stays quiet. If you’ve ever wondered why some people keep getting opportunities, and others don’t, this conversation sits right in that tension.

What You’ll Take Away from This Episode:

* How the “It” factor gets recognized, not defined. It’s intangible. You recognize it instantly. You can’t fake it.

* Why visibility is not the same as being ready. How followers, buzz, and attention can mask a lack of preparation and experience.

* What casting is actually assessing in real time: Awareness, professionalism, adaptability, and whether someone is a risk worth standing behind.

* Why being ready determines longevity. How growth, humility, and the ability to take feedback matter more than polish or hype.

We’ve made this episode free for everyone, but if this resonated, subscribing unlocks the deeper layer: full access to our behind-the-scenes episodes, our private backstage member chat, and exclusive content where we go even further off-mic.

Star Search is back, but talent discovery isn’t what it used to be.In Episode 7 of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors and Mike Sick go beyond nostalgia to unpack the Netflix reboot of Star Search and what it reveals about today’s talent pipeline.

Joined by casting director Rebecca Reczek, who led casting for the reboot, this conversation breaks down:

* Why visibility isn’t the same as readiness

* How casting instincts still matter in an algorithm-driven era

* What performers misunderstand about “betting on themselves”

* And why most talent wants opportunity, but isn’t prepared for the moment

This conversation is about being stage-ready when the lights turn on.A must-listen for artists, creatives, and anyone chasing their shot.

We've made this edition of Behind the Curtain free for everyone, but if this episode resonated, subscribing unlocks the deeper layer: full access to our behind-the-scenes episodes, our private backstage member chat, and exclusive content where we go even further off-mic.And this conversation doesn't stop here. Episode 8, "Do You Have the It Factor?", is a Substack-exclusive follow-up that takes this discussion even deeper, into instinct, presence, and the uncomfortable truths artists and talent rarely hear. Paid subscribers get first access.

MTV just shut down the last of its music channels globally. That’s not just the end of an era. It’s the end of a shared cultural moment.So we asked a bigger question: what did MTV actually leave behind?Episode 6 of Unscripted Untold goes deeper than nostalgia. This is a conversation about infrastructure, power, and how culture was once shaped with intention.We’re joined by Rahman Dukes, a media architect who spent nearly 20 years inside MTV’s ecosystem, including MTV.com and MTV News, helping define how hip-hop and culture were covered, contextualized, and amplified. His work helped shape artist narratives and career-defining moments that moved the culture in real time.In this episode, we break down:• How MTV turned music into culture, shaping taste, identity, and shared moments• How platforms like You Hear It First and Hottest MCs influenced careers and artists like Kanye West• What we lost when music stopped having a trusted center, and everything became clips, hot takes, and uninformed opinionsTap in to understand the infrastructure that shaped culture, and what happens when it disappears.Full conversation lives here on Substack.Subscribe and listen wherever you get podcasts.

If you’re a creator trying to make sense of where TV is headed after the chaos of 2025, this episode is for you.In Episode 5 of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors and Mike Sick sit down with Emmy-winning unscripted TV executive producer Monique Taylor for an honest, grounding conversation about how to move through a reset without losing your footing or yourself.This episode focuses on three things creators are actively wrestling with right now: • What to do during industry downtime and shifts • What there’s actually reason to be hopeful about going into 2026 • What unscripted TV needs to let go of if it wants to surviveMonique brings real perspective shaped by years inside the business, not theory. As an Emmy-winning executive producer and Co-Executive Producer at Lighthearted Entertainment, she’s helped shape some of the most recognizable shows in the culture, including the upcoming new season of Put A Ring On It on OWN, King’s Court, Selling Tampa, Owning Manhattan, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and Married to Medicine.For the last two episodes of 2025, we wanted to do something different. Instead of feeding the panic, we wanted to open the door and talk honestly about what’s changing, what’s worth paying attention to, and how creators can recalibrate for what comes next.This isn’t a doom-and-gloom conversation. It’s a living-room talk about perspective, clarity, and forward motion.Pull up a chair.

We sat down with Thurz. Artist, entrepreneur, and the mind behind Party In My Living Room, a DIY idea that turned into a real cultural movement. He’s collaborated with brands like Ray-Ban Meta, Red Bull, and Google Pixel, and has gotten global companies to say yes to his vision, not the other way around.This episode is about evolving without erasing yourself. Moving from music into brand-building and partnerships without code-switching or sacrificing your integrity. Thurz breaks down how he expanded beyond being a rapper, learned how to communicate his ideas, and built opportunities that still honored his values, his community, and his creative voice.

For the full conversation, you can subscribe to Unscripted Untold on Substack and also join the chat. That’s where we’re building our community, connecting with each other, and keeping the conversation going with our guests and other musings.

You can also find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Come be our +1 and upgrade to a paid subscription to support our work on Substack.

In this episode of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors and Mike Sick explore the complexities of personal growth, self-care, and the dynamics of relationships in both personal and professional settings. They discuss the importance of betting on oneself, the challenges of navigating attachments, and the need for authenticity in the entertainment industry. The conversation delves into the balance of give and take in friendships, the decline of professionalism, and the significance of building meaningful relationships. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of resilience, self-awareness, and creating a supportive community as essential elements for success and personal fulfillment.

Chapters

00:00 Betting on Yourself: Embracing Uncertainty

02:40 The Weight of Attachments: Letting Go

05:32 Self-Care vs. Others’ Expectations

08:15 Navigating One-Sided Relationships

11:05 The Importance of Communication

14:05 Building Relationships in the Industry

28:25 Navigating Personal and Professional Boundaries

29:04 The Art of Professionalism

33:30 Understanding Authenticity in Casting

37:24 Reality vs. Performance in Unscripted TV

40:12 Bouncing Back from Disappointment

46:54 Betting on Yourself for Success

Takeaways

Betting on yourself is essential for personal growth.

Nothing truly belongs to us; we are here to experience life.

Self-care often meets resistance from others.

Friendships require a balance of give and take.

Professionalism seems to be declining in the industry.

Building relationships is crucial for success.

Authenticity is key in casting and performance.

Navigating personal and professional boundaries is important.

Resilience is necessary in the face of rejection.

Self-awareness helps in understanding one’s value.

self-care, authenticity, relationships, professionalism, mental health, entertainment industry, personal growth, community, resilience, self-awareness

In this episode of Unscripted Untold, Evan Majors and Mike Sick engage in a candid conversation about their mental health, career aspirations, and the challenges of navigating the entertainment industry. They introduce Jazzy Collins, a groundbreaking casting director and the first Black Primetime Emmy winner, who has made significant strides in promoting diversity and inclusion in the industry. The hosts share their personal experiences and reflections on the importance of self-care and the evolving landscape of job interviews in the age of AI.

Takeaways

Jazzy Collins is a trailblazer in casting and diversity.

Mental health check-ins are essential for personal well-being.

AI is changing the job interview landscape.

Feeling overwhelmed is common in career pursuits.

Self-care is crucial, especially during challenging times.

The importance of celebrating small victories in life.

Diversity in entertainment is a pressing issue.

Navigating grief can impact daily life.

Taking time for oneself can lead to better mental health.

The summer can feel fleeting, prompting a need for action.

In this pilot episode of Unscripted Untold, hosts Mike Sick and Evan Majors introduce their podcast, sharing their motivations for creating a platform that offers unfiltered conversations about the creative journey, mental health, and industry insights. They emphasize the importance of vulnerability and community support while navigating the challenges of the entertainment industry. The episode sets the stage for future discussions that will include interviews with industry professionals and personal stories of growth and resilience.

Takeaways

The podcast aims to bring truth and transparency to the creative industry.

Hosts have extensive experience in television and music, offering valuable insights.

Conversations will be unscripted and real, reflecting genuine experiences.

Mental health discussions will be a key theme throughout the podcast.

The hosts are committed to giving back and educating others in the industry.

Listeners are encouraged to share their own stories and experiences.

The podcast serves as a platform for vulnerability and community support.

Expect a mix of interviews and thematic discussions in future episodes.

The hosts are navigating their own discomfort in starting this podcast.

The hustle in the creative industry is constantly evolving, and so must the artists.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Unscripted Untold

02:15 The Purpose Behind the Podcast

05:14 Expectations and Themes of the Show

08:09 Mental Health and Vulnerability

11:09 Giving Back and Sharing Knowledge

13:44 Engaging with the Audience

15:59 Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes