Whats My Frame: An Artistry Foundation Podcast

Sonja Wajih is a first-generation stunt performer and two-time Primetime Emmy nominee whose career is a testament to the power of persistence, preparation, and believing in yourself. Beginning her stunt career after 30, she has built an impressive body of work across major television series and blockbuster films, performing high-stakes action that brings some of the screen’s most memorable moments to life. Her work on The Rookie earned her first Emmy nomination in 2025, followed by a second consecutive nomination in 2026 for her work on Apple TV+’s Palm Royale.

Beyond her work on screen, Wajih is Co-Lead of the Television Academy’s Women’s Affinity Group, where she champions connection, visibility, and opportunity for women across the television industry. In this episode of Artistry Series, Sonja shares her journey into stunt performance, the years of training and preparation behind the work, and how she balances courage with safety in a demanding profession. She also reflects on the importance of building community, creating space for other women, and pursuing a dream even when the path looks different from what you imagined.

⁠@swajih⁠

⁠sonjawajih.com⁠

Artistry Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through mentorship, arts education, mental health resources, financial education, and access to professional resources. Our programs are designed to help creatives build sustainable careers and thrive both personally and professionally.

Ronnie Steadman, EA, is a tax professional and working actor who understands the financial realities of building a career in the arts firsthand. Originally from the South, Ronnie graduated summa cum laude from Tennessee Temple University, where he focused his studies on mathematics, before pursuing a career in acting. His work has included roles in independent films, national commercials, television and theater. After 14 years with Chuck Sloan and Associates, Ronnie established his own tax practice, bringing a personal touch and a firsthand understanding of the entertainment industry to his work with artists.

In this episode of Artistry Series, Ronnie shares how his experience as an entertainer shaped his approach to tax preparation and why he chose to serve the artistic community. From managing unpredictable income and building better financial habits to avoiding costly tax mistakes, he offers practical advice for artists looking to take greater control of their finances. He also reflects on the relationship between money and self-worth, the importance of protecting an artist’s livelihood, and what it means to show up for the creative community.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Steadman & Associates Tax Practice

Tax Packet Downloads

Artistry Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through mentorship, arts education, mental health resources, financial education, and access to professional resources. Our programs are designed to help creatives build sustainable careers and thrive both personally and professionally.

Erica Messer is a television writer, showrunner and executive producer whose career includes some of television's most recognizable series. She began writing on shows including Alias, The O.C. and Charmed before joining Criminal Minds, where she became a writer, executive producer and showrunner. She later helped relaunch the series for Paramount+ as Criminal Minds: Evolution, where she continues to serve as executive producer.

Messer is also an executive producer of the award-winning documentary feature The Biggest Little Farm and The Biggest Little Farm: The Return. In this episode of Artistry Series, Erica shares her experience building a long-running career in television, leading a major series, balancing creative ambition with family life, and navigating the realities of working in the entertainment industry.

Stream Criminal Minds: Evolution⁠ on Paramount + ⁠

Artistry Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists through mentorship, arts education, mental health resources, financial education, and access to professional resources. Our programs are designed to help creatives build sustainable careers and thrive both personally and professionally.

To celebrate our 200th episode of Whats My Frame; I'm joined by Alexis Booth & Faith Abraham for an inside look at the casting process. Alexis shares her creative journey to Head of Casting at Kapital Entertainment, while Faith reflects on nearly a decade in casting across TV and film. Together, they walk us through the executive casting process at Kapital Entertainment. It’s an encouraging, conversation about building relationships, staying grounded and gaining a deeper understanding of the creatives championing for us with each audition. 

Alexis Booth Full Bio:

Alexis began her career working on hit shows like Scrubs and Desperate Housewives before transitioning into television casting. She worked in Scott Genkinger & Deborah George’s office on Breakout Kings and Gigantic, and then moved to feature films with Roger Mussenden & Jeremy Rich, casting X-Men: First Class and Jack and Jill. Alexis then transitioned to TNT and TBS, where she rose through the executive ranks and oversaw casting for a decade, managing projects such as Snowpiercer, The Alienist, The Last Ship, Major Crimes, The Last O.G., Wrecked, and People of Earth. With the launch of HBO Max, she also managed casting for The Flight Attendant and Made for Love. After working as a casting director on an assortment of television pilots and films for cable and streaming, Alexis began her current position as Head of Casting at Kapital Entertainment. She has worked on shows and films, including The Neighborhood, Watson, DMV, Crutch, One Mile, Civil Justice, and Comedy Pays.

Faith Abraham Full Bio:

Faith Abraham has been working in casting for nearly a decade and is currently based in Los Angeles. This native east coaster came out west to work in the film and entertainment industry. Since then, she has worked on several different television shows and features films. Some of which includes, CBS’s CSI: Vegas and Fire Country, NBC’s Good Girls, Netflix’s Firefly Lane and Blumhouse’s Halloween. More recently she has become apart of the in house casting team at Kapital Entertainment. Over the years, Faith has developed an eye for spotting exceptional talent and has enjoyed years of nurturing relationships between talent and creatives.

Kelly Park's journey is a reminder that creative careers rarely follow a straight line. In this conversation, we talk about career pivots, trusting your instincts, and the unexpected opportunities that come from following what genuinely lights you up. From acting coach to television director, Kelly shares the lessons she's learned about leadership, confidence, and building a creative life on your own terms. Whether you're an actor, filmmaker, or simply navigating your next chapter, there's so much wisdom packed into this episode.

Follow Kelly on Instagram

Alliance of Women Directors Spotlight

This conversation with casting director Meg Morman opens a thoughtful look at the early creative decisions that shape the stories we eventually see on screen. We talk about the instinct behind casting, what it means to truly see potential in an actor, and how trust and collaboration shape every step of the process across film television and narrative podcasting. Meg brings a grounded perspective on what it means to champion a story and the artists within it, with a deep respect for both craft and care. Whether you are an actor trying to understand how decisions are made or a creative curious about how projects come together behind the scenes, this episode offers a generous and insightful look into the heart of casting.

This conversation with voiceover actor Ian Cardoni explores what it means to step into an iconic role and grow into it in real time. We talk about the craft of voiceover performance, the discipline behind sustaining characters across animation and video games, and what it feels like to inherit a role as widely recognized as Rick Sanchez in Rick and Morty. Ian shares the range, training, and adaptability it takes to build a career in voiceover, along with the responsibility that comes with bringing a beloved character forward into new seasons and audiences. At its core, this is a conversation about trust, preparation, and finding your own voice inside a legacy role. Whether you are an actor, voiceover artist, or simply curious about how animated worlds are built, this episode offers a grounded look at the work behind the performance.

Born and raised just outside of Boston, Ian Cardoni currently stars in Adult Swim’s two-time Emmy Award-winning animated comedy series “Rick and Morty” as the titular character Rick Sanchez. Cardoni stepped into the iconic role at the start of season 7 and can be heard as the voice of Rick in seasons 7 & 8 which are available to watch on HBO Max, with season 9 coming to Adult Swim soon. The hit series was recently renewed through season 12.

Cardoni has voiced numerous roles across adult and children’s animation, video games, TV promo, and commercials, including recent roles in the Children’s & Family Emmy-nominated and Annie Award-nominated Nickelodeon series “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” in Fox’s animated series “Krapopolis,” and in the Sony Pictures Classic film “Scarlet” from Academy Award-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda which had its national theatrical release on February 13, 2026, and was an official selection at Venice and Toronto international film festivals in 2025. Cardoni’s voice has also been heard announcing for WWE, SyFy Network, Apple TV, and Disney+.

In the video game space, Cardoni has voiced roles across various critically-acclaimed titles, including “DC: Dark Legion” by Warner Brothers Games, “CookieRun: The Darkest Night” by Devsisters, “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4” by Iron Galaxy, and he reprised his “Rick and Morty” role of Rick Sanchez in the chart-topping game “MultiVersus” from Warner Brothers Games which has received multiple Game Awards nominations. Most recently, Cardoni can be heard as the villain Magrus in third-person action game “Romeo is a Dead Man” by Grasshopper Manufacture and legendary developer Suda51, which released in February 2026. 

Outside of his acting career, Cardoni is a proud and active Emerson College alumni who spends his time on philanthropic ventures and educational endeavors. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife.

@iancardoni

How ‘Rick and Morty’ Cast Its New Voice Stars

*Ian Cardoni (Rick) and Harry Belden (Morty) were cast in Rick and Morty under the SAG-AFTRA 2023 Basic Cable Animation Agreement as the series began production on Season 7

Great directing is often less about control and more about communication, and Rob Spera’s career lives in that space between craft and clarity. From directing across film and television to shaping hundreds of productions on stage and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers, Rob brings a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to tell a story that lands. We talk about the language of directing actors, the difference between instinct and technique, and how teaching becomes its own form of filmmaking. This episode opens up the realities of building a sustainable creative career while staying in service of story, collaboration, and growth. Whether you are an actor, director, or simply trying to understand how stories come together on screen, this conversation offers a clear, practical, and deeply human look at the work.

His recently published book, Film/TV Directors’ Field Manual: Seventy Maxims to Change Your Filmmaking, has become an instant must-read for students and professionals and is available on Amazon. His other works include Actors Write For Actors, Encore, and The Field.

robspera.com

@robsperaofficial

Casting is often invisible when it is working well, but Leeba Zakharov’s approach brings it back into focus as a deeply human and collaborative art form. Shaped by a career that spans development, acquisitions, and decades in film and television casting, Leeba shares how instinct, trust, and cultural perspective inform the way she sees actors and stories. We talk about the responsibility of holding space for vulnerability in the audition process, the impact of mentorship, and what it means to truly honor the actor’s work in the room. This conversation offers a grounded look at casting as both an intuitive craft and a relationship driven practice. Whether you are an actor or a creative working in storytelling, this episode invites you to think differently about how performances are discovered and supported.

Playing a villain does not mean becoming one it means learning how to understand them from the inside out. Tom Wozniczka shares how he approaches complex characters with curiosity and compassion while building a career across international film and television. From his work in Drops of God and Slow Horses to his role in Champagne Problems, Tom reflects on the importance of instinct in performance and the quiet discipline behind strong self tape work. We also talk about what it means to create space for yourself as an actor and trust your own interpretation in a highly competitive industry. At its core this is a conversation about perspective craft and learning how to stay grounded while moving between countries roles and creative worlds.

Casting Tom Wozniczka as Patrice in 'Slow Horses' | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

@tomwozniczka9

Aujourd’hui dans What’s My Frame, je reçois ⁠Tom Wozniczka⁠. Tom tient actuellement un rôle dans la série Drops of God sur Apple TV+. Auparavant, il a interprété « Patrice » dans la quatrième saison de Slow Horses, aux côtés de Gary Oldman.

Aujourd’hui, Tom et moi échangeons sur la complexité d’incarner un méchant tout en gardant de la compassion pour son personnage, sur l’importance de faire confiance à son instinct lors des self-tapes, de se créer un espace à soi, et de collaborer avec les réalisateurs.

Pendant les fêtes de fin d’année, Tom est apparu aux côtés de Minka Kelly dans le film Netflix Champagne Problems. Il a débuté sa carrière en France en jouant dans Les Damnés, puis a poursuivi avec The Damned, mis en scène par Ivo van Hove à la Comédie-Française, ainsi que No Limit, réalisé par Robin Goupil.