Why I‘ll Never Make It

By Patrick Oliver JonesTV & Film Arts Music Performing Arts

Why I‘ll Never Make It episodes

January 22, 2020Megan Carver - Actress, Producer, Writer, and Filmmaker
Whether in life or her profession, Megan lives by three simple mottos...
Work Hard • Be Kind • Stay Classy •
And it is these ideals that led her to turn a punch to the gut into another creative outlet for finding work and fulfilling her passion. She opens up about the tough road she faced coming to NYC from Oregon and what propelled her into a world on the page and behind the camera. She's got a lot of wisdom and insight to share today...this is a jam-packed episode!
Here are links to what she talked about today:
Blog Post - Megan first joined the WINMI community in April of 2019 with her own Why I'll Never Make It story.
Adventuress Films - Art is important and has the power to make us realize, on a deep level, that we’re not alone in the world. And we need that now more than ever.
Glasgow Lyman - her friend and former guest on the podcast, who spoke about the mental game of auditioning
Anthony Meindl - an LA-based Writer, Director, Teacher, and Founder of AMAW studios
Her social media - Twitter, Instagram, YouTube
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I want this podcast to be a resource for you as you discover more ways to pursue a career in this industry and sustain it through the many ups and downs that follow.

For insights and unreleased audio clips of today's interview, you can be a part of the WINMI community on Twitter and Instagram (@winmipodcast) and you can always reach out to me on the website: contact.winmipodcast.com

Lastly, this podcast is supported through kind donations of listeners like you by buying me a coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
49 min
January 17, 2020FINAL FIVE: Remy Germinario
Thanks for joining me and Remy for this week's FINAL FIVE!
After our discussion of the rigors and challenges of stand-up comedy, we got down to the serious business of bucket lists and sage advice. (I even throw in a new Final Five questions just for Remy.) The answers given are surprising and revealing, showing another side to Mr. Germinario...
If you could have any other job outside of the arts what would it be?
What is a bucket list role or show you still hope to do one day?
Who do you look up to? A mentor or someone who inspires you.
What is a time in your life when you messed up and had to own up to it?
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Do you have questions or stories of your own? Share them with me:
contact.winmipodcast.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 min
January 15, 2020Remy Germinario - Theater Actor Finding Another Stage with Improv and Stand-Up Comedy
I first met Remy Germinario while taking improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC. He’s an actor as well as a comedian, and he shares how he got into stand-up and how we as creatives wear many hats and have to showcase many talents.

It was a few months ago that I was at an audition and ran into Remy. It had been awhile since our UCB classes together, and we started talking about all the stand-up he’s been doing and it absolutely fascinated and surprised me as to what all actually goes into being a comedian. And it’s that conversation that inspired this episode.

Remy says there's no reason to pigeon-hole ourselves as just an actor or dancer or director. We can do many things, and for our well-being we should pursue as many avenues as we can to not only feed our bank accounts but also to feed our souls by finding creative outlets for the kind of art we want to make.

In our conversation, Remy talked about...
Freemics - a comprehensive listing of comedy open mics across the East and West Coast.
Stand Up NY - opened its doors in 1986 and has since become one of New York City’s premiere comedy clubs.
Comedy Mob - over 60 comics compete for the winning title in this annual festival, where New York City's up and coming talent try to win over our panel of judges and the audience vote.
Social Media - Twitter & Instagram: @RemyGerminario
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I want this podcast to be a resource for you as you discover more ways to pursue a career in this industry and sustain it through the many ups and downs that follow.

For insights and motivations you can be a part of the WINMI community on Twitter and Instagram and you can always reach out to me on the website: contact.winmipodcast.com

Lastly, this podcast is supported through kind donations of listeners like you by buying me a coffee.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
55 min
January 10, 2020FINAL FIVE: Miata Edoga
Welcome to the first FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode of 2020!
These are five questions I ask each guest on topics and insights not covered in our main conversation on Wednesday. The answers given are surprising and revealing, showing another side to Miata Edoga...
If you could have any other job outside of the arts what would it be?
What is a bucket list role or show you still hope to do one day?
Who do you look up to? A mentor or someone who inspires you.
Name a lesson or trait that took you awhile to learn or one that you are still learning to this day?
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
** To join Miata in her MASTERY LEVEL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, go to abundance.winmipodcast.com and enter promo code WINMI for a your listener discount rate.
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Do you have questions or stories of your own? Share them with me:
contact.winmipodcast.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 min
January 08, 2020 Miata Edoga - TV/Film Actress & Financial Coach with Abundance Bound
Miata Edoga is the President and Founder of Abundance Bound, the premiere financial education company for actors, artists, and creative entrepreneurs.
She created The Artist’s Prosperity System, which has provided thousands of creatives with a specific, step-by-step process to significantly improve their financial situation – giving them more time, energy, and freedom to focus on their creative careers and artistic pursuits.
** To join Miata in her MASTERY LEVEL FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM, go to abundance.winmipodcast.com and enter promo code WINMI for your listener discount rate.
Miata serves as the National Financial Wellness Consultant for The Actors Fund – a national human services non-profit for everyone in the entertainment industry. (Listen to my previous episode with Rebecca Selkowe from the Actors Fund Financial Wellness Program.)
She has also led workshops and seminars on financial empowerment for a wide range of organizations including: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Center for Cultural Innovation.
With a strong belief that early financial education empowers young people to live their very best lives, Miata shares her signature seminars with students (and their parents) in schools around the country including: NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Columbia University, and the California Institute of the Arts.
Abundance Bound was launched with the mission of reducing the feelings of intimidation, overwhelm, and stress that too often impede folks from having a healthy relationship with their money. Miata’s guidance continues to empower individuals of all backgrounds to establish a more compassionate, conscious, and prosperous financial life on their own terms.
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Please consider buying me a coffee to support the work and mission of this podcast. I wouldn't be here without listeners like you, so your donations are greatly appreciated. All donors will be recognized in a future episode for their generosity.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 hr 3 min
January 06, 2020 Season Four Preview
Hello and welcome to Season 4 of Why I’ll Never Make It! This is now a year-round podcast...more work for me and more conversations for you. The central theme of Why I’ll Never Make It remains in tact of course: to feature meaningful conversations with actors, singers, directors, and other creatives on the setbacks and stumbles we all us face in the performing arts and how we overcome them, all while challenging the notion of what it really means to “make it” in this business.
I’m your host Patrick Oliver Jones, now entering my 3rd year as a podcaster and my 28th year as a professional actor and singer. I’ll be your guide each week, bringing you 45 to 60 minutes of interviews, insights, and interesting stories about how we balance making art with making a living.
Every now and then, you’ll also get some bonus episodes from The Spotlight Series, where I talk to non-profit organizations (like ASTEP) making a difference in the arts and beyond. Also this season, the Final Five continues where I end each conversation with the same five questions to each guest. There will also be themed months like Women’s History in March, the Tony Awards in May, and celebrating community theater in September.
Be sure to follow on Instagram, where you’ll find unreleased audio clips from my interviews and behind the scenes photos. Follow on Twitter for motivations, updates, and related articles to each week’s discussion. On the website winmipodcast.com you can connect with me as well as donate to the ongoing work and efforts of this podcast.
I can’t wait for you to join me and my guests on Why I’ll Never Make It! Please share this podcast with anyone you know who could also benefit from these conversations. Now go dive into the episodes and remember the reasons for not "making it" may be countless and arbitrary, but the reasons to keep going are even more numerous and rewarding.
Cheers,
Patrick
3 min
December 28, 2019 A Look Back at 2019
Welcome to the 2nd Anniversary episode of the podcast! And what a year it has been!
We’ve had wonderful guests from actors and singers to stage managers and artistic directors. And this episode is a look back at some of the best moments from the past year as well as a look ahead to what’s in store for 2020.

There’s a mix of previous released conversations and new clips never heard before now. I share clips from the popular Audition Stories episode, and then I highlight and critique the very first episode of the year, which was not my best to say the least.

The guests featured during this anniversary: (click the name to go to their episode)

Lothair Eaton • Tony Howell • Misha Osherovich • Caroline Bowman • Bret Shuford • Maggie Bera • Ilana Levine • Sherryl-Lee Secomb • Amy Marie Stewart • Caitlin Kinnunen • Ben Davis

With a special appearance by Andre DeShields (on the Tony Awards).

Check out these podcasts by…
Maggie Bera - ACTOR AESTHETIC
Ilana Levine - LITTLE KNOWN FACTS

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The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

Your donation will go directly into the podcast, helping to grow the WINMI community and allowing me to do so with greater ease and effectiveness. I wouldn't be here without listeners like you, so your donations are greatly appreciated. All donors will be recognized in a future episode for their generosity.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
39 min
December 19, 2019 Christmas Giveaway and Happy Birthday, WINMI!
For your chance to win this ASTEP Christmas album, simply tag a friend or family member in the comments on Twitter on Instagram. (Extra bonus points for reposting.) Spread the word about this wonderful organization and the work they do for children around the world.
Also, coming up on December 28th is the second anniversary of the podcast! Get ready for a look back at the past year as well as what lies ahead in 2020.
4 min
December 18, 2019 Artists Striving to End Poverty / ASTEP with Samantha Manfred (Spotlight)
ASTEP was conceived by Broadway Musical Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Juilliard students. It’s goal was to transform the lives of youth using the most powerful tool they had: their art. Today, ASTEP connects performing and visual artists with youth from underserved communities in the U.S. and around the world to awaken their imaginations, foster critical thinking, and help them break the cycle of poverty.

ASTEP is deeply committed to empowering individuals who suffer from an absence of choice, especially children. The right to choose is a fundamental human right, and we strive to end the poverty that robs us of that humanity. The performing and visual arts create a unique safe space to rediscover choice.

To talk about that mission as well as the recruiting and training of volunteer teaching artists is ASTEP’s Manager of Programs, Samantha Manfredi. She shares how these programs currently serve youth affected by immigration status, homelessness, gun-violence, incarceration, the justice system, HIV/AIDS, systemic poverty, and the caste system. Yet despite all these challenges ASTEP finds a way to reach these young people and change their lives.

The Teaching Artists are highly successful Broadway performers, professional artists, or students and faculty from schools such as Juilliard, offering a variety of disciplines such as dance, visual art, music, and drama. They become transformative role models by combining their passion for the arts and their ability to use artistic tools to teach important life skills to young people around the world.

Learn how you can support ASTEP through a DONATION or as a TEACHING ARTIST.

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Join the WINMI community by following on Instagram or Twitter as well as reaching out to Patrick with any questions or comments: contact.winmipodcast.com

Your donation will go directly into the podcast, helping to grow the WINMI community and allowing me to do so with greater ease and effectiveness. I wouldn't be here without listeners like you, so your donations are greatly appreciated. All donors will be recognized in a future episode for their generosity.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
46 min
December 13, 2019FINAL FIVE: Mike Isaacson
Welcome to another FINAL FIVE Bonus Episode! These are the five questions I'll be asking each guest all season long, as they give concise and and focused insights not covered in our main conversation. The answers given are surprising and revealing, showing another side to Jenny Stafford...
If you could have any other job outside of the arts what would it be?
What is a bucket list role or show you still hope to do one day?
Who do you look up to? A mentor or someone who inspires you.
Name a lesson or trait that took you awhile to learn or one that you are still learning to this day?
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Click to learn more about other Artistic Directors who Mike mentioned in his answer to number 3 - Mark Hoebee at Papermill and Dan Knechtges at TUTS.
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The time and expense needed to bring these guests and conversations to you each week is both sometimes challenging but always rewarding. Please consider buying me a coffee to support this work that goes into each episode.

Do you have questions or stories of your own? Share them with me:
contact.winmipodcast.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12 min

About Why I‘ll Never Make It

From the publisher's feed

The actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But…