Note from Kristine:

I realized one day, that I kept sending friends and clients to have coffee dates with the same amazing people who were generously and patiently sharing their advice (again and again and again.)

Then I thought: “Wouldn’t it be easier (for everyone) if I just recorded some coffee dates with my favorite peeps and shared them?”

So I did.

You’ll notice that I selected friends and colleagues who are all successful, but not super-well-known (yet!). Why? Because some of the very best guidance – the stuff that you can actually take and put into action right now – comes from those artists who are but a few steps ahead of you on the career path. They’ve just been there, just survived that. They know what you need to know.

Yes, it can be incredibly inspiring to hear from the big kahunas in our industry, but don’t overlook all the wonderful golden nuggets of actionable wisdom that are easily within your reach…

A Coffee Date with…

Bob Souer

[about building a full-time voice over career]

Bob describes himself as a “professional storyteller” and if you have watched PBS television, flown US Airways or taken a eLearning course, you have probably heard his voice. When I first met Bob, he told me that his desire was to have a full-time voice over career. A few years later, his dream was a reality. Not only did he transition from part-time to full-time artist, but also, during the process, he created and nurtured one of the most outstanding and widely known blogs in the voice over world. Bob completely embodies the spirit of “success through service” and on our Coffee Date he generously passes along some of what he’s learned.

Listen to Bob Souer’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Doug Turkel

[about marketing for voice over artists]

When I met Doug he had created a very successful full-time regional voice over career from the ground up. He had an Addy Award and over 10,000 spots under his belt. He was preparing to go national. Which he did. That’s a transition many voice over artists desire to make so I thought I’d have a chat with Doug about the nitty-gritty, step-by-step of how he marketed himself and made it happen. (Side note: And never have I seen better branding of an artist before in my life! Doug wins.)

Listen to Doug Turkel’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Eliza Jane Schneider

[about the biz of voice over and animation]

Eliza is one of the most gifted people I know: an actress-playwright-fiddler-songwriter-singer-voice over artist extraordinaire AND one of the top dialect coaches in the country with degrees from Northwestern and UCLA. She can perform any dialect, teach any dialect, eliminate any accent, and match almost any voice. For five years she performed all of the female voices on South Park and, on this Coffee Date, she takes us behind the scenes of that gig (including how she proactively got it for herself) and several others. As always with Eliza, it’s a very interesting conversation.

Listen to Eliza Jane Schneider’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

David H. Lawrence, XVII

[about career advice for voice over artists]

My friend and mentor, David, is another multi-hyphenate with an extensive and varied career in all things voice: hosting his own broadcast satellite radio shows and podcasts, working as the THE voice of AOL (among other v.o. gigs), producing, directing, casting (video games, demos reels, audio books, etc) and teaching and speaking internationally about the business and craft of voice overs. So, like, he has some stuff to share. Most of it is definitely worth your while. (And did I mention he created this?)

Listen to David Lawrence’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Shanna Micko

[about creating her web series]

Shanna is an actor and graduate of the USC Master of Professional Writing program who co-produced, wrote, and starred in the genuinely funny web series Leaving Bliss. In fact, Shanna was the inspiration for this whole Coffee Date series because I’ve sent many, many folks her way to hear exactly how she shot 10 episodes of that series, how she Taft-Hartley-ed herself and several other actors into SAG, and how the series became a finalist in the New York Television awards. (Now, finally, we have all the details captured on tape so she can relax and rest her voice!)

Listen to Shanna Micko’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Dylan Kussman

[about filming and funding his web series]

Dylan is an actor, writer, musician, and Berkeley grad who starred as Richard Cameron (a.k.a. “the fink who finally gets punched in the face”) in Dead Poets Society. Although he still occasionally flies in to work in his hometown of L.A., he currently lives in the Southeast US (Chattanooga, TN), works professionally out of nearby Atlanta, and is the creator and star of the (fabulous) web series The Steps, a modern day noir thriller. The initial response to the first 3 episodes was so positive that he pulled those episodes out of circulation, got a grant, got sponsorship, created a web presence, hooked up with a distributor and relaunched the series. I thought it was worth a Coffee Date to hear how he did all of that.

Listen to Dylan Kussman’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Peter Bedard

[about developing his internet TV show]

Peter is an actor, designer, community activist, alternative heath advocate, AND creator and host of Create Your Health a website and media platform which is quickly becoming one of the nation’s premiere alternative health resources. Peter is someone with the tenacity of spirit to turn his dreams into reality. The road has not always been easy, for sure, and during our Coffee Date he candidly shares the lessons he has learned throughout the process of creating, pitching, producing, filming, and broadcasting his show.

Listen to Peter Bedard’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Phil Kaufmann

[about creating and funding his short film]

After graduating with an MFA from Yale, Phil divided his time between acting, directing, and producing first in New York and later in L.A. For this Coffee Date, I asked him to share his experiences producing and directing his 15-minute short film Living In Walter’s World, which starred Ethan Phillips (Star Trek Voyager), Armin Shimerman (Star Trek: Deep Space 9) and Stephan Furst (Animal House). Phil totally came through and offers us a detailed map of what it takes to go from “hey, this is cool idea” to “ready for the festivals.”

Listen to Phil Kaufmann’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Troy Conrad

[about developing and monetizing your own material]

Troy is an internationally touring comedian, actor, writer, producer (and former college teacher!) who has been supporting himself with his art for years. I’ve watched Troy grow as an artist on the indie comedy circuit and I marvel at how he has learned to patiently nurture an idea to its full potential and maximize his opportunities. Whether he’s embodying Jesus or George Bush, his work is sharp and hilarious and it has helped him attract established comedic talent as collaborators and mentors. As always, Troy generously shares some great suggestions about how to take a good idea and run with it (including his step-by-step method of putting butts in seats.)

Listen to Troy Conrad’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Brenda Adelman

[about creating her one-person show]

Brenda is an actor, writer, speaker, and forgiveness coach who also has an MA in Spiritual Psychology. Brenda has a stunning personal story: when she was in her early 20′s her father shot her mother and later, when he was released from prison, married her aunt. From those circumstances she created a one-woman show, My Brooklyn Hamlet, that has touched the lives of audiences all over the world. Her business of teaching people how to forgive grew organically from her art. During our discussion, she shared great advice about how to nurture the life of a one-person show beyond its initial run.

Listen to Brenda Adelman’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Pam Forrest & me

[about creating theatre in L.A.]

One thing that is for certain about creating theatre in Los Angeles: it’s always a weird and sometimes long and usually winding road. Pam can attest to that! She is an Ovation Award-winning playwright, director, actor, script consultant, and monologue/stand-up coach who has shepherded many an actor (including myself) through opening night or an Equity audition or a stand-up gig. And I’ve been on the production side of theatre in this town as well. In this Coffee Date, Pam and I talk shop and swap stories… what it’s like to stand before a surprised cast and say “Hi, I’m your new replacement director” (which she’s done more than once!)… common problems that occur when actors produce their own shows… having to fire someone in your cast or crew. You know, juicy stuff like that.

Listen to Pam Forrest’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Antonio Sacre

[about creating his full-time storytelling career]

Antonio is a writer, a published children’s book author, a professional storyteller, and a solo performance artist who graduated with an MA from Northwestern University. He has an active national and international touring schedule and he teaches writing and storytelling throughout the country. He can be heard as part of NPR’s Latino USA and has performed at The Kennedy Center and at The National Book Festival at The Library of Congress. So, yes, he’s very talented. But so are a lot of people. Antonio, however, has been able to take his talent and build a career as a full-time, self-employed artist successful enough to support himself and his family here in Los Angeles. I invited him on this Coffee Date to hear how he did it.

Listen to Antonio Sacre’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Bostin Christopher

[about starring in a cult film]

Bostin is a bi-coastal actor, producer, and director who was raised in Alaska. I could have talked to Bostin about SO many things… he has acted off-Broadway and at the Public Theatre in New York, directed theatre throughout the country, and appeared in numerous television shows… BUT what we did chat about is his starring role in the Warner Bros/Raw Feed horror film Otis, (with Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas and Kevin Pollak) which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival in March of 2008 we talked about the effect one role can have on a career and what it’s like to suddenly have a higher profile and a fan following (and how to deal with that). For his portrayal of the title character, Bostin won best actor at the International DV/HD Film Festival.

Listen to Bostin Christopher’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Amir Talai

[about the road from co-star to series regular]

Amir is an actor and Berkeley grad whom I have long admired for his positive attitude and consistent proactivity with regards to his career. Years ago when I was acting, I would regularly sneak over to his website and read his postings, hoping some of his marketing mojo and self-confidence would rub off on me. On our Coffee Date, I invited him to share what he’s learned from all he has experienced during this past decade he hit town as a newbie and climbed the ladder all the way to recurring and series regular roles.

Listen to Amir Talai’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

David H. Lawrence, XVII

[about going from zero to recurring on NBC's Heroes]

After a long, successful career in radio and voice-overs, David decided he wanted to also act on-camera. As with everything he’s done, David laid the groundwork for success. He studied the craft and technique and business of the on-camera world and, as opportunities came into his life, he hit them out of the park. David’s role on Heroes was his first TV credit. His character was suppose to die in that episode. Instead, he became a recurring guest on the show. How did that happen? What was it like working on a network show? How did it change his career? We cover all that and more on our Coffee Date.

Listen to David Lawrence’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Hope Olaide Wilson

[about starring in a Tyler Perry film]

Hope is an actor and aspiring producer who landed a lead role in Tyler Perry’s film I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Hmmm… what an amazing opportunity for her as an aspiring producer to connect with one of the industry’s most prolific and successful moguls. (The Universe works in mysterious ways, my friends.) I was already planning to have a Coffee Date of my own with Hope to hear about what the experience was like, so I figured I’d record it so you could join us! We discuss the audition process, life on set in Perry’s Atlanta studio, bonding with her co-stars, performing a scene with just her and Perry (as Medea), the movie premiere, and what it’s like to now have fans. Fun stuff!

Listen to Hope Olaide Wilson’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Shelley Dennis

[about life as an international model]

How does a gal from a very small town in Oklahoma (think: no stoplights) become a model in Milan and then an actress in L.A.? Well, ever since I discovered that was Shelley’s story, I wanted to hear all the details – especially because she is one of the most sincere, grounded, and motivated Beautiful People I’ve ever met. Not only do we discuss how these events unfolded and what life as a working model is like, but also how these big transitions impacted her growth as an individual and as an artist. Shelley talks about leaving the nest, getting guidance, trusting her gut, and taking leaps of faith.

Listen to Shelley Dennis’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Jeana Blackman

[about performing in a Cirque du Soleil show]

So, you’re a talented, comedic actress living in L.A., and one day – totally out of the blue – Cirque du Soleil calls YOU to audition for one of their shows. That’s what happened to Jeana. I kid you not. And, because she said “yes” to this very unexpected opportunity, she’s been climbing walls and hanging hundreds of feet above a stage performing in the Vegas production of KA. How did this all come about? What was the audition process like? How did she make the final decision to do it (considering she has a new condo and hubbie in L.A)? And what is it like when a dream (that you weren’t even dreaming!) comes true?

Listen to Jeana Blackman’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Richard Dorton

[about the world of motion capture]

Richard is one of the top motion capture performers in the field. He’s a stunt man and stunt coordinator as well as a motion capture consultant, director, and producer. His very first game was Scooby Doo! Night of 100 Frights in which he played Shaggy – and almost 80 other characters! He has performed motion capture in video games, feature films, television series, and commercials. I knew very little about this (growing) area of the industry but, considering the popularity of Avatar – and the issues it brought forth regarding the union governance of motion capture performing vs. on-camera acting – I thought having a Coffee Date with a seasoned veteran would be a fascinating and enlightening conversation. (I was right!)

Listen to Richard Dorton’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Rita Maye Bland

[about pursuing your passions]

Rita is a true Renaissance woman. Since graduating from CalArts, she has worked steadily in the spotlight and behind the scenes as an actress, dancer, choreographer, producer, and casting director including some major concert tours: Rihanna, Britney Spears, Madonna, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, etc. She is someone who can speak to the rewards of hard work, the value of extending your career through diversification, and the pleasure of pursuing your passions. I wanted to have a Coffee Date with her because she is someone who has created her varied and successful career by being true to herself and defining success on her own terms.

Listen to Rita Maye Bland’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Devin Alexander

[about taking her dream from vision to reality]

Devin is a New York Times Bestselling Author and star of the cooking show, Healthy Decadence, which originally aired on the Discovery Health Channel. She has authored five cookbooks (including The Biggest Loser Cookbook) and been profiled in and contributed recipes to many, many magazines and appeared on The View, The Today Show, Good Morning America, etc. And ladies and gentlemen, she created all of this from scratch – via networking and risk taking and elbow grease. It can be done! In this Coffee Date, she generously shares, step-by-step, some of the strategies she employed to create and maximize opportunities for herself.

Listen to Devin Alexander’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

James Jolly

[about his first 3 years as an actor in L.A.]

This is a unique Coffee Date… the first half is an interview I did with James in the spring of 2008. In that early interview, James had been in L.A. (by way of Chicago) for a little over a year and had already nabbed his SAG card, started networking, and enjoyed a month-long shoot of a major summer blockbuster film. Because he is a lovely person and extremely passionate about creating a career of significance, I thought it would be fun to check back in with him now, almost 2 years after that initial interview, to see what he has experienced (and learned!) since then. Turns out he had a lot to share.

Listen to James Jolly’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Pam Tierney

[about shifting from full-time day job to full-time acting]

Pam is an actress and voice over artist based in Chicago who has actually made the shift that so many folks talk about, dream about, and sometimes even attempt: she transitioned from a 40+ hour a week upper-level corporate job to life as a full-time artist. But she was able to do it cuz she was young. (Nope.) Well, she had a spouse supporting her. (Nope.) She landed a series regular role. (Nope.) Her family has connections in the industry and/or trust fund and/or a magic wand. (Nope, nope, and nope.) In this Coffee Date, Pam takes you through the highs and lows of how she made this transition and what life is like on “the other side.”

Listen to Pam Tierney’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

David Goryl

[about boosting a career to the next level]

Many actors have told me about the level of success they say they want to have. But I believe that staying on any path that leads to that type of achievement requires some significant personal growth along the way. Sustaining a life of Big Success, requires more of you than simply being extremely talented and a cool guy (which David certainly is.) During the years that we’ve known each other, I’ve watched David make some mental and emotional shifts and, as he did, his career blossomed. He generously agreed to share this recent part of his personal journey with us how it has impacted his approach to his art and changed his perspective on working in this industry.

Listen to David Goryl’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

David Stieve

[about getting his screenplay sold and produced]

After graduating with honors from the University of Wisconsin’s Creative Writing Program, David moved to L.A. to pursue life as a screenwriter. In fact, a year of his life was chronicled in the documentary, Dreams on Spec. And that documentary happened to capture the period of his career where his screenplay, Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, was sold and made into a award-winning horror satire feature film. He is an in-the-trenches, climbing-the-ladder writer in Hollywood who offers some sage, practical advice to aspiring writers and, really, anyone taking the chance to follow their dream.

Listen to David Stieve’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Pam Forrest

[about advice for screenwriters]

Pam is an Ovation Award-winning playwright and a script/story consultant who specializes in helping writers examine and improve their work “beat by beat.” As a truly gifted comedic actor, improv artist, and director (I met her when she directed me in a play and have adored her ever since), Pam excels in helping actors and writers give life to specific, detailed, truthful characters. In this Coffee Date, she shares the highs and lows in her life as a writer along with words of wisdom for those undertaking this often solitary, often mercurial pursuit.

Listen to Pam Forrest’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Darin Toonder

[about making bold moves despite the fear]

Networking and making bold moves have never come never easy for me (especially when I was pursuing my acting career!) and I still draw inspiration and enjoyment from listening to folks tell tales of how they gather the courage to “feel the fear and do it anyway.” Well, Darin definitely has some tales to tell in that department. I’ve been wanting to talk to him for a long time, not only because he is someone dedicated to consistently pushing himself beyond his comfort zone, but also because he is takes the time to reflect on his fears, how he can challenge them, and what he learns from each new experience. Note: Don’t let the food-in-his-pants thing fool you Darin is serious about doing what it takes to move his career forward faster.

Listen to Darin Toonder’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Sean Inman

[about networking despite the fear]

I’m a big advocate of having Coffee Dates with people outside of your own field. Often you will find that they have dealt with many of the same issues you are dealing with as an actor like networking and often they will be able to offer guidance from a perspective that’s quite different from what you’d receive from your own colleagues or peers. Sean fits that bill well. In 2009, he was laid off from a job he’d held for 12 years. He wanted to get work in a totally different industry but openings were scarce and he didn’t have many professional connections. But, despite being shy and very new to networking, he extended himself anyway. A little over a year later, he is known and liked by most of the L.A.-based movers and shakers in his niche. We go step-by-step through how he made that happen.

Listen to Sean Inman’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Lauri Johnson

[about a life coach's advice to actors]

I started working with Lauri when I was 29. Back then, I felt like I was banging my head against the wall and I knew didn’t want my 30′s to be a repeat of my 20′s. Thankfully, in Lauri, I found an insightful, tell-it-like-it-is guide who continues to help me shape my life and move faster than I ever could with out her. After an extensive corporate career, Lauri decided to follow her own calling and built a successful acting career in film and TV everything from being directed by Steven Spielberg and Christopher Guest to performing with John Lithgow at the Hollywood Bowl. She’s a font of juicy wisdom and I thought you’d enjoy hearing some of it for yourself.

Listen to Lauri Johnson’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Lilas, Paula, Milby & Heather

[about life when you're an actress and a mom]

Lilas Lane, Paula Price, Milby Barron, and Heather Gonzales-McNamara are all talented actresses and moms in their thirties (give or take). That decade is an important one in the lives of most women because it is usually when some major life decisions get made – including whether or not to have children and, if so, when. I invited these ladies to share their perspectives on handling acting and motherhood, their thoughts on how becoming a mom impacted their acting careers, and any words of wisdom to those who are considering embarking on that same, significant journey.

Listen to Lilas, Paula, Milby & Heather’s Coffee Date:

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A Coffee Date with…

Dawn Joyal

[successfully re-entering the industry when you're over the age of 45]

Dawn exemplifies my belief that, if you truly bet on yourself, YOU CAN BE the “exception to the rule.” Yes, it is possible to become a highly connected actor with current network television credits… even if you are female… even if you are quite older than 45… even if you are returning to the industry from a multi-year hiatus. I have been following the rejuvenation of Dawn’s career for several years now and I have been blown away by her commitment to sustaining a joyful attitude and diligent approach. Those two qualities, coupled with her talent, sets her apart from the majority of her “competition.” I invite you to soak up Dawn’s spirit – and her networking savvy!

Listen to Dawn Joyal’s Coffee Date:

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