Claim Ownership
Creative Risk
Creative RiskSubscribed: 3Played: 18
Subscribe
© 2025 Creative Risk
Description
“CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts.
101 Episodes
Reverse
What if the most ambitious act in filmmaking isn't raising $20 million - but refusing to wait for permission to create? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with the visionary duo behind the acclaimed film Strawberry Mansion, Kentucker Audley and Albert Birney, to tear apart every assumption about what it takes to make cinematic magic. These filmmakers didn't just make a stunning sci-fi fantasy for $200,000 - they created a masterclass in resourceful storytelling that looks like...
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with multi-hyphenate powerhouse Ross Shenker to demolish every assumption about creative specialization. As an associate casting director, playwright, director, classically trained pianist, AND certified Michael Chekhov teacher, Ross embodies what it means to reject industry gatekeeping and build a career that defies categorization This isn' t your typical "diversify your skills" conversation. Ross and Joshua dive deep into the rea...
What if the most essential conversations about intimacy coordination aren't happening in rehearsal rooms - but in producer offices and casting sessions? In this episode, Joshua sits down with intimacy coordinator and movement expert Alexis Black to tear apart every assumption about staged intimacy work. From the reality that most productions treat intimacy coordination like a luxury add-on to the uncomfortable truth that actors often discover their boundaries mid-rehearsal, this conversation ...
THIS IS A SEGMENET FROM A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE We all know money is the number one killer of artistic dreams. In this episode the boys confront the uncomfortable truth about why budgeting feels impossible when you're pursuing work that feeds your soul more than your bank account. From the emotional mindf**k of tracking expenses to the harsh reality that most artists would rather stay financially ignorant than face the numbers, this conversation cuts through every excuse we tell ourselves...
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with Michael Herwitz, the visionary director behind Job by Max Wolf Friedlich - the unlikely theatrical phenomenon that journeyed from festival to off-Broadway to Broadway, defying every industry expectation along the way. From his early days observing tech as a child actor on Broadway to being the youngest director represented on Broadway in the 2024-2025 season, Michael reveals the hustle behind his journey and why he's still fighting the sa...
What does it really take to build and sustain a voice for the modern Broadway stage? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with Mike Ruckles, one of New York City's most sought-after vocal technicians and singing voice specialists. Working with Tony, Grammy, and Oscar-winning performers across Broadway, the West End, and beyond, Mike has become the go-to expert for artists navigating the demanding landscape of contemporary musical theater. From his early obsession with the human ...
What happens when pure joy meets unwavering work ethic in one of Broadway's most demanding jobs? In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with Treston J. Henderson, the magnetic performer whose rise from TikTok discovery to Broadway debut exemplifies the power of authentic hustle. From booking the tour of Ain't Too Proud through social media to swinging in his Broadway debut, Treston reveals the gritty reality of building credibility in an industry that's rapidly evolving. This conve...
What does it truly mean to be a theater critic in the digital age? In this compelling episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with Mickey-Jo Boucher, the brilliant force behind MickeyJoTheatre, the world's largest YouTube channel dedicated to theater criticism. From his early days as a math student who stumbled into musical theater society, Mickey-Jo has carved a unique path, building an owned audience of nearly 85,000 subscribers and transforming how we engage with and discuss the theatre...
What does it really mean to “show up” online as an artist in 2025? In this episode, Mike and Joshua get ruthlessly honest about the highs, lows, and existential weirdness of building creative community in the digital era. From the myth that social platforms are just “marketing tools,” to the radical truth that emotional investment - not just content - is king, the duo pull back the curtain on what’s working, what’s BS, and what’s just plain overwhelming for modern creatives. Whether you secre...
In this electrifying episode of Raw and Rising, Joshua dives deep with the powerhouse vocalist Ryan James Monroe, an artist who's redefining soulful performance. Ryan shares how his roots in gospel choir ignited a lifelong pursuit of raw, visceral connection with his audience, a stark contrast to the often-sterile world of musical theater. This is where hustle meets heart, and where Ryan reveals the messy, unglamorous side of indie music – the financial risks, the DIY production, and the auda...
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE What if your career isn't actually broken-what if your expectations are? Joshua and Mike dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable truths facing artists today: that most creative careers stall not because of lack of talent or even circumstances, but because of unrealistic expectations that were never aligned with reality. From the myth of "making it" to the shifting landscape of an industry in collapse, this episode challenges everything you...
In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with writer, producer, historian, and all-around powerhouse Jennifer Ashley Tepper for an expansive conversation about creative sustainability, self-made opportunity, and the legacy of women in musical theater. From her start as a theater-obsessed kid in Boca Raton to becoming the programming director of 54 Below and conceiving major off and on Broadway productions, Jen has carved a career with no blueprint - just grit, vision, and relentless...
This episode dives deep with Matt Koplik, host of the Broadway Breakdown Podcast, as we unpack 2025’s state of Broadway. Matt shares candid thoughts about how social media, rising costs, and risk-averse creative institutions are challenging artistry in the theater - from standing ovations that mean nothing, to the pressure on performers and critics to play it safe and please the crowd. Discover why making unique art in the digital age matters more than ever, and how cultivating bold, messy, a...
Are you a struggling artist juggling creative passion with the need to pay the bills? 😔 Many actors & filmmakers face the same challenge: How do you make a sound design career sustainable in a tough industry? Can you balance creative risk-taking with the practical realities of making a living? 🤔 In this Raw & Rising episode, Tony-nominated sound designer Taylor Williams shares his journey from actor to storytelling through sound design, offering insights on building a successful freel...
In this special episode of Creative Risk, Joshua \ explores what it means to age as an artist-through candid, intimate conversations with three remarkable performers at different stages of their creative lives. From Broadway veterans to multi-career pivots to young actors wrestling with pressure and purpose, this episode is about time, identity, and staying in the game when the rules keep changing. Featuring novelist and actor Harriet McFaul Pilger, musical theater performer Kyle Nicholas And...
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE In this episode, Joshua and Mike unpack the ever-complicated mantra: "fake it till you make it." What begins as a discussion of creative confidence quickly spirals into deeper territory-where's the line between confidence and deception? When does “faking it” become fraud? And how much success actually comes down to acting like you belong before anyone says you do? From working on set and early teaching gigs to producing your own work without a...
In part two of our high school theater deep dive, Mike sits down with his most influential teachers from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts-Joni Weisfeld and Brian Jennings-for a conversation that’s part love letter, part reckoning. Together, they unpack the messy, magical alchemy of arts education: where rigor meets vulnerability, and where students are trusted to create real, meaningful work long before they’re “ready.” This episode is about more than nostalgia. It’s about leade...
In this episode of Raw + Rising, we go deep with Makayla McIntosh-actor, producer, and founder of not one, but two creative companies. From children's entertainment to indie film production, Makayla's journey is a masterclass in creative self-sufficiency. She shares how a birthday party side hustle turned into a 14-year business, how a serious accident forced a hard career pivot, and why producing your own work is often the fastest route to real opportunity. This is a candid, no-BS conversat...
In this personal, winding, and emotionally resonant episode of Creative Risk, the boys crack open a sacred, formative chapter: high school theater. But this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s an excavation-of early validation, teenage fragility, creative discovery, social hierarchy, and the kinds of teachers who see something in you before you know how to see it yourself. Told through laughter, real talk, and deeply moving reflection, this episode features intimate interviews with Joshua's for...
In this inspiring episode of Creative Risk, Mike Labbadia sits down with the founders of New American Ensemble - a bold, new player-focused theater company in NYC - to explore what it really takes to build something that matters. Michael DeFilippis, Gianna Kiehl, and Scott Gordon aren’t just creating theater; they're reimagining the role of ensemble artistry at a time when the industry desperately needs it. Through vulnerable storytelling and sharp insight, they dive into why friendship, inte...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States