Where Working Actors Talk

Colleen Foy sits down with actor, model, producer, and advocate Amanda Booth to reflect on the unexpected path that took her from being a small-town athlete on a college scholarship to modeling in New York and Europe, and eventually to building a career in commercials and acting in Los Angeles.Amanda opens up about navigating the entertainment industry, becoming a mother to her son, Micah, in 2014, and how his Down syndrome and autism diagnosis caused her to reevaluate her priorities and redefine her sense of self. She shares what it took to rediscover her boundaries, identity, and balance, and how the loss of her brother, Julian, profoundly shaped her perspective.Colleen and Amanda also dive into Amanda's evolution from actor to producer, how her personal experiences influence the work she creates, and what it means to take control of your creative career and finally make the kinds of stories she's always wanted to see.00:00 Meet Amanda Booth01:23 Small Town to New York02:14 Modeling Breakthrough03:27 LA Move and Commercial Niche05:47 Advice on Balance07:11 Finding Ease on Set10:23 Motherhood Changes Everything12:50 Boundaries and Hustle15:44 Loss and Perspective17:47 Auditions as Play19:45 Producing for Inclusion23:17 Next Projects and Vic27:38 Private Road Deep Dive33:18 Dream Disability Stories37:53 Life in Austin39:31 Micah and Representation42:37 Stan Kirsch Studio Journey44:20 Closing ThanksEPISODE LINKS:· Amanda Booth IMDb· Follow Amanda on IG @amanda_booth· Supporting “Casting Christmas”Host: ⁠Colleen Foy⁠Producer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing________________Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Greg Benson has been a working LA actor, comedian, and director since 1991 — with credits on Beef, Matlock, NCIS, and Bel-Air, plus 150+ national commercials. He's also an early online-comedy pioneer, growing his YouTube channel MediocreFilms to over a million subscribers.Greg gets into moving from Texas to LA, walking headshots door to door, and booking his first audition (Ghost Ship) after months of silence. He breaks down the mindset shift that came from treating acting like a full-time job, how that led him into sketch comedy and content creation, and how his and his wife's show Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show landed a Sony/Crackle deal. He also opens up about taking a decade off auditioning, coming back post-COVID, and finding new reps through cold outreach — all while learning to actually enjoy the ride.00:00 Meet Greg Benson01:52 Texas Roots and Theater Camp03:13 Breaking Into LA Pre Internet04:50 Chutzpah and Agent Calls07:02 First LA Booking and New Energy09:19 Treating Acting Like a Job11:44 From Acting to Digital Creator12:47 Public Access and Early Filmmaking16:21 MySpace to YouTube Breakthrough18:09 Deals and Casting Lessons22:08 Audition Mistakes to Avoid24:54 Asking for Help and Referrals26:05 Content Creation Takes Over27:02 Choosing YouTube Focus27:44 Self Tape Skills Boost28:52 Try Hard Audition Story30:03 Redefining Career Success32:37 Life Over Acting34:36 Returning After Hiatus37:22 COVID Pause and Priorities38:32 ADHD and Variety Channel42:17 Memorization Systems46:12 New Reps and Outreach48:50 Rapunzl Email Strategy51:08 Dry Spells and Joy52:56 Closing ThanksEPISODE LINKS:· Greg’s Website· Greg’s IMDb· Greg on Actors Access· Subscribe to Greg’s YouTube Channel MediocreFilms· Follow Greg on IG @gregbensonHost: Colleen FoyProducer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing________________Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Colleen Foy sits down with actor and image consultant Buckley Sampson to talk actor headshots, audition wardrobe, self-tape outfits, personal branding, and how actors can use style to communicate their casting type.Buckley shares how she went from working as an actress to helping actors align their headshots, wardrobe, and on-camera presence with the roles they want to book. From what to wear for actor headshots and auditions to lifestyle photos, film festivals, and red-carpet looks, she breaks down how fit, tailoring, jewelry, fabrics, patterns, and even small wardrobe details can communicate character, status, and story.Colleen and Buckley also dig into casting type and “essence,” headshot styling, self-tape wardrobe, when actors should update their headshots, and why having a handful of reliable audition outfits ready to go can make self-taping easier.Buckley walks through her image consulting process, including closet reviews, shopping, Pinterest boards, and collaborating with agents, managers, photographers, and hair and makeup artists. Plus, they talk about navigating changing industry trends, aging as an actor, and choosing headshots that actually represent how casting sees you.If you’ve ever wondered what to wear for headshots, how to dress for an audition or self-tape, or how to build a stronger personal brand as an actor, this episode is for you.

Actor, activist, and certified intimacy coordinator Julia Belanova joins SKS master teacher Colleen Foy for a candid conversation about building a sustainable acting career, taking creative risks, navigating representation, and creating safer, more empowered film and television sets.A magna cum laude Harvard graduate and longtime member of the Stan Kirsch Studios community, Julia shares her journey from theater to film and TV and how her pursuit of joy and freedom in her work has pushed her to make bold choices, both in the audition room and in her career. From an iconic punk-rock buzz cut that made it clear she shouldn’t be underestimated to a fearless Mayans M.C. audition choice that resulted in a same-day booking, Julia has learned the value of trusting her instincts and embracing what sets her apart.She also reflects on working alongside Colin Farrell and how the experience deepened her commitment to presence, freedom, and authenticity as an actor, as well as the challenges of finding representation and why Stan Kirsch Studios became an artistic anchor throughout her career.Julia and Colleen also dive into her work as an intimacy coordinator and advocate for safer sets, including her advocacy with The Hollywood Commission and training with IDC and IPA. Julia breaks down what intimacy coordination actually looks like behind the scenes, from casting breakdowns and pre-production through filming and post-production, and discusses consent, trauma-informed practices, working with minors, and why intimacy support can be just as important in emotionally intense scenes as it is in scenes involving physical intimacy.This episode is a conversation about taking risks, trusting your instincts, finding your artistic community, and building an acting career that leaves room for both creative freedom and advocacy.00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro00:48 Moving to LA After Harvard01:20 Finding Community at Stan Kirsch02:55 Stage to Screen Transition03:37 Representation and Daily Progress05:01 Buzz Cut as Branding06:43 Reinvention and Creative Risk09:01 Mayans MC Set Experience11:14 Essence Versus Casting Type13:49 Learning Through Ongoing Class15:02 Breakthrough Booking With Colin Farrell16:56 Reinventing Acting Path17:29 Becoming Intimacy Coordinator18:12 Why Advocacy Matters20:38 Training Programs Explained22:00 Joining a Production Team23:23 Actor Support Surprises24:44 Trauma Informed Boundaries27:47 Safety Versus Set Speed29:18 When the Work Hits Home30:30 Protecting Child Performers31:40 How the Role Changed Her32:51 Closing Gratitude and CommunityEPISODE LINKS:· Julia’s Website· Julia’s IMDb· Follow Julia on IG @_juliabelanovaHost: Colleen FoyProducer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing________________Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠

Colleen sits down with Heather Hemmens (Roswell New Mexico, Hellcats, Yellowstone)  to talk about sustaining a decades-long career through resilience, craft, and self-care. Heather looks back on moving from Maine to LA at 18 with little money, the disheartening early years, and how depression in her early 20s led her to coping tools like hiking, yoga, meditation, and better health habits. Stan Kirsch Studios was one of the places that gave her a sense of community and built her groundwork for on-camera training, and she also got support from a manager who stuck with her before she booked for years. Heather breaks down what she learned watching herself on camera, her seven-audition journey to booking Hellcats despite getting harsh feedback from a casting director, and how that propelled her in the future when she was up for Roswell, New Mexico. From working with Tyler Perry to Taylor Sheridan, Heather has absorbed the artistry of those around her and used it to further her acting career and work. No matter what happened, she refused to give up, and that’s how she was able to keep going. See her in “Texas Two Step” now playing on Hallmark.00:00 Meet Heather Hemmens01:01 Moving to LA at 1802:45 Full Circle Milestone04:07 Self Care Survival06:16 Depression and Coping Tools08:07 Finding Stan Kirsch Studios10:56 On Camera Breakthroughs15:03 Booking Hellcats18:26 Notes and Callbacks20:10 Resilience Before the Break24:39 Health Crisis to Business26:53 Roswell Audition Shift27:10 Booking Roswell Fast29:20 Juggling Three Shows31:14 Champagne Problems Reality35:21 Tyler vs Taylor Workflows38:41 Tyler Perry Boot Camp41:45 Directing Actors Gently46:02 Staying Flexible On Set47:35 Dancing Again Texas Two Step50:14 Choosing Directing Home Turf52:40 Trusting Intuition Self CareEPISODE LINKS:· Heather’s IMDb· Follow Heather on IG @heatherhemmens· Get some Galifornia Undies Host: Colleen FoyProducer: ⁠Kristyn Daniel⁠Music by: Lindsay Boreing and Will Boreing________________Want to learn more about Stan Kirsch Studios? ⁠Visit Our Website Here.⁠⁠Catch up on the podcast here.⁠Follow SKS on IG ⁠@stankirschstudios ⁠