• 48 minutes 22 seconds
    actor stratgies on how "not to stay in the suck"

    We're bringing back working actor and certified life coach DaJuan Johnson DaJuan Johnson is a working actor, certified life coach, and founder of Think Bigger Coaching, where he helps actors book their first or next big TV and film role. Known for his seven-season run as Detective Rondell Pierce on Amazon's Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, DaJuan currently recurs on NCIS: Origins as Detective Noah Oakley and Disney's How We Became the Biggest Band in the World.

    With credits including Grey's Anatomy, 9-1-1, Narcos, Suits, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, NCIS (Hawaii and Origins), and Agent Carter, DaJuan brings real-world experience to his coaching.

    DaJuan's mission is to help actors #SKIPTHELINE and #SeeYouOnSet by mastering self-tapes and building audition confidence. Having helped hundreds of actors break through and book jobs, he's ready to help you do the same. #TrainWithCoachesThatWork

    Stay in touch with DaJuan!

    In this episode, we discuss…

    • Trusting in what's to come, while still feeling your feelings and being upset

    • Me (Tony) getting CALLED OUT by DaJuan at the top of the episode about how my headshot doesn't look like me! (which I JUST got a new one for!!)

    • DaJuan's story of nearly booking a series regular, thinking he had the role for six weeks…then learning it didn't go to him.

    • What he does for his physical health (and to stick with things when he's feeling bored of his routine)

    • How our physical health is directly related to our mental health

    • The surprising moment where DaJuan and I both learned we've given up alcohol

    • The link between alcohol and anxiety that we both noticed

    • What to do when we see others getting results that we want ourselves

    • How to avoid deep, negative feelings when we hit the same obstacles over and over

    • What went through DaJuan's mind after auditioning for NCIS for 30 times - without booking

    Quotes

    "We have to be really careful what we put momentum behind…"

    "Tell me your actions and I'll tell you what you subscribe to…"

    "Social media makes us think everyone thinks a particular way…but sometimes, social media shows the loudest voices…"

    "I believe everything we want is on a different frequency…"

    "Does (the pain of failing again" have to cut deeper? Or is there another option available to me? I know this road feels familiar…but maybe I'm a degree off from where I was last time."

    "There's a lot of 'firsts' that we go after, that we don't even remember once we hit.."

    Links!

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    27 February 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 51 minutes 11 seconds
    Talent Manager Talks Mental Health + What She Looks For In Actors

    Today's episode is with talent manager and career coach Anastasia Edwards.

    Born in Georgia (the country) and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, Ana moved to the United States at 18 after studying at the Theater Academy of Dramatic Arts. She built a solid on-camera resume, featuring roles in NCIS Hawaii (CBS), Chicago Fire (NBC), and Little America (Apple TV+), in addition to award-winning film credits. Ana has always been passionate about the business side of acting, which she fully explored during the pandemic by launching career coaching for actors. Her coaching quickly gained popularity, helping actors define their brand, build strong teams, and establish industry connections. Her clients have been signed and booked in major markets across the US, Canada, London, and Australia, confirming her belief that this was her true calling. Now, Ana is excited to join Malissa Young Management as a manager, bringing a unique perspective from her experience as a former actor and career coach. She speaks the actors' language, understands the journey and craft, and combines this with her years of coaching experience in marketing, positioning, and networking.

    In this episode, we discuss…

    • How to pick which market actors should pursue their careers

    • How she booked TV roles after relocating

    • What to remember when listening to other actor podcasts and interviews

    • Spotting scams & avoiding pay-to-play agencies

    • How being laid off from her day job led her to coaching actors

    • Her transition to becoming a talent manager

    • The importance of networking and creating your own career momentum

    • Why branding and networking make actors "squeemish" (and what we can do about it)

    • Why branding is an empowering thing - not a limiting thing

    • Anastia's own mental health journey with anxiety and panic attacks

    • What Anastasia believes takes agency away from the actor

    Quotes from the episode...

    "Happy actor = happy career"

    "Prioritize yourself and your own well being first"

    "Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it will work for another."

    "Just take a break and see if you miss it…"

    "So often, actors put all their eggs in one basket in an agent and a manager."

    "Branding has become a dirty word. Sometimes we get hung up on what the label is, rather than what it actually means."

    "Branding is the foundation for your marketing. But how can you market something you don't understand?"

    "At 21, I had my first anxiety attack. I was sure it was a heart attack."

    "Sometimes, we're just on autopilot without asking 'Do I still want this?'"

    "If you educate yourself enough on the business and take agency, you'll be less likely to be swayed in the wrong direction."

    "Don't try to get it perfect. Try to get it going."

    Links mentioned!

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    6 February 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    This might be why you can't get an agent...with Brian Patacca

    Today's episode features Brian Patacca.

    NOTE: If you're catching this in winter of 2025, Brian is once again hosting his popular masterclass Make Agents Want You LIVE!

    Click here to snag a spot

    Brian helps actors get what they want without all the struggle. He's helped 724 actors find representation and is even known as "The Representation Whisperer".

    Through his wildly popular online courses (Audition Magnet® and #agentgoals®) and entertaining podcast, Brian teaches actors how to market themselves authentically, use gratitude to open doors, and book the roles they were born to play.

    His coaching clients include Tony Award-winners, Broadway stars, Series Regulars, filmmakers, writers, and stand-up comedians. He proves that when they follow their purpose instead of playing by a tired set of industry rules (read: limiting beliefs), they can skip the drama, generate momentum, and build excitement around who they are and what they love to do the mostest.

    Brian is a graduate of Northwestern University, CTI's Co-Active Coach Training Program, Marianne Willamson's Teaching the Teachers – and on top of the training you'd expect a coach to have – Brian brings a spiritual and grounding approach to the bizniz rooted in his training as a non-denominational Reverend. Not only does he promise the how-to's, he has zero doubt that acting is your divine birthright.

    In this episode, we discuss....

    • The 5 types of responses that agents can give to you when you submit

    • When tracking becomes less helpful in our careers

    • The confession I make publicly about Brian's program "Agent Goals"

    • When being "loyal" to an agent might be the wrong move

    • The mindset to attract an agent or manager in any city in the world

    • Why it's okay that you apply to reps…but don't necessarily believe that the process is going to work

    • The importance of knowing who you are when you're going about your submission process to reps

    • When you may not want to take advice of agents, managers, or casting directors

    • How to deal with dips and challenges in the industry when they come up

    • A BIG thing that gets skipped when it comes to negative stories and headlines

    Quotes from this episode…

    "Submitting to reps should be a beginning and end…not this constantly cycle of reaching out."

    "Acting is an artform that requires another human being."

    "I think you also have known many an actor who has been with the wrong agent for way too long…and how easy and seductive it is and comforting to stay with the wrong agent for too long."

    "I want an agency or manager that's excited about the fantasy of your career."

    "The reason that a lot of actors aren't attracting the right agent is because they are not putting themselves out there in the right way."

    "Let the industry do what the industry is going to do. You are gonna keep walking your path in the face of that…"

    Stay connected with Brian!

    INSTAGRAM @BrianSaysThat

    https://www.instagram.com/briansaysthat/

    TIKTOK

    https://www.tiktok.com/@briansaysthat

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    23 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 8 minutes 15 seconds
    the world is falling apart....(here's what to do)

    You know the feeling...

    "The world is falling apart."

    Maybe it's because of the political climate. Or maybe there's a major headline dominating the news, making you stressed AF, burnt out, and feeling lost of all hope...

    The following is from a FB live I recorded discussing the following...

    • how to protect your mental health when it feels like the world is falling apart
    • the difference between setting boundaries and tuning out completely
    • how to stay informed without burnout
    • how to actually help in a logical, stratgical way, without being overwhelmed when you don't know where to start...

    Want to watch this as a video?

    Click here! - https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1B7Qd5UPvU/

    Resources mentioned

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    16 January 2025, 5:18 pm
  • 50 minutes 24 seconds
    From set mistreating to finding your power - with Katharin "K" Mraz

    In this episode, we discuss…

    • Why so much of the casting world "has nothing to do with the actors"

    • How she became a "jack of all trades" working on both sides of the camera (including production.)

    • What it's like owning her own production company

    • Why she says yes when it comes to producing & funding other films

    • The lack of representation on screen for Asian actors

    • How the lack of representation of her demographics led her to start writing

    • The challenges she had as both a woman and as an Asian woman in the industry

    • Challenging experiences she had where her credits were taken away from her

    • How she went from being mistreated so poorly to developing an attitude of empowerment

    • The importance of raising your standards when you're being mistreated

    • The importance of the content we consume, and how it impacts our behaviors

    • How she learned to take responsibility - and learned it the hard way

    Quotes from this episode…

    "I think it's partially unbelievable the things I'm doing at the same time."

    "I would say I failed…I failed as a producer."

    "You ask me how I am today? I laugh a lot."

    "Actors are the first people on my payroll!"

    "I think be need to see the humor in everything around them and not take everything so seriously."

    "When it's not perfect? Enjoy it. Laugh about it!"

    Links mentioned!

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    9 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 8 minutes 26 seconds
    i don't care if you hit your goals last year (mental health & habits)

    I don't actually care if you hit your goals or not last year for the following to be true...

    Check out this mini-sode of the Actor Problems for the what and why, plus how our habits can help or hurt our mental health. PS - All my minisodes this season are also done on IG live :)

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    2 January 2025, 12:05 pm
  • 10 minutes 32 seconds
    ...did I make a mistake??

    Did you just make a mistake??

    In this short solo episode, I'll talk more about...

    • why making mistakes can actually be a good thing
    • how indecision might be hurting you and your career
    • what to remember to help with your mental health if/when your next mistake happens

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    23 December 2024, 5:11 pm
  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    you DON'T need to budget (and why you're procrastinating)

    Today's guest is Katy Chen Mazzara. Katy Chen Mazzara is a certified trauma-informed financial wellness coach and graduate of UC Berkeley's Personal Financial Planning program. As a former TV producer and award-winning documentary filmmaker, Katy understands the balance between dreaming and doing. Through her six step Financial Freedom Formula, Katy helps creative freelancers and entrepreneurs make more, worry less, and achieve true financial freedom, so they can create the life of their dreams.

    Sign up for Katy's webinar!

    Happening on December 8th, 11th, and 13th, 2024.

    Follow Katy!

    In this episode, we discuss…

    • How being successful (in finances and career) involves ups and downs…

    • Acknowledging those times when we do fall into scarcity thinking

    • How to shift from scarcity mindset into abundance

    • A tip on how to decrease anxiety

    • Why gratitude is harder for some people than others

    • Why positivity alone doesn't work for scarcity thinking

    • The importance of having a financial plan - even when we're not earning a lot of money

    • Why you DON'T necessarily need a budget

    • The importance of tracking how much we spend and earn

    • Why we procrastinate on the things we love to do

    • "Your dreams may not feel safe yet in your body…" - what this means and why it happens

    Quotes from the episode..

    • It feels like you're going three steps ahead and two steps back…but incrementally you are going to see that growth.

    • Our minds are telling us stories. The way to counteract it is to tell it a different story - but a true story…

    • Give yourself permission to feel whatever it is that you're feeling….it's much more harmful to suppress those feelings

    • The more unknown something is, the more we're going to worry about it.

    • Retirement and investing feels far away. But if you start to create a plan towards that north star? Eventually you'll get there.

    • If you track for at least three to six months, you start to see where your patterns are.

    • If you have had traumas in your life, you're going to create certain places in your body where it does not feel safe enough to pursue the things you want to pursue

    • You can help people and make money doing it.."

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    6 December 2024, 3:44 pm
  • 15 minutes 39 seconds
    two questions to ask when trying to move your acting career forward

    Welcome to season six!

    Is your career where you want it to be?

    Do you ever struggle figuring out where to place your time and energy?

    And how do we differentiate between when to slow down and breathe, versus kicking things up a notch?

    Today we'll discuss two easy questions to ask yourself whenver you're in that phase of trying to move your career forward.

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    5 December 2024, 11:00 am
  • 18 minutes 7 seconds
    it's my birthday & i'm NOT where i thought i'd be by now...(SEASON FINALE)

    So I'm 36.

    Here's what I haven't done so far...

    • Booked a co-star
    • Gotten my EMC card
    • Been in a long term relationship
    • Moved out of my studio apartment that I've lived in for 9 years

    ...and I currently don't have theatrical reps.

    AND - all of this lacks context...

    Today in our season finale, we're gonna discuss how to calm that negative chatter telling us we should be "further" by now, plus how to add context if/when that chatter comes up.

    Links referenced..

    My money coach - www.katychenmazzara.com

    Let's stay connected!

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    7 March 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 51 minutes 25 seconds
    You're doing branding wrong & auditioning for the "I'm not right for this" role - with Jodie Bentley

    Today's special guest is actor and coach Jodie Bentley

    Jodie Bentley is an LA-based actor, audiobook narrator, and career coach for actors. A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Acting, she's worked for Netflix, Hulu, ABC, CBS, Apple TV and many more. Since 2008, she's been educating and helping actors to get the careers they want without wasting any more time and money! She's taught workshops at SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity, Comicon, and over 50+ universities and training programs.

    With her signature programs, The Actor's Think Tank and Dare to be Unstoppable, Jodie's students have gone on to perform on Broadway, star in films, recur in TV, book commercials & VO spots, land agents & managers, and live abundant, joyful and creative lives. Jodie is also the founder of The Actor's Office, an all-in-one management tool for actors to track auditions and build relationships.

    Jodie was named one of the Top 20 Coaches in Los Angeles in Influence Digest for 2022.

    In this episode, we discuss….

    • How to know when it's time to switch markets and make a move

    • Recognizing when our work feels like a "should" or a "have to"

    • Identifying what kind of lifestyle you want outside of your acting career

    • How she started career coaching because of her own career struggles

    • Dealing with identity conflicts when you start to make money outside of acting…

    • Why Jodie thinks most people talk about branding wrong

    • How branding goes beyond just roles and ties into our identity

    • What to do when you get an audition for a role that doesn't fit with with your brand

    • The good news about casting you calling you in for roles that don't seem like a good fit…

    • How the strike took a toll on her and what it did to her mental health

    Stay connected with Jodie!

    Social Media:

    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/actorinsider/

    FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theactorsworkspace

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JodieBentleyOfficial

    Wanna work together?

    Check out www.tonyrossicoaching.com/workwithtony

    OR click here to book a free call with me (as spots are available) - https://www.tonyrossicoaching.com/free-call

    Websites:

    https://www.actor-insider.com/

    https://jodiebentley.com/ Products:

    The Actor's Think Tank

    The Actor's Office

    The Actor's Branding System

    Dare to be Unstoppable

    29 February 2024, 12:00 pm
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