That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Alyshia and Eme Ikwuakor explore his remarkable journey from a seven-month dry spell in acting, during which he feared his reps might drop him, to booking MOONFALL and THE GRAY MAN within just two days. Eme reflects on how a childhood poster of Will Smith in Independence Day inspired him to manifest his dreams of working with industry icons like Roland Emmerich and Halle Berry. He also shares how he nearly turned down an audition for On My Block and how Joe Dispenza's book Becoming Supernatural transformed his perspective on the industry. Eme recounts unforgettable on-set moments, including an incident where he fell out of a Humvee moving at 30 mph. Additionally, he reveals how he kept his cool during a Zoom callback for Matlock, conducted from an airplane—an experience Alyshia ranks among her top five favorite audition stories. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Eme Ikwuakor right here. GUEST LINKS: IMDB: Eme Ikwuakor: Actor, Producer, Writer Credits: Matlock The Gray Man Marvel's Inhumans On My Block Moonfall Counterpart Extant THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

Welcome to That One Audition! Today's guest is the multi-talented Stephanie Koenig, a Michigan native who got her start in performance through dance competitions before earning an acting degree from Michigan State University. A comedy veteran, she sharpened her skills at Upright Citizens Brigade and Groundlings, frequently collaborating with some of their biggest names. Koenig's acting credits span from starring roles in English Teacher and Lessons in Chemistry to notable appearances in The Flight Attendant and The Offer, where she portrayed casting executive Andrea Eastman, helping to assemble the iconic cast of The Godfather. Behind the camera, Koenig has made waves by writing, directing, and starring in projects like A Spy Movie alongside frequent collaborator Brian Jordan Alvarez, as well as her hit short-form series Stupid Idiots, which was in development at Paramount TV. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Stephanie Koenig right here. CREDITS: English Teacher Lessons in Chemistry The Offer The Flight Attendant Modern Family Swedish Dicks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Stupid Idiots Sick Girl GUEST LINKS: IMDB: Stephanie Koenig, Actress, Producer, Writer INSTAGRAM: @stephaniekoenig THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

In 2024, Brian Thomas Smith continues to enrich his acting portfolio with notable roles in both television and commercial projects. He's taken on a recurring role in the popular series "United States of Al," adding depth to the character Freddy, Vanessa's new boyfriend. On the commercial front, Smith's presence remains strong with over 100 advertisements to his name, featuring brands like DIRECTV and Budweiser, reflecting his versatility and appeal across different media. His comedic talent, well-loved in roles such as Zack Johnson from "The Big Bang Theory," continues to resonate with audiences, showcasing his ability to blend humor with character depth across his projects​. BRIAN THOMAS SMITH'S LINKS: IMDB: Brian Thomas Smith WEBSITE: BrianThomasSmith.com INSTAGRAM: @brian_thomas_smith TIKTOK: @brian_thomas_smith THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher CREDITS: Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Today's guest fits the perfect + poignant mold for our 50th episode -With thick-skin, an optimist's heart and a realist's mind, the incomparable Michelle Monaghan will tell us how being championed by her parents in a town of 700, mentored by Frances McDormand in the North Country and ending up on Constantine's cutting room floor gave her the courage, confidence and opportunity to make every mission…possible. She stars in the Apple TV+ series "Bad Monkey," premiering in August, and is set to appear in the third season of HBO's acclaimed series "The White Lotus," filmed in Thailand. Additionally, Monaghan has ventured into horror with a supporting role in the film "MaXXXine." Her career, which began with performances in projects like "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Made of Honor," now sees her revisiting comedy and embracing roles that challenge and excite her creatively THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15th MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher CREDITS: Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

BONUS EPISODE with Casting Director Jennifer Cooper. A true peak into one of the biggest television casting directors. Currently casting over five major network television series. Casting over 500 episodic shows, Jen knows a two or thing about a good audition or a bad audition. Acting is what got her in the game, casting is what won her heart over. Jen casts for talent and truly spends the time building a partnership with the actor, producer and director. This is the unforgettable journey into Jennifer Cooper's rise in shaping and pushing the boundaries on the revolutionary medium of Television. THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15th MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher CREDITS: Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Actor Tom Nowicki hasn't stopped working since the late 80s. With nearly four decades of experience and 160 film and television credits to his name, you've seen Tom in "The Blind Side," "Reptile," "Mr. Mercedes," "Bloodline," "Remember the Titans," "The Punisher," and countless more. You can also catch him in Apple TV+'s recently released series, "Bad Monkey." Based in Florida, Tom shares how he's built a successful career outside of the industry's major markets. We discuss how Tom approaches script analysis on short turnaround auditions, and he shares lessons learned from celebrated actor and director Paul Newman about what to do when things go wrong on set. Finally, Tom reminds listeners that it's never too late to get started as an actor, no matter your age. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Tom Nowicki right here. Credits: Bad Monkey Reptile Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin The Blind Side Remember the Titans The Punisher Mr. Mercedes Drop Dead Diva Bloodline Necessary Roughness L.A. Confidential Burn Notice The Waterboy GUEST LINKS: IMDB: Tom Nowicki, Actor, Producer THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

For actor Amanda Righetti, her way into character has changed over time. With credits in some of television's biggest hits including "The O.C.", "The Mentalist", "Reunion", "North Shore", "Entourage" and film credits that include "Friday the 13th", "Captain America" and more, Amanda says that she's grown in her craft right alongside this ever-changing industry. In today's episode we discuss holding deals, self-tapes, and how Amanda prepped for her historical role in "Reagan" in just four days. While her approach to character has shifted and deepened over time, she reminds us that technique is ultimately whatever works for you. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Amanda Righetti right here. Credits: Reagan Colony The Mentalist Captain America: The First Avenger Friday the 13th L.A.'s Finest The O.C. K-Ville Reunion North Shore Entourage THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

How do you build a historical character? How do you approach an accent? What do you wear in a period piece audition? These are questions actors face when building a real life character from history. Cast as Queen Berenice in Peacock's original series "Those About to Die," actor Lara Wolf shares her thoughts on all of these topics and more. Her credits include "Quantico," "Roxana," "The Performance," "Blindspot," "Blue Bloods," and the upcoming autobiographical film "Reading Lolita in Tehran." In today's episode we discuss short turnaround auditions, self-confidence as an actor, and the value in not just keeping an audition log, but a working log. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Lara Wolf right here. Credits: Those About to Die Reading Lolita in Tehran Quantico Roxana The Performance Hidden Exposure You Are Wanted Kovar Blindspot Blue Bloods THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

First landing himself in the Marvel Universe 20 years ago, actor Aaron Stanford has had the rare opportunity to revisit a character at different stages of his life and career. You've seen Aaron in "Deadpool & Wolverine," "12 Monkeys," "Nikita," "Perry Mason," "Fear the Walking Dead," "The Hills Have Eyes," and much more. You won't want to miss Aaron's story of how he went all in improvising his superhero audition scene, how he transitioned from New York to Los Angeles, and how he balances preparation with letting go of his actor homework. We also discuss how actors can beat the Hollywood name game by making their own work, and the importance of capturing casting's attention in the first few seconds of a self-tape. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Aaron Stanford right here. Credits: Deadpool & Wolverine Nikita Westworld Perry Mason 12 Monkeys Fear the Walking Dead Mad Men Traveler X-Men: The Last Stand X2: X-Men United The Hills Have Eyes Tadpole THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition MAGIC MIND: Get 48% off with promo code ONEAUDITION20 SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

Nora Zehetner has built an impressive resume over the course of her 25+ year career. Leading with intuition in her craft, Nora's film and television credits include "Boneyard," "Brick," "Grey's Anatomy," "Madmen," "Heroes," "Grimm," "Everwood," and many more. Today we do a deep dive into the peaks and valleys of this career, from Nora's experience testing for "Mean Girls" to her recovery process after being fired from a table read. We discuss how the industry has changed over the years, and how Nora was able to rebuild her confidence after a difficult on set experience with a director. Today's episode is a much needed reminder that there are no "weird" takes, just different instruments. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Nora Zehetner right here. Credits: Boneyard Blood for Dust Brick The Right Stuff Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Designated Survivor Maron The Astronaut Wives Club Grimm Mad Men Grey's Anatomy Heroes Everwood THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS: For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition FREE LIGHTING KIT: Enter to win here SLAYTEMBER: Starting September 15, 2024! THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly PATREON: @thatoneaudition CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: WRITER: Erin McCluskey WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings ASSISTANT: Elle Powell SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri