Acting, Dreamwork, and the Study of Religion – A Talk with Amy Brenneman
From Harvard Divinity School by Harvard Divinity School
February 24, 2026 · 1h 25m
About this episode
Amy Brenneman discusses the intersection of acting, religion, and dreamwork in her career with host Matthew Dillon.
For Pop Apocalypse Episode 20, Host Matthew Dillon welcomes actress, writer, producer, and activist Amy Brenneman. After earning her BA in the Comparative Study of Religion at Harvard, Amy went on to a successful acting career, with star turns in the film Heat and in television shows including The Leftovers, The Old Man, and Judging Amy (which she also wrote and produced). In this wide-ranging conversation, Amy and Matthew explore how the craft of acting, the study of religion, the practice of Jungian dreamwork, and decades of practicing active imagination have enriched one another throughout her career. They discuss the similarities between ritual and acting and how a background in comparative religion helped Amy write, build, and inhabit characters. Amy also shares what helped bring a mythic and numinous dimension to roles like Laurie Garvey in The Leftovers. They conclude by discussing Amy’s current experience as a master’s student at Harvard Divinity School and her research into the politics and possibilities of the Trickster. BIO: Amy Brenneman is an American actress, producer, writer, and political activist. She is known for multiple award-winning television roles…
People in this episode
Host: Matthew Dillon
Guest: Amy Brenneman
Topics covered
- acting
- religion
- Jungian dreamwork
- active imagination
- ritual
- character development
- Trickster politics
Keywords
- acting
- religion
- Jungian dreamwork
- character development
- Trickster
- Harvard Divinity School
- Amy Brenneman
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Harvard Divinity School, Cornerstone Theater Company
Books & works: Heat, The Leftovers, The Old Man, Judging Amy
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