That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Christopher Thornton — actor, writer, teacher, and one of the most quietly extraordinary storytellers working in Hollywood today. His journey is not a straight line. It is a rock climbing accident that fractured two vertebrae and left him in a wheelchair — and an agency that dropped him in a signed card from his hospital bed. It is a then-unknown Mark Ruffalo tricking him into performing Waiting for Godot five months later — and the Drama-Logue Award that changed everything. It is understudying the lead at the Mark Taper Forum with zero rehearsals and going on for a matinee AND an evening performance the same day. It is writing Sympathy for Delicious in 1997 and not shooting it until 2009. It is a Magnum P.I. surfboard scene he absolutely claimed he could handle. And it is thirty years of showing up — to the stage, to the room, to the tape, to the work — until Vice Principals, Magnum P.I., Lincoln Lawyer, and now The Pitt and Netflix's All the Sinners Bleed made the industry take notice. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Christopher Thornton right here. Credits: The Pitt Magnum P.I. Vice Principals Lincoln Lawyer All the Sinners Bleed Sympathy for Delicious Waiting for Godot Alias Will & Grace Guest Links: IMDB: Christopher Thornton, actor, writer 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 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Today we are sitting down with Cara Jade Myers — the Native American actress who spent ten years grinding through background work, PA gigs, and craft services before booking one of the most coveted roles in recent Hollywood history: Anna in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. Cara takes us through the entire extraordinary journey — from auditioning for casting director Rene Haynes for years before getting noticed, to a nine-month process that ended in a Zoom call with Scorsese where she could only see his iconic eyebrows on screen. She shares what it was like working alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, the improvised flask moment that Scorsese immediately greenlit, and why the film's premiere on Hollywood Boulevard — during the strike — became one of the most bittersweet moments of her career. Plus — why writing, producing, and building her own creative projects out of sheer frustration has become the most powerful move she's ever made. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Cara Jade Myers right here. Credits: Killers of the Flower Moon This Is Us Icefall Day of Reckoning How We Stand Guest Links: IMDB: Cara Jade Myers, actress 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 SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Today, we're joined by Brendan Patricks, the British actor and close-up magician whose 20-plus-year career has taken him from the West End to acclaimed series like Downton Abbey, Rivals, and Gentleman Jack. Brendan shares how picking up his first deck of cards at 21, after his father gave him a tiny book of tricks, sparked a lifelong obsession with magic and ultimately transformed the way he approaches acting. In this episode, Brendan takes us behind the scenes of playing Evelyn Napier on Downton Abbey, including the nerve-wracking audition where he bluffed about knowing how to ride a horse. He also shares clever self-tape techniques he picked up while performing virtual magic shows over Zoom, stories from set with Toni Collette and Patrick Dempsey, and reveals how mastering sleight of hand, misdirection, and improvisation has shaped his work as an actor. Tune in for a fascinating conversation about the surprising overlap between acting and illusion, and why sometimes the secret to a great performance is knowing exactly where you don't want the audience to look. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Brendan Patricks right here. Credits: Rivals Downton Abbey Gentleman Jack Outlander Doctor Who Bad Education Grace The Ghost Writer Traitors Resurrection Breeders Skins Guest Links: IMDB: Brendan Patricks, actor, magician WEBSITE: BrendanPatricks.com 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 SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Today, we're stepping inside the audition room with Cindy Busby, an actress who has built an incredible two-decade career with more than 20 leading roles across film and television. From her breakout role as Ashley Stanton on the beloved series Heartland, to starring in fan favorites like Unleashing Mr. Darcy and Royal Hearts, to her current series lead on When Hope Calls, Cindy knows what it takes to build a career with real staying power. In this episode, Cindy takes us all the way back to the theater school assignment that unexpectedly landed her first agent and a role on MTV's Undressed, and the nationwide search that changed her life when she booked Heartland. But she also gets candid about what happened when the momentum stopped, including a grueling two-year career slump that forced her to completely rethink her relationship with the business. Cindy shares how studying the Meisner technique, doing deep mindset work, and creating her own recovery rituals helped her rebuild her confidence, return to Heartland 11 years later, and ultimately step into a new chapter as the lead of When Hope Calls. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Cindy Busby right here. Credits: When Hope Calls Heartland Date My Dad The Big Year When Calls the Heart Cedar Cove Royal Hearts Supernatural Psych The L.A. Complex The Vampire Diaries Guest Links: IMDB: Cindy Busby, actress, 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 SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Inspired by Michelle Lang's jaw-dropping creative renaissance — 80 million views, a Netflix directing credit, and a full career reinvention at 43 — this week we tackle the one practice every great athlete, musician, and director swears by that most actors completely avoid. Watching their own work. We break down the difference between self-criticism and self-study, the three questions to ask every single time you press play on your own tape, and why the actor who reviews consistently is always the actor who grows fastest. Plus — the Slaytember panel is coming into focus and we are revealing our first panelist: director Diego Velasco (This Fool, Orange is the New Black, Twenties). Three weeks of work. One panel. Real industry eyes on your best tape yet. Go listen to Michelle's full episode first — then come join us. Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical advice to enhance your career longevity and satisfaction. Connect with That One Audition: SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR - 50% OFF 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney CREDITS: Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Alyshia Ochse WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Logan Marshall-Green said it took him over a decade to truly own himself in front of a camera — and he also said something that reframes why it takes so long for all of us: "You don't make art to impress. You make art to unveil something about yourself." This week we break down the difference between performing AT the camera and letting it actually find you, why the gap between what you feel in a scene and what you see on your tape is not a flaw but the work itself, and how shifting from impressing to unveiling changes everything about the way you show up to every audition. Slaytember is here, and every session is a rep toward the most unveiled version of yourself on camera. Go listen to Logan's full episode first — then come join us. Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical advice to enhance your career longevity and satisfaction. Connect with That One Audition: SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR - 50% OFF 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Alyshia Ochse WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

In this episode, what does casting look for when you are self-taping? This week's Wednesday Wisdom is a look inside Slaytember 2026, a three-week live casting class from Anna LaMadrid (HBO's The Rehearsal) and Alyshia Ochse (HBO's True Detective) that walks actors through a full TV pilot audition process — self-tape submission, a Zoom callback, and a live chemistry read with working casting professionals, including confirmed guest Chrissy Fiorilli-Ellington. We get to SEE what casting is actually looking for when they hit play on a self-tape. Sept 24 – Oct 8, 2026 | Thursdays, 11am–1:30pm PT | More info: thebridgeforactors.com/courses/slaytember2026 Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical advice to enhance your career longevity and satisfaction. Connect with That One Audition: SLAYTEMBER CLASS: Starting September 24th THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR - 50% OFF 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney CREDITS: Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Alyshia Ochse WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

Jason Momoa was the FIRST one to audition for GAME OF THRONES and the LAST one cast a year later. His cousin's impact on his life helped him make a strong choice that ultimately landed him the role. But it took him a few years and a couple of classes to trust his instinctive strong choices and learn how to "audition." BAYWATCH discovered him in his native home of Hawaii among a 1,300-person cattle call. Jason responded to a radio call announcing the audition that would pay him more than the daily rate of folding T-shirts at the family-owned surf shop. Jason's unique look has always made him a different choice, but also made opportunities few and far between. So Jason, with many of his close friends, formed the production company Pride of Gypsies, which has made Jason into an all-around filmmaker — writing, producing, directing and acting. Forever remembered for his unforgettable role as Drogo in Game of Thrones, Jason has since become a global star as Aquaman in the DC universe, Duncan Idaho in Dune, and the lead in Apple TV+'s See. He's also stepped further behind the camera, creating and starring in his passion project Chief of War, and appeared in A Minecraft Movie, The Fall Guy, and his travel/design series On the Roam. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Jason Momoa right here. Credits: Dune Supergirl A Minecraft Movie Aquaman Game of Thrones The Wrecking Crew Chief of War The Fall Guy On the Roam See Sweet Girl Justice League Road to Paloma Baywatch Guest Links: IMDB: Jason Momoa, actor, writer, director, 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 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

From High Potential and The Lincoln Lawyer to nuanced and honest portrayals of fatherhood-gone-wild across Showtime's EMMY® Award-nominated series SHAMELESS and palpable intensity on the likes of SONS OF ANARCHY, Steve Howey reflects a classic masculinity on-screen equally steeped in humor and heart. That timeless leading man spark and quiet strength remain signatures of the acclaimed actor, writer, producer, and entrepreneur. Achieving a basketball scholarship to junior college in Colorado, he played two seasons before pursuing his calling as an actor. He would go from SOMETHING BORROWED alongside Kate Hudson, John Krasinski, and Ginnifer Goodwin to BRIDE WARS where he re-teamed with Hudson, Anne Hathaway, and Chris Pratt, to SUPERCROSS, LOSING CONTROL, UNLEASHED, IN YOUR EYES, and SEE YOU IN VALHALLA. These are the unforgettable stories that landed Steve Howey right here. Credits: High Potential Off Campus Lincoln Lawyer Ransom Canyon Reba Shameless Dead to Me Seal Team Bride Wars Sons of Anarchy Guest Links: IMDB: Steve Howey, actor Instagram: @stevehowey 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 THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR (50% off special) 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 APPLE PODCASTS: Subscribe to That One Audition on Apple Podcasts SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher EPISODE CREDITS: HOST/PRODUCER: Alyshia Ochse WRITER: Maddie McCormick WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu