Kevin Gregg & Paul Carganilla discuss creativity and inspiration with this week's special guest: Bonnie Utley.

Bonnie Utley is the founder-owner of Blossom of Snow, creator of The Dream Retreat, and a certified professional coach specializing in personal and professional leadership development.  Her current focus is collaborating with Christian business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and executives who deeply desire to unceasingly become the best versions of the unique leaders God created them to be, starting with their own personal dreams, goals, and relationships, and infusing lots of creativity, fun, and adventure along the way.

Watch full video of the show here

Kevin Gregg & Paul Carganilla discuss creativity and inspiration with this week's special guest: Paul Rubin.

Paul Rubin is a  flying sequence choreographer and designer who has designed some of the most memorable flying sequences from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Wicked to Cathy Rigby’s Tony-nominated Peter Pan. Paul is a proud member of The Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) and I.A.T.S.E. Local 720.

Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning Frozen, The Pirate Queen, Saturday Night Fever, Dance of the Vampires, Doctor Zhivago, The Green Bird directed by Julie Taymor,

Some television credits include Kevin Can Wait, Entertainment Tonight, The Tony Awards, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, CNN, and A&E’s Emmy-winning Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby.

Some of the talented performers Paul has given wings to include: Kevin James, John Rhys-Davis, Adam Lambert, Michael Crawford, John Turturro, Neil Patrick Harris, Tony Danza, Howie Mandel, and David Hyde Pierce

This week Kevin and Paul are joined by Eric Close.
 Eric is an actor, director, and writer. He has had the privilege of starring in a number of series for television and MOW’s during his 30-year career including hits Without A Trace, Nashville, and Suits. 
 
 Highlights from the show:

• Eric realized that pre-med was not going to be the direction for his life
• How he wanted to get involved in the film business in some capacity. Finding a mentor who helped him navigate the business of acting.
• Always wanted to do the thing that he was told to not try
• Taking a chance with Tom Cruise on the backlot
• Taking a last-minute chance with acting teacher Howard Fine in front of an entire class
• The contrast between seeing a billboard of himself in Times Square to a year later being soaked to the bone in the rain running late for an audition
• Creating a friendship with Clint Eastwood starting at a brief encounter encourage by Eric’s wife at The Golden Globes
• Directing lessons learned while observing Clint Eastwood on set
• Don’t be afraid to initiate conversations when the opportunity presents itself. They’re people just like you and me
• A cool story about Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut
• Eric’s experience breaking into directing by working on a second unit for the television show McKenna
• How he broke through to direct on Without a Trace by persistently showing his authentic interest to learn. It took 5 seasons before he got the chance to do it.

John Sovec is a therapist/coach in private practice in Pasadena California who works with clients on career transitions, goal setting, and motivation. He is the clinical consultant for The Life Group LA , adjunct faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute and guest lecturer at Alliant University and USC School of Social Work.

John has designed professional training models and seminars for the Walt Disney Company, Paramount Studios, Pandemic Studios, Electronic Arts, and Washington Mutual.

His work has been featured on The Riki Lake Show, OWN, Bravo, FOX, The Advocate, KTLA, ABC, LA Talk Radio, The Washington Post and columns for Huffington Post and Good Therapy.

Highlights from the show:

• Paul survives his COVID quarantine by putting on more shows via Vaudacity Network
• Kevin celebrates Kate’s writing milestone with Dana Middleton. He also recommends “In and Of Itself”
• John talks about the peaceful joy found in his gardening and how his tomatoes are going gangbusters
• Creatives are reaching into their vulnerable side and that can require a lot mentally and physically
• The simple act of breathing to calm yourself.
• John describes exactly what happens with the mind in a "fight or flight" situation. He describes the  "freeze" that happens when we are in an anxiety-producing situation
• Doing an actual reality check. Lack of safety usually comes from something you are imagining. “I’m safe, I’m OK and I’m loved.”
• Seeing the courage, strength, and discipline that a creative possesses when putting their art and putting themselves out into the world.
• The work of the creative isn’t the end result, it’s the process and falling in love with the act of creating
• Getting into a beginner’s mindset
• We weren’t trained to survive a pandemic. John’s example of shooting for 100% when you’re under duress. Work within the parameters that you are operating.
• Learning to navigate that season where you may not be able to do your creative work as your main income source. Finding that "sweet time" to feed your creative soul.

johnsovec.com
@johnsovectherapy
facebook.com/JohnSovecTherapy/

This week, Kevin & Paul are joined by actor RC Ormond! 

RC Ormond is a Native Texan who moved to LA almost 25 years ago to pursue an acting career in TV/Film. When he’s not grinding on his TV/Film career or working two day jobs, he loves spending quality time with his amazing family of five. Some of his past credits are, “Transformers”, “Dodgeball: The Movie” and was recently seen in a recurring role on the new TV show THE FUGITIVE.

Highlights from this episode:

• Paul has COVID and is streaming the show from a hotel room
• RC gets a great call from his agent while delivering packages for Amazon
• Kevin and RC talk about doing whatever work you have to do fill in the gap when entertainment work isn’t available
• RC shares how he got involved with acting based on a bet back in high school
• The challenge of navigating stunt work and acting work
• Paul shares some lessons he learned working with RC on a Verizon commercial at Disney
• RC shares an outstanding experience that he had with a legendary director
• RC shares a frustrating experience he had with a television star on a show

To watch the full video of this episode click here

Kevin and Paul speak with actress Rebecca Staab who has an extensive and impressive career.

Rebecca's most recent work includes the Netflix comedy film "Love Hard" starring alongside Nina Dobrev. Rebecca also recently co-starred in the film "Breakthrough" alongside Chrissy Metz (This is Us), Topher Grace, Josh Lucas, and Mike Colter; as well as the film "The Miracle Season," alongside William Hurt and Helen Hunt.

Rebecca’s TV credits include "Somewhere Between" for ABC, "The Chronicle Mysteries”, several top-rated Hallmark Channel films, as well as the award-winning shows Masters of Sex, Dexter, Glee, Fairly Legal, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, CSI, CSI: NY, NCIS, and Nip/Tuck. Rebecca is also recognized from network classics Cheers, Seinfeld, Ellen, The Wonder Years, Columbo, Beverly Hills, 90210, and The Drew Carey Show, to name only a few.

Highlights from this episode:

• Kevin and Rebecca trade dental mishaps
• “The security of insecurity” - being prepared for the unexpected. Remaining neutrally sane no matter what comes your way.
• Kevin tells Rebecca continually throughout the episode how she is “the voice of God” to him that evening
• When little doors open, go through them. Taking advantage of the opportunities, no matter how small they are. The strength in being curious.
• “If I was going to do something, why wouldn’t I try to do it the best I could?”
• Having the mindset of being an ambassador for jobs she was hired on
• How she applied high school and college acting lessons to “create a picture and being visually interesting" in her professional work
• Rebecca talks about meeting Paul after seeing the “Guess Again” web series
• Booking her very first acting audition in the role of “Cecelia“ for the ABC Soap Opera “Loving”. She turned a role that was supposed to last only 6 episodes and turned it into a recurring character that remained on the show for 6 months
• She tells her story of being the original Sue Storm (The Invisible Girl) in the first feature film version of “The Fantastic Four” which was never released
• Her experiences working on Hallmark Christmas movies and The Chronicle Mysteries
• A balance of real life is a foundation for her career
• There’s no short way to do a creative career. It’s work, it’s dedication. Don’t take advantage of good things, because they end. 

Rebecca’s IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0820847/

Guess Again series https://www.youtube.com/user/GuessAgainSeries/videos

Former Quizno’s employee Grady Hutt has been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. Like many well-adjusted people, he began his career as a child actor. While working professionally as a performer, he made his way into other areas of the entertainment industry; as a musician, toured the country in several different bands; stage management and technical direction in the AEA99 arena; stage technician at the Disneyland Resort; and is currently a Show Systems Integrator for Walt Disney Imagineering.

Highlights from this episode:

• Grady talks about how he began his career as an actor and the moment at he retired from acting at 19 after giving up an overseas backpacking trip for work that never happened.
• Developing his interest in technical theatre while working at Ray Bradbury’s Theatre and socializing with techs at Disneyland.
• The challenges and concerns after transferring into the technical department at Disneyland.
• Learning to shut your mouth, find the dirty job that people don’t want to do, and do the work
• Problem-solving in the art. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do
• “You can’t wait for someone to invite you to the table …there’s always a seat at the table but if you’re gonna elbow your way in, we will stop and look at you. So you better have something”
• Always try to anticipate what’s best for the group
• The phrase "It's always been that way" ALWAYS invites appraisal and evaluation.
• What’s in your way and how can I help so that you can excel at your job? What are the problems that people aren’t telling me? It’s a whole different skillset.
• Kevin derails the conversation talking about “Pen15” and the problems with signing people into Disneyland as an employee
• Grady discusses projects he’s working on with Disney Imagineering including the upcoming Spiderman Web Slinger attraction at Disney California Adventure and working on 1:1 models for attractions in different Disney Parks.
• How Grady’s love of theatre helps him feel fulfilled, no matter what aspect it is that he’s working on.
• How the phrase “Don’t date Grady” helped him get married.

In this episode Kevin and Paul talk with James Dorniff who  has been working in Visual Effects for the past 20 years, from the MATRIX movies to PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS; GARFIELD: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES to SERENITY; BATMAN VS SUPERMAN to GODZILLA VS KONG; PROJECT POWER to NEW MUTANTS, JOHN ADAMS to HEREAFTER; AVENGERS to JUSTICE LEAGUE.   
He's spent time on both the vendor side working through all stages of shot production to the client-side getting the raw materials for shot production.   VFX for him has been a love, a passion, and many times a place of frustration and feelings of solitary confinement. 
 He has traveled the world capturing amazing vistas and has also been locked up in dark spaces trying to get renders through to final shots.  It is one side of the industry where you get to make the magic happen from previz to final shot sequences seen on the big screen.  
You are sometimes there from conception (pre-production), to gestation (production), and to birth (post-production) of movies/tv projects.   It's a place you get to be a part of almost all aspects of film-making and still stay hidden in the shadows depending on the project.   It's a love-hate relationship but ever-evolving with new technology and old tricks.

Peter Atkins returns to Your Creative Journey!

We continue to explore some of Pete’s adventures as a writer in Hollywood as well as explore other creative topics that presented themselves as the evening proceeded

Always an incredible guest, and great conversation.

Peter is the author of the novels MORNINGSTAR, BIG THUNDER, and MOONTOWN, and the screenplays HELLRAISER II, HELLRAISER III, HELLRAISER IV, and WISHMASTER. His short fiction has appeared in such anthologies as THE MUSEUM OF HORRORS, DARK DELICACIES II, HELLBOUND HEARTS, and GHOSTS, and has been selected eight times for one or more of the various “Year’s Best” anthologies. His recent book, RUMORS OF THE MARVELOUS, a collection of his short fiction, was a finalist for the British Fantasy Award. 

He is the co-founder with Glen Hirshberg of The Rolling Darkness Revue, an annual folly they commit at whatever theatre will have them.

Highlights from the show:

• Kevin meets a deadline
• Paul got to do a live table read via Zoom for his latest script
• Paul’s been prepping for New Year’s Eve show live recording
• Pete talks about the recent Tom Cruise outburst on the set of Mission Impossible 7
• Pete talks about how he got to reconnect with Tony Randel and do some music
• Pete and Kevin talked about the history of swear words
• Change of cultural references
• Pete gives a nod to producer Christopher Figg who took a chance with him on Hellraiser II
• Pete talks about “being good in the room” to make people comfortable with what needs to get
• Pete talks about how he grew up with the auteur theory of directors 
• Good screenplays teach a writer three very important things: precision, clarity, and economy
• Rumors of the Marvelous book cover painting by Les Edwards

Links mentioned:

Tickets to Paul’s New Years Eve celebration

Flim Critic Andrew Sarris talking about Auteur Theory about Directors

http://www.lesedwards.com/

Pete's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/limeybastard55/

Paul and Kevin have a deep conversation  with Justin Arman - a professional drummer, business-owner, and family man.

Justin has toured the world & recorded with bands including Crisis & Single Bullet Theory. He's ALSO the Founder of the health & wellness company, Lindheimer. AND he's the President of an International Best Selling Brand, MY MAGIC MUD. On top of it all, he's a devoted husband and father of four beautiful children.

Highlights from this show include:

• Paul shares wonderful news about a new opportunity for his daughter
• Justin sharing an emotional and life changing experience he had while at a business lunch that helped him with the recent passing of his mother
• Paul talks deeply about acknowledging and embracing death and how that causes an appreciation of life
• Fascinating moment when Justin’s Mom convinced him not to go to college so he could pursue his dream of being a rockstar
• Getting away from a common mindset when it comes to artistic endeavors. Fully immersing yourself with no contingencies, no back-up plans. You are being who are meant to be.
• The moment Justin had a breakdown before a studio session and the importance of pushing through terror and fear.  Trusting you know how to get the job done  when it is “go time” Getting out of "monkey brain "thinking.
• The more transactional art becomes, the worse art gets
• Art is relational, selfless communication and experience of consciousness
• Play within the boundaries of what you can do. Fully embrace that you can make masterful art within those boundaries.
• How applying the marketing experiences from rock n’ roll helped to revolutionize the toothpaste industry

Brian Reed (or just “Reed” to most folks), accidentally got started in the crew side of entertainment by accident in 1989- and he’s still here! Like rush hour on the 101, he’s had a ton of unexpected stops and weird routing in his Journey: theatre, rock n roll, a little bit of film work, sort of being a roadie, LA, Vegas, South Korea and a whole lot of putting people in the air at a few different theme parks and hundreds of theaters in the US.

When he’s not working he’s usually the oldest dude skating at the skatepark.

Highlights from this episode:

• Reed talks about his early days of learning the craft while surrounded by talented and hardworking people
• Thoughts about ghosts while working both as a host and technician aboard The Queen Mary
• The necessity of leadership in the arts, pulling from Jocko Willink and Leif Babin's "Extreme Ownership"
• An encouraging word to artists about what working life will be like after COVID-19

Links from this episode:

https://www.usitt.org​
https://esta.org/
https://www.controlbooth.com

It's a first for Your Creative Journey.
Kenny Landmon (Director, Writer, Executive Producer and Actor) returns to the podcast to premiere his short film DATING UNDER QUARANTINE. 

Joining Kenny are members of the cast and crew including:

John Eaden - He co-wrote and co-produced the short film Dating Under Quarantine with Kenny Landmon and plays the part of The Single Mingle Man, dating expert.

Drew Lahat - is an L.A.-based editor, colorist, and video engineer with 15 years of industry experience. His editing credits include the documentary features On The Map for Lionsgate, Aulcie which played in 20 festivals, and Santiago Files with Malcolm McDowell. He’s worked for Sony, NBC, 20th Century Fox, and many more. Currently Drew is the facility engineer at Geiger Post in Hollywood.

Matthew Lopez (Sound Design) is an audio engineer with years of experience in anything from studio recording, mixing, mastering, sound for film, to live sound and audio system design. With such a wide range of experience, he has developed a deep understanding and love for the relationship between science and art that music and film thrive upon.

Madeline Neavez - (Key Makeup) Maddie is a performer and make-up artist in the SoCal/ LA area. This is her first socially distant project and hopes to show that all aspects of entertainment can keep going despite what’s going on in the world.

Jonathan Salas - (Happy Man) Jon Salas was born and raised in Orange County , he has been playing with cameras every since he could remember and spends way too much time watching key and peel skits on YouTube. He loves all things business and marketing with dreams of opening a breakfast nook as his retirement plan.

RC Ormond - (Therapist) is a Native Texan who moved to LA almost 25 years ago to pursue an acting career in TV/Film.  When he’s not Grinding on his TV\Film career or working two day jobs, he loves spending quality time with his amazing family of five. 

Ryan Castellino - (Benji) UCLA Grad. Originated the role of the Duke of Weselton in the original cast of “Frozen Live at the Hyperion” and Wally in the original cast of Roger Bean’s “Life Could Be A Dream”. Thrilled to be apart of DUQ!

Nathan Landmon - (Newscaster) is a Southern California based voice over artist and singer. His varied credits include work from the theatre, live music halls, studios, and his own voice over productions.

Shannon Galipault - (Jazlyn)  Shannon is a CSULB Communication Studies grad who continues to look for opportunities to try something new. During quarantine she finished a certificate program, picked up a little bit of graphic design, set new workout personal bests and rewatched all of Gilmore Girls for the third time.

You can see the full short film of Dating Under Quarantine here

This week on the show, Paul and Kevin check-in with listeners Dary Mills and Krista King to see how their own creative projects have been coming along.

Both ladies have been avid followers of the show and share what processes they have been using to move forward with their work.

Korey Pollard is a DGA first assistant director, mentor, and lecturer.

His previous television and film credits include Salem (WGN), The Player (Sony/NBC), The King of 7B (ABC Family), Kevin From Work (ABC Family), A to Z (NBC), Stephen Bochco’s Murder In the First (TNT), Nashville, (ABC), Rizzoli & Isles (TNT), The Wedding Band (TBS), Lie to Me (FOX), Life (NBC), the critically-acclaimed show Monk (USA), Deadwood (HBO), House (FOX), Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Boomtown(NBC), and CSI (CBS). 

Film credits include: Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 2, And Starring Pancho Villa As Himself, Thirteen Days, Waterworld, Clear & Present Danger, Eye For An Eye, G.I. Jane, That Thing You Do, and Stand By Me, among many others. 

He has been on the advisory boards of Compass College of Cinematic Arts and Hollywood Connect.

He also holds a position on The First Assistant Director/Unit Production Manager Committee of The Directors Guild of America.

Highlights from this episode:

• Korey getting his start illegally as a minor on a set
• Rob Reiner coming to shoot a major motion picture by Columbia Pictures in Korey's hometown - and his crazy story of getting a supporting role in Stand By Me
• Korey’s battle with drugs and his path to sobriety
• Starting as a set dresser and an eye-opening moment with the keyboard player from Wall of Voodoo (financials in entertainment are not what they appear to be)
• Korey’s friendship with Kevin Costner on Waterworld
• Processing trauma - Korey's "wake up" moment while working on set
• Korey's upcoming podcast project which explores the healing power of music and the personal struggles industry creatives have battled

Books mentioned in this show:

Body Mind Bridge by Shuna Morelli

Korey Pollard IMDB 

Episode 25 James Arnold Taylor - Voiceover Actor, Writer, and Producer

James Arnold Taylor's versatile vocal range has given him success in every facet of the voice-over industry. His voice is heard all over the world daily, and you would never know it's one person. His list of credits ranges from leading roles in major summer blockbuster films, starring roles in the hottest animation on television, a promo voice for Fox, and national ad campaigns in commercials for TV and radio, from the voice of a Mini Wheat to the current voice of Fred Flintstone. 

James' most notable credits are: Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Johnny from Johnny Test, and Green Arrow from Batman: The Brave and the Bold

James is also the host of the Talking to Myself Podcast.

Highlights from this episode:

• Realizing he wanted to be a voiceover actor since he was a kid and how he made his way into the industry working in radio
• Talking about his process of working on his show Talking with Myself
• What’s required to be a great voice-over actor. Get creating, practicing, and stop trying to please other people. Make yourself laugh and enjoy it.
• “I didn’t get any special treatment. If you have a passion for this, pursue it.”
• Discussion about “The Story of With” by James Arnold
• The role that faith plays in James’ life
• A mind-blowing story of several life-changing that James experienced

Links:
jamesarnoldtaylor.com
James Arnold Taylor YouTube Channel
James Arnold Taylor Rumble Channel

Books referenced:
The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
The Story of With by Allen Arnold
JAT 365 by James Arnold Taylor

Dylan White joins Paul and Kevin this week.

Dylan has been professionally creative for almost thirty years. He is an actor, comedian, voiceover artist, screenwriter, and author. Most notably, for over ten years, he played The Genie in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular at Disney California Adventure. 
As an author, he is most known for his Apparition Series about a ghost who falls in love with the girl who lives in the house he's haunting. 
Dylan is also an advocate for mental health awareness and openness. 

Highlights from this episode:

• Dylan talks about his career as an actor and how he discovered the benefits of theme park work while pursuing his dreams
• Kevin, Paul, and Dylan share alleged stories of strange theme park guest behavior
• Dylan's work as a writer and also using his creativity and healing as an entrepreneur
• "Treat this like surfing."
• "If you’re not happy without it, you won’t be happy with it."

Links:
dylanwhite.com
Instagram @itsdylanwhite
Books by Dylan White

New music for the show by Matty Gregg
Instagram @theswellsband

In this episode, Kevin and Paul talk about techniques they use to get out of a funk.

It’s an interesting episode that gets interrupted by fire alarms and takes an interesting turn discussing relationships.

Highlights from this episode include:

• Kevin reveals the challenges he’s had this season
• “We need the downs to feel the ups”
• Morning routines. Small little actions, making the bed, washing the dishes.
• 20-minute chunks. The small little action gets you rolling
• “Believe it, till you see it”
• Matthew McConaughey and prayer & meditation techniques Paul and Kevin use.
• A clarification over the pronunciation of “sudoku” 

Actress and teacher Judy Kain joins Paul and Kevin this week.

She has been in over 400 commercials, 130 TV and film projects.
She has won numerous awards for coaching and teaching at her own studio Keep it Real Acting Studios, one of the top places for acting classes in Los Angeles. She has received awards for her performance in MAD MEN gleaning the SAG AWARD for the Show. 
She travels all over the country teaching and inspiring actors with her vast knowledge and experience.
Judy is also a published author of the Commercial Handbook called "I Booked It!"She also has a new book and on line course entitled THE BUSINESS OF ACTING. She has done numerous seminars sharing her vast experience. Also Judy hosts the Podcast HOLLYWOOD GAME CHANGERS @keepitrealacting/HGC

Highlights from this episode include:

• Judy share her amazing paint by numbers project she’s been working on during the pandemic
• Wise advice given to her by her agent when it comes to anticipating payment from commercials
• What keeps Judy going when it comes to continually looking for work
• What she wants to encourage in her on camera acting classes so that students can succeed

YouTube playback of this epsiode is available here

This week Paul and Kevin continue their discussion about how to prepare now for the new year.
Specifically, they talk about taking the necessary action to help move you out of your orbit (your patterns of old behavior).
It's a challenging task and not one that can be easily solved by forcing yourself to do something new.

Highlights from this episode:

• Kevin discusses resistance he's had in the past with asking for help
• Paul talks about taking the initiative to ask for help in their personal lives and not just rely on social media for responses
• The importance of reaching out to others
• The master creator is working on you. Sometimes with a painful chisel to reveal a beautiful piece of art.
• Kevin’s conversation with his high school counselor and realizing the change that was going to occur in his life 
• How to negotiate with yourself and find "the cookie" that will motivate you

Videos and links referred to in this show:
Amanda Palmer Ted Talk "The Art of Asking"
"Habits of Effective Artists" Revisited by Andrew Price
The Scientific Way to Improve your Art FAST! - How to Practice and Remember Efficiently
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson

On this episode, we have our first live caller!

We help listener Dary, as she navigates writing her novel.

Also, we start discussing the steps that you can take now to establishing great creative habits when the new year hits.

Highlights from this episode:

• The importance of writing down those creative flashes that you get
• Paul talks about his process of getting the first draft of “The Haunted Man” down on paper.
• Reassessing what your goals were at the beginning of 2020 and how you can port those over to 2021
• The importance of having your objectives and inspirational material written somewhere that you can access it when you’re off course.

yourcreativejourneypodcast.com