What does it really mean to “show up” online as an artist in 2025? In this episode, Mike and Joshua get ruthlessly honest about the highs, lows, and existential weirdness of building creative community in the digital era. From the myth that social platforms are just “marketing tools,” to the radical truth that emotional investment - not just content - is king, the duo pull back the curtain on what’s working, what’s BS, and what’s just plain overwhelming for modern creatives. Whether you secretly...
Jun 27, 2025•2 hr 8 min
In this electrifying episode of Raw and Rising, Joshua dives deep with the powerhouse vocalist Ryan James Monroe, an artist who's redefining soulful performance. Ryan shares how his roots in gospel choir ignited a lifelong pursuit of raw, visceral connection with his audience, a stark contrast to the often-sterile world of musical theater. This is where hustle meets heart, and where Ryan reveals the messy, unglamorous side of indie music – the financial risks, the DIY production, and the audacit...
Jun 25, 2025•55 min
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE What if your career isn't actually broken-what if your expectations are? Joshua and Mike dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable truths facing artists today: that most creative careers stall not because of lack of talent or even circumstances, but because of unrealistic expectations that were never aligned with reality. From the myth of "making it" to the shifting landscape of an industry in collapse, this episode challenges everything you th...
Jun 20, 2025•37 min
In this episode of Creative Risk , Joshua sits down with writer, producer, historian, and all-around powerhouse Jennifer Ashley Tepper for an expansive conversation about creative sustainability, self-made opportunity, and the legacy of women in musical theater. From her start as a theater-obsessed kid in Boca Raton to becoming the programming director of 54 Below and conceiving major off and on Broadway productions, Jen has carved a career with no blueprint - just grit, vision, and relentless i...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 26 min
This episode dives deep with Matt Koplik, host of the Broadway Breakdown Podcast, as we unpack 2025’s state of Broadway. Matt shares candid thoughts about how social media, rising costs, and risk-averse creative institutions are challenging artistry in the theater - from standing ovations that mean nothing, to the pressure on performers and critics to play it safe and please the crowd. Discover why making unique art in the digital age matters more than ever, and how cultivating bold, messy, and ...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 73
Are you a struggling artist juggling creative passion with the need to pay the bills? 😔 Many actors & filmmakers face the same challenge: How do you make a sound design career sustainable in a tough industry? Can you balance creative risk-taking with the practical realities of making a living? 🤔 In this Raw & Rising episode, Tony-nominated sound designer Taylor Williams shares his journey from actor to storytelling through sound design , offering insights on building a successful freel...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 3 min
In this special episode of Creative Risk, Joshua \ explores what it means to age as an artist-through candid, intimate conversations with three remarkable performers at different stages of their creative lives. From Broadway veterans to multi-career pivots to young actors wrestling with pressure and purpose, this episode is about time, identity, and staying in the game when the rules keep changing. Featuring novelist and actor Harriet McFaul Pilger, musical theater performer Kyle Nicholas Anders...
May 30, 2025•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 72
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODE In this episode, Joshua and Mike unpack the ever-complicated mantra: "fake it till you make it." What begins as a discussion of creative confidence quickly spirals into deeper territory-where's the line between confidence and deception? When does “faking it” become fraud? And how much success actually comes down to acting like you belong before anyone says you do? From working on set and early teaching gigs to producing your own work without a roa...
May 23, 2025•31 min
In part two of our high school theater deep dive, Mike sits down with his most influential teachers from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts-Joni Weisfeld and Brian Jennings-for a conversation that’s part love letter, part reckoning. Together, they unpack the messy, magical alchemy of arts education: where rigor meets vulnerability, and where students are trusted to create real, meaningful work long before they’re “ready.” This episode is about more than nostalgia. It’s about leadership, bo...
May 16, 2025•2 hr 9 min
In this episode of Raw + Rising, we go deep with Makayla McIntosh-actor, producer, and founder of not one, but two creative companies. From children's entertainment to indie film production, Makayla's journey is a masterclass in creative self-sufficiency. She shares how a birthday party side hustle turned into a 14-year business, how a serious accident forced a hard career pivot, and why producing your own work is often the fastest route to real opportunity. This is a candid, no-BS conversation ...
May 15, 2025•50 min
In this personal, winding, and emotionally resonant episode of Creative Risk , the boys crack open a sacred, formative chapter: high school theater. But this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s an excavation-of early validation, teenage fragility, creative discovery, social hierarchy, and the kinds of teachers who see something in you before you know how to see it yourself. Told through laughter, real talk, and deeply moving reflection, this episode features intimate interviews with Joshua's forme...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 69
In this inspiring episode of Creative Risk , Mike Labbadia sits down with the founders of New American Ensemble - a bold, new player-focused theater company in NYC - to explore what it really takes to build something that matters. Michael DeFilippis, Gianna Kiehl, and Scott Gordon aren’t just creating theater; they're reimagining the role of ensemble artistry at a time when the industry desperately needs it. Through vulnerable storytelling and sharp insight, they dive into why friendship, intent...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 22 min
In this high-energy episode of Raw + Rising , Joshua sits down with Method Fitness founders Danny Keenan and Christian Hopper-two performers-turned-trainers reshaping what fitness means for artists. Forget six-pack abs and protein powder: this is about reclaiming strength, rebuilding confidence, and building sustainable careers in chaotic, body-demanding industries. From Broadway gigs to last-minute auditions and mental health spirals, this convo hits on what it actually takes to stay in the gam...
Apr 30, 2025•44 min
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODE In this solo episode of Creative Risk , Joshua Morgan cracks open one of the most tender and universal tensions in any creative’s life: the balance between control and surrender. With sharp introspection and his signature candor, Joshua explores how control offers structure, discipline, and the ability to advocate for ourselves-while letting go opens the door to spontaneity, intuition, and unexpected opportunity. From career detours and perfect...
Apr 25, 2025•19 min
What happens when your career takes a turn you never planned for - and it ends up being exactly where you're supposed to be? In this episode of Creative Risk , Joshua sits down with Alan Bennett, a performer-turned-Broadway wardrobe supervisor, for a deeply candid and often hilarious conversation about longevity in the arts, reinvention, and the unexpected ways creative careers evolve. Alan opens up about his early passion for dance and performance, the realities of touring, and how a financial ...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 42 min
In this soul-nourishing episode of Raw + Rising , Joshua sits down with the unstoppable Deah Love Harriot - an artist whose spirit is as bold as her résumé. From musical directing on Broadway to serving as a minister of worship, Deah’s journey is as expansive as it is rooted. But this isn’t just a career highlight reel - it’s a conversation about presence, purpose, and the audacity to lead with love in every room you enter. Deah opens up about her early start in music, her Jamaican and New Orlea...
Apr 16, 2025•38 min
In this wide-ranging episode, Joshua and Mike explore what it really means to show up as your boldest self - not just as a creative, but as a human being navigating a world that often punishes risk and rewards conformity. Through personal stories, cultural critique, and behind-the-scenes examples from the entertainment industry, they unpack the complicated relationship between boldness, confidence, and risk - and why boldness is less about loudness and more about the willingness to be seen for w...
Apr 11, 2025•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 65
In this deeply reflective episode of Creative Risk, Joshua and Mike tackle the complex and emotionally charged topic of unmet potential. Through candid, individual reflections and joint discussion, they dive into the pressures of maximizing life's potential in a society obsessed with hyper-optimization. From personal regrets to the tension between ambition and presence, they explore how chasing potential can both motivate and drain creatives. This conversation will challenge you to reconsider yo...
Apr 04, 2025•2 hr 10 min
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with theater-maker and artistic multi-hyphenate Coleman Ray Clark for an insightful discussion on embracing creative fluidity and breaking traditional artistic molds. Coleman shares how his non-linear career path—from directing and sound design to general management on Broadway—allowed him to thrive creatively by staying open, adaptable, and responsive to life's unexpected shifts. They explore how leaving New York City for San Diego broadened Col...
Apr 02, 2025•50 min
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODE What does balance really look like for an artist? In this episode of Creative Risk , Joshua and Mike tackle one of the most elusive yet essential aspects of a creative career: maintaining balance without sacrificing ambition. They dig into the reality of navigating artistic pursuits alongside personal well-being, questioning the traditional idea that success requires relentless hustle. With the industry in constant flux, they explore how adapta...
Mar 28, 2025•35 min
Marketing isn’t just for corporations - it’s essential for artists, too. In this episode, we break down the concept of the artist’s marketing funnel and why understanding it can be the difference between staying unseen and building a sustainable creative career. Joshua and Mike explore how audiences discover your work, what keeps them engaged, and, ultimately, what convinces them to invest - whether that means buying a ticket, streaming your music, or supporting your latest project. With practic...
Mar 21, 2025•1 hr 42 min
In this episode of Raw + Rising , Joshua sits down with writer, director, and creative powerhouse Courtney Romano for an unfiltered conversation about forging an independent artistic career. As the founder of Queens Bird Films and QB / Arthouse , Courtney shares how she’s built a creative life on her own terms - one rooted in intuition, adaptability, and an unwavering belief in the power of art. From navigating industry expectations to embracing uncertainty, she offers a refreshingly honest pers...
Mar 19, 2025•58 min
Five years after the world shut down, we take a hard look at how COVID changed the entertainment industry—and the lives of the artists within it. From the collapse of institutional power structures to the rise of digital-first artistry, we unpack the lingering effects of the pandemic, both economic and personal. What does sustainability look like now? How did some artists find opportunity in the shutdown while others saw their careers stall? And what lessons should creatives take from this unpre...
Mar 14, 2025•2 hr 33 min
In this episode of Creative Risk, Broadway star Jelani Remy joins us for an open and inspiring conversation about longevity, adaptability, and joy in the industry. From his early days at Paper Mill Playhouse to leading The Lion King as Simba for nearly a decade, Jelani has built a career defined by passion, perseverance, and an infectious love for the craft. He shares his perspective on keeping performances fresh even after thousands of shows, why leading with gratitude has shaped his career, an...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 60
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODE In this deeply personal solo episode, Mike grapples with a question every artist faces at some point—am I quitting, or am I just redefining success? He reflects on his journey, from early artistic passion to professional wins and disillusionments, and explores how shifting cultural and economic landscapes have made traditional paths feel increasingly unstable. Through candid storytelling, he unpacks why industry validation may no longer be the ...
Feb 28, 2025•32 min•Ep. 59
In this episode of Raw + Rising , we sit down with actress and creator Hannah Pauley. Hannah shares her candid insights on creative survival as a dual UK and American citizen and the unexpected journey that took her from Pittsburgh to Glasgow to London, to the resilience required to navigate an unpredictable industry, . She also introduces The Jaded Creative , a platform designed for artists who are tired of sugarcoated industry advice and instead seek real talk, community, and a bit of dark hum...
Feb 26, 2025•33 min
In this episode of Creative Risk , Mike sits down with multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur Ruggero Vittorini, founder of Inward Studio. From his early days as a musician and visual artist to working in high-end kitchens, to ultimately launching a creative agency, Ruggero’s journey is a masterclass in adaptability. He shares how he transitioned out of the cycle of survival jobs and built a thriving business that allows him to fully embrace his creative instincts. They dive deep into the evo...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 58
In this Valentine’s themed episode, Joshua sits down with performing artists and their "civilian" significant others to explore the challenges and rewards of relationships that bridge two different professional worlds. From balancing unpredictable schedules to navigating financial highs and lows, they discuss how partners can support each other while pursuing their individual passions. How do you maintain connection through long periods apart? Merge two distinct social circles? Advocate for each...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 48 min
In this Raw + Rising episode, Mike sits down with 2024 Tony nominee Tom Pecinka as he adjusts to life after the hit show Stereophonic. Tom offers some fantastic advice and perspective, including the dismissal of the "big break myth" and why viewing your art as a business isn't just okay, it's essential. Watch now! Tom's Social Media https://www.instagram.com/tom.pecinka/ Join our Patreon for ad-free early access to episodes, exclusive discounts, weekly Q&As, and so much more. Visit https://w...
Feb 12, 2025•47 min
This one hits hard. The boys sit down with prolific casting director Lisa Zambetti (Criminal Minds) for a brutally honest conversation about the state of the industry. Is AI taking actors' jobs? (Short answer: yes.) Is the casting industry itself in trouble? (Absolutely.) But beyond the doom and gloom, this episode is about resilience—how us artists can adapt, support each other, and reclaim our creative power. Lisa speaks with rare transparency about her own struggles, hopes, and what she belie...
Feb 07, 2025•1 hr 16 min
