“It’s all corporate greed” July 2023 marks an historic time for the entertainment industry. For the first time in decades the actor union in the United States (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) have joined forces to strike after the expiration of their contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the AMPTP's refusal to engage in negotiations for fair pay, safe working conditions, protection against AI and other basic rights for performers, writers an...
Jul 24, 2023•2 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 16
While The 98% mostly discusses everything about the real #actorslife aside from the actual art of acting…this episode is a slight gear change as Alexa talks to renowned acting teacher Terry Knickerbocker. In this down to earth, honest chat you can hear discussion on the importance of laying the foundations for working on your craft, why your goals should be more than just “be a working actor”, what to look out for when finding a good coach, the importance of self care and finding a nurturing tea...
Jul 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 15
An episode years in the making and one The 98% is SO excited to share. A first-of-its-kind chat where an Assistant Director for TV and film shares all the insight an actor could possibly need for working on set. This is like a crash course in everything they don't teach you at drama school..but what you should know! In this insightful, informative episode 2nd A.D Erin Morris-Large shares the ins and outs of #setlife, the do’s and don’t’s for actors working in TV/film, a breakdown of a call sheet...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 5Ep. 14
*Content Note/Trigger Warning: This episode contains conversation around mental illness and eating disorders. Please take care while listening.* Grab a cuppa and settle in for a feature film length episode! We feel so privileged to platform stories on The 98% that are not usually heard in #actorslife circles, and today’s episode is a really special one of that nature. Alexa and guest Em Holdaway could have chatted for hours thanks to Em's incredible honesty and transparency about her journey, wh...
Jun 12, 2023•1 hr 39 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Get ready for an energised, uplifting and empowering episode with today's guest Brian Patacca! Brian helps actors get what they want without all the struggle. Known as “The Representation Whisperer" for helping over 500 actors find representation through his popular online courses and entertaining podcast, Brian teaches actors how to market themselves authentically and use gratitude to open doors. Brian believes whole heartedly in actors, performers and creatives following their purpose, instead...
May 29, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 5Ep. 12
From wanting to be an actor but being told she was “ruining it for everyone else” with her struggle to learn lines to building a retreat for actors to make a safe learning space, today’s guest Steph Upsall has one mission: to revolutionize how we train ourselves as actors and making sure we are being our best selves as a human first and an actor second. Steph’s company “Both Feet” offers actor training retreats that are the only training of its kind in the world. Designed to help build humans, n...
May 15, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 11
As tradition, the 10th episode of the season sees just Alexa and Katie chinwagging about the real #actorslife. In this 90 min episode you'll hear discussions around reevaluating what "success" looks like as an actor, where Katie has been, the importance of boundries and self validation, actor-podcaster frustrations in an industry that only celebrates the 2%, a worrying new Hollywood trend, lessons learned, what's coming up in future episodes, and so much more! Grab a cuppa and strap in for a no-...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Season 5Ep. 10
If you've ever felt exhausted by how much acting means to you, or overwhelmed by the desperation of wanting to be a working actor when it seems so far out of reach, then this is an episode you're sure to relate to. Today's guest is actor, empowerment coach and breathwork facilitator Jeannie Scott who, after years of regularly facing actor burnout and living in a state of desperation and anxiety, decided to retrain as a life coach and now uses her knowledge and experience to help those in extrove...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 9
We've all seen child actors in tv, film and theatre...but there are whole processes, jobs and a lot of work that goes into making sure kids working professionally in the entertainment industry are kept safe and are handled accordingly. Our guest for this episode is Arlene De Cruz who works to safeguard children all the way from casting through to wrap. She runs professional training for chaperones and works hard to make sure productions work to the expected standard when employing actors who are...
Apr 03, 2023•57 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Unless you have experience of one yourself, many people don't know much about co-operative agencies, we sure didn't! The first co-op agency started in the UK in 1974 and since then many thrive in the industry. An actors' co-operative agency operates similarly to a conventional agency but is managed by the actors themselves and each member dedicates a certain amount of time to working as an agent for all other members of the co-op. In this episode our guest Owyn Stephens, chair and member of co-o...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 5Ep. 7
The first casting director episode of Series 5! Amy Jackson is a freelance casting director with vast prior experience as a casting assistant and associate. In this episode you'll hear Amy's journey from actor to award-nominated casting director, as well as advice for actors in auditions/self tapes/showcases, the importance of the CDG, how to reach out to casting, why we should be calling for casting to be recognised across all awards platforms, and much more! You can follow Amy on twitter at @A...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 5
“If an acting coach has to touch you to make you a better actor, then they’re a bad f*cking coach.” When today's guest, Nikki, was a young new actor in Toronto she went for a private coaching session with an actor, coach and union member who, in the course of the session, assualted her under the guise of coaching her to 'loosen up'. When Nikki recieved no help from her union, or anywhere else, she courageously took to social media to share her story and soon found out she wasn't the only one to ...
Feb 20, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Since the release of the new mini-series From Learning To Earning A Story Of Mistreatment In The Acting Industry, The 98% has recieved more emails and messages detailing people’s damaging experiences during actor training and in the industry. In this episode Alexa and Katie be giving them a voice, anonymously, to show that abuse of power, of which actors are regularly the victims, is not an isolated issue...It is a systemic, institutionised problem that exists in the entertainment and performing...
Feb 13, 2023•33 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this part of The 98%'s mini-series about mistreatment of actors, Katie and Alexa speak to powerhouse, advocate and trailblazer Helen Raw who has made it her mission, despite devastating pushback, to make changes in our industry to protect actors and be a support system for those who have nowhere to go with their experiences of all forms of abuse. You may have heard of Helen, or seen her online, but here you get to hear from the woman herself and the person behind the crusade. Alexa and Katie ...
Feb 06, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 3
In the second episode of this mini series highlighting mistreatment in the arts, The 98% is re-releasing an episode from 2021 of people’s stories of abuse in the industry. While the guests for this mini series cannot share the accounts they have been made privy to, we felt it important to provide context and accounts that show how widespread these issues are in our industry and give examples of why Katie, from the previous episode, and the next guest Helen are doing the work they are doing. In t...
Jan 30, 2023•58 min•Season 5Ep. 2
The 98% is back! And season 5 is kicking off with a 3 part mini series “From Learning to Earning, A Story of Mistreatment in the Acting Industry.” In the upcoming 5th series of the podcast The 98% has a range of incredible guests lined up, but first Alexa and Katie wanted to delve into an important subject matter that sadly affects many in the profession; abuse and mistreatment in an industry with a dangerous hierarchy and a pressure to do “whatever it takes.” In this first episode Alexa and Kat...
Jan 23, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Get your festive gear on, grab a drink and hunker down for a jam packed Christmas episode including listener stories, some VIA ("very important animal") introductions and a generous helping of classic 98% chat from Alexa and Katie. We are very excited to be back on the mic, with many new episodes in the bank and/or scheduled to record for a brand new series starting in the New Year! But for now, please enjoy a festive check in on relatable, realistic and humorous acconts from #actorslife. Huge t...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 46 min
In this episode Katie and Alexa have a catch up and fill you in on what's been happening behind the scenes. Hear about how things have been going for Katie in the writer's chair and why Alexa is feeling like she's stuck in a rut with classic frustrations for the 98% of actors. Grab a drink and pretend you're joining us at the pub for a classic #actorslife chat. It's shit, but we're all bloody brilliant! - New to The 98%? There’s 3 whole series for you to catch up on! Get ready for a no hold back...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 5Ep. 3
WeAudition have been trailblazers in the world of helping actors and making opportunity more accessible for years now, and have been supporters of the podcast for a long time. In this episode you can hear an abundance of positive stories, inspirational ideas and aspirational hope from co-founder Darren Darnborough as well as finding out how this platform came to be and why it's worth joining! Heralded by casting directors and actors alike, WeAudition has a range of opportunities from connecting ...
May 09, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In this mini series of The 98%, hear from some actors who have made it their mission to help others, specifically actors in The 98%. In this episode join Alexa, Rob and Elliot as they discuss Flairbox; a global online community of performers that allows talented individuals to perform, connect and be discovered for what matters most – their talent. Hear about how the co-founders have used their experiences and ideas about how anyone should have the opportunity to be discovered to create a place ...
May 09, 2022•59 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Mic, Concern, Reaction; where Alexa and Katie discuss current goings on in the industry, hot off the press, that specifically relate to The 98% of actors. In this episode, following on from the twitter storm in response to Rufus Norris' comments quoted in a recent article for The Stage, Alexa and Katie chat to Alastair Coomer, head of casting at The National, about the context of the artistic directors comments, the nuances of the issues raised and have honest and open look at casting for the co...
Mar 21, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Join in some festive fun with Alexa, Katie and the return of Philip Joel (aka the King of Panto!) as they relive panto experiences (the illusion of panto may be ruined forever!), shocking celebrity encounters (Brian Blessed did WHAT now?!) and revel in all the holiday and performance delights that pantomime can bring! If you take a sip of your boozy beverage for every time a hilarious or toe curling story is shared in this episode...you won't be sober for very long! For more Christmas content re...
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Season 4Ep. 5
It’s time for another round of Mic, Concern, Reaction where Katie and Alexa give their hot takes on current goings on in the industry. This episode was recorded in August so if it seems heavy on the hot takes and light on the ‘current’…that’s why! The podcasting break was longer than anticipated because of sorting things with the network! (“The network”…check us out!!) *Trigger Warning* - please be aware that in this episode Alexa and Katie discuss transphobia, with a brief mention of the violen...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 4
You know that thing that actors with representation dread? What’s it like when it happens, in a pandemic, on Friday the 13th, and the friend you call for support tells you the exact same thing just happened to them? Well, you’re about to find out… In this episode of The 98%’s welcome back mini series you’ll hear laughs, lamentations, advice and unexpected positivity and understanding in regards to being dumped…Not by your boyfriend, employer or therapist. But your agent! - New to The 98%? There’...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 3
The 98% Is BACK ! Instead of doing a full fourth series with a new episode every fortnight you will be getting podcast instalments as mini series’, and here is the first! 4 whole episodes all ready for your earholes at once!! This first mini series is a welcome back with Alexa and Katie doing what they do best…sharing some real #actorslife stories, having a giggle, shining a spotlight on parts of the industry that need to change and updating you all on their current actor struggles and thoughts....
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 1
'Where are they now?' In this episode Alexa and Katie hear from some previous guests of The 98% with their updates and where they’ve found themselves 18 months into the pandemic. There’s wise words, inspiration and relatability jam packed into this episode while still holding on to what The 98% is all about…you are not your CV and there’s far more places to find your validity. - New to The 98%? There’s 3 whole series for you to catch up on! Get ready for a no hold back, brutally honest look at b...
Nov 01, 2021•59 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Alexa, Katie, Scarlett and Cathy recorded this episode in March of 2021. They continue to stand with all who have spoken out, before and since, about abusive behaviour in our industry. In this collaboration episode between The 98% and Industry Minds, people's experiences of abuse in the arts are given a voice. Please be aware of the subject matter, as this episode covers a wide range of incidences of abuse and abuse of power. If you are affected by anything covered in this episode Samaritans has...
May 06, 2021•56 min
As mentioned at the end of Series 3, instead of another full series of The 98%, Katie and Alexa will be back with episodes in new and different formats. So here is the first instalment of "Mic, Concern, Reaction!" where Alexa and Katie share their thoughts, frustrations and hot takes on the current affairs of 98% life. You've probably heard of the happenings being discussed, and in a time where even meeting a friend for coffee is a no-no hopefully this will fill that void for you! So grab and cu...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Here we are again, the end of a series! And a THIRD series at that! All thanks to your support, downloads, shares and solidarity. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a season finale with laughter, impassioned discussion, a bit of emotion and a whole lot of gratitude. If you've enjoyed The 98% and the insight from its incredible guests this series you can give back during the Christmas season for free by: -Following The 98% on twitter (@the98percentpod) -Rating and Reviewing the podcast on iTunes ...
Dec 14, 2020•58 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In the penultimate episode of Series 3 of The 98% Alexa and Katie are joined by Crystal Leaity who shares her journey from seemingly having what every 98 percenter yearns for and why she left it behind to thrive in a new filmmaking venture. Follow Crystal on instagram: crystaleaity TW: Parts of this episode cover and discuss mental health and suicide. If you need support in your personal experiences with this please reach out at https://www.mind.org.uk https://www.samaritans.org https://uksobs.o...
Nov 30, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Season 3Ep. 16
