My guest on this week’s podcast is a choreographer and art director, and he and I lived together for a 9-week stint in New York City, where we were both cast in an off Broadway show with our friend Margaret (Cho). Even though that was 2007, it feels like more than a lifetime ago - so much has changed for the both of us. In particular, he has expanded and exploded, and is in high demand for his unique and visionary style of movement direction. I can guarantee everyone listening has seen his work, maybe without realizing it, because his work circulated literally, BILLIONS of times. Heres a hint: #chandelier.  He has the gift and ability to make absolutely anyone to feel good about moving their body as art and expression, IF you’re willing. I loved catching up with my old friend Ryan Heffington, hope you enjoy our chat.

HOW DID YOU GET HERE

Ryan Heffington, Choreographer & Director, “Don’t Care & Don’t Stop”

My guest this week is someone I admire and I’m lucky I get to call her my friend. She has so much wisdom to offer, so get a notepad and write down all the good takeaways she’s about to offer. She got her start in the voiceover and theater worlds of Chicago, and explains why Chicago theater is hands down the best ever. Went to NY for theater, then to LA and landed some “serious” roles, one of them was in a Cohen Brother’s film, another in Transparent as Sarah Pfefferman - which just wrapped it’s series musical finale. Have a listen and you will love Amy Landecker ALMOST as much as I do.

Amy Landecker, Actor, Writer, Director, “Graduate Level Freedom”

My guest this week is originally from down under. She won the lottery, a different kind of lottery, and came to the U. S. and became a makeup artist, but it didn’t happen fast and it wasn’t easy. But she has amazing tips on who to follow in the industry, what’s real on Instagram, and how to approach someone to get a job in a make up trailer on set. She also offers up what she does when she takes a breather. I hope you enjoy my chat with Paula Jane Hamilton.

Paul Jane Hamilton, Make Up Artist, “The Nicest Place On Set”

My guest this week was a music fanatic from his earliest years, rock n roll in particular, so much so that you can say that Motley Crue got him suspended from school. He met a wildly famous songwriter at a luncheon that changed his trajectory forever, and landed a job in publicity for a major label. Four days into that job he knew that was it! Ken Phillips is a consummate professional, protective of his clients and kind. Listen here to learn how he found his way to his true love, being a publicist. Hope you enjoy my conversation with Ken Phillips.

Ken Phillips, Publicist, “Crue Love”

I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone more active on their own creative behalf than my guest this week, Katie Malia. She is perhaps the most multi-hyphenated person I currently know in showbiz. Now, I could let that send me into a shame spiral about my own level of creative production, OR I could let it blow me away in a good way and be inspired to do more. I choose the latter. Thank you Katie for sharing your story and what moves you. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Katie Malia.

Katie Malia, Actor, Writer, Producer, Choreographer, “Look At What Stinks”

My guest today is Emmy Award winning costume designer, Marie Schley. Marie found her love through her first showbiz gig, which happened to be returning clothes to stores from a production that had wrapped. She explains how she connects her (seemingly unrelated) college degree relates to her design job, and she shares advice on how to get started in the costume biz. I asked Marie who she works most with on set, and she walks me through who she deals with from the first day of production meetings to the very end of production. I was absolutely blown away to learn the ENORMITY of her job! I've always respected everyone on set of any production, but after this interview, this job might be the most intensely detailed of any I’ve ever heard. AND if you are a performer, it will make you want to hang your costume back up in your trailer before you leave set. I hope you enjoy my chat with Marie Schley.

Marie Schley, Costume Designer “And The Emmy Goes To"

My new man crush, actor @rayabruzzo Ray Abruzzo, has a career that spans many decades, beginning with theater as a young man in high school in New York City.  He fearlessly opened the first scene in his first play in school , and it felt right to him, something clicked.  Filled with inspiration, he and his friends created theater collectives and produced plays in and out of school.  He worked a full-time job to support his theater habit, but when he was presented with a major health scare, Ray felt the need to make a significant change - that change led him to television shows like: Dynasty, Night Court, LA Law, The  Sopranos, and Transparent, and much more. I love Ray’s story and his love of acting. He’s a wise soul with some great advice, and his ideas  about getting or not getting roles is funny and refreshing.  Hope you enjoy my conversation with good human, Ray Abruzzo.

Ray Abruzzo, Actor, “My New Man Crush”

Chris Haston got his first camera when he was 9, that was 48 years ago. He used his $5 allowance to purchase one roll of film per week to shoot it and develop it. He read articles in the art mags to learn how to light his photography. His early love of the art form brought him to taking photos of speed racing before landing his current job on the NBC Universal lot here in Los Angeles. Haston has worked on and captured some of TVs most memorable and moving moments with his camera. He was embedded, not a fly on the wall, but part of all the shows you never wanted to end. I loved his story, his advice to people, and his private back lot tour is pretty spectacular. I hope he writes a book, I’ll be one of the first to get it. I hope you enjoy my chat with Chris Haston. Oh yeah, and don’t be an #ASKhole!!

Chris Haston, Photographer, "If You Want The Biscuit”

Show biz includes the music biz, and my next guest is from Mississippi, that’s where the accent is from. She started playing out at chapel when she was 15 and got started in the Memphis music scene not long after that, which led her to a development deal with Geffen when she was 19. The music industry shifted in major ways and she’s managed to keep up and pivot, all while deprogramming herself from fundamentalist christianity, well, the unraveling still goes on, but it sure does make for good songwriting! She’s played with some the greats, from Patty Griffin to Emmylou Harris, to Mary Chapin Carpenter, and lots more. We take a sneak peek/listen to her upcoming album titled GIRL I USED TO BE. I’ve listened to the whole thing, and it sounds like a tender, homecoming of sorts. Oh and one of her other songs, not from the album, is on the new Backstreet Boys record. WHAT?!! Cheers to Garrison and all humans out there doing the work, cheers to unraveling, and trying to get back to your birth state with some perspective. I hope you enjoy a slightly longer conversation with me and my friend, Garrison Starr.

Garrison Starr, Singer, Songwriter, “Birth State With Perspective”

My guest this week on HOW DID YOU GET HERE podcast is Silas Howard. Silas went from San Francisco punk rocker, who didn’t know how to play his instrument when he first started and ended up touring the world with his band; to cafe entrepreneur; to screenwriting a feature he and his buddy wrote, starred in and directed and that landed them at Sundance in 2002. He became a screenwriting teacher and was later the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship for media, and directing numerous critically acclaimed and award winning TV shows and feature films, including Transparent, Pose, and A Kid Like Jake.. I mean.. COME ON! This guy has seen and done so much, and one of the most remarkable thing is, he is alway in service to the story. And I love Silas’ story because it’s definitely not a traditional path to where he is now, and it didn’t matter to him if had experience doing something or not, he just jumped and figured it out, and that’s crazy inspiring to me, and honestly, it’s usually how I do things. Hope you enjoy this week's pod. 

Silas Howard, Director, “Organic Relentlessness”

Fortune Feimster’s accent used to be thicker when she was younger and reporting the school news. A “right place right time” well-written speech at college got her a job offer in LA, so she moved to the west coast. Her speech writing skills again landed her a second job in LA. Needing friends she applied to funny school, and later auditioned for SNL. Chelsea Handler often elevates smart and funny people who are often overlooked, and she helped elevate Fortune. Fortune’s relationships with her Mom and Grandmother helped inform her need for preparedness and drive. She’s a regular shower singer and gets excited about a particular project’s movement and success, but tempers her urge to celebrate. And I love watching her from the sidelines, bringing light to the world.

Fortune Feimster, Comedian, Actor, Writer, “Preparation"

My first guest is wanabee hospitality king, turned screenwriter, turned talent manager, David Laffey. It's only fitting for my inaugural episode to have my very own manager on the pod to talk about how he found his career, what it takes to be good at it, and how he selects the artists that he represents.  He's inspired by connecting his artists with others in showbiz and helping make deals happen, he's unafraid of picking up the phone, and he's very compassionate with his clients.

David Laffey, Talent Manager, “Hospitality King”

This is a podcast where I talk to friends and colleagues on all sides of the entertainment industry about the infinite number of paths to success. I want to get the inside scoop on what they did, what their path was. It didn’t happen overnight, it’s hard work and a hustle, and I want to know HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

HOW DID YOU GET HERE with Ian Harvie (Trailer)

Interviews with friends & colleagues on all sides of the entertainment industry about the infinite number of paths to success. Getting the inside scoop on what they did, what their path was. It didn’t happen overnight, it’s hard work and a hustle, HOW DID YOU GET HERE?

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HOW DID YOU GET HERE

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