improv

January 19 2026

Jack Seavor McDonald – Actor (Never Have I Ever / Hacks / Ted)

Steve Owens podcast actor, Fuzzy Door, Hacks, Halloween, Heat Wave, Ick movie, improv, Jack Seavor, Jack Seavor McDonald, Jean Smart, Mindy Kaling, Modern Family, Never Have I Ever, sag aftra, Seth MacFarlane, ted, ucb, Upright Citizens Brigade, Young Sheldon

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Jack Seavor McDonald Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jack Seavor McDonald. Jack is an actor and an improv player in television & film. In this episode, we get to know Jack, and why he decided to become an actor. He shares stories of growing up and always finding a way to make people laugh. Jack tells the story of the unique way that he was able to join the SAG / AFTRA actors union, and how he raised the funds to pay for it. We also discuss Jack’s experiences on the sets of some of the projects he has worked on, including Hacks, the TV show TED, Never Have I Ever, and my personal thoughts on both Hacks and Young Sheldon. Jack breaks down what it is like to work with and for Mindy Kaling, as well as working with and for Seth MacFarlane. I dive deep into what would make Jack get into improv, and what he has gained from it. You can find Jack and his improv group performing around the Los Angeles area as HEAT WAVE. Look for Jack on all of your favorite tv shows; as well as his new film “Ick”. Bonus points if you can sneak up and scare the daylights out of him on Halloween!

June 24 2024

John Kapelos – Actor (The Breakfast Club / Sixteen Candles / Seinfeld)

Steve Owens podcast actor, Brat Pack, Brats, Breakfast Club, chicago, Cloris Leachman, Emilio Estevez, ferris bueller, improv, James Roday, James Roday Rodriguez, john hughes, John Kapelos, Kapelos, Lingua Franca, Martin Sheen, new music, Psych TV Show, Psych!, SCTV, second city, seinfeld, Sixteen Candles, Sniffing Accountant, Too Hip For The Room, Tootsie, Weird Science

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John Kapelos
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know John Kapelos. You may know John as ‘Carl, The Janitor’ from the 1984 cult classic film: The Breakfast Club; but he is so much more than that! In this episode, we chat about him spending nearly a decade with Second City, his experiences on some of the greatest John Hughes films, and even his time as ‘The Sniffing Accountant’ on Seinfeld. We discuss how the show must go on, even after his father unexpectedly passed. John reveals the moment he found out that Emelio Estevez was the son of Martin Sheen, stories from the set of The Breakfast Club, and his scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that got cut. As if all of this improv comedy and hall of fame acting isn’t enough, John Kapelos also put out an album! It is called “John Kapelos: Too Hip For the Room”; and he lets me play a track from it. I think you’re gonna dig it!
John is a consummate professional, and he gets honest and vulnerable with me in this interview. I appreciate him for letting go, and not holding back. If you have a chance to see John in a play, or singing, or in television and film; I highly suggest you check him out. In everything he does, he BRINGS IT!

December 13 2022

Andy Harris – Writer, Producer, Podcaster (This American Laugh)

Steve Owens podcast adam carolla, andy harris, andy harris everybody, aristotle athari, bidet, big money players, charlotte, gina grad, improv, Los Angeles, podcaster, podcasting, producer, radio, robin williams, saturday night live, snl, streetwalker, thiis american laugh, voiceover, writer

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Andy Harris
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Andy Harris.
Andy is a writer & producer in Los Angelas, and fellow podcaster. He has had a several different podcasts; with his most recent one being This American Laugh, a parody of the popular This American Laugh. In this episode, we chat about his career in radio, sports venues, as well as what got him into podcasting. We talk about improv, and he shares some great improv stories, including one about performing with the legendary Robin Williams! We talk about how and why he started podcasting, and what inspired This American Laugh. Then I turn the conversation on its head and make everybody feel uncomfortable when I talk about famous people getting into the podcasting game. Sorry Andy! Go check out This American Laugh and Andy Harris, Everybody. Plus, keep your eyes and ears peeled for his upcoming projects!
Follow Andy on social media:
Twit: @THEAndyHarris
Insta: @TheAndyHarris
Website: TheAndyHarris.com

Special thanks to sponsors:
Profoundly Pointless podcast
and
Ice Shaker

September 12 2022

Sarah J. Halstead – Stand Up Comedian (RV’s and Cats)

Steve Owens podcast acting, actress, bottle shock, bottleshock, cats, champagne, comedian, comic, drinking during business hours, hollywood, hollywood improv, improv, podcast, podcaster, Prime, RV, RV's, RV's and Cats, Sarah Halstead, Sarah J Halstead, stand up, standup, streetwalker, weinstein, wine

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Sarah J. Halstead
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know comedian and actress Sarah J. Halstead. In this episode we chat about her classical piano training, and how that helped her get her first stage acting gig, her career in the New York acting scene, and her transition to getting into the wine and champagne business. She shares with us the reasons that led to her moving to Miami, and what inspired her to get back into acting. Finally, we discuss her cross-country trip (in an RV, with her cats) from Miami to Los Angeles to bet on herself as a stand-up comic! Naturally, I critique her stand up special RV’s and Cats, which is available on Amazon Prime, and Bottle Shock; the monthly stand-up comedy show that she produces for The Hollywood Improv.
Follow Sarah on social media:
Twit: @SarahJHalstead
Insta: @SarahHalstead
FB: Sarah Halstead
TikTok: @SarahJHalstead
Website: Sarahjhalstead.com

May 23 2022

Stuart Pankin – Actor (NNTN/ Dinosaurs / Fatal Attraction / Deep In The Forest)

Steve Owens podcast acting, acting life, actor, arachnophobia, cameo, covid, Deep In The Forest, Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs ABC, Dinosaurs TV show, disney, Fatal Attraction, Honey I Shrunk, improv, interview, NNTN, Not Necessarily The News, Pankin, Saban, streetwalker, Stuart Pankin, Zenon

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Stuart Pankin
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Stuart Pankin. Stuart is an actor who has been in just about everything you have ever seen. From Not Necessarily The News, to Dinosaurs, to Fatal Attraction, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, and Zenon; you have seen him in everything! In this episode, we chat about why he decided to get into acting, what made him move to Los Angeles, and some of the highlights of his career. We have a ball with him telling stories about working on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and I hilariously get Fatal Attraction confused with Basic Instinct! Finally, we discuss Stuart’s new film Deep In The Forest, which is available EVERYWHERE on VOD starting May 31st.
Follow Stuart on social media:
Twit: @Stuart_Pankin
FB: Stuart Pankin

March 15 2021

John Sylvain – Podcaster (Nooner) / Game Creator (You Know It!)

Steve Owens podcast author, bobby blinx, calpoly, card game, creative machine, film professor, improv, john sylvain, nooner, podcaster, sacred fools, seattle, smodco, space, space elevator, sylvain, theater, theater company, theatre, trivia, trivia game, writer, ya author, yale, you know it, you know it the game, young adult

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John Sylvain
Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know John Sylvain. John is a podcast host on the Nooner podcast on the Smodcast podcast network; as well as an adjunct film professor at Cal State Poly Tech. John is also the founder of The Sacred Fools theater in Los Angeles, and the creator of You Know It! The Game; my favorite trivia card based game. In this episode we chat about all of these things, plus his time at Yale, and his time in Seattle running a small theater company. There is a giveaway in this episode of his game, so pay attention!
Follow John on social media:
Twit: @Sylvainbbb
FB: John Sylvain
Check out the game at: YouKnowItTheGame.com
Watch the game by searching You Know it The Game on YouTube.
John’s Amazon Author page:
https://www.amazon.com/John-Sylvain/e/B00TUPQ280?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

February 24 2020

Michael Gibson Jr – Filmmaker (Alora)/ Podcaster (Avert Your Eyes)

Steve Owens podcast alora, avert your eyes, evert your eyes podcast, film fest, film festival, film maker, filmmaker, improv, jamaica, michael gibson, michael gibson jr, podcaster, podcasting, short film, sketch comedy, texas, texas podcast union

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Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Michael Gibson Jr. Michael is a podcaster, fim maker, and improvisational sketch atrist. In this episode we chat about where MIchael grew up and what got him into improv comedy. Then we move onto the details of his podcast: Avert Your Eyes, which is an interview show where he interviews talent all around the great state of Texas. Finally, we discuss his new short film Alora. We talk about how it came to be, some of the steps along the way, and where it can be seen on the festival circuit.
Enjoy!

Follow Michael on social media:
Twit: @Nebula_One / @AYE_Pod_
Insta: @Nebula_One / @aye_pod_
FB: Michael Gibson Jr / Avert Your eyes

May 1 2019

Nicole Butler – Actress (NCIS:NO)

Steve Owens podcast 911, acting, actinglife, actor, actorslife, actress, actresslife, dandria, fascinating, fascination, fascintationstreet, groundlings, hallmark, ice climbing, iceclimbing, improv, improv olympics, improvolympics, jimmy kimmel, kilamanjaro, kimmel, matt d'andria, motorator, ncis, new york, newyork, nicole butler, nicole i butler, nicolebutler, nicoleibutler, pumpkin, second city, secondcity, sept 11, sept11, sharks, speech, speech pathology, speechpathology, speechtherapy, streetwalkers

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Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Nicole Butler. Nicole is an actress, model, adventure seeker / adrenaline junkie, and a speech pathologist. In this episode we talk about a special piece of land that has been in her family for over 100 years in Illinois, why she decided to be a speech pathologist, her experience living in New York City on 911, and some of her wacky adventures. Special thanks to Matt ‘The Motorator’ D’Andria for helping set this up.

Follow Nicole on social media:

Twit: @Nicoleibutler

Insta: @nicoleibutler

FB: Nicole Butler

Nicole’s speech pathology website: speechwithinreachtherapy.com

Nicole’s personal website: nicoleibutler.com

March 27 2019

Anna Jaller – Actress (Speechless)

Steve Owens podcast acting, actinglife, actor, actorslife, actress, actresslife, annajaller, columbia, ednorton, entourage, fascinating, fascination, fascinationstreet, fsp, hollywood, improv, inspiration, inspire, interview, japanese, lux, mercury, mercuryretrograde, podcast, podcastaddict, podcasting, podcastlife, retrograde, speechless, streetwalker, webseries

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Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Anna Jaller. Anna is an actress that you may know from the Entourage movie, and the hit television show Speechless on ABC. In this episode we talk about her going to the same high school as Ed Norton, and growing up in the community that Ed’s grandfather CREATED. We also talk about her time in New York and the reasons she moved to Los Angeles, plus her experience being hired for a Japanese commercial. We end the show discussing some very interesting Mercury Retrograde happenings!

Follow Anna on social media:

Twit: @AnnaJaller

Insta: @AnnaJaller

FB: Anna Jaller

Visit Anna’s website: AnnaJaller.com

Watch her Japanese hair care commercials:

December 24 2018

Christina Elizabeth Smith – Actress (NCIS:NO)

Steve Owens podcast acting, actinglife, actor, actorslife, actress, actresslife, christina, christinaelizabethsmith, clarksville, dancing, fascinating, fascination, fascinationstreet, fsp, greysanatomy, groundlings, hollywoodsouth, improv, inspiration, inspire, interview, jimmykimmel, kimmel, Nashville, ncisnola, neworleans, nola, podcast, podcastaddict, podcasting, podcastlife, streetwalkers, tennessee, ucb

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This is my interview with actress Christina Elizabeth Smith. You know Christina from her work in: NCIS: New Orleans, Grey’s Anatomy, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and Cousin Sal’s Sure Thing. In this episode we chat about falling in love with dancing at an early age, and how that led her to the stage. We also talk about her crazy work ethic, what it’s like to work with a few icons, and she tells us about some of her past and current projects.

Follow Christina Elizabeth Smith on Social Media:

Twit: @IAmC_E_S

Insta: @ChristinaElizabethSmith