F*ck Your Comfort Zone with Margie Haber

EP. 55 CHRIS SCHELLENGERActor | Model | Teacher | Drag QueenChris Schellenger is an actor, model and one of Margie's wonderful teachers.  He was a finalist on America’s Next Top Model and has acted in umpteen commercials and in such films as NY84, They Found Hell, Wineville and an upcoming feature (his first role in drag) which we can’t talk about since he signed an NDA.  Chris shares his experience of booking a self-tape with Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) /Lindsay Lohan - in 2013, way before they became popular.  Chris talks about his love of the Margie Haber Studio, both as an actor and a teacher and how Margie plucked him out of her class to teach.  Margie was excited to hear about his recent role on the TV show, Hacks, where he lived the life of a drag queen.  Margie and Chris have an intimate, open discussion about Chris being fluid, the challenges of growing up dressing as a girl and some great advice to parents who may have a trans child. Chris ends the podcast validating men who have a strong feminine side or women who identify more male and how to embrace it and remove any shame around it.  

EP. 54 SALLY STEWARTActor“Ever since I’ve worked with you, I’ve either gotten a callback or booked."Sally, on working with MargieSally has been a professional actor for over 20 years.  She has guest-starred on such series as Bull, FBI Most Wanted, Law and Order, Law and Order SVU, The Sopranos and New York Undercover.  With roles from a judge to a lawyer to a victim, she has lived them all.  Sally shares what it is like to be cast as a co-star supporting the story rather than being the star.  She has also acted in theater and had the privilege of working opposite the legendary Ruby Dee.  Sally played Rose in August Wilson’s, Fence, directed by Broadway director, Marion McClinton.  Margie and Sally discuss the challenges of playing such a complicated character.Sally has created, written and produced a series called Pop Pairing.   Sally starts off with her Southern, American, Jamaican, New York City roots and her journey as an actress.  She shares her challenges as well as her fears.  Margie remarks on her amazing growth since starting her class a year ago.  Sally shares how it has changed her approach to acting by simplifying and being more specific with auditioning.   The podcast concludes with Sally’s advice for actors.

EP. 53 Alexandra PaulActress | Activist | Co-host of Switch4Good Podcast There are so many layers to Alexandra Paul and Margie hits all of them on this podcast.  Firstly, her acting career.  What was it like to star on the iconic TV series, “Baywatch” for five years, as well as her 100 movies and other TV shows?  [Margie's wife is obsessed with Alexandra's Lifetime movies!] They discuss Alexandra’s dedication as an athlete and how that helped her find the discipline she needed to be a working actress. Next, they explore Alexandra’s journey into becoming a vegan, which also led to her role as an activist and being arrested countless times to protect animals and human rights.  In her last effort, she was acquitted for rescuing a chicken from a slaughter truck.  And lastly, they riff on how all this has led her to co-host her amazing podcast, Switch4Good, which encourages listeners to “Ditch Dairy.  Feel Awesome.  Save the World.”  Don’t miss Margie's conversation with Alexandra Paul, which is filled with love and respect for each other.  

EP. 52 Kim Krejus Artistic Director, 16th St Actors StudioMelbourne, Australia Kim is the founder and artistic director of 16th St Actors Studio in Melbourne Australia.  It is a prestigious creative space for actors to train in all levels of their creative development and has a not-for-profit foundation that is opening up opportunities for emerging writers and directors. Kim started out as a film actor receiving an Australian Film Institute best actress nomination for the film, "Mouth to Mouth."  She was so young! Just 19.Kim shares her challenges growing up as a Catholic with an abusive alcoholic stepfather and how this shaped her life to become a kind person who cares about people.  Margie and Kim discuss alcoholism and Alanon and how Margie's book, "F*ck Your Comfort Zone" can help those who get caught in the triangle of rescuer, victim and persecutor.  Kim got out of her comfort zone with Buddhism, which helped her deal with the tragedy of losing her sister to cancer when she was in her 50's.  Margie and Kim have so much in common as they share what it is like to own an acting studio and their passion for teaching.  In the end, they give actors some insight on how they create characters.  

EP 51. FABRIZIO TRAVERSA, ITALIAN ACTORIn this podcast, Margie talks to her student and friend, Fabrizio, from Italy, about the challenges of being so handsome that people often don’t see past your looks.  In Hollywood, beauty is so important.  Margie and Fabrizio discuss how this phenomenon has affected his life and how therapy has helped him see who he is underneath the exterior, appreciate it and grow from the inside.  Fabrizio talks about his critical parent, a term from Margie's book,  F*ck your Comfort Zone,  “Am I smart enough, vulnerable enough?”  They discuss Hollywood’s handsome leading men such as Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and what they brought to their characters from their core, even in comedy.  Margie and Fabrizio talk about his career, the International Studies Program, Fabrizio's growth as an actor and what he is taking with him as he returns to Rome after visiting for 3 weeks.   

EP. 50 MARK MEASURESTalent Agent, President of KMR TalentMark is president of Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin & Associates and has represented such stars as Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Chris Pratt, Jane Lynch, Terrance Howard and Margie's wonderful student, Melanie Nicholls-King.  Mark shares some intimate childhood memories of losing his parents at a young age and dropping out of high school. He began his career as a commercial agent in 1988.  (Ironically working for the same agencies that Margie worked with at the start of her commercial career - TGI and Harry Abrams.)  Both Mark and Margie also worked with Brad Pitt and Halle Berry.  And they discovered another thing in common - their favorite musical, “Ragtime!” (which is Margie's son, Michael's favorite as well!)  Mark discusses what makes an actor successful in commercials, theater and film/tv.  He goes over his checklist for success, what makes a good self-tape, cover letter, head shots and gives his viewpoint on managers vs agents.  They also discuss the question of authenticity in casting – for instance, whether one should hire a gay actor for a gay role, and the company’s championing of actors with disabilities.  Margie and Mark end the conversation with questions from her students and a wise suggestion from Mark - "Do one thing for your career each day and you will have done 365 of them at the end of the year!”www.kmrtalent.com    

EP. 49 Jackson KellyActorFor a young guy, Jackson has been very busy as a series regular in “Lucky Hank” with well-known actor Bob Odenkirk from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” and his new series for Disney, “Witch Mountain” starring Bryce Dallas Howard, as well as the Oscar-nominated short, “My Year of Dicks,” streaming on Hulu and many other productions soon to be released. Margie and Jackson talk about what it was like working with Bob Odenkirk and how he got the part, as well as his first feature film and WItch Mountain.Margie and Kelly recall the first time they met when he was just 18 starring in the movie, “Hard Miles” with her student, Richard Gunn.  Ironically, the film was about an anorexic boy, while Kelly was keeping his own secret that he, too, was suffering from the same disease.Most rewarding is that Jackson decided to use this podcast as a way to “out“ himself and share his eating disorder.  Margie remembers the time that she kindly asked if he had an eating disorder and Jackson bravely outed himself about his challenges and setbacks over the past four years.  If anyone has an eating disorder or knows someone suffering from it, please share this podcast with them.  It is inspiring, as Kelly truly "F*cked his comfort zone!"

EP. 48 Rabbi Denise EgerSpiritual Leader | Social Activist | AuthorIn celebration of Pride Month, Margie talks with her longtime friend and rabbi, renowned activist and leader, Rabbi Denise L. Eger, who has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ equality for decades. Rabbi Eger is the founding rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami, West Hollywood's Reform Synagogue and was the first openly LGBTQ person to be President of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. She was a founding President of the Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Interfaith Clergy Association and the first woman to be elected President of the Southern California Board of Rabbis.Rabbi Eger officiated the first legal wedding for a lesbian couple in California. Among her many honors, in October 2011, Rabbi Eger was named a GLBT Icon for her long history of activism and service for Gay and Lesbian History Month by the Equality Forum.Margie and Rabbi Eger talk about how we have a choice in life to submit or rise up. Denise recalls her childhood, growing up with older parents in the South where many places excluded Jews, and shares a haunting memory of the Klu Klux Klan walking down Memphis streets. Rabbi Eger was ordained in 1988 during the AIDS crisis.  She and Margie discuss the challenges of being a Rabbi during that time with so many young gay boys dying and how she and others dealt with all the loss. They cover “The 7 Principles for Living Bravely,” Rabbi Eger’s new book which she co-wrote with her colleague, Reverend Neil Thomas - Mourning, Truth, Rest, Love, Prayer, Joy and Hope.  The podcast is filled with hope on how to live fully with empathy during this stressful time of divisive politics where there are threats to marriage equality, attacks on reproduction healthcare and the dehumanization of transgender people, ending with the ever present question - How we can all help to make this a better world a better place? One relationship at a time.Insta @rabbideniseeger  Fb @Deniseeger and @Rabbi Denise L Eger and @7principlesforlivingbravely Rabbi Eger is a 3-time author whose latest book is co-authored with Rev. Dr. Neil G. Thomas, "7 Priniciples for Living Bravely" a book of of interfaith spiritual principles that helps us weather the storms of adversity.  Look for it on Amazon or your local bookstore.

Sterling Hawkins is an entrepreneur, an investor, a keynote speaker and the author of a wonderful book called, “Hunting Discomfort.”  Margie talks to Sterling about their first encounter, ‘Strangers on a plane,’ where 12 years ago they spent 6 hours as strangers getting to know each other on a flight and formed an intimate friendship that has lasted all these years.Sterling shares his journey through his doubts, loss and enormous successes in the business world and his personal life.  Margie asks some difficult questions about his personal relationships and his amazing success in the world of motivational speaking.  He shares the ‘5 steps of discomfort’ from his book, giving our listeners tools for grow both as people as well as navigating the business world.Website: sterlinghawkins.comYouTube: @sterling.hawkins

Margie talks with British Actor, Kris Saddler about his childhood and the challenges that led him to comedy.  Kris was recently a series regular on the UK sitcom, Kate and Koji, written by the brilliant Guy Jenkins and Andy Hamilton.  Kris has starred in such films as Spitfire over Berlin, a Netflix horror film called Await Further Instructions and the war film, Lancaster Skies.  He co-starred in a drama, now being acquired by Netflix called Adult Material where he plays a porn star.  Kris talks about creating with joy and passion, the pressure to be perfect in self-tapes, and learning to be freer and using his body.  He now considers his childhood issues like dyslexia as superpowers.  Kris has also begun writing and producing.  He produced 5 fantastic short films during lockdown and is currently writing a new sitcom.