111 Be Rigorous, Not Rigid

An artistic life can take you places you never imagined, especially when you remain curious enough to explore the unexpected. This week, Charlie welcomes former Maggie Flanigan Studio student Sophie Becker, an actor, writer, and ventriloquist who stumbled into an almost forgotten art form during the pandemic. What began as a hobby has taken her from New York's downtown performance scene to stages across Europe and a feature in The New York Times. Charlie and Sophie explore the fascinating relationship between an artist and her imagination, the psychology of creating character, the demands of technical discipline, and the freedom that comes from taking yourself a little less seriously. It’s a funny, thoughtful conversation about artistic identity, creative freedom, and the importance of cultivating a life beyond your professional ambitions. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

Some actors have enormous talent. You'll never see it. They're too afraid of being wrong, looking foolish, or making a choice that might invite criticism. This week Charlie examines how our own psychology can sabotage our artistic instincts, drawing on Freud's id, ego, and superego to explore the destructive power of the inner critic. He also confronts an uncomfortable question: can rigorous acting training actually produce cautious, inhibited artists? Discipline should make you free. If your technique has become another way to control yourself, something has gone terribly wrong. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

It’s a common piece of advice given to actors, and Charlie has been saying it for twenty years: don’t quit. Work hard, develop some grit, play full out with yourself, and keep going. But what happens when the dream you’ve spent years pursuing no longer belongs to the person you’ve become? In this solo episode, Charlie wrestles with ambition, identity, sunk costs, failure, and the fear of changing direction. How do you know the difference between wanting to escape difficulty and genuinely knowing it’s time to move on? Sometimes the real struggle isn’t whether you have the discipline to stay. It’s whether you have the courage to leave. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

What happens when an actor stops waiting for permission and starts creating their own work? Charlie sits down with former student Graham Powell to discuss his feature film Shackled, the realities of independent filmmaking, what actors can learn from writing and casting, the meaning of professionalism, and the fanatical faith it takes to carry an idea all the way into the world. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

What happens when you get the role you dreamed about—and discover success is different than what you imagined? Six years after her first appearance on Creating Behavior, Charlie sits down again with former student and All the Queen’s Men star Candace Maxwell. They talk about five seasons as DJ Dime, the realities of working professionally, why talent isn’t enough, the insecurities that success can amplify, and what it takes to keep your craft alive when acting becomes your job. A candid conversation about ambition, artistry, fame, sacrifice, and the long road of becoming the actor, and person, you hoped to be. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

What do you say you want—and does the way you live support that claim? We admire excellence, but often resist what it takes to achieve it. In this episode Charlie explores wasted talent, failure, comparison, distraction, curiosity, and the private work behind a serious artistic life. Who are you when no one is watching? What owns your attention? And if someone watched how you spent the last 30 days, what would they conclude you were devoted to? Maybe discipline isn’t something we impose on ourselves. Maybe it’s what love looks like when we take our life's work seriously.  Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

What happens when the craft and technique you once worked so hard to develop begin to dull? In the Season Six premiere, Charlie explores what it means to return to process, discipline, imagination, vulnerability, and truthful artistry. He also announces Return to Craft  https://www.returntocraft.com  - a new program created for trained actors who feel distanced from the artist they once were, and still hope to become. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer. 

We live in a time where modern culture increasingly rewards performance over truth. An age where branding, appearance, and clever curation often substitute for real artistry. Visibility has begun to replace depth.In this Bonus Episode before the launch of Season Six, Charlie reflects on why art and truthful artistry still matter. A conversation about discipline, artistic rigor, high standards, vulnerability, and the responsibility of the artist to illuminate the truth of the human condition rather than chase shortcuts to visibility and viral content.Hosted by Charlie Sandlan — Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City.Follow Creating Behavior on Instagram @creatingbehavior and the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio.Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.For private coaching, voicemail submissions, and more, visit:creatingbehaviorpodcast.commaggieflaniganstudio.com

Well fellow daydreamers, another fantastic season of CBP has come to an end. Thank you to all of the actors and artists out there who have found this podcast to be a source of inspiration and a way to continually stimulate your intellectual curiosity. This week Charlie talks about the work of Nicole Kidman, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, as well as sharing highlights from this season's guests. Charlie will take a few months off, and then be ready for season six, which will premiere in the summer.  In the meantime, stay resilient, play full out with yourself, and don't ever settle for your second best. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by  https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com and his NYC acting studio  https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com.

Hard to believe it's time for Trish Barillas to come on for her 5th episode of CBP. We are winding down season five fellow daydreamers, and Trish once again has a lot to say. This time Charlie and Trish talk about some misconceptions people have about the wellness space, her thoughts on peri-menopause, and the importance of staying up to date on your breast health. Trish also has a few books to suggest, and shares some of her favorite shows. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by  https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com and his NYC acting studio  https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com.