Brett Gelman on Stranger Things, Fleabag, McVeigh and the Art of Acting

Hi everyone! We’ve got a special one for you this week. It’s Aaron Douglas! Aka Chief Galen Tyrol from Battlestar Galactica. Behind his gruff exterior, Aaron is an incredibly sensitive guy and a brilliant performer. We talk about how he booked Battlestar, how we both overcame imposter syndrome on set and how being part of the show changed his life. We also discuss his experience of losing his first wife to breast cancer at the end of the first season and how that impacted his performance. Outside of Battlestar, you may know him for his new role as Sid Sokolowski on Murder in a Small Town, as Gordon Rimmer in Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, or even from the many graphic novels he has written. It’s so cool to see how he has built his career over the years and I know you’ll enjoy this conversation! Speaking of fun conversation, be sure to stick around for the Hindsight— my producer Jeph and I discuss the episode, answer fan questions and talk about the new community we’re building over on Patreon. Check it out! Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Happy Tuesday, everyone! I love when I get the opportunity to sit down with someone who I really respect as an actor and Brett Gelman is definitely one of those people. You know Brett from playing Murray on Stranger Things and Martin on Fleabag, plus roles in The Other Guys, Strays and McVeigh. The roles that Brett plays are hilarious and there’s always a darkness to them— I found it so interesting to learn more about his approach to building a character. We talk about our acting idols and having the humility to continue studying even after you find success. In fact, this conversation convinced me to start working with an acting coach again! Plus, we discuss how Star Wars inspired both of us to become actors and which Star Wars character informed his role as Murray in Stranger Things. Be sure to stick around for the Hindsight, where my producer Jeph and I talk about the interview and answer fan questions from the Mail Sack! Send me an email [email protected]  Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions  Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles  Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Hi everyone, happy Tuesday! I’m not a huge gamer, but even I know what a big deal Ashly Burch is in the video game world. She has voiced so many beloved and iconic characters, including Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, Chloe Price in Life is Strange and Tiny Tina in Borderlands 2 and 3. She’s also had a fascinating career as an actor, writer and director starting when she created Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’? with her brother Anthony and progressing to writing and/or directing on Side Quest, Mythic Quest and Adventuretime, among others. She is crazy talented and also so smart when it comes to her work and the future of the industry. We talk about AI, mental health and what it was like to grow up in Arizona the daughter of an immigrant and fall in love with video games. I had such a good time talking to Ashly and I hope you enjoy our conversation! Be sure to stick around for the Hindsight, where Jeph and I talk about the parallels between the Sci-Fi and video game fan culture and answer some of your questions from the Mailsack! Should I FREEZE MYSELF when I die? | S2E9 with Katee Sackhoff | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc6ffxAiZ28 Robert Ettinger: Dying for Immortality (Jeph's Cryo Doc) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF-KhUkT_kc I'm Happy You're Here Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfUO2QmxHM Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Don’t be scared, but this week I’m talking with Horror Queen Kate Siegel! Along with her husband Mike Flanagan, Kate has helped to create some of the most terrifying films and TV in recent memory. I was blown away by Kate’s performance as Maddie in Hush, which she also wrote. She also played Theodora Crain in Haunting of Hill House, Erin Greene in Midnight Mass and Camille L’Espanaye in The Fall of the House of Usher. She and Mike are releasing a new film, Life of Chuck, which is adapted from a Stephen King novel, but is a departure from the horror genre— I can’t wait to go and check it out! Kate has found her niche with horror, but she’s such a fantastic actor in everything she does, not to mention a great writer. This conversation also touches on motherhood, addiction and sobriety and the joys and challenges of collaborating creatively with your life partner. Be sure to stick around for the Hindsight this week, where my producer Jeph and I talk about the interview and answer some fan questions from the Mailsack! Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Hi Everyone! Happy Tuesday. This week’s episode is many months in the making! We recorded the first half of this interview with Brent Spiner back in January, but we were interrupted because Brent had to evacuate from his home in the Palisades during the Los Angeles fires. We were finally able to get together— in person this time— to finish our conversation, but it was not without more interruptions (I’ll let you watch and see what I mean). What can I say, I guess Brent and I are all about the drama! You know the great Brent Spiner from his performance as Data, starting with Star Trek: Next Generation and in many other Star Trek vehicles over the last 40 years. He’s also a fantastic writer and character actor, and I’m glad we got to talk about some of his other work in this episode, including his book Fan Fiction, his role as Bob Wheeler on Night Court and his long career as an actor. I’m such a fan of Brent and I’m so glad to finally able to share this conversation with you! This week’s Hindsight is pretty epic because my producer Jeph and I get into everything that went on behind the scenes to get this episode ready for release. Plus, we answer your fan questions from the Mailsack! Fresh Hell - https://www.youtube.com/@freshhellseries Fan Fiction by Brent Spiner - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56269181 Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Happy Tuesday! I love introducing you to my incredibly talented Mandalorian family and this week I am so excited to share my conversation with my friend Brendan Wayne. Along with Lateef Crowder and Pedro Pascal, Brendan is responsible for playing the Mandalorian. We talk about what it’s like to be in the suit and how it feels to build a character collaboratively. Brendan is the grandson of John Wayne and you can see that swagger in the way that Mando walks. He is also a fantastic actor in his own right, having appeared in Ahsoka as Lieutenant Lander, as well as in Sons of Anarchy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. We also talk about how Brendan was shaped by his near-death experience at the beginning of filming Season Two. Brendan is an amazing dad and such an important part of my Mando experience— I can’t wait for you to get to know him better! Be sure to stick around for the Hindsight, where my producer Jeph and I talk about the interview and answer your questions from the Mailsack! Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Happy Tuesday, everyone! If you are a fan of Marvel, or Star Trek, or just good Sci-Fi, then you are going to love this week’s guest— I’m talking with my new friend Terry Matalas! Terry broke out when he created the TV adaptation of 12 Monkeys. He has gone on to write and direct the last two seasons of Star Trek: Picard, he did a season of MacGyver, and he’s currently finishing Vision Quest and an animated adaptation of Magic: The Gathering. Terry has his hands in so many amazing projects and I love to see it because he is truly the nicest, most appreciative guy. Be sure to stick around for the Hindsight this week, where my producer Jeph and I talk about some upcoming appearances and get into some fan questions from the Mail Sack! Biff's Question Song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwY5o2fsG7Y Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles Join us on Patreon! http://patreon.com/thesackhoffshow

Hi everyone, happy Tuesday! I am so excited for this week’s episode. I’m talking to the one and only Wil Wheaton! You know Wil from his roles as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: Next Generation, Gordie in Stand By Me and his appearances on The Big Bang Theory. Wil is also a super-nerd and a prolific audiobook reader. He has a new podcast called Storytime with Wil Wheaton, where he reads a new short speculative fiction story each episode and I highly recommend it! We had such a lovely conversation— Wil is a deep thinker and one of the kindest people I know. I can’t wait for you to get to know him a little bit better! Stick around after the interview for the hindsight, where my producer Jeph and I talk about the episode, as well as some upcoming live podcast recordings, our new Patreon and oh yeah, time travel! Listen to Storytime with Wil Wheaton: wilwheaton.net/podcast Check out the Short Story "WikiHistory" at https://reactormag.com/wikihistory/ Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles

Did you REALLY think we were done with Sam Witwer? When our last episode aired, Sam reached out to say he wanted to respond to some of what my producer Jeph and I said after the interview. We said, why not come back and be on the show again? I’m so glad he said yes! This extra conversation clarified a lot for me about the technology behind his new Star Trek Short 765874 Unification. Plus, the world just found out about Maul: The Shadow Lord, in which Sam is reprising his role as Darth Maul in a new animated series! Jeph and I press him as hard as we can for any details about the show. I know I can’t wait to watch— who knows maybe Bo Katan will make an appearance on the show in the future. I’m always glad anytime I get to talk to Sam and I hope you enjoy this extended conversation! OTOY RenderCon 2025 Keynote: https://youtu.be/jQ7wxCOgZSc?si=gwYVn5izwbeaOo3G Sam at RenderCon 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th-pMntLUJI Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles

Happy Tuesday! If you are a true Star Trek fan like I am, then this week’s episode is for you. I am talking with my friends Sam Witwer and David Collins about their beautiful and controversial new Star Trek film, 765874 Unification. If you love Star Trek and haven’t heard about this project, go check it out before you listen to this week’s episode! Using incredible cutting-edge technology, the film features Spock and Captain Kirk (yes, the originals!) only Kirk is played by Sam. Don’t believe me? Watch the film, it will blow your mind. I’ve known Sam going back to when he played Crashdown on Battlestar Galactica. He has also done voice work for Star Wars: Unleashed and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. David Collins is a prolific sound designer, including for all things Star Wars, from The Mandalorian to Skeleton Crew. I had such a blast nerding out with these guys and I think you will too! Stick around for the hindsight, where my producer Jeph talk about the episode and get into the ethics of using AI to enhance an actor’s performance. It’s a great conversation! Watch 765874 Unification - https://home.otoy.com/unification/ Check out David's Podcast,  The Soundtrack Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-soundtrack-show/id1351960656 Send me an email [email protected] Produced by Rabbit Grin Productions Mail Sack Song by Nicolas @producer_sniffles