The Staffa Corner | Celebrity Interviews & Entertainment Insights

Send us Fan MailActress Jackie Dallas joins Greg Staffa on The Staffa Corner Podcast to share why she left a medical career just before turning 30 to pursue acting. From resigning her residency and driving Route 66 to California to working survival jobs while chasing auditions, Jackie opens up about the uncertainty behind starting over. She explains how exploring Atlanta’s growing film industry helped her land Stranger Things, how her medical training informs her performances, and what it was like returning to a hospital setting as Nurse Jill on The Resident.Beyond her career change, Jackie discusses Asian American representation, opportunities for women in filmmaking, and redefining success around personal fulfillment. She also shares the motivation behind HerHealth101, her women’s health education website, and her move into producing with the Chinese American horror project Gui. With reflections on The Hunting Wives and the challenges facing working actors, this conversation explores the courage to change direction, celebrate small milestones, and build a life that feels like your own.Netflix’s massive breakout hit The Hunting Wives is officially returning for Season 2 on November 26, 2026! Support the show

Send us Fan MailActress Carrie Gibson joins Greg Staffa on The Staffa Corner Podcast for a conversation about acting, empathy, and finding the courage to follow your dream. With credits including Superstore, Barry, King Richard, and Weapons, Carrie shares how her experience as a therapist and her work creating theater around social issues shaped her approach to playing other people. She recalls overcoming performance anxiety, training with the Groundlings and Second City, and the unexpected sequence of events that led to booking Superstore.Beyond her screen credits, Carrie opens up about the uncertainty between acting jobs and finding purpose through coaching, serving as a funeral celebrant, and training as a death doula. She discusses portraying characters whose values differ from her own, the importance of uncomfortable conversations, and her passion project, The Emerald Turtle, a screenplay inspired by a bus trip that changed her outlook on life. It’s a thoughtful look at storytelling, human connection, and pursuing a creative life without losing sight of what matters.Support the show

Send us Fan MailActor, writer, and improviser Steve Han joins Greg Staffa on The Staffa Corner Podcast to discuss his unexpected journey from studying biology and planning for medical school to discovering a career in comedy and television. Known for appearances in The Big Leap, Chicago Med, and Work in Progress, Steve shares how a Second City class helped him confront stage fright and find the freedom to perform. He explores Chicago’s comedy community, the meaning of “yes, and,” and how improvisation helped him become a more confident actor.Beyond the laughs, Steve opens up about embracing failure, writing for himself, and knowing when to improvise on set and when to trust the script. The conversation also explores music as a form of expression, authentic Korean representation on screen, and why adults need opportunities to play. From his love of musical theater to the importance of his mother and grandmother, Steve offers a thoughtful look at the person behind the performances, and why his career is only one part of who he is.Support the show

Send us Fan MailStop-motion animator Ian Boone joins Greg Staffa on The Staffa Corner Podcast to explore the painstaking artistry behind LAIKA’s Wildwood. From making homemade films in Kentucky to landing his first LAIKA internship at just 19, Ian shares the journey that led to nearly four years bringing Owl Rex to life, one carefully crafted movement at a time.Ian takes listeners behind the scenes of stop-motion filmmaking, revealing how rehearsals, tiny adjustments, and unexpected setbacks shape a character’s performance. He also reflects on sharing his love of film with his son, finding inspiration in classic comedies, and revisiting his passion project, Nowhere Special.Check out more of Ian's work HERESupport the show

Send us Fan MailFrom the Jersey Shore to Hawaii’s North Shore, Jason Bitzer has built a life around the water. On this episode of The Staffa Corner Podcast, Jason joins Greg Staffa to share how professional bodyboarding and lifeguarding helped shape his work as a stunt performer and water safety specialist. He explains the difference between catching a wave for yourself and entering dangerous surf to save someone else, and how those experiences taught him to make critical decisions under pressure.Jason also takes us behind the scenes of aquatic stunt work, where creating convincing danger requires preparation, trust, and knowing when to stop filming. Beyond production, he discusses his Never Off Duty initiative to help prevent drownings and his book, In the Wake of Technology, which explores how Hawaii’s communities might come together in a crisis. It’s a conversation about staying curious, learning new skills, and looking out for others.Check out his book ISO: In the Wake of Technology on Amazon HERESupport the show

Send us Fan MailErica Hubbard joins The Staffa Corner for what almost became one of the shortest episodes in show history. She passionately came out swinging for her Chicago baseball teams, a clear jab at my Minnesota Twins! Thankfully, I was willing to put that injustice behind me so we could explore her amazing career, from A Cinderella Story and Lincoln Heights to Let’s Stay Together, along with her work as a producer, writer, and director.Beyond the screen, Erica shares her passion for mentoring young people through the Erica Hubbard Foundation and helping others find opportunities to succeed. We also discuss her Chicago roots, her approach to storytelling, and why collaboration matters both on set and in life. It’s a conversation full of laughter, perspective, and purpose, even if her baseball loyalties need some work. GO Twins!Follow ATwist to find out more and view King of the SouthFollow Erica on Instagram HERELearn more about the Erica Hubbard Foundation Here Support the show

Send us Fan MailActor Ian Lyons joins Greg Staffa to talk about his unexpected path into acting and his work in The Holdovers and Dexter: New Blood. He shares how a small part on Sabrina the Teenage Witch changed his direction and why finding success after 40 worked for him.Ian also recalls working with David Hyde Pierce on Julia and sharing a set with Meryl Streep and Leonardo DiCaprio on Don’t Look Up. It’s a candid conversation about handling rejection, enjoying the work, and staying grounded through family and humor.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSound designer and supervising sound editor Dashen “Dash” Naidoo joins me on The Staffa Corner Podcast to explore the sound behind Trap and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. From building terrifying zombie voices to balancing concert crowds with quiet tension, Dash reveals how carefully chosen sounds shape a story and pull audiences into its world.I love highlighting the creative people whose contributions too often go unnoticed, and Dash offers a fascinating look at this essential part of filmmaking. We discuss how Back to the Future sparked his imagination, why a creaky studio door became worth recording, and how remaining a student of his craft keeps him inspired.Support the show

Send us Fan MailSound designer and supervising sound editor George Flores joins me on The Staffa Corner Podcast to explore the sounds that bring movies to life. I love his passion for his craft as he takes us through dialogue editing, Foley, and the creativity behind sound design for independent films.Our conversation also serves as a reminder that we too often focus on Hollywood and forget that countries around the world are making films and television shows of their own. George offers a fascinating look at that broader filmmaking community and the sound professionals whose work helps bring those stories to life.Support the show

Send us Fan MailOn this episode of The Staffa Corner Podcast, I welcome actor David Webster, known for playing young Elliot in The Way Home. David shares how a childhood theater production in Sudbury, Ontario, opened the door to acting, why an ambitious pilot that never aired still changed his life, and how his parents’ support helped him navigate auditions, rejection, and the decision to pursue acting as a career.We also explore David’s passion for screenwriting and the surprising creative freedom he found on The Way Home, including the opportunity to rewrite a pivotal scene’s dialogue. From the challenges of bringing Canadian stories to international audiences to his hopes for his own feature screenplay, David offers a thoughtful look at finding his voice both on camera and on the page.Support the show