Shows
Tom and DWhen AI Actors Bomb the Audition — With Viral Director Sergio CilliWhat happens when an AI actor completely bombs an audition?Sergio Cilli — the Emmy-winning director behind the viral “Director Auditions AI Actor” series that’s been cracking up filmmakers, actors, and AI geeks across the internet.If you’ve seen those painfully funny videos where a director tries to audition a photorealistic AI actor and the performance goes completely off the rails… that’s Sergio.Using real prompts (often displayed right on screen), Sergio puts today’s AI video and generative AI tools through their paces — revealing the uncanny, awkward, and sometimes hilariously broken reality of...
2026-03-0636 min
Tom and DFrom Avatar to Diving Into Dreams: Szilvia Gogh on Going Deeper and Finally Having EnoughIn this episode of Tom and D, we sit down with Szilvia Gogh, one of Hollywood’s top underwater stunt divers whose work spans major films like Avatar and dozens more across the globe. From growing up in communist Hungary to becoming the youngest female PADI Course Director and a key figure in underwater stunt coordination, Szilvia’s story is as fearless as it is inspiring.We talk about her new book, Diving Into Dreams, the raw hunger for freedom that pushed her across oceans and industries, built a hollywood career, and how cancer, mindfulness, and entrepreneurship forc...
2026-01-2849 min
Tom and DZero-G Photos & Vomit Rockets: Parker Rice Takes Us to Space (and Back)Today’s guest, Parker Rice, is a photographer and NASA commercial spacesuit tech who taught astronauts how to take killer photos… in actual space. He spills the good, the bad, and the deeply gross—from building gear that works in zero gravity, to shooting jaw-dropping images on the space station, to surviving the legendary zero-G vomit spray.We also get into his wildest wildlife photography stories and why old-school film is making a comeback as the ultimate middle finger to AI fakes, especially for courtrooms and anyone who needs proof that an image is actually real.It’s...
2026-01-1142 min
Tom and DWhen AI Can’t Read the Room (with Social Video Creator Husk) Awkward Honesty, Zero Self-AwarenessThis week we kick off our 2nd season as we sit down with Husk, the quietly brilliant and quirky mind behind those social videos where AI is dropped into everyday human interactions—and comedically exposes just how weird those moments already are. By letting AI respond with total sincerity (and zero social instinct), Husk holds up a mirror to modern conversation, etiquette, and overthinking, maybe without realizing it himself . We talk about why these videos work, what AI gets hilariously wrong about being human, and why awkwardness might be the most honest thing we’ve got left. Funn...
2025-12-3139 min
Tom and DTalent, Representation, and calling BS in the name of Festivus— with Marci PolzinMarci Polzin of Artistic Talent Inc.—and Tom’s longtime voiceover agent—joins us to talk real representation, real talent, and what it actually takes to last in this business.In true Festivus fashion, we air our grievances: AI, race-to-the-bottom pricing, and the Tilly Norwoods of the world cheapening brands in the name of “innovation.”As we close out 2025, we look ahead to another year of strong opinions, questionable takes, and absolutely no plans to tone it down.More nonsense incoming.
2025-12-2645 min
Tom and DPart 2: Ian Petrella — From "A Christmas Story" to "The Shark That Roared"You know him as Randy, the bundled-up little brother from the holiday classic A Christmas Story — but Ian Petrella’s story didn’t end with “You’ll shoot your eye out.”In Part 2, Ian joins Tom and D to dive deeper into his evolution from beloved child actor to documentary filmmaker and producer. The conversation centers on The Shark That Roared, a new documentary executive produced by Kevin Smith, exploring the unlikely second life of Jaws: The Revenge — once a notorious box-office flop, now a full-blown cult classic.Timed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Jaws: The Reve...
2025-12-1330 min
Tom and D“You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Randy! — Ian Petrella from A Christmas Story Tells All”Ian Petrella—better known as Randy from A Christmas Story—joins Tom and D with unt ld stories from the set, the cast, and the fans, plus what it’s really like living in (and giving tours of) the real A Christmas Story house. From hilarious fan encounters to behind-the-scenes surprises, Ian shares it all—just in time for the annual TBS marathon of the holiday classic.
2025-11-2543 min
Tom and DCultureCares: How to Build Teams That Actually Work — with Marcia BecknerThis week on Tom and D, we’re joined by Marcia Beckner—THE preeminent CEO Mentor and Culture Strategist at CultureCares.com—who helps nonprofit leaders build inclusive, connected teams and rediscover the joy in leading. Marcia shares real-world strategies for improving workplace culture, unifying teams, and addressing burnout before it takes root.Along the way, she gets a front-row seat to one of the most “challenging” but hilarious work environments of all— the one on this podcast. From playful chaos to genuine insights, this episode offers a mix of laughter, leadership wisdom, and a little cultural intervention...
2025-11-0735 min
Tom and D“Wait… Is That Real?” — Navigating AI Video Confusion with Jeremy CarrascoIf you’ve ever stared at a video online and thought, “Okay… but did that actually happen?” Congratulations, you’re alive in 2025.We sat down with Jeremy Carrasco — media guy, educator, and founder of Showtools.ai — whose videos have blown up online because everyone is trying to figure out what’s real anymore. Jeremy has built a massive following of people who want to know how to spot AI-generated content — whether it’s a suspicious video of a kangaroo getting arrested or a viral exchange between Mr. Rogers and Steven Hawking that can’t possibly be real— or confirm that it’s the...
2025-10-2857 min
Tom and DNat Segaloff: Film Historian, Storyteller. The man between the Spotlight and the Shadows, Where the Real Hollywood Stories Live.In this episode of Tom and D. D brings on his longtime friend Nat Segaloff—a film historian, storyteller, and proud member of Dom DeLuise’s legendary circle of mischief-makers. Nat is known as the man between the spotlight and the shadows—where the real Hollywood stories live—Nat shares hilarious behind-the-scenes tales, insights from a lifetime in film, and a few secrets he probably shouldn’t. He also talks about his latest book, Every Movie is a Miracle: A Colloquy Between Leonard Maltin and Nat Segaloff, co-written with the legendary Leonard Maltin and available now wherever books are sold.
2025-10-2150 min
Tom and DDr. Galen Clavio (aka DoctorGC) talks IU Sports, Media, and Still Finding Time to Podcast.Galen Clavio might just be the busiest Hoosier out there.. He’s the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, a Full Professor at The Media School at Indiana University, Director of the IU Sports Media program, and head honcho at the National Sports Journalism Center. Basically, if it involves media, students, or sports at IU — Galen’s fingerprints are on it. Oh, and one more thing… he’s also Tom’s new boss. (No pressure, right?)In this episode, Galen dives into the role of media in modern education, the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field, and — of course — al...
2025-10-1455 min
Tom and DRethinking Healthcare with Dr. Michael Keller: Direct Primary Care, Multi-Cancer Early Detection, and Psychedelic InsightsIn this engaging episode, Dr. Michael joins us to explore how the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model is transforming the patient experience—simplifying healthcare, strengthening doctor-patient relationships, and putting the focus back where it belongs: on care.We also take a fascinating look at Grail's Galleri Test for multi-cancer early detection test (MCED), a revolutionary advancement with the potential to identify dozens of cancers from a single blood draw—long before symptoms appear.Then, we venture into the growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapy, discussing the science, stigma, and surprising promise of mushrooms and other psychedelics in m...
2025-10-0750 min
Tom and DJustin Giddings— The Kickstarter Guy!Justin Giddings—better known as The Kickstarter Guy—is a filmmaker, actor, and mentor who’s helped countless people turn passion projects into reality. From raising $32K for his first film to directing a $6 million feature, Justin has lived both sides of the creative hustle and now coaches others on how to make their own dreams happen. In this episode, he shares hard-won insights on crowdfunding, the mindset shifts that turn “someday” into “today,” and why impatience can actually be your secret weapon. Whether you’re dreaming up a new product, launching a creative project, or just looking for a spark to chase...
2025-09-3047 min
Tom and DWill Strathmann and The Hollywood Con QueenIn our previous episode, filmmaker Will Strathmann began sharing his run-in with the Hollywood Con Queen—a con that stretched across continents and careers. What followed was years of deception, an FBI hunt, headlines in the New York Times, and the unraveling of one of Hollywood’s most bizarre scandals. That story then lead to a limited doc series called The Hollywood Con Queen that details a scam where— a man— is believed to have impersonated various female and male Hollywood executives and lured freelancers, like yourself, working in TV and Film with fake projects for more than a decade.
2025-09-2325 min
Tom and DWill Strathmann: Drones, Sharks, Cameras, and ConsPart 1 of our episode with Will Strathmann takes you inside the thrill of drones, shark dives, and the first twists of his run-in with the Hollywood Con Queen—continued in Part 2 in the next episode of of Tom and D .
2025-09-1647 min
Tom and DEP 16: Troy Evans: Actor, Vietnam Vet, Hollywood Icon, Unforgettable StoriesActor Troy Evans — that unforgettable face from ER, Bosch, Ace Ventura, and so many more — joins Tom and D for a powerful and entertaining conversation. Troy reflects on his breakout role in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, his service as a Vietnam veteran, and his struggles with PTSD, alcoholism, and even a wrongful prison sentence. He also shares warm, funny memories of John Candy and stories from a lifetime in film and TV.This episode is heartfelt, hopeful, and hilarious — a must-listen with one of Hollywood’s great character actors (and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet)
2025-09-091h 05
Tom and DKenny Passarelli: Legendary bass player— From Elton John to Cheech & Chong—Kenny’s seen it allStrap in—this episode of Tom and D we bring you the untold ride of Kenny Passarelli. The legendary bassist who tore up stages with Joe Walsh, Elton John, Stephen Stills, Hall & Oates, and more. From the chaos of sudden fame to taking lots of LSD—and wild nights with famed Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong—Kenny takes us deep into the raw, unfiltered heart of his rock ’n’ roll life.
2025-09-0240 min
Tom and DTom Shelly: Producer of Survivor, Emmy Wins, and the Legend of Cocaine BeachesEmmy-winning producer and reality TV trailblazer Tom Shelly (yep, one of the original Survivor masterminds) joins us to spill stories from the wild early days—like directing America’s Most Wanted, watching the Survivor crew accidentally torture starving contestants by coming back from lunch smelling like cheeseburgers, and dealing with actual bags of cocaine washing up on set. Plus, surprise twist: Tom’s a fellow Hoosier who even went to the same high school as D. Small world, big stories.
2025-08-2654 min
Tom and DBen Kronberg – Comedian. From Kimmel & John Oliver to a Personal “F*** You” from RoseanneBEN KRONBERG – COMEDIANSince blowing minds at the HBO Aspen Comedy Festival, Ben Kronberg has racked up credits on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Last Call with Carson Daly, and Comedy Central’s John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show. He’s also a staple at SXSW and has graced stages at the Vancouver and Boston Comedy Festivals. On screen, he’s popped up in many TV and web series but Ben’s career highlight is getting a personal “F*** you” from Roseanne—comedy’s version of a being knighted.
2025-08-1951 min
Tom and DJessica Porter: The Sleep-hypnotherapist that puts you to sleep (But Not This Episode)Sleep-hypnotherapist Jessica Porter slips into Tom and D’s studio with one mission: to put you to sleep. Luckily, she does it on the Sleep Magic podcast and Sleepiest app — not during this episode. The world-renowned “sandman in sneakers” reveals how she lulls people across the globe — including one of our own hosts — into blissful slumber, shares her magic methods, and explains why Tom now snoozes like a baby. She’s a master of the art of nodding off, but this chat will keep you wide-eyed, grinning, and very much awake.
2025-08-1254 min
Tom and DEp. 11- Monte Moore: Star Wars, Marvel, and Moore!On this episode of The Tom and D Podcast, Deren sits down with longtime friend and legendary hyperrealist artist Monte Moore—known for his stunning work with Star Wars, Marvel, and some of the most iconic pinups in the game (plus much, much MOORE).Monte dives into his world of high-impact illustration, sharing how he built a powerhouse career, attracted major clients, and cultivated a devoted fanbase—one brushstroke at a time.
2025-08-0556 min
Tom and DEp 10: Todd Thicke: The Man Behind the Mayhem at America’s Funniest Home VideosThis week on The Tom and D Podcast, we sit down with the legendary Todd Thicke—executive producer, head writer, and chaos coordinator behind America’s Funniest Home Videos—aka the show that turned groin injuries and backyard disasters into primetime gold. (His pilot script is literally in the Smithsonian, because nothing says “American history” like a toddler knocking over grandma.)Todd takes us behind the curtain of the AFV empire, sharing unforgettable stories of his late brother, Alan Thicke—TV’s most iconic dad with a voice smoother than a sax solo—and the brilliantly unfiltered Bob Saget, who b...
2025-07-2945 min
Tom and DEp 9: "Hoosiers" and "Rudy" Screenwriter/Producer, Angelo PizzoAngelo reflects on his recent film shot in Bloomington, his near-failed attempt at writing Hoosiers, his first unforgettable first meeting with legendary Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight, and a surprising call he received in 1987 from a reporter. The question? Whether he’d be attending that year’s Academy Awards—where Hoosiers was nominated for two Oscars—or staying home to watch IU face UNLV in the Final Four.
2025-07-221h 02
Tom and DCraig Campobasso on Casting, UFOs & Cosmic StorytellingOn this episode of Tom and D, Deren welcomes his friend and casting legend Craig Campobasso—a McDonald’s-commercial kid turned Emmy-nominated casting director, filmmaker, and cosmic storyteller.Craig’s career kicked off at 15, working on films like Dune and Total Recall, and casting hits like Picket Fences and Amazing Stories. A spiritual awakening at 26 launched his writing path, leading to The Autobiography of an ExtraTerrestrial Saga and the award-winning short film Stranger at the Pentagon.He’s since become a go-to voice in UFO circles, with best-selling books like The Extraterrestrial Species Almanac and appearan...
2025-07-1558 min
Tom and DEpisode 7: Prop Master, Scott Buckwald (The Old Man, Mad Men, and what went wrong on "Rust")In this episode of Tom and D., D introduces the incredibly talented Scott Buckwald, whose credits include Dead to Me, The Old Man, Mad Men, Queen of the South, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and dozens more.Scott dives into some wild behind-the-scenes antics and shares a few of his favorite Hollywood moments—including the unforgettable birth of his son, Theo, during the filming of Baby Geniuses, and the surreal sight of Kathleen Turner cradling the newborn between takes.As a seasoned armorer, Scott also offers a sobering look into what went wrong on the set of...
2025-07-0842 min
Tom and DEP 6: Chris Edell, World MarathonerEP 6: Chris Edell – 7 Marathons, 7 Days, 7 ContinentsIn this episode, Tom and D sit down with Tom's guest-- his stepbrother, entrepreneur and 2025 World Marathoner, Chris Edell—a man who ran seven marathons in seven days across seven continents.After a year of intense training, mental fortitude, and pushing through a foot injury, Chris completed one of the toughest endurance challenges on Earth. He ran 26.2 miles every day for seven days in Antarctica, South Africa, Australia, the UAE, Spain, Brazil, and the United States—a total of over 183 miles in just one week.An incredible story...
2025-07-0150 min
Tom and DEp 5: Actor, David Caprita-- "that dude who gets punched in every show”In this episode, our hosts Deren Abram and Tom Fry swap stories that’ll either have you laughing or wondering, “wait… what?” — including Tom’s less-than-thrilling tale about his grandfather in Greece (spoiler: not exactly The Odyssey) and D’s hilarious confession about inventing a fake assistant just so he could follow up with clients without looking like a total idiot.Tom’s guest this time is film and stage actor David Caprita. Tom and David reminisce about meeting in the legendary Sanford Meisner acting class, bonding over their shared roots as radio guys. David’s had a wild career — sh...
2025-06-2451 min
Tom and DEpisode 4: Dave Ratner with The Creative Law NetworkIn this episode, D’s guest is entertainment lawyer Dave Ratner from The Creative Law Network in Denver, Colorado. Through some laugh-out-loud but surprisingly informative chats, they dive into the legal landmines that filmmakers and artists constantly stumble over. Along the way, we also uncover Dave’s rock ‘n’ roll past as a band manager before he traded backstage passes for law books.This episode is as hilarious as it is eye-opening — and an absolute MUST-LISTEN for anyone in entertainment, especially if you’re wrangling with licensing, releases, copyrights, or just trying to avoid accidentally getting sued.
2025-06-1750 min
Tom and DEpisode 3: Gregory Poppen – Screenwriter ExtraordinaireIn this episode, D’s guest is longtime friend and multi-hyphenate screenwriter-producer-director, Gregory Poppen.Greg and Deren first crossed paths back in the day on movie sets, and while Deren was busy doing… well, whatever Deren does, Greg was busy building a career that stretches across just about every corner of entertainment. From heartwarming Disney holiday specials to edgy ESPY Awards monologues, and even wrangling the live TV circus at Miss Universe (yep, that one — you know the moment where Steve Harvey announced the wrong winner), Poppen’s been there, done that, and probably wrote the script for it t...
2025-06-1047 min
Tom and DEpisode 2: Kathleen O'Brien (Author and the once "most heard voice in America", and Tom's mom!)In this episode, Tom surprises everyone by bringing on an unexpected guest — his mom, Kathleen O’Brien: author, and once officially the “most heard voice in America.”Kathleen shares some amazing (and hilarious) stories, from a cringy encounter with Larry King, to being literally the voice everyone heard across the country, to writing the most “seen” slogan in America. She also dives into the wisdom she’s packed into her book, Reclaim Your Right to Grow Old.And of course — we get the inside scoop on what Tom was really like as a kid. (Spoiler: brace yourself.)
2025-06-0341 min
Tom and DEpisode 1: Brian Wilson (Podcast Producer for MeatDad and many more!)In this first episode, the hosts (Deren Abram and Tom Fry) kick around names for their new podcast—half-jokingly calling it "Tom and D.” but then going with it. Between laughs, Tom opens up about their friendship since college and trying to quit vaping. They bring in Brian Wilson, a podcast producer for influencer-giants like MeatDad and drops some wisdom on podcasting and content creation. He shares the wild success story of MeatDad—a butcher-turned-influencer with 5 million plus followers—and stresses the power of consistency and the importance of getting started. The episode wraps with some goo...
2025-05-0839 min