Shows
The Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldStephen Colbert Fired and Does Rehearsing Too Much Kill Your Performance? | Ep 38Welcome to Episode 38 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World! This week, we got a few bombs to drop. First WeTransfer, online file sharing service announced a highly confusing and enraging change to their terms and conditions, did someone say machine learning? This service is used by almost all actors and those working in the industry, so needless to say, people were freaking out. E-Kan and Rían will go over the backlash and what you need to know.
Next, is the announcement that The Late Show with Colbert is ending despite strong ratings, a...2025-07-2234 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWriter-Producer Patrick Massett talks Taking Risks, Tomb Raider, and Hanging with Val Kilmer | Ep 37Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 37!
This week we have a very special guest, prolific screenwriter and producer, Patrick Massett!
This episode is packed as Patrick walks the guys through his incredible career spanning decades, beginning with hitting it big co-writing Lara Croft: Tomb Raider w/ Angelina Jolie, the most successful video game adaptation until Super Mario.
E-Kan and Rian got a treat to Patrick’s many classic Hollywood stories like doing theater with Val Kilmer and behind the scenes hanging on the set of Oliver St...2025-07-161h 09The Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWhat ChatGPT is Doing to Our Brains and Should Actors Do Vertical Shorts? | Ep 36Welcome to Episode 36 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World! This week, the AI Regulations Ban gets voted down by the Senate 99-1, so chalk one up for the good guys. Can’t speak about everything else in the bill, but that’s really good news for AI state regulations. Thanks to the overwhelming action taken by voters calling in to their local lawmakers and Senators, state AI laws will still be in effect and are safe… for now.
The guys also discuss a recent MIT study on the brains of Chat GPT users and th...2025-07-0848 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWhat Creators Can Learn from Lin-Manuel Miranda and How to Create Your Own Work, Part 2 | Ep 35Welcome to Episode 35 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World! This week, CA got some big news and a step forward for getting production back in CA. E-Kan and Rían talk about the latest progress in CA’s $750 million film/tv tax credit as well as what just went down the FilmLA contract renewal. FilmLA is the non-profit that helps LA filmmakers get permits for their productions, at least that’s the idea. But with productions leaving CA in droves, LA filmmakers want some major change and showed it by making their voices heard at a tow...2025-07-0143 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldDisney Sues Midjourney, AI Tools We're Scared to Use, and What it’s like to Work on a Tom Cruise Set | Ep 34Welcome to Episode 34 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World! This week, the guys talk about why Disney and Universal is suing AI powerhouse Midjourney. It's time to root for Disney this time, and E-Kan and Rían talk about why it's a big deal for creators and the future of AI regulations. They dig into what Midjourney does exactly and the tricky debate about whose at fault if a copyrighted image is created - the user or the tool? Is Midjourney like using other tools like Photoshop?
E-Kan also opens up about AI to...2025-06-2443 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldLayoffs rip through Hollywood and How to Create Your Own Work, Part 1 | Ep 33Welcome to Episode 33 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World! This week the guys discuss the massive layoffs happening throughout Hollywood, including WB Discovery, Paramount, Disney, and many more. Looks like the actors and crew aren't the only ones looking for work. E-Kan and Rían find a little comfort in this turbulent time in the industry and talk about the only real thing to do right now - make your own stuff!
This is just skimming the surface and part two will come, but E-Kan talks about his experience directing, producing, writing, and sta...2025-06-1737 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWorking with Tom Hanks and Debunking Self-tape Myths on the Internet | Ep 32Welcome to Episode 32 to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World podcast!
Still coming down from last week’s epic episode with last week’s guest Kirsten Sheridan, E-Kan and Rían recap major takeaways and lessons learned. Be sure to check out her summer workshop happening this month in LA, info below.
They get onto a little blast from the past when E-Kan worked with a screen acting legend and all because he was an intern at the casting office. Listen in to hear how E-Kan’s ass got his first studio cr...2025-06-0939 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldOur first guest! Oscar-nominated writer-director Kirsten Sheridan talks growing up on film sets, Cillian Murphy, and Hulu’s Say Nothing | Ep 31Welcome to Episode 31 to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World podcast! This episode came out a little late this week but it’s worth the wait. We have our very first guest- Oscar nominated writer director Kirsten Sheridan stops by the show. That's right. We might just quit after this episode. We discuss so many things, from being nominated for writing “In America”, the indie hit based on her life story immigrating to the U.S., watching her legendary director father direct Daniel Day Lewis, and directing her first feature starring a 25-year old Cillian Murphy.2025-06-031h 15The Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldDeNiro, Self-Tapes, and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck | Ep 30Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World, Episode 30! Both E-Kan and Rían are having excellent days with this recording, you’ll have to listen to hear why.
E-Kan saw DeNiro speak and learned what it makes him such a great movie star and actor. It was also the first time E-Kan's sister was ever star struck. We talk about how the game has changed since DeNiro was coming up and a little about the pros and cons of self-tapes. What are actors missing out on not going into the room anymore? Does it...2025-05-2732 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldAI Regulations Ban, the New SAG Commercial Contract, and Staying in the Game | Ep 29Welcome to Episode 29 of the Actor’s Guide to The End of the World!
This one is PACKED. We have AI Regulations for actors, healthcare, and everyone else are in danger thanks to the folks in Congress. You'll hear what happened when E-Kan gave them a call this week.
E-Kan and Rían also go over the tentative SAG-Aftra commercial contract up for vote this week and everything actors need to know to make an informed decision and what major gains were achieved. Also why these contracts are important for all actors, whether you're in SAG...2025-05-2049 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldThe New Pope, On-set Etiquette, and Trump's Hollywood Tariffs | Ep 28Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World, episode 28!
You asked for an episode on Trump’s tariffs, and you got it. E-Kan and Rían were intended to jump into political waters but it just so happens everyone and their mom was asking, and they couldn’t NOT talk about it. This is everything you need to know, what exactly was said, the surprising responses from those in the industry - IATSE, SAG-Aftra, the Teamsters, as well as Governor Newsom and Jon Voight, of all people. Rían battle a headache while E-Kan digs in...2025-05-1338 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldJeremy Renner Leaves Hawkeye, Hollywood vs the World, and Secrets from Top TV Directors | Ep 27Welcome to Episode 27 of the Actor’s Guide to The End of the World! Apologies for the late upload, but this one is packed and well worth the wait. This episode was recorded BEFORE Trump announced possible tariffs on foreign film production, but coincidentally this episode we discuss the complexities of the current entertainment industry and whether it is a Hollywood vs the World issue. So apparently we do predict the future... more to come.
E-Kan tells us what he thought about the hottest show on Broadway, Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Bon Odenkirk, Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr, and...2025-05-0733 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldMingling with Fassbender, Sinners Shakes up Hollywood, and the Question Every Actor Hates | Ep 26Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 26!
E-Kan has come back from his travels - you’ll hear what far off place he visited and why he prefers a little danger on his trips. Ryan Coogler, Sinners, and its huge opening weekend are all the talk in Hollywood, but is it getting enough credit? And why is it making Hollywood studios scared? E-Kan and Rían break down Coogler’s unique deal with the studio, why it challenges traditional Hollywood contracts, and whether we should expect to see more of the same in Hollywood.
Then E-Kan...2025-04-2931 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldHot Baths, The Artist's Way, and Reality TV Guilty Pleasures - The Self-Care Episode | Ep 25Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 25!
This is the Self-care Episode, also another change of pace episode. This is random unreleased goodies from previous episodes. Some things you’ll hear in this conversation - why this podcast is therapeutic for E-Kan and Rían, the power of writing things down, things we can’t stand, Artists’ Way and Morning pages, and why Rían hates hot baths. Also, E-Kan and Rían will discuss reality tv show guilty pleasures, and the blurred line between documentary and reality tv. And is reality tv underrated? Rían will talk about...2025-04-2225 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldBest and Worst On-Set Experiences - The Lost Episode | Ep 24Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 24! This episode is also a change of pace from previous episodes - unreleased footage that got cut from a previous episode. E-Kan and Rían discuss the unique and intense bond actors and crew make shooting a production, and are these relationships real or fake? Also why being on set is very much like a dinner party, as E-Kan likes to call it. E-Kan then has a flashback to his worst on set experience, and they describe what makes a bad set, as well as wonder why background actors get treated so po...2025-04-1528 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWhat Actors Can Learn From Silicon Valley and The Power of Changing Your Mind - Best Hits | Ep 23Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World, Episode 23!
This episode is going to be little different than our past episodes - E-Kan will be doing some traveling so for a few weeks, we will mix together our best hits, a few of our favorite segments from past episodes - in case you missed it or if you're still catching up.
We have some a lot of new stuff coming for the podcast, follow us wherever you find your podcasts, Youtube, Substack, on all social media @actorsguidepodcast.
This episode, you'll hea...2025-04-0734 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldRob Lowe Calls Out Hollywood, Is Dublin Taking Over the Industry, and Avoiding Burnout as a Creative | Ep 22Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 22!
The podcast has hit a small milestone, and E-Kan and Rían will discuss the significance of getting to its 22nd episode and a shocking statistic of how many people quit. E-Kan also talks about what actors can learn from YouTubers about building a brand and dealing with the creative grind, and the biggest misconception about building an audience. If you’re getting burnt out from the marathon of being a creative, this is the episode for you.
Also this week Rob Lowe had some fiery criticisms of the...2025-04-0132 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldThe Indie Film Episode - Anora Backlash and Sing Sing Reinvents the Indie Film | Ep 21Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 21!
This is our Indie Film episode and we get to a lot of gems that didn’t make it during award season. There was also some backlash from crew members of Oscar darling, Anora. What really happened on set? And was Sean Baker anti-union? We get into the story and talk about the tricky line where independent film is today as well as why unions are so important for artists.
Also, they discuss how the film Sing Sing, the true story of inmates starting a rehabilitative theater program at...2025-03-2534 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldIs Caring Too Much Cringe? Rick Caruso vs Hollywood, and the Best of Reddit | Ep 20Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 20!
There’s a viral article circulating comparing Hollywood’s reaction to Jeremy Strong’s compared to “golden boy” of the moment, Kieran Culkin (article link below). If you weren’t aware, Jeremy Strong is deeply passionate about the craft of acting and the reaction is mixed. If you’re watching on YouTube, you’ll see the picture from 1993 when he was waiting outside the Oscars to watch the actors and actresses enter the ceremony. Adorable or mortifying? E-Kan and Rían will be the judge.
E-Kan and Rían discuss the compa...2025-03-1831 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldThe Oscars - The Good, Bad, and the Cringe, Kieran vs. Adrien, and The Actor's Guide Awards! | Ep 19Welcome to the Actor's Guide Podcast, Episode 19!
This is the big Oscars recap as well as our favorite moments of Awards season, including our very first Actor's Guide Podcast Awards (they're not real but special nonetheless). How did Conan O’Brien do his first time hosting the Oscars? Biggest Shock? Biggest Cringe? Favorite Couple? (Not who you're expecting).
And of course we had to talk about Adrien Brody... which gets E-Kan and Rían on their favorite speeches and the power of brevity, whether you're giving an Oscars speech or writing an Instagram post.
Ad...2025-03-1043 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldBetting on the Oscars, Gambling Stories, and Sean Baker on Being an Indie Film Lifer | Ep 18Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World, Episode 18! This was recorded BEFORE the Academy Awards, that’s life when you release on Mondays. E-Kan and Rían take a look at the Oscar favorites and even betting lines, so now you can step back into the future and look at what could’ve been, and who really made some money on the upsets. And how much money would you have made if you bet on Mikey Madison to win Best Actress? And Anora? Be sure to stick around, you’ll hear the story of why Rían wil...2025-03-0428 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldMaya Hawke, Instagram, and How Much Money Does It Cost to Win An Oscar? | Ep 17Welcome to Episode 17 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World!
Maya Hawke's comments about Instagram and social media have sent shockwaves through the acting community and Hollywood, shining a light on the state of the industry and asking the big question - do actors have to be on social media? E-Kan and Rían dig into the power of social media, their love hate relationship with it, and the hard truth actors need to face - but also uncover the brighter side and how this might not be as bad as it sounds. And i...2025-02-2428 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWatching Self-Tapes for 4 Seconds Part 2, Oscars Fire Back at AI, and SuperBowl! | Ep 16Welcome to Episode 16 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World!
It has been wild week in sports for both Rían and E-Kan - Rían meets his childhood heroes and Manchester United legends while E-Kan celebrates the other football as his Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl in epic fashion. E-Kan recounts his favorite moments at the Eagles Super Bowl parade and why Philadelphia unlike no other.
Last week was so good, E-Kan and Rían run it back and do a follow up on last week's conversation about the four sec...2025-02-1835 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldAI Oscars Controversy, Emilia Pérez Debacle, and Watching Self-tapes for Only 4 seconds?! | EP 15Welcome to Episode 15 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World!
This past weekend, Rían celebrates his birthday going to see a soccer match as E-Kan anxiously awaits the Super Bowl (Go Birds). They talk about America’s obsession with football and E-Kan explains why the Philadelphia Eagles get a bad reputation and why he thinks football is the ultimate team sport.
Also, E-Kan and Rían dig into the controversial comments made by an Atlanta casting director about how she only watched actors’ self tapes for four seconds. This is a conver...2025-02-1144 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldFirst Acting Jobs, Tarantino, Theater vs. Film, and Biggest Actor Pet Peeves | Ep 14Welcome to Episode 14 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World!
Good news- Rían got hit with one of the worst storms in Ireland’s history and lived to tell about it. Quentin Tarantino is sounding off at Sundance about the state of film and how watching theater compares to film right now. Is he right? What does it say about the future of film? Is it going extinct? E-Kan and Rían will dig into it from the actor's perspective and talk about their own experiences on stage (or lack thereof), and why they w...2025-02-0443 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldOscar Noms, Incarcerated Firefighters, and Getting Banned by TikTok, Oh my! | Ep 13Welcome to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World Episode 13! … a little later than usual because of a big weekend for Philly (Go Birds).
While Rían braces for possibly the worst storm in Ireland’s history (he’s okay), he tells us about the first time he faced an American winter (he was not okay). Los Angeles gets ready for another wild week, and E-Kan gets a little more into the air quality of the fires and what we need to know about 9-11 and a previous study on California wildfires. Also, incarcerated firefight...2025-01-2837 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldWhat Really Happened with the Wildfires, TikTok Ban (not really), and Online Dating | Ep 12The Actor's Guide to the End of the World is back from a week off, and what a week it was. This is a bonus double episode and a much needed sanity check-in for E-Kan and Rían (and maybe for you as well), which then turned into a therapy session. We hope you’re all safe, and thank you to the first responders, firefighters, and incredible community in Los Angeles for all they have been doing in response to the wildfires. If you’ve been affected, we hope you have found resources, but if not, we’ve attached resource...2025-01-2158 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldQuick Update - The California WildfiresHey everyone - there will not be a new episode this week. With the ongoing wildfire situation in California, we will get back to uploading new episodes when it feels right, hopefully soon. If you are moved to donate to help the disaster relief, here is a list of organizations, places to volunteer, as well as resources for those in need and evacuees. Stay safe, and we will be back soon.
Donate:
REDCROSS - redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a donation.
CORE (C...2025-01-1301 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldAI Bills in Effect, Golden Globes, Resolutions, and Is New Year's the Worst Holiday? | Ep 11It's the new year, and this is episode 11 of The Actor's Guide to the End of the World!
Some key AI bills in California start this week, and E-Kan and Rían will get into what you need to know about digital replicas and how this bill will protect actors. Also the Golden Globes are this week- this episode was taped before the Golden Globes happened so it will just be a preview of the show and any notable stories will be in the next episode.
You’ll hear E-Kan’s hard take on New Year's...2025-01-0637 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldAffleck, AI, and the Secret to Juggling Your Side Hustle | Ep 10Happy Holidays! This is episode 10 of The Actor's Guide to the End of the World and we saved the best for the last of the year! Today we’re diving into AI this week which is a point of concern for many in Hollywood, but Ben Affleck’s surprising comments on AI have gone viral and might encourage a lot of filmmakers. Will AI upend traditional Hollywood as we know it? Will it replace actors and creatives altogether? Are we in control of what we watch or are we the ones being controlled?
E-Kan and Rían will...2024-12-3034 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldBiggest Winners of 2024, Broadway, Keanu, and Making Art Accessible | Ep 9Episode 9 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World and it's the holidays! The guys discuss the biggest risks of the year and who really won in a turbulent year for the industry, including Shogun, The Substance, Kneecap, and others. They also discuss the things like David Zazlav selling 30 million dollars of Warner Bros Discovery stock, whether studios have any idea what they're doing, and examine what makes a film bad. Rían saw an incredible play in Dublin while E-Kan shares some stories watching Laurence Fishburne, Sam Rockwell, and Jeff Daniels on Broadway, some lessons he l...2024-12-2331 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldSAG Health Plan Lawsuit, and Is the Golden Globes the Sketchiest Award Show? | Ep 8Episode 8 of the Actor's Guide to the End of the World and award season is underway! Golden globe nominations were announced and the guys discuss the notable films this year as well as the show's spotty history and rebuild. They tackle the questions: Are the Golden Globes the sketchiest awards show? Are awards shows relevant anymore? Then they talk about what got them into acting in the first place, their deeper motivations, and the irony that they became performers despite their shy childhoods. They also get to the recent SAG Health Plan data breach and class action lawsuit and...2024-12-1735 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldTikTok Ban, Commedia dell'arte, and the Fear of Failure | Ep. 7Welcome to Episode 7 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! This was an eye-opening one. The guys discuss the newest developments of the possible ban of TikTok. Rían talks about doing Commedia dell'arte for the first time, E-Kan shares about starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which gets them on a conversation of being a beginner, embracing challenges, and daring to suck. They discover many similarities between the two and discuss how it has helped them get past their ego and learn to let go. E-Kan shares about his battle with stage fright and why everyone shou...2024-12-0932 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldFilm Fest PR Disaster, Shows so good we can't watch, and Can an actor watch too much TV? | Ep 6Welcome to a jam packed Episode 6 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! E-Kan and Rían get into the controversy at the Camerimage Film Festival after its founder made offensive remarks regarding women cinematographers, prompting several top directors and filmmakers to boycott the festival. As award season continues, the guys tackle the questions - Can an actor watch too much TV? Is Social Media changing how we think? They also discuss the importance of being in acting class and how they stay fueled creatively during the holidays as well as share confessions of iconic sho...2024-12-0232 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldFree Movies for Actors, Biggest Networking Mistakes, and What Makes Movie Stars So Special | Ep 5Welcome to the episode 5 of the Actor’s Guide to the end of the World! It’s award season, and the guys talk about the many free screenings and star Q&A’s offered to SAG members and what it was like to hear the biggest stars and creators share behind the scenes of projects like Gladiator 2, the Substance, and more. Also, Rian shares insights from a panel of the top casting directors in Ireland, including the unpredictability of casting and how to navigate it as an actor. They discuss the biggest myths about networking and actors’ biggest mistakes make. Th...2024-11-2535 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldBig news for California, What Trump Means for Hollywood and Representation, and Why Art Matters | Ep 4Welcome to episode 4 of the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! In this episode, the guys will discuss a new proposal by Governor Newsom boosting CA film TV tax credit to a whopping $750 million, almost double the amount previously. E-Kan also discusses what It was like to go to a SAG W&W meeting (Wages and Working Conditions for the first time) and how it changed his mind on how he looks at the industry. Also we will touch on what the presidential election means for Hollywood, diversity, and a look at what entertainment might look li...2024-11-1829 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the World23 and Me crumbles with our DNA, Getting Scammed by Big Tech, and Life Changing Moments | EP 3Welcome! Episode 3 of The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! We look into the collapse of 23 and Me and what that means for our DNA and data moving forward and things actors should think about with AI. We also talk about what actors need to know about SAG W&W union meetings for our upcoming Commercials Contract. Rían shares a crazy story about how he almost got scammed by an AI Tech marketing company. Also, the guys open up about recent pivotal life changing moments, including how E-Kan first got on YouTube and how that aff...2024-11-1127 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldLA Mayor’s plan for Hollywood, AI Bills passed, and Is it worth it for actors to be in California anymore? | EP 2Welcome! This is The Actor's Guide to the End of the World's second episode. Will Mayor Karen Bass’s plan to keep productions in Los Angeles work? Should we blame production companies for leaving the US? Or celebrities taking their corporations to other countries to avoid paying taxes? We dive into these questions and break down exactly how far California has fallen behind the rest of the country in film production. As Rían considers the prospect of moving back to Ireland as production ramps up overseas, you will hear them weigh opportunity vs cost of living and answer the...2024-11-0522 minThe Actor’s Guide to the End of the WorldActing Origin Stories, When AI Steals Your Voice, Table Read Tips, and Getting Cut from a Show | EP 1The premiere episode of The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World! E-Kan and Rían dive into what you need to know about how two voice-over actors had their voices stolen by an AI start-up and insightful comments by the Emmy-winning co-creator of Hacks on the current state of TV. They tackle deep topics, like "Do you want to be right or happy?" or why it's so easy to be cynical. You will hear how they got into acting in the first place which in E-Kan's case, was pure rebellion. Also lessons learned from recent table rea...2024-10-2832 min