Episodes

  • Quei Tann is an actor living in Los Angles. You've seen her on How To Get Away With Murder, Dear White People, and CAM on Netflix. Quei is unbelievably vulnerable and honest in this episode. You will get to hear about her journey from homelessness to being on set with THE Viola Davis.

    Follow Quei on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/queitann/

    Thank you for listening! Please rate, review, and share the podcast as it really helps spread the word. If you have any questions, comments, or just want to say hi, I can always be reached at [email protected]. Please follow the show and me on IG to keep up with any behind the scenes, information for actors, and more!

    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    Emma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Emma’s Website: emmadaytonpetersen.com

    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa- more of her music can be found on YouTube or on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=6gA4ihEOQHiJz2lDndXvzw

    Our artwork was done by April M. Hallert- follow her on Instagram to see more of her artwork: https://www.instagram.com/april.m.hallert/

  • Jennifer Apple is an actress and acting coach! Pre-quarantine she was traveling with the tour of The Band's Visit. Jennifer and I talk about being true to yourself, not apologizing, her program the "Empowered Artist Collective," her experience with The Band's Visit, and so much more!

    Jennifer's Website: https://www.jenniferapple.net/
    Jennifer's IG: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferapple_/
    Empowered Artist Collective: https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/

    Thank you for listening! Please rate, review, and share the podcast as it really helps spread the word. If you have any questions, comments, or just want to say hi, I can always be reached at [email protected]. Please follow the show and me on IG to keep up with any behind the scenes, information for actors, and more!

    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    Emma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Emma’s Website: emmadaytonpetersen.com

    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa- more of her music can be found on YouTube or on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=6gA4ihEOQHiJz2lDndXvzw

    Our artwork was done by April M. Hallert- follow her on Instagram to see more of her artwork: https://www.instagram.com/april.m.hallert/

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  • BONUS EPISODE

    Happy Holidays everyone! My gift to you this year is this wonderful bonus episode.

    Brian Patacca helps actors get what they want without suffering. He’s helped 432 actors find representation (and counting!) and is the Founder of the Actors Belong Here Facebook Group where he’s known as The Representation Whisper. His coaching clients include Tony Award-winners, Broadway stars, network series regulars, filmmakers, writers, and stand-up comedians. Brian has led workshops at SAG-AFTRA, universities across the globe including Northwestern, Pepperdine, PACE, Columbia College Chicago, Rose Bruford, and countless acting studios in the US and abroad. He has been a contributing expert to Backstage Magazine for over a decade. Follow Brian on Instagram @briansaysthat, or visit www.DearNewAgent.com to grab proven templates to help you get in the room with reps.

    Follow Emma on IG: @emma_dayton
    Follow the podcast on IG: @everydayactorpod
    Contact Me: [email protected]

    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa. Take a listen to more of her music here:
    https://www.youtube.com/user/ellysarose

  • Salisha Thomas was in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway as well as the national tour! You would never guess who stopped her on the street in New York and told her she had to move there. Salisha was crowned Miss California, and was also a performer at Disneyland. Take a listen to learn all about what it's like to be on a Broadway tour, what the audition process is like, and so much more!
    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/?hl=en
    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa. Hear more of her music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=6gA4ihEOQHiJz2lDndXvzw

  • Welcome back to The Everyday Actor! Lili Wexu is a Voiceover Artist and the author of "Get Clever About Voice Acting and Announcing," which is an amazing resource for people looking to hone their VO skills, and be successful in the VO world. Lili announced at the Olympics (how cool is that??) and has worked on countless projects and sets. You can find her books here:
    https://www.getcleverabout.com/

    Follow the podcast on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/?hl=en
    Please review, rate, and subscribe to the podcast! If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to say hi, you can send me an email at [email protected]
    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa. You can hear more of her music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=jIX8y_FGSmORMFpQ1L5ikw

  • Katie Griffin is a commercial casting director based in New York, but casts for project everywhere! She has been in the business for over 20 years and strongly believes in connecting with talent and working as a team. During quarantine, she started the slate challenge on Instagram and has been holding 10-minute generals with talent from all around the world. In this episode we talk about all things casting: what to do and what not to do in an audition, the role of a casting director, how to get into casting, how casting is addressing diversity, equity and inclusion, and so much more!

    To sign up for her newsletter, head over to https://www.katiegriffincasting.com/
    Follow her on IG to sign up for a 10 minute general meeting: https://www.instagram.com/katiegriffincasting/?hl=en

    Follow the podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/?hl=en
    Emma's IG: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/?hl=en
    Podcast email: [email protected]

    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa. Check out more of her music here!https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=GHeXJjMASvCyfc0tQgqN3w

  • Ian and Blaize are both actors based in Los Angeles and are FANTASTIC at creating their own content, which is such an important part of being an actor nowadays. In this episode, we talk about their upcoming film, A More Perfect Union, what it takes to make your own feature, how they got into acting, their journeys with improv, their advice for beginning actors, and so much more! To learn more about their film and to follow that journey, you can follow the film's IG @amoreperfectunionfilm. For info on their improv group, check out Pasadonuts Improv!

    Follow the podcast on IG @everydayactorpod.
    Emma's Instagram: @emma_dayton.

    Our theme music was brought to you by the lovely, Ellysa! You can hear more of her music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=8ZoL_sCpThGPcDSQE9ZeAQ

  • Today we get to hear from our first New York based actor! Michelle has been seen in Homeland, Blue Bloods, and One Bad Choice--just to name a few! Michelle and I have a lovely conversation about what it's really like to be an actor and how to stay motivated while pursuing your dream. Michelle has recently started her own podcast called "Mentors on the Mic" that I think you will all love. Here is a link so that you can take a listen:
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mentors-on-the-mic/id1523855480
    You can find Michelle on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/michellesimonemiller/?hl=en
    Our theme music was brought to you by Ellysa. To hear more of her music, check out her Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=exv-BbDbTq29jPQTBgdjMA

    Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/?hl=en

  • Adin Rudd and I talk about all things voiceover! VO is becoming such a big part of the business especially during this quarantine. Take a listen to learn all about getting a voiceover demo, the life of a voiceover actor, how to make your own VO studio at home, and so much more!
    Follow the podcast on IG to keep up with any news and tips & tricks for the industry! @everydayactorpod.
    Have any questions, comments, or just want to chat? Send me an email at [email protected].
    Our theme music was brought to you by the lovely Ellysa! Take a listen to more of her music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=pBpPQNFNS7apEfQ87wwFBA

  • Today we get to hear from the wonderful Michael Tessler, a producer living in LA. He is the CEO of multihouseentertainment. Recently he had the amazing opportunity to produce with the Discovery Channel and Zac Efron.Follow Michael’s journey on his Instagram @mjtessler. Follow Multihouseentertainment of Instagram, Facebook, and on their website mutlihouseentertainment.com.

    Our theme music was bought to you by the always lovely Ellysa. You can hear more of her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=bsKnDPuOR7WTclWpTfcCBA

  • Today’s episode is a little different. Normally I would do an interview style episode, but in light of the murder of George Floyd and the racism in America, it’s time for me to take a step back and pass the mic over to my friends in the film industry that are Black. Today you will hear from 7 amazing, passionate, and creative artists. They each have a unique story, a unique perspective, and a unique call to action for you, the listener. It’s time for change in the film industry and in the arts in general.

    1:25- Kevin Welbeck is an actor, filmmaker, and activist! Follow him on IG @kevinwelbeck. Follow @firesparkpictures on IG to keep up with his short film “Viral.” Follow @cre8thechange on IG for more information on his non-profit activism organization. Follow him to be inspired to keep up the fight for justice.

    9:15- Noah Michal is an actress both on the stage and the screen. In this episode she shares with us some very personal stories of her experience as a Black actor. Listen to learn more! Follow her on IG @inoahgirl30 to keep up with her blooming career!

    18:54- Zach Porter is an actor and filmmaker! Follow Zach on IG @actualzachporter. Check out the trailer for his new film “Blade Origins” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTdqXepPIM.

    28:36- Christopher Mosley is an actor and singer and has performed all over the world! To keep up with his art and his amazing adventures follow him on IG @magiccmosley

    37:11- Semhar Gebrat is a voice artist, writer, and jazz singer! She lived in Spain performing with a jazz band and is working on a book of poetry! Follow her on IG to keep up with her adventures! @semie12

    45:35- Stephanie Rautenbach is an actress and dancer. She is proud to be Black, German, and Korean. Follow her on IG @stephyrautenbach to follow her career!

    55:52- Kelvin “KJ” Rhodes is an actor who has gotten the chance to perform all over the country. For his MFA in Acting, his thesis was about diversity training and how to work with Black actors. For more information about his thesis or if you’re interested in having him do diversity workshops, he can be reached at [email protected]. I have attended one of his workshops and they are amazing, I highly recommend it!

    Our theme music is brought to you by Ellysa. You can find more of her music on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=flL5B1SCTKGVDKUrCSCGvw

    Podcast Instagram: @everydayactorpod

  • From Dynasty, Annabelle Comes Home, Ouiji, and more comes Sierra Heuermann! A stunt double, actress, and musician, Sierra talks to us about how she started doing background, photo doubling, and stand in work and how she turned to working in stunts! I love Sierra’s energy and her outlook on the industry! Enjoy!

    Please follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    You can find Sierra on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sierraheuermann/

    To see her on Dynasty, check out Season 3, Episode 15 “Up in a Tree.”

    Here are the open gyms we talked about in the episode: JAM: http://joiningallmovement.com/classesschedule/

    Tempest: https://www.tempestacademy.com/

    Emma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Questions? Comments? Just want to chat? Send me an email at [email protected]

    Please rate, review, and subscribe!

  • From Netflix’s very own “Never Have I Ever,” comes Jack! An actor living in LA, Jack and I talk about his experience in background acting, his initial fear about signing with an agent, and he and I share some vulnerability about feeling stuck in a single genre. Plus so much more!

    SAG list of agencies: https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/agents-managers/about-professional-representatives/sag-franchised

    You can find Jack on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/jackseavor/

    You can find the podcast Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    Emma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Questions? Comments? Just wanna chat? Email me at [email protected]

    Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review!

    Our theme music is brought to you by Ellysa! You can listen to more of her music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=8CnpHivZT8aRSDOBGhkNMg


  • Seen on Dear White People (Netflix), and countless commercials and projects, Ellysa is an actress, singer, songwriter, and music producer living in LA. Ellysa and I talk about her journey to LA, some of her best and worst auditions, her journey representation, your rights as an actor, and SO much more!

    You can find Ellysa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/justellysa/

    You can find her music on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=Rgf10Z4-T52R2_TKIkF9ig

    She created the website shatteringthestatistics.org to help victims of sexual assault so please check that out, there are a ton of great resources there.

    You can find the podcast about the Union we referenced here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/one-broke-actress-podcast/id1275621498?i=1000466412979

    Our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    Host’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Questions? Comments? Just wanna chat? Email [email protected]

    Our theme song was brought to you by Ellysa, who you got to hear from in this episode!

  • Michael is an actor living in LA and is the King of creating his own career and chasing opportunities. In this episode we talk about what he does everyday as an actor, his journey to getting representation, and his advice to a beginning actor.

    You can find the commercial class he recommends here: https://www.heyisawyourcommercial.com/

    You can find him on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/makumusic/

    You can find his sketch comedy group here: https://www.instagram.com/_5dproductions_/

    Our instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    Emma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_dayton/

    Questions? Comments? Just wanna chat? Email [email protected]

    Our theme song is brought to you by Ellysa, you can find more of her music on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ucduLL44lMW9iWHuYefAG?si=Q-41NGRoSCyRLHAaevXNwQ

  • Welcome to The Everyday Actor! My name is Emma Dayton Petersen and I am the host and creator of this podcast! I am a working actor living in Los Angeles and created this interview style podcast to give insight into what the everyday life of an actor looks like. If you are a beginning actor wanting to break into Hollywood, or just want to know more about the life of a working actor, this is the podcast for you! In this trailer episode, I introduce myself and the podcast, and give you a little sneak peek at some of the interviews you will hear! If you want to hear more, please subscribe!

    For more information on the podcast and a look behind the scenes, follow us on Instagram at @everyayactorpod https://www.instagram.com/everydayactorpod/

    If you have any questions, comments, or just want to say hi, you can leave a comment in the reviews of the podcast or you can email me at [email protected]

    Our theme music comes from the lovely Ellysa! More of her work can be found on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you listen to music. https://www.youtube.com/user/ellysarose