Inside Of You With Michael Rosenbaum

Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Sleepy Hollow) joins us this week to share how he changed course from his military upbringing to pursue his dream of acting, and how his career has come full circle with the lives he’s impacted through this work. Casper shares a lot from his experience with Starship Troopers - from the marketing stunts that weakened it in the box office, to the industry legends who geek out over the project, and why there’s a resurgence in its popularity nearly three decades after its release. We also talk about what it’s like having a daughter pursue acting, his Ironside mentorship, and memorable moments on set with legends like Ernest Borgnine. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats) joins us this week to share the duality of having immense gratitude for everything he’s been able to accomplish throughout his career, all the while being cursed with ambition that drives him to create more. Being a trailblazer in independent film, Kevin gives us his opinion about the current state of filmmaking post pandemic, the cyclical similarities between major sci-fi franchises, and the problem with today’s movie rating system. We also talk about creating a legacy off of a basic name, bottoming your way through life, and embracing fandom. Thank you to our sponsors:

Gaten Matarazzo (Stranger Things, Sweeney Todd) joins us again this week to share his perspective on Stranger Things coming to and end… how he’s preparing to say goodbye to Dustin after a eight years… and the lessons he’s learned after landing a hit show at the age of 12. Gaten starts the episode talking about his dream come true of performing Sweeney Todd on Broadway and the highs and lows that came with its seven month run. We also talk about the unique experience of literally growing up with his cast mates on a hit series, how he’s managing his mental health today, and being at peace with the reality of coming off one of the biggest series of all time. Thank you to our sponsors:

Felicia Day (Third Eye, The Guild) joins us this week to share her new mindset of ‘being enough’ after realizing that her self valuations were merely career and achievement based. Felicia discusses the relief of shedding people in the industry who were looking to ‘take from her’ and the joy of telling stories that she cares about, like the sci-fi comedy Third Eye. We also talk about her time on Mystery Science Theater 3000, disappointments with prominent authors of this era, and her lack of amusement with hockey. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Tim Blake Nelson (Old Henry, O Brother, Where Art Thou?) joins us this week to share his experience in this industry as a respected character actor and the on-set lessons learned from masters of their craft like Steven Spielberg, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Tom Cruise. Tim shares how James Franco helped pull him out of creative complacency during a lull, helping him develop his new approach of preparing for roles. We also talk about his last minute addition to ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?,’ collaborating with his son Henry on ‘Asleep in My Palm,’ and his reaction to being cut out of ‘Dune 2.’ Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend's Wedding, The Wedding Date) joins us this week to share remarkable stories (on and off set) throughout his career and how he uses them as mental health check ins for gratitude in everything he’s been able to accomplis. Dermot also talks about his experience as a cellist, being able to work scores in both the Star Trek and Star Wars universes, and how he’s chasing the golden goose of working with Yo-Yo Ma. We also briefly talk about old stories of protecting Drew Barrymore, his big start with Julia Roberts, and how he turned a corner after his divorce and sobriety. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Katey Sagal & Kurt Sutter (PIE, Sons of Anarchy) join us this week as (potentially) our first married couple to share their experience working together on the hit series Sons of Anarchy, finding love through sobriety, and fighting for marriage while giving grace to your partner at their lowest. Kurt talks about the creative inception of Sons of Anarchy, while Katey shares her gratitude for being able to get out of the comedic box that she was put into after the success of Married With Children. We also talk about the working relationship between a director and actor, Katey’s rockstar origins in Hollywood, and Kurt’s upcoming series The Abandons. Thank you to our sponsors:

Skeet Ulrich (Scream, Jericho) joins us this week and shares crazy experiences from his childhood like getting life saving open heart surgery at age 10 and being kidnapped by his father at age 6. Skeet talks about his journey in the Scream franchise, his bond with the cast and crew, and one story where he almost spoiled the crazy reveal by doing press before it was released. We also talk about his outlook on life after kicking booze, reflecting on his broken upbringing after becoming a father, and how close Jericho was to actually coming back on a major streamer. Thank you to our sponsors:

ℹ️ I really connected with Chance Perdomo and was so saddened by his passing. I chose to air this episode in honor of him and for folks to see what a great person he was... Chance Perdomo (Gen V, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) joins us this week to share his early experience with success on both sides of the pond and what sort of nerves and expectations come with joining beloved franchises like Sabrina and The Boys. Chance is open about his gratitude for the tough love given by his single mother and the paternal chip on his shoulder that drove him to prove himself as an actor. We also talk about the dangers of emulating Tom Cruise, leaving law school for a one year hiatus as an actor, and staying busy for sanity. Thank you to our sponsors:

Devon Sawa (Final Destination, Casper) joins us this week to share the highs and lows of his experience in this industry from his unstoppable ambition as an actor in his youth to the inevitable struggle, that Hollywood catalyzed, leading to his rock-bottom of quitting at 24. Devon is an open book this episode - candid about his evolving relationships and what inevitably pulled him back into film. We also talk about why he’s most proud of Stan, his shock at the premier of Final Destination 5, and being stranded during the filming of Chucky. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Edward Furlong (The Terminator, American History X) joins us this week to share his journey with addiction and the rock-bottom he hit that allowed him to get clean and re-discover the joys of a sober life. Edward shares fond memories with cast and crew while filming The Terminator franchise - all the while, acknowledging how he took it for granted in his youth. We also talked about going from teenage heartthrob to parent of a teenager, breaking the chain of generational trauma, and what Edward still wants to prove to himself. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars, Brian’s Song) joins us this week to reflect on his incredible legacy in this industry - from the importance of his casting as Lando Calrissian in Star Wars, to his chemistry with Diana Ross, and why he’s steadfast with his unique creative approach rather than playing the victim. Truly appreciate Billy Dee coming on the podcast as a self admitted ‘private person,’ his honestly about dark times in life and the idea of not dwelling on the negatives was refreshing. Tons of stories about the golden age of Hollywood in this episode, hope you enjoy and make sure to check out his book What Have We Here? Thank you to our sponsors:

John Rhys-Davies (Indiana Jones, The Lord of the Rings) joins us this week for one of my favorite interviews yet. The guy is prolific! He gets into everything from his pessimism heading into Lord of the Rings, the intimidation of working alongside Sean Connery, the immense difficulty of filming Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, and so much more. John was an open book this week, going on to talk about the pain of losing a child, his outlook on life after death, and the current vacuum of creativity our industry is stuck in. Hope you enjoy. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Tom Payne (The Walking Dead, Prodigal Son) joins us this week to share his journey in becoming an actor along with the unique pride and sacrifices he’s made to fully invest in his career coming over to America. Tom shares difficult lessons he’s had to learn about managing expectations, after certain projects that he believed were shoe-ins didn’t live up in the eyes of fans or people in the industry. We also talk about his nerves while joining the biggest show at the time in The Walking Dead, the differences in traffic violations in the UK and US, and how unfortunately we often don’t make changes until we hit rock bottom. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Lex Luthor meets the new Lex Luthor this week as we sit down with Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies, About a Boy) for a conversation about his prep for the role, super hero pressure in the age of social media, and the art of shaving your head. Nicholas shared his hesitancy of progressing as a child actor (up until About a Boy) and how a moment of losing anonymity almost lead to him quitting. We also talk about geeking out when Anthony Hopkins hissed, his appreciation for Clint Eastwood’s dark humor, and whether or not Nicholas Cage went to bat for him during their second film together. Thank you to our sponsors:

Joel McHale (Animal Control, Community) joins us again this week to spread out on the couch, share a bunch of laughs, and admire a room full of memorabilia. Joel talks about his experience with ADHD in this industry and how it has impacted his approach as an actor, including being the lead on Community. We also talk about keeping passion in your career, finding joy in restoring cars, and fist fights with Chevy Chase. Thank you to our sponsors:

Shelley Hennig (Obliterated, Teen Wolf) joins us this week to share her unique experience in this industry: how a distraction during a tragic family loss led to her winning Miss Teen USA, and eventually landing a recurring role on Teen Wolf. Shelley is candid about her experience on different projects throughout her career, from her fear of excepting Teen Wolf to the fulfillment of living in a real simulated haunted house while filming Unfriended. We also talk about a very hands on experience with an intimacy coordinator, traveling the world with Trump as your boss, and uncomfortable expectations after the loss of her brother. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

One of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard on the podcast, from one of the most dear friends to the show… Mark Sheppard (Supernatural, Doom Patrol) joins us this week to give an exclusive recounting of his recent heart attacks and relentless fights against death. This story was remarkable, emotional, and brave. Mark talks about what he feared most during his run ins with death and his newfound passion that has emerged from tragedy. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Silicon Valley) joins us again on the podcast after several years to reflect on his career taking off with The Big Sick, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Welcome to Chippendales - along with the untenable anxiety that came with it. Kumail is really open about how he has misguided priorities after The Big Sick and why he was used to associating work with stress. We also talk about his friendship with Dave Bautista, disappointment with Eternals, and getting back into standup. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside

Katee Sackhoff (The Mandalorian, Battlestar Galactica) joins us on the pod this week for a wonderful conversation about learning to love yourself and avoiding things that validate your own insecurities. Katee has an open conversation about the survivor’s guilt she had with her thyroid cancer and the impact it had on her during Battlestar Galactica. We also talk about her dual voice and live action portrayal of Star Wars character Bo-Katan, the issues with contracts in the modern day of streaming, and happily being pigeon holed into roles for strong independent crazy women. Thank you to our sponsors: