Spoken Dreams: Recent Episodes
KTLA Audio Network
A storytelling podcast from KTLA 5 in Los Angeles. Each week, Aspiring actors, musicians, models, filmmakers and more share their stories and experiences of working to fulfill their dreams in L.A.'s entertainment industry.
Paul Beahan is an entrepreneur, producer, and the founder of Manimal Records. He was born in San Diego, and was always interested in the music business as a child. He even started his own imaginary record labels as a kid. Eventually he started playing music, and joined up with a few bands around the San Diego area. As his friends and bandmates went on to do well as musicians, Paul realized he didn’t feel like he was cut out to make a careerplaying music. He needed a change, so he headed up the coast for Los Angeles and ended up going back to school. He ended up working in the world of fashion in New York, but that path would eventually draw him back into the music business that he had once been so eager to leave. He found success after starting his own record record label, and eventually began putting on live festivals. Now, Paul is excited to bring something big to Malibu Canyon.
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Angela Martini is a former model and Miss Universe pageant title holder turned Life coach, film producer, and author. She was born in Albania after the fall of communism and had an fairytale childhood, but after civil war broke out in Albania and danger grew, the fairytale ended. Angela was forced to leave her mother behind and move to Switzerland to be with her father and step-mother. Suddenly, Angela’s childhood became less idyllic and she dove further into her own dream world. After visiting family in New York City, Angela fell in love with the United States. Upon returning to Switzerland, her new fairy tale dream became moving to New York City to work as a model. Of course, as in all storybooks, Angela wouldn’t get there without a journey full of trials and struggles. Eventually, Angela did make it to New York City, and she lived happily ever after...or did she?
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Binx is a pop artist originally from South Africa. She grew up in small towns without a lot of venues for entertainment, so people became the entertainment, and Binx found out early on that she loved being in the spotlight. She loved performing for friends and family, and after seeing Britney Spears on television, Binx suddenly knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. With the love and support of her family, Binx grinded away at pursuing her dreams of being a famous pop star and was eventually able to make her way to New York City. She was dubbed "The African Bee" because of her South African roots and the elaborate bee costumes she wears during performances. Binx was gaining a lot of traction in New York City, but when L.A. began offering opportunities, she would have to decide whether to leave everything she’d built in New York to start all over on the West Coast. Making things harder yet, Binx experienced an unexpected tragedy that made her question whether she would continue with music at all.
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Manny Garcia is an educator, creative, and clothing designer. He was born in Texas and raised primarily in Michigan. He grew up surrounded by music, which ignited his creativity, but despite that passion, Manny pursued teaching. Later, his ambitions outgrew Michigan, and the desire to give music a shot was too strong to ignore—so he moved to Nashville. But as a Mexican-American wanting to explore his cultural identity, Nashville proved to not be the right fit, and when music wasn’t working out, he pulled up stakes and headed for Los Angeles. He fell in love with the city, but in order to make ends meet, Manny would again have to put his creative ambitions on hold. But after a humanitarian trip to Ecuador, Manny learned lessons about the world, and about himself, that would change his life forever.
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Asha Dahya is a journalist, a Ted X speaker, host, and author. She was born in England, but spent most of her childhood in Australia. Since a young age, Asha has always been talkative and loved performing. She had aspirations to be an actress, but later found that path was not a good fit. Asha began working as a television host, and suddenly found herself working for some major networks. Once she felt established, she wanted to explore new challenges and opportunities outside Australia, which brought her to Hollywood. The move proved to be difficult, and Asha may have underestimated the challenges she would face in Los Angeles. Down on her luck, Asha longed for a supportive community that she didn’t have here in the U.S. She started the blog Girl Talk HQ as a place for like-minded women to share their stories. Little did Asha know, her media savvy and desire to speak her truth would lead Asha down a new path that would open doors she never expected.
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Zara Alexandrova is a stylist and fashion consultant. She was born in Armenia and grew up in Russia. Since childhood, Zara always had an eye for fashion. She loved putting together outfits for school, and was even known to alter her mother’s wardrobe. Zara saw fashion as a means to be “the woman that she wanted to be.” Growing up in Russia, however, pursuing a career in fashion was out of the question, so Zara went to school to be a lawyer. When her family decided to move to Los Angeles, a place that embraces big dreams, Zara jumped at the opportunity to explore the fashion world professionally. She began working at boutiques on Rodeo Drive, and it wasn't long before her sense of style got her noticed. It wasn't long before Zara was welcomed with open arms into the world she knew she was always meant to be a part of.
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Heather Daughtry is an actress and host from Los Angeles. Heather grew up with a love for the performing arts, and was always seeking ways to be creative. She enjoyed dancing, music, and is even a violinist. But when college came around, Heather decided, like many others, to take a more "practica"l path, and became a communications major. Still, she took every chance she could get to perform. After college, Heather’s new dream was to work in a corporate role, but still close to the TV & film industry. It was a long road, but eventually she did secure a corporate gig. But after some time, Heather had a strange realization: She still wasn’t happy. Now, Heather knows the one thing that will make her happy, and she won’t let anything stop her from getting there.
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Vida Ghaffari is an actress originally from the Washington, D.C. area. Her father was a scientist and her mother, an artist and art teacher. Vida is of Iranian descent and grew up during a time where anti-Iranian sentiment was prevalent in the United States. She was bullied in school, and therefore felt most comfortable on the stage exploring different characters. As an adult, Vida would land in the journalism field, and that would ultimately take her from D.C. to Los Angeles working in Persian TV. Those opportunities led to some voice over work, but Vida was still drawn to performing. As she sought more acting opportunities, she began to notice the types of roles she was booking: Hijab Woman #1...Muslim Lady #3. Those roles were often diminutive, silent, and racist. Vida would be challenged, not as an artist, but as an Iranian-American wishing to explore characters with more depth in an industry notorious for perpetuating stereotypes. Fortunately, Vida would eventually find what she’s been looking for in a way that has brought everything full-circle.
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Greg Maness is an actor and aspiring writer. His father was in the military, so while he was born in the Netherlands, his family moved around every couple of years. Because of this, Greg found it difficult to put down roots and make friends. His family finally settled in South Carolina, where Greg would attend college and first discover acting. Initially seeing it as a way to avoid academics, he slowly began to take it more seriously. Immediately after graduating, Greg let out for Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. With no real experience prior to arriving in L.A., Greg started from scratch. Eventually, his journey would send him on the move again, taking him to Atlanta, New Orleans, and New York City. Now, Greg is back in Los Angeles with more insight and a clear purpose, and he’s ready to use his art to make a difference.
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AyseDeniz Gokcin is a concert pianist and composer. She is originally from the city of Ankara, Turkey. AyseDeniz was almost quite literally born into music. Much of her childhood was spent seated at a piano, and by 5-years-old she was already taking formal lessons. By age 6, she was considered a child prodigy in Turkey, and was accepted to Julliard by age 11. Instead of heading to New York City for her studies, she went to Spain to study under the tutelage of iconic pianist Rosalyn Tureck. However AyseDeniz found she didn’t quite fit in with the other students there, and the mounting stress and homesickness lead her to move back to Turkey. Without an instructor during a critical point in her development as a musician, AyseDeniz made the choice to attend a University in the United States. It was there where AyseDeniz finally met "her people." Later, while working on her Masters at the Royal Academy of Music in London, AyseDeniz began working on a project that would ultimately catapult her to worldwide recognition, and help continue her mission to unite audiences across the globe.
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Nick Dardes is originally from the small town of Beaufort, South Carolina. He describes himself as an aspiring writer, but also says he’s the guy who is willing to do just about anything in the entertainment industry. His love for film began after watching the first Spider-Man movie in 2002. By middle school, he was making short films and by high school, even though he was shy and introverted, Nick started coming out of his shell in front of the camera. He started thinking he wanted to be an actor, but when that didn’t work out, he figured out that he really just wanted to do anything in regards to filmmaking. But as high school was ending, Nick realized he didn’t really have a plan for his future. He started to feel stuck, but would eventually find his way into a college, and began to learn more about himself than he ever had before. Nick would later do one of the hardest things of his life: move from his small town to the big bustling city of Los Angeles. Knowing that opportunity can lie just around every corner, Nick started working towards his future in any way he could think of.
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Goldie Chan is a storyteller, strategist, and writer. She grew up in Oakland among several diverse communities, which informs the types of stories she aims to share now. Having always been a creative, Goldie marches to the beat of her own drum—and much the success she has now comes from the fact that she makes her own rules. For instance, her life was forever changed when she started publishing videos online; not on YouTube, like you would think, but on LinkedIn. Now, Goldie is known as “the Oprah of LinkedIn," she writes a column on storytelling and personal branding for Forbes, and she’s founded Warm Robots, a social media strategy agency. However, it hasn’t always been an easy road for Goldie, nor has it been clear road. In fact, she first came to Los Angeles to be an actress. Now, with eyes of the digital world on her, Goldie is using her platform to not just tell her story, but to build and strengthen communities, and help share the stories of others.
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Lexx Fusco is a writer originally from a small suburb outside Philideplphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up an outsider. Not having many friends in her town, Lexx made friends with the characters she watched on TV. The television shows she fell in love with influenced her growth as a writer, and she eventually went to college to study screenwriting so she could pursue a career as a storyteller. Her path would eventually lead her to Los Angeles where Lexx found success working in development. While she had many wonderful experiences, she found herself reading more scripts than she was writing. But reading those scripts helped Lexx learn and develop more confidence in her own abilities, and now she's pivoted her career to focus 100% on the things she wants most.
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Melissa Gottlieb is a singer-songwriter born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. Melissa comes from a musical family, so naturally she took to music herself. She loved singing and spent most of her time in her bedroom belting out tunes or reading about the musicians she idolized. Melissa describes singing as a way to release whatever it is she may be feeling inside, and through her voice, she can connect with others who may be feeling those same things. After high school, Melissa decided she would pursue a career in music, but it hasn’t been an easy path. In fact, she lost her passion for singing for some time after negative experiences when it came to the business side of her creativity. With some help, Melissa would rediscover her love for singing. Now, she truly feels she’s found her voice as an artist. She’s on the verge of releasing her first full album, and with it, she not only hopes to take her career to the next level, but more importantly, hopes to connect with others through her musical storytelling.
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Sarah Lightman is a singer-songwriter and recording artist from the small town of Hightstown, New Jersey. She grew up in a family of artists and musicians. Naturally Sarah wanted to follow a similar path, but didn’t quite know exactly where she fit in. She started with music, but then would later abandon the craft to pursue a career in acting. Eventually, Sarah moved to Los Angeles, where she struggled to make friends and find her place in the city.Over time, however, Sarah slowly began to find “her people”—it started with co-workers and then evolved to include like-minded creatives. Sarah’s friends all kept telling her the same thing, “Why are you in L.A. trying to become an actor? You should be doing music!” With some tentativeness, Sarah started doing more with her music, and she fell in love it again. Now Sarah is thriving as a singer-songwriter and recording artist not just making music, but making music with a purpose.
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Heidi Luerra is the founder and CEO of RAW Natural Born artists, an organization that spotlights independent artists and creatives and provides them with tools, resources, and exposure to help them thrive in their creative careers. Originally from Redding, California, Heidi grew up set on having a future as a fashion designer. She chased that dream all the way through high school, and when she finally graduated, she made the move down to Los Angeles to attend fashion school and pursue her life-long dream. Heidi eventually started her own clothing line and began showcasing anywhere and everywhere. But after she and her fellow creatives began to realize there wasn’t really an accessible platform to showcase their art, Heidi stepped up and began planning her own event. The seed was planted for what would eventually lead her to starting RAW, and with years of dedication and hard work, Heidi’s organization now holds showcases all over the world. Now, Heidi is taking what she’s learned and wrote a book to help other creatives achieve their own success.
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Cristina Vargas is an actress and aspiring model & voice actor. She grew up in Hollywood surrounded by the entertainment industry, but didn’t know until later that she would be pursuing a career as a performer. Cristina was shy growing up, and experienced some bullying in school. She never felt like she fit in. After joining an after school program, Cristina became involved in the arts. It was there that she began to discover what she really wanted out of life, and after attending college in Santa Cruz, she returned to Hollywood to begin her path towards becoming a professional actor. While insecurities and fears were often present, with courage and determination, Cristina began conquering those hinderances one by one. She continues to challenge herself, and leap out of her comfort zone, knowing every experience is helping her become a better performer.
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Peter Moffatt is a Hollywood hopeful by way of Missouri. Peter describes growing up as an inside kid—mostly staying indoors and becoming enthralled with television. Sadly, when he was still just a kid, Peter’s father passed away, and Peter was left searching meaning and for a role model. He finally began to break out of his shell after joining theater to impress a school crush, and found found he really loved performing. He even went to college for theater. Then, Peter met a talent scout who would eventually convince Peter to move to Hollywood. But instead of red carpets and flashing lights, Peter found himself facing the darker, seedier side of the industry—The one filled with vultures looking to take advantage of young dreamers. But Peter could not be chased away, and would later discover that everything that has happened to him throughout his life is part of a story that only he can tell.
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Jonathan Chance is a writer, director, comic book writer, and voice over artist from Essex, England. Jonathan’s passion for storytelling began at an early age. He and his brother developed a love for movies, and it wasn’t long before they began making their own low-budget independent films. They entered their movies in film festivals and won several awards. One of those films would lead Jonathan to California to pursue his dreams of making films, and he even found joy exploring new storytelling mediums like his voice over work and as a background actor. He got married here, and set his sights on finally making his passion project: A feature length horror film called the Rectory about the long history of England’s most haunted house. But in the midst of experiencing some setbacks in the process of getting his movie made, Jonathan would have to face an unthinkable tragedy. His life was suddenly turned upside down and, for a time, his dream of turning his Rectory film into a reality seemed hopeless. However, rather than allow his life to turn into a real-life horror story, Jonathan chose to focus on the things that bring him joy. Now, he’s more determined than ever to share the stories he loves.
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Alicia Rosalie is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Self-Love Club clothing label. She is also the founder of The Love Club Foundation non-profit organization. Alicia grew up in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles surrounded by art and creativity, and for a time she was heavily involved in a hip-hop dance team. As she got older, her mother pushed her towards a more academic future, and Alicia’s main focus in high school was trying to figure out who she was as a person. Her childhood and teen years were filled with trauma, and Alicia had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to do with her life. At her lowest, she was working jobs she hated and was in an abusive relationship. Things finally changed when Alicia landed a job that would change the course of her life, and met a person who would help reshape her future. Since then, she has found her calling in the form of a fashion brand that promotes self-love—the same kind of self-love that helped Alicia pull herself out of her darkest times. She has also found a way to give back to her community to show that, just as she had discovered, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
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Bailee Payne is an aspiring actress and film and television writer. She was born in a small town in Minnesota. The daughter of a minister, Bailee grew up in a very conservative and religious household. Needless to say, when Bailee told her mother she wanted to attend a boarding school for performing arts so that she could pursue a career as an actress in Hollywood, it didn't go over well. However, Bailee would end up attending that school for a short time, and while there, her mind began to open up to new ideas that challenged the ideals of her fundamentalist upbringing. It was a culture shock for Bailee, and she put her dreams of being an actress aside after experiencing an identity crisis. She ended up attending a fundamentalist college in Oklahoma, but a seed had been planted. Bailee realized that her beliefs no longer aligned with the ones of her religious upbringing. Her dreams of moving to Los Angeles and pursuing a career in film and television were reignited, and she took the leap. Since then, her journey has been one of self-discovery, healing, and reconciliation.
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Keith Leach is an aspiring media personality and Bobby's former KTLA intern! Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Keith came to KTLA as a rising senior majoring in communications at USC, however, pursuing a career in communications wasn't always the path Keith was on. He excelled as a student and was working towards the goal of becoming a dentist. His main motivation was to land a stable career that would allow him to leave the confines of Oklahoma. When Keith arrived in Los Angeles and USC, he began to realize that maybe the biology degree he was pursuing wasn't the right path. He did some soul-searching to find the things he was good at and had enjoyed doing all his life, such as public speaking and writing speeches. Keith switched his major to communications and began to discover that he could use his natural talents in a capacity that could effect positive change. Now, the path before Keith is clear, and he's on his way towards fulfilling some big goals.
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Justin Cole and Dan Picarel are two musicians who make up the pop band The Underclassmen. Originally from Syracuse, New York, Justin and Dan found their ways to music in very different ways, but when they met in high school, they found they found they both had the same deep love for and knowledge about music. The instant connection led them to begin playing casual open mic nights and other events before officially declaring themselves a band. Just as they were starting to take making music more seriously, Justin and Dan had a falling out. They wouldn’t speak to each other for a year. Eventually the need to create music together became too strong, and Justin and Dan reconnected to begin playing together again. Now, they are re in Los Angeles pushing harder than ever before, and for the first time, they feel they have finally found true freedom to create.
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We're celebrating 100 episodes of Spoken Dreams! To commemorate the milestone, B. Dave Walters returns to the podcast to give an update on what's happened since his previous visit last year.
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Chelsea Sik is an aspiring actress and model currently attending USC’s prestigious BFA in acting program. Born in Malaysia, she realized her dream of acting at an extremely early age, and ultimately her ambition convinced her parents to let her move across the world to attend the elite Idyllwild Arts boarding school in the U.S.-- regardless of the financial burden it would place on their family. As Chelsea’s dreams were finally taking shape, she began to realize the limits her ethnicity could place on her career, prompting her to work even harder to break barriers and be the best she could possibly be. However, the largest obstacle standing in the way of Chelsea’s dreams is her student visa, preventing her from working professionally while living in the U.S. and rendering her future here uncertain. Despite this, Chelsea has remained resilient and positive throughout the entire experience by learning to find happiness in the “now,” knowing it’s all she can do for the next year until her visa expires.
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Monnaa Hassan in an aspiring television writer and comedian. Monnaa grew up in a multi-cultural household and traveled frequently between Southern California and Cairo, Egypt. Growing up knowing the turmoil between the United States and the Middle East led Monnaa towards pursuing a career in politics to do her part in trying to bring about peace. When she began working towards those goals in Washington, D.C., Monnaa was floored when she discovered that in order to climb the ladder, she would would be required to deny a part of her identity. Feeling disillusioned and unfulfilled, another blow came in the form of a serious medical diagnosis. Disillusionment suddenly turned into despair, and Monnaa found herself at the lowest point in her life. One night, sitting on a bridge in Washington, D.C., Monnaa made a choice. That choice would lead her down a path of hope, happiness, and healing.
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RiRia is an actor, musician, designer, and more. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, RiRia was already an incredibly accomplished professional flutist at a very young age. After winning troves of awards, and even playing music for the Olympics, RiRia longed for more outlets for artistic expression besides just playing the flute. RiRia would find those new outlets in Los Angeles, but at just 17 years old, coming to a new country without family, friends, and not knowing the language proved to be a challenge. However, RiRia stayed resilient and now not only have a number of new opportunities opened up, but RiRia has also opened up as an artist, and a person.
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Kyle Stefanski is an actor, producer, and philanthropist originally from Cleveland, Ohio. Despite taking up a heavy interest in sports, particularly ice hockey, Kyle felt the arts were always calling to him. Having been born into a banking family, however, Kyle was encouraged to work towards a future on Wall Street. Still, Kyle always had an eye on Los Angeles. As he was trying to figure out what to do with his life, Kyle and his family were met with heartbreaking tragedy when his mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After her passing, Kyle had a newfound clarity of what he wanted to do with his life, and began chasing his dream of being an actor. He was able to parlay his other skills and connections into fulfilling another dream of starting a non-profit organization in honor of his late mother.
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Ariane Andrew is a self-proclaimed “Queen of All Trades”. She’s an actress, a fempreneur, host, philanthropist, and more. Ariane is perhaps best known by WWE fans as Cameron of the wrestling tag-team The Funkadactyls. Before finding herself in the world of wrestling, Ariane was pursuing a master's degree after earning degrees in business marketing and psychology while also working with children with autism. In this episode, Ariane opens up about how she found herself in the WWE. She shares how she is remaining resilient pursuing her goals in the entertainment industry, and talks about writing, producing, and starring in her own film "Jaded Pictures."
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Nate Gray is an actor originally from La Crosse, Wisconsin. Pursuing a career as an actor had never been a thought in Nate's mind for many, many years. Growing up in small-town America, he spent a lot of his childhood on a farm working with his hands. In college, Nate would degrees in mechanical engineering and mathematics. The future Nate saw for himself never involved the entertainment industry, nor ever leaving Wisconsin. The way the rest of Nate's life unfolds to lead him to Los Angeles as an actor is a litany of random events that almost seem cosmically orchestrated. Throughout his journey, Nate has consistently welcomed people into his life, many of them pointing him towards new opportunities and taking him places he never imagined. Now, the man who thought he'd have a career in engineering in Wisconsin is living in the entertainment capital of the world putting in serious work towards a career as an actor.
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Kirill and Filipp Revega are two actors, models and social media influencers. They call themselves the "Twins from Russia." Born and raised in a small city in Russia, the twins were recording videos of themselves and their friends at an early age. When it was time to go to university, they began studying engineering at their parent’s behest, but Kirill and Filipp always felt like they were destined for something greater outside their small Russian town. They began gaining traction on YouTube, and they eventually started modeling. After visiting Los Angeles during a student exchange program, the twins knew it was where they wanted to be. After finishing their degree in Russia, they would finally arrive in the city that they felt would make their dreams come true. To their surprise, however, they learned that no one was going to just pluck them off the street and give them a modeling gig or a part in the next blockbuster movie. It was going to be up to them to make their own dreams come true. Instead of turning tail back to Russia, the twins doubled down, and got to work carving out their place in Hollywood.
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Roberto Quinn is a digital strategist specializing in creative strategies for the entertainment industry, celebrities, and TV shows. Originally from Guatemala, Roberto is naturally a social butterfly. After moving to Texas, he took advantage of social media platforms early on in their inception to keep in touch with friends. Roberto would go on to use his passion for people and connectivity to form his own company connecting artists to venues and audiences. Roberto knew he wanted to pursue a career that combined his love for entertainment and digital, and he spent years building up his expertise before setting out for Los Angeles. When he finally did, he learned that no amount of experience could prepare him for the grinding machine that is L.A. After a few months, just as things were looking grim, Roberto caught a break—and that was all he needed to do what he does best: Build relationships and make connections.
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Keli Price is an actor, director, and producer from Long Island, New York. Raised by a musician father and a mother in the fashion business, Keli grew up surrounded by the arts. Keli struggled in school, and the things adults would say to him affected his confidence and made him feel like an outsider. The only thing that didn't make him feel like an outsider was when he was performing. Keli says music, sports, and the arts saved his life, and his confidence continued to grow when he and his brother began modeling as kids. Modeling would eventually lead to acting, and by the time Keli arrived in Los Angeles to continue nurturing his acting career, he had a realization: All those years of people telling him he couldn't achieve anything, he actually could. Now, he has a new documentary out called "On Thin Ice," and for Keli, it has brought everything full circle.
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Danica Kennedy is an art director for photoshoots who works alongside her friend and business partner Alena Mealy. Together, they create vibrant and surreal images that have been featured in notable publications and have a growing list of celebrity clients. While Danica never intended to become an art director, she has always had a desire to be at the forefront of the entertainment industry where she could collaborate with like-minded creatives. She followed many paths towards artistic expression including dance, modeling, and hosting, originally with the goal to get in front of the camera. It was later that Danica realized that maybe her dream wasn’t to be in front of the camera after all, but the camera could still be used as a tool to bring art to life, and leave her feeling more fulfilled than ever before.
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Emir Horton is an aspiring actor and producer originally from Philadelphia. Emir says the notion to be an actor just came to him one day when he was a kid, but at best, it seemed like an impossible idea that he didn’t pay much attention to. Years later, a pastor at Emir's church began to prophecy over his life, and continually mentioned acting in regards to his future. The idea to become an actor was sparked in Emir’s head again, and around the same time, he was cast in a music video. Emir loved the experience, and decided to take acting classes and attend college to study mass communications with a concentration on TV, radio, and film. All the while, Emir knew he wanted to get to Los Angeles. The opportunity to do so came in the form of a college internship, but when he finally got to L.A., Emir found himself just scraping by. In order to stay in L.A. to really hunker down and work towards his dreams, Emir would need a job. Just as things were beginning to look hopeless, Emir landed a gig that would not only allow him to stay in Los Angeles, but it also gave him the chance to learn and grow in his pursuit of his goals. Emir hasn’t looked back since.
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Sameh Marey is a musician, guitarist, and singer-songwriter going by the name NOVA. He is originally from Egypt, but is now in Los Angeles pursuing his dreams of stardom. NOVA developed a deep connection with music at a very young age. He began writing his own songs and melodies as a child without even owning an instrument. Once he was confident with his abilities as a songwriter, NOVA mustered the courage to ask his parents for a guitar, and while at the time they didn’t necessarily believe there was a future in music, they agreed to purchase NOVA his first acoustic guitar. NOVA and his guitar became inseparable as he continued to evolve as a musician. It wasn’t until graduating college with a film degree that NOVA realized nothing in life makes him happier than playing music. It was then that he had to face his next big challenge: Telling his parents he was leaving for the United States to chase a music career.
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Amy Lesneski is an aspiring actress originally from Michigan. Amy always knew in her gut that she would one day be an actress, but as she got further into adulthood, those aspirations slowly began to fade away in favor of pursuing a more “realistic” career. Before continuing on to dental school after college, Amy decided to take one final shot at acting. She joined a theater program in London, and immediately knew that being an actor was the only career that would make her happy. When she returned to the states, Amy sought to gain more acting experience, but ended up getting scammed out of thousands of dollars. Amy, however, is undeterrable and she immediately sought to find the next opportunity. After studying more of her craft, she would finally make it out to Los Angeles to face a new set of overwhelming challenges, but Amy is standing firm and ready to face them all to reach her goal.
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Alena Savostikova is an actress originally from Russia. Alena comes from an athletic background, and was playing tennis professionally for years, often traveling to the U.S. to compete in tournaments. Eventually, her family made the decision to move to the United States so that Alena could further her tennis career. By her teens, the demanding lifestyle of professional sports began to take its toll on Alena, and tennis slowly fell out of her life. For the first time, Alena was able to be a normal teen, and was also able to choose her own future. Already an experienced model, Alena ended up with modeling contracts all over the world. Eventually, she ended up in Los Angeles where a chance meeting with an agent would open the door for Alena to start acting. Pursuing a career as an actress in Los Angeles brought on a slew of new challenges, but Alena is meeting them all head on. For the first time in her life, Alena feels like she’s right where she’s supposed to be.
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Jonathan Baker is a producer, writer, and director of films like Inconceivable and Becoming Iconic. In addition to being filmmaker, Jonathan is also a hotel owner and has his own aromatherapy product line. Jonathan grew up in New York City in the 1960s and his love for movies started at an early age. He would run around the streets of Manhattan learning to make his own films. He would eventually end up coming to Hollywood, and his fascinating journey towards becoming a filmmaker would take him to the Playboy Mansion, playing poker games with famed celebrities, and even owning Warren Beatty’s home. Jonathan’s motto is “Life is by design," and Jonathan is set on designing himself to become an icon.
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Benjamin Schnau is an actor and singer from Germany. Ben got his start performing when, as a child, he was cast as part of a German boy band. It was an eye-opening experience for Ben, and when he got to high school, he decided to give acting a try. As a performer, Ben loved the ability to elicit emotions from an audiences. Eventually, outside pressure on Ben to work towards a "real job" that was more financially viable led Ben to study economics, and work in an office. After some time, Ben knew his life was not meant for this, so he moved to London to really go after his dream of being an entertainer. After getting connected and working on a few projects, Ben woke up one morning determined to fulfill another dream of his: To continue his hustle in Los Angeles.
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Lorène and Marine Alayse are twin sisters from a small town near Lyon, France. Together, they make up the music group L Y S. For the twins, these 3 letters are steeped in meaning. Chasing big dreams wasn't something you just did in small town France, but At 10-years-old, Lorène got sick and was hospitalized for a month. During this time, she and Marine were separated from each other. When they were finally reunited, music was their way to heal and bring themselves closer together. Without even having a conversation about it, they both knew that one day they were going to be in Los Angeles going after their dreams as singers, songwriters, and musicians. Now, they're here, and they're not wasting any time.
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K-von Moezzi is a comedian originally from Reno, Nevada. The son of an Iranian father and American mother, K-von proudly holds the self-proclaimed title of "most famous half-Persian comedian." K-von spent most of his childhood growing up in Las Vegas surrounded by some of the most famous entertainers and comedians in the country. After getting some advice from a famous comedian he admired, K-von had his sights set on Los Angeles to rise through the ranks of the comedy scene. After grinding it out for years in L.A., K-von found himself falling deeper into debt. Instead of giving up, K-von doubled-down and branched out of the L.A. scene. Not long after, everything changed for K-von, and he is selling out comedy shows across the country.
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Sciarra is electronic pop artist, singer, and producer originally from Anaheim, California. She grew up doing musical theater and singing. Eventually, she began writing her own lyrics and decided she wanted to write her own original music, but didn't know how to go about getting into the business of making music. Sciarra experimented with genres she didn't really have her heart set on, and spent a lot of money on producers, but never really feel like she was getting anywhere. Then, Sciarra discovered electronic dance music, and everything changed. She began to find her voice as an artist and in a new, collaborative environment, has taken complete creative control of her art and her future.
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Gia Gunn is a drag performer, artist, and activist originally from the suburbs of Chicago. She is best known for appearing on Season 6 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" and Season 4 of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars." Growing up, Gia was very in touch with her Japanese heritage, and studied Japanese classical dance for many years. In middle school, Gia began to realize she didn't quite fit in with her peers, and during senior year of high school, she was introduced to queer culture. After witnessing her first drag queen performance, Gia began performing in drag herself. It was a way she felt she could truly express herself in a way that was accepted. Despite originally not wanting to audition, Gia's life changed when she was cast "Drag Race." Since her first stint on the show, Gia has come out as transgender, and has began to shift her focus towards being an activist for her community and using her platform to share her journey to help others embrace their true selves.
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Katie Ferrara is a singer-songwriter from Eagle Rock. Katie was a shy girl growing up, but she always had a desire to sing. To help draw her out of her shell, she joined the school choir, and her love for performing grew. She taught herself how to play guitar, and began writing her own songs, performing them at open mics. But when she went off to college, music took a backseat, as Katie studied psychology to prepare for the more traditional career path and future that was expected of her. But by her junior year, she realized she couldn't escape her desire to pursue a career in music, and would end up leaving the country to challenge herself in London. But when she returned to Los Angeles, she was in debt, and a career in music didn't seem to be panning out. She fell back on her psychology degree and was thinking of becoming a teacher, but all the while feeling guilt for turning her back on her music again. That's when she stumbled upon a new path. One that would allow her to share her music, and travel the world, and recapture her happiness. Katie began working as a street performer,
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Matt Beurois is a film director originally from France. As a boy in France, Matt didn’t even know what movies were for much of the early parts of his life. It wasn’t until the 90s when he saw his first American film in a small theater that Matt had any idea such a medium existed. Naturally, he was awe struck. When one of his childhood friends got a hold of a VHS camera, Matt and his friends would run around shooting their own films. As they learned more about the filmmaking process, their movies got better, and eventually Matt was working editing commercials, directing short films, making documentaries, and anything else he could do that allowed him to be a storyteller. Matt's next big challenge was directing his first feature film, “The Barn." Always looking to grow and push himself as a storyteller, Matt is now taking on perhaps one of his biggest challenges yet. Working as a filmmaker in Los Angeles.
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Christina Cooper is a director, producer, actor and model. She grew up in Los Angeles and had a troubled home life that would lead her to start making some bad decisions. By high school, she had relocated to South Central, and describes her teenage years as a period where she was running from problems. But during this time, she got to know people that began to make her feel accepted and comfortable. She was struggling alongside others who were also struggling. She eventually got a job and was scouted by a modeling agent. The modeling lead to acting, and now, Christina is behind the camera directing and producing her own projects. She’s currently working on a film called South Central Love, and with it, she hopes to give a voice to her community and inspire the people within it.
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Patrick Hill is an actor from from Middletown, Ohio. As a toddler, Patrick’s mom got him into modeling for catalogues, and by 8-years-old he was signed to an agency. It wasn’t until Patrick saw himself in his first commercial that he knew he wanted to be an actor. He dropped everything to just focus on acting. When he was a teenager, his mom packed up the family and headed out for Los Angeles so that Patrick could give things a real shot. Amazingly, he booked a big role for a new show on Disney Channel. He was thrilled. But just 4 days into shooting, Patrick suffered a devastating loss. He was forced go back home to Ohio and abandon his dream. After years of building a new life, and trying to live “normally, ”Patrick made a huge sacrifice to head back to Los Angeles, and give his dreams another shot.
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Chase Bell is songwriter, music producer, and artist originally from New Jersey. He was drawn to the piano and guitar, and could often be found practicing his craft or studying all different kinds of music genres. To further hone his skills as a musician, Chase perfected his craft in London and Italy. Each experience opened more and more doors for Chase on his path of music. On the other side of one of those opened doors was Los Angeles, and now Chase is here, with a new sense of confidence and excited for year ahead. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Izzy Presley is a musician, radio host, podcast host, and comedian. Born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Izzy was raised on rock and roll music. He grew up listening to Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings. At 4 years old, he discovered KISS, and his love for rock music was cemented. He would eventually get a gig hosting his own radio show, which led to hosting events for the Monsters of Rock cruises. Now Izzy, continues hosting a rock radio show, has his own podcast "Another F'n Podcast", fronts an Ace Frehley tribute band, performs standup comedy, and is getting into acting. This, all because in 2013 Izzy did perhaps the most rock and roll thing ever: With no money, no job, no place to stay, and no plan, Izzy jumped in his beater and lit out for Los Angeles to chase a dream. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Kaila Yu is a travel writer and blogger originally from Upland, California. Kaila was raised in a traditional Asian household. Growing up a lot of focus was put on her academic future. She did well in school, but because she was under so much pressure to succeed, she lacked a real sense of identity. By high school, Kaila began to rebel, and her grades began to slip. Later, she discovered drugs, and the course of her life would take a completely different direction. Kaila achieved some notoriety as a pop singer and was able to travel the world doing music. Eventually, she found herself in an all-Asian female rock band, but she still found herself feeling unhappy and unfulfilled, and her excessive drug and alcohol abuse caught up to her. At rock bottom, Kaila had to make a decision-- one that would put her on course for discovering what she truly wanted out of life. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Lovely Lola is a singer who grew up in the mountains of Sunland in the San Fernando Valley. She's part of the music duo Nomad & Lola. Lovely Lola has been singing for as long as she can remember, and shares how she found a way to do what she loves for a living. Nomad drops in too with a few updates on what they've been up to since his previous visit last year. Nomad & Lola also perform one of their new Christmas songs live. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Spencer Trinwith is an actor originally from San Jose, California. The son of two actors, his love for performing began at a young age. Since childhood, Spencer's instincts told him he was always meant to be an actor. He went on to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts, which further solidified his sense of belonging. Spencer did everything he could to set himself up to have a career as a performer. But then, his future was then severely put into question. A terrible medical issue would leave Spencer bedridden, and he found himself fighting a completely different battle than what he had envisioned for his life. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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In this episode of Spoken Dreams, Bobby shares clips from some of KTLA's other podcast offerings from Frank Buckley Interviews, The News Director's Office, and California Cooking. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Derek Warburton is a stylist, consultant, and slew of other roles in the fashion, beauty, and entertainment industries. He is also owner and creative director for LAPALME Magazine. Born in New Hampshire, Derek's childhood was fraught with difficulty. He faced a number of challenges including abuse and homelessness. It wasn't until he was 15-years-old that Derek finally felt he gained something he had been missing all his life: freedom. For the first time, he was able to be himself, and pursue the things that he wanted to in life. He developed an interest in fashion, and sought to make it his career. Through hard work, talent, persistence, and connection, Derek can now count himself among the upper echelon of the fashion industry. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Jordan Morgan is an actor from the town of Truman, Arkansas. Jordan's performing experience began as a member of his church choir, and he also acted in plays there. While Jordan enjoyed acting, he had always considered it an after-school hobby. As he prepared to apply for college, he toyed with the idea of law school or a career in medicine, but never gave a future as a performer any serious thought. During his freshman year of college, Jordan discovered Shakespeare, and decided he would give more consideration to exploring acting. After his roommate decided he was leaving for California, Jordan made the decision to head to L.A. with him so that he could give acting a chance while still mainly focusing on what he considered a more "safe" career path. Before long, Jordan found himself too caught up in a new L.A. lifestyle, and got himself into some serious legal trouble. Jordan took the experience as a wake-up call. Starting at square one, he seized the opportunity to learn, grow, and to really go after what he truly wants in life. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Rose Emanuel is an actress originally from London, England. Rose comes a family of entertainers, so naturally she grew up with a dream to be a star. Her father, however, wasn't so sure that was the best safest path for her to follow. Ever stalwart, Rose was determined to chase her passion for performing, and at a young age, a future career as an actress started to look very promising. But as Rose was just starting to reap the benefits of all that she'd worked for, her parents pulled up stakes and moved the family from London to Los Angeles. Rose was faced with a new set of difficult challenges, but with those challenges came new opportunities, and Rose, as she's always done, is seizing the reigns of her own future and getting deeply personal for the sake of creating art. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Paul Sanchez is a filmmaker, photojournalist, and fellow KTLA colleague. Twenty years ago, Paul was in charge of a small college radio station in St. George, Utah. It was something Paul was very proud of. He was able to share the music he loved and spread his voice in the community. One Monday afternoon, after a terrible incident, the radio station was shut down. Paul and some of his colleagues were left with more questions that answers, and while Paul always wanted to share the story of what happened at D91 FM, 20 years of self-doubt kept him from doing so. Now, After all this time, Paul is putting together a documentary called "Last Days of Dixie" and he's finally ready to share his story. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Shane Elizabeth is a writer originally from Chicago. What started as a deep love for television eventually led to a pursuit of a career in screenwriting. After studying in Chicago and New York City, Shane made her way to the place she obsessed over since childhood: Hollywood. It was there where she began working in reality television. Later, a feature that Shane had written got some promising attention, and just as the project was looking like it would become a reality, The whole thing fell apart. It was then that Shane stepped away from her writing, and took a spiritual journey to India. While in India, Shane discovered that even if you try you can never really give up doing the thing you love the most. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Tara Bianco is an actress, singer, and dancer originally from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Tara grew up performing in musical theater, and has always been a natural entertainer. She would later decide to take the leap and move to Hollywood to chase her dreams of stardom, leaving the comforts of South Carolina behind. Tara found a lot of success early on; She signed with an acting manager, booked a role in a national television show, and got into SAG. Behind the scenes, however, Tara was butting heads with an antagonistic music manager and struggling through a toxic relationship. Tara soon found herself in a rut, but with a little help, would find a way to pick herself up, dust herself off, and resume the chase. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Stephanie Nauli is an actress, model, singer, and author from Los Angeles, California. As a child, Stephanie did have a desire to be a star, but as she approached adulthood, her life began unfolding in a different way. After high school, she went on to join the Army where she became known among the ranks for her noteworthy performances of the National Anthem. Despite people around Stephanie urging her to pursue a career in Hollywood, she laughed it off, and after being honorably discharged, set out to attend medical school to pursue a future career in psychiatry. But while in her pre-nursing program, Stephanie began feeling a great lack of fulfillment. Despite protests form her mother, She would end up leaving her nursing program and began chasing her dreams in the entertainment industry. But even as Stephanie began finding greater happiness doing what she loved, the challenges were just beginning. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Keith Gallucci is an actor and singer from Rensselaer Falls, New York. Growing up in the small village, Keith and his brother relied on nothing but movies and their imagination to keep themselves entertained. By the time he reached college, Keith had made the decision that he wanted to be an actor, and he was given the unique opportunity to study his craft at the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School. After graduating, Keith knew that if he was really serious about his desire to be an actor, he needed to move to Los Angeles. Confident and motivated, Keith would soon learn that even with all his training, making it in Hollywood was going to be harder than he thought. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Diana Espir is an entertainment host, content creator, and podcaster from Geneva, Switzerland. Her natural ability as an entertainer began to take shape when she began taking piano lessons at 2-years-old. Later, as she began taking music more seriously, she realized that Switzerland was not the best environment to continue developing her talents. Her pursuit of a singing career would eventually land her on France’s version of The Voice, and later, she would explore new opportunities in New York City Gradually, Diana found that the music industry began limiting her ability to express herself as an artist. She would later leave New York City for Los Angeles, where she began exploring new platforms that showcase her talent and perspective. She soon began finding excitement working as an entertainment host and reporter, and would eventually carve out her own platform as a content creator. In this episode, Diana shares the difficulties that come with having big aspirations while growing up in Switzerland. She opens up about how she has used failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, and offers insight into the importance of embracing your own voice. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Stephen Carleton is an aspiring late-night television host from Grahamsville, New York. While he had an interest in theater and public speaking, Stephen spent most of his teenage years not quite sure what he wanted to do as a career. After a teacher encouraged him to attend Ithaca College to pursue a future in television, Stephen's path became more clear. Several opportunities in school began getting him even more excited about his talk show host goals, but suddenly Stephen's world was tragically turned upside down. Emotionally strained, he was distracted from his pursuits as his life became permanently altered. Now, he's found himself in Los Angeles, more motivated than ever to achieve his dream-- Not only for himself, but to fulfill a promise he made to his mother. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Jay Jackson is an entertainer, choreographer, and drag queen best known as Laganja Estranja from RuPaul's Drag Race and So You Think You Can Dance. Jay grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has been a performer all his life. In 2007, he was awarded Presidential Scholar in the Arts for his dance choreography. In this episode, Jay opens up about a number of personal topics including his relationship with his parents, his post-Drag Race struggles with substance abuse, and how he hopes his latest project will launch him to the next phase of his career as an artist and entertainer. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Andy Cruz is a filmmaker from the Texas town of McAllen. Andy has always loved movies. In this episode, Andy shares filmmaking advice he received from his favorite director, Judd Apatow. He opens up about the joy of making your own projects, and shares a harrowing story regarding a violent attack that changed his life and inspired his latest film "2 Wrongs." This episode also features a return visit from actor (and now executive producer) Jamal Johnson. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Geoff Ashley is a writer who was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. Inspired by science-fiction television shows and movies, Geoff has been writing for as long as he can remember. In this episode of the podcast, Geoff shares how he brought his story and characters to life within the pages of his Frontiers comic books. He recounts how he managed to cast a Star Trek icon for his podcast adaptation, and explains why he believes it's never too late to achieve success. Full show notes http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Stoll Vaughan is a musician, songwriter, and producer originally from Lexington, Kentucky. After realizing formal training didn’t provide him with what he felt he needed, he set out to gain life experiences, and allow the road to be his teacher. He’s toured with musicians like John Mellencamp, John Foggerty, Def Leppard, Journey, Shooter Jennings and more. His songs have been featured in popular television shows like True Blood, Friday Night Lights, Shameless, and The Office. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Denise Salcedo is a television host and entertainment reporter from Los Angeles. Growing up, Denise dreamed about becoming an actress and began studying theater in college. However, early in her college career, Denise came to realize that a future as a professional actress likely wasn’t in the cards for her. Defeated, she needed to figure out what it was that she would do next. After an ordinary stroll through the campus library, Denise stumbled upon what she discovered would become her new dream job. It even landed her smack in the middle of a place she had loved since childhood: The center of a wrestling ring. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Jake Cannon is an aspiring stand-up comedian and podcaster originally from Chino Hills. Growing up, Jake actually hated public speaking, despite having a keen sense of humor. After reading a book by a Hollywood screenwriter that encouraged pursuing the thing that scares you most, Jake determined that he would finally try and perform stand-up comedy. After his first performance, Jake had an emotional experience, and decided to continue performing comedy. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Robin Ayers is an entertainment reporter, motivational speaker, and author originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Robin had a troubled childhood, and television provided her with an escape. Throughout her youth, the bright lights and colors she saw on TV programs like Soul Train brought her happiness. At the age of four, Robin was sent off to California, where suddenly she found herself living among the same bright lights she had seen on her television screen. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Ronny Pascale is a comedy writer, producer, and improv performer form New Haven Connecticut. Ronny knew he wanted to be a performer at a young age, but he would not begin pursuing it until his mid-20's. He attributes this long delay to the fact that he grew up feeling very insecure and shy. Ronny became interested in improv after seeing a show he heard an advertisement for over the radio. Ronny began studying improv in New York City, and slowly began breaking out of his shell. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Chris Maslen is an actor originally from Kansas City, Missouri. In this episode, Chris shares how acting helped him find his true passion. He opens up about finding acceptance, and why for many years he was resistant to make the move to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Ben Worley is a film composer and actor from Nashville, Tennessee. He would discover in high school that he could combine his love of movies and music by becoming a film composer, and with the help of his brother, he got his first paying gig. After graduating, Ben continued to working towards his dreams in Nashville, but eventually realized he needed to do something he was originally dead-set against: He needed to move to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Julie Mintz is a singer-songwriter and recording artist originally from Corpus Christi, Texas. While Julie loved singing and playing piano, she had a strong aversion to performing in front of an audience. In this episode, Julie opens up about following her true passion. She shares how she ended up playing on The Tonight Show, and how she's allowed herself to be more vulnerable and confident as an artist. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Che'Nelle is an international recording artist who grew up in Malaysia, and later Perth, Australia. In this episode, Che’Nelle opens up about the many phases of her career as a recording artist. She shares her experiences of making music in foreign countries, and how she now hopes to recreate her success in Japan in the United States and beyond. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Bellsaint is a recording artist and songwriter originally from Tyler, Texas. Perhaps the epitome of a rising star, Bellsaint's music is receiving glowing accolades from publications and media outlets.She has worked with some of the top artists and producers in the industry, and has written music for television, film, commercials and more. Bellsaint's talents a songwriter and performer are undeniable. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Nathan Moore is an actor, director, and multi-faceted storyteller. He was born in New Hampshire, but spent much of his childhood was spent visiting the home of his grandparents' in Wisconsin. It was there that he cultivated his imagination and developed a sense for creating stories. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Danielle Savre is an actress from Simi Valley in the midst of performing one of the biggest roles of her career. She currently stars as Maya Bishop on the Grey's Anatomy spinoff Station 19. Danielle believes she was born to act; a notion that is supported by a long list of notable film and television credits. Entertainment outlets everywhere are raving that Danielle is one of Hollywood's rising stars. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Parris Rose is a host originally from Fairfield, Connecticut. As a young girl, she describes herself as having been very outgoing and always craving the center of attention. She was auditioning for choir and school plays even though, according to Parris, she couldn’t sing and didn’t think she was a very good actress; she just enjoyed doing anything that gave her the chance to be in the spotlight. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Natalie K is a singer-songwriter from Hollywood, California. An only child, Natalie always enjoyed being the center of attention as she entertained her friends and family. Later, she discovered that she could sing, and it quickly became one of her favorite ways to perform. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Haylee Graham is a writer from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. The daughter of two actors, she came from a background of wealth and opportunity. However, as a teenager, her entire life was turned upside down. It was during this time that she began writing stories. Haylee saw writing as a way to deal with her real-life problems in her own fictional world. During her lowest point in life, Haylee realized how precious life is, and how she could use her writing to make a positive impact on others. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Gabriela Duarte is an actress, originally from the city of Salvador in Bahia, Brazil. In this episode, Gabriela shares details of her childhood growing up in Brazil. She recalls the life-changing experience of studying under Vincent D’onofrio, and opens up about her ambitions as an actress. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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B. Dave Walters is a storyteller originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. Throughout his career, he has been a writer, producer, performer, business owner, host, martial artist, life coach, and more. Growing up, he had originally wanted to be an aerospace engineer. In high school, he was introduced to Shakespeare, which he credits with changing his life path. B. Dave went on to earn his degree in English, and sought to use his voice to help others. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Trisha Rae Stahl is an actress from the small town of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. For Trisha, acting started out simply as a hobby. As she made ready to attend college and really had to think about what she wanted to do with her future, Trisha was encouraged to pursue acting professionally. Trisha opens up about her early relationship with performing. She shares the emotional story of finding fulfillment outside of acting, and recalls the nerve-wracking experience of auditioning for Tyler Perry. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Derek Wayne Johnson is a filmmaker originally from the countryside of East Texas. As a kid, Derek was a huge fan of movies, and knew that he would some day move to Hollywood to become a professional director. Derek was already writing, shooting, and editing his own movies by the time he was in high school. He continued to develop his skills while attending film school in Texas, but never lost sight of his goal to end up in Los Angeles. The opportunity finally presented itself when, by chance, Derek was able to connect with a personal hero of his. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Karen Bankhead is an actor, writer, comedian, and inspirational speaker. She was born on Vandenberg Air Force Base. Ever since she was a young child, Karen loved watching television and even received lessons on the fundamentals of acting, but she didn’t originally come to Los Angeles with plans to break into the entertainment industry. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Elle Dawson is an artist and model originally from Mississippi. A rebel since childhood, Elle began modeling at age 14 based on a recommendation from her sister. She began to turn her life around for the better, leaving an abusive relationship and getting off drugs. Eventually, with only $50 and one suitcase, she made her way to New York City to begin modeling professionally. Unfortunately, the dark side of the modeling industry began to reveal itself, and she began to develop animosity because of a myriad of controversial practices. She decided to take stand, and has now committed to using her art to incite change to the industry and ideals of beauty. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Jennifer Lynn Warren is an actress and podcast host originally from Altoona, Pennsylvania. From the moment she knew having a career as a professional performer was a possibility in life, she knew that would be the path she would follow. She graduated with a degree in theater, and her journey as an actress took her from the bright lights of New York City, to the emerging film industry of Texas, to the swamps and bayous of Louisiana, and finally to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Chris Denny is a musician from West Palm Beach, Florida. He was hooked on music ever since he was 6 years old after watching his uncle play drums at the local church. He loved banging on the floor along to his favorite music, and eventually his grandparents surprised him with his very first drum set, which he would play for hours on end. Over the years, Chris taught himself how to play the drums out of sheer passion, and developed a reputation around his school as a talented musician. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.com
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Rachel Radner is an author from Chester County, Pennsylvania. While she always loved writing, Rachel originally had dreams to become a professional actor, but many outside voices led her to believe that a career as an actor or writer were not paths she should follow. Instead, Rachel resigned herself to pursuing a more traditional education and career. Later, however, a life-changing event would help Rachel realize that life is too short to not pursue the things she loves, and for the first time in her life, Rachel went after the dreams she had for herself– not the ones others had for her. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Kelly Tittle is an actress and television host from Half Moon Bay in Northern California. She comes from a long line of athletes, and grew up in a major sports family. However, Kelly came to learn that playing sports did not seem to be her calling in life and instead found that her talents lied in singing, dancing, and acting. She began to immerse herself in the performing arts, and by the time she was ready to graduate high school, she had made the decision that she would to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Amaris Gagnon is a writer from the small town of Agawam, Massachusetts. Writing has been something that Amaris has enjoyed doing since childhood. A young girl of a diverse cultural background, Amaris attended school in a community where diversity was not very common, and wasn’t necessarily celebrated by her peers. Amaris details the many difficulties she faced growing up in a small town, including racism and limited career options. She shares the personal journey that brought her to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams, and how she was able to find her identity and purpose through writing. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Michael Padilla is an aspiring actor who recently relocated to Los Angeles from San Jose. In school, Michael was often categorized as “the weird kid,” which is a title that he took great pride in. His desire to become a performer came from watching other teens on television shows on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. Michael wondered why he himself was not on television, and what he could do to get there. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Jamal Johnson is an actor from Los Angeles, California. Jamal originally had dreams of being a professional athlete, but his interest in the arts started to grow as his parents began exposing him to live theatre as a way to escape the vices that pervaded the 1980s. All throughout his young life, Jamal’s parents stayed his biggest supporters, particularly his father, with whom Jamal had a special relationship. Tragically, Jamal’s life would begin to change as his father’s health began to deteriorate. Since then, Jamal’s life has been full of changes—both good and bad. But along the way, Jamal would learn an important lesson about finding happiness through self-fulfillment. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Mac Quayle is an Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated composer currently scoring USA Network’s suspense-thriller Mr. Robot. His scoring credits also include hit shows like American Horror Story, Feud: Bette and Joan, American Crime Story, and Scream Queens. While Mac has become an accomplished composer, he didn’t always have the idea that he would be making music for Hollywood. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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I first met Rustom close to a decade ago while we were both working at the same theme park. We only ever worked one shift together, but he was very friendly and funny, and we got along well. One day, I was at the movie theater and saw Rustom in one of those “silence your cell phone” ads! That was how I first learned Rustom was an actor. After that, I noticed Rustom appearing in countless other nationally aired commercials. I assumed that Rustom was enjoying great success working as an actor. I was surprised to learn things were not going as well for him as I had assumed. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Antonette Leonie is a filmmaker and actress originally from South Plainfield, New Jersey. While she always saw herself as a creative person, Toni came from a family of medical professionals, so a future in the arts was not an idea that was necessarily embraced by the people close to her. In 6th grade, Toni performed in the school musical, and fell in love with the experience. Perhaps her biggest supporter was her mother, who helped her rehearse, memorize lines, and encouraged her newfound passion for acting. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Loren LoRosa is a television host, vlogger, and model from Wilmington, Delaware. While she grew up in a place that is consistently ranked among the most dangerous cities in America, Loren’s mother was careful to protect her from the harsh realities of the community they were living in. Loren was exposed to the arts at an early age, and was often taking music lessons or performing in local theater. She snuck out of school one day to head to New York City for a live taping of BET’s 106 & Park, and since that moment, Loren knew she wanted to one day be in the spotlight. Full show notes available at ktla.com/SpokenDreams
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Connor Strader began his journey into independent filmmaking as a young kid growing up in New York. He and his friends would run around the neighborhood making up stories and shooting films using Connor's parents' camcorder. Eventually, they got him his own video camera with editing software, and his love for cinema and movie-making continued to flourish. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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C-zar Wisemen is a rapper, poet, and aspiring actor from Charlottesville, Virginia. To escape the turmoil of his life at school, C-zar found refuge in music. He also began writing poetry as a way to articulate his feelings. Influenced by the programming and artists on BET, MTV, and VH1, C-zar's writing eventually evolved into rap. He began to pursue a rap career in Charlottesville, and would eventually make his way out to Los Angeles. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Jacques Derosena is an actor, hand model, and voice over artist working in Los Angeles. While Jacques was born in Boston, he was raised in Haiti and France. Jacques learned to speak English by watching American television programs. T.V. instilled in Jacques a magical sense of wonder and awe for America and the entertainment industry. When he finally arrived in the United States, Jacques had no doubt he wanted to pursue a career as an actor. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Kyla Garcia is an actress from Hoboken, New Jersey. As a young girl, Kyla never had any doubt that she wanted to be an actress. As a performer, Kyla exhibited confidence and focus, never straying from her dream of being an actress. With a strong desire to tell stories and create art within her community, Kyla seemed to always have control over her own destiny. However, at the most important point of her career as an actress, Kyla began to wonder if the path she had set out before her was the one she was meant to be on. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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The Urban Renewal Project is an L.A. based big band that is blurring the lines between music genres. Their influences include jazz, soul, funk, hip-hop, and pop. With a large horn section, a singer, and a rapper, The Urban Renewal Project is out to set new trends in the world of music. This episode features saxophonist and band leader R.W. Enoch, and rapper Elmer Demond. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Dom Marcell is a Wall St. banker turned Hollywood singer-songwriter. Dom was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New Orleans. he discovered his love for performing when he was in high school, and found that music helped him break out of his shell. He decided he would continue to pursue a career in music, and positioned himself closer to the industry by attending college at USC in Los Angeles.When his music career didn't seem to be taking off, Dom shelved his dreams for a while and decided to focus more on business. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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Mimi G is a fashion and lifestyle blogger, and DIY expert behind the blog Mimi G Style. Mimi G was born in Puerto Rico, and spent most of her childhood growing up in Chicago. In her early teens, Mimi made her way to Los Angeles to escape a troubled family life that included physical and sexual abuse. She chose to leave for Los Anegeles not becasue she had Hollywood dreams of stardom, but for California's sunny climate in case she ended up homeless. Mimi G continued to endure many challenges in Los Angeles, but with hard work, persistence, and talent, she was able to turn her life around into a true and ever-growing success story. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Danielle Jones is a Los Angeles native pursuing her dreams of being an actress and a model. As a kid, Danielle was shy and had trouble fitting in in school, but a chance circumstance led her to being cast in her first commercial when she was 9-years-old. Ever since then, she was hooked. Danielle discovered that being on set and performing in front of the camera was where she found true happiness. Danielle eventually found herself attending a performing arts high school, and despite her parents’ hesitance, she knew she would commit her future to pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Danny Salay is an actor from Kenmore, New York. The only real experience with performing he had as a kid was acting in home movies shot around the neighborhood by his cousin. Growing up, Danny's life was Baseball. After growing restless, Danny joined the Peace Corps and helped with clean water projects in Zambia. It was there that he realized he did not want to waste the opportunities provided to him in the United States. He decided to head to Los Angeles and pursue his dream of being an actor. Eventually his journey lead him to China, where he would spend over six years working as an actor to try and achieve his goal of working on a film with action star Jackie Chan. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Jodi Adler is a writer, comedian, and actress from Los Angeles. After grad school, Jodi began pursuing a career in broadcast journalism after her previous job as a financial analyst left her feeling unfulfilled. She began working as an anchor and reporter in L.A. radio, and it was then that Jodi’s sarcastic and witty sense of humor really began to take hold. With the encouragement of several coworkers, Jodi began exploring the world of standup comedy, and eventually pursued acting and voice over work. Jodi’s versatility as a broadcaster, comedian, and actress helped her create a new character and persona: Auntie Jodi. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Julia Aks is an actress and opera singer from Los Angeles. Performing has always been a part of Julia’s life since an early age. By the time she finished college, she had seized a number of opportunities to perform and grow as an artist, and at just 23-years-old she was even offered a contract with the LA Opera. At certain point, though, Julia hit a wall, and realized talent alone would not get her to the next phase of her career as a performer. After having a bit of a breakdown, Julia found herself at a crossroads: She should either give up, or pick herself up and fight even harder for the things she wants most. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Gabriel Zapata’s childhood in San Bernardino was heavily influenced by television, cult films, the arts, and pop-culture. These served as an escape for Gabriel and his siblings from the dangers of their community at the time. After leaving college, he began performing drag as Jean Decay. With her drag performances, Jean Decay addresses important topics like race, sexuality, and other sociopolitical issues, but she is also a celebration and tribute to the women that have protected and influenced Gabriel throughout his life. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Chandler Juliet is a recording artist and singer-songwriter from Los Angeles. The daughter of renowned jazz trombonist Bob McChesney and jazz singer/violinist Calabria Foti, Chandler has been around music all her life. By age 9, she was writing her own original songs on her mother's old guitar. After performing an original song for a group of girls at her job as a summer camp counselor, Chandler began to really push herself to pursuing a career as a recording artist. Chandler's successes as an independent artist are a direct result of her drive and hard work towards pursuing her dreams. In this episode, she shares how she was motivated to achieve her goals, and some of the lessons she learned along the way. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Eric Modyman is an actor and theater director in the Orange County and Los Angeles areas. As a kid growing up in Whittier, Eric found that his ability to do voices and act out movie scenes served as ways to keep him from being bullied by his classmates. He eventually joined the drama program in his high school, where he excelled at performing over-the-top comedic characters. When he continued acting beyond high school, however, Eric discovered that the world is full of tough critics. With his confidence challenged, Eric swore off acting. But he wouldn’t stay down and out for long. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Kenny Lee is an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian from Los Angeles. Kenny has been performing since he was 5-years old. The grandson of a church minister, Kenny would travel around with his family putting on music and dance performances. As he got older, he continued to find opportunities to perform. When it came to chasing his dreams, there was no stopping Kenny. But a few years ago, something completely unexpected happened to Kenny that would change his life forever. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams
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Tanya Hreiz is an aspiring host and personality. She grew up in a small suburb of Philadelphia, but always believed she was destined for a future in a bigger city. While she always felt she wanted to be in the spotlight, Tanya struggled to pinpoint exactly what it was she wanted to do as a career. After a traumatic car accident, Tanya discovered acting as a way to channel her emotions and let them out on-stage. She made the decision that she would come to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Zack Golovan is an actor in Los Angeles. Originally from Illinois, he grew up in the Chicago suburb of Buffalo Grove. As a kid, he enjoyed entertaining close friends and family, but he still considered himself to be a shy person, so a life on stage didn't seem likely. However, once he reached high school, Zack decided to give acting a shot. He found that being involved in the communal act of putting on performances helped him overcome his shyness, and empowered him to pursue the things he enjoyed. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Hector Chavez is a voice actor from Orange County. Growing up, he never anticipated he would be pursuing a career in show business. That changed when a celebrity guest speaker visited his school and inspired Hector to pursue acting. He began finding opportunities to perform, and developed a love for entertaining audiences and capturing their attention. As time went on, however, Hector found himself putting his dreams on hold. A fear of rejection, and the uncertainty of being able to provide for his family led Hector down a more traditional path. It wasn't until a near-death experience that his perspective changed, and he realized he felt unfulfilled in his career. He discovered voice acting, and vowed to commit himself 100% to pursuing his passion. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Michael NOMAD Ripoll is an artist, composer, producer, and session musician who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry. A guitar virtuoso, NOMAD is fluent in dozens of music genres, and has worked with artists such as Barbara Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Colbie Caillat, Celine Dion, and Justin Bieber. He has also worked on numerous film scores with iconic composers such as John Powell and Danny Elfman. Additionally, NOMAD also serves as the musical director and guitarist for Grammy-Award winning artist and songwriter, Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Michael O'Brien is a professional magician in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Like many kids, Michael grew up fascinated with magic, even learning how to perform several simple tricks for friends and family. As he got older, his enthusiasm for magic waned as he began to focus on other things. It wasn't until watching a sleight of hand magician performing on Hollywood Boulevard that Michael's interest in magic was reignited, and he set out to achieve a dream of becoming professional magician. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Evan Rogers is an aspiring storyteller who grew up in San Jose. Imaginative from a young age, Evan wanted to figure out a way to bring the same joy he experienced from immersing himself in stories to other people. After finding no sustainable work in the Bay Area’s film industry, Evan decided to pull up stakes and move to Los Angeles. Once he arrived in L.A., Evan would discover just how difficult breaking into the industry really is. His first experience working on a film project evolved into a bizarre web of lies, mystery, and drama. Full show notes available at http://Ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Callie Prendiville is an actress and playwright from Southern California. At a young age, Callie enjoyed reading, storytelling and history. She fell in love with theater after discovering it was a synthesis of many of the things she cared about. While she enjoyed performing throughout high school, Callie was initially hesitant to pursue acting as a career. She eventually followed her gut, and committed herself to going after her dreams. She would go on to earn an M.F.A in Performance so that she could combine her love for acting with a love for teaching. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams.
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Laura Hartley is an actress and comedian from the city of Pleasant Hill in Northern California. After experiencing the thrill of being onstage at a young age, Laura knew she wanted to be a performer. She continued acting and singing through high school until finally pursuing a degree in musical theater.Through a college program, Laura found herself in New York City studying performing arts. She initially believed she was destined for Broadway, but after acting in front of a camera for the first time, her whole plan changed. She decided instead that she would move to Los Angeles to pursue film and television acting. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/SpokenDreams
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Trey Everett grew up in Texas with a passion for music, but somehow ended up in Los Angeles working as an actor. Trey shares his stories about valuable lessons learned, humbling experiences, and even tells how after a chance encounter on set, he may have been the inspiration for a popular television show. Trey also opens up about coming to the realization of needing to go back to his true passion of music, and how he ended up playing drums for the band Moonlight Graham. Full show notes available at http://ktla.com/spokendreams.
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