The Dropouts: Recent Episodes
Dropouts Channel
Ash T left a successful career in Medicine to pursue Acting. In this podcast, Ash interviews fellow dropouts who had a 9-5 career before transitioning to an artistic career. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
John Michael Tatum is an American voice actor, ADR director and script writer working for Funimation/OkraTron 5000 And Bang Zoom! Entertainment who provides voices for a number of English versions of Japanese anime series and video games.
You can find him on Instagram @j_michael_tatum
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
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Sean Levitan is a branding black belt, creator and producer with an entrepreneurial spirit who loves collaborating with people to grow companies. Sean launched his own successful e-commerce clothing brand, Inner Thread, and has made his mark working with top healthcare companies, entertainers, and boutique local brands.
Sean is Executive Producer and a business partner at HumansAreSocial where he engages on all accounts, setting and keeping the pace of the projects, ensuring greatness and sprinkling his infectious, calming presence on everything.
You can find him on Instagram @seanzizzy.
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
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Richard "RIMO" Moreno is an award winning producer/editor of numerous theatrical marketing campaigns & full feature documentaries and films. He has 20 years of experience in all aspects of creative, audio/video post-production while cutting motion picture trailers, television spots, music videos, domestic & international home video entertainment campaigns.
He has been involved with numerous successful marketing campaigns for many notable studios and their films. His credits in Motion Picture Advertising include numerous titles for such studios as Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema, MGM, Lions Gate Entertainment, Paramount, and Disney. His credits are paired with such Networks as ABC, NBC, FOX, The WB, Lifetime Television,MTV, award winning HBO and Showtime.
Rimo also Produced/ Edited an Award winning feature-length documentary named“BEISBOL, Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow” about the impact of Latino’s in Major league baseball.
Rimo is currently involved with new “No Glasses” 3D auto stereoscopic technology called "EXTREME 3D". State of the art technology and products to help change the high-quality 2D to 3D conversion services currently being used.
Rimo partnered in November 2006 and founded Tao Music and Post offering a full post production audio studio as well as a talent representation and promotion umbrella that facilitates marketing, production, and development for music artists, along with a state-of-the-art music and post-production studio.
Rimo is connected with numerous artists from R&B, Latin Jazz, Rock, Rock en Espanol, English/Latin Hip-Hop, and World music.
Rimo is currently a member of NALIP (National Association Latino Independent Producers) and has served as Vice President of a non-profit organization, L.E.M.I. (Latino Entertainment Media Institute) in Los Angeles. Rimo is a Past President of “Optimist International”, working with youth programs for a more positive lifestyle.
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As a first generation Egyptian-American and a former attorney, Christie’s work explores the interplay between language, culture, and identity… and the legal implications of slipping on banana peels.
She has performed in dozens of venues, including The Laugh Factory (Hollywood), The Hollywood Improv, and Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank.
Christie portrayed the role of Queen Nefertiti in the newest installment of Disney’s Night at the Museum franchise. In 2023, she will voice various characters in an upcoming Marvel anthology series (to be announced soon by Disney+).
You can find her on Instagram @autobahna and @autobahna on TikTok.
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Jackie Dallas was born into a family of physicians.
And so as to not break the generational trend, she continued the same medical journey.
She started out in a surgery training program and then switched to Pathology for Residency.
But something didn't feel right.
So she got back into acting, where she has now appeared on over a dozen TV shows including Stranger Things, 13 Reasons Why, Criminal Minds, The Winchesters, The Resident, Bold and the Beautiful and more.
Find Jackie Dallas on Instagram as @jaxdallas
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
In this episode, Ash T speaks to a total stranger, Alan Johnson, who reached out to Ash on the Dropouts channel.
Alan hustled from job to job--but never really liked any of them. He just wanted to act.
So that's what he does today. Act...while hustling.
Find Alan Johnson Instagram as @alanrjohnsonactor
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
In this episode, Ash T speaks with his very funny friend, Vaneza Pitynski, who you might know from a TV show from the early 2000’s called “The Brothers Garcia” on Nickelodeon where she played the dramatic sister, Lorena.
She had incredible early success as an actress in her childhood. Her parents made sure she still got a great education, and Vaneza welcomed the stability.
She took a break from acting and became a highly sought after digital product manager at Interscope Records and then went on to run the digital department at BMG in the US.
But the acting bug came back to bite her two decades later, when the creator asked her to join the reboot called “The Garcias”.
Find Vaneza Pitynski Instagram as @vaneza
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
In this exciting episode, Ash T speaks with his buddy and neighbor, Brandon McInnis.
Brandon started out in musical theater at a young age but eventually became a software engineer instead of pursuing acting full-time.
But all of that acting training later paid off. He steadily got into voiceover acting and before he knew it, was able to drop his engineering job and pursue his creative career full-time.
Some of his noteworthy roles include Finral in Black Clover, Yūta Hibiki in SSSS. Gridman, Gen Asagiri in Dr. Stone, Sir Nighteye in My Hero Academia, and Gyutaro in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Find Brandon McInnis on TikTok and Instagram as @branmci
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
In Episode 2 Ash T speaks with his acting buddy, Ryan Shaughnessy.
Ryan Shaughnessy grew up in small town Pontiac, Illinois and did really well in school. He gravitated towards numbers and eventually a career in Accounting.
But the acting bug took hold, and he made his way to LA.
We talk about all of his different side hustles to keep the marathon acting career going.
Find Ryan Shaughnessy on Instagram as @rynoshaughnessy Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
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In the Season 2 Premiere Ash T speaks with his short-time friend, Joey Rogoff.
Joey talks about his humble beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio, studying film and production, becoming a country club tennis instructor, and finally, landing a lucky break creating viral content on TikTok and Snapchat.
Find Joey Rogoff on TikTok and Instagram as @joeyrogoff.
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
In the Season Finale, Ash T MD reunites with his buddy from UVA medical school, Shawn Carbonell MD PhD.
Shawn would eventually go on to become a brain surgeon.
But he dropped out of residency to chase a bigger dream—a cure for glioblastoma (brain cancer).
Over the decades, he's had a lot of challenges and put on many different hats including Founder and CEO of OncoSynergy. Fast forward to today, he's a mix of viral content creator, cofounder of Brazen Capital, and an inventor of a drug for recurrent glioblastoma currently in clinical trials.
Find Shawn Carbonell on TikTok as @brainsurgerydropout, Youtube as @brainsurgerydropout, Instagram as @brain.surgery.dropout, and Twitter as @bigaxon.
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Jessica Nielson knew she wanted to be an actress at a really young age. But, like many of us, life happened. Corporate work in phone sales was introduced to her and she took that safe and stable 9-5 route.
For 11 years.
But, she eventually reached her breaking point. Her fight and flight response took over, and she had to leave the job for her own mental health. Fast forward to today as a full-time actress with many side hustles to fuel her dreams. She might not be making as much money as before, but she's a lot happier.
Find Jessica Nielson on social media as @jessica.nielson.pizarro
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Jon Bailey grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and as a child, he practiced for a job he never knew he would have--mimicking voices. But reality eventually set in, and he had to pay the bills. So he became a forklift driver for warehouses. He was randomly reunited with his passion years later, and his knack for voices started paying off.
If you have ears you have heard Jon Bailey at one point in your life. From commercials to promos to cartoons to, well, you name it, he’s been there and said that.
Find him on social media as @epicvoiceguy
Interviewed by Ash T, @big_ash_t
--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Elsha Kim lived that accounts manager lifestyle. But she felt miserable. She knew there was more to life than waking up in the dark to go to work, then coming back home in the dark. So she followed her inner voice and took a leap of faith into the acting world. Fast forward a few years later, she attained the ultimate dream--to become series regular on an HBO sitcom--The Garcias.
Follow her journey on Instagram @elshbabe.
Ash T interviews professional actress Elsha Kim.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Crystal is a badass military veteran. She served her country for two decades. But then retirement came along, and she had to decide what to do next. Was she going to utilize her previous training in the military to do civilian work?
Nope.
She reconnected with her childhood dreams of becoming a voice actress instead.
Follow her journey on Instagram @crystaljproductions and YouTube @Crystal J. Productions Inc.
Ash T interviews V.O. actress Crystal Lee
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Sarah Halstead lived a life of opulence in the champagne business. She had all the material things she could ever want. But something just didn't feel right. She wasn't connected to her true passions in the entertainment business. One sunny day in Florida, she packed her bags and moved to LA to recapture her dream of becoming a comedian and actress.
Sarah's comedy special RVs and Cats is available on Amazon Prime and she also has a podcast called "Drinking During Business Hours".
Follow her journey on Instagram @sarahhalstead
Ash T interviews Sarah Halstead.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
A.J. Ramson talks to Ash T about his days in the investment banking world and transitioning into a career filled with comedy and TV writing.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Emily Pokora took the long road of becoming a trial attorney before making the switch to pursue her passion for acting professionally.
She's now in LA living her dream life as an actress and executive producer.
Emily Pokora is represented by Established Artists. Follow her on Instagram at @emilypokora.
And you can follow me, Ash T, on IG too, @big_ash_t
I interview Emily, and we talk about the trials and tribulations of leaving a six-figure salary to pursue an acting career..
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Johnny Rey Diaz tried a lot of different things in his life--real estate, banking, journalism, and more. He was doing well financially, and then he decided to chuck it all and move to Los Angeles to get into the entertainment business.
A decade later, he's been on some of the biggest shows on television including Pam and Tommy and Grey's Anatomy.
Johnny is currently a series regular on the TV show Primo, which will be out in 2023. Follow him on Instagram at @johnnyreydiaz.
And you can follow me Ash T on IG too, @big_ash_t
I interview Johnny, and we talk about struggles, motivation, and dedication.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support
Ash T, a former doctor turned actor, interviews fellow dropouts--those who followed their hearts and left a 9-5 job to pursue a creative career.
In this episode, Aaron Arnold, a co-founder of the Alt Coin Daily Channel, interviews Ash T's transformation from doctor to actor.
Also, find us on Youtube.
Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dropouts-channel/support