Why I‘ll Never Make It

Patrick Oliver Jones
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The actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But it is those few moments of glory on stage or screen that can sustain us through all the setbacks and challenges. On this award-winning podcast, New York actor Patrick Oliver Jones invites fellow creatives to share three stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative life rarely seen in the glitz and glam of this industry. These conversations remind us we’re not alone in this often bumpy and winding journey of the performing arts.

  1. -10 H

    A Look Back at Sharon Catherine Brown and a Legacy of Passion and Joy for Theater

    Growing up, it was my mother who sang in the church choir about the time I was joining the children’s choir, and my aunt spent her young adult years performing as a jazz singer. But I’m actually the first in my family to pursue a full-time career in theater. That gave me a certain freedom to find my own way through the industry, but it also meant navigating a path no one in my family had taken before. For artists like Sharon Catherine Brown, though, there’s a different experience entirely—one shaped by a legacy of performers who came before. While she has worked in television and film, theater has always been her first love, with numerous Broadway and national tour credits, including her current run on the road with The Notebook national tour. Sharon joined the podcast back in 2023 to talk about following in the footsteps of her talented family and honoring the profound influence they’ve had on her life and career. I also had the joy of working with her in the summer of 2022 at Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut on a new musical adaptation of Anne of Green Gables. As Anne herself might say, Sharon quickly became a kindred spirit in my life—and as you’ll hear, we truly enjoy each other’s company. In fact, our conversation lasted more than three and a half hours. When it was first released, I split it into two episodes, with the Final Five Questions available only to subscribers. For this Look Back episode, I’m bringing the entire conversation together in one place—lightly edited, but still full of the heart, wisdom, and passion Sharone shares so generously. Learn more about Sharon's connection to her father, Johnny Brown⁠, and his career. Follow Sharon: Instagram / IMDb / IBDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2 h 33 min

  2. 6 MARS

    A Look Back at Anthony Rapp, From The Little Prince to Seasons of Love

    Since making my Broadway debut in Beetlejuice last year, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what it actually means to “make it” in this business. It took me twenty years from my first Broadway audition to finally getting that credit, with plenty of near misses along the way. But imagine being just ten years old and moving to New York City with your family for your Broadway debut…only to have the show close during previews. That’s exactly what happened to Anthony Rapp. Recorded in 2022 as the theater industry was finding its footing again after the COVID shutdown, our conversation goes far beyond the role many people know him for—Mark in Rent. Anthony reflects on that almost Broadway debut, the reality of film producers who didn’t want to cast him, and how he navigated the loss of two people closest to him. You’ll also hear a bonus segment about his time playing the title role in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Correction: In the episode introduction, I mistakenly referred to Anthony Rapp as playing Roger in Rent. Anthony actually originated the role of Mark Cohen on Broadway. Also, with it being mentioned during the episode, Anthony’s answers to the Final Five Questions can also be found here. Follow Anthony: IMDb / IBDB / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 h 22 min

  3. 20 FÉVR.

    A Look Back at Lisa Howard and Defining Success on Her Own Terms in Broadway Musicals

    After working with Lisa Howard in 2022 on a production of 42nd Street at Goodspeed in Connecticut, she sat down with me the following year to chat about her career and of course reminisce about our time together doing that show. She is so spirited and cheerful, and that’s reason enough to love this conversation. But what made it so memorable is how she pulls the curtain way back and reveals the trials and tribulations of putting a new show together, some more successfully than others. Because for nearly twenty years, Lisa Howard has made a career out of originating roles on Broadway from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to 9 to 5 and Escape to Margaritaville. She shares what it’s like to survive a rehearsal process that feels impossible, to be part of a show the cast loves even when the critics don’t, and to help shape a piece of theatre while it’s still trying to figure out what it is. And then we discuss a topic everyone asks her about, but this time in a way that lets her define the story for herself. Follow Lisa: Website / IBDB / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 h 12 min

  4. 13 FÉVR.

    A Look Back at Geoffrey Owens and the Dignity of Work Beyond Broadway and Television

    I think most of us actors hope to be in a hit Broadway show or a popular film or highly rated TV show. But for those actors lucky enough to be in one, it can sometimes be all you’re known for and all your other work either goes unnoticed or forgotten. For example, you’ll hear from Anthony Rapp in a few weeks, that even with all he’s done onscreen and onstage, for most of us he will forever be Mark in the Broadway musical Rent. Now I imagine, that must be immensely rewarding to be in a show like that that made such an impact, but some days I’m sure it can be a little frustrating to feel like the world only sees one piece of what you do. That certainly applies to a guest I talked to back in 2021, Geoffrey Owens. I was so excited when he agreed to come on the podcast. I mean, I grew up watching him and the Huxtable family every Thursday night on The Cosby Show. And yes, in this episode we address the shocking downfall of the man once called “America’s Dad” and the toxic figure that Bill Cosby has become. But it was only after doing research for our interview that I discovered all the work he’s done on Broadway and in Hollywood. But then there was the photo of him working at Trader Joe’s that went viral in 2018, which made people see him (and actors in general) in a new light. Geoffrey was an absolute joy to talk to as he shared openly about judgment, perception, and how he’s maintained integrity and focus in a world that’s quick to reduce people to headlines. He shows us that patience and perspective matter more than recognition, and that steady effort always counts. --- Links and References: ⁠Huxtable family watches "I Have a Dream"⁠ • ⁠Carsey/Werner Production⁠ • ⁠Alvin Poussaint Interview⁠ • ⁠Claire sets Elvin straight⁠  Follow Geoffrey: Website / Instagram / IMDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 h 26 min

  5. 6 FÉVR.

    A Look Back at John McGinty and His Persistence as a Deaf Actor in Theater

    As Why I’ll Never Make It approaches its tenth season, this special retrospective looks back at ten conversations that helped shape the podcast and transformed a simple interview into a meaningful message for us all. This episode features John McGinty, a deaf actor who lost his hearing at a young age and initially headed toward a career in finance, but theater kept calling him back. In this conversation, he shares the realities of auditioning and performing in an industry so dependent on sound and timing, and what it means to pursue this work on his own terms rather than stepping away from it. Recorded in 2018, this episode was also the first video interview ever produced for the podcast, with an ASL interpreter present to ensure the conversation could be fully seen and heard. John talks about making his Broadway debut in the revival of Children of a Lesser God, being the first deaf actor to play Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Sacramento Music Circus, and continuing to push for greater access and representation in the arts. It’s an honest look at a career shaped not by limitation, but by commitment—and by the belief that this industry can expand when artists insist on being included. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 h

  6. BANDE-ANNONCE SAISON 9

    What Does “Making It” Even Mean?

    As Why I’ll Never Make It approaches its tenth season, this special retrospective looks back at ten conversations that helped shape this podcast in meaningful and profound ways. Since 2017, this has been a place to talk honestly about a career built on uncertainty, rejection, hope, and persistence. And over time, it’s become something far more personal than I ever expected—a place where success is never the most interesting part of the story. This revisit isn’t some “best of” series or a collection of the biggest names. These episodes feature artists who showed up with honesty and openness, sharing the setbacks, questions, and quiet work it takes to keep going. Across the next several weeks, you’ll hear voices like Anthony Rapp, J. Harrison Ghee, Ann Harada, Lynn Nottage, and others whose stories still resonate, reminding us why these conversations matter and why they’re worth hearing again as we head into season ten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    4 min

  7. 10 JANV.

    Kate Baldwin Looks For Creative Purpose Beyond Just Performing (REWIND)

    This past fall 2025 I got to see two of my favorite leading ladies on stage. The first was Christine Sherrill, who was making her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia. She and I had first worked together in the out-of-town tryout for First Wives Club back in 2015 that ran for about a month and a half in Chicago. But due to various factors that show never ended up coming to New York. Nonetheless, Christine was so great in that show. And she brought that same energy and vocal power to the role of Donna in Mamma Mia as well. The second leading lady I got to see was also someone I had worked with before in 42nd Street at Goodspeed in Connecticut. Now, she wasn’t making her Broadway debut, but she was playing a character for the first time: Roxie Hart in the long-running musical Chicago. She has about another month in this role, and so to celebrate her fantastic performance in the show I thought I would replay my conversation from 2022 with this dynamic leading lady...Kate Baldwin --- Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min

  8. 31/12/2025

    Justin Collette Brings Beetlejuice to Life at the Palace Theatre (Season 9 Finale)

    Step inside the dressing room with Beetlejuice's Justin Collette for a behind-the-scenes conversation that’s equal parts bone broth and backstage banter. From the rock riffs of School of Rock to the undead hilarity of Beetlejuice, Justin shares his wild ride from Canadian improv star and punk band frontman to taking center stage on Broadway. We discuss his his technique of “farting with vocal cords” as well as punk bands and improv nights. It's a season finale with backstage stories, audition adventures (including a fire alarm mishap), and heartfelt reflections on leadership, creativity, and finding joy in the moment. --- Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min
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À propos

The actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But it is those few moments of glory on stage or screen that can sustain us through all the setbacks and challenges. On this award-winning podcast, New York actor Patrick Oliver Jones invites fellow creatives to share three stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative life rarely seen in the glitz and glam of this industry. These conversations remind us we’re not alone in this often bumpy and winding journey of the performing arts.

Informations

  • Création
    Patrick Oliver Jones
  • Années d’activité
    2017 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    401
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    ©2026, WINMI Media
  • Site web de l’émission
    Why I‘ll Never Make It

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