Fourth Wall: the podcast

Alaina Newell
  • 5.0 (33)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Theatre claims to be for everyone, but is it really? From elitist training programs to gatekeeping on Broadway, the industry thrives on exclusivity. Fourth Wall pulls back the curtain on who gets opportunities—onstage, backstage, and beyond. Join Alaina Newell for deep dives, hot takes, and unfiltered conversations on accessibility, casting, and industry bias. If you've ever felt like theatre wasn’t built for you, you’re not alone. 🎧 It’s time to break the fourth wall—because theatre should belong to everyone.

  1. 005: Breaking the Mold w/ Hillary Fisher

    06/25/2025

    005: Breaking the Mold w/ Hillary Fisher

    You’ve seen her make her Broadway debut in The Notebook, and now she’s swimming into history as Ariel in The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse — but Hillary Fisher is doing so much more than just singing under the sea. In this episode, we dive deep with Hillary about what it means to break the mold as a Black woman in theatre, how to hold your ground when the industry pushes back, and why playing an iconic role is both powerful and political. We also talk about wellness, movement, and making space for joy — from Pilates to tennis to the quiet power of rest. Want to know more? Don’t just scroll — press play and join the conversation. 🎾 Check out Black Girls Tennis Clubhttps://www.blackgirlstennisclub.com 🎭 Catch The Little Mermaid at Paper Mill Playhouse — now through Sunday! 📚 Book mentioned: The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey 🎧 FOLLOW HILLARYInstagram: @SoChillaryTikTok: @NoChillary ✍🏽 #ReaderFirst? Check out our Substack📩⁠ https://thisisfourthwall.substack.com/ 📣 Got thoughts or stories to share?We want to hear from YOU. Whether it’s your experience, a hot take, or an idea for a future episode:📬 fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Let’s stay in the loop:Follow the pod: @ThisIsFourthWallFollow Alaina: @AlainaNewell Tag us in your reactions, reposts, and real talk — we love a good convo.🎶 Theme music by Ben Bailey

    33 min

  2. 05/21/2025

    004: Money TALKS w/ Ethan Steimel

    Money! Everybody needs it, but everyone hates talking about it. Let’s dive in with our special guest and host of Artistic Finance, Ethan Steimel! Want to know more? Don't just read about it—press play to dive into today's episode.  Check out Ethan’s podcast and website to get all those amazing resources and even more gems! https://www.artisticfinance.com/resources.html Entertainment Community Fund https://entertainmentcommunity.org Listen to our old episode on Artistic Finance: https://pod.link/1511439191/episode/b2f0013626cdbb8c22f7ef941f14e455 FOLLOW ETHAN @EthanSteimel @ArtisticFinance ✍🏽 Read Along (or instead): Prefer to skim instead of stream? Check out the episode’s SparkNotes on Substack: 📩⁠https://thisisfourthwall.substack.com/⁠ 📣 Got thoughts or stories to share? We want to hear from YOU. Whether it’s your experience, a hot take, or an idea for a future episode:  📬 fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Let’s stay in the loop: Follow the pod:⁠ @ThisIsFourthWall⁠ Follow Alaina:⁠ @AlainaNewell⁠ Tag us in your reactions, reposts, and real talk—we love a good convo. 🎶 Theme music by⁠ Ben Bailey⁠ (@benianbailey on IG)

    52 min

  3. 05/15/2025

    003: Is the Grass Greener Abroad?

    🧠 Is it time to move to London? And NO this is not just because I am binging Bridgerton for the 10th time... Want to know more? Don't just read about it—press play to dive into today's episode.  ✍🏽 Read Along (or instead): Prefer to skim instead of stream? Check out the episode’s SparkNotes on Substack: 📩⁠https://thisisfourthwall.substack.com/⁠ 📣 Got thoughts or stories to share? We want to hear from YOU. Whether it’s your experience, a hot take, or an idea for a future episode: 📬 fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Let’s stay in the loop: Follow the pod:⁠ @ThisIsFourthWall⁠ Follow Alaina:⁠ @AlainaNewell⁠ Tag us in your reactions, reposts, and real talk—we love a good convo. 🎶 Theme music by⁠ Ben Bailey⁠ (@benianbailey on IG)

    11 min

  4. 05/07/2025

    002: Theatre & TikTok: Is Going Viral the New Open Call?

    new episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple & more 🧠 Who needs to take the A train to Pearl Studios when Telsey can watch that TikTok you made in your room... Want to know more? Don't just read about it—press play to dive into today's episode.  ✍🏽 Read Along (or instead): Prefer to skim instead of stream? Check out the episode’s SparkNotes on Substack: 📩⁠https://thisisfourthwall.substack.com/⁠ 📣 Got thoughts or stories to share? We want to hear from YOU. Whether it’s your experience, a hot take, or an idea for a future episode: 📬 fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Let’s stay in the loop: Follow the pod:⁠ @ThisIsFourthWall⁠ Follow Alaina:⁠ @AlainaNewell⁠ Tag us in your reactions, reposts, and real talk—we love a good convo. 🎶 Theme music by⁠ Ben Bailey⁠ (@benianbailey on IG)

    15 min

  5. 04/30/2025

    001: Who REALLY Gets to Be on Broadway

    new episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple & more Skip to 03:28 to miss all of my ramblings about being back! 🧠 We’re breaking the fourth wall on theatre’s biggest conversations, and this one’s no exception. This dream is EXPENSIVE and sometimes the winners are the ones who had enough dollars to stay in the game... Want to know more? Don't just read about it—press play to dive into today's episode. ✍🏽 Read Along (or instead): Prefer to skim instead of stream? Check out the episode’s SparkNotes on Substack: 📩 https://thisisfourthwall.substack.com/ 📣 Got thoughts or stories to share? We want to hear from YOU. Whether it’s your experience, a hot take, or an idea for a future episode: 📬 fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com 📲 Let’s stay in the loop: Follow the pod: @ThisIsFourthWall Follow Alaina: @AlainaNewell Tag us in your reactions, reposts, and real talk—we love a good convo. 🎶 Theme music by Ben Bailey (@benianbailey on IG)

    28 min

  6. 12/22/2021

    Ep. 26: We're (Not) Back!

    Welcome back to a star-studded new episode of Fourth Wall! *disclaimer this was recorded before the recent announcements of COVID-related shutdowns so we don’t talk about it* Today, Alaina and Corey catch up and recap 2021. It’s been a YEAR YALL! Corey is in NYC and thriving, Alaina is MOVING to NYC with a new job at Playbill. Plus, you KNOW we had to talk about the Broadway news we missed. Tony Awards, Sondheim, Movie Musicals, ALL OF IT! We end the ep manifesting our dream Broadway shows and dream 4W guests! Do you have an experience to share about Discrimination in the Arts  or any of the other topics we’ve discussed on 4W? We wanna read that shit! Send it to us so we can get your perspective and possibly share it on the show! → fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com. FIND FOURTH WALL AND THIS EPISODE’S HOST ONLINE: Fourth Wall on Instagram: @thisisfourthwall (instagram.com/thisisfourthwall) 4W Community Inbox: fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com) Hosts: @alainanewell (instagram.com/alainanewell) @coreyindahouz (instagram.com/coreyindahouz) ~~~ Fourth Wall: the podcast is created with TLC by Alaina Newell (@alainanewell) instagram.com/alainanewell Director of Talent: Ashani Smith (@ashanihadiya) instagram.com/ashanihadiyah With original music by Ben Bailey (@benianbailey) instagram.com/benianbailey

    1h 1m

  7. 01/21/2021

    Ep 25: Making Space w/ Brandon Michael Nase

    Welcome back to a star-studded new episode of Fourth Wall! Today, Alaina and Corey sit with Brandon Michael Nase, performer and Founder/Executive Director of Broadway For Racial Justice. Brandon talks with the 4W gang about why he felt compelled to start BFRJ, how they are using social media to promote social justice, and why we need to stop just talking about Broadway, when we are discussing equity in the arts! Do you have an experience to share about Representation in the Arts  or any of the other topics we’ve discussed on 4W? We wanna read that shit! Send it to us so we can get your perspective and possibly share it on the show! → fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com. FIND BFRJ ONLINE: Instagram: @broadwayforracialjustice (instagram.com/broadwayforracialjustice) Bfrj,org FIND GUEST ONLINE: Instagram: @brandonmichaelnase (instagram.com/brandonmichaelnase) brandonmichaelnase.com FIND FOURTH WALL AND THIS EPISODE’S HOST ONLINE: Fourth Wall on Instagram: @thisisfourthwall (instagram.com/thisisfourthwall) 4W Community Inbox: fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com) Host: @alainanewell (instagram.com/alainanewell) @coreyindahouz (instagram.com/coreyindahouz) ~~~ Fourth Wall: the podcast is created with TLC by Alaina Newell (@alainanewell) instagram.com/alainanewell Director of Talent: Ashani Smith (@ashanihadiya) instagram.com/ashanihadiyah With original music by Ben Bailey (@benianbailey) instagram.com/benianbailey

    49 min

  8. 01/14/2021

    Ep 24: For Us, By Us w/ Drew Shade

    Welcome back to a star-studded new episode of Fourth Wall! Today, Alaina and Corey sit with Drew Shade, performer and founder of Broadway Black, the ONLY media platform for artists of color in theatre. Drew talks with the 4W team about intention, living in the moment, and the importance of pushing yourself. Do you have an experience to share about Representation in the Arts  or any of the other topics we’ve discussed on 4W? We wanna read that shit! Send it to us so we can get your perspective and possibly share it on the show! → fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com. FIND GUEST ONLINE: Instagram: @drewshade (instagram.com/drewshade) broadwayblack.com FIND FOURTH WALL AND THIS EPISODE’S HOST ONLINE: Fourth Wall on Instagram: @thisisfourthwall (instagram.com/thisisfourthwall) 4W Community Inbox: fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com (mailto:fourthwallthepodcast@gmail.com) Host: @alainanewell (instagram.com/alainanewell) @coreyindahouz (instagram.com/coreyindahouz) ~~~ Fourth Wall: the podcast is created with TLC by Alaina Newell (@alainanewell) instagram.com/alainanewell Director of Talent: Ashani Smith (@ashanihadiya) instagram.com/ashanihadiyah With original music by Ben Bailey (@benianbailey) instagram.com/benianbailey

    1h 21m
See All (30)

5
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Theatre claims to be for everyone, but is it really? From elitist training programs to gatekeeping on Broadway, the industry thrives on exclusivity. Fourth Wall pulls back the curtain on who gets opportunities—onstage, backstage, and beyond. Join Alaina Newell for deep dives, hot takes, and unfiltered conversations on accessibility, casting, and industry bias. If you've ever felt like theatre wasn’t built for you, you’re not alone. 🎧 It’s time to break the fourth wall—because theatre should belong to everyone.

Information

  • Creator
    Alaina Newell
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alaina Newell
  • Show Website
    Fourth Wall: the podcast