The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World

actorsguidepodcast
  • 5.0 (14)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Two actors, E-Kan Soong and Rían Sheehy Kelly talk acting and Hollywood in a way people understand. Dive into the most interesting headlines you need to know from the ever changing Hollywood industry as they share hilarious stories and insights from on set and off, and find joy along the ride. Frank, informative, and entertaining conversations for those in and out of the industry. All the world’s a stage, and this stage is on fire... but you know E-Kan and Rian are going to have a laugh either way. Watch and listen to new episodes every Monday wherever you find your podcasts! Follow @actorsguidepodcast on all social media, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack for all the best moments from the show. Follow E-Kan @ekansoong and Rían @riansheehykelly on Instagram

  1. 1h ago

    Paramount Got Everything They Wanted, Including CNN- Until This Happened

    Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World, Episode 99! Follow us @ActorsGuidePodcast. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod Paramount's deal for Warner Bros was halted by twelve states Attorneys for monopolizing Hollywood and beyond. We get into the details of how the attorneys caved, ahem, settled. But there's a twist- it's not over yet, keep listening and you'll hear why. We also get into: three hikers who trusted Gemini AI to plan their Mount Shasta trip and ended up stranded overnight in Mud Creek Canyon (they're fine, but please don't try this next time you're planning a hike). Friend of the show and former guest Heather-Ashley Boyer was in DC pushing AI safety and the federal production tax credit alongside Bernie Sanders and members of Congress. Meanwhile, Trump continues to refuses to put any AI guardrails in place — despite Anthropic's own CEO and departing researchers sounding the alarm. Plus: the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act, the legislation more people need to know about, and a special Hidden Gems, including cheap movie tickets you didn't know about. New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links:  ROBOT KICKS KID https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BojeUP0_m_w ROBOT PICKS FIGHT https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gCbb3udq61M?feature=share Noah Wyle Federal Tax Credit https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/noah-wyle-encouraging-update-federal-film-tv-tax-credit-1236701842/ Performing artists tax parity act- https://www.sagaftra.org/update-performing-artist-tax-parity-act Trump rejects AI- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-rejects-ai-regulation-citing-parallels-with-climate-change-in-un-address/ States defy trump on AI- https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/18/states-defy-trump-ai-regulation-01083481 Paramount Merger Settlement - https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/paramount-reaches-settlement-states-warner-bros-discovery-merger-rcna598645

  2. Sep 19

    2026 Emmys: Records Broken, Emotional Moments, and a Diversity Problem

    Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 98! The 2026 Emmys delivered a whopper of the night- records broken, emotional moments, led by Mariska Hargitay (the first female Emmys host in 15 years) — and we're breaking it all down. Widows Bay swept, including Matthew Rhys pulling off a same-night double win nobody's ever done before, and Rob Reiner broke his own father's 48-year Emmy record. Some touching high points were Michael J. Fox's Bob Hope Humanitarian Award, the Catherine O'Hara and Dolly Parton tribute, and the in-memoriam list. It was also a huge night for older actresses, with Sally Field, Jean Smart, and Allison Janney all making history. But it’s not all roses: this was also one of the least diverse Emmys in recent memory. E-Kan and Rían talk about the elephant in the room. The guys also revisit their discussion about a notoriously harsh film critic — and end up asking the bigger questions: What if they’re right? And what are critics actually for? Stick around and you’ll hear Andy Richter's recent comments on the corporatization of the entertainment industry, and whether the magic-makers are still the ones in charge. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links: Mariska Hargitay Emmy Opening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQHVeKwMBI&t=73s Mariska Hargitay -Taylor Swift skit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJsn5DnbHg John mulaney monologue- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQHVeKwMBI&t=73s In Memoriam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOxmrVZr5WQ The importance of film critics- https://the-artifice.com/importance-of-critics-in-filmmaking/ Andy Richter “The Corporatization of Hollywood” https://www.instagram.com/reel/DczHInxithV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&stkn=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Hidden Gems:  Rían's zesty salad Betty Gilpin's All The Women In My Brain: And Other Concerns- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62316402-all-the-women-in-my-brain Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (01:17) Emmys favorite moments (04:31) Breaking Emmy records  (11:05) Most emotional moments (16:24) The purpose of film critics (28:08) The Corporatization of Hollywood (30:43) Hidden Gems

  3. Sep 12

    Award Shows Were Invented to Bust Unions

    Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 97! It's Emmy's are here, and we go back into Hollywood history for a fun fact -  In the 1920s, MGM's Louis B. Mayer had a plan: distract Hollywood's talent with medals and trophies so they'd never organize. "The best way to handle moviemakers was to hang medals all over them," he said — and just like that, the Academy Awards were born, not to celebrate artists, but to keep them from unionizing. It worked... until it didn't, and the fallout led directly to the founding of SAG. Now with the Emmys here, this year brings even more confusion, as they cut several categories including some acting categories from the main telecast and had them in the technical awards weekend which the unions did not take lightly. Hear the highlights from the first weekend that was cut from the main telecast like Betty Gilpin's epic awards speech and other things you might have missed... unless you're watching FXX where it was aired (?).  Also DTF St. Louis which E-Kan worked on had an impressive night winning six awards, including Best Writing and Directing, and Supporting Awards for David Harbour and Linda Cardellini. E-Kan says, "It was an honor just being nominated." Meanwhile, a federal tax incentive for film production has been spouted by Trump again and praised by SAG-AFTRA itself — and it has Hollywood picking sides. Tune in for the history nobody talks about and the news everyone's arguing about. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links-  Emmy's cut categories - https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/emmys-removes-categories-telecast-supporting-limited-acting-1236814429/ Betty Gilpin's award speech - https://youtube.com/shorts/jblrzakwOmQ?si=skb7P5pILKBiJKdm SAG-Aftra statement - https://www.sagaftra.org/sag-aftra-statement-federal-production-incentives Awards were made to bust unions - https://forward.com/culture/film-tv/395706/louis-b-mayer-created-the-oscars-to-combat-hollywood-unions/ Hidden Gems:  Laemmle Theaters  "The People of Pompeii" play (Los Angeles)- https://theatricum.com/the-people-of-pompeii/ Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:07) Emmys controversy cutting several categories (04:57) Betty Gilpin's incredible award speech (05:28) Widow's Bay and DTF St Louis (06:51) Spider-Noir and Wonder Man cancelled despite Emmy run (08:05) Movie Theater Prices are insane (09:25) SAG-AFTRA praises Trump pushing federal tax Hollywood credit (16:58) Hollywood award shows were created to disrupt Unions (25:24) Hidden Gems

  4. Sep 5

    Coyote vs. Acme,' the Film WB Didn't Want to Release, Just Beat an 88-Year-Old Legend

    Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 96! This week, Ridley Scott said "I'm an influencer, not a filmmaker" — at 88 years old.  Seriously. We break down what he might have meant (spoiler: He's not getting on TikTok). He is releasing a new film this weekend "The Dog Stars" opening same weekend as success story "Coyote vs. Acme" — the Will Forte- John Cena film Warner Bros. tried to erase for a tax write-off in 2023, only for fan support and Ketchup Entertainment to rescue it. Two movies, same release weekend, wildly different journeys and we'll see how the 88-year old influencer fared.  Along the way: E-Kan breaks down the real math behind why studios shelve finished films, Rían shares why he hates brutal film critics, what it means for actors when pedigree and prestige stop guaranteeing an audience.  A episode about legends, underdogs, and the industry's short memory for both. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links-  Ridley Scott "I'm an influencer" - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/ridley-scott-not-a-filmmaker-im-an-influencer-the-dog-stars-1236841083/ Coyote vs. Acme Success story  - https://www.inc.com/jelinda-montes/warner-bros-tried-to-bury-coyote-vs-acme-the-controversy-became-its-best-marketing/91396214 Hidden Gems:  Tigh'n Alluis Sweat Lodge (Dublin) - https://tighnalluis.ie/ "Fierce Conversations" by Susan Scott Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:00) Ridley Scott is an influencer (04:34) Coyote vs. Acme shelved for tax write off (08:21) Word of mouth and fans rescue Coyote vs. Acme (09:54) As good as “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (12:26) Who wins - Coyote vs. Acme or Ridley Scott? (14:33) Brutal film critics are the worst (18:25) No one knows anything (22:14) Hidden Gems

  5. Aug 28

    Is Method Acting Just a "Man Thing"? Kristen Stewart and Anya Taylor-Joy Have Some Thoughts

    Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 95! This week, E-Kan updates us on a little follow-up on all the "feelings" talk, and we go even deeper with a few stories that fit right in. Bill Nighy has a terrific story talking with a fellow actor and confessed, he wasn't feeling anything on stage, and has never understood what actors meant about "being in character." The guys dig in and Rían talks about why that is so refreshing.  Also, they dive into Kristen Stewart's controversial interview with the New York Times, when she poses a question directed at the macho, chest-beating rituals some male actors perform before emotional scenes, "Have you ever heard of a female Method actor?"  This has many layers, and the guys go into a dive on what actors think and don't think "Method acting" is... Lastly, Anya Taylor-Joy puts her two cents in from an interview earlier this year, and argues, "women rarely get to "lose their minds" in the method-acting sense because they don't have the luxury — they can't afford to be difficult on set and have things to do." One of the big questions at the end of all this - is the whole mythology of Method acting actually an excuse for male actors to behave badly? Stick to the end and you'll hear why the guys admit this industry is "embarassing" and how Maya Hawke believes "All actresses are a little more than a woman, but male actors are a little less than a man." For actors, this is a real conversation about process, ego, and what's actually required to do the job - and demythologizes all the headlines that are made just to sell tickets.  Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links-  Bill Nighy on "getting into character" - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db3elZusAq7 Daniel Day Lewis speaks out - https://variety.com/2025/film/news/daniel-day-lewis-method-acting-easy-target-anemone-1236540269/ Kristen Stewart on Method Acting, NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/video/podcasts/100000010575526/kristen-stewart-on-men-and-method-acting.html Tom Hardy on "method acting" - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6LbfHHFxW9k Edward Norton- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcRhM7ORUnp/ Anya Taylor Joy - Women can't be "out of their minds" - https://variety.com/2026/film/news/anya-taylor-joy-women-method-act-assholes-set-1236826424/ Maya Hawke on male actors - https://youtube.com/shorts/dB74AL208NM?si=nuEZZTy_HgrPGk47 Hidden Gems:  US Open Fan Week (tennis, NYC) "Big Chicken" Netflix food documentary - https://www.netflix.com/title/81920949 Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:12) A revelation about feelings (04:07) Bill Nighy talks about being in character (06:10) The relief you don’t need to feel (07:58) Kristen Stewart and Men Method Actors (12:05) The misconceptions of Method Actors (14:37) The mystique of method acting (16:00) Is “acting” submissive? (18:08) Brando vs DeNiro - Which one is “method”? (22:40) Tom Hardy on method acting (24:11) What works best for us (28:01) Anya-Taylor Joy says “women don’t method act” (32:48) “Male actors are a little less than a man” (34:10) Acting is very embarrassing (37:36) Hidden Gems

  6. Aug 20

    David Ellison Threatens to Take Paramount out of California

    Welcome to the Actors Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 94! It's another wild week in Hollywood, people.  A Hollywood Reporter Op-Ed by Hollywood director Joseph Kahn has caused a stir, stating that the industry needs to "Bring back the Hollywood a*****e"... E-Kan and Rían dig into this, and question if the reason for our industry's problems is because we need more people shouting in boardrooms. Another bold claim from the op-ed "If studios don't start making more movies about white guys in fighter jets, the box office won't cover the gardening bill"... Does Hollywood needs its monsters back? That also brings us to an update on the Paramount-Skydance Warner Bros Discovery merger. The latest - David Ellison threatens to take Paramount out of California. So let's just say it's not going well. Is this merger even going to happen? Is that a good thing it won't? The guys also discuss why California has a responsibility to keep the industry here too.  And for a sliver of hope, none other than Seth Rogen, whose NY Times interview has shed a lot of insight on the current industry from someone who would know a thing or too. One stunning revelation - how making a movie like they did with Superbad would never happen today, and how gun shy and risk averse Hollywood really is. This is the real wisdom for filmmakers and storytellers alike.  Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly https://variety.com/2026/film/news/goodbye-to-hollywood-paramount-california-exit-david-ellison-1236837300/ https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/17/paramount-bond-merger-delay-costs.html https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/bring-back-hollywood-a*****e-joseph-kahn-column-1236653278/ Seth Rogen Interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt11UnYXzCw HIDDEN GEMS: Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge https://www.cedarrun.org/ Sleep earplugs -  https://a.co/d/07kgQE6T Sleep eye mask - Super Sunnies  Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (01:03) Paramount threatens to leave California (04:23) The shocking size of Paramount if merger happens (05:05) Paramount also asks for a 1.1 billion dollar bond (06:44) Is it possible to take Hollywood out of Hollywood? (09:25) The responsibility on California to keep Hollywood (12:12) Bring Back the Hollywood A*****e (14:34) The tension between the creative and the executive (15:34) The executive's job is to make money (17:20) Nobody knows anything (20:09) If you wanted to be a creative, why did you become an executive? (22:57) Seth Rogen's NY Times Interview (22:38) How Rogen creates his characters and drives his story (24:47) How movies aren't made like they were before (28:34) The daunting reality of being a crab on the sea floor (31:11) Hidden Gems

  7. Aug 13

    "Feelings Are Stupid" — Thoughts vs. Feelings

    Welcome to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 93! Warning - we talk about our feelings this episode. Or in E-Kan’s case, lack of… We’re going deep on this one. We start with a famous study on kids who loved drawing. One group was given a reward for their efforts, the other didn't. Guess which group eventually stopped drawing? This episode starts there — and turns it into a hard question for anyone chasing a creative career: are you doing this because you love it, or because you're chasing the reward? What happens when external validation makes you forget why you wanted to do it in the first place?  Then E-Kan and Rían dig into what "effortless" acting actually looks like on-camera, and why the second something feels performed, audiences can tell — even if they don't know why. Also a genius note from terrific photographer Matt Kallish that helped Rían during his headshot session. The guys talk about meditation after Rían shares his experience at a Transcendental Meditation workshop, which leads to E-Kan's confession- he thinks “feelings are stupid” and even drops a Marcus Aurelius quote : “The happiness of life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”  The guys then go into a deep discussion, do people and creatives get wrapped up in our feelings too much and as E-Kan puts it, "do more harm than good"?  Stick to the end and you’ll hear why visualization doesn’t actually work…unless you do one key thing. You're not ready for this one, ya'll. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Kid’s Drawing Study (Over-justification Effect) https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-overjustification-effect-2795386   https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/overjustification-effect   HIDDEN GEMS: Mark Manson’s Solved Podcast (Confidence) - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-build-confidence-solved/id1247526593?i=1000774972880 Oettingen study on Visualizations - https://www.simplypsychology.com/articles/visualization-techniques-psychology Smell Scents - https://ausflowers.com.au/en-us?srsltid=AfmBOoqOdQFd_zx3UNCFeACVu0SPkK6eVmFllhyw_QKXypbcjlzlWs51 Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:08) Over-justification Effect (05:07) Acting Industry is not a meritocracy (06:11) Insights from a Great Headshot Photographer (09:53) If it feels like acting, it’s off (10:36) It’s never been about the money (13:00) Actors don’t get paid to act, they get paid to wait (13:47) Rían tries a transcendental meditation workshop (18:15) Feelings are stupid (22:07) You’ll never be able to control your emotions (23:20) The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts (25:20) E-Kan does have feelings (27:50) Some actors are debilitated by their feelings (29:40) Feelings are a byproduct of our thoughts (31:30) Learning to not be pulled around by our feelings (37:26) Aphantasia - When you can’t remember images, only feelings (40:00) Hidden Gems

  8. Aug 6

    Odyssey Translator Trashes Nolan's Film — Was She Right? Plus: A Casting Director Roundtable You Need to Hear

    Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 92! E-Kan and Rían have finally managed to get tickets to Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which just broke box office records — but the translator whose work reportedly inspired the film says she'd be "ashamed" to have written any part of the script. The big question is- was she right? And how can we debate films without getting mean?  We break down what worked (the practical effects are unreal — a 60-foot Cyclops puppet without CGI, a camera so massive it took two people to carry) and what didn't. Was it all spectacle and no soul? Then: we listened a casting director panel featuring the top CDs in the industry and got real talk on the state of the industry and era of self tapes - where we are, and where we hope to be. Keep listening - you'll a bomb drop how actors are reportedly using AI to manipulate their audition slates. We don't know what they're hiding, but we have theories. Movie stars, myth, and a little bit of Hollywood chaos. Press play. Support the Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ActorsGuidePod New episodes every week! Follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts. Please like, follow, review, and rate if you can. @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Show Links: The Odyssey behind the scenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cTZ-Pa9vho Emily Wilson trashes the odyssey https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v48/n14/emily-wilson/an-uncomplicated-man Vulture- it feels so good to fight about the classics - https://www.vulture.com/article/the-critics-it-feels-good-to-fight-about-the-odyssey.html The Actor Podcast w/ Risa Bramon Garcia's - Casting Roundtable- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-62-casting-virtual-roundtable-cds-tell-it-like-it-is/id1203009952?i=1000777254691 Hidden Gems:  Turtle Nest Preservation site - https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?layerId=0&layers=9ba9a722b6a644d99016d0b23cbbda3f Save the Cat screenwriting book- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49464.Save_the_Cat Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (01:20) The Odyssey First Reactions (07:00) Did it meet the hype? (13:30) Odyssey Translator's critical review of the film (19:08) 8 actors passed on Matt Damon's role (23:30) The Odyssey cinematic achievements were incredible (25:30) Top Casting Director Roundtable  (30:00) CD's we want to get back to the room as well (35:00) Sometimes you can't get actionable direction from casting directors (35:55) Casting Directors talk with each other (41:00) Actors are using AI to manipulate their slates (46:00) Actors and Casting Directors are just looking for filmmakers (46:40) "I can make anyone beautiful. I can't make you talented." (48:25) The power of being in the room (51:40) Hidden Gems

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About

Two actors, E-Kan Soong and Rían Sheehy Kelly talk acting and Hollywood in a way people understand. Dive into the most interesting headlines you need to know from the ever changing Hollywood industry as they share hilarious stories and insights from on set and off, and find joy along the ride. Frank, informative, and entertaining conversations for those in and out of the industry. All the world’s a stage, and this stage is on fire... but you know E-Kan and Rian are going to have a laugh either way. Watch and listen to new episodes every Monday wherever you find your podcasts! Follow @actorsguidepodcast on all social media, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Substack for all the best moments from the show. Follow E-Kan @ekansoong and Rían @riansheehykelly on Instagram

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