The Drama Coach Podcast

Lisa Southam
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Performing Arts
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast for young or emerging performers and the people supporting them - whether you or your child are just starting out or already navigating auditions, training and performances. Hosted by actor, drama coach and parent Lisa Southam, with honest, practical insight from solo episodes and guest conversations. No hype - just real guidance to build skills, confidence and a love for the craft. @TheDramaCoach https://linktr.ee/TheDramaCoach Music: ‘Soft Music’ by Nastelbom via Pixabay Sponsored by SceneTribe https://scenetribe.com

  1. 12h ago

    Beyond the Audition: Understanding Casting with Rose Rosen, CSA

    What actually happens after you send a self-tape? In this episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m joined by casting director Rose Rosen, CSA, host and creator of Casting Confidential, for an open and refreshingly straightforward conversation about what really happens on the other side of the casting process. Rose takes us behind the scenes of casting - from receiving a breakdown and watching hundreds of tapes, to deciding which actors move forward to producers and directors. Most importantly, she reminds performers that casting isn’t about ranking actors from best to worst. It’s about building a cast - and chemistry, age, appearance, scheduling and countless other factors can influence a decision. We talk about: What a casting director actually does What happens to your self-tape after you press send Why your tape is not disappearing into a void Why a brilliant audition still might not lead to the role Why “the audition is the job” What Rose really wants to see in an actor Authenticity and bringing yourself to the material Why actors should stop chasing the “perfect” self-tape Rose’s three-take approach to self-tapes Why parents need to be careful not to over-coach young performers The importance of letting casting see the actual child What performers can control - training, materials, submissions and preparation Why parents should regularly check that their child is still enjoying performing How parent behaviour can affect a young performer’s opportunities Self-tapes versus in-person auditions Protecting your energy in the audition waiting room Slates and why following the individual casting instructions matters UK versus US casting - and why there may be fewer differences than actors imagine Why actors shouldn’t expect feedback after every audition Rose’s brilliant suggestion for keeping an audition log Why returning to the same casting director is often a positive sign, even when you haven’t booked Why performers shouldn’t decide for casting that they’re “not right” for a role The importance of professionalism when declining an audition Why Rose created Casting Confidential Community, collaboration and learning from others in the industry Supporting and protecting young performers Why actors around the world don’t necessarily need to move to Hollywood to build a career Mindset shift:The audition is the job. For parents:It’s your child’s journey - not yours. One thing to do this week:Start an audition log. Keep a simple record of the project, role, casting director, audition, callback, pin or booking. Rose suggests focusing on the evidence rather than judging how you think you performed. For young performers, parents can also record one important question: How did they feel? Not “How did they do?” A really practical, reassuring conversation for actors, young performers and parents who want to understand casting a little better - and spend less energy worrying about the things they simply cannot control. Casting Confidential on Spotify on YouTube on Instagram Rose Rosen on Instagram The Casting Lab / Patreon The Drama Coach on Instagram on TikTok on YouTube Follow @TheDramaCoach for acting tips, industry conversations and practical support for performers and parents. Intro/Outro Music: Nastelbom - Soft Music 295878 from Pixabay

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Coming Back to Yourself: A Meditation for Performers & Parents (With 852Hz Music)

    A little time when you don’t have to deliver, impress anyone, or find every answer. In this bonus episode of The Drama Coach, Lisa Southam guides a gentle meditation for performers of all ages and the people who support them, accompanied by soft background music. Perhaps you’re preparing for an audition, rehearsal or performance. Perhaps you’ve spent the day encouraging a young performer. Or perhaps the day is finished, and you’re ready to put it down. Through a gentle body scan, awareness of the support beneath you, and imagery of warmth, light and softness, this practice offers space to rest and reconnect with yourself. There’s no need to force your breathing, picture anything perfectly, or feel a particular way. Return to this meditation before a busy day, after a demanding experience, or as you settle down for sleep. Three thoughts to take with you: • I can take my time.• I can listen and respond.• I can begin from where I am. Listen somewhere comfortable, only when it’s safe to rest your attention - never while driving or doing anything that needs your focus. Keep your eyes open or closed, change position, or stop whenever you need to. This version includes gentle background music at 852 Hz. If you prefer to listen without music, look for the Voice Only edition of Coming Back to Yourself. Music licensed through Soundstripe.Code: OND2D0NS3CD6HQUF

  3. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    Coming Back to Yourself: A Meditation for Performers & Parents (Voice Only)

    A little time when you don’t have to deliver, impress anyone, or find every answer. In this bonus episode of The Drama Coach, Lisa Southam guides a gentle meditation for performers of all ages, parents, and the people who support them. Perhaps you’re preparing for an audition, rehearsal or performance. Perhaps you’ve spent the day encouraging a young performer. Or perhaps the day is finished, and you’re ready to put it down. Through a gentle body scan, awareness of the support beneath you, and imagery of warmth, light and softness, this practice offers space to rest and reconnect with yourself. There’s no need to force your breathing, picture anything perfectly, or feel a particular way. You can return to this meditation before a busy day, after a demanding experience, or as you settle down for sleep. Three thoughts to take with you: • I can take my time.• I can listen and respond.• I can begin from where I am. This is the voice-only version, without background music. Listen somewhere comfortable, only when it’s safe to rest your attention - never while driving or doing anything that needs your focus. Keep your eyes open or closed, change position, or stop whenever you need to.

  4. 4d ago

    Why Am I Not Getting Acting Auditions? 10 Things to Check

    You’ve trained. You’ve got headshots. Maybe you’re on Spotlight, you have an agent, and you’re actively submitting for work… so why aren’t the auditions coming? In this solo episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, Lisa Southam looks at 10 practical things actors can check when auditions have gone quiet - from headshots, showreels and casting clarity to self-tapes, training, submissions and representation. This isn’t about assuming you’re doing something wrong. Sometimes you can have everything in place and simply not be the right fit for what’s casting at that moment. Instead, this episode focuses on the part of an acting career you can control. Lisa covers: Whether your headshots still genuinely represent you How to tell if your showreel is actually helping you Why clear casting can make it easier for casting directors to place you Keeping your Spotlight profile, credits and skills accurate and current Whether you’re submitting for roles that genuinely fit Availability, location and the practical realities of being employable Why continued acting training matters, even between auditions How to assess whether your self-tapes are strong enough Knowing when to have a conversation about your representation Why the number of auditions you get is not a measure of your talent Lisa also talks about staying proactive when you have an agent, avoiding endless self-tape takes, staying “match fit” as an actor and being ready before the opportunity arrives. Because your agent can be an important part of your team - but they are not your entire career. If auditions have been quiet recently, use this episode as a practical acting career check-in and ask: is there anything I can strengthen, update or approach differently? The goal isn’t to suddenly become ready when the audition lands. It’s to already be ready. 🎙️ The Drama Coach Podcast with Lisa Southam For actors, young performers, parents of performers and anyone navigating acting training, auditions, agents, self-tapes and the professional industry. Follow The Drama Coach Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts, and please leave a rating or review if the episode helps you - it makes a real difference in helping more performers and parents find the show. Keywords: acting auditions, how to get acting auditions, why am I not getting auditions, actor showreel, acting headshots, Spotlight actor, acting agent, self-tape tips, casting type, actor training, getting an acting agent, acting career advice, audition tips for actors Instagram: ⁠@TheDramaCoach⁠TikTok: ⁠@TheDramaCoach⁠YouTube: ⁠The Drama Coach⁠Actor Instagram: ⁠@lisa.southam.uk⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Lisa Southam⁠ Intro/Outro Music: Nastelbom - Soft Music 295878 from Pixabay

  5. Oct 17

    Building Truthful, Sustainable Acting with Eric Geynes

    In this episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, Lisa is joined by actor, writer and certified Chubbuck Technique coach Eric Geynes to explore what really helps an actor move from “performing” a scene to genuinely living within it. Eric shares his unusual route into acting after years as a competitive swimmer, the discipline he carried from sport into his training at Drama Centre London, and why the hardest part of acting preparation can sometimes be learning to let all that preparation go. Together, Lisa and Eric explore the Chubbuck Technique, character psychology, scene objectives, action verbs, movement psychology and the relationship between inside-out and outside-in approaches to performance. They also discuss how actors can work with emotionally demanding material safely, why emotion should be a result rather than the goal, and the importance of understanding what your character actually wants from the other person in the scene. Eric shares practical advice for self-tapes and screen work, including: Finding a clear scene objective Using playable actions rather than chasing emotion Creating a strong moment before Allowing the character to exist beyond the first and last line Using simple physical “doings” to make a scene feel lived-in Avoiding anticipation and staying genuinely responsive Letting accidents and unexpected moments become part of the performance Knowing when to stop analysing and trust your preparation The conversation also moves into Laban and Yat Malmgren’s Movement Psychology, performance capture, working without physical sets or props, and how physical choices can sometimes unlock a character from the outside in. Finally, Eric discusses the idea behind his forthcoming book, The Constant Actor, and what performers can do when they aren’t currently employed as actors. From creative practice and collaboration to training, career development, consistency and looking after your mental health, he offers a practical reminder that being an actor is about far more than your latest credit. A brilliant episode for actors who love exploring technique - but also need the reminder that eventually, you have to trust the work and let it go. Find Eric: Instagram: @ericgeynesCoaching: @ericgeynescoach Follow Lisa and The Drama Coach on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook at @TheDramaCoach. Subscribe to The Drama Coach Podcast so you don’t miss the rest of Series 3 - The Performer’s Toolkit. Intro/Outro Music: Nastelbom - Soft Music 295878 from Pixabay

  6. Oct 13

    Changing Agents Without Burning Bridges

    How do you know when it’s time to move on from something that isn’t actually bad? In this solo episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, Lisa shares a recent decision from her own acting career - changing agents - and explores the much bigger lesson behind it: how to leave well. There was no dramatic falling out and no terrible experience. Lisa’s previous agency had supported her, submitted her for work, secured auditions and offered brilliant communication. But Lisa had changed. At this stage of her career, she realised she needed something different from representation - more direction, strategy and honest conversations around casting, positioning, materials and the bigger picture. And sometimes, that’s reason enough. In this episode: How to recognise when something that was once right no longer fits Why gratitude doesn’t have to become obligation Positive feedback vs directional feedback What you actually need from an agent at different stages of your career The difference between a rough patch and the wrong fit Why clarity about where you’re heading makes decisions easier How to move on without unnecessarily burning bridges Why you don’t need to make the old thing wrong to make the new thing right Questions to ask yourself if you’re wondering whether it’s time for a change And this isn’t just about agents. The same questions can apply to acting classes, drama schools, teachers, theatre companies, jobs and other parts of your creative life. Sometimes moving forward doesn’t mean rejecting what came before. It simply means recognising that you’re ready for what comes next. If this episode resonates, Lisa would love to hear about your own experience of knowing when it was time to move on. Find The Drama Coach on Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn and Facebook. Email: lisa@thedramacoach.co.uk If you’re enjoying The Drama Coach Podcast, follow the show, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with another performer, parent or teacher who might need to hear it. Keep learning, keep growing and keep telling stories that matter. Intro/Outro Music: Nastelbom - Soft Music 295878 from Pixabay

  7. Oct 10

    Discipline Over Motivation: Training, Mindset & Showing Up with Ned Drew

    What does it really take to keep showing up when you don’t feel motivated? In this episode of The Drama Coach Podcast, I’m joined by dancer, performer and teacher Ned Drew to talk about discipline, professional training and the mindset behind developing as a performer. Ned shares his unconventional journey from football into dance, training at Bath Dance College before moving to London to study ballet and contemporary dance at Rambert. We talk about the realities of full-time professional training, why motivation alone isn’t enough, and what young performers can learn long before they ever reach drama school or professional training. We also explore the impact of phones and social media on focus, finding a routine that works for you, balancing training with actually having a life, and what Ned learned when injury forced him to sit on the sidelines. There’s also a brilliant discussion about comparison and casting - including why being in the ensemble is never “less than” getting the principal role, and why every performer has their own journey and their own time. In this episode: Why discipline matters more than waiting to feel motivated Ned’s journey from football to professional dance training What a typical full-time training week really looks like Managing phones, social media and distractions Showing up even when you’re not performing at your best The difference between training for fun and training professionally What injury can teach you about your attitude to training Finding a balance between hard work, friends and life outside training Why open classes can help performers develop Comparison, casting and learning not to measure yourself against somebody else Why the ensemble can be just as important as the principal roles Building habits that work over the long term Remembering to enjoy performing while you’re young One of the biggest messages from this conversation is that progress isn’t about being perfect every day. It’s about continuing to work at something over time, learning what works for you and showing up. And, as Ned puts it, your journey doesn’t have to look like anybody else’s. Find Ned on Instagram:@NedDreww Follow The Drama Coach for more acting tips, industry conversations and practical support for young and emerging performers:@TheDramaCoach Intro/Outro Music: Nastelbom - Soft Music 295878 from Pixabay

  8. Oct 6

    The Performer’s Toolkit: What Agents Keep Telling Me

    In this Series 3 solo episode, I’m pulling together some of the key advice that has come up again and again in my conversations with agents across The Drama Coach Podcast. Agents may all work differently, but there are some clear themes that keep returning: professionalism, curiosity, self-awareness, resilience, useful materials, strong self-tapes and learning how to meet your agent halfway. This episode isn’t a rule book, and it definitely isn’t a “do this and you’ll get signed” guide. Instead, it’s a performer’s toolkit - a practical, grounded look at the habits, mindset and working skills that help performers become easier to support, easier to submit and better prepared for the realities of the industry. In this episode, I talk about: What an agent actually does - and what they can’t control Why getting an agent is the start of a working relationship, not the finish line The importance of professional curiosity and understanding the industry Why actors need to watch the kind of work they want to be in What makes a self-tape clean, simple and useful Why truth matters more than perfection on screen How readers and parents can support a tape without taking over Why endless takes can work against you The shift from parent-led support to performer ownership What “readiness” really means Why useful headshots, showreels, profiles and skills matter Self-awareness around casting, playing age and what you can truthfully carry Training as part of the performer’s toolkit Resilience, consistency and curiosity as long-term acting tools Why performers must not tie their self-worth to the outcome How parents can support older teens and emerging actors with more independence This episode is for performers who are starting to take their acting seriously, young actors building their careers, parents supporting older teens, and anyone trying to understand representation in a more realistic and professional way. Because representation is not just about being chosen. It’s about being ready - ready to work, ready to learn, ready to communicate, ready to handle the quiet patches, and ready to keep going without losing yourself in the process. You can also listen back to previous agent conversations across Series 1 and 2 of The Drama Coach Podcast for more detailed advice on approaching agents, self-tapes, profiles, Spotlight and building a professional relationship. Find out more The Drama Coach:https://www.thedramacoach.co.uk The Drama Coach Blog:https://www.thedramacoach.co.uk/blog/ The Drama Coach Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and YouTube. Music: Soft Music 495878 by nastelbom from Pixabay.

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About

A podcast for young or emerging performers and the people supporting them - whether you or your child are just starting out or already navigating auditions, training and performances. Hosted by actor, drama coach and parent Lisa Southam, with honest, practical insight from solo episodes and guest conversations. No hype - just real guidance to build skills, confidence and a love for the craft. @TheDramaCoach https://linktr.ee/TheDramaCoach Music: ‘Soft Music’ by Nastelbom via Pixabay Sponsored by SceneTribe https://scenetribe.com

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Southam
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lisa Southam
  • Show Website
    The Drama Coach Podcast