Artists in Depth

Alan Powell, Nicole Powell

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A podcast about wellbeing in the artistic process. Join us and reflect on your journey & artist within. Subscribe where you listen to your podcasts. An Actor Care® project Sponsored by Equity Showcase

MAR 22

S4 EP7 In Discussion with Graham D'Souza

Our guest today is Graham D’Souza. https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-d-souza-958739145/ With a lifetime devoted to the study and performance of the human voice, Graham has over 14 years of professional experience in Voice, Speech, and Literature Studies. Born and bred in Mumbai, India, Graham’s vocation began with a stammer in childhood. Eventually gaining fluency along the way, he went on to work with people across professions including actors across the country. For over 3 years in India, Graham also worked as a speech consultant with NGO’s for the financially underprivileged community in Mumbai. In 2020 Graham suffered three consecutive near fatal brain seizures. After months in hospital he made a full recovery. He then found his way to London, where he completed his master's degree and worked across the UK. Graham went on to teach at 13 institutions in 3 years, teaching Voice, Speech Therapy, Literature, and Rhetoric. After 5 years abroad, he finds himself back in Mumbai, with renewed purpose-he founded GramoVox, a praxis of Voice Studies through Communication and Literature.Graham holds an MFA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and a clinical qualification in Vocal Manual Therapy. Our conversation was a special one for me and Nicole and you’ll find out why when you listen. Graham is much wiser than his years with a passion for teaching that is as inspiring as it is effective.

35 min
FEB 15

S4 EP.6 In Discussion with Lucy Skilbeck

Our Guest today is AWFC member Lucy Skilbeck https://beingwithhorses.co.uk/ Lucy is the Collaborative Projects Lead at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (formerly she was Director of Actor Training for 10 years), she is also a theatre director, coach and equine-facilitated psychotherapist. With over 30 years experience as a director and acting teacher and coach, working in the UK, US, Australia and Europe, and after 10 years running the acting programme at RADA, she has developed a creative practice of reflective enquiry, active curiosity, and playful rigour. She integrates wellbeing into her creative practice, supporting actors to fully explore their potential safely. Additionally, she offers equine-facilitated actor training, Act Like a Horse, and has an equine therapy and personal coaching practice, Being With Horses. Lucy explained some of her recent research in the field - literally - in the field - with actors and some of her observations. We started with why she felt compelled to train in Equine facilitated therapy and its connection to actor training.

31 min
JAN 11

S4 EP5 In Discussion with Tom Stroud

Our Guest today is AWFC member, Tom Stroud https://emotionalfluencyproject.com/home Tom is an award-winning choreographer with over 40 years of experience in the field. He has performed and toured with companies across Canada and his works have been commissioned and presented by companies, festivals, and presenters coast to coast. For 14 years he was Artistic Director of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD) where he spearheaded national and international collaborations that resulted in residencies and performances in Canada, the United States and Mexico. In 2005 Tom joined the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of Winnipeg. He currently holds the position of Senior Scholar at the Department of Theatre and Film. His research examines emotion science, embodiment, and the actor’s creative process in contemporary performance practice. In 2012 Tom began training in the Emotional Effector Patterns under the guidance of master teacher Laura Bond. He is currently an Emotional Body Lead Instructor and a certified Alba teacher. Tom shared his journey from restless youth to discovering where he belongs, and how teaching the science and practice of Emotional Fluency Training for Actors keeps him in a joyful place he calls home.

31 min
12/14/2025

S4 EP4 In Discussion with Joseph Ari'el Towne

Our Guest today is AWFC member Joseph Ari'el Towne https://www.theperformersmindset.com/home Joseph is an actor, writer, performance coach, and educator with over 30 years of on-camera experience. Known for his dynamic enthusiasm and ability to get to the heart of performance, he has coached actors, on-camera talent, athletes and C suite executives. As the CEO and Co-Founder of The Performer’s Mindset, he’s taught at USC & UCLA (Los Angeles) Vancouver Film School, Lehman College (NYC), and has been in residency at both George Brown College (Toronto) and Savannah College of Art and Design (in both Savannah and Atlanta.) Most recently, he introduced mindset training at L'Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris.) Joe continues to blend art, sport, and science to help performers thrive. As the creator and host of The Better Podcast, Joe explores the nuances of creative practice and leads conversations that help us individually - and collectively - develop healthier relationships with our mind, our craft, and the world. Among the takeaways from our conversation is you are what you eat. The relation that food has to your identity - who you are dictates what you eat… or is it, what you eat dictates who you are? He also shared his insights on how to prepare for entry into a ‘flow state’, his thoughts on fitting in, belonging and his ultimate vision.

32 min
11/16/2025

S4 EP3 In Discussion with Nikki Disney

Our guest today is AWFC member Nikki Disney https://www.nikkidisney.com/ Nikki is a drama therapist and artist wellbeing practitioner. She has implemented and delivered safeguarding and wellbeing procedures, has lead on access and wellbeing for festivals and worked with artists on boundaries, trauma informed approaches and wellbeing. Nikki has worked with organisations such as Derby Theatre, Nottingham Playhouse, The Royal Court and The National Theatre of Scotland. She has implemented tool kits for wellbeing in the rehearsal room and specialises in themes of trauma, mental health and autobiographical material. She has expertise in working with Children and Young People in the Film and Television industry with 15 years of working within therapeutic support for Young People. Nikki remains engaged in her artistic practice through poetry, aerial, dance and short films. Our conversation focused on the importance of setting up rehearsal structures in theatre and in film shoots that can sustain artist well-being during the work.

32 min
10/12/2025

S4 EP2 In Discussion with Chiara Carlotta Leonetti

Our Guest today is AWFC member Chiara Carlotta Leonetti https://www.chiaracarlottaleonetti.it/ Chiara worked as a dancer in various theatrical and television productions and served as assistant choreographer for two major Italian musicals. As an actress, she has performed both on stage and in film. In parallel, she earned a degree in Clinical Psychology and is an EMDR therapist and focuses primarily on unconscious processes, integrating hypnotic and imaginative approaches into her therapeutic work. She currently runs a private practice in Milan, carries out public outreach on psychological wellbeing for actors in Italy, and provides psychological preparation for professional actors in the process of role development. Chiara had a translater , Lisa Vampa , who added to our discussion. So it’s only fair that I should introduce her as well. Lisa is a Medical doctor, a specialist in Nephrology, Jungian analytical psychotherapist and healing practitioner. She has an international background that weaves together medicine, research, psychology, and performing arts. Following a six-year sabbatical dedicated to professional acting training, she began her theatre career in Milan, performing in both English and Italian. Aside from practicing psychotherapy, she also combines her expertise in medicine, psychology, and acting by teaching Medical Communication at Humanitas University and conducting workshops on “Difficult Conversations in Medicine” for healthcare professionals. What stood out for me in our conversation was the importance of educating psychotherapists and psychologists on the impact of embodying a character’s psychology. It was also insightful to hear how hypnotherapy works on actors.

41 min
09/07/2025

S4 EP1 In Discussion with Alix Sideris

Our Guest today is AWFC member Alix Siderishttps://www.alixsideris.com/ Alix is a multi-hyphenated artist; a professional actor, movement director, certified intimacy coordinator, writer, director, as well as a somatics practitioner, educator, meditation leader, intuitive body/spirit worker, and even closer to her heart, mother, partner, friend, and proud mentor to many emerging artists. Alix is on the board of the National Society of Intimacy Professionals, and teaches Intimacy and Consent workshops. Some recent Intimacy Professional credits include the series 11h11 for Radio Canada, All the Lost Ones for Netflix, Gwen Shamblin: Starving for Salvation for Lifetime, and Rent, Wedding Band, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet all for Stratford Festival in Canada. Her over 300 hours of present and on-going training includes a commitment to Cultural Sensitivity/Implicit Bias training; Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression training; and Supporting Trans Actors and Creatives. We had a focused conversation on personal development or ‘expansion’ of self and ‘uplifting humans’ to use Alix’s words. Which led to us talking about the connection between mind and body and the importance of always ‘investigating’ ourselves.

33 min
04/25/2025

S3 EP11 In Discussion with Theresa Tova

My guest today is Theresa Tova linkedin.com/in/theresa-tova-33139a20 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0869797/ Theresa or as her friends know her, Tova, is an award-winning Canadian actress, singer, and playwright. With several nominations to boot. Including a Gemini Award nomination for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her role as Marge Atherton in TV series E.N.G., a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her work in For the Record, and two Dora award nominations for her portrayal of Mrs. Van Daan in the Diary of Anne Frank. Her play Still the Night, based on her mothers experiences surviving the holocaust, and which she also starred in, won several Dora Mavor Moore Awards and was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama. Tova tours internationally headlining major festivals in Amsterdam, Argentina, Germany, Poland, and New York. And Her three CD’s of Yiddish Jazz have won rave reviews. As an arts activist Tova served as President of ACTRA Toronto, and continues to serve as Treasurer of ACTRA National. She co-chairs the Association of Acting Coaches and Educators, and The Entertainment Industry Coalition. Tova is a recipient of the Cliff Pilkey Labour Activist Award, the 2025 King Charles lll Coronation Medal and is the 2025 Cayle Chernin Woman of the year. Tova shared some of her experiences growing up in the shadow of a holocaust survivor, and how that played out in her acting. Her passion for advocating for women and children’s rights in the entertainment industry is palpable and honorable.

32 min

A podcast about wellbeing in the artistic process. Join us and reflect on your journey & artist within. Subscribe where you listen to your podcasts. An Actor Care® project Sponsored by Equity Showcase

Creator

Alan Powell, Nicole Powell
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

44
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Alan Powell, Nicole Powell
Show Website

Artists in Depth