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Box Angeles (for Actors)

Mike 'Box' Elder
  • 4.8 (123)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Join actor Mike 'Box' Elder as he sits down with fellow actors, directors, writers, comedians, producers and casting directors to extract insightful commentary on what it takes to achieve success in both Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

  1. Brian Thomas Smith

    JAN 26

    Brian Thomas Smith

    Actor Brian Thomas Smith (The Big Bang Theory, Bad Monkey) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 361. Brian stops by the bungalow and discusses going 0 for 6 on avails last year, why he still chooses to audition for commercials, how he used to crash auditions, doing reality shows before acting, and more! --- BEATS-- 00:00 - Brian slates. 00:14 - Introduction. 01:56 - The podcast clips on Instagram. 03:09 - Handsome and funny. 06:11 - Facial hair. 09:48 - Outlook for 2026. 12:58 - Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. 14:29 - Zack spinoff of The Big Bang Theory. 20:01 - Getting multiple episodes added after booking the one. 23:29 - Pay rate with more episodes. 25:12 - Self tapes. 28:59 - Sticking with commercials. 31:17 - Getting caught in the KMR scandal. 32:52 - Crashing commercial auditions. 36:42 - Last day job. 40:25 - Pivot from commercials to TV. 43:34 - Being on reality shows before success. 47:35 - Hobbies like basketball league. 50:46 - Who took a chance on Brian. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/361 --- MORE COURTNEY RICHARDS -- Check Brian’s IMDb. Follow Brian on Instagram @brian_thomas_smith. Visit Brian’s website. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    56 min
  2. Courtney Richards

    JAN 5

    Courtney Richards

    Actor Courtney Richards (Insecure, Alex, Inc.) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 360. Courtney stops by the bungalow and discusses audition confidence, booking momentum, commercial comedy, mindset shifts, what success really means, and more! --- BEATS-- 00:00 - Courtney slates. 00:14 - Introduction. 01:42 - Meeting at a commercial callback. 04:53 - What is success. 08:07 - How much is Courtney auditioning. 09:27 - Secret sauce to booking. 13:03 - Understanding the comedy. 19:18 - Anti keeping track of auditions. 21:51 - Audition rituals. 24:40 - Courtney's kids acting now. 26:37 - Self tapes. 28:44 - Growing up in Minnesota. 30:50 - Day job sellings houses. 35:52 - Taking classes after moving to LA. 42:56 - Commercial pay going down. 46:59 - Hobbies. 52:28 - Who took a chance on Courtney. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/360 --- MORE COURTNEY RICHARDS -- Check Courtney’s IMDb. Follow Courtney on Instagram @courtney_richards7. Follow Courtney on TikTok @courtney_richards7. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    55 min
  3. Reece Rios

    11/17/2025

    Reece Rios

    Actor - and commercial session director - Reece Rios (Scandal, Ray Donovan, Young Sheldon) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 359. Reece stops by the bungalow and discusses the nuances of auditioning, the impact of self-tapes, the psychological demands of the entertainment industry, what he's learned from teaching the Commercial Class, and more! --- BEATS-- 00:00 - Reece slates. 00:10 - Introduction. 02:35 - Time spent on video games. 09:03 - Session directing. 12:35 - How exhausting that job is. 17:46 - Giving actors the benefit of the doubt. 24:23 - Returning to in person auditions more lately. 27:26 - Thoughts on self tapes. 31:23 - Have self tapes impacted quality of in person auditions. 33:01 - What does session directing teach you as an actor. 40:09 - The need for a psychology of acting class. 43:33 - Journey to joining Groundlings Sunday Company. 48:06 - Why Reece books more dramatic work. 54:04 - Six different named roles in Scandal for the same character. 1:03:36 - Who took a chance on Reece. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/359 --- MORE REECE RIOS -- Check Reece's IMDb. Follow Reece on Instagram @reecerios. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1h 8m
  4. Harvey Guillén

    09/29/2025

    Harvey Guillén

    Actor Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, The Thundermans) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 358. Harvey stops by the bungalow and discusses the value of every role, even one-liners, how unexpected chances shape a career, his approach to self-tapes versus in-person auditions, how to manage relationships with representation, and more! --- BEATS-- 00:00 - Harvey slates. 00:10 - Introduction. 02:07 - Companion the best film of the year. 06:56 - Being offered that role and awkward meetings with directors. 10:30 - Never being above an audition and how one line can be a whole scene. 14:21 - Not knowing what could come of booking the room auditions. 17:50 - How audition for What We Do In The Shadows came to be. 20:48 - Preferring in-person over self tapes. 23:06 - Zoom audition slots. 26:24 - Coaching for auditions. 28:21 - Saying no to things. 31:30 - Does the team help with auditions. 35:09 - Seeing people lose jobs on set. 38:59 - Audition volume and working weeks in a year. 42:04 - Breaking into voice work. 47:58 - Relationship with reps. 52:47 - How Emmys events come about. 54:55 - Oh Mary potential. 57:21 - Whot took a chance on Harvey. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/358 --- MORE HARVEY GUILLEN -- Check Harvey's IMDb. Follow Harvey on Instagram @harveyguillen. Visit Harvey's website. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1 hr
  5. Matt McCarthy

    09/15/2025

    Matt McCarthy

    Actor-Comedian Matt McCarthy (Conan, Adam Ruins Everything, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 357. Matt stops by the bungalow and discusses how he rarely reads scripts, trusting his instincts when auditioning, how he prioritizes his many endeavors, not enjoying his time as a collegiate mascot, and more! --- BEATS -- 00:00 - Matt slates. 00:10 - Introduction. 02:10 - Matt's comedic role in (the best movie of the year) Companion. 08:52 - Reading scripts. 11:17 - Acting on instincts. 13:06 - Self taping on tour for Companion. 15:06 - Not enjoying and getting too much feedback. 20:52 - Confidence and approach to self tapes. 24:34 - Less opportunities. 27:01 - Doing many different things and early aspirations. 30:50 - Comedian goals in 2025. 34:45 - Prioritizing of everything Matt has going on. 38:41 - Matt's VHS garage. 48:50 - Losing footage from the past. 51:24 - Be kind, rewind. 53:38 - Being passionate about your hobbies. 55:59 - College mascot experience at Fordham. 1:03:42 - Who took a chance on Matt. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/357 --- MORE MATT MCCARTHY -- Check Matt's IMDb. Follow Matt on Instagram @mccarthyredhead. Follow Matt on TikTok @mccarthyredhead. Check out Matt's website. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1h 8m
  6. Megan Heyn 2.0

    09/08/2025

    Megan Heyn 2.0

    Actor Megan Heyn (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 356. Megan stops by the bungalow and discusses her new web series Actors Anonymous, how this industry can feel abusive, using coaching on auditions as acting class, having those moments of actor tantrums, and more! --- BEATS -- 00:00 - Megan slates. 00:11 - Introduction. 02:10 - Being high energy. 03:17 - First impressions and journals. 13:46 - Megan's new web series Actors Anonymous. 17:04 - Everyone thinking about quitting the business right now. 19:23 - How gaslighty and abusive this industry can be. 23:21 - Appreciating the struggle. 26:49 - Enjoying auditions. 31:52 - Coaching on auditions and using that as an acting class. 35:35 - Actor tantrums. 39:26 - Megan's challenge directing Actors Anonymous when she likes feedback. 41:35 - Learning from shooting eight episodes. 43:45 - The struggle with editing. 46:54 - Funding your own projects. 51:12 - What Megan wants actors to take away from Actors Anonymous. 54:27 - Side hustles and residuals. 56:27 - Will Megan ever quit and it being okay to want to act. 59:25 - What would you do if you quit. 1:00:17 - Not auditioning or booking commercials. 1:02:37 - Who took a chance on Megan. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/356 --- MORE MEGAN HEYN -- Check Megan's IMDb. Follow Megan on Instagram @megheyn. Watch Megan's new web series Actors Anonymous. Listen to Megan's first episode of Box Angeles, #152. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1h 8m
  7. Will Rothhaar 2.0

    08/25/2025

    Will Rothhaar 2.0

    Actor Will Rothhaar (NCIS: Origins, Will Trent, The Rookie) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 355. Will stops by the bungalow and discusses the career drought he went on after his last appearance on the podcast, the struggle to make health insurance, how he is always cast as the bad guy, and the desire to move to the energy of New York City someday, and more! --- BEATS -- 00:00 - Will slates. 00:12 - Introduction. 03:12 - A 7-ish year career drought after doing the podcast the first time. 09:50 - Making SAG insurance. 14:47 - Residuals. 17:14 - Thoughts on current state of the business. 19:35 - Having to start taking on side jobs. 28:50 - Still love for acting and in it for the long haul. 34:24 - These podcast interviews becoming more reflective lately. 35:05 - Self tapes. 41:56 - Gun and weapon classes. 43:20 - Always playing the bad guy. 49:00 - Two characters in the NCIS universe. 49:55 - Ever considered moving to NYC for theater. 56:45 - Who took a chance on Will. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/355 --- MORE WILL ROTHHAAR -- Check Will's IMDb. Follow Will on Instagram @therealwillylamar. Listen to Will's first episode of Box Angeles, #016. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1h 4m
  8. Mo Collins

    08/18/2025

    Mo Collins

    Actor Mo Collins (Mad TV, Parks and Recreation, Fear the Walking Dead) joins us on the Box Angeles podcast episode 354. Mo stops by the bungalow and discusses why she is not optimistic about the business, the importance of questioning your faith as an artist, not currently having an agent, and candidly discusses the challenges of staying relevant in the industry, and more! --- BEATS -- 00:00 - Mo slates her name. 00:12 - Introduction. 03:42 - Small part on Jingle All The Way. 04:37 - Auditioning in Minnesota. 06:14 - Studying improv as a junior high kid. 08:09 - Attending St. Catherine University before getting kicked out for 'grafitti'. 11:24 - Surviving as a comedian in the Twin Cities. 13:36 - Getting fired from Brave New Workshop. 16:26 - Working at Disney in Orlando. 19:56 - Moving back to Minneapolis. 22:21 - Feeling late on the move to Los Angeles 25:00 - Current relationship with auditioning. 33:50 - Reason for leaving Mad TV. 37:17 - Loving what you do. 38:03 - Thoughts on current state of the business. 45:00 - Doing a one person show Mo Collins is Wiggin Out. 48:02 - Why isn't Mad TV on a streamer? 53:28 - Origin of the character Lorraine Swanson. 55:37 - Residuals. 56:34 - Representation. 59:48 - Who took a chance on Mo and playing Gina on 40 Year Old Virgin. 1:03:26 - Mad TV parties. The full video and pics -- boxangeles.com/354 --- MORE MO COLLINS -- Check Mo’s IMDb. Follow Mo on Instagram @that_mo_collins. --- MORE BOX ANGELES -- Follow Box Angeles on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. Support Box Angeles on Patreon.

    1h 6m
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
123 Ratings

About

Join actor Mike 'Box' Elder as he sits down with fellow actors, directors, writers, comedians, producers and casting directors to extract insightful commentary on what it takes to achieve success in both Hollywood and the entertainment industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike 'Box' Elder
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    362
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Box Angeles (for Actors)
  • Provider
    Mike Elder

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