The Actor’s Guide to the End of the World

actorsguidepodcast
  • 5.0 (13)
  • 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. 2d ago

    From the Picket Lines to the United Nations - Actor, SAG-AFTRA LA Board Member Heather Ashley Boyer

    Actor, producer, and  SAG-AFTRA LA Local Board Member and AI regulations and Technology guru Heather Ashley Boyer joins E-Kan and Rían this week on the show. Heather shares the pivotal moment during the Actor strike in 2023 and how that had led her to run for the Local Board of SAG-AFTRA and fight for AI Safety on the state and federal level in Sacramento and Washington DC at the United Nations. They also dig into the fine print of the current SAG-AFTRA AI regulations in the new deal, including a loophole He ather caught that union leadership couldn't dismiss. Actors - the SAG-AFTRA deal is up for vote- you’re going to want to listen to this.  We talk about what no one’s saying about AI right now, honest take on celebrities speaking out like Sandra Bullock, Reese Witherspoon and Matthew McConaughey, and the time that Heather was Deepfaked by Will Smith without her consent... Seriously. Also, why Claude might be the safest AI model - or is it? This is an inspiring and eye opening conversation for any actor or anyone that wants to make a difference. 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. @heatherashleyboyer @ekansoong @ríansheehykelly Hidden Gems:  The AI Doc: How I Became an Apocaloptomist - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39150120/ Distress Signals Project @distresssignalsproject  Theater raising funds for distressed communities - June 12-14, 19-21. (Rían will be on June 12th and 14th) LA County Fair Crazy Foods - https://youtube.com/shorts/K6WWs2qft9M?si=6wNT9mbPGvu2ijxm   LINKS: Heather at the United Nations! - https://www.instagram.com/p/DYs4-msjtMI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Bette Midler- https://www.facebook.com/DivineBette1945/posts/in-1989-bette-midler-made-legal-history-when-she-won-a-400000-lawsuit-against-th/1259951306175934/ Scarlett Johansson voice stolen - https://www.npr.org/2024/05/20/1252495087/openai-pulls-ai-voice-that-was-compared-to-scarlett-johansson-in-the-movie-her Reese Witherspoon AI video -  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXKphAtkbgW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== AI Simulation models - https://fortune.com/2026/05/28/ai-model-simulation-claude-chatgpt-grok-gemini/   Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:10) What drove Heather-Ashley from the beginning (03:40) E-Kan doesn’t know what United Nations is (06:16) E-Kan and Rían start to feel bad for themselves (09:40) We were all looking for something worthy to fight for (12:05) Heather saw the power of AI early on (17:28) How did you feel about AI in Hollywood during the strike (20:00) She used her frustration to run for SAG-AFTRA Board (22:50) Where do you start with State and Federal legislation (27:45) Heather went to the United Nations (36:00) Heather finds a loophole in current SAG-AFTRA deal (44:20) Reese Witherspoon and others speaking out on AI in Hollywood (48:20) How can we trust AI? (50:15) The AI models are scheming (53:15) How does acting fuel your political aspirations? (54:25) Getting deepfaked by Will Smith (1:02:10) Hidden Gems

    1h 5m

  2. May 26

    Drama at Colbert’s Final Show, and The 48-Hour Audition Rule - What They're Not Telling Actors

    E-Kan and Rían are just two working actors cutting through the noise of Hollywood — the real stories, the practical wisdom, and the occasional chaos of life on set. This week we're talking about the Grey's Anatomy Texas spin-off landing in LA — good news for production in a city that needs it. Also some drama during the final show of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a gut punch for the crew and their families. Family members of crew that were working for the network for 17 years were turned away at the taping... The guys get into what happened and the tension between studios, execs, and the entertainment workers.  That segues into the power of collective bargaining and the benefits of having a union like SAG-AFTRA, specifically the 48-hour audition rule that was stipulated in the 2023 SAG-AFTRA TV agreement. There was a video with a casting director spreading dangerous misinformation about this rule, so the guys had to get into it and set the record straight when actors' fear and resentment are peaking. And listen to the end to hear why E-Kan considers himself “a high functioning recycling bin”.  Empowering actors one week at a time, thanks for listening! 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 @riansheehykelly LINKS: Grey's Anatomy Texas Spinoff- https://tasteofcountry.com/greys-anatomy-texas-spinoff/ Stephen Colbert's final show- https://www.instagram.com/p/DYqhckmxNga/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 48 hr audition rule - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYigd0uITg3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Hidden Gems:  Baking Soda for fruits and veggies "Block Crush" Game Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (02:10) Grey’s Anatomy's Texas spinoff...shot in LA? (03:55) Drama at Stephen Colbert’s final show (07:50) The tension between the studios and entertainment workers (09:45) 48-Hour Audition Rule (11:45) Casting Director’s dubious story (16:30) How often do you see violations? (17:35) What actors need to remember about these rules (21:40) E-Kan is a recycling garbage bin (26:35) Hdden Gems

    30 min

  3. May 22

    The SAG Deal: What Every Actor Needs to Know Before The Vote

    Apologies for the delay this week, but this was a monstrous episode and worth the wait.  The SAG-AFTRA deal is officially approved by the board and the 18 page summary got dropped. The vote is up in a few weeks - Actors, this is what you need to know before you vote. This deal touches on many topics that affect union members and the acting community, including AI protections, and the pension and the health plan (which have made many members furious). What points do the guys like about the contract? Is E-Kan going to go scorched Earth? SAG-AFTRA AI info-https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/sa_documents/DigitalReplicas.pdf And you’ll also hear how one of our hosts found out he qualified for the pension and didn’t even know it. Can you guess which one? Information for the SAG Deal info meetings are below- make sure you RSVP beforehand.    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 @riansheehykelly SAG Info meetings- https://www.sagaftra.org/contracts-industry-resources/contracts/2026-tvtheatrical-contracts#infomeetings E-Kan IG video - https://www.instagram.com/ekansoong/reel/DYX4QDcSfY2/ 2026 SAG-Aftra Contract Summary - https://www.sagaftra.org/sites/default/files/2026-05/2026%20TV-Theatrical%20Contracts%20Summary%20of%20Tentative%20Agreement.pdf https://variety.com/2026/film/news/sag-aftra-artificial-intelligence-pensions-concerns-1236746577/   (00:00) Intro (01:35) SAG Deal gets dropped (03:10) AI changes in the deal (05:00) How much can they change your performance? (09:25) No longer a synthetic “performer” (11:15) Why E-Kan isn’t worried about synthetics (16:00) Is AI a distraction from other issues? (18:00) Streaming residuals is a footnote (20:20) Pension plans are merging (23:25) Board member says “no” to the deal (24:23) E-Kan makes a huge discovery about the pension (31:30) What did we join the union for? (34:30) Is making Health Insurance unattainable? (39:13) Hidden Gems

    43 min

  4. May 12

    Does the SAG Deal Prove Actors Have No Power?

    The SAG-AFTRA deal is heading to a member vote — and before you cast yours, you need to hear this episode. We recorded this before the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the tentative agreement, which makes everything we break down here an essential primer for what actors are actually being asked to sign off on. The streaming bonus structure, the 90-day window, the $40 million that never materialized — we get into the mechanics of why actors had problems with the financial terms in the contract in 2023 and why that matters to actors TODAY. The biggest questions: Did actors have any fight left? And do they have any leverage right now? Judging from the details of the new deal, we're not so sure.  E-Kan and Rían also talk about what taking power looks like - Issa Rae's new vertical is blowing up, and it might be a big sign of things to come with verticals and how it's shaping the entertainment industry. Part 2 of the SAG-AFTRA contract drops next week. We're going deeper on the vote, what's at stake, and what actors should actually be asking before they decide. This is your homework. Listen before you vote. As for the podcast, this is a soft launch of Season 2 because why not? Also, we launched a Patreon link if you want to support the podcast. Any donations will help us keep doing it and help us make it better. If you can't support, either way we appreciate you for listening and coming along for the ride. We will continue to put out the podcast for FREE everywhere you find your podcasts, and all video. Thanks for joining us!  Follow @actorsguidepodcast @ekansoong @riansheehykelly 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. LINKS: https://deadline.com/2026/05/sag-aftra-board-approves-four-year-amptp-deal-1236898612/ Issa Rae Microdrama got 45 Mill views in a week: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/tiktok-bolsters-micro-series-content-with-first-of-its-kind-partnership-with-hoorae?lang=en  https://tappedinculture.substack.com/p/issa-raes-tiktok-microdrama-screentime https://www.tiktok.com/@hooraemedia/video/7626496879328595213 Hidden Gems:  Mickey O'Sullivan (acting classes, coaching, tapings in Chicago) - https://mickeyosullivan.com/ Monarch Nursery @monarchnursery (Plant Nursery in Santa Monica, CA) Time stamps: (00:00) Intro (1:34) Season 2 launch (01:57) SAG-AFTRA tentative deal (08:24) Why many members are worried (11:51) The Streaming Bonus is a problem (19:18) Why the 2023 Contract is still relevant (26:02) Take the bitter with the sweet (28:20) Issa Rae Vertical hits 45 mill views (37:37) RIP Quibi (41:50) Hidden Gems

    47 min

  5. May 6

    I Shot My Own Show and It Changed How I See Casting

    Welcome to the Actor’s Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 79! E-Kan and Rían unpack some lessons of wisdom and inspiration from the conversation with Mel Rodriguez last week, including how he found balance in such a chaotic industry. From there, deep questions arise, like "Have you ever gotten to the breaking point of quitting acting?, "Do you feel like you're 'one foot in, one foot out' of acting?, and "Do you place too much of your self worth on your career?" The guys also talk about the independent filmmaking spirit sweeping our industry, including how E-Kan started shooting a project he co-created, co-wrote, co-directing and starring in, this week.  He has many lessons and revelations after this experience, like how it might be a direction he wants to pursue more.  And the biggest revelation - if he was a casting director, actors might hate him. He’ll get into how he discovered and hired an actor for his project from a voicemail he left. This is a good one, guys, and there are many lessons learned, including maybe don't have a private Instagram if you're an actor... 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. Hidden Gems:  @peachy_parrot - Fun, colorful housewares Path of the Lost Star Wars fan-film by @roryross - https://youtu.be/t3IuiGOWzgs?si=N2WM6GZfMplv1g-y   Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (01:07) Mel Rodriguez's wisdom (02:45) On the verge of giving up (04:25) What's better - Having diversified interests or singular focus on acting (08:35) The independent filmmaking boom (12:20) Listener's success story- Star Wars fan film (15:00) E-Kan's recent project he co-created and co-wrote (20:15) The stakes of creating your own project (29:00) E-Kan's crazy casting story (38:00) Hidden Gems

    41 min

  6. Apr 29

    Will Forte, Bob Odenkirk, and Why He Almost Left Hollywood | Mel Rodriguez

    Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 78 with special guest, Actor and Writer Mel Rodriguez (The Residence, Better Call Saul, Last Man On Earth). E-Kan and Rían talk to the hilarious Mel Rodriguez who shares about his storied career, including the time he had to drive away from Hollywood with his wife when a phone call changed everything.  He landed the HBO cult favorite Getting On and turned things around. In this episode, Mel opens up about four seasons working alongside Will Forte on Last Man on Earth, how generous Bob Odenkirk was on Better Call Saul, learning from geniuses like Laurie Metcalf and Niecy Nash, and why the Shonda Rhimes set of The Residence felt like an oasis. Plus the audition tip that changed his process forever and how he dropped 170 pounds and was featured on Men's Health and Men's Journal.  Hint: It started with one walk around the block. And the circle just kept getting bigger.   This conversation is packed with inspiration, practical acting wisdom and a lot of laughs. Enjoy!  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. Follow @realmelrodriguez  @ekansoong @riansheehykelly Mel Rodriguez - Men's Health -https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a70606667/mel-rodriguez-workout/ Men's Journal - https://www.menshealth.com/fitness/a70606667/mel-rodriguez-workout/ Hidden Gems:  Barnsdall Art Park  Kahnversations at Lesly Kahn- intimate Q/As every month with industry professionals in LA - (free for students, $20/general) Nap-a-latte-Coffee Hack, for a quick recharge Time Stamps: (00:00) Intro (01:20) Mel Rodriguez (03:00) E-Kan interned at Mel’s manager (04:40) Mel’s start in acting (06:00) Why he chose acting (08:05) Mel’s first break in NYC (10:20) Finding balance as an actor (11:05) The influence of his parents (13:52) How Mel found peace at a low point (16:50) Mel has a lot of stories to tell (22:00) The time Mel left Los Angeles (27:15) Building relationships and hard work pays off (29:00) Will Forte wrote a role for him (32:05) Bob Odenkirk (35:00) Lessons to his younger self (36:00 The Residence was an incredible experience (45:25) Sarah’s Oil (50:35) Men’s Health and the fitness journey (52:40) Was there pressure not to lose the weight? (55:52) Hidden Gems

    1h 1m

  7. Apr 22

    How to Own Your Audition When the Room Gives You Nothing

    Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, episode 77!  This week we break down what's really happening to the working actor right now.  Over 2000 filmmakers and actors including Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh and David Fincher signed a petition to block the Paramount-Warner Bros merger. E-Kan and Rían discuss why Damon Lindelof's brutally honest post about why he was afraid to sign it — and did anyway. Ben Affleck secretly built an AI company since 2022 and just sold it to Netflix for $600 million. We have the numbers — and they're not pretty for below-the-line workers. The irony isn't lost on us either how his model is to focus on the humanity behind filmmaking. To add to it, USC just launched an AI "institute" for actors. Who exactly is that serving and how is the youngest generation going to learn the craft?  And a practical real world story from an actor who showed up to an in-person callback only to realize the casting directors were Zooming in from another room down the hall as they stood alone in a room with a computer screen. It sparked a bigger question every actor needs to hear: How do you keep your power when the room gives you nothing? The guys also dig into the power of  "reverent irreverence", why you might not want to learn how to swim from Michael Phelps, Robert Redford's advice for not gripping on to tight, and why E-Kan’s parents are the coolest. New episodes every week, follow @actorsguidepodcast wherever you find your podcasts and on all social media. Share with friend if you want to help the podcast, thanks! 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. Hidden Gems:  Two Irish horror films - The Mummy, out now by Lee Cronin Hokum, starring Adam Scott  Romanaccia Pizza (just opened in Hollywood, CA) @romanacciapizza Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (01:27) Block Paramount Merger Campaign (06:34) Ben Affleck sells AI company (17:10) Where are younger filmmakers getting mentored?  (20:13) Actor is put into an audition in an empty room and computer (39:14) Best Actor Advice from Robert Redford (46:10) Hidden Gems

    49 min

  8. Apr 15

    Turning Personal Crisis Into a Hit Show- The Making of "Crackhead" w/ Holly Shervey and Emmett Skilton

    Welcome to the Actor's Guide to the End of the World Podcast, Episode 76! Holly Shervey and Emmett Skilton, friends of the show and the creative force behind “Crackhead”, the New Zealand hit series now streaming on HBO Max. The show, which Holly stars in and wrote while Emmett directed, is based on Holly’s personal experience in a psychiatric clinic early in her life and has been getting rave reviews, sitting at the top of the charts alongside “The Pitt” and “Euphoria”. This episode, E-Kan and Rían get a treat and hear the entire journey, before the network deals, the cold call pitch to Warner Bros, how Holly and Emmett self produced TWO hit series, “Auckward Love” and “Millennial Jenny” before tackling the riskier and uncompromising “Crackhead”. This is a valuable lesson in creating your own content, finding the story that only you can tell, and why budget doesn’t mean “fu** all”. And how this creative dynamic duo discovered verticals before they were even a thing. On top of it all, Holly and Emmett just had their first child within weeks of their show premiering. This is an even better love story- you’ll also hear how Emmett was one of the things on Holly’s vision board that came true… This is a master class in finding your truth and listening to your gut.  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. Follow @hollyshervey @emmettskilton @crackhead_2026 @ekansoong @riansheehykelly Hidden Gems: "Deadloch" -Amazon Prime TV show "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"- a Game of Thrones spin-off Alan Trinca VO demos- https://www.voicedemodude.com/ Free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream!   Time Stamps:  (00:00) Intro (00:39) "Crackhead" is top of the charts (03:24) Start of their acting careers (06:45) Holly's early experience in psychiatric care (07:45) Emmett was on Holly's vision board (08:15) First jobs in New Zealand (10:00) Best lesson starting out (11:50) Their training ground for "Crackhead" (13:40) The actor is a very small cog (16:23) They got locations paying them to shoot there (17:40) They shooted the vertical before it was a thing (19:49) How they made it out to Los Angeles and fell in love (24:30) The training at Lesly Kahn and Los Angeles (26:45) The pitch to Warner Bros for "Crackhead" (28:30) Making people care (32:40) Taking shame away about mental health (36:00) "Crackhead" was a dream situation creatively (44:14) Bringing it back to what's real and true (50:40) Why Emmett was a "frame fu**** and a perfect director (51:40) The biggest challenges working together (55:35) Lessons from parenthood (56:42) Biggest tips for aspiring creators (59:08) Hidden Gems

    1h 3m
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13 Ratings

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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