Greenlit and Grounded

Greenlit and Grounded

Welcome to Greenlit and Grounded, a new podcast talking to actors, directors, and creatives alike. We look to take a deeper dive into some of the topics that are often discussed in the creative industry, but we gain deeper insight into how each guest approaches their craft.

  1. May 4

    Director Cat Hostick on Getting Her First Film Made, How She Casts, and Actors Becoming Producers

    We got the chance to speak with Director / Actor Cat Hostick on how she made her first film, how she casts, and why it's so important for actors to also produce. She also talks about working with AI, and some of the lessons she's learned from working alongside Eli Roth.Connect with Cat here: https://www.instagram.com/cathostick/Connect with us: https://www.instagram.com/greenlitandgroundedpodcast/Jarred - https://www.instagram.com/bronst7/Daniel - https://www.instagram.com/danielkarp1/Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/5pTBzBilNZc We hope you enjoy, and if this episode interests you, please consider dropping a like and subscribing!Cat Hostick is a Canadian Screen Award-nominated director and actress known for her bold, cinematic approach to genre storytelling. Her recent thriller Taken in Plain Sight reached #2 on Netflix U.S. and #9 globally (Fall 2025), and she has directed multiple hit horror series executive produced by Eli Roth - establishing her as one of the most exciting emerging voices in elevated thrillers and prestige horror. She has directed over 30 episodes of television, including Murdoch Mysteries (CBC/Netflix) and a #1 MGM+ series, and created, wrote, and directed the acclaimed digital dramedy Poly Is the New Monogamy, which was acquired for television. Cat recently played the lead in a new romance movie that will be coming out end of 2026. With a background as both an actor and producer, Cat brings a uniquely intuitive approach to working with talent and storytelling. Earlier in her career, she co-founded a production company that serviced 8-10 feature films annually, collaborating with talent such as Simu Liu, Aaron Eckhart, and Tommy Lee Jones, giving her a deep understanding of both the creative and logistical sides of filmmaking. Recorded at Sleepless Studios in Toronto.

    1h 17m
  2. Jan 26

    Praneet Akilla on Family Pressure, Skymed Success, and Taking a Leap of Faith

    From working engineer to full-time actor — Praneet Akilla sits down with the guys to talk about booking SkyMed (Chopper), launching Akilla Express, and the tough family conversations that came with betting on himself. Connect with Praneet Akilla here: https://www.instagram.com/praneetakilla/ Connect with us: https://www.instagram.com/greenlitandgroundedpodcast/ Jarred - https://www.instagram.com/bronst7/ Daniel - https://www.instagram.com/danielkarp1/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenlitandGrounded We hope you enjoy, and if this episode interests you, please consider dropping a like and subscribing! Praneet Akilla is an award winning Indian-Canadian Actor & Producer best known for his leading roles on The CW’s Nancy Drew, Disney’s Motherland Fort Salem, and Netflix’s October Faction. He is currently a series regular on the Canadian Screen Award nominated medical drama Skymed on CBC Gem & Paramount Plus. Over the last 3 years Praneet has made the successful transition into producing a variety of critically acclaimed short films and digital series with his new production company Akilla Express, focusing on joyful, genre-bending stories featuring complex BIPOC protagonists.   Praneet’s recent producing highlights include the multi-award winning short film Mom vs Machine (Fantasia Film Festival, Brooklyn Horror Festival, now playing on YouTube’s DUST channel) and the short film Not For Us (2023- LA Comedy Festival Best Short film). He is currently in development on a feature film adaptation of the celebrated Canadian novel Junie with 100 Dragons Media Inc. and a new comedy horror series called Raksha with support from the Canada Media Fund. Praneet is a recent graduate of the National Screen Institute of Canada’s Access BIPOC Producers program and the 2025 Netflix Diversity of Voices program. Recorded at Sleepless Studios in Toronto.

    1h 9m
  3. 12/22/2025

    Starr Domingue on Black Women in Theatre, Keeping a Reprised Role Exciting & How to be Truly Present

    In today's episode, we sit down with Starr Domingue, an actor, singer, and incredible performer who has entertained all over the world. We dive into what it means to be present, and how she's become a trailblazer in the industry. Connect with Starr here: https://www.instagram.com/starrdomingue/?hl=enConnect with us: https://www.instagram.com/greenlitandgroundedpodcast/Jarred - https://www.instagram.com/bronst7/Daniel - https://www.instagram.com/danielkarp1/Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreenlitandGroundedWe hope you enjoy, and if this episode interests you, please consider dropping a like and subscribing!Starr Domingue is a multi-hyphenate artist, scholar and educator, with 20+ years on stages and screens across the Caribbean, the United States, Europe and Canada. Selected credits include A Change in Heart, Hudson & Rex, 4square’s 4tone, Oddsquad’s Puppy Master and the upcoming feature No Boundaries. She was an original Toronto company member of Hairspray, the stage musical and the motion picture of the same name. She has been featured in multiple productions of Ain’t Misbehavin’ including the 30th Anniversary Broadway National Tour which culminated in a resident directorship for the European tour. Starr has spent years performing at Canada’s two major repertory companies, the prestigious Shaw Festival and the world famous Stratford Festival, where in 2026 you can see her as she reprises her role as Bea from the 2024 season's critically acclaimed production of Something Rotten, General Cartwright in Guys and Dolls and her one woman show, I’m the Greatest Starr… (but no one knows it). Most recently, you may have seen her as Hannah in Gander, Newfoundland's production of Come From Away. A graduate of Sheridan's Musical Theatre Performance program, Starr recently also achieved her Masters in Theatre while simultaneously performing in the musicals Room and Dixon Road for Mirvish Productions and The Musical Stage Company, respectively. She followed that up with an award nominated role in The Musical Stage Company’s Retold and was in The Crow’s Theatre’s Dora award winning production of Red Velvet. She is also the creator/producer and host of the digital talk show, The Blacktor's Studio: an online interview series highlighting the journey of actors of Colour who grace the Canadian stage. Recorded at Sleepless Studios in Toronto.

    1h 23m

About

Welcome to Greenlit and Grounded, a new podcast talking to actors, directors, and creatives alike. We look to take a deeper dive into some of the topics that are often discussed in the creative industry, but we gain deeper insight into how each guest approaches their craft.