Best Actingclass Podcasts (2026)

1
Impulse instead of Action 4:40

Play Pause

16h ago4:40

4:40

The purpose of the technique is to help open your talent, not strangle it. I'm suggesting that you think in terms of what the impulse is for a scene, – or what's going on with your character.

1
The Dreaded Vocabulary of Acting 4:42

1d ago4:42

4:42

The vocabulary of acting is strangling the talent of actors. The need to use the right words is cutting off the actor's talent.

1
NYC Classes Begin January 12th 0:56

5d ago0:56

0:56

In person classes in New York City begin January 12th

1
NYC Classes Beginning October 27th! 0:30

3M ago0:30

0:30

We can't wait to see you! https://www.theactorlab.nyc

1
Bonus Video Ep: Let It Happen 14:05

4M ago14:05

14:05

This acting class session focuses on the fundamental tension between allowing authentic moments to emerge versus forcing them through overthinking. The instructor addresses how students lose their natural instincts by getting trapped in intellectual analysis—particularly when trying to justify their emotional responses with logical explanations. Us…

1
Why Your Acting Choices Must Feed the Material 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

In this episode, Milton Justice explores the critical concept of matching your acting choices to the specific material you're working with. Using examples from his recent work with students, Milton demonstrates how actors often make the mistake of building relationships and emotions that don't serve the genre or tone of their project. He discusses …

1
Filling The Choice 17:22

5M ago17:22

17:22

In this episode, Milton Justice explores why actors struggle to make choices substantial enough to serve their material. He contextualizes modern acting within theater history, explaining how realistic theater emerged in the late 1800s with playwrights like Ibsen, Strindberg, and Chekhov. Milton discusses why Stanislavski's approach of having actor…

1
Playing Characters Beyond Your Experience 13:42

5M ago13:42

13:42

Milton and Kaleb explore how to authentically portray characters whose experiences are completely outside your own. They discuss the crucial role of script analysis in understanding what kind of person your character is within the specific world of the play. Kaleb shares his current challenge, balancing the playwright's thematic intentions with fin…

1
What Worked and What Didn't 16:08

5M ago16:08

16:08

Milton interviews student J.P. McCloskey about his off-Broadway experience in the Stephen Metcalfe play Strange Snow. J.P. identifies a major challenge: after months of rehearsals without set or props, he felt lost during tech rehearsal. The solution involves building specific relationships to the physical environment through "talking out" what you…

1
Casting Directors Need to See This 17:14

6M ago17:14

17:14

Milton shares insights from a panel with top New York casting directors including Bernard Telsey and Billy Hopkins. The key revelation: casting directors are looking for "active listening" - actors who remain fully present and engaged even when not speaking. Many actors mistakenly think they only need to act when delivering lines, but casting direc…

1
Announcement! 2:01

6M ago2:01

2:01

The Actor Lab is an acting studio founded by industry veterans Milton Justice and Patrick Quagliano, and producer Walker Vreeland. The studio aims to fill critical gaps in contemporary actor training by focusing exclusively on fundamental acting techniques, script analysis, and practical scene work in a supportive yet challenging environment. Unlik…

1
What is Personalizing? 15:36

6M ago15:36

15:36

Welcome back to I Don't Need an Acting Class and our first episode of Season 8! In this first episode, we hear a coaching session between Milton and student Madior exploring the concept of "personalization" in acting. The discussion centers around whether actors should draw from their own personal experiences or build relationships from the charact…

1
Plays Are Difficult 16:20

7M ago16:20

16:20

In this bonus episode, Milton explores the fundamental challenges of theatrical performance. He begins by praising a student's vivid storytelling about a traumatic experience, noting how the clarity of images and emotional connection made it compelling theater. The rest of the episode centers on Arthur's struggle with a complex role as an 1858 Fren…

1
Indie/Self-Publishing: Writing Your Own Path to Success with Vanessa Haney 32:09

8M ago32:09

32:09

Vanessa Haney, an emerging expert in the realm of horror book releases, brings a business-minded approach to the world of self-publishing, drawing parallels between the book and film industries. With a dedication to mastering the craft, she continually enhances her understanding through courses and industry group involvement, positioning herself as…

1
Entertainment Industry Journey of Christopher Silveri, VP & Partner of UIA Talent 41:33

11M ago41:33

41:33

Christopher Silveri, a seasoned professional in the entertainment industry, boasts a rich career that began with casting commercials at Liz Lewis Casting Partners and evolved into leadership roles at Gilla Roos Limited and Prestige Management Group. Graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Silveri's extensive experience in talent management …

1
Breaking Free from Debt: Establishing Lifelong Financial Stability with Rhianna Basore 23:05

12M ago23:05

23:05

Rhianna Basore is a celebrated serial creative entrepreneur committed to promoting financial empowerment among creatives. An international director, producer, writer, and award-winning actor, her creative endeavors have graced stages from Off Broadway to Reykjavik, Toronto, and Paris. Basore's impactful work in the realm of financial empowerment an…

1
Bonus Ep: What Separates the Good from the Great 2:55

1y ago2:55

2:55

www.idontneedanactingclass.com

1
Bonus Ep: The Imaginary Vacation 10:42

1y ago10:42

10:42

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We're so grateful for you. In honor of the holiday we're releasing some audio from 5 years ago, all about an exercise called The Imaginary Vacation. Interestingly, I found it in a folder called "Unusable." I have no idea why I deemed it as such at the time, but I certainly don't think it's unusable now! www.idontneedana…

1
Season 7 is Wrapped! 3:40

1y ago3:40

3:40

But we still have a lot going on. Check out out website: www.idontneedanactingclass.com for all the latest events. Happy Holidays to all of you and we can't wait to see you soon.

1
Lynn Harris: Championing Diversity and Inclusivity in Comedy 30:19

1y ago30:19

30:19

Lynn Harris is a trailblazer in the comedy world, passionately addressing gender disparity through her transformative initiatives and perspectives. As the founder of Gold Comedy, Harris has created a nurturing platform that empowers women and underrepresented groups to pursue comedy careers, challenging the traditional male-dominated narrative. She…

1
Avoid Boring Yourself to Death 25:32

1y ago25:32

25:32

In this episode, Milton discusses the importance of understanding specific relationships to text and sequence of thoughts. The discussion highlights a common actor's problem of moving too quickly to performance without fully understanding the text's underlying thoughts and relationships. The episode concludes with practical examples of how to break…

1
What Does That Mean 9:40

1y ago9:40

9:40

This episode delves into the importance of conveying big ideas in acting. Milton emphasizes the need for actors to grasp the magnitude of concepts in great plays, avoiding monotonous delivery that reduces dialogue to a mere "grocery list." He advises performers to explore ideas deeply by asking "What does this mean?" and to get specific with exampl…

1
A Tear in the Curtain 12:45

1y ago12:45

12:45

You have to give yourself permission to fail. If you’re too afraid of being bad, you’ll block your creative energy. Like Venessa Redgrave, indulge yourself in all the worst, most cliche choices first. Get them out of your system, and once they are, then go back and really get to work. But most of that work is done at home. Between rehearsals. It’s …

1
Zhive Media and Mara McCann: A Dynamic Duo in the Film Industry 27:20

1y ago27:20

27:20

Mara McCann, the visionary founder of Zhive Media, is at the forefront of shaping the future of the entertainment industry by bridging the gap between film financiers and creative talents. Through Zhive Media, she has established a vibrant membership community and a distribution incubator, empowering writers, directors, and actor/producers to seaml…

1
Everything Can Be Magical 17:04

1y ago17:04

17:04

Or we should say: everything must be magical. To YOU. This week’s episode is a lesson in connecting. We hear a student, Grace, go from “reporting” to “experiencing.” A big part of “getting it” is understanding the purpose of talking out. Once you understand what it’s for, then it becomes easier to make a good choice and “go there.” And when that ha…

1
Your Attitude Towards Your Partner 14:02

1y ago14:02

14:02

WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe⁠ Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Also, check out our website: ⁠www.idontneedanactingclass.com⁠

1
Healing through Comedy: Aidan Park's Story 45:00

1y ago45:00

45:00

Aidan Park, the dynamic founder and CEO of the Yay Foundation, harnesses his talents as an award-winning stand-up comedian and bestselling author to pioneer emotional healing and inner child work. Through his book, "The Art of Being Yay" (The OMG NSFW Memoir and Guide to Authentic Joy), Aidan underscores the significance of joy and authenticity, dr…

1
The Acting Lie Detector 13:30

1+ y ago13:30

13:30

Talking out or improvising text helps us connect to what we’re talking out, sometimes by way of letting us know we are lying. In that sense, talking out is like a lie detector. It’s a way of self-assessing our own work. For example, if we’re bored, that means we’re not bringing ourselves to life, which means we haven’t earned it. Will don’t believe…

1
Milton à Marseille 0:51

1+ y ago0:51

0:51

Milton will be teaching a week-long acting workshop at Clap Class in Marseille! The class will be held in English. Must have experience in film, television or theater, and be fluent in English. Monday, November 18th to Friday November 22, 2024; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To register: go to clapclass.fr

1
Being Active Always 13:03

1+ y ago13:03

13:03

Two topics are covered in this episode: our tendency to be disconnected from what you’re talking about, and our tendency to be disconnected from what’s going on with you in the scene. We shy away from being truly connected because it means vulnerability, it means “going there.” Even if you’re talking about something simple or you’re in a moment tha…

1
From Anchor to Actress: Morgan Deer's Journey to Success 28:10

1+ y ago28:10

28:10

Morgan Deer, now based in Los Angeles, shares a unique and inspiring perspective on her acting journey, rooted in her transition from a career as a news anchor in Humboldt County. Her dedication to the craft is palpable, as she immersed herself in various acting workshops, studios, and improvisation classes, all while living with epilepsy—a conditi…

1
I Have (Another Round of) Notes 17:59

1+ y ago17:59

17:59

Milton gives another round of notes to Chris who is doing a monologue from All My Sons.

1
Vanessa Haney: Horror Stories Author 32:15

1+ y ago32:15

32:15

Vanessa Haney (pen name: Van Haney) grew up in the new age circus known as the entertainment industry. Van was first published in an anthology of poems in 1997. In the early 2000's she was showcased in young filmmaker competitions for her screenplays, and in 2018 while getting her Master's in Education, while also working as VP of Communications at…

1
I Have Notes: All My Sons 9:57

1+ y ago9:57

9:57

This week, Milton coaches Chris on a monologue from All My Sons. This episode is both audio and video. You can watch the video version on Spotify. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe⁠ Have a question for Milton? Send us a voice note below or email us at: ⁠questi…

1
Stephanie Bell - Award Winning Producer 45:24

1+ y ago45:24

45:24

STEPHANIE BELL, PGA A member of the Producers Guild of America, Stephanie is an Emmy nominated & multi-award-winning producer and line producer with over 25 years experience in film, TV & digital content. Her films (both features and shorts) have screened in over 75 film festivals around the world, garnering more than 50 awards, including 14 for "B…

1
Looking for A Revelation 9:37

1+ y ago9:37

9:37

This week’s episode calls to mind the Steve Martin quote: “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” You want to make choices that are so inventive that they have no choice but to hire you. WANT MORE? Become a subscriber on Spotify for bonus content! ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/actingclass/subscribe⁠ Have a question for Milton? Send us a voic…

1
Robot Drama 26:15

1+ y ago26:15

26:15

In this longer-than-usual episode, Milton coaches the class through Jed’s audition for a TV series in which an out-of-control robot is stealing children. You’ll hear how Milton talks out the entire scene several times. This includes his dialogue, the dialogue of the others in the scene and his response to the others in the scene, as if telling some…

1
Achieve acting success anywhere with a strategy from award-winning actor Chrissy Hogue Bartels 34:42

1+ y ago34:42

34:42

Achieve acting success anywhere with a strategy from award-winning actress Chrissy Hogue Bartels! Chrissy Hogue Bartels shares her journey as an actor, challenges of being "derailed" from acting and her strategy to be successful as an actor no matter where you live! Chrissy is a multi-award winning actor with a recent Best Supporting Actress Award …

1
Wandering with The Rainmaker 20:12

1+ y ago20:12

20:12

In this episode, Milton begins talking through The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash. It’s an example of how we can begin working on a play by ourselves. There is no right way. We can take our initial impressions (whatever hits us first) and wander around with them in a non-performative way. We do this, in large part, to discover what world we’re in, an…

1
Arron Lloyd: Actor & Elite Neuroencoding Specialist! 27:19

1+ y ago27:19

27:19

Arron Lloyd: Actor & Elite Neuroencoding Specialist! How Arron went from growing up in the inner city to being in a commercial for the NFL and an elite neuroencoding specialist sharing stages with Les Brown and Joseph McClendon III!! Arron Lloyd was born in the inner city in a single mother household, Arron has an appreciation for what it takes to …