In this episode Lauren talks directly to you -- a bit about breathing, vocal placement and the first steps toward accent management. Please email us with questions after you listen and don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list on www.firstbreathspeech.com so you can get your free gift on Dec 24th!

In this week’s ep, a great conversation with actor, teacher, Artistic Director, Rob Nagle about how a shy kid got bitten by the bohemian actor lifestyle and what 3 essentials actors must master in order to be successful artists. Bitterness “takes a powder”!

Rob Nagle is a proud member of the Antaeus Theatre Company and the Troubadour Theater Company.

Recent credits include the world premieres of Meghan Brown’s The Kill-or-Dies (with Electric Footlights and Moving Arts), Melissa Ross’ Of Good Stock and Samuel D. Hunter’s Rest (both at South Coast Repertory), as well as James Still’s Appoggiatura at Denver Center Theatre Company. Also, Itamar Moses’ Completeness at Vs. Theatre Company and James Joyce’s The Dead at Open Fist Theatre Company.

Other theaters include Portland Center Stage, Mark Taper Forum, Old Globe Theatre, Centerstage, San Jose Repertory and Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Film: Boost, Fishing Naked, New Year’s Eve, Life As We Know It, The Soloist, Fun with Dick and Jane, Cellular and American Wedding.

Television: recurring roles on Eli Stone, Lincoln Heights and Dawson’s Creek, as well as guest appearances on Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Criminal Minds, Castle, Major Crimes, NCIS, Mad Men, Cold Case, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Without a Trace, Everwood, The Guardian and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Training: Northwestern University. Wife: Heather Allyn. Pug: Roosevelt.

In this episode, I’m chatting with casting director, Dan Shaner about what he looks for in auditions and a bit about how the network TV system works. He’s got some great advice about how make acting your daily job - whether you’ve got a gig or not.

Dan Shaner has been a Casting Director in film, television and new media for over 25 years, and has cast pilots and/ or episodes for every major studio and network.  He also teaches Business of Acting courses at USC, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Art of Acting Studios, and coaches actors privately in Career Counseling and Audition Technique and Preparation. He was born and raised and lives in Los Angeles. And also makes a kick-ass pumpkin cheesecake....Just sayin...

He can be reached at dan@danshaner.com, www.danshaner.com, and of course on Facebook.