Episodes

  • Victor Frausto: Hustle, Heart, and Finding Your Voice in Comedy
    Jan 21 2026

    In this episode of Kill the Small Talk, host Alex Caron continues the conversation with actor and comedian Victor Frausto, diving deeper into the realities of stand-up comedy, storytelling, and staying creatively sharp when the industry offers no guarantees.

    Victor breaks down how stand-up became both a creative outlet and a survival tool after graduating from Theater of Arts—something that keeps him confident, present, and connected to audiences even when acting work slows down. He shares lessons passed down from mentors about talking to the crowd like friends, leaning into awkwardness, and building material through honest, story-driven comedy.

    The conversation explores Victor’s approach to joke writing, self-deprecating humor, crowd work, and why warming up an audience matters more than shock value. Victor reflects on the adrenaline of his first stand-up performance, the importance of refining material over time, and how posting stand-up clips has helped open doors with casting directors.

    Alex and Victor also dig into Victor’s experience with the Independent Shakespeare Company—from auditioning during his TOA days to working behind the scenes, house managing shows, and eventually landing an on-stage role performing Shakespeare in Griffith Park. It’s a candid look at how relationships, persistence, and professionalism quietly build real opportunities.

    The episode wraps with a fast-paced “This or That” segment, advice for new comedians, thoughts on creative discipline, upcoming shows, and Victor’s plans for short films and a comedy sketch series.

    This episode is about staying ready, trusting your voice, and building momentum one honest step at a time.

    Follow Victor on social media: @Victor_m_frausto

    👉 Don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe 🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday 📲 Follow the show: @KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    🎙️ Recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios 🌐 https://www.commandcreativestudios.com/

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #VictorFrausto #ComedyPodcast #ActorLife #ComedianLife #StandUpComedy #LatinoComedian #LAComedy #CreativeJourney #HustleCulture #EntertainmentPodcast #UnfilteredConversations #NoMoreSmallTalk #CommandCreativeStudios

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Juan Gil on Writing, Directing & Building Stories That Matter
    Jan 15 2026

    In this episode of Kill the Small Talk, host Alex Caron sits down with writer and director Juan Gil for an in-depth conversation about storytelling, filmmaking, and the creative journey.

    Juan shares his path from growing up in Texas to moving to Los Angeles, trusting his instincts, and committing fully to a career in film. He opens up about his early love of movies, writing as a form of self-expression, and how life experience — including loss, growth, and consistency — has shaped his voice as a storyteller.

    The conversation explores Juan’s creative process as a writer-director, the importance of subtext and action over dialogue, and how living a full life informs better writing. Juan also discusses his award-winning projects, including his horror short Dead End and the crime thriller Bruiser, a bold vertical-format project that challenges what short-form storytelling can be.

    Alex and Juan dive into collaboration on set, working with actors and crew, adapting creative ideas in real time, and why preparation — from pre-visualization to trust in collaborators — is essential for strong filmmaking. This episode is a thoughtful look at persistence, creative evolution, and what it takes to keep making meaningful work in today’s industry.

    Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with creatives from across the entertainment industry.

    Watch & Follow

    Watch Kill the Small Talk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    Follow the show: Instagram: @KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    Follow Juan Gil: Instagram: @juangilproductions

    Hosted by Alex Caron

    Recorded & Produced by Command Creative Studios

    New episodes drop every Wednesday

    #KillTheSmallTalk#KillTheSmallTalkPodcast#AlexCaron#JuanGil#WriterDirector#FilmmakerPodcast#IndependentFilm#Screenwriting#DirectingFilm#CreativeProcess#Storytelling#FilmIndustry#ShortFilm#HorrorFilmmaking#CrimeThriller#VerticalFilm#CreativeJourney#CommandCreativeStudios

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    58 mins
  • ( Re-Release )From Figure Skates to Comedy Stages ( Guest: Geneviève Dubé Carpenter’s )
    Jan 8 2026

    In this Re-Release on Kill the Small Talk, Alex Caron sits down with Canadian comedian and actress Geneviève Dubé Carpenter, whose journey to the stage is anything but ordinary.

    From competitive figure skating to fitness modeling, and now starring as the female lead in a brand-new TV comedy, Geneviève has reinvented herself time and again. She opens up about imposter syndrome on set, the discipline she carried over from sports, and how a single open mic snowballed into a full-blown comedy career.

    Funny, sharp, and refreshingly honest, Geneviève shares what it’s like balancing life between Canada and Los Angeles, why comedy feels like “finding your people,” and how she’s embracing her next chapter as an actor.

    New episodes every Wednesday — because small talk is dead.

    @genevievedubec on instagram and TikTok

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #GenevieveDubeCarpenter #ComedianLife #FromSkatingToStage #ComedyPodcast #CanadianComedian #ActingJourney #TVComedy #BehindTheLaughs #UnfilteredConversations #EntertainmentLife #NoMoreSmallTalk #WomenInComedy #PodcastCommunity #CommandCreativeStudios #CommandRecordingStudios

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Film Director & Author Jorge Xolalpa on Independent Filmmaking, Artistry, and Building Creative Power | Kill The Small Talk
    Dec 31 2025

    In this episode of Kill The Small Talk, host Alex Caron sits down with film director, author, and creative entrepreneur Jorge Xolalpa for an honest and inspiring conversation about independent filmmaking, discipline, collaboration, and building a sustainable career in the arts.

    Jorge shares his journey immigrating to the United States as a child, the challenges his family faced, and how those experiences shaped his creative voice. The conversation explores his path into filmmaking, producing, and writing, including the mindset shift that helped him understand that he is the business. Alex and Jorge dive into the realities of the entertainment industry, navigating the aftermath of COVID and industry strikes, the role of AI in filmmaking, and why independent creators should embrace opportunity rather than fear change.

    They also discuss the importance of relationship-building in Hollywood, self-marketing as an artist, consistency, discipline, and why collaboration matters more than chasing quick wins. Jorge opens up about his new book “NI DE AQUÍ NI DE ALLÁ”, the lessons behind it, and how authenticity and energy can open unexpected doors in creative careers.

    This episode is a must-listen for filmmakers, actors, artists, and anyone looking to build a meaningful, long-term career in entertainment.

    Remember to Like, Follow, and Subscribe!

    New episodes drop every Wednesday.

    Follow the show: @KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    Recorded & Produced by Command Creative Studios

    Watch the full episode on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@KilltheSmall-TalkPodcast

    Follow Jorge Xolalpa: Instagram / TikTok / X: @officialxolalpa Tagged Partner: @teamnyta

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaron #JorgeXolalpa #IndependentFilmmaking #FilmDirector #AuthorInterview #CreativeEntrepreneur #IndieFilm #HollywoodStories #EntertainmentIndustry #ArtistMindset #ImmigrantStories #FilmmakingPodcast #CreativeDiscipline #FilmCommunity #BehindTheScenes #PodcastOnYouTube #CommandCreativeStudios #UnfilteredConversations

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • "Re-Release" From Comedy Clubs to Fire Engines ( Guest: Jesse Alvarado )
    Dec 24 2025

    In this Re-Release, Alex Caron sits down with his friend Jesse Alvarado — a former actor and stand-up comic who’s now a dad and firefighter — for a no-filter talk about chasing dreams and paying bills. They laugh through stories of bombing at open mics, hauling pianos on set, getting roasted by casting directors, and being the EMT on wild TV shoots. Jesse shares what it’s really like hustling in Hollywood, raising a Roblox-obsessed kid, and finding purpose in firefighting. No small talk. Just honest chaos, laughs, and real-life perspective.

    Kill the Small Talk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killthesmalltalkpodcast/

    Command Creative Studios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmdcreativestudios/

    Podcast Production Company: Command Creative Studios

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #JesseAlvarado #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #ActorLife #FirefighterLife #EMTLife #HollywoodStories #BehindTheScenes #DadLife #BlueCollarLife #EntertainmentPodcast #UnfilteredConversations #NoMoreSmallTalk

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    59 mins
  • "Re-Release" Building a Music Legacy. 20 Years of Epic Live ( Guest: David Devis )
    Dec 17 2025

    On this Re-Release, Alex sits down with his longtime friend and local legend David Devis, owner and founder of Epic Live — formerly the Epic Lounge — the heart of Downey’s live music scene for nearly two decades.

    David shares how his venue grew from a humble internet café into one of Southern California’s most eclectic performance spaces, hosting everything from punk shows and art nights to church services and (almost) dwarf wrestling.

    He opens up about surviving recessions, pandemics, and city politics while keeping live music alive. Alex and David reminisce about the early days of Make Music Downey, sneaking into The Blasters’ shows, and the unforgettable chaos of mixing cumbia, goth, and karaoke under one roof.

    It’s a story about passion, community, and refusing to give up on local art — no matter what the city of Downey thinks.

    No small talk. Just a love letter to live music.

    https://theepicloungedowney.com/

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #DavidDevis #EpicLive #DowneyMusicScene #LiveMusic #MusicPodcast #EntrepreneurLife #LocalVenues #BehindTheScenes #MakeMusicDowney #TheBlasters #SoCalMusic #20YearsOfEpic #NoMoreSmallTalk #UnfilteredConversations #MusicCommunity

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    55 mins
  • Art, Expression, and Rave Culture ( Guest: Jazzmine Caron )
    Dec 10 2025

    In this episode of Kill The Small Talk, host Alex Caron sits down with his sister, artist and social worker Jazzmine Caron, for a deep dive into creativity, family influence, and the evolution of artistic identity. Jazz shares her early beginnings in art, how doodling transitioned into acrylic painting, and how the COVID pandemic became a defining moment for her creative growth.

    Alex and Jazz explore how mid-century pop culture, vibrant counterculture themes, and emotional expression shape her artistic voice. They discuss her transition into tattoo artistry, the empowerment of women through bold imagery, and the importance of interpreting art in personal and meaningful ways.

    The episode also dives into rave culture—its community, the do’s and don'ts, and the essentials for having a great experience. Jazz talks about her upcoming art shows, her passion for building creative communities, and the role family and personal relationships play in shaping an artist’s path.

    This conversation highlights the sibling bond between Alex and Jazz, reflecting shared experiences, creative roots, and the drive to make meaningful work.

    Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KilltheSmall-TalkPodcast

    Remember to Like, Follow, and Subscribe!

    New episodes drop every Wednesday.

    Follow the show: @KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    Recorded & Produced by Command Creative Studios.

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #JasmineCaron #ArtistLife #TattooArtist #CreativeJourney #MidCenturyArt #PopCultureArt #CountercultureArt #WomenInArt #AcrylicPainting #RaveCulture #ArtCommunity #SiblingConversations #CreativeUpbringing #CommandCreativeStudios #UnfilteredConversations #NewEpisode #PodcastLife #CommandCreativeStudios

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • From Church Pews to Comedy Stages ( Guest: Jaylin White )
    Dec 3 2025

    This week on Kill The Small Talk, Alex brings back longtime friend and powerhouse comedian Jaylin White — a man who went from church pews in Pasadena to the legendary stages of Los Angeles… with a few wild detours in between.

    Jaylin opens up about his chaotic comedy origin story: taking a stand-up workshop, hosting his first comedy show ever in Alex’s dad’s backyard in Downey, and accidentally getting thrown into producing shows before he even knew what a light cue was. From building community at The Ice House to learning the painful limit of “way too many comics on one lineup,” Jaylin shares the behind-the-scenes grind most audiences never see.

    The two break down: Producing shows vs. surviving them. Why comics deserve at least chicken wings as payment. “Positive heckling” — fans who think they’re part of the set. The devastating first bomb you never forget. Hosting to hustling — finding your place in the scene, Creating a new comedy homebase in Pasadena, The ego problem in LA comedy

    It’s raw. It’s hilarious. It’s therapy with punchlines. So grab a drink, ditch the small talk, and hang out with two comics who are still figuring it all out.

    Listen to Jaylin’s debut comedy album “Casket Sharp” — available everywhere you stream or buy audio.

    Follow Jaylin: @JaylinWhiteLA

    Follow the show: @KillTheSmallTalkPodcast

    The podcast is recorded and produced by Command Creative Studios

    #KillTheSmallTalk #AlexCaronPodcast #JaylinWhite #CasketSharp #ComedyDynamics #ComedyPodcast #StandUpComedy #ComedianLife #ProducingComedyShows #IceHouseComedy #PasadenaComedian #DowneyComedy #BehindTheLaughs #PositiveHeckling #BombingStories #NoMoreSmallTalk #UnfilteredConversations #ComedyJourney #SupportLocalComedy #PodcastInterview #CommandCreativeStudios #CommandRecordingStudios

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    1 hr