A BFA doesn't make you a working actor.

What’s the difference between foundational training and ongoing training as a professional actor?

In this episode, we unpack the distinction between degree-based programs (BFA/MFA) and the kind of training actors pursue once they’re working in the industry.

Neither of us came up through conservatory programs — but we’re both deeply committed to ongoing training. Benjamin talks about the classes that shaped him at HB Studio in New York. Patrick reflects on the private studio in Hollywood that transformed his craft. In both cases, the work demanded imagination, truth, and personal responsibility — not just trying to impress a teacher.

We explore:

• The strengths of foundational programs
• The pitfalls of thinking a degree means you’re “done”
• Why some actors struggle to transition from student to professional
• How class can become a shield from the marketplace
• And why community and continued growth matter at every level

Training doesn’t end when school does. And the actors who last are the ones who keep sharpening the tool.

If you’re navigating your own path — whether in school, out of school, or years into your career — this conversation will help you think about training in a more strategic way.

Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood are back with Season 2 of The Working Actor NYC Podcast — and they’re starting 2026 with an honest conversation about goals, momentum, and what’s actually changing in the acting industry.

In this episode, they talk about:

• Why traditional goal-setting doesn’t always serve actors
• The difference between chasing moments and building momentum
• Industry shifts they’re already noticing in 2026
• How working actors can orient themselves without burning out or clinging to outdated ideas

This isn’t about resolutions or hype. It’s about clarity, adaptability, and staying awake to the work as it evolves.

Whether you’re resetting after a tough year or looking ahead with intention, this episode is about starting the season grounded, curious, and connected.

This is our Christmas week episode — and a look back at a year that changed everything.

In this conversation, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood reflect on 2025: the growth, the surprises, and the evolution of The Working Actor NYC.

What started as an audio-only podcast recorded at a dining table became:

• a video podcast

• a full YouTube channel

• daily short-form content

• weekly long-form episodes

• and, unexpectedly, a coaching practice serving actors around the world

We talk about:

– the origin story of The Working Actor NYC

– our most popular and favorite podcast episodes

– what content resonated most this year

– how coaching grew out of the work organically

– and the community that made all of it possible

Mostly, this episode is about gratitude. For the listeners. For the viewers. And for each other.

Thank you for being here. Truly.

🎄

Every working actor knows the feeling: watching a truly top-level performer and thinking… “How do they do that every day?”

In this episode, Patrick Richwood and Benjamin Howes break down the real habits, routines, and rituals we’ve seen in the pros — the ones that keep them consistent, resilient, and ready, even when life throws curveballs.

We talk about things like:

🎭 Would you still show up to the theatre every day if an injury kept you offstage? Some performers do — to stay connected to the show, keep their body in therapy, listen from the wings, and remain a part of the company. That level of commitment is a habit, not an accident.

🔥 Mindset that keeps you from spiraling

🥗 Diet, hydration, and fuel that actually support performing

💪 Warm-ups and physical routines Broadway actors swear by

😂 And yes — plenty of the usual chaos and jokes you expect when Patrick and Benjamin get together

These habits aren’t about perfection. They’re about the tiny choices that keep you grounded, prepared, and professional — whether you’re on Broadway, on tour, or building momentum in your hometown.

It’s the holidays, and that means one thing: people everywhere are trying to figure out what on earth to buy the actor in their life.

So in this episode of The Working Actor NYC, Patrick and I put together the ultimate gift guide — featuring 20 actor gifts that range from genuinely helpful… to deeply questionable… to what fever dream did this Etsy creator wake up from?

We’ve got everything from:

🎭 A website promising “How To Get A Restaurant Job With Zero Experience” 🕯️ A “Smells Like World’s Best Actor” candle

🎖️ A Tony Award replica (tell me you don’t want one…)

🛋️ Your own face on street furniture (yes, really)

🔪 A Sweeney Todd straight razor (please don’t give this to method actors)

🧣 A Shakespeare throw blanket for the drama queen in your life

🧑‍🎨 And… The Working Actor NYC Merch Table, obviously. (Truly the perfect gift. I don’t make the rules.)

Some gifts are sweet. Some are ridiculous. Some are surprisingly awesome. And one of them is literally a bus stop bench with your headshot on it.

But honestly? The best gift for your actor might just be what we talk about at the end: love, support, and a soft place to land when the industry gets loud.

Happy holidays from The Working Actor NYC — now go get your theatre kid something magical.

From Broadway to birthday clowns — we’re talking every acting job out there, and why they all count.

In this episode, we take a wild ride through every corner of the acting world — from Broadway and Off-Broadway stages to national tours, regional houses, and community theatre. We break down film and TV work, commercials, and the surprising ways acting shows up in the corporate world — training videos, industrials, even tech demos and gaming voiceovers.

And of course, we couldn’t resist diving into the weird acting jobs: children’s party clown, escape-room characters, historical re-enactors, Santa stand-ins… plus a few of our own stories you’ll have to hear to believe.

Whether you’re a new actor figuring out your lane or a seasoned pro remembering your roots, this episode proves one thing: there are so many ways to make a life in this industry.

Spot the monster in your cast before opening night.

Every actor has faced them — the narcissists, the laugh snatchers, the egomaniacs who turn rehearsals into nightmares. In this Halloween-inspired episode, Benjamin Howes sits down with actor Patrick Richwood to cast these toxic colleagues as monsters of the stage and set.

Whether you’ve dealt with a Narcissactor, an Ego-Saurus Rex, or just a desperate Laugh Snatcher, this episode will help you keep your sanity, protect your craft, and remember: their monster is not your monster.

🎭 Hosted by Benjamin Howes & Patrick Richwood

The Working Actor NYC is your go-to resource for honest, real-world insight into building a career in acting. Every other Monday, catch our co-hosted Podcast episodes — packed with candid stories and laughs — and on alternating Mondays, dig into our Practical series: tactical solo episodes full of actionable tips and tools to help you work smarter, stay inspired, and build the acting career you actually want.

Visit us at https://theworkingactornyc.com/

🎭 Hit that subscribe button to stay up to date with insider intel, actor tools, and behind-the-scenes truths from the heart of the industry.

You got this. Keep going!

There's a fine line between blowing off steam - and burning the whole cast.

Every actor vents — it’s practically part of the job description. But when does a little healthy release turn into full-on toxic dumping that drags down the energy in the room? In this episode, Benjamin Howes and Patrick Richwood dig into the fine line between blowing off steam and becoming the person everyone avoids at rehearsal. Inspired by a listener’s real-life question about a castmate who wouldn’t stop badmouthing their own show, we talk about why we vent, how it bonds us, and what happens when it starts to poison the atmosphere instead of clearing it.

With humor, empathy, and a lot of first-hand experience, Benjamin and Patrick share tools that help you stay on the healthy side of that line — from time-limiting your rants to signaling when you just need a minute to unload. They also explore how your emotional energy shapes your reputation in this small industry, and how to keep your venting productive, professional, and human. Whether you’re mid-rehearsal, mid-tour, or mid-meltdown, this episode will help you turn frustration into fuel — and remind you that venting clears the air, but dumping just clouds it.