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Why I‘ll Never Make It

Why I‘ll Never Make It

Written by: Patrick Oliver Jones
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About this listen

 The actor’s journey is one of occasional highs and frequent lows. It is a path riddled with self-doubt and frustration as we question our career choices, wondering if we’ll ever really ”make it.” But it is those few moments of glory on stage or screen that can sustain us through all the setbacks and challenges. On this award-winning podcast, New York actor Patrick Oliver Jones invites fellow creatives to share three stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at the creative life rarely seen in the glitz and glam of this industry. These conversations remind us we’re not alone in this often bumpy and winding journey of the performing arts.©2026, WINMI Media Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Music
Episodes
  • A Look Back at J. Harrison Ghee & Caroline Bowman Before the Breakthrough Moments

    A Look Back at J. Harrison Ghee & Caroline Bowman Before the Breakthrough Moments
    Apr 20 2026
    Identity can feel like a moving target in the performing arts—something shaped not only by the roles actors play on stage, but by the expectations placed on them offstage as well. In this episode, recorded in 2019 at the Muny in St. Louis, J. Harrison Ghee and Caroline Bowman sit down to talk about navigating that balance in a career built on visibility. From starring in productions like Kinky Boots, Evita, and Wicked, both performers share what it means to take on iconic roles while also staying grounded in a sense of self within the world of Broadway, musical theater, and the larger performing arts industry. Looking back now, this conversation captures a moment before major milestones in each career—before Caroline Bowman took on the role of Elsa in the Frozen national tour, and before J. Harrison Ghee won a Tony Award for Some Like It Hot. What comes through is a candid and thoughtful discussion about identity, vulnerability, criticism, and the pressure to fit into categories, both as actors and as people. It’s an honest look at the work it takes to show up fully, take risks, and build a life in theater without losing sight of who you are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • A Look Back at Ann Harada and Finding Longevity as an Actor

    A Look Back at Ann Harada and Finding Longevity as an Actor
    Apr 13 2026
    No matter what it is that initially motivates someone to be in the arts, it could be the craft or the people or the fame, there is one thing I think we all strive for: longevity. Besides finding consistent work, which is certainly no small task, the foundation of a long career is figuring out what it takes to personally stay motivated, energized, and still be yourself over the years. Some days it can feel like you’ve got a handle on it, while other days it’s a scramble to keep priorities straight and maintain direction. I sat down with Ann Harada in 2024 to talk about Broadway career that has spanned 4 decades, from the original production of M. Butterfly and the most recent revival of Into the Woods to her current Broadway show, Schmigadoon. But Ann would be the first to tell you that finding happiness and satisfaction in the acting business didn’t come quickly or easily for her. In our conversation, she talked about some lean years before Avenue Q made her a Broadway star as well as how she continued working hard and pushing herself both on and offstage. Follow Ann: Schmigadoon / Facebook / IMDb / IBDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • A Look Back at Adrienne Walker Navigating Rejection as a Broadway Actor

    A Look Back at Adrienne Walker Navigating Rejection as a Broadway Actor
    Apr 3 2026
    Rejection is a constant in this business, even when you’ve had success. Some days you take it in stride, other days it can really sink in deeper than you expect. I’ve had plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was on the right path, wondering if I should leave New York or perhaps find another career altogether. At times it has been a real challenge to balance hope with reality. And there was no clearer example of that, for all of us, than during the Covid shutdowns. That’s when I met actress and singer Adrienne Walker and asked her to come on the podcast. She's appeared on Broadway in The Lion King and Kiss Me, Kate as well as the Dirty Dancing national tour. It’s hard to believe that it was five years ago—in the midst of our industry being turned upside down—that she and I sat down and talked about finding purpose as actors and the determination to keep going. That’s something that remains an issue even after the pandemic. Whether professional projects or personal goals, whatever comes her way, Adrienne handles the ups and downs with perseverance and humor. She shows us that resilience isn’t some grand gesture, it’s the steady, everyday choices that make the difference. -- Watch Now You See Me, Now You Don't from the New Works Virtual Festival in 2020. Follow Adrienne: Website / Instagram / IMDB / 32 Bar Cut Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 33 mins
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