Podcasts by Ditch Your Backup Plan

49. While Waiting for Your Shot - Noah Lindquist from 2021-03-23T22:44:08

Noah Lindquist is a member of AEA, a singer and actor, and the creator of the viral videos, "Wear a Mask," and "I Just Can't Wait for Vaccines."

Show Notes at Listen

48. Go Back into the Fire - Kimberly Doreen Burns from 2021-03-16T17:11:16

Kimberly is a New York City based award-winning singer, actor, performer, and educator who recently originated the role of Maya in the New York City premiere of Sideways (based on the Academy Aw...

47. We're Not in Competition with Each Other - Logan Rose Nelms from 2021-03-09T21:21:19

Logan is an actor in NYC with a passion for social justice and human equity. Over the past almost ten years, Logan has crafted a pretty nifty little life for herself, filled with some very cool ...

46. Casting College - Alison Franck from 2021-03-02T23:16:39

Alison Franck (CSA) is a casting professional with over 20 years of Broadway, Off-Broadway, Touring, Regional Theatre, TV, Film, Commercial and Voice Over Casting...

45. See Yourself Being Successful - Damion Taylor from 2021-02-23T22:44:17

Damion Taylor spent the last 15 years applying data and technology to entertainment. Both analytical and creative, he bring...

43. Understand Where Your Limits Lie- Gianmarco Soresi from 2021-02-09T21:01:07

Gianmarco Soresi is a stand up comic, actor and writer but the first line of his obituary will probably say “guy from all those General Electric commercials.” Listen

43. Understand Where Your Limits Lie- Gianmarco Soresi from 2021-02-09T21:01:07

Gianmarco Soresi is a stand up comic, actor and writer but the first line of his obituary will probably say “guy from all those General Electric commercials.” Listen

42. Death of the Diva Decade - Sherita Carthon from 2021-02-02T13:25:49

Sherita Carthon is a Celebrity Brand Precision Expert who has helped more than 3k celebrities, artists, entrepreneurs and small business owners navigate their bra...

41. Making It: 2020 Guests Answer, "Have you made it?" from 2021-01-27T00:16:43

Guests from 2020 answer the question, “Have you made it?”

00:53 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

1:30 David Valentine - Puppet Builder at Jim Henson Co...

40. Risk: Guests of 2020 Share Their Biggest Risk from 2021-01-19T17:35:26

Guests from 2020 answer the question, “What was your biggest risk?”

1:07 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

1:40  Lauren Hirsh- Broadway child guardian Listen

39. Guests of 2020 Answer the Backup Plan Question from 2021-01-14T14:03:33

In the first episode of 2021, guests from 2020 answer the question, “Did you have a backup plan?”

2:00 Becca Kötte- Broadway actress and recording artist

2:22 David Vale...

38. Give It Away to Keep It - Dr. Alisa Hurwitz from 2020-12-07T13:16:41

Dr. Alisa Hurwitz is Dr. Drama! She gives away mental health advice for artists on her ...

37. Just Jen: Ditch Fear&Take Risks from 2020-11-30T14:41:52

Jen shares how artists register risk differently and how protocols in theatre lead to a fearless community that is accepting of risk and supportive to adjustments.

36. Your Journey is Perfect - Vincent J. Cardinal from 2020-11-23T15:41:42

Jen's longtime mentor, Vincent J. Cardinal is the Arthur and Martha Hearron endowed professor of musical theatre, chair of the department of musical theatre, and ...

35. Just Jen: Ditch Resistance&Adapt from 2020-11-16T14:27:52

Host, Jen Vellenga goes solo and talks about adaptation in the digital moment and how she's owning her digital space.

Show Notes at Listen

34. Go Confidently in Pursuit of Your Dreams - Laura Camien from 2020-11-09T15:09:13

Laura Camien is a Broadway producer, playwright and screenwriter, and, along with Susan Blackwell, Laura is Co-host of the popular creativity podcast, The Spark File. She was a long time VP of C...

33. Just Jen: Ditch Complacency&Show Up from 2020-11-02T08:00

Jen talks about the dangers of complacency for an artistic life and some strategies for overcoming embarrassment and resistance in order to show ...

32. Be Kind&Do Good Work - Jerry Jay Cranford from 2020-10-26T03:14:38

Jay has made his career as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, and educator. He has performed on Broadway (Les Miserables), intern...

31. Just Jen: Ditch Doubt&Believe from 2020-10-19T05:00

Jen shares some research on Imposter Syndrome and advises listeners to ditch doubt, identify a super fan, and believe in themselves. Show Notes at Listen

30. Speak Your Truth - Kiki Rivera from 2020-10-12T14:14:45

Kiki Rivera (she, they, we, wrasse) is an internationally produced, award-winning theatre artist, educator, and arts activist with her BA in Theatre and MFA in Pl...

29. Just Jen: Defining the Backup Plan from 2020-10-05T15:03:21

Jen talks about how to define the Backup Plan, the career pivot, the survival job, the side hustle, and the dream job. What does your mindset need to be to Listen

28. When Plan "A" Shifts - Bliss Griffin from 2020-09-28T05:48:29

Bliss Griffin's career is driven by a deep belief that the societal benefit of art is immeasurable. She believes that too often we value the art above the artist, trading their safety and well-b...

27. Create What Doesn't Exist- Chantal Bilodeau from 2020-08-10T05:53:51

Playwright Chantal Bilodeau is the founder and artistic director of the Arctic Cycle organization and close friend and collaborator of host, Jen Vellenga.<...

26. Celebrate Failure - Qui Nguyen from 2020-08-03T04:15:16

Qui Nguyen is a TV and film writer, playwright, and self-identified geek. His career has gone from co-founder and artistic director of the Obie award-winning Vamp...

25. Follow Your Passion - Michael McElroy from 2020-07-27T12:31:10

Tony and Grammy nominated Broadway performer, Michael McElroy is the founder of Broadway Inspirational Voices, for which he won a 2019 special Tony Award for Exce...

24. Be the Change - Maya Lynne Robinson from 2020-07-20T14:23:45

Film, TV, stage actress, and writer/producer, Maya Lynne Robinson plays Michelle on the sitcom The Unicorn on CBS. She spent 13 years working off and on in human resources before she made her li...

23. Hone Your Craft - Shaun J. Brown from 2020-07-13T10:00

Shaun J. Brown from the CBS TV show The Great Indoors shares his personal journey starting with training in musical theatre to his pivot to the screen. A writer a...

22. Avoid Burnout - Theresa Squire from 2020-07-06T12:58:24

Theresa Squire, Broadway costume designer never knew her job existed when she started her undergraduate degree in Business with a focus in Fashion Merchandising.  She eventually received her M.F...

21. Read Like a Storyteller - Nick Francone from 2020-06-29T16:00

Nick Francone on Wicked as his lucky start, answering the phone, and reading like a storyteller. Nick is a scenic designer for theatre and an art director for television and film. This ...

20. Practice, Practice, Practice - Travis Cloer from 2020-06-22T12:08:33

Travis Cloer from Jersey Boys on making "real" money, and taking initiative. He's a Broadway actor and the Longest Running Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys. This Las Vegas performe...

19. Trust Your Instincts - Josh Fiedler from 2020-06-20T21:49:52

Josh Fiedler on Avenue Q, letting go of fear, and avoiding complacency. This Producer for Broadway and Bucks County Playhouse shares how he found his way to producing early in his caree...

Bonus: DYBP Blackout - Just Jen from 2020-06-08T13:06:40

Amplifying the voices of BIPOC without silencing them and learning from mistakes made as an ally.  A Just Jen bonus episode after a week of pause and protests.

Show Notes at Listen

18. Focus on Growth - Joshua Henry from 2020-06-01T11:31:08

Joshua Henry on Hamilton and coming up alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, on patience, growth, and working your mind along with your craft.  This three-time Tony award nominee, musician and ...

17. Get Your Foot in the Door - Sara Andreas/Julie Fleischer from 2020-05-25T14:04:04

Sara Andreas and Julie Fleischer talk Will and Grace, The Big Bang Theory, Legally Blonde, and the Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary tour. They both fou...

16. Plant Seeds - Carrie Compere from 2020-05-18T18:34:53

Carrie Compere on SHREK, City on a Hill with Kevin Bacon, The Color Purple, and Shout, Sister, Shout! This Broadway and TV/Film actor and super-mom shares her...

15. Let Go of the Performer Identity - Lindsay Levine from 2020-05-11T13:16:40

Lindsay Levine, casting director on Cats choreography and giving up her character shoes. This former musical theatre actor, educator, and mom shares the ...

14. Know Who You Are - Anne Cofell Saunders from 2020-05-04T15:17:12

Anne Cofell Saunders on Star Trek: Discovery, Battlestar Galactica, The Boys and working as a television writer and executive producer while rai...

Bonus: Advice for Youth from College Creatives from 2020-04-29T19:27:42

College theatre students share how they are staying creative and productive during times of isolation and uncertainty. They share activities that elementary throu...

13. Show Up and Do the Work - Alanna Saunders from 2020-04-27T15:05:46

Alanna Saunders on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and losing herself in order to find herself.  She shares how she keeps a routine, shows up and gives her best, and the importance of...

12. Embrace Your Uniqueness - Jenna Rubaii from 2020-04-20T04:45:48

Jenna Rubaii on the Jesus Christ Superstar 50th anniversary tour, Groundhog Day, and American Idiot.  This Broadway actor shares the im...

11. Say Yes Until You Can't - Logan Jones from 2020-04-13T06:35:05

Logan Jones on About Face Theatre- Chicago, asking for what you want, and doing your best work. He shares how he went from being an unpaid apprentice to becoming a full-time theatre artist and g...

10. Find Your Why - Mariand Torres from 2020-04-06T04:04:32

Mariand Torres on playing Elphaba in Wicked and never saying, "Never!" This Broadway actress shares her incredible journey from starting out not knowing that musical theatre was a caree...

9. Love to Learn - Grace Douglas from 2020-03-30T05:00

Grace Douglas on unscripted (reality) TV and working in Los Angeles. She talks about self-comparison being the thief of joy and the importance of curiosity and bu...

8. Create Your Own Opportunities - Tim Murray from 2020-03-23T05:28:36

Tim Murray on stand-up comedy, Voldemort the Musical and moving from NYC to LA. Tim shares his journey from disappointment to forgiveness--starting over ...

7. Know Your Self Worth - Katie McClellan from 2020-03-16T23:57:49

Katie McClellan on voiceovers, J.J. Abrams, and working between NY and LA in TV/Film and Theatre. Katie shares how she survives and thrives as an actor without ru...

6. Get Specific - Ross Evans from 2020-03-09T04:11:56

Ross Evans on screenwriting, the transition from NYC's Broadway scene to the Hollywood writer's hustle, and how his degree in musical theatre led him to making his living as a screenwriter. Ross...

5. Open the Right Doors - Sarah Schreiber from 2020-03-02T11:00