The 98%

It's here! After 40 episodes of Series 5, the season draws to a close. Join the OG's, Alexa and Katie, as they check in on recent goings on, chat about when actual life leaves no room for #actorslife, look back at change of attitudes since the podcast began, discuss the lack of working class creatives in the industry, share a whole lot of love for this community, and more! 

“We’ve got to look after ourselves first otherwise we have nothing to give.”

This episode is dedicated to you, wonderful listeners.

Things mentioned in the episode...

Every guest on The 98% who has chosen to move on from the performing industry didn't do it because they fell out of love with the art of acting, it was because they didn't want to continue with the industry itself. So for those of us who choose to stay in it, how can we make it an enjoyable place to be? In this episode Alexa shares her thoughts and musings over recent months having a "front row seat to the sh*tshow" and why it is so important to redefine what success means to you in this business. 

Grab your headphones and settle in for one of the best episodes of The 98% of ALL TIME!

There's been a lot of coverage of dodgy agents recently, so let's hear from some wonderful, trustworthy, supportive ones. In this episode Alexa is joined by Mildred Yuan PMA, Liz Pratt PMA and JBR PMA for an incredibly honest, transparent and wisdom filled chat. You'll hear about how to find the right representation for you, what to look out for when looking for representation, the current state of the industry, a real look into the life of agenting, and so...

There's been a lot of worrying discussion around agents recently, so before this series ends The 98% wanted to finish on an uplifting note - platforming conversations around representation that instill confidence and trust in actors. This is part one of a two-part representation special!

Due to recent exposé's unconvering malpractice from agents, many have found themselves now without one. While this can feel very daunting, it's a disservice of our industry to make actors feel like they are doomed without an agent. Self representation can be an empowering journey and give actors some control over their c...

Just when you thought this business couldn't get any tougher, Deadline exposes another scandal that has rocked the industry and sent shockwaves through the creatvies involved in the audition process. Agents sending fake self tape requests to actors?! If this is something you'd never even contemplated before, you wouldn't be the only one. But sadly these are not just isolated incidents... 

Including comments from The CDA and Equity's General Secretary, testimonies from actors who have been affected, and more, join me on a deep dive into the recently exposed scandal of agents sending fake self tape requests t...

"Archie Purnell" JAMIE FISHER (also using the name 'Richard'), rogue talent agent, is back with a new name, new studio name ('Wigan TV & Film Acting School'), but the same old tricks.

To get ahead of accusations he is spreading rumours and false claims.

Knowing all I know, I cannot sit back and let more people be scammed.

"Drawing from documented sources and firsthand accounts of those impacted, I am making this public statement, as a vital disclosure for anyone who may come into contact with, now or in the future, Jamie Fisher aka...

This episode is 1 hour 4 mins long. If your podcast app is only playing the first 45 mins, there is a technical issue that is currently being looked at! Please check back here for the full episode coming asap!

Last year The 98% was contacted by Jake Kanter, a journalist for Deadline, after the podcast featured stories of those who experienced abuse and misconduct at UK drama schools. Thus began a relationship that has resulted in multiple exsposé articles unearthing misconduct in the industry after people who had reports to make had nowhere left to go, apart from The 98%, to s...

his episode is 1 hour 4 mins long. If your podcast app is only playing the first 45 mins, there is a technical issue that is currently being looked at! Please check back here for the full episode coming asap!

Last year The 98% was contacted by Jake Kanter, a journalist for Deadline, after the podcast featured stories of those who experienced abuse and misconduct at UK drama schools. Thus began a relationship that has resulted in multiple exsposé articles unearthing misconduct in the industry after people who had reports to make had nowhere left to go, apart from The 98%, to s...

Mental health has always been a throughline for episodes of The 98% and so the podcast is proud to host Adam Bambrough in this episode, founder and CEO of Wellbeing in the Arts.

After leaving the acting profession due to struggles with his own mental wellbeing, Adam planned to write a book revealing the scope of actors and creatives with mental health struggles. He soon realized that there was no stand alone mental health support in the entertainment industry, so no wonder mental health struggles were affecting so many creatives. And so..he made one himself. Wellbeing in...

After a lifetime dedicated to the "I can do nothing but act" frame of mind, everything changed aged 39 for guest Lee Mengo. Thinking about his future and his prospects, Lee realized that acting wasn’t giving him what he needed in life. Financially, mentally, spiritually, egotistically...but coming to terms with that was a long hard road. When he finally made the decision to step away, start his journey of sobriety, and found a job that he loved teaching young actors…his 20 years of hard work came back around and he ended up booking bucket list acting jobs!

As...

After a group of actors reported their concerns about their former agent regarding fake self tapes, withheld pay, skimming money, lying about cancer, and more, to no avail...they came to Alexa at The 98% for advice on next steps. With seemingly nowhere else to turn, Alexa passed the information on to Deadline journalist Jake Kanter, encouraging him to help expose these dodgy dealings...For the sake of these actors, the others on the agencies book, and the inudstry as a whole. Thankfully, he did. 

And thus began #BodhiGate. Hundreds of emails, texts, screenshots, messages, sent and recieved...p...

Today's guest, Sally Abbott, has worked in the arts for 35 years. Starting in community arts and working her way up to writing for some of British televisions biggest shows, Sally has so much wisdom and insight to share. In this episode you'll hear why Sally finally feels like she’s who she’s meant to be at aged 55, how she has found confidence and navigated a diagnosis for ADHD, and what her journey in the industry has looked like. Actors listening will hear why writers can’t get you a job (even if a character is literally based on you...

Series 5 keeps on rolling along and for episode 30 it's the two OG's, Alexa and Katie, sitting down and chatting about the current #actorslife goings on with the usual brtual honesty, evaluating the relationship actors have with the industry, co-dependency, the future of the podcast, some exciting new offerings, and some actor woes and wins!
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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.
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Help support The 98%, every penny goes into the finances of podcasting and helps us stay on the air...

"This year I will book my first TV credit"
"I will sign with an agent"
"I will star in a film"
Sound familiar? These are all outcome goals, and very common amongst actors who are so determined to achieve that certain thing they think will make them more valid, especially in an industry that tends to only focus on the outcomes. But outcome foccussed goals can be detrimental, especially as actors when the outcome doesn't necessarily correlate to the process. What are process goals and why are they more important to focus on than outcome goals...

The Spotify wrapped for The 98% showed that 70% of listeners discovered the podcast in 2023! So, incase you missed these festive parodies in previous seasons, here are a couple of the favourite #actorslife covers from Christmases gone by. Jingle Bells parody + An Actors Night Before Christmas.

Happy Holidays everyone!

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Follow us on twitter/instagram at @the98percentpod for relatable #actorslife content, tips and advice for actors, and news about our new series.

If you've benefitted from and enjoyed the podcast and want to give a little back, we have a ko-fi where every...

Happy Christmas 98 percenters! You made it through another year. This time with continued pandemic fallout, and industry strikes. If your 2023 was a brilliant one, Alexa and Katie are cheering you on from the bleachers! But if you had troubles this year, whether professional or personal, The 98% is here to hold you in comfort, support and solidarity. In this episode Alexa and Katie speak about those sometimes highs and often lows that came in 2023, with the support of Hester Evans; a wellbeing facilitator for film, tv & theatre and person-centred counsellor.

Follow Hester at @hesterevansf
Follow us @the98...

The 98% inturrupts its regular scheduling to bring you a bonus episode as an early Christmas treat!

Listen to Alexa and Katie as guests on In The Room, a podcast inspired by The 98%! Hosts Matthew and Christian invited Alexa and Katie on to give a behind the scenes look at their journys in the industry, the background to how and why The 98% was born, what they've learned from doing The 98% and the guests the podcast hosts, advice for actors, thoughts on the abuse and mistreatment actors recieve, and much more!

You can listen to In The...

It's the 100th episode of The 98%! And what could be more on brand than a deep dive on the one thing that actors in the 98% have in common...having to have a non-acting job. Guest Robyn Holdaway returns to the podcast after publishing a brilliant article on The 98%'s blog entitled "How To Pick The Right Non Acting Job For You". They break down every part of the process of having to find a paythebills job with the main idea being finding a job that doesn't rot your soul...because, as Robyn so brilliantly puts it, "you will be...

While people are saying the SAG-AFTRA vote is over, technically it's just suspended. The deal offered by the AMPTP and agreed upon by the actors union still needs to be voted on by members of SAG-AFTRA...and some are voting no, including previous podcast guest and strike captain Kylie Sparks, who featured in our special strike episode in July. 

Hear Kylie break down some of the deal points that bring concern for the "journeyman actor" (like those in the 98%!), and why they believe the union has been strong-armed into accepting a deal instead of pushing for rights t...

It's the 98th episode of The 98%! And rules are being broken!! For the first time, The 98% is hosting someone from the other side...a 2 percenter!! Forget the usual format of interviewing familiar faces though, this is a relatable, validating discussion that might be exactly what you need in 98% life right now in the difficult landscape we find ourselves in.

Many will remember today's guest Tony Gardner as the whacky and wonderful Brian from My Parents Are Aliens and despite going on to have a brilliant long standing career in the arts, Tony is a listener of The 98...

In this two-part Halloween Special, Alexa and Katie enter the world of true crime, sharing cases with each other that also relate to being an actor, and life in the entertainment industry. Where better to uncover these sordid tales than Tinseltown itself: Hollywood..Where, behind the glitz and glam, lies a dark underworld of crime, prejudice and exploitation.

In this episode, Alexa tells Katie about the investigation of the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley. Bonny, desperate to find self worth, moved to Hollywood to chase the one thing she thought would give her life meaning - a...

Doing something a little different today, for the first ever Halloween special of The 98%!

In this two-parter, Alexa and Katie enter the world of true crime, sharing cases that also relate to being an actor. Where better to uncover these sordid tales than Tinseltown itself: Hollywood..Where, behind the glitz and glam, lies a dark underworld of crime, prejudice and exploitation.

In this episode, Katie tells Alexa about serial killer Harvey Glatman who was responsible for the senseless murders of Judy Dull, Shirley Ann Bridgeford, and Ruth Macardo. 

Content note: murder, sexual assualt, r...

Joining The 98% today is Erica Bream CSA; Casting Director, audition coach, career consultant, self-tape guru and champion of actors. As well as casting across TV and film, Erica provides accessible, helpful information online and has been working hard for many years to de-mystify the casting process for actors. 

Erica and Alexa chat about auditioning, self taping, the changes happening in the industry, the importance of bridging the gap between casting and actors, and much more!

For more information on Erica's work and to access her consulting and coaching services visit ericasbream.com

Be su...

Something a bit different for The 98% on this episode - with a practical aspect! 

Guest Dana Middleton is an Alignment and Tapping Coach who helps creative peiple raise their vibrations and unlock their most actualized lives. She teaches her Affirmation Tapping Formula to create laser focus while releasing common blocks and patterns of sabotage that hold creatives back. 

What is tapping? Well; disciplines that rely on a body-mind connections have evidence showing that they can relieve stress, depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping falls into this category. Tapping draws on th...

Something a bit different for The 98% today - with a practical aspect!

Guest Dana Middleton is an Alignment and Tapping Coach who helps creative people raise their vibrations and unlock their most actualized lives. She teaches her Affirmation Tapping Formula to create laser focus while releasing common blocks and patterns of sabotage that hold creatives back. 

What is tapping you ask? Well; disciplines that rely on a body-mind connection has evidence showing that they can relieve stress, depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. And emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping falls into this category. Tapping draws o...

Three jobbing actors turn on the mic. One of them loves dealing with tax..the other two looooathe it. What happens next? Tune into find out! Alexa, Katie and guest Pete Mooney talk all things "tax for beginners" and really break it down to empower actors and other creatives to feel in control and in-the-know about being taxed as a freelancer. Tax returns, expenses, claims, budgeting, the importance of checking your bank statements, and more - all explored to the back drop of personal stories from Alexa, Katie and Pete about their tax woes and lessons learned.

...

In 2010 a new theatre producer hit the twitter scene. But this wasn't like any other producer, this was a persona and he was talking the talk. After swiftly gaining popularity for his tongue-in-cheek relatable showbiz musings, it was time for 'West End Producer' to walk the walk. Which he did..donning a mask, sticking a pillow down his trousers and adopting a voice that is now so synonymous with the character he portrayed. For 14 years the real identity of 'WEP' has been a secret...until now.

After writing two books, being a columnist for The Stage, appearing...

A few months ago The Cut published an article 3 years in the making. Journalist Sara Jin Li spoke to 26 ex-students of acting studio Lonsdale Smith & Company, ran by "dogmatic leader slash guru" Michèle Lonsdale-Smith; who has been running acting classes in studios acros North America, and now Europe, for 20+ years. Actors described, in detail, cult-like abuse, mistreatment and bullying exhibited under the guise of "doing the work". Since the release of the article, huge comparisons have been made online between what these actors have described, and the workings of dangerous cults..from survivors of cults themselves.

I...

For so long conservatoire drama schools have been the only way to get invaluable training to set you up for the industry...but not anymore. IAmPro is just one of the alternative training offerings out there for actors and creatives who want to work in the entertainment industry. IAmPro trains talent digitally and gets them discovered, collaborating and networking, and offers personalised end-to-end learning which prepares people for the future creative industry. Their mission is to democratise the historically archaic systems which have driven multi-layers of inequality within our industry.

Today's guest is Ben Brooks, co founder...

“It’s all corporate greed”

July 2023 marks an historic time for the entertainment industry. For the first time in decades the actor union in the United States (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild Of America (WGA) have joined forces to strike after the expiration of their contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the AMPTP's refusal to engage in negotiations for fair pay, safe working conditions, protection against AI and other basic rights for performers, writers and creatives.

Whether you are a member of SAG-AFTRA or not, this strike affects and represents us all...

While The 98% mostly discusses everything about the real #actorslife aside from the actual art of acting…this episode is a slight gear change as Alexa talks to renowned acting teacher Terry Knickerbocker. In this down to earth, honest chat you can hear discussion on the importance of laying the foundations for working on your craft, why your goals should be more than just “be a working actor”, what to look out for when finding a good coach, the importance of self care and finding a nurturing teacher, how to handle the business and stay resilient, self taping advice…and the reas...

An episode years in the making and one The 98% is SO excited to share. A first-of-its-kind chat where an Assistant Director for TV and film shares all the insight an actor could possibly need for working on set. This is like a crash course in everything they don't teach you at drama school..but what you should know!

In this insightful, informative episode 2nd A.D Erin Morris-Large shares the ins and outs of #setlife, the do’s and don’t’s for actors working in TV/film, a breakdown of a call sheet, and what Whoopi Goldbe...

*Content Note/Trigger Warning: This episode contains conversation around mental illness and eating disorders. Please take care while listening.*

Grab a cuppa and settle in for a feature film length episode! We feel so privileged to platform stories on The 98% that are not usually heard in #actorslife circles, and today’s episode is a really special one of that nature. Alexa and guest Em Holdaway could have chatted for hours thanks to Em's incredible honesty and transparency about her journey, which makes for inspiring listening. Listen to hear how Em went from child actor and student at th...

Get ready for an energised, uplifting and empowering episode with today's guest Brian Patacca! 

Brian helps actors get what they want without all the struggle. Known as “The Representation Whisperer" for helping over 500 actors find representation through his popular online courses and entertaining podcast, Brian teaches actors how to market themselves authentically and use gratitude to open doors.

Brian believes whole heartedly in actors, performers and creatives following their purpose, instead of playing by a tired set of industry rules. In focussing on what they have to offer instead of what they feel they need to...

From wanting to be an actor but being told she was “ruining it for everyone else” with her struggle to learn lines to building a retreat for actors to make a safe learning space, today’s guest Steph Upsall has one mission: to revolutionize how we train ourselves as actors and making sure we are being our best selves as a human first and an actor second. Steph’s company “Both Feet” offers actor training retreats that are the only training of its kind in the world. Designed to help build humans, not just characters, Steph uses exercises based on Meisner’s te...

As tradition, the 10th episode of the season sees just Alexa and Katie chinwagging about the real #actorslife. In this 90 min episode you'll hear discussions around reevaluating what "success" looks like as an actor, where Katie has been, the importance of boundries and self validation, actor-podcaster frustrations in an industry that only celebrates the 2%, a worrying new Hollywood trend, lessons learned, what's coming up in future episodes, and so much more! Grab a cuppa and strap in for a no-nonesense, brutally honest look at being an actor in 2023.

* TW: from 57 mins - 1hr 5mins there is a...

If you've ever felt exhausted by how much acting means to you, or overwhelmed by the desperation of wanting to be a working actor when it seems so far out of reach, then this is an episode you're sure to relate to. Today's guest is actor, empowerment coach and breathwork facilitator Jeannie Scott who, after years of regularly facing actor burnout and living in a state of desperation and anxiety, decided to retrain as a life coach and now uses her knowledge and experience to help those in extroverted spaces take hold of their power, protect their energy, and...

We've all seen child actors in tv, film and theatre...but there are whole processes, jobs and a lot of work that goes into making sure kids working professionally in the entertainment industry are kept safe and are handled accordingly.

Our guest for this episode is Arlene De Cruz who works to safeguard children all the way from casting through to wrap. She runs professional training for chaperones and works hard to make sure productions work to the expected standard when employing actors who are underage. Listen to this interesting episode to hear why it's so important...

Unless you have experience of one yourself, many people don't know much about co-operative agencies, we sure didn't! The first co-op agency started in the UK in 1974 and since then many thrive in the industry. An actors' co-operative agency operates similarly to a conventional agency but is managed by the actors themselves and each member dedicates a certain amount of time to working as an agent for all other members of the co-op. 

In this episode our guest Owyn Stephens, chair and member of co-op agency Rogues and Vagabonds, tells all...What is a co-op? What are th...

The first casting director episode of Series 5!

Amy Jackson is a freelance casting director with vast prior experience as a casting assistant and associate. In this episode you'll hear Amy's journey from actor to award-nominated casting director, as well as advice for actors in auditions/self tapes/showcases, the importance of the CDG, how to reach out to casting, why we should be calling for casting to be recognised across all awards platforms, and much more!

You can follow Amy on twitter at @AmyJacksoncast
Read more about her, her work and book a 1-2...