Why I‘ll Never Make It

Why I‘ll Never Make It

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.

Episodes

A Look Back at John McGinty and His Persistence as a Deaf Actor on the Broadway Stage

February 6, 2026 • 59 mins
As Why I’ll Never Make It approaches its tenth season, this special retrospective looks back at ten conversations that helped shape the podcast and transformed a simple interview into a meaningful message for us all. This episode features John McGinty, a deaf actor who lost his hearing at a young age and initially headed toward a career in finance, but theater kept calling him back. In this conversation, he shares the realities of...
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What Does “Making It” Even Mean? — A Look Back at Ten Conversations

February 2, 2026 • 4 mins
As Why I’ll Never Make It approaches its tenth season, this special retrospective looks back at ten conversations that helped shape this podcast in meaningful and profound ways. Since 2017, this has been a place to talk honestly about a career built on uncertainty, rejection, hope, and persistence. And over time, it’s become something far more personal than I ever expected—a place where success is never the most interesting part of...
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Kate Baldwin Looks For Creative Purpose Beyond Just Performing (REWIND)

January 9, 2026 • 51 mins
This past fall 2025 I got to see two of my favorite leading ladies on stage. The first was Christine Sherrill, who was making her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia. She and I had first worked together in the out-of-town tryout for First Wives Club back in 2015 that ran for about a month and a half in Chicago. But due to various factors that show never ended up coming to New York. Nonetheless, Christine was so great in that show. And she ...
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Justin Collette Brings Beetlejuice to Life at the Palace Theatre

December 31, 2025 • 57 mins
Step inside the dressing room with Beetlejuice's Justin Collette for a behind-the-scenes conversation that’s equal parts bone broth and backstage banter. From the rock riffs of School of Rock to the undead hilarity of Beetlejuice, Justin shares his wild ride from Canadian improv star and punk band frontman to taking center stage on Broadway. We discuss his his technique of “farting with vocal cords” as well as punk bands and improv...
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Jen Rudolph Helps Actors Focus on the Business of Acting

December 17, 2025 • 77 mins
Being an actor requires a constant balancing act between showing up creatively and understanding how the industry actually functions. And Jen Rudolph has spent years operating at the intersection of casting, coaching, and strategy. She shows actors how to become clearer, more intentional collaborators in the room and more viable professionals outside of it. Together we talk about her years as a casting director and the creation of...
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David Bushman Proves There’s No Expiration Date on a Theater Career

December 8, 2025 • 89 mins
Chicago is now celebrating 29 years on Broadway, with multiple national and international companies as well. And for more than two decades David Bushman has been a part of various Chicago productions around the world. But what makes David’s story remarkable isn’t just his longevity with the show—it’s the path that got him there. We talk about his early days in community theater, his unexpected move from a 17-year ballet career int...
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FINAL FIVE: Trisha Paytas, YouTuber and Broadway Performer in Beetlejuice

November 28, 2025 • 15 mins
The previous episode with Trisha Paytas covered so much ground, from her recent Broadway debut in Beetlejuice to her rise as a YouTube star. But one of the best parts of every conversation is when we get to discuss the Final Five Questions.  It’s where we hear about personal lessons, hopes for the industry, and those moments that truly define an artist’s career. --- Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Med...
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Trisha Paytas on Media, Missteps, and Making Her Broadway Debut

November 21, 2025 • 40 mins
Trisha Paytas joins the podcast to talk about her unexpected and much-talked-about Broadway debut in Beetlejuice. She shares what drew her to the show, how the opportunity came about, and what it’s been like stepping into a completely new kind of spotlight. We also get into her family background and the early days of her online career, how she first gained attention, and the twists and turns of twenty years on YouTube. Trisha spea...
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Apologizing for My Own "Why I’ll Never Make It" Moment...

November 14, 2025 • 4 mins
In this brief update, I open up about the last several weeks—Broadway opening week, getting sick, and a recent injury—and how all of it pulled me away from releasing new episodes. I share what’s been going on, why the silence stretched longer than I wanted, and how grateful I am for the patience and support of this community as I get things back on track. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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FINAL FIVE: Abbie Goldberg & Mason McDowell, Musical Theater Writers

November 7, 2025 • 17 mins
In the previous episode, Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell dove into their new musical 504 as well as the obstacles they’ve faced trying to produce their own works, and it was such an insightful conversation. But there’s still so much more to explore! That’s why I’m thrilled to have Abbie and Mason back here with me for the Final Five Questions—where we get a little more personal by uncovering lessons learned, hopes for the industr...
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Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell Turn a Movement Into a Musical

October 31, 2025 • 52 mins
Writers Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell are the creative team behind 504: The Musical — a new show inspired by the real-life 1977 sit-in that ignited the disability rights movement. What started as a 25-day protest in San Francisco became a landmark moment in history, paving the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act. Abbie and Mason share what drew them to musicalize this event and how they balance storytelling and activism...
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Historias Hispanas en Español - Bianca Marroquín, Luis Salgado y Mas (REWIND)

October 15, 2025 • 39 mins
Bienvenidos y gracias por acompañarnos en esta edición especial de Why I’ll Never Make It! En esta segunda parte de mi serie sobre historias hispanas, escucharán a mis invitados anteriores compartir sus propias historias y experiencias en español. Roberto Araujo y Final Five Bianca Marroquín y Final Five Luis Salgado Jaime Lozano y Final Five Alina Alcántara y Final Five Tadeo Martinez y Final Five C...
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Hispanic Stories in English - Matt Zambrano and Dan Domingues (REWIND)

October 14, 2025 • 37 mins
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, I wanted to share a episode from 2020. This is part one in a series of former Hispanic guests of the podcast coming back to share their stories in their own words. The second part - la segunda parte - will be en español.  Matt Zambrano was the very first guest on the podcast. He and I did Man of La Mancha together in Orlando. Dan Domingues is a NY actor who took part in my Spotlight epi...
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Audition Stories 2025 with Lynn Nottage, Aubie Merrylees, Elizabeth Hess, Simon Tam, and More!

September 26, 2025 • 84 mins
It’s been several seasons since the last time Audition Stories took center stage, but they’re finally back — and this time with a brand-new collection of unforgettable moments from the audition room. These are the kinds of stories that stick with you long after the casting table has cleared: the ones that make you laugh, cringe, and nod in recognition at just how unpredictable this business can be. From quick recoveries and bold r...
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FINAL FIVE: Jennifer Apple, Actress and Founder of Empowered Artists Collective

September 19, 2025 • 24 mins
Jennifer Apple returns for this bonus episode to tackle the Final Five Questions. From her very first professional show of Spring Awakening to the lessons she’s still learning today, Jennifer opens up about how she defines success, the advice she’d give her younger self, and the changes she hopes to see in the industry’s future. A future she’s shaping through here Empowered Artists Collective. It’s a candid and thoughtful conversat...
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Jennifer Apple Turns Setbacks Into Artistic Growth and Community

September 12, 2025 • 60 mins
A serious back injury could have ended her career before it really began. Instead, it became the turning point that led to new opportunities—earning an MFA at ACT in San Francisco, training in Italy, and finding fresh ways to grow as a performer. In this episode, we talk about resilience, artistic reinvention, and how those setbacks eventually inspired the creation of the Empowered Artist Collective, a community and podcast suppor...
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FINAL FIVE: Patricia McGregor, Artistic Director of New York Theater Workshop

September 5, 2025 • 18 mins
Patricia McGregor’s first steps into the world of professional theater were marked by a sense of awe and a drive to make every moment matter. From performing under Orlando’s bright lights as a child to taking on demanding roles and responsibilities backstage in New York, Patricia learned early how powerful a single theatrical moment could be—sometimes just a gasp in the audience, or a split-second splash of stage blood. These forma...
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Patricia McGregor on Making Bold, Tough Choices and Shaping the Future of Theater

August 29, 2025 • 52 mins
Patricia McGregor’s journey to becoming artistic director of New York Theatre Workshop has been anything but linear. Growing up in the Virgin Islands, she and her sister created performances wherever they could, laying the foundation for a lifelong devotion to storytelling. Later, in New York, Patricia faced tough choices, financial struggles, and unexpected opportunities that tested her resolve but also expanded her vision as an a...
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FINAL FIVE: Sònia Victoria Werner, Co-Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Ladies

August 22, 2025 • 15 mins
In the previous episode, Sònia Victoria Werner and I dove into her background as an artist and the creation of Lighthouse Ladies, and while that was such an insightful conversation, there’s still so much more to explore! That’s why I’m thrilled to have Sonia back here with me for the Final Five Questions. These are where we get a little more personal—uncovering lessons learned, hopes for the industry, and a deeper look at what driv...
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Sònia Victoria Werner Is Reshaping the Arts By Making Space For Women

August 22, 2025 • 59 mins
From childhood improv classes to building a women-led production company, Sònia Victoria Werner has carved out an artistic path that’s as bold as it is inspiring. An actor, writer, producer, director, makeup artist, content creator, and entrepreneur, she thrives on telling authentic stories that cross cultures and push boundaries. You’ll soon hear her voice in a highly anticipated Netflix animated reboot and an upcoming AAA video g...
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