All Episodes

September 23, 2025 64 mins
What’s the secret to building longevity in casting while protecting your creative vision? In the final episode of Season 3, Jennifer sits down with Emmy-nominated independent casting director, Bess Fifer, to dig into the realities, responsibilities, and rewards of the work. Bess shares candid insights about navigating the freelance hustle, redefining success on your own terms, and why even with hit shows like Severance on her résumé, stability in this industry isn’t guaranteed. Together, they discuss practical tools for actors, from how to approach self-tapes with a strong perspective, to the importance of framing and sound, to why asking thoughtful questions can actually signal professionalism rather than overstepping. This episode closes out Season 3 with a reminder that building a creative life is about finding your version of success, showing up with generosity, and trusting that good work will be recognized. About Bess: Bess Fifer is a highly acclaimed casting director whose work on Apple+’s SEVERANCE has earned her two Emmy nominations and solidified her reputation as a leader in the industry. Known for her dedication to authentic, diverse, and inclusive casting, Bess has also been recognized for her groundbreaking contributions to Netflix’s IT’S BRUNO, for which she won the 2020 Artios Award for Excellence in Casting – Short Form Series. Operating from New York, Bess has significantly shaped careers across both film and television, bringing a fresh and inclusive perspective to independent features like LINGUA FRANCA and THE LIGHT OF THE MOON, as well as major TV series including ESCAPE AT DANNEMORA on Showtime. Her commitment to representation and inclusivity has made her a sought-after collaborator in the industry. Bess Fifer's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@castingbybess Bess's Website: ⁠fifercasting.com Download the FREE Monologue Selection Toolkit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net/freebie⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to coach with Jennifer? Schedule a session here! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://appt.link/jenniferapple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about Jennifer Apple: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.jenniferapple.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Apple’s IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JenniferApple_ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Monologue Sourcing Promo Link!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://empoweredartistcollective.com/podcastpromo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.com/podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpoweredArtistCollective ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @EmpowerArtistCollective⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ EAC Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/empoweredartistcollective/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up for our newsletter!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://mailchi.mp/8e72e8dcb662/stay-in-touch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check Out Our Merch!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.empoweredartistcollective.threadless.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Any thoughts you'd like to share? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredArtistCollective@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Cardiac Cowboys

Cardiac Cowboys

The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.