The 98%

The 98%

Whether you're in the entertainment industry or not, this is a podcast that will humour, shock, validate and inform. You think you knew what it's like to be an actor? Think again… The 98% explores what life is really like for the majority of actors and performers who, rather than trying to find an outfit for the Oscar's, are trying to find a reader for a self tape after working a bar shift. It comes as a surprise to most that only 2% of actors earn their main source of income from acting work. This podcast represents, and gives a voice to, the other 98%. What started as a comedy podcast in 2018, with co-hosts Alexa and Katie laughing and lamenting about the REAL #actorslife, has morphed into a relatable and supportive space through the lens of honesty and realism. And now, a platform and CIC run by Alexa. By lifting the curtain on things that need changing in the industry, exposing hidden truths, and chatting to brilliant industry professional guests from all corners of the biz, The 98% is a podcast, and platform, that works to humanise those in the industry and redefine what success means in a business that, before now, only shined a spotlight on the small minority. @the98percentpod

Episodes

December 28, 2025 85 mins

Happy Holidays everyone! To keep you company between Christmas and New Year, Alexa is joined by an audience favourite (who also happens to be her Dad) performance psychologist Dr Steve Bull, to answer listener questions about confidence, pressure, and navigate the realities of the acting industry.

In this episode Alexa and Steve explore self-tape pressure and perfectionism, managing nerves, developing sustainable processes, confide...

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In this open and restorative episode, Alexa is joined by award-winning screen director Matt and acclaimed acting teacher and coach Steph Upsall for a conversation designed to support, re-ground and re-energise actors navigating an increasingly challenging industry.

Together, they explore what actors should be focussing on beyond industry noise, career pressure and...

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October 23, 2025 94 mins

The 98% is back for another new episode already! Sometimes you are contacted about a prospective guest where the subject matter is too perfect for the platform to not jump on the mic. This is one of those guests. Today Alexa is joined by acclaimed Irish actor Patrick O'Kane, who you may recognise from iconic stage roles or appearances in TV series such as Doctor Who and Game of Thrones. From tearing up his university applicat...

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So, an AI actress is here to take all of our jobs and change the face of the acting industry forever…

Or is it?

In this deep-dive episode Alexa is joined by actor and screenwriter Rebecca Osias - who also isn't one to shy away from difficult industry conversations. Together they discuss the concerns and questions around "Tilly Norwood", why there is no space for generative AI in creative spaces, the responses from industry organisa...

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Essential listening for any actor, parent of child actor, or anyone else working with a talent agent...

This episode is a recording of a recent live webinar where Alexa was joined by experienced agent Liz Pratt of Nelson Management. Liz has been teaching herself legislation and brushing up on her knowledge regarding actors rights, and she's here to share that knowledge with you. This informative discussion looks into the often-over...

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The most complex episode of The 98% yet…an armchair investigation into 'Lucy Harrison Casting' - a talent agency accused of withheld pay, suspicious business practices, and questionable identities. With an informed eye, sharpened by her involvement in exposing the Bodhi Talent scandal in 2024, Alexa presents a deep-dive into concerns regarding this agency, based on first-hand accounts and publicly available records.

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A special moment that feels full circle, where everything is the same but different at the same time. For the first time in 6 years (!!) Alexa and Katie are in the same room recording an episode of The 98%. After years of remote recording and living in different countries, they're back in Katie's living room, trying to wrangle a cat, and talking honestly about #actorslife that is now more like #creativelife. Only this time, gone is...

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June 10, 2024 77 mins

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...

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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 s...

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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 fo...

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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 ...

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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'...

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"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, a...

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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 m...

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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 i...

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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 ...

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February 26, 2024 53 mins

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 th...

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February 5, 2024 97 mins

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...

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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, tip...

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"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 ...

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