Episodes

  • Historias Hispanas en Español - Bianca Marroquín, Luis Salgado y Mas (REWIND)

    Historias Hispanas en Español - Bianca Marroquín, Luis Salgado y Mas (REWIND)
    Oct 15 2025
    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 Cecy Trevino (part 1 and part 2) En este episodio no habrán entrevistas, sólo historias hispanas vividas y contadas por los propios protagonistas. Sitio Web - whyillnevermakeit.com --- — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Hispanic Stories in English - Matt Zambrano and Dan Domingues (REWIND)

    Hispanic Stories in English - Matt Zambrano and Dan Domingues (REWIND)
    Oct 14 2025
    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 episode on Only Make Believe, a nonprofit that brings interactive theater into children’s hospitals and cafe facilities. They both share insights about the work they do as well as very personal feelings about their own ethnicity and heritage. In this episode as well as the Spanish one, there are no back and forth questions from me. In fact, I’ve done very little editing to these recordings, just cleaning up sound quality as much as possible and structuring these episodes together. But in general, I’m simply stepping back to let previous guests tell their own story, and say what THEY want to say. --- To get early access to full conversations, please become a ⁠⁠subscriber⁠⁠⁠ . And to support the ongoing efforts of this podcast you can also⁠ ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠ as well. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Audition Stories 2025 with Lynn Nottage, Aubie Merrylees, Elizabeth Hess, Simon Tam, and More!

    Audition Stories 2025 with Lynn Nottage, Aubie Merrylees, Elizabeth Hess, Simon Tam, and More!
    Sep 26 2025
    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 risks to the kind of mishaps you can’t help but retell, these guests pull back the curtain on what it’s really like to step into an audition and leave it all on the line. And to close things out, I share my own personal story—one that’s been twenty years in the making and is now leading to my Broadway debut in Beetlejuice. Lynn Nottage Aubie Merrylees Elizabeth Hess Sònia Victoria Werner Akiko Aizawa Simon Tam Corrie Legge Jocelyn Jones Moshe Lobel Patrick Oliver Jones Auditions are where careers begin, where resilience is tested, and where surprises can change everything. This episode celebrates all of that and more. --- To get more audition stories, please ⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠ . And to support the ongoing efforts of this podcast you can also⁠ ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠ as well. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • FINAL FIVE: Jennifer Apple, Actress and Founder of Empowered Artists Collective

    FINAL FIVE: Jennifer Apple, Actress and Founder of Empowered Artists Collective
    Sep 19 2025
    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 conversation that goes beyond the stage and into the heart of her journey. — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Jennifer Apple Turns Setbacks Into Artistic Growth and Community

    Jennifer Apple Turns Setbacks Into Artistic Growth and Community
    Sep 12 2025
    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 supporting women and non-binary artists. Her story is a reminder that recovery can fuel both personal growth and collective change. — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • FINAL FIVE: Patricia McGregor, Artistic Director of New York Theater Workshop

    FINAL FIVE: Patricia McGregor, Artistic Director of New York Theater Workshop
    Sep 5 2025
    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 formative experiences, guided by inspiring collaborators, forged her understanding of the artform’s potential to both shock and transform. Patricia’s story is one of connection: she speaks passionately about balancing mentorship and peer relationships, and learning to trust her instincts along the way. For her, success is about honoring the baton passed down from mentors and preparing the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in theater. Even as she leads and innovates, Patricia stays grounded in her desire to create room for others—both onstage and behind the scenes. Her vision looks forward: she advocates for systemic industry changes like accessible healthcare, artist housing, and collective problem-solving, believing that supporting artists’ basic needs and building trust is key to nourishing a thriving artistic ecosystem. Perhaps most importantly, she continues to work on giving time and space for bold ideas to flourish, maintaining that joy and resilience are crucial for both personal and communal growth. Patricia McGregor’s journey is a testament to intentional leadership and the enduring power of artistic collaboration. Her commitment reminds us that when we support one another and hold space for transformation, we open doors for generations to come. — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠⁠subscribe⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠donate⁠⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 mins
  • Patricia McGregor on Making Bold, Tough Choices and Shaping the Future of Theater

    Patricia McGregor on Making Bold, Tough Choices and Shaping the Future of Theater
    Aug 29 2025
    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 artist. Now leading one of the city’s most influential theaters, Patricia reflects on what it takes to balance creativity with leadership, the importance of nurturing new voices, and the lessons she’s carried from her early challenges to her current role. Her story is a reminder that the hardest crossroads can often lead to the most meaningful paths forward. — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 mins
  • Sònia Victoria Werner Is Reshaping the Arts By Making Space For Women

    Sònia Victoria Werner Is Reshaping the Arts By Making Space For Women
    Aug 22 2025
    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 game, but that’s just one part of her ever-expanding career. In our conversation, Sònia takes me back to the scrappy, no-budget film that first sparked the idea for Lighthouse Ladies and how that small project grew into an award-winning company with a team of eighteen. She talks about the challenges of standing out in an industry that so often relies on name recognition, the sting of rejection and ghosting, and the ways she continues to create space for women and underrepresented voices. And as a special bonus, she shares one of her audition stories—something usually reserved just for subscribers. — Why I’ll Never Make It is an independent production of WINMI Media and Patrick Oliver Jones. To support the ongoing efforts of this podcast please ⁠subscribe⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠donate⁠⁠. Thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr