Creative Risk
“CREATIVE RISK”, is a new podcast hosted by actors Joshua Morgan and Mike Labbadia of Artist’s Strategy where they explore all things art, entrepreneurialism and everything in between. The acting industry is more volatile and competitive than ever before, therefore the artist must evolve in order to take radical ownership over their creative businesses. Each episode, Mike and Joshua will get raw and unfiltered, giving hot takes and cutting edge strategies on how to build a sustainable career in the arts.
Episodes
105 episodes
Faith vs. Belief: Navigating the Creative Journey
this is an excerpt from a patreon exclusive episodeThe intricate balance between faith and belief in oneself - how do they interplay in one's creative journey? Mike and Joshua get personal, as always, and have a conversation that ...
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39:38
Raw + Rising: Matt Castle and Frank Galgano of Brainstorm Theatricals
The dynamic husband-and-husband duo behind Brainstorm Theatrics, Frank Galgano and Matt Castle, blend musical storytelling with innovative orchestration, working with legends like Kristin Chenoweth and Carole King. Learn more about the unique s...
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58:42
Insights from Theater Legend Molly Smith
Joshua sits down with Molly Smith, the former artistic director of Arena Stage, as she shares her journey of (not exaggerating) transforming the American theater landscape. Discover her insights on leadership, creativity, and the power of commu...
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1:31:36
We're Back
It’s been a MINUTE friends. Mike and Joshua are back after a three month break. They discuss why they went MIA, their work together on Streetcar Named Desire, their new gig at one of the top conservatories in the world and the future of the pod...
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45:37
Dreaming in Lo-Fi: Inside Strawberry Mansion
What if the most ambitious act in filmmaking isn't raising $20 million - but refusing to wait for permission to create? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with the visionary duo behind the acclaimed film Strawberry Mansion, Kent...
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1:33:42
Raw + Rising: Ross Shenker
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with multi-hyphenate powerhouse Ross Shenker to demolish every assumption about creative specialization. As an associate casting director, playwright, director, classically trained pianist...
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1:02:40
Intimacy Coordination: the Art and Challenge of Staging Consent
What if the most essential conversations about intimacy coordination aren't happening in rehearsal rooms - but in producer offices and casting sessions? In this episode, Joshua sits down with intimacy coordinator and movement expert Alexis Blac...
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1:49:55
Budgeting…But Actually
THIS IS A SEGMENET FROM A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODEWe all know money is the number one killer of artistic dreams. In this episode the boys confront the uncomfortable truth about why budgeting feels impossible when you're pursuing ...
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40:00
Raw + Rising: Michael Herwitz
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with Michael Herwitz, the visionary director behind Job by Max Wolf Friedlich - the unlikely theatrical phenomenon that journeyed from festival to off-Broadway to Broadway, defying ever...
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47:39
Training the Modern Broadway Voice with Vocal Technician and Specialist Mike Ruckles
What does it really take to build and sustain a voice for the modern Broadway stage? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with Mike Ruckles, one of New York City's most sought-after vocal technicians and singing voice specialists....
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1:27:26
Raw + Rising: Treston J. Henderson
What happens when pure joy meets unwavering work ethic in one of Broadway's most demanding jobs? In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with Treston J. Henderson, the magnetic performer whose rise from TikTok discovery to Broadway de...
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44:05
Digital Critic, Global Stage: MickeyJoTheatre
What does it truly mean to be a theater critic in the digital age? In this compelling episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with Mickey-Jo Boucher, the brilliant force behind MickeyJoTheatre, the world's largest YouTube channel dedicated t...
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1:35:37
Showing Up as a Digital Citizen: The Real Way to Grow an Online Community
What does it really mean to “show up” online as an artist in 2025? In this episode, Mike and Joshua get ruthlessly honest about the highs, lows, and existential weirdness of building creative community in the digital era. From the myth that soc...
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2:08:01
Raw + Rising: Ryan James Monroe
In this electrifying episode of Raw and Rising, Joshua dives deep with the powerhouse vocalist Ryan James Monroe, an artist who's redefining soulful performance. Ryan shares how his roots in gospel choir ignited a lifelong pursuit of raw, visce...
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54:35
Your Creative Career Isn’t Broken, Your Expectations Might Be
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODEWhat if your career isn't actually broken-what if your expectations are? Joshua and Mike dive deep into one of the most uncomfortable truths facing artists today: that most creative ...
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37:08
Broadway’s Living Archive: The Vision of Jennifer Ashley Tepper
In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with writer, producer, historian, and all-around powerhouse Jennifer Ashley Tepper for an expansive conversation about creative sustainability, self-made opportunity, and the legacy of...
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1:25:39
Theater and Tonys Guru Matt Koplik on the 2025 Season
This episode dives deep with Matt Koplik, host of the Broadway Breakdown Podcast, as we unpack 2025’s state of Broadway.Matt shares candid thoughts about how social media, rising costs, and risk-averse creative institutions are challengi...
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Episode 73
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1:32:52
Actor to Tony Nominee: Sound Design Career & Creative Hustle w/ Taylor Williams
Are you a struggling artist juggling creative passion with the need to pay the bills? 😔 Many actors & filmmakers face the same challenge: How do you make a sound design career sustainable in a tough industry? Can you balance creat...
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1:02:32
Aging as an Artist: The Fear, the Freedom, and the Fight
In this special episode of Creative Risk, Joshua \ explores what it means to age as an artist-through candid, intimate conversations with three remarkable performers at different stages of their creative lives. From Broadway veterans to multi-c...
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Episode 72
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2:03:48
Faking It Till You Make It - Confidence or Deception?
THIS IS A SEGMENT OF A PATREON EXCLUSIVE EPISODEIn this episode, Joshua and Mike unpack the ever-complicated mantra: "fake it till you make it." What begins as a discussion of creative confidence quickly spirals into deeper territ...
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30:38
The Power of High School Theater Pt.2
In part two of our high school theater deep dive, Mike sits down with his most influential teachers from the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts-Joni Weisfeld and Brian Jennings-for a conversation that’s part love letter, part reckoning....
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2:08:31
Raw + Rising: Makayla McIntosh
In this episode of Raw + Rising, we go deep with Makayla McIntosh-actor, producer, and founder of not one, but two creative companies. From children's entertainment to indie film production, Makayla's journey is a masterclass in creative self-s...
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50:18
The Power of High School Theater Pt.1
In this personal, winding, and emotionally resonant episode of Creative Risk, the boys crack open a sacred, formative chapter: high school theater. But this isn’t just a nostalgia trip. It’s an excavation-of early validation, teenage f...
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Episode 69
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1:50:49