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
89 episodes
Audiences, AI, Authenticity & Artistic Integrity in 2025 w/ Matt Koplik
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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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
Theater That Lives: Building New American Ensemble
In this inspiring episode of Creative Risk, Mike Labbadia sits down with the founders of New American Ensemble - a bold, new player-focused theater company in NYC - to explore what it really takes to build something that matters. Micha...
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1:22:11
Raw + Rising: Method Fitness
In this high-energy episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with Method Fitness founders Danny Keenan and Christian Hopper-two performers-turned-trainers reshaping what fitness means for artists. Forget six-pack abs and protein powde...
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43:41
Control vs. Surrender: The Artist’s Balancing Act
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODEIn this solo episode of Creative Risk, Joshua Morgan cracks open one of the most tender and universal tensions in any creative’s life: the balance between control and sur...
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18:40
From Center Stage to Backstage: Alan Bennett’s Unlikely Second Act
What happens when your career takes a turn you never planned for - and it ends up being exactly where you're supposed to be? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua sits down with Alan Bennett, a performer-turned-Broadway wardrobe sup...
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1:41:35
Raw + Rising: Deah Love Harriot
In this soul-nourishing episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with the unstoppable Deah Love Harriot - an artist whose spirit is as bold as her résumé. From musical directing on Broadway to serving as a minister of worship, Deah’s ...
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37:35
Showing Up as Your Boldest Self: The Real Reason Artists Stay Invisible
In this wide-ranging episode, Joshua and Mike explore what it really means to show up as your boldest self - not just as a creative, but as a human being navigating a world that often punishes risk and rewards conformity. Through personal stori...
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Episode 65
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1:51:33
Why Chasing Your Potential Might Be Killing Your Joy
In this deeply reflective episode of Creative Risk, Joshua and Mike tackle the complex and emotionally charged topic of unmet potential. Through candid, individual reflections and joint discussion, they dive into the pressures of maximizing lif...
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2:10:00
Raw + Rising: Coleman Ray Clark
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with theater-maker and artistic multi-hyphenate Coleman Ray Clark for an insightful discussion on embracing creative fluidity and breaking traditional artistic molds. Coleman shares how his non-...
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50:03
Finding Balance: Growing Creative Careers Without Burning Out
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODEWhat does balance really look like for an artist? In this episode of Creative Risk, Joshua and Mike tackle one of the most elusive yet essential aspects of a c...
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34:41
The Artist's Sales Funnel: Why Talent Isn't Enough
Marketing isn’t just for corporations - it’s essential for artists, too. In this episode, we break down the concept of the artist’s marketing funnel and why understanding it can be the difference between staying unseen and building a s...
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1:41:36
Raw + Rising: Courtney Romano and Queens Bird Films
In this episode of Raw + Rising, Joshua sits down with writer, director, and creative powerhouse Courtney Romano for an unfiltered conversation about forging an independent artistic career. As the founder of Queens Bird Films ...
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57:40
Five Years Later: Covid’s Lasting Impact on the Arts
Five years after the world shut down, we take a hard look at how COVID changed the entertainment industry—and the lives of the artists within it. From the collapse of institutional power structures to the rise of digital-first artistry, we unpa...
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2:33:27
Jelani Remy on Longevity, Joy, and Thriving on Broadway
In this episode of Creative Risk, Broadway star Jelani Remy joins us for an open and inspiring conversation about longevity, adaptability, and joy in the industry. From his early days at Paper Mill Playhouse to leading The Lion King as Simba fo...
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Episode 60
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1:07:27
Am I Giving Up on My Dreams?
THIS IS A SEGMENT FROM AN EXCLUSIVE PATREON EPISODEIn this deeply personal solo episode, Mike grapples with a question every artist faces at some point—am I quitting, or am I just redefining success? He reflects on his journey, f...
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Episode 59
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32:04
Raw + Rising: Hannah Pauley
In this episode of Raw + Rising, we sit down with actress and creator Hannah Pauley. Hannah shares her candid insights on creative survival as a dual UK and American citizen and the unexpected journey that took her from Pittsburgh to G...
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32:49
Adapt or Fade: How Multi-Hyphenate Artists Stay Ahead with Ruggero Vittorini
In this episode of Creative Risk, Mike sits down with multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur Ruggero Vittorini, founder of Inward Studio. From his early days as a musician and visual artist to working in high-end kitchens, to ultima...
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Episode 58
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1:08:06
Opposites Attract: Navigating Relationships Between Artists and Non-Artists
In this Valentine’s themed episode, Joshua sits down with performing artists and their "civilian" significant others to explore the challenges and rewards of relationships that bridge two different professional worlds. From balancing unpredicta...
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1:48:04