Log in

goodpods headphones icon

To access all our features

Open the Goodpods app
Close icon
headphones
Before The Break

Before The Break

Tom Downing and Adam DeCarlo

BEFORE THE BREAK is a podcast for actors by actors, and everyone really. Each week, Tom Downing and Adam DeCarlo will sit down with a working actor to discuss the ups, the downs, the trials, and tribulations of the journey that led them to their big break. Guests will include names you're sure to recognize, as well as up and coming actors from various facets of the performing arts.
bookmark
Share icon

All episodes

Best episodes

Seasons

Top 10 Before The Break Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Before The Break episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Before The Break for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Before The Break episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Before The Break - 46. Broadway's Will Roland "Choose Nice, Choose Positivity"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Will Roland. Will can currently be seen in a recurring role on the TV show Billions, and has been featured on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Red Oaks. On Broadway he's appeared in Be More Chill and Dear Evan Hansen. We discuss growing up in NYC, a life changing high school trip to London, getting a music degree at NYU, having to skip Tony rehearsals, always having a day job, knowing everyone in the audition hallway, joining Dear Evan Hansen at the earliest stage, his relationship with Joe Iconis, not booking Be More Chill the first time around, the transition to on-camera work, and going from a day player to a recurring role on Billions. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Will -
on Instagram at @actually_will_roland

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @imtommybytheway
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Will Roland. Will can currently be seen in a recurring role on the TV show Billions, and has been featured on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Red Oaks. On Broadway he's appeared in Be More Chill and Dear Evan Hansen. We discuss growing up in NYC, a life changing high school trip to London, getting a music degree at NYU, having to skip Tony rehearsals, always having a day job, knowing everyone in the audition hallway, joining Dear Evan Hansen at the earliest stage, his relationship with Joe Iconis, not booking Be More Chill the first time around, the transition to on-camera work, and going from a day player to a recurring role on Billions. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Will -
on Instagram at @actually_will_roland

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @imtommybytheway
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

02/28/22 • 83 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 44. Don't Look Up's Ben Sidell "So Much Of The Work Is Not Seen"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Ben Sidell for his FIRST podcast. Ben has been a series regular on the Hulu series, Complete Works. He can also be seen in the films Queenpins, Someone Great, and Lena Dunham's upcoming film, Sharp Stick. As well as the Academy Award nominated Don't Look Up on Netflix. We discuss his COVID living situation, growing up industry adjacent, moving to L.A. to go to USC, testing the waters in college, the often false expectation of work begetting work, terrible agent meetings, the desire to get conservatory training after college to discover himself, studying in Moscow, the importance of therapy, turning baking into a side hustle, and taking the initiative himself to land his biggest credit yet. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Ben -
on Instagram at @bsidell

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Ben Sidell for his FIRST podcast. Ben has been a series regular on the Hulu series, Complete Works. He can also be seen in the films Queenpins, Someone Great, and Lena Dunham's upcoming film, Sharp Stick. As well as the Academy Award nominated Don't Look Up on Netflix. We discuss his COVID living situation, growing up industry adjacent, moving to L.A. to go to USC, testing the waters in college, the often false expectation of work begetting work, terrible agent meetings, the desire to get conservatory training after college to discover himself, studying in Moscow, the importance of therapy, turning baking into a side hustle, and taking the initiative himself to land his biggest credit yet. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Ben -
on Instagram at @bsidell

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

02/14/22 • 81 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 43. Broadway's J. Nycole Ralph "Yeah, I Got This"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, J. Nycole Ralph. J. Nycole has appeared on Broadway in the hit musical, The Book of Mormon, and in the national tour of West Side Story. She's also acted in, written, and produced her own web-series Working Out The Kinks. We discuss growing up in Ohio, having aspirations of being a dancer, moving to NYC for school, getting serious about acting from working on cruise ships, audition nerves, quitting the industry for two years, the importance of working on yourself, coming back to the industry and booking a Broadway show, making your own work, and the importance of quality relationships within the industry. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow J. Nycole -
on Instagram at @jnycoleralph

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, J. Nycole Ralph. J. Nycole has appeared on Broadway in the hit musical, The Book of Mormon, and in the national tour of West Side Story. She's also acted in, written, and produced her own web-series Working Out The Kinks. We discuss growing up in Ohio, having aspirations of being a dancer, moving to NYC for school, getting serious about acting from working on cruise ships, audition nerves, quitting the industry for two years, the importance of working on yourself, coming back to the industry and booking a Broadway show, making your own work, and the importance of quality relationships within the industry. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow J. Nycole -
on Instagram at @jnycoleralph

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

02/07/22 • 53 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 39. The Haves and the Have Nots' Brock Yurich "Ask For Forgivness Not Permission"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Brock Yurich. Brock has had recurring roles on such shows as The Have’s And Have Nots, The Other Two, and Succession. He's also appeared on FBI: International, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law & Order: SVU, and the films The Week Of, and Goat. We discuss relocating during the pandemic, growing up artistic, not being scared to do everything he wanted to, moving to NYC, getting his SAG card from improvising with Cameron Diaz, the wild luck that led to getting a call from Tyler Perry, knowing your artistic worth, and dealing with imposter syndrome. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Brock -
on Instagram at @brockyurich

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Brock Yurich. Brock has had recurring roles on such shows as The Have’s And Have Nots, The Other Two, and Succession. He's also appeared on FBI: International, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law & Order: SVU, and the films The Week Of, and Goat. We discuss relocating during the pandemic, growing up artistic, not being scared to do everything he wanted to, moving to NYC, getting his SAG card from improvising with Cameron Diaz, the wild luck that led to getting a call from Tyler Perry, knowing your artistic worth, and dealing with imposter syndrome. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Brock -
on Instagram at @brockyurich

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

01/10/22 • 80 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 38. The Wire's Michael Kostroff "I Love My Job"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the very talented theatre and TV/Film actor, Michael Kostroff. Michael has decades of experience, and has appeared on such shows as The Wire, The Plot Against America, The Deuce, The Good Wife, The Blacklist, among dozens of others. He also appeared in the first National Tour of the B'Way musical, The Producers. We discuss growing up shy, not getting consistent work until his late thirties, the impracticality of the entertainment industry, the disservice of "positive thinking", switching coasts, the importance of being a good person on set, how to deal with getting new lines on set, and accepting that not booking the role is the norm. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Michael -
on Instagram at @michael_kostroff

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the very talented theatre and TV/Film actor, Michael Kostroff. Michael has decades of experience, and has appeared on such shows as The Wire, The Plot Against America, The Deuce, The Good Wife, The Blacklist, among dozens of others. He also appeared in the first National Tour of the B'Way musical, The Producers. We discuss growing up shy, not getting consistent work until his late thirties, the impracticality of the entertainment industry, the disservice of "positive thinking", switching coasts, the importance of being a good person on set, how to deal with getting new lines on set, and accepting that not booking the role is the norm. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Michael -
on Instagram at @michael_kostroff

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

01/03/22 • 72 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 36. Kingdom's Mac Brandt "The Whole Job Is the Hustle"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the character actor, Mac Brandt. Mac has had recurring roles on Kingdom, Lovecraft Country, Elementary, Arrested Development, Prison Break, and The Night Shift. He's also appeared in the films Venom, Game Over Man!, and Gangster Squad. We discuss starting out doing theatre in Chicago, losing a role on Prison Break only to book a better one, taking the initiative to land his first agent, having to drive for Lyft after an incredible year of bookings, being humbled by your day jobs, how he got his role on Kingdom written for him, and how a simple ask of his neighbor ended up landing him a role on Lovecraft Country. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Mac -
on Instagram at @macbrandt

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the character actor, Mac Brandt. Mac has had recurring roles on Kingdom, Lovecraft Country, Elementary, Arrested Development, Prison Break, and The Night Shift. He's also appeared in the films Venom, Game Over Man!, and Gangster Squad. We discuss starting out doing theatre in Chicago, losing a role on Prison Break only to book a better one, taking the initiative to land his first agent, having to drive for Lyft after an incredible year of bookings, being humbled by your day jobs, how he got his role on Kingdom written for him, and how a simple ask of his neighbor ended up landing him a role on Lovecraft Country. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Mac -
on Instagram at @macbrandt

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

11/22/21 • 76 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 35. Succession's Patch Darragh "Getting Close Means Something"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the a true working actor, Patch Darragh. Patch has had recurring roles on such shows as Succession, The Path, The Loudest Voice, Everything Sucks!, Longmire, Boardwalk Empire, and Limitless. He's also appeared in the films Brittany Runs A Marathon, Sully, The First Purge, and Let's Be Cops. We discuss getting the bug from doing skits on the football team, moving to NYC at 18 to attend The Juilliard School, gaining more normal life experience to be a stronger actor, working with Meryl Streep, being burnt out after 4 years of school, the stress of asking Clint Eastwood for another take, and the sense of community as a series regular. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Patch -
on Instagram at @patchdarragh

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the a true working actor, Patch Darragh. Patch has had recurring roles on such shows as Succession, The Path, The Loudest Voice, Everything Sucks!, Longmire, Boardwalk Empire, and Limitless. He's also appeared in the films Brittany Runs A Marathon, Sully, The First Purge, and Let's Be Cops. We discuss getting the bug from doing skits on the football team, moving to NYC at 18 to attend The Juilliard School, gaining more normal life experience to be a stronger actor, working with Meryl Streep, being burnt out after 4 years of school, the stress of asking Clint Eastwood for another take, and the sense of community as a series regular. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Patch -
on Instagram at @patchdarragh

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

11/15/21 • 67 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 34. The Walking Dead's Jeremy Palko "I've Never Considered A Plan B"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the Atlanta based actor, Jeremy Palko. Jeremy has had recurring roles on such shows as The Walking Dead, Bloodline, and Ruthless. He's also appeared on MacGyver, The Passage, Sleepy Hollow, Burn Notice, and The Vampire Diaries. We discuss going from sports to the arts, starting his career on a Disney cruise line, settling into the Florida market, booking Bloodline, driving back and forth between Florida and Georgia for work, the illusion of L.A., planting roots in the Atlanta market, booking 20+ episodes of a TV series off Actors Access, and quarantining at Tyler Perry Studios. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Jeremy -
on Instagram at @artbypalko

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with the Atlanta based actor, Jeremy Palko. Jeremy has had recurring roles on such shows as The Walking Dead, Bloodline, and Ruthless. He's also appeared on MacGyver, The Passage, Sleepy Hollow, Burn Notice, and The Vampire Diaries. We discuss going from sports to the arts, starting his career on a Disney cruise line, settling into the Florida market, booking Bloodline, driving back and forth between Florida and Georgia for work, the illusion of L.A., planting roots in the Atlanta market, booking 20+ episodes of a TV series off Actors Access, and quarantining at Tyler Perry Studios. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Jeremy -
on Instagram at @artbypalko

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

11/08/21 • 65 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 29. South Side's Ronald Conner "You Have To Keep Showing Up"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with Chicago based actor, Ronald Conner. Ronald has had recurring roles on The Chi, Chicago P.D., and Southside. He's also appeared on such shows as Empire, Utopia, Chicago Med, and Sirens. We discuss starting as an ensemble member at St. Louis Black Rep, moving to Chicago, scrubbing boats as a side job, moving markets to pursue TV/Film, and squeezing in a callback during lunch while filming another project. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Ronald -
on Instagram at @theronaldconner

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with Chicago based actor, Ronald Conner. Ronald has had recurring roles on The Chi, Chicago P.D., and Southside. He's also appeared on such shows as Empire, Utopia, Chicago Med, and Sirens. We discuss starting as an ensemble member at St. Louis Black Rep, moving to Chicago, scrubbing boats as a side job, moving markets to pursue TV/Film, and squeezing in a callback during lunch while filming another project. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Ronald -
on Instagram at @theronaldconner

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @tommybeyond
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

10/04/21 • 55 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode
Before The Break - 47. Broadway's Brandon Ellis "This Is Such A Career Of Momentum"

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Brandon Ellis. Brandon has been on such shows as The Crew, Dietland, 30 Rock, Iron Fist, and Vinyl. On stage he's been in the National Tour of The Play That Goes Wrong, and the Broadway productions of Once: The Musical, and Bandstand. We discuss switching to real estate during the pandemic, how music changed his life as a kid, learning to communicate better through theatre, showing up to an audition after hearing he wouldn't be seen, having imposter syndrome between jobs, wanting to develop new roles, the importance of making connections, the pros and cons of pay-to-play classes, and trying to land reps by buying them tickets to his B'way show. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Brandon -
on Instagram at @machetethunderpants

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @imtommybytheway
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

This week on BEFORE THE BREAK, the boys sit down with actor, Brandon Ellis. Brandon has been on such shows as The Crew, Dietland, 30 Rock, Iron Fist, and Vinyl. On stage he's been in the National Tour of The Play That Goes Wrong, and the Broadway productions of Once: The Musical, and Bandstand. We discuss switching to real estate during the pandemic, how music changed his life as a kid, learning to communicate better through theatre, showing up to an audition after hearing he wouldn't be seen, having imposter syndrome between jobs, wanting to develop new roles, the importance of making connections, the pros and cons of pay-to-play classes, and trying to land reps by buying them tickets to his B'way show. That and much more!
Follow Before The Break -
on Instagram at @beforethebreakpod
https://beforethebreak.buzzsprout.com/
Follow Brandon -
on Instagram at @machetethunderpants

Follow Tommy -
on Instagram at @imtommybytheway
https://www.tommybeardmore.com/
Follow Adam -
on Instagram at @thatadamdecarlo
http://adamdecarlo.com/
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and give us a rating!

Support the show

play

03/07/22 • 88 min

bookmark
plus icon
share episode

Show more best episodes

Toggle view more icon

FAQ

How many episodes does Before The Break have?

Before The Break currently has 116 episodes available.

What topics does Before The Break cover?

The podcast is about Actor, Acting, Film, Performing, Entertainment, Television, Podcasts, Tv, Arts, Theatre, Movie, Broadway, Tv & Film and Performing Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Before The Break?

The episode title '81. What We Do In The Shadows' Harvey Guillén (Re-Release)' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Before The Break?

The average episode length on Before The Break is 70 minutes.

How often are episodes of Before The Break released?

Episodes of Before The Break are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Before The Break?

The first episode of Before The Break was released on Mar 8, 2021.

Show more FAQ

Toggle view more icon

Comments