Why I'll Never Make It

Why I'll Never Make It A lighthearted podcast exploring the ups & downs of the entertainment industry featuring stories of

Ever have someone say something early in your career that just sticks?In this rereleased episode with Kate Baldwin from ...
01/15/2026

Ever have someone say something early in your career that just sticks?

In this rereleased episode with Kate Baldwin from 2022, we talk about the moments she was told she didn’t quite fit the mold. Too tall. Too mature. A leading lady, sure… just not yet. And how comments like that can either quietly chip away at you or force you to decide they’re not going to win.

Kate’s response: “I’ll show you! That’s not going to deter me and that’s not going to defeat me.”

It wasn’t bravado—it was a choice. A way of moving forward while still figuring out where she belonged. Kate talks honestly about floundering in her twenties and not fully coming into her own until her thirties.

Which makes it all the more meaningful that she’s currently on Broadway in Chicago, dancing her way through Roxie Hart—a role no one would’ve predicted back when she was being told what she was and wasn’t. Sometimes the long way around is exactly what prepares you for the thing you never saw coming.

If you’ve ever been in that in-between space, doing the work but questioning the path, this conversation might hit closer than you expect.

As Beetlejuice closes today and Justin Collette takes to the stage one last time as everyone’s favorite demon, check out...
01/03/2026

As Beetlejuice closes today and Justin Collette takes to the stage one last time as everyone’s favorite demon, check out our full conversation on all things BJ! 🪲

And if you’ve been listening for a while, you know this podcast has spent a lot of time in the weeds—talking setbacks, struggle, and what “making it” even means. But after making my own Broadway debut this past fall in Beetlejuice, something shifted. Watching artists who’ve already hit huge milestones still show up with relentless drive and genuine joy changed the way I was thinking about all of it.

Which is why this final episode of Season 9 feels especially meaningful.

Justin chats with me between shows in his dressing room. We talk about his journey with Beetlejuice on the road and on Broadway, his time in School of Rock, and his performing roots in Canada. He shares how he built that iconic voice, what punk bands and improv taught him, and how each audience subtly changes the show night after night.

We also get into leadership, letting go of artistic anxiety, audition stories, and what keeps him inspired even after “making it.”

As the podcast turns the page and heads into Season 10, this conversation feels like the perfect bridge—less about chasing big breaks, and more about why we keep showing up, even when success doesn’t look the way we imagined.

🎙️ Final episode of Season 9 is out now. Link in bio…

Never one to mince words, Jen Rudolph thinks that acting is as much a business as it is an art form—and she’s not intere...
01/03/2026

Never one to mince words, Jen Rudolph thinks that acting is as much a business as it is an art form—and she’s not interested in sugarcoating what that actually means.

In our episode, we have a frank, sometimes uncomfortable conversation about money, mindset, and what it takes to build a sustainable career in an industry built on collaboration, gatekeepers, and trust. We talk about why talent alone isn’t enough, why some actors keep getting called in, and why resisting the business side of acting can quietly keep you stuck.

Agree with her or not, this is the kind of conversation that forces you to look at how you’re approaching your own career—and whether you’re treating it like a passion, a profession, or both.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or at bpn.fm/whyillnevermakeit

Some people talk about the industry. Others have actually shaped it.Jen Rudolph has spent years on both sides of the tab...
12/23/2025

Some people talk about the industry. Others have actually shaped it.

Jen Rudolph has spent years on both sides of the table—casting major film and TV projects, helping launch early careers, and then turning her focus toward the question most actors quietly ask: why does it work for some people and not for others?

In this episode, we get into what she learned from casting, what actors were really missing when she started teaching, and how collaboration, clarity, and business awareness can be just as important as talent. It’s an honest conversation about auditions, self-tapes, training, money, and the uncomfortable realities of trying to build a sustainable career in the arts.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between loving the work and needing the work to actually work… this one’s worth your time.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts or at bpn.fm/whyillnevermakeit

“If you think you can do better, then do better. Don’t compete with anyone; just yourself.” — Bob FosseThat idea runs st...
12/14/2025

“If you think you can do better, then do better. Don’t compete with anyone; just yourself.” — Bob Fosse

That idea runs straight through my conversation with David Bushman, swing and dance captain on Chicago. A career built on precision, patience, and constantly holding yourself to a higher standard—often without applause, without acknowledgment, and without anyone in the audience knowing how much responsibility is actually on your shoulders.

We talk a lot on this podcast about the obstacles we face in this business. Sometimes they’re external. And sometimes they’re the ones we quietly put in our own way by comparing, second-guessing, or waiting for permission to feel “enough.”

David’s path is a reminder that the real work isn’t beating someone else to the finish line. It’s showing up better than you did yesterday—even when no one’s watching.

Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and it’s a good moment to spotlight the people and stories t...
12/03/2025

Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and it’s a good moment to spotlight the people and stories that pushed disability rights forward in this country. A couple of months ago, I sat down with Abbie Goldberg and Mason McDowell to talk about their new musical “504” which grew out of one of the most powerful moments in that movement.

Back in 1977, disabled activists staged a nationwide series of sit-ins demanding that the government finally enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—a regulation that would ban discrimination against people with disabilities. The San Francisco protest became the longest non-violent occupation of a federal building in U.S. history. Folks camped inside for nearly a month, building a community, organizing together, and refusing to leave until their rights were acknowledged.

That fight is the heartbeat of “504” and revisiting their episode today feels especially fitting. If you haven’t heard it yet, you can listen on your favorite podcast app or head to bpn.fm/whyillnevermakeit.

11/24/2025

It’s Trisha Paytas’ last night in Beetlejuice after an unforgettable three-week run as Maxine, so it felt like the perfect time to share this moment from our conversation — the story of how she landed the role and wound up making her Broadway debut. Hearing her tell it is such a mix of excitement, surprise, and classic Trisha energy, and honestly… it’s just really fun to watch.

If you want the full story — from her rise on YouTube to her stepping on the Broadway stage — the episode is out now. Listen on your favorite podcast app or head to bpn.fm/whyillnevermakeit.

This week’s episode goes in a direction I honestly didn’t expect. Trisha Paytas joins me to talk about her Broadway debu...
11/22/2025

This week’s episode goes in a direction I honestly didn’t expect. Trisha Paytas joins me to talk about her Broadway debut in Beetlejuice, but that’s really just the starting point.

We get into the early days of her online life, her family background, and how she turned a camera and a WiFi signal into a twenty-year career. She opens up about the moments she’s proud of, the ones she’d handle differently, and what it’s been like navigating millions of eyes on her while still trying to figure out who she is. There’s humor, honesty, a few surprises, and a lot more reflection than people might expect.

Whether you’ve followed Trisha for years or you’re just curious how an internet icon ends up making a Broadway debut, this episode is a wild, thoughtful ride through reinvention, resilience, and everything that comes with living your life out loud.

🎭✨ AUDITION STORIES are back — and this episode is must listen. Though subscribers already get these bonus stories for e...
10/01/2025

🎭✨ AUDITION STORIES are back — and this episode is must listen. Though subscribers already get these bonus stories for each guest, it’s been a few seasons since I pulled together some of the best audition moments for a main episode. And we close this one with my own story for as well as a big announcement for season 10 🎙️

You’ll hear from:
• Lynn Nottage
• Aubie Merrylees
• Elizabeth Hess
• Sònia Victoria Werner
• Akiko Aizawa
• Simon Tam
• Corrie Legge
• Jocelyn Jones
• Moshe Lobel
• Patrick Oliver Jones

From forgotten headshots and strange voices to impromptu choices and last-minute dance calls, you never know what might happen in the room where it happens. And these are the auditions you’ll never forget — for better or worse. 🎤🤦‍♂️😂

🎧 Tap the link in bio to listen.
👇 Tell me in the comments: what’s your wildest audition moment?

Broadway has always been a place for bold ideas and creative risks. But in today’s world of sky-high production budgets,...
08/22/2025

Broadway has always been a place for bold ideas and creative risks. But in today’s world of sky-high production budgets, those risks often come with massive financial stakes. In our conversation, Joseph Zellnik shares his frustrations with how tough it is to get original work produced—and what that means for the future of musicals.

🎧 Hear the full episode now!

Back in 2010, I auditioned for the Off-Broadway York Theatre production of Yank!, the heartfelt WWII love story written ...
08/06/2025

Back in 2010, I auditioned for the Off-Broadway York Theatre production of Yank!, the heartfelt WWII love story written by composer Joseph Zellnik and his brother David. It went on to earn multiple Best Musical nominations and win over audiences with its timeless charm.

But Joseph’s story doesn’t stop at the stage—he’s also the author of the theatrical mystery The Sound of Murder 🎭🔍 and the upcoming Periodic Table of Broadway Musicals, co-written with his husband.

In this episode, we dive into the unpredictable world of new musicals, how Broadway has evolved (especially with “spoofsicals” like Spamalot), and even discover a fun Oklahoma! connection we share.

🎧 New episode out now—link in bio!

Address

219 W 49th St
New York, NY
10019

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Why I'll Never Make It posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Why I'll Never Make It:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

From Casting to Podcasting

This lighthearted podcast hosted by Patrick Oliver Jones explores the ups and downs of the entertainment industry. Each week the show features performers and artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, who share their own successes and challenges in this business. Guests talk about what holds them back and why they'll never make it, but more importantly they share what keeps them going and why they’re still here.

Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://pod.link/1330237490

Join the conversation online by contributing to the blog or even being a guest on the show: https://www.whyillnevermakeit.com/thank-you

l="false"> Add listing
  • Login
    • Subscribe

    We will notify you when anything happens in New York.