Story and Craft with Marc Preston

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Olivia Rose Keegan from "Days of Our Lives" and Paramount+'s "Dutton Ranch", as well as the summer film "Scary Movie" to discuss her new projects, career, and personal stories.
We chat about her transition from being an eager 11-year-old writing letters to talent agents in San Francisco to landing major roles. Olivia shares the incredible support from her family, who entirely uprooted their lives in Northern California so she could pursue acting in Los Angeles. She reflects on her early heartbreak of being replaced on a major Nickelodeon show and the immense work ethic she built during her four-and-a-half-year run on "Days of Our Lives."
We also get into the exciting new chapters of her career, contrasting the intense, slow-burn drama of playing a mother in Paramount+'s "Dutton Ranch" with the absolute, unhinged physical comedy of the summer sequel to "Scary Movie." Olivia reveals what it was like playing Anna Faris' daughter, conquering her fears of improv comedy, and how working with the Wayans brothers pushed her completely out of her comfort zone.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:08:00] | The intimidating yet rewarding process of network testing for Taylor Sheridan shows
[00:13:46] | Drafting a handwritten letter to talent agencies at just eleven years old
[00:23:20] | Targeting the Disney and Nickelodeon pipeline as a pragmatic young actor
[00:24:34] | Faking an Australian accent to land a breakthrough role on Ant Farm
[00:25:42] | Navigating the earth-shattering heartbreak of being recast on a major sitcom
[00:27:37] | Why acting on a soap opera is the ultimate industry boot camp
[00:30:02] | Channeling inner Anna Faris-isms to play her daughter in Scary Movie
[00:37:00] | Working with a dialect coach and stepping into the emotional shoes of a mother
[00:39:11] | Embracing the terrifying and thrilling challenge of Wayans brothers-style improv
[00:43:12] | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with Actor Natalie Alyn Lind from "The Goldberg’s" and Paramount+’s "Dutton Ranch" to discuss her new project, career, and personal stories.
In this episode, Natalie opens up about what it was like growing up on a TV set and hitting major life milestones while playing Dana Caldwell on the hit sitcom "The Goldberg’s". She shares how those early experiences shaped her approach to acting, giving her the chops to step into her own producing role with the upcoming indie comedy/horror flick, "Halloween Store". Natalie even geeks out over her love of classic horror films and what it's like to build a project from the ground up alongside her friends.
The conversation naturally shifts to the sweltering heat of Texas and her immersion into cowboy camp for the highly anticipated series "Dutton Ranch". Natalie talks about sliding into her character's well-worn boots, working on horseback, and the empowering feeling of being part of a Taylor Sheridan production. Plus, we bond over our shared love for authentic Canadian poutine, her very first celebrity crush, and why letting go of other people's expectations is the best advice she could give her younger self.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:04:46] | Adjusting to the blistering Texas heat during night shoots
[00:08:09] | The absolute necessity of authentic cheese curds in Canadian poutine
[00:10:37] | Auditioning against her mom's last name to land her first role on "One Tree Hill"
[00:13:33] | Hitting real-life milestones and having her first kiss while filming "The Goldberg’s"
[00:19:48] | Turning downtime into a creative spark to produce her love letter to comedy/horror films, "Halloween Store"
[00:25:49] | Recording a full country album and dealing with prosthetics for "Tell Me a Story"
[00:30:35] | The powerful female characters in the Taylor Sheridan universe and the real-life women who inspire them
[00:37:33] | The grounding, gritty reality of attending real cowboy camp for "Dutton Ranch"
[00:40:16] | Finding the sweet spot between authentic functional cowboy gear and character style
[00:46:02] | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with actor Rex Linn from "Cliffhanger" and NBC & Peacock's "Happy's Place" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories. Over his decades-long career, Rex has become a familiar face on television, appearing in major marquee shows like "CSI: Miami", "Better Call Saul", "Young Sheldon", and "Big Sky".
We cover his early days growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, and how classic Universal movie monsters inspired him to pursue acting. Rex details the pivotal decision to leave his career in banking at age 34 to move to Los Angeles, eventually landing his breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone in "Cliffhanger". He also shares insights into the fast-paced, improvisational nature of shooting a sitcom compared to dramatic television.
Off the set, Rex talks about his lifelong passion for drumming, including the moment his fiancée, Reba McEntire, surprised him by having him play live on stage with her band. We also touch on the dynamics of working alongside Reba every day, our mutual appreciation for Whataburger, and the importance of simply being kind.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:06:52 | The unexpected classic movie monsters that inspired his acting career
00:10:56 | The Jack Nicholson performance that cemented his career path
00:13:33 | Leaving a career in Oklahoma banking to pursue acting at 34
00:15:42 | Landing a breakout role opposite John Lithgow and Sylvester Stallone
00:24:31 | Breaking a thumb on the congas to impress a high school crush
00:26:00 | The birthday surprise drum kit from Reba McEntire
00:30:54 | Playing the drums live on stage with Reba's touring band
00:37:47 | The advice John Lithgow shared about working on sitcoms
00:40:58 | The dynamic of rehearsing and acting alongside his fiancée
00:46:16 | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with actor Sofia Rosinsky from Hulu's "Death and Other Details" and Peacock's "The Miniature Wife" to discuss her career and personal stories.
Sofia shares the fascinating story of her unconventional path into the industry, revealing that an innocent trip to an acting camp unexpectedly put her in front of casting directors. Growing up in a deeply creative household, she was surrounded by cinema thanks to her independent filmmaker mother and musician father. She also opens up about her rigorous acting foundation, noting that she was raised on the Meisner technique directly passed down from her mother, who studied under the legendary Sanford Meisner.
Beyond her recent high-profile roles, Sofia discusses her passion for dark comedies and producing independent films with her sister Alexis. She details the physical transformation required to play Mac on Prime Video's "Paper Girls" and the nerve-wracking yet magical experience of working with childhood idol Mandy Patinkin. The conversation also touches on her ongoing education at Berklee College of Music and plans for the future.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:04:38 | Balancing an acting career with an online education at Berklee College of Music
00:07:17 | Growing up with a studio musician father who played on legendary film scores
00:14:30 | How a terrifying performance by Alec Guinness sparked her initial acting inspiration
00:16:18 | The innocent summer camp that accidentally launched her straight to casting directors
00:20:11 | The physical hair transformation for her role in Prime Video's "Paper Girls"
00:21:54 | The surreal experience of sharing the screen with the legendary Mandy Patinkin
00:24:49 | Learning the Meisner technique from her mother, who studied directly under Sanford Meisner
00:27:22 | Booking "The Miniature Wife" and working alongside Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks
00:32:17 | Expanding her horizons by producing and writing an anthology feature with her sister
00:35:05 | The Seven Questions

Marc Preston sits down with Actor David Berry from "Starz"'s "Outlander" to discuss his new project, career, and personal stories.
David shares the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye to a character he has inhabited for eight years as the series concludes. He breaks down the unique logistical gymnastics required to commute from his home in Sydney to the moody highlands of Scotland, including the nature of 25-hour flights. The conversation touches on the "larrikin" spirit of Australian culture and why Aussies feel a natural compulsion to shorten every name and word they encounter.
We also get a glimpse into David’s life off-camera, from his former studies in politics to his very specific post-scene ritual involving a perfect burger. Whether discussing the "reverse colonialism" of an Australian actor playing a British officer or the challenge of finding healthy food in the land of fried Mars bars, David brings a thoughtful and witty perspective to the actor's life. He reflects on the importance of spontaneity and the advice he would give his younger, more anxious self about simply learning to relax.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
00:01:02 | The origin of Marc’s new Aussie nickname
00:03:16 | Exploring the cultural habit of Australian "shortenings"
00:04:28 | Defining the "larrikin" attitude toward authority
00:06:12 | The challenges of transitioning out of a long-running series
00:09:48 | The logistical hurdle of auditioning for global shows from Australia
00:11:32 | Navigating the 25-hour commute between Sydney and Scotland
00:12:13 | How the Scottish landscape becomes its own character on screen
00:14:10 | Comparing the healthy Sydney lifestyle to Scottish comfort food
00:15:00 | The reward of a perfect burger after a difficult scene
00:18:00 | The Seven Questions