The DNA Podcast with Douglas Nyback

Zoé De Grand’Maison exudes art in everything she does. Whether it’s in her role as Agnes on Amazon Prime’s hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, her work as the villainous Evelyn Evernever on Riverdale, Gracie Johanssen on Ophan Black, or any of her other innumerable acting credits she is always searching for more connection, more embodiment, deeper connection to character and self. Watching her is watching an actor who is never quite giving you the performance you think she will. She’s an actor who keeps you on your toes and comes at her choices from surprising angles of approach. The result is someone who keeps you on the edge of your seat in moments that would otherwise be mundane. It’s no wonder she’s on some of the decade’s most popular series and it’s only up from here. Getting to chat with Zoe was an absolute pleasure, there’s lots to learn, lots to be inspired by, and I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.
Find Zoé:
Instagram: @zomato_soup
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Special Thanks: @ambitiontalent @thesummeriturnedpretty @primevideo @primevideoca @thecwriverdale
Coffee and Snacks: @impactkitchen (not a sponsor, we just pop in every podcast and love these guys)
Things I Love This Week: @drinklmnt (also not a sponsor, just drinking the heck outta these lately and love em)
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
 
#ZoeDeGrandMaison #TheSummerITurnedPretty #Riverdale #OrphanBlack #Acting #ActingTips #ActingPodcast #Podcast #theDNApodcast #dnybackact

Is there anything David Reale hasn’t done? He’s a veteran of a gajillion shows (The Boys, Suits, Poly is the New Monogamy to name a few), he’s a world class Meisner instructor, he’s a veteran of both stage and screen AND he just happens to be the guy I most admired and was secretly jealous of for literal decades of my early career. See, David and I started at the exact same time in the exact same place and he booked a lot of the things that I didn’t. I’ve always wanted to have an open chat with him, to talk about where we started, how we got where we are, and where he’s going next. Because we’re both teachers (he’s one of the best out there) this one gets into a lot of audition hacks, general acting advice, and lots of chatting about craft. So if that’s your vibe—and I assume it is because you’re here—check this episode out. Appreciate you.
Find David:
Instagram: @therealedavid
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Special Thanks: @theboystv @suitspeacock @pisthenewm @amazonprime @theperformersmindset @josepharieltowne
Coffee and Snacks: @impactkitchen (not a sponsor, we just pop in every podcast and love these guys)
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
#DavidReale #TheBoys #Suits #PolyIsTheNewMonogamy #MurdocMysteries #Meisner #ActingTips #AuditionTips #Podcast #theDNApodcast #dnybackact #amazonprime

Varun Saranga is a funny guy. He became a student of comedy as he learned to act, becoming a (my words here, not his) master at the rhythms of winning and losing in a way that makes people laugh. He has had tremendous success (Wynonna Earp, Carter, How to be Indie, Workin’ Moms to name just a few). The thing about Varun, though, is that in addition to his comedic super powers he possesses an undercurrent of deep vulnerability that comes out in his work in the subtlest of ways, bringing humanity to every laugh he gets from us. Varun works very hard to make it look easy, and getting to do a deep dive into his process on this pod was a huge blessing. So dive on in, folks. Get ready to laugh and grow.
Find Varun: 
 
Instagram: @varunsaranga
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Special Thanks: @Wynonnaearp @SyFy @Tubi
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
#VarunSaranga #WynonnaEarp #Carter #HowToBeIndie #PrimeVideo #Netflix #CBC #Acting #theDNApodcast #dnybackact #SyFy #Tubi #Comedy #WorkinMoms

Kimberly-Sue Murray was one of my first ever clients and has been a friend for years. I’ve long admired her as she’s built a profoundly successful career (The Boys, V-Wars, The Wedding Planner, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Madness just to name a few). This conversation in particular was profound, not only because it was our 20th episode, but because we picked up at a very interesting turning point in Kim’s life. She’s recently gotten VERY clear on her vision for the rest of her life and career, and most importantly she’s let go of shame and doubt around it all. Leading with courage, she’s diving headlong into the new goals and aspirations she has as an actor, mother, and human in general. So come along for the ride on this ep. I was deeply inspired and I’m sure you will be too.
Find Kimberly-Sue:
Instagram: @ksuemurray
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
#KimberlySueMurray #VWars #GuardiansOfTheGalaxy #TheBoys #PrimeVideo #Netflix #TheMadness #Acting #theDNApodcast #dnybackact 

Ryan is a whirlwind of charisma and nowhere is it more prevalent than his unforgettable turn as Suki on the hit Netflix Series “BET”. One of my pet peeves in Film & TV these days is that I’ll get through an entire movie or series and not even know the main character’s names. Not so for Suki. From the second he’s on screen to the final frames Ryan saturates frame with character and bold choices. He’s lived his life online, making sketch comedy on YouTube—where he has already gained major success—and chatting with him was like taking a trip into wonderland. Wild, wonderful, and insightful. So dive on in, I’m excited for you to meet Ryan.
Find Ryan:
Instagram: @theryansutherland
TikTok: @ryancomedyofficial
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
 
#RyanSutherland #BET #TheDNAPodcast #dnybackact #Netflix #podcast #ActingPodcast #acting

Lindura is a force. As one of the stars of the hit series, Sullivan’s Crossing, she has a presence to her that’s hard to quantify. She’s a rare cocktail of a scientific mind, ethereal beauty, and deep emotional intelligence all wrapped into one. What I find the most fascinating about her is how she recognizes these different facets of herself and is so driven to do the internal work that allows them all to work in tandem with each other as opposed to in contrast. She’s borderline addicted to growth, she’s in love with new experiences and challenges. Her passion is contagious and I found myself, in this conversation, called to expansion myself through her openness, strength, honesty, and vulnerability. I loved every minute of this chat and I’m sure you will too.
Find Lindura:
Instagram: @lifeoflindura
TikTok: @lifeoflindura
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
 
#Lindura #SullivansCrossing #TheDNAPodcast #dnybackact #CW #CTV #podcast #ActingPodcast #acting #growth

Sara Waisglass blew me away with her presence, compassion, and thoughtful approach to both her work and her life. This is—believe it or not—the first episode we’ve done where I haven’t known the guest in advance. So, to not only meet Sara, but to have such an honest conversation with her was a blessing that’s hard to measure. From Degrassi through a lifetime in the industry that has led her to the hit Netflix series, Ginny & Georgia, she has gone through a LOT. The thing that stuck with me the most is how courageously she navigates her life in a fully felt way. She works with her full self, and she lives with her full self…more than that she has the courage to sit with herself in the downtime, to quietly get to know herself better amidst all the existential complication that brings. I know you’ll have as magical a time as I did meeting her, so dive on in.
Find Sara:
Instagram: @sarawais
TikTok: @Sara.wais
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
 
#SaraWaisglass #GinnyAndGeorgia #TheDNAPodcast #dnybackact #Netflix #Degrassi #podcast #ActingPodcast #acting #tudum!

Carson MacCormac is no stranger to success in the world of feature film. Since his early days in the wildly popular DC “SHAZAAM!” franchise, he’s been working at an extremely high level. He’s now entering the horror genre in a big way with the release of the highly successful “Clown in a Cornfield”. Carson has always been a fascinating guy to me. He’s as likely to quote Friedrich Nietzsche to you as recommend a killer show he just found on Netflix, or an awesome fantasy novel he’s sinking his time into. He’s poetic, thoughtful, and does everything he can to better himself daily. Oh, and he also happens to be a profoundly talented actor. Talking with Carson is an exercise in growth because HE is always growing. 
 
Find Carson:
Instagram: @carson_maccormac
 
Produced by: @daliayegavian @breewas
Associate Producer: @akisharei
Additional Gear Provided By: @mountainmanfilms
 
#TheDNAPodcast #ClownInACornfield #MyLifeWithTheWalterBoys #Netflix #NetflixSeries #ActingPodcast #Acting #Actor #Podcast #dnybackact