Matt Sonic didn’t grow up on a Hollywood backlot or with industry parents paving the way. He was a shy, movie‑obsessed kid in Minnesota in a no‑video‑games household who found his escape — and his education — in films and TV. While other kids were just watching Pixar, Matt was rewatching DVDs with commentary tracks, studying behind‑the‑scenes features, and quietly deciding he’d move to LA and work in film and television — with no plan B.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Matt and I talk about how a quiet, nerdy kid from the Midwest became a working filmmaker across some of the biggest shows in pop culture — from The Bachelor franchise and The Kardashians, to the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special and the Euphoria promo, plus our time together on Let’s Marry Harry. We get into what it really looks like to come from “outside” the industry, build a career from scratch, and keep going when your dream feels huge and your path is anything but guaranteed.

We get into:
• Growing up in Minnesota as a shy, nerdy kid who used movies and TV as an escape and a way to learn social skills
• Being in a no‑video‑games household — and how that pushed him deeper into storytelling, film language, and characters
• Rewatching movies with commentary tracks, obsessing over behind‑the‑scenes features, and realizing he cared about how stories were made as much as the stories themselves
• Knowing from a young age that there was no “Plan B” — he was going to move to LA and work in film and TV, period
• Having parents outside the industry who were initially unsure, then became fully supportive once they saw his seriousness and commitment
• Why that parental support mattered, and what it looks like when your family doesn’t quite “get” your dream but still chooses to back you
• Coming into Hollywood as an outsider and slowly finding his place on sets and in production
• Working on major projects like The Bachelor franchise, The Kardashians, the Hannah Montana 20th anniversary special, and the Euphoria promo — and what those experiences taught him
• Our time working together on Let’s Marry Harry, what that show was really like, and why we’re still waiting for it to finally drop
• The importance of proof of concept — showing, not just telling, the people around you that this is serious and you’re all in

Matt also opens up about the inner work behind his journey — pushing through shyness, using movies as both comfort and a blueprint for human behavior, learning to operate without a safety‑net “real job” plan, and appreciating the people who believed in him before the credits ever rolled with his name on them.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever dreamed of moving to LA, breaking into film and TV from far outside the system, turning a childhood obsession with movies into a real career, or just understanding what it actually takes to build a life in entertainment when you don’t start with connections or industry parents.

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Christian Crosby didn’t grow up with a spotlight on him or a straight path into entertainment. He was a shy kid in Philly who hid behind his mom’s leg, hated public speaking, and secretly doubted himself — until his parents put him in church theater, handed him a Panasonic camcorder, and quietly changed the entire trajectory of his life.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Christian and I talk about how a quiet, self‑doubting kid from Philadelphia became a multi‑hyphenate media personality — from directing toy “movies” in his bedroom and rapping in church, to dancing, acting, and eventually building his own media brand, working NBA games, and landing on hit shows like Abbott Elementary, Hustle, and Wild ’N Out.

We get into: • Growing up in Philly as a shy kid who hid behind his mom and avoided the spotlight
• How his parents used church theater to pull him out of his shell and build real confidence
• Getting his first camcorder and shooting full scenes and “music videos” with his action figures at age seven
• Performing hip hop and rap in church, directing choir, and playing drums as a young “church boy ready to rock and roll”
• The importance of having a supportive family — and what to do if your own family doesn’t understand your dream
• Training at Freedom Theatre in Philadelphia and realizing entertainment wasn’t just a hobby
• Working retail at Foot Locker while chasing acting gigs and auditioning nonstop
• Landing his first Target commercial as a teenager, getting that $5K check, and realizing, “Oh, it’s over — this is what I’m gonna do”
• The mindset of fearlessness: trying things before you feel “ready” and letting experience build belief
• Moving from Philly to LA after years of dreaming about it — and why he finally stopped pushing that move off
• The reality of LA life: brutal traffic, long drives, and still choosing to show up anyway
• Why he thinks LA gets a bad rap — and why he loves the food, the people, and the creative energy
• How coming to LA with a specific mission, not a vague dream, changes everything
• Wanting to build a bigger team, deeper relationships, and a real media empire — not just chase clout

Christian also opens up about the inner work that fueled his journey — battling early self‑doubt, letting his parents’ belief carry him until he could believe in himself, learning to try new things without guarantees, and intentionally surrounding himself with people who pour into his vision.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wanted to move to LA, break into entertainment from outside the system, turn childhood creativity into a real career, or just understand what it takes to build a media life from scratch when you don’t start with money or connections.

Follow the podcast on Instagram:
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Raina Hill didn’t grow up with Hollywood connections or a clear blueprint for breaking into television. She was a kid from Missouri obsessed with Oprah, movies, and behind‑the‑scenes specials, telling anyone who would listen that she wanted “an agent” for her birthday long before she even knew what that meant.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Raina and I talk about what it really takes to build a career in reality TV — from cold‑emailing casting directors off IMDb in college, to moving to LA with no job and no housing lined up, to working her way up from PA and talent wrangler to senior producer on massive franchises like The Bachelor, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Vanderpump Villa, and Hulu’s Love Overboard.

We get into:
• Growing up in Missouri with a childhood obsession for Oprah and TV
• Studying film, switching (begrudgingly) to PR, and still finding ways to stay close to storytelling
• Cold‑pitching casting directors from IMDb and landing her first casting job in a tiny Missouri town
• Deciding to take a leap of faith, packing up the car, and driving to LA with no job and nowhere to live
• How a single Facebook post turned into her very first PA gig in Los Angeles
• Working as a talent wrangler on Finding Prince Charming and learning on the fly
• The power of “making a friend on every set” and how it led to Drag Race and The Bachelor
• What a talent handler actually does and how that role prepared her to produce
• Asking for a coffee meeting, advocating for herself, and finally making the jump into producing
• The difference between cast producers and date/field producers — and how she ended up on the date team
• What a “day in the life” of a creative producer really looks like: brainstorming, pitching, and logistics
• Taking an idea from paper to screen — and what it feels like to watch it air on TV
• The wild logistics of filming Love Overboard on a yacht in Malta (boats, scuba cams, and losing light)
• Producing Vanderpump Villa in the English countryside and reuniting with past casts from other shows
• Hot takes: reality vs scripted, live vs pre‑tape, travel jobs vs studio lots, early calls vs night shoots
• Myth‑busting: are reality TV shows fully scripted, or is the chaos actually real?
• Why meal penalties, breaks, and fair treatment of crew really matter
• Why she believes PAs deserve first dibs on leftover crafty and set goodies
• Her advice for aspiring producers and PAs who want to move up in unscripted TV

Raina also opens up about the mindset it took to build her career — saying yes to every job that first year in LA, being “delusionally” confident in her own path, learning every department’s role on set, and realizing that the people you meet and the relationships you build are the real engine of this industry.

This episode is for anyone who wants to break into reality TV, move to LA for a creative career, climb from PA to producer, or just understand what really happens behind the scenes of your favorite dating shows and competition series.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations about entertainment, dance, creativity, LA life, and what really happens behind the scenes of the industry.

Amy Paffrath didn’t grow up with Hollywood connections or a perfect roadmap to success. She was a creative kid from Missouri putting on homemade newscasts in her basement, dreaming about California long before she ever stepped foot in Los Angeles.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Amy and I talk about what it really takes to build a career in entertainment — from moving to LA with almost no money, to booking hosting gigs off Craigslist, to eventually landing on shows like Entertainment Tonight and The Jennifer Hudson Show.

We get into:
• Growing up in Missouri with big Hollywood dreams
• Why she chose journalism over theater school
• Moving to LA with $1,000 and no connections
• Booking early hosting jobs through Craigslist and hustle jobs
• Working survival jobs while chasing acting and hosting opportunities
• The reality of auditions, self tapes, and rejection
• How she landed opportunities with Entertainment Tonight and Morning Save
• What it’s like working with Jennifer Hudson behind the scenes
• Balancing career, motherhood, homeschooling, and personal life
• Healing from grief, perfectionism, and hustle culture
• The importance of staying authentic in the entertainment industry
• Why community, presence, and self trust matter more than “making it”

Amy also shares some of the hardest lessons she’s learned in Hollywood, including standing up for herself on set, navigating uncomfortable industry situations, and learning that success means nothing if you lose yourself in the process.

This episode is for anyone trying to build a creative career, move to a new city, chase a dream, or figure out how to stay grounded while doing it.

🔔 Subscribe for more honest conversations about entertainment, dance, creativity, LA life, and what really happens behind the scenes of the industry.

Mia and Sara didn’t grow up with industry parents or perfect plans — they were Philly studio kids who loved hip hop, went to Sixers games, and suddenly found themselves on center court as NBA dancers balancing college, barista shifts, and a “dream job” that didn’t always feel like a dream.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Sara and I unpack the real story behind making (and leaving) an NBA dance team: auditioning last-minute vs. prepping for months, getting judged on tricks like kip-ups and headsprings, learning to perform for a 360° arena, and navigating the gray-area politics of corporate sports entertainment.

We get into:

How we actually made the Philadelphia 76ers dance team: materials, interviews, athletic combos, and freestyle strategy (including what NOT to do)
What NBA teams really look for: individuality, brand alignment, and why your IG stalking (outfits, hair, makeup, team “vibe”) matters more than you think
The reality of the job: 3-hour rehearsals, 7pm games that run till 10:30, promos every quarter, t-shirt tosses, Chick-fil-A timeouts, and being “on” for 20,000 people
The truth about pay: why almost everyone needs a second job, how “dream job” can still mean part-time wages, and what that looks like in real life
Team culture & mental health: being the younger rookies, feeling excluded in the locker room, mixed signals from leadership, and learning to keep your identity in a corporate system
Freestyle vs. “freestyle”: how some circles were secretly choreographed, why Sara’s real freestyle was constantly policed, and what that says about authenticity in pro teams
The gray area with players: weird unspoken rules, Mia’s talk-show “scandal” about Tyrese Maxey, and how tightly the organization tried to control our personalities and platforms
Appearances & community work: school events, watch parties, Junior 76ers, and the full-circle moments of being the dancers we used to look up to as kids
Knowing when to walk away: realizing the job didn’t fully align with our values, finishing out the season anyway, and choosing long-term dreams over short-term status

If you’re curious what it actually looks like to make an NBA dance team — the auditions, the politics, the low pay, the pressure, and the parts that still make it worth it — this episode breaks it down.

🔔 Subscribe for more raw conversations about pro dance teams, the LA dance industry, and building a creative career without losing who you are in the process.

I moved to LA at 22, started a 9–5 at a talent agency, launched this podcast, survived a car accident, an apartment fire, money stress, and a full-blown restart of my life on the West Coast.

In this solo episode, I’m sharing the 10 biggest lessons I learned in my first year in LA and post-grad - from starting before you feel ready, to dropping perfectionism, building real community, and staying resilient when everything goes wrong.

If you’ve ever thought about moving to LA, working in entertainment, or chasing a “crazy” dream after college, this episode is your sign.

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Tyler Winston didn’t move to LA with a perfect plan — he pivoted from college football to TGI Fridays, got scouted on a shift, and said “yes” to a free photoshoot that turned into agency contracts, billboards, SAG commercials, and a spot on Vanderpump Villa Season 3.

In this episode of Call Sheet Confessions, Tyler and I unpack the real story behind that pivot: growing up in Houston chasing the NFL, losing his place on the team, starting over in New York, and slowly building a career as a working model and commercial actor before reality TV ever entered the picture.

We get into:

Getting scouted at TGI Fridays, shooting digitals on a phone, and landing early campaigns (including his first SAG job)

How he cold-pitches brands and uses his sports background as a selling point

The behind-the-scenes reality of Vanderpump Villa: casting DMs, blindfolded arrival, six weeks mic’d, and the pressure of being “on” 24/7

His showmance with Sage, the Love Overboard hot-tub drama, and why he now sees the lie as worse than the flirtation

The emotional and financial whiplash of Net 30/60/90 payments and waiting on thousands in checks

If you’re curious how someone actually goes from college athlete to commercials, campaigns, and reality TV — without connections, and with plenty of mistakes along the way — this episode breaks it down.

🔔 Subscribe for more raw conversations about acting, modeling, reality TV, and building a creative career without a safety net – and without losing yourself.