Slate It Till You Make It – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of Slate it Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly takes a deep dive with Lindsay Bronson of AHC Casting, one of the most successful commercial casting offices in the country. With decades of experience and a client list that spans major global brands, Lindsay brings unmatched insight into what it really takes to book work in today’s evolving commercial industry.

We dive into:

• Families & kids in commercials — what casting directors look for in child actors and “real families,” plus advice for parents just starting out.
  

• Self-tape secrets — Lindsay’s biggest pet peeves, the mistakes that get you skipped, and what makes a tape stand out.
  

• Getting seen — the best way to get on AHC Casting’s radar and what keeps an actor getting called in again and again.

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In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly is joined by the powerhouse that is Havilah Malone—4x bestselling author, award-winning actress, spoken word artist, and executive producer—whose mission is to inspire over 2 billion people to unlock their intuitive genius and confidently communicate their value.

From starring in hit shows like Barry, Insecure, and NCIS: New Orleans, to appearing in four Super Bowl commercials, Havilah knows firsthand the ups and downs of a creative career. She shares how tools like NLP, affirmations, and spirituality have not only transformed her own journey, but can also help actors and artists reprogram limiting beliefs, embrace rejection as redirection, and step fully into their potential.

We also dive into her brand-new spoken word album Proof of What’s Possible, and explore how mindset, mantras, and manifestation can help creatives book more work and build resilience in an unpredictable industry.

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In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with Marisa Munoz of M Casting. Marisa's journey in the entertainment industry started in Los Angeles as a dancer, where her passion for creativity and storytelling began. Transitioning to behind the camera into production, with an eye for beauty and unique talent, she discovered her calling in the world of casting. She fell in love with discovering new talent and bringing creative visions to life. Marisa has successfully cast a wide array of major brand commercials, print campaigns, music videos for renowned artists, and award- winning films. Her company, M Casting Worldwide, currently has offices in both Los Angeles and Nashville. Combining her extensive experience with a passion for talent & development, she now leaves her mark on projects around the globe casting projects worldwide. With three decades of experience, Marisa has built an impressive resume, casting commercials and print work for major brands including AT&T, Sephora, Old Navy, Nissan,Armani and Hilton to name a few. She has also cast music videos for renowned artists including Laniey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton and Kenny Chesney, and award-winning films with the most recent being Ride (Starring C. Thomas Howell, Annabeth Gish, Jake Allyn, Forrie J. Smith). Her expertise spans industries and genres, leaving a dynamic mark on every project she touches. In her downtime, Marisa’s zest for life continues—You can find her checking out the latest restaurants, volunteering at the Humane Society, spending time with friends, or taking long walks with her beloved dog and partner in crime, Marlowe! From casting calls to creative collaborations, Marisa’s journey is driven by her unwavering commitment to storytelling and the celebration of exceptional talent.

Breaking up with your commercial agent can feel overwhelming, but it’s an important step in taking control of your career. In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It", host Catherine Donnelly reframes the process as a strategic business decision, not a personal one. She walks listeners through key steps, including identifying why you want to make a change, understanding what you’re looking for in a new agent, weighing your options, and how to handle “the breakup” with professionalism. Catherine also shares tips for navigating the aftermath and ensuring the transition sets you up for success. If you’ve been contemplating making a change, this episode will give you the tools and confidence to handle it with clarity and grace.

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make it," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with TJ Alvarado is a prolific performer, working in film, television, theater and commercials. TJ established himself in television in the Recurring Guest Star role of "Dillon" on AMC/Netflix's LONGMIRE (4 Seasons). Recent television credits include a recurring role as "Toad" in MARVEL's AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., CBS' CRIMINAL MINDS, APPLE TV+'s THE MORNING SHOW, ABC's SPLITTING UP TOGETHER (directed by Helen Hunt), FX's AMERICAN HORROR STORY, NETFLIX's WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER: TEN YEAR LATER, NBC's HEARTBEAT, and ABC's THE MAYOR. In feature film, TJ played the lead in ALVIN, an indie psychological thriller directed by Christy Anna Wu. TJ also has turns in the independent features FLIRTING WITH MADNESS and EXCESS FLESH, both of which aired on the Lifetime Movie Network. In his most recent feature film, REUNION, he worked in an ensemble alongside Lil Rel Howery, Billy Magnussen and Nina Dobrev TJ has performed prolifically on stages of So Cal from Santa Barbara to San Diego. He was the lead of "Edna" in HAIRSPRAY, an ensemble player in Shakespeare's RICHARD III, the lead of "Young Lalo" in TRIO LOS MACHOS (a 1940's period musical that centers around migrant farm workers), and most recently, the lead in GAMES ON A BOMBED OUT BEACH. He stars in several national campaigns on air, including CARMAX, VOLKSWAGEN, AT&T, PLAYSTATION, FORD, X BOX, LOWE'S HOME IMPROVEMENT, GOOGLE, DAVE AND BUSTER'S and THE CALIFORNIA LOTTERY. TJ also sings, plays the guitar and ukulele.

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and financial expert Jaclynn Cherry to explore how actors can benefit from forming an LLC or S-Corp. They cover the basics of each business structure, discuss when it makes sense to incorporate, and dive into key tax-saving strategies. Jaclynn explains how to manage self-employment taxes, pay yourself from your business account, and make sense of deductions specific to actors. If you’re ready to keep more of your earnings and simplify your finances as a working actor, this episode is packed with valuable insights just for you.

In this episode of Slate It Till You Make It, host Catherine Donnelly sits down with CPA and actor Jaclynn Cherry for an essential guide to navigating W4 paperwork and tax strategies tailored for actors and freelancers. Jaclynn, a tax expert with over 15 years of experience in public and private accounting and a creative herself, sheds light on key topics like the benefits of voluntary withholding, debunking common W4 myths, maximizing returns, and managing both W2 and 1099 income. Together, they tackle everything from leveraging deductions to handling multiple job forms and preparing for tax season, offering practical tips to help freelancers better manage their finances and avoid tax pitfalls. This episode is packed with insights to help actors thrive financially in the gig economy.

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Lehr - comedic performer, writer and producer working in television, film and theater. Lehr co-created, wrote and executive produced and starred in both “10 Items or Less,” on TBS Hulu’s original comedy western “Quickdraw.” Lehr is one of the original Geico Cavemen from the wildly successful commercial campaign. He has appeared in dozens of spots, including the first commercial as a caveman boom operator, the caveman in therapy with Talia Shire, the tennis spot with Billy Jean King, Superbowl spots with Phil Simms and many more. Under their banner Howler Monkey Productions, Lehr and producing partner Nancy Hower have created multiple projects, most involving their unique improvisationally-based “hybrid” style found in “QuickDraw” (Hulu) “10 Items” (TBS) “Jailbait (Crackle) and “Memron” (Slamdance award-winner). With Lehr starring and Howler directing, the team completed comedy pilots “Let It Ride,” (Comedy Central), “Retreat!” (NBC), “Team McPhearson (Fox) and “King of Beers” (EUE/Sokolow). The team’s script/development deals include “The Loop” (HBO), “Troubadour” (MTV), “Life on Mars” (Sony/BBC), and “LARP” (Echo Lake), Tommy Chong’s Pipe Dreams (TBS). John has appeared in numerous television series, including “Friends” and was a series regular on “Jesse,” both for Warner Brothers/NBC. His feature film roles include “The Sweetest Thing,” and three Noah Baumbach films, “Kicking and Screaming,” “Mr. Jealousy,” and “Highball.” John’s hosting credits include “News Weasels” for E!; “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” for ABC; CBS’ special “Clash of the Commercials” with co-host Heidi Klum; and “John Lehr’s Movie Club” for TBS. A recovering alcoholic and drug addict, Lehr is a seasoned monologist and comedian who speaks openly about his twenty plus years of sobriety. Under the banner “Cold. Sober. Comedy.” Lehr performs and MC’s at fundraisers, non-profits and sober communities about his personal/career struggles, his continuing sober journey and the importance of an authentic sense of humor. Lehr recently debuted his newest monologue “Wait, I Have to Give a Crap About Other People?” at the Annual Sober St. Paddy’s Day Comedy Night for the Atlanta Caron Treatment Center.” Lehr’s critically acclaimed “Comedic Lectures” solo performances have had sold out runs in LA and New York. He is also a respected improvisational performer having worked at the Organic Theater and Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, the Montreal Comedy Festival, Chicago Improvisational Festival and multiple venues in Los Angeles and New York. Lehr regularly performs stand-up comedy and MC/Hosts events around the country. John is married to author Jennifer Lehr with whom he has two children. The Lehrs reside in Los Angeles. For more information on John, including booking: info@johnlehr.com

In this episode of “Slate It Till You Make It,” host Catherine Donnelly interviews session director, actress and founder of the commercial club Ava Himmel. With a background in dramatic theater and improv skills honed at Second City Toronto, Ava has starred in major campaigns for brands like AT&T, McDonald’s, Dunkin' Donuts, and Toyota. For over 15 years, she’s also worked as a Session Director, guiding actors through the audition process and building relationships with top casting directors and industry pros. Now, through teaching at "Keep It Real Acting" and her own *Commercial Club*, Ava is helping actors sharpen their skills and succeed in the commercial world on a daily basis.

In this episode of "Slate It Till You Make It," host Catherine Donnelly sits down with John Fulton, a multi-talented comedian, musician, and actor, to discuss his unique journey through the entertainment industry. From his early days as a non-basketball team captain in Topsfield, MA, to DJing a jazz show at the University of Rhode Island, and eventually hosting Must Love Cats on Animal Planet, John’s career has seen plenty of twists and turns. Now, he's thriving in the world of commercials and is a member of the comedy band Camp Friends, who just released their new album Real/Mature. Tune in as John shares hilarious anecdotes about being humbled in Hollywood, reveals the secrets to booking commercial gigs, and talks about embracing the unexpected path to success.