Explore every episode of the podcast The Acting Notes
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stories Behind the Screen | 26 Jun 2026 | 00:24:53 | |
In this episode, I’m doing something a little different. I’ve gathered up a handful of stories from various actors, spanning different movies, eras, and experiences. Some are well-known. Some might be new to you.I’ll share these stories as I know them, talk through what stands out to me about each one, and offer a few thoughts along the way. There’s no single theme or takeaway I'm trying to force here—just stories about the craft, the industry, and the people who live in it.Feel free to like and subscribe for more great acting notes! | |||
| Business Traps for Actors | 29 May 2026 | 00:29:42 | |
We have to treat our acting career like a business. In this episode, Justin goes over traps that some actors can stumble into. If you enjoy the podcast please consider leaving a rating! Thank you for listening. You can also follow @theactingnotes and @Justin_r_powell on Instagram for more great acting content. | |||
| New York Minute | 15 May 2026 | 00:21:59 | |
After a brief vacation in New York, Justin discusses some lessons he took from his trip as well as how he tackled auditions while out of town. Be sure to check out the acting notes on Instagram @theactingnotes and Justin's personal IG @justin_r_powell. | |||
| Traps for Newer Actors | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:26:24 | |
When you're just starting out and you're acting career, there are certain habits and ticks that tend to happen for everyone. In this episode, Justin breaks down some of those early traps and offers solutions to find new ways forward. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider leaving a review and sharing! Also, let me know what episodes you might want to hear in the future. Follow this link to better help for a discount! https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes | |||
| Lessons from a Headshot Session | 10 Apr 2026 | 00:25:39 | |
I recently got my headshots for this year! So what better time to put out an episode talking about some things you can do to make sure your next headshot session is the best it can be. I'll walk you through how I prepared and got some of my favorite shots ever! Huge thanks to better help for sponsoring this episode! https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes Be sure to give The Acting Notes a follow on IG. IG: @theactingnotes Host: @justin_r_powell | |||
| Lessons From 3 Features | 03 Apr 2026 | 00:29:41 | |
It's been a busy start to the year! I had fully intended on releasing new episodes in January but booked 3 straight features and had to focus up. Now, Justin shares some lessons learned from the audition and filming process. Be sure to give the Acting Notes a follow over on Youtube and Instagram! | |||
| Playing Different Characters in the Same Project | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:19:33 | |
This week, Justin provides some tip for creating characters distinct from one another particularly when they are in the same project. | |||
| The Emotional Scene | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:26:33 | |
Ever feel pressure to "just feel it" in emotional scenes? You’re not alone. This episode dives deep into the craft behind authentic emotional work – no trauma-dumping required. Join us as we unpack actionable techniques to access raw truth safely and sustainably, whether you’re on camera or stage. We’ll bust the myth that "real acting" means suffering and reveal why the most powerful momentslive in the tension between control and surrender. Whether you’re facing grief, rage, or vulnerability – this is your roadmap to emotional resilience. | |||
| Master the Art of Acting With Ivanna Chubbuck | 06 May 2025 | 00:58:25 | |
In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Ivana Chubbuck—renowned acting coach, author of The Power of the Actor, and mentor to A-list stars like Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, and Charlize Theron. We dive deep into her groundbreaking Chubbuck Technique, a powerful approach to acting that blends psychology, emotional authenticity, and actionable objectives to create unforgettable performances.Whether you're an aspiring actor or a seasoned performer, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights to elevate your craft.🚀 Want to train with Ivana? Check out her studio and sign up for classes here:🔗 http://www.ivanachubbuck.com📖 Get her book, The Power of the Actor:💬 What was your biggest takeaway? Let us know in the comments!👍 Liked this episode? Subscribe for more acting tips, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights!#Acting #ChubbuckTechnique #IvanaChubbuck #ActingCoach #Hollywood #FilmActing #Theater #ActingTips | |||
| Theater Acting VS Film Acting: How to Change Your Acting Based on the Medium | 18 Apr 2025 | 00:26:44 | |
Ever delivered a powerhouse stage performance… only to hear "tone it down" on camera? Or felt "too small" when transitioning to theater? In this episode, we break down the key differences between acting for stage, film, and TV—and how to master each medium like a pro. Whether you’re a theater actor eyeing Hollywood or a screen newbie stepping onstage, these tools will transform your craft. | |||
| Disappointment | 07 Mar 2025 | 00:10:49 | |
In this episode Justin shares some thoughts on disappointment in the business and how we can handle it. | |||
| The ULTIMATE Headshot Guide with Pro Photographer Michael Roud | 28 Feb 2025 | 00:31:09 | |
In this episode of The Acting Notes, we sit down with renowned headshot photographer Michael Roud to break down everything actors need to know about getting the perfect headshot. We discuss what makes a headshot stand out, how to prepare for a session, and the biggest mistakes actors make. Michael also shares insights from his years of experience working with actors at every level. Check out Michael’s work and book a session at michaelroud.com Disclaimer: Apologies for the echo in the audio—technical difficulties got the best of us on this one! But stick with it; the insights in this episode are worth it. | |||
| Crying On Cue | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:29:49 | |
Crying On Cue is sometimes considered to be the MOST important thing in acting. Is it? Are you actually a good actor if you can't do this? Short answer is no. Long answer - well, listen to the episode. Featuring a special guest; Actress and Acting Coach Georgia Warner. | |||
| Dealing with Outside Noise | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:21:24 | |
What do we do when the world is just too much? How do we manage to still do incredible work when we don't feel our best? This week Justin talks about how to deal with the outside noise and take care of yourself as an artist. | |||
| Agents | 17 Jan 2025 | 00:20:26 | |
WE'RE BACK! Agents are often viewed as the means of getting to the big leagues but how do we get the right agent? What do we need to get an agent? In this episode, Justin breaks down some tips to help you get an agent that you can vibe with. | |||
| The Actor's Essence with Rachel Paulson | 20 Dec 2023 | 00:38:04 | |
In this episode, Justin talks with Director, Coach and Actress Rachel Paulson about what actors need to know about auditioning. They discuss shifting your focus for each acting genre and what casting directors really want to see when you send in your tape. Be sure to check out The Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. For more information on Rachel's incredible RRsessions head to https://www.rrsessions.com/ and give her a follow @rupaulson on IG! | |||
| Finding Freedom in the Work | 27 Oct 2023 | 00:32:34 | |
It's so important to discover freedom in the work. In this episode, Justin Powell walks us through why it's so key and how we can approach our work to discover this freedom. Be sure to follow the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes for more great acting content! Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Keeping the Passion Alive | 08 Sep 2023 | 00:22:55 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about how our passion can wane in this industry and some things you can do to keep that fire alive. Be sure to follow the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes for more great acting content! Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Prep Work For A Feature Film | 11 Aug 2023 | 00:36:37 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about the process he used to prep for a non union feature film and how following your curiosity for the character is always key. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Downtime | 14 Jul 2023 | 00:22:19 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about the downtime we're all about to experience in our acting career and how we can utilize these moments of downtime to keep helping us grow. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| The Art of Letting Go | 30 Jun 2023 | 00:28:52 | |
In this episode, Justin breaks down the Art of Letting Go in your acting work - why it matters and how to do it. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Agent Representation | 23 Jun 2023 | 00:29:08 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about agent representation and some steps you can take to secure an agent that will help with your career. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| How Shakespeare Can Help Your Acting PT. 1 | 09 Jun 2023 | 00:22:30 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about how you can break down a script that uses verse and how these techniques can be applied to any work you come across. This is a part one! At some point in the future I will be bringing on a guest to talk in more detail about the nuance of verse and how it can be applied to your acting so stay tuned! Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| The Real Work of the Artist | 26 May 2023 | 00:23:55 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about how the real work of the artist is to live life with a certain level of awareness and presence. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Collaboration | 12 May 2023 | 00:23:24 | |
In this episode, Justin discusses the necessity of collaboration as actors. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Go to https://betterhelp.com/theactingnotes for 10% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp and get matched with a therapist who will listen and help #sponsored | |||
| Delving Deeper | 05 May 2023 | 00:25:21 | |
In this episode of the Acting Notes Podcast, Justin talks about how we can delve deeper into the work and why it is necessary that we do so. Be sure to follow the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. | |||
| Relationships | 21 Apr 2023 | 00:31:08 | |
In this episode, Justin talks about the importance of relationships within the story and how that impacts how you approach your own character. Be sure to check out The Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. | |||
| How To Crush Self Tape Auditions | 14 Apr 2023 | 00:26:28 | |
In this episode, Justin breaks down some tips to help you dominate your self tape auditions. Be sure to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @theactingnotes and thank you for listening! | |||
| Signs of a Good Acting Class | 07 Apr 2023 | 00:24:17 | |
It's important as actors and actresses to keep growing our craft and finding a good acting class can certainly lend a big hand in that regard. In this episode, Justin discusses some of the things to look out for when finding a good acting class. Be sure to follow The Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes for more acting tips and tricks! | |||
| Process Oriented | 24 Mar 2023 | 00:23:02 | |
In today's episode, Justin talks about the importance of being process oriented and how that shift in your mindset can help your acting career. Be sure to follow The Acting Notes on TikTok and Instagram @theactingnotes. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for things you'd like to hear discussed - be sure to leave a comment on the socials or on the podcast page and I will do my best to get to them! | |||
| Should You Be A Multi-Hyphenate | 17 Mar 2023 | 00:25:58 | |
In this episode, Justin discusses the idea of expanding your artistry beyond just acting and becoming a multi-hyphenate. Be sure to follow The Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes for more great tips and tricks to help your acting career! | |||
| Non Acting Things That Help Your Acting | 10 Mar 2023 | 00:39:06 | |
In this episode, Justin discusses a couple of things that seemingly have nothing to do with acting. However, like most of life, all these things and more can help you grow as an artist. Be sure to check out The Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. Also - if you have any questions, comments or just want to say hi, feel free to leave a rating and review or reach out to the channel via those social media links. | |||
| The Method | 03 Mar 2023 | 00:25:09 | |
In this episode, Justin talks a bit about Method acting and whether the techniques are really worth it in our acting careers. Be sure to follow The Acting Notes on TikTok and Instagram @theactingnotes! | |||
| Trust Yourself | 24 Feb 2023 | 00:26:41 | |
In this week's episode, Justin discusses the importance of trusting ourselves in the work and even gets into his psychoanalytic nerdy interests a bit! Be sure to follow The Acting Notes on Instagram and TikTok for more great acting advice! @theactingnotes | |||
| Observations from Casting a Short Film | 17 Feb 2023 | 00:27:27 | |
This week, Justin talks about his experience casting a short film and some observations he has taken away from the casting process as well as how to make sure you are sending in your best material for the part. Be sure to check out The Acting Notes on Instagram and TikTok @theactingnotes for more tips and tricks. | |||
| Stagnation In Your Acting | 03 Feb 2023 | 00:31:11 | |
What do you do when you feel like you're not growing your acting career the way you want to? In this episode, Justin breaks down some realities about this career and how we can better prepare ourselves to grow our career the way we want. Be sure to check out the Acting Notes on IG and TikTok @theactingnotes. | |||
| Lessons from an Acting Workshop | 27 Jan 2023 | 00:23:21 | |
In this episode, Justin breaks down some takeaways he had from an on camera acting workshop at the Anthony Meindl Acting Studio in Los Angeles. Be sure to give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok @theactingnotes. | |||
| Staying in the Emotion | 20 Jan 2023 | 00:28:20 | |
How do you stay in the emotion of a scene? In this episode, Justin takes time to discuss ways to keep yourself emotionally connected during long days with many distractions on set. Be sure to give us a follow on Instagram and TikTok @theactingnotes. If you enjoyed the podcast, please feel free to leave a like or review! | |||
| Breaking Down a Scene | 13 Jan 2023 | 00:30:35 | |
In this episode, Justin goes over one technique that can be used to break down a scene so you can have all the information you need to do incredible work. Of course, this is just one way that works and there are tons of options out there. As an actor, it's important to try different techniques and see what works for you. Thank you for listening to the Acting Notes Podcast! Be sure to follow us on our socials Instagram: @theactingnotes TikTok: @theactingnotes | |||
| Where Are We Creating From? | 06 Jan 2023 | 00:17:58 | |
In this week's episode, Justin talks about the space we create from as artists and why it's important to be creating from a place of abundance. Thanks for checking out the podcast! If you'd like to see more head over to Instagram or TikTok @TheActingNotes for more tips, tricks and business information. | |||
| Setting Goals for 2023 | 30 Dec 2022 | 00:20:51 | |
New Years often has us reflecting on the past year we had and what we might want to do differently going forward. Here are some tips that can help you set goals and achieve them going forward into 2023. | |||
| Getting Started in the Business | 18 Nov 2022 | 00:21:49 | |
This episode is specifically for people brand new to acting that want to understand how they can start growing their career. Justin provides a path that can give you direction towards becoming a working actor. | |||
| Taking Care of Your Acting Instrument | 11 Nov 2022 | 00:19:16 | |
Our acting instrument is the only one we will ever have - so how do we make sure it is in tip top shape? This week, I will give you tips and tricks to ensure you are keeping your acting instrument tuned. Be sure to give us a follow on TikTok and Instagram @theactingnotes so you don't miss out on any great content! If you liked the podcast, it would mean the world to me if you could leave a rating and review. This will let me know what is working and will help other actors find this page. Thank you for listening! | |||
| Character Backstory | 21 Oct 2022 | 00:19:10 | |
In this episode, Justin breaks down character backstories and provides a couple ways you can use them to enhance your performance. Be sure to follow our socials: TikTok: @theactingnotes Instagram: @theactingnotes YouTube: The Acting Notes Channel | |||
| Let's Talk Auditions | 14 Oct 2022 | 00:33:17 | |
Auditions can be a tricky beast for actors to contend with so here are some tips and tricks that can help you nail your next audition. In this episode, Justin talks about what to do when you first get an audition, how to break down the sides, weighs in on the memorize or not debate, and gives you some helpful mindset tips to approach this work. Be sure to give us a follow on our socials! IG: @theactingnotes TikTok: @theactingnotes Youtube: Acting Notes Channel | |||
| Understanding your Acting Type | 07 Oct 2022 | 00:16:37 | |
What exactly is an acting type and what does it mean??? In this episode, Justin breaks down some of the pros of understanding your type and how you can use that information to your advantage. Be sure to give The Acting Notes a follow on TikTok and Instagram @theactingnotes and check out YouTube at The Acting Notes Channel for more great content! | |||
| What is the Process of Getting Into Character? | 30 Sep 2022 | 00:23:21 | |
Sometimes it's confusing to know how to build a character. In many ways, we hope for a repeatable process that will work every time. In this episode, Justin talks about how variable this process can be and why that's a good thing. Be sure to check us out on our other socials for more great acting content. Instagram: @theactingnotes TikTok: @theactingnotes Youtube: The Acting Notes Channel | |||
| Memorization Techniques | 16 Sep 2022 | 00:15:34 | |
Memorizing lines is an aspect of acting that can often bring people tremendous stress. In this episode, Justin shares a handful of different techniques that can get you off book quicker and allow your lines to feel a bit more organic. Be sure to give Acting Notes a follow on Instagram and TikTok for more tips and tricks! Instagram: @theactingnotes TikTok: @theactingnotes | |||
| Staying In The Heat | 09 Sep 2022 | 00:21:01 | |
This week on the Acting Notes podcast, we talk about the importance of staying connected in our acting, even when it feels like the emotions are too much to bear. Be sure to check out our Instagram and TikTok where we post tips and tricks for actors of any level to consider. Instagram: @theactingnotes TikTok: @theactingnotes | |||
| An Inspiring Message for Artists | 26 Aug 2022 | 00:10:29 | |
On today's episode of Acting Notes - I wanted to share a letter from Sol LeWitt to Eva Hesse. It is an inspiring message for artists to allow themselves the creative leeway to really explore. There is some explicit language in this episode as I did not want to dilute the letter from Sol. If you are enjoying the podcast - please feel free to share, rate and leave a comment. It would really help the podcast grow and I would appreciate it greatly! Also, if you'd like to leave a question I would be more than happy to answer on a future episode. | |||