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Also check out: https://hopefulgoosecreative.com/

Sydney-based actor, director, and coach Madeline Whiton stops by the studio while in Adelaide for the Fringe to talk about maintaining your mental health as a creative. We get into rejection, self-doubt, the fear that blocks you in auditions, why playfulness makes you a better actor, and why putting the human before the actor is the foundation of a lasting career.

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GET TICKETS TO MY NEXT PLAY ‘THE HOUSEWARMING’ HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/the-housewarming-flw 

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Brad’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9744714/

Waiting for the industry to tap you on the shoulder can quietly wreck your confidence, your health, and your creativity. I’m joined by actor and producer Brad McCarthy for a laid-back but brutally useful chat about what actually moves an acting career forward when the work feels thin and the “rules” keep changing across the Australian film and theatre scene.

We get into Brad’s producing path and the momentum behind Penrose, a supernatural horror project inspired by modern genre hits and powered by young filmmakers who refuse to wait until someone says they’re ready. We talk indie filmmaking as career insurance, why staying connected matters more than perfect timing, and how a single relationship or Instagram touchpoint can circle back years later with real work attached.

Then we go practical: the self-tape audition grind, why endless takes can become self-punishment, and how setting a timer, doing smart prep, and building a repeatable setup can make auditions feel creative again. We also unpack headshots, demo reels, risk-taking on set, and the awkward reality of lowball commercial casting that tries to dodge agents and fair rates.

If you’re an actor trying to find balance between hustle and rest, or a filmmaker building work from the ground up, this one will hit home. Subscribe, share it with an actor mate, and leave a review so more Aussie creatives can find the show.

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Sasha’s Agency Profile: https://www.randommanagement.com.au/talents/sasha-simic

Sasha Simic has toured the world doing what he loves. Musical theatre, stunt work at Universal Studios Japan, cruise ships, theme parks, Jersey Boys in Alaska, even playing a pirate in the Bahamas.

And he was gonna be a doctor.

In this episode of Go Pluck Yourself: The Actor’s Pursuit, I sit down with Sasha for a proper chat about building a career in the performing arts without really knowing what you’re doing at the start. We talk about saying yes before you feel ready, learning under pressure, getting humbled, killing your ego, and figuring things out in real time.

We get into musical theatre versus film and TV, auditioning with no clue how auditions work, working internationally as a performer, the reality of theatre in Australia, social media for actors, and being the antithesis of impostor syndrome. He shares what it was like growing up in a refugee family after the Yugoslav war, how a high school drama teacher changed the direction of his life, and why staying open to everything has probably been his biggest strength.

This is a conversation about curiosity, building your toolbox, and understanding that you have to be bad at something before you can be good at it. It is about confidence versus ego, maturing as an artist, and what actually happens after drama school when the real world hits.

If you are an actor, performer, creative, or someone trying to carve out a life in the entertainment industry, this one is for you.

Go Pluck Yourself is an independent acting podcast hosted by Chris Gun. New episodes drop fortnightly. If the podcast fires you up creatively, hit subscribe and share it with someone who needs it

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@lucasardelis

Erik’s IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6619960/

What does it really look like to keep going as an actor when the industry keeps shifting under your feet?

This week I had the enormous honour of sitting down with one of Australia’s most respected and recognisable actors, Erik Thomson.

Erik’s been a constant on Australian screens for decades. You’ll know him from All Saints, Packed to the Rafters, 800 Words, Aftertaste, and from way back as Hades in Xena: Warrior Princess. His film work includes The Black Balloon, Somersault, The Boys Are Back, and more recently Kangaroo Island. It’s a seriously impressive body of work, but he talks about it all with zero ego.

We chat about what it actually means to stay in the work. Moving where the jobs are, adapting to self tapes and shorter runs, letting go of entitlement, and coming back again and again to the basics of the craft. There’s a lot here about auditions, perspective, mental health, identity outside of acting, and how to keep yourself steady without losing curiosity or love for the job.

This isn’t a big dramatic breakdown of the industry. It’s just a really generous, honest conversation with someone who’s been around long enough to have seen the cycles come and go, and who’s still very much in it.

If you’re an actor, filmmaker, or creative trying to work out how to build something that lasts, I reckon you’ll get a lot out of this one.

Thanks for coming on Erik! It was a true honour.

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Luca’s IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6619960/

Happy New Year! Let this chat be the creative inspiration you need to kick off your year. This week I sat down with the incredible Luca Sardelis!

Luca Sardelis is a Greek-Cypriot-Australian actor, writer, and all-around maker, working across film, TV, and theatre. You might know her from lead roles in The Hunting (SBS), Nowhere Boys (ABC), and Deadlock (ABC), or from A Perfect Pairing (Netflix), The Tourist (HBO Max), and RFDS S3 (Channel 7). She trained in Shakespeare and Jacobean theatre at LAMDA in London and has performed in sell-out shows like Parlour Games (Adelaide Fringe) and her self-devised piece The Fish Rots from the Head(CRAM Collective), which is headed for screen production in 2026 with Mercury.

In 2023, she scored a Carclew grant to write and direct her first short, Nothing Gold Can Stay (We Made A Thing), and in 2024 she wrote, produced, and performed in the video art piece Aurora at Adelaide’s Household Gallery. Her work has also been featured in BAFTA- and Academy-qualifying festivals, including SXSW (I’m The Most Racist Person I Know) and Flickerfest (Spite, Cordelia, Daughter of the Sea).

She’s constantly pushing herself, telling bold stories across stage and screen, and has a stacked slate of indie features coming up, River, Love, Tea and Epiphany, Diabolic, Ruby Ruby, and Haven’t You Heard? Everyone Hates Me.

She’s a total inspiration and it was an honour to have her on the show! 

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Grab some tickets to his show: https://arttheplay.com.au/

This week on the podcast, I sat down with multi-award-winning actor Damon Herriman, an Australian icon who’s managed to do the unthinkable: break Hollywood and build a career that’s lasted from childhood television all the way through to Quentin Tarantino, and some of the biggest shows and movies on the planet. Damon’s one of those rare performers who’s not only been around forever, but has somehow kept getting better, sharper, and more interesting with every decade.

We dive into the long game behind that kind of career: the patience, the timing, the doubt, the breakthroughs, the craft, and the strange little decisions that end up changing everything. From the years where nothing was landing, to the moments that opened doors in the US, to the roles that reshaped his trajectory, it’s a look at how a multi-award-winning career is actually built. Slowly, quietly, and with a ridiculous amount of persistence.

This was such an honour.

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@fromage.frazer

Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9090098/

This week I sat down with fellow Better Man actor Frazer Hadfield, who played Robbie Williams’ best mate in the film, and honestly, one of the real beating hearts of the story. We get into everything from the craft, the career stuff, and what it actually feels like being on the inside of a big film like Better Man.

We talk about Michael Gracie’s rehearsal style, long-take filmmaking, iPhone run-throughs, reshoots, industry myths, self-tapes that may or may not get watched, and how to stay grounded when the work goes a bit quiet. Frazer’s got this calm, honest perspective on the industry that’s genuinely refreshing, and there’s so much actors can take from the way he approaches the job.

I loved this chat. Thanks for coming in, Frazer.

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@laurenceboxhall

Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm6278415/

This week I sit down with the insanely talented Laurence Boxhall, an actor who has genuinely done it all. From playing Gollum in Lord of the Rings: The Musical to tackling Tennessee Williams in The Glass Menagerie, Laurence has one of the most versatile and seriously impressive CVs going around.

But what really sets him apart is the way he thinks about the work. He’s sharp, curious, funny as hell and full of the kind of hard-earned insight you only get from years of actually doing the thing theatre, TV, musicals, comedy, drama, all of it.

We talk about growing up in Adelaide, studying at NIDA, carving out your identity as an actor, refusing to take yourself too seriously, and how to hold onto play, joy and perspective in an industry that can drain all three. It’s thoughtful, chaotic, honest and full of proper wisdom.

If you’re an actor or creative of any kind, this one’s going to light you up.

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Follow Dave on Instagram: 

@daviddaradan

Get tickets to the SASA Nominations Screenings: https://themercury.org.au/sasa2025/

Get tickets to A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Dave: https://butterflytheatre.net/next-production/

Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9621041/

This week I’m joined by actor, writer and director David Daradan. Yes, that David Daradan. We talk about how a ridiculous HBO credit, the Vigorous Hand Job Guy, unexpectedly turned him into a viral meme, and how he’s since gone on to create Liability, a hilarious and heartfelt short film premiering at the Adelaide Film Festival.

It’s a chat full of laughs, behind the scenes stories and sharp insights about acting, directing and collaboration. David’s one of those people who somehow balances humour, humility and hard work, and it really shines through here.

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@core_film

@noasis_official

Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9621041/

This week I’m joined by actor, writer, musician and all-round legend, Tom Spiby, who somehow shares my very specific claim to fame: we’ve both played Noel Gallagher. Tom’s the lead guitarist in the Oasis tribute band Noasis, while I played Noel in Michael Gracey’s Better Man. So yeah, this episode was always going to get a bit nostalgic.

We talk about acting, songwriting, filmmaking, and his upcoming short film Core, a dark, character-driven drama about a young drummer chasing opportunity at any cost. Tom shares what he’s learned from writing and producing his own work, studying at Flinders Drama Centre, and balancing his love of music and film.

It’s a fun, genuine chat about creativity, collaboration, and staying true to your artistic voice. And of course, plenty of talk about Oasis, growing up on 90s music. Just two dudes being dudes.

Check him out on all his socials! This guy does not stop!

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Follow Jess on Instagram: @jess_kuss

Check out her IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm9621041/

In this episode, I sit down with actor Jess Kuss to talk about rejection, motherhood, and the fear of stepping back from her acting career. Jess opens up about being on hold for over a year for a major role in Talk to Me, only to lose it, and how that moment collided with becoming a mum.

Jess speaks honestly about the reality that she only had so much love and energy to give, and it needed to go to her baby. Acting didn’t disappear, it just had to wait. We dig into the guilt, the imposter syndrome, and the myth that you’re “less serious” as an actor if life forces you to pause.

This is a raw and reassuring conversation for anyone juggling acting with real-world responsibilities. Dreams don’t expire, they just shift shape.

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Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm4471043/

Watch his debut short film, ‘Greg’: vimeo.com/848995139
 
This week I sat down with one of my oldest and closest friends, Calen Vanstone. A director, writer, filmmaker, and someone I’ve known since the beginning of my filmmaking career. We’ve been on parallel creative journeys for more than half our lives, and it’s been incredible watching him finally bring his stories to the screen.

Calen’s short film Greg (vimeo.com/848995139), a raw and moving piece about the personification of anxiety, has already made its way into festivals, and he’s now gearing up for his second feature. In this conversation, we go deep on what held us back in our early years, the dangers of waiting for permission to create, and why sometimes you just have to ignore the noise and make the thing anyway.

We talk about mental health, vulnerability, and how to keep creating without falling into the trap of people-pleasing or chasing external validation. Calen shares why he believes film school should be a place to fail, why failure is essential for growth, and how he’s learned to turn stubbornness into strength.

If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination, self-doubt, or feeling like you don’t deserve a voice as an artist, this episode is for you.

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 Thanks for listening. Let me know what you think.
 
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Virginia started out as a classical musician, playing piano at three before discovering acting as a teenager at Flinders Drama Centre. Even though she resisted directing at first, those early experiences laid the groundwork for her filmmaking, and ultimately her short film Dragging the Chain, which is now heading to Copenhagen for its international premiere! Holy Smokes!

We talk about why she believes every director should learn to act, how she builds collaboration on set without pulling rank, and the very real fear of “cringe” that stops so many artists from even starting. “Everything is cringe until it works.”

This conversation is packed with insight on embracing multiple passions, making your own opportunities, and remembering to “eat all the figs” before they rot on the tree.

If you’re an actor curious about directing, a filmmaker wanting to connect better with performers, or just a creative person stuck at a crossroads, this one’s for you.

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Follow me on Instagram & TikTok:
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Follow Jasmine Leech on Instagram: @jjleechie

Check out her IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm13324533/

This week on the show, I chat with the brilliant JJ Leach. She's a producer, assistant director, and one of the few people who truly understands both sides of the camera.

We met doing theatre, but it was on film sets where JJ really found her groove. With a background in psychology and a deep love for storytelling, she’s now the calm in the chaos. Running sets, lifting up directors, and creating safe, focused environments for actors to actually do their job.

We talk about finding your lane in the industry, what actors don’t understand about production, and how her empathy makes her a total weapon on set. 

You’re gonna love this one.

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Follow Connor Pullinger on:
IG: @connorpullinger
TikTok: @connorpulli

Check out his IMDb: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm10747641/

Watch his latest short film Bulldog: https://youtu.be/8DpCJGqrV7c?si=vWCfriew_gTo5fKi

This week on the show, I chat with award winning actor Connor Pullinger, and it’s packed full of the stuff you can only learn through experience. How to take dodgy direction and turn it into something real, how to deal with self doubt, and how to stop chasing perfection and just enjoy the work again.

Connor trained full time at drama school. I came in through short films, workshops, and throwing myself at whatever I could. Different paths, but we connected on what actually matters: the craft, the mindset, and making sure you enjoy every part of the process.

We also get into social media, relationships, and how to create your own version of success without burning out.

If you’re an actor or filmmaker, you’re gonna love it!

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GET TICKETS TO MY NEXT PLAY ‘THE HOUSEWARMING’ HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/the-housewarming-flw 

Follow me on Instagram & TikTok:
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Follow Chrissie on Instagram:

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Chrissie’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9744714/

Chrissie Page is an Adelaide-based actor whose work spans Australian television, independent film, theatre, and award-winning short films on the international festival circuit. This is a long, honest conversation about a life spent in the craft.

We get into how she first discovered performing, why she detoured into running an actors agency, and the moment she came back to acting for good. We go deep into the craft. The inner critic (Parrot), what it feels like to truly be in the zone, why technique can sometimes get in the way of instinct, and how she approaches a new script. We also talk self-tapes, including the one she shot in a creek that ended up taking her to LA, and a one-word audition she turned into a full scene just because she was bored.

Chrissie’s credits include The Royal Hotel, Stateless, Aftertaste, Troppo, Harrow, The Tourist, and Wolf Creek. Her short film Future Harvest won Best Actor at both the Paris Women’s Film Festival and the Barcelona Film Festival. Her most recent short And the Ocean Agreed won her Best Actor at the Women’s Worldwide Film Festival 2025 and was nominated for Best Short Film.

It’s a beautiful chat! So wholesome. Thanks for coming in, Chrissie.

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