Spiritual Practices of the Disgruntled Artist

Marissa Rutka (Actor, Film Maker, Figuring It Outer) and Standing Up To Speak

Welcome back Spodies! In this episode your hosts Ari Hader and Olivia Spirz, discuss the joy of noticing the small things and being a kind human, and how important it is to extend help and opportunities to others. Olivia talks about her theater filled week and her new puzzle theory. And Ari talks about her love for film and tv and how lately she's been using her magic to manifest new artistic collaborations!  We then bring on our wonderful guest Marissa Rutka, who is an actor, editor, film maker and self proclaimed figuring it outer! We discuss topics from going to Quaker meetings and astrology.  And of course her recent show, Peacock in the Rubble, which explores her OCD how how losing her home due to the tragic Eaton Fires effected it.  We also briefly praise Pixar movies!  FOR THE LOVE OF IT!!! Thanks for Listening!  Follow us: @spodapod Email us at spoda.contact@gmail.com Beautiful music by: Doug Harvey

Maxon Davis (Actor/Director/Theater Maker) and Navigating The Non-Meritocracy That Is An Acting Career

This episode begins with an Ari/Olivia catch up discussing last episode’s spiritual practice (Alec Engerson's homework of watching “Woman Under The Influence”). We then segue into a brief but quite loud meltdown from Ari about the anger she’s harboring towards this industry rn and Olivia very kindly brings in the light. Our interview with Max centers around his navigation of the non-meritocracy that is a career as an actor and what he’s found to make it less stressful, his take on spirituality, and how simple kindnesses to strangers can be really transformative. Max is the co-runner of Shakespeare Forum LA, a group of artists that meets every Tuesday night (for free) to perform, get feedback, and be radically supported by other artists: https://www.theshakespeareforum.org/ [https://www.theshakespeareforum.org/]  Come through! It's a great time. Follow us: @spodapod Follow Max: @maxon.davis Email us at spoda.contact@gmail.com [spoda.contact@gmail.com] Beautiful music by: Doug Harvey

Alec Engerson (Writer) And That Episode of Fresh Prince of Bel Air

This episode Ari and Olivia discuss how nightly praying, our last practice from previous guest Kristin Couture, goes. Then we get into Ari's new theory! Spoiler alert: it involves lotto balls! Then we bring on our guest, a writer and former development exec, who is currently working on the reboot of Baywatch which comes out September 2026! We talk about the industry, and what it actually means when you book a job!  How Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Jurassic Park still greatly inspire his writing and of course what he loves about movies and movie making! Thanks for listening SPODIES!! follow us @spodapod Beautiful music by Doug Harvey As always, if you have the time/energy for a review, a 5 star rating, or sharing us with a friend, it helps us reach a lot more disgruntled artist! Thank you for supporting us!

Kristin Couture (Actor/Producer) And The Infinite God

The episode starts with an Ari/ Olivia Catch Up where we dissect the spiritual practice of laughing from Will Mueller's interview last time. Then we get into Kristin's interview - her darkest year and how she got herself out of it, being raised Catholic, how her parents have shown her in action what it is to love God and love your neighbor, why hard conversations are sometimes the most important ones, and many other insights into her faith, life, and art. We love you, SPODIES!  Follow us @spodapod Follow Kristin @kacouture Beautiful music by Doug Harvey As always, if you have the time/energy for a review, a 5 star rating, or sharing us with a friend, it helps us reach a lot more disgruntled artists. Thank you for supporting us!

Will Mueller and the Trip That Changed Everything

Hello Spodies! In this episode, Ari and Olivia recap how making art out of journaling went for them. We then discuss our reasons for choosing acting when we were younger, and if those reasons hold any meaning!  We then bring on our first guest of season two, actor and friend, Will Mueller! Will talks about his famous LSD (Not Mushroom) trip story that has been mentioned in previous episodes! He discusses how that trip threw out years of atheism right out the door and introduced the idea of a universal consciousness. He discusses how he wants to absorb all that the human experience can offer and how acting is a way to access that on a higher level!  follow us @spodapod Email us spodapd.contact@gmail.com FOR THE LOVE OF IT beautiful music by: Doug Harvey