Derek Theler: Fame, Sitcom Success, and the Hard Jump to Movie Star

Brian Dietzen: Golf, NCIS, Longevity, and What It Really Means to Be a Working Actor

Brian Dietzen is one of the rare people in Hollywood who has quietly done what thousands of actors chase and almost none achieve: he built a long, stable, meaningful career by showing up, staying useful, and outlasting the noise. Best known for his role as Jimmy Palmer on NCIS, Brian sits down with actor and director Landon Ashworth for a candid conversation about what it actually means to be a working actor — not a breakout star, not a flash-in-the-pan success story, but someone who builds a career brick by brick over decades. This episode is not about red carpets or viral moments. It’s about craft, professionalism, patience, and survival in an industry that rarely rewards any of those things quickly. Brian talks openly about: * Getting cast without knowing how long the job will last * The difference between fame and employment * Why most acting careers quietly end * What NCIS taught him about consistency and responsibility * Staying creatively fulfilled inside a long-running network show * How to remain grateful without becoming complacent The conversation also explores the psychological side of acting — insecurity, comparison, the constant awareness that nothing is guaranteed, and the strange position of being recognizable without being untouchable. Landon approaches the discussion not as a fan, but as a peer — asking questions from inside the profession rather than from the outside looking in. Together, they unpack the unglamorous realities most people never hear about: auditions that go nowhere, careers that stall without explanation, and the discipline required to keep going when momentum disappears. Brian reflects on how NCIS became more than just a job — how long-term collaboration changes the way you approach your work, your coworkers, and your own ego. He also discusses writing, producing, and finding creative agency inside a system that often limits it. This episode is especially resonant for: * Actors and creatives trying to build sustainable careers * Anyone working in a competitive, unstable industry * Listeners tired of “overnight success” mythology * People who want to understand what real professional longevity looks like There’s no false bravado here. No pretending the industry is fair. No shortcuts offered. Just an honest, grounded look at what it takes to keep showing up — and why showing up is often the hardest part. For aspiring actors, this conversation may be more valuable than a dozen motivational speeches. For non-actors, it’s a revealing look at how much discipline, humility, and endurance sit behind the entertainment people casually consume. Thoughtful, grounded, and deeply human, this is a rare long-form conversation with someone who understands that success isn’t about being famous — it’s about being able to keep doing the work.

Vincent Kartheiser- His New Film "Go On"- Mad Men- and How Hard Hollywood Can Be to Break Into

Vincent Kartheiser is one of those rare actors whose career defies easy categorization. Best known to many audiences as Pete Campbell on Mad Men, Vincent has spent decades building a body of work defined not by celebrity, but by risk, range, and an unusual willingness to disappear completely into his characters. His new role in the film Go On is breathtaking. The film is now available on Amazon Prime. In this episode, actor, writer, and director Landon Ashworth sits down with Vincent for an honest conversation about acting, identity, ambition, and the strange realities of building a career in Hollywood while resisting many of the industry's traditional definitions of success. This is not a conversation about fame. It's a conversation about artistic obsession, creative sacrifice, and the complicated relationship actors have with the characters they inhabit. Vincent talks openly about: * The role that changed his life and how Mad Men reshaped his career * Why some actors chase visibility while others chase the work itself * The psychological cost of living inside difficult characters * Navigating success when success doesn't solve the problems you thought it would * The difference between being recognized and being understood * Choosing projects based on artistic curiosity rather than industry expectations * What he has learned from decades of working across film, television, and independent projects The conversation also explores the less visible side of acting—the uncertainty, self-doubt, and constant reinvention required to survive in a profession where careers can change direction overnight. Landon approaches the discussion not as a journalist, but as a fellow actor and filmmaker. Rather than focusing on credits and accomplishments, the conversation dives into the internal experience of building a creative life: what drives artists forward, what keeps them stuck, and what happens when the pursuit of excellence becomes inseparable from personal identity. Together they discuss the tension between ambition and fulfillment, the challenge of maintaining authenticity inside an industry built on perception, and the reality that many of the most meaningful creative victories happen far away from public attention. Vincent reflects on the projects that shaped him, the lessons learned from both success and disappointment, and why longevity in the arts often depends less on talent than on resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to continue evolving. This episode is especially resonant for: * Actors and filmmakers navigating an unpredictable industry * Artists wrestling with questions of identity and purpose * Anyone interested in the creative process behind transformative performances * Listeners who appreciate thoughtful conversations about craft rather than celebrity * People searching for a deeper understanding of what a life in the arts actually looks like There are no easy answers offered here. No formulas for success. No illusion that talent alone is enough. Instead, this is a thoughtful, candid conversation about creative work, personal growth, and the lifelong challenge of becoming better at something that can never truly be mastered. Insightful, reflective, and deeply human, this is a rare long-form discussion with an actor who has spent his career chasing meaningful work rather than attention—and whose perspective offers valuable lessons far beyond Hollywood.

Derek Theler: Fame, Sitcom Success, and the Hard Jump to Movie Star

Derek Theler knows what it’s like to “make it” — and then realize that success doesn’t mean what you thought it would. Known for his breakout role on the hit sitcom Baby Daddy, Derek sits down with actor and director Landon Ashworthfor an honest conversation about fame, typecasting, and the brutal reality of trying to jump from TV star to movie leading man. They talk openly about identity, expectations, body image, career pressure, and what happens when the industry puts you in a box you didn’t ask for. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a real discussion about what fame gives you, what it quietly takes away, and how hard it is to reinvent yourself once the world thinks it knows who you are. Topics include: * What sudden fame actually feels like * Sitcom success vs. long-term career freedom * The invisible ceiling TV actors hit * The pressure to look a certain way * Confidence, insecurity, and starting over * Why “being famous” doesn’t equal control A candid conversation for anyone navigating ambition, reinvention, or the gap between how things look from the outside and how they feel on the inside.

Brandel Chamblee: Tiger Woods, Truth-Telling, and the Cost of Saying What You Think

Brandel Chamblee is only interested in being honest. Known to millions as one of the most outspoken voices in golf and a longtime Golf Channel analyst, Brandel sits down with actor, director, and lifelong golfer Landon Ashworth for a conversation that starts unexpectedly and quickly goes somewhere much deeper. Before the formal introductions even begin, the episode opens with a story most people have never heard — one that immediately sets the tone for what this conversation is and what it isn’t. From there, the discussion moves into Tiger Woods, elite competition, legacy, media pressure, and what actually separates great players from mythologized ones. Brandel has spent years saying the things others in golf won’t say — often at personal and professional cost. In this episode, he talks openly about truth-telling in a sport built on reverence, the backlash that comes with criticizing legends, and why honest analysis is often mistaken for negativity. This is not a highlight-reel conversation about swing mechanics or leaderboard drama. It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful discussion about greatness, ego, identity, and the tension between excellence and hero worship — both in golf and in life. Topics include: * The real Tiger Woods conversation most fans avoid * Why honest criticism feels like betrayal to audiences * Media narratives vs. competitive reality * How elite athletes think differently under pressure * Golf as a moral and psychological game * Why saying what you believe has consequences * The difference between greatness and mythology Brandel also reflects on how being labeled “controversial” changes the way people listen to you — and why he’s never been interested in softening his perspective just to fit in. Throughout the episode, Landon brings a blunt, curious, outsider lens to the conversation — asking questions that aren’t designed to flatter, but to understand. The result is a rare, unguarded exchange that feels more like two people thinking out loud than a polished TV segment. Whether you love Brandel’s takes or argue with him every Sunday, this episode offers something rarer than agreement: clarity. It’s a conversation about what happens when you care more about truth than applause — and what that choice costs over time. For golf fans, this episode reframes familiar debates in a deeper, more human way. For non-golf fans, it’s a fascinating look at how elite performers, analysts, and critics navigate legacy, pressure, and public judgment. Unfiltered, thoughtful, and unapologetically honest — this is Brandel Chamblee without a studio clock, without soundbites, and without permission slips.

Tom Ashworth: Winning Super Bowls, Tom Brady, and What Winning Actually Requires

Dynasties don’t happen by accident — and they don’t happen because of motivation speeches. Tom Ashworth spent years inside one of the most successful organizations in sports history: the New England Patriots. In this episode, he sits down with actor and director Landon Ashworth for a grounded, thoughtful conversation about what winning at the highest level actually demands, and why most people misunderstand how sustained excellence is built. This is not a hype-filled football episode. It’s a clear-eyed look at systems, standards, discipline, and accountability — the unsexy traits that quietly separate great organizations from everyone else. Some of the conversation centers on Tom Brady — not as a myth or marketing icon, but as a working professional inside a brutally demanding culture. Tom explains what made Brady different, how leadership really functioned inside the Patriots organization, and why “talent” was never the most important variable. They talk about: * What Super Bowl–level preparation actually looks like * Why standards matter more than motivation * How elite teams enforce accountability without chaos * The difference between confidence and entitlement * Why most people want the results of winning, not the lifestyle * What breaks organizations once success arrives The episode also explores the psychological cost of excellence — how winning cultures can be misunderstood as cold or harsh, and why comfort is often the enemy of sustained success. Tom reflects on how being inside a championship system permanently changes the way you see effort, excuses, and leadership. Landon approaches the conversation not as a fan, but as someone obsessed with performance, pressure, and long-term excellence — drawing parallels between elite sports, filmmaking, and any field where the margin for error is small and the spotlight is unforgiving. Together, they unpack why dynasties are rare, why they inevitably collapse, and what individuals can realistically borrow from championship cultures without burning themselves out or becoming insufferable. This episode isn’t just for football fans. It’s for: * People building teams or companies * Creatives trying to operate at a higher standard * Anyone fascinated by elite performance psychology * Listeners tired of shallow “winning mindset” clichés There are no shortcuts offered here. No motivational slogans. Just an honest conversation about consistency, sacrifice, and the discipline required to keep winning when everyone else is talented too. Whether you love the Patriots or hate them, this episode offers something more valuable than fandom: a clear understanding of what excellence actually costs — and why so few are willing to pay it for very long. Measured, thoughtful, and quietly intense, this is a rare look inside a championship culture — without mythology, without nostalgia, and without pretending it was easy.