Mischief and Mastery

In this episode, Mishu sits down with Erica Duffy—founder of Camera Ambassador and longtime champion of Chicago’s film community—to talk about taking leaps before you’re ready, why “fail fast” has be…

In this episode, Mishu sits down with colorist, editor, and producer C. Ryan Stemple, CSI to talk about why finishing is its own art form—and why post-production might be the most adaptable corner of…

Mishu sits down with award-winning Director of Photography Isaac Izzy White to talk about the momentum crash after a high-output year, learning to scale creative ambition, and the quiet clarity that …

Mishu sits down with writer, director, actor, and artist Emily Lape to talk about what happens when a project breaks your heart—and how to find your creative footing again. They unpack how Emily's so…

In this episode, Mishu sits down with director, writer, and educator Rob Spera, whose decades-long career spans feature films, cult classics, network television, and theater. They talk about staying …

In this episode, Mishu talks with actor, writer, and comedy performer Tuxford Turner (they/them/tux) about starting over in L.A., learning to trust their brain again, and the deep relief of not grind…

How do you make the work when the world feels like it’s on fire—and still believe it matters?

In this episode, Mishu and filmmaker Jim Vendiola talk about ambivalence, integrity, and making art that h…

In this episode, Mishu and actor/ASMR creator Katie Bellantone get into the rollercoaster of working in indie film, the panic spiral between auditions, and how she stays grounded when her brain tries…

In this episode, comedian and filmmaker Mary Tilden joins Mishu to talk about the weird in-between of writing when you can’t tell if your ideas are good—or garbage. They get into how theater and impr…

Filmmaker and producer Jamie Kreppein joins Mishu for a warm, honest conversation about the invisible labor that makes independent filmmaking possible—and meaningful. They talk about the structures b…

Filmmaker and screenwriter CJ Arellano joins Mishu to talk shop on platforms, posting, prestige, and playing the long game in a fragmented media landscape. With humor and insight, CJ reflects on how …

What happens when you stop waiting for a seat at the table—and start building the whole building? In this episode, Troy Pryor and I talk about designing creative ecosystems, the long game of legacy, …

Filmmaker Shelby “SB” Gamble joins me for a conversation about scrappy sets, strange stories, and the tension between polish and personal vision. We talk about learning to trust your instincts on sho…

In this episode, Julia Relova and I talk about that tender mix of creative joy and quiet comparison—what happens when you see a story close to your own finally break through, and the voice in your he…

In this episode, Katherine Quinn and I explore what it means to tell stories that resist spectacle. We talk about choosing stillness over fuss, pacing that invites pause, and the creative rebellion o…

Ryan Satterfeal is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and musician whose curiosity led him from garage bands to community theater—and eventually, to screen roles in Chicago Med, commercials, and in…

Actor, author, voiceover artist, improv performer—Ruth Kaufman has worn a lot of hats. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to stay present and committed in a saturated industry, even wh…

Some projects come together in a rush. Others take years of quiet build-up, trust, and timing. In this episode, Mishu and Colin unpack what it takes to move a project from an idea to the finish line—…

Filmmaking doesn't always go according to plan—but for Andrea Zile Bish, that’s part of the fun. In this episode, Bish and Mishu talk about the ups and downs of directing both comedy and horror, the …

What happens when a filmmaker stops writing from the outside in—and starts building stories from the subconscious out? In this episode, Jordan Tragash joins Mishu for a conversation that gets into ex…