Big Break Pod

About Big Break Pod

Join actor, writer, and entrepreneur Thomas M Copeland as he interviews award-winning producers, actors, directors, casting agents, filmmakers and agents on how you can parlay your creative passions into a business, a career, and beyond. Learn the "business" of Show Business - the good, the bad, and the downright ugly - to help reshape what you think you about how to become (and sustain) as a professional actor, creator, and influencer. Season 1 drops in full on September 1st, 2024!

Publisher

Thomas M Copeland

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

11 Aug 2024

Latest episode

10 Jul 2025

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Jul 2025

   Ep. 14 - A Friendly Conversation About Entrepreneurship and Dream-Chasing with David Twigger

   What happens when two bold voices from different corners of the creative world sit down to talk shop? In this special crossover episode, Big Break Pod host Thomas M. Copeland joins forces with David Twigger, luxury event maven and host of Twigger Time, for a raw and real conversation about what it takes to build a dream from scratch. From the backstage chaos of showbiz to the high-stakes elegance of luxury branding, Thomas and David explore the shared grit behind entrepreneurship, the toll of chasing success in competitive industries, and the moments when it all feels like too much — but you do it anyway. Expect laughs, real talk, and lessons from two professionals who’ve bet on themselves — and lived to tell the tale.

2. 

   8 Apr 2025

   Ep. 13 - BONUS EPISODE: The State of Stand-Up Comedy

   What does it take for a stand-up comic working the clubs in New York City to transition to a career in acting? What does it take to get up on stage and tell jokes to an unknown crowd every night of the week? What happens if you bomb? What happens if you book? What is the meaning of this life?! In this bonus episode of Big Break Pod, Thomas tackles all of these questions—and a few more existential ones—with Alec Tracey, a friend and stand-up comic who haunts the funny halls of the Big Apple. Alec shares his journey into comedy, his path to sobriety, and how he’s thinking about his future in the big city. Thomas lays down some real talk about the highs and heartbreaks of auditioning in one of the world’s most competitive markets. Alec is a comic who wants to be an actor. Thomas is an actor who wants to be a comic. What could possibly go wrong? (Spoiler: Absolutely nothing. This episode is awesome!) Find Alec Tracey on IG @alectttown.

3. 

   11 Feb 2025

   Ep. 12 - BONUS EPISODE: Let's Talk About Safety on Set with Producer Kris Eber

   Entirely not due to popular demand, but rather Thomas' own selfish interest in talking shop with his brother, we're dropping this BONUS EPISODE from Season 1 featuring Kris Eber, Emmy-award-winning producer! The topic of this episode is safety on set—specifically, how risk is calculated and managed by attentive producers. The role of a producer is multifaceted, but chief among their responsibilities is managing the investment a studio makes in a production, which inherently involves managing risk. At the time this episode was recorded, actor Alec Baldwin's trial for the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins had just been dismissed on technical legal grounds. It was the first major on-set death in a studio production in decades. If you're interested in the organization, management, and behind-the-scenes work of filmmaking, this is a great episode for you!

4. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 04 - 10 Things I Hate About Directing with Gil Junger

   Director Gil Junger shares his insights on the highs and lows of a 40-year Hollywood career, revealing the surprising role of anxiety and insecurity in creative success.

5. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 03 - How to Write, Direct, and Produce Your Own Film with Michael Ruiz-Unger

   Thomas and Miami-based filmmaker Michael Ruiz-Unger share actionable insights on writing, directing, and producing your own short film, from conceptualization to festival success.

6. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 09 - How the Great Directors Work with Kris Eber

   Emmy-winning producer Kris Eber shares insights on what separates great directors from the rest, gained from his 20-plus year career working with top episodic comedy TV directors.

7. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 08 - Actors - Get Ready to Fail (and Rebound!) with tech founder Ben Gabler

   Tech founder Ben Gabler shares how to think about failure differently and build character, drawing from his own experiences in the website hosting industry and beyond.

8. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 02 - The ABCs: Always Be Creating with Muppets Actor Bill Barretta

   Emmy-winning actor Bill Barretta shares insights on creative storytelling, professional theatre training, and the enduring power of The Muppets in American culture and entertainment.

9. 

   3 Dec 2024

   Ep. 06 - Becoming the Organic Actor with Lori S. Wyman, C.S.A.

   Thomas interviews Lori S. Wyman, C.S.A., about her 40-year casting career and what she seeks in authentic, organic actors to help them overcome audition anxiety and become grounded, focused performers.

10. 

    3 Dec 2024

    Ep. 11 - A Chat with Hollywood Casting Living Legend John Frank Levey

    Legendary casting director John Frank Levey shares insights on what makes a captivating audition, revealing the secrets behind casting breakthrough roles in television's biggest hits.

11. 

    3 Dec 2024

    Ep. 10 - Baby Actors: Let's Learn to Swim with Wendy Alane Wright

    Acting coach and talent manager Wendy Alane Wright shares essential insights for baby actors, including how to navigate the industry and succeed in their first auditions.

12. 

    3 Dec 2024

    Ep. 01 - Welcome to Big Break Pod with Thomas M Copeland

    Big Break Pod host Thomas M Copeland and Emmy-winning producer Kris Eber explore the intersection of Hollywood and entrepreneurship, sharing insights on what it takes to succeed in the entertainment industry.

13. 

    3 Dec 2024

    Ep. 05 - How to Capture an Agent's Attention with TDA Founder Bianka Krausch

    TDA founder Bianka Krausch shares insights on capturing an agent's attention, spotting talent, and navigating Florida's film landscape with her agency's expertise.

14. 

    3 Dec 2024

    Ep. 07 - How To Become a Professional In Your Craft

    Thomas discusses the key principles of professionalism in your craft, including being serious, prepared, and giving it your all, to help you improve and succeed in your chosen field.

15. 

    11 Aug 2024

    Big Break Pod Trailer

    Welcome to Season 1 of The Big Break Podcast. Hi, I'm Thomas M. Copeland. I'm an actor, entrepreneur, and writer. And I'm the creator and host of The Big Break podcast. Our episodes will take you behind the scenes and deep into the professional world of acting, filmmaking, writing, shooting, and directing film, TV, plays, short stories, and other creative passions. We'll talk about the industry's dirtiest words, the business of show business, including how to turn your creative passions and interest into a career, how to court interest and investment from stakeholders, and build a team around your vision that could lead to your next big break. We'll meet with artists who have made careers in show business and discover what was crucial for their success in an industry that's known for being fickle, unpredictable, and a maze of complexity to master in order to find any monocum of sustained success. We'll also explore what it means to be successful in your own creative endeavors, and why that's a fluid mark that's difficult to define much less hit. We'll speak to award -winning producers, writers, creators, and actors about how to operate and present as a professional on and off the set. We'll talk about success and failure. We'll talk about what a cast and director wants to see in you. We'll talk about how to avoid the many scams and waste that the industry spawns. And we'll talk about how creative projects go from being an idea, to a rough plan, to a tangible execution and release. But this show isn't just for actors. We branch out through the season to talk to other professionals, artists, and entrepreneurs about how they're parlaying their creative endeavors into paychecks, careers and beyond. If you're serious about acting, storytelling and creative careers, then join me as we discover the big break that's awaiting for you and me in the episodes ahead. The full season drops September 1st, 2024. In the meantime, I want to hear from you. What do you hope to learn by listening to this show? What are the burning questions you wish you could ask a fellow artist or actor, filmmaker, writer, producer, or casting director? Hit me up at Big BreakPod on Instagram or email Big Breakpot at gmail .com. We want to share your ideas and we want this to be a collaborative effort so that we can find our next Big Break together. Until then, have a creative and productive week.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

272

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

72

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

32

Contact Big Break Pod

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.