Equity Foundation Podcast

About Equity Foundation Podcast

The Equity Foundation – the professional development arm of Actors Equity – was established in 2002 to oversee Equity’s publications, awards and extensive professional program. The mission of the Equity Foundation is to enhance the lives of Australian and New Zealand actors by investing in programs which help them in their professional endeavours and the communities in which they live. Our professional program, which connects with performers in Australia and New Zealand through an extensive masterclass and workshop program, is developed in close collaboration with performers. The Equity Foundation is independent from Actors Equity but offers substantive services to Equity members, free of charge. The Foundation relies solely on the support from grants, corporate sponsorships, bequests and individual contributions to maintain our programs and create new ones. Our mission is to assist, educate and inspire actors.

Publisher

Equity Foundation Podcast

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 May 2014

Latest episode

11 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

145 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Miranda Harcourt: The script, story and character - Online Masterclass

   Receiving a script is only the beginning. What happens next? How do we transform words on a page into a truthful, compelling performance? And how can you step seamlessly from yourself into the life of the character? In this 90 minute session, Miranda will take participants through her approach to script analysis and character preparation, sharing the practical tools she uses to unlock a script and build a performance from the inside out. She will discuss finding and trusting the tiny adjustments embedded in the script and story, about pathways to finding the beats and about the nature of character versus self. Miranda Harcourt Globally renowned as a performance-pilot, not only does Miranda support stars at the highest level, but also guides emerging talents into stellar careers. Her clients have won and been nominated for Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, BAFTAs and AAFTAs. She has lifted up countless careers for actors and emerging directors through her work at labs and schools like TIFF, NYU Tisch, the London Film School and UK’s National Film and Television School.Miranda shifts paradigms, empowering actors and directors to realise and activate their own talent. Whether it is on-set, in rehearsal or in her active masterclasses specifically developed for Zoom, she introduces simple, fast, innovative approaches and tools that get actors to where they need to be, fast. A pioneering practitioner of verbatim, Miranda is currently in rehearsal for AFTER GOD, written and co-directed by Stuart McKenzie, a new play that transforms complex ideas and verbatim voices into a theatrical experience that is moving, provocative, surprising and genuinely funny.You can read more about the startling impact of Miranda’s key tools including Connection, Internal Landscape in her on-line textbook NOTES FOR ACTORS AND DIRECTORS mirandaharcourt.substack.com

2. 

   2 Sept 2026

   Tax Time: Knowing Your Limits with Tim Dashwood

   Whether you prepare your own tax return or work with an accountant, this practical workshop will help you better understand the financial side of being a working artist. Tim will cover the fundamentals of tax for creative practitioners, (performers, crew and musicians) including how to work effectively with your accountant and the questions you should be asking. The session will also explore strategies for managing irregular income, planning for the future through savings and term deposits, and building greater financial confidence in a profession where income can fluctuate from job to job. Designed specifically for artists, this workshop will provide practical knowledge to help you make informed financial decisions throughout the year—not just at tax time. Tim has been working in Theatre and the Arts since graduating as an actor in 2005. His professional artistic work has included being an actor, fight director, movement consultant and producer. Seeing a separation between the Arts world and finance, he has spent the last seven years building experience and qualifications in the accounting world with an intention to support and empower artists with more financial literacy, focus and comfort. Maintaining his artistic practice, he now splits his time between both camps wanting to blur the edges - after all, that's why it's called 'the business'. Tim holds a Masters in Professional Accounting, is a member of the Institute of Public Accountants and is the current CFO of Tom Oliver Productions.

3. 

   22 Jun 2026

   The Psychology of Performing: Managing the pressures of an acting career with Dr Shona Erskine

   Actors live and work in an environment that asks a lot of them. Auditions, rejections, financial uncertainty, intense rehearsal periods, performance anxiety, public scrutiny, relationship dynamics, creative vulnerability, and the challenge of sustaining a career in a highly competitive industry all place unique demands on actors. As a psychologist who works with artists and performers, I’ve often noticed that the framework we hold for performers has a specific difference. When people outside the performing arts experience stress, they’re often encouraged to step back, do less, or find fulfilment elsewhere. But performers rarely want to care less about their craft. They want to keep creating, keep striving, and keep showing up for the work they love. The question becomes: how do we develop the skills to manage high levels of stress sustainably? In this conversation, we’ll explore the psychological realities of life as an actor. We’ll discuss the thoughts that can undermine confidence, the emotions that come with putting yourself on the line creatively, the physical demands of rehearsal and performance, and the challenge of balancing the pressures of work with the realities of everyday life. Most importantly, we’ll look at practical ways to build psychological flexibility and resilience so that stress doesn’t consume the energy you need for what matters most: telling stories, connecting with audiences, and bringing your creative work to life. Whether you’re navigating the stress of auditions, managing performance nerves, recovering from setbacks, or simply trying to sustain a long and meaningful career in the arts, this session will offer practical insights and plenty of opportunity for discussion. Bring your questions. The world of performance is demanding, but there are many skills we can learn that help us meet those demands while continuing to grow as artists and as people. Dr Shona Erskine is a registered psychologist in private practice with 30 years’ experience working in the arts sector. After graduating the Victorian College of the Arts (Dance, 1994), she spent decades working as a dancer while qualifying as a psychologist. She has an expertise in psychology for performing and visual artists and work through professional companies, universities, and in private practice. The focus of her psychology work includes performance and creativity as well as communication and complex systems. She has a keen interest in best practice models for artists that attend to the whole person with compassion and curiosity.

Who has been a guest on Equity Foundation Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Chloe Dallimore
• Nick Hadland
• Dave Newman
• Stephanie Pringle
• Alison Fowler

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100

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

Quality

44

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact Equity Foundation Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

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

Shows with a similar audience

• 

  The Imperfects

• 

  Shameless

• 

  How We Role: A Podcast for Actors by Casting Networks

• 

  Happy Sad Confused

• 

  Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

• 

  No Filter