The First Refusal Podcast with Paul Monte gathers performers and entertainment industry professionals from the Philadelphia area and beyond, placing them on “hold” while we gather around the virtual water cooler to share and commiserate the acting and entertainment life. Whether you’re a green performer, looking for that first monologue, headshot, and gig, or a seasoned veteran with SAG insurance, enjoy the straight talk here on First Refusal. May it bring you connection and hope for success in an industry where anything is possible.
Actor, writer, and sometimes singer Chris Gross knows to always be ready. He’s studied and practiced his craft from Los Angeles to New York, and has gathered stories, credits, and connections along the way. He tells how waiting tables led to getting a manager, which led to booking the Showtime series Roadies, and why its creator Cameron Crowe should have given him a writing credit. In addition to self tapes, A.I., and faking it until you make it, we talk about how Chris found his creative communities, football ambitions, how he found love IRL on the set of Law & Order and much more.
https://www.instagram.com/chrisgross_/ (https://www.instagram.com/chrisgross_/)
https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/ (https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/)
https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/)
paulmontejr.com (http://paulmontejr.com)
3 Feb 2026
#31 — Staci Dickerson
In addition to having a long-standing presence on QVC, actress and model Staci Dickerson has amassed many credits on the runway and in print, commercials, television, and film. In our conversation she dishes on working on Song Sung Blue with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, as well as Law & Order, and her origins of getting started as a model with no experience. We also touch on the blessing and curse of typecasting, healthy agency relationships, having large roles in independent films, the reality of working at QVC, how to get your butterflies to fly in formation, and much more.
www.stacidickerson.com (http://www.stacidickerson.com)
https://www.instagram.com/stacidickerson/ (https://www.instagram.com/stacidickerson/)
https://www.youtube.com/@stacid717/videos (https://www.youtube.com/@stacid717/videos)
https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/ (https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/)
https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/)
paulmontejr.com (http://paulmontejr.com)
14 Oct 2025
#30 — Filmmaker Christian Jude Grillo
Filmmaker Christian Jude Grillo’s latest project is the sci-fi/horror feature Intruder — a movie in which the First Refusal Podcast host Paul Monte is happy to be in. In this conversation that independent filmmakers and cinephiles will enjoy, we cover many aspects of moviemaking: budget, rehearsals, distribution, gear, and in Intruder’s case, lots, and lots, and lots of blood. Christian touches on his inspirations of owning a recording studio, French cinema, and The Toxic Avenger, his “odd approach” to writing, and how to turn fan conventions into grass-roots research for your project. He also tells a remarkable story of how he asked Doug Bradley (Hellraiser) and Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) to appear in his movie Deer Crossing while attending a Monster Mania convention.
Intruder is available October 24 2025 through transactional video-on-demand and advertising video-on-demand (Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum, COX, Fandango, Tubi, Plex and more).
Facebook & IG: @intruder_films
https://www.instagram.com/intruder_films/ (https://www.instagram.com/intruder_films/)
https://www.instagram.com/christian_jude_grillo/ (https://www.instagram.com/christian_jude_grillo/)
https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianJudeGrillo (https://www.youtube.com/@ChristianJudeGrillo)
https://www.youtube.com/@MrPotent (https://www.youtube.com/@MrPotent)
https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/ (https://www.instagram.com/pmontejr/)
https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/first_refusal_podcast/)
paulmontejr.com (http://paulmontejr.com)
Who has been a guest on First Refusal Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Albert Davis
Rose Rosen
Jason Loftus
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
28,826
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
49
Social presence
0
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
Contact First Refusal Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about First Refusal Podcast
Who hosts First Refusal Podcast?
Paul Monte Jr host the show. Published by Paul Monte.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does First Refusal Podcast take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
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