Get inside the creative process of theatre-makers and multi-hyphenates to learn how to keep going when we feel like giving up and how to create an artistic practice that sustains us.
thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Publisher
A new podcast for performing artists, theatre makers, + multi-hyphenates
The last interview of Season 1 is with one of my former students, Michelle E. Carter.
She is an extraordinary performer who has toured with Cats as Jennyanydots (her tap skills are out of this world!) and is currently on tour with Hadestown as a swing, understudy for Persephone and the Fates, and is also Dance Captain!
Michelle shares her journey from undergrad to her first professional gig, and how her initial rejection from Hadestown shaped how she handles rejection in a career where you hear a lot of “no”s.
Be sure to follow Michelle’s (https://www.michelle-e-carter.com/) journey on Instagram: @idtapthat03 (https://www.instagram.com/idtapthat03/) And me too @the_pkmethod (https://www.instagram.com/the_pkmethod/), if you’re not already!
Book a free 1:1 consult (https://pkmethod.com/lp/book) with me and see if we’re a good fit
Check out my baby Monologue Database (https://monologuedatabase.com/) (I read 300 plays and listed the best 200 monologues, 3 month subscription is only $29!)
Keep going,
PK
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
7 Aug 2026
S1 E7 | Interview with Bryce D. Valle
Bryce and I have been meaning to connect for years. I’d never had him as a student, but we’ve admired each other’s work from afar.
When thinking about who to bring onto the first season, especially swings whose careers had breadth, he was one of the first people I thought of.
He is an old soul and passionate about artists and their processes. Me too! I hope you enjoy this episode.
If you want to book a free 15 minute consult to learn more about how I can help you build your artistic practice, develop your monologue repertoire, or transform your voice, visit pkmethod.com (http://pkmethod.com).
Keep going,
PK
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
29 Jul 2026
S1 E6 | How Do Artists Develop?
In today’s solo talk episode of It’s All About the Process, I look back at how my undergrad actor training didn’t prepare me for building an artistic practice and what I did in grad school (and beyond) to change that.
Utilizing the research of psychologist K. Anders Ericsson on deliberate practice, I unpack why repetition doesn’t equate to growth. A more intentional approach to actor training is needed, one that both breaks complex skills into smaller, trainable parts and builds autonomy rather than dependence on external validation.
At the end of this episode, I use “listening and responding” as a practical example to illustrate the ways actors can develop awareness, attention, and responsiveness through deliberate practice.
FYI: this is Part 1 of a two-part talk on deliberate practice. Part 2 will explore how strategy and feedback support long-term artistic growth.
Keep going,
PK
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
15 Jul 2026
S1 E5 | Interview with Meridien Terrell
I was so happy to reconnect with Meridien Terrell. She was my student when she was in undergrad at MMC and since she graduated we’ve worked together on monologues, text analysis, prepping sides, and dialect work. She has many skills and is one of the hardest working actors I know.
Watch the episode to learn more about her journey from undergrad to her Broadway debut to her current gig on the national tour of Spamalot.
Book a free 1:1 consult (https://pkmethod.com/lp/book) with me and see if we’re a good fit
Check out my baby Monologue Database (https://monologuedatabase.com/) (I read 300 plays and listed the best 200 monologues, 3 month subscription is only $29!)
Be sure to follow Meridien’s journey on Instagram: @meridienterrell (https://www.instagram.com/meridienterrell/)And me too @the_pkmethod (https://www.instagram.com/the_pkmethod/), if you’re not already!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
8 Jul 2026
S1 E4 | Interview with Samuel Gerber
Sam shares his journey from undergrad to his first national tour to his Broadway debut. Some of my favorite moments include:
* hearing about the fails and wins in the audition room and how that propelled him forward
* how embracing one’s own versatility makes for an ideal swing
* what he’d teach if there was a class for learning how to swing
* what being able to “make strong choices” really means in terms of skills
Be sure to follow Sam’s journey on Instagram: @samuelgerber_ (https://www.instagram.com/samuelgerber_/)
The book Sam mentions: Broadway Swings (https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/broadway-swings-9781472590015/?__cf_chl_f_tk=jR18yg3Zv_GVsXeXCqov7ioyg61wO_KQYO9pOZlsnwY-1783086824-1.0.1.1-CAlk6V6jAzxpm0Bfmxr3xRRbKEhioWLxphuZhmpDVyM) by J. Austin Eyer + Lyndy Franklin Smith
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
3 Jul 2026
S1 Ep 3 | Talent is a Myth
I think “talent” is one of the most stifling narratives artists believe.
We look at successful actors, writers, musicians, and creators and assume they possess something we don’t: “natural” talent. But what we don’t see are the years of invisible work through rejections, experimentation, failure, feedback, persistence, and practice…everything that shaped their skills.
In this solo talk episode of It’s All About the Process, I unpack why talent is a seductive myth that keeps performers small. But this isn’t just my opinion. I explore the research behind neuroplasticity, the difference between a fixed and growth mindset in terms of your artistic practice, and why learning to see failure as information (not identity) could be the most important skill for artists to develop.
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I’ll never be as talented as they are,” and that belief has held you back, then this episode is for you.
Keep going,
PK
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
24 Jun 2026
S1 E2 | Interview with Jason Sirois
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7)
In this episode, your host, Melissa "PK" Tonning-Kollwitz, interviews long-time collaborator and mentor, Jason Sirois, to hear about his journey as a multi-hyphenate.
They cover everything from what it was like to to be embraced into the Theatre department in college as a non-major, to booking a national tour, and navigating the life of a swing and dance captain. The episode finishes off with a round of rapid-fire questions. Don't miss it.
LEARN MORE:
The PK Method website (https://pkmethod.com/) (Book a free 1:1 consult)
Subscribe to PK’s Substack (https://substack.com/@thepkmethod)
Follow on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_pkmethod/)
15 Jun 2026
S1 E1 | Isolation is Killing Your Artistic Practice
In this series premiere episode, your host, Melissa "PK" Tonning-Kollwitz, explores a common obstacle artists face after training: isolation. They share actionable strategies to reconnect to your creative practice through community and shared accountability.
If you're feeling stuck or disconnected, this episode offers practical steps to reignite your artistic journey.
KEY TOPICS:
Misconceptions about discipline and willpower as solutions to creative stagnation
Why shared practice and community are essential for creative momentum
The impact of training programs and educational settings on intrinsic motivation for performing artists
Influence and dependency on extrinsic motivation and external validation
3 concrete action items to build sustainable artistic habits
LEARN MORE:
The PK Method website (https://thepkmethod.com/) (Book a free 1:1 consult)
Subscribe to PK’s Substack (https://substack.com/@thepkmethod)
Follow on Instagram (https://instagram.com/the_pkmethod)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepkmethod.substack.com (https://thepkmethod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
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