Where art and pop culture meet their long-legged, multi-hyphenate nightmare. Episodes include conversations with creators about the work we create, deep dives into the art we love, and narrative stories about the pop culture that runs through our world.
Jake Lebowitz is a Creative Director and Graphic Designer based on the East Coast. A New Yorker for 12 years, Jake is an entertainment industry professional with experience at 50+ iconic culture brands, shows, and companies.
Please follow and rate! New episodes weekly here and on YouTube. Follow us https://www.jakelebowitz.com/legroomshow/
The Best (and Worst) Movies of Summer 2025 (Ranking + Awards)
Jake Lebo ranks and awards the best and worst movies of Summer 2025, offering insights into cinematic hits and misses.
19 Aug 2025
The Best (and Worst) Movies of Summer 2025: Ranked + Awards!
Host Jake Lebo ranks and analyzes the best and worst movies of Summer 2025, offering insights into cinematic successes and failures.
25 Mar 2025
Why No One Assumes You're Talented...and What To Do About It (ft. Grace Aki!)
No one assumes you’re talented. No one is going to hand you opportunities. So how do you break through? In this episode, I sit down with writer, performer, and multi-hyphenate creative Grace Aki to talk about:
✅ Making your own luck in the creative industry
✅ How to stop waiting for permission and put yourself out there
✅ Why social media and content creation are not the enemy
✅ The mental blocks that keep talented people from successIf you’ve ever felt stuck, invisible, or unsure how to make things happen for yourself—this episode is for you.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dives into artistry, creativity, and making it in this wild industry.
SUPPORT GRACE
https://www.instagram.com/itsgraceakiSUPPORT LEG ROOM
Listen on Spotify or Apple Music: https://www.legroomshow.com/Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/legroomshowCHAPTERSDefying Labels in the Arts (0:00) |
Making Your Own Opportunities in NYC (04:06) |
No One Assumes You’re Talented (14:47) |
Overcoming Fear & Self-Judgment (18:00) |
Art & Technology’s Impact (27:00) |
“Done is Better Than Perfect” (34:35) |
The Art That Inspires Us (44:30)
20 Mar 2025
Well, that's my life! (Broadway, Bootlegs & Burnout: A Creative Director’s Honest Take)
It’s been a minute (or three weeks, but who’s counting?). In this episode, I’m diving into everything that’s been on my mind: the struggle of keeping up with content, a recent trip to NYC, teaching Broadway marketing to students, theater bootlegs, and my obsession with Sunset Boulevard. Plus, some real talk about why I don’t miss living in NYC.💡 If you enjoy these deep dives into creativity, marketing, and theater, please like, subscribe, and share! Your support means everything.SUPPORT THE CHANNELListen on Spotify or Apple Music: https://www.legroomshow.com/Follow on IG: https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow CHAPTERS00:00 - The Content Creation Game04:00 - Teaching a Broadway Workshop!07:22 - Thoughts on theater bootlegs & accessibility10:57 - New York Gay Men's Chorus Surprise!15:26 - Why I had to see Sunset Boulevard again19:21 - Does NYC feel different now? Thoughts on visiting vs. living there26:08 - Productivity culture vs. “cozy aesthetic” content31:14 - Exciting work ahead!32:22 - Wrapping up + Survivor thoughts#NYC #Broadway #ContentCreation #SunsetBoulevard #YouTubeGrowth #SocialMediaMarketing #CozyAesthetic #Bootlegs #TheaterLife #NYorNowhere #FreelanceLife #CreativeDirection #MarketingBroadway #Podcast #Vlog
25 Feb 2025
The Tribe Has Spoken: A Survivor Retrospective with Teg!
This week, Survivor superfan and content creator extraordinaire Tegwyth and I DIG DEEP to look back (and forward) about our favorite show, Survivor. Survivor is more than just a reality show—it’s a game of strategy, social dynamics, and resilience. In this episode, I sit down with Tegan, a Survivor superfan and content creator, to discuss how the show has evolved, what makes it so compelling, and why it continues to capture audiences 48 seasons later.SUPPORT THE CHANNELWatch the show on YouTube: https://www.legroomshow.com/ (https://www.legroomshow.com/)Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow (https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow)We dive into Survivor’s casting changes, its unique place in reality TV, and our favorite seasons and players. Whether you’re a longtime fan or just Survivor-curious, this conversation is for you.CHAPTERS00:01 - Introduction: Why Survivor is the Greatest Show Ever// 06:12 - Tegwyth's Journey to Becoming a Survivor Superfan// 08:22 - The Power of the Survivor Community & Fandom// 17:44 - What Makes Survivor Different from Other Reality Shows// 25:48 - Best Seasons for New & Returning Viewers// 37:57 - The New Era of Casting & Why It Works// 46:00 - Would We Ever Play Survivor?// 55:37 - Who Could Replace Jeff Probst?
18 Feb 2025
Woke Art Doesn't Exist. Here's What Does:
🚨In this episode, I break down why Trump’s war on woke art is a manufactured talking point, how revolutionary works have always faced backlash, and why art is essential—not just for entertainment, but for progress.
From Shakespeare to A Doll’s House to Angels in America, history has shown us that art that provokes today becomes canon tomorrow. We also dive into the real origins of “woke” (spoiler: it’s not what conservatives think it is).
Join me for this passionate, no-holds-barred conversation on why artists should never back down.
🎭 What are your thoughts? Drop a comment below!
🔔 Subscribe for more deep dives into art, culture, and the creative process.
Spotify:https://linktr.ee/legroomshow IG: https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshow Apple Music: https://linktr.ee/legroomshow #woke #art #Broadway #kennedycenter #potus #artist
11 Feb 2025
Who’s Afraid of Marketing Broadway? Revolutionizing a Rebrand with Katharine Quinn!
Broadway has a marketing problem. But digital strategist and media mogul Katharine Quinn is on a mission to change that. In this episode of Leg Room, host Jake Lebowitz sits down with Katharine to break down the challenges (and opportunities) of Broadway’s digital landscape, why social media is often misunderstood in the industry, and how a viral trend can actually drive ticket sales.
From launching her company, And That’s Showbiz, to working on hit productions likeThe Great Gatsby andMaybe Happy Ending, Katharine shares insider knowledge on what it takes to build an engaged Broadway audience in a digital age. She reveals the politics behind marketing meetings, the struggle of getting buy-in from traditional producers, and how Broadway can learn from other entertainment industries to stay relevant.
If you’ve ever wondered how theater marketing actually works, why some shows become viral sensations, or what it takes to capture Gen Z’s attention, this is the convo for you.
Like, follow, and subscribe to Leg Room whereva you find yourself!
Spotify:https://linktr.ee/legroomshow (https://linktr.ee/legroomshow)
IG:https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow (https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow)
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshow (https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshow)
Apple Music:https://linktr.ee/legroomshow (https://linktr.ee/legroomshow)
CHAPTERS
00:01 – Introduction
03:19 – The need for change in Broadway’s digital space
09:24 – Breaking barriers with Gatsby’s marketing approach
16:36 – The impact of social media on ticket sales and Broadway awareness
29:26 – Launching AND THAT’S SHOWBIZ
38:38 – Event-izing theater
47:03 – The process of creating and launching Broadway social content
4 Feb 2025
Broadway, Collaboration, and Visibility with Photojournalist Marc J. Franklin!
“These photos are human.” Marc J. Franklin is a photojournalist with creative roots on this week’s episode! Behind his lens, Marc has documented for Vogue, Vanity Fair, and stories across New York. Today. we dissect his time backstage on Broadway–from capturing Audra McDonald for the key art of George C. Wolf’s GYPSY, to production photography for Hell’s Kitchen, A Strange Loop, and more.
Filled with a lot of laughs, enjoy our candid look behind the scenes of his process.
Like, follow, and subscribe to Leg Room whereva you find yourself!
Spotify • Apple Music • YouTube: https://linktr.ee/legroomshow (https://linktr.ee/legroomshow)
#Broadway #Photography #theatre #musical #podcast #musical #play #backstage #behindthescenes
Featuring:
🎭 The emotional impact of having his art outside the Majestic Theatre
📸 Why empathy is the secret ingredient in every shot he takes
⚡ The vendor vs. collaborator debate in the Broadway industry
🚀 Dream projects, creative roadblocks, and the future of theater content
💡 Practical insights for artists navigating creative boundaries
Whether you're a theater lover, an aspiring artist, or someone curious about the unseen stories behind the lens, this conversation will inspire, challenge, and resonate.
📢 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with the creatives shaping today’s culture!
28 Jan 2025
Here's How She Spent Her 20s Taking Over Broadway (ft. Gabi Frederique Campo!)
Gabi Frederique Campo shares the beauties and realities of becoming your own person in your 20s...while performing as some of Broadway's most iconic leading ladies.Gabi made her Broadway debut in 2018’s “The Prom” direct from receiving her BFA in Musical Theatre, and has been a fixture on the main stem ever since. You’ve seen her in the original Broadway cast of "Some Like It Hot," as Miss Argentina in the remount of "Beetlejuice," and as an understudy to some of Broadway’s biggest roles, including both female leads of The Prom, Anita in Ivo Van Hove’s “West Side Story,” Betty Boop in the Chicago production of “Boop!,” and currently as Sally Bowles in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.”Wise beyond her years with a talent to match, Gabi joined for a warm conversation about what it means to spend your 20’s on Broadway–both as an artist, and as a person.Thank you for the wonderful and insightful chat, Gabi! Go see her at all performances as Frenchie in Cabaret, and select performances as *the* Fraulein Sally Bowles!Follow & Supporthttps://www.instagram.com/legroomshow
23 Jan 2025
All-Hands Meeting for the Academy Award Nominations
Today, Jake breaks down his 5 takeaways from the 2025 Academy Award nominations announced on January 23rd.
1. The Emilia Perez State of the Nation
2. The Brutalist & Wicked
3. Nickel Boys & Brazil!
4. Coralie Fargeat & Best Directors
5. A24
Like, subscribe, and follow!
https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow
https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshow
21 Jan 2025
The Best Losers of Best Picture (with Max!)
Join bestie of the pod Max & I for a lot of laughs as we highlight 10 of our favorite losing nominees of the past 10 years. This Thursday, the 2025 Academy Award nominations are announced. That means we still have time to complain about the old ones.
CHAPTERS
Academy Award Existential Dread (0:01)
5th Choices (8:00)
4th Choices (17:15)
3rd Choices (21:28)
2nd Choices (30:13)
1st Choices (38:53)
Honorable Mentions (50:51)
On today’s inaugural conversation, bestie of the pod, arts professional, and A-List Extraordinaire Max Bahneman reclaim the 10 best Best Picture Nominees ahead of this year’s nominations. With minimal infighting and a lot of laughs, we celebrate memories of going to the movies over the past 10 years, and lament films that somehow bested the best of the best picture losers.
Thank you to Max for being my first-ever recorded interview for Leg Room, and I hope you enjoy the show! Comment which nominee of these 69 is YOUR favorite?
Follow + Subscribe
https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow/
https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshow/
19 Jan 2025
15 Must-See, Must-Read, Must-Listen Picks (The Leg Room Canon)
In today's show, Jake breaks down his 15 favorite works of art that have contributed to who he is as an artist. Ranging from prestigious to out-of-pocket, comment what works would be in your personal iceberg.CHAPTERSIntro (0:00); Movies (0:59); Albums (5:29); Theater (10:07); Television (16:38); Books (22:16)LINKSFollow the show: https://www.instagram.com/legroomshow
Follow Jake: https://www.instagram.com/lakejebo
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@legroomshowTODAY'S SHOWArt shapes who we are—and today, I’m sharing the 15 works that are an integral part of me. These films, books, albums, TV shows, and theatre productions aren’t just favorites; they’re the blueprint of my creative soul. In this video, I’m taking you through my official recommendations—the works that inspire me, influence my vision, and capture my essence as an artist and creative professional.Whether you're looking for a fresh perspective or just want to level up your own cultural canon, these picks are here to challenge, excite, and maybe even surprise you. Think of it as your backstage pass to my personal Criterion Collection.Disagree? Share your list in the comments! But fair warning—I might judge your taste. 😉 Let’s build our own creative canon together!
17 Jan 2025
Welcome to the show! Introduction to Leg Room.
Hello hello! Before our first episode, hear from Jake and learn a little more about the show. Leg Room is a podcast giving you an aisle seat to insights on art and pop culture. Each week we'll hold conversations with peers about the art we love, interviews with creators on the work we build, and deep dives into today's phenomena.
Subscribe here and listen on Spotify/wherever you get podcasts. Follow us on Instagram!
https://www.instagram.com/legroomshowhttps://www.instagram.com/lakejebo
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