off the record

About off the record

As a journalist and former TV anchor/reporter, I always told stories rooted in emotion and vulnerability. Whether covering the personal journeys of athletes & coaches off the field or reporting on hard news, I found the most meaning in honest, vulnerable conversations that often happen off the record. With roots in performance & a close connection to the entertainment industry, I bring a perspective that naturally leads to more open, authentic conversations. Now, on Off the Record, I bring you thoughtful conversations with voices across entertainment & sports, behind the success and struggles

Publisher

Bella Michaels

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

12 Jul 2025

Latest episode

28 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

60 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Sept 2026

   PJ Byrne: I Play Rocky, The Boys, The Wolf of Wall Street, The Rainmaker & Working with Scorsese

   PJ Byrne is one of those actors where you look at his filmography and realize...he's been EVERYWHERE. From The Wolf of Wall Street and Babylon to The Boys, The Rainmaker, and the highly anticipated I Play Rocky, PJ has built an incredibly diverse career spanning film, television, animation, comedy, drama and everything in between. In this episode of Off the Record, PJ and Bella Michaels go beyond the credits to talk about what it actually takes to build — and sustain — a career in Hollywood. PJ opens up about his journey as an actor, the importance of longevity, navigating rejection, knowing when to take a chance on a project, and whether there was ever a moment when he realized, “I actually have a career.” He takes us behind the scenes of The Wolf of Wall Street, including what it was like working with legendary director Martin Scorsese on a few different projects, and talks about playing Irwin Winkler in I Play Rocky, a film centered around Sylvester Stallone’s fight to bring Rocky to the big screen. We also talk about The Boys, his role in The Rainmaker, his upcoming project We Were Once Men with Chace Crawford, and what it’s like to continually find new challenges after more than two decades in the business. And because PJ and Bella are both DePaul alumni, they also reflect on what those early years taught them — and what PJ would tell his younger self just starting out as an actor. This is a conversation about Hollywood, perseverance, taking risks, rejection, success, and what it really means to build a career that lasts. PJ Byrne goes Off the Record with Bella Michaels.

2. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Samuel Nelson III: Becoming MJ, Making Broadway History & His Journey Behind the Spotlight

   Samuel Nelson III is making Broadway history as the youngest actor to perform the iconic role of Michael Jackson in MJ The Musical —and in this episode of Off the Record, we go far beyond the spotlight. Samuel takes us inside his journey from Jacksonville, Florida, to New York, his audition for MJ, working with Rich and Tone, and the challenges of transforming into one of the most recognizable performers of all time. He also opens up about what people don't understand about being a Broadway standby and shares some of his wildest moments onstage. But this conversation gets deeply personal. Samuel opens up about losing his grandmother, his mom's leukemia diagnosis, the experiences that shaped him, and how his faith has guided him through some of the hardest moments of his life. We also talk about the Michael movie, relationships and dating icks, his life outside of Broadway—and yes, the middle-school story involving accidentally pooping his pants. It's an honest, hilarious and deeply personal conversation about ambition, faith, family, resilience and becoming the person you're meant to be. 🎙️ This is Samuel Nelson—Off the Record.

3. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Vanessa Benavente: The Chosen, Growing Up in Peru, Representation, Motherhood & Hollywood’s Beauty Standards

   Vanessa Benavente is an actress best known for her iconic role as "Mary Mother" in The Chosen. She was recently named one of Forbes Peru's 50 Most Powerful Women of 2026. But Vanessa's journey to success is much more than what millions of people know her for. In this episode, Vanessa opens up to Bella about her early life growing up in Peru, during a time of terrorism and violence. She eventually moved to the United States to study engineering -- a career she thought would give her the stability she needed -- while quietly putting her love for arts aside because she didn't believe acting was something she could truly pursue. Then she took a chance. While navigating visa and immigration struggles, Vanessa went to Spain and began pursuing acting. That decision changed the entire trajectory of her life and eventually led her to the role that would become one of the most meaningful of her career to date: Mother Mary in The Chosen. In this conversation, we talk about growing up in Peru, leaving home, immigration, finding the courage to take a completely different path, and the moment The Chosen changed everything. Vanessa also opens up about something incredibly personal — growing up without seeing people who looked like her represented in Hollywood and how that shaped what she believed was possible for herself. We talk about authentic Latina representation, Hollywood’s ever-changing beauty standards, and the pressure women feel to look a certain way. We also talk about motherhood, becoming Mother Mary, filming some of the most emotional scenes of The Chosen, our time together in Italy, and, of course, some of our very own ridiculous friendship stories. 😂 Vanessa is one of those people whose story reminds you that sometimes the life you planned for yourself isn’t necessarily the life you’re meant to live.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

18 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

22 ratings

Contact off the record

Guest appearances

Books guests

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