Published by Peter Rinaldi
The no nonsense, in-depth, actors-on-acting podcast hosted by Peter Rinaldi. One working actor every episode doing a deep dive into their approach to the craft. No small talk, no celebrity stories, no inane banter—just the work.
Listen on Apple Podcasts57 min
Tom Brittney first rose to global prominence with his multi-season turn on the celebrated British series "Grantchester," where he built a devoted international following through a performance defined by emotional depth and restraint. With his new series "The Westies," he hops "the pond" and ventures into darker and more volatile territory while delivering layered, character-first work surrounded by stellar co-stars like J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver. On this episode, he explains why the lack of belief in his abilities that he felt from his teachers in drama school resulted in his own lack of faith it what they were teaching, how seven seasons playing the same character made him a better actor, why he will never get used to the instability of this profession, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
40 min
Ken Marino is very funny. All the time. Maybe even "too funny." Starting with the legendary comedy group "The State," more than three decades ago, Marino has been the go-to comedy gold in countless television shows, stealing so many scenes in movies, always bringing the funny. The films he's co-written with David Wain are some of his highlights — "The Ten," "Role Models," "Wanderlust," and now "Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass" (which comes out July 10th). On this episode, Marino ponders the origins of his brand of comedy (or if he even has one), explains why he doesn't like humor that punches down, makes a case for why he thinks he has "a good grasp on 'asshole,'" talks about what has brought him to a place where he makes bold choices right off the bat, lays out how it all comes down to "specifics," and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
53 min
Karolina Wydra's performance as Zosia in Vince Gilligan's new hit series "Pluribus" is impressive on many levels, but it wasn't until I talked to her for this podcast that I realized the absolute herculean challenge this role is for an actor. Zosia is part of the single consciousness, and is no longer ruled by the hang-ups, shortcomings, and flaws of a normal human existence. "Remember, she has no nerves!" Gilligan kept telling her. Luckily Wydra faced the challenge head-on. On this episode, she talks about her journey from Poland to America, from model to actor, dipping in various acting disciplines before she created her own blend, and the break she took from her career to feed another love in her life. It was during that break, when her reps had dropped her, that the Pluribus team went looking for her, not knowing that it was her absolute dream to work for Gilligan. This is an inspiring episode about being fully dedicated to the work, following your heart, and letting love lead the way. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
50 min
Mark Strong has made a name for himself playing villains or stealing scenes (or both) in movies like "Sherlock Holmes," "Kick-Ass," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," "The Imitation Game," the list goes on. On this episode, he talks about his work in the theater, particularly two of his most celebrated performances for the stage: Eddie in "A View From The Bridge," and "Oedipus" (which just earned him a Tony nomination for Best Actor In A Play). He explains why he needs to understand a character fully before he can play it, why extensive research is often not necessary, why specifics in direction usually doesn't work for him, why trust is so important, how going bald changed everything for the better, and much much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 8 min
Simon Helberg is best known for playing Howard in the hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" for 12 seasons, but he has also built a notable and varied film career working with people like Leos Carax, the Coen Brothers, and a stand-out performance opposite Meryl Streep in "Florence Foster Jenkins." For his latest, he returns to television in Jonathan Glatzer's Silicon Valley series "The Audacity" on AMC. On this episode, he talks about why he's "precious" about the first read of a script, ponders the paradox of character vs. self, shares some tidbits he gleaned from Ms. Streep, sums it all up with three important words: "Expect and Affect," plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
39 min
Asa Butterfield is a British actor who may be best known for starring as Otis Milburn in the worldwide phenomenon "Sex Education," for Netflix, and Hugo Gabret in Martin Scorsese's "Hugo." He first received critical acclaim, as a pre-teen, for his work in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," a film adaptation of John Bayne's novel by the same name. Now he has taken on his bravest role yet, Solomon Jackson in Oscar Boyson's "Our Hero, Balthazar," a coming-of-age story that defies all conventions with pitch-black humor and daring, timely storytelling. On this episode, he describes what it took to skirt the line of "unlikeable" with that character while still reaching for relatability. He talks about his love for accents and why he takes them very seriously, how working with Scorsese made his love for movies grow, what recently made him want to get on the stage for the first time and why he enjoyed the frightening challenge, plus much more! "Our Hero, Balthazar" is in select theaters now. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
43 min
Jordan Hull is an actress, writer, and producer based in New York City. She won a LADCC Award for her performance as Clare in the world premiere of "Poor Clare" by Chiara Atik at the Echo Theater Company. Her screen credits include "The L Word: Generation Q" and "Hustle," alongside Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah, and Robert DuVall. She produced and starred in the Tribeca Festival-winning audio drama "Red for Revolution." Upcoming, she just wrapped production on "Caity," directed by Lindsay Calleran and "The Plan," directed by Jess Barr, premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival in February. On this episode she talks about being unfazed by the "entire movie is one-shot" aspect of Barr's film, and how improvisation was used to create authenticity. She talks about why she hates reading scripts to herself, what it means to be the "curator of [her] own experience" that she wants to have with the character, why she's obsessed with career trajectories, loves to be surprised, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
58 min
Matthew Shear is a filmmaker and actor based in New York. He starred in Noah Baumbach's "Mistress America," as well as the limited series "The Alienist." His other credits include Baumbach's "The Meyerowitz Stories," M. Night Shyamalan's "Old," and Nathan Silver's "Between the Temples." He makes his debut feature as a writer/director with "Fantasy Life," (opening on March 27th) which he stars in opposite Amanda Peet, Alessandro Nivola, Judd Hirsch, and Bob Balaban. It world premiered at SXSW '25 and won the Narrative Feature Audience Award. On this episode he talks about writing that script, never thinking he'd star in it, nor direct it, and what had to change to make him see those possibilities. He explains why he wanted to tell a story about "mental health embedded in a normal world," why The Barrow Group suited him well in his younger days, how he learned to "not get in the way" of the scene, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
54 min
Robert Longstreet is a respected actor who moves fluidly between indie films and genre work, showing a gift for playing complex, wounded, or morally ambiguous characters. He gained broader recognition recently for his performance as a grieving father in "The Haunting of Hill House," created by Mike Flanagan. Longstreet has since become a regular collaborator with Flanagan, appearing in projects like "Midnight Mass," where his portrayal of the troubled but deeply humane Joe Collie became one of the show's most poignant characters. On this episode, he talks about the psychological effects of some of the dark roles he's done and ponders if leaving "a pound of flesh" is necessary for the work. He calls directors not knowing how to talk to actors "a sin beyond measure," explains why good writing is so easy to memorize, why he'd rather do a zoom audition than a self-tape, why he didn't want to play a psychopathic octogenarian woman in Todd Rohal's instant cult classic "Fuck My Son!" and struggled all the way through it, plus much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 18 min
David Krumholtz is a beloved actor to every actor he works with, and on this episode we get to see why. From "The Santa Clause" to "Oppenheimer," with more than three decades of experience in all facets of this business, you can believe he has things to say, opinions to share, and stories to tell. His latest is "Forelock," the hilarious buddy comedy film he stars in with writer/director Caleb Alexander Smith. He talks about how helping out as a producer on that film was actually fulfilling for him in a real way. He tells a story about a struggle he had to overcome on the Broadway production of Tom Stoppard's "Leopoldstadt," explains how an episode of "Extras" helped him appreciate his television series gig, illustrates why going a little crazy can actual help an actor, and much, much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast. In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Subscribe to Back To One on Substack Follow Back To One on Instagram
38 min
Stellan Skarsgård is a celebrated Swedish actor whose career spans more than five decades across European and Hollywood cinema. He first gained attention in Scandinavia before becoming an international screen presence in films such as " Breaking the Waves" and " Good Will Hunting." He went on to deliver acclaimed performances in movies like " The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "Dune," " Dune Part 2," and television series like " Andor" and "Chernobyl." In his latest, Joachim Trier's "Sentimental Value," Skarsgård gifts us with perhaps his most robust and richest work in the form of Gustav, a once-prominent filmmaker struggling to mend fractured ties with his daughters. On this episode, he details the environment Trier created, through love, attention, and enthusiasm, that laid the tracks for that work to travel. He talks about the importance of "sabotaging your tools," why he's careful not to infect a director's vision, the emotional agility necessary for working with David Fincher, why relief from being an "acting addict" doesn't interest him, and much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Substack and Instagram
50 min
Samantha Smart is the lead actress, writer and producer of "Charliebird," the feature debut of director Libby Ewing, which won the top prize at the 2025 Tribeca Festival, calling it "a deeply affecting portrait featuring grounded and complex performances." On this episode, Smart describes the process of writing it, getting to a crisis point of wondering if she could still play the character she was creating for herself, and miraculously finding young Gabriela Ochoa Perez who skillfully plays Charlie. She details the fine-tuning that needed to happen with the central scene, how the camera operator's energy affects actors, talks about her role as "Labinia" in the hilarious Oscar Nominated live acton short "Jane Austin's Period Drama," and much more! "Charliebird" opens in NYC on February 27th, and more select cities after that. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 4 min
Sarah Coffey starred as Eva Shapiro in the feature film "31 Candles," and instantly made her an iconic romanic comedy character. She can also be seen in "Queens Of The Dead," which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year. And her viral success as a comedian led to a role in "Stapleview," the first-ever fully produced live sketch show on TikTok. On this episode, she talks about the blessings and drawbacks of finding a spotlight through her own online content. She takes us back to her early days, discovering an early love of singing, and talks about how that ties in to a knack for impressions, accents, and the melding of comedy and music. She talks about what she gleaned from people like Terry Knickerbocker and Bob Krakower, the importance of "building a muscle memory of experience," why she likes to get immediately off-book, gets us excited about her upcoming film "Mouse," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
42 min
Ben Mehl is most recognized for his role as Dante on the hit Netflix show "You." Other TV credits include "The Good Wife," "Supernatural Investigator" and films like "My Christmas Guide" and "Viral Beauty." On stage he has performed with The Public Theater and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He's also a passionate acting teacher and volunteer at the 52nd Street Project. On this episode he tells us the story of finding out he had Stargardt disease, coming to the decision to go ahead with his dream of being an actor despite being legally blind, and the piece of advice a teacher gave him that miraculously made this mountain much easier to climb. Plus we talk about why telling the truth in your life fuels your acting, how teaching has informed his craft, the importance of "trusting the work that you're doing," and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
51 min
Astrid Rotenberry has had roles on "Law & Order SVU," "The Four Seasons," and "American Sports Story." Now she plays Catherine Kelly in the Netflix limited series "His and Hers," and her performance is so authentic and affecting it runs the risk of being taken for granted. On this episode, she details what excited her about the role, and why trust is so important to her. She takes us back to her childhood and how parental encouragement impacted her, talks about some of the valuable nuggets she learned as an intern in a casting office, expounds on ways she combats self doubt, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 4 min
Jordan Lage is an award-winning actor, writer, director and founding member of the Atlantic Theater Company, which celebrates its 41st anniversary this year. He studied acting at New York University under the tutelage of playwright David Mamet and actor William H. Macy and then taught acting and playwriting at the Atlantic Theater Acting School for nearly 30 years. Best known for his work performing the plays of David Mamet's, he has acted in multiple productions of the author's works on Broadway, off-Broadway & regionally, including "American Buffalo," "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Speed-The-Plow," and "Oleanna," among others. On this episode, he talks about how his early exposure to great films of the 70s led to a fascination with New York and a desire to be a working actor there. He breaks down the freedom Mamet's approach to acting gave him, tells a story about having to reach outside his technique to hit a moment a role required, explains why practical direction is most effective, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
56 min
Carolyn Michelle is an actress, producer, educator, and entrepreneur. Her credits include: "Brilliant Minds", "And Just Like That", "The Chi", "Russian Doll", "House of Cards", and the role of Vanessa, opposite Kathleen Chalfant's Ruth, in Sarah Friedland's celebrated indie film "Familiar Touch." On this episode she talks about her deeps roots with that project, and what she told Friendland she needed to bring that character to life. She takes us back to her earliest days as an actor, and the mentor whose influence is still felt today. Carolyn has served as Co-Director of Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad Mentorship Lab, and is a former visiting lecturer at Cornell University and Fordham University. She talks about how teaching feeds her acting, the power of sound frequencies in prep work, the importance of empowering the actor, why great production design and being able to stay in character on set are so important to her, plus much more! Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 1 min
Kimball Farley is the future. His breakthrough role in "Hippo," the critically acclaimed dark comedy that RogerEbert.com called "an unholy fusion of A Clockwork Orange and Napoleon Dynamite" established him as a talented, chameleon-like actor to watch, then his performance in "The Righteous Gemstones," opposite Bradley Cooper, displayed his range. And now 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for him, with upcoming releases from filmmakers like Tim Sutton, Mark H. Rapaport, and Henry Chaisson showcasing more of what he can do. On this episode, he details his "outside-in" approach to character work, and why changing his appearance is of prime importance with each role. He talks about how writing contributes to his preparation process in beneficial ways, why he believes in the law of attraction, what makes Al Warren and Bradley Cooper great scene partners, why following in the footsteps of his heroes is so important to him, and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
55 min
Michael Imperioli is best known for his Emmy-winning portrayal of Christopher Moltisanti on " The Sopranos," a role that made him one of the most recognizable faces of prestige television. Some of his other credits include " Goodfellas ," " Jungle Fever ," " Summer of Sam" (which he also co-wrote), " The White Lotus ," and his latest, " Song Sung Blue," the real-life story behind Neil Diamond tribute performers, where he plays Mark Shrilla, opposite Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. On this episode he talks about the technical mountain he had to climb before he allowed himself to take on that role. Then he takes us back to his early days and two giant, back-to-back acting disappointments that somehow didn't break his drive; talks about how welcoming encouragement from directors like Martin Scorsese helped bring out the best in him; explains what's special about the New York acting community; and much more. Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram
1 hr 1 min
Kevin Corrigan, the consummate actor, true student of the craft, friend of all actors, the best friend of Back To One , the very first guest of this podcast, returns for the 8th time in what might be his most vulnerable and relatable episode yet. He generously details a crisis he had acting on a series this past year, ponders what he would do with power, asks the question he thinks every actor should ask themselves, reads a moving instagram tribute to Diane Keaton by Jarrod Allan, shares his own wonderful memories of working with Keaton, delivers a couple wonderful impersonations, and much, much more. Past Kevin Corrigan Episodes: Ep. 1 , Ep. 67 , Ep. 133 , Ep.185 Ep. 234 Ep. 268 Ep. 319 Back To One is the in-depth, no-nonsense, actors-on-acting podcast from Filmmaker Magazine . In each episode, host Peter Rinaldi invites one working actor to do a deep dive into their unique process, psychology, and approach to the craft. Follow Back To One on Instagram