Story and Craft with Marc Preston

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Actor Tracy Spiridakos from "Chicago PD" and USA Network's "Anna Pigeon" to discuss her career and personal stories.
Tracy talks about growing up between Canada and Greece, sharing what it was like working at her family’s Greek restaurant and the connection she still has with her parents' homeland. She also explains what it took to get her start in acting, like balancing three jobs in Vancouver before heading to Los Angeles for her first major round of auditions.
We also discuss her decision to leave a successful seven-year run on a popular TV show to try something new. Tracy explains what it is like playing a sarcastic new character and the realities of filming outdoors on location. It’s a grounded conversation that covers everything from her love of travel and her dogs to the ongoing debate over how to make the best pastitsio.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:03:10] | Introducing all the "cousins" to her friend
[00:05:27] | Moving back to Greece and her dad's hair salon
[00:11:13] | Working at a bank and restaurants while pursuing acting
[00:15:38] | Landing her role on Revolution during her first trip to LA
[00:18:47] | The decision to step away from Chicago PD after seven seasons
[00:23:45] | Connecting with her sarcastic, bad-ass character on Anna Pigeon
[00:29:14] | The feeling of stepping off the plane in Athens
[00:32:52] | Why her initial goal was simply to act full time without side jobs
[00:37:17] | The creative difference between acting in a film versus television
[00:39:31] | The Seven Questions

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with writer and director Lee Kirk from "The Giant Mechanical Man" and "Nimrod" to discuss his career and personal stories.
The conversation explores Lee's nomadic childhood moving to a new school every single year, and how that constant search for footing shaped the emotionally grounded, slightly melancholic characters he creates today. Host Marc Preston and Lee also reflect on three decades in the entertainment industry, tracing the path from their Texas beginnings to the gritty realities of building a creative life in Los Angeles.
Lee shares the personal stories behind his biggest milestones, including the random text message from Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong that launched his new film, "Nimrod". He opens up about the experience of falling in love with his wife, Jenna Fischer, on a movie set, stepping behind the camera on "The Office," and the incredible experience of directing both of his kids in his new movie.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:02:42] | Reconnecting after 36 years and reflecting on three decades in entertainment
[00:04:28] | The random text from Billie Joe Armstrong that sparked a Green Day movie
[00:05:32] | Turning Green Day's real-life tour stories into movie plot points
[00:09:20] | How constantly moving across the country as a kid left him feeling adrift
[00:16:43] | The 3 AM panic and terrified career doubts of his early 30s
[00:18:47] | Getting tapped to direct "The Office" after Ron Howard dropped out
[00:19:47] | Falling in love with his wife, Jenna Fischer, on a movie set
[00:29:29] | Working one-on-one with Billie Joe Armstrong to build his acting confidence
[00:33:46] | Directing both of his kids on set alongside his wife, Jenna Fischer
[00:40:09] | The Seven Questions

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with actor Chris Marquette from "The Girl Next Door", "Barry", and Prime Video's "Reacher" to discuss his career and personal stories.
Chris joined the industry early, navigating the unique landscape of child acting with roles spanning from commercial voiceovers to television sets. We discuss the transition from those foundational years to understanding the practical realities of the entertainment business as a young adult. It is a candid conversation about the resilience required to build a sustainable career in Hollywood.
We also cover his recent move to the west coast of Ireland, where he is raising his daughter and developing new writing projects. Chris shares insights into his new role on Prime Video's "Reacher," breaking down the physical demands of playing a small-town cop alongside Alan Ritchson. From the delayed cult success of "The Girl Next Door" to his approach to staying grounded off-camera, this episode offers a practical look at the life of a working actor.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[02:00] | Moving to the west coast of Ireland to raise his daughter
[08:35] | Starting his career early with commercial voiceovers and Barney
[13:10] | The sketchy seminar that landed him his first headshots and acting jobs
[17:11] | Crossing paths with Jennifer Aniston during pilot season
[21:00] | Getting a harsh crash course on the business side of acting in his twenties
[25:33] | Navigating the shadow of past roles
[36:54] | How The Girl Next Door bombed in theaters before finding massive cult success on DVD
[42:59] | Entering the Reacher universe
[44:53] | Dealing with the Alan Ritchson’s physical presence on set
[46:55] | The Seven Questions

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Writer, Director and Producer Owen Dennis from "Infinity Train" and Paramount+'s "Among Us" to discuss his career and personal stories.
Owen discusses his unexpected path to animation, detailing his time teaching English in China and the early motivation that pushed him to pursue art outside his hometown. He shares the hands-on process of creating a fully hand-drawn, 2D animated series and the practical challenges of pitching adult animation in an industry that relies heavily on genre stereotypes.
He also explains the unique dynamics of directing voice actors, noting why comedy actors naturally excel with timing in the booth. Owen talks about navigating production hurdles – such as animating before recording voices during the actors' strike – and shares how taking solo road trips helps him recharge creatively.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:08:29] | Escaping the Great Recession by moving to China
[00:13:27] | Losing a one-person art contest
[00:15:20] | Why 2D animation is making a massive comeback
[00:18:09] | Animating "Among Us" during the actors' strike
[00:24:36] | The biggest hurdle when pitching adult animation
[00:28:34] | Turning a notebook doodle into a hit character
[00:34:00] | Unplugging on solo road trips to find new ideas
[00:40:13] | Why comedy actors dominate the voice booth
[00:44:16] | Why Robert Pattinson was born to do voiceover
[00:45:48] | The Seven Questions

On this episode of Story & Craft, we sit down to chat with Actor & Singer Tommi Rose from "Sweet Magnolias" and Prime Video's "The Devil's Mouth" to discuss her career and personal stories.
Tommi shares her experiences going from a theater kid in Florida to making the leap to Los Angeles at seventeen after working on Nickelodeon's "I Am Frankie". We talk about the importance of keeping your imagination alive as an artist, and how her "double Pisces" daydreaming habit is actually a superpower. She also shares some incredibly grounding advice she received early on from working alongside Burt Reynolds.
We also get into her experience filming Prime Video's "The Devil's Mouth". Tommi talks about the grueling physical challenge of shooting in massive water tanks in Thailand, and how she managed the stress by buying a tiny local oven to bake her famous dirt pies and chocolate chip cookies for the cast. From managing a tricky gluten allergy abroad to her go-to morning playlist, Tommi gives us a great look at how she stays centered and positive.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
[00:04:48] | The Jelly Bean Camp and falling in love with musical theater
[00:06:49] | Why excitement outweighed the intimidation of moving to LA at seventeen
[00:12:00] | Defending the importance of daydreaming for artists
[00:15:47] | Refusing to limit her ambitions to just one career path
[00:22:54] | Burt Reynolds' advice on listening to your scene partner
[00:26:44] | How her close-knit family keeps her sane in Hollywood
[00:32:00] | Realizing she was stress-baking and bringing the joy back to the holidays
[00:33:22] | Buying a mini oven in Thailand to bake for the cast
[00:46:27] | The physical exhaustion of shooting survival scenes in water tanks
[00:51:00] | The Seven Questions