Breaking the Biz Podcast

In this inspiring episode of Breaking the Biz, we welcome Becky Curren, Senior Director of Stakeholder Engagement at Disability:IN and an internationally recognized TEDx motivational speaker. With a decade of experience in the entertainment and news media industries, Becky Curren brings a unique perspective on storytelling, representation, and the power of visibility.

Now leading efforts to advance disability inclusion and...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we explore the intersection of independent film, global storytelling, and purposeful leadership with Ron Truppa, Founder and Executive Director of the Catalina Film Institute and Festival. With more than 25 years in the entertainment industry and over a decade of visionary leadership, Ron Truppa has transformed Catalina into a world-renowned hub for filmmakers, creatives, and innovators.

Ron shar...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with Emmy and WGA award-winning writer Scott Gray, whose career spans over two decades in television, comics, games, and digital media. From serving as a head writer to contributing as a freelancer, Scott has helped shape some of the most recognizable and beloved children’s programming in the industry.

Scott shares his journey working with major studios like Disney, Netflix,...

While audiences may never see his name on screen, Walt Newman’s work is felt in every moment of the shows he helps bring to life. As a five-time Emmy Award–winning Supervising Sound Editor, Walt has mastered the art of shaping how stories are experienced through sound. A proud graduate of Hollywood High and Cal State Northridge, he has built an extraordinary career at the top of the entertainment industry.

In this episode ...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we dive into an often-overlooked element of the entertainment and event industry—the restroom experience—and why it can make or break an event. Kevin Meraz, business owner of Deluxe Porta Potty and a union Set Paramedic, brings a unique perspective shaped by hands-on experience in both event services and on-set safety.

Kevin shares how his family-owned business is redefining expectations by blend...

In this heartwarming and deeply reflective episode, we sit down with voice actor, educator, and self-proclaimed “VO Dad” June Yoon. From immigrating to the U.S. at 14 and discovering his passion for performance in a high school improv class, to walking away from a stable teaching career to pursue full-time voice acting, June's story is anything but conventional. He opens up about the pursuit of happiness, navigating uncertaint...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with seasoned animation director Jerry Langford, whose multi-decade career spans some of the most iconic animated series on television. From his early days as a layout artist on King of the Hill and Mission Hill to directing episodes of Family Guy, Jerry takes us behind the scenes of the animation world—where timing, tone, and teamwork are everything.

We explore the evolving...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we go behind the scenes with legendary producer and audio engineer Tom Gordon, whose 30+ year career has shaped the sound of icons across music, film, and television. From recording with Ozzy Osbourne, Dr. Dre, and the Beach Boys to engineering Emmy-winning projects and independent films, Tom brings a deep well of experience and an unmatched ear for excellence.

We explore Tom’s journey ...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we dive into the innovative world of immersive design and creative storytelling with Freddy Janney — a Billboard-charting music producer, DJ, and interactive UX/UI designer. Known in the music world as partywithray, Freddy brings a rare blend of audio mastery and experiential design to his role as Brand Design Lead at PhenomenArts, Inc., a boutique firm specializing in multisensory experiences.

F...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with Paul Hemstreet, an award-winning producer and multidisciplinary creative with over 25 years of experience shaping some of the most beloved franchises in entertainment. From his tenure at Warner Bros.—working on global hits like Harry Potter, The Matrix, The Hobbit, and the DC Universe—to his current role mentoring neurodivergent talent at Autism in Entertainment, Paul brings a r...

What starts as childhood curiosity can grow into something truly impactful—and Alessandro Concas is living proof.

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with teen author and entrepreneur Alessandro Concas, a student at Learning Post Academy in Valencia, California, who’s been building a creative empire since he was eight years old. It all began with a simple idea during a long summer break—The A to Zs of Fighting...

Bret sits down with operations expert and Syzygy founder Tyler Burr to explore the critical—but often invisible—role of infrastructure in the creative industries. With a career spanning film and TV production, the arts, hospitality, and business operations, Tyler brings a systems-first mindset to every challenge she tackles.

As the founder of Syzygy, she leads a team dedicated to empowering creative entrepreneurs by transf...

In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with animation veteran Howie Hoffman, a visionary Creative Art Director whose work has helped define multiple eras of animated entertainment and advertising.

Hoffman has brought some of pop culture’s most iconic visual moments to life—whether it’s the Trix Cereal rabbit in action, Michael Jordan mingling with Looney Tunes in a groundbreaking MCI commercial, or the unforgetta...

Born in Long Beach, California, to a U.S. Army colonel and a Korean army nurse, Bobby’s path seemed destined for discipline and structure. Yet from an early age, he was irresistibly drawn to art in all forms. After initially pursuing art in college, he experienced an epiphany: music was the most powerful artistic medium he could imagine. That revelation launched a lifetime of exploration across styles, genres, and continents.
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In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with Alex Howard — a young entertainment professional with over five years of administrative experience across film and TV development. An advocate for audio description and a champion for disability inclusion, Alex brings a unique perspective as a low vision professional navigating Hollywood. A 2020 alum of RespectAbility’s Entertainment Lab for professionals with disabilities, Alex...

In this inspiring episode of Breaking the Biz, we sit down with Jason Weissbrod—a dynamic director, actor, producer, writer, and the co-founder of Spectrum Laboratory.

With a career spanning film, television, web series, commercials, and theatre, Jason has spent the past 15+ years building creative pathways for neurodivergent and autistic artists. His work with The Miracle Project, Tree Academy, The Help Group, Autism On T...

What does it take to turn sound into a language of possibility? In this episode of Breaking the Biz, we journey into the expansive world of experimental sound art, composition, and multimedia with Philip Mantione — a Los Angeles-based sound artist whose career challenges the boundaries of traditional music and embraces a world where creativity is unlimited.

With over two decades of experience, Mantione has composed for orc...

Swedish electronic artist Tim Palm joins Breaking the Biz to discuss creativity, community, and breaking into the music industry on his own terms. From custom looping tech to AI's role in music, this episode explores the space between sound and connection—and what it means to truly vibe.

Known for his immersive style and genre-defying house tracks, Tim rejuvenates the fundamentals of House subculture by creating sonic...

After living with severely debilitating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for over 30 years, Nitika Chopra spent much of her life feeling isolated by her health struggles. For years, she believed this loneliness was a personal flaw—until she began opening up and discovered a shared sense of invisibility among others with chronic illness.

In this powerful episode of Breaking the Biz, we dive into Nitika’s extraordinary jour...