EPISODE 23 – FISAYO AKINADE
Fisayo Akinade joins Robert to chat about ‘Shipwreck‘, the play he is in at The Almeida Theatre, the dangers of social media as a place for political discussion, growing up in Nigeria and Manchester and how Denzel Washington in Philadelphia sparked an interest in an acting career. He also chats about developing at Central School Of Speech and Drama, diversity in the TV and Theatre industries, the experience of being in Cucumber and of course he takes his very own Shoot First Talk Later quiz.
EPISODE 22 – ANDREW POLEC
Andrew Polec is currently starring in the lead role of Strat in Jim Steinman’s Bat Out Of Hell The Musical at The Dominion Theatre in London’s West End. He joins Robert to chat about the bike accident that was the catalyst for him first hearing Meat Loaf’s music and how that led to him finding his own singing voice. Andrew goes on to talk about studying 70s rock at college, setting himself on the DIY rock-band path and how Sponge Bob Square Pants helped him learn about the open auditions for Bat Out Of Hell; the show that has changed his life. And of course he takes his very own Shoot First Talk Later quiz.
EPISODE 21: GAY MORMONS
Gay Mormons Angel and Aaron chat to Robert about the Book of Mormon – not that one, the real one!
Angel talks about growing up in Spain and suppressing his sexuality when he saw others getting bullied. He eventually converted to Mormonism aged 18 as a way of trying to pray-the-gay-away. But when he found that wasn’t working, he got a message from God…
Aaron talks about being born into the Mormon church and only discovering his sexuality once he went to high school. He goes on to chat about his decision to stay in The Church, balancing both his love for Jesus and his sexuality, and what news almost made him quit…
They both go on to chat about Affirmation, an LGBTQ+ Mormon support group and their personal opinions on various LGBTQ+ policy-changes made by the Mormon elders.
EPISODE 20: CINDY WILSON (THE B-52s)
Cindy Wilson of The B-52s chats to Robert about making Change, her first ever solo album, why it was important to experiment and find a new sound, how her late-brother Ricky (the band’s original guitarist) encouraged her towards singing and how The B-52’s formed. Cindy also chats about the reasons behind her quitting the band in the early 90s and her subsequent return, the idea of fame and how to keep that internal negative voice at bay.
EPISODE 19: KATHARINA KUBRICK
Katharina chats about growing up in a creative house that she describes as a ‘art school and a film school rolled into one’, spending time on her father, Stanley Kubrick’s movie sets (Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey) and the controversy surrounding A Clockwork Orange. Katharina also chats about reconnecting with her birth father in her teens, how she began working in the film industry on productions like Barry Lyndon, The Spy Who Loved Me and The Shining and how she feels when Stanley is spoken about negatively in the media.
EPISODE 18: DAVID O’REILLY – PART 2
In part 2, David chats about the making of his short film, Kubrick By Candlelight; funding; casting Stanley Kubrick; working with actors and enticing the original Hannibal Lecktor, Brian Cox to be The Narrator.
EPISODE 17: DAVID O’REILLY – PART 1
In this first part, David talks about what exactly a location manager / scout does on a film, working with filmmakers like Michael Mann, Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton before moving to a galaxy far far away to scout locations on Rogue One: A Star War Story. David also chats about bringing The Rebel Alliance to Canary Wharf.
EPISODE 16: IZZY POSEN
Izzy chats to Robert about growing up in the virtual-ghetto world of the East London Charedi Jewish community, what it was like to question aspects of his pious life and how after becoming very uncomfortable with religion, he chose to leave. He chats about life without his family and how he has adjusted to a world he was sheltered from.
EPISODE 15: GSUS LOPEZ
Filmmaker Gsus Lopez talks about his love of Pedro Almadova and John Waters, how his mum’s reaction to him coming out as gay ended up in his film OUT and how he moved from art and painting to making short films. Gsus also talks about his experience of Berlinale Talent and how he funded OUT via Kickstarter.
EPISODE 14: TAG & RICK FROM THE TREATMENT
Tag and Rick from The Treatment chat to Robert about joining The Treatment, their first gigs, touring with KISS and Motley Crüe, receiving advice and gifts from Alice Cooper, the state of the music industry, losing and replacing members and what it takes to keep the spirit of rock and roll alive.
EPISODE 13: KELLIE MALONEY
Kellie chats to Robert about the differences between the UK and US trans movement, growing up shy and having to live a triple life once she began managing Lennox Lewis. Kellie also talks about how Scientology threatened to take over her life, entering therapy to deal with her secret gender issues, coming out to her family, how Big Brother changed her life and her experiences of dating as a trans woman.
EPISODE 12: GENA TURGEL & HILARY TASH
Holocaust survivor Gena and her daughter Hilary chat to Robert about Gena’s experiences during WWII, how the second generation are also effected and the lessons from the war.
EPISODE 11: LORD MICHAEL CASHMAN CBE
Actor and politician Lord Michael Cashman CBE chats to Robert about growing up gay in 1960s East London, working as a child actor in the West End and recalls the media backlash he experienced when cast as one half of Eastenders’ first gay couple. Michael also chats about co-founding human rights charity Stonewall, serving as a Member of the European Parliament for 15 years and reveals exactly what goes on in the House of Lords.
EPISODE 10: SCOTT CAPURRO
Scott Capurro talks to Robert about controversial comedy, how he fell into stand up after establishing himself as an actor in America and the idea of a creative sell by date. Scott also chats about how he got the part in Mrs Doubtfire, the experience of working with Robin Williams and Harvey Fierstein, working on Star Wars and how much he loves appearing on Ch5’s The Wright Stuff. He then tackles his very own #SFTL quiz.
EPISODE 9: JORDAN CURTIS HUGHES
Music photographer Jordan Curtis Hughes chats to Robert about moving to London to be a photographer, signing with the NME aged 17 and what it was like shooting Taylor Swift. Jordan also chats about whether bands should continue when certain members leave and of course we’ll hear how he gets on in his very own #SFTL quiz.
EPISODE 8: DAVID MORGAN
Stand up comedian David Morgan has recently stretched his legs into TV presenting. He talks to Robert about getting into stand up, comedy styles, the Edinburgh fringe festival, working on ITV2’s Safe Word and I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! NOW! David also chats about listening to comedy shows on cassette tape, answers the question ‘should comedians quit?’ and of course is put to the test in his very own #SFTL quiz.
EPISODE 7: BENJAMIN BUTTERWORTH
Benjamin Butterworth is very politically minded and motivated. He chats to Robert about the current state of UK politics, London Pride banning UKIP from marching in the annual parade, and meeting his birth mother aged 22.
EPISODE 6: JOE SIMPSON
London based artist Joe Simpson creates cinematic style portraits of British actors, musicians and 1980’s vintage action figures. Taking his inspiration from pop culture and infusing that with his knowledge of how the old masters viewed lighting, Joe has developed a rather distinct style and a strong online following. He chats to Robert about his ‘ACT’ series, nostalgia and how he became an artist.
EPISODE 5: LOU SANDERS
Individuality is the name of the game in stand up comedy. And Lou Sanders has that in spades. Her scatter-shot delivery is a one-two punch of jokes and oddball come-backs. She talks to Robert about how she journeyed into stand-up, the idea of labels, madness, Edinburgh, and diversity in comedy.
EPISODE 4: LLOYD & YA YA FROM HAND LUGGAGE ONLY
www.HandLuggageOnly.co.uk is a travel blog run by Lloyd and Ya Ya, a globe trotting couple with a taste for an adventurous life. Let them help you decide where to jet to next.
They chat to Robert about how their passion for sharing travel photos has morphed into a money making business, their ethics when deciding who to partner with and why they love to travel so much.
EPISODE 3: WAYNE DHESI
Wayne Dhesi identified a gap in the market: while the majority of attitudes towards LGBTQI people have changed for the better, there are still those who are struggling to come on out and be open and proud of who they are. There is great support for those individuals after they’ve come out, but what about those who are questioning their sexuality and/or gender? Wayne established www.rucomingout.com
The site is an archive of coming out stories and acts as a source of support that users can log onto anonymously and find courage and strength and hopefully inspiration to finally live their lives as they should be.
EPISODE 2: TOM ALLEN
Don’t let looks be deceiving, Tom Allen may resemble a Lex Luther cos-player, but he’s not an evil genius intent on World domination – he is one of the UK’s funniest stand up comics. His dry wit has been entertaining audiences for 11 years since he won BBC’s New Comedy Award, and recently he just added extra dates to his shows at London’s super cool Soho Theatre, (click here for tickets)
An erudite raconteur, Tom talks to Robert about fighting off that damn negative internal voice, how he made his way from acting to stand up and how the 5p carrier bag law has changed Britain.
EPISODE 1: MIKE BUONAIUTO
Mike is the founder of creative agency, Shape History.He chats to Robert about why creating content that will change the world is important to him, how he crowd funded short film Credence, and his dedication to finding new ways to encourage others to reach their potential.
SHOOT FIRST TALK LATER
First we do the shooting, then we do the talking.
Shoot First Talk Later combines a super cool photoshoot and a podcast chat.
Join photographer and host Robert Gershinson for a shoot ‘n’ talk.
Credits:
Producer, writer, editor, host and photographer: Robert Gershinson
Art work: Robert Gershinson.
Music: Quentin Fourmond.