Surviving the Dream
Welcome to Surviving the Dream with writer/producer/comedians Kacey Arnold and David Conolly. The podcast where we interview guests who seem to have their "dream job" and find out what it's really like. What did it take to get there? Is it what they imagined? Are the sacrfices worth it? How do they do it??! Join us as we uncover the secrets of surviving the dream and make jokes along the way!
Episodes
46 episodes
Surviving the Band
Tim Vigon has worked in the music industry for over 25 years, as publicist and artist's manager. He has worked with some of the coolest bands on the planet, working with The Verve, Duran Duran, Dexy's Midnight Runners and many more. In th...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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1:01:50
Surviving Cocktails
A legend both behind the bar and in the world of spirits, Simon Ford has created, mixed and mastered countless cocktails. Discovering no gin versatile enough to fit every classic drink, he gathered top bartenders and distillers and conjured up ...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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49:56
Surviving Making Weight
Dicky Ecklund Jr, son of boxer Dicky Ecklund and nephew of “Irish” Micky Ward (who the movie "The Fighter" was about), has been part of the world of boxing since he was a child (including taking the ring at age 6!) and now carries on the family...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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44:18
Surviving 100 Hour Work Weeks
Born and raised in Chicago , by the time Jared Kirchheimer was 30, he had lived in Los Angeles twice , New York City (ok, Leonia New Jersey) once, and back to Chicago doing the actor/writer /producer thing . After decades of development hell on...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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48:32
Surviving Dual Dreams
Growing up on a farm with a love for the outdoors and nature lead Ellie Bird to a BSc in Environmental Studies and Post Grad Diploma in Sustainable Management, all while playing Professional Netball in the ANZ Premiership in New Zealand. She re...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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46:19
Surviving the Dragon
PHILIP TYLER WILLIAMS has been working as a Firefighter/EMT at JPL/NASA for the past 24 years. Originally a member of the Protective Services Security Dept. at JPL, Philip decided to broaden his horizons and join the Fire Department in 2000. Re...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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50:28
Surviving Humanity
John C. Spokes, CFRE, Senior Vice President, Netzel Grigsby Associates - Specializing in capital and annual campaigns, strategic plans, and board development, John brings a wealth of experience across diverse nonprofit sectors, including arts, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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46:55
Surviving Wildfires & Alone Time
Mike Nicholas an editor/filmmaker based in Los Angeles, making shorts, educational and branded content for Nickelodeon, Paramount, and a litany of toy companies. He also has a long history with short films, producing and co-writing past award-w...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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55:11
Surviving Sustainability
David Hertz, FAIA, Architect, founded Syndesis in 1983 and S.E.A. The Studio of Environmental Architecture, a practice focus on regenerative design in an age of resilience. David won the 2022 Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for ...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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51:52
Surviving Branding
Michael Murphy is a Senior Creative currently working hard in advertising brand design creating IMPACT, VALUE and EXCITEMENT. He also recently published a book called “Googie Modern" Angel City Press and is an Exhibitor / Artist. Outside of wor...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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50:02
Surviving Cultural Turducken
Aasif Mandvi is an award-winning actor, writer, and producer. He can be seen starring in the Paramount+ drama EVIL, the Hulu comedy THIS WAY UP, as well the CW’s comedy panel show WOULD I LE TO YOU, for which he served as host and Executive Pro...
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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1:00:27
Surviving Bad Decisions
Scott Nathan is an award winning celebrity, beauty, fashion & advertising photographer/commercial director. His fine art series "Confessional" opened at 2019's Frieze L.A to rave reviews and global press. "Confessional" features more ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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48:30
Surviving Imposter Syndrome
This week’s guest, RHEA SEEHORN will next be seen starring in the UNT VINCE GILLIGAN SERIES which she is currently shooting for Apple TV+. She was recently seen in BAD BOYS: RIDE OR DIE, opposite Will Smith & Martin Lawrence. Previously, Rh...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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55:51
Surviving 3AM Sitting on a Camera Case
Born and raised in Los Angeles Eric has been immersed in film and TV his entire life. As a Camera Operator and assistant Camera Operator, Eric has an accumulated over 45,000 hours of onset experience. Past credits include HUNTERS, A WRINKLE IN ...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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51:15
Surviving Likes
This week's guest is really living the dream by just getting to be himself and share what excites him! You may recognize Jacob Givens as the 'first time hearing (insert 90s band) guy' from his social media videos that are shared by millions of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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51:38
Surviving Justice
Sharon Ransom served for 17 years as a dispatcher for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and has served as a Deputy District Attorney with Los Angeles County for the past 19 years. She us currently seeking a seat as a Los Angeles Count...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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42:02
Surviving Squatters
For over 32 years, Graham J. Larson has been focused on ways to help clients turn their hard work into the dream they envisioned. His professional journey began in public relations at Ogilvy, Adams & Rinehart in Washington, DC, followed by ...
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55:03
Surviving Monsters
Animator-Creator, Dave Pressler's artistic journey is a testament to his unwavering dedication to storytelling through visual expression. Moving seamlessly between sculpting, illustration, animation, and production work, Dave's diverse skill se...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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56:13
Surviving World Travel
Asan Askin is a travel advisor who, after pursuing a career in law, is living his dream of seeing the world and helping others do the same. Asan is currently the West Coast Director at First in Service, where he oversees entertainm...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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51:59
Surviving Below-the-Line
Laura has worked as a makeup artist on films and TV shows like "Frankie and Johnnie are Married," "Call me: The Rise and fall of Heidi Fleiss", "Las Vegas," "The Bling Ring," "Franklin & Bash," "Men at Work," "Community," "Get Shorty," "Cra...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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46:14
Surviving NASA
Rudy Boehmer is an aerospace engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in Pasadena, CA, where he has worked in spacecraft operations for the past 25 years. Rudy currently works on two Mars projects: the Mars Odyssey Orbiter as a Mission Planni...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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54:34
Surviving Uncertainty
Highly accredited, flight nurse, Sasha White, received her first Bachelor's Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her second Bachelor’s Degree (a competitive, accelerated nursing program) from the Metropolitan State University of ...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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40:08
Surviving Multitasking
David Mellville co-founded Independent Shakespeare Co. with his wife Melissa Chalsma. In 2004 the company started producing outdoor shows which eventually became The Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival which plays to up 50,000 people annually an...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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53:05
Surviving Bodily Limitations (like Puppet Shoulder)
Victor has been a puppeteer & voice artist for the Jim Henson Company, Sid & Marty Krofft, and The Walt Disney Company for almost thirty years. His work includes CRANK YANKERS, DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE, THE HANGOVER, FORGETTING S...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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56:09
Surviving Animal Behavior
Dr. Mike McClenahan is a veterinarian at Studio City Animal Hospital and has extensive experience in private practice, consulting, and relief work. He’s also trained in communications and is known for his RACE-approved lecture, “The Use of Virt...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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51:56