Mentor Buffet

Oscar Best Picture-winning producer Alex Coco joins Alexi Pappas to talk about working with director Sean Baker through his whole career, on Florida Project in 2017, Red Rocket in 2021, and now Anora, which just won five Academy Awards. Alexi’s conversation with Alex is about not having a plan. It’s the spirit he’s brought to his independent filmmaking and it’s a worldview he’s embodied, consciously or not, since he was a teenager—getting in touch with what he likes, understanding his motivation system, and deciding who to spend time around. Alex and Alexi also talk about David Lynch’s seminal masterpiece Eraserhead, how Alex stays steady among chaos, and how to honor The Film Gods.

Ian Harding, the actor, sits down with host Alexi Pappas to talk about his lifelong mentor, his Aunt Julie, who just passed away. Ian became famous overnight when he was cast in Pretty Little Liars and his whole world changed but Aunt Julie stayed the same. She taught him to embrace challenges and how to be graceful, and she gave him her presence through the ups and downs of his acting career—and his life. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, Ian and Alexi talk about all-boys boarding school, how to deal with expectation, and Lindsay Lohan—who Ian idolized as a teen teenager and then worked with her on his latest movie, Our Little Secret, which is now streaming on Netflix. 

Haley Joel Osment grew up in Hollywood, and here he shares about mentors he's had through his lifelong acting career: His dad, Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, M Night Shymalan, The RZA, and more.

Alexi answers listeners' advice questions.

Rich Roll sits down with host Alexi Pappas and shares about some bad mentors he had when he was young. Rich habituated to not asking for help and adapted a strong sense of self reliance, which, years later, stood in his way of receiving help with his alcoholism. How he understood his greatest strength eventually proved to be a profound weakness. Rich details what it took for him to eventually receive help, how he learned to change his mind, and discusses the mentorship model in AA. He also shares about the beautiful mentorship and support he’s received from his wife Julie on the journey to understand his purpose. 

Chris Bender is the producer who brought so many movies you love to the screen, like American Pie and Final Destination. On this episode of Mentor Buffet, Chris talks about how his career has been about finding screenwriters with strong voices who were otherwise being ignored—his taste is his form of expression. Chris’s collaborators were also mentors to him—early in his career, Warren Zide helped Chris understand the business and how he wanted to approach it, and the late and great J.C. Spink, Chris’s intern-turned-business partner, who he worked with for 20 years. Chris and Alexi also talk about parenting, high school career day, and how the industry is evolving. 

The actress Ciara Bravo joins host Alexi Pappas to discuss her transition from child stardom on Big Time Rush to acting in more adult roles—like Wayne in 2019, Cherry with Tom Holland in 2021, and Alexi and Ciara’s new movie together, Not an Artist which is available to watch digitally on January 31. Alexi and Ciara talk about how to find your north star, and Ciara talks about how she found it in Hollywood, while making Wayne in 2019 with her mentor Shawn Simmons who created a set environment that felt like summer camp. They also chart Ciara’s evolving relationship with school, and Ciara shares a funny audition story. And Merrell is offering Mentor Buffet listeners a special deal! Use code MentorBuffet25 at checkout for 25% off your first order at merrell.com. 

The Olympic 1500-meter champion Cole Hocker joins Alexi to recap his gold medal race in Paris. The two Oregon duck alums also discuss managing self-doubt, accessing your alter ego for peak athletic performance, and what makes a good coach. Cole also talks about his athletic style icons, Mike Tyson and former American Olympic 1500-meter champion Matthew Centrowitz. 

Harry Hudson, a popstar and philanthropist, shares his inspiring journey of self-discovery and mentorship. He recounts how a Swedish music producer taught him about hard work, while an elderly woman in chemotherapy helped him find his purpose. Harry also reflects on key friendships, such as with Jaden Smith, emphasizing the importance of real connections. The conversation highlights the value of viewing dreams as ongoing practices, embracing vulnerability, and celebrating small victories along the path to personal and artistic fulfillment.

The chef Duff Goldman joins host Alexi Pappas on Mentor Buffet to discuss mentorship in the food world. Duff shares about how his stubbornness has made him resistant to accepting mentorship his whole life. Duff also shares his tips for how to trust yourself, how to harness the power of your subconscious mind, and how to cultivate a lasting state of optimism. Duff and Alexi also talk about Disneyland, “weirdo” status, and the secret to life.