Off The Beat with Brian Baumgartner

LA Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp talks about growing up in a legacy football family, starting his career at just 5’4” and 119lbs, and his favorite show: The Office. Try Dodo Coffee at dodocoffee.co and @dodocoffeeco on social media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Current actor and former supermodel Tricia Helfer regales Brian with her epic journey from small town farm to Supermodel of the World, to getting fired from her first-ever acting job, to becoming the Goddess of All Creation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian’s guest today is legendary producer Betsy Beers, the genius behind shows like Scandal, Private Practice, Inventing Anna, Grey’s Anatomy, and many more. While she won’t divulge any spoilers about the new season of Bridgerton (much to Brian’s chagrin), she will recount her days of auditioning badly across America, being brutally honest with fancy people, and 23 years of partnership with Shonda Rhimes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joy is all around as Brian hangs out with comedian Joyelle Nicole Johnson, who confesses to talking to herself on the streets of New York, advocates for the value of truth in comedy, and looks forward to getting on her Meryl Streep shit as an actor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Brian is swapping hair care tips for the follicly challenged with actor Kelly AuCoin. The conversation highlights include Kelly's unique upbringing as a Congressman's son, the worst wig of his career, and his process for embodying Dollar Bill Stern on Billions (hint: it's more than just a closely shaved scalp). Listeners can see Kelly in his role as president of the LA Clippers on Hulu's Clipped, premiering this week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wearing child-sized headphones, Brian hears from actor’s actor Josh Pais. Apart from his fruitful career in film and television, they go deep about physical acting technique, the theoretical physics of using a toaster oven, and uncovering his story to shed the image of “that guy”. Brian helps him uncover his own story, from being one of the original Ninja Turtles, developing his own method of actor training, and now writing his own book. Josh can be seen starring in A Man in Full, now streaming on Netflix.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian’s new friend and former co-star (though they didn’t even know it while voicing Rumble) Susan Kelechi Watson is in the house today, discussing the special coolness that comes from Brooklyn, saying goodbye to This is Us, and finally admitting that she’s bicoastal.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Brian sits down with the multi-talented actor and musician Folake Olowofoyeku. She talks about her diverse upbringing in Lagos watching Spanish telenovelas and listening to Irish music, moving to the US as a young student, and bringing it all back around to play a Nigerian woman on Bob Hearts Abishola. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian's conversation this week is with rising star Alex Neustaedter. The young actor shares details about his experience as a child model, how he avoided the Mickey Mouse Club, getting to know Meg Ryan over a slice of apple pie, and that time he snuck into the Pittsburgh Zoo. Alex can currently be seen in the second season of American Rust, now streaming on Prime Video.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brian's guest today is former professional basketball player and Lob City legend, Blake Griffin. The six-time NBA All-Star discusses his youth as a three-sport phenom, how he learned he would be selected as the #1 draft pick by the Clippers, and the excitement and heartbreak of play-off basketball. Plus, Blake details his retirement plans for keeping busy in the world of film and TV production.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.