In the Envelope: The Actor’s Podcast
Backstage
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, Senior Editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 23, 2025 • 50min
Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to go in-depth on Guillermo del Toro's "Frankenstein," working with Jacob Elordi, and creating a brand new take on Mary Shelley's mad scientist. Isaac also discusses his life as a young artist fresh out of Julliard, how he's evolved since, and the lessons—both personal and professional—that all aspiring performers should take from his career.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Andy Turnbull
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli
Sponsored by MetroPlusHealth

Oct 9, 2025 • 51min
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to offer industry insights and performance tips that any aspiring actor will want to hear. Hawke also discusses "Blue Moon," his ninth collaboration with Richard Linklater, and looks back on past projects like "Dead Poets Society," "Training Day," and the "Before" trilogy.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Andy Turnbull
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Sep 25, 2025 • 50min
A-Listers' Acting Origin Stories
On this episode of Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast, we look back on a few of the best stories we got from A-list actors about how they first fell in love with the craft. Featuring in-depth anecdotes from:
Barry Keoghan
Austin Butler
Colman Domingo
Brendan Fraser
Sebastian Stan
Stephanie Hsu
Robin Thede
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Andy Turnbull
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Sep 11, 2025 • 41min
Paul Mescal
Paul Mescal joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to offer a rare, candid look inside his acting process. Mescal also discusses his chemistry with Josh O'Connor in "The History of Sound," playing William Shakespeare in Chloé Zhao's "Hamnet," and what it's been like during camera tests and rehearsals for Sam Mendes' four Beatles biopics, in which he'll play Paul McCartney alongside Harris Dickinson's John Lennon, Joseph Quinn's George Harrison, and Barry Keoghan's Ringo Starr.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Andy Turnbull
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Aug 28, 2025 • 44min
Madelyn Cline
Madelyn Cline joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to discuss the experience of filming the fifth and final season of Netflix's "Outer Banks." Cline also gets candid about her road to success and how she plans to navigate this new era of her career.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Andy Turnbull
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Aug 14, 2025 • 56min
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to discuss "The Studio," which just notched 23 Emmy nominations. Rogen also gets candid about writing season 2, booking A-list cameos, how he feels about his public persona, the weirdness of acting as an art form, Vin Diesel, James Cameron, and much, much more.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Jul 31, 2025 • 45min
Cristin Milioti
Cristin Milioti joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to look back on her entire career, from block box theater in New York City to Batman villain Sofia Falcone on "The Penguin." Milioti also digs into standout roles like "Once," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Palm Springs."
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Jul 17, 2025 • 37min
Ralph Ineson (Galactus, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps")
Ralph Ineson joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to discuss bringing iconic Marvel villain Galactus to life in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." The actor discusses the unique way he got cast, the 'natural disasters' that inspired the character's voice, Galactus' motivations, and the surreal experience of becoming a popcorn bucket. Ineson also talks the intense way his frequent collaborator Robert Eggers ("The Witch," "Nosferatu") likes to work, as well as how blockbuster filmmaking has changed since he played a Death Eater in three "Harry Potter" films.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Jul 3, 2025 • 47min
Alden Ehrenreich
Alden Ehrenreich joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to discuss Zach Cregger's "Barbarian" follow-up, "Weapons," as well as his MCU role in "Ironheart." The actor also candidly chats about his Han Solo audition process, working with Christopher Nolan on "Oppenheimer," getting discovered by Steven Spielberg, and much more.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli

Jun 19, 2025 • 45min
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried joins Backstage's In the Envelope: The Actor's Podcast to get candid about her journey through Hollywood and the state of the industry. She also discusses doing deep, dramatic roles like "Long Bright River," how she feels about the delayed response to "Jennifer's Body, whether a third "Mamma Mia" movie will happen, and much more.
...
Backstage has been the #1 resource for actors and talent-seekers for 60 years. In the Envelope, Backstage’s podcast, features intimate, in-depth conversations with today’s most noteworthy film, television, and theater actors and creators. Full of both know-how and inspiration, In the Envelope airs bi-weekly to cover everything from practical advice on navigating the industry, to how your favorite projects are made and personal stories of success and failure alike. Join host Vinnie Mancuso, senior editor at Backstage, for this guide on how to live the creative life from those who are doing it every day: https://bit.ly/2OMryWQ
...
Follow Backstage and In the Envelope on social media:
- https://www.facebook.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/backstage
- https://www.twitter.com/intheenvelope
- https://www.instagram.com/backstagecast
Looking to get cast? Subscribe here: www.backstage.com/subscribe
Browse Backstage casting listings: https://bit.ly/3mth68e
Special thanks to...
- Host: Vinnie Mancuso
- Producer: Jamie Muffett
- Social media: Karen Jenkins, Sky Silverman
- Design: Mark Stinson, Caitlin Watkins
- Additional support: Kasey Howe, Suzy Woltmann, Jenn Zilioli


