Join your host Ryan M. Perez and special guest Daniel Goldstein as they discuss his journey from child actor to acclaimed theater director, playwright, and Broadway veteran. From directing the Broadway revival of Godspell to developing original works including Row, Unknown Soldier, and Orange Crush, Daniel reflects on the unpredictable path of building a creative life.

Together, they explore the changing economics of American theater, the increasingly difficult process of bringing new work to the stage, the delicate relationship between writers and directors, and what actors often misunderstand about the audition room. Daniel also shares his philosophy on collaboration, the importance of remaining open to creative discovery, and why nurturing the next generation of artists remains one of his greatest responsibilities.

An honest and insightful conversation about artistic integrity, perseverance, mentorship, and the enduring power of theater.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join your host Ryan M. Perez and Daniel Bessner for Part Two of their conversation around Daniel's new book, IMPERIALIST REALISM.

This time, the conversation turns from the decline of mass culture to the people trying to make a living inside the system replacing it.

Daniel examines what he describes as the "deindustrialization of white-collar work," and why the instability consuming Hollywood may be part of a much larger transformation of American working life. They discuss the disappearance of the middle, mass layoffs, AI, the economics of user-generated content, and why even people who made all the "right" career choices are discovering that stability is increasingly difficult to find.

Ryan and Daniel also dig into what this means specifically for actors and artists. There used to be ways to structure a life around pursuing creative work, even without becoming a star. What happens when the day jobs disappear, the middle of the entertainment industry contracts, and stability increasingly becomes a privilege reserved for people who already have money?

Finally, they turn toward possible solutions: using technology in service of people rather than against them, reconsidering old political playbooks, and asking whether ideas like a robust universal basic income for artists could help preserve creative careers in a radically changing economy.

Part Two of our conversation with Daniel Bessner asks a bigger question: if the old structures of work are no longer capable of providing stability, what should replace them?

https://imperialistrealism.substack.com/

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