We all know the stories of how creative people get into the business of creating for a living, but how did they start using their imaginations in the first place? On the Beginnings podcast, writer and performer Andy Beckerman asks well-known and on-their-way-up comedians, musicians, writers, artists and thinkers about their earliest creative acts, their formative childhood experiences, and how they've developed both creatively and emotionally over the years. Beginnings is part therapy, part philosophy and almost all fascinating (95% according to FDA studies).
Episodes (60)
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Episode 353: Dean Wareham
Episode 353: Dean Wareham
Published: 1 Mar 2018 Duration: 01:10:41On today's episode I talk to musician Dean Wareham. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Dean's family moved to New York in 1977 when he was a teenager. In college at Harvard, he formed the seminal indie rock band Galaxie 500 with Damo... Read more →On today's episode I talk to musician Dean Wareham. Originally from Wellington, New Zealand, Dean's family moved to New York in 1977 when he was a teenager. In college at Harvard, he formed the seminal indie rock band Galaxie 500 with Damo... Read more →
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Episode 352: Jo Firestone
Episode 352: Jo Firestone
Published: 22 Feb 2018 Duration: 01:15:23On today's episode I talk to comedian and writer Jo Firestone. Originally from St. Louis, Jo is a stand-up and the creator of dozens of live shows, including the pun competition Punderdome, the Inner Beauty Pageant, and the Unexpectashow at... Read more →On today's episode I talk to comedian and writer Jo Firestone. Originally from St. Louis, Jo is a stand-up and the creator of dozens of live shows, including the pun competition Punderdome, the Inner Beauty Pageant, and the Unexpectashow at... Read more →
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Episode 351: Griffin Newman
Episode 351: Griffin Newman
Published: 15 Feb 2018 Duration: 01:38:18On today's episode I talk to actor and comedian Griffin Newman. Raised in New York, Griff has been writing and performing for a lion's share of his life. In 2007, he started college, but left in his first year to pursue acting, and since th... Read more →On today's episode I talk to actor and comedian Griffin Newman. Raised in New York, Griff has been writing and performing for a lion's share of his life. In 2007, he started college, but left in his first year to pursue acting, and since th... Read more →
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Episode 350: Ryan Lott of Son Lux
Episode 350: Ryan Lott of Son Lux
Published: 8 Feb 2018 Duration: 01:14:25On today's episode I talk to composer and musician Ryan Lott. Born in Denver, CO, Ryan began playing music when he was relatively young. His first album as Son Lux, At War with Walls & Mazes, was released by Anticon in 2008, and since then... Read more →On today's episode I talk to composer and musician Ryan Lott. Born in Denver, CO, Ryan began playing music when he was relatively young. His first album as Son Lux, At War with Walls & Mazes, was released by Anticon in 2008, and since then... Read more →
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Episode 349: Amy Hubbs
Episode 349: Amy Hubbs
Published: 1 Feb 2018 Duration: 01:15:13On today's episode I talk to TV writer Amy Hubbs. Originally from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Amy began her TV career as a writers' assistant on the original run of NBC's Will & Grace, and since then has worked on numerous shows including Rais... Read more →On today's episode I talk to TV writer Amy Hubbs. Originally from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Amy began her TV career as a writers' assistant on the original run of NBC's Will & Grace, and since then has worked on numerous shows including Rais... Read more →
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Episode 348: Tawny Newsome
Episode 348: Tawny Newsome
Published: 25 Jan 2018 Duration: 01:13:59On today's episode I talk to comedian and musician Tawny Newsome. Originally from California, Tawny got her start in comedy in Chicago, where she was part of the Second City Mainstage, as well as the Second City National Touring Company. Mo... Read more →On today's episode I talk to comedian and musician Tawny Newsome. Originally from California, Tawny got her start in comedy in Chicago, where she was part of the Second City Mainstage, as well as the Second City National Touring Company. Mo... Read more →
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Episode 347: Brandon Bird
Episode 347: Brandon Bird
Published: 18 Jan 2018 Duration: 01:29:04On today's episode I talk to painter and illustrator Brandon Bird. Originally from Sacramento, CA, Brandon paints pop culture figures in absurd situations, like Christopher Walken building a Transformer in his garage or the cast of Frasier ... Read more →On today's episode I talk to painter and illustrator Brandon Bird. Originally from Sacramento, CA, Brandon paints pop culture figures in absurd situations, like Christopher Walken building a Transformer in his garage or the cast of Frasier ... Read more →
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Episode 346: James Urbaniak
Episode 346: James Urbaniak
Published: 11 Jan 2018 Duration: 01:18:12On today's episode I talk to actor James Urbaniak. Originally from Bayonne, New Jersey, James was part of the flourishing 1990s New York theater scene. It was there he met Hal Hartley who cast him as Simon Grim in the wonderful film Henry F... Read more →On today's episode I talk to actor James Urbaniak. Originally from Bayonne, New Jersey, James was part of the flourishing 1990s New York theater scene. It was there he met Hal Hartley who cast him as Simon Grim in the wonderful film Henry F... Read more →
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Episode 345: Dana Gould
Episode 345: Dana Gould
Published: 4 Jan 2018 Duration: 01:13:30On today's episode I talk to stand-up and writer Dana Gould. Originally from Hopedale, MA, Dana started performing stand-up at the tender age of 17, and since then has taped numerous late night appearances, specials (including an HBO Half-H... Read more →On today's episode I talk to stand-up and writer Dana Gould. Originally from Hopedale, MA, Dana started performing stand-up at the tender age of 17, and since then has taped numerous late night appearances, specials (including an HBO Half-H... Read more →
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Bonus Episode 37: Naomi Ekperigin on Keeping Your Soul in Hollywood
Bonus Episode 37: Naomi Ekperigin on Keeping Your Soul in Hollywood
Published: 28 Dec 2017 Duration: 43:44We're stuck between Christmas and New Year's Eve, folks, so I thought I'd drop a bonus episode this week! What's a "bonus episode" of Beginnings? These are episodes that deviate from "let's talk to a creator I admire about their childhoods"... Read more →We're stuck between Christmas and New Year's Eve, folks, so I thought I'd drop a bonus episode this week! What's a "bonus episode" of Beginnings? These are episodes that deviate from "let's talk to a creator I admire about their childhoods"... Read more →
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Episode 344: Karl Schaefer
Episode 344: Karl Schaefer
Published: 21 Dec 2017 Duration: 01:08:11On today's episode I talk to TV writer and showrunner Karl Schaefer. Originally from Downey, CA, Karl has been working in TV since the late 1980s, where he started off as the creator and showrunner of TV 101. In the '90s, he created and sho... Read more →On today's episode I talk to TV writer and showrunner Karl Schaefer. Originally from Downey, CA, Karl has been working in TV since the late 1980s, where he started off as the creator and showrunner of TV 101. In the '90s, he created and sho... Read more →
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Episode 343: Jessica Gao
Episode 343: Jessica Gao
Published: 14 Dec 2017 Duration: 01:17:56On today's episode I talk to TV writer Jessica Gao. Originally from Los Angeles, Jessica began her TV writing career in the world of animation, working on shows like Nickelodeon's The Mighty B and Kung Fu Panda, as well as live action shows... Read more →On today's episode I talk to TV writer Jessica Gao. Originally from Los Angeles, Jessica began her TV writing career in the world of animation, working on shows like Nickelodeon's The Mighty B and Kung Fu Panda, as well as live action shows... Read more →
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Episode 342: Sina Grace
Episode 342: Sina Grace
Published: 7 Dec 2017 Duration: 01:22:01On today's episode I talk to comics writer and artist Sina Grace. Based in Los Angeles, Sina is the author and illustrator of a number of books for Image Comics including Self-Obsessed, Not My Bag, and Nothing Lasts Forever. He acts as the ... Read more →On today's episode I talk to comics writer and artist Sina Grace. Based in Los Angeles, Sina is the author and illustrator of a number of books for Image Comics including Self-Obsessed, Not My Bag, and Nothing Lasts Forever. He acts as the ... Read more →
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Episode 341: Steve Dildarian
Episode 341: Steve Dildarian
Published: 30 Nov 2017 Duration: 01:08:30On today's episode I talk to writer and painter Steve Dildarian. Originally from New Jersey, Steve spent many years as an advertising executive and created a number of well-known campaigns including the "Budweiser Lizards". In 2006, Steve c... Read more →On today's episode I talk to writer and painter Steve Dildarian. Originally from New Jersey, Steve spent many years as an advertising executive and created a number of well-known campaigns including the "Budweiser Lizards". In 2006, Steve c... Read more →
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Bonus Episode 36: Katie Walsh on Being a Film Critic
Bonus Episode 36: Katie Walsh on Being a Film Critic
Published: 22 Nov 2017 Duration: 57:50It's almost Thanksgiving, folks! So I thought I'd drop a bonus episode early so you could listen while you're traveling for the holidays. What's a "bonus episode" of Beginnings? These are episodes that deviate from "let's talk to a creator ... Read more →It's almost Thanksgiving, folks! So I thought I'd drop a bonus episode early so you could listen while you're traveling for the holidays. What's a "bonus episode" of Beginnings? These are episodes that deviate from "let's talk to a creator ... Read more →
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Episode 340: Carlos Alazraqui
Episode 340: Carlos Alazraqui
Published: 16 Nov 2017 Duration: 01:19:56On today's episode I talk to actor and voiceover artist Carlos Alazraqui. Carlos is probably most often recognized as Deputy James Garcia from Comedy Central’s hit show Reno 911! A standup comic for over 25 years, he is also one of LA’s top... Read more →On today's episode I talk to actor and voiceover artist Carlos Alazraqui. Carlos is probably most often recognized as Deputy James Garcia from Comedy Central’s hit show Reno 911! A standup comic for over 25 years, he is also one of LA’s top... Read more →
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Episode 339: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Episode 339: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Published: 9 Nov 2017 Duration: 01:25:36On today's episode I talk to writer and showrunner Javier Grillo-Marxuach. Originally from Puerto Rico, Javi earned his MFA in screenwriting from USC in the early 1990s, and soon after started his television career. He's written for a numbe... Read more →On today's episode I talk to writer and showrunner Javier Grillo-Marxuach. Originally from Puerto Rico, Javi earned his MFA in screenwriting from USC in the early 1990s, and soon after started his television career. He's written for a numbe... Read more →
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Episode 338: Eliot Glazer
Episode 338: Eliot Glazer
Published: 2 Nov 2017 Duration: 01:31:09On today's episode I talk to TV writer and performer Eliot Glazer. Originally from Long Island, Eliot is now based in LA and has written for or contributed to shows like Billy on the Street, Difficult People, Best Week Ever, Younger, Broad ... Read more →On today's episode I talk to TV writer and performer Eliot Glazer. Originally from Long Island, Eliot is now based in LA and has written for or contributed to shows like Billy on the Street, Difficult People, Best Week Ever, Younger, Broad ... Read more →
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Episode 337: Angelo de Augustine
Episode 337: Angelo de Augustine
Published: 26 Oct 2017 Duration: 01:17:23On today's episode I talk to musician Angelo de Augustine. Angelo writes and records music in Thousand Oaks, California -- a suburb north of Los Angeles, where he grew up. His self-released debut album, Spirals of Silence, and 3-song EP fo... Read more →On today's episode I talk to musician Angelo de Augustine. Angelo writes and records music in Thousand Oaks, California -- a suburb north of Los Angeles, where he grew up. His self-released debut album, Spirals of Silence, and 3-song EP fo... Read more →
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Episode 336: Inara George of The Bird and the Bee
Episode 336: Inara George of The Bird and the Bee
Published: 19 Oct 2017 Duration: 01:27:23On today's episode I talk to musician Inara George. The daughter of Lowell George, who was a member of Frank Zappa's band and the founder of rock group Little Feat, Inara grew up in Topanga Canyon, in the outskirts of Los Angeles. Since the... Read more →On today's episode I talk to musician Inara George. The daughter of Lowell George, who was a member of Frank Zappa's band and the founder of rock group Little Feat, Inara grew up in Topanga Canyon, in the outskirts of Los Angeles. Since the... Read more →
