What do Navy training, Hollywood politics, and union elections have in common? In this episode of Beyond The Take, Marc Chouen sits down with actor and SAG-AFTRA leader Christina Bobrowsky to break down the realities of union life most actors never hear about.

From running for office and navigating committees, to the impact of AI in the industry and why SAG-AFTRA elections feel like U.S. politics, Christina brings a candid look at what it really takes to fight for the future of performers.

If you’ve ever wondered why turnout is low, how celebrity candidates change the game, or what the union could do better, this conversation is for you.

Tune in for an honest, eye-opening discussion that connects the dots between art, politics, and survival in today’s entertainment industry.

In this episode of Beyond The Take, actor, writer, and director Sunita Deshpande (@luckysunita) joins Marc for a powerful conversation on the beauty, vulnerability, and authenticity of live performance. From directing her first play Justice for Geeta to teaching improvisation across professional spaces, and explore what it means to stay creatively alive when the industry feels like it’s burning down.

🔹 Highlights include:

• The inspiration and real-life tragedy behind Justice for Geeta

• Navigating the industry during the Paramount/Skydance merger and rise of AI-generated content

• The growing importance of improv and live storytelling in a world leaning on automation

• The emotional toll of auditioning and how to redefine “success” as an actor today

• Memories of bottomless Bloody Marys and the bond that started it all

🎭 Learn more about Sunita and her work at www.successfulspontaneity.com

🎧 Stream Beyond The Take now and follow for honest conversations about art, industry, and staying human through it all.

Award-winning filmmaker, poet, and author Jamal Hodge joins Beyond the Take for one of our most powerful conversations yet.

From a turbulent childhood filled with trauma and homelessness to becoming a celebrated voice in film and literature, Jamal opens up about how art became his path to healing. We dive into his journey, the film premiering at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, and why storytelling isn’t just a craft, it’s a survival tool.

We talk:

• Why the best art comes from pain

• How AI is shaping the future of filmmaking

• The brutal realities of set professionalism

• What it really takes to be a resilient artist in today’s industry

• The indie film boom outside of LA and NYC

• How he channels truth as a director and writer

• The moment Jurassic Park changed his life forever

📚 Grab Jamal’s Books:

• The Dark Between the Twilight

• Bestiary of Blood

• Everything Endless

🎧 Stream now for raw truths, creative insight, and a masterclass in resilience.

Jamal Hodge is a Bram Stoker & Elgin Award-nominated writer of The Dark Between The Twilight, award-winning film director, producer, anthology editor of Bestiary of Blood, and co-writer of Everything Endless.