That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Our guest today, Saagar Shaikh, went from losing his corporate job to starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, breaking out as Aamir Khan in Ms. Marvel and reprising the role in The Marvels. Saagar shares the incredible story of his three-year pursuit of the legendary ABC Showcase—a grueling, all-consuming "boot camp" that ultimately landed him top-tier representation. You'll hear the wild, behind-the-scenes rollercoaster of how he landed the lead role in Hulu's Deli Boys: including enduring a crushing initial rejection for a different role and then being asked to audition for the series lead just hours later. From mastering "dummy sides" for top-secret Marvel auditions to discovering unexpected magic in on-camera mistakes, Saagar delivers a masterclass on creative freedom, resilience, and what it truly feels like to finally be number one on the call sheet.
These are the unforgettable stories that landed Saagar Shaikh right here.
Credits:
Ms. Marvel
The Marvels
Deli Boys
Liza on Demand
Unfair & Ugly
Guest Links:
IMDB: Saagar Shaikh, Actor, Writer, Production Department
THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:
For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition
MAGIC MIND: 48% off ONEAUDITION20
THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
PATREON: @thatoneaudition
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
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EPISODE CREDITS:
WRITER: Erin McCluskey
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

We're kicking off Season 7 of That One Audition with Guy Burnet, an actor industry friends have nicknamed a "masterful auditioner." From his early days on the UK soap Hollyoaks to the heights of Hollywood, Guy lets us in on the journey and work ethic behind the scenes. He describes his self-tape "torture chamber," a room devoted to the grueling, multi-day pursuit of audition perfection, where he's built a career defined by precision, discipline, and soul.
His credits span Ray Donovan, Hand of God, and Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, sharing the screen with icons like Johnny Depp and Billy Bob Thornton. But the path hasn't been linear. Guy opens up about the moment he nearly walked away from acting altogether — until a chance encounter in a boxing gym with Taylor Sheridan led to a role in the upcoming series Landman. Raw, humble, and famously without a social media presence, Guy joins us to talk about the cost of chasing excellence and why the most powerful thing an actor can bring into the room is their own unpolished soul.
These are the unforgettable stories that landed Guy Burnet right here.
Credits:
Landman
Oppenheimer
FUBAR
The Beast
American Horror Stories
Ray Donovan
Mortdecai
3 Body Problem
Hand of God
Minx
The Affair
Counterpart
Electric Dreams
A Beautiful Now
Guest Links:
IMDB: Guy Burnet, Actor
THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:
For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition
PUBLIC SELF-TAPE CLASS: $25 - JANUARY 23RD
THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
PATREON: @thatoneaudition
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher
EPISODE CREDITS:
WRITER: Erin McCluskey
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

In this episode, If you need 20 takes to "warm up," you're still rehearsing. In this solo episode, Alyshia explains why rehearsal and camera time require two very different mindsets—and how confusing them is costing actors confidence, time, and bookings. Learn why story choices beat character choices in auditions, how to train for 24-hour turnarounds, and what it really means to practice how you play in today's self-tape world.
💪 Subscribe now for insightful discussions, empowering interviews, and practical advice to enhance your career longevity and satisfaction.
🔗 Connect with That One Audition:
PUBLIC SELF-TAPE CLASS: $25 - JANUARY 23RD
THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR - 50% OFF
THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
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🌈 Subscribe today and be part of a community that celebrates resilience and passion in the world of acting! 🎙️ #ActorsResilience #RecoveryMindset #ThatOneAudition #PodcastJourney
CREDITS:
Host/Producer: Alyshia Ochse
WRITER: Alyshia Ochse
WE BSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
SOCIAL: Alara Cerikcioglu

In today's episode, we dive into the extraordinary career of Mustafa Shakir, the self-described "accidental actor" who originally pursued international banking and law at Cornell before discovering acting after reading a poem in a workshop. He breaks down the nitty-gritty of auditioning, including the high-stakes journey to landing the Marvel villain "Bushmaster" on Luke Cage. We also talk about why he loves the "little movie" process of self-taping, and how trusting intuition and learning to let go after preparation has helped him uncover new dimensions in his work. Mustafa generously shares his philosophy on how the inner world shapes outer reality, along with a peek behind the curtain at his process and work ethic.
These are the unforgettable stories that landed Mustafa Shakir right here.
Credits:
Song Sung Blue
Marvel's Luke Cage
Cowboy Bebop
The Deuce
Emancipation
Love Hurts
Ghosted
The Night Of
American Gods
Shameless
House
Timeless
Quarry
Guest Links:
IMDB: Mustafa Shakir, Actor, Writer, Director
THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:
For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition
THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
PATREON: @thatoneaudition
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher
EPISODE CREDITS:
WRITER: Erin McCluskey
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri

A casting director's Instagram post stopped me mid-scroll: "We don't pick the most talented—we pick the ones who survived without losing their soul." In this episode, we're talking about why artists don't burn out from rejection but from performing versions of themselves that never existed, and how building a sustainable practice is the only way to stay authentic in an industry that demands everything. Plus, details on how to join the Practice Track community when we open enrollment at the end of January.
THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:
For exclusive content surrounding this and all podcast episodes, sign up for our amazing newsletter at AlyshiaOchse.com. And don't forget to snap and post a photo while listening to the show and tag me: @alyshiaochse & @thatoneaudition
THE BRIDGE FOR ACTORS: Become a WORKING ACTOR
THE PRACTICE TRACK: Membership to Practice Weekly
PATREON: @thatoneaudition
CONSULTING: Get 1-on-1 advice for your acting career from Alyshia Ochse
COACHING: Get personalized coaching from Alyshia on your next audition or role
INSTAGRAM: @alyshiaochse
INSTAGRAM: @thatoneaudition
WEBSITE: AlyshiaOchse.com
ITUNES: Subscribe to That One Audition on iTunes
SPOTIFY: Subscribe to That One Audition on Spotify
STITCHER: Subscribe to That One Audition on Stitcher
EPISODE CREDITS:
WRITER: Erin McCluskey
WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri