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PODCAST

Ilse Will Say

Intrepida Entertainment

Ilse Will Say is an EVERYTHING podcast with a core focus on the entertainment field. Expect Ilse’s takes on TV shows, pizza, nostalgia, bigfoot, butterbeer, the weird little S we all drew in middle school—literally everything. If it lives in your group chat, it lives here too.

comedy personal journals

All Episodes

44:35

Jacob Cagle: A Christmas episode for 'soft boys'

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/12/16

This one feels like a late-December exhale. Cozy, funny, a little tender, and unexpectedly grounding.Ilse sits down with filmmaker, editor, and all-around creative Swiss Army knife Jacob Cagle for a holiday episode that drifts from Santa Claus lore to sibling dynamics to the quiet weight of showing up for your life and your work. Jacob opens up about belief, doubt, gratitude, and what it means to keep creating even when you’re tired, unsure, or very aware of time passing. They talk Christmas

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44:38

Jessie Komitor: If Ben Affleck can do it, so can you

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/12/09

Ilse sits down with actor, writer, and director Jessie Komitor, whose debut film Chasing the Party premiered at Tribeca and somehow manages to be nostalgic, stylish, and devastating all at once. They dig into the strange magic of saying your dreams out loud, the moment Jessie finally allowed herself to claim the title of “director,” and the way girlhood imagination still sneaks into her work. Jessie talks about building her own DIY film school, choreographing ambitious dance sequences, and making

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45:09

Marissa Lichwick: The woman who turned her life into...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/12/02

When an artist has lived ten creative lives and still shows up curious, brilliant, and fully human — you listen. Marissa Lichwick joins Ilse for a conversation that feels like a masterclass, a pep talk, and a cosmic hug all at once. They dive into the summer she spent training at UCLA, what making a film really demands, why stories are crafted three different times, and how being adopted shaped her writing, her acting, and her relentless pull toward truth.Marissa talks about the courage to start

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44:06

Gloria Chavez: Leaving the 9-5 and betting on yourself

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/11/25

Ilse sits down with actor Gloria Chavez (Chicago P.D., national commercials, and your favorite person to whisper-set-gossip with) for a conversation that feels like catching up with your comadre between takes. Gloria shares how she left a draining 9–5 in the dental world, trusted her instincts, and rebuilt her life around acting, joy, and community.They talk about the real work behind commercial acting, why advocating for yourself matters, immigrant-kid pressure, burnout, staying curious, haunted

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50:59

Joel Maisonet: Stop playing small in your headshots...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/11/18

Ilse sits down with Chicago photographer Joel Maisonet, whose headshots have quietly become the city’s best-kept secret... BUT IT'S TIME EVERYONE KNEW! They talk about intention, identity, and why a good photo is less about posing and more about letting yourself be seen. Joel shares how dance taught him to read bodies, how ADHD turned him into a Renaissance man, and why actors should stop thinking of headshots as “smiling vs. serious” and start thinking about them as storytelling tools.They get into

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51:08

Ben Bishop: The accidental cowboy filmmaker

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/11/11

Ilse sits down with filmmaker and multi-hyphenate Ben Bishop (Dogwood, Hold Your Horses, Hamster in My Head) for a conversation that’s equal parts filmmaking pep talk and comedy hour. They talk about growing up in Arkansas, writing without film school, and why creative people need to stop waiting for permission and just make the weird thing.Between talk of cowboy hats, HGTV obsessions, and the occasional haunted hamster, Ben shares how curiosity—not credentials—built his career. From building sets

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51:43

Abby Gilster: Stop shrinking—the world needs your weird

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/11/04

Ilse sits down with Chicago actor Abby Gilster (Chicago Fire, Single Car Crash, Theatre Above the Law*) for a conversation that swings from haunted babies and bad anesthesia stories to imposter syndrome and the art of taking up space. They talk about perfectionism, football rage, Twilight monologues, and why actors need the discipline of athletes but the wonder of kids.Abby opens up about learning to believe in herself, finding community through collaboration, and remembering that joy—not

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55:39

Sadieh Rifai: You’re Not ‘Too Much,’ You’re Finally...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/10/28

Ilse sits down with Chicago legend Sadieh Rifai (Patriot, Shining Girls, The Humans, Grey House) for a raw and joyful conversation about success, identity, and the quiet power of gratitude. They talk immigrant parents, audition anxiety, the lie of constant productivity, and why sometimes doing nothing is the most creative thing you can do.From family names that carry generations of strength to the art of being “too much,” Sadieh opens up about redefining success beyond fame and finding peace in

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48:43

Patrick Burke: How editing teaches you patience,...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/10/21

Ilse sits down with editor and former musician Patrick Burke of Method & Madness for a conversation that somehow covers 48-hour film projects, oyster shucking, and the terrifying beauty of a well-timed dissolve. Patrick shares what he’s learned about rhythm—both in editing and in life—and how collaboration, caffeine, and chaos (the good kind) fuel creative work.They talk about the power of pacing, why film sets feel like beehives, and yes… the Mandela Effect, lizard leaders, and other very

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58:17

Tony Bondoc: You don’t need permission to create -...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/10/14

Ilse sits down with arts programmer, community builder, and fellow South Texan Tony Bondoc, whose resume runs from the Neo-Futurists to the League of Chicago Theaters. They talk about growing up on the Texas border, why “football for theater” (the UIL one-act competitions) shapes unstoppable creatives, and how gratitude and intention fuel his work behind the scenes.Between debates over corn vs potato, barbecue road-trip spreadsheets, and Big Red nostalgia, Tony opens up about building access and

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01:02:27

Steve Berg: paranormal but make it midwest

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/10/07

Ilse sits down with actor, comedian, and podcaster Steve Berg, whose resume spans The Good Place, Bob’s Burgers, Tag, and his own podcast Hi, Strangeness. They dive into the joy of folklore, the spirituality of UFOs, and why curiosity might be the most creative muscle an artist can have.Between burrata rants, Midwest nostalgia, and Bigfoot theories, Steve shares how chasing the “weird” keeps him grounded as an actor—and how moving from LA to Omaha gave him back his sense of wonder. They talk improv

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51:28

Las Locas, Latina Fest & the Business of Being Funny...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/09/30

Ilse sits down with comedian, producer, and festival founder Janice V. Rodriguez, the woman who turned a New Year’s resolution into one of Chicago’s most vital comedy movements. Janice shares the origin of Las Locas Comedy, how the Latina Comedy Festival grew from a “one-show festival” into a multi-day powerhouse, and why comedy is equal parts spreadsheets and late-night punchlines.They dive into the business side of being an artist, what it’s like balancing loyalty with saying no, and why stand-up

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41:12

Seances, Czech fairy tales & the secret life of a...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/09/23

Ilse sits down with film programmer and Chicago Screen Gem Raul Benitez, a man who’s been shaping the city’s film culture for over a decade without ever setting foot in film school. From curating cult Czech fantasy films at midnight to launching a Chicago–Mexico City filmmaker exchange, Raul has proven that programming is equal parts taste, hustle, and knowing which audience actually wants the weird stuff.They talk about the realities of landing a programmer gig, why gatekeeping is still rampant in

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57:13

You can lead the work...or keep waiting to be picked....

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/09/16

Ilse sits down with writer–producer–multi-hyphenate Keiph Oliver for a conversation that’s equal parts business school, therapy, and creative pep talk.They get into what it means to lead instead of chase, why filmmakers should stop gatekeeping their own work, and how YouTube might be a smarter move than Sundance.Also in the mix: self-worth, faith, cold showers, equity over exposure, and why the Chicago film scene might be on the verge of something big.If you’re a filmmaker, a creative, or just tired

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49:47

Why your film needs a wizard & a paladin

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/09/09

Ilse kicks it with Ana J. Christian (editor/paladin) and C. Ryan Stemple (colorist/wizard)—aka the post team behind Journey Work Entertainment, the Chicago studio making indie films look like a million bucks (without ever leaving the Midwest).They talk about what post actually is, why metadata’s your ride-or-die, the emotional damage of 2AM color sessions, and business meetings in the bathtub. Yes, a real bathtub. Yes, that’s where they do their best work. Honestly? Goals.If you’ve ever yelled at

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41:54

Don’t trust none of you hoes (but I do trust Canadian...

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/09/02

Ilse sits down with comic and cultural icon Christina Gutierrez—yes, the one who won at a Canadian casino and used the money to move to London. A literal main character.They talk standup as healing, immigrant kid ambition, and how comedy becomes armor. Plus: British accents gone wrong, Catholic grandmas, hot horoscopes, and how a purse on stage became a feminist survival tactic.This one is cozy, cathartic, and extremely funny. Like slipping into PJs while your hot chocolate has chili in it but it

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54:03

Follow your dreams, NOT the ghost

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/08/26

Ilse sits down with actor and storycreator Lorena Gonzalez to talk about growing up in a legitimately haunted house, quitting a job to chase a dream, and getting told by an all-white conservatory that she didn’t “have it.” (Spoiler: she definitely has it.)They get into gratitude on set, the struggle of starting late in the game, and the spirit who maybe doesn’t like men. Plus: haunted toilets, shadow figures, and a coconut exorcism that didn’t go as planned. You can follow Lorena on Instagram

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41:50

Mindset, Madness & Florida Man

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/08/19

Ilse sits down with certified life coach and mindset expert Laura Weiner-Kiser to talk self-discovery, burnout culture, and why rest isn’t a luxury—it’s survival. They unpack what it really means to show up as yourself, why mindset beats motivation, and how to escape the trap of constant self-promotion. Also: Florida Man makes an appearance. Obviously. For more info on Laura, go to www.changebychallenge.com or follow her on Instagram @changebychallengeMentioned in this episode:Thank you to our

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40:48

A Chicago filmmaker walks into a podcast…

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/08/12

Ilse sits down with Jon Silver to talk comedy roots, producing madness, and why childlike wonder is the secret sauce. They cover the Chicago scene, theater headaches, and Jon’s latest film The Premiere—plus a few conspiracy theories for good measure. Follow Jon on Instagram @jonsilverpoop <- yeah, you read that right.Mentioned in this episode:Thank you to our sponsor, Joel Maisonet Photography: maisonetphotography.com

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43:14

Make the thing, don't wait

Ilse Will Say ·

2025/08/05

Missy Hernandez joins Ilse to talk about making your own lane—from acting to screenwriting to producing. They dive into representation, identity, and the power of language, plus why safe sets and community matter more than ever. Find out more about Missy and her workshops at www.missyhernandez.comMentioned in this episode:Thank you to our sponsor, Joel Maisonet Photography: maisonetphotography.com

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25 results

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