Shows / CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS is an ongoing series of live and filmed performances which pretend to be real acting classes. This companion podcast features professional actor/comedian CONNOR RATLIFF talking about the show and about acting in general.
As the creator as one of the most acclaimed podcasts of the past decade -- Dead Eyes, cited by TIME Magazine & Left Of Dial Media's lists of the "best 100 podcasts of all time" and featured in the book The Podcast Pantheon, published by…
Episodes
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 76: There are NO small roles?
Some musings on the old Stanislavski quote, "there are no small roles, only small actors."
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 75: Connor's Pizza & "museum videos"
Does "Connor's Pizza" belong in a MUSEUM?
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 74: Changing the name of the podcast?
A suggestion, considered.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 73: Quaid Army/Righteous Kill
A lovely shout-out from Seth Meyers on the Lonely Island podcast leads to a small CRpTAC quump (bonus: several minutes of "Space Olympics" defense at the end…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 72: Is There An "Ideal" Audience?
Musings on the nature of any current audience for my various projects...
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 71: Connor's Pizza (Unreleased Feature Film)
A very long answer to a question about the status of Connor's Pizza, the feature film that Tom Levin & I shot in 2019 which has only ever screened ONCE, in…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 70: That Seth Green NFT Pilot I Acted In
Another question about an obscure thing I did! I acted in a low budget pilot that Seth Green produced which (I think) will never see the light of day?
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 69: The Role Of A Performer In These Difficult Times
A complicated question that I probably give an unsatisfying, rambling answer to.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 68: The Baron & The Junk Dealer
A pretty detailed answer about The Baron & The Junk Dealer, the GLTS "Beckett Play" we did in Edinburgh and for 2 West Coast dates a few years back.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 67: Edinburgh, almost
A disappointing development, alas. But with hope for the slightly distant future!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 66: Should Scientists Do Improv?
Who should do improv? Just actors and comedians? Or is there room for everyone?
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 65: Constructive Criticism
How do I respond to criticism, constructive or otherwise? Listen to me react to a piece of constructive criticism IN REAL TIME!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 64: The Lull Between Jobs
A question about how to deal with sometimes very long wait between acting jobs.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 63: Spare Change
The most obscure question yet! I talk a little bit about "Spare Change," the 10-episode "TV show" I made with my friends when I was in high school.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 62: My Weight
Answering a question about my weight issues.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 61: Setting Pride Aside
A question about the potential for embarrassment when learning how to do improv.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 60: Raymond Bailey & Other Topics
I am asked about my fondness for older films, TV shows & music and if I have recently "discovered" anything old that I like. This brings me to The Beverly…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 59: Why did I let the audience applaud during the James III show?
I have been very strict about limiting applause during CRpTAC shows -- why did I allow it during last weekend's Cleveland show with special guest James III?…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 58: The Paul Dano Thing
I'm asked a specific thing related to a hypothetical KFC ad campaign and the recent remarks by Quentin Tarantino
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 57: Low Budget vs High Budget
A question about the benefits and drawbacks of doing low budget projects
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 56: Fan Interactions
Part 2! A question about my preferences w/r/t interactions with fans/listeners/etc whenever I'm out and about.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 55: Celebrity Interactions
Another (sort of) 2-parter! This question is about interacting with famous people in various contexts, both as a performer and as a person.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 54: The Spirit Of Ratliff (Part 2)
A 2nd episode where I talk about The Spirit Of Ratliff, my YouTube holiday special and its accompanying soundtrack. This episode veers in a few different…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 53: Music Projects
A question about Future Music Projects, and a brief history of the 3 vinyl records I have willed into existence -- The Spirit Of Ratliff, The GLTS Soundtrack…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 52: The Parasite
I ponder the way that my projects tend to use the popularity of more famous people in order to attract an audience.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 51: Why did I return to professional acting after a decade-long break?
A long episode! With an answer to a complicated question! I have certainly talked about this topic elsewhere, but there may be a few details here that I…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 50: Mortality, and The George Lucas Talk Show
A grim question to ponder about the future of The George Lucas Talk Show, including a near-death experience at SF Sketchfest in January 2026.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 49: Delroy Lindo
Some rambling thoughts about current Oscar nominee Delroy Lindo and what a great actor he is, and a few viewing recommendations.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 48: Only Murders In The Paradise
Some random thoughts about shows I've auditioned for that I'm *still* hoping to eventually get cast on!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 47: 3 Questions About Branding
I answer 3 different questions that are all sort of related to "branding"
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 46: Long Comedy
A question about how a lot of my projects and comedic endeavors are really long and why that is.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 45: A question about TINY DINOS
A question about the podcast, Tiny Dinos, specifically: will the TINY DINOS LIVE! show ever be released online in some form.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 44: Would I ever teach a *real* acting class?
Would I? The short answer is "probably not." The longer, more rambling answer is this episode.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 43: How Do You Let Yourself BE?
Answers to MULTIPLE questions!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 42: Solo Performing
Some questions about the nature of my solo improv shows.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 41: Character Consistency
A question about maintaining character consistency in improv and in filmed work that is shot out-of-sequence
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 40: THIS IS 40! (Unused Audio)
For my 40th episode, I answer a question about whether or not my various podcasts have a lot of unused audio on the cutting room floor.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 39: Screen History
A question about how being seen in one kind of role can affect the way audience members view you in other roles.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 38: Self-Tapes
My opinion about "self-tape" auditions vs. In-persom auditions! Which do I PREFER???
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 37: Surprise Guests
There are no surprise guests in this episode! But I do talk a little bit about the philosophy behind having surprise guests on the show.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 36: Patreon Thoughts
Considering the possibility of a CRpTAC Patreon, and seeking suggestions about what it should/could/would involve...
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 35: Personal/Family Life & Artistic Life Balance
A question about finding the balance between personal/family/home life & one's artistic pursuits
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 34: Scripted work vs Improv work
A question about whether my improv work gets in the way of doing scripted projects
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 33: Happy Accidents
A question about some memorable "happy accidents" in shows. I think I do a not-great job remembering things like this, and this episode is maybe the worst one…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 32: Repeating myself?
A question about whether or not there are certain types of archetypal characters I return to again and again as an improviser.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 31: a question about the film "Living In Missouri"
Apart from one or two references to it in episodes of Dead Eyes (the Rian Johnson/Holmes Osborne ep + a callback in the Tom Hanks episode), I don't really talk…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 30: Crafty
Why do they call craft services "Crafty"? I don't know! My guess is it is just an affectionate nickname?
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 29: Surprises & What-Ifs
A long answer to a question about surprises from the audience and whether I ever think about what might have been (w/r/t improv shows)
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Tom Noonan (1951-2026)
Late night rambling thoughts about Tom Noonan's passing.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 27: Audience Interviews gone wrong?
Somebody asked for examples of audience interviews at improv shows going badly, and this was my answer.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 26: The Energy Of The Audience
Does it make any difference performing for an audience compared to in-studio/no audience? Sure!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 25: What Would It Take For This Podcast To Change Forms?
Could this podcast transform/evolve into some other kind of podcast? Maybe!
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 24: Favorite Ice Cream?
Do I have a favorite kind of ice cream? Sort of.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 23: What Kind Of Roles Do I Wanna Play?
Is there a particular kind of role I'd like to play? I don't think I said this in the recorded answer, but one of the things that I like about doing improv and…
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 22: A Word I Say Too Much
This is a question about something that annoys me about the way I talk when I hear it played back.
- CONNOR RATLIFF presents THE ACTING CLASS: THE PODCAST
Ep 19: The One Where Tom Hanks Hired Me To Be Part Of His Audiobook
This question is about the time Tom Hanks cast me in the audiobook version of his novel.