Creating Behavior with Charlie Sandlan

An artistic life can take you places you never imagined, especially when you remain curious enough to explore the unexpected. This week, Charlie welcomes former Maggie Flanigan Studio student Sophie Becker, an actor, writer, and ventriloquist who stumbled into an almost forgotten art form during the pandemic. What began as a hobby has taken her from New York's downtown performance scene to stages across Europe and a feature in The New York Times. Charlie and Sophie explore the fascinating relationship between an artist and her imagination, the psychology of creating character, the demands of technical discipline, and the freedom that comes from taking yourself a little less seriously. It’s a funny, thoughtful conversation about artistic identity, creative freedom, and the importance of cultivating a life beyond your professional ambitions. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

Some actors have enormous talent. You'll never see it. They're too afraid of being wrong, looking foolish, or making a choice that might invite criticism. This week Charlie examines how our own psychology can sabotage our artistic instincts, drawing on Freud's id, ego, and superego to explore the destructive power of the inner critic. He also confronts an uncomfortable question: can rigorous acting training actually produce cautious, inhibited artists? Discipline should make you free. If your technique has become another way to control yourself, something has gone terribly wrong. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

It’s a common piece of advice given to actors, and Charlie has been saying it for twenty years: don’t quit. Work hard, develop some grit, play full out with yourself, and keep going. But what happens when the dream you’ve spent years pursuing no longer belongs to the person you’ve become? In this solo episode, Charlie wrestles with ambition, identity, sunk costs, failure, and the fear of changing direction. How do you know the difference between wanting to escape difficulty and genuinely knowing it’s time to move on? Sometimes the real struggle isn’t whether you have the discipline to stay. It’s whether you have the courage to leave. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

What happens when an actor stops waiting for permission and starts creating their own work? Charlie sits down with former student Graham Powell to discuss his feature film Shackled, the realities of independent filmmaking, what actors can learn from writing and casting, the meaning of professionalism, and the fanatical faith it takes to carry an idea all the way into the world. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

What happens when you get the role you dreamed about—and discover success is different than what you imagined? Six years after her first appearance on Creating Behavior, Charlie sits down again with former student and All the Queen’s Men star Candace Maxwell. They talk about five seasons as DJ Dime, the realities of working professionally, why talent isn’t enough, the insecurities that success can amplify, and what it takes to keep your craft alive when acting becomes your job. A candid conversation about ambition, artistry, fame, sacrifice, and the long road of becoming the actor, and person, you hoped to be. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

What do you say you want—and does the way you live support that claim? We admire excellence, but often resist what it takes to achieve it. In this episode Charlie explores wasted talent, failure, comparison, distraction, curiosity, and the private work behind a serious artistic life. Who are you when no one is watching? What owns your attention? And if someone watched how you spent the last 30 days, what would they conclude you were devoted to? Maybe discipline isn’t something we impose on ourselves. Maybe it’s what love looks like when we take our life's work seriously. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/ Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

What happens when the craft and technique you once worked so hard to develop begin to dull? In the Season Six premiere, Charlie explores what it means to return to process, discipline, imagination, vulnerability, and truthful artistry. He also announces Return to Craft https://www.returntocraft.com - a new program created for trained actors who feel distanced from the artist they once were, and still hope to become. Hosted by Charlie Sandlan, the Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com Follow Charlie on Instagram @creatingbehavior and @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

We live in a time where modern culture increasingly rewards performance over truth. An age where branding, appearance, and clever curation often substitute for real artistry. Visibility has begun to replace depth.

In this Bonus Episode before the launch of Season Six, Charlie reflects on why art and truthful artistry still matter. A conversation about discipline, artistic rigor, high standards, vulnerability, and the responsibility of the artist to illuminate the truth of the human condition rather than chase shortcuts to visibility and viral content.

Hosted by Charlie Sandlan — Artistic Director and Master Teacher of the Maggie Flanigan Studio in New York City.

Follow Creating Behavior on Instagram @creatingbehavior and the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio.

Theme music by Lawrence Trailer.

For private coaching, voicemail submissions, and more, visit:
creatingbehaviorpodcast.com
maggieflaniganstudio.com

Well fellow daydreamers, another fantastic season of CBP has come to an end. Thank you to all of the actors and artists out there who have found this podcast to be a source of inspiration and a way to continually stimulate your intellectual curiosity. This week Charlie talks about the work of Nicole Kidman, Colman Domingo, Cynthia Erivo, as well as sharing highlights from this season's guests. Charlie will take a few months off, and then be ready for season six, which will premiere in the summer. In the meantime, stay resilient, play full out with yourself, and don't ever settle for your second best. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Hard to believe it's time for Trish Barillas to come on for her 5th episode of CBP. We are winding down season five fellow daydreamers, and Trish once again has a lot to say. This time Charlie and Trish talk about some misconceptions people have about the wellness space, her thoughts on peri-menopause, and the importance of staying up to date on your breast health. Trish also has a few books to suggest, and shares some of her favorite shows. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Daydreamers! This week Charlie brings on actor, writer, composer, musician, playwright, and director Tyrone Robinson. Tyrone is a former MFS alum, and has been carving out a multi-faceted career for over two decades. Charlie and Tyrone discuss his artistic process, and what he has learned along the way about creating all forms of content. A great conversation about living a professional creative life! You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Daydreamers! A solo episode this week. Charlie shares a few tidbits on human tears, and his thoughts on the films A Different Man, Emilia Pérez, and Anora. We've also lost a few titans of the art form in James Earl Jones and Maggie Smith. Charlie reflects on their careers, along with some words on the passing of dancer Michaela DePrince. And of course you know what you can expect from Charlie, so he's going to challenge those of you who want a professional creative career. What are you willing to sacrifice? You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Well fellow daydreamers, we've made it to episode 100, and Charlie decided to do something he's never done before - bring on a current student of his for a conversation. This week Charlie talks to Maggie Flanigan Studio second year student Tariq Kateeb. Tariq has a fascinating life story having grown up a Palestinian living in Jordan. Charlie and Tariq discuss what that was like, how he came to America and into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, only to drop out after freshman year to study with Charlie. This is a great talk about art, politics, and the joys and struggles of pursuing a professional creative life. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Daydreamers! Today Charlie shares his conversation with actress Francis Benhamou. Francis has been carving out a career for over two decades, and most recently earned critical acclaim for her Lucille Lortel and Drama Desk award winning performance in Joshua Harmon's play A Prayer for the French Republic. Charlie and Francis discuss her four year journey with this play from a table read for the playwright, to making her Broadway debut playing Elodie Benhamou. So if you think the last name is a surprising coincidence, it's just the first of many unbelievable similarities to Francis' own life. This is a great conversation about the creative process, balancing career and family, and the profound impact a role can have on your life. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

It's a solo episode this week fellow daydreamers, and Charlie devotes all of it to The Hurt Man, the fifth episode of Ryan Murphy's Netflix series Monsters. The second season of this hit series focuses on the Menendez brothers and the murdering of their parents in 1989. The actor Cooper Koch plays Erik Menendez in the show with Ari Gaynor portraying his attorney Leslie Abramson. Cooper's work is an excellent example of stillness, ease, tremendous depth, and psychological nuance. Charlie breaks down this 35 minute episode shot in one take with no cuts and no edits. This is acting at its finest and Charlie explains why! You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

There's a certain amount of tenacity and grit you will need if you are going to carve out a professional creative life. The actor's journey never plays out the way you think or hope it will. This week Charlie talks to one of his best friends of thirty years, actor PJ Sosko. PJ has never sat back and waited for things to happen. He writes, directs, produces, and edits his own content. Several are now appearing in film festivals across the country. Charlie and PJ talk about his career, what he's learned along the way, and how moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma during the pandemic took his career to another level. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Daydreamers! An artists path can take unexpected turns. The vision we have of our life and career when we start out can lead us to a life purpose we could not have imagined. We kick off our first conversation of season 5 with Charlie's former student Tara Magalski. Sixteen years ago, Tara was fully pursuing her acting career, having success and moving forward in exciting ways. The sudden death of her mother lead her on a path toward a completely new way of living and working. Tara is now the founder and director of Divine Lifestyles, a global wellness collective dedicated to holistic health and healing. Charlie and Tara talk about grief, the understanding that trauma is our teacher, and the importance of getting out of the victim mentality. It's a deep conversation with a truly special human. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. Check out Divine Lifestyles at https://www.divinelifestyles.comTo leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com/.

Greetings fellow daydreamers! After a six month break Charlie is back with season 5 of Creating Behavior! This week Charlie kicks off with a solo episode. He discusses the careers of Gena Rowlands, Alain Delon, and the director/producer Roger Corman. Charlie shares some of the television that he thinks you should watch, along with a few actors and some upcoming films to look out for. Get ready for another incredible season of interesting conversations, acting advice, and a deep dive into the human condition and the creative process. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. To leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/ and his NYC acting studio https://www.maggieflaniganstudio.com.

Well fellow daydreamers, another sixteen episodes in the can! In this season's final episode, Charlie shares some thoughts on the actor Barry Keoghan and his performance in Saltburn, the movie American Fiction, and a new book called Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions, by the director Ed Zwick. Of course it would not be a season finale without some of the best clips from all of Charlie's guests. Creating Behavior will take a few months off, and be back in early summer for season 5. In the meantime, stay resilient, play full out with yourself, and don't ever settle for your second best. You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. For written transcripts, to leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/

It's that time again fellow daydreamers for Charlie's wife Trish Barillas to sit down for another episode of A Face of Anxiety. Only this time Trish wanted to turn the tables, so this week she's taking over CBP to interview Charlie. Trish shares some insights and tips on navigating mental health and anxiety, and how to fight for your light. She then gets Charlie on the other side of the mic, and as you know, Charlie is going to speak his mind. It's the second to last episode of season four, and it's a blast having Trish back. If you are interested in working with Trish, find her at https://www.trishbarillas.com You can follow CBP on Instagram @creatingbehavior, and Charlie's NYC acting conservatory, the Maggie Flanigan Studio @maggieflaniganstudio. Theme music by https://www.thelawrencetrailer.com/. For written transcripts, to leave a voicemail on SpeakPipe, or contact Charlie for private coaching, check out https://www.creatingbehaviorpodcast.com/