You May Have Seen

Two mom’s of mixed race families walk into a recording studio. One is an actress turned real estate bad ass. The other is an actress turned literacy tutor. No, it’s not the beginning of a joke or the premise of a new sitcom. It’s the next podcast episode of YMHS: Conversations for Change. I sit down with Kim Parati and Chandler McIntyre as we continue to dig deeper into the subjects of systemic racism, inequality, and how education can help us to improve it.

What do you do when two of your friends say they’d like to hear a conversation about racism from three white people? You let the jolt of fear coarse through your body…and then you sit down and record that conversation. Join me, Tim Parati, who has appeared in over 50 movies and tv shows including The Walking Dead, and A Time To Kill, along with Matt Olin, Co-Director of Charlotte is Creative as we continue the discussion of racism in our lives, culture and society.

“The only constant in life is change” - Heraclitus   Things are changing all around us. In some ways it feels like it’s not changing fast enough. In others, it feels like it’s changing too fast. It’s my responsibility to let You May Have Seen with Brian Lafontaine continue to change along with it. So, I’m opening up the microphone of YMHS to powerful and necessary conversations for change. I invite you all to join me along with writer, Jonathan McFadden, who interviewed me a while back about my experience working on The Hate U Give. Along with Jessica Tillman, whom You May Have Seen on the tv show Atlanta. It’s a very real conversation about racism, justice, inequality, history, fear, hope and so much more.

You May Have Seen Reaching out & Revisiting Part 4! We hook up with Pat Dortch in Charlotte, Kevin Johnson in Atlanta, and Kate Wetherhead in Putnam Valley, NY. I’m so grateful for advancements in technology that allow me to still connect with people over video chat, but when is this going to ENNNDDDD???? Come hang out with us!

Drew fills us in on keeping acting classes going and parenting through this time with a 4 year old. Tyler catches us up on Tales From the Loop, telling people they can’t go get their hair done, and what it’s like to be “skinny fat”. Yup, these continue to be strange times. So, come and hang out with us. No mask required for this one.

We’re a couple weeks deeper into this scary and historic time in all our lives. Still not knowing how things are going to go for a lot of people, and that makes me want to hear from everyone out there. So, we’re going to keep Reaching Out & Revisiting as long as we can. We R&R with Keith Harris, Hayley Lovitt and Jason Allen King! Come and join us! We could all use some company.

While I love talking to and introducing you to some incredible actors that you might not be familiar with, I feel like we have a responsibility to acknowledge that we’re currently facing something that is much bigger and affects all of us. So, I bring you You May Have Seen: Reaching out & Revisiting with Johanna Jowett from One Tree Hill, Lee Spencer from Peanut Butter Falcon, and Milena Govich from Law & Order.

Long ago…in a galaxy far far away…called Los Angeles…me and this guy were roommates during the early hard fought days in show business. A lot happens in 20 years. Since then, he’s gone on to appear in more than 80 movies and tv shows. You May Have Seen him in Fear The Walking Dead: Flight 462, Woodlawn and ABC’s Resurrection to name just a few. It’s KEVIN SIZEMORE!

You May Have Seen is taking an exciting little turn for this episode. I met this really cool photography artist. Turns out, he used to be one of the lead singers for STEELY DAN and wrote songs with CAROL KING. You May Have “HEARD” him singing lead vocals on “Dirty Work” and writing songs like “Jazzman”. It’s DAVID PALMER!

He can dance. He can act. He teaches kids how to make movies. He choreographs. He works with multiple acting coaches for the same job! He knows Helen Mirren. I’m pretty sure this guy can fly. You May Have Seen him on The Outsider, SWAT, Leisure Seeker, and so many more.

For a lot of people, she was in your home almost every day. Keeping you up to date with local news and major events from around the country. Now, she’s taking those amazing skills to the big screen and in shows like The Outsider, Homeland and Masterminds. It’s LAURA PALKA!

He calls himself a pessimist. I think he’s an optimist. Maybe he’s just realistic. Either way, he’s a really great guy with a really great story and a kick ass name. You May Have Seen him on Army Wives, One Tree Hill and he’s on his way to Slam Dance! It’s Stephen West Rogers!

You May Have Seen this guy performing up and down the east coast and throughout the midwest at comedy clubs near you. He was named Favorite Local Comic for 2019 in the Best of the City Awards and you can find him mixing it up in The George & Monty series of web shorts.

If you haven’t seen this incredible actress, then you probably haven’t been paying attention. She was Lara Featherstone on AMC’s PREACHER, George Clooney’s wife on the HULU mini-series CATCH 22. You can see her in the upcoming season of Amazon’s BOSCH, and starring alongside "yours truly” in the heartwarming CHRISTMAS ON THE COAST.

You walk into an audition. Your heart is pounding. Your hand is shaking. You hope no one sees. Scared of what other people think. Sound familiar? Meet Drew Matthews. This was his recurring experience as an actor. Listen to how this man with stage fright, who quit acting, ended up appearing on Bluff City Law, Lodge 49, Good Behavior, House of Cards and Homeland, just to name a few. Surprises come in many shapes and sizes. This was a good one. It’s DREW MATTHEWS on You May Have Seen!

“If it scares me, then that’s what I should be doing. I love to be challenged, and always want to push myself.” Well…it shows. She’s incredibly smart, insanely talented. More than anything, she’s an amazing human being. You May Have Seen her as the only lead female detective on the original Law & Order, as well as Rescue Me and The Mentalist, or You May Have Seen her handy work behind the camera directing Chicago Med and Chicago Fire.

Kate Wetherhead co-created, wrote, produced and starred in a successful web series, co-authored a book series and made it all the way to Broadway…twice. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for playing over a dozen different people including Neil Diamond! Come on! You May Have Seen her on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Big C and Legally Blonde: The Musical.

This guy booked his first movie on the very first audition he had. He booked his first commercial on his very first commercial audition. And, then he left it all behind to work on the production side of the business. WHAT??? Is he crazy? His EMMY Award for his work on HBO’s VEEP makes me think he may have made the right decision.

One of my favorite actors to work with for so many reasons. He always reminds me why I enjoy this business so much. “That career defining role is always around the corner” and “Being an actor is like the back room of a fancy hotel. The facade looks nice but the back office looks like a Motel 6.” He's General Hospital’s super villain, Shilo. It’s COBY RYAN MCLAUGHLIN!

Remembering people’s names may not be his strong suit, but trust me, his skills and talents as an actor are firmly in place. This Charlotte actor made it to a level that very few of us ever get to reach. From struggling to make friends on Dawson’s Creek to arresting Patricia Arquette in The Act all the way to Broadway where he got to share the stage with Helen Mirren in The Audience.