In this episode, Darion and Alana sit down for a no-holds-barred conversation about the not-so-glamorous side of living the artist life in NYC: survival jobs. Whether it was working in food service, folding clothes in retail, or juggling three side gigs just to make rent, they've been there. They share funny, frustrating, and all-too-relatable stories from their early years in the city — jobs that helped keep the lights on while auditions, rehearsals, and big dreams stayed center stage.

“We weren’t living the dream — we were working the brunch shifts because of the dream,” Alana says, summing up the grind so many theater artists know all too well.

If you've ever served coffee in your show shoes or clocked in after an audition meltdown, this one’s for you.

🎭 EPISODE 1: SCAMDA, Was Musical Theater School Worth It?

Darion & Alana reunite with a college classmate to spill the tea on theater school! 🎓 What worked, what didn’t, and how it really shaped their careers in the biz.

✨ Drama, laughs, and some real talk about the price of a BFA.

#IntoTheIndustry #TheaterLife #MusicalTheater #BFArealness #PodcastLaunch

🎭 Into the Industry 🎤 Hosted by Darion Matthews & Alana Knobel

Step backstage with Broadway makeup designer Darion Matthews and theater producer/manager Alana Knobel—two longtime friends and full-time theater nerds—as they peel back the curtain on life in the performing arts.

From backstage beauty secrets to contract chaos, career highs to hustle culture, Into the Industry is your all-access pass to the real stories behind the spotlight. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just dreaming of your name in lights, we’re here to help you make sense of this wild, wonderful world we call "the industry."

👠 Glitter. 🎭 Grit. 💼 Real talk. Welcome to the theater—like you’ve never heard it before.