Episode 20 - Johanna Anttila, Karolyn Castaldo and Stephanie Coats

Johanna Anttila, Karolyn Castaldo and Stephanie Coats

Today I had a wonderful talk with three guests at the same time! Actor Johanna Anttila connected with us from Finland. She is one of the leads in the movie Couples of Wife Carrying, in which I act in as well. She plays a Finnish competitor in the film. The second guest is Karolyn Castaldo, who is Director of Communications for Sunday River ski resort in Maine. We filmed the movie in Sunday River, and they have been very supportive of us throughout the whole filming and distribution process. And the third guest is Stephanie Coats, who is the post-production supervisor and associate producer of the film.

A wonderful talk about the movie, wife carrying and life. Enjoy!

This discussion was also screened live at the film’s Facebook page. Here’s a link to the video:
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2517745965182007

Couples of Wife Carrying Facebook page:
facebook.com/couplesofwifecarryingmovie

Film’s website:
couplesofwifecarryingmovie.com

Trailer for the movie:
youtu.be/Lw9ijfP6_nM

Episode 19 - Evan James Bochetto and Dan Pastewka

Dan Pastewka and Evan James Bochetto

Evan James Bochetto and Dan Pastewka, along with Brad Kula, are the creators of the comedy film Couples of Wife Carrying. Evan directed and was a co-writer of the film, while Dan is the producer. I play a Finnish wife-carrier Jarkko Karjalainen in the movie.

My apologies for the sound quality of the podcast. We had some sound issues, but you can definitely hear everything.

Couples of Wife Carrying has just been released to buy / rent in North America, so this was a great time for us to have a talk about the film.

We go through how the movie was made, from coming up with the idea, all the way to the distribution and marketing. We also get to know who Evan and Dan are.

A great talk about how films can be made with little money and lots of passion. Enjoy!

This discussion was also screened live at the film’s Facebook page. Here’s a link to the video:
facebook.com/watch/?v=316017039484773&extid=zLtdu5nU8OdP7QnH

Couples of Wife Carrying Facebook page:
facebook.com/couplesofwifecarryingmovie

Film’s website:
couplesofwifecarryingmovie.com

Trailer for the movie:
youtu.be/Lw9ijfP6_nM

Episode 18 - Jukka Åkerman (in Finnish)

Jukka Åkerman

Jukka! This episode is in Finnish.

Jukka did sound design for our feature film Insanity (Vihanpidot), which I directed. I didn’t know him beforehand, but we have been staying in quite close contact lately during the post-production and release process of the film. The movie has just been released for streaming in Finland (on Elisa Viihde), Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia. Next up we are preparing for North America and Great Britain releases.

We talk about the process of making the film, and Jukka’s life. Jukka also used to be a rock star, and he is working on some new music! A great talk!

Samples of Jukka’s work:
toast.fi/person/jukka-akerman/

Insanity / Vihanpidot film to rent or buy:
elisaviihde.fi/elokuvat/34901/Vihanpidot

Trailer to Insanity / Vihanpidot:
youtu.be/vZHj9XeSUAk

Episode 17 - Irina Tundra

Irina Tundra

Irina Tundra is a Finnish stripper. We have a very interesting talk about the realities of being in her profession, what got her started, and why she’s a stripper. She tells about how she first got interested in the profession, and also how she studied in an university before becoming a stripper. We also talk about what’s the difference of prostitution and stripping. We also hear Irina’s opinions about sex work and legal aspects of that.

This is an interesting and unique conversation with Irina, who is someone who works in an underground profession, but she approaches it in a business-minded and organized way. We also hear her stories about working outside Finland, and her dreams for the future.

A great talk about the realities of a very unique way of making a living!

Irina’s website:
www.irinatundra.net

Irina’s social media links:
facebook.com/tundrairina/
youtube.com/user/IrinaTundra
twitter.com/irinatundra
instagram.com/irina.tundra/

Episode 16 - Stephen Lee

Stephen Lee

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

I met Stephen a couple of years ago when we were working on a trailer for an UFO film which eventually never happened. But we spend a couple of fun and intense nights in wintery Finnish forest. I didn’t know much about Stephen then, but during this discussion I’m finding quite a lot new things about him. In addition to him being a musician and a songwriter, he was a part of the Finnish tech craze in the early 2000s. He worked for one of the startup companies called Wapit. 

Stephen is originally from the US but he has lived in Finland for many years, and he gives me insight into the differences of Finland and the US. We also talk about the current events in the US and Black Lives Matter. This is a great talk about life, and the times we are living in.

Stephen’s podcast Get Known
by San Francisco Agency:
http://getknown.sanfrancisco.fi/

Short film Kill Will starring Stephen:
vimeo.com/420814782

Stephen’s song links:

Paska työ
soundcloud.com/teuvolee/paskatyo?in=teuvolee/sets/stevies-schizophrenic-styles

Take the Spoon in Your Beautiful Hand
youtu.be/aF7qc58zk54

Phunky Sound of the Giraffe
youtu.be/YB8kBGzN5S0

Episode 15 - Ulla Virtanen (in Finnish)

Ulla Virtanen

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Ulla! This episode is in Finnish.

Ulla and I have worked together since 2007, so it has been a while. We both are also members of Finnish improv group VSOP. This is a great talk with someone who I have known for long time, and now we had a wonderful chance to sit down and talk in peace.

Ulla has worked in quite a variety of roles in the entertainment industry, and currently she is a writer for Dancing with the Stars Finland. Since she’s so talented in so many things, I wanted to know what is her passion, and that is still acting. However she wouldn’t mind also participating in Dancing with the Stars next year!

Ulla has studied acting in America too, and she has always had a special relationship with the US. We talk about her training there and also about her current feelings about America.

A lovely talk about all and everything!

Ulla’s Instagram:
instagram.com/ullavirtanen/

Ulla’s webpage:
ullavirtanen.com

Episode 14 - Tea Khalifa (in Finnish)

Tea Khalifa

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Tea! This episode is in Finnish.

I got to know Tea for the first time two years ago. She has had a wonderful career in Finland, mainly hosting the biggest TV shows of the country. Two years ago she took a new step in her life moving to Los Angeles, and we talk about that. She tells how it has been starting everything all over again. She also talks about her tiredness to quarantine, and how she’s also looking forward visiting Finland soon.

A great talk, and I was very happy to get to know Tea better this way, doing the podcast!

Happy Midsummer to Finland!

Tea’s Instagram:
instagram.com/tealoveslife

Tea and Johanna’s podcast California Dreamin:
youtube.com/channel/UCrqA0xhXBfdDRFCfzqat2bw/

Episode 13 - Niina Lahtinen (in Finnish)

Niina Lahtinen

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Niina! This episode is in Finnish.

I have known Niina for a long time, and we both have performed with improv group VSOP for many years. We have also acted together in a couple of scenes on TV shows Siskonpeti and Downshiftaajat. However I really haven’t spoken with Niina with just two of us for this long before, apart from one improv rehearsal session few years ago.

We talk about Niina’s life, family, her reasons for doing art, and also a little bit about politics. Niina lives good family life in Riihimäki, but at the same time she’s directing one of the most popular comedy TV shows in Finland, Putous. We go into detail how it is doing that, and also what kind of actors are good for Putous.

We got to know each other a little bit more in this podcast. A great and warm talk!

Niina’s Instagram:
instagram.com/niinalahtinen/