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When Lightning Strikes!

Broadway Podcast Network
Broadway
New York
Theater
Two Strangers Carry a Cake Across New York
Quantum Entanglement
Blood Love
Rebecca De Mornay
Chess On Broadway
Zora Howard
New Born
Iowa Vet Dogs, Cats, Corn, & Murder
Sam Tutty
SOCIETY Theatre Company
London
New Haven
Liberation
John Patrick Shanley
Nicole Travolta
Steinberg Playwright Award
Harlem

Broadway’s top talents reveal their lightning bolt moments that set them on the course of their dreams. When Lightning Strikes! Is hosted by Forbes.com and Parade.com contributor Jeryl Brunner. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” - Mark Twain We’ve all had it. Eureka! Your proverbial lightbulb goes off. The heavens open. The seas part. ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes106Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsVisual ArtsArts

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Artwork for When Lightning Strikes!

Latest Episodes

Adrienne Campbell-Holt is an director, choreographer, and the founding artistic director of Colt Coeur. Known to champion bold new plays and innovative artists, her newest production, Camping, by Victoria Lynne Barclay is currently playing at HERE A... more

Todd Almond is an actor, songwriter, and playwright currently performing his riveting show I'm Almost There at BAM Fisher. His many credits include the Bob Dylan musical Girl from the North Country and the HBO series Gossip Girl. He also wrote three ... more

Eisa Davis is playwright, actress, and singer-songwriter. A Pulitizer Prize finalist, she is the co-creator of the "Warriors" concept album with Lin-Manuel Miranda. And her previous works include the plays Bulrusher and Angela's Mixtape. Her newest p... more

Filmmakers and spouses Michael Schelp and Dr. Alan Younkin created the documentary Iowa Vet: Dogs, Cats, Corn, & Murder, which chronicles Dr. Younkin’s journey from his childhood on his family’s historic Iowa farm to building a successful animal hosp... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Schelp
Filmmaker, storyteller, documentary filmmaker
Filmmaker of Iowa Vet Dogs, Cats, Corn, & Murder
Episode: #103 - Michael Schelp and Dr. Alan Younkin
Dr. Alan Younkin
Veterinarian, subject of the documentary, co-creator of the film
Veterinary medicine practitioner, co-creator of the documentary
Episode: #103 - Michael Schelp and Dr. Alan Younkin
Tim Jackson
Prolific, Tony-nominated director and choreographer
Broadway/West End
Episode: #102 - Tim Jackson
Marianna Gailus
Lead performer in New Born
Performer, New Born (Audible Theater)
Episode: #101 - Marianna Gailus
Kathryn Grody
Actor, writer, and producer
The Unexpected Third, New York Theatre Workshop
Episode: #100 - Kathryn Grody
Sam Tutty
Actor, star of Two Strangers, Carry a Cake Across New York
Broadway/Theatre
Episode: #99 - Sam Tutty
Geraldine Hughes
Actress known for Belfast Blues, Ulster American, Tokyo Vice, Your Honor, The Blacklist, and Gran Torino
Episode: #98 - Geraldine Hughes
Maria-Christina Oliveras
Broadway actress and performer in The Balusters
The Balusters (Manhattan Theatre Club/Broadway)
Episode: #97 - Maria-Christina Oliveras
Zora Howard
Playwright, performer, and director
Theater professional; Steinberg Playwright Award recipient (2025)
Episode: #96 - Zora Howard

Host

Jeryl Brunner
Host of When Lightning Strikes!, Forbes.com and Parade.com contributor

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 7 ratings
  • Fabulous!

    Absolutely loved this. So insightful, charming and a delight to listen to. More episodes, please!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susie in Sydney
    Australia6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Production quality and guest selection feel thoughtful and high-caliber.
Guests consistently deliver insightful, candid stories about career pivots.
listener takeaways include practical career lessons and inspiration for storytellers.
The host creates a warm, curious space that draws out personal details without pressure.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#142
Russia/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#147
Ukraine/Arts/Visual Arts
Apple Podcasts
#247
Norway/Arts/Visual Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#97 - Maria-Christina Oliveras
Q: Can you talk about when the play first came into your life?
She explains receiving the script in October, becoming immediately drawn to the author, the themes of identity and power, and her excitement to bring a layered, working-class Filipino perspective to the role.
#100 - Kathryn Grody
Q: That's very insightful. You just mentioned how you came to New York. I'd love to know your Lightning Strikes moment when you knew this was your path.
Grody describes a lifelong pull toward performance, with pivotal experiences in junior high and high school, followed by a cross-country move to New York after a formative route through San Francisco State and auditions that opened doors to regional theatres and eventually major NYC platforms like the Public Theatre and NYTW.
#101 - Marianna Gailus
Q: What was your memory or path that led you to acting?
Growing up in a theatrical family in New York, I was exposed to professional theatre from a young age, which shaped my understanding of the craft and the perseverance required, but I only fully admitted to pursuing acting in college after realizing the body's need to embody the work.
#101 - Marianna Gailus
Q: How would you describe New Born as a whole to someone who hasn't seen it?
Three monologues trace through different characters and times, connected by universal human experiences like fear, vulnerability, and resilience, forming a triptych of humanity that explores how people relate to others and to themselves.
#95 - Hannah Cruz
Q: How did your early influences shape your approach to performance?
She recalls watching Patti LuPone's Rose's Turn and being inspired to pursue a path that could evoke that level of emotional intensity, which later influenced her own acting choices.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About When Lightning Strikes!

What is When Lightning Strikes! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show showcases intimate, candid conversations with high-profile theatre talent—actors, writers, directors, and producers—about pivotal moments that redirected their careers. Conversations often trace a path from early training and regional or academic roots to major Broadway or West End opportunities, revealing behind-the-scenes decision points, collaboration dynamics, and the personal drive behind big creative pivots. The host pursues personal, sometimes humorous storytelling that illuminates the art and business of theatre, often weaving in mentor influences, industry shifts, and the emotional resilience required to sustain a long career. A standout trait is the mix of star power with ground-level craft discussions, offering listener... more

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Which podcasts are similar to When Lightning Strikes!?

These podcasts share a similar audience with When Lightning Strikes!:

1. The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales
2. Broadway Breakdown
3. Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson
4. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
5. E Pluribus Motto

How many episodes of When Lightning Strikes! are there?

When Lightning Strikes! launched 6 years ago and published 106 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on When Lightning Strikes!?

Recent guests on When Lightning Strikes! include:

1. Michael Schelp
2. Dr. Alan Younkin
3. Tim Jackson
4. Marianna Gailus
5. Kathryn Grody
6. Sam Tutty
7. Geraldine Hughes
8. Maria-Christina Oliveras

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