Graham Sibley Launches ‘The Actor’s Director Podcast’; John Ortiz, Catherine Hardwicke & Hikari Among Season 1 Guests

EXCLUSIVE: Daytime Emmy-nominated actor and producer Graham Sibley has launched The Actor’s Director Podcast, a limited audio series exploring the creative relationship between actors and directors — and what makes their collaboration irreplaceably human in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

Through in-depth conversations with award-winning filmmakers, actors, and teachers, each of the 10 episodes offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how trust, intuition, and craft converge to shape unforgettable performances. Season 1 features actor John Ortiz (Bad Monkey) and filmmakers Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight) and Hikari (Rental Family), as well as Michael Mohan (Immaculate), Debra Eisenstadt (Blush), John Hindman (Unstoppable), and Garrett M. Brown (Uncle Buck).

“As artificial intelligence reshapes the landscape of storytelling, it’s easy to worry about what might be lost,” said Sibley. “But our greatest power as artists isn’t something that can be replicated — it’s our capacity for empathy, trust, and human connection. Technology can assist the process, but it can’t replace the messy, beautiful alchemy that happens when people come together to create something from another human’s imagination.”

Perhaps best known for portraying Abraham Lincoln in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s award-winning docuseries of the same name, with additional appearances in films like Sully and You, Me & Her, Sibley developed The Actor’s Director Podcast after years of conversations with collaborators who, like him, were hungry to bridge the gap between performance and direction.

“This project started as a deep dive into process,” he shared. “But it’s become a mirror — reflecting not just how we work, but how much we all still have to learn from each other. Every episode reminds me that our craft isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection.”

The Actor’s Director Podcast is produced by Sibley, Alex Alcheh, and Danielle Lenniger. The first two episodes are streaming now, with new episodes rolling out weekly on Patreon.

Sibley is represented by Luber Roklin and Del, Shaw, Moonves.