Stage Combat The Podcast
What happens when actors stop being quiet and start speaking up: Season 3 of "Stage Combat The Podcast"! Stage Combat is about fighting back when we are mistreated in our workplaces, no matter what stage we may be on in our lives! Hosted by attorney/advocate/actor Sean Hayden.
In 2019, Sean Hayden thought he had booked the role of his dreams as an actor at the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House in its production of "Billy Elliot, The Musical." As he drove over the Connecticut river and laid his eyes on the fairy tale Opera House for the first time, Sean had no idea what would be looming behind its doors. Or that a mental health crisis caused by his work conditions would cause him to investigate and reexamine his entire life. In the style of a true crime podcast, Sean boldly took us, in Seasons 1 and 2, into the insular world of the theatre industry in which the unspoken rule is, “You are not supposed to speak up. Or there will be consequences.” And he claimed his story.
In response to Sean's story, listeners of the podcast everywhere responded saying they felt seen, heard and validated. And now in Season 3, Sean is telling the stories of those listeners as they claim THEIR stories.
Biweekly episodes.
Stage Combat The Podcast
"Loving Someone Traumatized By The Industry"
SEASON 3 Episode Thirteen. "Loving Someone Traumatized By The Industry"
Synopsis: Sean's investigating the mental health ripple effect that occurs when an employee is traumatized by an employer. Actor Eddie Pendergraft (the actor from Wicked in Ep 10 "Another Wicked Story"), Eddie’s husband Tony and clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman are all on board to share their insights.
Special thank you to Eddie Pendergraft, Tony Mansker, and Dr. Michelle Sherman. And Carole and Ian.
Order Dr. Michelle Sherman's book "Loving Someone With A Mental Illness Or A History of Trauma" here:
Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma: Skills, Hope, and Strength for Your Journey: Sherman, Michelle D., Sherman, DeAnne M.: 9781421450506: Amazon.com: Books
Coming up in 2 weeks: "Sean Has Questions For The Union”
Hear more of Sean's conversation with Eddie and Dr. Sherman at STAGE COMBAT AT PATREON.
patreon.com/StageCombatThePodcast
It's the companion to Season 3.
And experience at Patreon our all-new chat podcast series: JUST ACTING and THE MENTAL HEALTH POD.
Hosted by Sean Hayden
Editing by Alex Griffitt. Mixing and Sound Design by Justin Gerrish.
Written and Directed by Sean Hayden for Haywood Productions, LLC.
Produced by Haywood Productions, LLC.
Sign up for the Stage Combat newsletter at
Landing Page - Stage Combat (stagecombatthepodcast.com)
Contact us with a DM at our instagram:
Stage Combat 🎙️ The Podcast OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@stagecombatthepodcastig) • Instagram photos and videos
or email us at Stagecombatthepodcast@gmail.com
Sean Hayden is an attorney/actor/advocate and is the CEO of Haywood Productions, LLC. As a professional actor, Sean has appeared in Broadway national tours and in plays and musicals in theaters across the country. He's the co-host of the acting podcast "Just Acting" with Boston Conservatory Professor Christopher Webb. As a mental health advocate, Sean has provided thought leadership on how employers can better support the mental health of their employees and how theatre programs can support their students. He serves on the advisory board for HR.com for Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace. Sean resides in New York City and upstate New York with his husband, a screenwriter.
