Five Years of The Late Bloomer Actor Podcast: Voicemails from Guests and a Look Ahead

This episode celebrates five years of The Late Bloomer Actor with voicemail messages from past guests and collaborators. The messages offer a glimpse of the community the podcast has built, connecting actors, creative support, and resources across different stages of a career.

David John Clark records from a hotel in Kuala Lumpur while traveling for work, then reflects on the journey so far and thanks listeners for being part of the show. The episode looks ahead to what’s next for the podcast—and closes with David’s familiar sign-off: “I’ll see you on set.”

TEXT or VOICEMAIL The Late Bloomer Actor a Question or Comment.

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Area 51 Shirt, Career Doubts, and the Buzzcast Moment That Lifted David John Clark

David John Clark records a solo update from a hotel in Darwin, reflecting on the pressure of balancing acting, training work, auditions, and podcast production.

The episode centers on a turning point: hearing himself referenced in a Buzzcast discussion about using podcast transcripts to shape conference talks, which gives him a fresh sense of direction and motivation.He uses that moment to talk about the bigger picture of an acting career, the value of training, and why persistence matters when the workload feels overwhelming.

Checkout the Buzzcast Episode on YouTube or via your preferred podcast player.

TEXT or VOICEMAIL The Late Bloomer Actor a Question or Comment.

Support the show

Please consider supporting the show by becoming a paid subscriber (you can cancel at any time) by clicking the 'Support' button in your player and you will have the opportunity to be a part of the live recordings prior to release.

And please Rate the show on IMDB.

This episode was recorded on RiversideFM - click the link to join and record.

And I listen to my favourite podcasts on TrueFans. TrueFans is a podcasting marketplace where listeners discover the podcasts they love but only pay the price they want for the value they receive. Download in your Apple or Google playstores.

Check out The Secret Actor Society a community and educational platform to help propel your career forward. Use this link for 40% off your first two payments (after two free trial months.)

I am a huge advocate for and user of WeAudition - an online community for self-taping and auditions. Use the PROMO code: LATEBLOOMER for 25% of your membership.

Late Bloomers Fest: Creating space for storytellers over 50

A conversation about launching Late Bloomers Fest, a film festival built to celebrate creatives over 50 and the stories they want to tell. Clare Pickering, Gary Boulter, and Ali Aitken share why the festival exists, who it’s for, and how it aims to challenge ageism in film and television.

We discuss the realities of making work later in life, the difference between ageism for men and women in the industry, and how the festival is designed to be more than a screening event - it’s also a way to connect filmmakers, cast, and crew.

Key topics

• Clare Pickering explains how the idea began after a Tropfest panel where she asked why support for emerging filmmakers rarely includes people who start later in life
• Late Bloomers Fest is open to creatives over 50, with at least 50% of cast and crew over 50, and stories focused on people over 50
• Submissions opened on 1 July 2026, close on 1 November 2026, and the screening event is planned for 6 December 2026 as a red carpet celebration
• Gary Boulter describes the festival as a response to how rarely mainstream screen stories center people in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond
• Ali Aitken shares that many people feel overlooked after leaving acting and returning later in life, especially outside the traditional drama school route
• The panel discusses how older creatives bring lived experience, organization, and perspective that can’t be taught in film school
• Clare argues that ageism is especially strong for women, noting that auditions and roles often drop sharply after 40
• The group contrasts theatre and screen, suggesting theatre may be more open to older performers than film and television
• The festival is also intended as a networking space, with plans for a community page where filmmakers over 50 can find collaborators, crew, and advice. Join us today at Late Bloomers Fest Cast & Crew

Late Bloomers Fest - Information and Submission

TEXT or VOICEMAIL The Late Bloomer Actor a Question or Comment.

Support the show

Please consider supporting the show by becoming a paid subscriber (you can cancel at any time) by clicking the 'Support' button in your player and you will have the opportunity to be a part of the live recordings prior to release.

And please Rate the show on IMDB.

This episode was recorded on RiversideFM - click the link to join and record.

And I listen to my favourite podcasts on TrueFans. TrueFans is a podcasting marketplace where listeners discover the podcasts they love but only pay the price they want for the value they receive. Download in your Apple or Google playstores.

Check out The Secret Actor Society a community and educational platform to help propel your career forward. Use this link for 40% off your first two payments (after two free trial months.)

I am a huge advocate for and user of WeAudition - an online community for self-taping and auditions. Use the PROMO code: LATEBLOOMER for 25% of your membership.