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[0:00] Matt Rodin: Hey, thanks for hitting play. My name is Matt, and this is The Come Up, a podcast that holds space for honest conversations about the reality of being a growing artist. On this episode, I sit down with my dear friend Danny Kornfeld, who, when we recorded this, had just opened the new Broadway musical Harmony, which also happens to be his Broadway debut. Danny and I have known each other for almost 10 years, and he has always been someone who I feel really listens and hears people and then speaks from the heart thoughtfully. To have been and to be a companion and a witness to his journey professionally and especially personally, it makes this whole moment all the more sweeter. As you'll soon hear, we were on our respective couches in New York, and I was in Philly, in our pajamas, gabbing about everything from perspective and nuance to curiosity and billboards.

When we kick off, I was asking Danny about his experience on the National Tour of Rent and what we call calling out, which is the equivalent of calling in sick to work in theater speak. I cannot wait for you to hear Danny, and I am so humbled and grateful to be able to share this special conversation with you. So without further ado, here is my dear friend, Danny Kornfeld.

[1:28] Matt Rodin: Did you call out like when you were on tour in Rent? Like have you called out before in like a professional setting?

[1:35] Danny Kornfeld: Twice. On tour, out of like 272 shows. And that's like my biggest regret is like, why did I not do it more?

[1:42] Matt Rodin: Why didn't you call out more?

[1:44] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah. Isn't that wild? Like, I even though we're it's terrifying.

[1:49] Matt Rodin: I know, I know, I know. In 2023, though, it's like even now when we're like, you know, health first, body first, mind first, take care of yourself, the show must not go on. Like, we're still there's still a stigma around, even if it's just internal, like around saying, like, hey, I'm tired.

[2:09] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah. Hey, I need to I need a break. I mean, it doesn't I and I think it's a lot like we put a lot of that on ourselves because like short stage management is very, very accepting. But it's like it's an especially, I think we'll continue to like get better at it as we go on, but like there is that fear of like I at least this is what I was experiencing. He's like, oh god, are people gonna love doing the show more with more with this other person than with myself? What is that? Why do we have that? What is that thing? Like, it's oh my god, that piece is wild, and also like, am I letting people down? And we then know like all the different intricacies in which like everyone else's job is affected, everyone has to get there early, different costumes have to be pulled, and so it just like it feels like you're being such a nuisance for people.

[3:05] Danny Kornfeld: Such a weird part of the job that I did not anticipate or didn't know about, and I'm sure the context of I guess I should ask, like, is the context of doing it in New York, like, does that create an added pressure for you? Did that create an added pressure for you?

[3:24] Danny Kornfeld: I think so. And when the job feels like I'm I don't feel secure in how long we're gonna run yet. Like, yeah. And so, like, to feel like I'm missing any opportunity to like be on that stage, I think does like add to my mind. Like, I've waited so long for this to happen to like not get to like savor every single morsel of it feels it is something. It's unrealistic to feel that way, but are you savoring every single morsel of it? Like are you pinching yourself every single day when you're going to the theater?

[4:00] Danny Kornfeld: Yes, I know. I think I've like had this interesting experience of it really hitting me at moments and it really not. And I think that's important because I feel like if every day I was feeling like, oh my god, oh my god, I wouldn't be able to show up and do the job.

[4:19] Matt Rodin: Absolutely.

[4:20] Danny Kornfeld: And I like for better or for worse, like the ways in which that we like so quickly normalize what's happening to us.

[4:30] Matt Rodin: Yeah.

[4:30] Danny Kornfeld: Um is in some ways really useful, and then in some ways, like takes some of the excitement out of things. But I do. I like every day I walk into that theater and like I pass by like my face on the fucking marquee. Like that doesn't get old of like seeing seeing myself up there. And like we'll they just added a billboard in Times Square. And oh my god. My little dance and dinosaur gremlin face is grace in the streets and the TKT has filled it. I mean, listen, even like even like um I know like uh Mendez and Grof were on uh Colbert or something, and they were saying that like it's hard to believe. Like when they see their faces on the marquee, it's it's even hard for them to believe. And these are people who've been doing this, you know, been on Broadway for 10 plus years.

[5:25] Danny Kornfeld: Um yeah, I just I think there's something so interesting to me about the novelty and the sparkle and the glitter and I mean certainly you've had um super professional experiences um and even though Rent was non-equity I imagine that was still like a really pro job just in the sense that you were doing it with the set and it was the it was you know it was an anniversary tour like it just was a thing um so I'm I'm just always so fascinated by how people how we like learned like you said like learn to normalize learn to accept but also feel the not weight but the the responsibility or the you know that that dream come true quote unquote um in small and big ways you know and I think that's been like one of the biggest surprises is like I always anticipated like Broadway feeling different because I think I think so much of the perception of it is from everyone outside of it.

[6:44] Danny Kornfeld: It's um I just like I always thought I would be stepping into something completely new and I would be nervous because I wouldn't know any of the people and I wouldn't know the building I was in and it would all just feel like something that wasn't quite a part of me. But and I'm sure there's instances in which that would be the case, but because the show was built downtown, it's with many of the same people. I'm surrounded by this family that was that like I've been with it from the beginning. It's just like it's a continuation.

[7:21] Danny Kornfeld: It's just like right. Yeah, it's already yeah, exactly. Exactly. And I think that gives me such a sense of safety and security in it all because I'm like surrounded by such familiarity. And it just happens to be on a bigger stage now. People are paying a little bit more money to see it, and we're getting paid just a little bit more.

[7:46] Matt Rodin: Yeah, wow, that's so interesting that like the that familial piece of it and having been with the project and having done it before, um and then m making that transition with that group of people in a way um it kind of like eases that transition. It kind of like it makes it that much easier, or at least it feels like I guess the word you use was safe, like it feels like a safe space because you're alongside people that you know and that you've come to know, and they're your friends and family now, basically, because you have personal relationships with all of them.

[8:25] Danny Kornfeld: Again, like it always felt like I was going to be stepping into something that seems so new and kind of like otherworldly out of body, and I think the thing that has been most surprising, and like at least this time around, is really that sense of it's felt safe and it's felt familiar, but then I also I think the big thing is like the validation of it has been something that like for better or for worse, like I've really needed for myself. Like I wish I wish this wasn't the case, but I would be lying if I were to say that it was anything but, but like I have gone throughout my career thus far of like needing of needing those markers that say keep going, keep going.

[9:32] Danny Kornfeld: And whether it was this particular type of job working with this specific person, just something that says like you are on the right path. And right now, Broadway is the biggest confidence boost I've ever received in terms of being a performer. And I like there's aspects of that that I think are really lovely, and then I'm also like Danny, why do you why do you need that kind of validation in order to feel that way? Um but I just like I Broadway has given me a confidence in myself to be like, oh, like a 20 million dollar musical will put their support and trust in your artistry and your point of view as an artist, which feels very good.

[10:27] Matt Rodin: I I I think that's so well said, and I'm so grateful that you shared that and your truth about that because I feel totally similarly, and I think um something that I've been experiencing is over the last really the last like year, especially, is first um a recognition of uh not my own validation seeking or what's the word I'm looking for, like not fear, just quite just questioning, you know, because I think we're conditioned, or or I should say like it's hard sometimes to believe that you are at that you are at a certain level, right? And like, or or I guess when you don't have evidence, it's hard to know where you stand, you know.

[11:40] Danny Kornfeld: What where where am I at in terms of my skill and ability? I felt this way when I was auditioning for colleges. Like I didn't know, I had not gone to a pre-college audition like program. Like I hadn't, I had no idea when I was auditioning for colleges, like if I was any good, I knew I was good in Northbrook, Illinois, and I knew that I was good for my high school, but I didn't know in terms of like just the general world at large, if I if my skill and ability and my talent and who I am was worthy of X, Y or Z. And then I'm finding, and it sounds like you're you're finding too like when those sort of markers happen, it it's like it feels I feel like relieved. I'm like, oh, okay, great. Now I know I'm not crazy for pursuing this. I I I don't have this like um disillusioned version of like who I believe myself to be.

[12:33] Matt Rodin: That's right. That's right. Like it's it's it's it's uh it feels like more than validation. It feels like um I don't know what the word is, but but it's it's a trust, a sceneness.

[12:47] Danny Kornfeld: Oh, that's interesting. Tru I like trust. I think that's yeah, like a trust in your own ability and your own skills to be like, and and ultimately, oh, this is interesting. And I'm I'm wondering if you feel this way. Like, ultimately, you're proving to yourself every night, maybe, that you're capable. That like I I feel like even if whatever happened last night, like every night is a reaffirmation for me of like, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I can do this. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I can do this. Oh yeah, I'm in the right place. Oh yeah, I meant to be. I mean, like, listen, Danny, you're playing scenes opposite Sierra Bogas. Like, that's that's nothing to like, you know, pick your nose up at. That's and that's true, you know, for real.

Like, that's who you're playing opposite, which is even if it's subconscious, like that tells you like you're at that, you're at you have the ability and the skill and the talent to be playing opposite somebody who is very skilled and very talented. You know what I'm saying?

[13:46] Danny Kornfeld: And that's it's like I wish again, I wish that I I was the type of person who had 150% belief in everything that I did and like didn't need any kind of external um validation or reminders to like continue to trust in myself. But I'm just not like I I think it's one of the the special things about me. I think it's like what keeps me keeps me going, it keeps me questioning, it keeps me humble, it keeps me grounded. Um but I would be lying to say that that I didn't need it. I definitely do.

[14:23] Matt Rodin: I of course, and I I don't, and I don't think that's I don't think that's I mean I think you're very special and unique, but I don't think that's special and unique. I feel like that's something that a lot of us share.

[14:32] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah, and also you know, I are do you I guess the question is then like do you feel like you haven't on you haven't auditioned since you got this job, I'm imagining you haven't been seeking out new opportunities um in the middle of of this one. But I guess I'm curious, you know, because you after you do something like rent or you do like this off Broadway and you're auditioning for other things, um, and you've done other really amazing things. I mean, Renaissance is like a that fucking sh that was bomb. Like when you do a job like that, do you find that the next time you go in a room, you feel like there's a you have a little bit more um uh like weight in your boots. You feel a little bit more like okay, I I am confident in my ability and my skill here enough to know like I can go in the room and like I'm meant, I'm okay. I'm I'm good to be here. Like this is where I'm this is where I'm supposed to be right now. Do you know what I'm saying?

[15:31] Danny Kornfeld: Absolutely. Yeah, I feel like the I think that there's a certain, at least for myself, there's a certain period of time where you can really carry that like momentum and that wind under your sails and momentum. You reach a threshold as and like whether or not you see the um the positive effects of it right away, then it's great. But then if some time goes by, then I feel like it's like everything goes out the window, and I'm like, right, that's right. Nope, nope, I guess I'm not sure. Right, yeah, anymore. Did that job even happen? No. You know what's wild is I was talking to Brightman about this, and Brightman was like, it's one of the only industries in which like you do a job, and for in his instance, like he was nominated for two Tony Awards.

Like, it was like the industry was like, you're great, like, keep going. And then he's like, and then I had to go back in the room and prove that I'm still good. Like, I have to go back in the room and be like, yeah, yeah, like I was good when I did that, but I'm still good, I still got it. Like, that's such an odd part of what we do that we have to continue to prove ourselves, and not even to other people, but to ourselves.

[16:46] Matt Rodin: To ourselves, absolutely, you know, to ourselves. It's it's such a wild, wild piece of this insane, insane industry. Like, it's so crazy. But I I do like to, I would like to believe, and I think it will ring true. It's like I I do I see myself differently now, and it's even more, it's not even the Broadway fact, but like, especially in this role, I'm playing, I'm playing a man for the first time. And that has been a huge change for me.

[17:23] Danny Kornfeld: Like, I I remember when the initial audition came in, and it was like he's he's a man, he's he's in love with this character Mary. I'm like, well, I'm not a man and I'm gay, so like, nope, this this isn't right. And but I think that has been one of the biggest shifts for me from off Broadway to Broadway. It's just like really stepping into my age now. I've always I've always wanted to try to play younger than I think I actually am. Um now I just I I just feel very much I feel my age and I I I feel like an adult. I really feel like an adult.

[18:12] Matt Rodin: You feel like a man to me now. You know what I mean? Like I feel like we were I feel well, I because I feel like we were boys. Like I feel like when we like first moved to the city and we were all getting to know each other, like it was very much like even you and Sam, like it was very you guys knew each other as boys, and now we're turning into men.

[18:32] Danny Kornfeld: And real live adults. We're and like and and I guess that's the thing I'm feeling is that it's like not only am I feeling the the uh adultness of just my day-to-day existence or our day-to-day existence, um, but also I feel that on the professional side too, it feels like both are true, and that like, oh, I'm able to show up for this job in a way that I probably couldn't have when I was 25. And in my day-to-day life, I feel and I am witnessing you, and I don't know if you feel this way, like you're showing up to your life in a way that's more uh mature. I guess that's the word, but like you're you you know what I mean? Like you're taking on your life and all of the things that are coming in and moving through in a way that is adult.

You know what I mean? We're not we're not kids anymore. I mean, we are kids still, I guess. We're in our like 30s is not that old, but we're dealing with like adult situations and adult things in our lives, and to be handling like adults is kind of wild.

[19:43] Matt Rodin: Do you think how is there like a qualifier of like what you think that it like what's the shift in like dealing with things as adults?

[19:53] Danny Kornfeld: I think a big part of it is speaking the truth.

[19:56] Matt Rodin: Yes.

[19:58] Danny Kornfeld: I was gonna say that as well. Of like organizing that like things are um I I think acknowledging that things are not going to be perfect, and like that like the more the more that you can say that you don't have things figured out, the more I think you do have things figured out.

[20:18] Matt Rodin: There you go.

[20:19] Danny Kornfeld: And I think it's it's an acknowledgement of an acknowledgement and an acceptance of your own feelings. I think that is more adult to be like, oh, this is how I'm feeling right now, and I'm not gonna deny it, I'm not gonna push it away. I'm gonna accept that this is where I'm at today. And like, even you saying, like, hey, this job is really validating for me. Like, to me, that's adult to be like, this is my truth. I'm not gonna fucking bullshit about it and be like, no, it's when I'm just so no, like it's very adult to be like, no, this is what this is what it feels like to me right now.

[20:54] Danny Kornfeld: And I think piggybacking on that, it's an acknowledgement and an acceptance and uh uh a wider perspective of the nuance of everything.

[21:09] Matt Rodin: Yeah, yeah.

[21:10] Danny Kornfeld: Of not not just the industry. I'm talking about like life in general. About the you're you're you're starting, we're starting to recognize the nuance in relationship, in politics, in uh in our bodies. Like it's it's all those things where you start to go, like, oh, this is not as black and white as I necessarily thought it was, or I'm just now more informed about the world in a way that maybe I wasn't before, and now I can acknowledge that like things are just more complicated than I perceive them to be when I was 24, and that's the world and also my feelings. Do you know what I'm saying? Like it's just it's a it's a perspective shift.

[21:54] Matt Rodin: Totally. I mean, there's nothing more interesting than nuance.

[22:00] Danny Kornfeld: I I think that's exactly it. It's like the seeing things for all their different angles. I think it's like what makes life interesting. I mean, obviously right now you're in the holiday thick of things, but like are you are you figuring out your life balance? Are you finding like that you're able to like have I know it's you're very much in the beginning. This is this is very much like the early stages, I know.

[22:28] Matt Rodin: Yeah, not yet. Like Yeah.

[22:30] Danny Kornfeld: I feel like I feel like since the pandemic our social circles, like it, it did a lot of the filtering out of like, okay, here are here are the core people that you like talk to and see on the regular basis. And everyone else, like the the once every few months friends, like kind of, I mean, they're still your friends, obviously, but like I really think that like separation was exemplified. Um, and so now I feel like being in a show uh six days a week, like makes that that even uh makes that circle tighten down even more.

[23:19] Danny Kornfeld: And at least for right now, and that's okay. And like what's so lovely about my support system and my fam, my chosen family here is like everyone gets it. They're like, we know that you are doing you right now in terms of like needing to like just focus on the show. I would, I mean, that's the thing, is like I'm the type of person who is like, if I don't have that kind of balance, I won't be happy in whatever it is I'm doing. Like, I know that I'm never someone who, yeah, it's like I can't my whole life can't just be Harmony and Broadway. My whole life can't just be being a New York City socialite. Like, I really need balance in that. And that's one of the things I like. I love my life in New York City so, so much.

And that's my life when I am working, and when it's my life when I am not working. That is the T. Like, to me, that is the hack of all hacks. That is the secret to success. That is truly everything. Is if you can build a life that you love, like you just said, that you like, I love my life in New York City, then everything else is like whipped cream on top. And yeah. The job is wonderful. And you have, but it's like, it's like an addition to, it's not, no. Right. It's not, it's not the necessity for my happiness, at least.

[25:03] Matt Rodin: Has that changed?

[25:10] Danny Kornfeld: Not really. Like I've always kind of. I've always felt that way. I think as I get older, it becomes more and more strong in me, and I'm less willing to do things that I just have no interest in doing. But that really has always been the case is like the thing that I have often said to myself, especially when it comes to work, is would I be happier in my apartment with my friends, scraping by, figuring out how to make money, or be in the middle of wherever doing whatever show it is. And that's the balance. It's like, and sometimes the answer is I would be very happy doing this show here, or I would be much rather like twiddling my thumbs, hanging out with my friends watching Drag Race, cat sitting for a woman in Union Square and being happy doing that.

[26:24] Matt Rodin: But you've always had that.

[26:26] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah, I really, I really have.

[26:29] Matt Rodin: That's beautiful. And I think, and again, like that's my biggest piece of advice that I give to literally everybody is that like you gotta, if you're gonna come here or come to New York, like you gotta build a life that you like. Because, and I look listen, I think a big part of that is because you had this core group from school that was so, I mean you guys were so strong in your community to one another, and you, and I, I guess for lack of a better way of saying it, like you guys just had a lot of fun being together. Like you just, you guys really enjoy being together. You have a lot of fun when you're together in a way that like I think that contrast is so powerful to say, like, hey, would I go, would I enjoy being in the middle of nowhere doing this show more than I would like just hanging out with my friends in my apartment and actually looking at that in some kind of real nuanced kind of way is super, yeah, I think that's like the, I really do think that's like the trick of the trade.

And that's like I don't want to, because like again, of course, like you have to make money at some points, but I do think like if I'm gonna be making five hundred dollars a week, that's right, not in New York City. I would much rather be trying to make it here and I don't know. Yeah, you, you, but sometimes it's listen, but sometimes it's a show you really want to do, or sometimes it's a person you really want to work on it. It's all those nuances that go into that make the factors into the decision that you make.

[28:10] Danny Kornfeld: Obviously, obviously, this is a show that you, I imagine when you first heard about it or saw the breakdown or got the appointment, you were excited about it because it was very manilo, X, Y or Z, but I'm curious about, yeah, I guess I'm curious like what was the initial draw for you versus like what has been the most, what's been satisfying, what's been eye-opening, how has it affected you in ways that you may not have expected?

[28:45] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah. I mean when I saw that it was a Jewish story, immediately my ears perk up being like, oh, okay, well, this is something you're right for. Really, from the very beginning, though. From the very beginning.

[29:01] Matt Rodin: Yeah, from the beginning.

[29:04] Danny Kornfeld: Having known of the piece from the Alliance production, because Syracuse friends were in there.

[29:13] Matt Rodin: Yes.

[29:14] Danny Kornfeld: Yes. I knew that this was something of true, true merit and to really like put some real focus into. And then once I saw that there was a commercial producer attached to it, I was like, okay, they have real, they have real hopes and intent of making this, of trying to make this happen. And then I saw that Warren Carlyle was directing and choreographing it, which made me be like, well, you can't dance. I don't know if you'll be able to do that.

[29:38] Matt Rodin: Isn't that wild?

[29:50] Danny Kornfeld: What a wild thing that happens. All of a sudden you see someone's name and you're like, well, it's not gonna be me.

[29:55] Matt Rodin: Well, yeah, but I, I, um Warren Carlyle, I've seen what he does. Very different than what I do. I don't think we'll ever work together. And then also the fact that this part was a straight male. I would, I specifically remember I was in Utah at the time with my boyfriend at the time, and I was like, I don't think this is me. And he was like, was like, no, it's like I absolutely see it. Like a young hot rabbi, like, it's you, it's you. I was like, okay. But I think that's been the biggest surprise is really like working with someone like Warren. He has this incredible ability to pull out of you more than you've ever thought for. What a gift. Like he makes you want to show up and work so fucking hard.

And he also has this incredible way of especially the movement in this show. I imagine it must be different when it's something like Music Man, where he's choreographing a true, true, true dance number. But he has this ability to make you feel like all the movement has come from you and really your ideas. So like never before did I ever think that I was gonna be dancing on a Broadway stage and not have to be like going over the choreography in my head every single time beforehand. But like this is, it just like it lives in me so, so deep that I just like I can really, I don't, I'm not thinking about what I'm doing at all. And it's such a surprising and empowering feeling to feel that way.

[31:47] Danny Kornfeld: But I gotta say, like honestly, like we do, we do what the float, the silent discos before together, like doing stuff like that has taught me to like live so freely in my body than I ever have before, and like I think that's, I would never consider myself a good dancer, but like I'm a good dancer in this show because I think what I'm good at is just like living so fully in this body.

[32:21] Matt Rodin: I think that's so well said, and I love the tie back to float because I think you're so right that like there's, um not a confidence, but maybe a freedom that comes from something like that, an expansion, yes, where you're like, oh, I can exist in my body in a way that feels good when I'm moving. Whereas for me, like in college, like dancing didn't necessarily feel good, it was like really hard. And for it to feel good. And it felt so, it felt very precise and kind of formulaic in a way.

[32:58] Danny Kornfeld: Yes.

[32:58] Matt Rodin: And then to have choreography put on you and for it to still feel like organic and to feel like you trust yourself. And that's not to say it's not hard work, but like to say, like, oh no, I'm capable of this, that's a wild ex I'm having that experience now. Like, that's a wild experience to have. To be like, oh my god, I can't believe that I'm doing that in time. Like, if you would have told 20-year-old me that I'd be like, I was like, no fucking way. I'm not even going in for that dance call. No shot.

[33:32] Danny Kornfeld: Um if you told my dance teachers from college, that's fucking really one would be like, no, I could see it for you, but then everyone else would be like, no, you have crooked bent legs. You walk turned out all the time like a little duck. You have bent arms. Like, no, no, no, no, no. You're a little gremlin, Danny. That's, that's such a gremlin.

[33:51] Matt Rodin: That's your mind.

[33:54] Danny Kornfeld: Like little, little gremlin. Talk to me about the, um, are you, are you somebody who have you always identified? I know obviously you've always identified as Jewish, but I'm wondering in terms of like what your personal connection to Judaism has been and how it's changed or shifted with the show.

[34:21] Danny Kornfeld: That's a great question. I mean, you were Bar Mitzvahed.

[34:24] Matt Rodin: Yeah, I was Bar Mitzvahed.

[34:26] Danny Kornfeld: My mom was president of our synagogue.

[34:29] Matt Rodin: Oh, okay.

[34:30] Danny Kornfeld: So you were involved.

[34:31] Matt Rodin: Family was involved.

[34:32] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah. And one of the things I, uh, I moved to Michigan when I was four.

[34:38] Danny Kornfeld: And I was born in Philadelphia, and so my whole extended family is and was on the East Coast. So my mom really needed for us to find family in Michigan. And so part of that was becoming really active in synagogue and to like establish that chosen family sense. So my relationship to Judaism itself is really more of a cultural, it's more about connection, it's more community. Um I don't find my sense of spirituality through it. Um I find that in other ways. Um but I think I think this show has really made me embrace it and love it even deeper and to become a little more interested in the actual um religion of it all. Um because I my character, he was he was training to become a rabbi before the pogroms in Poland.

So just having an understanding of that all. But then also I I had a friend recommend to me um it's a book called Jews Don't Count. I I read this a few years ago now, and I feel like especially with what's going on in the world, it's even more of a necessity for everyone to read. Um I just feel so grateful to for the representation aspect of them actually casting Jewish people to be playing Jewish parts. Um yeah, I just it makes me it makes me proud to be Jewish right now to be getting to tell this story.

[36:37] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah, it's it's um it's a really I found and I'm and I'm curious to hear like if you're it sounds like this is what's happening for you is it's a really uh lucky maybe is the wrong word. Blessed maybe is is a closer word. It's a blessing to be able to step into uh a part or or an a human experience of someone at a time that is aligned with like your own personal like journey. Like it's it's really um it's a quite a gift to be able to unearth a part of your own identity through a character. Um because I think a lot of times, and not that this is wrong or better or worse, you just get to play a role that's a role, and it's fun and you get to kind of do it. And certainly you learn something about yourself, of course, but there are times when there are parts that meet you at a time and a place, um, and open up uh parts of yourself to yourself that you didn't really even know were closed off, or you didn't even know could be expanded upon, and to feel more deeply into a part of yourself through a character, I just think is a really cool unique um experience that we get to have as actors.

[38:23] Danny Kornfeld: I don't think that people in the like out in the outside world really necessarily get to do that. That like we are we get to like you know expand our own identity through another through a person, basically.

[38:34] Matt Rodin: That's so right.

[38:35] Danny Kornfeld: And that's one of my favorite things about what we do is like we're continuing getting to learn. We're we're we get to learn about the world and by way we learn more and more about ourselves.

[38:53] Danny Kornfeld: Which I I feel so lucky to like to get to be so curious in that way. Like continually curious. Like I I think curiosity is one of my favorite qualities in a human and in within myself and like there is nothing more um activating of curiosity than like getting to step into a role and especially one that like feels close to you but like you're still trying to parse parse where where you and the character I love curiosity I think curiosity might right now I feel like the two the two like um the two things I'm trying I I don't know the I don't know the word it's too early. The two things I'm leaning into are curiosity and awe like those are the two qualities that I'm like really leaning heavily into and enjoying the feeling of curiosity and the feeling of awe and what that inspires and it's ties back to what we were talking about before about like expanding your own perspective and seeing nuance it's like that to me is born out of curiosity is a willingness to like open up your mind and your heart and be like oh maybe I don't know as much about this thing as I thought I did.

[40:13] Danny Kornfeld: Like I want to learn more. I'm curious. Like, I'm hungry to have an experience that's going to like shift me in some way, or I'm gonna learn something new. Um, especially, and I don't know if this is true for you, like, especially doing a show eight times a freaking week. You gotta be curious because otherwise it's like you're a fucking robot. Like, I have to be curious every night, otherwise, I'm gonna lose my mind.

[40:41] Danny Kornfeld: I was um uh upstate for a friend's birthday, and it was a big dinner group, and someone asked the question like, what are your three pillars as a human? And mine were it was playfulness, it was comfort, and it was curiosity.

[41:00] Matt Rodin: That's so right, Danny.

[41:02] Matt Rodin: That's so you, so you that is so you.

[41:06] Danny Kornfeld: Oh my god, I love oh my god, I did not expect comfort, but that's exactly right. Look at you like comfy little cozy on your little couch.

[41:13] Danny Kornfeld: But that's the thing, it's like so you know that I went through a breakup, and so one of like the biggest stressors in my like in the breakup was like deciding on a new couch that I was gonna have to buy.

[41:25] Matt Rodin: Yes, and so at first I was I was like, okay, I want something sexy and cool and expensive, and so I bought this fucking thousands of dollars couch from design within reach.

[41:39] Danny Kornfeld: It comes reach, not my reach, not not the most, honey.

[41:47] Danny Kornfeld: And this fucking couch comes, and it is truly the least comfortable thing I have ever sat on. And like I even went to the store four times to sit on it.

[41:58] Matt Rodin: So it wasn't like it was completely blind.

[42:01] Danny Kornfeld: It'll be great. I just like I needed it, I needed it to work.

[42:04] Matt Rodin: It'll work, it'll work.

[42:07] Danny Kornfeld: And so it comes. It's truly the worst thing in the world, and I just I knew I was gonna resent it every single goddamn day of my life. And so I like returned it.

[42:18] Danny Kornfeld: I lost like $500 for the restocking fee and ended up buying a couch for Macy's that is so comfortable, and I'm so happy now. Honey, we got the couch and it and it is and it is a winner, baby.

[42:33] Danny Kornfeld: There's something like I I just like when I when people come over to my space and when I'm living within my space, it's like I need it to feel cozy. I need it to feel comfortable. I I don't want to be concerned that like you're gonna spill coffee or red wine on it.

[42:48] Danny Kornfeld: I don't I I want you to be at ease. I want to be at ease.

[42:52] Matt Rodin: You want to feel like you can live in it.

[42:54] Danny Kornfeld: Yeah, yeah. It has to be livable.

[42:57] Danny Kornfeld: Um I'm so happy that we got to talk at this at this moment, too.

[43:01] Matt Rodin: Yeah, because this is a very, very, it's a very particular moment in this like trajectory of whatever this thing is gonna be.

[43:09] Danny Kornfeld: Um that you're open, you just finished a holiday week, you you're it's you're just getting into the groove of the thing.

[43:18] Matt Rodin: Like you said, you don't know what the longevity of this thing is. We it's it's sort of it will be it will be told, but whatever it is, you are having uh a fun, fulfilling, life affirming um whole experience.

[43:39] Danny Kornfeld: Um which to me uh that's all a win. Like that's just all that's you're winning.

[43:46] Matt Rodin: Thanks, baby.

[43:47] Danny Kornfeld: You're winning, you're a winner, baby.

[43:49] Matt Rodin: You're a baby.

[43:51] Matt Rodin: You know what I mean? You're a winner, baby.

[43:53] Danny Kornfeld: Um it really feels like that right now, though.

[43:56] Danny Kornfeld: It really does. I just like I love, I love, I love what life has given me right now.

[44:02] Danny Kornfeld: So I love people like you who I have in my life to continue to reflect it back for more.

[44:10] Matt Rodin: Oh man, you know me.

[44:11] Matt Rodin: I'm gonna be reflect I'm ref I'm a reflector.

[44:14] Danny Kornfeld: That's my I'm a mirror girl.

[44:15] Matt Rodin: I'm I'm gonna be look at you.

[44:17] Danny Kornfeld: Look at you, look at you.

[44:19] Matt Rodin: Always, girl.

[44:20] Matt Rodin: I'm like, these people, it's so funny.

[44:22] Danny Kornfeld: Like I'm I'm learning uh because I'm with this new group of people, like I'm in this new group of people and we're living on the road together, as I know you know, like what that's like.

[44:32] Danny Kornfeld: And they're starting to like come into the understanding of like what like how sentimental and how emotional and how like self-aware and how like deep I am, and it it was a slow burn, but we're getting there, and it's it's it's so yeah.

[44:50] Danny Kornfeld: I I said something the other day, and someone's like, Yeah, of course, that's of course I know that about you. And I was like, you do?

[44:54] Danny Kornfeld: I was like, you already know that that's like that's the kind of person I am.

[45:00] Matt Rodin: Um so that's it's always a f it's always affirming for me to hear that from you.

[45:05] Matt Rodin: A true friend of mine to be like, I like that this is this is what we do when we're together.

[45:11] Danny Kornfeld: Not surprising at all.

[45:13] Danny Kornfeld: I was thinking that about that before before this morning, of just like you and I, like when we are at like a party together, if we if there's not gonna be an actual opportunity for us to like actually sit down and have a conversation, it's always just like love you so much, good to see you, and then when we have our real opportunities to like to go deep to shit.

[45:35] Matt Rodin: Because I can't, I can't do the I cannot do the I can't do the in-between.

[45:35] Danny Kornfeld: I can't do the in-between.

[45:40] Danny Kornfeld: No, I've done enough schmoozing and boozing for 10 lifetimes.

[45:45] Matt Rodin: Okay.

[45:47] Danny Kornfeld: I don't need to schmooz and booze anymore.

[45:49] Danny Kornfeld: I'm done with the small talk.

[45:51] Matt Rodin: Either way.

[45:52] Danny Kornfeld: There is a reason why this podcast is not called schmoozing and boozing.

[45:56] Danny Kornfeld: There's a remote.