1,281 Auditions: What Rejection Taught Michael Strickland About Acting

What does it take to build a lasting career in an industry where rejection is part of the job? On this episode of Next Act with Jeff Ornstein, Jeff sits down with Michael Strickland, a film and television actor, voice artist, acting coach, and founder of The Winnipeg Actors Academy. Michael shares the lessons behind more than 30 years in acting, including why honest feedback changed the way he approaches his craft, how he learned to see rejection differently, and why he now celebrates every audition instead of obsessing over whether he booked the role. They also explore Michael’s love of comedy and improvisation, his experiences working across film, television, Hallmark productions, and video games, and why teaching the next generation of actors has become such an important part of his career. It’s a conversation about resilience, creativity, staying curious, and finding joy in the work—even when the answer is no.