The Power of a Strong Point of View
Mental Notes with Matt
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I reconnect with my former Mason Gross School of the Arts acting teacher and longtime inspiration, Kevin Kittle. What begins as a conversation about performance quickly becomes something deeper - a reflection on voice, identity, courage, and the challenge of showing up fully in today’s world.
We unpack the idea of having a strong point of view, not just in art, but in life, and how the fear of
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Teaser: The Power of a Strong Point of View
Mental Notes with Matt
Full episode with my guest, acting teacher, educator, and thought leader Kevin Kittle, is on its way. But before it drops, here’s a quick teaser to set the stage.
In this short preview, I reflect on a moment from acting school that’s stayed with me for over 20 years, and how it led to an honest, deeply personal conversation about finding your voice and owning your point of view.
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The Call
Mental Notes with Matt
In this solo episode, I reflect on a simple phone call with an old friend that revealed something deeper: how often we retreat from connection even when we crave it most. This is a story about friendship, silence, showing up, and the quiet courage it takes to answer when life calls.
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Quieting the Critic
Mental Notes with Matt
Ever catch yourself arguing with the voice in your head? Yeah, me too. In this quick episode, I dive into that inner dialogue, what it tries to protect us from, and how we can shift the conversation.
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Where Life Meets the Work
Mental Notes with Matt
Episode Duration:
20:16
Episode Description:
In this debut episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I sit down with Sarah Wolfson—licensed social worker, former special education teacher, and a therapist who brings both personal presence and professional insight to her work.
We talk about what it really means to “live the work” as a therapist, the moments when personal and professional identities blur, and how being grounded, direct,
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Welcome to Mental Notes with Matt
Mental Notes with Matt
In this short introduction to Mental Notes, host Matt Ungermah shares the personal journey that inspired the podcast and what you can expect from future episodes—honest conversations, emotional insight, and a shared commitment to better understanding ourselves.
Music licensed via Soundstripe
Track: Iron and Steel
Artist: Wicked Cinema
License Code: FCRNGM0JYDPDFDSV
info_outlineEpisode Summary:
In this episode of Mental Notes with Matt, I reconnect with my former Mason Gross School of the Arts acting teacher and longtime inspiration, Kevin Kittle. What begins as a conversation about performance quickly becomes something deeper - a reflection on voice, identity, courage, and the challenge of showing up fully in today’s world.
We unpack the idea of having a strong point of view, not just in art, but in life, and how the fear of saying the “wrong thing” can sometimes keep us from saying anything at all. Kevin brings decades of wisdom as a director, educator, and founder of The One One Project, sharing how he's adapted the Meisner technique to help artists reclaim their voices in a culture that often demands conformity.
This is a grounded, thought-provoking episode about truth, nuance, and the quiet bravery of being yourself.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What it really means to have a strong point of view
- How fear of being “inappropriate” can suppress authenticity
- The cultural shift in how young people express themselves
- Kevin’s new acting exercise and how it helps unlock honesty
- Reclaiming your emotional core and value system as a foundation for expression
About the Guest:
Kevin Kittle is a director, educator, and the founder of The One One Project in NYC. With decades of experience teaching and directing, including collaborations with legends like Arthur Miller and Sam Shepard, Kevin is known for pushing artists to dig deep, speak honestly, and embrace the full truth of their experience, onstage and off.
Follow his work on Instagram: @theone1project
Check out his podcast: It’s Not NOT A Meisner Podcast (@meisnerpodcast)
Let’s Connect:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @mental_notes_with_matt
TikTok: @mental.notes.with
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