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MUSTAFA SHAKIR: Put Your Right Brain in Front of the Camera

That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

Release Date: 12/23/2025

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That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse

In today’s episode, we dive into the extraordinary career of Mustafa Shakir, the self-described “accidental actor” who originally pursued international banking and law at Cornell before discovering acting after reading a poem in a workshop. He breaks down the nitty-gritty of auditioning, including the high-stakes journey to landing the Marvel villain "Bushmaster" on Luke Cage. We also talk about why he loves the “little movie” process of self-taping, and how trusting intuition and learning to let go after preparation has helped him uncover new dimensions in his work. Mustafa...

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In today’s episode, we dive into the extraordinary career of Mustafa Shakir, the self-described “accidental actor” who originally pursued international banking and law at Cornell before discovering acting after reading a poem in a workshop. He breaks down the nitty-gritty of auditioning, including the high-stakes journey to landing the Marvel villain "Bushmaster" on Luke Cage. We also talk about why he loves the “little movie” process of self-taping, and how trusting intuition and learning to let go after preparation has helped him uncover new dimensions in his work. Mustafa generously shares his philosophy on how the inner world shapes outer reality, along with a peek behind the curtain at his process and work ethic.

These are the unforgettable stories that landed Mustafa Shakir right here.

Credits:

  • Song Sung Blue
  • Marvel's Luke Cage
  • Cowboy Bebop
  • The Deuce
  • Emancipation
  • Love Hurts
  • Ghosted
  • The Night Of
  • American Gods
  • Shameless
  • House
  • Timeless
  • Quarry

Guest Links:

THAT ONE AUDITION'S LINKS:

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EPISODE CREDITS:
  • WRITER: Erin McCluskey
  • WEBSITE & GRAPHICS: Chase Jennings
  • ASSISTANT: Elle Powell
  • SOCIAL OUTREACH: Alara Ceri