KAHYUN KIM: Auditioning Her Way Landed St. Denis Medical
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Kahyun Kim shares her transformative journey from Seoul to Hollywood, detailing her path from early dreams of ballet and musical theater to ultimately landing a series regular role on NBC's St. Denis Medical. She recounts her rigorous audition process for Juilliard, the intense pressure of navigating visa hurdles as an international student, and the emotional weight of proving her worth in a foreign country. Her story is marked by resilience—overcoming language barriers, self-doubt, and systemic obstacles like the O-1 visa limitations—while maintaining a relentless work ethic. Key turning points include her breakout role in Cocaine Bear, her self-tape audition for St. Denis Medical where she humorously humped a desk, and a viral Zoom callback interrupted by her father, which became a defining moment of authenticity. Kahyun emphasizes the power of belief, preparation, and vulnerability in her craft, and reflects on how her journey—from watching Friends religiously to now starring on NBC—was fueled by faith, persistence, and a deep love for storytelling. Her story is a testament to how perseverance, self-awareness, and embracing one's identity can lead to extraordinary success. The episode offers actionable insights for actors: memorizing scripts backwards for fluency, embracing imperfection in auditions, seeking collaboration through casting calls, and using guided practice to build confidence. Kahyun’s philosophy centers on treating every job as a gift, staying grounded through celebration, and viewing rejection as part of the process. Her authenticity, humor, and emotional honesty make her journey both inspiring and deeply relatable. The episode closes with a powerful message about the importance of community, self-tape mastery, and the quiet strength found in simply showing up—day after day.
Memorize your script backwards and forwards to overcome language anxiety and perform with mechanical precision.
Use self-tapes and Zoom auditions as opportunities to show your authentic self, not just a polished performance.
Ask casting directors questions—especially about tone and improvisation—to demonstrate engagement and build rapport.
Embrace your identity and cultural background as strengths, not limitations, in your audition process.
Stay grounded by treating every job as work, not a celebration—this protects your mental energy during the highs and lows.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Dream Begins: From Seoul to Hollywood
Kahyun Kim introduces her journey from Korea to America, sharing her early dreams of becoming an actor and her transition from ballet to musical theater, ultimately leading to her decision to pursue acting in the U.S.
Juilliard and the Visa Battle: A Dream in Limbo
“I had this monologue that I did called, it was from a one woman show called China doll. And it was about the life of anime wong who's like one of the first asian actors I knew nothing about her.”
Surviving the O-1: The Realities of Being a Foreign Actor
“There was always a little scarcity of, oh, I booked it. They're going to find out I have O-1 and then they're going to not hire me anymore.”
The Turning Point: Cocaine Bear and the Green Card
“I thought, you know what? I think I need to apply for it now. Glad you did. Because I'm not, and people are like, it's going to be fine. It turned out rough.”
Auditioning in Crisis: The Self-Tape That Changed Everything
“I was in a hard, I was having a hard time, but at the same time, I was like really happy to be around like other actors.”
“When are we having lunch? And I am just so mortified. And I literally had to be like, dad, like in Korean, dad, please leave the room, please.”
“I humped the desk. Yes. I hung whatever thing was in front of me. It's so funny to me, that was not even a challenge.”
“I thought, you know what? I think I need to apply for it now. Glad you did. Because I'm not, and people are like, it's going to be fine. It turned out rough.”
Host
Guest
Kahyun Kim
person
Alyshia Ochse
person
St. Denis Medical
other
NBC
other
Cocaine Bear
media
Juilliard
organization
Friends
other
American Gods
other
Debra Zane
person
Freaky Friday
media
WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Frame the Story, Own the Scene
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse • 12m • 4/1/2026
COLIN LAWRENCE: The Cinderella Shoe — Finding the Perfect Fit on Virgin River
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse • 54m • 4/7/2026
WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Active Listening
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse • 14m • 4/8/2026
JULEE CERDA: Balancing Motherhood and Broadway's Othello
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse • 55m • 4/14/2026
WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Trust Yourself
That One Audition with Alyshia Ochse • 10m • 4/15/2026
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