Ben Sembler
Writer and creator of Scenic Byways. He also directs, records, and edits the episodes. If you can't find him on the road or in a national park, you aren't looking hard enough. Seriously, go out and look around. Wander. You might not find Ben, but you're sure to find a lot else worthwhile on the journey.
Rosie tucker (original theme music)
Rosie Tucker’s songs are worlds unto themselves. They start in conversation with an immediate environment: small, detailed, characters and landscapes drawn vividly, with life and wit. Only as they progress do they reveal bigger themes.
"For example, the song ‘Gay Bar’ is about having a good time at a cowboy gay bar in the Valley,” says the Los Angeles-based Tucker, who uses they/them pronouns. “But the sample I used to create the sound at the end was a quote from an old interview Dusty Springfield gave to Gay News in 1970. Her refusal to label her own sexuality just about destroyed her career, though nothing she said would strike anyone as particularly edgy by today's terms, I think."
Starting with “Gay Bar” and throughout their new album “Never Not Never Not Never Not,” out March 8, 2019, Tucker’s songs talk with and echo queer, blacklisted, and forgotten female songwriters of the 1960s: Springfield, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Sibylle Baier, Norma Tanega, Karen Dalton. Like them, Tucker uses emotionally rich images of the world, and while the lyrics have political implications, politics are not the first concern of the songs.
Jason culp (Truck Driver)
Jason Culp portrays the truck driver in Scenic Byways. He was born in Los Angeles, the second son of actor/writer Robert Culp and his wife Nancy. Raised variously in the San Fernando Valley, Ojai, Malibu and Beverly Hills, he began acting at the age of 10 in a small role in the film "Hickey & Boggs", directed by his father. After a great deal of theater through his teen years, he trained at the American Conservatory Theater, in New York with Herbert Berghof and Uta Hagen at the esteemed HB Studio, and back in Los Angeles in the 80s with John Lehne. He appeared in the soaps "General Hospital", "Days of our Lives", and appeared in the film "Skinheads". He moved to New York in the early 90s and resided there for 25 years, doing regional theater and focusing on voice over work, audiobooks and writing. He has now returned to Los Angeles to resume his acting career.
Heather J Ryan (episode 1: Company Woman, Episode 2: Lumberjill’s sister)
Heather is an actress, improviser, comedienne, voiceover artist and producer. While she has a natural talent for comedic timing, physical comedy and wacky facial expressions (honed by her years of improv training and performance), she is also equally as versed in dramatic acting. Most importantly, she is older than her twin sister by two minutes.
Danny Chambers (Episode 1: Hobo)
A former Child Psychologist from Portland, Oregon...Danny has been earning his living as an actor for the past 35 years since moving to Los Angeles from Portland’s renowned theater community. He studies acting with Daryl Hickman and enjoys his ongoing involvement with the Fountain Theater. His Television and Film credits include three seasons as Sheriff George Buckman on Falcon Crest...A year on the daytime soap The Young And The Restless and one season on ABC’s High Incident. Over the years Danny has had many Guest Starring roles on numerous TV shows, including recurring roles on Hill St. Blues, St. Elsewhere, and Hearts Afire. Some of his Feature Film work includes lead roles in “Iron Will”, “Fire Mountain”, “Out Of The Wilderness”, “Regular Thursday Night”...And can be heard as the voice of Cotton Tail Smith in “Loony Toons: Back In Action”. Most recently, Danny has enjoyed a starring role in the Lifetime movie “Unanswered Prayers” with Patty Duke playing his wife. Also, guest starring on “Southland” and “The Mentalist”...and...working on a Web Series called “Bitchinal.” Danny is an avid golfer and enjoys traveling worldwide to various Celebrity Golf events for Children’s charities.
Christian Henley (episode 2: Lumberjill forewoman)
Christian Henley is proud to be one of the first twenty students selected for the revival of UT Austin's B.F.A. Acting program. She is now in the process of creating her own Web Series to begin developing her own opportunities in this highly competitive industry. Christian is now an improv student at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. Christian has appeared in productions of In The Heights, Fame, the Cohen New Works Festival, and Speaking in Tongues.
Patrice Glass (Episode 2: lumberjill)
Patrice is an incredible woman of mystery and intrigue. She is also the best next-door neighbor Ben has had.
Sammi lappin (episode 2: freezing lumberjill, episode 3: mechanic)
Sammi Lappin is a film and stage actress, writer, and producer originally from Boston, MA. Now based in Los Angeles, she received her B.F.A. in Acting from Syracuse University, and has studied at the Stella Adler Studio in New York and Emerson College.
Sammi is a hardworking goofball with an affinity for sarcastic heroines, classical text, and fight scenes. When she's not podcasting, Sammi co-heads the production company Peridot Rose Productions which is now in pre-production for their second original feature. Sammi is very excited to be a part of Scenic Byways, and she hopes you enjoy the ride
katie anne rich (episode 3: Lakotan woman)
Katie Anne Rich (Chickasaw and Cherokee descent) is a Bay Area native who has performed throughout the US and abroad. Favorite roles include: Nora (Assistance; American Repertory Theater), Margarita (Incurable: A Fool’s Tale; The Guthrie), Marianne (Sense and Sensibility; American Repertory Theater/Bedlam); Wife (The Great Capitulation; The Moscow Art Theatre). Katie holds her MFA in Acting from Harvard University.
Miya kodama (episode 4: Expedition leader)
Miya Kodama is a Los Angeles based actress and wannabe superhero sidekick. She plays actual supervillian Anika in the podcast Super Ordinary.
Instagram/Twitter: @_buttstallion
ray yamamoto (episode 4: young logger)
Bio coming soon…