We had the good fortune of connecting with Josh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josh, why did you pursue a creative career?
I was five when I saw my sister act on stage for the first time. She wasn’t just my older sister reciting some lines, she was a storyteller who immersed the audience into another world, I was completely entranced. She provided an escape for an audience (in an elementary school cafeteria, of all places!) and I was hooked. Before I knew it was even a career option, I wanted to tell stories.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always felt like an outsider – even as an artist in LA for the last decade. In a city where everyone is a multi-multi-multi hyphenate, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged. My work explores this and approaches things from an outside looking in perspective – showcased most recently in ‘What About Me?’.

I’m most proud and excited about this series, because it is the first thing I have produced from idea to reality. I’ve always considered myself a performer, but during the Pandemic I took a pivot as so many did. While many were baking sourdough or adopting dogs (I did both btw) I wanted to stretch further as a creative. I was mourning not just the recent loss of my brother, but seemingly so many other components of life. After writing for a year, I assembled a creative team, crowd funded the production in 30 days, and shot this series in six. I’m proud, not just of tackling an entire production from thought to execution, but being able to connect through something like grief.

Every step of the way we were met with issues (location switches, two Hollywood strikes, extreme heat) but being able to produce this through my own independent production company, allowed me to take these challenges & adapt on my own terms. I’m fortunate to have a life partner and a creative partner (Sam Wasserman) who kept me organized, sane, and well fed.

My goal was to allow this project to heal me in whatever way it was meant to (and hopefully do the same for others.) What I learned throughout this journey, is that just because something is personal, doesn’t mean it needs to be experienced along. There is power in community. So many big hearted people have gotten me to this moment and I’m forever grateful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a big foodie, so I’ll try to stay focused on that!

I’m located in Mid-City/Fairfax so I have a few staples – The Grove, LACMA, Sycamore Kitchen, SK Donuts, & Mizlala.

Larchmont is my favorite neighborhood to walk through on Sundays – the farmer’s market is charming & Clark Street’s pastries are delicious.

If I’m venturing to the Valley, Studio City is always bustling & has some of the best sushi on the West Coast. Lou, the French on the Block has my favorite croissants in the city! Fondry is a close second!

The East Side (Los Feliz, Silverlake, Echo Park) is where my friends and I often hang out – check us out at The Black Cat or Akbar. Jeff’s Table in Highland park has my favorite sandwiches! (Carla Cafe on 3rd is a close second!)

The Greek or The Hollywood Bowl are my favorite concert venues (Little Doms is my favorite pre show spot, Fred 62 is my favorite post!)

All in all – LA is WHERE IT’S AT for food, and I’m so blessed. <3

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes – I would love to shout out my new short-form series, What About Me? which you can now watch at www.wamtheseries.com!

In 2018, I lost my brother, Brett. Although we looked alike, we couldn’t have been more different – he liked Blink 182, I was more Britney Spears. He liked sports, I…preferred Barbies. However, in losing him, I realized how similar we actually were. That’s what this show is about: the strange, funny, and sometimes beautiful ways grief reshapes us.

The series follows Josh, the lesser-known twin brother of Jake, a wildly successful Hollywood actor. When Jake dies suddenly, Josh is forced to confront his grief, his identity, and a family that never quite understood him. From dodging a synagogue memorial to escaping into hookup apps, Josh’s journey through the five stages of grief is at once laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving.

If you liked Transparent or The Other Two, you’ll love this!

Website: https://www.wamtheseries.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/joshjewa

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshnadler/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wamtheseries

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.