Presence as Craft. Movement as Meaning.

In this episode of Why We Dance, Mia Tate welcomes Will Swenson for an intimate conversation that looks beyond the spotlight and inside the life of an actor shaped by movement, memory, and truth.

From their shared high school years in Salt Lake City to Will’s acclaimed career on Broadway, the conversation traces the arc of a life lived in performance. Will reflects on growing up in a theater family, his early connection to movement and dance, and how those foundations informed his approach to acting long before he stepped onto a Broadway stage.

Together, Mia and Will explore the importance of presence in storytelling, the differences between theater and film, and what it means to stay grounded while inhabiting iconic roles in productions such as Hair, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Les Misérables, Waitress, and A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Story. Will speaks openly about balancing career and family, navigating change, and learning to remain honest—both in performance and in life.

The conversation also touches on faith, identity, and Will’s decision to step away from the LDS Church, examining how movement and embodiment can become tools for truth and self-connection. The episode closes with Will reading a deeply personal letter about dance and movement—an invitation to listen more closely to the body and stay present as life continues to unfold.

This is a conversation about craft, courage, and what it really means to live inside the work.

[00:00] Introduction and Guest Welcome
[00:31] High School Memories with Will Swenson
[03:16] Movement and Acting
[07:03] Growing Up in a Theater Family
[14:28] Journey to New York and Early Career
[21:44] Balancing Career and Personal Life
[23:44] Theater vs. Film: The Actor’s Perspective
[30:06] Experiences in Iconic Roles
[33:02] Tony Nomination and a Humbling Preschool Moment
[34:31] A Beautiful Noise and Neil Diamond’s Influence
[37:12] Landing the Role
[42:22] Creation, Pottery, and Staying Grounded
[46:22] Leaving the LDS Church and Family Dynamics
[52:45] Reflecting on Life’s Journey and Memory
[01:01:33] The Power of Dance and Movement

Mia Tate’s IMDb
Will Swenson IMDb
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Podcast Producer S.J. Nichols (Seannon Gonzalez)
Executive Producer Meredith Gooderham
Production Studio Caspian Studios
Camera Operator Kai Irvine
Assistant Camera Ben Drummond
Production also by Dark to Light Productions
Thank you to Davies Reid Rugs

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