Natalie Alyn Lind | From “The Goldbergs” to Paramount+’s “Dutton Ranch” | Poutine in Boots

00:00 Natalie Alyn Lind joins Story & Craft

00:00 Natalie Alyn Lind: Just looking back at photos of myself online when I was like 11 or 12 on like red carpets and stuff, it just, I'm like, "Ugh, that hurts." Yeah. It's just funny. You don't usually have your awkward phase televised.

00:13 Announcer: Welcome to Story and Craft. Now, here's your host, Marc Preston.

00:17 Marc Preston: All right, here we go, back again.

00:19 Marc Preston: Another episode of Story and Craft, and you're here for it. So thanks for stopping back by. It always means a lot to me. And hey, by the way, if this is your first episode, welcome. We're gonna have some fun today. You know, strap in, get ready. Uh, today, sitting down with the very talented actor Natalie Alyn Lind.

00:38 Marc Preston: Uh, you know her. She's been in The Goldbergs, the, uh, show Big Sky. Now she's in the Taylor Sheridan universe, the Yellowstone spinoff, Dutton Ranch. Knocking it out of the park. She plays the, uh, character Oriana. Uh, she is, if you have seen the show, just, uh, lights it up. She does a great job. Now, I do have to tell you, though, we did speak about the show a little while back before the show actually came out.

01:01 Marc Preston: So we were kind of talking about, you know, how much I'm looking forward to it. I mean, I gotta admit, I'm, I'm many episodes in now, so I'm really enjoying it. Uh, you know, I didn't really watch Yellowstone. I wanna go back and watch it. Everything else Taylor Sheridan has out, love it. Just haven't had a chance to, uh, check out Yellowstone.

01:19 Marc Preston: But loving Dutton Ranch. Good stuff. Uh, Natalie was just so much fun to talk to. She is, uh, very, very talented. Uh, do me a favor if you would. It would mean a lot to me. Some people checking out the show on YouTube, uh, even though we're audio only, some people still do. If that's you, do me a favor. Follow Story and Craft, or, and like the show, leave a comment.

01:38 Marc Preston: Always cool stuff. Helps people to find the show. Uh, also, if you have any other kind of podcastification going on, Spotify, uh, Apple, uh, you know, whatever, we're on all of them. So please follow the show. Notification every time a new episode comes out comes right to you. Uh, also go to storyandcraftpod.com.

02:00 Marc Preston: That way, you can just kind of hang out and learn about all of our past episodes, past guests, everything about the show. It's right there. All right, so, uh, let's get into it. I enjoyed this chat. Natalie is, uh, super-duper charming, and, uh, really enjoyed the opportunity to sit down with her, as you will as well, because today is Natalie Alyn Lind day right here on Story and Craft.

02:22 Natalie Alyn Lind: Hi

02:23 Marc Preston: Natalie, how are you doing today?

02:24 Natalie Alyn Lind: How are you doing? I'm good. How are you?

02:26 Marc Preston: I am fantastic. Oh, we got a little participant there. What kind of pooch you got?

02:30 Natalie Alyn Lind: We, I have a, I have a Maltipoo. She's 17 years old. I've had her since I was a baby. Aw. She's old but long. How cute. She has been, that was the first peep.

02:38 Natalie Alyn Lind: I have been doing press stuff since, uh, 10, so that was the first peep that she's made, which I'm really proud of. That's cool. So I'm like, "Okay, go back to sleep." Go- I feel like a mom trying to put my kid back to sleep. Yeah. It's nap time, kid. Let's go.

02:51 Marc Preston: Yeah. Our little guy, Ranger, he's a seven- a two-year-old, uh, golden retriever, and he is still in the, he's in that adolescent phase.

02:58 Marc Preston: And we, we live on an island, and there is a beach right there, so they use my street to get there, so he posts up on the sofa looking out the window all day long. And whenever somebody comes by, especially, uh, dogs he finds intriguing, he has to bark. So if I let him stay down here- Well- ... he would've been, like, really involved in kinda everything we're doing.

03:17 Marc Preston: And, uh-

03:17 Natalie Alyn Lind: What island do you live on?

03:19 Marc Preston: Uh, South Padre, very tip of, uh, Texas. Didn't y'all sh- did y'all shoot in South Texas, uh, the Dutton Ranch? Or did y'all shoot somewhere else in Texas?

03:28 Natalie Alyn Lind: We were in Fort Worth. So- Okay ... we were Yeah. I mean, oh my gosh, living on an island in Texas sounds incredible. That's so cool.

03:38 Marc Preston: It's, I call it my tropical Mayberry 'cause it's got like- Cool ... 3,000 full-time residents, but when there's spring break or something else, the island like, I don't know how many people are here, but it's, it's pretty great. I mean, I got an airport right down the way if I wanna go somewhere, but here it's kinda like I work out of my studio.

03:53 Marc Preston: I'm all good. And, uh, so

03:56 Natalie Alyn Lind: h- h- I would... I wish this podcast was in life. I would've come on down and visited you. That sounds amazing.

04:01 Marc Preston: Hey, you're always welcome. We've always got some kinda cold beverage stirring around here, so.

04:05 Natalie Alyn Lind: I love it.

04:06 Marc Preston: Um, but no, the, what did you think about shooting in Texas? 'Cause you're, you're an LA...

04:09 Marc Preston: But you, you... Wait, you're an LA and, uh, uh, Canadian kid, right?

04:14 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. Okay So I was born and raised in LA, and then my dad's side of the family are from Canada, so I'm half Canadian. I'm a dual citizen. Um, and then my mom, she's an actress, so we kind of grew up on the road. We never were in one place for very long, so, uh, no.

04:30 Natalie Alyn Lind: But I mean, Texas has my heart. Genuinely- Mm ... has my heart. As soon as I was able to adjust to the heat during the summer, especially at night. So going, going out at like 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning and still have it be 94 degrees, that's- Yeah. Yeah ... it's,

04:46 Adjusting to the blistering Texas heat during night shoots

04:46 Announcer: it's

04:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: kinda hard to adjust to. But I mean, my mom, so she did a TV show in North Carolina, and there's just this Southern hospitality that comes with being in the South, and it's like, it's so interesting 'cause even in the, the time that I was there, I think we ended up filming for eight months, I became best friends with everybody in my neighborhood, which is just something that doesn't happen very often.

05:07 Natalie Alyn Lind: I, I, I- Were you,

05:07 Marc Preston: were you in Fort Worth proper or were you kind of just outside? Like was it-

05:11 Natalie Alyn Lind: So we, I went a couple changes throughout production. We changed location, I mean, housing locations a couple times, but I was for the majority of it, I was living on a lake called Lake Worth.

05:22 Marc Preston: Yeah. Yep, yep.

05:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: And- Yeah

05:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: yeah. Loved Lake Worth. The only thing that I did not love about it, I had no idea that there were alligators in Texas. Um

05:30 Marc Preston: Whoa. Yeah.

05:31 Natalie Alyn Lind: Well, I

05:31 Marc Preston: just learned , I just learned something also. I didn't know there were alligators out that way.

05:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um. Yes. A ton of alligators that used to come, like, right up to the property.

05:38 Natalie Alyn Lind: Like, our neighbor would have them in his yard. So it was a fun summer of looking at the lake. I did not go swimming in it. I just- Yeah. That was something that I didn't want to risk, especially 'cause they would come up onto the property. Um, but no, I mean, Texas is such a, it's just first of all so gorgeous, but the people that live there are so incredible.

05:59 Natalie Alyn Lind: I made so many friends that were not associated to the show, just like people that I was meeting at restaurants. The food is so good. Best barbecue I've ever had in my life. Like, the, I could go on a list- Oh, really?

06:09 Marc Preston: Did you go to, uh, what is it, a, a Hard Eight? Did you go there? Hard Eight Barbecue?

06:14 Natalie Alyn Lind: Part eight.

06:14 Natalie Alyn Lind: My favorite was Panthers, though.

06:16 Marc Preston: Okay. Okay.

06:18 Natalie Alyn Lind: Panthers was so, so good.

06:19 Marc Preston: No, no, I'm a Dallas kid, so you know, I grew up in North Dallas. So Fort Worth, when I was growing up, was all, it was like all the way over there, but it's not that far. But, uh- Yeah ... it's, it's definitely a different feeling. I think that, uh, uh, Sheridan captured it in, uh, Landman.

06:35 Marc Preston: Yes. Uh, I think he got a real good snapshot of the Fort Worth vibe and all the suburbs and, you know. Uh, it's definitely different than Dallas. Did you make your way over to Dallas at all, or...?

06:45 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. And I, I absolutely love Dallas. So our house, like one of the main locations that we work on on the show, the 10 Petal Ranch, that actually films in Ferris.

06:54 Natalie Alyn Lind: So-

06:54 Announcer: Oh,

06:55 Natalie Alyn Lind: yeah ... we would drive, like, at least, like, once a week we were going up to Ferris. Or, I mean, a couple times an episode. So we ended up spending a lot of time in Dallas. But I actually did a, a pilot in Dallas back in 2017, and I absolutely loved it, and it's so cool to see a city build and grow and being able to come back to the city and go to those spots that are still there and try new spots.

07:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, yeah, I mean, I could not have gotten luckier with location-wise on this show.

07:20 Marc Preston: Texas is wonderful, but n- we have the worst PR in Austin with our, uh, legislature and government down here. They don't make us... They're, they don't do very much for the tourism- ... I will say that. But, uh, what's really cool down here, 'cause, uh, SpaceX, we get to watch the, like five miles south of me is where they send the rockets up.

07:36 Marc Preston: So it's kind of fun to stand on the beach, have a margarita, and watch a rocket take off. It's kinda fun. Um-

07:40 Natalie Alyn Lind: That sounds like a perfect Saturday night.

07:44 Marc Preston: It's something different, certainly. Now, you're... Wait, you know, I just realized something. I just spoke with, uh, Megan Rath, and she's from Canada also. Okay. Um, yeah, so it sounds...

07:52 Marc Preston: You're the second C- well, I have- Canadian ... one and a half Canadians, you know, in the last few weeks, so. One and a half.

07:57 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah, I'm like, I'm half. But I, I still, I have my Canadian passport, so I, I take, I take my Canadian roots very seriously. I love being Canadian.

08:07 Marc Preston: What are your thoughts on poutine?

08:09 The absolute necessity of authentic cheese curds in Canadian poutine

08:09 Natalie Alyn Lind: Ugh, like my favorite food of all time.

08:12 Natalie Alyn Lind: Really? Genuinely my favorite food of all time. There is nothing-- And I did a TV show in Canada. I was a regular on a show in Canada, and I swear to God, poutine was my main food group for most of that filming. And it was, specifically it was during COVID, so there weren't a lot of, like, going out options or going- Yeah

08:27 Natalie Alyn Lind: to, like, different restaurants. So it was a lot of ordering in, and most of my nights ended with poutine. And it's so fun when- So fun ... like, a lot of Americans don't know what poutine is. It kind of, like, has a weird name, I would say a little bit. Like, poutine, I don't know. I don't know what to... I imagine when I think of that.

08:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: But the thing about poutine that is so important are the cheese curds. You have to make sure- Yes ... that they're-

08:47 Announcer: Yeah ...

08:47 Natalie Alyn Lind: real cheese curds, 'cause if you just put... It's completely different with just random cheese. And people that have not had poutine will never understand that until you have it. It's like that rubbery, like, flavorful bite in that's just, ugh.

09:00 Natalie Alyn Lind: It's, it's probably one of my favorite foods.

09:02 Marc Preston: Yeah, I say this all the time to anybody that listens to the program regularly. I always end up chatting with folks right before I, uh, have something to eat. But today I had something kinda healthy, a little yogurt and banana, but I'm sitting here thinking about crispy french fries and cheese and gravy now.

09:16 Marc Preston: Ugh. So it's like, now, now I need- But- ... my cholesterol fixed ...

09:19 Natalie Alyn Lind: interestingly too, so one of my fellow Canadians just started a poutine truck that's starting in the States, and it's called Smokey's... Oh, wait, it's not called Smokey. It's called Frenchy's Poutine. And he's from Quebec. And his name is Kevin, and he's starting this...

09:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: He's starting to bring poutine from Canada down to the States. And he just had his first food fair and it went so well. He went and just started, and everybody's like, "Poutine, what is this?" And then they have... I mean, there's no way to mess it up. Every, every ingredient- Mm ... in that dish is absolutely perfect.

09:50 Natalie Alyn Lind: So the three of them combined, oh, we can, we can just, like, take the rest of this time and just go over poutine.

09:57 Marc Preston: Anything that comes out of a truck just tastes better. So how was the growing up split between Can- uh, Canada and, and LA? Like, what, what years, uh, of age were you in either location?

10:09 Natalie Alyn Lind: I mean, it wasn't even...

10:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: It's, it's so interesting 'cause, like, my, my dad's a producer and an AD, and my mom's an actress. So it wasn't even the split between LA and Canada or LA and anywhere. It was so spread all the time. Okay. Okay. Um, like, yeah, my two younger sisters are also actresses, and we got into it pretty young. W- it was something growing up, we always used to watch my mom act, and it was just, like, this incredible thing where she would play these different characters, and she would go into hair and makeup, and it was so glamorous.

10:37 Auditioning against her mom's last name to land her first role on “One Tree Hill”

10:37 Natalie Alyn Lind: And she was on a show called One Tree Hill when we were little. Yeah. Yeah. And there was, like, a role that came up on the show, and it was for a, um, a kid that was supposed to be, like, five or six. And my mom told me that that was happening, but she didn't wanna go to the producers and just have them offer it to me because she wanted to make sure that I, like, was decent.

10:56 Natalie Alyn Lind: She didn't wanna be, like... In, in a nice way, but I don't think she wanted to be embarrassed by, like, bringing her kid to set and, like, getting her a role. So she made me audition for it, and my last name is Lind, and her last name is Woods, so I ended up booking it, and then she was screwed. Like, after we had-- after I had, like, a little taste of it, I've just always had such a passion for creating characters and being on set, and I've, I just, that passion has never gone away, and I still feel it the same way as when I was five.

11:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, but yeah, I, I think that when we were younger, we, uh, we, we tried public school, but then the deeper that we got into acting, they kind of, like, kicked us out 'cause we just were never attending. Like, we just could never go. But then-

11:36 Marc Preston: Well, well, is that something that was-- did you, did you feel like you missed out on something because you didn't have the traditional, you know, all the things school and prom and all that kind of stuff?

11:44 Marc Preston: Or were you, or were you really digging the lifestyle of being able to be more mobile?

11:49 Natalie Alyn Lind: I mean, I think that there's always these, like, a grass is always greener, but for me, I never felt like I missed out on anything in my life. I have ha- I have been so, I've been so blessed in my career and in my life with my family, and just the opportunities that have been given to me.

12:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: And it's fun, too, because there's so many times where I've either, like, played a high school student. I mean, I grew up on a TV show called The Goldbergs- Wow ... and I was playing a kid in school, so, like, we would have the lockers, and, like, uh, the team there, like, let us create our own lockers that we would keep our stuff in.

12:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: So I always had elements of it. Um, and I, I, I've never... I'm so grateful for my life path and the things that have happened. I, even my friends when I was growing up that, uh, went to Calabasas High School, they let me go to their prom with them. So I still got to, like, pick apart, like, the best parts of-

12:40 Marc Preston: Okay

12:40 Natalie Alyn Lind: the high school experience. Um, but no, I mean, it was also, when we were younger, we were just going through school so fast that we graduated so early from just having that one-on-one time with, like, either a teacher or our mom that school was always really fun for us, and we really liked learning, and I feel like that's something that some kids don't get sometimes.

13:01 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. I don't know.

13:01 Marc Preston: But- You know, it's funny. My daughter, my youngest daughter, who's very much a g- uh, she's 20, uh, now. Mm-hmm. And she's a, uh, very much like a COVID kid, you know? And I think that, I think that studying online, in fact she just, she goes to school in Boca Raton, but she dropped her only in-person class, and she's like, "Everything else is online," and that's easy for her.

13:18 Marc Preston: So she just came back here and is doing everything online. So I think it's different maybe generationally, maybe especially kids that went through COVID, you know? 100%. 'Cause, 'cause that was so wacky. Of course, you mentioned The Goldbergs. Is, how many years was your run on that show?

13:33 Hitting real-life milestones and having her first kiss while filming “The Goldbergs”

13:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: The entire time. I, I came in season one, and then I, I'm, like, trying to think right now of, like, what our last episode one I was.

13:40 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think it was after 2020, though. I'd have to, like, pull up specifics. It feels like such a major part of my life that, like, thinking about when it ended is so bizarre. It was, it was, uh, I started the show when I was 13- Mm-hmm ... and it was one of my first roles that was very consistent on one show, 'cause I had worked on different shows here and there.

13:58 Natalie Alyn Lind: But, uh, it was just, it was such a cool show to work on, and it was just amazing, 'cause I would do other shows in the off-time, like, in between. So- Right ... I would be filming another show in Atlanta, or I did a TV show in Nashville, and then they would k- they kept on having me back. And that entire cast and that crew, everybody stayed the same, and it was Beyond family.

14:22 Natalie Alyn Lind: Like, it was a chosen family that people decided to stick with, and it was such a fun show, and people love the show so much. And I genuinely get recognized from that show more than anything that I've ever done. And it's so funny 'cause I was so little on it, and I look back on it and it's like, it's so interesting as, like, a child actor to watch yourself grow up on TV.

14:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: Like, it's like you can-

14:43 Marc Preston: Yeah. You know, I was just thinking about that. Well, you know, because there'll be, you know, years when you get older and you look back and you're kind of trapped in amber as a, a certain age. Yeah. Now, I always wonder what that's like for, for folks who've really kind of logged a lot of years in the business to look back and you're sort of always that age to some people.

15:01 Marc Preston: You know, you're, you're kinda, not typecast, but you're, you're kinda locked in a mind- Right ... maybe at a special time. Maybe there was another 13-year-old maybe grew up watching that show. And- Yeah ... but that's a pivotal age to start something. And you get used to it, it's part of your life, and then, then something like that ends, it's gotta be a- Yeah

15:18 Marc Preston: kind of a, not a shock- Mm-hmm ... but it's gotta be an adjustment to make.

15:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: That, that show, me and Sean, on that show, we had our first kiss together on that show. Like, it was written that we kissed. Really? So, like, there's so many different, uh, influential parts in my life that I experienced throughout it. So it's, like, funny when I watch it specifically, where it's, uh, like, not necessarily something that's happening with my character, but I can see an episode and it'll be, like, when I was 16 or it'll be when I was 14.

15:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: And then you, I just, like, get this pit in my stomach and I'm like, "Oh my God, that was that time period." And it's so interesting and it's so cool, and I feel so lucky to have these, uh, these moments in my life that I can go back and watch at any point, and I can just, like, put myself back- Mm-hmm ... into that mindset, 'cause you can just see the story.

15:58 Natalie Alyn Lind: Well, do,

15:58 Marc Preston: do you ever do that? Do, uh... 'Cause I know some people don't, once they make something, it's- They don't watch it ... I under- I understand it, you know, harder to watch it. But do you ever go back? Is there anything that you do occasionally go back and watch? Because that's sort of like a time capsule of, you know.

16:12 Marc Preston: 'Cause you know what was going on at that time when you were making a certain episode or what was happening in your life, so it's a little different reference point. Can you watch the stuff you've done or are you kinda like, "Nah, not so much"?

16:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: I do. I do to a degree. I mean, um, for stuff like that, specifically, like, The Goldbergs and stuff, I think that more, more- often, I, I mean, it's just playing all the time on TV.

16:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: So, like, more often for that show specifically, I'll just turn on the TV and it'll just be on. And then we get a little peek into it. But, um, I think, like, going back to other projects that I've done in the past, um, it's not something that I typically do. Like, I don't, like, sit down at the end of the night and I'm like, "Oh, I'm gonna watch this right now."

16:50 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, yeah. But I think a little bit sad, or if there's, like, a moment that comes up, it's, like... It's really funny to me, friends that I have or family members that I have will- that will send me clips and say that I'm watching something right now, and I always find that really cute. Um, but no, it's not, it's not something that I, like, will, like, sit down like, "I'm gonna watch season three of this show that I did when I was this age," like, all the time.

17:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: But it's really fun when you just turn on a TV and all of a sudden it's like, "Oh my God, there's, there's 13-year-old me." That's really cool.

17:16 Marc Preston: I don't know if I would wanna watch 13 year- I, I would get all awkward all over again, you know? It

17:20 Natalie Alyn Lind: was s- Oh, I was such an awkward kid, too. And it's like, but it's, it's like, it's fun because you also see yourself grow.

17:26 Natalie Alyn Lind: So it's like, it's fun to embrace those, like, smaller parts. And also, it's... I mean, the only thing about being a child actor is that everybody goes through an awkward phase. So just looking back at photos of myself online when I was, like, 11 or 12 on, like, red carpets and stuff, it just, I'm like, "Ugh." It hurts- Yeah.

17:43 Natalie Alyn Lind: but I'm s- it's, it's, it's just funny. You don't usually have your awkward phase televised. And- Sure ... seeing, seeing yourself in those positions, it, uh, it's like that kind of cringe feeling. But it, I, I've learned to embrace it

17:58 Marc Preston: Well, at least you'd have, like, wardrobe and makeup and stuff, you know? For me, you know, if I was looking like my seventh grade yearbook picture, I'd be like, "Hey, no, no, I don't wanna see that every day," you know?

18:08 Marc Preston: Oh, God. But what... So did your mother, did she start off when she was a kid as well, and did she have insight on that, or was she kicked off her, you know, acting thing more of as an adult?

18:18 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. No, my mom was, uh... She's the only actress in her family, so it was something that when she was younger, I think that she was, she was, like, the head cheerleader and, like, loved drama, loved all this stuff.

18:27 Natalie Alyn Lind: And I mean, she made the courageous move of after high school and college ended, she wanted to be an actress, and she f- and it's so, so hard, especially without that guiding light, which we've been so grateful, me and my sisters, to have as, for my mom. Um, and just, just hearing her stories about starting in...

18:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: She was born in Chicago, so she's from Chicago, and she started in theater out there and improv. So she really worked her way up and did what a lot of people sometimes har- have a hard time doing. So it's really, I'm so inspired by my mom in so many different ways, and I'm just really grateful that she kind of navigated the paths and has given us information and advice that we wouldn't have naturally had.

19:12 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um- Yeah ... but yeah. No, she's incredible.

19:14 Marc Preston: You know, your sisters, I find... We- I was just watching, uh, it was Babysitter Killer Queen the other night. Oh. And, uh, so I was watching it with my daughter, Emma, and, and, uh, we saw, uh, of course, Emily. Emily. She, she took a turn in that. She was fun to watch 'cause she was just off the hook.

19:28 Marc Preston: Aren't you working on a, a horror project right now that's yours? Uh, am I... Is it a horror project, or is it comedy, or is it a comedic horror? It's both. Okay. Yeah. We got 'em both.

19:38 Natalie Alyn Lind: So we, um, during the strike, there was a time period where I, like, work had ended, and I had just got off of a horror movie, and I was just kind of sit...

19:48 Turning downtime into a creative spark to produce her love letter to comedy/horror films, “Halloween Store”

19:48 Natalie Alyn Lind: I'm not the type of person that can sti- sit still ever. I hate sitting still. Mm-hmm. I love doing stuff. Um, and I think I was just in bed watching a movie, and I was like, "Why don't I produce one?" And then the next day I kind of started getting into producing. Um, and I had this director, his name is Shane Dax Taylor.

20:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: So

20:06 Marc Preston: you hadn't, you hadn't done that before? That you had not actually kind of... You know, 'cause a lot of, a lot of folks do that. That's their entry point into doing st- They make their own stuff to kind of start off.

20:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: No.

20:15 Marc Preston: I mean, for me- But that was your first time

20:17 Natalie Alyn Lind: It was my first time, and also I'm such a horror fan, so this, this, this movie I keep on saying is like my love letter to horror.

20:25 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, and I've, I've been a fan of horror since I was little. Instead of Barbie dolls, I used to have Michael Myers dolls. Like, it's been something that's resonated- ... a very long time. Um, and for me, I- Wait,

20:35 Marc Preston: wait. They even... Uh, I'm, uh, wait, we gotta stop there. They made a Michael Myers doll?

20:40 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yes. There's like the little figurines that you can get.

20:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, okay.

20:43 Marc Preston: Okay.

20:43 Natalie Alyn Lind: And it had all of them. There was Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees. I had a Chucky doll. Like, I was a weird kid. Like, I, I really liked dark stuff. Um, and for me, like, I always felt like I miss, I'm missing, like, that nostalgic feeling that you used to get from horror in, like, the late '90s or, like, the early 2000s.

21:01 Natalie Alyn Lind: Uh-huh. Stuff that's just really fun to watch, and it's slasher, and you're just either laughing or, or scared or... It's that feeling of being in a movie theater on a date for the first time, and it's, like, that movie that you remember. So there's so many different references, and there's so many different points that we pulled from, from movies that I absolutely loved growing up.

21:19 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, but yeah, I mean, it was, it was, it was genuinely the decision of wanting to do it and then just kind of making it happen. Um, our, this, our director, Shane Dax Taylor, who's awesome, brought me this script, and we did a ton of changes on it, and we, uh... Every single cast member is one of my friends, or it's somebody that I know really well, um, through a- another close friend.

21:41 Natalie Alyn Lind: But, uh, our, our cast is so talented. It's been the most incredible experience just- Seeing a project through from day one to the last day, and now every day since I've been back from Texas, we've just been on an editing marathon of just trying to get this done.

21:58 Marc Preston: Oh. It was good. What do you think about that?

21:59 Marc Preston: I, I know some people that love the editing process. For me, editing, I, I'm too much of a perfectionist, so I just kind of like... You, you get decision lock. You know what I mean? Like, you can't really... You know? So what do you think about editing, th- that process?

22:13 Natalie Alyn Lind: 100%. I mean, it's, it's interesting because, like, growing up on TV and growing up in movies and stuff, like, you don't really understand why certain decisions are made.

22:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: So I have a better understanding on why certain takes can't be used. And our editor and our colorist and our composer, they're, and our visual effects guy, like, they're so talented that I respect, and our director specifically, I respect their decisions so much that there sometimes is just, like, a question, especially knowing the genre so well, of wanting to make sure that the integrity of the film stays and, like- Mm-hmm

22:45 Natalie Alyn Lind: there's not too many different ideas. But, um, it's been a blast. I mean, when, for me, learning any new skill is something that I value so much, and being able to see just even... I have a new respect for every single one of our actors to see, like, different takes, 'cause sometimes you're in a scene with somebody and you turn around and you don't see what they do behind your back, you know?

23:05 Marc Preston: Right.

23:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: So there's so much value in just being able to understand every single aspect of this industry, and the fact that I was able to have this experience is just incredible and it, it taught me so much.

23:24 Marc Preston: This is Halloween Store, right? That's the name of it, Halloween Store?

23:27 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yes.

23:27 Marc Preston: Okay. Yes. Look, nowh- nowhere on the call sheet is there the last name, uh, Lind besides you, so was this a, uh, point of contention with the sisters? Oh, here you are making your thing. What? They're

23:36 Natalie Alyn Lind: too busy for me. They were both working.

23:39 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, okay. Trust me, that was the thing. So I mean, I've definitely talked to them because it seems like a lot of people really like the film, which I'm so excited about. Like I, making something and then having positive feedback on it is just some- Like, I didn't... I don't think I ever fully understood what a feeling of gratitude I would have in my heart and how great that would make me feel for somebody else to like something that you make.

24:02 Marc Preston: Mm-hmm.

24:03 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, and it's so different when you're producing it and you're on the backside of it. Like, I, I'm so happy when people like jobs that I've done, uh, acting-wise, like, when you like a character, but the fulfillment that you get when it's a project that feels like... Like, this project feels like my baby.

24:17 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, but the two of them, so Ally was fa- filming Wayward, and Emily was filming, uh, uh, her show We Were Liars. So the two of them weren't available during our shooting time, but I've talked to both of them, and I feel like if I, if I do some convincing, I don't think it's, it will take a lot, but I want them for the sequel.

24:38 Marc Preston: There you go. There you go. Yeah. So that's, that's very cool. So do you have a tentative ballpark release time, uh, window that you wanna get this out?

24:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: So our trailer and our posters are gonna be dropping probably middle of May, towards the end of May.

24:52 Marc Preston: Oh, so soon. And then- Okay. Okay.

24:55 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. No, I, I have already seen everything.

24:56 Natalie Alyn Lind: I'm so excited to drop them. Um, we've been working on the trailer nonstop. We just have a couple little tweaks to do, and we're gonna be releasing those middle of May. And then the film is up in the air still, and I don't wanna say a specific date just so that it's not out there. Yeah. But I'm hoping this year sometime.

25:15 Marc Preston: Very cool ...

25:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: specifically, like, a Halloween movie. I'm h- like, hoping Halloween, like, around the Halloween time.

25:21 Marc Preston: You know, I was just looking, and you were, um... I'd never had an opportunity to see it. You know, there's so much stuff. I always say this. There's so much stuff that I haven't seen. I know. I'm just now catching up on some shows that were out, like, 10 years ago.

25:33 Marc Preston: So eventually, but the, uh, Tell Me a Story, I noticed, uh, and he came up la- uh, somebody I spoke with last time, uh, Billy Magnussen. Uh, did you work- Who- ... with him at all, or?

25:43 Natalie Alyn Lind: No, so that show, I mean, that's one of my favorite shows I've ever had the opportunity of working on. I know

25:47 Marc Preston: it's more of an anthology kind of a thing.

25:49 Recording a full country album and dealing with prosthetics for “Tell Me a Story”

25:49 Natalie Alyn Lind: So yeah. It's like, it's so cool 'cause every season it's a completely different idea, and they're all kind of fairy tale-esque based. So my season, I think his season was, it was definitely Little Red Riding Hood. I forget the other two that were in their season, but my season was more princess based. So it was, uh- Okay

26:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, and my character is, like, a Taylor Swift level pop star, and a fan tries to kill her, so she, um, gets b- uh, burns on 70% of her body. So that experience and working on that show was incredible. They flew me to Nashville, uh, a month before filming, and I had to record an entire country album, and I'm not a singer.

26:29 Natalie Alyn Lind: Really? I, like, had to sing for the audition. I actually ended up singing one of my sister's original songs. My two sisters are very talented singers.

26:36 Marc Preston: Really?

26:36 Natalie Alyn Lind: Okay. Um, I, I will do it when I'm, when I'm asked, but it's not something that I, like, will say that I am one. Um, but no, it was like, it w- with the singing aspect of it and then the prosthetic aspect of it every single day, one of the coolest roles I've ever played and one of the coolest experiences I've ever had.

26:53 Marc Preston: I don't do, like, a ton of research research. I just kind of, like, skim, see what, you know- Sure ... things about. And I know it says, like, oh yeah, you were that, and, uh, Odette Annable was in that, and actually one of the few things that- Yes ... yeah, I did was- Odette Annable ... I was, I actually did a scene with her in a, there was something called Astronaut Wives Club that was out about 10 plus, I don't know how many years ago at this point.

27:11 Marc Preston: It was supposed to take place in 1963, I think. And they had her in the dress and the hair. I was like, man, she was like... It was almost distracting 'cause they made her s- look so lovely in that scene, and then I, you know- Oh ... had to have a ... Um, but no, she, uh, she l- I think they live in Texas also, so just, you know- Yeah

27:27 Marc Preston: everything comes back to Texas eventually, you know.

27:29 Natalie Alyn Lind: Dave's on Lioness, and he was on the original Yellowstone. So now, like, again, it's, like, just more cr- paths crossing. It's such a small world. It's so cool.

27:38 Marc Preston: Uh, I'm curious, with Dutton Ranch, uh, was that something that they said, "Hey, Natalie's out there.

27:43 Marc Preston: Let's talk to her. Let's get her"? Or was this your, your classic go in and for the audition and callbacks kind of a situation?

27:50 Natalie Alyn Lind: This was such a whirlwind, 'cause I, I put a tape down for it, um, and just automatically I fell in love with the character. And then it was just a process that I didn't hear back on for a second, and then all of a sudden I got a phone call, and it was, "You're flying to Texas."

28:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: So I flew to Texas and I tested for the show, and on my way home, I landed. They told me that I booked it, and they said, "You have like- Oh, really? ... two days. Go and pack all your stuff. You're leaving for six months." Such a whirlwind that it was almost hard for me to catch my breath, and I don't think that I realized that I was doing this until I was at cowboy camp sitting on a horse in the middle of Texas, that I was like, "

28:27 Marc Preston: What just happened?"

28:27 Marc Preston: Well, did they do that at his, uh, at his ranch? That, it's, it's, it's a ... Is it like six, like 4 Sixes or something?

28:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: The ranch out in Fort Worth is the Bosque Ranch. Bosque

28:36 Marc Preston: Ranch. Okay. Oh, okay. 'Cause I thought he has- Yeah ... another ranch where it was like, uh- Yes ... I don't know when Taylor Sheridan sleeps. That's the thing.

28:43 Marc Preston: Like, for him to have the batting average he has across the board, and like, you know, it's funny, I was talking to, there was this, a, a fella named Jim Lampley, did a lot of sports anchoring for different, like the Olympics and stuff. And we were talking and he said he usually has a once-a-week phone date with Taylor.

28:58 Marc Preston: And kind of fast-forward, I said, "One, one of the things, you know, kind of from the outside unless you watch the shows, you don't really know, is in every one of his series, all the women are kind of the Have chutzpah. Um- They run the show. Yeah, they more, yeah, they're the kind of the beating heart. If you look at even, like, a Landman, you know, uh- Yeah

29:16 Marc Preston: y- y- you know, um, they are really the backbone of, I think, the stories in a way. You know? And so I- that's across all of his stuff. And I asked, I asked... I have never spoken with Taylor. I really want to though, but I think he's doing one or two things. Um, but- ... when I was speaking with, uh, Jim Lampley, he said, "Well, you know why?

29:34 Marc Preston: 'Cause he had a great relationship with his mother." And that was- Mm ... that, that was a key relationship. And so he sort of celebrates through- Mm-hmm ... the screenplays, uh, the, the ladies. And, uh, i- if you look at every one of his projects, uh, es- of course even Lioness, but, and the all-time, my, one of my all-time favorites, my older lady crushes, um, oh my God, I just...

29:56 Marc Preston: If I have to remember a name, I brain fart. She was in, uh, 19- uh, 1823, um-

30:00 Natalie Alyn Lind: Helen

30:02 Marc Preston: Mirren? Helen Mirren. I mean, Helen- Yay. You know, one of my favorite quotes of her, uh, from hers, uh, and I knew she was meant for a Taylor Sheridan show when I heard this quote, that she said that somebody says, "Looking back on your life, what is it that you kind of wish you did more of or, or, you know, any re- not regrets."

30:18 Marc Preston: She's like, "I wish I would've told more people to fuck off," you know?

30:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah.

30:22 Marc Preston: I was like-

30:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: That's a great comment. Oh my God, I had not heard that out of her. That's hilarious. I love that. I mean- ... it's like all of these characters, I feel so lucky to be a female in this universe. He, he knows, like, I don't know.

30:35 The powerful female characters in the Taylor Sheridan universe and the real-life women who inspire them

30:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: There, there is such an empowerment that comes behind all of these female characters. And I'll say too, backing off, like, going off of the same idea as Taylor's mom, Taylor is married to one of the most incredible women I've ever met in my life. Her name's Nicole, Nicole Sheridan. Mm-hmm. And if you were looking for the definition of a badass, it is that woman.

30:53 Natalie Alyn Lind: There's nothing that she can't do, and she is such a great just person to look up to. And the way that she handles her business, there's so much happening in their lives, and the way that they've been able to maintain such a, a happy at-home environment, and they're so present with each other, um, t- both, I mean, it's We're, like needless to say, both of them are such powerhouses and they're so independently successful individually.

31:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: And I think that Taylor takes so much of the influence from his wife and his mom and all the powerful women in his life. And for Beth specifically, on the original Yellowstone, she just... It was one of the first times that I really feel like a character became so iconic from genuinely just feeling powerful.

31:42 Marc Preston: And- Well, plus she was also the, the narrator of the show. Yeah. You know, she was the, kind of the soul of the show, which I thought... You know, you look at Taylor Sheridan, you think machismo, guys, boots, you know, horses, Old West kind of a... You can't really put Taylor Sheridan in a box. No. His stories are not as clear-cut.

32:00 Marc Preston: No. Uh, and I think the, like even Michelle Randolph, you see her in the show, you think she's gonna... In, in Land Man, you think she's gonna be all right, cute cheerleader, kind of... You know, but there really is, there's-

32:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: There's

32:10 Marc Preston: depth ... sh- there's soul. You know, and you get to see that, you know.

32:13 Natalie Alyn Lind: Michelle plays that character so well, and then she has just become, like, America's sweetheart, just from...

32:19 Natalie Alyn Lind: I mean, she's just such a talented actress and, um, uh, her and Ally just are so impressive on that show. But it, it all stems from a place of just, I think, really great writing. Like, really- Mm ... really great writing. And it's the Capability to understand the human mindset and realizing that all of the characters that come from a place of power also have this immense sense of, uh, sensitivity to them.

32:47 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, and they're all rooted from somewhere that's really real, and all of his characters have these dynamic backstories, and I don't even think that a lot of the viewers will even understand how in-depth some of these backstories are that are given to us before we start the show. Like, for me, I know my character in s- like, since she was born.

33:04 Natalie Alyn Lind: I know everything, like, in my mindset just from material that I was given and ideas that I was given, and that's how I feel these characters are humanized, that it's not just basic on a page. There's so much more that goes behind all of them. And for this show specifically, it's, uh, it's the next, it's the next chapter of the Yellowstone universe, and it was really scary to go onto it because fans are such, uh, Beth and Rip diehards and such Yellowstone diehards that it's always a little bit, uh, tricky to create a new story that revolves in the same universe.

33:38 Natalie Alyn Lind: And what I like about our show so much is that it is so different than the original, but it still maintains the same integrity and heart and rawness and emotionally driven character. Like, everything across the board, it maintains the heart of the original while creating an entirely new universe.

33:56 Marc Preston: I watch and enjoy thoroughly everything Taylor Sheridan's done.

34:00 Marc Preston: I have not watched but an episode or two of, of, uh, Yellowstone. I know it sounds odd, but it's like, uh, life, I just haven't had a chance to really catch up. Now, now, can you jump into, uh, Dutton Ranch- Mm-hmm ... without having seen Yellowstone? I know you won't appreciate it the same way, but can someone just jump into it and, you know?

34:17 Natalie Alyn Lind: 100%. These- Okay ... this entire story is so different that, I mean, I think that as a fan of the show, it means so much more when you have seen the original- Mm-hmm ... because you're able to relate with these characters on levels that just watching it for the first time you wouldn't be able to. But there's no, there's no need to watch the original to be able to enjoy Dutton Ranch.

34:38 Natalie Alyn Lind: And I mean, you're, if you've heard... I mean, I think that even at the point now, if you haven't seen Yellowstone, you've probably heard of Beth and Rip. Yeah, yeah. And they bring that energy so well that you're just kind of immersed in it from the first sec- from the first episode for Dutton Ranch. And y- you definitely do not need to see the original.

34:57 Natalie Alyn Lind: I would suggest that you do because it's such an incredible show.

35:00 Marc Preston: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

35:01 Natalie Alyn Lind: But you don't have to, by any means.

35:03 Marc Preston: You know, depends, like, how different generations e- engage with certain actors. Some, you know, the, uh, with Cole Hauser, you know, a lot of people, Yellowstone. For me, it was Dazed and Confused.

35:13 Marc Preston: You know, that was my first- Oh, sure. Cole Ha- ... Cole Hauser experience.

35:16 Natalie Alyn Lind: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

35:17 Marc Preston: Now, can you... 'Cause I don't like to give things away at all. I'm a big, big fan of not giving spoilers, but can you say how you fit into the story, uh, and the storyline? Like, where you fall in, or is that Is that discussable?

35:32 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think I can.

35:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: I mean, I, I, again, I'm new here, so, like, the last thing that I wanna do is give away any spoilers and be, like, the one that, like, messes things up for anybody. But I am, uh, Oriana Jackson, so I'm playing Annette's granddaughter. Um, and we're part of the Jackson family that kind of overlap paths with Beth and Rip.

35:54 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, and we come from a very crazy, dysfunctional family, uh, that kind of set Texas on fire. And that's all I'm gonna say. I think I didn't

36:05 Marc Preston: give anything- Well, does this, does this take place in... 'Cause I know Yellowstone took place in, in Montana, am I correct?

36:11 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yes.

36:12 Marc Preston: Okay. So this, is this taking place in Texas?

36:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: This, this is taking place in Texas. Okay. But I'm not

36:18 Marc Preston: gonna say why.

36:18 Natalie Alyn Lind: Okay. I'm just gonna leave it there 'cause I don't

36:20 Marc Preston: know- Okay ...

36:20 Natalie Alyn Lind: how much I should

36:21 Marc Preston: give away. Oh, no, no, no. We'll, we'll, we'll leave it there. Yeah. There's nothing worse than when somebody, anytime somebody says, "I don't wanna give anything away, but..."

36:26 Marc Preston: Anything that follows the word but is giving something away usually.

36:30 Natalie Alyn Lind: I know. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. No, but it does take place in Texas, and that's something that they're publicizing a ton, so I'm not afraid to say that. But I'm not gonna say why, why it's taking place in Texas.

36:41 Marc Preston: So what was it about Texas culture that- that you needed to kind of adapt to or felt like, you know, like when you went to Nashville, you needed to be a, a country singer, right?

36:52 Marc Preston: Yeah. So was there something in Texas that, or was there something culturally, was there something even in the wardrobe, the music, the food? What was it that you, you know, kinda got you into it, you know? What was your on road to being a, a Texan, you

37:07 Natalie Alyn Lind: know? I mean, for me, I, like I said, like I spend so much time in the South.

37:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: I'm a huge country music fan. So the music is something that I was already adjusted to. Um, and I just love and there's such an amazing country scene down in Fort Worth specifically, and Dallas as well. Um, I think that cowboy camp was the thing that really got me in the mindset of the character. We were training on these horses for the first week bef- when we first got there, and it was me and all of my co-stars.

37:33 The grounding, gritty reality of attending real cowboy camp for “Dutton Ranch”

37:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: Uh, it was the first time meeting them, and there's something so grounding of just being horseback in the middle of a field in Texas when the sun is beating down on you. Mm-hmm. It feels so grounding, and it's the first time that I felt like my character, and I'm so grateful for that experience. And for cowboy camp, it's not just something that they do for show.

37:54 Natalie Alyn Lind: Like, we're not, we're not learning how to ride horses for the camera. We're learning how to ride horses to be cowboys. Um, and I had had some cowb- uh, horseback riding experience, but nothing- Yeah ... to this degree. They were teaching us how to cut, how to rope, like how to saddle- Really? ... how to saddle. Okay. We were, we were- So

38:11 Marc Preston: they weren't just trying to get you used to how, uh, you know, feeling comfortable on a horse.

38:14 Marc Preston: They needed you working. Okay, I gotcha.

38:16 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah. Well, we learned everything and throughout the show, um, the, the trainers on the show are just some of the best people I've ever met, and they're real cowboys, and they work their asses off every single day. Um, and they have some of the most talented horses that we've worked with on the show.

38:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: Uh, but it was just, it was, it was just like adjusting into the character, and I think that cowboy camp got me there. And I think that specifically with my character, she's so empowered with the way that she presents herself and the way that she dresses, and she's very fluid with her sexuality and uses it when she should and takes it back when she shouldn't.

38:50 Natalie Alyn Lind: So it's the moment that I put on my cowboy boots to go to work every day and my Daisy Dukes, I was like, "Okay, I'm Oriana

38:55 Marc Preston: now." Oh, okay. So we're doing Daisy Dukes and the jeans. Okay. So I see where we're, I see- Yeah. So, so you were, you were a little on the, uh, would it be a stretch to say possibly sassy?

39:04 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think sassy is putting it very kindly.

39:07 Natalie Alyn Lind: Okay. Very

39:07 Marc Preston: mic- That's, that's the, that's the kind of adjective I can pull out. But so you're, you're, you're- Yeah. Absolutely ... so in other words, did you... I'm trying to remember, God, I think it was, um, oh gosh. So I talked to someone who was in 1883, and it was 1883. Yeah, and they were talking about the hat, uh, like some of the stuff.

39:26 Marc Preston: Mm-hmm. You know, I think T- Taylor wanted you to, uh, he wanted them to kinda select their, what, some parts of their wardrobe. Uh, what about your boots? Did you have any, 'cause boots are kinda kind of a personality thing. Did you have any input on that?

39:41 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh yeah, our, our wardrobe designer and the entire costume team behind this show are so talented, genuinely so talented.

39:49 Natalie Alyn Lind: And I mean, it was the hat, it was the boot, it was, it was everything. And their understanding of like the Western female style is just incredible and it, it, it's so different than Like, the, the realistic version of it is so different- Yeah, yeah ... than the, like, fashion side of it, you know? So my character kind of falls in between the two, where everything that she wears is authentic cowboy,

40:14 Marc Preston: like- It's functional.

40:16 Finding the sweet spot between authentic functional cowboy gear and character style

40:16 Marc Preston: Yeah ...

40:16 Natalie Alyn Lind: it's functional, but she looks good doing it. Like, they- Yeah ... they know how to do that middle ground. Yeah. And fully appreciated that. It's funny, too, if you mention the cowboy hats, one of the rules during cowboy camp and any time that you're on the horse, is that if your hat flies off while you're riding, then you have to buy all of the wranglers beer.

40:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: And that happened to me a couple times, 'cause I have a really weird shaped head. So I had to, I had to bring some beer and some, some twisted teas for all the cowboys a couple of times.

40:42 Marc Preston: Twisted tea. Man, that came out of nowhere. I can't remember if it was LaMonica Garrett I spoke with or Billy Bob Thornton.

40:47 Marc Preston: I can't remember. It was one of the two of them that mentioned the hat, and one of them got a hat and it was not the right size. They're constantly having to tend to the hat. Yeah. You know. But yeah, I went to- The hat- Yeah, I went to University of North Texas first, then I transferred to Texas Tech, and I, I noticed one thing out in Lubbock as a city kid.

41:05 Marc Preston: That's where a lot of city kids go to play country. So the way they dress is not the way functional on a ranch dress, you know. So it's, you know, e- all the shirts are very starched and, you know, there's a whole getup, you know. Yeah. And it's, it's different when you're on a ranch, you know. It's, it, you want boots that look like they've been worn, you know- Yeah

41:24 Marc Preston: and that type of thing. But, uh, my daughter's real into country music, and she's the only one of my kids that, that is, and she wanted her boots, and she's got, I think she even has pink boots. I think she has two pair. That's

41:33 Natalie Alyn Lind: so cool. I love

41:34 Marc Preston: it.

41:34 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um. I love that.

41:35 Marc Preston: You said you're into country music. I gotta know, like, your top three or so folks who, uh, you're-

41:41 Natalie Alyn Lind: Chris Stapleton is one of my all-time

41:43 Marc Preston: favorites.

41:43 Marc Preston: Oh, of course. Yeah. Absolutely. He's

41:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: cool. Um, Zach Brown. Uh, I mean, I love, uh, Billy- Bailey Zimmerman is, like, one of my new favorites. Oh, yeah. Uh, I mean, I could, I could go on and on. I mean, we just went to Stagecoach, so we saw, uh, some... I mean, Ella Langley. Uh, I'm just try- like, g- uh, Riley Green, who is on Marshalls now.

42:09 Natalie Alyn Lind: We got a private performance from him at David Glaser's house, which was incredible. Really? Um, yeah, it was so, it was so fun. It just, it didn't even feel real. It was, it was so, so exciting.

42:18 Marc Preston: But, um- I

42:18 Natalie Alyn Lind: know

42:19 Marc Preston: my daughter, my daughter is a big Zach Bryan fan, and so it was, uh-

42:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, yeah. Zach Bryan's awesome ...

42:25 Marc Preston: so he started off during COVID and doing the stuff at home and the You- t- you know, like a lot of people.

42:30 Marc Preston: Um, and I spoke with... Who was it, who was it I spoke with? Warren Zeiders, I think, is another guy I spoke with, who COVID created or, or let some acts kind of showcase, 'cause everybody was on YouTube, you know. But- Yeah ... but yeah, I, um, yeah, Zach Bryan, he's, uh- Yeah, g- much respect to him. He, I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan, so he, he, he kinda- Oh, yeah

42:50 Marc Preston: he's one of those guys carrying the Jimmy Buffett torch, I think. Um-

42:52 Natalie Alyn Lind: Last year we saw Willie Nelson at Stagecoach. No. Uh, Billy Bob Thornton did a set at Stagecoach this year, which was super exciting. And the

42:59 Marc Preston: Boxmasters?

43:01 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yes. Yes, yes, yes.

43:02 Marc Preston: Okay. Yeah, he, he's, he can sing, but J- he has got a fun stage presence.

43:06 Marc Preston: I dig his thing. Oh, 100%. Yeah.

43:07 Natalie Alyn Lind: Me too. It's so impressive.

43:09 Marc Preston: No, just but you're the, you're the only one of the Lind sisters who don't sing. Okay, so does, does Emily-

43:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: Well, I happen, I happen to have a c- a country album through this show, which is so funny. But it's not something that I would call an, like, something that I'm trying to pursue.

43:25 Natalie Alyn Lind: I can, I can, I can do it. I can do it for a character, but I don't think I'd ever do it individually as just me.

43:32 Marc Preston: Well, uh, which one is it, Emily or, or Olivia that's got, uh, the singing chops of, of the, in the family?

43:39 Natalie Alyn Lind: Both. Both, and they're both so talented with instruments, and they're impressive guitar players.

43:44 Natalie Alyn Lind: Both of them are just beyond, beyond.

43:47 Marc Preston: Yeah. Uh, Olivia, uh, uh, she, uh, was in a sh- my kids always loved, uh, like Adam Sandler movies, like 50 First Dates and Blended. She was so much fun in that movie. She was a little thing. And then she was in- She's wild ... that was it, D- Daybreak. There is, uh, a lot of chutzpah in the, in the Lind family.

44:04 Marc Preston: Yeah, a lot of- Yes ... y'all, y'all have a lot of, you know, y'all can hold your ground pretty well. So I can see how this is a natural progression for you to do it in cowboy boots.

44:13 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, yeah. I mean, it's all about just, like, testing yourself and doing new things, and I think that the benefit of being an actor is trying to, being able to play pretend all the time, and that's why we love it so much.

44:23 Natalie Alyn Lind: I just feel like we're all... I mean, it's so funny 'cause we all grew up in the industry together, and it's, like, so crazy that for our entire lives we've just been playing dress up, and we're so grateful for the roles that we've gotten. And being able to see them grow as actresses and do it together, it's, I mean, we could not be luckier.

44:40 Marc Preston: Well, I'm curious, you've done a lot, and now you're getting into producing and, you know, you get your dad you can tap into on that. But w- what is re- for you that you've done that you really wanna get back to? You wanna, you wanna explore it again, or maybe something you haven't done. Uh, either a role or working with someone in particular, or, um, taking on a certain responsibility.

44:59 Marc Preston: What, what is it that's on the bucket list for you that is, is a north star that you need to do?

45:05 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think directing is next. I think directing is next. Directing scares me, um, in the way of I only like to do stuff if I feel 100% confident with it, especially when you're dealing with a film crew and you have people that are there working.

45:20 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, but I mean, I have had so many insane, incredibly talented female directors that I've been able to shadow throughout the years on different shows, and Christina Veros, who is our executive producer, DP, director, she is just such a powerhouse, and seeing her throughout all of these shows, it inspires me to do what she does.

45:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: So having influences like that have definitely given me the directing itch. I just have to stalk her a little bit more and watch her, watch her work.

45:56 Marc Preston: Uh, now before we get running, I always do something I call my seven questions kind of on the tail end, just a little extra fun.

46:02 The Seven Questions

46:02 Natalie Alyn Lind: Perfect.

46:02 Marc Preston: Let's do it. And it's... I love your enthusiasm. You are my hero today. I love, I, um- I love it ... the first question I always ask is I talk food at least once. It's a, it's a mantra of mine.

46:11 Marc Preston: I gotta talk food 'cause that's my jam. But what's your favorite comfort food? Whether it's something that if, if you had a bad day it elevates you, if you're having a good day it just kind of adds to it. What is that for you?

46:21 Natalie Alyn Lind: I love ramen. Ramen is my go-to. And ramen or poutine. Poutine is a really good- Mm-hmm

46:27 Natalie Alyn Lind: that's a, that's a very valuable runner-up. But ramen, my favorite.

46:33 Marc Preston: Now you're talking about real deal ramen, like from a ramen joint. You're not talking about store-bought ramen, right?

46:37 Natalie Alyn Lind: No, no, no. Okay. I'm talking about real ramen.

46:40 Marc Preston: God, that sounds so good right now. I've not had that or poutine in so long.

46:42 Natalie Alyn Lind: I know.

46:43 Natalie Alyn Lind: I know.

46:44 Marc Preston: Now, next question. If you're gonna sit down for an afternoon, you're gonna sit down and talk story with three people, now living or not, who would you love sitting at that table with you talking, uh, you and the three of them for hours on end? Who would that be?

46:57 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think the first one would definitely be my grandfather that passed, um, a little bit before, like, I, I think I was, like, 13 or 14.

47:08 Natalie Alyn Lind: So I have such fond memories of him, but he had such an incredible back, like, history that I feel like I never got to talk to him in depth for, before he passed away. And, uh, being able to sit down and kind of like hear some of the stories from an adult perspective would be incredible. Um-

47:25 Marc Preston: That's the thing that I th- I, I have the same feeling of my grandfather because there are things as you get older that you think, "I'd like to know this.

47:31 Marc Preston: I wish I knew back then to ask this question."

47:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. So definitely my grandpa. I would say another one would be, um, Leonard Cohen might be very interesting 'cause he had such just a crazy life path. And just, like, getting to know about, like, exactly what happened in the Chelsea Hotel would be very interesting.

47:53 Natalie Alyn Lind: And then, uh, I would say- I am a huge Owen Wilson fan. This is like the most random table of all time, but maybe Owen Wilson. I'm, I, I don't- It

48:07 Marc Preston: all, it, it all comes back to Texas, you know.

48:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: So-

48:10 Marc Preston: Yeah.

48:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: And yeah, I, I don't know what it is. Since I was little, I've just always been a huge W- Owen Wilson fan, so maybe Owen

48:15 Marc Preston: Wilson.

48:15 Marc Preston: I think, I think he's wonderful. I think he is, he is kind of his own universe. I was listening to, uh, Marc Maron talk about that show they're doing, the golf show. God, can't- Yeah, yeah ... the name escapes me. Owen Wilson is just, he's one of those guys, if he's in a movie, you're gonna see it. You gotta see the movie, you know?

48:32 Marc Preston: Yeah. There's only a few guys out there like that, but, uh, in fact, I think he's a Dallas boy like me, so you know. Love it. Again, bringing Texas up. Um, now- Love it ... when you were growing up, who was your very first celebrity crush?

48:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh my God, this is so embarrassing, and I'm just gonna be completely transparent.

48:50 Natalie Alyn Lind: It's not, like, actually embarrassing. It's just so random. One of the first red carpets that I ever went to, I got asked who my celebrity crush was, and my answer was Pitbull.

48:57 Marc Preston: Really?

48:58 Natalie Alyn Lind: Okay. And I, I don't know, like, I don't know if I just, like, wasn't... Like, I don't know if that was just, like, the first person that popped in my head, but I have to just, like, say that as my answer 'cause it was, like, one of the funniest videos that I get sent to me all the time now from friends.

49:11 Natalie Alyn Lind: How,

49:11 Marc Preston: how old were you, though?

49:13 Natalie Alyn Lind: I was, like, 10. I don't know why I was, like, thinking of, like, Pitbull as my celebrity crush. I don't know what was going through my brain, but I'm just gonna say that as my answer 'cause I think it's, like, a recurring joke now.

49:25 Marc Preston: Pitbull. There you go. Okay. Pitbull, yeah. So the, uh, that's the first Pitbull I've gotten, so there you go.

49:29 Natalie Alyn Lind: Yeah.

49:30 Marc Preston: Now, if you're gonna be... Next question. If you're gonna be living on an exotic island, beautiful, you wanna be there. It's amazing, but there is no streaming. So if you wanna listen to music for the whole... You're gonna be there a whole year, by the way. You can only bring one CD to listen to over and over, or a box set I'll allow, or, uh- Okay

49:46 Marc Preston: a DVD, uh, and a DVD. So you'll have something to listen to and something to watch, but something you can watch over and over again. What would that CD and what would that DVD be?

49:55 Natalie Alyn Lind: I think that DVD would be the original Halloween. I think that's a movie that I grew up watching and that's kind of like my nostalgic movie that I'll just, like, put on at nighttime.

50:06 Natalie Alyn Lind: I, I put scary movies on at nighttime 'cause I'm just a little weirdo. Um, CD, I'm trying to think. I mean, this is gonna come up... Like, honestly, a movie that when I was younger I saw with my mom, and it just brings me back to such a nostalgic, fun time. We went and saw Mamma Mia!, and I... Anytime that, like, we wanna get into the mood for, like, a party or, I don't know, when it's me and my sisters and my mom, the thing that we can relate on the most is just singing the Mamma Mia!

50:39 Natalie Alyn Lind: soundtrack, running down the beach. So I'd probably bring that just to, like, feel that sense of home.

50:44 Marc Preston: Plus you're singing. You know, you can participate at some level. Okay. Yeah, there you go. Yeah. Uh, now, the next question. If you were to say from the time you get up to the time, uh, you go to bed, uh, what would be the ingredients, the component parts for you of a perfect day?

50:58 Marc Preston: What would have to be there as the component parts to say, "Ah, this day was perfect"?

51:03 Natalie Alyn Lind: I would say I'm a huge camping person. So I would say waking up in a tent with my dogs and my family and some of my closest friends. Then probably getting up, making some breakfast over a campfire, then going white water rafting and, uh, being on the water all day, then coming back and cracking some beers and just, like, being on a float and floating for the rest of the day.

51:25 Natalie Alyn Lind: Then ending off the night roasting some hot dogs and sitting by the fire and drinking some whiskey and going to sleep. That's, like, a perfect, absolutely perfect day for me.

51:37 Marc Preston: I have not camped in so long, and we have... Once you get up by five miles north of me, and there's nothing but sand dunes running for at least 10- So cool

51:45 Marc Preston: plus miles. And I thought- I told, told my daughter, I said, "Maybe we gotta find some way to go, like, camp." I think it'd just be so cool to camp just kind of on the, like, near the beach. You know, it, it... A lot of people do it, uh, but it's, uh-

51:57 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, it's nice. So nice. Especially on the beach. Oh, so nice ...

51:59 Marc Preston: a little fire under the stars.

52:01 Marc Preston: Can't, can't beat it. Now, if I was to say to you, "Okay, uh, Natalie, you can't act anymore. You can't do anything within the movie/TV ecosystem," what for you would be a number two in terms of a, a vocation? What else would you do?

52:15 Natalie Alyn Lind: When I was younger, I was in marine biology camp, and I was so fascinated by it when I was young.

52:21 Marc Preston: Uh, that's the second marine biology, uh, answer I've got in the last few weeks, so

52:24 Natalie Alyn Lind: very- Oh, my God. Okay. Very- Marine biologist for the win.

52:27 Marc Preston: A- absolutely. Now, the last question, if you were to jump into that DeLorean and go back to, like, when you were 16- Yeah ... you got a few minutes with you to offer a piece of advice or guidance to make that moment somehow better or to put you on a little different trajectory, what would advice to 16-year-old be, 16-year-old you be?

52:46 Natalie Alyn Lind: I would say Not to care so much about what other people think of you. I think that for so, so many different parts of your teen years, you grow up thinking that you wanna conform into the person to your right or to your left, and I found myself doing that so much in my teen years and in my kid years.

53:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: And I look back and I'm like, "What was I doing? Why was I trying to be somebody else? Why was I trying to, like, fit into this little box that people create 'cause I thought it was cool?" And I, I, I think that I finally found my footing out of that probably around 17, but for the beginning, beginning stages it was you're always just trying to be somebody that you're not, or you're trying to conform into the idea of what a, like a perfect girl should be.

53:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um, that and also just, like, don't grow up so fast. Don't grow up so fast. Enjoy, 'cause it happens so fast. Like, you think about it and then all of a sudden you're, like, time is here and time is there, and, like, you think back to when you were 18 and then it's like, oh my God, that was years ago. Um, but yeah, I think that just, like- Well, it's

53:51 Marc Preston: funny, it's funny you say that because, you know, I, I, look, I know I'm a Southern gentleman.

53:54 Marc Preston: I was told never ask a lady her, her age, but you're, but, uh, you're 25?

54:00 Natalie Alyn Lind: 25, turning

54:00 Marc Preston: 26. Okay, s- okay, 25. That was for me... It's funny you say, like, a transition point, 'cause that's where I sort of felt like I locked in, you know? Yeah. I kind of have, I have a real good sense of who I am and where I'm going and why I wanna do the thing I'm wanting to do, and I'm confident in that.

54:16 Marc Preston: Yeah. Uh, but at the same time, it's funny when you say, "Don't care about what other people think," that is the most common thing people say. And I'm wondering if that's, for creatives- Right ... if that is something that just kind of hums in the back of your mind, that when you're younger you just inordinately care too much what other people think, when ironically they're not even thinking about you usually, you know, that kind of thing.

54:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: 100%, and I think it's also, it's like, it's that weird transition period specifically with this generation with social media, 'cause so many people put their lives online but it's not real. So you have this, like, kind of twisted narrative of what a perfect life should look like. But even the people that present themselves of having perfect lives online, it's still not, it's still not perfect 'cause it's not genuine.

54:55 Natalie Alyn Lind: So I think- It's like

54:56 Marc Preston: reality TV. Reality TV's not real, it's just- No ... it's, it is script. And the same thing with, uh, social media. I mean, I, s- if I didn't have to do it f- related to what I do for a living, uh, I, I don't know if I'd be as engaged. I, uh, you know, it's, I, I think it's wonderful for certain things, but I think going forward it'd be good if kids didn't have access to it until they turn later teens, you know?

55:21 Marc Preston: I think it's better for their mental health. Yeah. Especially for young ladies, I think.

55:25 Natalie Alyn Lind: Now for me with AI, it's so funny, like, I'll send, I'll send my boyfriend or, like, different people videos and then I'll get, like, messages back going like, "You know that that's not real." And I'm like, "What is, what is real then?

55:35 Natalie Alyn Lind: What is happening?" "What is happening in this new world?"

55:38 Marc Preston: Uh, yeah, and you feel so duped. That's why I'm not a f- AI is a great tool, but not as a creative, uh- Yeah ... thing. Uh, but hey- Yeah ... real quick, before we get going, what, what's coming up next besides, of course, uh, looking at the, uh, the Halloween store? Uh, what do you have in the, uh, is there anything in the can that's gonna be coming out?

55:54 Marc Preston: Or do you have anything you're gonna be starting up on or-

55:57 Natalie Alyn Lind: In the process right now, I'm not gonna say what projects they are, but I'm in the process right now of actually producing two other films that I am not in. So I am definitely wanting to venture down this entire producing rabbit hole more and more every day.

56:10 Natalie Alyn Lind: I'm absolutely obsessed with it. And, uh, yeah, I'm really excited about these other two projects that I have going on, and they will hopefully- Well, you

56:15 Marc Preston: need to direct. That's, that's a thing you're talking about is directing. And I'm telling you- Right ... Texas, they get some tax breaks here. All I'm saying is we have an island here.

56:23 Marc Preston: It would be a great excuse to get a tax break, shoot, and hang out on an island. Ooh. You know, so.

56:28 Natalie Alyn Lind: I'm, I'm there. You let me know when. I'm gonna start putting together the project now.

56:33 Marc Preston: It's funny 'cause I talked to J- Jimmy Buffett's daughter, uh, Delaney. You know, she had a film come out. And they said, "Oh, you're in Padre."

56:39 Marc Preston: I was like, "Yeah, we almost shot there." I was like, "Really?" 'Cause I, you know, I'm, obviously I don't audition anymore really 'cause I'm kinda, you know, enjoying what I'm doing right now. But she said, "Oh, we almost shot there." I was like, "Well, why didn't you?" She's like, "Well, we got a better deal in Biloxi, Mississippi."

56:51 Marc Preston: I'm like, "Well, nothing against Biloxi, but Padre, Biloxi, to me it's an easy choice." But, uh, if you're ever down here, reach out most certainly, you know.

56:58 Natalie Alyn Lind: Oh, I will visit 100%. That sounds incredible.

57:02 Marc Preston: Well, tell you what, Natalie, I, I've really enjoyed spending some time with you, and I appreciate you sharing that time.

57:06 Marc Preston: I know you've been crazy busy- Thank you ... with you and the puppy. The puppy wants to hang out with you, and here you are in another, talking to another person here, so.

57:13 Natalie Alyn Lind: Um- No, this has been so, so incredible. Thank you so much for the conversation.

57:17 Marc Preston: No, it's more than my pleasure and, and, uh, looking forward to seeing you e- entering the, uh, Taylor Sheridan universe.

57:23 Marc Preston: I'm excited. Ooh. I'm looking forward to seeing you in cowboy boots.

57:25 Natalie Alyn Lind: Thank you so much. Okay, I'm gonna come and visit soon.

57:30 Marc Preston: Well, there you go, Natalie Alyn Lind. She is a lot of fun, uh, loving what she's doing on Dutton Ranch, playing Oriana, and, uh, all the stuff she's done. Uh, you, of course, again, you know her from The Goldbergs and, uh, uh, Big Sky, and, you know, she's just talented actor.

57:45 Marc Preston: So are her sisters. They're a lot of fun, too. My next guest, I'm not gonna tell you who it is, not gonna let you know yet, she has a, uh, movie coming out, but she is also on Dutton Ranch. So, so it's Dutton Ranch week right here on Story and Craft. There you go. Uh, and, uh, anyway, Natalie was a blast. I really enjoyed the opportunity to just kind of sit down and talk with her, and, uh, it's neat to talk to folks who work on, uh, Taylor Sheridan's projects because he's just so doggone talented.

58:14 Marc Preston: Uh, again, Paramount Plus, the network, Dutton Ranch, the show, watch it, enjoy it. Uh, and of course, uh, if you're a fan of Yellowstone, you probably are already knee-deep in it. Uh, okay, so I'm gonna get on out of here, but, uh, before I do, super quick small request. Please grab your podcast app. I don't care, you're, you're on Spotify, you're on Apple, YouTube even.

58:35 Marc Preston: Please follow the show. Helps us out a lot, especially if you like an episode, like the show, leave a comment, helps people find the show. So you're holding on, the phone is right there, or your, your computer, whatever you're listening on. Uh, just go ahead and, and do all that. You know, show a little love because I appreciate it, and I'm gonna send you, right now I'm sending you a big hug.

58:57 Marc Preston: It, it's a, it's an awkward hug, but I'm sending it through, uh, through the, uh, speakers here, so, or earbuds or whatever you're listening on. Okay, so also, uh, you can check out the show, storyandcraftpod.com. Everything you could possibly wanna know about the show, it is right there, past episodes, past guests.

59:14 Marc Preston: Uh, go in and check it out. Uh, and I'm gonna get on out of here. Uh, again, more Dutton Ranch love coming up here in a couple days. So, uh, I will see you very soon, and as I always say, thank you very much for making what I've got going on here part of what you've got going on. It does mean a lot to me. And you go have a safe rest of your day, uh, rest of your evening, whatever you have going on.

59:35 Marc Preston: We'll see you in a couple days right here on Story and Craft.

59:39 Announcer: That's it for this episode of Story and Craft. Join Marc next week for more conversation right here on Story and Craft. Story and Craft is a presentation of Marc Preston Productions, LLC. Executive producer is Marc Preston. Associate producer is Zachary Holden.

59:57 Announcer: Please rate and review Story and Craft on Apple Podcasts. Don't forget to subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. You can subscribe to show updates and stay in the know. Just head to storyandcraftpod.com and sign up for the newsletter. I'm Emma Dylan. See you next time, and remember, keep telling your story.