The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast

Jesse: Howdy, Odyssey fans? I'm Jesse.

Bob: And I'm Bob. Welcome to the official Adventures in Odyssey podcast.

Jesse: Well, yee-haw, Bob. Let's jump right in with the latest news.

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 17, the official poster for *Adventures in Odyssey: The Movie* will be unveiled on the Adventures in Odyssey Club. Members can check it out and download it. Put it on your wall at home or use it for your phone lock screen. If you're not a club member, you can get it at the official movie site, adventuresinodysseythemovie.com the next day.

Now turning back to the audio show, Bob. Not long ago, we met a new character in Odyssey. She first appeared in the episode "Now Hiring."

Bob: Then she followed Trey around in "Quick Fix" and learned all about American history in "The Measure of a Patriot."

Jesse: And just recently, she performed her own stand-up comedy routines at Whit's End in "You're in Good Hands."

Bob: Of course, we're talking about Sophie. She's curious, confident, and, well, let's be honest, she's never afraid to speak her mind. Today, we're meeting the actress behind Sophie, Emerson Dorre. Let's say hello.

Emerson, welcome to the podcast. So good to have you today.

Emerson Dorre: Thank you so much. Thanks so much for having me.

Bob: What can you tell us about your earliest memory of performing, whether that was in school, church, or maybe in your living room at home?

Emerson Dorre: I've really loved performing as long as I can remember. I remember at home over COVID, I would put together these little costumes. I would wear pants or skirts on my head to make it look like I had really long hair, because at the time, I had shorter hair. I would act out scenes from *Frozen* as Elsa or Anna or something.

But my first memory of performing with an audience was probably my first stage play ever, *Matilda*, and I got to play Matilda in it. It was really such a great first acting experience. Since then, I just really loved acting and performing.

Jesse: So you started with a lead. You didn't even work your way up with little roles.

Emerson Dorre: Thank you so much.

Jesse: Now I gotta ask: was there someone who encouraged you early on who said, "You know, you're actually really good at that"?

Emerson Dorre: Definitely my parents and my friends. I would definitely not be here without my parents. They're both super supportive. They're helping me with auditions and taking me to classes and jobs constantly. I'm just really thankful for that. They practice lines with me, and they've been just so supportive of my career.

Bob: So what are some of the things you enjoy doing outside of acting? Do you have different hobbies? Do you enjoy sports? Maybe some other creative pursuits?

Emerson Dorre: I enjoy writing and singing. Those are my main hobbies out of acting. Right now, I'm working on this TV show script about kids in talent competitions because I really relate to that. I definitely love writing.

I also love writing songs. I always turn to music if I'm having hard feelings. It's my safe place because I can express feelings really well.

Jesse: Music is great for that. I know you're school-aged, so what does school look like for you? Are you homeschooled? Do you go to a public school, private school? I know when you're on set, I'm sure you have to go to a studio teacher and things like that, but what does that look like, your education?

Emerson Dorre: I go to a public school. When I'm acting, I usually get classwork from my teachers ahead of time to work on while I'm on set when I have free time. The studio teacher is really there to help me when I need it, and I'm really thankful for that.

Bob: What do you enjoy most about playing Sophie on *Adventures in Odyssey*?

Emerson Dorre: First I want to say I was so excited when I got the audition pages for Sophie. Sophie is an amazing character, and she seemed so funny. She has a wild side, and it makes it really fun to express in my lines. That's the main reason why I love playing her.

Jesse: You're doing a great job, and she is a lot of fun. What's been the favorite episode you've been on so far?

Emerson Dorre: That's hard. I'm going to have to say it was either my second or third episode I recorded. I think it's called "You're in Good Hands." Sophie does this crazy stand-up comedy routine. It was a lot of fun. It was cool because Sophie really got to open up and express who she was. It was really the first episode where she got to be like, "Hi, I'm Sophie, and this is what I do."

Bob: Of course, anybody wanting to hear that episode can tune into the Adventures in Odyssey Club and check that out right now. How about the hardest episode? You've done a few now. Was there one that was especially challenging?

Emerson Dorre: Probably one of my recent episodes, "The Measure of a Patriot." There was—this is kind of a funny reason—a lot of running around in the studio. You can't really run because the microphones are obviously really good and will capture you beating your foot down.

You have to breathe as if you're running, and I'm sensitive to lightheadedness, so I got a little faint at times. Sophie also had a lot of emotions in this episode, more so than in the past, so I had to work on developing those bigger emotions in Sophie.

Jesse: You mentioned it already, that Sophie, she's spunky. She's not afraid to try new things. She says what's on her mind. Just talking with you, some of that seems like your personality. How much of that is her, and how much of that is you coming through as Sophie?

Emerson Dorre: I definitely relate a lot to Sophie. Metaphorically, Sophie jumps into the pool all at once. But something that is different between me and her is I like to dip my toe in the pool before I jump into it. I also love to make people laugh. When I'm interested in something, I love to dig into that concept and learn more about it. I share a sense of humor and a sense of curiosity with Sophie for sure.

Bob: Emerson, our podcast listeners like to send us totally random questions for our guests, and we have a TRQ for you today. Want to hear it?

Emerson Dorre: Oh, yes.

Bob: A fan who goes by Star Wars Crafter all for Jesus wants to know: what is your favorite kind of candy?

Emerson Dorre: My favorite kind of candy. I do love a lot of candies. I am definitely into chocolate, anything chocolate. But if I had to choose one specific candy, I would probably choose Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Bob: Good choice. Those don't last long around here.

Jesse: I think Reese's as well. I can't say no to one of those.

Bob: Anything with chocolate and almonds, I think I'm there. Well, thank you, Star Wars Crafter all for Jesus. We appreciate the question, and thanks, Emerson, for giving us an honest answer.

Jesse: Emerson, let's talk about your roles you've had outside of Odyssey. What type of acting have you done, and maybe do you have a favorite part you've played apart from Sophie?

Emerson Dorre: I've had a lot of parts that I've really loved. But if I had to choose one, I'll have to come back to *Matilda*. She was just such a fun part to play. It was a great first experience. She had a lot of fun singing and dancing parts, which is totally up my alley. My theater group was also really kind and supportive too, which made the whole experience really memorable.

Bob: What's one piece of advice that you've gotten about acting that really stuck with you, and who shared that with you?

Emerson Dorre: In one of my classes, my acting coach, Lisa Picotte, compared acting to surfing. You paddle out and try to catch a wave. Sometimes you see someone else catch the wave, but you still have to paddle out and keep trying. Soon enough, you'll catch your own wave and ride it. Right now, I'm riding the Odyssey Sophie wave, which has been such an amazing experience.

Bob: I guess the paddling out, that's the auditions, isn't it?

Emerson Dorre: Yes.

Jesse: You have to try. If you don't try, you're not going to land anything. You've got to be out there in the ocean.

Bob: We hear from actors all the time that one of the things they learned early was not to take it personally when they don't get a part, because it doesn't mean that people didn't like them; it just meant that they weren't particularly right for that particular part. If it's not that one, something else will come along.

Jesse: I have to ask because the Adventures in Odyssey family is truly a family, and the way they do the family recording in the studio where you get to be all together. Do you have a favorite moment of being in the studio with the other Odyssey actors working on something?

Emerson Dorre: There were a lot of fun parts. But my favorite—this is honestly kind of funny—one time my co-star Dawson Griffin, who plays Wyatt, got the hiccups when he was doing a scene. Honestly, it was hilarious and stressful at the same time. He kept trying to stop his hiccups so he could do the scene. I remember he chugged two bottles of water. It was memorable in many ways.

Jesse: I'm guessing that didn't make the final episode, did it?

Emerson Dorre: Sadly.

Bob: There are a lot of funny moments in the studio. Sometimes there are more somber or heavier moments because of the subject matter. What about the deep themes that sometimes Odyssey will tackle? Have any of the scripts really impacted you personally, the lessons?

Emerson Dorre: I think in an episode where we go back in time through the Imagination Station, I meet a person who's enslaved. It really made me think about other people's experiences in the past and how that actually happened.

Jesse: You talked about being a writer. As a writer myself, I'm always going back and reading some of my stuff and going, "I wish I would have chosen that word" or "Maybe I could have changed the dialogue and made it something like that instead." When you go back and listen to Odyssey or anything, do you ever wish you could record a scene over again? If so, which one would it be and why?

Emerson Dorre: I think the first scene of the first episode ever I was in. I was still really getting to know the Sophie character. Back then, I didn't feel like I mastered the Sophie voice yet. I felt like in the recording, my voice was a little bit high like this, and Sophie's voice is more low and crisp like this. That was one of the main scenes I wish I could tweak a little bit and change.

Bob: I was going to say I wouldn't change anything because she's been great.

Jesse: I know, right? I couldn't think of anything. I think we're always our own worst critics.

Bob: We are. Inevitably. Jesse and I will tell you, we're both older. What happens is it seems like the older you get, the more you think in terms of wanting to just get it so perfectly right because we don't know how many more chances we're going to get.

Jesse: Speak for yourself. You've got a whole career ahead of you. Looking ahead, what is a dream that you have, either in acting or just in life in general?

Emerson Dorre: I definitely have a lot of things I want to do in the future. I'm really interested in being a judge on *Is It Cake?* because I really am interested in reality TV.

Bob: That's a fun show. Okay, so you want to be a judge, but you don't want actually to be one of the bakers.

Emerson Dorre: Honestly, I don't think I could if I tried.

Bob: So why a judge?

Emerson Dorre: I want to try all of the cakes, obviously. I've always been super interested in all the bakers' talents. When I'm watching *Is It Cake?*, I always love looking at their cakes. It would be so cool if I could get to see them in person. That would be amazing.

Bob: No matter what you do, my hope is that you will never forget Adventures in Odyssey and you'll be with us for quite a while.

Emerson Dorre: I always want to persist in my career and have determination and positivity and keep doing what I'm doing now.

Jesse: Well, Emerson, I've loved learning more about your talent and also just hearing about how much work you put into bringing Sophie to life, because she is really a fun character and you add so much to Adventures in Odyssey. Thank you for being with us today.

Emerson Dorre: Thank you so much for having me.

Bob: Emerson brings so much enthusiasm and heart to Sophie.

Jesse: She does. It's great to hear how she's able to balance school, life, and performing and how much support she has behind the scenes. You can hear all of those episodes with Emerson as Sophie in the Adventures in Odyssey Club right now, and more are on their way.

Speaking of things on the way in the club, there's a brand new episode coming out on September 24. You don't want to miss this. Do they, Chris?

Chris: Now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club, Penny's sister Charlotte asks for a very exciting favor. We get to babysit little Xander on Saturday! The Bassetts prepare.

I'm going to put up the childproof gates right after dinner. Oh, I'm sure things will go perfectly. Right? We're the worst aunt and uncle in the history of all humans everywhere! We are the worst adults since adulthood was invented! It's "The Babysitting Bassetts." Now in the Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Bob: Once again, you can hear this new adventure in the club on September 24.

Jesse: That's all for this edition of the official Adventures in Odyssey podcast, a presentation of Focus on the Family. Visit us online at adventuresinodyssey.com or call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Bob: I'm Bob.

Jesse: And I'm Jesse, reminding you that with God in your life, every day is an adventure.