Trailers, Top Hats, and Taking a Bow | Relaxed Reflections Before Sleep

In the Season 10 finale, Trailers, Top Hats, and Taking a Bow, Marco and Amanda settle into a cozy, softly spoken conversation that gently brings the season to a close. They reflect on the nostalgia of old-school movie trailers, the charm of top hats and dressing up for special occasions, and the quiet ritual of preparing for an event. What begins as a light chat about previews and personal style slowly unfolds into a soothing meditation on comfort, presentation, and the small routines that help us feel ready — not just for a night out, but for winding down as well.
As always, this calming podcast moves at an unhurried pace, offering a relaxing conversation designed to help you fall asleep, ease anxiety, and quiet racing thoughts. The tone is warm and reflective, perfect for background listening at bedtime or during a middle-of-the-night wake-up. With heartfelt thanks to listeners around the world, Marco and Amanda close the season with steady companionship and gentle appreciation — a soft landing place for your thoughts as you drift toward rest.

​Trailers, Top Hats, and Taking a Bow
(Original airdate: October 29, 2025)


This is the last episode of the Insomnia Project for this season

Marco:Welcome to the Insomnia Project. Sit back, relax and listen as we have a calm conversation that's meant to help escort your way to sleep or to chill vibes. I'm your host, Marco Timpano. I'm Amanda Barker and this is the last Episode for This season, our 10th season of the Insomnia Project. Thank you all for coming on this journey with us. There's been some ups and downs at all around Samantha.

Amanda: oh, yeah, More ups and downs,

Marco:I think I would say so. I want to mention that we do have ad free episodes now on supercast.com if you go to the insomnia project.supercast.com you. You can subscribe for ad free. Of course, we have our Patreon as well. All that will be in the show notes. I'm just happy to be here with you today.

Amanda: I'm happy to be here too. And just a reminder, this is the final episode of this season, but in

Marco:December, as of starting December 1st, all the way to December 31st, we have our holiday episode. So every day for the month of December, you're going to get some past holiday episodes, you're going to get some new holiday episodes. They tend to be a little bit more festive, shall we say. Amanda Peppier. but the y're there for you for the holidays. And whether you have a large family around you for the holidays or just a small little unit, we are here with you in the month of

Amanda: December and use November as a time to regroup, which I usually like to anyway, just in my own personal life. Whether it's for your financial health or for your mental health or for your health, your health, November is a good time to take stock, right? December is usually full of a lot of hustle and bustle.

Marco:Indeed.

Amanda: People know that there's a break at the end, usually with work or whatever. So people are gearing up. and it's a shorter month ultimately, with some rest built in, I hope, for you anyway. but November's a good moment to just tie the bows, wrap the loose ends, dot the I's, cross the T's and go to sleep.

Marco:Oh, I love that. I think it's a great month as well to pick a day or two where there are immovable days where you've booked time for yourself. So if people are saying to you, are you available November 18th? You can say, oh, I'm sorry, I have appointments booked that day.

Amanda: I'm gonna do that.

Marco:Just make appointments for yourself so that they say, oh, we have an appointment, because no one needs to know. I think when you say, I have an appointment that day, no one says, oh, what's it for? Or they inquire further because you can always say, oh, it's something I'm doing. I'm actually not allowed. Not Able to talk about. But, I'll.

Amanda: People don't usually. I have an appointment. They're not like, what's wrong with you? You just go, oh, sorry, I have an appointment, I can't move.

Marco:Yeah, maybe, maybe close friends would be like that. I doubt your boss would be, I

Amanda: think your spouse, your family. But that would be it. I mean. Yeah, I think that's a great idea for those listeners who are bummed that we won't have an episode for. Until December 1st. We got 10 years of back catalogs.

Marco:That's right.

Amanda: So go ahead, take the time. Revisit your faves. Everyone loves the backpack episode. Just saying.

Marco:Everybody likes the backpack episode. I don't know what it is about that episode.

Amanda: I know exactly what it is.

Marco:What does that mean?

Amanda: It would put me to sleep. There's a method, and when you go through methods, it's relaxing, it's comforting. I always say, you know, I love an envelope. Give me parameters, give me the safe space. I might go beyond the envelope if it's talking about thinking ideology or creative, input. But I like structure. I realize that as a child, I liked it. I needed it. Anytime that I was given unstructured, time or unstructured, like, they'd say, choose whatever you want. It was overwhelming for me. I enjoy choices, I enjoy structure. So I crave that and I give it to myself. And structure for me is relaxing and it puts me to sleep. So when I go through each part of what I like to pack methodically in a backpack, I think there's a gentle structure to that that's soothing for me there.

Marco:Oh, I love that.

Amanda: Yeah, but are you like that?

Marco:I. I'm not quite like that. I like, might choose my own direction.


Actors need a safe space wherever they are, so they know

Amanda: This is where we go into Virgo versus Sagittarius land. me being obviously the Virgo. If anybody, pays attention to that, which you can. Or not, whatever. But you know, it's funny, I was just thinking this. We're actors. That's what we do. And I always say that actors need a safe space wherever they are, so they know where to go. Because sometimes a set or theater rehearsal hall or whatever can be big cavernous spaces and you don't know where you're supposed to be.

Marco:Yeah. Where you should hang out when it's a bit of downtime. So people know where to fetch you as well.

Amanda: Right, Exactly. And so this is why trailers are so important for actors. And we don't need them to be big, we just need a little tiny slip of a trailer with our character name on it or whatever. Sometimes we just have a number and a character name. That's fine. And we go into it and we make her. I feel so cozy. I have the best naps on set. My friend Trevor thinks I'm crazy when I say this, but there's nothing better than a, day on set for me where I have, like, one line or no lines, like my character sleeping or my character's part of the gang or whatever. But I don't have, like, any big scenes. And then they're behind shooting, so they're like, you're not gonna be on for another four hours. I'm like, good. night.


When you get cast in a film or TV series, you are brought

Marco:We should explain what a trailer is. Oh.

Marco:Because people who. They might have a vague idea, but they might not know. Speaking of structures. So when you arrive, if you get cast in a film or TV series, let's say a film, in this case, you are brought. You. You arrive on set at your time, and then usually a, AD or PA will direct you to where you sign in. And then they'll bring you to your

Amanda: ad, which stands for assistant director. But there's tiers of directors. There's the first assistant director, who's right there with the director, making sure things get done.

Marco:Called the first ad.

Amanda: Yeah. And then there's a second ad, which there can be a few second ads that are making sure things happen in different areas of the set. I don't know if there's a third 80.

Marco:There should be a third 80. Just to, scoop up all the mess that gets dropped by the first

Amanda: and second, which is sometimes a second AD is who's dealing with the background talent too. So there's that.

Marco:That's a big job. So they will take you, escort you to where your trailer is. And it could be, like Amanda said, it could be like, on the other end of this, on the lot. It could be in many different directions. You don't know. I know when I did Murdoch, it was like. And we'll just turn the corner. And there were the trailers.

Amanda: Hm.

Marco:And so they bring you to a trailer, and it's basically the trailer, like at the end of a truck. Right. Like, it's kind of like a. I'm trying to describe it.

Amanda: Versions. I mean, if you're like. Well, using Murdoch, actually. So this is Murdoch Mysteries, which Marco and I have both been in.

Marco:It's a great series. If you aren't aware of it and you're looking for something that is nostalgic in an old timey kind of way.

Amanda: And soothing.

Marco:And soothing, but with a bit of mystery. Look it up.

Amanda: Yeah, it's on PBS in the States, I think here in Canada. It's on ctv.

Marco:I know it's really big in the UK as well. It's really, really big. And I have to say, just on

Amanda: a little detour, Murdoch, we didn't see this coming.

Marco:Yannick, who plays Murdoch, is so lovely. Ah, he's a wonderful individual. And he didn't have to be as nice as he has been to me on several occasions when I've met him. And on set as well. And everyone on that set was particularly wonderful. So I just want to put that on the ground right now. From the first ad to the second ad, to all the ads to anyone on that set was just wonderful.

Amanda: Well, Murdoch is exactly an example of what I'm talking about. It's been around. I mean, I think I did the 18th season. I mean that you kind of get into a groove, I think after like three seasons with a, series. So imagine being on your 20th season, you know, sure. 21st, wherever they are. And the thing about Murdoch is it's so structured. They know what they're doing, they know what they're putting out. They have a beautiful costume warehouse. They have a studio. To your point, you go there and it's all very well laid out.

Marco:It's perfection. It's really.


Did you have a trailer on Murdoch though? I did. They had a structure erected for performers

Amanda: Did you have a trailer on Murdoch though?

Marco:I did.

Amanda: Oh, that's interesting. See, I didn't have a trailer on Murdoch. They had a structure erected for performers. And so I was in that. There were rooms, dressing rooms in there, like, you know, which is the same difference. I mean, basically what you want as an actor is just like, this is your place and we'll come and get you when you need it.

Marco:Well, I definitely had a trailer, so they brought me to my trailer.

Marco:And basically a trailer is like the trailer at the end of a hauling kind of truck. Right. A big steel container, let's say. And, and depending on how many trailers are in one container, could be several, could be one, could be, you know, multiple.

Amanda: There's three. A lot of times you'll see them in threes. And those are the bigger ones.

Marco:Yeah, yeah. So you have a little door, you open the door and there's it's, it's literally you can kind of stretch your arms.

Amanda: So this is what we call. So we call them bangers, but I don't know if that's.

Marco:Where did the term come up from?

Amanda: You know, who it Came from, I

Marco:think Andrea Martin call them bangers. I love Andrea Martin.

Amanda: Yeah. I think in her book she called them bangers. But anyway, because the ones when they have a lot of people working that day, and listen, some have their own bathroom, some have their own shower, some have a fireplace.

Marco:I had a fireplace once in one of my bangers.

Amanda: Yeah, they're. They're nice. Those are the bigger ones where you're like. It's. You have your own or you're splitting it in two or three. But if you're what we call a day player, and let's be honest, you and I often are, no shame in it. we go in, we do a character for a day and that's it. Then you could have a eight banger, a 12 banger.

Marco:It just means your trailer is going to be smaller. But if you're the star or the lead, you'll probably have a trailer. Just a large trailer all to yourself.

Amanda: Like, Yannick actually has a really cool,

Marco:like Winnebago, as is. Right. And as he should, because he's doing it for how many seasons?

Amanda: Well, 20. Something. Yeah. So anyway, the point being, I don't care as an actor or as a human, if you give me the tiniest little slip of a trailer, it can be, you know, a little tiny. Like, they're just like a little closet, almost hallway with a bench.

Marco:Whereas I require a Jacuzzi, a fireplace, a, sauna. No, like Amanda said. So when you open the trailer door. So I'll just explain it so that we kind of methodically go through it. So it'll. It'll say on the window of the door. Usually it's. It'll say your character name. Sometimes it'll say a number. On a rare occasion, it'll say your actual name. But I. I know it is my character name. So it said the character name. I was the baker on Murder Dark. I'm just going to use that one as my example.

Amanda: So it's a baker and I was judge. I don't remember my last. My last name. It's like Judge Fenchurch or something.

Marco:Okay, so, yeah, so it said that. So that. So then once you see where your trailer is, you're like, okay, that's my trailer. Great. So you go into your trailer, you open the door, you'll see how big it is. And usually your wardrobe that you're going to be wearing that day is hung on a hanger because you're going to change in your trailer as well.

Amanda: I think these had a fitting. Usually but prior to this, so you've talked about options with the wardrobe people. So they know. So you know it's going to be one of like eight options. And then you see what the director and the team chose hanging there.

Marco:Yeah. And it's usually really nicely pressed. It looks, it's just laid out so lovely. And you're like, oh, that's what I'm gonna be wearing today.

Amanda: And for us ladies, like your earrings, your watch, any of that stuff that they have chosen for the character is in like a little dish, like a little box next to it.

Marco:And there's usually like a little table.

Marco:Or a place where you can put your books or whatnot.

Marco:Usually there's also a television set kind of fastened, to the top corner of the trailer somewhere.

Amanda: But it never works with like a vcr. I mean it depends on what generation trailer you have. Some of them are old. Sometimes there's a bathroom in the back.

Marco:Yeah. Like at the end of your trailer that everyone uses. Or sometimes there's a bathroom and shower in your trailer.

Amanda: Well, that's what I meant. Like the back of your trailer will have a bathroom. Sometimes you open the door and then there's tape over and it's like do not use.


Downton Abbey lives on PBS on a loop in the States

So fine. So it hasn't been hooked up. But yeah, if you're in one of those like long ones, then yeah. There's usually a bathroom trailer that's nearby that you figure out pretty quickly where it is and you go to it. But you know what I love when you're in the trailer.

Marco:Yeah.

Amanda: I love that people are coming in and out of it and there's a gentle rocking. Like you can hear people going up the steps. Because you have to go up steps to your little door.

Marco:And those steps are usually like, you know, grates, like metal. Metal sort of weaving.

Marco:It's kind of like that, like almost like fire escape stairs is what they're like.

Amanda: Yeah. Those metal stairs. So there's like a gentle rocking. So like when I did Frankie Drake, which is Murdoch adjacent.

Marco:It's a spin off, isn't it? Or no, it's adjacent, I don't think.

Amanda: No, because it was a different time frame.

Marco:Okay.

Amanda: So I don't think it was ever. I don't think they ever tried to do a real. But it was the closest thing to a spin off the same production company, there were same vibes. and it was a great show. and it lives on on PBS on like a loop in the States. Every time I Go to Florida. There it is. There's my episode. So I'm in a baseball episode.

Marco:I do love pbs. I have to say.

Amanda: I know PBS is soothing, especially when we go to my parents house in Florida.

Marco:We need the pbs.

Amanda: We need the pbs. It's like Antiques Roadshow. All the Murdochs. It's great. Anyhow, Bernadette Peters lives near there, so she's always doing like, please to like, please donate and you'll get the entire season of Downton Abbey.

Marco:Bernadette Peters is amazing.

Amanda: They played Downton Abbey on pbs.

Marco:That's pretty impressive. Yeah. Anyhow, Downton Abbey is awesome, too. If you haven't seen that series, watch it.

Amanda: Do you know in the States, I keep saying in the States, PBS has like its own app, and my parents, like, pay for it and stuff.

Marco:Oh, really?

Amanda: Yeah, like it's its own. I guess every channel has that now. But anyway, it's called Passport. I believe my mom's like, I have Passport. Like, I don't know what that.

Marco:What does that do?

Amanda: She gets all over Downton Abbey.

Marco:Oh, that's great.

Amanda: And her Frankie Drakes, I guess. I don't know.

Marco:We went to go see the Downton Abbey M movie and we dressed up as characters.

Amanda: We did. We were those people in like a

Marco:suburb, in a real suburb.

Amanda: Like in a place where there's no chance that anyone else is dressing up for that movie.

Marco:Our dear friends.

Amanda: There were some old people with cane, so that was like, as adjacent as it got, but.

Marco:So our dear friends Matt and Mel are our Downton Abbey watching buddies.

Amanda: Well, we. Yeah, we watched. We binged it with them, remember?

Marco:Yeah. And they're lovely, wonderful, fantastic friends.

Amanda: Well, that's nice.

Marco:And so they, Amanda's folks, dressed up from, Downton Abbey something or other.

Amanda: Yeah. In Florida. They dressed up. Specifically. My dad dressed up as Bates with the hat and the cane. And my mom dressed up as, Mrs. Crawley. Lady Crawley. She loves Lady Crawley.

Marco:I think that was the inspiration for our friends to say, let's dress up for Downton Abbey.


Amanda is much more reserved when it comes to dressing up

Now, here's an interesting fact.

Amanda: I remember showing them the picture and they're like, this is amazing. No, there was like a huge watching party where my parents lived for the final episode. And they went to, like, an auditorium where everybody dressed up.

Marco:So, Amanda. So our friends knew this. And then this film that recently came out, they're like, let's dress up. And one thing listeners, you should know is that Amanda's much more likely to be the one who wants to dress up. And make a bit of a spectacle. Whereas I'm much more. And it's weird because I know I'm an actor, I'm much more reserved when it comes to stuff like that. I don't like to be the center of attention if I'm not on stage.

Amanda: It depends. Last night I had an opportunity to dress up and I did not do it. It really depends. Sometimes I really do want to fade into the background.

Marco:So.

Amanda: However, you know.

Marco:But if I'm on stage, I enjoy being the center of attention and making sure that I make a spectacle, but in real life I'm less likely to do it.

Amanda: I think actually a lot of actors are like that. I just want to say, like, when it's your job to do that, which, like I was a mascot. So it was definitely my job to be the center of attention just in that world. But there's a comfort to not doing that.

Marco:Sure. Because you've.

Amanda: You've got that sort of need, that itch scratched, if you will. So in your job. So you don't have to do that in the rest of your life. Sometimes I think. Sorry. Sometimes I think people who are so dramatic and wanting to be the center of attention, it's like you just pick the wrong profession. You need a place to channel that so that your personal life doesn't have to look and feel like that. But anyway, sure.


Amanda and I dressed up for anniversary and went to a Titanic dinner

Marco:So anyways, Amanda really got dressed up and she was. You were fretting about something. You didn't have the right bloomers or something. I don't remember.

Amanda: I was for sure not wearing bloomers.

Marco:Whatever it was, you were like fretting.

Amanda: I think you're conflating to dress up.

Marco:No, you were.

Amanda: I think you're thinking about the Titanic.

Marco:No. Oh, yeah, you were, you were. But you were fretting in particular, for

Amanda: which, by the way, we, I think we talked about it, but that's what we did for anniversary. We dressed up. Same period, more or less. And dressed up and had a Titanic dinner. And that was fun.

Marco:And folks, I was assured everybody would be dressed up. And Amanda really made a large commotion about getting dressed up.

Amanda: the ticket said you must be dressed up.

Marco:And then I show up with my cane, my, my top hat, my monocle, all these things.

Amanda: I had a gigantic hat that I

Marco:didn't necessarily want to wear.

Amanda: And our friends were all in their slacks and T shirts, button down shirts.

Marco:And then we're stuck at the table with my cane that has rum in it and all this stuff given to

Amanda: you by Matt and Mel.

Marco:Given to me by Matt and Mel. And I've used that cane. So then I also use that cane and my hat. It's not. It's a bowler hat. for the. No idea. I forgot the bowler hat at home. But I had. I had a.

Amanda: By the way, I found a top hat at work, so I brought it home.

Marco:Oh, great.

Amanda: Because I feel like there's been a few auditions where you've needed one.

Marco:Listen, you know, now that I'm older, I'm always playing Scrooge in auditions. So he's like, oh, we need a Scrooge. Let's get this old guy. So, a top hat is really great for that. So anyways, we went to the suburb of all suburbs is where we went.

Amanda: Yeah, truly Ajax. I think it was Whitby.

Marco:Whitby, Same thing.

Amanda: And sorry, sorry for people from there. It is not the same.

Marco:People from there are not going to

Amanda: be happy and people from Ajax are not going to be happy.

Marco:People from Whitby or Ajax in the UK will not be happy either because

Amanda: it's not the same. Is there an ajax in the UK?

Marco:100%. There's gotta be.

Amanda: Really. I mean, there's definitely a Whitby.

Marco:People who use Ajax instead of Comet will not be happy.

Amanda: That's in the States. I mean, everywhere that exists in Canada. Like, they were not creative with their names. Like, there's 19 Halifaxes. Boston's like, sure, Boltons, you name it.

Marco:Ah. So, okay, so anyways, we went to that dressed up and it was fun. But me walking around in a movie theater getting popcorn with a cane and vest was a little bit odd because people were going to see action films and like, what's going on here? I know four random people dressed in the movie.

Amanda: I had a leopard print hat, if you remember, on that day. Anyway, yeah, but I think the key is find pieces that give you the thing. But then also when you actually watch the movie, like, make sure you're still comfortable because really it was just for our friends that we dressed up. We took some photos. It was fun.

Marco:It was fun.

Amanda: And then we took it all off and sat down and enjoyed our movie.


So back to the trailer before we end this episode. But one of the other things I wanted to say

Marco:So back to the trailer before we end this episode. So I wanted to mention there's also a long sort of bench with. With padding.

Amanda: yeah, I tried to say that.

Marco:Oh, sorry. No, we didn't. But we.

Amanda: I said it.

Marco:Okay. and that's where you can sit, nap, or lie. And that's where Amanda likes to lie.

Amanda: I know, and I try not to think about the fact of how many actors heads have hit this pillow that's sitting here in this trailer. But one of the other things I wanted to say, since we are back to that, I didn't think we were going back.

Marco:Always coming back to that.

Amanda: Circling back, as they say, is that it's the same in theater, in fact. And when I toured for three years, the first thing I would do when I came into a theater, when, you know, they would drop us off at the hotel because we were pampered actors while the tech crew had to go and deck the whole thing. We would have our lunch or breakfast or whatever. But once we got into the theater later in the afternoon, the very first thing that you do is, where is our green room?

Marco:Right.

Amanda: Where is our space? Our. And again, it's that safe space idea. It doesn't have to be big, doesn't have to be nice. Just show me where you want me to be so that when you come and get me, here I am.

Marco:Yeah.

Amanda: and it's funny because I liken this too. And this is probably going to be a weird analogy, but I mean it in the most loving way. Remember when our good friends Dale and Trevor, they had a greyhound that they rescued. Do you remember?

Marco:Of course I do. All their animals love me.

Amanda: That's true. They don't care about me. But they. Marco has a way with all of their different pets over the years. Anyway, this was including a hedgehog that

Marco:they had liked me too.

Amanda: Oh, really?

Marco:Yeah, of course.

Amanda: The hedgehog was before my time.

Marco:You never met the hedgehog?

Amanda: No. Oh, no. The rabbit.

Marco:The rabbit loves.

Amanda: That was a big part of our lives. But, the hedgehog, I didn't know. Anyhow, and now you can't have hedgehogs in Canada.

Marco:That's right.

Amanda: They had the last hedgehog.

Marco:Wow, that's a great movie title.

Amanda: Last tango and hedgehog. Anyhow, sorry for my little throat clearing there. so I forgot what I was gonna say.

Marco:They had a greyhound.

Amanda: Oh, they had a greyhound.

Marco:And not the drink, which is vodka and grapefruit. juice.

Amanda: Grapefruit juice. Delicious.

Marco:Yeah.

Amanda: this greyhound was named. They didn't name her. Greyhounds are already named. But there's a greyhound sanctuary, that rescues greyhounds and you can adopt them. So they had a beautiful greyhound named Rose. They always laughed that her career was not very long. She came in fourth for one race in Tampa and that was it. Anyhow, but she lived a wonderful life with them. And one of the things they realized in learning about her is that she would get very anxious if they left the house. But what they did, and this is true for a lot of dogs, they

Marco:got her a trailer.

Amanda: They got her a trailer called a crate. And that was her safe space. And so she knew that that was her place. No one else would come in. If they needed her, she'd be there. And there was such comfort for that dog to have that safe space. Right. And I often thought actors are like dogs in the best way because we just need that little tiny safe space to feel comforted. So I hope if you're still awake and listening, that you have your comforting little corner of, wherever that you are. That little corner, that's your safe space. That's all yours. Where people know where to find you.

Marco:Your own trailer.

Amanda: Yeah, your own trailer, your own crate, your own green room, whatever you want

Marco:to call it, decorated, how you wish. Make it your own personalized little trailer in your home.

Amanda: And take a nap.

Marco:And take a nap there.

Amanda: Because that's like, this is why I find a nap in a trailer the most comforting thing. I'm doing what I love. I'm getting paid, so there's always that. But I'm doing what I love. If they need me, they know where to find me. I want for nothing. I need for nothing. I'm happiest on a set, frankly.


The Insomnia Project thanks its listeners for listening for 10 seasons

And there's that gentle rocking of the trailer as people kind of come in and out going about their day, going to set, coming back from set, and maybe I'm not needed for a few hours. And that is the most comforting thing.

Marco:There you go. And we're doing what we love here on the Insomnia Project. Thank you for listening for 10 seasons. If you've listened from the beginning or wherever you joined us once again. If you want an ad free episode, go to the insomniaproject supercast CA and you can subscribe there or patreon.com the Insomnia Project. I want to thank all the listeners who have reached out this season over the years with messages on Instagram or Facebook or wherever, especially those who have given us great feedback. Those, who have, who've given us feedback where we need to pay more attention to certain things. We appreciate it all. So thank you for reaching out. We love our listeners. We think we have great, the best listeners actually. And please let your friends and family know about our podcast because that seems to be the best way to get the word out. And we get a lot of listeners that way.

Amanda: Absolutely. Yeah. If it works for you, it might work for a friend. And, and, you know, we're all just trying to find ways to get to a, comfortable, easy sleep.

Marco:And we're thinking we're thankful that you chose our podcast, of all the podcasts, to find your way to sleep until next season. We hope that you're able to listen and sleep.