About

This week on Odd Woman Out, Tutz sits down with the wildly talented Jessica Frances Dukes—and trust me, this conversation goes places.

You know her as Special Agent Maya Miller on Ozark, you've probably seen her commanding the stage in Broadway's Trouble in Mind, and now she's starring in the gritty new series The Westies. But before all of that? There was a little girl with an incredible imagination, imaginary friends, and absolutely no idea where that creativity would eventually take her.

Recorded at the Welcome to Times Square Studio, we get into why imagination isn't something you grow out of—it's the thing that keeps artists alive.

We talk about building a career one experience at a time, the years she spent honing her craft in places like Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, why every role (even the ones nobody sees) matters, and what it really feels like when years of hard work finally start paying off.

It's funny, honest, unexpectedly emotional, and the kind of conversation that reminds you your path doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

We get into:

• The imaginary friends that sparked her creativity

• Why protecting your imagination is a superpower

• Her journey from regional theatre—including Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company—to Broadway's Trouble in Mind

• Landing Ozark and what playing Maya Miller taught her

• Starring in the new series The Westies

• The reality of building a career that lasts instead of chasing overnight success

• What she's still learning about herself as an artist

• Why the best opportunities usually show up when you least expect them

This episode is powered by WelcomeToTimesSquare.com — the billboard where you can be a star for a day.

If you've ever questioned whether all the little steps are actually leading somewhere, this episode is your reminder that every single experience is part of the story.

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