Podcast Summary: The Squeeze —
Isa Briones: Stepping Into Santos
March 25, 2026
Host: Taylor Lautner
Guest: Isa Briones

Episode Overview

In this rich, heartfelt episode of The Squeeze, host Taylor Lautner welcomes acclaimed actress Isa Briones to discuss her breakout role as Dr. Santos on HBO’s medical drama "The Pit." The conversation centers on mental health in both healthcare and entertainment, Isa’s journey from theater to television, the gritty realities of portraying medical professionals, and her personal experiences navigating fame and vulnerability. The episode also explores the impact of accurate representation on screen, the enduring need for community and self-care in high-pressure careers, and Isa’s upcoming Broadway return.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking Into "The Pit" & The Audition Process

• Juggling Auditions and Broadway
  While performing in "Hadestown" on Broadway, Isa faced the stress of overlapping auditions for “The Pit” and a CIA show, doubting her ability to convincingly play a doctor or agent.

  • “I had an audition for a medical show and an audition for like a CIA show… I could barely remember the lines and I was like, I feel so frazzled. I started having a meltdown… I shouldn’t even audition. No one’s gonna believe me as a doctor.” — Isa Briones [24:09]

• Support & Serendipity
  Her boyfriend encouraged her to submit the tape anyway, and, as Isa says, “It’s always those auditions… that are the ones that go, actually become fruitful.” [24:09-24:25]

2. Medical Bootcamp & Portraying Realism

• Hands-On Training
  The cast underwent an intense two-week bootcamp at Warner Bros. with medical professionals, learning to intubate, suture, and perform various procedures on dummies.

  • “Taught us how to intubate and taught us how to suture… But the biggest takeaway was…what are the questions I need to ask? What am I looking at? Who am I saying it to?” — Isa Briones [28:44]

• Commitment to Accuracy
  The show employs doctors not just as consultants, but as choreographers and writers, ensuring authenticity from jargon to medical practice.

  • “You can memorize lines all you want, but I actually don't know the ins and outs of where this information goes and what it really means…” — Isa Briones [01:09], [28:45]

• Humanizing Healthcare Professionals
  Isa shares how meeting real doctors broke the “superhero” stereotype, helping her focus on Dr. Santos as a complex person, not just a role.

  • “They're heroes and they're human beings who are going through their own shit, who are getting affected by cases…” — Isa Briones [29:20]

3. Family, Community, and Growing Up In Theater

• Theatrical Roots
  Raised in a family of working theater actors, Isa grew up on international tours and local LA theater. She observed firsthand the hardships and sacrifices behind the craft.

  • “People just have to do [theater]. It's like, I have to do theater. I love it so much that I'm even gonna lose money so I can do it.” — Isa Briones [08:56]

• Value of the Struggle
  Isa credits early years of hustle and rejection for giving her perspective, keeping her grounded despite sudden fame.

  • "Thank God that was what I grew up with. And I didn't enter just, like, success and fame… This is what it is." — Isa Briones [11:00]

• Pressure & Parental Support
  With both parents in the business, Isa felt a supportive, if anxious, environment. Her dad often joked, “Thank God our kids are good, because that would have been really rough…” [11:04]

4. On Representation, Stigma, and Mental Health Storylines

• Diving Deep with Dr. Santos
  Taylor points out the rare complexity of Isa’s character, and Isa explains how she relates to Dr. Santos’ defenses, insecurities, and humor.

  • “Anytime she's kind of out punching at someone else, it's because she's really scared inside and trying to protect herself. And I very much relate to that.” — Isa Briones [36:41]

• Handling Sensitive Plotlines
  Addressing a pivotal scene involving self-harm scars, Isa advocates for careful, collaborative handling of mental health themes.

  • “We've seen a lot of misuse of self-harm plotlines in the past. And so I was nervous about it. I was like, okay, if we're doing this, then we have to really do it right… I want this to be done as sensitively as possible.” — Isa Briones [38:43]

• Broadening the Conversation
  Both Taylor and Isa agree the show’s strength lies in its broad, authentic depiction of how trauma and mental health manifest differently for each character.

  • “Everyone is actually going through something and everyone can go through, like, with the whole pit fest thing… everyone’s gonna go home and, like, take it differently.” — Taylor Lautner [43:56]

5. Professional Parallels & Toxic Work Cultures

• Burnout in Healthcare & Acting
  The conversation turns to unhealthy cultures of overwork and ‘toughness’ in both fields.

  • “There's really no good comes from working yourself to death and making it this, like, point of pride.” — Isa Briones [44:50]

• The Power of Sharing
  “I think that's the most important thing is talking. And when you share like, oh, this is what I'm going through…Maybe there's something wrong. Like, maybe something needs to be done here.” — Isa Briones [45:35]

6. Fame, Friendship & Coping Strategies

• Adjusting to Visibility
  With "The Pit"’s soaring popularity, Isa addresses the impact of public scrutiny and the importance of stepping outside herself.

  • “It can be hard to not always be looking at yourself through other people's eyes… and then it becomes so me centric.” — Isa Briones [46:49]

• Community as Lifeline
  Isa expresses deep gratitude for her group of friends, particularly a circle of women who help pull her out of isolating spirals and keep her grounded.

  • “Thank God for my friends. I, for a long time, did not have a group of girls. And then about three years ago was when I gained just kind of suddenly this group of amazing women… You just have to have a community.” — Isa Briones [49:35], [49:48]

7. What’s Next & Returning to Broadway

• Looking Ahead in "The Pit"
  Isa teases upcoming episodes, describing themes of vulnerability and community as her character slowly allows others in.

  • “That’s a really beautiful message of the last couple episodes: finding your people and finding the ones you can lean on and be yourself with…” — Isa Briones [53:57]

• Broadway Return
  Isa will next star in "Just in Time," portraying Connie Francis, opposite Matthew Morrison and Jeremy Jordan, excited to “go back and touch people” and sing live again.

  • “My first show is April 1st. I'll be on with first with Matthew Morrison and then Jeremy Jordan… I love theater. I miss theater.” — Isa Briones [55:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Comfort Shows:
  “I've heard this from children, too. There are, like, children out there that are like, that's my comfort show. And I'm like, what does that say about the state of the world?” — Isa Briones [04:30]

• On Staying Centered:
  “At the end of the day, you have to. The only way to, like, stay sane in any sort of way and to also remain so grateful… is like, I can't believe I'm here.” — Isa Briones [15:58]

• On Fostering Empathy:
  “A lot of it is hoping that people walk away with more empathy for healthcare professionals, obviously. But it's also like, it's human stories. That's what all of this is for.” — Isa Briones [45:53]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Introductions & The Pit’s Impact: 02:16–06:23
• Family, Upbringing, and Theater: 06:23–13:07
• Handling Fame and Staying Grounded: 13:14–16:54
• Getting the Role & Bootcamp: 22:03–30:16
• Portraying Mental Health & Self-Harm Plotline: 36:41–41:12
• Work Culture Burnout (Healthcare & Acting): 42:27–45:53
• Coping Strategies, Friendship & Mental Health Maintenance: 46:38–51:37
• What's to Come for Dr. Santos: 51:37–53:57
• Return to Broadway: 54:24–55:40

Episode Takeaways

Isa Briones’ story is one of humility amid rapid success, commitment to authentic storytelling, and an ongoing journey to self-care in the face of industry and cultural pressures. Both Isa and Taylor encourage empathy for those in high-stress fields—on screen and in real life—while making space for vulnerability, humor, and community support. Listeners are left inspired, understood, and ready to keep the conversation around mental health alive.