CS: One of your latest gigs in Topic of Grief touches upon some really sensitive content. Why do you think it’s so important to raise awareness for the growing opioid epidemic?

RB: “Topic of Grief was a pleasure to work on. Anyways, to answer your question personally I believe that it is so important to raise awareness about the growing opioid pandemic because of the consequences for our youth. I see some of my friends lives, ambitions, purpose, and will to live being slowly pulled away from them and it’s hard to accept that I can’t fix everything. I wish we could all accept life for what it is – a rollercoaster of emotion and experiences, good and bad – instead of trying to numb ourselves and hide from reality. It’s hard, but no way to live.”

CS: What other causes are you especially passionate about?

RB: “I am extremely passionate about everyone in my life especially my friends, love you guys! I’m also passionate about music, I may make music in the future but I am really passionate about just listening to music and the words. I like country music, if any of you also like country that is really awesome.”

CS: If you could co-star in a major motion picture with any actor alive or dead, then who would you select?

RB: “I would co star with Leonardo DiCaprio because I feel like I have the most to learn from him. Also it would be so unbelievably awesome. He’s just my favorite actor and great at his craft. I try not to over idolize people and I’m sure he has his flaws but he still seems like a super cool guy.”

CS: Do you have any tricks that help you avoid bloopers while on set?

RB: “Preparation, don’t leave anything up to chance. Also even if you are prepared and maybe you just get really anxious before you shoot, like myself sometimes, just scream. Yell! Yell your lines as loud as possible and over act if you’re worried about your performance. Get into character and raise your stakes to an extreme level. Also, know you can do it. Don’t ever doubt yourself and don’t think about the consequences. Just do your job.”

CS: As you conquer more roles, how do you hope to evolve as an actor?

RB: “I hope that it gets easier to click with the roles I audition for. Some roles click and others take more time, I just need to learn how to adapt and break down certain unique roles. I also need to fully commit in my choices and repeat. I will always keep learning and I know I will never fully master acting but I enjoy spending time working on it so we will see where my time and focus gets me.”

CS: Outside of work, what do you like to do to relax on a day off?

RB: “On a day off I like to get off my phone, though sometimes I lack the will power to do so. I’m working on that. Anyways, I like to disconnect with the things that don’t matter and reconnect with my family. I might take a nap, have nice conversations, play some pickleball with my family and neighbors, and read. On a side note, I’m reading Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins right now and I highly recommend it.”

CS: In your Instagram bio, you describe yourself as a country boy at heart. How do you keep touch with your small town roots while filming and attending events in big cities?

RB: “Big cities have too much concrete and can be too disconnected from the things that matter to me. Big cities are pretty cool don’t get me wrong, its honestly just more about where family is. I’m from Temecula, which isn’t really a small town but I have many country attributes. I also highly value family, God, and my country. I also like to feel connected to my community.”