Go away with ... Mike Manning
After spending the past 15 years living in Los Angeles, Mike Manning relocated to Atlanta when he was cast in the CBS series, “Beyond the Gates.” Coincidentally, his latest film, “Madden,” was also shot in Atlanta. “I miss Los Angeles, but so much filming is in Atlanta that I’m glad to be a Georgia resident right now,” Manning said. “In my past 17 years as a professional actor onscreen, I’ve been lucky enough to work all over the United States. Internationally, I’ve filmed in Italy and Thailand, which were both amazing.”
The actor-writer-producer and “The Real World” alum stays in touch with fans on social media (username: @mike_manning_). This interview with Manning has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: Tell me a bit about “Madden.”
A: “Madden” revolves around the story of legendary football coach and NFL broadcaster John Madden. Nic Cage plays John Madden and Christian Bale plays Al Davis, owner of the Oakland Raiders when Madden was the coach. I was able to share the screen with Nic. He’s an actor with such a long and dynamic career and has always been someone I’ve wanted to work with. The film is directed by David O. Russell and is a period piece, so my wardrobe included a 1970s wig and a mustard yellow suit. I felt like Ron Burgundy.
Q: What do you remember about your time on “The Real World: D.C.”?
A: My entire experience was wonderful, chaotic and life-changing. I went to an open casting call with a friend to help him get on the show and MTV wound up casting me. I had never watched the show before auditioning. The cast and I lived in Dupont Circle. D.C. had an energy that was intellectual, passionate and creative. It was contagious. I felt like I could conquer the world while there, which is part of what led me to work for the Human Rights Campaign and the Energy Action Coalition.
Q: Where would you like to shoot a project?
A: It would be amazing to film a period TV show in a location with original architecture and history that lends to the fictional world. An example would be “Game of Thrones.” I traveled to Dubrovnik, Croatia, where they shot parts of the show, for vacation last year and truly felt like I was in King’s Landing. It would be amazing to shoot in a large, immersive environment like that.
Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?
A: At the end of December, I’m going to La Paz, Mexico, to swim with whale sharks. It’s something that’s been on my bucket list for a while. They are the largest living fish species on Earth. Friends who have taken the same trip swear that the experience is incredible.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: Indonesia and Belize, both for scuba diving. In Bali, I swam with giant oceanic manta rays that were as large as school buses. And then in Belize, I dove with hundreds of nurse sharks swimming around me underwater. I love diving because while you’re swimming weightless under the surface of the water, everything is quiet. You simultaneously feel so small and fragile, but also so powerful and connected to the world in a profound way.
Q: What was a childhood trip you took that stands out?
A: When I was 19, I wanted to see more of the world. I got a job at a travel agency focused on trip planning for college students. With that company, I went zip-lining in the jungles of Costa Rica with a handful of other students. That trip ignited my passion for environmental conservation and making travel a priority. That same year, I started visiting different places in Europe.
Q: Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
A: Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, San Diego, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, New York City, Austin and Montreal.
Q: If you've ever gone away for the holidays, which was the best trip?
A: I’ve sort of made the New Year’s scuba diving trip a tradition with friends. A group of us have been doing that for the past 11 years.
Q: What is your travel motto?
A: I think young people should make it a priority to travel at least once in their 20s to see a different part of the world and to open their minds to ways of thinking and existing outside of what they have known. You learn things that cannot be taught in a classroom.
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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)
©2026 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c) 2026 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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