the 'hollywood body standard' no one prepares you for with Lynn Chen* it hits different*
this is incredibly validating for anyone who’s felt like they’re falling behind or not “getting it right” in their creative career. lynn’s career path and healing process reminds us that success doesn’t always look like we imagined....originally aired july 8th 2021, this in-depth conversation with actor Lynn Chen is an episode that closed out season 4 of the podcast and hit hard for a reason. Lynn walks us through the emotional highs and lows of “making it” as an actor: from child opera performances and Law & Order bookings to struggling with food, being dropped by reps, and ultimately finding her voice through blogging, vulnerability, and directing her own feature film.We cover:Growing up performing at The Met (like, age four-level early)The moment acting felt more like obligation than loveBooking Law & Order and getting her SAG cardThe weight of the industry’s standards...literallyBinge eating, emotional triggers, and recoveryWhen a Sundance debut doesn’t equal steady workWhy she started “The Actor’s Diet” and what it gave her backHer “holding deal” era + writing her first pilotGetting dropped by reps… and getting back upResilience, reinvention, and reclaiming acting on her own termsReferenced in the episode:The Actor’s Diet Blog (redirects to her main site)
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1:19:00
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1:19:00
you booked the job but it didn’t change your life: Brian Unger on the real working actor experience *it hits different episode*
originally aired april 13 2021, brian unger has been on your screen more times than you probably realize but this episode isn’t a flex. it’s a real convo about the weird limbo between being talented and being bookable. what it actually feels like to get hired. and the emotional whiplash of the audition hustlewe talk about• how pilot season used to work and what’s changed• why bookings don’t mean you’ve made it• the quiet grind behind working actor life• the surprising advice brian got that changed his entire careerthis episode is a reminder that success in acting rarely looks the way you imagined it. and that one good job isn’t the whole story. a must relisten if you’re questioning your momentum or measuring your worth by your credit...
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1:04:25
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1:04:25
stop trying to fix everything at once - *it hits different episode*
ever feel like your to-do list has morphed into a crisis of identity? same. this replay (from oct 30th 2023) is here to pull you out of that “should I cut my hair or get a manager?” spiral and help you simplify the actual next steps in your acting career.we talk about why your brain is overloaded (it’s not just you), how to dump your mental tabs into one place, and why taking out the trash (metaphorically) might be your best productivity tool. oh, and we break down how to decide what the hell to work on without drowning in FOMO.
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30:21
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30:21
hollywood + the trans experience: how we as actors play our role well
i do not care how you identify, this episode is for you. Rain + Jase are here to educate me on how actors can advocate for their trans (and all LGBTQIA) community, what they wish writers were focusing on, and how a safe place is created. so get your pronouns on and listen up:mentioned in this ep: @actnowLA@rainvaldez@livelaughjaseRainbow Rated
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years without a job: christina ochoa’s unfiltered acting journey *it hits different episode*
In this throwback convo from Sept 2018, I sat down with the unstoppable Christina Ochoa (Animal Kingdom, A Million Little Things) for a seriously honest, occasionally hilarious, and refreshingly unfiltered look at what it actually takes to survive and thrive in this industry.Moving to LA with zero connections (and zero chill about the rent)Not working for 2.5 years after a major show… and how she survived it (Uber, eBay, and a underprepared tutoring gig)Auditioning while broke AF… and still booking the roleThe shift from “pretty but doesn’t know it” casting to owning your own vibeSaying no to mediocre TV (even when you really need the check)Body image, being naked on set, and why she threw the damn breakdowns in the trashHer trick for manifestation that doesn’t involve “morning pages” but does involve drawing yourself with dollar signs and scripts Mentioned in This EpisodeSara MornellBook: The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony SchwartzBook/Workbook: The Artist’s Way Workbook by Julia CameronChristina’s orgs: Oceana and Earth’s OceansShow Mentioned: Animal KingdomSeries Mentioned: A Million Little Things
Financially, mentally, physically or otherwise...most actors are at least a little broke. Host/actress Sam Valentine brings you advice, tips, and real stories (of success & failure) from people in and around the acting industry. So you feel a little more “whole” and a little less alone in Hollywood. From auditions and the day-to-day life of working actors to getting agents/managers, we cover it all.