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16 Years in LA and i’m fucking tired.

i recorded this episode at the beginning of august, right after my birthday and right around officially hitting 16 years of living in los angeles.

and there is absolutely no filter on this one.

i recorded the entire episode while hiking to the hollywood sign with roo. we had no water, no plan, had never done this hike before, and honestly had no fucking clue where we were going.

i was in full rage mode and needed to get out of my head. i needed to move. i needed to do something i had never done before. so i grabbed roo, hit record, and started walking.

this isn’t a polished reflection after i’ve had a few months to process everything. this is me IN it. venting. crying. angry. confused. exhausted. and completely fucking over it.

i talk about my dating life and what transpired with someone i dated for a few months. the love bombing. the lies. the avoidant behavior. the mixed signals. the promises that didn’t match the actions. i talk about long-distance dating, what i thought it could be, and what i learned it absolutely should not be.

mostly, i talk about being tired.

tired of dating. tired of games. tired of trying to decipher what someone actually means. tired of showing up for people who don’t show up for me. tired of accepting words without actions behind them. tired of wondering whether asking for communication, consistency, and care is somehow asking for too much.

but this episode also catches me at this really strange turning point.

i had just gotten back into surfing. i met an all-girl surf group and started getting in the water again. i was trying new things. doing things that scared me. finding pieces of myself again that had absolutely nothing to do with dating or whether some guy wanted me.

and then there i was: hiking toward the hollywood sign with my three-legged husky, no water, no plan, completely fucking pissed off, talking into a microphone.

this episode is messy because i was messy.

there’s no lesson neatly wrapped up at the end. there’s no “everything happens for a reason.” there’s no pretending i was completely healed or above any of it.

this is what it sounded like while i was going through it.

the real sam. heartbroken. pissed off. vulnerable. fucking tired. and slowly starting to remember that my life is so much bigger than the person who hurt me.

surfing. girlfriends. roo. los angeles. trying something new. getting back in the water. climbing a fucking mountain.

welcome to year 16.

15 Years in LA 

hosted by Sam Adler 

(because its catchy and i dont think i want to change the title every year)

listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. 

follow @15.years.in.la.pod

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parts 2 + 3 of my conversation with courtney haney are here, and this is where we get into the deep dive.

we dive into courtney’s career in the entertainment industry, from her years at sony to starz to where she is today at hallmark media, working in programming strategy + acquisitions.

courtney takes us behind the scenes of a side of television that most people outside of the industry rarely get to hear about: programming. what actually goes into deciding what audiences see? what does a programmer do? how do you build a career in that world? and what does it look like to navigate an industry that is constantly changing?

we talk about the jobs, pivots, lessons, relationships, and experiences that helped shape courtney’s career, while also getting into the realities of working behind the scenes in entertainment.

if part 1 was about getting to know courtney the person, parts 2 + 3 are about getting to know courtney the entertainment executive and getting a peek behind the curtain at how television actually gets to our screens.

this is the deep dive. 🎬

follow courtney on instagram: @courtneyhaney.art

follow the podcast: @15.years.in.la.pod

15 Years in LA is hosted by Sam Adler.

listen on spotify + apple podcasts, and don’t forget to follow, rate, review + share. 🤍

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this week on 15 years in la, i'm so excited to welcome my friend, courtney haney, for part 1 of a special THREE-part conversation.

in this first episode, we travel back to the beginning and explore what it was like growing up in southern california near manhattan beach. courtney shares stories about her family, including her mom's upbringing in the mormon church and her dad's life as a classic so-cal surfer, and how those experiences helped shape the person she is today.

we also talk about how we met through the improv community, our first impressions of each other, and how admiration from afar eventually turned into a genuine friendship after being placed on the same team. plus, you'll get to meet the true star of the episode courtney's cat, little finger 🐈

this is just the beginning. we're only scratching the surface of courtney's story, and trust me... there's so much more to come.

be sure to tune in for parts 2 and 3, where we dive even deeper into courtney's journey, career, creativity, and plenty of stories you won't want to miss.

follow courtney's artwork and creative journey on instagram: @courtneyhaney.art

thank you so much for listening! if you're enjoying 15 years in la, please rate, review, follow, and share the podcast. it truly helps more than you know.

follow the podcast on instagram: @15.years.in.la.pod

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in this solo episode of 15 years in LA, i'm reflecting on one of the most transformative seasons of my life.

i share what life has been like after losing my sweet boy, serbi, and how grief has quietly reshaped the way i move through the world. i also talk about stepping into an entirely new career as an on-air host in the trading card community; a job i never could have imagined for myself and what it's been like learning something completely new.

along the way, i reflect on the difficult people we inevitably encounter, whether in our neighborhoods, workplaces, conventions, or creative communities, and why i've realized that protecting my peace is more important than trying to be understood by everyone.

inspired by the strawberry moon, this episode is about shedding what no longer serves us, making room for what's next, and learning that sometimes growth isn't about becoming someone new. it's about letting go of everything you were never meant to carry.

if you've been navigating grief, change, unexpected opportunities, or simply trying to find your footing in a new season of life, i hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone.

✨ follow the podcast on instagram: @15.years.in.la.pod for episode updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.

if you're enjoying 15 years in LA, it would mean the world to me if you follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share your favorite episodes with a friend. every follow, review, and share helps more people discover the show and supports independent creators like me.

thank you so much for listening and for being part of this journey. 🤍

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in this second installment of i almost didn't share this - i took my voice notes on a walk at night with my dogs and just… talked. no outline, no plan: just where i’m at right now.

i took the podcast outside of the studio and into my actual everyday life no setup, no edits, no polish.

this was recorded entirely while walking my dogs through my neighborhood in Los Angeles, this episode captures the unfiltered rhythm of a real day in motion. from spontaneous interactions with neighbors to unexpected moments with other dogs on the block. i bring you directly into my world as it naturally unfolds.

this is a raw, unedited walk-and-talk experience. less “episode,” more “life happening in real time.” you’ll hear the background noise of LA streets, candid conversations, and the kinds of moments that can’t be planned or produced.

if you’ve ever wondered what it actually feels like to live in LA, juggle dogs, community, and constant movement: this is the inside version. no filter, just me being me in the wild.

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welcome to bite size minisodes: a new series from 15 years in la.

short, under-10-minute episodes where you step inside my world for a moment: what i’m thinking, where i am, and how life feels in real time.

these minisodes are a little in-between moment… a reset… a quick drop of honesty and perspective.

think of it as a mini check-in. unfiltered, in real time.

a fun little breather between guest episodes and full-length solos.

so let’s get into it.

this is the first bite size minisode: surf’s up.

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In Part 2 of our conversation with Lexie Skye, we dive deeper into her improv journey and the spaces that helped shape her as a performer. 

Lexie shares her experience training at WGIS (World’s Greatest Improv School), the Los Angeles-based improv school founded by Will Hines, Sarah Claspell, and Jim Woods, and how its unique philosophy challenged her to grow both on and off stage.

She also talks about The Shared Experience, another LA-based improv school, founded by James Mastraieni and how different approaches to their theatre helped expand her range, instincts, and confidence as a performer. 

Lexie goes into how the indie improv scene focuses on ensemble connection and emotional truth, which influenced the way Lexie shows up on stage.

Lexie has performed across some of LA’s most beloved comedy spaces, including Upright Citizens Brigade, WE Improv, WGIS, Shared Experience and The Pack Theater, along with various indie stages throughout the city, giving her a well-rounded perspective on the improv scene.

A special moment in this episode: Lexie’s partner Marco Torres also joins us and makes an appearance on the show, where we interview him and get to hear his perspective as well.

Shout out to The Sauce improv team and Sahil Desai from WGIS + The Sauce for giving Lexie and her team Nepo Mommy their first big encouragement to begin their journey into the indie improv scene! 

This episode is all about trust, growth, and finding your voice in LA’s ever-evolving comedy scene. Whether you’re an improviser or just love hearing about the creative grind, Part 2 is full of insight, heart, and behind-the-scenes perspective.

Plus, a fun note: Jim Woods can be seen in Season 2 of Jury Duty on Amazon Prime Video, bringing his improv sensibility to the screen.

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this one is different.

i took my voice notes on a walk at night with my dogs and just… talked. no outline, no plan: just where i’m at right now.

it’s vulnerable. it’s messy. it’s honest.

i’m not doing great, if i’m being real. but i also know i’m going to be okay. and this is what it sounds like to be in the middle of that.

if you’ve ever felt lost, overwhelmed, or like you’re figuring it out as you go, this one’s for you.

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in this bonus episode of 15 years in LA, i get real about rejection. the kind that comes from auditions, jobs, crushes, creative projects, improv teams, career paths, and all the dreams we chase in this city. after facing some recent “no’s,” i sit down to unpack the emotional rollercoaster of rejection and why it can hit so hard when you care deeply about something.

i also pull a few tarot cards in a mini self-reading to find a little clarity, acceptance, and perspective in the midst of it all. along the way, i explore a bigger idea: how we’re often conditioned to expect rejection far more than we’re conditioned to accept success. what happens when we start questioning that narrative?

part reflection, part tarot moment, and part pep talk for anyone who’s ever put their heart on the line and heard “not this time.” ✨

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In this episode, we talk about Lexie’s life before Los Angeles, growing up in Boca Raton, Florida and what led her to make the move out west. We get into what those first few years in LA were really like, navigating the chaos of the city, figuring things out as you go, and what it means to build a life here from scratch. We also talk about the LA fires and how moments like that shape the experience of living in this city and the communities within it. Toward the end we start to dip our toes into Lexie’s improv world, but don’t worry, we really get into all things improv in Part 2.

If you liked what you heard, make sure to subscribe to 15 Years in LA wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss Part 2 when it drops. In the meantime, go check out some of our other episodes, and if you’re enjoying the show please subscribe, rate, and review the pod, it really helps us grow.

You can follow Lexie on Instagram at @thelexieskye.

Follow the podcast on Instagram at @15.years.in.la.pod for updates, clips, and upcoming guests.

You can follow Sam at @_sadl3r 

And if you want to reach out about the podcast, guest ideas, feedback, or just to say hi: email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Thanks so much for listening 💖

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