Acting like a Mom

This week on Acting Like a Mom, we sit down with the inspiring Anastacia McPherson a dancer, actor, and proud mama whose artistry and authenticity shine on and off the screen.Anastacia’s journey began in San Francisco, where she performed in musical theatre, voiceovers, and national commercials as a young actor. She first captured national attention as a Top 5 finalist on The CW’s Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll a moment that brought both visibility and vulnerability. At the time, Anastacia hadn’t yet come out publicly (or to her mom) as part of the LGBTQ+ community, and she shares how hiding that part of herself affected her experience on the show and her sense of identity as a young performer in the public eye.In this episode, Anastacia opens up about:💃 Her evolution from musical theatre performer to multifaceted screen artist🏳️‍🌈 Coming to terms with her LGBTQ+ identity and the courage it took to live authentically🎭 How dance and storytelling remain her creative foundation🤱 Balancing motherhood, artistry, and self-expression while raising her six-year-old🌟 Her mission to live and create at her highest capacityWe also get a glimpse into how she continues to define success on her own terms as a performer, a mother, and a woman living in her truth.Listen now for a heartfelt, empowering conversation with Anastacia McPherson proof that embracing who you are can become your greatest source of strength, both on stage and at home.To keep up with Anastacia follow her @anastacia.mcpherson🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.If you love this episode, be sure to follow, rate, and review Acting Like a Mom on Spotify, Apple podcast and YouTube it helps us reach more listeners and celebrate even more incredible moms in entertainment.📲 Follow us on Instagram @actinglikeamompod for behind-the-scenes clips, episode updates, and stories from inspiring creative mothers everywhere.

I sit down with my good friend Darryl Wesley a writer, producer, director, and actor who’s basically a one-man creative studio (and somehow still manages to be humble about it).Born and raised on the east side of Detroit, Darryl started out as a basketball champ before trading in the court for Hollywood. After realizing he didn’t want to wait around for opportunity to knock, he decided to build his own door. Writing and producing five sold-out stage plays and landing roles in projects like Clipped on FX and the award winning 'This is us' (which is a story in itself). He wrote on shows 'The Upshaws' starring Mike Epps and 'The Game'. Today, he’s got a full slate of TV, film, and animated projects in the works — all fueled by his drive to tell stories that feel real, human, and universal.But this episode isn’t just about Hollywood hustle it’s about heart.Darryl opens up about what it’s really like in the writers’ room, how he brings his authentic self into creative spaces, and how he’s learned to be a “color in the bigger painting.” We also get real about parenting his passion for supporting his wife through postpartum, the lessons our kids quietly teach us, and the gratitude that keeps it all in perspective.We talk about:- Balancing creative ambition- The moment he decided to stop waiting for permission and create- Supporting your partner through postpartum — and showing up with love- How kids are low-key the best teachers (and sometimes the toughest bosses)- What really happens inside a writers’ room - And why gratitude might just be the real secret to success — on and off screenInstagram:@kingdarrylwesley@actinglikeamompod 🎧 Tune in for an inspiring, down-to-earth chat about love, growth, and the beauty of learning from the people who know us best — our kids.

In this episode, I open up about my first-ever brand trip the excitement, the nerves, the imposter syndrome, and the unexpected reset it gave me as a mom, wife, and creator. From rediscovering who I am outside of motherhood to reconnecting with my husband without the chaos of daily life, this trip reminded me that breaks aren’t luxuries they’re lifelines.Join me as I share personal stories, honest reflections, and research-backed reasons why moms (and couples) need real rest and how to create your own “mini-reset,” even when travel isn’t an option.I talk about:- Facing imposter syndrome and finding community in the creator space- How time away helped me reconnect with my partner and with myself- Why research says breaks and couple time matter for moms- Simple ways to plan your own “mini-reset”If you’re a mom who’s been running on empty, this one’s your reminder: taking a break isn’t selfish ...it’s essential.Follow me on IG at @actinglikeamompod

In this fun and candid episode of Acting Like a Mom, I had the absolute pleasure of collaborating with fellow mom and podcaster Emily Bolt, host of the amazing podcast Mommywood. Emily started her show three years ago when her daughter was just two months old (yes, really!) and has been sharing her journey of motherhood in the entertainment industry ever since.When I came across Mommywood, I knew I had to reach out. And I’m so glad I did! Emily and I clicked instantly, bonding over the shared chaos of podcasting while parenting, and all the wild moments that come with being moms in the biz.

In this episode, we talk about:

The pressure (and joy) of podcasting as moms 🍼🎤Navigating careers in the entertainment industry while raising kids

Working with our husbands (who are also in the industry!)

Making the big move out of the city

And just... so much more

This one felt like chatting with an old friend, and we know you'll feel the same listening in.📺 Watch or 🎧 listen on both of our podcast pages, and don’t forget to leave a review to support mama-run shows like ours!

Connect with Emily:IG:  ⁨@Mommywoodpodcast⁩ 

This episode almost didn’t happen... TWICE. 😩
I lost the footage the first time we recorded and it almost broke me. I was so mad, so frustrated, I had to take a break from doing the podcast altogether. But this story? It needed to be told. And I’m so glad we came back to do it again.

In this powerful and raw conversation, I sit down with the inspiring Trina Haire:  dancer, esthetician, entrepreneur, cancer survivor, wife, and mom of 3 to talk about her extraordinary journey of resilience, reinvention, and acting like a mom in every sense of the word.

From dancing in The Lion King on Broadway to opening her own beauty business during the middle of a pandemic AND while undergoing chemo for Stage 3 breast cancer, Trina's story is a testament to faith, grit, and God’s timing.

🎧 In This Episode We Talk About:

• Trina’s journey from Broadway to beauty

• Balancing motherhood, marriage, business, and cancer

• What it really takes to build a business from the ground up

• How God shows up even in the hardest moments

• The power of perseverance and doing things scared

We're finally back! In this short solo episode, I’m catching you up on what turned my one-week break into an unexpected two-month hiatus (oops 😅) and how that time away helped me press reset, both personally and creatively.

From life getting a little too cluttered (think: way too many tabs open in my brain) to a mini podcast rebrand that I’m super excited about. This is a quick check in back to the flow of things ideally not at midnight the night before every episode drops. But, hey, progress over perfection, right?

✨ I also want to leave you with a little reminder: we’ve got three whole months left in the year. It’s not too late to rework your goals, find your rhythm, and finish the year strong

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why the “one-week break” turned into two months

• What’s changing (just a little!) with the podcast

• Creating better systems to avoid last-minute chaos

• Giving yourself permission to pause, reset, and refocus

• A gentle push to revisit your 2025 goals — it’s not too late!

📌 Let’s Connect!
Follow the pod on Instagram: @actinglikeamompod
Share your thoughts, DMs are open! 💬

💌 If you loved this episode (or even just felt seen), leave a rating + review — it helps more mamas in the industry find us!

Lets get real about something nearly every mom wrestles with — body image after baby. One year postpartum with my second child, the pressure to “bounce back,” the five pounds that won’t budge, and the radical shift in mindset that changed everything.

From the lens of motherhood and the entertainment industry, we explore what it really means to love your body in every season and how to recognize the difference between setting healthy goals and self-sabotaging through unrealistic standards.

This is for any mom who's ever looked in the mirror and questioned her worth. You're not alone and you're not a before and after photo. You're a masterpiece in motion.

🧠 In This Episode, We Cover:

• The unspoken pressures actors and performers face around weight and appearance
• What it means to redefine beauty and self-worth after having children
• The emotional difference between setting goals and self sabotage
• The trap of “bouncing back” vs. Bouncing forward

• How to speak to your body — and your kids — with love, not shame

💡 Takeaway:

You can have goals and still love your body now. You don’t have to shrink to matter. Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is stop the mental audition and start embracing the body that’s carried you and your babies through it all.

Reading Materials Mentioned:

Bible in 52 weeks

Woman study bible

🎧 Listen Now On:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher
• Wherever you get your podcasts

💌 Connect with Us:

Follow the show @actinglikeamompod on Instagram

This week on Acting Like a Mom, I sit down with the multi-talented Mesha Kussman: director, choreographer, and founder of Aqualillies, the world’s most glamorous water entertainment company that fuses synchronized swimming and dance. I’ve had the honor of being part of the Aqualillies team for over 12 years, and it was such a joy to dive deep with Mesha in this heartfelt and honest conversation.

We talk about:

💧 What it was like for Mesha to step back and delegate leadership within Aqualillies when she became pregnant with her first child.
🌊 How the discipline and spectacle of synchronized swimming reflect her approach to motherhood and artistry.
🕊️ The emotional journey of losing her parents and how that, alongside becoming a mother, reshaped her view on life, creativity, and legacy.
🌟 Birthing a creative vision and birthing a child and how both demand surrender, resilience, and reinvention.

This episode is a beautiful look into how grief, growth, and motherhood inform artistic leadership and how letting go can be just as powerful as taking control.

Connect with Mesha Kussman:

🎥 Mesha Website

Mesha Instagram

💦 Aqualillies Website
Instagram - @aqualillies

Let’s Stay Connected:
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @actinglikeamompod

Rate, Review, and Subscribe!
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review — it helps more moms (and creatives!) find us.

In this quick solo episode  I am  having the post audition blues. Were you can’t shake the coulda woulda shoulda. It made me think of the comparison in both motherhood and the entertainment industry. Whether it's the scroll of "perfect moms" on social media or the sting of seeing another actor book the role you wanted, comparison can quietly rob us of the joy we've worked so hard to earn.

In This Episode, We Explore:

•   Why comparison is so common (and dangerous) in both motherhood and acting
•   The mental and emotional toll of chasing perfection in two high-pressure roles
•   Real stories and moments of my self doubt. 

If You Enjoyed This Episode:

•   Follow or subscribe to Acting Like a Mom wherever you listen
•   Leave a review—it helps other moms and creatives find us!
•   Share this episode with a fellow mom or actor who needs this reminder
• Follow me on IG: @actinglikeamompod

LINKS:

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In this episode of Acting Like a Mom, I sit down with the radiant and magnetic Danielle Ruiz : model, actor, longtime host of the World Poker Tour, and mom of two.

Danielle brings her signature charm, carefree spirit, and wisdom to our conversation, and I can honestly say this interview was so much fun. She reminded me (and maybe will remind you too!) that motherhood doesn’t always have to be stressful if you let it flow.

We talk about how she’s navigated her career in entertainment for over a decade while raising her children in a way that feels unconventional, yet deeply intentional. From the red carpet to bedtime routines, Danielle keeps it real, centered, and full of love.

In this episode, we cover:

• Her 14-year journey as a host on the World Poker Tour

• Balancing modeling, acting, and mom life

• How “going with the flow” became her motherhood mantra

• Creating a home that prioritizes connection, and joy

• Why intentional parenting doesn’t have to look traditional

Whether you're a mom in the industry or just need a reminder to breathe and trust your instincts, this conversation is for you.

✨ Listen now for a dose of authenticity, laughter, and inspiration from one of the coolest moms in entertainment.

🎧 Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t miss future episodes. Hit that follow button and leave a review if you enjoyed this one!

📲 Let’s Connect:
Instagram: @ActingLikeamompod
Guest: @DanielleRuiz

#ActingLikeAMom #DanielleRuiz #MomsInEntertainment #IntentionalParenting #WorkingMoms #GoWithTheFlow #PodcastForMoms