We’ve all been there. The uncomfortable, messy transitions from one part of our life to another can leave us with endless questions and loads of self-doubt. This week, on “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” I was thrilled to talk with Dara Goldberg, a coach specializing in life transitions, who helps us see the beauty and opportunity that exist in the space between who we have been, and who we are becoming.

Growth spurts aren’t just for kids! We grow and change throughout the entirety of our lives, and while the circumstances that determine what we are, are often out of our control and even painful, we can decide who we are and how we show up in our lives. Growth never stops. 

So what are the seeds you will plant and grow in your life? 

The importance of community and collaborative perseverance hit home for me on this week’s episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” as I talked with my friend and “Fear The Walking Dead” cast mate, Darryl “Chill” Mitchell. It was a joy and a privilege to laugh and swap stories from the set with Chill, and to hear his inspiring personal journey.

While a motorcycle accident took Chill’s ability to walk years into his career, the accident and his injuries gave him a new perspective on life, work, relationships, and what it means to be a representative of the disabled community. Currently working on two franchise shows (“NCIS:New Orleans”& “FTWD”) Chill, encourages all of us to take nothing for granted, help each other, and keep going, because “You can’t give up at the starting line.” 

What are the seeds you will plant in your life?

You’ve got this!

Dr. Aditi and I both believe in you! I’m so honored to welcome Dr. Aditi Nerurkar to this week’s episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast.” Dr. Aditi is a renowned Harvard-trained doctor, researcher and public health expert who is passionate about helping us all discover our resilience, plant seeds and build the habits that will set us up for long-term well-being. 

Even with the challenging circumstances of surviving a pandemic, we all have uncomplicated tools at our disposal to make today just a little bit better than yesterday. Focusing on realistic goals, feeling good, and building habits over time, Dr. Aditi and I share our strategies for self-care that improve our overall mental, emotional and physical health, and ultimately help us to help others. 

What are the seeds you will plant in your life?

We all need a Ben Lopez in our life.

On this week’s episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” I talk with Ben who, in addition to being a filmmaker and “creative whisperer,” is the Executive Director of National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP).

With a life-long love for learning, Ben’s passion for mentorship comes out in everything he does. Through his role at NALIP, and in his everyday life, Ben is an avid educator and visionary champion for other artists, young people, and emerging leaders.

A naturally collaborative and curious person, Ben takes a turn at interviewing me, and we chat about planting seeds by finding your tribe, giving back, showing up, and pushing each other to be better than we could have ever imagined.

What are the seeds you will plant in your life?

While I’m grateful to experience Karen David’s lightness, joy and deep insights through our real-life friendship and work together in “Fear the Walking Dead,” I’m beyond thrilled that you too, get to share in her wisdom on this week’s episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast.” 

As an actor, singer, and human ray of sunshine, Karen’s seeds are rooted in gratitude, connection, and a down-to-earth sensibility that we can all relate to, and be inspired by. Karen reminds us that both our adventures and our struggles provide the opportunity to choose and protect our own happiness, clarify our desires, celebrate the success of others, and learn from mistakes, big and small.

What are the seeds you will plant in your life?

To hear Osiel Gouneo share the lessons and experiences of his life, is to share in his contagious joy, astounding passion, and wisdom beyond his years. I was thrilled to welcome Osiel as my guest this week on “The Danay Garcia Podcast.” A principal dancer with Bayersiches Staatsballett in Munich, Germany, Osiel’s story began as a young boy in Cuba, where he quickly fell in love with, and dedicated his life to ballet.

Osiel was generous enough to share the seeds he’s cultivated through his demanding career – seeds that transcend dance and the arts. Use the tools you are given, and breathe life into your work. Stand up for yourself. Innovate and push yourself. Go back to the basics when you feel stuck. Change the tempo and adapt. Explore, go for it, and be free.

What are the seeds you will plant in your life?

On this week’s episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” I had the honor of talking with the uber-talented, beautiful, and inspirational Luba Mason. The diversity of Luba’s acting and musical talents and career choices have created a fascinating artist with an equally fascinating body of work. And as Luba and I reflect on 2020, we are lucky enough to be on the receiving end of her energy, joy, and wisdom.

Though the pandemic prematurely closed the critically acclaimed Broadway show Luba was performing in, she is celebrating her newly released album, “Triangle,” and looking forward to the 2021 release of her movie, “Red Pill.” Luba shares her path and shows us the importance of continuously pushing your boundaries and creating your own opportunities.

Even in this year, when so many of us feel stuck, powerless, or a little lost, we can create something for ourselves that doesn’t depend on what the rest of the world is doing. You never know what can happen.

What are the seeds you can plant in your life today?

This week on “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” I was thrilled to talk with actor and human extraordinaire, Steven Ogg whom you might know for his roles as Simon “The Walking Dead”, Trevor Phillips –GTA V video game and his upcoming show “Snowpiercer.” season 2 which will air in January 2021. Steven brings his unique energy and perspective to our conversation with an openness and transparency that I’m sure you will appreciate as much as I did.

Together, we explore a range of topics including how our choices guide our lives and impact those around us; the affect the pandemic has had on the creative process (and every other process, for that matter); and the very real and relatable ups and downs of modern life. Steven shares experiences from his storied career, and challenges us to look thoughtfully at what we each face when we wake up in the morning.

What are the seeds you can plant in your life today?

On the debut episode of “The Danay Garcia Podcast,” I chat with Denise Hamilton, the dynamic CEO and Founder of Watch Her Work, a digital platform that helps professional women connect, network and maximize their careers.

A fellow storyteller, Denise has helped thousands of women connect, and learn from each other’s journeys and experiences. Join us for this fun and inspirational episode as we talk about the seeds we can all plant in our lives - the importance of taking risks and challenging yourself, using failure for good (what is failure, anyway?), and what it means to protect your magic.

Between my quarantine gardening and online chats with a growing community, it didn’t take long to discover that gardens and people thrive with the same care: a little bit of vision, and a lot of encouragement, sunshine, water, healthy roots, fresh air, curiosity, magic, and help from our friends.

And we’re at our very best when we share our beautiful bounty.

In coming weeks we’ll welcome wonderfully diverse guests representing a wide range of professions and backgrounds. Their unique insights and perspectives will provide different seeds for each of us to plant in our own lives.

Thanks for being here!